The Crewcible

S1 E33 Tim Bezbatchenko, President of Global Soccer for Haslam Sports Group -- owners of the Columbus Crew and an NWSL expansion team due to come on line in 2028, joins host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com for an in-depth conversation. Subjects: Bez's return from Europe and the lure of coming back home; his duties in his new job; the allure of building a women's pro team from scratch; his thoughts on how the Crew's near-miraculous push from last place to a postseason berth ... and more, including his favorite East Side dives. #crew96 #mls #nwsl #mlsplayoffs I know, too much backlighting, but the audio isn't awful.

S1 E32 Neil Sika, the Costas of Columbus, rejoins host Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com for another spirited conversation. The Columbus Crew, winners of six of their previous seven league games, have climbed from last place in the Eastern Conference into a post-season play-in spot. What's working now? Can they keep this heater going over the last two games of the regular season? Is Saturday's match against lowly D.C. United a classic trap game? Sika is always knowledgable, opinionated and game. Tune in and join us. #crew96 #mls #mlsplayoffs #decisionday #disrespectedmedia

S1 E31 As Columbus Crew historian Steve Sirk says: Only a loss due to food poisoning is worse than a loss on penalty kicks. The Crew lost on kicks to visiting St. Louis City in the U.S. Open Cup final Wednesday night. They've got to turn right around and face Toronto in CBus on Saturday afternoon, and a victory is critical to the Black & Gold's hopes of a playoff berth. Morgan Hughes of SupporterSupply.co returns to talk about the stretch run, and much more, with host Michael Arace of TheDisrespected.com. #crew96 #stlouiscitysc #torontofc #usopencup #mls

S1 E30 The Armchair Analyst, Matthew Doyle -- formerly of mlssoccer.com, now of TacticsFreeZone.com and the Soccerwise podcast network -- returns to The Crewcible and swathes himself in further glory. He and host Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com wind through the most recent USMNT camp, wonder aloud about the future of 20-year-old Crew midfielder Taha Habroune, and look ahead to the U.S. Open Cup final -- Crew vs. St. Louis City in Columbus on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Among other things. A stroke ambulance drives by. Good stuff here. #crew96 #stlouiscity #mls #usopencup #disrespectedmedia.

A Crewcible extra: Columbus Crew attacking midfielder Santi Rodriguez sits for a conversation with Michael Arace of thedisrespected.com. In the Crew's Sept. 27 game vs. Inter Miami, Rodriguez was repeatedly fouled by Lionel Messi, the two had words -- and a bit later, Messi stomped his cleat on the top of Rodriguez's foot. Rodriguez talks about this series of events. He also holds forth on building chemistry with the Crew, the desperate push for a playoff they face and the passion for soccer in his native Uruguay.