This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.
What St. Louis City SC did last year
St. Louis City — we refuse to stylize it as CITY — spent the year getting ready by building a new stadium, building an entire roster (with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel taking more of a “designated team” approach despite locking in on two designated players with Bundesliga experience), and fielding an MLS Next Pro team that lost to Columbus Crew’s second squad (Columbus Two, anyone?) in the inaugural MLS Next Pro Cup this past fall.
Key additions
Well, everybody, but especially goalkeeper Roman Burki (transfer from Borussia Dortmund), midfielder Njabulo Blom (transfer from Kaizer Chiefs), forward Joao Klauss (transfer from Hoffenheim), midfielder Eduard Löwen (transfer from Hertha Berlin) midfielder Tomas Ostrak (transfer from FC Koln), defender Tim Parker (trade from Houston Dynamo) and midfielder Indiana Vassilev (transfer from Aston Villa).
Key departures
None, for the obvious reasons.
Making the case for St. Louis City SC
This seems like a more cohesive roster than the one that Charlotte started with, but that’s kind of a low bar considering the coach declared “estamos jodidos” (“we are screwed”) regarding that opening day roster and he only lasted about half the season. But optimism! Having an MLS vet like Parker to anchor the back line is a big boon for a new team, so that’s good. But even with a core of interesting players who have the Bundesliga in common, it’s hard to see how they’ll gel in time for a season with more competitions and more matches than ever before.
Players to watch
I’m personally curious to know how a $1.6 million goalkeeper will fare in MLS given the normal price tag for MLS goalkeepers — good for Roman Burki to get that bag, but my goodness, that’s a goalkeeper for what St. Louis could have spent on a quality goalkeeper and three solid outfield players.
But as for players who might surprise, Njabulo Blom is a South African international who plays the defensive midfielder position that MLS teams find to be pivotal. If he takes off, maybe City’s better than we think they will be.
A nerdy tidbit
Expansion teams aren’t automatic spoon contenders in MLS. While Austin FC did finish 12th in the West, the last four expansion teams finished at an average 9.5th place, with Nashville rocketing to 7th in its 2020 COVID-shortened first year. While Charlotte finished 9th last year, it did so with a respectable 42 points, not that far off the playoff mark.
A fun tidbit
This might already be taken by the University of New Mexico’s University Arena, but feel free to call the new St. Louis stadium “The Pit.” Like the famed Albuquerque venue, the stadium is dug in so the field is below street level — 40 feet below, in fact — and every seat in the venue is a mere 15 to 120 feet from the action. Once this team gets good, that could prove intimidating.
Projected finish
14th in the West
This seems a little harsh given the nice things we’re saying about the team and its fan base worthy of a little joy in a stadium worth checking out. Only one of our four panelists voted St. Louis dead last — it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me — though none of us were really high on them, hence this collectively-arrived-at projection.
To borrow from Nelly’s catalog, we think it will be more “Dilemma” than “Hot in Herre” for the new guys. (I think they’re going to be lots of fun; I just think they’re going to leak goals at the outset and won’t catch up from that as they play their way into the season.)