It’s the foolish season. Meaning loads of stories, tons and plenty of rumors, and as soon as the MLS switch window opens afterward this week, a bunch of official strikes as groups refine or reload or rebuild their rosters.
Some groups have rather more work to do than others. Some have already been busy, although most have moved slowly given these pandemic-shrouded, unprecedented instances. All will finally do no less than a bit one thing. That’s the nature of the enterprise.
So this is a fast have a look at the place groups stand, and what they will be wanting so as to add within the two months between now and the beginning of the 2021 season.
Japanese Convention in the present day, Western Convention tomorrow. There will likely be periodic updates all through the remainder of the foolish season. And away we go…
Atlanta United
The Offseason So Far: The large transfer was inking new head coach Gabriel Heinze. That was crucial factor on their to-do record this winter.
The participant strikes to this point have been rather more understated, as Atlanta have signed a trio of homegrowns (regulate winger Machop Chol), and Heinze introduced veteran attacker Lisandro Lopez with him from Argentina. Neither Lopez nor Chol nor any of the opposite homegrowns are prone to be starters.
Mikey Ambrose or Andrew Gutman might be. There’s vital abroad curiosity in younger George Bello, and I feel it is fairly telling that Atlanta’s entrance workplace went out and bought two left backs this offseason (although I suppose it needs to be famous the phrases of Gutman’s mortgage from Celtic have but to be fully labored out, as I perceive it). I do not assume they’d’ve accomplished that in the event that they anticipated to have Bello long-term, and everyone knows Atlanta aren’t afraid of promoting starters.
What’s Subsequent: It appears very very like Eric Remedi is on the best way out and younger Franco Ibarra is on the best way in, which has the defensive midfield place settled.
Additionally regulate proper again Franco Escobar, who’s had rumors swirling and is sending a bunch of cryptic tweets. If he goes, then my guess is a brand new proper again is on the best way in.
Regardless, this is not a roster than calls for a ton of surgical procedure.
(Editor’s observe: On Wednesday, Atlanta re-signed Cubo Torres, who Doyle has listed as third on the No. 9 depth chart)
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Chicago Hearth
The Offseason So Far: The largest information, except for a second rebrand in two years, was the sale off homegrown attacker Djordje Mihailovic to CF Montréal for a boatload of allocation money, which ought to give the Hearth an excellent quantity of flexibility. In addition they bid adieu to veteran middle ahead CJ Sapong, which opens up a reasonably sizable chunk of the cap and permits but extra flexibility.
Up to now they’ve used that flexibility to get youthful, persevering with a pattern from final offseason. In have come ahead Chinonso Offor (age 20), defender Jhon Espinoza (21) and winger Stanislav Ivanov (21). In addition they made some waves by signing extremely regarded 17-year-old Colombian ahead Jhon Duran, who cannot come to Chicago till subsequent 12 months, however is the sort of aggressive “purchase to flip” transfer we frequently see from Portuguese golf equipment.
The fact, although, is that none of this has modified Chicago’s projected beginning XI all that a lot.
What’s Subsequent: Change may be coming, although. Veteran CB Francisco Calvo has been repeatedly linked to a transfer again to Costa Rica, whereas DP d-mid Gaston Gimenez is reportedly on Boca Juniors’ want record. Every of these strikes would make sense to a level, so I feel it is price it to take a wait-and-see strategy.
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FC Cincinnati
The Offseason So Far: The teardown of that authentic, Yr 1 roster has continued into Yr 3, as Cincy declined choices on veterans Kendall Waston, Greg Garza, Spencer Richey and Mathieu Deplagne, in addition to a bunch of reserves and one in every of final 12 months’s costlier signings in TAM playmaker Siem De Jong (zero objectives and 0 assists in 793 minutes). It’s an ongoing course of that seems nowhere shut to finish, given how a lot the remaining gamers — together with the DPs — struggled in 2020.
Veteran left again Ronald Matarrita has been the most important signing to this point, and a transparent starter. I believe they will discover a beginning function for winger Calvin Harris, who they took second general within the SuperDraft and who requires a global roster slot. You do not draft a man like that to sit down him.
