Matt Pollard
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bymattpollard.bsky.social
Matt Pollard
@bymattpollard.bsky.social
The Trent Crimm of #Rapids96 Managing Editor @burgundywave.bsky.social
Cohost @rapids96podcast.bsky.social
2024 MLS Western Conference Beat Writer of the Year
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Guess which one of these squiggly lines is actually going to benefit from a World Cup boom in new American soccer fans
February 18, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
I have only two thoughts on soccer kits:

1. Create something identifiable.
2. Stick with it.

Too many MLS teams haven't gotten that memo, and that bums me out.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/would-you-li...
Would you like to play a game? Rank all 30 new MLS kits
A fun new game for people who desperately need to touch grass
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io
February 17, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Good question. I think he makes the bench for most of the year if healthy. Wells likes Wathuta centrally, not just a winger. Him, Jamison, Harris and Stewart-Baynes are competing for that “energetic first attacking sub” role. I’ll guess Sydney gets 600 first team minutes.
Hey @bymattpollard.bsky.social, what are the chances Sydney Wathuta gets some decent first team minutes for Colorado this year?
February 17, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Very happy to see a big turnout at a @soccerreporters.bsky.social membership meeting tonight. @laurelpfahler.bsky.social is doing a great job as the new president, and I'm excited to see where she takes the organization in her term.
February 17, 2026 at 2:27 AM
My thoughts on @mattdoyle.bsky.social leaving MLS to go independent:
- The league’s private equity-like operation
- The subscription/paywall model
- “Supporter reporters” and the future of local beat coverage
burgundywave.com/2026/02/16/m...
February 16, 2026 at 10:10 PM
We are so cooked.
lol this is gonna burst so fucking hard
February 15, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Denver Summit Coachella Valley Invitational Preview:
burgundywave.com/2026/02/14/d...
February 14, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Why doesn’t English Football have an equivalent to College Game Day? Imagine this guy front row with a sign heckling Jamie Carragher while he’s making his prediction for Wolves-Grimsby. 3 pints deep at 9 AM. Would be theater.
Lol yes. Sorry for the delay.
February 14, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The stars in the crest background are new and cool
February 12, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
MLS Announces Plan To Replace Matt Doyle With AI Chatbot Of Simon Borg That Will Cover Polymarket Parlays

www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2026...
MLS Announces Plan To Replace Matt Doyle With AI Chatbot Of Simon Borg That Will Cover Polymarket Parlays — The Nutmeg News
Major League Soccer (MLS) announced their plan, today, to replace Matt “Armchair Analyst” Doyle with an AI chatbot of Simon Borg that will exclusively cover Polymarket Parlays.
www.thenutmegnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:50 PM
“Colorful Colorado” kit = Black shirt.
“Black Diamond” kit = White shirt.
February 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Inbox: Colorado Rapids launch the black "Colorful Colorado" kit. The club plans to donate 10,000 soccer balls to kids across the state.
February 11, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Some weekend reading for you: @brendanploen.bsky.social nerds out about the 2026 litmus test that will be Denver Summit and Colorado Rapids playing at Mile High and DSGP. Couldn't have designed a better controlled study if we tried.
burgundywave.com/2026/02/06/d...
February 7, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Mitch, Braidon and @bymattpollard.bsky.social give our wildest predictions for the 2026 Rapids season. Whose is worst, and why is it Braidon's?

New CCR out now, all platforms
February 6, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Had a great time on @commercecityradio.bsky.social. Mitch and I formally appointed Lucas Herrington the Earl of Grogzwig.
February 5, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Cole Bassett's top 10 moments in Burgundy:
- Memorable quotes
- Big goals in big games
- Dominating the 2024 Rocky Mountain Cup
burgundywave.com/2026/02/04/c...
February 5, 2026 at 1:10 AM
My guest appearance on Stumptown Radio is now live:
stumptown-footy.ghost.io/stumptown-ra...
February 4, 2026 at 4:48 AM
$425K GAM for an International Slot is great Rapids Math. Curious to see where this window goes with this move and the Bassett money.
Inbox: Colorado Rapids have sent two International Roster Slots to Chicago Fire for $850K in GAM. $600K in 2026, $250K in 2027. This is a league record GAM cost for an INT Slot. Rapids get more GAM but also limits further international signings unless a player is getting a Green Card.
February 3, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Cole Bassett. Colorado native. The best Homegrown in Rapids history (so far). An imperfect but talented and dynamic midfielder. BW reacts to his departure from the club:
burgundywave.com/2026/02/02/c...
February 2, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Colorado Rapids Director of Player Personnel has been inducted into the Colorado Soccer Association Hall of Fame: burgundywave.com/2026/02/02/b...
February 2, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Had a good chat with @alex-barnes.bsky.social and @phuocerman.bsky.social today about Cole Bassett’s potential move to Portland Timbers and Denver Summit entering NWSL.

SB Nation refugees unite @stumptownfooty.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 4:00 AM
It could be worse, Rapids fans. This has to be a hold up for potential buyers.
January 31, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
They put a fake tournament in the middle of the season just to market MLS to Mexican fans and then immediately gutted their Spanish coverage
The cuts to the league’s Spanish-language on-air talent total some 25%, according to a league spokesperson, with about half of all matches in the regular season now handled by a single commentator.
New from me on @us.theguardian.com: sources tell me a host of changes are coming to MLS Season Pass - cuts in Spanish language talent & programming, and about half of the English-language matches will be produced overseas.

Much more right here: www.theguardian.com/football/202...
January 29, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Latest HTHL substack piece is up.

I dissect the latest press conference. Wells said ... some pretty interesting things. But what does it all mean?

#Rapids96
@rapids96podcast.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/holdingt...
January 30, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Matteo Moretto of Marca is reporting that Colorado Rapids are pursuing Granada (La Liga 2) center back Loïc Williams. Haven’t been able to confirm but he fits what the Pids are looking for. 6’2”, left footed. Also plays right back. He’s been a starter. Transfermarkt market value €1 million.
January 30, 2026 at 4:24 PM