John Morrissey
@usltactics.com
Co-host of @theuslshow.bsky.social, contributor at @Backheeled.com. Did oppo scouting and data for the Sacramento Republic and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Hernandez had one of my favorite stat lines of 2025, which was basically just "oops all goals"
January 11, 2026 at 8:52 PM
Hernandez had one of my favorite stat lines of 2025, which was basically just "oops all goals"
BREAKING: Mark Briggs, head coach of the Birmingham Legion, is departing the club, sources tell me and @joeclowery.bsky.social.
Briggs is expected to join the staff at FC Dallas, where he’ll serve under former New Mexico United manager Eric Quill.
Briggs is expected to join the staff at FC Dallas, where he’ll serve under former New Mexico United manager Eric Quill.
January 11, 2026 at 8:09 PM
BREAKING: Mark Briggs, head coach of the Birmingham Legion, is departing the club, sources tell me and @joeclowery.bsky.social.
Briggs is expected to join the staff at FC Dallas, where he’ll serve under former New Mexico United manager Eric Quill.
Briggs is expected to join the staff at FC Dallas, where he’ll serve under former New Mexico United manager Eric Quill.
I’m still buying the potential on Gnaulati even if he failed to make the offensive leap last year. In the right system, he’s got the potential to really be a player.
January 9, 2026 at 11:21 PM
I’m still buying the potential on Gnaulati even if he failed to make the offensive leap last year. In the right system, he’s got the potential to really be a player.
Kinda awesome that Boise decided to build a legitimate Championship roster.
January 9, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Kinda awesome that Boise decided to build a legitimate Championship roster.
You see Scott’s patience here, where he’s mixing longer balls with around-the-edge service. His deeper presence forces defenses to stretch and elevates the rest of a roster – exactly what Las Vegas missed last year.
January 8, 2026 at 8:51 PM
You see Scott’s patience here, where he’s mixing longer balls with around-the-edge service. His deeper presence forces defenses to stretch and elevates the rest of a roster – exactly what Las Vegas missed last year.
The Kyle Scott move to Las Vegas is now official, and they’re getting one of the premier deep-lying creators in the USL. This Lights team has improved at every position group this winter, but Scott is the caliber of initiator that can bring it all together.
January 8, 2026 at 8:51 PM
The Kyle Scott move to Las Vegas is now official, and they’re getting one of the premier deep-lying creators in the USL. This Lights team has improved at every position group this winter, but Scott is the caliber of initiator that can bring it all together.
Getting Ostrem and Nigro is the kind of greed they talked about in the bible
January 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Getting Ostrem and Nigro is the kind of greed they talked about in the bible
Great as always from Jeff Carlisle, and the image rights stuff is fascinating. I reported earlier this week that the USL's Konami deal alone generates a huge profit, and that's before you consider any other sponsorships or licenses on the table.
January 7, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Great as always from Jeff Carlisle, and the image rights stuff is fascinating. I reported earlier this week that the USL's Konami deal alone generates a huge profit, and that's before you consider any other sponsorships or licenses on the table.
Swan was at his best as a No. 9 with Rapids 2 in Next Pro and with IU, as you can see across his finishes here. Typically ambitious move from Charleston.
January 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Swan was at his best as a No. 9 with Rapids 2 in Next Pro and with IU, as you can see across his finishes here. Typically ambitious move from Charleston.
Some tape here on Julien Lacher, the 18-year-old winger the Cosmos signed off of NYCFC II. Lacher put up six goals and seven assists in Next Pro last season and really seems to be a coup of a signing.
January 1, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Some tape here on Julien Lacher, the 18-year-old winger the Cosmos signed off of NYCFC II. Lacher put up six goals and seven assists in Next Pro last season and really seems to be a coup of a signing.
Enormous move for New Mexico. United clicked when they leaned into a slightly more vertical approach that maximized speed on the flanks, and Reid-Stephen's mix of pace with end product is made for that kind of soccer. He should excel in the Championship.
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Enormous move for New Mexico. United clicked when they leaned into a slightly more vertical approach that maximized speed on the flanks, and Reid-Stephen's mix of pace with end product is made for that kind of soccer. He should excel in the Championship.
Tekiela is a proven No. 9/No. 10 hybrid player that seems perfect for Vincenzo Candela's attacking line. One of Omaha's biggest strengths late in 2025 was their depth and versatility up top, and Tekiela is purpose-built to provide that in 2026.
December 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Tekiela is a proven No. 9/No. 10 hybrid player that seems perfect for Vincenzo Candela's attacking line. One of Omaha's biggest strengths late in 2025 was their depth and versatility up top, and Tekiela is purpose-built to provide that in 2026.
