Tim Hotze
banner
thotze.bsky.social
Tim Hotze
@thotze.bsky.social
Managing Editor @meninred97.com
Chicago Fire (& other) soccer
Member @soccerreporters.bsky.social

MLS Roster Rule nerd. GAM aficionado.
I know, we all think the content would've been better if @lesleyryder.bsky.social just stuck around after talking about the Stars but it was still great talking to Joe and @acampbellsports.bsky.social about the #cf97's 2025 #mls campaign.
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I'm all for finding ways to support local retail, but man, what a terrible idea. A flat tax on all "tangible property" regardless of size/weight?

To say nothing of the fact that this will disproportionately affect disabled ppl & ones who live in retail deserts.
A package delivery tax is being proposed to help float the city's budget woes — but the mayor says it would need state approval. blockclubchi.co/4qUblCq
November 11, 2025 at 3:52 PM
November 11, 2025 at 2:20 AM
If MLS does switch schedules and some teams don't want to play when it's cold, well, do I have an expansion market for you...
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Reposted by Tim Hotze
CONCACAF heritage alert in the CPL final.
November 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
$165m expansion fees shouldn't be compatible with teams in the league playing out of high school and college stadiums, but, well, here we are.
BREAKING: The NWSL is awarding its 17th franchise to Atlanta and will join the league for a record expansion fee of $165 million, sources tell The Athletic.

Details: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Absolute. Legend.
Columbus Crew’s elimination means Darlington Nagbe has played his final game.

Salute to a certified legend.
November 9, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Well that's certainly a series of words assembled into grammatically-correct English sentences.

Have we looked into the possibility that Berman is AI?
#NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman spoke at halftime. She declined to explicitly confirm her widely reported contract extension ("I'm gonna still say that I intend to be here.") and was asked (Q: @jasondcsoccer.bsky.social) about the league's gender policy. Berman's full answer.
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Was not public but it's one of several parties that had expressed strong interest in Brian Gutiérrez.
I don't think I've reported this publicly or not but: The Colorado Rapids pushed hard for Brian Gutierrez this summer. Was one of their top options after selling Djordje Mihailovic.

Colorado landed on a club-record deal for Paxten Aaronson, of course.
Dear Chicago Fire,

How much do you want for Brian Gutiêrrez? Deal.

Yours,

Pádraig Smith

#Rapids96
November 7, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Huge news – new central/defensive mid Anton Salétros official per Bogert, and André Franco now a permanent member of #cf97

Franco's the no. 10 role is what made the 5-3-2 work offensively for the Fire in big wins over Minnesota, Columbus and Miami, sending the Chicago Fire back into the playoffs
New: The Chicago Fire has signed midfielder André Franco on a permanent deal from Porto. Club agreed new transfer fee after ACL injury.

Club also complete deal to sign Sweden int'l midfielder Anton Salétros.

Gregg Berhalter on those deals + offseason plans: www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Sources: Fire reach permanent deal for Franco as part of club's plan to build on 2025
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Reposted by Tim Hotze
NEW: North Carolina FC became a model of mid-market operation in the U.S. lower divisions. On Tuesday, they joined a lengthy list of former clubs.

On the former Carolina RailHawks, and questions about the USL's plan to add more jeopardy to its ecosystem. jeffrueter.substack.com/p/so-long-sw...
So long, sweet RailHawk.
A reflection on the grim annual tradition of USL clubs ceasing operations.
jeffrueter.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
This is a list of some WoSo people and people that Jessica Berman is excited she gets to hang out with.
November 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
And Bogert official, #cf97
Sources: Chicago Fire finalizing deal to sign central midfielder Anton Salétros from AIK. Deal would be for January.

Salétros, 29, has made 229 apps for AIK.
November 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Rumor: Chicago Fire signing central midfielder Anton Salétros from AIK in Stockholm for ~$3.2m USD.

Salétros, 29, has 19 caps for 🇸🇪, including during their recent World Cup qualifiers.

#cf97 #VamosFire

www.expressen.se/sport/fotbol...

h/t to @johandykhoff.bsky.social
Lämnar AIK för MLS: Här hamnar Salétros
Anton Salétros väntas lämna AIK efter säsongen för MLS, enligt Aftonbladet . Enligt initierade källor till Expressen kommer Salétros att lämna för Chicago Fire som är överens med Stockholmsklubben om ...
www.expressen.se
November 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
This is just a huge story.

The USL top flight is suddenly starting to feel much more real
ICYMI: The USL has hired Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes to run its Division One league and help bring pro-rel to the U.S.

Updated with quotes from USL's Paul McDonough.

Reporting with @oliverkay.bsky.social:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
USL tabs Premier League chief Tony Scholes to run new first division: Sources
USL is launching a new first-division league in 2028, and it's turning to an experienced Premier League leader to run it
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
God I love this content
They were selling packs for $1 and I convinced Yuki Nagasato to open them and we went 0/7 trying to find one of her cards
November 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Very, very random stat: for the past 3 years, the NWSL spoon "winner" has finished with a -22 goal differential (KC in 2021 we're at -21).

Weird, right?
November 3, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Most reports – from people who I've known and don't think are lying here – suggest that it wasn't frequent attendees that were primarily responsible for the chants.

But this just highlights how ineffective the current tools are at making an impact.

#cf97 #VamosFire
November 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Tim Hotze
Abduction of Proserpina, by Giambologna, 1579 (from the @NortonSimon Museum in Pasadena), 📸 by @nturchiarophoto
November 2, 2025 at 3:13 PM
All good things...

But it still was a year of tremendous progress for the Fire
November 2, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Immediately after the game resumed, the chant happenedf again in the 82nd minute.

#mls needs to handle this better, if fans can't be trusted to do it themselves.
November 1, 2025 at 11:27 PM
And the game has been suspended in Bridgeview with Gregg Berhalter personally going over to talk to fans.

Just shameful behavior from fans behind Andre Blake's goal.

#cf97 #VamosFire
November 1, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The chant happened louder in the 74th minute, leading to a third announcement.

As it stands now, the game between Chicago and Philadelphia should be stopped per the protocol.

Fire supporters are ending a overall good season on a terrible note.

#cf97 #VamosFire
November 1, 2025 at 11:20 PM
And the chant was the loudest it's been on Blake's kick in the 70', leading to the second announcement.

#cf97 supporters : Just. do. better. here.
Discriminatory chants led to a in-stadium announcement about discrimination - the first step of the protocol that can result in a match suspension

First time it's occurred at a Fire #mls game.

#cf97 : Be better than this y'all.
November 1, 2025 at 11:16 PM