Where we left off last year
2024 season: 56 points, 3rd in the Eastern Conference
Le Rouge's first season under Danny Dichio was a major success. Yeah, Detroit went out in the first round of the playoffs, but the club earned home-field advantage for the first time in their USL tenure and made strides toward being a more well-rounded unit.
Early on, Detroit excelled. Offseason additions like winger Ali Coote and forward Elvis Amoh were the perfect attacking complement to Maxi Rodriguez diverse midfield skills, and Dichio's choice to run with a back four didn't compromise a time-honored defensive identity. By summertime, however, Coote had returned to Ireland, injuries had thrown off the offensive chemistry, and Detroit reverted to a familiar 3-4-3.
That's not a complaint, of course. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and Dichio's ability to shift was admirable, even if it didn't lead to playoff success.
