Ricardo Pepi files transfer request, NWSL Players Association extends deadline, and more: Freedom Kicks for 10/19/2021

Good morning! We’re one day away from yet another D.C. United game, the NWSL Players Association extended the deadline on its demands with the league, Ricardo Pepi appears to be trying to force a move to Europe, and I’m exhausted. Let’s go!

United had two homegrown players in the MLS Team of the Week:

Matt Turner slumping, RSL thrive with Herrera in the “Najar Role” & more from MLS Week 30 | MLSsoccer.com
Not too much DCU in here, but Matt Doyle has plenty to say about the Revs (who come to town tomorrow) and has now began treating how Andy Najar is used by United as a new genre around the league.

Here’s a deal that is probably interesting to you, a reader of this site: the District of Columbia’s Pink Health Festival by Audi Field on Wednesday at 11am includes free tickets to see both United’s game tomorrow and the Washington Spirit’s regular season finale against Houston on Halloween:

Speaking of the Spirit, it’s the international break, and a quarter of the squad has national team duty:

Here’s the schedule for them:

• Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett, and Andi Sullivan are with the USWNT for a double-header against South Korea on 10/21 and 10/26
• Chinyelu Asher and Sydney Schneider will be with Jamaica for their game against Costa Rica on 10/24
• Karina Rodríguez and Mexico will host Argentina on 10/23
• Mariana Speckmaier will join Venezuela for their two games against Ecuador on 10/23 and 10/26

National Women’s Soccer League Appoints Sports Executive Marla Messing as Interim CEO | NWSLsoccer.com
NWSL has an interim leader to steer things after Lisa Baird’s recent resignation, which means the temporary executive committee assembled has dissolved. Significantly, this release also notes that the NWSLPA will get to meet potential future commissioners during the evaluation process and have “a meaningful opportunity to be heard in the selection of the next Commissioner.”

That was one of the NWSLPA’s demands to the league, and the PA mentioned it publicly as one reason why they were willing to further extend the deadline they gave the league to improve a wide range of shortcomings.

I am such a fall person ft. Midge Purce | Snacks with Lynn & Sam
Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis are back podcasting, and just put out this episode with Montgomery County native (and NWSL Best 11 contender) Midge Purce. It’s good!

Ricardo Pepi submits transfer request to FC Dallas Front Office | 90min
Big news in MLS as USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi has apparently pushed to make his big move, with Wolfsburg apparently leading the pack. Bet this one, as with all transfer sagas, has a few twists and turns before it’s settled.

Donovan withdraws from consideration for Real Salt Lake manager job - sources | ESPN
Landon Donovan appeared to be the best (or at least, the most interesting) candidate for the Real Salt Lake job, but Jeff Carlisle is reporting that he’s stepped out of the race.

SBJ Media: Fox set to grab UEFA European Championships | Sports Business Journals
Plenty of soccer here, including how all of these rights deals may impact MLS’s own rights deal.

I’ll close with this, the Monster Mash. You thought I was gonna forget all month? Wrong! In fact, here’s a one-hour loop, if you read this article it’s a binding* contract that you have to listen to the whole thing with your volume turned all the way up:

*not binding, please do not sue me