I put together everything Smith said Friday and what he and Westwood said after Wednesday’s 3-1 loss. A few items from it:

• Smith on the performance: “We haven’t had too many of them. It’s very seldom. And I expect a reaction from them.”
• Westwood said the team “just got outworked.”
• Philadelphia has won its last eight games by a combined 28-8 and hasn’t lost in 14.
• Smith explained why the club didn’t add a center forward. He said Doucouré is training and working on his visa, and that Tyger Smalls is Idan Toklomati’s backup for now.

Full piece: https://charlottefooty.substack.com/p/everything-charlotte-fc-said-ahead

Will someone please explain to me why CLTFC bothered signing Abdoulaye Doucouré? I saw in another thread he is not at practice today. Visa troubles typically delay our signings. Then there are the “match shape” and “team chemistry” issues. This short-term signing (rental) seems like a waste of time and effort to me. Maybe even a distraction to the existing coaches and players? What do you think?