For these updates, I plan to organize my thoughts league by league, with subheadings for each team under the league headings. I will be focusing primarily on players from the 2026 USMNT World Cup roster, but I will include some players who likely missed the squad due to injury. In due time I will look to expand, but for now I am keeping my goals pretty narrow.
EFL (England/Wales)
Middlesbrough: Also known as ‘The Boro,’ this team features THREE Americans in Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, and Max Arfsten. When Morris is healthy–possibly as soon as this week–he and Berhalter should play side by side at center midfield, which will make for some exciting matches for we Americans. I am affectionately referring the Boro as Middle America. Anyway, Middlesbrough edged out three points this week against a stubborn Lincoln City side fresh off of promotion. I am looking forward to seeing the Morris and Berhalter duo, as their chemistry should shine due to having gone through the Columbus Crew youth academy together. As for Arfsten, he subbed on in the 63rd minute against Lincoln City, as Boro chose to chase the win. In the previous match, Arfsten started but was subbed off in the 67th minute. So we’ll stay tuned to see how his minutes progress from here on.
EREDEVISIE (Netherlands)
PSV Eindhoven: Sergino Dest assisted Ricardo Pepi on the winning goal against Excelsior, giving PSV their first win of the season.
I know what you’re thinking…where was that against Belgium? Your guess is as good as mine. But still, rock on boys. Lovely play that was.
LA LIGA (Spain)
Villarreal FC: Alex Freeman was on the bench for Villarreal’s opener, and was only awarded three minutes of playing time. Freeman is in competition with another right back named Mouriño. Still, just 21 years old and with plenty of season to play, Freeman should ultimately get plenty of run and it will be a good thing for his development. Stay tuned.
Real Betis: Johnny Cardoso is still working his way back to 100% after suffering a right ankle sprain in May of this year. While he had to have corrective surgery, he is now in the final stages of recovery. We didn’t see him with the USMNT this summer, but hopefully this will be a bounce-back season for him.
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
Celtic: Auston Trusty and Celtic FC sit atop the table after two matches, and Trusty scored the opening goal in Celtic’s 4-0 drubbing of Dundee United. Fellow American Cameron Carter-Vickers anchored the defense in that 4-0 win. CCV did not play for the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup, but recently returned from an Achilles rupture suffered in October 2025.
That’s it for this update! My eventual goal is to do this in video form, but for now I am staying abreast of the happenings by putting “pen” to “paper” with these short posts. If you read this far and you have any feedback on the format, please feel free to share with yours truly.
-HC-
Men in Flannel 
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