Where we left off last year
2023 season: 56 points, 1st in the Western Conference
Projected by many (I’ll be honest, myself included) to finish at or near the bottom of the Western Conference in their debut season, St. Louis City absolutely crushed expectations in 2023.
They won the West while having one of the best expansion campaigns in MLS history. How’d they do it? The front office hit homers on a couple of their top-end signings, Roman Burki saved shots like a mad man, and Bradley Carnell’s Red Bull-esque approach seemed to take teams by surprise early in the year.
Though they bowed out of the playoffs after ending up on the business end of a Sporting Kansas City sweep, it was a year to remember for St. Louis.
What changed in the offseason
Notable arrivals:
- Chris Durkin, CM: Acquired in a trade with DC United that sent Jared Stroud, Lucas Bartlett, and $300,000 GAM the other way, Durkin adds versatility and skill on the ball to St. Louis’ squad. The 23-year-old American can play as a No. 6, a pressing No. 8, or as a right back if needed and should pick up plenty of minutes across all competitions.
- Tomas Totland, RB: St. Louis needed fullback reinforcements ahead of 2024, so they went out and got them. Totland, a long-term target for front office head Lutz Pfannenstiel, could be in line to start at right back this year. The 24-year-old comes from Hacken in the Swedish top-flight, where he was regularly involved in the attack. Totland also has some experience playing higher up as a right-sided midfielder.
- Nikolas Dyhr, LB: At just 22, the Danish left back has plenty of room to grow. He wasn’t a regular starter for Midtjylland in Denmark prior to this move, which raises some questions about his move to a higher level. After a rotating cast of players played at left back last year, St. Louis hope Dyhr seizes the starting role full-time.
