Free Headers: Loons head to St. Louis, and who hates Iowa?
Minnesota heads to St. Louis, at a point where things aren't going well. Plus Gophers, transactions, and podcasts.
Jon Marthaler
Podcasts
Podcast Episode 1: Why so many, uh, fallings down?
I've done so many other podcasts, why not ask myself the questions too?
Caution might be the key for fixing the Loons defense
Minnesota isn't going to stop pressing - but needs to work on picking the right moments to press.
Free Headers: MLS returns to being serious about U.S. Open Cup
The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup final was Toluca against Tigres. The 2026 Leagues Cup final will be Toluca against Monterrey (with Club León against Club América in the third-place game.) Maybe Major League Soccer is getting serious about the U.S. Open Cup for a simple reason: there aren&
After a quiet summer transfer window, Minnesota United has to hope its team is better than its results
MNUFC finished its transfer window with another intriguing move - but if the Loons are going anywhere in 2026, it'll be with the team it already had.
Soccer Cards
Cardboard Soccer, Part 2: Collectors vs. Investors
Nothing here is ever legal or investing advice... but I can tell you what I think you should do.
The second-half Loons might be a good team with bad results
The underlying numbers say that the Loons have played well post-World Cup. But the results don't begin to match.
Free Headers: Dominik Fitz goes to Austria, Maurice Malone arrives from Austria, Duggan and Diaz extend contracts (not in Austria)
Minnesota's moves are one loan out, one signing in, and two contract extensions.
Hank Stebbins steps into interim CSO role for MNUFC - with an almost impossible degree of difficulty
This is probably not how Hank Stebbins wanted to get a top job in MLS - but now, the interim Chief Soccer Officer has to steer the MNUFC ship.
"He's got a big future": Fanendo Adi is helping Marcus Caldeira shoot to the forefront for MNUFC
MNUFC2 head coach Fanendo Adi was the right coach in the right place at the right time, for Loons striker Marcus Caldeira.
The negative Loons narrative is impossible to ignore
One of the more difficult parts of sportswriting is trying to fit single, discrete events into a larger narrative arc. It's why we write so often about streaks and runs; it makes every particular event part of a larger whole, and therefore part of the story we are
Free Headers: MNUFC celebrates Team of the Decade as they take on (mumbles vaguely)
The Loons take on Atlanta - and celebrate ten years as a club.