Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ...

Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now returns to the show to discuss roughly 20 players in the USMNT player pool. Which MLS players have improved their stock the most in the last 4 months, why we should be weary of positional experimentation when it comes to Tyler Adams, the best interview in American soccer, the resurgence of Aron Johannsson, and much much more! Here's a rough list of the players we discussed:

• Brenden Aaronson
• Jordan Morris
• Jozy Altidore
• Ayo Akinola
• Aron Johannsson
• Josh Sargent
• John Brooks
• Tyler Adams
• Gio Reyna
• Nicholas Gioacchini
• Sergino Dest
• Weston McKennie
• Christian Pulisic
• Tim Weah
• Reginald Cannon
• Uly Llanez
• Erik Palmer-Brown
• Tyler Boyd

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On this episode of The Total Soccer Show, Ryan and Taylor go long discussing one of the wildest weekends we've had in a while. Manchester United and Liverpool combine to concede 13, Americans look strong in both the Bundesliga and La Liga, Coronavirus confusion in Serie A, and much much more!

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Paul and Sam discuss the Champions League draw and the various Americans impacted, and then move on to analyzing Paul's piece for The Athletic in which he broke down what the rosters might look like when the USA is competing on three different fronts. Who's in, who's out, and why Darlington Nagbe remains critical!

Here's a link to Paul's roster projections at The Athletic

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America's right back makes a return appearance to talk broadcasting, as well as the Bundesliga so far. What's gone wrong for Schalke and Mainz? Where will Jadon Sancho play this season? What happens when you don't get along with a new manager? Who is the most low-key exciting team to watch in the league? All that and and much much more!

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Sam Tighe of The Football Ranks podcast is back to discuss the teams that have started strongly (and why), the teams that have started poorly (and why), and elaborates on crucial aspects of football analysis like Rumblers vs Barrel Clubbers. Plus, how do you keep tabs on literally thousands of players? Sam has answers!

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Ryan and Taylor break down all the best action (that they watched) from this past weekend!

0:00 - Leicester City v Manchester City: when the 4-2-3-1 goes wrong, it goes really wrong. Also, Taylor apologizes to Leicester fans... again.

14:25 - Tottenham v Newcastle: Jose awards Man of the Match honors to "people who are not players"

27:40 - Brighton v Manchester United: Leandro Tossard finds space and Manchester United fans find more consternation.

45:31 - West Brom v Chelsea: Taylor forgets that there was VAR drama in this game, which of course there was, because it was a game that happened this weekend.

57:45 - Augsburg v Borussia Dortmund: when slow possession goes wrong.

1:05:53 - Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich: exposing premature "the season is prematurely over" takes

1:13:02 - Real Betis v Real Madrid: Karim Benzema is immortal. You heard it here first.

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Paul and Sam discuss some recent transfers out of MLS, as well as news updates on league leaders, struggling performers, and hot seat coaches.

3:26 - MLS continues to sell players, and that’s not a bad thing! Getting into the details involved in Reggie Cannon’s transfer and why the move itself makes a whole of sense. Plus, Lyle the Dog chimes in to support Sam’s arguments, and discuss Zack Steffen’s situation at Manchester City.

24:23- San Jose Earthquakes still don’t have a good enough roster, and the results are making that crystal clear. Where the gaps in their approach are most obvious, the names who should take responsibility for the state of the team, and why (according to Paul) Matías Almeyda is an evil genius.

38:10 - Additional thoughts on the season so far, including praise for Columbus’ roster build, creating Orlando City Stan accounts, Chicharito’s disappointing start, and much much more!

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Joe Lowery is back on the program to discuss an absurd number of topics, including the hireability of Ben Olsen, why LAFC have struggled to find consistency, and the tactical adjustments Oscar Pareja has made to keep Orlando City's winning ways on track. Plus, praise for the top teams in both conferences, with an eye on where some managers might need to tighten things up a bit.

The eastern conference conversation is up first, and the western conference begins around the 30:55 mark.

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Taylor talks to David Amoyal about the first week of the Serie A season, as well as the campaign ahead. Wha's gone wrong for Christian Eriksen at Inter, how Atalanta will likely be back to their winning ways, why Sassuolo are the new Atalanta, how this could be a make-or-break season for Antonio Conte, and much much more!

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Graham Ruthven makes his triumphant (I'm assuming he was feeling triumphant) return to the show to discuss all things La Liga: top four contenders, the Messi-Koeman relationship, ideal replacements for Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid (yes, this is still an issue), Real Madrid's potential depth concerns, and much much more! Plus, there's an American in La Liga, and possibly another to follow? What a strange strange world it is!

