Tom Lawton
@startwitheasy.bsky.social
Soccer, video/board games, structural engineer. Come On You Loons!
Pinned
Tom Lawton
@startwitheasy.bsky.social
· Mar 11
I made a feed to aggregate some #MNUFC news, stats, and posts all together.
It includes the official team account, as well as local reporters like @jonmarthaler.com and @andygreder.bsky.social. Supplementing that are a few post-game stat and graphics sources that I really like. (1/3)
It includes the official team account, as well as local reporters like @jonmarthaler.com and @andygreder.bsky.social. Supplementing that are a few post-game stat and graphics sources that I really like. (1/3)
Reposted by Tom Lawton
This would be a huge change with varying impacts to teams depending on where they play. There are positives for #MNUFC but gameday experience is not one of them. Interested to learn what the facility/stadium "changes" MLS is imagining for northern markets.
Sources: MLS owners are expected to vote on flipping to fall-spring calendar at Thursday's BOG meeting. Could happen as soon as 2027.
Also: Changes to competition format expected too, including single league table + divisions.
w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Also: Changes to competition format expected too, including single league table + divisions.
w/ @paultenorio.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Sources: MLS owners set to vote on season calendar, format changes Thursday
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This would be a huge change with varying impacts to teams depending on where they play. There are positives for #MNUFC but gameday experience is not one of them. Interested to learn what the facility/stadium "changes" MLS is imagining for northern markets.
Oh I see there's discussion of Divisions in #MLS. Here's my thoughts from a couple weeks ago.
Here's my conferences:
West is short a team. Not sure I should split up Nashville and ATL.
West is short a team. Not sure I should split up Nashville and ATL.
November 12, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Oh I see there's discussion of Divisions in #MLS. Here's my thoughts from a couple weeks ago.
I agree with all this from Wes. It's been a fun season (except for stressing over the last 15 minutes of nearly every #MNUFC game).
I even bought a Markanich jersey because how often do you get a LB who scores 10+ goals!
I even bought a Markanich jersey because how often do you get a LB who scores 10+ goals!
I broke down and I talked about Minnesota United and how f*cking dumb fun they are and how outside pundits don't get it. open.substack.com/pub/wburdine...
Champagne of Beers Soccer
We need to talk about the Loons
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I agree with all this from Wes. It's been a fun season (except for stressing over the last 15 minutes of nearly every #MNUFC game).
I even bought a Markanich jersey because how often do you get a LB who scores 10+ goals!
I even bought a Markanich jersey because how often do you get a LB who scores 10+ goals!
This is an interesting development. I've been thinking about upgrading my PC to play nicer with SteamOS. A new Steam Machine changes that calculus.
November 12, 2025 at 6:44 PM
This is an interesting development. I've been thinking about upgrading my PC to play nicer with SteamOS. A new Steam Machine changes that calculus.
It's great to see the concept art behind a game I really enjoyed. I especially liked the environmental storytelling, which is critical to this style of game.
November 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It's great to see the concept art behind a game I really enjoyed. I especially liked the environmental storytelling, which is critical to this style of game.
Reposted by Tom Lawton
More from last night's #MNUFC win in game 3, focused on the epic penalty shootout, and on the halftime that turned things around for the Loons:
Analysis: Minnesota United’s 10-round shootout with Sounders had a bunch of subplots all its own
The shootout ended with a shot off the crossbar, marking the fifth time in two playoff shootouts at Allianz Field that Seattle had found the woodwork.
www.startribune.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
More from last night's #MNUFC win in game 3, focused on the epic penalty shootout, and on the halftime that turned things around for the Loons:
This one nearly gave me a heart attack. From where I was sitting I couldn't tell if the bounce was in or out. And it all happened incredibly slowly.
#MNUFC
#MNUFC
November 9, 2025 at 2:28 AM
This one nearly gave me a heart attack. From where I was sitting I couldn't tell if the bounce was in or out. And it all happened incredibly slowly.
#MNUFC
#MNUFC
Reposted by Tom Lawton
THE MOST AGGRESSIVE SET PIECE TEAM IN THE WORLD
The most aggressive set-piece team in the world plays in Minnesota
Under the guidance of a former Manchester United assistant, Minnesota United are finding MLS success with a surprising tactic
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
THE MOST AGGRESSIVE SET PIECE TEAM IN THE WORLD
OF COURSE IT'S ANTHONY MARKANICH!
It was a classic Markanich goal. Sounders just forgot he was there.
#MNUFC
It was a classic Markanich goal. Sounders just forgot he was there.
#MNUFC
THERE'S NO WAY.
Down to ten men, the Loons win a corner, Joaquín Pereyra swings in a teasing ball, and Anthony Markanich - OF COURSE IT'S ANTHONY MARKANICH - steals in at the back post and heads home.
#MNUFC 's ten men have turned it around and the Loons lead 3-2. Unbelievable.
Down to ten men, the Loons win a corner, Joaquín Pereyra swings in a teasing ball, and Anthony Markanich - OF COURSE IT'S ANTHONY MARKANICH - steals in at the back post and heads home.
#MNUFC 's ten men have turned it around and the Loons lead 3-2. Unbelievable.
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
OF COURSE IT'S ANTHONY MARKANICH!
It was a classic Markanich goal. Sounders just forgot he was there.
#MNUFC
It was a classic Markanich goal. Sounders just forgot he was there.
#MNUFC
It was a wild one! The energy swings in Allianz were huge. Even the last few PKs had huge emotional swings.
That #MNUFC playoff game deserves the following summary thread… 1/
November 9, 2025 at 1:34 AM
It was a wild one! The energy swings in Allianz were huge. Even the last few PKs had huge emotional swings.
