Seriously Loco Soccer Pod

The offseason never sleeps in USL Championship, and neither do we. On this episode we catch up on everything that's gone down since the final whistle blew. We start with an offseason check-in and the looming lockout. Mostly vibes at this point, but… are we actually getting a season? Then we dive headfirst into one of the strangest managerial sagas in club history. From the club's cryptic "We Got Him" tweet, to the league accidentally dropping a "Temperature" article leaking Benny Feilhaber as the new manager, to the club doing absolutely nothing until suddenly Junior Gonzalez is announced. Oh, and Rubio Rubin too. Same day. Because why not? We break down the entire timeline, share our thoughts on how it all unfolded, and give our first impressions of Gonzalez as the new man in charge. Plus, a look at the front office shakeup with Mike DiGiulio taking over for Andrew Forrest. Finally, we dig into the roster: what Rubio Rubin brings, which players are gone, who's coming back, thoughts on Carl Sainte, and the biggest remaining needs heading into the season, assuming we get one.

El Paso Locomotive had a historic night scoring 6 goals against a Las Vegas Lights team that had 0 fight left in them with a new manager due in. Locomotive could only beat what was in front of them but it's fair to say they did not have a great opponent to match up against. A big night for Eric Calvillo with his brace and Gabi Torres continued to impress. Then there's quick discussion of Miami FC and their poor form ahead of the matchup at the Estadio de Pitbull on Saturday evening.

The crew discuss El Paso Locomotive's 2-1 home loss to San Antonio FC in the Copa Tejas. The early goal from Juan Agudelo was cancelled out by a tap in from Amando Moreno but Alex Crognale had the last laugh with a goal in the 82nd minute. The team, mentality and some early mistakes are discussed as the group discuss just what this side needs to get back to consistent winning ways.

El Paso Locomotive suffered its first loss of the season at Southwest University Park in the Jagermeister Cup against Colorado Springs Switchbacks. The 1-0 loss came courtesy of a Quenzi Huerman strike and the conversation centers around Locomotive playing a very changed lineup, how to build confidence in a fringe player, and the frustrating nature of the goal. Then the conversation shifts to the USL Championship match in Oakland against the Roots. Oakland has struggled for form but recently hired Benny Feilhaber, can the Locos make sure they don't get hit by the new manager bounce for the opposition?

Derby Delight in the US Open Cup got the mojo back on track but El Paso Locomotive were unable to get all 3 points in Colorado Springs despite playing a man up for much of the game. The crew breaks down both matches and looks ahead to a trip to Texoma in the Jagermeister Cup.

El Paso Locomotive escaped Hartford with all 3 points after a showing that was good enough if not really good. Phil and Mikka talk through the lack of overall quality, the questions of selection and the difficulty of going on the road and getting the win. Then they preview Wednesday's match against Ventura County in the US Open Cup and the return of Logan Ketterer to the SWUP on Saturday when Lexington SC comes to town.

El Paso Locomotive FC had another terrible trip up north to Albuquerque in the Derby del Camino Real. New Mexico United claimed a late win due in large part to Locomotive having a quite conservative approach that seemed to be overly deferential to United. Plus they chat the US Open Cup win over Harpos FC and the USL's recent announcement about implementing Promotion and Relegation with the launch of their first division men's league in 2028.

El Paso Locomotive have seen their fair share of crazy results at Southwest University Park but none from the comfort of a 4-1 lead and none that actually overwrote an overhead kick. Phil and Christian break down the game and all of the madness behind it. Then they look ahead to the USOC and Locomotive's search for a first win against Harpos FC of Boulder, CO and finally a look to the Derby del Camino Real in Albuquerque at the weekend. 

El Paso Locomotive earned a 2-2 draw by virtue of goals from Amando Moreno and Andy Cabrera, coming back twice to leave opening night of the USL Championship season with a point against Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Phil and Mikka discuss the reasons this draw was more encouraging than the draws last year, the mentality of the team, the function of the left side in attack and much more!

