Hello again, you wonderful waterfowl. Storylines here, and it’s been a minute since we last connected. But here we are again as the Loons prepare to restart the MLS regular season. With the home stretch ahead and a playoff spot within reach, there’s plenty to discuss. On the surface, that sounds like a decent situation to be in, but let’s not forget the recent past. The Loons' form heading into the Leagues Cup didn’t exactly inspire optimism for the team’s playoff chances, especially after such a strong start to the season.
Even for the most loyal of Loons fans, the hot start to 2024 was unexpected when you consider the pre-season uncertainty. Add in the fact that the new coach is the youngest in league history, and it’s easy to see why there might have been doubts from outside observers. Many predicted a “rebuilding year” for 2024, and all the ingredients for a transitional season were certainly present—obstacles that would require at least some patience. After all, with the new head coach being just the second in the club's MLS history, combined with the hiring of a new Chief Soccer Officer in Khaled El-Ahmad, it’s understandable why preseason expectations were tempered.
That said, the current post-transfer window look of the Loons brings to mind a somewhat famous sports quote, albeit with a twist. Cue Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells:
“If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.”
While Parcells may have been referring to himself, in the case of MNUFC, El-Ahmad and Ramsay are our versions of what the legendary coach meant. Both men share the same vision and are aiming to create a more uptempo style of play for a club that had long relied on Coach Heath’s “tried and true” approach. But in terms of personnel, Heath was also working with the groceries he had for the meal he was preparing. Following this summer’s transfer window, you can see the first true signs that the club is changing the grocery list to get the kind of ingredients that fit the style of play they want on the field.
These changes shouldn’t diminish the early-season success the Loons found under the leadership of Cameron Knowles and Ramsay during the first few months. Quite the opposite, actually. The coaches were able to work with the ingredients from Adrian Heath’s recipe while implementing their own preferred tactical approach. It was impressive to see success right out of the gates, but now, with El-Ahmad and Ramsay aligned in their vision, key players returning from injury or midsummer international duty, and adding more of the ingredients they feel they need, this home stretch of the 2024 season may have a different flavor than what we saw before the Leagues Cup break.
I, for one, am eager to see what Chef Ramsay can cook up for the Loons’ playoff chances now that he’s working with more of the ingredients he needs to whip up a winning culture for MNUFC moving forward.