What’s Subsequent: Loads, I feel. GM Gerard Nijkamp has been fairly open in regards to the state of the roster.
“No. 10 is a precedence, winger is a precedence, middle again is a precedence and No. 9 is a precedence,” he informed media on a convention name final week, and let’s parse this a bit:
- No. 10 as a precedence is smart no matter formation (I feel they’re aiming for Jaap Stam’s most popular 4-3-3) or different additions. Cincy had close to zero dependable probability creation out of midfield final 12 months, and on this league that does not reduce it. No. 10s rule in MLS.
- Winger as a precedence confuses me considerably given the additions of Harris and Alvaro Barreal, who arrived in September. I am not saying they do not need assistance there, however I am stunned to see it talked about as a precedence.
- Middle again is clearly a precedence. I might argue it is much more essential to their future success than getting the fitting No. 10.
However the one that actually clarifies what’s about to occur is Nijkamp itemizing No. 9 as a precedence. Jurgen Locadia’s mortgage goes till June and it is in all probability fairly truthful to imagine there’s little curiosity in bringing him again long-term given he managed simply 1 purpose in about 1,400 minutes. I might say the writing’s on the wall for Yuya Kubo, final 12 months’s different DP signing (three objectives and 0 assists in 1300 minutes) as effectively. Plus Allan Cruz does not appear to be a first-choice participant by Stam’s reckoning, and that is no approach to spend a DP slot.
These gigantic strikes won’t occur till the summer season window, so itemizing them as “what’s subsequent” might be considerably inaccurate. However it is best to perceive what the general image is pointing towards right here.
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Columbus Crew SC
The Offseason So Far: The wealthy bought richer, as Columbus hit the free agent market laborious and infrequently. They introduced in veteran middle ahead Bradley Wright-Phillips, veteran winger Kevin Molino and veteran d-mid Perry Kitchen. In addition they traded for veteran goalkeeper (and Ohio native!) Evan Bush, which supplies them confirmed depth for when Eloy Room heads out on worldwide responsibility this 12 months. Bush replaces Andrew Tarbell, who headed to Austin after the Crew declined his possibility.
There have been truly a bunch of choices declined, with veteran utility-man Hector Jimenez and winger Youness Mokhtar being probably the most notable except for Tarbell. In addition they offered younger proper again Chris Cadden to Hibs, which presents maybe the one truly gap on the roster.
What’s Subsequent: Proper now the RB depth chart is 34-year-old Harrison Afful adopted by as-yet unsigned first-round draft choose Justin Malou, who’s rather more of an old school, defense-minded fullback than a contemporary overlapping risk. I will likely be stunned if Columbus do not exit and tackle this earlier than the season begins.
The opposite spot to take a look at and fear about a bit bit is the wing, which might get actually shallow actually fast if Molino, Derrick Etienne, Jr. and Luis Diaz all exit on worldwide responsibility on the identical time — which, to be clear, is sort of doubtless. I might count on one other signing or two there, although extra within the place-filler mildew than the long-term resolution mildew.
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D.C. United
The Offseason So Far: D.C. went exterior the field to get new head coach Hernan Losada. That appeared to take up many of the entrance workplace’s incoming bandwidth, as there’ve been few above-the-fold sort of strikes as of but.
The largest incoming title might be Kimarni Smith, the winger from Clemson who was the fourth general SuperDraft choose. D.C. then traded up for the No. 5 choose, which they used on Wake Forest middle again Michael DeShields. To offer you an thought of the kind of prospect DeShields as soon as was, he began over Mark McKenzie for many of the 2017 school season. Accidents have damage him since then, however D.C. have accomplished effectively within the draft earlier than.
I assumed the pick-up of Adrien Perez by way of the re-entry draft was an excellent transfer as effectively. He won’t play a ton, however he at all times seemed like high quality, inexpensive depth when he managed to get on the sector for LAFC.
After which there’s the massive outgoing information: DP winger/wingback Paul Arriola was loaned to Swansea Metropolis on Monday. Arriola is great, however that is truly an excellent transfer for D.C. because it permits Julian Gressel to play in his pure spot.
