Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Ashle Paige of Northland Soccer Journal
Austin FC and Minnesota United FC resume what's been a fun series to follow on Sunday night. We get some intel about the Loons, including insights on why James didn't work out.
Austin FC will complete its first home-and-away of the 2026 season on Sunday night, playing Minnesota United FC at Allianz Arena in St. Paul after drawing 2-2 in the season opener.
Since their draw, Minnesota's found relatively good form, currently fifth in the West with a 6W 3L 2D record — yet with a slight negative goal differential having absorbed a 6-0 loss to Vancouver. Like Verde, Minnesota's also out of the Open Cup, depriving us all of a rematch of the epic 2025 semifinal match.
Northland Soccer Journal is already up with our side of the exchange that Ashle Paige and I had, and we're getting Ashle's take on all things MNUFC (or, at least, three things MNUFC), starting with James — who, we just learned last night after we exchanged answers, will not return to the Twin Cities following the World Cup.
To the questions!
Is the season going as you anticipated it would prior to Austin and Minnesota taking the field in the opener, or have there been surprises along the way, be they good or bad?
It is not and I mean that in the best way possible. The loss of Michael Boxall, MNUFC's longtime center back and defensive general[[1]], looked like it was going to hurt the Loons badly. And it did, for one match in Vancouver. Since then, the Loons have rebounded and done better than I think most people expected. They've given good fights to some of the best clubs in the league and have only a single loss in the last five league matches. If Minnesota United continue this run through and after the World Cup break, they'll end up one of the best in the West.
The Loons' front office was very excited about the James signing, but he's only been able to play 103 MLS minutes, in part due to a dehydration episode leading the club to shut down rumors, per ESPN, of "a potentially fatal muscle-wasting condition called rhabdomyolysis." What is going on, and what are the chances we see him on Sunday?
The reality with James is he has been stop start his whole club career and this is sadly nothing new. Injuries and illness have plagued the Colombian superstar for years and seemed only to have increased in frequency as he's aged. For Minnesota, the worst-case scenario is he retires following the World Cup and heads off into the sunset. [[2]]
As for the chance to see him play, I think it's 50/50, he's been in training recently and puts everything into his time on the training ground. But Minnesota has an excellent core that's been hard to break into. Even longtime starter Wil Trapp has only made one start since returning from illness.
Kelvin Yeboah has seven goals so far, and is on pace for 21 this season if he stays healthy. Do you anticipate he'll cool off, or do you expect him to challenge for a Golden Boot?
With the changes Cameron Knowles has made for this season I, don't expect him to cool down. I also don't think he'll be challenging for the Golden Boot this season. That specifically has to do with the fact that there are already multiple players outscoring him to this point. If Dallas' Petar Musa stays hot, I believe the Golden Boot goes to him, or to Nashville's Sam Surridge. Nothing against Yeboah; he's a great player and the Loons have a good attack this season. But there are so many top class strikers it's gonna be hard for him to catch up.
[[1]]: From an adductor injury; he's since returned to the squad (if not the starting lineup).
[[2]]: This happened after Ashle sent this over.
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.
Both Christian Ramírez and Myrto Uzuni are approaching their 2025 goal contribution totals this season. How does that compare to what the underlying per-90 numbers say?
The first goal took a while to arrive ... and it was very nearly a St. Louis goal in transition. But the shutout win is giving Austin FC more confidence heading into two straight away matches.
It took a while for Austin FC to score — but then the hosts did so, twice, leading to a second straight win. Three long-absent players also saw minutes for Verde in the effort.
St. Louis City SC is one of just two teams below Austin FC in the West standings. But, like Austin, they might be better than their record indicates, especially with one key player returning.
Austin FC will complete its first home-and-away of the 2026 season on Sunday night, playing Minnesota United FC at Allianz Arena in St. Paul after drawing 2-2 in the season opener.
Since their draw, Minnesota's found relatively good form, currently fifth in the West with a 6W 3L 2D record — yet with a slight negative goal differential having absorbed a 6-0 loss to Vancouver. Like Verde, Minnesota's also out of the Open Cup, depriving us all of a rematch of the epic 2025 semifinal match.
Northland Soccer Journal is already up with our side of the exchange that Ashle Paige and I had, and we're getting Ashle's take on all things MNUFC (or, at least, three things MNUFC), starting with James — who, we just learned last night after we exchanged answers, will not return to the Twin Cities following the World Cup.
To the questions!
Is the season going as you anticipated it would prior to Austin and Minnesota taking the field in the opener, or have there been surprises along the way, be they good or bad?
It is not and I mean that in the best way possible. The loss of Michael Boxall, MNUFC's longtime center back and defensive general[[1]], looked like it was going to hurt the Loons badly. And it did, for one match in Vancouver. Since then, the Loons have rebounded and done better than I think most people expected. They've given good fights to some of the best clubs in the league and have only a single loss in the last five league matches. If Minnesota United continue this run through and after the World Cup break, they'll end up one of the best in the West.
The Loons' front office was very excited about the James signing, but he's only been able to play 103 MLS minutes, in part due to a dehydration episode leading the club to shut down rumors, per ESPN, of "a potentially fatal muscle-wasting condition called rhabdomyolysis." What is going on, and what are the chances we see him on Sunday?
The reality with James is he has been stop start his whole club career and this is sadly nothing new. Injuries and illness have plagued the Colombian superstar for years and seemed only to have increased in frequency as he's aged. For Minnesota, the worst-case scenario is he retires following the World Cup and heads off into the sunset. [[2]]
As for the chance to see him play, I think it's 50/50, he's been in training recently and puts everything into his time on the training ground. But Minnesota has an excellent core that's been hard to break into. Even longtime starter Wil Trapp has only made one start since returning from illness.
Kelvin Yeboah has seven goals so far, and is on pace for 21 this season if he stays healthy. Do you anticipate he'll cool off, or do you expect him to challenge for a Golden Boot?
With the changes Cameron Knowles has made for this season I, don't expect him to cool down. I also don't think he'll be challenging for the Golden Boot this season. That specifically has to do with the fact that there are already multiple players outscoring him to this point. If Dallas' Petar Musa stays hot, I believe the Golden Boot goes to him, or to Nashville's Sam Surridge. Nothing against Yeboah; he's a great player and the Loons have a good attack this season. But there are so many top class strikers it's gonna be hard for him to catch up.
[[1]]: From an adductor injury; he's since returned to the squad (if not the starting lineup).
[[2]]: This happened after Ashle sent this over.
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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