The St. Louis City paradox: Fans revolt during record-breaking unbeaten streak

Analysis

Tom Weber | Writer

St. Louis City are in the midst of an amazing run of form, but the fans could hardly be less thrilled with the current state of the club.

2026 is shaping up to be a very strange year for the Missouri franchise. On the pitch, things are now going swimmingly for first-year head coach Yoann Damet after a difficult start.

Having only won one of their first 10 games of the MLS season, City are now on a run of 11 unbeaten matches - the longest streak of the year so far - going back to early May. They are also through to the US Open Cup semi-finals.

Damet has instilled a clear idea of how he wants his team to play, and his players look increasingly comfortable executing his tactical philosophy. The one glaring weakness is that City lack a clinical No.9.

Simon Becher has led the line for them this season, and while he is the best possible stylistic fit for Dametball, he has only scored five goals. It is no surprise that St. Louis attempted to sign Hugo Cuypers when he requested to be sold by the Chicago Fire.

St. Louis fans fume despite great results

However, with a week to go in the secondary transfer window, City are still without a marquee centre-forward. Cuypers chose Monterrey over St. Louis, and it is not really clear who is being targeted as an adequate alternative.

There is a consensus that a DP-level striker should - and likely will be - signed before the deadline, but the club's supporters are far from happy with how this window has turned out.

Despite the great run of form and the fact that City are on course to finish in the playoffs for the first time since their 2023 expansion season, the fans are in open revolt against the front office because two of the club's best and most popular players have jumped ship.

Marcel Hartel, the team's most creative and reliable attacker, requested to return to Germany for personal reasons just when things really began to click, and now talismanic midfielder Eduard Lowen is also on the way out.

The latter's connection with City runs deep. The second DP in club history, Lowen has endured great hardship during his time in Missouri as his wife, Ilona, passed away earlier this year after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.

According to The Athletic, Lowen wanted to stay with St. Louis, but when he approached the club over a new contract, he was told that no such deal would be forthcoming this summer.

Keen to have clarity on his long-term future, the 29-year-old requested to be allowed to speak with other clubs, and he is now set to be traded to the San Jose Earthquakes.

It is a testament to Damet and his coaching that City have managed to navigate a period of huge upheaval with minimal disruption on the pitch. However, for many supporters, the Lowen news was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Of course, his departure gives the club more roster flexibility as it frees up a DP spot, but until a new signing is actually in the building, fans will remain sceptical over the front office's ability to adequately strengthen the team given how sluggish it has been this summer.

Carlo Holse has joined as a DP from Samsunspor, but he is set to replace Hartel as the main creative outlet; he is not the high-level No.9 the supporters are crying out for.

This frustration from the fans dates back to the offseason, when Joao Klauss was traded to the LA Galaxy, and the club's only replacement was Sergio Cordova on a short-term loan. He is now playing in the second division in Turkey for a team called Batman Petrol!

Meanwhile, Missouri-native Josh Sargent, a dream signing for many, was allowed to join Toronto - although, given his cost and performances so far, that was probably a bullet dodged in hindsight.

It will be fascinating to see what St. Louis do in the final days of the window. Although results suggest that they should be fine without major reinforcements, not signing a high-level striker would be a missed opportunity supporters won't tolerate.