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On this Weekend Review edition of The Total Soccer Show...

0:00 - Ryan loves the Peacock app (disclaimer: the opposite of this is true)

7:07 - Chelsea v Liverpool: Kepa keeps the current keeper conflict continuing

24:34 - Manchester United v Crystal Palace: Woodward's transfer strategy (or lack thereof) comes home to roost.

41:33 - Leeds v Fulham: who needs to defend when you can just score goals on a whim?

50:17 - Southampton v Tottenham: when pressing takes a day off, Son runs rampant

59:02 - Borussia Dortmund v Borussia Monchengladbach - The four players that connected for Dortmund's three goals have a combined age of 74. 74 divided by 4 equals young.

1:06:30 - Weston McKennie starts for Juventus, and Taylor is rational and calm about the whole thing.

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We discuss the final three episodes of the Tottenham "All or Nothing" Amazon docuseries.

Episode 7: "No Regrets" AKA "Some regrets"

Episode 8: "Stop" AKA "Rise of Covid"

Episode 9: "The Run In" AKA "Let's all hurt each other!" 

Topics covered include Dele All learning to "make beans" (that one was obvious), the squad getting more physical (just ask Son), and the time period in which it was fun to make jokes about Covid. We also finally see some of the Ndombele Drama, learn that Harry Kane is accurate when it absolutely matters, and ponder Jose Mourinho conducting film sessions.

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On this week’s episode, the guys focus in on teams in the United States that have done a good job to embrace their environs and incorporate the communities in which they operate, and then take a slightly longer look at the teams that have done the opposite of that (looking strongly in your direction, DC United). 

Why aren’t MLS teams better on that front, what have been some notable missteps, and why an organized supporters group can be so important in reflecting the values of individual cities? Paul and Sam have thoughts!

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Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt fame returns to the show to discuss all things Bundesliga! Which American could be poised for his best year yet, why Hertha Berlin could be very good or very bad, and how RB Leipzig have strengthened since the departure of Timo Werner. We also discuss the coming seasons for a number of Americans, including Joe Scally, Josh Sargent, John Brooks, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna.

55:58 - We turn to our focus to Transfermarkt itself. How do they reach their valuations, why we're all sort of misunderstanding the point of those numbers, and which players have been the best/worst bargains so far this window.

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Taylor is joined by Meg Linehan of The Athletic, who answers all his many questions about the NWSL, the FA WSL, and other topics that don't have acronyms. The last segment of the show is focused on the conclusions in the Fare Report, as well as what changes it could (ideally) bring about in the US Soccer landscape. 

You can read the report for yourself over at their website

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What do you do with a documentary series that takes you (mostly) behind the scenes of a big club in the midst of a drama-filled season? Talk about it for over an hour! We go deep on Harry Kane's team talks, Mauricio Pochettino's absence, Danny Rose arguments, and much much more! Plus, what did they leave out, what was most compelling, and how Christian Eriksen might be a cold-blooded assassin in his spare time.

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You can listen to the whole thing (if you're cool) or you can cherry pick particular games with the following timestamps:

4:25 - Liverpool v Leeds: 7 goals AND The New Gareth Bale? What else do you need?

23:25 - Tottenham v Everton: Toffees look electric while Spurs look stationary

44:19 - Arsenal v Fulham: Ceballos and Nketiah show Arsenal how to scrap

59:46 - Leicester prove Taylor wrong, Newcastle prove him right, and Weston McKennie... looks good in orange?

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This week, Paul and Sam start off by discussing the firing of Chris Armas, as well as presenting theories on why the Red Bulls have whiffed on several DPs. After that, it's on to Pity Martinez's move to Saudi Arabia, plus what type of coach Atlanta (and the rest of the league) should be looking for when making their next hire.

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3:55 — Sheffield United

19:15 — Southampton

30:40 — Tottenham Hotspur

46:05 — West Bromwich Albion

57:50 — West Ham United

1:09:30 Wolverhampton Wanderers

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We continue to recommend listening to the whole episode, because there's a lot of info to digest. But if you're looking for something more bite-sized, here are you timestamps:

0:00 - Updates and corrections from the first preview episode

7:17 - Fulham

18:57 - Leeds United

33:58 - Leicester City

46:08 - Liverpool

58:16 - Manchester City

1:12:16 - Manchester United

1:24:41 - Newcastle United

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We of course recommend listening to the whole thing, but here are the time stamps if you're looking for specific teams:

From the top: We talk Leo Messi staying at Barcelona, and the Premier League's decision to go back to three subs

8:10 — Arsenal

24:15 — Aston Villa

36:55 — Brighton and Hove Albion

55:23 — Burnley

1:02:30 — Chelsea

1:20:26 — Crystal Palace

1:33:15 — Everton

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0:00 - Laptop complaints and Messi updates

And then it's on to some listener questions...