Even while playing somewhat further upfield and falling out of favor late in the year, Rodriguez’s numbers were stellar. We know what he can be in the Detroit system – statement move.
December 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Even while playing somewhat further upfield and falling out of favor late in the year, Rodriguez’s numbers were stellar. We know what he can be in the Detroit system – statement move.
Pack has probably been League One's best goalkeeper for the past three or four years, and his advanced numbers remained elite with Tormenta in 2025. We might have a legit competition for the starting spot in Tampa Bay!
December 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Pack has probably been League One's best goalkeeper for the past three or four years, and his advanced numbers remained elite with Tormenta in 2025. We might have a legit competition for the starting spot in Tampa Bay!
So I'm officially thinking it's a 4-4-2? This depth chart is silly good.
December 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
So I'm officially thinking it's a 4-4-2? This depth chart is silly good.
We debate the merits of Las Vegas' winter in the show, but I'm feeling even better with the addition of Abraham Okyere in the midfield. The Lights badly needed a progressive, sturdy option in the pivot, and Okyere looks like that exact kind of piece.
December 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
We debate the merits of Las Vegas' winter in the show, but I'm feeling even better with the addition of Abraham Okyere in the midfield. The Lights badly needed a progressive, sturdy option in the pivot, and Okyere looks like that exact kind of piece.
In a very challenging Texoma setup, Kilwien did in 2025 what he's always done at the USL level: combine sharp long-range passing with defensive efficiency. Love the business Miami's doing relative to L1 so far.
December 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
In a very challenging Texoma setup, Kilwien did in 2025 what he's always done at the USL level: combine sharp long-range passing with defensive efficiency. Love the business Miami's doing relative to L1 so far.
Second: a step up to Sacramento for Pierre Reedy, who brings the grit and work rate that the Republic came to expect from Russell Cicerone. Good underlying attacking numbers for Reedy in Spokane, really curious to see how his game rounds out.
www.sacrepublicfc.com/news/2025/12...
www.sacrepublicfc.com/news/2025/12...
December 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Second: a step up to Sacramento for Pierre Reedy, who brings the grit and work rate that the Republic came to expect from Russell Cicerone. Good underlying attacking numbers for Reedy in Spokane, really curious to see how his game rounds out.
www.sacrepublicfc.com/news/2025/12...
www.sacrepublicfc.com/news/2025/12...
Two signings I love today: first up, Cristian Parano is back in San Antonio on a multi-year deal. He's still the best dribbler in this league, and the chemistry between him, Jorge Hernandez, and Mikey Maldonado is going to be mouth-watering.
www.sanantoniofc.com/news/2025/12...
www.sanantoniofc.com/news/2025/12...
December 17, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Two signings I love today: first up, Cristian Parano is back in San Antonio on a multi-year deal. He's still the best dribbler in this league, and the chemistry between him, Jorge Hernandez, and Mikey Maldonado is going to be mouth-watering.
www.sanantoniofc.com/news/2025/12...
www.sanantoniofc.com/news/2025/12...
Here’s Tunbridge with Miami on a string in last year’s Jagermeister Cup, along with another clip that captures his ability to drive play through the middle. Really excited about this one.
December 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Here’s Tunbridge with Miami on a string in last year’s Jagermeister Cup, along with another clip that captures his ability to drive play through the middle. Really excited about this one.
Lovely business for Miami, who get one of the most dynamic left-footers in the USL. Tunbridge is incredibly dynamic coming off the wing, and he'll give Miami a sense of ingenuity between the lines that wasn't always there in 2025.
December 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Lovely business for Miami, who get one of the most dynamic left-footers in the USL. Tunbridge is incredibly dynamic coming off the wing, and he'll give Miami a sense of ingenuity between the lines that wasn't always there in 2025.
Billhardt has suffered through some injuries over the years, but he's one of the most aggressive final-third dribblers in the USL at his best. Really good pick-up for Omaha here.
December 15, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Billhardt has suffered through some injuries over the years, but he's one of the most aggressive final-third dribblers in the USL at his best. Really good pick-up for Omaha here.
I don't think the Rowdies need five elite forwards
December 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I don't think the Rowdies need five elite forwards
Couldn't do much better if you want to replace Cristian Parano in the right halfspace and start to make up for Rodrigo Lopez's retirement. Rodriguez is the sort of consistent creative presence that ought to thrive for Sacramento.
December 11, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Couldn't do much better if you want to replace Cristian Parano in the right halfspace and start to make up for Rodrigo Lopez's retirement. Rodriguez is the sort of consistent creative presence that ought to thrive for Sacramento.