What’s Subsequent: Gressel’s pure spot is correct wingback, and that meshes effectively with Losada’s desire for a 3-5-2. He did say on Extratime we must always count on a degree of tactical and formational flexibility from his groups, and I do not doubt that, however each head coach has a most popular method of taking part in, and that is been Losada’s.
Perhaps he’ll check out the roster and determine a 4-2-3-1 makes extra sense with this group. However I am guessing not.
Regardless, they want extra middle backs and possibly extra left backs/wingbacks. And doubtless a prime tier middle ahead, and to determine how they need to use Edison Flores — is he a second ahead, or a ten?
Anyway, this is what I feel the depth chart appears like if Losada actually desires that 3-5-2.
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Inter Miami CF
The Offseason So Far: As with Atlanta and D.C., the most important offseason story was the hiring of a brand new supervisor in Phil Neville. That is been accompanied by one thing of a housecleaning — Luis Robles, Andres Reyes and Wil Trapp are in all probability probably the most vital departures — and minimal additions. Miami have signed some homegrowns and re-signed Brek Shea, and that is been about it. They have not even signed their first-round picks but.
I think about issues will choose up quickly.
What’s Subsequent: Defensive reinforcements, I might say. Miami weren’t significantly good in any space of the pitch final 12 months underneath Diego Alonso, however central protection was in all probability the sorest spot. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez seemed miles off his Finest XI type and there is a purpose Nico Figal spent many of the 12 months at proper again. The one different middle backs on the roster are a trio of children, one in every of whom is a transformed defensive midfielder who didn’t look as much as it in his first MLS season (Christian Makoun) and the opposite two of whom can be making their MLS debuts in 2021.
I count on no less than one huge signing at this spot, and certain a brand new left again as effectively (except they actually, actually imagine in Patrick Seagrist). After which it is only a matter of hoping that the variations of Gonzalo Higuain, Matias Pellegrini and Blaise Matuidi that confirmed up in 2020 have been mirages, and the 2021 variations of these gamers will likely be far superior.
Neville, for what it is price, typically defaulted to the 4-4-1-1 with the English ladies’s nationwide workforce, however I’ll record the depth chart in a 4-2-3-1 as an alternative.
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CF Montréal
The Offseason So Far: Goodbye Impression, hey Membership de Foot Montréal. The brand new title is the most important information for Thierry Henry & Co.
On the participant personnel aspect, there’s been rather more of an exodus than an inflow. Vital contributors over the previous few years (or no less than guys who bought a big quantity of taking part in time) like Bojan, Jukka Raitala, Maxi Urruti and Orji Okwonkwo have departed, and to exchange them Montréal have stayed principally inside the league, buying and selling for Djordje Mihailovic, Kamal Miller and Kiki Struna. In addition they introduced in 18-year-old attacker Sunusi Ibrahim from Nigeria, which is a thriller field of a signing.
Montréal will certainly be youthful this 12 months. That can in all probability work of their favor.
What’s Subsequent: One other skilled middle again, maybe? Henry principally performed with 5 on the again in his first season as an MLS head coach, and whereas Struna in all probability represents an improve, there is a purpose he was accessible within the first place. And even when he does instantly degree up, Montréal are only one harm away from being perilously skinny again there.
The opposite doubtlessly perilously skinny spot might be proper wingback, although I would not count on them to attempt to hit a house run of a signing there.
As for middle ahead, although, they could have to swing for the fences. They spent loads of allocation money final autumn to usher in Mason Toye, and he is in all probability atop the depth chart for that spot proper now. However over the course of his three-year-long MLS profession, he is seemed like a beginning caliber middle ahead for under about two months. Henry must deliver one of the best out of him, or a transfer might be within the offing.
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Nashville SC
The Offseason So Far: Nashville have quietly moved on from a bunch of men on the underside half of their roster, whereas a bit extra loudly flipping worldwide roster slots and one contributor — central midfielder Derrick Jones — for a bunch of allocation money, which they’re at the moment simply sitting on. They have not touched a dime of it as of but.
