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By Sam Vanolinda Dean Smith addresses the Charlotte crowd after the 2024 regular season home finale (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) It has officially been a year since Dean Smith joined Charlotte FC as the head coach. After a turbulent  2023 offseason, during which many coaches, including Frank Lampard  and Robin Fraser , were discussed for the role , Smith was announced as the man at the helm for the future in Charlotte. After a year it is safe to say the Smith has become a calming presence within the club. He has brought structure to the team and effectively implemented his style of play, leading to a playoff spot. Despite the heartbreaking loss to Orlando City, Dean Smith’s first season has to be viewed positively. Smith’s side was organized, compact, and defensively adept, and despite having offensive struggles at times, it still squeezed out results. Adilson Malanda emerged as the heartbeat of the backline that only allowed 37 goals, good for second-best in MLS behind the Seattle Sounders. Combined with Premier League veteran Tim Ream, fellow youngster Andrew Privett, and a combination of Nathan Byrne and Jere Uronen, the team was hard to break down. That isn’t even mentioning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina who was as solid as a keeper can be all season long. Since it’s now been a year, what better time to reflect on what we have learned under Head Coach Smith so far: Defensive structure We knew that Smith was a traditional English manager who emphasized structure, but Charlotte fans were anxious heading into the season because of Christian Lattanzio's chaotic tenure as head coach. In 2023, the team would repeatedly be up in matches, only to melt down and lose composure in the late stages. Smith came in and immediately had the team playing organized situational football. Instead of pressing forward late in games when the team was holding onto a lead, he trusted in the skill of his backline and keeper and had them sit back at times and absorb pressure.  The squad went from seven clean sheets in 2023 to an impressive 12 in 2024, only behind Seattle for most in the league. “Every clean sheet means the world to us,” Captain Ashley Westwood said while reflecting on the season, “That starts from the boys up top pressing. If we come back in the right frame of mind and the right fitness that we did this year, we’re on the right track to go win something.” What Smith taught us and what is a very embraced approach to the game over in England is that it doesn’t always have to be pretty to work (look at 2024 Arsenal). Sometimes a team has to dig in and win a scrappy game to progress, and that is what Charlotte did this year, which ended with them finishing fifth in the East. In 2024, Charlotte FC was dead last in possession with 44.2%, third to last in touches with 18,620, and fourth-to-last in touches in the attacking third, but it still produced 46.7 xG, which was only slightly below average. They absorbed pressure and counterattacked relatively well. A top-four finish would have been very realistic if the attacking players had more time to gel and fewer lineup changes.  We know now that the team can focus on improving the offense in the offseason. Even if Malanda ends up in Europe, Ream and Privett are great options as a center-back duo, and Charlotte still has João Pedro and plenty more youngsters who can rise up the system and learn from Smith. Personality and likeability A lot of what makes Smith a great coach is his dedication and passion on the field, as well as his lightheartedness and glowing personality off the field.  Smith came into the team with a positive attitude and a smile on his face, and that rubbed off on the players and the organization. Dean Smith at his introductory press conference (Photo courtesy of Cisco's Art/TopBin90) Even when the team would go through a tough stretch of games, the fans online and at the games would still get behind their coach. The community trusts him because of the wealth of experience he has. Smith has a great relationship with his players and is never hesitant to praise the qualities of the team. He goes into the second season with hope for an even better finish and a deeper run into the playoffs: “How much they’ve grown so far this season, that’s what gives me hope,” Smith reflected after the Orlando loss. “The attitude, the application of the players, the team spirit, the teamwork, I think that will just grow, that will get better, I think we’ve started something here, we’ve been watering it, and it's been growing, and I think it will continue to grow.” Smith’s wine cabinet has to be refilled in the offseason after the 12 clean sheets last year because as many know, Smith would reward the defense (and sometimes the whole team) with a bottle of wine  for each clean sheet they accumulated throughout the year.  A small competition like that may not seem like a lot, but it builds team chemistry and allows players to relax and enjoy themselves. Smith is a serious coach but also can have fun and enjoy the game. Smith's personality is not just enjoyed on a local scale, he had a feature piece written on him by the Athletic that was featured in the New York Times talking about how he is “unifying” Charlotte FC.  The article goes into detail about training camp foot golf competitions, golf sessions, scavenger hunts, quiz games, and swim meets. All these team-building tasks created a family atmosphere before the season even began. The foundation of a championship-winning team is a coach who has the players both laser-focused and passionate about the game but also relaxed and comfortable with each other, and that is what Smith has brought to the Crown. Offensive struggles (and plans to fix them) Smith will be the first person to tell you that the team had struggles in the final third in 2024.  “We had the best defensive record in the East,” Smith explained, “What we need to go on and improve during the close season is on the ball, in the final third… We’re a good fit team, but there’s lots of different things we can improve on.” One of the biggest reasons for the final-third offensive struggles is the amount of rotation that was happening last year in that area of the field. It's hard to develop chemistry and flow as an attacking unit when players are getting injured or are being dropped due to performance; Smith would rotate through Patrick Agyemang, Karol Swiderski, Kerwin Vargas, Liel Abada, Iuri Tavares, Pep Biel when he arrived, Ben Bender, and even Tyger Smalls, Nimfasha Berchimas, Idan Toklomati and Jamie Paterson got minutes. Charlotte's list of attackers also included Enzo Copetti, Brecht Dejaegere, and Scott Arfield who were all rotated through the lineup at the beginning of the season before moving to other clubs. The attacking line had a lot of moving parts. Now when you go back to looking at the defensive four, despite some small amounts of shuffling when Tim Ream joined the squad, it remained relatively consistent - that is one reason why they were such a strong force. Before Smith is judged for his offensive coaching ability he needs a full offseason and some more transfers that are inspired by him. He was close to picking up electric Paraguyuan winger Miguel Almirón over the summer before the deal broke down . The Goal article linked also goes into the deal that Charlotte had with Calvin Stengs who would’ve been a high-impact player on the team but had a lingering injury he was dealing with. Given Smith’s reputation and relationship with some of the star players he has formally managed over the Atlantic, some big names could be linked with the club in January.  TopBin90' s Brian Maurer went into detail in his recent article about players he thinks the club may target to replace Pep Biel who was not bought after his loan spell at the club. Guys like Á ngel Correa and Harry Wilson would create a ton of excitement seeing them in solar blue; in addition, fans have been speculating since the beginning about the idea of Jack Grealish, who sent the team a good luck message before their game against NYCFC and called Smith “The real goat,” in a Twitter message. It's safe to say the team struggled with maintaining possession and creating chances when in attacking positions. Despite that, there are plenty of bright sparks that may have the team looking different at the start of the 2025 season. One of those is the transfers that will come in January, but also the progression of Patrick Agyemang. Agyemang looked like a true star at the tail end of the 2024 season. A net-ripping striker who could get 20+ goals in a season in his prime by the look of things. Once Smith has a couple more offensive weapons at his disposal mixed in with Agyemang the offense could turn it around in 2025.

