Who said defense can’t win championships? Maybe. Maybe not. I like what Minnesota did last year. They found an opening in putting together a team MUCH different then everyone else. Sometimes different can be good. In this case, it did not hurt Minnesota to have the best defender and the best goalkeeper.
On the contrary, it set Minnesota in their first-ever MLS playoff game. Here’s how Minnesota’s seasons as a team have gone, 70 GA, 71GA, 43GA. Not only did they have a great regular season, how about playing in the finals of the US Open Cup. I think the defense will return as good as ever, I say playoffs for sure.
Apologies to Adrien Heath for my 2018 take.
The Good: Finding an identity and Ike Opara becoming immortal?
The Bad: That the MLS switch to one-game playoff games.
Minnesota’s Spongebob Gif
Minnesota is no fluke. It’s probably the last thing I’d call them. But here’s the thing, in the NFL, when a team with a brand new gadget offense kills it in the first year, the next, not so much. It’s just human nature that there will be a drop-off. There is no more element of surprise. MNUFC will not be surprising anyone with their defense.
Meaning, there is no chance Minnesota will only give up 43 goals next season. No doubt they’ll finish in the top 5 in the least amount of goals conceded. Without the reigning goalkeeper of the year, can their offense pick up where the pace?
Offseason moves
The trade of Darwin Quintero is a huge blow here. Not that the return for the trade was too little, but Walker Zimmerman got LAFC a couple dozen refrigerators (that’s an NWSL joke). What I mean is, while he may have been on the downfall at Minnesota, he can still ball. And when a team struggle, all be it with some blame to him, it’s not great to let go of a player with some great experience.
Whilst this is a big list, another highlight is that of Luis Amarilla. He’s I guess supposed to be their savior in forward. But rumor has it MNU is fighting to get Emanuel Reynoso of Boca Juniors. Which would be a GREAT signing!
Starting XI
The wall that is Opara, Boxall, Alonso, and Gregus are back to shuffle. That’s all that really matters. For a playoff spot of course. If they truly want to be contenders and not pretenders, the offense needs to pick it up. Whether or not Minnesota can land Reynoso, Amarilla has to hit his 25 goals…goal. If he can do that, for sure Minnesota is a contender.
Betting Odds
Bovada agrees that Minnesota United could be on the cusp of contention. That push from being pretenders is a tough one. Done by few recently. Atlanta in year 2, Toronto in 2016. And now Minnesota could make that jump, and +1800 is are some decent odds.
Best Watches
Ben Baer of MLS Soccer dot com wrote his yearly(?) strength of schedule article. Low and behold, guess who finished with analytically the easiest schedule in the league. That all has to do probably with the end of the schedule. After their August 16 game with Seattle, Minnesota faces one 2019 playoff team.
Luckily enough, we get to see them play their US Open Cup opponents and eventual winners Atlanta. With the increase of teams, we won’t get to see each MLS face each other. Eventually, the leagues jumping to 30 teams and I’d be interested to see how the league gets split up. 15 each conference? 6, 5 team divisions? The possibilities.
Prediction
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFOracFClBg?start=19]
So, here’s the thing on Minnesota United, I don’t think they’ll suck. Yes, the defense is there. Yes, the stadium is there. Yes, the fans are there. I wanna hear Wonderwall BOOMing through my tv set this year, and hopefully in person someday. This team will compete for a top 5 finish this season.
Admittedly there are teams on my list that are not, scratch, are definitely not on anyone else’s list. On my list, Minnesota is gonna place 6th this season, with a very good chance of advancing. Ignore the ranking, I think Minnesota has a very, VERY good shot of playing in the Western Conference Finals.
Hey! If you hated this blog! You’re gonna hate the other 25 blogs! Be sure to check them out as I count down each MLS team from worst to first for 2020.