That is as a result of they’ve solely added one participant to the roster, however even that is not official. Uruguayan youth worldwide attacker Rodrigo Pineiro has been linked to Nashville for months now, and finally his ship’s going to come back in. In order that’s one.
I am guessing they will finally signal first-round draft choose Irakoze Donasiyano, which might make it two. Whereas signing Donasiyano solves some issues by way of roster slots, it truly raises some questions by way of the depth chart. Is he a cover-every-blade-of-grass No. 8, or a Latif Blessing-style urgent 10, or a winger? Might proper again be his eventual residence?
For what it is price I hope they use him as a urgent 10. He is enjoyable.
What’s Subsequent: Presumably they will use a few of that money to exchange Jones in central midfield. Because it stands they’re simply three deep (4, if you happen to rely Donasiyano) for the 2 deeper-lying spots, and that is not sufficient when you think about age (Dax McCarty) and harm historical past (Anibal Godoy). It is a protected guess they have somebody in thoughts there.
It is also a protected guess they will add a 3rd goalkeeper and a fifth middle again, although I do not think about these are priorities.
Know what may be a precedence? The No. 10. It is simply Hany Mukhtar, who underwhelmed final 12 months. After him on the depth chart would doubtlessly be Donasiyano after which a bunch of out-of-position wingers. It is not a obvious want and it is virtually actually not “subsequent,” nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing to remember.
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New England Revolution
The Offseason So Far: New England bought busy early, clearing out an excellent chunk of the underside half of the roster in early December, together with workforce legends Kelyn Rowe, Lee Nguyen and Diego Fagundez. Fagundez’s departure to Austin FC actually does mark the tip of an period, regardless that he grew to become solely a bit participant over the previous couple of seasons.
They have been additionally busier on the incoming aspect sooner than most groups, bringing in left again Christian Mafla and central midfielder Wilfrid Kaptoum. It is a good guess that each of these guys will likely be starters.
Bruce Area additionally introduced in a couple of MLS veterans like A.J. DeLaGarza, Emmanuel Boateng, and introduced again Tommy McNamara.
The Revs’ depth chart is powerful virtually all over the place.
What’s Subsequent: It is not sturdy in central protection, although, the place the one possibility after incumbent starters Henry Kessler and Andrew Farrell is USL journeyman Collin Verfuth. Verfuth may overperform expectations, however even when he does three middle backs just isn’t sufficient to make it by an MLS season. There will likely be extra incoming, and I would not be in any respect shocked if one in every of them was designed to push for a beginning spot. Kessler and Farrell have been good final 12 months, although neither was so good they need to be deemed untouchable.
Competitors for minutes is wholesome.
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New York Metropolis FC
The Offseason So Far: There’s been a reasonably loud retooling of the roster occurring. Alex Ring — top-of-the-line defensive midfielders within the league — was offered to Austin for greater than one million {dollars} of allocation money, whereas beginning left again Ronald Matarrita was despatched to Cincy for about half that a lot. Winger Gary Mackay-Steven’s contract was declined for apparent causes, and younger Joe Scally’s multi-million-dollar transfer to Borussia Moenchengladbach’s was lastly made official.
Meaning the Pigeons are swimming each in allocation money and roster spots.
Up to now, although, they’ve made just one transfer: signing Homegrown winger Andres Jasson.
What’s Subsequent: Presumably fairly a bit. They’ve one open DP slot and the flexibility to open up one other by shopping for down Jesus Medina. A kind of DP slots is presumably earmarked for Uruguayan youth nationwide workforce attacker Santiago Rodriguez, who was bought by CFG months in the past and has been linked to NYCFC for no less than that lengthy.
Rodriguez would, in principle, fill two holes: left wing starter and No. 10 back-up for the thus-far irreplaceable, although now very previous Maxi Moralez.
There must be extra, although because the entirety of the returning entrance line coterie has been stricken by both harm or inconsistency or each. I might count on two extra attacking signings past Jasson and Rodriguez.
