Recent content from Jon Marthaler
Analysis: U.S. men's soccer national team isn't showing up, and neither are its fans
In the CONCACAF Nations League Finals last weekend in Los Angeles, the U.S. lost to Panama and Canada, again. Not only did the U.S. fail, nobody was in the stands to see it.
Analysis: Loons' scoring leader shows again the right spot matters as much as the right shot
In a draw with the LA Galaxy on Saturday, Kelvin Yeboah scored with a simple and familiar ploy: "He's in the right position at the right time."
Minnesota United endures a draw with LA Galaxy that was moments from being a victory
The Loons, reminiscent of a week previous, gave up a goal in the 90th minute after taking a lead in the 87th.
Loons take analytics much more seriously than the numbers would have you believe
The Loons' statistical department has ranked toward the bottom of MLS, but they're catching up fast.
Analysis: Thousands of tickets remain for Messi's scheduled visit to Minnesota in May. Why?
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are slated to play the Loons on May 10, but fans are proceeding cautiously in case the star attraction doesn't play.
Analysis: Loons are unreserved about their frustration after reserves preside over flop at KC
Commonly calm, manager Eric Ramsay was among the angry after Minnesota United gave up three goals once changes were made.
Minnesota United turns a comfortable lead into a regrettable draw at Sporting Kansas City
The Loons, a team working to establish a defensive reputation, scored the first three goals and gave up the last three.
Here's a twist: Sporting KC might want to follow Minnesota United's lead this time
The Loons have gradually rebuilt since the firing of coach Adrian Heath, while Sporting KC sputters under respected coach Peter Vermes.
Loons midfielder Dotson addresses trade demand publicly for first time
"It's a business, you know?" Minnesota United's Hassani Dotson said Tuesday. "So if it's business on their end, I'm just here to play soccer."
Analysis: Loons still left looking for more controlled movement on offense
The Loons are strong at counterattacks, but coach Eric Ramsay wants to find other means to generate scoring.
Minnesota United scores on the road again, making a single goal matter against San Jose
The Loons' defense made Kelvin Yeboah's goal stand up, and they handed the Earthquakes their first loss of the season.
Analysis: Minnesota United's attack has become two-dimensional
Loons forward Kelvin Yeboah leads MLS with 14 shots, and Tani Oluwaseyi has four, but then there's a drop-off.
Analysis: Minnesota United is making defense its linchpin, evidence going back 10 games shows
After a 1-0 victory over CF Montreal, it's also evident the offense needs to do some catching up.
Minnesota United overcomes CF Montreal with its first and only goal of the season
The Loons' Kelvin Yeboah scored in the 69th minute, all that was needed on a freezing night of cautious offense.
Minnesota United enters their home opener confident the remodel is going well
The Loons roster is getting younger and, they hope, more dynamic, as they prepare to face Montreal at Allianz Field.
Analysis: Valentin retires, but Loons keep him in a multi-faceted role
Zarek Valentin is coaching, interpreting and hosting the team's official podcast to name a few of his roles.
Analysis: Minnesota United exits satisfied with strategy emphasizing defense against LAFC
Coach Eric Ramsay has expressed a goal of controlling the ball more, but that was never the pursuit as the Loons lost in Los Angeles.
Loons open Year 2 under laser-focused, ambitious young coach Ramsay
Eric Ramsay has all the qualities the Loons want in a manager, but will he stay long enough to be the face of the franchise?
Can the Loons take the next step? Five questions entering a new season.
Minnesota United will see if its newcomers can be difference makers in a deep MLS Western Conference.
Minnesota United coach shoots down notion he's headed to Swansea City
A stir began when Eric Ramsay was made a betting favorite to take the job where he began his career.
Loons analysis: Understanding Hlongwane's hybrid role as new season approaches
The Loons foresee Bongokuhle Hlongwane thriving in the role with comparisons to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka and Bayer Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong.
As new MLS season nears, Loons players already have 2026 World Cup front of mind
Tani Oluwaseyi and Dayne St. Clair are among the Minnesota United players on a mission to play the World Cup for their home country.
Loons sign 21-year-old French midfielder Owen Gene; Leagues Cup foes announced
Owen Gene is one of three U22 Initiative players on the Loons roster, joining Nicolás Romero and Sang Bin Jeong.
