Tag Archives: NYRB

2019 MLS Playoffs!

October 22, 2019PodcastAdrian Heath, Atlanta, Atlanta United, Bracket, Bracket Challenge, Chicago, Chicago Fire, Chicago Red Stars, Courage, Dallas, DC, DC United, DCU, DOOP, Expansion, FC Dallas, FCD, Galaxy, Giovanni Savarese, Heath, Ibra, Ibrahimovic, Kerr, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Loons, Major League Soccer, Minnesota, Minnesota United, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs, MNUFC, NC Courage, New York Red Bulls, North Carolina Courage, NWSL, NYCFC, NYRB, Philadelphia, Playoffs, Portland, Portland Timbers, Quakes, Quakes74, RBNY, Real Salt Lake, Red Bulls, Red Bulls New York, Red Stars, RSL, Sacramento, Sacramento Republic, San Jose, Savarese, Seattle, Seattle Sounders, Sounders, TFC, Timbers, Toronto, Toronto FC, Union, USL, Wondo, Wondolowski, Zlatan, Zlatan Ibrahimovicsonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:29 — 54.3MB)

The playoffs are here, and the Sons of a Pitch: An American Soccer Podcast has them covered! Tune in for all the action as the MLS is rewarded for their change to a one-and-done playoff format. There were 90+ minutes of exciting soccer in each and every one of the six matches played, and fans in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference were treated to great atmospheres in the stands and play on the pitch. Home teams won five of the six 1st round games, with the Galaxy winning on the road to set up El Trafico: Playoff Edition.

Our hosts also discuss the headlines from around the American soccer landscape, including:

Expansion announcement: Sacramento Republic to become 29th league franchise
NWSL Update: Chicago Red Stars to take on North Carolina Courage in finals
Philadelphia Union make history with 1st playoff win…DOOP, DOOP, DOOP!
Wondo signs a 1yr contract with San Jose Earthquakes

Thanks for listening, and be sure to join the conversation:

MLS Week 2 Roundup and CCL Woes

March 12, 2019PodcastAtlanta United, CCL, Columbus Crew, CONCACAF, Concacaf Champions League, DC United, Gio dos Santos, LAFC, Major League Soccer, MLS, Monterrey, New York, NYRB, RBNY, Red Bulls New York, Santos Laguna, Tigres, Week 2, Zardessonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:39 — 53.0MB)

Hello soccer fans, and welcome back to the Sons of a Pitch: An American Soccer Podcast! Major League Soccer is in full swing as Week 2 of league play is in the books. We saw the rise of LAFC and MNUFC in the West, and the continued solid play of DC United and Columbus in the East. There are still questions around Atlanta United and LA Galaxy, but thankfully for them, the season is young.

Here are a few hot takes from tonight’s episode:

Paunovic and the Fire make the same coaching mistakes every game
Gyasi Zardes is the best American striker in MLS
Atlanta fans need to chill
MNUFC is a lock to make the playoffs
Sporting KC will win a trophy this season

We next turn to Concacaf Champions League, where the MLS teams have fallen far behind their Liga MX counterparts. Red Bulls have been eliminated after what may have been the worst 9 minutes of soccer in the tournament’s history, giving up 4 goals between the 72′ and 81′ to Santos Laguna. Houston needs a miracle to advance past Tigres, already down 2-0 and with only the 2H to play (at time of posting). Atlanta is down 3-0 to Monterrey, but returns to Mercedes-Benz Stadium where the Five Stripes pulled off a first-round comeback against Herediano. Is there more magic to be had? The MLS’ best hope for a deep run in CCL is now Sporting KC, who are down 2-1 but return home against Independiente.

While Nick’s pick (RBNY) to win it all has been eliminated, and things look bleak for the remainder of the league’s teams, the talent gap between MLS and Liga MX is slowly shrinking. But for about 10-15 minutes of each game, MLS teams have gone toe-to-toe with their Mexican counterparts, even dominating at times. But as we all know, moral victories count for nothing, and results are all that matter.

What are your thoughts on Week 2? What can MLS teams do to catch up with Liga MX? Tweet at us or leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks for listening!

