MLS Round Up: Bruce Arena gets the band back, Best XI formation weirdness and more

Now that we are into December, I want to kick off a new segment on Big D Soccer that will examine some of the biggest news items from across Major League Soccer.

December moves very fast in MLS these days, with title games, drafts, trades, and more coming almost every day between now and Christmas. This won’t be a daily segment but one that I hope can bridge the gap between the weekly newsletter on Monday morning that covers a few big hitting items in MLS (and with FC Dallas).

Here we go…

2024 Best XI has an unusual formation

Want a way to squeeze Lionel Messi into the Best XI? This is certainly one way to do it.

Yeah, a classic 3-3-4 formation. I'm fairly certain I tried that back in the glory days of FIFA on my old Dell computer.

For those keeping score at home, this formation features two center backs, one fullback, three attack-minded midfielders, and four pure forwards.

Yeah, I wish the league was a little more strict about using even the most common formation for its Best XI each year. I'm sure it wasn't this one.

✨ Galaxy fans prove you can use your voices

Around this time last year, I was beginning to prepare for a big European trip with my family, so I kind of forgot about how bad things were for the LA Galaxy.

Rewind a bit to the end of 2023. FC Dallas put a BEATING on the Galaxy in a Decision Day battle. Following that match and into 2024, the Galaxy fans voiced their opinions about the state of their club. And they voiced it pretty loudly, too.

As Justin Horneker (who is a great follow by the way) discusses, the Galaxy fans got their way as they pushed out the old guard leading the club and now they are 90 minutes from another title.

I bring this one up because it is a good read by Justin, but also a nice back pocket item to keep in mind that fan voices do matter in this league. It also helps when the owners involve listen and act accordingly to those fan demands.

🔵 Bruce goes for his guys...again

If Bruce Arena is anything, it is consistent.

The recently hired manager for the San Jose Earthquakes is quickly getting to work to retool a roster that claimed the Wooden Spoon award in 2024. On Monday, news broke that Arena and San Jose are working hard to get Mark-Anthony Kaye, Dave Romney, and Ian Harkes from New England.

Tom Bogert of GiveMeSports was the first to report the news. The Revolution will receive “around $500,000 GAM and an international roster spot.”

This reunites Arena with the three players who played for him while he was the New England manager.

The Revs also are signing Mali defender Mamadou Fofana.

Given the potential allocation money coming their way, the Revs will be very active this winter.

🟠 FC Cincinnati secures Orellano purchase

FC Cincinnati have permanently acquired Luca Orellano from Vasco da Gama, the club announced Monday. The big question will be whether or not he’ll end up as a Designated Player or a TAM player for Cincy in 2025.

Either way, Orellano was a beast for Cincy in 2024. He was named to the MLS All-Star Team over the summer and was a finalist for the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. He also scored the MLS Goal of the Year on August 31 against CF Montréal.