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.
Give us the Tommy Scoops on the NYCFC.SOURCE Twitter account, what’s been going on with you two?
And what are your thoughts on other similar accounts like MLSTransfers, MLSMoves, etc?
Hi Tom! Thanks for doing this. Love your work on the Athletic. Any rumors or hints about what Chicago is gonna do about a new sporting director or coach? I think you’ve said Heitz will likely come back, but anything new there?
There are a few players from New Zealand playing for various MLS teams. Any of them look like exciting prospects?
Will you write a book just to one-up Paul Tenorio?
Is there a genuine path for the MLS to become one of the top leagues in the world (i.e. as good as the 6th/7th best in Europe), or is it unlikely to happen without substantial changes to the American system
And as a bonus - do you see promotion/relegation as a realistic prospect of being adopted in the USA?
How much do journalists rely on Wikipedia for rumors and player histories? There’s been quite a few instances of rumored transfers being “leaked” to Wikipedia, both true and hoax.
wikipedia for rumors? lmao literally never. well i’ll just speak for myself. and i’d highly recommend to anyone reading this to not use wikipedia for rumors.
and while we’re here to actually use some media literacy to determine whether the random twitter rumor you see is real or not.
i use transfermarkt and fbref for stats more than wiki but wiki helps with macro stuff too (and links out to a lot of stuff so that’s helpful)
What’s taking so long in the DC United GM search? Do you know of any names they’re looking at?
The recent MLS and NWSL media deals took two very different approaches, with MLS going all in with Apple while the NWSL split its rights across various parties and included a significant traditional TV component. What are your thoughts on the two different approaches and the benefits/downsides of them.
What is your favorite source/metric for figuring out the next wonder kid in the MLS/USMNT?
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
Who is more likely to be back in MLS, Arena or Williams?
arena
Why can’t Apple make a proper whiparound show, without ads and without the idiotic “GOAL ALERT” spoilers, like CBS does with The Golazo Show?
i’ve enjoyed it, truly! super encouraging for year one
How often do you take a step back and think “Holy shit, how did I get here?”
Been following you on ExtraTime for the last couple years and really happy to see how your career has progressed and now your great reporting for The Athletic. From the outside looking in, it looks like your career has just propelled forward in the last few years at a meteoric rate and you’re doing fantastic in a very tough, selective industry where only a lucky few are able to make it. Of course, behind the scenes I’m sure you’ve put in crazy amounts of hard work and long hours to get here, but curious how often you take a step back and think “Shit, I have a pretty dope job!”
PS - Keep up the great work and looking forward all that’s to come from TommyScoops!
i try to do that as much as i can. what’s the point of getting to where you want to be without gratitude? particularly when i feel tired or feel like ah man i really wish there wasn’t a game on tonight that i have to watch cus i just wanna do nothing. like … this is nuts. i am so incredibly lucky. like, people have decided to let my ugly face on apple tv! that’s nuts! to steal a joke from jim jefferies, i have gone further than a man of my intellect or looks should ever have gone!
that’s extremely kind. thank you so much i really appreciate it. yeah it’s been fast. got lucky with the timing of MLS growing too. definitely a ton of work, i feel like i’m never actually off because of all the time i spend talking to sources and monitoring news, but that’s part of the game man.
thank you again!
I’m so lost as to why Phil Neville keeps getting high profile jobs in football. Can you shed any light?
good character, really good interview. i genuinely believe he’ll be successful in portland but, if he’s not, might be tough to find a 3rd job here. but i will say portland absolutely were not the only MLS team who wanted him.
- Will Inter Miami signing all those older stars have longer consequences or will it burn bright but short and wont change much in the long run?
- Im from Poland I also wanted to ask what do you think about Świderski? He became kinda cult hero for Polish nt fans because he pretty much always performs during international break but I feel like he is getting overrated because no one watches him play in MSL and regard him only for nt performance. I tried to watch few matches and check his stats, he seems to be playing different positions a lot and had some flashy moments but I’m not that impressed by his season.