Nani, Nagbe, & Long – Jersey Fashion – CCL Preview and Picks

February 19, 2019PodcastAaron Long, Atlanta United, CCL, Champions League, CONCACAF, Concacaf Champions League, Darlington Nagbe, Dwyer, Dynamo, Galaxy, Houston, Houston Dynamo, Independiente, Jerseys, Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Liga MX, Long, Los Angeles, Major League Soccer, MLS, Nagbe, Nani, New York, New York Red Bulls, NYRB, Orlando, Orlando City, Orlando City SC, RBNY, Red Bulls, Red Bulls New York, Soccer, Sporting KC, TFC, Toronto, Toronto FCsonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:43 — 45.2MB)

Welcome back soccer fans! The terrible, winter weather has held off just long enough for our hosts to get back to the studio and give you a full length episode of analysis and entertainment.

To begin, Nick and Mike break down Orlando City’s latest Designated Player (DP) signing in Nani. The Portugese international and former Manchester United star may be 32 years old, but can bring a certain quality to the Orlando roster. Look for him to work the wing, creating opportunities for Dwyer and get the rest of the Orlando squad involved in the attack. Next, Mike gives his take on Darlington Nagbe wanting a trade to reunite with Caleb Porter in Columbus. Mike calls Nagbe overrated, and Nick doesn’t disagree. Finally, Aaron Long signs a three year deal with Red Bulls New York, who now can focus on rebuilding their attack after locking down the 2018 MLS Defender of the Year

To lighten the mood, the hosts take a look at the new jerseys released by MLS teams this year. The LA Galaxy disappoint, expansion side FC Cincinnati start off solid, and Minnesota United’s away jersey has a classic look. Also, Toronto FC’s new red, home jersey looks just as terrible as they played in their CCL opener.

Speaking of the Concacaf Champions League, TFC and Independiente kicked things off with a 4-0 result in favor of the Panamania home side. Nick appreciated a home team playing aggressively while Mike could barely stand to watch his beloved Reds play like garbage. TFC had no structure, formation, or attacking threat, but at least they can now focus on the regular season. The other MLS teams should fare a better fate with Houston, Red Bulls, Sporting KC, and Atlanta all the favorites to win their first round matchup. In a bold prediction, Nick picks RBNY to win the tournament, while Mike thinks that Liga MX teams will dominate and have all four semi-final spots.

What are your thoughts on the transfer news around Major League Soccer? Who’s your pick to win the CCL? Let us know on twitter @SOPSoccer and in the comment section below. Thanks for listening, and enjoy all the soccer action this week.

MLS Headlines and Conference Championship Leg 1 Recap

November 27, 2018PodcastAdi, Atlanta, Atlanta United, Berhalter, Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, Conference Championships, Crew SC, El Tri, Fanenco Adi, FC Cincinnati, FCC, Five Stripes, ForGloryForCity, Gregg Berhalter, Kansas City, LAFC, Loons, Major League Soccer, Manchester City, Mexico, Minnesota, Minnesota United FC, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs, MNUFC, New York, New York Red Bulls, NYRB, Oscar Pareja, Playoffs, Portland, Portland Timbers, RBNY, RCTID, Red Bulls New York, SKC, Soccer, Sporting Kansas City, Sporting KC, Steffen, Tata, Tata Martino, TFC, Timbers, USMNT, Zack Steffensonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:49 — 48.1MB)

Welcome, soccer fans, and thanks for listening to the Sons of a Pitch Podcast!

In this episode we bring you all the latest headlines around Major League Soccer (MLS), including:

Zack Steffen’s transfer to Manchester City: what it means for him, the USMNT, and the league
Coaching moves: Pareja to Tijuana, Berhalter to USMNT, Tata to El Tri – Is this the next phase of the league growth?
Player options exercised: Urena out at LAFC, Ricketts out at TFC, Quioto in at Houston, Abubaker in at Columbus – what it means for the teams
FC Cincinnati not signing 3rd Designated Player (DP) – Is Fanendo Adi enough? Is this the way to build a team?

Mike and Nick also recap Leg 1 of the Conference Championships

Portland Timbers 0 – 0 Sporting KC: Who feels better going into Leg 2? Timbers just need a goal and a draw, but SKC is much better offensively at home.
Atlanta United 3 – 0 Red Bulls New York: Is there any hope for RBNY? What happened on the disallowed goal?

Shout out to Mark Fangmeier, HeathOut, and David Sterling for providing great MNUFC fan insight. And condolences to our resident Red Bulls fan Stephen J. Phillips. Someone please hide the sharp objects from him.