By Brian Maurer Karol Swiderski (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Yesterday, Charlotte FC and the rest of MLS announced the players they are leaving unprotected for San Diego FC's Expansion Draft. The 2024 Expansion Draft is set for tonight at 10:30 PM EST and will decide the fate of five players around MLS who were left unprotected. San Diego can select and sign or trade five players during the draft. They can choose only one player from any MLS club, no double-dipping allowed. GiveMeSport writer, Tom Bogert, broke down a few general rules or expectations of expansion drafts to keep in mind as the draft approaches. Here are a few players from Charlotte's list of unprotected players that could be selected by San Diego in tonight's draft based on the five rules Bogert laid out: Charlotte FC's unprotected list Bender, Ben Bingham, David Diop, Hamady Forbes, Jahlane Marks, George Biel, Pep Odunze, Chituru Paterson, Jamie Pedro, João Scardina, Nick Smalls, Tyger Swiderski, Karol Tavares, Iuri Toklomati, Idan Tuiloma, Bill Uronen, Jere Urso, Júnior Tom Bogert's expansion draft rules to keep in mind Bogert's first rule is to not focus on the Designated Players (DPs) or other expensive senior roster players. His thought process on this is that San Diego FC will want to sign their key players based on the scouting and recruiting they have done. Especially because of the cost that some of these players incur. Essentially they will want to sign "their guys" to fill the top end of their roster. This makes players like Karol Swiderski, Bill Tuiloma, and Jere Uronen all unlikely candidates for selection. If San Diego FC were to select Swiderski they would have only one DP spot remaining. San Diego likely already has a strategy for how they want to approach DP signings and the chances that Swiderski is a part of that strategy are low. The only likely scenario where Swiderski, Tuiloma, or Uronen get selected is if another club wants to trade with San Diego. Another note on expenses is players with high transfer fees. If a player was brought in on a transfer fee but that fee hasn't been fully paid off by the club, San Diego would incur that debt by selecting that player. This could be a reason Idan Toklomati was left unprotected by Charlotte. He was reportedly brought in on a transfer fee of around $3.5 million. If there is still money owed on that transfer fee then the chances San Diego selects Toklomati would greatly decrease. Bogert's second rule is to look for cheaper value options that are also on domestic contracts as they wouldn't need to take up one of San Diego's valuable international roster slots. This decreases the likelihood that players like Iuri Tavares, Hamady Diop, and João Pedro get selected. Tavares and Pedro are senior roster players and all three would take up an international roster spot in San Diego. Bogert's third rule is clubs generally avoid players on expiring contracts because they could sign those players using a different avenue than the Expansion Draft. This removes Jamie Paterson, Júnior Urso, and Pep Biel from likely contention. The other rules Bogert suggested keeping an eye on were trades. According to Bogert, a trade seems likely to occur. This would be the most likely scenario for Charlotte's more experienced players to get selected. Bogert also mentioned handshake deals. Charlotte could offer a trade to San Diego where they give extra value in the trade. Behind the scenes, San Diego agrees to not select Charlotte players in the Expansion Draft because of the extra value they received in the trade. This doesn't seem necessary for the Crown as they do not have a ton of obvious options for San Diego to select. Unprotected Charlotte FC players to watch Nick Scardina - The young fullback made his First Team debut in 2024 and looks like a candidate to be the backup right-back in 2025. San Diego could view him as a value pick on a supplemental roster slot who is also a domestic player. Tyger Smalls - Charlotte FC traded up to select Smalls in the First Round of last year's SuperDraft. He has First Team minutes and is another player San Diego could view as a value pick for their supplemental roster who takes up a domestic spot. Ben Bender - Charlotte's first SuperDraft selection. He has multiple years of First Team experience and has 15 goal contributions (7g/8a) in 32 MLS starts to his name. He only has one year left on his contract and would take up a senior roster spot. His lower cost (around $125k salary) and domestic status could make him an intriguing pick for San Diego. Trade - As said before, one of Charlotte's more experienced players could be selected if another team wants to throw a deal together that would intrigue San Diego. This is where a player like Swiderski or Uronen could get selected. If another MLS club offers San Diego a decent amount of general allocation money (GAM), a trade deal could be accepted. Summary Overall, when looking at Charlotte FC's list of unprotected players compared to other clubs around MLS it seems like there is a good chance that Charlotte's players are safe. Most of the players that appear to be the most likely candidates based on Bogert's rules would also be relatively easy to replace in terms of player value and roster position. The one major hurdle Charlotte will aim to avoid is another club offering San Diego a big trade deal for one of Charlotte's more experienced senior roster players.

