WAATV REFLECTION: MARCH 2024
Austin FC is four games deep into the 2024 MLS season, and currently sits at a 0 Wins – 3 Draws – 1 Loss record for a total of 3 points out of a possible 12. As a fan, you can almost talk yourself into thinking that while not great or preferred, things are still not that bad, right? After all, the team has only lost once and could have won at least two of those draws, so maybe it’s a bit of a leap to be overly critical of Austin’s performance at the moment.
I will say that I’m concerned, even at this early stage. Why? Let’s take a look back at the previous three seasons for a similarity that’s hard for me to overlook.
2021 First Four Games: 6 of 12 points
at LAFC = Loss at Colorado = Win at Minnesota = Win at SKC = Loss
2 Wins and 2 Losses is pretty decent when you consider Austin played 8 straight road matches while Q2 Stadium was getting its final touches. It would be 8 regular season matches later before the team finally got another win, 3 games after opening up the new ground, and 3 draws sprinkled in for good measure.
2022 First Four Games: 7 of 12 points
vs Cinci = Win vs Miami = Win at Portland = Loss vs Seattle = Draw
2 Wins (blowouts!), 1 Draw, and 1 Loss (on the road) is not too shabby a start, but only a point better than the previous season. The huge victories made it seem more promising, especially when the team rattled off a draw and 4 straight league wins right after this group of games. Season 2 overall was a fun year!
2023 First Four Games: 6 of 12
vs STL City = Loss vs Montreal = Win at RSL = Win at Houston = Loss
2 Wins and 2 Losses. In hindsight the STL City game appeared to set the tone for the rest of Austin’s schedule. It was not at all how fans expected the year to start, which followed a deep play-off run the season prior. Austin would not win again until 8 regular season games later in Seattle, with 4 draws mixed in that stretch. Looks awfully familiar to 2021, doesn’t it?
Austin FC finished 2023 with 39 points, 8 more than 2021 due to 1 more win and 5 more draws. Still, it left the team short of a play-off spot and a bunch of disappointed fans thinking back on 2022. As for the current 2024 campaign, how long is it going to take after these initial 4 games to get a league win, something the fans have not seen since the October 2023 home match against DC United? Quick, I’ll give you one guess how many regular season games it was between the DCU match and the last game Austin took the full 3 points. Hint: It was also a home match against SKC.
Will 2024 be a return to better days, or continue to be more mediocrity? Let’s just say I have a May 11th road game against Frisco circled on my team schedule to find out…
WRITTEN BY: JC
