We’re back, folks. And by “we’re”, I mean, you, me, MLS, and the numbers, of course.
After a long offseason filled with rule changes and major moves, this past weekend finally gave us the chance to see what all 30 MLS teams actually look like on the field. With new coaches, systems, and players, the first few weeks of the season always feature an adjustment period, which makes it difficult (and foolish!) to read too much into the data.
But there’s still something to be gleaned. Let’s dive into some of the most intriguing statistical storylines from the first set of games.
Ben Wright
Jonathan Bamba shines for the Chicago Fire
I get it. If you’re a Chicago Fire fan, you’re not too pleased with the result of the team’s first performance under new coach Gregg Berhalter. Chicago gave Columbus three goals en route to a 4-2 loss on Saturday.
However, here at Backheeled, we have a golden rule regarding the first bit of the MLS season. We’re not panicking about early results. What we are doing is looking for clear styles of play, smart player usage, and other building blocks for future success. The Fire made mistakes building out of the back. I’m not going to tell you that didn’t happen.