MLS Conference Semi-Finals Recap

November 12, 2018PodcastAsprilla, Atlanta, Atlanta United, ATLUTD, Attinella, Blanco, Columbus, Columbus Crew, Crew, Crew SC, Eastern Conference, Josef, Josef Martinez, Kansas City, Major League Soccer, Martinez, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs, MLS Playoff, New York, New York City, New York Red Bulls, NYCFC, NYRB, Portland, Portland Timbers, RBNY, Real Salt Lake, Red Bulls, Red Bulls New York, RSL, Seattle, Seattle Sounders, SKC, Sounders, Sporting Kansas City, Sporting KC, Timbers, Western Conferencesonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:32 — 43.4MB)

Hello fans of Major League Soccer, and welcome to another episode of Sons of a Pitch Soccer Podcast!

Tonight, the hosts recap the conference semi-finals of the Major League Soccer Playoffs.

Portland and Seattle gave us another chapter in the Cascadia rivalry and an instant MLS Playoff classic. Did anyone think that Dairon Asprilla would be the deciding factor?
Sporting KC showed up against Real Salt Lake and confirmed why they were the best in the West. Has SKC’s offense proven the deciding factor in the playoffs so far?
Red Bulls New York ended Columbus Crew’s dream season. No one could #SavetheCrew from the high press. Can RBNY finally capture that elusive cup victory?
Josef Martinez regained his Golden Boot form as he and Atlanta United eliminated NYCFC. How will he fare against Red Bulls pressure and their ability to smother the best players on opposing teams?

Looking forward, Nick and Mike stick to their pick of SKC winning the MLS Cup. Nick has them defeating RBNY, while Mike sees Atlanta United advancing out of the East. What are your thoughts on the playoffs so far? Is your pick to win still alive? Follow us @SOPSoccer or email us at podcast@sonsofapitchsoccer.com.

MLS Playoff Predictions In Review

October 28, 2018Blog PostEastern Conference, Kansas City, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Playoffs, New York Red Bulls, NYRB, Playoffs, Predictions, RBNY, Red Bulls, SKC, Sporting Kansas City, Sporting KC, Supporters' Shield, Western Conferencesonsofapitch

Now that #DecisionDay has come and gone, we look back on our pre-season playoff predictions and whether our picks had a penchant towards perfection. (Ok, enough with the alliteration.)

So, how did we do? In the Eastern Conference, we successfully predicted 3 of 6 playoff teams. Who knew Chicago and Orlando City would be historically bad? In the Western Conference, Nick picked 5/6 teams, while Mike picked 4/6. Nick got the wrong LA team, and Mike put his faith in Vancouver. (Serves him right as a TFC fan.) Our picks are in the table below. Continue reading MLS Playoff Predictions In Review →

Ep. 33 – MLS Week 28 Recap: TFC, Playoff Positioning, and ‘Quakes Coach

September 18, 2018PodcastAtlanta, Atlanta United, Campeones Cup, CCL, Columbus, Columbus Crew, Concacag, Crew, DC United, Earthquakes, Eastern Conference, Liga MX, Major League Soccer, Mexico, MLS, New York, NYCFC, NYRB, Playoffs, San Jose, SJ, SKC, Sporting Kansas City, Sporting KC, Stahre, TFC, Tigres, Toronto, Toronto FC, Western Conferencesonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:05 — 43.8MB)

Hello soccer fans, and welcome back to Sons of a Pitch!

We thank you for listening, and we are happy to present our Week 28 Major League Soccer recap. In what was one of the highest scoring weeks in MLS history, very little change occurred regarding playoff positioning. Atlanta, Red Bulls, and NYCFC remain solidly atop the East, while Sporting KC, FC Dallas, and LAFC still control the West. Can DC United, Vancouver, and the LA Galaxy make a push? Tune in for the hosts’ analysis.

Also, Toronto FC host Liga MX powerhouse Tigres in the inaugural Campeones Cup, the matchup between the defending MLS champions and the reigning Mexican club. These two teams have some recent history from the Concacaf Champions League, and both will be eager to add a trophy during their less than stellar seasons. Nick and Mike expect a high scoring affair, with both teams looking to play up-tempo. What do you expect to see?

Finally, San Jose has fired their coach … a move we all knew was coming. The future of the club is at stake, but will anything change without a revamped roster?

Thanks for listening, and join the conversation in the comments below.

