Anyone else noticing the lack of energy in the stands? Where are the supporter groups? It's a big difference from what we saw last season.

I'm starting to wonder if the frustration with Varas and Heaps is affecting fan support. Curious if others are feeling the same way.

Then there's Iloski, now among the top scorers in MLS. We had him and couldn't find a way to keep him, while our offense continues to struggle. Makes you question the roster decisions.

Personally, I think this team needs more than just a coaching change. We need at least 5 quality additions across the defense, midfield, and attack. Varas has his share of responsibility, but Heaps needs to answer for how this squad was built.

I love SDFC and want to see this club succeed, but something needs to change.

What do you guys think? Is this more of a coaching problem, poor roster management, or a combination of both?

I’ve never seen it this dead even for a weekday match. This is wild.

You can always count on McVey serving meatballs every match.

He’s conceding tons of goals. Obviously lots of improvement needed with this team, but geez this guy is ass.

With the San Diego Wave proposing a new stadium at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, could SDFC potentially join the deal and share the venue?

Probably just speculation, but could a joint stadium make sense for both teams? What do you think?

Hello I am giving away my tickt to an SDFC fan to tonight's game against Houston that starts at 7:30pm. It is in Section 118, row 1. Please DM me and I'll need your name and Ticketmaster email for the transfer.

Pedro Soma hada a decent start to the season where he was a sub and eventually started a few games. He played a similar role to Godoy and was naturally Godoy's replacement after a few seasons. I can't even remember when was the last time. Hopefully he gets some playtme with playoff nearly out of the picture

Our style of play is mentioned so often within this subreddit and in other online discussions that I figured I'd remind everyone what those core principles are, and grade us on how we're doing this season according to those principles.

Whether we like it or not, the club is going to abide by these tactical principles, and it can help us all understand why they are doing some things in game play that seem risky.

I'm doing this purely off the eye test (no data to back me up), I watch each game attentively, but by no means am I a coach or tactician, just a good ole armchair analyst, with time to spare.

Core Tactical Principles

• Ball-Dominant & Aggressive: Focuses on a high-tempo, proactive approach where the team commands the play rather than reacting to the opponent.
  • Grade: B-
  • Rationale: we are ball dominant, but have really struggled to be high-tempo and proactive. We have been very predictable this season, and I think that is part of why it has become so easy for other clubs to face us recently.
• High Pressing: Employs intense, immediate high pressing when out of possession to win the ball back high up the pitch.
  • Grade: C
  • Rationale: You can't be ball dominant if you don't win the ball back fairly quickly. We are doing that, but we are not great at the high press in transition moments and it has a lot to do with why we're getting demolished by these youthful, aggressive teams who also like to win the ball back quickly. That rarely happened last season.
• Building from the Back: Encourages playing out from the goalkeeper and defenders under pressure, which is structured and systematic.
  • Grade: C-
  • Rationale: We have had some catastrophic mistakes out of the back from goalies, CBs and other positions (CM, wingers) that have led to goals, but I also think that is expected. Again, this is a facet of our game that does allow for high possession % but think our goals against this season shows that we are not building as productively as should be.
• Attracting Pressure & Breaking Lines: Uses short passing and rhythm to draw opponents in, creating space to break lines and push the ball forward quickly.
  • Grade: D
  • Rationale: Goes back to my comment about being predictable to opponents, and frankly this is one of the things I miss the most recently. We're not breaking teams down as fluidly as we were earlier in the season (first 5 or 6 games) or last season. Every positive offensive performance this season, we have done this well, so this might be where we need to focus on if we want to make a return to higher quality play.
• 8 Phases of Play: Guides players through all moments of the game, from deep build-up play to high-intensity transitions
  • Grade: C
  • Rationale: This may be where certain players who some of us like, don't meet the criteria for a good game by the standards of play. Again, without being in the coaching sessions it's hard to grade this one, but given our results, we are bang average so I gave us a C.