By Brian Maurer Photo Courtesy of Cisco's Art/TopBin90 In the First Round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Charlotte will host two matches: Real Madrid vs. Pachuca on Sunday, June 22nd, at 3:00 PM EST, and Bayern Munich vs. Benfica on Tuesday, June 24th, at 3:00 PM EST. This will be the second time in two years Real Madrid will be hosted by the Queen City. This will be Pachuca and Benfica's first time playing in the Queen City, adding to the quickly growing list of big-time international clubs who have paid Charlotte a visit since Charlotte FC's inaugural season. Charlotte will also host two Round of 16 matches: the winner of Group C versus the second-place team from Group D on Saturday, June 28th, and the winner of Group E against the second-place team from Group F on Monday, June 30th. These matches could feature teams like Chelsea, Flamengo, River Plate, Inter Milan, or Borussia Dortmund. Photo Courtesy of FIFA The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be the first to feature an expanded 32-team format and will take place primarily on the East Coast of the United States from June 15th to July 13th, 2025 . This revamped event, now held every four years, adopts a structure similar to the FIFA World Cup. Photo Courtesy of Cisco Art/TopBin90 Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will play the opening match of the tournament against Egyptian team Al Ahly in Miami on June 15. The competition will conclude at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is also set to host the FIFA World Cup™ final on July 19, 2026.

By Brian Maurer Karol Swiderski (left) and Liel Abada (right) celebrating during the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Next Wednesday is the 2024 expansion draft . This is when the new expansion team, San Diego FC, will get the opportunity to select five players from the other 29 MLS clubs. Each club will get to select 12 players from their current roster that they can protect. Generation Adidas players who are on the supplemental roster are automatically protected, as are all homegrown players who are under 25. In 2022, Charlotte FC selected five players in their expansion draft McKinze Gaines, Anton Walkes, Joseph Mora, Tristan Blackmon (traded), and Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (traded). In 2023, St. Louis City selected Nicholas Gioacchini, Indiana Vassilev, Jonathan Bell, John Nelson, and Jake LaCava. This season, Charlotte FC’s Hamady Diop, Brandon Cambridge, Nimfasha Berchimas, Brian Romero, and Jack Neeley will be automatically protected. Ben Bender who was a Generation Adidas player in the past will no longer be automatically protected as he is now on the senior roster instead of the supplemental roster. Here are our predictions for the Crown’s protected 12 players: Kristijan Kahlina Jere Uronen Tim Ream Andrew Privett Adilson Malanda Nathan Byrne Ashley Westwood Kerwin Vargas Liel Abada Karol Swiderski Idan Toklomati Patrick Agyemang Summary Charlotte will likely have to use half of their protections to keep their backline intact. Ashley Westwood as the club captain also has to be protected. Their high-value players like Karol S widerski, Liel Abada, Kerwin Vargas, and Idan Toklomati will likely be protected to help secure their investment. This leaves a difficult quandary for their last spot. Does Charlotte protect their large transfer fee investment in Nikola Petkovic? Or do they leave him out there to protect their more proven prospect Patrick Agyemang? Or do they leave both prospects unprotected to shore up their midfield by protecting Djibril Diani or Brandt Bronico? Jere Uronen is another player who could be left unprotected as he wound up on the bench down the stretch. If Charlotte sees themselves keeping Adilson Malanda for 2025, then Uronen could be left unprotected so the club could secure other areas of their roster lacking depth.

By Brian Maurer Brandt Bronico (far left), Ashley Westwood (8), Djibril Diani (back), and Tim Ream (far right) celebrating during the 2024 season (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Charlotte FC’s offseason is fully underway. They have announced their end-of-year roster decisions which were due November 27. With only the MLS Cup remaining in the 2024 season, the offseason calendar  is fast approaching as teams reshape their rosters for 2025. Here are some key dates over the next couple of weeks for Charlotte fans to keep an eye on: December 9 - Half-Day Trade Window From 9 AM -1 PM, MLS clubs can trade with other MLS clubs. December 11 - San Diego FC Expansion Draft San Diego FC will get to choose five players from the other 29 MLS clubs in their 2024 Expansion Draft . All 29 MLS clubs can choose 12 players on their roster to protect. Charlotte's 12 players will be announced on December 10. All other players on Charlotte’s roster will be eligible to be drafted by San Diego.  Generation Adidas draft picks who take up supplemental roster spots 21-24 and homegrown players 25 and under are given automatic protections . The automatically protected players for Charlotte FC are Nimfasha Berchimas, Brian Romero, Jack Neeley, Brandon Cambridge, and Hamady Diop. December 12 - Free Agency Opens MLS clubs can begin negotiating with eligible MLS free agents  beginning at 1 PM on December 12. The official free agent list will be released on December 10. MLS free agents are any players out of contract who are 24 or older and have at least five years of service in MLS. December 12 - End-of-Year Waivers process begins The end-of-year waivers process   involves a draft using a reverse order of the 2024 season (including MLS playoff finish) with San Diego FC selecting 30th. The official list of eligible players available for the end-of-year waivers will be released on December 10. Players who are out of contract and do not meet the minimum requirements for the Re-Entry process or free agency will be eligible for the end-of-year waivers process. December 13 - Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 The Re-Entry Draft  is similar to the end-of-year waivers process. The difference is player eligibility. Players who are at least 22 years old and have at least one year of MLS service are eligible for the Re-Entry Draft. The official list of eligible players for the Re-Entry Draft will be released on December 13. December 19 - Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 Stage 2 is the same as Stage 1 and will include all players who were not selected by MLS clubs during Stage 1. The official list of eligible players for the Re-Entry Draft will be released on December 19. December 20 - MLS SuperDraft The 26th MLS SuperDraft  will take place on December 20. The draft is in reverse order of the 2024 MLS season and positioning also accounts for where teams finish in the MLS Cup playoffs, similar to the Re-Entry and end-of-year waivers process. The difference in the order for the SuperDraft is that San Diego will get the first pick in the SuperDraft. Charlotte FC looks to be positioned for the 17th pick in the First Round.

