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How seven Minnesota United fans feel about playoff prospects, on-field issues and future of Adrian Heath

andy greder, pioneer press
·4 min read

Minnesota United held an open training session primarily for season-ticket holders at Allianz Field on Tuesday. The skies over the St. Paul stadium were overcast, matching the Loons’ gloomy current outlook for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

After an uplifting seven-game unbeaten streak, MNUFC lost three straight matches across eight days, each with a late goal conceded.

The Pioneer Press spoke with seven fans before and during the midweek practice to get a temperature check on the club as it sits in 11th place in the Western Conference, two spots removed from the playoff field.

MNUFC (9-10-11, 37 points) has four games remaining this season, with eighth-place San Jose (10-11-10, 41 points) first coming to Allianz Field on Saturday night.

Playoff prospects?

Bryanna Reinsberg of Eagan is “cautiously hopeful” the Loons can still make the playoffs. “A little nervous, honestly,” she said while perusing the merchandise in the team store.

Reinsberg, a fan since the club went to MLS in 2017, said her pensiveness comes from the recent losing streak and the poor form at home all season long. “It’s been kind of weird,” she said.

Lucas Munson, a first-year season-ticket holder from Plymouth, said he has had an “awesome experience” at Allianz Field this season and upgraded his tickets for 2024.

“It would be icing on the cake (to make the playoffs), of course,” Munson said. “… I think they can do it. They got to pull it together. I haven’t lost all hope yet.”

A youth team coach had members of his squad in tow, so he didn’t feel it was appropriate to share his identity along with his dose of negativity. “A typical Minnesota sports franchise — not good enough,” he said.

Malachi McNeilus, a 10-year season-ticket holder in Rochester used a poker phrase to describe the Loons’ position. “We have a chip and a chair” he said, meaning MNUFC still has a chance.

Issues aplenty

Logan Drew of St. Louis Park tried to express how the Loons lost a 3-1 lead in a 4-3 loss at Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 20.

“I feel like there is a mental — not fragility — but something resembling mental fragility, where you need to tighten up tactics to buckle down and get a result,” Drew said. “Giving up three second-half goals is the opposite of that.”

McNeilus, who said he has not missed an MLS home game since 2017, points to Emanuel Reynoso holding out in Argentina for the opening 40% of the season and the season-ending injury to Robin Lod in May as critical setbacks.

“MLS is a whole lot better; it’s a tough league,” McNeilus added. “There are a lot of big names. A lot of money going into stadiums and new teams. The competition just raises every year.”

Larry Babb, of New Brighton, has been following the team since it played at the National Sports Center in Blaine. “I shouldn’t even say it if it’s going to be in the paper, but they don’t seem to have much chemistry,” Babb said. “It just seems off.”

Heath out?

The fate of United manager Adrian Heath, who is under contract through the 2024 season, was a regular topic for fans during the quick interviews. Heath has led Minnesota for seven seasons, making the playoffs in four consecutive years. He routinely has the team finish higher in the standings than the club’s rank in salary spending.

“I’m probably the only fan not trashing the coach,” McNeilus said. “I sincerely think the coach is doing a great job. You can look all over the league for coaches. The Portland coach (Giovanni Savarese), I think people would say he’s a great coach last year and he’s sacked this year. I don’t know who else I would think you get in, if you didn’t have this coach here. They are not just laying around.”

McNeilus wasn’t the only fan backing Heath.

“I support Heath,” Drew added. “I’m not Heath out. But I feel like they don’t always get those tactics right when they are trying to finish off a game.”

Mark, who preferred to not share his last name, pinpointed when he feels Heath struggles the most. “I think Heath is a better coach — up until game time,’” said the fan who has been supporting the club since they played in Blaine pre-2017. “That’s my feeling. During the game, I feel like he gets outcoached. I feel he’s a good coach. I met him once. He was a nice guy and everything.”

“I think the players he puts in and how he doesn’t react to things in time or at all,” the male fan continued. “I think he has a hard head. … I’m not in the camp to make a (coaching) change, but maybe it’s time for a change, especially if we the miss the playoffs.”

Added McNeilus: “It’s all up to (owner) Bill McGuire.”

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