El Paso Locomotive's offseason has been unspectacular in the wake of the worst season in club history by a distance and the lack of response is concerning. The SL Crew gets together to chat about the issues around the club and the seeming lack of interest from the hierarchy to change things

Phil, Mikka and Christian are back to discuss just why they have not been recording through the back half of the season and what El Paso Locomotive should look like going forward

Roster moves kick off the agenda tonight as Mikka and Phil talk through Liam Rose's unexpected departure from the club midseason. Diego Abarca and Elijah Martin also were announced as leaving as Wilmer Cabrera continues his shake up. El Paso Locomotive failed to win at home once again in the USL Championship after Eric Calvillo's opening goal was cancelled out by Panos Armenakas' equalizer. The discussion goes to the quality of the opening goal, the inability to continue that quality and the drop off that seems to happen especially at home with the lead. Then they look ahead to Oakland and a flying Roots team who will be a big test midweek for Locomotive.

Phil and Mikka get the chance to sit down with Wilmer Cabrera who was just appointed the new Head Coach of El Paso Locomotive and got to talk about the whirlwind that brought him to town, the tough reality of the team's form and what he believes it will take to get a result against San Antonio FC and beyond. A refreshingly up front interview from a manager who has a US Open Cup among his honors. They follow that up with a discussion of Locomotive's home loss to Birmingham Legion in the USL Championship and look ahead to that SAFC match against a fellow rival also struggling for form.

Phil and Mikka get together to chat about Brian Clarhaut's abrupt end to his tenure in El Paso and they look ahead to the Wilmer Cabrera Era (say that a couple times fast.) They look at underperformance of this current squad in the USL Championship against Cabrera's seeming knack for getting a tune out of an under-resourced squad. His US Open Cup triumph, his playoff escapades, it suggests there is a man who gets the most out of his teams and Locomotive are in desperate need of inspiration ahead of a stern test away to Ben Pirmann and Nick Markanich's unbeaten Charleston Battery.

Phil and Mikka get back together and discuss what is the most difficult period in El Paso Locomotive's history. They talk about an ultimately anemic performance against FC Tulsa, the issues throughout the team in how this system works (or rather doesn't) and take a look at just how things could change.

Phil and Mikka are back to talk about everything that went down in El Paso Locomotive's 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. A good result that took a ton of work, a bit of luck and a one of the best goals you're ever likely to see from Javier Nevarez. They discuss the shape and this mysterious midfield role that 3 players have not made an impact from, the safe hands of Jahmali Waite and what that means as they look to get their first win of the USL Championship season against FC Tulsa.

Phil and Christian meet up in-person for the first live episode of Seriously Loco since 2020. They have a time talking about El Paso Locomotive's 3-2 loss to Oakland Roots in the USL Championship and just how bad the mood is in the EP camp. Goals for Amando Moreno and Justin Dhillon were not enough to stave off Niall Logue (assisted by Memo Diaz) and Johnny Rodriguez. Some discussion then about the match against Union Omaha in the US Open Cup and a brief look ahead to Tampa Bay Rowdies away.

Phil and Christian get together to talk about El Paso Locomotive's US Open Cup draw against Union Omaha in a rematch from 2023's tournament which Locomotive lost 2-0. Then it was onto Locomotive's 1-0 in the USL Championship to Las Vegas Lights and why midfield played an important part. Then it was onto the main event in previewing the Derby Del Camino Real against New Mexico where all Locomotive fans will be hoping that Amando Moreno has a big say against his former club to get Locomotive's 2024 campaign off the ground in earnest.

The gang is all here as Phil, Mikka and Christian get together to chat El Paso Locomotive's 1-0 loss to Louisville City, the challenges the team had with a lack of rotation, the Brandan Craig injury and the overall lack of cutting edge in this side. Is it a personnel issue, a tactical issue or simply an issue of time? Then they look ahead to the away match in Las Vegas against a Lights side that is just a little more serious than they were the last time these two teams met.

Phil and Mikka are back to discuss El Paso Locomotive's 1-0 Opening Night loss to Hartford Athletic. The crew discuss the new look team which saw 8 debuts, what went wrong on the night but primarily what went right. Lucas Stauffer and Bolu Akinyode in particular impressed, while it looked like Amando Moreno and Justin Dhillon were robbed of a good goal contribution by a wayward offside flag.  Then it's a look ahead to Monterey Bay as they visit Southwest University Park this Wednesday where Locomotive can bounce back with all 3 points.