Minnesota United manager Ramsay experiments with two strikers in Coachella Valley
The Loons had immediate success with the new alignment Sunday in a 6-0 exhibition victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Minnesota United's South Korean duo ranks as rare in MLS
The Loons, with Sang Bin Jeong a mainstay and Hoyeon Jung added recently, have two of the seven South Koreans who have played in Major League Soccer.
Trade request aside, Dotson still very much in the fold for the Loons
Loons soccer boss Khaled El-Ahmad says the sides are having "all calm, good conversations."
Analysis: Dotson's trade request leaves Minnesota United in a tough spot
One of the Loons' key players, Hassani Dotson is clearly unhappy with his contract situation, and replacing him would be quite difficult.
Analysis: Loons buy out Pukki's contract, clearing his transfer to HJK in Finland
The Teemu Pukki era with the Loons has ended with fond memories from 2023, but not so much from 2024.
Loons negotiating with Jeong Ho-yeon, Owen Gene on transfer market
The Loons, need to improve in the middle, have also had their sights on Nicolás Romero
Minnesota United nearing deal to acquire young Argentine center back
The Loons are working on signing Nicolás Romero from Atlético Tucumán — the same club in Argentina that produced Joaquín Pereyra.
Minnesota United, amid a frigid training camp, prepares to separate from its highest-paid player
A transfer of striker Teemu Pukki to a Finnish power is on the verge of completion and would free up valuable roster positions.
Loons will play international friendly against Bundesliga's Holstein Kiel
The exhibition match is set for July 7 at Allianz Field during the middle of Minnesota United's MLS season.
Messi and Inter Miami to face Minnesota United on May 10 at Allianz Field
The Loons announced their 2025 schedule on Thursday, and one highlight is their first chance to face Argentine superstar Lionel Messi.
How can the Loons compete with the best in the West? Continuity, for starters.
By the time LA Galaxy hoisted the MLS Cup, it was clear to Minnesota's new regime how far the Loons need to go.
Analysis: The Loons' first moves of the offseason keep roster largely intact
The Loons picked up their 2025 options on Dayne St. Clair, Tani Oluwaseyi, Hassani Dotson and Bongokuhle Hlongwane -- each a candidate for a contract extension.
Analysis: Despite 'sour taste' from season-ending loss, Loons accomplished much
Said coach Eric Ramsay about his first season with Minnesota United: "I know when the dust settles, we'll look back with a real sense of satisfaction."
Minnesota United's season ends in Western Conference semifinals with 6-2 loss to Galaxy
The Loons had given up two goals in their previous seven matches, but the high-powered Galaxy scored three in each half against them.
Analysis: Minnesota United's rookie coach Ramsay leads team back from the abyss
The Loons were in a freefall, but 33-year-old coach Eric Ramsay pushed all the right buttons on the way to Sunday's MLS Western Conference semifinal vs. LA Galaxy.
Analysis: Here's how the Loons can upset the LA Galaxy in the MLS playoffs
It's an age-old strategy, but one that applies perfectly here, considering the Galaxy's weaknesses.
Analysis: Loons have reason to believe they match up well with Galaxy
Minnesota United is a No. 6 seed playing the second-seeded Galaxy and couldn't beat them in two tries this season. But a closer look inside the matchup brings hope.
![Romell Quioto (12) of Honduras exhaled in the first half Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minn. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ • cgonzalez@star](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/IL7JT6G3LURSV3BO6ROPGUCWSA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Ice cold soccer alert: What if MLS flips to a fall-spring schedule?
Minnesota United could clinch its MLS playoff series against Real Salt Lake with a win Saturday. Meanwhile, however, the league is considering a schedule model that would hurt attendance in cold-weather cities.
Analysis: Loons employees heckled team to help prepare for penalty shootout
Minnesota United coach Eric Ramsay got creative to help his players get ready for Game 1 against Real Salt Lake. His team delivered.
Loons take 1-0 lead in MLS Cup first round with win over Real Salt Lake
Loons took the opening match of the best-of-three series on penalty kicks, winning the shootout 5-4.
How Minnesota United dug out of a huge hole and made the MLS Cup Playoffs
The Loons shook everything up, endured a brutal, eight-game stretch and landed in a playoff series against Real Salt Lake that many think they can win.
Analysis: Loons playoff series has penalty kicks written all over it
Loons games against Real Salt Lake are almost always close, and with no overtime in the MLS Cup Playoffs, penalty kicks could very well decide this.
