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No idea. Maybe the coaching staff is trying to be lowkey? Genuine just getting info wrong? It’s bizarre to me that a team can not list players on their injury report the day before a game and then they just don’t travel and don’t make the bench. Why put anyone on there then lol

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FC Dallas has been basically stretching the truth on their injury report the whole year for whatever reason. I mean this is bizarre at this point

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Honored to be mentioned in this piece. But seriously, it’s great to see that can look forward to avoiding really poor technical games on the pitch by removing a decent chunk of the summer matches

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That can only last for so long. And it's surprising because the team can sit in a low block, but for example, on Saturday Urhoghide, a CB, is up in the opposing team's box tied 2-2. A draw is good away... just take the points. Quill's done an excellent job but what is the evolution of this team?

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It wasn't just the CLT game. A lot of the games are masked by great individual moments but RSL away, SKC home are a couple of examples where the game flipped after Dallas jumped out ahead and the team just kept getting hammered. They can't control games. Their way of control is attack

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It basically allows Dallas to cover its deficiencies; not the greatest technically in the middle and plays to its strength in its forwards. He's done an excellent job, but it seems like he struggles to have a Plan B.

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

It's really interesting how Quill has reinvented himself as this direct coach. For reference, here's where Dallas sits per @catabush.com. Look at where his New Mexico United was. It'd probably be closer to that middle glob of teams in MLS. Instead, Dallas is one of the most direct teams in MLS

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If they did, they did a shit job of cheating

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

2 games in and a point gained. Tough game against red hot STL before Austin and Colorado.

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

You gotta figure out a way to put Izoita on the pitch man. He looks really good in the limited minutes! Like I said last week, one of my players to watch for in the future

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Because it’s a less active window across the world. Like the genuine activity level is lower in winter than in the summer for European clubs who are picking off MLS talent

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All due respect to MLSNP but why is this graphic so shitty quality?

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Tim Hotze @timhotze.com · 08/10/2026

Been looking more into MLS Next Pro and a guy who excites me is Eric Izoita. Metrics seem very good and I was telling @jeremypeterman.bsky.social he seems to be an awesome profile. Gonna need to keep my eyes on him closely

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

The J-League circulated this slide deck ahead of the schedule change, calling it the "valley curve" for performance in midseason where heat made performance drop vs the "mountain curve" in European leagues. aboutj.jleague.jp/seasonreview...

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The Dynamo sold Jack McGlynn on Sept. 1. Their npxG is the 3rd lowest for any team in its last 5 games, just ahead of MTL and ATX. They already weren’t a team that produced much but selling of McGlynn for sure makes that even worse. It’ll be nice not have seasons derailed due to summer transfers

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Very random question: Do we have physical data on games in extreme cold/colder temperatures vs extreme heat/hotter games? Is there any literature? I’m curious because both the K League and J League mention heat as a reason to changing their schedules but MLS never mentioned it

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Photo one is Quill and photo two is Estevez. Yes, Estevez’s weighted age continuously grew YoY but if that’s the case then Quill has to be held to the same standard right? And at that point, is it a refusal to play the academy kids or just that both do not believe they are good enough to contribute?

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

It’s been a huge problem for a while now. Tough to say who Dallas is developing from their academy. It seemed as if the club wanted to go back its roots with Quill but even he’s playing lineups that are the same age as what Estevez played (who many fans claim stifled the pipeline)

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Justin Ellis limping on his run for his goal was hilarious

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

What a ball from Alex Freeman man. Just a great ball into space that Reyna can do something with

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Cavan Sullivan has the sauce man

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Top of the West in MLS is legitmately up for grabs. Vancouver has a brutal stretch of games coming up, all on the road. Can a team like Dallas, STL, SJ or even potential new bounce LAFC catch them? Interested to see if Vancouver can keep their #1 seed afloat. That result against DC at home…😬😬

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Almost seems like an ode to the old NHL team the Atlanta Thrashers

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

MdS has absolutely hurt LAFC if you look at the advanced metrics. I saw a commentator on MLS 360 (can’t remember who) said LAFC fans were spoiled for wanting change. Nah man. You have the resources and the talent at LAFC, your style of play has to be better!

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

Sounder at Heart @sounderatheart.com · 22/09/2026

We don’t know what the Sounders have planned for the roster beyond this year but we do know they’ll have plenty of flexibility. We asked GAM expert @armankafai.bsky.social to help explain. www.sounderatheart.com/2026/09/soun...

sounderatheart.com

Sounders’ GAM stockpile provides plenty of flexibility

An analysis by a GAM expert suggests the Sounders have the resources to make a big splash in the upcoming offseason.

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We dove into why Seattle’s situation actually is pretty damn good, and is in a better situation to revamp its squad. I didn’t realize it when I was analyzing the roster profiles + GAM at first… but the Sounders could have 5 of the 6 discretionary spots open next season.

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

footyanalyticmusings.substack.com

MLS has released another update of its GAM figures. We look into who’s doing great going in 2027 and who isn’t, as the league enters a period of uncertainty with a looming CBA expiration in January ‘28. Who do you think is looking healthy going into the 2027 season?

Fall 2026 GAM Release

Can we get any insights to the future of some MLS teams?

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

American Soccer Analysis @americansocceranalysis.com · 18/09/2026

We know about the hot hand, but what do we think about hot feet? 😈 @kierdoyle.bsky.social tried to port the hot hand theory over from basketball to soccer and it's maybe sorta kinda a thing www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/9/...

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Arman Kafai @armankafai.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Normal club would put out a press release saying that this happened by the way.

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cata @catabush.com · 17/09/2026

This is something I just wanted to point out (and shoutout Daniel for clarification) but just because a deal is done doesn’t mean the team gets the money to be used as GAM instantly. They must actually receive the payment before it can be converted; you can’t have money that you don’t have yet

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

Daniel Job is a really interesting guy and his transfer to FC Dallas raises a lot of questions about process, player evaluation, and league translation. In the closer look, I try to flesh out what a talent eval workflow could look like, and why it's harder than just "this player good."

post-match-report.leaflet.pub

September 16: adjusting the job prior

#bayesianlover

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footyanalyticmusings.substack.com

Fall 2026 GAM Release

Can we get any insights to the future of some MLS teams?

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Reposted by Arman Kafai

David Gass @empiregass.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

STL going to a cup final in 1 window 👀 Revs top 4 in 2 Etc Etc

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Also, an MLS rebuild shouldn't really take 4-5 windows. You have the international market; you don't need to pray for a draft pick or a lottery.

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