Tim Hotze
@thotze.bsky.social
Managing Editor @meninred97.com
Chicago Fire (& other) soccer
Member @soccerreporters.bsky.social
MLS Roster Rule nerd. GAM aficionado.
Chicago Fire (& other) soccer
Member @soccerreporters.bsky.social
MLS Roster Rule nerd. GAM aficionado.
The men's WC going to 48 teams w/whispers of 64 shows the direction FIFA is going (for worse or for worse).
Only a handful of single countries (USA one of the only ones) could host that solo, & multi-country bids will be standard.
FIFA's megalomania is going to push WWC the same direction
Only a handful of single countries (USA one of the only ones) could host that solo, & multi-country bids will be standard.
FIFA's megalomania is going to push WWC the same direction
November 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The men's WC going to 48 teams w/whispers of 64 shows the direction FIFA is going (for worse or for worse).
Only a handful of single countries (USA one of the only ones) could host that solo, & multi-country bids will be standard.
FIFA's megalomania is going to push WWC the same direction
Only a handful of single countries (USA one of the only ones) could host that solo, & multi-country bids will be standard.
FIFA's megalomania is going to push WWC the same direction
It's not truly gentrification until the dog groomer's prices make the salon look cheap
November 21, 2025 at 12:39 AM
It's not truly gentrification until the dog groomer's prices make the salon look cheap
NWSL is top to bottom, the biggest, best league in the world (though there are bigger individual clubs in Europe).
USLS is a new, much shakier league that doesn't have the track record, facilities or broadcast profile that NWSL (or increasingly, say, WSL) does.
USLS is a new, much shakier league that doesn't have the track record, facilities or broadcast profile that NWSL (or increasingly, say, WSL) does.
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
NWSL is top to bottom, the biggest, best league in the world (though there are bigger individual clubs in Europe).
USLS is a new, much shakier league that doesn't have the track record, facilities or broadcast profile that NWSL (or increasingly, say, WSL) does.
USLS is a new, much shakier league that doesn't have the track record, facilities or broadcast profile that NWSL (or increasingly, say, WSL) does.
He's a good player and was very smart work by the Fire FO but he didn't work out in Porto so it's more like the situation (from a much bigger club in Barça) that brought Riqui Puig to MLS.
But MLS is a top 10 league in the world & teams spend at a level that you see in the bottom half of top 5
But MLS is a top 10 league in the world & teams spend at a level that you see in the bottom half of top 5
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 AM
He's a good player and was very smart work by the Fire FO but he didn't work out in Porto so it's more like the situation (from a much bigger club in Barça) that brought Riqui Puig to MLS.
But MLS is a top 10 league in the world & teams spend at a level that you see in the bottom half of top 5
But MLS is a top 10 league in the world & teams spend at a level that you see in the bottom half of top 5
(also, of course, this ignores the fact that the seems to be 5 divisions of 6 teams each, but.... I mean that just makes way less sense to me)
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
(also, of course, this ignores the fact that the seems to be 5 divisions of 6 teams each, but.... I mean that just makes way less sense to me)
The West is a bit trickier, since Cascadia & the Texas teams are obvious "pods" of 3, Cali teams are an obv. pod of 4, and the only 2 team pod is COL-RSL. (MIN, SKC, STL is also a good 3-team pod)."
(Big h/t to @eliotmckinley.com's work @backheeled.com on this: www.backheeled.com/mls-rivalry-...)
(Big h/t to @eliotmckinley.com's work @backheeled.com on this: www.backheeled.com/mls-rivalry-...)
MLS Rivalries: Who fans think their biggest rivals are
MLS has Rivalry Week. But which battles do fans actually care about? We asked thousands of them to find out.
www.backheeled.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The West is a bit trickier, since Cascadia & the Texas teams are obvious "pods" of 3, Cali teams are an obv. pod of 4, and the only 2 team pod is COL-RSL. (MIN, SKC, STL is also a good 3-team pod)."
(Big h/t to @eliotmckinley.com's work @backheeled.com on this: www.backheeled.com/mls-rivalry-...)
(Big h/t to @eliotmckinley.com's work @backheeled.com on this: www.backheeled.com/mls-rivalry-...)
NSH would hate that – they see their biggest rival as ATL, so I think NSH, ATL, CLT, ORL, MIA is more-or-less locked if we're looking at sets of 5.
DC, RBNY, NYC, PHI, NER also seems like an obvious cluster, which makes me think the other from current East teams would be CHI, CIN, CLB, MTL, TOR
DC, RBNY, NYC, PHI, NER also seems like an obvious cluster, which makes me think the other from current East teams would be CHI, CIN, CLB, MTL, TOR
November 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
NSH would hate that – they see their biggest rival as ATL, so I think NSH, ATL, CLT, ORL, MIA is more-or-less locked if we're looking at sets of 5.
DC, RBNY, NYC, PHI, NER also seems like an obvious cluster, which makes me think the other from current East teams would be CHI, CIN, CLB, MTL, TOR
DC, RBNY, NYC, PHI, NER also seems like an obvious cluster, which makes me think the other from current East teams would be CHI, CIN, CLB, MTL, TOR
If MLS would schedule it in the afternoon, could just take the train to Union Station @ walk
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
If MLS would schedule it in the afternoon, could just take the train to Union Station @ walk
Still feels weird to be covering a team where postgame interviews aren't almost always conducted with players looking at the ground and holding back tears.
Strange times.
Strange times.
November 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Still feels weird to be covering a team where postgame interviews aren't almost always conducted with players looking at the ground and holding back tears.
Strange times.
Strange times.
Agreed. But generally the 50 yr mortgage is passed off as a way to make housing more "affordable" - meaning monthly payments - when in reality, it doesn't. (Besides, there's evidence that we're supply constrained & ceteris paribus, lowering payments would just boost prices in that situation)
November 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Agreed. But generally the 50 yr mortgage is passed off as a way to make housing more "affordable" - meaning monthly payments - when in reality, it doesn't. (Besides, there's evidence that we're supply constrained & ceteris paribus, lowering payments would just boost prices in that situation)