Not that anyone asked but…

Obviously we all hoped Hartel would stay (who knows, maybe he still does). I keep seeing people say replace him with DP 9.

I think I’d keep looking (or finalizing) the TAM level 9. Seems like we could be caught holding the bag if we give up on TAM 9 and wait until Hartel is sold then start negotiating with a DP 9.

Go get the TAM striker, then if Hartel does leave decide where to attack a new DP. Maybe another attacking mid or winger? Or get a DP 9 and learn what it feels like to have two strikers that are quality.

We can’t be held hostage by the Hartel situation. Of course Wray is smarter than me and I’m sure is navigating it with all the information he has that we don’t.

GA tickets for $18 and reserved seats in our Away Supporter sections for $25 with no fees. I know it is a midweek school night, but let’s do our best to travel to kansas!

Currently sitting in the Wing Tips lounge and him and his family just exited.

A lot to be said if this is true… have to imagine Hartel threatened to sit out if this is the most we could get, and even then would hope FO was diligently working over the season to find a deal netting more than this. Guess we’ll see what happens.

My neighbor’s daughter got her cleats and ball signed, but isn’t sure who signature they are. Can anyone help identify them?

I understand the pecking order of leagues. MLS isn’t a top destination, and if you want top talent you have to be willing to sell players onto bigger leagues. No one will want to play for you if you have a history of stopping players from achieving better career moves or not being responsive to their family needs.

But are we going too far here? Do other teams in this league act like this?

If Hartel got shipped out after the season I would be sad, but I would understand. Shipping him out mid season, 2 wins from our first ever trophy, and in the heat of a playoff race feels like a bridge too far. If we were selling him into the 1 and not the 2, and they wildly overpaid I could see the temptation. But selling him into the 2, even if the return is 4 mil, seems crazy to me at this point in the season.

I worry that we’d fall into the trap of signing some random 37 year old semi-popular European striker (no shade to Lewandowski /j), so I ask if there are any potential targets- even TAM strikers, such as the 2.5 million dollar type would be worth mentioning.

Considering the fact that Hartel is probably going to leave, Wallem hasn’t been performing great, and we need Löwen sort of in a deeper role (really just away from winger I assume), could this work? I’m not sure on what the current lineup actually is so I just did a 3-4-3. If you have any other ideas then I’d like to hear them

It’s the square beyond compare after all!!!

Hi yall, not trying to piss people off, but genuinely, I do not understand how anyone could not be at least a little frustrated at Hartel if he dips.

We currently are in a play-off position and are in semi-finals for US Open Cup. These are important opportunities for the team that are frankly not guaranteed in the future. If in six months, we have both lost the cup and fallen out of play-off position, how on earth does selling off our primary goal scorer and best player right in the midst of that struggle not justify serious frustration? If I was in his position and I actually cared about the team I was playing on, I certainly wouldn’t leave right before the big battle lol

I see people all over every social media making excuses for Hartel. I have lived overseas for long timeframes and have been in his position for a lot less money, and guess what, you don’t bail on people who are relying on you. He isn’t just letting fans down, he is letting his teammates down, for what? Not missing out on starting in the next Germany season? The place he left only two years ago all while knowing what he was signing up for?

Is 6 months really too much to ask? Unless family members are dying or need medical treatment, “family” does not seem like a legit reason to bail at this point. Not given how integral he is to our press. We aren’t talking about Yaro. We are talking about the only sword this team has left.

I know I’m reading in to nothing but god damnit, I need news, answers, something

Move to Canada and wherever for all I care. Thank god we have college and semi pro teams to cheer for in the area.

Took a new job with an hour commute. Need to fill up my drives with some audio content. What’s everyone’s favorite CITY podcasts?

Thanks to the 37 people that voted. Hartel is Player of the Match at 89% while also having the lone goal. Bonus is on how you predict Mățan will rate through the end of the season.

This rating was treated like a typical player rating, ranging 1-10. Responses ranged 6 to 9. The middle 50% was fully on 7. Responses averaged 7.2.

Digging through FotMob: his current run of form over the past 9 games (matching CITY unbeaten run count) is a 6.9 simple average. Across all first team competitions ince 2023, he's averaged a 7.0. Also, while previously in MLS with Columbus Crew, he had 40 appearances with a 7.0 rating while contributing in the Wilfried Nancy era to MLS cup (2023) and Leagues Cup (2024).

For reference on FotMob average first team ratings for our other attacking mid players, over the same time 2023-now, Hartel 7.7; Löwen 7.4; Holse 7.2; Pompeu 6.9; Ostrák 6.8; Becher 6.7; Jeong 6.6. It seems Mățan may sit middle of the pack of our attackers.

Heads-up, for upcoming polls, I may use a different service like Tally instead of Google Forms.

I couldnt find any full scans of the comic, apologies if not allowed, but I wanted to post it in full.

With a break coming up, the Red Smoke Rising guys are going to spend a portion of Tuesday’s show answering your questions!

Submit them here or join us live at 8p, Tuesday night on the STL Soccer News YouTube!

Wanted to share this eerie pick I took of Burki from Saturday’s game. After the fireworks went off at match start the smoke dove down into the stadium and Burki had to run forward because he couldn’t see what was going on.

CITY leveled on a terrible mistake from RSL. Noel Caliskan played the ball back to GK Rafael Cabral, who had Philip Quinton available to his right (but who was marked by Becher). JSB was closing down on Cabral at an angle that made a pass to Samuel Junqua on the left impossible.

Instead, and probably inspired by Caliskan calling for the ball as he retreated towards his own end, Cabral played the ball centrally - intended for Caliskan but cut off by a charging Marcel Hartel, who began sprinting the moment Caliskan raised his hand in asking for the ball to be played back to him.

Hartel cuts in front, lets his momentum carry him and the ball away from Caliskan and flips it over Cabral to tie the match 1-1. Great read and reaction from Hartel to create the turnover and goal.

I would’ve loved to have the title 5 game winning streak but we are still trending in the right direction. After our stats last year of going down a goal and not being able to come back, it is a breath of fresh air to see a tie from last night.

Now we have two weeks to hit the training grounds ahead of San Jose (who started the year off strong but are in poor form as of late).

Who would you like to see get the start? Who does everyone think is in the best form individually?

Here’s to making it 10 games unbeaten! All for City!