Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 12h

🇺🇸 2-1 🇦🇺, full-time thoughts:

▪️ Poch sees McKennie as a No. 10
▪️ Weah offers next-to-nothing on the left wing
▪️ Sands can’t progress the ball and probably shouldn't have a place in this team
▪️ Roldan played the best ball of all four CMs in this window

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Charles Boehm ⚽️ @cboehm.bsky.social · 13h

So much good stuff from so many players in such a quickly-developing sequence for the leveler.

Richards' read to step is superb. Roldan calm in traffic, then clever to see the vertical seam + exploit it. Wright snaps from seemingly disinterested to in on goal in, what, 3-4 steps?

Speed of thought📈

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 13h

It really is a 3-4-3 in attack and defense tonight for the USMNT.

Notably, Poch has used that setup twice. Both times, it's been against teams that also play a 3-4-3.

Once against Japan and then again tonight.

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 15h

let’s try this again after Friday…

big day for those of us who've been in the "tim weah at wingback" trenches

U.S. Soccer Men's National Team @usmnt.ussoccer.com · 15h

Our XI at 5280'. 🏔️

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Jeff Rueter @jeffrueter.bsky.social · 20h

Big episode of MLS Update on @totalsoccershow.bsky.social!

@joeclowery.bsky.social and I debated the major end-of-year awards (MVP, Defender, Goalkeeper, Coach, Young Player, Newcomer) in a draft format. Plus, a bit more on last week's career update.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yk1...

Does Messi really deserve the MVP award?

YouTube video by Total Soccer Show

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Total Soccer Show @totalsoccershow.bsky.social · 23h

🏆 Picking our MLS end-of-season awards!

🥇 Who should really win MVP?

🔝 Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year & more!

Listen to 𝐌𝐋𝐒 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 with @jeffrueter.bsky.social, @joeclowery.bsky.social, and Taylor! 👇

Should Messi really win MVP? Coach of the Year, top young player & more award picks | MLS Update

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Tom Bogert @tombogert.bsky.social · 1d

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

I'm back. www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Tom Bogert: Why I returned to The Athletic

America's greatest soccer newsbreaker documents why he's back where he belongs — here

www.nytimes.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 1d

listen to find out which extremely handsome co-host takes home the title

Total Soccer Show @totalsoccershow.bsky.social · 1d

Quiz time! USMNT quiz time, to be specific! 🇺🇸

TSS+ bonus episode 👇

USMNT roster quiz | Total Soccer Show+

www.patreon.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 3d

For the first time, Malik Tillman looked like that dude for the USMNT vs. Ecuador 🇺🇸

Spent lots of time on Tillman + Pochettino's tactical setup (which was virtually the same as the one he's used in most every game) on the @totalsoccershow.bsky.social.

Listen ⤵️
open.spotify.com/episode/2WFi...

USMNT vs. Ecuador review: Weston McKennie's return, Malik Tillman's breakout & more

open.spotify.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 4d

big day for those of us who've been in the "tim weah at right wingback" trenches

U.S. Soccer Men's National Team @usmnt.ussoccer.com · 4d

ATX XI.

#USMNT x The Home Depot

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 4d

😂

Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 4d

you dropped this 👑

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Jeff Rueter @jeffrueter.bsky.social · 5d

Some personal news: today is my final day at The Athletic, ending a 6+ year tenure on its staff.

Immensely fortunate to have covered this sport alongside some of the finest writers and editors in the industry. Will keep you posted as I figure out what’s next for my work!

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 5d

Not much to be taken from that 7-0, IMO, given that Carnell rotated several dudes ahead of their midweek Open Cup game.

I'm super high on Vancouver and we both have and will talk about them a ton before the year is out.

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

It’s Joncacaf @jonarnoldfc.bsky.social · 6d

It's NOT too soon to start talking about Ben Wright as a dynasty

MY COLUMN:

SixOneFive Soccer @sixonefivesoccer.com · 6d

Those our our guys!

Congrats to @benwright.bsky.social for being voted Nashville's Best Sports Writer by the @nashvillescene.com readers, and to @valair.bsky.social for finishing in the Top 3!

SixOneFive Soccer's Ben Wright voted Best Sports Writer in Best of Nashville Reader's Poll

Valair Shabilla finishes in Top 3 as two of SixOneFive Soccer's founders recognized by The Nashville Scene readers

www.sixonefivesoccer.com

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Total Soccer Show @totalsoccershow.bsky.social · 6d

🗣️ @joeclowery.bsky.social: "Can he deliver for the US? Is he going to emerge as the other starter across from Pulisic?"

Can Malik Tillman be the USMNT's 'Other Guy'? 🇺🇸

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Total Soccer Show @totalsoccershow.bsky.social · 6d

Watch today's 𝐔𝐒𝐌𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 episode on YouTube 📺

Building Poch's best USMNT XI to face Ecuador

YouTube video by Total Soccer Show

www.youtube.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 6d

(this is a bit)

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 6d

justice for finn surman

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 7d

It's the final MLS In-Depth Power Rankings of the season!

All year long, @benwright.bsky.social and I have been diving into every MLS team, every week.

On Eric Ramsay's tactical shift, Ryan Gauld being up to his old tricks, Portland Timbers' problems & more ⤵️
www.backheeled.com/mls-in-depth...

MLS In-Depth Power Rankings: Minnesota United's tactics, two legends retire & more

In a twist on a classic, we’re not just ranking all 30 MLS teams. We’re analyzing them, too.

www.backheeled.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 7d

if this is the salary reguilon is getting from inter miami and he ends up as a DP, i take it all back
bsky.app/profile/fabr...

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR) @fabrizioromano.yopro20.com · 7d

🚨🇺🇸 More on Sergio Reguilón and Inter Miami exclusive story revealed last week. Despite proposals from La Liga clubs and Iran side Persepolis offering salary close to €4m net per season… …Reguilón told his agent that he only wants Inter Miami. Talks are already advanced 🏁

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 7d

Nagbe goes down as an absolute legend of the U.S. game.

I'll miss watching him, though maybe not quite as much as Diego Valeri, who said this of the four-time MLS Cup winner:

"If I ever have grandchildren and they ask about soccer in the United States, I will tell them that I played with him."

Felipe Cardenas @felipecardenas.bsky.social · 8d

Darlington Nagbe decided over the summer that 2025 would be his last season in MLS. He stayed quiet about until today.

Nagbe, and those closest to him, spoke to The Athletic about his decision and the emotional conflicts of his announcement.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Darlington Nagbe retires: An understated star with an impeccable reputation

Nagbe is retiring after a distinguished, trophy-laden career in MLS, and those closest to him paint a picture of a revered superstar

www.nytimes.com

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 7d

It's hard to overstate just how much more Inter Miami can look like a normal, functioning soccer team without Jordi Alba on the field.

Legend of the game. Elite attacking presence. Offers less than zero defensively at this stage.

Potential for much better balance in '26.

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR) @fabrizioromano.yopro20.com · 8d

🚨🇪🇸 OFFICIAL: Jordi Alba retires from professional football at the end of MLS season.

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Joseph Lowery @joeclowery.bsky.social · 8d

king

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Reposted by Joseph Lowery

Soccerwise @soccerwisehq.bsky.social · 10d

Ernst Tanner is a top Sporting Director 🔝

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