Good morning! Sydney here with this edition of the Scarves and Spikes Daily newsletter. Follow me on X, BSky, IG, and Threads.
Could we be getting some long-awaited spending changes in MLS?
I’m headed to Charlotte for the MLS All-Star Game festivities (Skills Challenge tonight, actual game tomorrow) — check out Scarves and Spikes on X, Bluesky, and Instagram for updates.
While that’s going on, there’s word that the league is considering some long-requested changes to spending rules. Per ESPN, owners are discussing a salary cap/floor system as low as $15 million and as high as $30 million. To put things in context with the four major sports, MLB is the only one without a cap, though owners are pushing for one.
The clear benefit: it will force owners to spend money. Currently, Inter Miami has the highest payroll at over $54.5 million; Philadelphia is at a paltry $11.6 million. Of course, spending a lot of money doesn’t guarantee you wins, which, as an Atlanta United-focused outlet, we’ve seen all too well. On the other hand, the clubs that aren’t making money (i.e., the smaller markets) will be squeezed more than they are now.
As Tyler said on MLS Monday last night, there are levels to this. We’ll see what the ultimate decision is soon. Worth noting: the current CBA expires in January 2028.
Help support independent Atlanta soccer coverage
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows and podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Exclusive interviews, like our recent sit-down with ATL UTD 2 head coach Jose Silva
- Discord access, talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Membership starts at $5/month. New subscribers get a 7-day free trial.
The Atlanta United/New England player ratings were REALLY bad
The Scarves and Spikes community really did a number on Atlanta United after a 4-1 loss to the New England Revolution. Collectively, I don’t think I’ve seen player ratings this low after a match. The players that received the lowest scores: Will Reilly, Lucas Hoyos (though I don’t think the community average is completely justified), and Tristan Muyumba. Miguel Almirón, for what it’s worth, was the Man of the Match after his consolation goal. View the complete player ratings here.
Also…
- Latte Lath watch continues as the only report of interest in him (so far) has been from Burnley. It doesn’t look as if a reunion with Middlesbrough is in the cards, though, per Football League World.
- Cooper Sanchez is in Mexico with the U.S. U-19s, who are playing El Salvador tonight in the Concacaf U-20 Championship. That’s a 10 p.m. ET kick on FS2. By the way, the U.S. defeated Haiti 3-0 on Saturday to open the tournament.
- Canada, whose roster includes ATL UTD 2 keeper Jono Ransom, beat Panama 3-0 on Sunday and faces Honduras tomorrow.
That’s it for now. See you in the next one.