The second part of the Minnesota Star Tribune #MNUFC season-opening package: five questions facing the Loons as they try to repeat - and build on - their success from last year.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-mls-nicolas-romero-owen-gene-hoyeon-jung/601226437
It's Year 2 for #MNUFC manager Eric Ramsay, and he's growing into not only being a head coach, but his role as the public face of the franchise.
I got a chance to sit down with the manager and find out what motivates him - and how long he might care to stay in Minnesota:
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-eric-ramsay-swansea-city/601226375
Bongokuhle Hlongwane is a wingback, but also a striker. Maybe we should just call his position "the Frimpong."
For the Minnesota Star Tribune, a look at how #MNUFC is using Hlongwane in the preseason. Plus: half a game of 4-4-2, visa problems, and Morris Duggan:
#MNUFC notebook, for the Minnesota Star Tribune:
* The specter of 2026 looms over 2025, for players who might go to the World Cup
* Notes from the Loons 2-1 preseason loss to LA
* Eric Ramsay thinks there's a competition at backup GK
#MNUFC notebook: Owen Gene is officially a Loon, and the Leagues Cup schedule is (finally) out:
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-owen-gene-signing-eric-ramsay-leagues-cup/601220463
#MNUFC is working on playing with two strikers this preseason, in the hopes of increasing the team's tactical flexibility.
Sunday, it led to six goals, including two from each striker, so you'd have to say it's going well.
For the Minnesota Star Tribune,, a look at what the Loons hope to get out of their final preseason trip:
#MNUFC now has a South Korean duo - the first time in MLS history that any team has had two South Korean players at one time.
For the Minnesota Star Tribune,, a chance to talk to the pair for the first time:
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-sang-bin-jeong-hoyeon-jung-eric-ramsay/601218960
Hassani Dotson may have put out a trade request- but as far as Khaled El-Ahmad is concerned, that doesn’t mean the #MNUFC midfielder wants out.
For the Minnesota Star Tribune:
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-mls-khaled-el-ahmad-hassani-dotson/601216837
Nicolás Romero wasn’t in #MNUFC training this morning, as he was off working on getting his visa.
Matúš Kmeť did not train, but I saw him in the building this morning…
DJ Taylor and Kipp Keller are dealing with hamstring issues that have carried over from last year, and did not fully train.
Jon Marthaler
