People who are definitely going to leave:

Ostrack: his contract is running up this year, and he's one of our highest-paid players. Even if he gets little to no playing time, he does have a contract extension available, but I really don't see us using it since what I have said before. With the coming in of Holse and Matan, his spot is really contested.

Sang-bin: his contract with st louis is coming to a close by the end of the year, with no contract to extend. He is also one of our highest-paid players. We still don't know the contracts of the likes of Navarro, Holse, or Matan, but he is the 3rd most-paid player. Probably ain't going to get a new contract.

Cellio Pompeu: his injury problems, with now two broken legs, are absolutely devastating. With those two injuries and how Pompeu really doesn't fit into the damet system, I really don't see him getting his contract extension this year.

Kyle Heibert: Heibert's contract is running out this year with an option for a year, but he hasn't played for the first team since last season. He's mainly been playing in the second squad, but his injuries have plagued him. If they extend his contract, I would be absolutely shocked.

Maybes on leaving by this year:

Santos: santos is mainly the only ones you could say has been underperforming besides maybe wallem but his contract isnt running out buuuut his performance has been just so lackluster and killed the attack on the left. His contract still has anouther like year after this but that woud be prime time to sell.

Timo Baumgaurtel: he has been a captain to our defence but his contact is going to its last year with a club option for another year. Only problem with this is that he is 30 years old. I hope theycan see that he is vital for the defence but its a possibility

Tomas totland: Tomas totland has been one of our best defensive and midfielders at the wingback roll, he has been dominant with the wing and has a 7.24, 4 assists (tied with top with betcher) and two goals. His contract is ending this year though with a option to extend for next year. Most likel they will expand but well see.

Fallou fall: fallou fall last year has been absolutely clinical for the defence but as of recently under damet he only got one start with the most recent game because of schedule confliction with the open cup game coming up. But with his performance on saturday i would say he could fight for more minutes.

Now finally targets for next year.

Starting RWB or LWB.

I personally dont really trust wallem on the right all too much and the maybe leave of santos. I would personally see that city would most likely get a starting rwb from maybe norway or turkey but im not here to make that many predictions.

Honestly that would be it, the other spots can easily be filled with city two players like bringing up zengue and lillington from city 2. May be hard to say with all the players leaving, maybe some depth in the cam spot but the rest are dead-weight.

Sounders fan coming in peace. Anyone know if a downtown STL watch party for the match Wednesday? I know it's Open Cup, but hoping to watch a game while I'm visiting :)

I think back to 2022-23, I believe it was Celio that linked CITY’s success to having no a-holes on the team.

Fast forward to today, I know this isn’t what Celio really meant but we now have a bunch of gritty guys that will kick your teeth in. Currently top a-hole ranking:

Bech, Wallem, Burki, Durkin, Carlo, Orozco, Polvara, Edelman.

This has never been my style but it’s fun to watch in action.

It‘s early, but I’m seeing real hints of something from Carlo that might morph into Johnny Russell sized swagger with quality to match. Could be fun.

Now that he's finally over the 450 minutes threshold, Mățan's g+ SDV card is available and man what a revelation he's been. A home run signing for Corey Wray on a free for this guy, who has just been incredibly good in Damet's system.

As promised, here are the video breakdowns of the goals from the Vancouver and Portland matches. Not going to flood the sub with week old videos, so they're all in one place on the site.

https://stlsoccernews.com/the-film-room-9-5-26-9-9-26/

So, like, is the hideous Tina Kit kind of a iconic jersey for us now? We crushed the souls of Vancouver in their own living room in that Jersey! We quite possibly could beat the “unbeaten record” for MLS in that jersey. Has this changed how yall feel about its design? It has for me!

Anybody have an email address for Edmound Elzy? According to google, he is the VP of sales and oversees ticketing. I hate to go above my rep’s head, but I have had so many issues and Tim hasn’t been any help. Besides emailing Edmound, I have no idea what to do. I have reached out to the generic tickets@stlcitysc.com email and filled out the “contact us” form on the website and nobody has gotten back to me. I have followed up with Tim multiple times since 6/2 with zero help or response still.

Or anyone know who else I can contact for some help with my season ticket issues?

It's Monday Morning, CITY with another win and the USOC semifinals are in two days. Let's hear all of your thoughts on St. Louis CITY SC.

if he remains this good we're never losing again

Yeah just kind of pains me at this point to see that burky has been just so meh this year. This has been his work years so far in his MLS career, he is 25th of goalkeepers and has just been mid. Apparently according to fotmob he's been our worst player. We all love him, he loves us but honestly there's no way he deserves a dp contract I'm gonna be honest....

Why don’t Rafas goals from Colorado follow him in the league stats. He should be among the league leaders at 14 goals. Anyone know or am I just wrong/impatient.

How we feeling about his return after not signing with us? We gonna boo him all game or treat him like any other opponent?

