In the previous installment of The Morning Loon, Minnesota United had taken its “#SayShh” playoff marketing campaign a bit too literally. The Loons were silenced at home, the only team in MLS to fail to take advantage of hosting in the opening round of the postseason. After a full year of amending first impressions and christening Allianz Field with a competitive team, Minnesota’s season had ended in the same way as the two that preceded it: without a playoff win to show for their efforts.



Unlike previous winters — which each begged for roster overhauls all over the pitch, though only one such winter bore a makeover — there wasn’t a mass quantity of moves required. The entire backline had been locked into deals that would keep them in Minnesota for 2020 and beyond. The new midfield partnership was a genuine strength which, again, was contractually secure into the new decade. While the attack failed to produce down the stretch, the key...