2023 MLS Regular Season Record: 9W - 7D - 18L
Key Takeaways from 2023
Messi.
I'll still delve into the numbers for this article, but honestly, 95% of these are irrelevant. Messi and company didn't have many games together in the MLS regular season, and the numbers just don't really reflect the current squad this season at all. They offloaded a number of players mid-year, and Tata made some tactical changes.
Once Messi joined, and Tata Martino took over as the manager, they most often played in a 4-3-3 formation across MLS and the League's Cup, occasionally switching to a 4-4-2. In the 4-3-3, Josef Martínez or Leonardo Campana would play as the center-forward, and, other than Facundo Farías sometimes playing on the left, the lineup below seemed to be Tata's favorite.
The attack wasn't great under former manager Phil Neville, and towards the end of the season, it also tapered off for Martino. Messi missed a few of those games, but — and I will keep saying this — don't read too much into these stats. The sample size is small, and their chances of making the playoffs were very slim.
Inter Miami concluded the season with a +1.4 margin in Goals minus Expected Goals. Farías and Robert Taylor excelled in the latter half of the season, emerging as the top performers in G - xG for the club. In MLS, Farías finished with 3 goals compared to 1.7 xG, while Taylor recorded 4 goals versus 1 xG.
The only other players I’ll note for G - xG are Campana and Martínez, who finished right along the trend line below.
The team performed well in most possession stats, and I think this is a reflection of Neville’s tactics when he was still at the club. I’ll also note that Miami's rankings in these stats across the league improved once Tata took over, with the exception of interceptions and accurate long balls.
The only question mark for Miami going into next season where they're the favorite for the Supporter's Shield will be their goalkeeping and defending. Drake Callendar performed above average in most goalkeeping categories, but the defense allowed a high volume of shots on-target, even when Martino took over.
However, Callendar finished the regular season with a negative post-shot expected goals of -2.0 in his 33 starts.
Alright, almost at the exciting part. Miami clinched the League’s Cup, secured a spot in the Concacaf Champions’ Cup, and earned a first-round bye. With the stars well-rested and the roster nearing completion, 2024 promises to be an extraordinary year for this squad.
Top Sorare Fantasy Performers
Numbers are across all competitions
Goalkeeper: Drake Callendar | L15: 51 | 60+ pts games: 9 | Clean sheets: 7 | Penalties saved: 1
Defender: Kamal Miller | L15: 54 | 60+ pts games: 10 | Goals: 0 | Assists: 0 | Clean sheets: 5
Midfielder: Robert Taylor | L15: 50 | 60+ pts games: 10 | Goals: 8 | Assists: 8
Forward : Messi | L15: 72 | 60+ pts games: 10 | Goals: 11 | Assists: 3
Extra: Josef Martínez | L15: 42 | 60+ pts games: 10 | Goals: 10 | Assists: 3
2024 Outlook
Last Updated 2/4/2024
GIF Rating:
Outgoing Players
Josef Martínez - Centre-forward - Option Declined
Jake LaCava - Winger - Option Declined
Victor Ulloa - Defensive Midfielder - Out of Contract
Dixon Arroyo - Defensive Midfielder - Out of Contract (in conversation with club for new contract)
Kamal Miller - Centre-back - Traded to Portland Timbers for $775k in General Allocation Money (GAM) and an international roster spot
Leandro González Pirez - Centre-back - Transferred to River Plate
Incoming Players
Luis Suárez - Centre-forward - Signed as a free agent (not a DP!)
Julian Gressel - Midfielder - Signed as a free agent
Israel Boatwright - Right-back - Homegrown signing
Tyler Hall - Centre-back - Homegrown signing
Nicolás Freire - Centre-back - Loan from Pumas
Rumor Mill
Practically the entire Argentine Primera División
2024 Favorites for… Everything?
The band is back together, folks, and seriously, this squad is stacked, and managed by someone with proven success in MLS. It’s going to be an exciting year for Inter Miami, and I’ll tune into every match if possible.
While it may not seem like it, Miami still has to operate within the salary cap of MLS, meaning players like Luis Suárez and Jordi Alba have taken significant pay cuts to play together. It’s also why the club can’t sign the entire world. I probably couldn’t count on my hands and toes how many players were linked as transfer targets for the club this winter.
Miami has made a few great moves this winter transfer window, bringing in Suarez two-time MLS Cup winner Julian Gressel, and Nicolás Freire on loan from Pumas. Gressel previously played under Martino at Atlanta United when they won MLS Cup and is known for his excellent crossing ability and versatility in different positions. When in Atlanta, Martino utilized him most often in midfield and on the wing, but also at full-back.
Also exciting are the younger South American prospects they brought in last summer. Facundo Farías is someone I’ve watched since he was at Colón, but unfortunately will miss the season after an ACL injury in their opening friendly. Young center-back Tomás Avilés joined last summer and played well in his minutes for Miami last season, and I expect to see more this year. Finally, Diego Gómez should also have an opportunity for more minutes.
The only concern I have, even with their immense attacking talent, is keeping the ball out of the back of their own net. They’ve added Nicolás Freire after trading Kamal Miller, but in their preseason friendlies it’s been a bit of an open net. I’ll also note that Tata while at Atlanta played a style of soccer similar to Bielsa-ball, which means, if they do the same, Drake Callendar might be busy.
Regardless, there isn't any reason this team, when fully healthy, can't win it all, but rotation will be a must for this group, especially if they are going to challenge for every title, including the Concacaf Champions’ Cup.
Projected Starting Lineup
Given Gregore's return from a long-term injury, Gomez might start at the beginning of the season.