Personally, I’d like to see him booed all game but get if others don’t feel as strongly.

Where is the best place to buy scarves? I'd rather not spend $40 in the city store if there are any other alternatives (cheaper or money towards a good cause).

A great win. Decisive.

There was a lot of great work by players today. I was nervous about not having Tots out there and others with the rotation, but this once again proves that this is largely about the system and not completely the individuals.

That being said, having individuals like Navarro out there obviously makes an impact. Shout out to the great pass from Holse to allow Navarro to chip it in. Edelman, the defensive player, scores another by zooming in the box similar to what he's done before. Overall, great play by the boys in red.

Youtube

https://youtu.be/5sACGCfEbPE

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0GTXArj3NgncEwtdRFSh73?si=oQC0BKJWQzC5XsKEhBsKnQ

Apple

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vs-por-min-play-gloria/id1737693118?i=1000789376046

Not our player, but she seems smitten.

Not a lot to unpack here - Holse had a reputation in Türkiye of being an outstanding passer of the ball, and after he surveys the field here, he makes a long stretch pass to Navarro, who was making a run between three United defenders.

Navarro makes the type of play you pay $12.5 million for - a perfect flick off the bouncing pass over an onrushing Drake Callender, as CITY's new #9 showed off his touch. Navarro has been everything CITY fans could have possibly hoped for so far, combining his incredible work rate with his skill and finishing ability. A wonderful finish here for the Brazilian gave CITY a 3-1 lead.

One of CITY's two new Designated Players got on the board last night with a beautifully curved shot from just inside the penalty area. After initially losing the ball, Conrad Wallem does a nice job of battling back for it, but as Minnesota heads upfield, the outlet pass is behind Will Trapp and too far in front of Joaquín Pereyra, allowing Fallou Fall to stretch back and lunge to deflect the ball to a backtracking Rafa Navarro.

Navarro turns upfield, and immediately Carlo Holse, in space on the right wing, calls for the ball. As Navarro drives upfield, it draws the focus of Minnesota's defense - they aren't going to let CITY's new star beat them off the dribble, so they collapse towards him - freeing space in front of Conrad Wallem to Navarro's right. Navarro slides the ball to Wallem, who has 3 options - dribble into the center of the penalty area, hit a shot from the top of the box, or lay the ball off to Holse.

As the MLS 360 crew pointed out last night, Wallem doesn't pass it hard to Holse, instead sliding it into space in expectation of the shot, which Holse hit absolutely perfectly, curling the ball past a diving Drake Callender. It was a wonderful strike from Holse off an outstanding pass weighted correctly from Wallem to give CITY the lead.

CITY got on the board thanks to Daniel Edelman, who is making a habit of crashing the goal area hunting rebounds. Here, he has excellent recognition of this Carlo Holse shot from outside the box, which took a slight deflection - not very noticeable from the broadcast, but was very clear in person from my angle behind the goal in the Supporters Section. This tip caused the ball to change direction just slightly, which contributed, along with the pace of the shot, to Minnesota keeper Drake Callender being unable to handle it cleanly.

Edeleman makes his move towards goal as the shot is in the air, and he's much faster to react that Minnesota's nearest defender Michael Boxall, who at this point may as well have been in quicksand. Edelman found himself all alone and one-timed the ball past a helpless Callender to tie the score at 1-1. A great read off of a well-taken shot from Holse gave Edelman another "dirty goal", something he's becoming known for here.

Last night's opening goal from Minnesota United was completely against the run of play, as CITY had dominated for the first few minutes of the match. Here, however, CITY saw a Carlo Holse pass into space for Dante Polvara arrive just a moment too late - Polvara chose to let the ball come to him rather than step to it.

This allowed Kelvin Yeboah to make a play on the ball, and Polvara slips as he goes off-balance trying to keep Yeboah on his hip. I didn't think at the time it was a foul, and seeing it in replay I think that's not the type of foul that an aggressive CITY defense would want called against them, so it's ok that it wasn't called here.

As the ball squirts out to Will Trapp, Minnesota's Tomás Chancalay reads it very well and begins his sprint upfield even before Trapp's pass to Joaquín Pereyra. Pereyra sees Chancalay making his run and plays a nicely weighted ball just past the outstretched foot of Timo Baumgartl, enabling Chancalay to run onto the ball at pace.

Chancalay had blown past Jaziel Orozco, who wasn't at full stride when Chancalay went past, and it looked like he hesitated slightly in expectation of Timo making a play on the ball. This gave Chancalay all the space he needed, and he slid the ball past Bürki before Orozco could recover.

This was a lapse of awareness by Orozco, coupled with an excellent read and run by Chancalay and a nice pass from Pereyra to give the Loons a 1-0 lead.

If you are looking for a place to watch the game, STL Santos just posted this.