I might additionally count on the addition of a starting-caliber left again. After the sale of Matarrita there’s solely Gudmundur Thorarinsson for that spot, and Thorarinsson’s play and profile recommend he is the back-up. Even when he is not, one left again just isn’t sufficient.
They will in all probability add a fourth middle again and a 3rd ‘keeper as effectively. They need to, anyway.
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New York Purple Bulls
The Offseason So Far: I form of anticipated a loud and busy offseason from the Purple Bulls, nevertheless it hasn’t fairly lived up. They’ve formally subtracted one starter in middle again Tim Parker, sending him to Houston for allocation money, and one part-time starter in Marc Rzatkowski.
The incoming aspect has been extra muted, which is of a bit with the latest RBNY strategy. They introduced in a younger European fulllback (Tom Edwards) on mortgage, they usually combed by South America to discover a VERY younger attacker (Wikelman Carmona), they usually pulled Andres Reyes off the scrap-heap after his depressing 12 months in Fort Lauderdale, they usually promoted a goalkeeper from their USL aspect.
Maybe some fireworks are coming, or maybe the hiring of a brand new supervisor did not actually sign the beginning of a brand new period.
What’s Subsequent: I genuinely do not know. I’ve heard from of us throughout the league RBNY are open for enterprise, however there hasn’t but been a large outflow of expertise. I’ve heard from of us throughout the league the checkbook is open for brand spanking new head coach Gerhard Struber — I’ve written earlier than and I am going to write once more that I do not imagine he’d have taken the job if it wasn’t — however there’s but to be any tangible proof of that.
So there are some fairly large questions. One of many greatest is which formation Struber will default to, and that would decide which path they transfer in with regard to their signings.
- In his first recreation in command of RBNY, in final 12 months’s playoffs, he used a 4-2-3-1.
- Within the second half of his tenure with Barnsley, he used a 3-5-2.
- In the course of the first half of his tenure with Barnsley and principally all the pieces earlier than that, he used a 4-4-2 diamond.
Provided that, I’ll assume it is a diamond. And if that is the case, there needs to be a DP-caliber ahead added, in addition to in all probability one shuttler and perhaps one other defensive midfielder. Maybe they will be starters, although maybe they will be depth items.
Quite a lot of recognized unknowns and unknown unknowns with this workforce proper now.
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Orlando Metropolis SC
The Offseason So Far: As of Monday morning, Orlando Metropolis’s offseason wants appeared fairly straight ahead: discover a back-up left again (they checked that field by signing American Jonathan Suarez on mortgage from Liga MX membership Queretaro FC) and perhaps a younger middle again to start out being groomed for a bigger future function. You may’ve argued for younger No. 10 as effectively so as to take in the minutes Mauricio Pereyra cannot play, and even displace him.
As of Monday night, that they had a a lot larger and extra apparent want: middle ahead. Daryl Dike’s off to Barnsley on mortgage, and whereas 1) Orlando have a proper of recall, and a pair of) Barnsley are usually not the kind of membership that may train the $20 million buy possibility reportedly connected to the mortgage, if Dike exhibits effectively. I don’t doubt he has the expertise to draw curiosity from the sorts of sides that do have the monetary clout to make godfather provides.
What I am saying is I would not be stunned if Dike’s performed his final recreation for Orlando.
What’s Subsequent: There is no such thing as a clear successor because the No. 9 if Dike is gone for good, however there are alternatives:
- Veteran Tesho Akindele goes method again with Oscar Pareja, however Tesho’s at all times been a spot starter.
- Brazilian Matheus Aias — who’s by no means actually gotten a lot first-team run, however was very productive as a super-sub within the Segunda Division earlier than signing with the Lions — might be the odds-on favourite to get first crack on the job.
- Orlando traded as much as take Derek Dodson, who in my view outplayed Dike within the 2019 Faculty Cup closing (wherein Dodson’s Georgetown workforce defeated Dike’s Virginia), with the eighth general choose.
Is that sufficient? I am unsure, nevertheless it’s totally potential Orlando unearthed a gem in Aias or Pareja will coach Dodson up into an virtually rapid contributor as he did with Dike and Akindele.