8:07 - Is Reggie Cannon’s pending move to Boavista really an upgrade from FC Dallas? Note: this one sort of turns into Taylor being terrified that global soccer will eventually be 4 people owning all the teams. 

17:41 - What are the similarities and differences between Frank Lampard's Chelsea and Gregg Berhalter's USMNT? 

24:00 - Today's show is sponsored by Hellofresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/80tss and use code 80tss to get a total of $80 off your first month, including free shipping on your first box

26:43 - What would happen if International Soccer went away? From an actual footballing standard perspective, could it help top players get more time to rest or to play in additional domestic or international club competitions?

36:50 - Has there ever been a good British television show depicting a lower league football team?

45:26 - Today's show is sponsored by Manscaped! Get 20% Off and Free Shipping with the code TSS20 at Manscaped.com.

48:10 - Do you think Jordan Morris will ever make a move to Europe?

55:48 - If Gregg Berhalter could genetically construct the ideal centerback composed entirely of traits and characteristics from current national team players, what would that combination be?

1:01:13 - Check out The Athletic's newest podcast, The Athletic Football Show.

1:01:45 - Updates to the TSS Scouting Network!

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Here are the timestamps:

0:55 — Leo Messi to Manchester City, plus other transfer updates

24:10 — What is the Thiago Turn? (See it here)

30:58 — What are the unwritten rules of soccer?

45:35 — In the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era, who has been overlooked/underappreciated?

53:10 — Could Leo Messi transition to the regista role?

1:00:25 — Is Rose Lavelle going to be able to bring her dog, Wilma, to Manchester City?

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1:46 - Gabriel Magalhaes to Arsenal, a move that has definitely probably happened.

7:05 - Liverpool make a sneaky signing Kostas Tsimikas to help spell Andy Robertson.

9:28 - Does Scott Carson going to Man City on loan (again) spell trouble for Zack Steffen?

12:10 - Weston McKennie moved to Juventus: why were Schalke okay with it and how will he fit into Juventus' plans this season?

22:03- Today's show is sponsored by The Athletic's newest football podcast, The Athletic Football Show. Give it a listen wherever you get your podcasts!

23:25 - Borussia Dortmund are quietly being very smart, as is tradition.

31:00 - Where will Donny van de Beek play for Manchester United, and why it makes sense to sign depth.

37:09 - Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake: Manchester City making smart signings is smart.

42:31 - Today's show is brought to you by Fubo! Go to Fubo.TV/TSS  and start your free 7 day trial.

44:28 - How are Chelsea able to make so many signings and how will they all fit in?

55:19 - Everton bringing in Carlo's friends to see what happens.

1:00:06 - Eberechi Eze brings Crystal Palace another attacking threat?

1:01:35 - Matt Doherty loves Jorge Mendes... and Tottenham do too.

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Weston McKennie really is joining Juventus. We all saw that coming, right?

David Amoyal of the Calcioland is here to talk Daryl through the move and explain what McKennie's role at Juve is likely to be.

RECOMMENDED:

Listen this episode of Extra Time, in which six MLS players explain what happened on Wednesday night

Visit BlackPlayersForChange.org to learn more

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There's more to the Leo Messi story than is immediately obvious. La Liga expert Graham Ruthven gives Daryl all the detail on what's going on at Barcelona

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The Best Soccer Show is back! Daryl is joined by BSS co-host Jason Davis to discuss what's going on in American soccer, including the investment that's coming as 2026 gets closer, how to form an American soccer identity, why we shouldn't tear down MLS, as well as his own career in soccer media. 

Daryl and Jason also answer five listener questions. Here are the timestamps:

35:50 — What is considered "hipster" in a soccer context?

41:00 — What is the realistic top end that MLS can reach?

49:10 — If you could change one and only one soccer moment, what would it be?

57:25 — Which "end of era" players would you like to see at which MLS clubs and why? (And yes, we talk Leo Messi to an MLS team here.)

1:04:43 — What was the Chivas USA experiment? Why did it fail? Could something similar succeed?

---

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We go deep on the Champions League final, starting with the tactics:

What did Bayern and PSG tweak for the final and how well did those changes work?

We also give a detailed account of the breakdown in PSG's otherwise impressive defending for Bayern's goal, and the key Bayern players who made it happen.

