Minnesota United FC Discussion Thread

[LittleOzzy]

Minnesota United FC to join MLS in 2017, debuting at TCF Bank Stadium

Almost a year and a half after Minnesota was first awarded an MLS expansion team, it was announced on Friday that Minnesota United FC will be joining the league in 2017 and that the team will be keeping its name and logo.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber and Minnesota United majority owner Dr. Bill McGuire announced the news at an event in St. Paul on Friday, also revealing that the club will maintain its club name and identity as it transitions from the second-division NASL to MLS.

“We have made great strides in the months since MLS expansion plans were announced,” said McGuire in a statement provided by the team, “and look forward to making the jump to Major League Soccer. This next step is an endorsement of our great state, people, and values, and we look forward to jointly building this team as an important piece of our community.”

The team also announced that it will temporarily play in Minneapolis at TCF Bank Stadium, the University of Minnesota’s 52,000-capacity football stadium, until their proposed soccer-specific home opens in St. Paul.

The club on Thursday received the green light from the St. Paul City Council for its privately-financed stadium plan and will next be seeking approval from the Minnesota Legislature on a property tax exemption before beginning construction on a 21,500-seat facility with plans for a 2018 opening.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/19/minnesota-united-fc-join-mls-2017-debuting-tcf-bank-stadium

[LittleOzzy]

Minnesota United Names Head Coach

Minnesota United has announced that Adrian Heath will be the club’s coach for the 2017 Major League Soccer season. Heath was most recently head coach of Orlando City and has over 20 years of managerial experience in the U.S. and England.

“I've known Manny for a long time and he's always spoke so fondly about what's going on in Minnesota, and obviously when the job became available I spoke to Manny and jumped at the chance,” said Minnesota United Head Coach Adrian Heath. “The most important thing for me is they have a project and a real plan in place. Dr. McGuire and this club have big ambitions, you look at the stadium that's going to be built in a couple of years, all incredible things to look forward to, but my job now is to make sure that we're competitive from day one. All of those other things are going to be great but it's what's going on on the field that's most important and that's where I'm going to be focusing my energy toward in the next two months.”

Hailing from Staffordshire, England, Heath enjoyed an 18 year professional soccer career before entering into coaching. The midfielder’s journey began with Stoke City and included a notable career at Everton where he scored 71 goals in 226 appearances, winning two league titles, an FA Cup as well as a UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup in 1985. In 1989 Heath went on to play for Espanyol in Spain, then returned to England to play for Manchester City, and Burnley – where he eventually transitioned into the role of player-manager in 1996.

The Englishman spent the next eleven years coaching in England for clubs such as Burnley, Sheffield United, and Coventry City, before a chance encounter with Phil Rawlins brought him to the United States in 2008.

Rawlins, the former Stoke City director, met with Heath in his hometown of Newcastle-under-Lyme, where the two discussed Rawlins’ dream of setting up a football club in the U.S., and – serendipitously for Heath – Rawlins needed a manager.

Heath accepted the role and was named the head coach of the Austin Aztex, Rawlins’ USL expansion franchise. The team spent two years in Austin, before relocating to Orlando in 2010, becoming Orlando City.

In just four years under Heath in its new city, Orlando City won two USL Pro championships, and three Commissioner’s Cups. The USL club under Heath also tallied two U.S. Open Cup victories over MLS opposition.

Orlando City launched into Major League Soccer in 2015, and Heath’s influence helped build the club for a very successful inaugural MLS season. The club finished seventh in the Eastern Conference, falling just short of clinching a berth into the 2015 MLS playoffs.

http://www.mnufc.com/post/2016/11/29/minnesota-united-names-head-coach

[LittleOzzy]

Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC
2017 MLS Regular Season - Week 1
Providence Park - Portland, Oregon
Friday, March 3 - 9:30 pm ET
WATCH: FS1, FOX Deportes

MLS SOCCER Kicks off tonight in Portland, as the Timbers take on Minnesota United FC!!!

