Three Questions for the Republic 2026 Season

With the 2026 season fast approaching (assuming it starts as scheduled), I take a look at the questions surrounding the Republic. There has been plenty of roster turnover in the offseason and Neill Collins will be in his second year in charge, what do the Republic need to answer in year two of this project? These are the on-field questions I hope the team will answer over the course of the season,

Will the Republic have a dependable attack?

Now, the main question heading into this offseason was the Republic attack and what Neill Collins would need to do to revamp it. The Republic weren't short of creativity last season. You have Jack Gurr whipping balls into the box from out wide. But the question was who would be able to convert those chances. Well, Neill Collins opted for a complete overhaul to try and answer that question. The only returning forward from last season is Da'vian Kimborugh. And now Collins has brought in Mayele Malango, Forster Ajago, and Kyle Edwards. Is this going to be enough to carry the Republic forward? Based on the preseason friendly against San Jose Earthquakes II, possibly. Malango got a hat trick in that game, but how much of that is the Republic attack clicking or the quality of the opponent not being at the same level? The three signings are all experienced goal scorers in the USL Championship. And both Edwards and Ajago were the leading goal scorers for each of their respective clubs last season. 

Who will stand out among a crowded field of midfielders?

And to a lesser extent, what system will Neill Collins set them up in? It is a crowded field in the midfield position. And with the amount of talent, what formation will Neill Collins use to get the best out of this group? I said on the State of the Republic podcast that this might be the most talented group on paper, based on the accolades and achievements in their careers. And I'm expecting at least a change from last year's system. Whether Neill Collins chooses three midfielders or four midfielders will be answered on opening night. You have defensive midfielders in Danny Crisostomo and Aaron Essel. And then you have creative talent with Mark-Anthony Kaye and Arturo Rodriguez. Plus, Memo Rodriguez, Blake Willey, Pep Casas, and Pierre Reedy will all have their own ways to make a mark on the game. This is a group of players where Blake Willey is the only returning player from last year's roster. So, there is a lot of turnover, and the players only get one offseason to get to know each other before they get tested on opening night. I believe it will come down to who can gel the best with those around them while still understanding their role. If a player can build chemistry and understand teammates' tendencies, in a position where that is of the utmost importance, they will make a case for the starting nod. I wouldn't be surprised to see a healthy rotation of players in the starting lineup as the season progresses and as Neill Collins figures out the best group to start. But anyone can make a case as to why they should be a starter.

Can the Republic finally end the drought and bring home a trophy?

We've seen plenty of talented squads come close. We've seen squads get knocked out early in the playoffs. We've seen seasons where "this might be our season" was floated. But no roster has been able to replicate what was done in the debut season back in 2014. And since then, Sacramento has built itself as one of the premier teams in the USL Championship year in and year out. Will this be the roster to bring back a trophy to Sacramento? The team got so close in 2022 with the Open Cup run. And again, last season, making it to the USL Cup championship. The franchise is hungry for another title. And the fans are even hungrier. Sacramento has had plenty of great regular seasons, including a couple of times they entered the playoffs as a top seed. And pair that with the reputation Sacramento has built for excelling in knockout competitions. And yet, the team has not been able to convert that success into trophies. Sure, there might be a case to be made that we place too much emphasis on the postseason. But in the current state of the game, postseason success is what we look back on to judge whether that was a successful season. 

What questions do you hope the Republic answers this season with their performances? Let us know!

(Photo thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)