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For the first 35 minutes, we preview PSG vs Bayern, looking at all the important individual and tactical matchups and considering how each team might adjust their approach for the big game

Starting at 37:45, we also do a Europa League Final recap, discuss Antonee Robinson's move to Fulham, Steve Cherundolo's appointment as Germany U15 coach, Guud Hiddink become Curacao coach (look out CONCACAF!) and the rekindling of the Weston McKennie to Southampton rumor.

Today's show is sponsored by Artifact. Go to HeyArtifact.com and use code TSS for $40 off. 

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In honor of Alphonso Davies and Tyler Adams playing in the Champions League semifinals, the fellas take a look at MLS and its evolving position on the selling of players. Why did the league change its stance, how can teams know when the moment is right to sell a player, and which teams are in the best position to capitalize? Plus, Sam's dog makes a cameo, ostensibly to weigh in on Paul's take on Alphonso Davies.

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0:00 - Bayern Munich stick to their proven style and come away with a 3-0 win in the Champions League semifinal. What vulnerabilities did they exploit in the Lyon defense, how impressive was Serge Gnabry, and how Manuel Neuer remains important in big matches.

22:28 - The USMNT has a World Cup qualifying schedule and a rough idea of who it will be playing. We review the basics, and look ahead to what a crowded list of fixtures might mean for Berhalter's various squad selections next summer. 

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Ryan and Taylor get into what went so wrong for Leipzig and so very right for PSG, plus the tactical adjustments that made the difference, expectations going forward for PSG, and the importance of a fully motivated Neymar (and a mostly fully fit Kylian Mbappe). There's also some Manchester City and Barcelona chat at the the end, with a little overlap that is probably somewhat obvious in-between.

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First up, we talk Messi's rumored Barcelona exit. Where did this story start? Where might he go? Is he actually going to leave? And what do we think  Leo Messi really wants?

Then we preview the Champions League semifinals. Here are your timestamps:

29:05 — RB Leipzig vs PSG

Will Tyler Adams start? How long can Kylian Mbappe go? And what has Nagelsmann got planned for PSG?

53:40 — Lyon vs Bayern Munich

Will Bayern push high or will they fear Lyon's counter? Is there space for Bayern to exploit? Is there raum for Mueller to deut? Are Cornet and Caqueret the real deal?

1:08:45 — Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle are joining Man City in the FAWSL. We get into the details of the deals and what is means for the NWSL

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For the first 36 minutes, Daryl and Joe analyze Lyon's win over Man City. Did Pep overthink it? Listen to find out.

Then we answer some USMNT and MLS-themed listener questions that were asked specifically because Joe was coming on the show:

36:10 — Which young USMNT players impressed during MLS is Back? (We talk Akinola, Ebobisse, Aaronson, Sands)

49:40 — Which coach surprised you the most at the MLS is Back: Tournament?

53:35 — Do you want to see the MLS is Back tournament return?

58:10 — What changes should MLS make with their DP and salary cap rules?

1:06:00 — Is a Yueill-Adams-McKennie thee-man midfield a balanced enough midfield to provide stout defense in situations where the USMNT has less possession and also create dangerous chances when they do have the ball?

1:11:50 — Should Berhalter call up Artur De Lima now that he has US citizenship?

1:16:40 — Would a Minimum domestic player requirement be good for the growth of MLS?

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We review Bayern Munich's comprehensive victory over Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals. When did it go from being an open game to being a slaughter, what did Bayern do to create such chaos, and how absurdly fun is Alphonso Davies? Plus, we spend the final third of the show giving a quick overview of the problems that have been mounting at Barcelona over the last 6-7 years, what they can do to solve some of them, and what the present situation means for the future of Leo Messi.

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The Athletic's Paul Tenorio and Sam Stejskal discuss Blaise Matuidi's move from Juventus to Inter Miami, and how and why the World Cup winner is not a Designated Player

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We spend the first 35 minutes of today's episode on RB Leipzig's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinal, paying special attention to Mr Tyler Adams. After that, it's six listener questions:

Which non-Big 6 EPL club would you recommend for a starter fan in 2020-21?

If you could put a certain manager or a certain player on a club for pure entertainment purposes what would they be?

What would happen to the USMNT if Christian Pulisic suffered a horrible career ending injury or randomly decided to retire from soccer?

Why are English players so much more expensive in the transfer market compared to foreign players with similar CV’s

If the US had a more soccer-first sporting culture do you think the US would be a soccer superpower already?

Will Victor Osimhen's departure from Lille mean more playing time for Tim Weah?

