There’s basically nothing relevant to talk about, news-wise, today, or even link to. Lucky for you, that gives me the opportunity to digress into a tangent about whatever I want! Usually I’ll expound on some issue that’s been on my mind, or some event or trend I’ve noticed at the club or in the league, or whatever happens to pop up on the Wikipedia home page that might fascinate me. Unfortunately, none of those usual sources of inspiration are firing today.
Instead, I guess I’ll touch on that article I linked to yesterday from the USL website that said not to bet on Louisville City for a third straight title. First and foremost, a title like the one the author used is designed to be LouCity clickbait, and that’s okay. That’s the point. The article itself is fairly well-reasoned, but it conveys a sentiment that a lot of people around the league held about Louisville City this time last year.
“Look at all the talent Cincinnati added! They’re a shoo-in now that they’ve got Ledsema, Forrest Lasso, and whoever else they signed from old NASL teams!”
“Tampa Bay signed player X, Y and Z to go with Joe Cole? It’s a title race!”
“Indy Eleven has Jack McInerney and Soony Saad!”
“Lebo Moloto and Ropapa Mensah in that Nashville midfield? Top 3 for sure!”
“Bob Lilley’s basically resurrected the Rhinos in Pittsburgh. They’re a brick wall. All Lilley does is win.”
And look who ended up with the big shiny trophy and confetti at the end. Morados.
Yes, Louisville City lost its leading striker, who also happened to be the Golden Boot winner and single-season scoring record holder, plus its sharpied-in right back. It’s happened before, and City still managed to get better even after losing the potent combination of Matt Fondy and Bryan Burke. Yes, Louisville City lost its leading chance creator. It’s happened before, when MAG RAM left the team after his first contract ran out. Yes, Louisville City lost its starting goalkeeper. It’s happened before, when Scott Goodwin left mid-season to go to Harvard.
But what about new roster additions? Yes, it’s difficult to replace your leading goalscorer, leading assist-maker, starting keeper and right back. LouCity didn’t add a whole lot of flash after the 2017 offseason, either. The one player we were really excited about, Shaun Francis, barely played. Yet Morados still won the trophy.
On paper, the reasons for why folks should doubt LouCity’s chances for a three-peat make sense. They lost some excellent players. Their rivals have really loaded up in the offseason. LouCity hasn’t done anything in their offseason business that turned many heads. What folks don’t get, though, is that this isn’t new. It’s how Louisville City does business. If you can’t believe in this team after the insane season they had in 2018, then you just aren’t going to believe in them, their ability, savvy, resilience, and talent to do it again at all.
See how well that’s worked out the last three years. Vamos Morados.
