Hey what’s going on it is Scott and today, we’re going to be trying something new, calling it Transaction Reaction, our takes on recent moves inside MLS, both with teams we cover and just in general. So less intros, more opinions, let’s roll.
Number 1) I’m doing this one personally, but I wanted to address the move by the New York City Football club loaning 19 year old Jovan Mijatović to Oud-Heverlee Leuven in Belgium at least through June. This move I straight up don’t get. They brought this kid over, signed up through 2028 with an option through 2029 for an 8.6 MILLION DOLLAR TRANSFER Fee, then pop him over to Belgium. Jovan was pissed about his lack of playing time and I had guessed that with Nick Cushing being dismissed and new head coach Pascal Jansen coming in, maybe he’d get more time and that last year was just an adjustment year to playing here in the States. Apparently not, maybe he comes back, maybe not. Good for him definitely getting more playing time but a little disappointed for what could have been. On the upside, at least I got this clip of him off my phone doing a dance last year at Red Bull Arena. Things you remember.

Number 2) Oh damn, Doop fans are pissed about this one. Tom Bogert broke it on Twitter that the Philadelphia Union sent 21 year old Jack McGlynn to the Houston Dynamo for 2 million plus add ons and the response has been, let’s just say, verbal. McGlynn is a 21 year old Midfielder who has been with the organization since 2019 so the move, while possibly good on paper hasn’t been good to the fans. As for Houston, this could be a steal. McGlynn is a kid that’s on the rise so I’m going to be very curious to see how he syncs up on a team that scored just 45 goals last year. I pulled a couple quotes from some of our Union sportswriters & photographers including Steve Fuentes, JD Walker & Kyle Krieger for their take on the move, let me know if you agree.
Steve Fuentes (Twitter – @SoldierSteve247): A gut punch that even a good business deal doesn’t make better. Jim Curtin, Jack Elliott & now Jack McGlynn gone in one offseason is a lot for a fan base of this caliber.
JD Walker: (IG: jdwalkerspm): Individually each move has its pros/cons, and I understand the team needs to be blown up but it’s tough going into a season feeling like you’re already toast.
Kyle Kriger (IG: k7sniper) – “But think about the money the owners get to save!” (Sarcasm)

Number 3) So these are old news, I’m aware, but I never discussed them. Credit to the San Jose Earthquakes are clearly looking to undo the pain of the past few years and ESPECIALLY last year and personally, I love the shit out of it. Yes there’s some baggage that comes with it, new head coach Bruce Arena’s comments that caused him to leave the Revolution is an example, but adding a head coach with success and the addition of both Josef Martinez from Montreal and Chicho Arango from RSL and there’s no reason this team can’t at least compete for a playoff spot in October. And San Jose could use some sports excitement, the Sharks are the worst team in the league right now and haven’t made the playoffs since before Covid.
Number 4) He comes into Charlotte, and he’s sent out from Charlotte, he comes back to Charlotte, gets sent out from Charlotte. He’s Karol Swiderski and this time he’s heading to Greece. Swiderski just turned 28 and while he struggled some in Italy, his success with Charlotte is proven with 32 goals in 85 games. The Crowns got 2 million from Panathinaikos but losing him again will put pressure on his old team to pick up the slack. I will say this though, every time he leave Charlotte, the view count of our video of him scoring 12 goals in a season for Charlotte shoots up. But that not withstanding Swiderski deserves another crack at Europe. Na Zdrowie Karol.
I’m going to add one quick PS back on the NYCFC front and with a shoutout. The Pigeons sent 18 year old Christian MacFarlane to Manchester City in a move that was always a when, not an if. No surprise there. But in a weird twist, I got to know his mom pretty well. Because MacFarlane didn’t drive, his parents would drive him to training from Long Island to Orangeburg New York every day, wait there during training, usually by the window next to the pitch then drive home. Usually it was his mom that did it but what a rocking pair of parents, just saying. Anyway, gonna miss seeing you there in the corner on the NYCFC wifi this season, good luck in the UK.
Let me know in the comments what YOU Think about these moves, if they make sense or were dumb as hell. As always, thanks for reading and stay awesome.