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We open with Daryl thanking Taylor for being the best friend and co-host in the whole world, then we get into some soccer. Here are your timestamps:

 2:40 — Atalanta vs PSG, how Atalanta nearly did it, how PSG turned it around, and why Neymar actually played well

36:45 — Quick review of the Portland Timbers 2-1 win over Orlando City in the MLS is Back final. For more on this game, listen to the excellent MLS Assist podcast (it will make you instantly smarterer)

 48:05 — Discussing the Antonee Robinson to Sheffield United rumor (let's do it!) and ruminating on Weston McKennie's possible Hertha Berlin move, including our take on why Southampton suddenly seem less interested

1:05:50 — Updates from the Scouting Network, including some magic from Andrew Carleton

1:14:43 — Suprise outtake! (unless your read the show notes)

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Sam Tighe of the B/R Football Ranks podcast is back on the program to talk a little Europa League and a whole lotta Champions League. What to expect from each quarterfinal game, as well as the individual performers and tactical approaches that could mean the difference between eliminating and advancing to the next round. Plus, is Atalanta maybe the favorite versus PSG, is Bayern-Barcelona as one-sided as it seems, and specific examples of how Diego Simeone might be the most intimidating man on earth.

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0:00 - As we move toward the final, Paul and Sam discuss if MLS ended up getting the tournament they wanted and what "a success" looks like for the league.

16:02 - What will happen in the final, who should be feeling more confident, and why does Sam hate Nani?

19:52 - Reviewing the plans to resume the MLS regular season (and what impact, if any, the MLS is Back tournament will have on the coming season)

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Scuffed's Adam Belz discusses what several members of the USMNT need to do to improve their game, make the next step, or take the initial plunge to increase both their individual ability AND overall standing with Gregg Berhalter. We also talk ideal landing spots for exciting prospects, strengths and vulnerabilities of making too big a jump too quickly, and how one position that seems secure in the depth chart is possibly anything but.

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Toronto FC's Justin Morrow joins the show to discuss the Black Players for Change organization, his overall experience at the MLS is Back tournament, and what happens next for both the league and the BPC. 

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Our old pal Luke Moore returns to the show to discuss the FA Cup Final. Could Lampard have turned things around when Arsenal went ahead, how good has Pulisic been since the restart, and which players in the squad have had the strongest response to Mikel Arteta's managerial takeover (there's also a quick chat about the players that have done the opposite... which is to say we talk about Mesut Ozil). We also look at what Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Everton need to do in the transfer window to be prepared for the next campaign, and there's even some Champions League chat at the very end. 

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The Athletic's Carl Anka returns to TSS to provide a deep-dive review of Southampton's season: how they went from the relegation zone to comfortably mid-table survival, Ralph Hasenhuttl's unintentional nickname, and where Weston McKennie might (or might not) fit in with the squad. After that, there's plenty of Manchester United conversation, including who they should be pursuing in the transfer window and how to solve a problem like de Gea. 

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Your intrepid hosts begin by discussing the latest results in the MLS is Back tournament, as well as the reality of European scouts hungrily waiting to take every fit player away from the Philadelphia Union. But with the knockout rounds in full swing and many young players performing well, why aren't the TV ratings improving? What the low viewership means for MLS in its present incarnation, and what the league can do moving forward to get more eyes on screens.

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Joe Lowery of MLS Assist returns to the show to preview the tournament quarterfinals by taking a look at each team, what they've done well and where they might be vulnerable. There's also plenty of conversation about the teams that have already been eliminated, emerging USMNT prospects, most tactically adept coaches in the league... and DC United is somewhere in there as well. Sigh.

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It's a listener question special, where we get into [deep breath ... ] the USMNT's new schedule, whether or not Gio Reyna should start right now, the new Diego Chara, assembling an international team in Europe, fringe USWNT players who impressed at the NWSL Challenge Cup, how to name MLS teams, the best center-back pairing in USMNT history, why Ligue 1 isn't a popular destination for Americans, Ayo Akinola's international future, and how to spend a million dollars on the future of American soccer.

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Ryan and Taylor discuss their 20 biggest takeaways from the Premier League season that was, including Frank Lampard getting it mostly right at Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola utilizing stability to get results, Bruno Fernandes being the hero that we all deserve, and Watford's "let's hire a new manager every few weeks" approach not quite working out.

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Big show! For the first hour or so, we answer multiple quick-fire questions about the final day of the Premier League. What happened to Leicester? What next for Aston Villa? Who benefited most from the break before Project Restart? Did Jose over-celebrate? Why is there such a gap between the top two and everyone else?  Can Christian Pulisic improve? You know, those kind of questions.

Then, starting at precisely 1:19:58, we review the NWSL Challenge Cup Final, detailing how Houston Dashed the hopes of the Chicago Red Stars.

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