Ep. 30 – Week 27 MLS Recap: Trouble atop the East, RSL is Scoring, the Galaxy keep Spiraling

September 4, 2018PodcastATL, Atlanta United, Bingham, Columbus Crew, David Bingham, Gyasi Zardes, Kamara, Kreilach, LA Galaxy, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS, MLS Cup, MLS Playoffs, New York, New York City, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, NYCFC, NYRB, Ola Kamara, Petke, Plata, RBNY, Real Salt Lake, RSL, Rusnak, Zardessonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:26 — 38.4MB)

Welcome back, soccer fans!

In this episode, we review all the scores and highlights from Week 27 of Major League Soccer. Notably, the top three teams from the Eastern Conference (New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United, and New York City FC) all suffered losses. Should the teams be worried as they head for the playoffs, or is this an opportunity for them to re-focus and finish the season strong?

Meanwhile out West, Real Salt Lake continues its scoring blitz, defeating the LA Galaxy 6-2. The hosts talk in depth about RSL’s scoring pair of Rusnak and Kreilach, the strong wing play of Plata, and the confidence of Coach Petke. If RSL can keep scoring, the hosts know they can keep winning. In fact, when scoring 2 goals, RSL has 11W, 1L, and 1D. When scoring 1 or less goals, they fall to 2W, 9L, 4D.

Finally, the hosts take a hard look at the LA Galaxy and come to some hard truths: the Dos Santos brothers were a flop, David Bingham is an average goalie at best with a defense that continually lets him down, and Sigi Schmid might have to hang up his whistle. But at least they have Zlatan, right … ?

Let us know your thoughts on all things MLS in the comments below, or find us on twitter @SOPSoccer. Thanks for listening!

Ep. 29 – MLS Week 26 Recap, Jozy’s Suspension, and SKC is Rolling

August 28, 2018PodcastEastern Conference, Kansas City, LAFC, Major League Soccer, Martinez, Melia, MLS, New York is Purple, NYCFC, NYRB, Playoffs, Podcast, Red Bulls, Rivalry Week, Savarese, SKC, Sporting Kansas City, TFC, Timbers, Toronto FC, Western Conferencesonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:07 — 40.0MB)

Welcome back to the Sons of a Pitch!

In this episode, the hosts break down Rivalry Week matchups from Major League Soccer and how they impacted the playoff race. New York went purple, TFC got back to scoring, and Seattle has pulled themselves up from the basement and become the West’s hottest team. SKC similarly has gone on a 4 game unbeaten streak, without conceding a goal during that time. (Another Goalkeeper of the Year trophy for Tim Melia?)

Mike gives you his candid thoughts on Jozy Altidore’s additional game suspension handed out by the Disciplinary Committee. Specifically, how the timing and consistency of the decision are sparking conspiracy theories. Finally, LAFC stalwart and Belgian international Laurent Ciman has been transferred to French Ligue 1 team Dijon FCO for a cool $500,000 fee. How will LAFC respond? Tune in to find out!

Ep. 22 – MLS Week 20 Recap: Trends, Officiating, and the Portland Timbers

July 18, 2018PodcastAtlanta, Atlanta United, Chicago, Columbus, Eastern Conference, Five Stripes, Geiger, LAFC, Major League Soccer, Martinez, MLS, NYCFC, NYRB, Officials, Officiating, Podcast, Portland, Portland Timbers, PRO, PRO Referees, Red Bulls, SKC, Sporting Kansas City, TFC, Timbers, Toronto, Toronto FC, Toronto Maple Leafs, US Open Cup, VAR, Western Conference, World Cupsonsofapitch

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:33 — 41.1MB)

The new show format continues! More content, more discussion, more analysis … and more mispronouncing of player names.

The hosts recap the results from Week 20 of Major League Soccer, where Columbus and Kansas City keep losing, the Red Bulls beat another good team, and D.C. United unveil their new stadium and new hit signing, Wayne Rooney. RSL Coach Petke goes on another rant, but the hosts think he’s justified and makes some good points about the referees in the league.

Speaking of officiating…
Nick and Mike also attempt to solve the officiating crisis, offer some advice to PRO Referees, and break down their interpretation of “what is a hand ball?” Nick explains why the Portland Timbers are a legitimate contender for the MLS Cup – they just signed another young Argentine! He also gets worried about Atlanta United after their recent slide (.500 over last 5 games), but Mike reassures him that the Five Stripes are still the favorite to win the Eastern Conference and the MLS Cup (and maybe even the Supporters’ Shield).

Mike, such a good co-host, calming things down, keeping Nick grounded.