The mastermind of this summer’s trending #LoonsHG (Hunger Games) doesn’t claim to be a teen dystopian novel aficionado.

“Not at all,” United’s Jeb Brovsky said between laughter after Thursday’s training. “I only read non-fiction books, honestly. I love history. For some reason, the Hunger Games is flying forward. Honestly, it was just a spark in my head one morning. I think my wife was watching the Hunger Games and I said, “If our team had a Hunger Games, who would win?” I basically said that nobody would be good at the Hunger Games on this team, but I figured I would make fun of it and see how long it could go on.”

Today I'll be breaking down the @MNUnitedFC players and their hypothetical yet REAL chances on surviving the Hunger Games. #LoonsHG

— Jeb Brovsky (@JebBrovsky) July 19, 2016

The joke started as a simple musing and became as much a staple of this summer as Saturday nights at NSC, speculation over “surprise” album releases, or trips to a Minnesotan lake. However, fans began sponsoring their favorite players and Brovsky continued the thread daily during July and the beginning of August, just hoping to have a good time with it.

While Brovsky may not be a fan of such literature, United’s injury report looked like it was straight out of a dystopian novel during the summer. Key injuries hit the team all across the field, but none seemed more damning and irreplaceable than right back Kevin Venegas’s knee injury in the team’s July friendly against Bournemouth. With experience at the position from his days in Montreal, Vancouver, and New York City, Brovsky was slotted into the spot right away. He’s played up to the challenge.

“I went from making sure my center mid role was solidified to now really focusing on the back four. Getting Damion Lowe, getting Brent Kallman, getting Justin Davis all on the same page and being the voice of calmness back there. I’ve been saying that we don’t need to attack on every play, just stay tight and stay together. It’s very difficult to beat us lately. They’re buying into that philosophy — I think you’re seeing teams having to go around us and not being able to slip little balls through or over the top of us. We’re getting very good at covering for each other as well.”

Recent results have reflected the improvement as Minnesota have allowed just one goal over their last five games, taking 9 points along the way. Carl Craig thinks this stout defense has come from a few areas of the pitch.

“To be fair, Sammy Ndjock has done ever so well. He has been through the ringer. It’s important to acknowledge that because it’s only right. But Brovsky has been tremendous. I recognize that we’re different in attack when Venegas is on the field, but I think we’re different in defense with Brovsky in that position. Right now, the influence Brovsky’s had on the defense is tremendous.”

Despite recent results, Brovsky still sees himself as a central midfielder first and foremost. That said, he recognizes the importance of filling in wherever he’s needed each week. “Anytime you can show your versatility it’s a good thing, especially in the situation this team is in going into MLS. It’s an area where guys can set themselves apart. We’ve got capable guys in the back and in center midfield. Bottom line: I want to keep winning. If Carl wants me at right back, if Carl wants me at center back, if Carl wants me to play goalkeeper, I’ll do it. I just want to keep winning. Clean sheets are all that I’m about right now.”

Off the field, there are two parts of Brovsky’s public persona that are making a comeback. Most visible is the return of his facial hair. While he hasn’t committed to the full waxed-mustache look of his New York City days, he’s let his beard grow out a bit. (“My wife has been gone for almost a month. I gotta keep it going. I have no reason to shave right now. Nobody to impress.”)

Second, he’s hoping to bring the fan-favorite #LoonsHG back to life, even rekindling it on September 6. He admitted that the hiatus was due to a lack of results on the pitch.

“I took it away for a while because we were losing and tying and I didn’t want to kill off guys because I think there are some fragile egos in here. Now, the guys are asking if I’ll bring it back and the fans are too. It’s back by popular demand. I don’t know who’s going to win yet.”

While the fictional Loons battle it out in the arena, Brovsky will look to continue fortifying the defense as the club travels to take on the New York Cosmos. Minnesota has yet to defeat the Cosmos on the road, but with both teams battling to win the Fall Season title, this matchup could be a major momentum-shifter for the victors.

Minnesota will certainly be hoping that the odds are ever in their favor.

Training Notes

• The team trained indoors at the National Sports Center this week. The reasoning was two-fold: with frequent rain showers on Tuesday and Wednesday night bogging down the pitch as well as a desire to prepare for the field at Hofstra.
• Steward Ceus was back in training after playing in Haiti’s final World Cup Qualifiers. He took the start in Haiti’s 1-0 defeat to perennial CONCACAF qualifier Costa Rica last Friday.
• New loanee Chris Klute was in training today. Despite wearing #40, MNUFC Director of Press Relations Eric Durkee confirmed that Klute will wear #37 for roster purposes.
• Not making the trip to New York: Klute, Danny Cruz, Daniel Mendes, Greg Jordan, Bernardo Añor, Juliano Vicentini, Kristian Nicht, and Aaron Perez.

Carl’s Corner

• On Klute: “Long time coming. He was going to come in a while ago, then Portland had an injury and didn’t want to send him at that time, but he’s a decent player. He’s not traveling this weekend. I only knew he was coming in yesterday and I’d already made me mind up on the squad by then. He’s pals with Danny Cruz, so he’ll help Chris get his feet on the floor and we’ll come in on Monday and he can compete for selection.”
• On his takeaway from Venegas’s return last Wednesday against Fort Lauderdale: “What I saw the other week when I brought Venegas in told me that he wasn’t quite ready. He’s been working hard in training, putting the effort in, getting extra sessions. I just didn’t see the confidence in him. Whatever that is, because it’s a stupid statement to make. I didn’t see him playing confident-ly, which alludes to me that he wasn’t quite ready in that moment. But a week and a half on from then, he’s had a full week here training. He’s getting closer. Now, when I feel he’s ready I’ll bring him in. There’s no guarantee that he’ll come in right away, though, because I think that it’s selection issues, not problems, but issues.”
• On the progress of Jordan and Añor: “I would say that they’re both a month away at least because they haven’t had any football in them. Obviously they’ve been on the field, but they haven’t been doing anything more than warming up. I think they’re still a bit off but there’s a chance that they’ll both be in contention for playoffs, so that’s good. I wrote the list down today and I was like “bloody hell, I’ve got 28 names on the list now.” I don’t know where these blokes are coming from. That brings me other issues.”
• On the play of “hairy-arsed midfielder” Aaron Pitchkolan: “It’s funny, I was listening to Ruud Gullit this morning. He was talking about Holland and all these great players. In Holland, everyone wants to be a dribbler. He says, “ask Paul Gascoigne who Jan Wouters was,” because he was the one that broke Gazza’s cheek when he had to wear the mask. People forget that back in the day, among all these lovely footballers, you had the steel in defense and defensive midfield. Yep — I’m right with you there, Ruudy! Pitch isn’t real aggressive to tackle like those guys are, but the guy knows the game. He’s been solid for us and actually his football has been pretty tidy as well. It gives us that stability that we somewhat lacked. It’s his experience. He’s a solid character and that’s what I need from him.”
• On playing on turf once again: “I’m done with excuses about the surface. You throw all that rubbish out the window. If we win, we win because we prepared properly. If the guys are a little sore on Monday, I’m sure they’ll take it if they get the right result. I’m sick of all the bullshit. This is the group we’ve got. This is a great environment. If they don’t play well enough, we might not win. If we do, I think we’ve got a good chance, so fuck all the rest.”

Tags: Carl Craig, Hunger Games, Jeb Brovsky, Minnesota United FC, Training Report