The Son Regression + MDS Problem: A Statistical Breakdown
MDS is on borrowed time, but the elephant in the room is that Sonny has clearly been operating at 90% with the World Cup looming, and the stats bear it out.
He's become passive, intentionally. Whether it's due to his own World Cup responsibilities and ambitions, or Marc's tinkering, who knows, but it's glaring.
His xG dropped from 4.81 in 2025 to 2.73 (through two more games). Son scored 9 goals against 4.81 xG in 2025 (overperformed like an elite star), then 0 against 2.73 so far in 2026 (massively underperformed Giroud-style (ok, not that bad)). So not only is he generating less danger, he's converting... none of it.
0% aerial duel success in 2026 vs 20% in 2025, and fewer duels attempted (3 vs 5 in two more games). For a player we rely upon for physical presence, this is a worrying regression. Especially since Bouanga and Martinez aren't doing shit in the air.
In Sonny's defense, and the MDS part of this equation, Son's passing profile this season tells the story of a complete role shift. More passes (304 vs 227), better accuracy (90% vs 84%), more long balls (8 vs 4)... this is the profile of a deeper-lying playmaker or a wide midfielder cycling possession, not a forward pressing into channels. The assist spike to 9 confirms he's feeding others rather than finishing himself.
Related, crosses are another area where Son's stats look woeful compared to last year. Crosses went from 16 to just 6, and his cross accuracy cratered from 52% to 32%. Combined with corner kicks dropping from 38 to 23, this suggests he's either being played further from the touchline or his delivery from wide areas has become notably worse. Yes?
All of that said, if Sonny was able to finish at just half of the clip he was last year, or Tillman was able to hit the broad side of a fucking gold Cybertruck, we'd be in the CCC final, and likely would not have gotten rolled the last 3 games in MLS play (and probably one last time before the break this weekend). MDS is likely not the answer, but getting dealt an underperforming Son and losing key midfield acquisitions like Boudri and Eustaquio right when we needed them most didn't help.
But if my grandmother had wheels... ya know.
To be quite honest, I don't think there's anything MDS can do short of winning MLS Cup to keep his job now. Thorrington is definitely going to reload in the summer, and that's basically going to be MDS's last shot if he's lucky enough not to lose the locker room before then. I certainly don't get the impression that Son or Bouanga hold MDS in high regard. Why would they, as they're both having arguably their least productive seasons in years.
But as always, the fate of this team is going to come down to what John Thorrington does in the summer window. ***always has meme*** MDS has already failed at his task for this season, which was CCC, and the bottom line is, not getting this roster to the CCC final is something he will almost certainly not be able to recover from.
I don't think Thorrington is capable of being so ruthless as to push MDS out this season, because MDS has been around the club so long, but if we look like we're going to go trophyless, or not qualify for CCC next year, all bets are off.
That would be a massive underachievement with these players, and at that point, there's absolutely no reason to keep him around.
He was supposed to be the safe, continuation play. Doloball, but more fun. Well, no one looks like they're having fun, do they.