Source: MLS

We are playing in the final conference semi-final on Sunday evening 11/24 @ 5pm (assuming this is CST, not PST)

Not totally pertinent to the Loons this very moment, but definitely is something to follow to see who we are going to meet in the finals 😁.

The wife and I really want to go support the Loons in LA but can’t commit to getting the ticket without knowing the exact time and date of the game, is the idea the it will be determined after this weekend games?

Supporter groups!?!

I am on my third season as season ticket holder in the supporter group. I’m curious what’s the point of choosing group and is there’s any difference between them. What is the pro/cons of each group. Currently I picked Red Loons. But do feel any sense of supporting community.

Welcome to Free Talk Friday!

Are you new and have questions? Do you have non-MNUFC related stuff you want to discuss? This is the place to do it.

Keep it civil. Don’t be a dick.

Unlike other years when I felt we could pick up some pieces to strengthen the team, I feel pretty content with our roster (with some obvious upgrades in midfield) but I’m not expecting any of these guys to be making it back or being a major piece at any other mls club.

Houston: Jan Gregus

Austin: Ethan Finlay

Portland: Mason Toye

Nashville: Brent Kallman

Toronto: Greg Ranjitsingh

DC: Tyler Miller

Chicago: Wyatt Omsberg is still talking to the team

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/who-s-in-who-s-out-mls-year-end-roster-changes-2025-season

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-lewis-morgan-named-2024-mls-comeback-player-of-the-year

Used by most MLS teams and many clubs in Europe to get a view of the positive/negative impact a player had both increasing odds of scoring and decreasing odds of conceding during a game. Doesn't include keepers.

Shows what a disciplined all around effort the Loons put together to have three guys putting up top 15 type marks across the entire league on the night:

~.7 or better - Cucho F CLB (approaching a .80 and well above anyone else)

~.6 to ~.7- Puig M LAG, Williams D ATL, Messi F MIA

~.5 to ~.6 - Zawadski M CLB, Acosta M CIN, Pereyra

~.4 to ~.5 - Another 7-9 guys including both Diaz and Bongi. Crooks was RSL's best player and in this range

Yeboah put up around a .35. There were a couple of teams who didn't get a single player this high. Rosales and Lod also put up numbers a bit over .20. For perspective Seattle's best player in their game was roughly par with Rosales.

Can't speak for players on other teams, but fans of other teams sure seem to be. RSL fan or two asking how could they lose to us. LAG fans pointing to the last two meetings and feeling quite confident.

This is not the same team, at all, we saw back in the summer.

Also, the color guy on the Apple broadcast really did a nice job during the game pointing out both how we play and why we are improved.

https://www.twincities.com/2024/11/03/can-loons-win-mls-cup-eric-ramsay-thinks-so/

The one sentence conclusion:

"Outstanding performances from Joseph Rosales and Joaquín Pereyra, as well as generally great work across the board, pushed the Loons to this series clinching win."

Worth the longer read.

Loons Advance After Shootout Victory in Game 2 | Minnesota United FC

Assuming we pull off two road wins against LA and against our opponent in the conference final (which could also be hosted if Vancouver keeps up their scoring machine), the mathematical path to hosting MLS Cup is not improbable based on this weekend's results in the East.

To begin with, we would only NOT host the final if Miami, Columbus (scratch that cause they're out) or Cincinnati made the final. The final is based on regular season points, not seeding.

Enter the interesting equation of a Loons/Orlando City final. Both finished with 52 points. The next tiebreaker is wins (both with 15), followed by goal differential (both with +9). MLSSoccer.com doesn't give the next tiebreaker, but Orlando did finish above the Loons in the Supporter's Shield standings, so likely, Orlando hosts. (Someone clarify if you know the fourth tiebreaker.)

Both Inter and Cincy have been forced to game 3s on non-penalty loses, so they are showing some vulnerability in a potential one-off Conference semifinal or final, if they even make it there. Even Charlotte has forced a game 3 against Orlando.

Yes, it is a talk ask to think Inter won't make the final, but if they don't it's looking likely that the West will host MLS Cup.

Why not us?

Did 5,000 people buy their tickets last minute? I checked SeakGeek before the game and it looked like there were whole sections that were not sold yet. Midway through the game they announced a sellout.