By Brian Maurer Angel Correa (Photo courtesy of Marca) Charlotte FC announced they would not make Pep Biel’s loan deal a permanent transfer . This opens up a Designated Player spot for Charlotte’s winter window. The MLS transfer windows have been record-setting since Lionel Messi joined in the summer of 2023. Since his arrival, 10 of MLS's top 30 all-time transfer fees have been paid. Three of MLS’s top 10 all-time transfer fees have happened since the Argentine Legend arrived. FC Cincinnati announced they will be signing Kevin Denkey this winter, becoming MLS’s all-time largest transfer fee.  Expectations for Charlotte’s next DP signing should be high as the Messi Effect is in full swing and having a major impact on the league’s transfer windows. Using the criteria of transfer market value, age, league, and role from the recent top MLS transfers I was able to find several players that could fit for Charlotte as their DP replacement for Biel.  Transfer market value and age Based on Transfermarkt’s  player value estimations, MLS had 10 transfers since the summer with an estimated player value of €5 million or greater. Marco Reus was the only one out of those transfers over 30 years old. The other nine were between 24-29. Charlotte should target a DP in their prime and/or a market value above €5 million to keep up with some of the top trends happening in MLS. League Of MLS’s most recent top 10 transfers based on player value, four came from a top-tier league (three in Europe, one in South America), five came from a second or lower tier in Europe, and one was out of contract. Charlotte should likely be targeting options in top-tier leagues in Europe and South America, and players on expiring contracts. The second or third tiers in Europe also seem to be options based on the recent top MLS transfers. South American and Scandinavian leagues are generally good winter window targets because their schedules line up with MLS better than the top leagues in Europe. Role For the top 10 recent transfers to MLS, their role varied depending on which tier they were from. If the player was transferred to MLS from a lower-tier club in Europe, like Denkey, they were generally one of the club’s top performers but they had a market value far higher than the rest of the squad. This led to the transfer because clubs like Cercle Brugge do not recruit market values as high as Denkey’s. They sell the player if their market value gets that high. If the player was from a top-tier club in Europe or in South America, like Aleksei Miranchuk, then their minutes were generally a bit more limited, and were looking for an opportunity to get more regular minutes. This is when MLS clubs have an opportunity to make a move for first-tier players. If Charlotte FC is going to get their €5 million+ Designated Player to replace Biel they will likely need to find a club looking to transfer one of their top players who is above that club's typical player valuation, or they will need to find a player who is looking for a step down from a higher tier.  Besides these four criteria that were just laid out one additional variable is contract length. The longer the contract the more likely the club and player have an established commitment to work together. Using that logic I also made sure to not include any players who had contracts running longer than 2026. Here are six players that could be on Charlotte FC’s watchlist based on the criteria transfer market value, age, role, and league: Franco Cristaldo (28) - AM - Gremio Franco Cristaldo (Photo courtesy of Lucas Uebel) Cristaldo would be a tricky one to get worked out. He is one of Gremio’s top performers this season, but his starts in Brazil’s Serie A have dipped slightly in 2024. Still a regular contributor, one of the reasons he might be available at the end of the season is if the club likes their new young attacking midfielder, Miguel Monsalve, who they brought in during the summer. The Argentine midfielder also might be interested in a change of scenery as Gremio has not been performing well this season. He would likely cost a steep fee as he still has a contract that runs through 2026. Because Cristaldo plays in Brazil, their season is about to wrap up so the opportunity to negotiate and make an offer should match up well for both Gremio and Charlotte if this were a move that was deemed beneficial to both parties. Leonardo Fernandez (26) - AM - Toluca Leonardo Fernandez (Photo courtesy of Estefania Leal) Fernandez is currently on loan with Club Atletico Penarol. Toluca FC has loaned him out the past two years so he could be available once the season in Uruguay ends. Fernandez is coming off a strong season on loan for Penarol with 35 goal contributions (18g/17a). He has a contract through 2026 with Toluca which could increase the transfer fee price tag. With all the moving pieces during the winter, Fernandez could be available, especially because Toluca’s Jesus Angulo is having a strong start to his season in the midfield. Unless Toluca envisions a role for Fernandez when he comes back from loan for the Liga MX Clausura then there should be an opportunity for a club to negotiate and put an offer in which would be ideal timing for a team like Charlotte before their 2025 season gets underway. Ruben Vargas (26) - LW - FC Augsburg Ruben Vargas (Photo courtesy of FC Augsburg) Vargas is a long shot as he still plays in a top-tier European league and is in his prime. This season his role has changed a bit as he picked up an injury in September, forcing the club to adjust. His contract also expires at the end of this season so it depends on Augsburg’s commitment to him past the 2025. If they are considering moving on then there could be an opportunity for a club like Charlotte to make a bid on a Bundesliga player in his prime. Angel Correa (29) - RW - Atletico Madrid *Picture shown above Charlotte FC has advertised itself as being an extremely ambitious club, and even if many of those ambitions have fallen through, some big names have been discussed this past year. Correa would be one of the big-time signings in all of MLS history, and it's a bit surprising his name has not been thrown into the rumor mill like Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba. The Argentine attacker’s minutes have been greatly reduced this season and there are rumors  of other clubs, like Crystal Palace, being interested in Europe. The fee would be very steep, and it is a long shot as other big-time clubs and leagues appear to be in the mix, but money talks and Charlotte appeared willing to drop $20 million on a transfer fee last summer. If the opportunity is there, Charlotte should be willing to splash the cash for Correa. Harry Wilson (27) - RW - Fulham Harry Wilson (8) - Photo courtesy of Fulham FC Wilson is a very intriguing candidate for Charlotte for multiple reasons. The Welshman is a Premier League player who will be familiar with Dean Smith. He is also a former teammate of Tim Ream, who just joined Charlotte this past summer, and is a standout chance creator at the English Championship level which should translate well to MLS. During his 2021/22 Championship season, the Welsh winger had 20 assists for Fulham FC. This year he has barely been able to crack 20 minutes in a game during Premier League play. It seems Wilson might not quite be at the level of England’s First Tier which should bode well for a club like Charlotte who already has a connection to the player. It would be a steep price as well, but it would be a statement-of-intent type of signing which is something the Crown needs to make. Gabriel Barbosa (28) - CF - Flamengo Gabriel Barbosa (Photo courtesy of Getty Images) Barbosa plays striker, so signing him as a Designated Player does not replace the traits of Biel like the other potential candidates mentioned before. But, Barbosa is going to be a free agent this winter so several MLS clubs should be interested in his services. The Brazilian is an elite goalscorer who put over 30 goals away three times for Flamengo, including 43 goals during the 2019 campaign. Charlotte would likely have to make some more adjustments to their roster for Barbosa to fit, but when a player like this has the potential to be available on a free transfer it is most definitely worth the inquiry.

