Extratime

The season is rapidly approaching, but first come the preseason tournaments. Andrew is headed to Charleston. Where is the best February vacation for MLS fans? And what should folks be looking for at home? Expect an improvement in Colorado. That's based on the guys' conversation with Rapids Sporting Director Padraig Smith, who is at the forefront of the performance analytics movement. In the second segment, the USMNT and USSF get the spotlight. First, after the Hall of Fame inductions, who would go on your American soccer Mount Rushmore. Then, are you seriously still talking about fitness? Yep, as Jurgen Klinsmann "clarified" things on Monday. Finally, Julian Green finds himself in a tough situation. That can't be good. We finish off with the mailbag, in which Simon goes off the rails, David gets a shot at running things and Andrew doles out advice to yet more fans with identity issues. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.

It’s expansion fever on the latest edition hosted by Greg Lalas subbing in for Andrew, who caught more than just a fever. The guys glow about NYCFC’s Barcelona-esqe preseason opener and then talk to Orlando City midfielder Amobi Okugo, who takes us into Kaka-mania, the OCSC locker and more. Plus there’s Landon Donovan’s engagement and Toronto FC’s “armband-gate.”   In the second segment it’s all about FIFA and the US national team. There’s another FIFA controversy and this time it involves the breaking news about the 2026 World Cup TV rights and the Under-20 World Cup draw, as the US learned its opponents. Also would Jurgen Klinsmann leave the USA national team for the Aston Villa job?   We finish off with the mailbag and a dramatic turn of events: Simon is back in the listeners’ good graces. And this time it’s Greg’s turn to give supporting advance to conflicted supporters.   Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.  

January camp is over, but that doesn't mean we're done talking about it. This time, though, the discussion centers around a 2-0 victory against Panama that saw Gyasi Zardes prove he belongs, Clint Dempsey do his thing and Michael Bradley notch an olimpico. What you really want to know is what Simon thinks of Miguel Ibarra's performance, and ETR's resident hot-take expert doesn't disappoint. In the second segment, the spotlight turns to MLS, where injuries and signings stole the headlines on Monday. Why is Jermaine Jones having surgery? What's wrong with Eddie Johnson? Who is this centerback the Union just signed? Finally, San Jose boss Dominic Kinnear joins the guys to talk homecomings, DPs and Jurgen Klinsmann. In the mailbag, listeners wonder if Simon soiled himself making noises on the last show, and the conversation, predictably, turns to jam's place in history. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.

With MLS still getting into the swing of things, Jurgen Klinsmann and the US national team are stealing all the headlines as the Americans winless streak starts to get attention. Klinsmann says fitness is to blame for a 3-2 loss against Chile, but what about the game before that? The guys dig and talk it through. Could the USMNT boss' job be in trouble if the slide continues? Opinions are split. In the second segment, it's all MLS all the time. In Toronto, Giovinco arrived at the airport to a massive welcome party? When has that happened before? And, more importantly, will he finish the 2015 season as the league's biggest star? Or will Kaka take that title? Or David Villa? Or Steven Gerrard? Maybe Frank Lampard? You get the picture. Plus, which MLS rumors are bogus and which have a grain of truth? In the mailbag, the guys decide a US Open Cup bracket has to go on the to-do list, wonder about the Rapids' new signings and ponder Julian Green's future career in MLS. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.

The big news in MLS on Monday revolved around Designated Players, those coming and going. Tim Cahill is gone after agreeing to terminate his contract with the Red Bulls. What will his MLS legacy be? Giovinco, meanwhile, is coming, leaving Juventus early to get his Toronto FC career started ASAP. Farther north, Impact boss Frank Klopas is looking for a striker of his own. Will it be a DP? Can he lead Montreal to a Liga MX upset in CCL? In the second segment, Columbus Crew SC winger Justin Meram joins the guys to tell stories from the Asian Cup. Iraq and Meram made it to the semifinals before bowing out, but they got the rockstar treatment all tournament from more than a million Iraqi fans in Australia. What's next for Meram at the international level? What did he take away from the whirlwind experience? In the mailbag, a listener revisits the Ronaldinho conundrum as the magic one wears out his welcome at Queretaro and Simon gets called a hypocrite. You'll have to listen to find out how he reacted. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.

