The much anticipated end of the year award show, including our votes for MVP, Dad of the Year, Meme of the Year, Best USMNT Twitter Account & Top 10 Moments of the Year. But first... November's games against Trinidad & Tobago, including a moment of insanity from Serginio Dest (0:00) Evaluating 2023 (20:50) Looking back at our 2023 Wishlists (27:15) The Crashey Awards! (34:00) Top 10 Moments of the Year (49:40)
Christian and Max break down the main talking points from the USMNT October window, which included a disappointing 3-1 loss to Germany and a dominant 4-0 display over Ghana.
Christian and Max break down the amazing performance from Americans abroad heading into October camp before previewing the international break against Germany and Ghana.
On our one year anniversary episode, our full three man crew gets together to delve out our hottest takes on the USMNT. Is Mexico the world's most disappointing international soccer program? Can the team command the eyes of the nation without a true superstar? Listen to hear us declare the temperature on these takes. We also dive into the USMNT's two September friendlies, a disappointing 3-0 vs Uzbekistan and a 4-0 thumping of Oman.
HERE WE GO! This edition of the American Soccer Crash Course podcast evaluates the summer transfers completed by key players of the USMNT. After giving the best, worst and riskiest awards, Christian and Lodge jump into all transfers, rumors and sagas over the past couple months. Following letter grades for all moves and non-moves, the episode is concluded by giving a recap of the US Women National Team’s World Cup run, and some closing thoughts. Casuals Wanted, Casuals Encouraged.
Christian and Max break down the dominant display from the USMNT to beat Canada and win the Nations League. We also come back to last week's Mexico drubbing and Max's take on the hiring of Coach Gregg Berhalter. In the Episode: -The Balogun Effect -What can Gregg learn from these games? -The Form Fallacy -Has Gio mandated a change in the MMA midfield? -Asking questions of the USSF process Live on Youtube, Spotify and Apple. We appreciate any likes, ratings and subscriptions as we look to grow the podcast!
Reaction to a crazy few hours in American soccer.
Christian and Lodge are back for another episode! Chicago USMNT Tailgate Announcement! (0:00) We give our first word on Messi's move to Inter Miami in the MLS. (2:30) In Christian's Super Bowl, we review the club season for the core of the USMNT. (9:30) Finally, we preview the upcoming USA v Mexico Nations League Semifinal. (56:00)
Lodge Dils and Christian Lee break down the latest on the USMNT. Introduction (0:00) Balogun’s Recruiting Trip (3:00) USMNT Advance in Nations League (15:50) Reyna-Berhalter Investigation (27:20) Coaching Candidates (34:00) Monday Morning Centerback Draft (36:55)
Our full crew is here to break down the latest USMNT news. But first… 🚨Show announcement🚨(0:00) January USMNT Friendlies (4:00) USA Hosting Copa America (8:15) US Soccer Leadership Changes (15:45) USMNT Coaching Search (23:00) Gio Reyna Sends a Message (30:00) Winter Transfer Window Winners & Losers (36:00)
Emergency Pod to Discuss the Breaking Developments Surrounding the Reyna-Berhalter Family Feud. On Wednesday 1/4, parents of USMNT star Gio Reyna admitted to bringing up a 30 year old sexual assault incident involving coach Gregg Berhalter and his wife to US Soccer, while allegations of additional threats from the Reyna family were reported but staunchly denied by the Reynas. We go over the entire timeline and attempt to fill in the blanks. Gio Reyna Controversy Refresher (0:00) US Soccer + Gregg Berhalter Statements (6:35) Family Ties (14:40) Claudio Reyna Allegations (18:30) Danielle Reyna Leaks Assault Story (25:15) Conclusions (36:50)
Timeline Watch Parties (1:20) Netherlands Game Recap (3:35) Jesus Ferreira Starts? (15:30) Berhalter out (17:15) Second Half (22:25) Were the USA gassed from the Iran game? (27:45) Our USMNT Holiday Wishlist (29:35) In the final episode of the year, Christian Lee, Lodge Dils and Max Heath put a bow on the World Cup for the USMNT. We discuss the Netherlands loss and whether Gregg Berhalter should continue as manager before diving into our holiday wishlist. The boys give their opinions on what needs to happen for the USMNT to take the next step: including a potential solution to the striker problem, a brash proclamation on Gio Reyna and a suggestion for getting our players at the highest level.
Lodge and Christian preview the round of 16 tie against the Netherlands. The boys utilize the fan mailbag to drive discussion, talking about the Netherlands biggest players/threats, how they have fared so far and why this is a winnable contest for the USMNT. Then, personnel decisions come into play against the size and power of the Dutch, before a quick debate on the GOAT of the USMNT. Finally, we touch on the massive game this is for USMNT player and Netherlands native Serginio Dest.
