FiftyFive.One
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Category: The Angle
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The Tailgate: MNUFC Shutout Streak Snapped
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: The Tailgate: MNUFC Shutout Streak SnappedThis week, we ask the fans: “Following a nightmare start to the season in which they allowed 18 goals in four games, Minnesota United posted four consecutive halves of shutout soccer, a streak which was broken this weekend by San Jose. What is your take on Minnesota’s much improved defense?” “Well over the last…
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Three Things: Minnesota United vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Three Things: Minnesota United vs. San Jose EarthquakesMinnesota’s match on Saturday against San Jose was a critical early season game. It came at the middle of a three-game homestand with progressively more difficult opponents. The Sunday before, the Loons eeked past a floundering Colorado team. Next Sunday, they will face Sporting Kansas City, who look like one of the league’s elite in…
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Chutes & Ladders: Races to Watch in the European Lower Divisions
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Chutes & Ladders: Races to Watch in the European Lower DivisionsAs European domestic leagues wind toward a close, there are some notable promotions and relegations about to happen within the lower tiers. In England, a former Premier League mainstay is back after a season away and an impressive streak came to an end. In Germany, relegation is a possibility even for a mid-table team with…
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Rewind That: Minnesota United Finds Compatible Midfield Partnership
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Rewind That: Minnesota United Finds Compatible Midfield PartnershipThe milestones keep coming in Minnesota United’s inaugural MLS campaign. Against a chippy Colorado Rapids side, the Loons were able to keep their first clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 victory. Aside from an irregular number of diving headers, what went right for Minnesota? I have to admit, it’s weird writing these when…
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The Tailgate: Miguel Ibarra Scores His First MLS Goal
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: The Tailgate: Miguel Ibarra Scores His First MLS GoalThis week, we ask the fans: “After starting the season as a back up, Miguel Ibarra notched his first MLS goal while Minnesota earned its first MLS shut out. What’s your take on Ibarra opening his account?” “I will be wrestling the scythe from the very hands of the Grim Reaper on the day I stop…
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One Thing: Minnesota United vs Colorado Rapids
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: One Thing: Minnesota United vs Colorado RapidsMinnesota United FC is now eight games through the MLS season—a quarter of the way through 34 games. That’s not enough to say anything definitive, but the early evidence suggests that the Loons are playoff contenders. Seriously. Three weeks ago, I wrote about the two ways to interpret the club’s early MLS results. Most of what…
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Rewind That: Minnesota United Heating Up After Texas Two-Step
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Rewind That: Minnesota United Heating Up After Texas Two-StepMinnesota United FC played its second consecutive match under the Texan sun. After suffering a 2-0 defeat in Dallas, the Loons recovered to capture a key road point in Houston. Now Minnesota faces a three-game homestand. It was a tale of two halves for Minnesota United last weekend. In the first half, the Loons failed to…
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The Tailgate: Superman Off To A Hot Start
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: The Tailgate: Superman Off To A Hot StartThis week, we ask the fans: “Christian Ramirez now sits on five goals only seven games into his MLS career, good enough for second in the Golden Boot race despite not taking any penalties this year. What do you make of Superman’s great start in MLS?” “Right, but still, their NASL guys like Ramirez…
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Best XI: A Team of Molinos Versus a Team of Ramirezes, Who Wins?
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Best XI: A Team of Molinos Versus a Team of Ramirezes, Who Wins?If you put a team of eleven Kevin Molinos out on the pitch against a team of eleven Christian Ramirezes, who would win? Yes, it is a meaningless, hypothetical question that no one has ever bothered asking themselves. But now, using Football Manager, it is a meaningless hypothetical with a very meaningless and real answer:…
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Rewind That: How Minnesota United Can Take the Next Step
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Rewind That: How Minnesota United Can Take the Next StepOn Saturday, Minnesota United FC suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas. The Loons did well to keep Dallas in check. While they were held scoreless, this was Minnesota’s tidiest game yet. So how can they balance defensive fortitude with the earlier attacking spark? It’s very rare that you can call a…
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The Tailgate: Newcomers Make Debut In United’s Latest Loss
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: The Tailgate: Newcomers Make Debut In United’s Latest LossThis week, we ask the fans: “Defensive players Sam Cronin and Marc Burch made their debuts for Minnesota United in its 2-0 loss on the road to FC Dallas. What did you think of the Loons’ latest defensive reinforcements?” “If you look at the Opta charts, you can see Cronin had touches all over…
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The 2016 MNUFC NASL Squad: Where Are They Now?
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: The 2016 MNUFC NASL Squad: Where Are They Now?With the MLS season underway and the NASL season on the horizon, let’s check in and see where the 2016 Minnesota United NASL squad ended up for the 2017 season. Re-signed with MNUFC in MLS: Justin Davis – Defender Brent Kallman – Defender (Made first career MLS start against Colorado Rapids on 3/18) Kevin Venegas…