Look, a real life guest! Real Salt Lake technical director Craig Waibel stops by the studio in the second segment to talk about his transition from rugged defender to front-office executive.   First, though, the guys dissect the blockbuster trade between Montreal and New York with former part-time ETR host (and current full-time New York Red Bulls head coach) Jesse Marsch. They also break down the other moves in MLS circles and wonder whether Juan Agudelo makes the New England Revolution preseason MLS Cup favorites.   In the second segment, the guys react to the USA-Chile match. Does the 3-5-2 experiment have a future? They also touch on Bobby Wood’s future and Jozy Altidore's MLS potential. Then Craig Waibel braves a face-to-face with Andrew, Simon and David to discuss his new role, RSL’s roster, Real Monarchs and the nobility of going with a shaved-head look.   In the mailbag, Gassman makes an appeal for help recording the number of soccer matches he watches in a year, Simon demands David stop making demands and a listener shares important baked-bean safety procedures. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio.

The MLS offseason isn't going to slow down for a little snow at the league office, and the guys talk Tim Cahill, Laurent Ciman's last moments with Standard Liege, Toronto FC and Simon Borg survival techniques before the Chicago Fire's newest DP, Shaun Maloney, joins following his first-ever training session with the club. In the second segment, it's all United States all the time. First, the U-20s bucked a terrible start at the CONCACAF U-20 Championships to qualify for the World Cup. Who might have a senior team career in front of them? And speaking of the senior team, who should start against Chile? Will Jurgen Klinsmann play a 3-5-2? In the mailbag, a Minnesota for MLS supporter chimes in, club loyalties are debated and Simon's role model is honored ... without Borg in attendance. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio. And make sure you check out our West Coast brethren at March to the Match every Wednesday!

First things first, the guys mourn the departure of former host and friend Nick Firchau. Then Alexi Lalas joins the crew to talk US U-20s, whose World Cup quest is still alive, and gamesmanship in soccer in the wake of the controversy surrounding the New England Patriots. Is there a soccer equivalent? In the second segment, Portland owner Merritt Paulson joins to offer his thoughts on the direction of the league, big-money DPs and USL PRO's impact on Portland soccer. Find out why he says marketing has nothing to do with the Timbers' transfer business. In the mailbag, the Canada question is resolved and listeners wonder whether having Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore in Toronto might create Reds fans south of the border.Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio. And make sure you check out our West Coast brethren at March to the Match every Wednesday!

Tuesday ETRs only come around once in awhile, and this one is special for all the right reasons. First, Kurt Larson of the Toronto Sun joins to talk Toronto FC, who signed Jozy Altidore and Giovinco since the last time the guys gathered around the microphone. That's ... bloody big news, but not a bloody big deal this time around. But is it a good thing for MLS? Will Toronto FC actually make the playoffs? Altidore is on his way to Southern California, where the US national team is gathered for January camp. It's a welcome break from club life for Bobby Wood. Hear the 1860 Munich man describe how he got frozen out of the club. Could MLS be an option? Sure, says Wood. He just wants to enjoy the game again. In the mailbag, the guys find out what "Blond Door" is and run through reaction from Red Bulls fans who attended the infamous town hall. Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio. And make sure you check out our West Coast brethren at March to the Match every Wednesday!

It was a day of new beginnings in Philadelphia on Thursday as the MLS SuperDraft made its yearly splash. Andrew, Simon and David were on the ground to give you the complete wrap from the draft, with exclusive audio from proceedings that saw Canuck U-20 Cyle Larin taken first overall, Cristian Roldan fall down the board and Marcelo Sarvas traded. Of course, in Toronto, big news was going down with Jozy Altidore and Jermain Defoe. It wasn't pegged as a bloody big deal, rather a shrewd move to replace one unhappy striker with a younger, North American one. But should US fans be unhappy the Yanks biggest stars are landing in the #WeTheNorth? The guys talk that and Sasha Kljestan, who appears headed for LA. In the mailbag, it's clear USL PRO played a large role in Thursday's SuperDraft proceedings. What's next? Also, the guys give Mix Diskerud advice on where to live and admire Pablo Mastroeni's incredible mustache.Email us at ExtraTime@MLSsoccer.com or tweet us at @ExtraTimeRadio. And make sure you check out our West Coast brethren at March to the Match every Wednesday!