D.C. United preseason news, Michael Bradley out for months, and more: Freedom Kicks for 1/21/2020

Good morning, it’s frigid! If you’re smart, you’ve figured out a way to not go outside, but some of us have to pay for our sins by facing the offensively low temperatures and dry air that have arrived in the DMV. I’m not into it! I feel dehydrated, and I didn’t even have the fun of several rounds of drinks, or the benefits of intense exercise. What a rip-off.

Anyway, let’s get into it:

Here’s what you need to know about D.C. United’s first established preseason trialist, Aaron Maund: he’s a 6’1” center back who has additional experience playing as a defensive midfielder. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native has 91 MLS appearances from stints with Toronto FC, Real Salt Lake, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Nearly half of his games played in MLS came in 2015 and 2016 with RSL, and he made 10 appearances with Vancouver in 2018 before spending 2019 with the Charlotte Independence in the USL Championship.

In other words, he’s probably aiming for the spot on the roster that was opened up once United decided to part ways with Jalen Robinson.

Goff had more on United’s first day of training threaded off of the above tweet, so give it a look. Yours truly will be at the team’s first truly open session (yesterday was only open for the first 15 minutes) this morning, and we’ll have plenty of notes and updates for you later today or tomorrow.

Down in Australia, Washington Spirit loanee Sam Staab’s absurd long throw-ins have apparently lead the W-League to conclude that she may have super powers:

You know, they might be onto something here.

We don’t have a full Loudoun United preseason schedule, but we do know one date:

If you’re a Stampede member who hasn’t been to Highmark Stadium, take it from me: it’s a great venue. Late February might be rough weather-wise, but it’s a stadium I definitely recommend visiting.

We also appear to have Loudoun’s regular season schedule:

Six Wednesday home games...that’s gonna be a tough sell, particularly that very curious 1:00pm start late in the season.

NWSL allocation money: A bait and switch, or just good business? | Equalizer Soccer
The NWSL’s foray into the world of allocation money already includes a major change from what was announced to what teams are allowed to actually do.

Former U.S. soccer player Stephanie McCaffrey now at Wharton, aims to buy a women’s team | Philadelphia Inquirer
Stephanie McCaffrey was forced to retire by a medical condition, so her next move is to make a boatload of money and own a team.

Samba Camara’s contract with the New England Revolution has been voided | The Bent Musket
Ladies and gentlemen, the New England Revolution!

TFC Notebook: Michael Bradley set to miss 4 months following ankle surgery | Waking the Red
This is pretty substantial news as far as MLS’s Eastern Conference is concerned. Toronto FC apparently thought Michael Bradley’s injury could be treated without surgery, but in the end that proved false, and now he could reasonably miss over a third of the regular season. Liam Fraser, who has become a starter for Canada, will have to prove he can do the job as more than a spot starter in MLS.

Romain Alessandrini bids adieu to LA Galaxy: Frenchman says he won’t be back in 2020 | MLSsoccer.com
It’s not entirely surprising, but Romain Alessandrini won’t be suiting up for the LA Galaxy this year. While it’s intriguing to note that he didn’t say he was leaving MLS, when you consider the salary he’d command and the injuries he battled in the last two years...yeah, he’s probably leaving MLS.

Stratford Named WVU Men’s Soccer Head Coach | The Smoking Musket
Former United draft pick Dan Stratford has been making some noise as a coach in recent years, and now he’s been appointed the new head coach for West Virginia’s men’s team.

Finally, we’re closing in on Concacaf’s qualifying tournament for the women’s Olympic soccer competition, and while the USWNT is overwhelming favorites to win Group A, giving them a great shot at a win-and-you’re-in semifinal, things in Group B are kind of a mess:

What looks like a very strong Canada side (4 established starters, including Christine Sinclair, started this game) managed to only get a 1-1 draw with Haiti in a warm-up game yesterday. Meanwhile, Mexico may be about to ignore players who aren’t playing in Liga MX Femenil; Jamaica seems set to try to qualify with only an interim head coach, and without any apparent effort from their federation to improve overall conditions; and St. Kitts and Nevis is the overwhelming underdog in the field.