Birmingham Legion: 2025 Season Preview

Just earlier today the Legion announced one more addition to the squad (which we had noted on X last Friday): Roman Torres, a midfielder who joins the team on loan for the season from Minnesota United of MLS. Minnesota picked him up in the MLS SuperDraft this past December after a successful senior season at Creighton University.

With that, and the season opener looming large on Saturday, it’s time for us to provide a season preview of what is a much-changed club from 2024. There may be more roster additions coming, but for now the team is set ahead of the game against Loudoun United.

Returning players

A good few players have left the Legion, notably Alex Crognale, Mikey Lopez, Prosper Kasim, Matthew Corcoran and Diba Newgbo. But that does not mean that a solid core is not back for this year. Here’s who will be back in black and gold:

That’s a total of 13 players, not a bad retention rate. However, it does include two teenagers (Ramiz and Finn), although the former has certainly already proved himself not just in the league but most recently on the international stage where he was a starter on the US U-17 squad that romped through CONCACAF qualification for the World Cup (to be held in Qatar this November). Obvious holes to be filled are an out-and-out striker and a central attacking midfielder. Note also that we have listed Jake Rufe as a defender although he is really a utility man who performs just as well at a wingback position.

Incoming players

So the Legion has had to add quite a few new faces this season, possibly more than in any previous year. Here’s who the team has added:

Fernando gets an asterisk because he was on the team last April for a month while on loan from Real Salt Lake but is now back permanently. Ten new players brings the squad up to 23: 3 keepers, 8 defenders, 6 midfielders and 6 forwards. Or is that 7.5 defenders and 6.5 midfielders given where Jake plays on any given day?

Squad Depth

So: with 3 keepers that’s 20 field players, enough for two complete lineups. Or is it? Given a likely 4-2-3-1 base lineup here’s what I think the depth chart might look like:

There are two clear weak points here: left back and center mid. And since Enzo Martinez will not be available for this weekend’s game due to read card at the end of last season, that’s a major problem from the get go. And elsewhere, AJ Paterson and Tyler Pasher are still recovering from injuries. Tyler is closer to being game ready than AJ but they are both still a ways from playing. The roster is beginning to look a little thin.

I would also note that this is my best guess with some of the newer players as to their best positions. Torresd and Ereku in particular may be usable in more attacking roles than as shown. Further, available or not, it is questionable that center mid is Enzo’s best position at this point in his career. He may be better suited to a more defensive role. Another wrinkle to the depth chart is that Tommy Soehn loves to play with inverted wingers, making them interchangeable to a degree.

Frankly, I don’t think this is necessarily the best formation for the 2025 Legion. It is Tommy Soehn’s tried and trusted go-to option, but I think that a 4-1-4-1 may be more effective. That is based on the fact that Dawson McCartney is a very good wide player. In fact, the Legion right side is loaded with talent. Then again, the two formations are closely interchangeable and I would expect to see both in any game given the situation.

Overall, the Legion – and every other team in the league – is still very much in a state of flux. It’s going to take a few weeks for everything to sort itself out as teams settle into a…

Style of play

Tommy Soehn has made it very clear that he wants his team to play much faster this season. Last year the Three Sparks spent far too much time moving the ball around in the back and failing to create much penetration in attack. The team finished 13th in scoring last year despite not making the playoffs but needs to improve on that. Speed is a big part of that.

There is no doubt that some fast legs have been added. Trejo and Turnbull are definitely both speedsters. Preston from the returning squad is no slouch either. Observing the team in preseason games and in practice we are certain to see a much more rapid approach in 2025.

Together with that the team looks to be much more active on the wings. The Legion now has players who are not reticent to play the ball in from out wide. That will be fun to watch.

I also anticipate a lot of pressing from this team, both low and high. We saw almost nothing but low pressing last year, but without great attacking options it wasn’t of much use. Now with faster wingers and a proven goalscorer up top fast breaks out of the back with the opponent lured up the field will be a mainstay. Conversely, with a strengthened attack and wing play the team will also be able to push opponents back in a high press. This, by the way, is where a 4-2-3-1 can be a good option as it lends itself to both methods.

An extra cup

In addition to the US Open Cup, there will now be a second knockout tournament for USL Championship teams. The Jägermeister Cup was introduced last year as a USL League One competition only but is being expanded this year to the Championship. This has the benefit to League One teams especially of giving them more variety of opposition; League One has just 14 teams currently. Championship teams will also get to play unaccustomed teams of course. As a result, in the initial group stage the Legion will get to play Chattanooga Red Wolves and Forward Madison (both at home) as well as road games against FC Tulsa and Indy Eleven. Jäger Cup play starts in late April.

The Open Cup is not so far off – the Legion will play at Little Rock Rangers Wednesday March 19th, less than two weeks from now.

Not switching conferences

Perhaps the most surprising – and indeed the most annoying in some ways – event of the offseason was that newcomers Lexington SC will be placed in the Western Conference despite having at least three teams in the Eastern Conference further west. The Legion is the furthest west of the Eastern teams and in fact had an excellent record last year against the West, so not getting to shift over is a bit of a blow. And the East is just as tough a conference this year as it was last year. The Jäger Cup also means there will be fewer interconference games this year so that little advantage has been weakened for the Three Sparks.

That’s it; let’s hope for a great season!