Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Ashle Paige of Northland Soccer Journal
In the first Foreign Exchange of 2026, we traded questions with Northland Soccer Journal to learn more about the Loons.
The 34-game season — the last (as far as we know) that will be contained within a sole calendar year — begins Saturday with Minnesota coming to Austin, which is also how both teams started the 2024 season. (Trust me, don't look that one up.)
To ring it in right, we're starting up Foreign Exchange for 2026, and reached out to our new friend Ashle Paige at Northland Soccer Journal to discuss the Loons. I also answered questions for Northland, including one involving Joseph Rosales, who played for Minnesota last year and has since (as you're likely aware if you're reading this) moved to Austin.
Let's get into it.
It's been an offseason of great change for the Loons, including Dayne St. Clair going to Miami, Robin Lod going to Chicago, Joseph Rosales going to Austin, and Cam Knowles replacing Eric Ramsay as coach.
What will Minnesota miss with all the exits, and leaving aside James for a moment – who might not play this weekend — how do you think the front office has done to rebuild the squad?
With the acquisitions that have happened, I have to say the biggest missing piece might be Dayne St. Clair. Drake Callendar joining the Loons should alleviate that, but he was out much of last season, so time will tell. Minnesota's acquisitions of Peter Stroud and Tomás Chancalay really softened the blow of losing Lod and Rosales. Cam has been in Minnesota for a hot minute, previously stepping in as interim manager and having served as MNUFC2 manager. Cam is well-liked in the locker room, and the players have been ecstatic that he was appointed the new manager. Everyone is healthy to start the season, the question remains when some of the new international players (namely James) will get their P-1 visa.
What was your initial reaction to the James signing, and how do you think it will go?
He's easily the biggest name to ever join the Loons and a massive boost with what's been going on in Minnesota. There really is no downside to the signing in my view. He comes in on a free transfer, as a non-DP player, with a short-term contract that could be extended to (or even past) the end of the season if all goes well. The worst-case scenario is that James is here through the World Cup break and then leaves or retires.
Between the U.S. Open Cup semifinal match last year, and Josh Wolff coming over to Minnesota to be an assistant coach, do you feel like there's a rivalry developing between the clubs? Or is Austin just another Western Conference team to them? (We think your fans are wonderful and love the Black Hart, by the way.)
As weird as it might sound, I'm not sure that Minnesota United really has an MLS rival right now. Austin is a great club with amazing fans, and I think that if there is a rivalry, it's more of a friendly rivalry, a la what we have with Kansas City. The matches will be intense, but at the end of the night, we'll all gather at a bar and drink and sing together.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell held court on Tuesday to discuss moves made and moves deferred. He also boasted of record GAM for two international spots artfully dealt.
The 34-game season — the last (as far as we know) that will be contained within a sole calendar year — begins Saturday with Minnesota coming to Austin, which is also how both teams started the 2024 season. (Trust me, don't look that one up.)
To ring it in right, we're starting up Foreign Exchange for 2026, and reached out to our new friend Ashle Paige at Northland Soccer Journal to discuss the Loons. I also answered questions for Northland, including one involving Joseph Rosales, who played for Minnesota last year and has since (as you're likely aware if you're reading this) moved to Austin.
Let's get into it.
It's been an offseason of great change for the Loons, including Dayne St. Clair going to Miami, Robin Lod going to Chicago, Joseph Rosales going to Austin, and Cam Knowles replacing Eric Ramsay as coach.
What will Minnesota miss with all the exits, and leaving aside James for a moment – who might not play this weekend — how do you think the front office has done to rebuild the squad?
With the acquisitions that have happened, I have to say the biggest missing piece might be Dayne St. Clair. Drake Callendar joining the Loons should alleviate that, but he was out much of last season, so time will tell. Minnesota's acquisitions of Peter Stroud and Tomás Chancalay really softened the blow of losing Lod and Rosales. Cam has been in Minnesota for a hot minute, previously stepping in as interim manager and having served as MNUFC2 manager. Cam is well-liked in the locker room, and the players have been ecstatic that he was appointed the new manager. Everyone is healthy to start the season, the question remains when some of the new international players (namely James) will get their P-1 visa.
What was your initial reaction to the James signing, and how do you think it will go?
He's easily the biggest name to ever join the Loons and a massive boost with what's been going on in Minnesota. There really is no downside to the signing in my view. He comes in on a free transfer, as a non-DP player, with a short-term contract that could be extended to (or even past) the end of the season if all goes well. The worst-case scenario is that James is here through the World Cup break and then leaves or retires.
Between the U.S. Open Cup semifinal match last year, and Josh Wolff coming over to Minnesota to be an assistant coach, do you feel like there's a rivalry developing between the clubs? Or is Austin just another Western Conference team to them? (We think your fans are wonderful and love the Black Hart, by the way.)
As weird as it might sound, I'm not sure that Minnesota United really has an MLS rival right now. Austin is a great club with amazing fans, and I think that if there is a rivalry, it's more of a friendly rivalry, a la what we have with Kansas City. The matches will be intense, but at the end of the night, we'll all gather at a bar and drink and sing together.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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