To summarize, we are lacking significantly in these areas:

1. Our possession is toothless, we are not using our time on the ball to create high quality opportunities and that means we're not doing a great job attracting pressure and playing through it.
2. Our high press needs work, too often are we losing the ball and not in the right positions to recover quickly, which has led to many transition goals against.

How do we fix this and get back to winning like we were last season? Share your thoughts.

To say that I'm heavily skeptical of your position would be putting it mildly, but I can be convinced. Here are a few things you should read before replying:

1) I don't believe we'd be having this conversation if SDFC had the season everyone thought they would last year. Preseason, we were projected to finish bottom of the table. That was when everyone knew our roster. I'm open to you convincing me that if we'd finished dead last in 2025 but were mid-table this year that we'd be talking about firing our head coach, but you're going to need to make your case.

2) If you're going to write off last year as not being due to Varas, you're going to have a hard time convincing me that this year is entirely Varas' fault. It just doesn't follow that someone gets zero credit for winning and all the blame for losing.

3) If you're angry about personnel issues, I'll need you to show me that those were Varas' decision. I'm not even 100% sure we can put it all on Heaps without knowing what kind of budget he was given and other mandates given by the folks upstream of him in the organization. I've worked in a number of organizations and had to own the decisions of those who had WAY more authority than I did, so I'm going to need to be shown that these were Varas' calls.

So...there you go. Give me your best pitch.

What would you guys want for the club next season? It’s clear this season our playoff chances are hanging by a thread so it could be anything, even if they aren’t aligned with what we think the team is looking to change.

Lozano reinstated?
Varas out?
Lower tix prices?
New signings?
Who needs to be let go or replaced?
Anything with the Snapdragon experience?

No shame in anything and let’s not get mad over other people’s opinions/wishes, I don’t mean to add fuel to the fire “Varas out” fire but let’s hear everyone’s takes!

To the Varas and Sporting Director defenders, I'm genuinely curious... what's the excuse now?

The so-called "cancer" you blamed for everything is long gone and playing for LA Galaxy. Yet somehow, this team looks even worse.

No offense. No midfield. No defense. No identity.

Five defenders getting embarrassed by three attackers on the second goal. On the third, everyone stands around watching one guy turn and shoot like it's a Sunday pickup game.

That's not just a lack of talent. That's a lack of preparation, discipline, leadership, and accountability.

Varas looks completely out of answers, and the Sporting Director deserves just as much heat for putting this roster together.

SDFC fans deserve better. We need a new coach and at least FIVE legitimate reinforcements next season.

At some point, defending this mess stops being loyalty and starts being denial.

So tell me, who's your scapegoat now?

GGs this match is getting ugly. Going to be a lot of roster changes next season.

Full-time: San Diego FC 1, New York Red Bulls 4

San Diego FC 1 at New York Red Bulls 4

Match Info

Competition/season: MLS 2026

Date: Sat, Oct 10, 2026

Kickoff: 4:30 PM PDT

Venue: Sport Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, NJ, USA

Status: Full-time

Goals and Cards

60': Goal Bakambu, Cedric, Dreyer, Anders (SD) 1-3 Goal! Cedric Bakambu pulls one back for San Diego FC to make it 3 - 1. Anders Dreyer set up the 3 - 1 goal.

15': Goal Hall, Julian, Ruvalcaba, Jorge (RBNY) 0-1 Goal! Julian Hall gives New York Red Bulls a 1 - 0 lead. Fine assist from Jorge Ruvalcaba to make the score 1 - 0.

20': Goal Padelford, Devin, Cowell, Cade (RBNY) 0-2 New York Red Bulls move into a 2 - 0 lead through a Devin Padelford header. Cade Cowell assisted the goal to make it 2 - 0.

27': Goal Ruvalcaba, Jorge, Donkor, Ronald (RBNY) 0-3 New York Red Bulls take a comfortable 3 - 0 lead thanks to Jorge Ruvalcaba. Ronald Donkor set up the 3 - 0 goal.

90'+3': Goal Choupo-Moting, Eric Maxim, Dos Santos, Matthew (RBNY) 1-4 Goal! New York Red Bulls extend their lead to 4 - 1 through Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Matthew Dos Santos assisted the goal to make it 4 - 1.