By Brian Maurer Charlotte FC's Adilson Malanda (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) Word is out on the ability of Charlotte FC's young center-back Adilson Malanda (23). The Frenchman's notoriety was greatly increased after the success Charlotte's defense had this year, and the team ended with 51 points good for fifth in the Eastern Conference. Now, it seems suitors could be calling. Matt Doyle from MLSSoccer.com said in his recent review of Charlotte's season that Malanda would be in the discussion for Defender of the Year next season if he continues to progress, "or sold for eight figures." A recent report mentioned that French club Saint- É tienne is interested in Malanda. This is likely just the first of many rumored inquiries for the center-back's services. How prepared is Charlotte for the possibility that Malanda leaves this winter? Possible in-house changes Charlotte FC is probably more equipped to handle Malanda leaving than any other position at the moment. They have a veteran USMNT player in Tim Ream who can shift over into his more natural left center-back role, while Andrew Privett shifts to right center-back. This would give Jere Uronen a chance to slot back into his left-back role, a position he lost to Ream at the end of 2024. Another feasible option is Djibril Diani, who is typically a defensive midfielder but who can also fill the role of left center-back. This could be an option if Dean Smith prefers to keep Tim Ream out left. Jo a o Pedro is also an option. He was filling in as Uronen's left-back replacement for most of 2024, but he was converting to left-back from left center-back. If Smith is trying to find an in-house solution that keeps Ream out left and Diani in the midfield then Pedro could become the next man up at center-back. MLS Free Agency could also provide added depth or a starter Charlotte FC has multiple directions they can take already on their roster if Malanda is indeed transferred this winter. This would give them plenty of options on how they want to pursue filling the void left by the French center-back. One option is to add a little bit of veteran depth to provide some support if Smith opts to make adjustments to his starting backline with players he currently has available. There are several veteran options available in free agency and that number looks like it could easily grow as more teams' roster decisions are reported. Here is a list of a few veteran center-backs that could be added as depth to fill in behind Charlotte's starting backline if Malanda is sold: Matt Hedges - Austin FC Matt Hedges (34) had his option declined with Austin FC as they look to free up cap space for their roster restructuring this winter. This opens the door for a club like Charlotte to nab an MLS veteran. Hedges has played in MLS since 2012 and has well over 300 MLS appearances in his career. Wyatt Omsberg - Chicago Fire Chicago Fire is still in discussions with Wyatt Omsberg (29). If he hits free agency he becomes another veteran depth option. Nothing seriously exciting about making this type of move outside of him being a veteran option to provide depth if Malanda is indeed sold. Andreu Fontas - Sporting KC Andreu Fontas (35) is another veteran who is hitting free agency after his contract expired with Kansas City. He was a starter there for several years previously so he could fill a depth role for the immediate future depending on his recovery from an injury near the end of the 2024 season. Shane O'Neill - Toronto FC Toronto FC declined their option on a couple of center-backs, Shane O'Neill (27) being one of them. He's become a bit of an MLS journeyman as he may be looking for his fourth MLS club since 2018. O'Neill is far younger than many of the other free agent center-back options that will be available this window so he could be a depth option for a few years to come and could see himself competing for a starting role after a player like Tim Ream retires. Aime Mabika - Toronto FC Toronto's other center-back whose option they declined is an interesting candidate. Aime Mabika (26) is not a free agent so he will likely be entering the Re-Entry Draft in December. If available, he could be brought in as a more youthful depth piece that could develop into a starter. It's a similar type of move and risk that Charlotte took when signing Derrick Jones in 2022. This is the type of move that spends low-risk money on the chance that you might hit on a starter in his prime that other teams previously weren't able to develop. Gabriele Corbo - CF Montreal CF Montreal announced this past week that Corbo (24) will have his option declined. He made 18 starts this past season and like Mabika has not had enough MLS service to be a free agent. He could be another interesting candidate this winter. Other potential options Most MLS clubs still have not announced their end-of-year roster decisions so there are still several potential starting-caliber center-backs that could be available in free agency this winter. Here is a list of some other names that could be free agents and become a replacement for Malanda in Charlotte: Lalas Abubakar - Colorado Rapids Nick Hagglund - FC Cincinnati Miles Robinson - FC Cincinnati Aaron Long - LAFC Jesus Murillo - LAFC Eddie Segura - LAFC Tim Parker - New England Revolution Jack Elliott - Philadelphia Union Summary While Malanda is one of Charlotte FC's most talented young players they have set up their roster well to be able to replace him if a substantial offer comes in. There also looks to be options available in the free agent pool that could be added as additional depth. There even could be some strong starting-caliber options available if a player like Jack Elliott gets his option declined.