A club with championship ambitions and an established core that was further strengthened by astute offseason acquisitions welcomes an expansion side still taking shape, fueled by a start-up’s adrenaline and a desire to prove the skeptics wrong in their first-ever match. That’s Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC – the match that officially kicks off the 2017 MLS season on Friday night, March 3.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers come in with a chip on their shoulder after missing the MLS Cup Playoffs and failing to defend their 2015 title. But with the additions of ball-hounding defensive midfielder David Guzman and playmaking winger Sebastian Blanco, the Timbers are arguably more stacked and explosive than they’ve ever been in their MLS existence. And those acquisitions carry a ripple effect: They allow the dynamic Diego Chara to push higher up the field and slick possession man Darlington Nagbe to operate on the left wing, where the Timbers vow he will be most productive.

Suspended: None
Injured: DF Gbenga Arokoyo (ruptured Achilles tendon)
Int’l Duty: FW Jeremy Ebobisse (US U-20s)

Projected Timbers Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Jake Gleeson – Vytas Andriuskevicius, Liam Ridgewell, Lawrence Olum, Alvas Powell – David Guzman, Diego Chara – Darlington Nagbe, Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco – Fanendo Adi

Notes: Costa Rican international defender Roy Miller will reportedly join the team on March 6 after wrapping up CONCACAF Champions League participation with Deportivo Saprissa, who were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Miller can play at left back and center back if necessary … The Timbers are pursuing a starting caliber center back after Gbenga Arokoyo suffered a season-ending injury on Jan. 30. MLS veteran Lawrence Olum, who was brought in as cover at defensive midfield, has proven more than capable as a fill-in thus far.

Minnesota United FC

Minnesota’s preseason record (0-2-5) feeds into the narrative of an expansion team that’s going to need more time to find its on-field identity. The squad, steadily assembled throughout the offseason, features interesting pieces: experienced defenders (Calvo, Demidov), skillful possession-based midfielders (Schuller, Warner, Saeid) and explosive wingers and attackers (Gatt, Molino, Ibarra, Venegas, Danladi). Now whether they can function like a fine-tuned machine is up to new head coach Adrian Heath, who has promised high energy and fight in every match, a style reminiscent of his teams in Orlando.

Suspended: None
Injured: FW Abu Danladi (back in training on Tuesday after missing a week with an injury
Int’l Duty: None

Projected MNUFC Starting XI: John Alvbage – Justin Davis, Francisco Calvo, Vadim Demidov, Jermaine Taylor – Rasmus Schuller, Collen Warner – Bashkim Kadrii, Johan Venegas, Kevin Molino – Christian Ramirez

Notes: Swiss defender Jerome Thiesson is reportedly yet to join the team due to visa paperwork … Defender Vadim Demidov was named captain and left back Justin Davis as vice captain.

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2017-03-03-portland-timbers-vs-minnesota-united-fc/preview

Tonight, Fox Sports 1!!! Who will be watching?

[Merc_Porto]

I'm definitely watching this.

[LittleOzzy]

I'm definitely watching this.

How do you think they'll do tonight? Or this season?

[shawn_hemp]

I'm watching as well, can't see Minnesota doing well this year

Which I have based on absolutely nothing

[LittleOzzy]

Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC
2017 MLS Regular Season
Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Denver, Colorado
Saturday, March 18 - 9 p.m. ET
WATCH: MLS LIVE

I really thought this thread would be more active for a brand new MLS team.... No soccer fans in Minnesota?

Game time tonight is 9PM Eastern.

[Merc_Porto]

Isn't Atlanta a new team in the MLS too ?
How the hell Minnesota lost 1-6 at home ?

[Det the Threat]

Isn't Atlanta a new team in the MLS too ?
How the hell Minnesota lost 1-6 at home ?

Atlanta's owned by the guy who also owns the Falcons and they wanted to make a big splash coming into the league.
They pretty much raided south american teams(financial trouble) for some talented guys like Almiron etc. and they were linked to Fabian Johnson(Gladbach) as well.

[LittleOzzy]

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 1
Avaya Stadium — San Jose, CA
Saturday, March 3 — 10:30 pm ET

MLS Soccer is back! Who will be watching today?

[K4P]

not looking good...

[LittleOzzy]

Minnesota United FC vs. Chicago Fire
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 3
TCF Bank Stadium - Minneapolis
2:00 pm ET – March 17, 2018

Almost game time!