30': Yellow card Tverskov, Jeppe (SD) At Sport Illustrated Stadium, Jeppe Tverskov has been yellow-carded for the away team.

42': Yellow card Bazan, Julian (RBNY) Julian Bazan (New York Red Bulls) has received a yellow card from Malik Badawi.

55': Yellow card Duah, Manu (SD) Manu Duah (San Diego FC) gets a yellow card.

82': Yellow card Padelford, Devin (RBNY) Devin Padelford (New York Red Bulls) has been booked and must now be careful not to get a second yellow card.

85': Yellow card Sargeant, Kieran (SD) Kieran Sargeant (San Diego FC) has received a yellow card from Malik Badawi.

Lineups

Match Statistics

Timeline

--: Match Ended It's 4 - 1 as the referee blows for full-time.

90'+7': Free Kick Duah, Manu (RBNY) Free kick New York Red Bulls.

90'+3': Free Kick Alvarado, Alejandro (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls in their own half.

90'+1': Injury Time Shown

90'+1': Substitution Godoy, Anibal, Valakari, Onni (SD) Onni Valakari is replacing Anibal Godoy for the away team.

88': Substitution Padelford, Devin, Dos Santos, Matthew (RBNY) Michael Bradley (New York Red Bulls) is making a sixth change, with Matthew Dos Santos replacing the possibly injured Devin Padelford.

87': Injury Padelford, Devin (RBNY) Play has been interrupted briefly in Harrison, NJ to check on Devin Padelford, who is grimacing with pain.

85': Free Kick Sargeant, Kieran (RBNY) Free kick New York Red Bulls.

84': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) Corner awarded to San Diego FC.

83': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) San Diego FC have been awarded a corner by Malik Badawi.

82': Free Kick Forsberg, Emil (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in their own half.

81': Substitution Ruvalcaba, Jorge, Marshall-Rutty, Jahkeele (RBNY) Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty is replacing Jorge Ruvalcaba for New York Red Bulls at Sport Illustrated Stadium.

79': Substitution Achouri, Elias, Pellegrino, Amahl (SD) San Diego FC make their fifth substitution with Amahl Pellegrino replacing Elias Achouri.

79': Corner Kick Forsberg, Emil (RBNY) Corner awarded to New York Red Bulls.

75': Free Kick Mimbang, David (RBNY) Free kick for New York Red Bulls in the half of San Diego FC.

74': Free Kick Choupo-Moting, Eric Maxim (SD) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to San Diego FC in their own half.

72': Free Kick Godoy, Anibal (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls.

71': Corner Kick Sargeant, Kieran (SD) Corner awarded to San Diego FC.

71': Substitution Cowell, Cade, Choupo-Moting, Eric Maxim (RBNY) Michael Bradley (New York Red Bulls) is making a fourth substitution, with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replacing Cade Cowell.

71': Substitution Sofo, Mohammed, Forsberg, Emil (RBNY) The home team have replaced Mohammed Sofo with Emil Forsberg. This is the third substitution made today by Michael Bradley.

71': Substitution Donkor, Ronald, Kone, Sekou (RBNY) Sekou Kone (New York Red Bulls) has replaced the possibly injured Ronald Donkor.

67': Corner Kick Cowell, Cade (RBNY) New York Red Bulls have been awarded a corner by Malik Badawi.

62': Free Kick Padelford, Devin (SD) San Diego FC awarded a free kick in their own half.

61': Substitution Che, Justin, Parker, Tim (RBNY) Michael Bradley (New York Red Bulls) is making a first substitution, with Tim Parker replacing Justin Che.

61': Substitution Murphy, Ian, McVey, Christopher (SD) Christopher McVey is on a sub for Ian Murphy for San Diego FC.

61': Substitution Pirani, Gabriel, Mimbang, David (SD) David Mimbang is replacing Gabriel Pirani for San Diego FC at Sport Illustrated Stadium.

56': Free Kick Donkor, Ronald (SD) Free kick San Diego FC.

