Not to jinx it, but we’re on the verge of mid-year transaction season in the USL. This week alone, Birmingham added heft in the central midfield and Charleston cleared out two roster spots by sending players to League One. It’s natural to see teams hit the market as spring creeps toward summer; the playoff race is starting to calcify, and club-by-club needs are becoming more obvious.
We’ll see what’s in store in the months to come in a transfer sense, but Week 11 was defined by plenty of action on the pitch. All 24 USL Championship clubs hit the field, but who did the most to improve their fortunes? Let’s dig in.
1. Charleston Battery
Trending: No change
Result: 4-0 win v. San Antonio
When Houssou Landry debuted at fullback earlier this spring, it felt like a tourniquet to stop the bleeding from defensive injuries. Fast forward to mid-May, and Houssou has scored excellent overlapping goals, turned in consistent defensive pertinence, and impressed to the degree that Charleston sold Josh Drack – one of only two true left backs on the roster – on Friday.
The Ivorian held down the right side this weekend, facing down a San Antonio team with plenty of midfield chutzpah. With the guests essentially matching the Battery’s defensive 4-4-2 but allowing star Jorge Hernandez to cut between the lines and Jake LaCava (an ex-Battery player) to hug the sideline, Houssou barely broke a sweat.
