Ashley Westwood spoke with us last night about the importance of pride night.
“For me it is massive.”
He wore the pride armband Saturday night as the team captain.
“I wear it with great pride and for everyone out there as well,” including his niece.
There’s been a lot of traffic on this account today, so I wanted to end on a positive note.
The first time I ever asked a Charlotte FC player about Pride Month, it was
@AntonWalkes
.
His message was simple: “We’re with you.”
RIP Anton.
Scoop:
@CharlotteFC
Coach Christian Lattanzio confirms he expects to have more money and resources (from David Tepper) to use to make the club more competitive in 2023.
Congrats on Charlotte FC players for their MLS award nominations:
MVP:
Karol Świderski
Goalkeeper:
Kristijan Kahlina
Defender:
Adilson Malanda
Newcomer:
Patrick Agyemang
Andrew Privett
Young Player of the Year:
Adilson Malanda
Comeback:
Ashley Westwood
Below is the
@MLS
Season Pass broadcast schedule for the Opening Week, including English-language commentators for each match with the play-by-play talent listed first, followed by the match analyst.
Talked to
@CharlotteFC
President Joe LaBue after the match. Confirms Lattanzio and the core of the team will be back next year. Announcements to come in the off-season.
#ForTheCrown
A small nugget in today’s Leagues Cup announcement that has gone mostly overlooked: The top 15 teams in the 2022 MLS regular season get two home games (as opposed to 1) during group play.
@CharlotteFC
can still finish in the top 15 with a win on Sunday.
#ForTheCrown
Last year, after Charlotte FC’s 4-1 win vs. Nashville, I spoke with Kristijan Kahlina about facing Mukhtar for a penalty.
He didn’t save that one.
But he told me, “When it will be really important, I will save it. I believe in this.”
Kahlina has five PK saves in Leagues Cup.
Amid all of the Designated Player news, I think it’s also important to report that sources inside the club are very clear that the rumors of Enzo Copetti leaving - especially now that he can own the spotlight - are greatly exaggerated.
Enzo is staying.
Charlotte FC has made it a long way in terms of playing Lattanzio’s version of Total Football. The team looked better in the second half tonight than they have in most of the matches they’ve played.
They just have to improve their finishing.
“Kristijan is one of the top keepers in this league in my opinion.”
“I want to praise [Kerwin Vargas] more on his defensive work … for me he played the most complete game of the season.”
Charlotte FC Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina on Lionel Messi coming to
@MLS
:
“What can I say about Messi? For me the biggest player in the world … MLS will gain more respect in the world”
Adilson Malanda is not on the MLS 22 Under 22 list, which doesn’t make sense until you see that all but one player on the list (a GK) has a goal or a brace this season.
Hard out there for defenders, but last time we checked it was a team sport.
#22U22
Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed to Soccer Sheet that issues with Andre Shinyashiki go back farther than this year.
Shinyashiki was not protected by
@CharlotteFC
during the MLS expansion draft and the club has been looking to part ways for awhile.
What I’ve confirmed from sources with direct knowledge of the incident:
• Dante Vanzeir used a heinous racial remark
•
@AppleTVPlus
and/or
@MLS
has footage of Jeremy Ebobisse explaining the exact word that was said, which was not the N-word.
#RBNY
#Quakes74
Barely seen this posted anywhere and it baffles me. This should be the biggest talking point of the weekend. Based off the reactions it’s clear SOMETHING was said that crossed the line. MLS needs to handle this fast & accordingly & hand out a lengthy ban if accusations are backed
Charlotte is really good at winning these goal of the week votes … almost like MLS commentators severely underestimate the number of Charlotte fans despite the club having sky-high attendance figures.
“When Messi goes one on one with me it’s completely different” than when a normal player goes up against you.
Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina says you never know what to expect with
#Messi
.
New Charlotte FC fines from Wednesday:
Nathan Byrne, Brandt Bronico, Ashley Westwood, and Enzo Copetti in the 5th minute and Bill Tuiloma in the 85th minute have each been issued an undisclosed fine by
@MLS
for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation.
#ForTheCrown
This hot take is completely devoid of empathy, but also ignores that the tragedy had a domino effect in the locker room that led to a downward spiral for at least one player, which hurt the team in public and private.
A man’s life will always mean more than a game.
On today's press conference with Ashley Westwood:
"I've said it since the Leagues Cup - that's [where we really] found our momentum."
"We were playing well, but created our own problems with our mistakes."
"Thankfully we've got the rewards of our hard work."
Is it just me or is
@AppleTV
's layout for
#MLSSeasonPass
*way* harder to navigate this season? It's so much clunkier and harder to find content versus last season.