Our Reaction to USA beating Iran 1 - 0 at the World Cuo to advance to the Knockout Rounds.
Christian and Carter Sperry recap the most viewed men’s soccer game in American history, the scoreless draw v England. The boys discuses the cultural significance of the game, how the US played and the alleged drama surrounding star Gio Reyna. Then, we preview the must win game vs Iran including the fireworks that have already transpired pregame.
We are sad. Reaction to the USMNT’s gut wrenching draw v Wales. Timeline Immediate feelings & headlines (0:00) Lineups thoughts (6:15) First half (8:25) Second half (15:00) Substitutions (20:00) No Gio???? (28:00) Player Ratings (31:20) USA v England Preview (41:30) Group B Permutations (43:45)
Timeline: Introductions (0:00) Main Man: Yunus Musah (3:00) Dual Nationals & Recruiting (6:00) The Breakout Player’s Stage (12:05) Group A-D (17:35) Group E-H (22:25) Group of Death & Weakest Group (27:00) Knockout Round (30:30) Sleepers & Futures Picks (36:00) The final episode of the Crash Course. We will be doing USA game recaps, but school is out! Christian Lee, Lodge Dils and Max Heath are once again joined by casual fan Michael Sturm. We start by introducing the last piece of the puzzle for the USA: projected World Cup breakout star Yunus Musah. The boys about Yunus’ decision to pick the USA over his other options, the important role of dual nationals in this team, and Gregg Berhalter’s strength in recruiting. Next, the crew discusses World Cup breakout stars of the past, and why Musah is considered a candidate. (Watch on YouTube for best quality) For the good stuff, World Cup brackets are filled out, picking each individual group as well as the group of death and weakest group. Finally, the knockout rounds are chosen to determine a champion of the world.
Timeline Introductions (0:00) Who are the odd men out v Wales? (2:55) Tim Weah (5:30) Gio Reyna (9:05) Brendan Aaronson (15:15) USA v Wales Lineups (19:00) Wales Overview (25:00) England Overview (29:45) Iran Overview (34:50) Group Standing Predictions (39:00) The Producer’s Shock Prediction (41:00) After an 8.5 year wait, we are oh so close! Casual fan Michael Sturm joins the full crew: Lodge Dils, Max Heath and Christian Lee. The USA open their World Cup against Wales on Monday. We start by discussing the “odd men out”: Which two talented attackers will be benched in the fight for the last starting spot? The crew then gives our finalized lineups from top to bottom, with Max breaking out an unconventional approach. The boys then outline the three other adversaries in the group: Wales, England and Iran, talking about their best players, play styles and big storylines. The final group predictions are made. Lastly, the producer squeezes in for his take, which includes a shock twist pick to advance.
Timeline Introductions & Agenda (0:00) Carter’s Arsenal 5 minutes of fame (4:50) Brief History of USMNT (5:35) Vocab: New England Slang (16:15) The 2018 Qualifying Disaster (23:40) Matt Turner Feature (27:30) The Main Man: Goalie Matt Turner (29:15) USMNT GK Position Battle (38:00) The Play Style Debate (39:45) Turner’s Hedge: Arsenal FC (43:00) Christian Lee and Lodge Dils are joined by Arsenal superfan and USMNT casual Carter Spearry. Carter talks about his love for the game stemming from watching the 2010 World Cup, which led him to eventually calling Lodge’s soccer games in high school. We go over a brief history of the USMNT @ World Cups. With Carter being a Boston College grad and our main man Matt Turner playing for New England, we grill Carter on New England vocab in an entertaining segment. We gloss over the disaster of 2018 before diving into our main man. Carter deep dives into the career of USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner, who he refers to as the most relatable man at the World Cup. Our discussion highlights the position battle that went on, namely the downfall of Zach Steffen.
Timeline Introductions (0:00) Main man: Walker Zimmerman (2:15) Connor’s pro soccer dreams (7:00) Zimmerman’s USMNT rise (10:50) Connor’s favorite soccer cultures (14:00) Zimmerman’s performance (16:30) American soccer update (19:45) Rapid Fire British Vocab (27:00) The big thing: The Implications of a Qatar World Cup (32:00) Christian Lee and Lodge Dils are joined by casual fan Connor Wilson, the man aspiring to be MLS’s first player-owner. The boys talk about the career of Walker Zimmerman, divulge into Connor’s favorite soccer cultures, and why a strong performance for Zimmerman would be big for the perception of MLS. The show dips into an update on American soccer before Connor gets grilled on British sayings. Finally, we need to talk about Qatar, and the implications its timing has on the players. Namely, we debate what is preferable: the rust of MLS guys or the fatigue of the European based players.