It really was:
2 goals on set pieces
1 goal immediately following a throw In
Blown lead
Shootout win
Classic #MNUFC!
2 goals on set pieces
1 goal immediately following a throw In
Blown lead
Shootout win
Classic #MNUFC!
Minnesota United with the most Minnesota United 10-man performance.
November 9, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It really was:
2 goals on set pieces
1 goal immediately following a throw In
Blown lead
Shootout win
Classic #MNUFC!
2 goals on set pieces
1 goal immediately following a throw In
Blown lead
Shootout win
Classic #MNUFC!
Reposted by Tom Lawton
Plenty of tickets still available for tomorrow afternoons MNUFC v Sounders playoff game
(Not nearly as many available as there were for gm 1 though)
Git a tick
seatgeek.com/minnesota-un...
(Not nearly as many available as there were for gm 1 though)
Git a tick
seatgeek.com/minnesota-un...
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Plenty of tickets still available for tomorrow afternoons MNUFC v Sounders playoff game
(Not nearly as many available as there were for gm 1 though)
Git a tick
seatgeek.com/minnesota-un...
(Not nearly as many available as there were for gm 1 though)
Git a tick
seatgeek.com/minnesota-un...
Reposted by Tom Lawton
We have the technology bsky.app/profile/four...
November 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
We have the technology bsky.app/profile/four...
This is *great* news for someone who is flying through Denver next week.
U.S. TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE MANDATORY FLIGHT CUTS AT MAJOR US AIRPORTS STARTING FRIDAY IF NO SHUTDOWN DEAL IS REACHED -- SOURCES
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 PM
This is *great* news for someone who is flying through Denver next week.
Great profile of #MNUFC front office and club strategy!
Few things about Minnesota United's new era have been normal — from outlier tactics to striking a data deal with @americansocceranalysis.com.
@joeclowery.bsky.social spoke with key figures at the club to go inside the Loons' rebirth as one of MLS's most competitive outfits.
Read ⤵️
@joeclowery.bsky.social spoke with key figures at the club to go inside the Loons' rebirth as one of MLS's most competitive outfits.
Read ⤵️
Inside Minnesota United’s rebirth: Playing “like Stoke City on a rainy Tuesday” & buying into data
The Loons’ unorthodox rebuild has seen them develop into one of MLS’s most modern and competitive outfits.
www.backheeled.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Great profile of #MNUFC front office and club strategy!
October 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Tom Lawton
I go past Keystone every day and see the line outside their University Avenue office. If you want to give money to a St. Paul food shelf, this might be a good choice. keystoneservices.org
Keystone Community Services – Services for youth, families and seniors.
Keystone Community Services provides youth programming, senior services, food shelves and distribution, and crisis support to neighborhoods surrounding St. Paul, Minnesota.
keystoneservices.org
October 27, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I go past Keystone every day and see the line outside their University Avenue office. If you want to give money to a St. Paul food shelf, this might be a good choice. keystoneservices.org
Interesting to see how this plays out. I've been conditioned by other American sports to not worry about the fairness of the schedule too much.
The NFL's unbalanced schedule has a formula that gives bad teams an easier schedule the next year and rotates through cross conference opponents.
The NFL's unbalanced schedule has a formula that gives bad teams an easier schedule the next year and rotates through cross conference opponents.
MLS is two leagues with a few exhibition games between them - and the conference standings should reflect that.
TL;DR: Not much would change this year, but for the sake of fairness, the conference standings should be conference-only.
TL;DR: Not much would change this year, but for the sake of fairness, the conference standings should be conference-only.
The 2025 MLS Conference-Only Standings
I’ve posted the MLS conference-only standings before, and there’s a simple reason: the MLS schedule is silly.
jonmarthaler.com
October 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Interesting to see how this plays out. I've been conditioned by other American sports to not worry about the fairness of the schedule too much.
The NFL's unbalanced schedule has a formula that gives bad teams an easier schedule the next year and rotates through cross conference opponents.
The NFL's unbalanced schedule has a formula that gives bad teams an easier schedule the next year and rotates through cross conference opponents.
This is an interesting article about the extreme application of a trend across an entire league.
Also contains a good description of a way I enjoy thinking about soccer:
Also contains a good description of a way I enjoy thinking about soccer:
October 22, 2025 at 1:24 AM
This is an interesting article about the extreme application of a trend across an entire league.
Also contains a good description of a way I enjoy thinking about soccer:
Also contains a good description of a way I enjoy thinking about soccer:
Reposted by Tom Lawton
American football is just 3 hours of set pieces so it’s no surprise midwesterners are predisposed to enjoying these kinds of perversions.
As an MNUFC season ticket holder I’ll say this season has been a blast to watch. It’s a very diff game to watch but doesn’t ruin my enjoyment
October 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
American football is just 3 hours of set pieces so it’s no surprise midwesterners are predisposed to enjoying these kinds of perversions.
Free Newsletter: Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year!
This is the longest newsletter I will ever write (b/c I should've put out the awards ballot as a separate post last week... oh well!)
open.substack.com/pub/tacticsf...
This is the longest newsletter I will ever write (b/c I should've put out the awards ballot as a separate post last week... oh well!)
open.substack.com/pub/tacticsf...
Best XI, Awards Ballot & final Power Rankings vote of the year!
This is the longest newsletter I'll ever write. I am sorry.
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Reposted by Tom Lawton
bad news for my haters
October 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
bad news for my haters
This is looking great! I'm excited to get this in hand! Now to wait until "early" next year.
Our printer sent this video of an actual finished Mileships book in motion 👀
October 15, 2025 at 1:19 AM
This is looking great! I'm excited to get this in hand! Now to wait until "early" next year.