Ryan Allen
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Ryan Allen
@ilm-ryan.bsky.social
ECU Alum, Football Fan (Tottenham), Co-host for @theUSLShow.bsky.social #COYS
I also built the Lego Red Bull F1 car too and added it to my Lego shelf:
December 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A Friday night treat for myself:
December 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Teams, Format & Schedule Set for 2026 Open Cup 👀» ussoc.cr/ghn

#USOC2026 x @opencup.ussoccer.com x @ussoccer.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Pittsburgh’s final two months were an absolute rollercoaster, but they ended with a USL Championship title. I talked to Rob Vincent about the changes he made to help make it happen.
After an unexpected coaching change, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds still managed to claim the USL Championship’s most prized piece of silverware 🏆

How did acting coach Rob Vincent help fuel the a playoff run for the 'Hounds?

@usltactics.com spoke to Vincent and analyzed Pittsburgh's late changes 🆓
How Rob Vincent tweaked the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on the fly — and won a USL Championship title
After an unexpected coaching change, the Riverhounds earned the USL’s most prized piece of silverware. Here's how.
www.backheeled.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
We got some further clarification on the US Open Cup changes. Full tournament details out tomorrow, but the gist of it is the changes came from US Soccer, NOT the USL.

www.southeastsoccerreport.org/p/sources-us...
Sources: US Open Cup Changing Format for 2026
US Soccer limits number of clubs per professional division
www.southeastsoccerreport.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
The 2026 U.S. Open Cup will not feature full participation from professional USL clubs, multiple sources have told The Blazing Musket.
Sources: 2026 U.S. Open Cup Will Not Feature Full USL Participation
Multiple sources have told The Blazing Musket that the 2026 U.S. Open Cup will not feature full participation from USL Clubs.
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
🌟COMBINED BEST XI🌟

Last night, we sat down to discuss who was the BEST OF THE BEST across the Men’s Professional Leagues in 2025.

We don’t do “First” or “Second” Teams, only the Best are featured.

Our justifications for each pick is down below⬇️⬇️

youtu.be/2ZNG0q2V3hg?...
December 3, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Fort Lauderdale United confirms what was widely assumed at this point - pivoting to 2027 "allowing additional time to reinforce its foundation across player development, facilities, and community programming."

Sporting Cascades expected to make a similar announcement shortly.
Fort Lauderdale United FC Reschedules Men's Team Launch to 2027 to Strengthen Long-Term Foundation - Fort Lauderdale United FC
Fort Lauderdale United FC announced today that the club will adjust the launch of its Men’s USL League One team to Spring 2027.
www.ftlutd.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
NEWSLETTER: It's free agency season in the USL, so which players in the Championship and League One am I eyeing? I dig into Arturo Ordonez and a host of other standouts.

That, plus a look at the statistical trends driving the 2025-2026 Super League campaign.
www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...
The Back Four: Free Agents, First Edition
Initial free agency thoughts, plus Super League tactical trends
www.usltactics.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
8-4 was the end of regular season record. ECU ended up being much better than I had anticipated. We picked up 2 wins on top of the 6 I originally picked at season’s start. Go Pirates!
My 2025 East Carolina football season predictions. I nearly picked us to go 5-7 (and honestly have been leaning that way more lately), but I wanted to be more positive on this team. The good, I think we can score loads of points. The bad, this defense is very suspect. Under 6.5 wins though.
November 30, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
John and Kaylor went to Tulsa, Oklahoma and were treated to some of the most magical moments the Magic City could muster.

The USL Final was a battleground on and off the pitch, and the match was a perfect encapsulation of it all.

youtu.be/LV2yCrKu6pc?...
We Went to the USL Final and...
YouTube video by The USL Show
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
NEWSLETTER: After a punchy final, Pittsburgh are your 2025 USL Championship winners. I break down how Perrin Barnes was so key to the effort, plus...

⚽ Stefan Lukic, super sub extraordinaire
💙 Sporting Jax's terrific expansion start
🔒 Dallas, locking it down
www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...
The Back Four: Post-title takeaways
On Perrin Barnes, Stefan Lukic, and two Super League standouts
www.usltactics.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Need to keep up with today's barrage of roster news? I've got you covered with the 2025-2026 version of the USL roster tracker.

Check in. ⬇️
www.usltactics.com/usl-transfer...
USL Transfer Tracker
Birmingham Pos Signed Pos Lost Pos Birmingham Legion BHM Matt Van Oekel GK Fernando Delgado GK Santiago Suarez (L) CB Birmingham Legion BHM Enzo Martinez (26) AM Stephen Turnbull CB Roman Torres (...
www.usltactics.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
The USL season is over, but a labor fight rages on off the field.

With the current CBA set to expire at the end of the year, questions abound about the future of the league and its players.

“We've been adamant from our position: tell us what the plan is.”

From @usltactics.com ⤵️
November 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are your 2025 USL Championship winners, but how’d they do it?

I dig into today’s title game – and how this club’s trajectory is pointed sharply upward even after winning a title.

www.backheeled.com/pittsburgh-r...
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds set themselves up for long-term success — then that success came early
Even with questions swirling around the club’s coaching situation, the Riverhounds claimed the USL Championship trophy on Saturday.
www.backheeled.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Tell the world that we’re out here
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
The USL’s season is ending, but its CBA standoff doesn’t seem to be.

With the USL Championship’s CBA set to expire in one month, questions about the future abound.

From salaries to healthcare to the USL's ambitious future, @usltactics.com examines what's at stake.

“Tell us what the plan is.”
The USL Championship season is ending – it’s CBA standoff doesn’t seem to be
With the current CBA set to expire at the end of the year, questions abound about the future of the league and its players.
www.backheeled.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
Squatchy the sasquatch is #USL-2.

Really excited to welcome Appalachian FC to USL League Two for the 2026 season.

www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article...
Appalachian FC to join USL League Two in 2026
Growing North Carolina club moves into USL
www.uslleaguetwo.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
My review of the USL League One final is up. Knoxville pulled it off, from the stadium experience to the victory on the pitch, despite a recurring turf issue. But as the Knoxville fans say as they lean into it "we play on a baseball field" and "I dare you to play it back"
One Knoxville Wins League Title in Front of Record Crowd
Everything came up Knoxville on Sunday
beyondthe90.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
We’ve got our conference title winners for 2025, but how did the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and FC Tulsa get it done?

I deep dive into each performance to see what mattered and how these clubs went the distance. 🔗⬇️

www.backheeled.com/how-fc-tulsa...
How FC Tulsa, Pittsburgh Riverhounds booked a spot in the USL Championship Final
After a pair of intense conference final matchups watched by record-setting crowds, here's how this year's final was formed.
www.backheeled.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
NEW: One Knox are your 2025 League One Champions, so how'd they get it done on Sunday night? I dive deep.

(That, plus the usual newsletter segments across the Championship and Super League.)
www.usltactics.com/the-back-fou...
The Back Four: On One Knox's title
Welcome in to The Back Four! As always, visit Backheeled for more USL content, including a deep dive into the Championship’s conference finals. Also, check out This League! for an audiovisual dive in...
www.usltactics.com
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Ryan Allen
NEW: MLS will become a summer-to-spring circuit beginning in 2027. It's the latest change as it aims to regularly "double" its fanbase...although the latest switch risks polarizing the league's longtime diehard supporters.

Free to read:
jeffrueter.substack.com/p/mls-has-en...
MLS has enacted its "far, far, far" futuristic vision
What a "competition calendar change" says about where MLS sees value, and who might bridle at the implications
jeffrueter.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM