MLS clubs across the league have been very active this offseason. With St. Louis CITY SC having made very few moves and preseason a month away, what’s left to expect?
Let’s dive in.
Credit: Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images
Jan 9, 2025; Miami Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis City SC Olof Mellberg fields questions during the Major League Soccer Media Day at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
CITY entered the offseason with a few boxes to check. The most important, a new coach. Olof Mellberg will enter his first MLS coaching season in 2025. Check.
The coach loves a 3-back formation, and a big voice in the back line was desperately needed either way after the departure of Tim Parker. Enter Timo Baumgartl. Check.
With his entrance, an international slot had to be freed. In bittersweet fashion, Hosei Kijima was selected by SDFC and dished to DC United. Check.
After a busy summer transfer window in 2024, numerous slots (LB/CM/CAM/CDM/9/false9) have been upgraded; Jannes Horn, Simon Becher, Cedric Teuchert, Marcel Hartel, Jake Girdwood-Reich. Check.
With Jake Nerwinski’s expected departure, a right back is needed… or is one? Akil Watts can return to his natural position of right back, while still leaving him as the “12th man” who can play many positions off the bench or as a starter barring injuries to conserve roster space. Check.
So, what’s really left?
For me, I see one box partially shaded in: wing mid.
A healthy Rasmus Alm could run the right wing responsibly, while a healthy and in form Celio Pompeu is a no-brainer for a starting left wing—especially in what I expect Mellberg’s system to be (a fluid 3-4-3).
The question is, can we expect health and form from Alm and Pompeu? With Vassilev (wing/CAM) and Thórisson (wing) as the bench options, the wings suddenly seem very susceptible to thinness from form and injuries.
Lutz is clearly of a similar opinion, seen with the attempted signing of international left winger Aaron Opoku. I have a hunch he will keep trying for another winger; maybe a depth intra-MLS trade to dish Thórisson and free an international slot for draftee Jääskeläinen?
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Akron forward Emil Jaaskelainen attempts a second-half shot against Princeton in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
In the meantime, here’s a current way-too-early possible XI prediction.
Bürki
Kessler-Baumgartl-Nilsson
Totland-Löwen-Durkin-Hartel
Teuchert-Klauss-Pompeu
The formation and roster are hard to visualize with 3 straight lines, but it’s fluid, deep, and could beat any team in MLS.
The anticipation for the 2025 MLS campaign is building rapidly–with fans itching to get into the seats at Energizer Park, the product on the pitch is critical. St. Louis CITY SC have about two months to put the pieces together before the season opener on February 22nd against Colorado Rapids.