What’s up! I’m an MLS and USMNT insider with The Athletic as well as Apple TV. I’ve previously written for MLSSoccer.com as well as The Guardian. I’m here to answer some questions starting at 11am ET.
Let’s get after whatever you want. Messi in Miami, Phil Neville in Portland, USMNT stuff, who’s next to come to MLS, mustache questions, all good.
Will you write a book just to one-up Paul Tenorio?
Hi Tom, I have a question regarding the Revs DP situation. Have you heard anything about Bou and Vrioni departing the team this offseason or are both expected to come back? If not any potential replacements or does chancalays purchase option make him a DP and he takes a spot? Thanks!
bou is out of contract. seems like he’s gone but man if he would accept a max-TAM deal, i think honestly like every team should be offering him that.
vrioni has been a disaster. gotta transfer him out.
chancalay would be a DP if they pick up his option. id be shocked if they don’t, he’s so good. an attack with borrero-gil-chancalay and a new DP forward could be AWESOME
tom, first time long time
would you ever consider living somewhere other than new jersey for an extended period of time
hahaha i absolutely love london but that’s not very compatible with being an MLS insider.
my lovely fiance is a small business owner near where we live so i’ll be in NJ for the long-term!
Hey Tom, what’s a realistic expectation and ceiling for the USMNT through the rest of the decade? Follow up: talk about the state of the CB position and do you think that’s the weakest link to/for our success?
realistic is quarterfinals at least in 2026. disappointment if not. why can’t they make semis? but anything less than quarterfinals is a disappointment.
if richards progresses, that position will be fine. i see your point where there’s not an elite talent to look at for that position unlike several others (LW with pulisic, ST balogun, CAM reyna, DM adams, etc)
Hi Tom, do you have any insight on USMNT Dual National battles? Luca Koleosho’s name has been thrown about a ton, wondering if you have any info that Gregg hasn’t said out loud
Are there any rumblings coming from the Revs regarding the new coach and new sporting director? The MLS off-season really isn’t that long from the end of playoffs to training camps so I feel like they really need to get this squared away soon so they can make the necessary roster improvements to contend next season.
with the revs eliminated, the sporting director search will accelerate and im sure they want to wrap that up soon.
they have a good base. any team with carles gil is always gonna have a chance. but a potential attacking midfield group of borrero-gil-chancalay next year is tasty.
Thanks for doing this Tom!
Do you like the playoffs changes this year?
If it was up to you how would you structure it?
thanks for caring enough to ask a question!
round one has been better than i thought it would be. but im looking forward to the single-elimination games in the upcoming rounds. what i love in mls is that the better seed hosts these games rather than a pre-deetermined neutral field for the final. i hope that never ever changes.
How’s the relationship between Berhalter & Gio Reyna?
I don’t follow MLS but curious about US soccer.
Where do you see the league 4-5 years from now?
Do you see the league finally adapting Pro-Rel?
hopefully closer to being the best non-top-5 league in the world. gotta keep inching that way.
i don’t see it anytime soon with $500m expansion fees and all the infrastructure investment from teams. owners would have to agree to it. don’t see a world where they agree anytime soon
Hi Tom! Any update on DCU’s GM search?
Do MLS contracts have a release clause? I think the answer is “no” as MLS seems to go with highest offer gets a player (similar to NBA, MLB, etc)
Why do some players seem to get stuck in MLS purgatory when it comes to transfers? Cowell, Jesus, Miles - they seem to want to go to Europe and there are teams that want them, but the transfer doesn’t/hasn’t happen(ed)
Any idea on what happened with Bruce Arena? It just seems so odd that that it was serious enough for him to resign but no word on what he did
What is your favorite source/metric for figuring out the next wonder kid in the MLS/USMNT?
After signing Messi, Busquets, Alba, and now probably Suarez in Miami, what MLS team do you see that can achieve similar signings, and what big names do you see coming to MLS?
on the horizon i think griezmann and giroud are coming. i do think (hope?) neymar will too. will there be a time where the USMNT stars come here earlier than maybe expected like bradley/altidore/dempsey did? who knows.
tough to compete with saudi money so if a player is moving just for money, they’re gonig to saudi 100%. but lifestyle is here. messi helped a lot too (OBVIOUSLY)
Who’s the up and coming kid(s) to watch who could appear on the World Cup roster for '26?