I believe along with Dodson, Orlando’s different two first-round picks will stick round. Rio Hope-Gund suits that younger middle again function (and was a teammate of Dodson’s at Georgetown), whereas Brandon Hackenberg is a left-footed defender who, just like the departed Kamal Miller, can play a little bit of each left again and middle again.
Orlando nonetheless have one open DP slot and the flexibility to open one other, however do not count on any huge signings.
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Philadelphia Union
The Offseason So Far: Effectively, whenever you promote a pair of Finest XI Homegrowns you’ve got accomplished loads of issues proper. You have additionally left your self with two huge holes to fill.
However that is Philly, and we all know how these holes get stuffed: by constructing expertise from inside. They’ve signed 5 gamers this offseason, and all 5 are Homegrowns. They’re reloading with the children.
What’s Subsequent: I genuinely do not know what’s subsequent, but when I have been to guess it would be a value-buy from both the decrease leagues of Europe (assume Kacper Przybylko or Kai Wagner), or an undiscovered gem from South America (Sergio Santos or Jose Martinez).
I do not assume there’s one place that calls for a ton of rapid consideration, although you could possibly speak me into some urgency at left again since Wagner has been open about his need to return to Europe, and there was actual curiosity in him on that aspect of the pond. If somebody hits the fitting quantity then Philly will clearly promote, after which the depth chart is Homegrown Matt Actual, who’s fairly good, and even youthful Homegrown Jack De Vries, who’s spent his whole youth profession as an attacker and is just actually a left again in principle at this level.
That mentioned if you happen to’re in search of the subsequent Bryan Reynolds — a youth attacker who makes the change to fullback and rips it up — De Vries is not a nasty guess.
So I suppose my reply to “what’s subsequent” is “a price purchase from someplace to play some place, I feel.”
Oh, they usually want a 3rd ‘keeper.
I hope you’ve got loved this in-depth have a look at the Union.
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Toronto FC
The Offseason So Far: Greg Vanney’s off to sunny LA, changed by his former Galaxy teammate Chris Armas. That’s huge information for the apparent purpose: Vanney is not only probably the most profitable coach in TFC historical past, however the solely profitable coach in TFC historical past. It is huge information for the much less apparent purpose Armas was not something approaching an apparent rent regardless of his connections to membership president Invoice Manning and GM Ali Curtis.
Armas, it’s truthful to say, struggled in his two years as head coach of the Purple Bulls, because the outcomes bought constantly worse and few of the younger gamers developed. That’s not the resume of somebody you’d count on to see employed by one in every of MLS’s biggest-spending and most profitable golf equipment.
A mitigating issue is it is unclear how a lot of what went flawed with the Purple Bulls was actually on him. There’s at all times been a sure degree of path from Austria about the kind of soccer — ways formation, even personnel — the workforce was alleged to play, and it is a truthful guess Armas’s fingers have been tied, to a level.
And that is by the use of saying we do not truly know what his most popular formation or tactical strategy is. However on condition that many of the essential items of a workforce that completed second within the Supporters’ Defend race final 12 months appear to be they will be again, I might hope in some unspecified time in the future within the interview course of Armas mentioned “yeah, it’ll be a fairly straight-forward 4-2-3-1 that is heavy on possession. And typically we’ll go to a 4-4-2 with Jozy and Ayo up prime as an alternative.”
What’s Subsequent: Effectively, Jozy Altidore did not get the transfer he’d apparently been angling for, however I would not be stunned if there was one thing coming. Whether or not he is there or not, although, I do assume it is an open competitors between Jozy and Ayo Akinola for the beginning No. 9 job, and my cash’s on the child. Jozy nonetheless has flashes, however spent most of 2019 injured and most of 2020 wanting like he did not have any legs left.
The opposite place to look is left again the place, as of now, Justin Morrow is unsigned and the presumptive starter is late first-round choose Matt Di Rosa. I like Di Rosa, who clearly has the expertise to turn into an MLS starter. I am simply unsure he has the expertise to turn into a Day 1 starter for a workforce with trophy ambitions.
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