One could make the case that, organizationally, this is the first time that Loudoun United head coach Ryan Martin has truly been on the same page with the first team since taking over D.C. United’s USL team. Going into 2020, Martin expected to have players like Kevin Paredes, Moses Nyeman, and Griffin Yow available to him on loan, but the pandemic effectively cut that pipeline off and ultimately the team’s already shortened season was shortened further from Covid.
In 2021, Martin had ample roster assets but went into the preseason without a first-team coach to work with to develop the players necessary to help lift the tide of the organizational boat.