By Brian Maurer Photo Courtesy of CJ Hellner Now that the season is over, Charlotte FC's offseason begins. The first step is roster decisions, which will likely be happening soon. Here is a look at the club's depth chart with each player's contract situation, position breakdowns, and roster decision predictions: Current depth chart *This is not an official depth chart * Left-wing Liel Abada - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Kerwin Vargas - signed through 2027 with a 2028 option Iuri Tavares - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Nimfasha Berchimas - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Left-wing looks like the most locked-up position at the moment. Liel Abada is signed till 2026 at minimum, and all the depth pieces behind him also have long-term deals. Don't expect any changes here unless Abada is switched back to the right. Striker Karol Swiderski - signed through 2025 with a 2026 option Patrick Agyemang - club options for 2025 and 2026 Idan Toklomati - signed through 2027 with a 2028 option Striker will be one of the most discussed positions this offseason because they have two strikers who need regular minutes. Karol Swiderski has a deal through 2025 and Patrick Agyemang is out of contract but has club options. Seems like a spot where one might go and a veteran comes in as short-term help. Right-wing Pep Biel - out of contract with a permanent transfer option through 2026, additional option for 2027 Tyger Smalls - club options for 2025, 2026, and 2027 Brandon Cambridge - club options 2025 and 2026 Right-wing could see changes if Pep Biel isn't signed to a permanent deal. Even if Biel is given a contract, winger isn't his natural position, although he did have his best performances out on the right. Regardless of the Spanish midfielder's situation, a new Designated Player winger could be a direction the club decides to take. Midfield Brandt Bronico - signed through 2025 with a 2026 option Djibril Diani - signed through 2025 with a 2026 option Ashley Westwood - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Nikola Petkovic - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Ben Bender - signed through 2025 Junior Urso - club option for 2025 Jamie Paterson - club option for 2025 Brian Romero - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Midfield should also see some turnover. Junior Urso is likely gone as his contract is expiring and he is 35 years old. There will be other options available this winter to fill his senior roster spot. Jamie Paterson could also be gone, but he is a Dean Smith signing. Ben Bender's situation is also worth monitoring, and Brian Romero will likely be loaned back to Crown Legacy FC again. Left-back Tim Ream - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Jere Uronen - signed through 2025 with a 2026 option Joao Pedro - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Jahlane Forbes - club options for 2025, 2026 and 2027 Left-back will also likely see no changes. The only difference is whether Tim Ream gets put back into a center-back role or not. Charlotte FC went from having no starting-caliber LBs in the summer of 2023 to having three capable options going into 2025. Center-back Andrew Privett - signed through 2028 with a 2029 option Adilson Malanda - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Tim Ream - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Bill Tuiloma - signed through 2025 with a 2026 option Jack Neeley - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Hamady Diop - club options for 2025 and 2026 Center-back will be another position to monitor with some turnover. Bill Tuiloma is 29 and will likely be looking for a team where he can earn more minutes. The big question will be can Charlotte hold off if an offer comes in for Adilson Malanda? Having Tim Ream and Andrew Privett helps just in case a Malanda offer is too big to refuse. Right-back Nathan Byrne - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option Jaylin Lindsey - club option for 2025 Nick Scardina - club options for 2025 and 2026 Right-back could have some turnover. With Nathan Byrne locked into a new deal it signifies he's the longer-term option. Jaylin Lindsey didn't compete for many minutes and is on a senior roster contract which means there is a good chance he doesn't get his option picked up. Watch out for Nick Scardina, he could get a look in 2025 after playing the previous two years with Crown Legacy FC. Goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina - signed through 2026 with a 2027 option David Bingham - signed through 2025 Chituru Odunze - signed through 2027 with a 2028 option Nick Holliday - signed through at least 2025 (has first team deal not sure on the duration) George Marks - club option for 2025 Goalkeeper is locked in with Kristijan Kahlina long term. George Marks will probably not have his option picked up. There are too many other goalkeepers on the roster. Nick Holliday played at Crown Legacy FC but has a First Team deal in his contract next season bringing the GK room to five if Marks were to stay. Summary and predictions Including players who are on options, Charlotte FC has 35 First Team players with 21 Senior Roster players. They will need to get those numbers down to 31 (30 plus the extra supplemental roster spot) with 20 Senior Roster players signed. Early roster predictions Urso, Diop, Lindsey, Marks, and Biel all have their options declined. Forbes, Cambridge, Smalls, Scardina, Paterson, and Agyemang get their options picked up or get a new deal. This would bring the roster down to 30 total with 18 seniors and one open DP slot.

By Brian Maurer Kristijan Kahlina (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) It's official. No rioting by Charlotte FC fans needed. Kristijan Kahlina is the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He becomes the fourth European to win MLS GOTY, and the seventh EC goalkeeper to win in the last 10 years (Andre Blake helped that stat a lot). The Croatian was ranked top five in numerous goalkeeper stats including save percentage (1st), shutouts (T-1st), minutes played (T-1st), goals against average (3rd), and saves (T-3rd). According to American Soccer Analysis goal minus expected goals stat (G-xG) he had one of the best goalkeeper seasons in MLS since 2013. Kahlina's G-xG stat* in 2024 suggests that he prevented over 10 goals for Charlotte. Outside of the hiring of Dean Smith, there are very few individuals who can say they had as big a role in the outcome of Charlotte FC's fifth-place Eastern Conference finish as Kahlina. Kahlina also hit the 100 appearances mark for Charlotte this season, and now becomes the first player in the club's history to win an MLS end-of-year award.