Let me get this straight …
MLS has the ability to place players on administrative leave, but did not think that the actions of Shinyashiki in Santos rose to the level of administrative leave?
With tonight’s loss, Charlotte hasn’t won a MLS match since May 27, and their next chance is on August 25 in Miami against Inter Messi.
If they lose that match, it will be a 3 month drought.
After tonight’s loss, Lattanzio told the team in the locker room that he was proud of the way the team played in the Leagues Cup, but that they have to be sharper in the final third.
After tonight’s loss, Soccer Sheet asked
@CharlotteFC
if the club or President
@JCLaBue
had a comment on Coach Lattanzio’s future with the organization.
A Charlotte FC spokesperson declined to comment.
It's a winner!
Djibril Diani is the Man of the Match in his first-ever home match for Charlotte.
Goals from both Ashley Westwood and Patrick Agyemang.
2-0
FT
#CLTvCLB
#ForTheCrown
#Crew96
Soccer is for everyone, and we have to manage a diversity of thought and opinions.
However, believing in the dignity and value of other human beings isn’t a “stance,” it’s Humanity 101.
Ben has every right to do what he did. Freedom of speech also means we get to ask “why?”
@jayAforrest
@SoccerSheet
Wildest part of all these conversations is how sure you guys are about your stance, but you say things that show its not even based on the facts of the conversation...
Charlotte held on to a lead for 82 minutes without conceding a goal. After last season that’s more impressive than anything.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Charlotte, like St. Louis, follows up a great year for the second team with a great year for the first team.
I don’t have any negative feelings about Christian Lattanzio, but part of me thinks that Montreal could score enough goals in this match that he gets sacked.
It’s the last match before Leagues Cup, no MLS matches for over a month, new players coming on, logical time to retool.
A cursory look at the
@LeaguesCup
and MLS calendar makes it almost certain the Charlotte/Miami game on August 20 will be postponed.
The Third Place and Final matches are scheduled for August 19.
The winner of Charlotte/Miami on Friday will be in one of those matches.
Not hyperbole to say this is the biggest sporting event in Charlotte in 30 years.
(1994 NCAA Men’s Final Four with President Clinton in attendance supporting the Razorbacks probably takes the cake)
2024 Copa America final will be in Miami. Semifinals in your Charlotte, N.C. - as well as NYC. Other cities hosting early round games in tourney of 16 teams: Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Vegas, Kansas City, Orlando, San Francisco, Atlanta, LA and Austin.
Before the full list of
#FootyAwards
winners goes live at , we wanted to take a moment to highlight our Editor’s Award winner Ashley Westwood.
It’s hard to imagine the 2023 season without his impact on the club.
Here’s to you, skipper!
As expected: Charlotte FC Sign Midfielder Ashley Westwood
✅ Premier League Talent
✅ Experienced Veteran
✅ Adds to badly-needed midfield depth
This signing is another sign Charlotte FC’s front office is going for it in year two.
#ForTheCrown
If Charlotte Fans didn’t want the referee lockout to end before tonight, they definitely do now.
Final. Nashville wins 2-1.
#NSHvCLT
#ForTheCrown
#EveryoneN
“The MLS Disciplinary Committee has found FC Cincinnati defender Ian Murphy guilty of failing to leave the field in a timely manner in the 75th minute of Cincinnati’s match against Charlotte FC on July 8. Murphy has been fined an undisclosed amount for his actions.”
#CLTvCIN
This weekend,
@CharlotteFC
’s Ben Bender will be getting playing time as part of
@crownlegacyfc
, Charlotte’s
@MLSNEXTPRO
team.
Bender is no longer on the online Charlotte FC roster but is on the public Crown Legacy roster.
#ForTheCrown
This isn’t a great move without more context around Arena’s departure from the Revs - especially given the MAR firing and the scandal with Shinyashiki/Santos.
Sources: Bruce Arena put his name forward to Charlotte FC for their head coaching vacancy.
Charlotte considering Arena but search at 1st stage. No favorites or finalists.
News shows the 72-year-old Arena is intent on continuing coaching career.
🔗:
“The phrase Ash[ley Westwood] said at the final whistle was ‘stick together’ to describe our season.”
“Every day I’ve been thinking of [Anton] and he’s always in my thoughts on a daily basis.”
Great night for Charlotte Football.
@crownlegacyfc
grabs 3 points away with a 0-1 win.
@Independence
wins 4-1 at home for 3 more points.
@CharlotteFC
up 0-3 at the half in Leagues Cup play, Necaxa’s Édgar Méndez shown red at ‘49.
If FC holds on, that’s a 9-Point Night.
Re: recent articles and reports …
Clubs rarely make announcements around
#MLS
Cup, and per a source with knowledge Charlotte FC has not as of yet made a decision on the head coach job.