53': Free Kick Hall, Julian (SD) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to San Diego FC.

52': Free Kick Nealis, Dylan (SD) Free kick San Diego FC.

51': Free Kick Cowell, Cade (SD) In Harrison, NJ a free kick has been awarded the away team.

50': Free Kick Pirani, Gabriel (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls in their own half.

48': Free Kick Bakambu, Cedric (RBNY) New York Red Bulls awarded a free kick in their own half.

45': Period Start 0-3 The second-half has started.

46': Substitution Ingvartsen, Marcus, Bakambu, Cedric (SD) The away team replace Marcus Ingvartsen with Cedric Bakambu.

46': Substitution Tverskov, Jeppe, Alvarado, Alejandro (SD) Alejandro Alvarado is replacing Jeppe Tverskov for the away team.

45'+5': Injury Donkor, Ronald (RBNY) The match at Sport Illustrated Stadium has been interrupted briefly for a check on Ronald Donkor, who is down injured.

45'+3': Free Kick Tverskov, Jeppe (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls in their own half.

45'+2': Free Kick Donkor, Ronald (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in their own half.

45'+1': Injury Time Shown

44': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) Corner awarded to San Diego FC.

44': Penalty Missed Dreyer, Anders (SD) San Diego FC's Anders Dreyer gets in a shot on goal at Sport Illustrated Stadium. But the effort is unsuccessful.

40': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) San Diego FC takes a corner from the right.

39': Free Kick Sofo, Mohammed (SD) San Diego FC awarded a free kick in their own half.

37': Free Kick Donkor, Ronald (SD) Free kick San Diego FC.

36': Injury Padelford, Devin (RBNY) Play has been temporarily suspended for attention to Devin Padelford for New York Red Bulls who is writhing in pain on the pitch.

35': Free Kick Ingvartsen, Marcus (RBNY) Free kick for New York Red Bulls in their own half.

32': Free Kick Ruvalcaba, Jorge (SD) In Harrison, NJ a free kick has been awarded the away team.

30': Free Kick Tverskov, Jeppe (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls.

29': Free Kick Sofo, Mohammed (SD) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to San Diego FC in their own half.

25': Free Kick Donkor, Ronald (SD) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to San Diego FC in their own half.

24': Free Kick Padelford, Devin (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in their own half.

20': Corner Kick Cowell, Cade (RBNY) Malik Badawi has awarded New York Red Bulls a corner.

18': Free Kick Cowell, Cade (SD) Free kick in a good position for San Diego FC!

18': Free Kick Tverskov, Jeppe (RBNY) New York Red Bulls awarded a free kick in their own half.

14': Free Kick Godoy, Anibal (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls in their own half.

12': Corner Kick (RBNY) New York Red Bulls have been awarded a corner by Malik Badawi.

11': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) Corner awarded to San Diego FC.

10': Free Kick Sofo, Mohammed (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in their own half.

10': Free Kick Duah, Manu (RBNY) New York Red Bulls awarded a free kick in their own half.

9': Free Kick (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in their own half.

6': Free Kick Dreyer, Anders (RBNY) Malik Badawi signals a free kick to New York Red Bulls in their own half.

6': Free Kick Mehmeti, Adri (SD) Free kick for San Diego FC in the half of New York Red Bulls.

4': Free Kick Tverskov, Jeppe (RBNY) Free kick New York Red Bulls.

2': Corner Kick Dreyer, Anders (SD) San Diego FC takes a corner from the left.

1': Free Kick Sofo, Mohammed (SD) San Diego FC awarded a free kick in their own half.

: Period Start 0-0 The whistle has gone to start the match.

0': Match Started

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Valakari made it to the starting lineup for today’s game vs Belarus.

Love the current vibes but maybe we can change up the Panda dance cam or mix up the playlist now and then by playing songs from bands with San Diego roots like blink-182, P.O.D., Switchfoot or even Stone Temple Pilots? 🤘⚡️🌊

Link to the article here https://urbanpitch.com/san-diego-fc-is-paving-the-way-for-academy-talent-in-mls/