By Sam Vanolinda Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 There was a delightful 20 minutes during which every Charlotte FC fan daydreamed about how far this team could go in the playoffs after Karol Swiderski put the team up 1-0 on Saturday night. Those daydreams turned into nightmares when a slight pull of the shirt by Djibril Diani on an unreachable Orlando City cross caused 6’ 1” bulky striker Duncan McGuire to fall to the ground in a heap, dislocating his shoulder.  When 12 minutes of stoppage time had ticked on, the football gods again came to the Florida team’s aid when Kristijan Kahlina saved Torres’ penalty and it rebounded straight back to him for a tap-in. In the ensuing penalty kicks you could tell before that the momentum swing and home-field would give Orlando a big advantage. The men in purple won 4-1 after Swiderski and Pep Biel’s penalties were saved. A short lapse of concentration and a smart sell by McGuire was what ended Charlotte FC’s season. It’s hard not to feel hard done by, the team deserved to win and would've hosted a second-round game against Atlanta. What could've been… One thing that can be said is fans can be proud of how this team ended its season and performed in the playoffs. There is a lot of good to look back on in Dean Smith’s first campaign with Charlotte. Building through this strong defense and tinkering with the attack in the offseason could boost this team to the next level. With the connections that Smith has, you never know the caliber of player that could be representing the Crown next year. Here are a couple of thoughts from this series and the season: Swiderski’s moment You can add the 81st-minute Swiderski goal to the list of sports moments that should've been iconic but got ruined minutes later. The Polish Designated Player was benched for Patrick Agyemang but he didn't let that affect him. When he came on in the second half he scored after a cross from his fellow substitute Liel Abada. This goal should’ve been legendary, it should've been the first time a Charlotte-based professional team had defeated a team in the playoffs since the Panthers in 2015. Almost TEN years of pain in the city could’ve been alleviated by a deep Charlotte FC run, and a home-field game against rivals Atlanta United in the second round. It wasn’t to be, but it was awesome to see Swiderski celebrate that goal; an iconic moment in club history. Diani’s disaster It will be easy to blame Diani after the penalty he gave up deep into stoppage time. One mistake was the reason Charlotte’s season ended, but Diani was just trying to defend in the box and grabbed on for a little too long. If you watch any corner or set piece you will see plenty of pushing, holding, and occasional shirt pulls, but of course, a team on the brink of its season-ending is going to be desperate and try to draw any kind of foul they can when the time was dwindling. Diani has been a solid player all year for Charlotte and had a good series besides that half-a-second decision he made. His time here shouldn’t be defined by an unfortunate moment. Heartbreak for Kahlina Of course, Kahlina was able to save that penalty. It was almost expected after his recent performances. It was painfully close to being such an incredible moment, but the ball bounced awkwardly back to Facundo Torres who was bailed out at that moment. Torres has been a Charlotte FC killer all season long, in this instance he needed a little bit of luck and he got it. Kahlina had an amazing game, with five saves, 1.39 goals prevented, and 10 recoveries. Kahlina has to be MVP of the series after his game two heroics in the penalty kicks and what almost was another clean sheet in game three. The Croatian is as solid as they come. Finding an identity Smith has created an identity for this club in his first season. It will be great to see him build on that identity and take this team to the next level in the future. After being a team that left points on the table time after time in the last couple of years, blowing lead after lead, Smith came in and created a culture that is consistent and a team that is hard to beat. The backline with Tim Ream, Adilson Malanda, Nathan Byrne, and Andrew Privett especially is so poised. Towards the end of the season, Brandt Bronico became a key player in the midfield alongside Ashley Westwood. Diani and Júnior Urso were also able to add much-needed starts and depth. If Smith can stabilize the offense next year with rising star Patrick Agyemang being one of the building blocks, they should be aiming to finish in the top four, Westwood stated this was their standard for 2025 in the post-match press conference. Summary Officiating aside, Charlotte FC lost, and the season is over.  We can all say that this team exceeded expectations this year, the team can go into the offseason with a solid foundation to build on. With the way Smith coached this season, showing class on and off the field, it's safe to say this front office made the right decision in appointing the former Aston Villa boss as the manager. There will be some important decisions to make in the offseason, which we will dig into and analyze as they come. Thank you again to all the Charlotte fans who have read and interacted with us this year, it's truly been a pleasure to cover this team.

Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 Goalscorers (All-Competitions) Karol Swiderski* - 32 Patrick Agyemang* - 14 Kerwin Vargas* - 11 Daniel R í os - 9 Ben Bender*/Enzo Copetti - 8 Assist Leaders (All-Competitions) Karol S widerski* - 14 Kamil Jozwiak - 10 Ben Bender*/Ashley Westwood* - 8 Brandt Bronico* - 7 Most Goals in a Single Game (All-Competitions) Daniel R í os - 4 (vs Philadelphia Union Oct 1, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs Chicago Fire October 2, 2024) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs New England Revolution March 19, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs FC Cincinnati March 26, 2022) McKinze Gaines - 2 (at Richmond Kickers May 11, 2022) Yordy Reyna - 2 (at Inter Miami July 16, 2022) Karol S widerski* - 2 (at Chicago Fire Sep 17, 2022) Enzo Copetti - 2 (vs NYCFC May 6, 2023) Justin Meram - 2 (at Atlanta United May 13, 2023) Brandon Cambridge - 2 (vs Chicago Fire May 17, 2023) Ben Bender - 2 (at NYRB June 21, 2023) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs FC Cincinnati July 8, 2023) Karol S widerski* - 2 (vs Toronto FC Oct 4, 2023) Liel Abada* - 2 (at Atlanta United June 2, 2024) Patrick Agyemang* - 2 (at Philadelphia Union June 22, 2024) Longest Win Streak (All-Competitions) 4 - May 6-May 17, 2023; vs NYCFC, vs Orlando, at Atlanta, vs Chicago 3 - Sep 10-Oct 1, 2022; vs NYCFC, at Chicago, vs Philadelphia 3 - May 4-May 15, 2024; vs Portland, vs Nashville, at Chicago 3 - Oct 2-Oct 19, 2024; vs Chicago, vs Montreal, at DC Longest Unbeaten Streak (All-Competitions) 5 - May 4-May 25, 2024; vs Portland (W), vs Nashville (W), at Chicago (W), vs LAG (D), vs Philadelphia (D) 5 - June 10-July 8, 2023; vs Seattle (D), at NYRB (D), vs Montreal (D), at NYCFC (D), vs Cincinnati (D) 5 - Aug 26-Sep 20, 2023; vs LAFC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Nashville (D), vs DC (D), vs Philadelphia (D) 5 - Sep 21-Oct 19, 2024; vs New England (W), at Miami (D), vs Chicago (W), vs Montreal (W), vs DC (W) 4 - Oct 4-Oct 21, 2023; vs Toronto (W), at Chicago (W), at Miami (D), vs Miami (W) 4 - Sep 10-Oct 5, 2022; vs NYCFC (W), at Chicago (W), vs Philadelphia (W), vs Columbus (D) 4 - May 6-May 17, 2023; vs NYCFC (W), vs Orlando (W), at Atlanta (W), vs Chicago (W) 4 - July 21-Aug 7, 2023; at Dallas (D - won PKs), vs Necaxa (W), vs Cruz Azul (D - won on PKs), at Houston (W) 4 - June 2-June 22, 2024; at Atlanta (W), vs DC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Philadelphia (W) Longest Cleansheet Streak 5 - May 4-May 25, 2024; vs Portland (W), vs Nashville (W), at Chicago (W), vs LAG (D), vs Philadelphia (D) Kristijan Kahlina (right) - Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 Most Appearances Brandt Bronico* - 108 Kristijan Kahlina* - 103 Kerwin Vargas* - 88 Karol S widerski* - 85 Adilson Malanda*/Nathan Byrne* - 79 Ashley Westwood* - 75 Brandt Bronico (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) The longest streak of games without being shutout (All-Competitions) 8 - Sep 30, 2023-Mar 2, 2024; at New England (L), vs Toronto (W), at Chicago (W), at Miami (D), vs Miami (W), at NYRB (L), vs NYCFC (W), at Vancouver (D) 7 - Mar 18-Apr 25, 2023; at Orlando (W), vs NYRB (D), at Toronto (D), at Salt Lake (L), vs Colorado (D), vs Columbus (W), vs Tormenta (W) 5 - May 6-May 20, 2023; vs NYCFC (W), vs Orlando (W), at Atlanta (W), vs Chicago (W), vs Nashville (L) 5 - May 29-June 22, 2024; at NYRB (L), at Atlanta (W), vs DC (W), vs Orlando (D), at Philadelphia (W) 5 - Sep 21-Oct 19, 2024; vs New England (W), at Miami (D), vs Chicago (W), vs Montreal (W), at DC (W) 4 - Apr 27-May 15, 2024; at NYCFC (L), vs Portland (W), vs Nashville (W), at Chicago (W) 4 - Sep 10-Oct 5, 2022; vs NYCFC (W), at Chicago (W), vs Philadelphia (W), vs Columbus (D) 4 - July 3-July 20, 2024; vs Miami (L), at Cincinnati (W), at Columbus (D), at Austin (D) Best Finish in MLS Supporters' Shield Standings 2024 - 11th on 51 points 2023 - 19th on 43 points 2022 - 19th on 42 points First Win Mar 19, 2022; vs New England (3-1) First Goalscorer in Club History Adam Armour - Mar 13, 2022; at Atlanta United - header from a corner kick First Assist in Club History Ben Bender - Mar 13, 2022; at Atlanta United - a corner kick which led to a headed goal First Clean Sheet in Club History Mar 26, 2022; vs FC Cincinnati - Kristijan Kahlina made five saves Charlotte FC's Record by Month (All-Competitions) October - 7-2-3, 23 points (1.92 PPG) May - 11-2-7, 35 points (1.75 PPG) November - 1-0-1, 3 points (1.50 PPG) July - 6-4-5, 22 points (1.47 PPG) August - 5-2-6, 17 points (1.31 PPG) June - 4-5-4, 17 points (1.31 PPG) March - 5-3-6, 18 points (1.29 PPG) April - 5-3-7, 18 points (1.2 PPG) September - 3-4-5, 13 points (1.08 PPG) February - 1-0-2, 3 points (1 PPG) Historical Record of Official Captains Christian Fuchs - 2022 Ashley Westwood - 2023 Ashley Westwood - 2024 Ashley Westwood (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90) *Active player or streak

By Brian Maurer Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90 It's another do-or-die game for Charlotte FC this weekend. After coming up big at home they will have to try and come away with a win at Orlando City to advance. As expected, hundreds of Charlotte fans will be making the trip down to Orlando for the series finale. The entire squad will also be able to make the trip as they are all fully fit according to Dean Smith during his press conference yesterday. Here is the predicted starting XI for Charlotte in Game Three: Defensive unit Kristijan Kahlina will be making the appearance in goal. He will be flying high after making two crucial saves during the penalty shootout to help Charlotte force a game three. Tim Ream, Andrew Privett, Adilson Malanda, and Nathan Byrne will make up the backline as they held Orlando to only three total shots in game two after giving up two goals in their first trip to Orlando. The backline will look to rectify some of their Game One errors this time around. Midfield line Ashley Westwood will captain the squad as he has done every time he has been healthy. Brandt Bronico will fill one of the other midfield spots in his more advanced position. The third spot will likely be taken by Djibril Diani who helped the squad keep a clean sheet with his positioning and limiting Orlando's passing lanes in Game Two. Smith specifically called out Diani's performance in Charlotte last weekend, which makes it likely he will get the nod again. Before last weekend, Diani had not been given a start in nearly two months. Forward line Smith will likely revert to his three Designated Players as he did in Game One. Liel Abada will be out left and Pep Biel will be out right after he served his one-game suspension last Friday. The only question mark here will be how Smith approaches the striker position. He has given Karol S widerski and Patrick Agyemang each a start during this series and neither has been able to make an impact and help the team score a goal. Whichever way Smith decides to go he will have an impact reinforcement to play off the bench depending on how the game goes. The lineup is all about set as it has been through most of this series as Smith has made minimal changes throughout this final stretch. It's all about the players showing up on the field and getting off to a faster start than they did the last time they came to Orlando. Predicting XI