That's So MLS is the Major League Soccer podcast for the long-suffering fan. Hosted by journalist Andrew Bates and defender Nick Thornton, TSMLS looks at club soccer from a Canadian perspective, with coverage of games and news from around North America.
For the past few weeks we have been witnessing something we never dreamt possible: The Vancouver Whitecaps are the best team in MLS and just defeated Inter Miami in Concacaf action TWICE. It truly is the golden age and we have a lot to say about it. We also talk about changes at LAFC, some inter-league transfers, and some other teams who are also very good right now. That's So MLS Linktree *Register to Donate Blood *Support for Lapu Lapu Victims and Families
MLS is four weeks old and things couldn't be further away from how we thought they might look. The best team in MLS is... the Vancouver Whitecaps. We're not upset. We do also look around the league at who has blasted out of the gates and who is still warming up. We also look around Concacaf and ahead to some national team action (recorded before Canada and the US crashed out). That's So MLS Linktree
After a short off season, we are back! We've got lots to talk about as teams build their rosters, a new team joins MLS, and some familiar faces are back in the league too. We also have a rundown of 2024's Most That's So MLS moments. That's So MLS Linktree
We have an MLS Cup champion, and it's the Los Angeles Galaxy. Nick and Bates talk about their MLS Cup final win over the New York Red Bulls, where the league's buzz sits after its second year on Apple and the announcement that the Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale. Thanks for listening and happy holidays!
With the Conference Finals wrapped, we take a look back at all the results, the surprises, the glory, and the agony. And that's just the coaching updates from the teams out of the playoffs! That's So MLS Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/thatssomls
Round One of MLS Cup Playoffs was jarring! We've got all the action for you, including some big calls made by teams already out, a 40 year old superstar, and a Red Bulls team that has us asking if we need to guzzle an energy drink and embrace the dark side. Thats's So MLS Link Tree for all things That's So MLS!
Decision Day has been decided and one *very* Wild Card game is already in the books so we take a look around at those who made it, those who didn't, and make some playoff predictions for this year's MLS Cup. Visit the That's So MLS Linktree for all your That's So MLS needs.
We're back and talking through US Open Cup, Campeones Cup, and the thicket of MLS playoffs, who has clinched, who is out, and who maybe still stands a chance. (We recorded before Wednesday's matchday but for once we actually proved slightly prophetic).
With Leagues Cup finally behind us, we turn our attention back to MLS with talk on the big moves, big upsets, Benteke's dominance, and we of course tip our hats to USWNT star Alex Morgan who played her last professional game. That's So MLS Linktree
After a very busy July, we have a full breakdown of Canada's breakdown at the Olympic and then (at the 44 min mark) we transition to MLS and League's Cup action. Also, we now have a Link Tree to find all That's So MLS things in one place: https://linktr.ee/thatssomls
We're taking a look around MLS focusing on the 3 Canadian clubs and their various (mis)fortunes and opportunities, as well as news from Copa America, some MLS coach and player movement, as well as Columbus' unfortunate Champions Cup final, The Union's struggles, and Inter Miami's ability to win no matter what.
There's been some more gameweeks and we've got all the action for Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as a look around the league at notable results. We talk Jesse Marsch's new gig, as well as whether people in Vancouver paid $1000+ to see Julian Gressel.
We are back and we have some real zingers to talk about. Colorado won a game without actually scoring a goal themselves (sorry Harris), Seattle had two players sent off, and many teams took on an unofficial crossbar and goalpost challenge. We talk about the recent rule changes and East vs West matchups.
After the opening few game weeks, we are back with a look around the league at who is already excelling and who is struggling. We make some wildly too early predictions, talk about the new PRO Referee deal, and the legacy of Whitecaps retiree, Russell Teibert.
The 2024 MLS season is officially underway! We have all the highlights from the first and only league game so far, talk Messi market saturation, Canada Soccer's never ending lawsuit debacle, incoming and outgoing MLS players, as well as some Champion's Cup results.
As MLS season both begins and wraps up, we have all the big name signings and transfers for you, plus new coaches, old friends, and some bizarre Champions League scheduling. Follow us on Instagram
As Columbus Crew hoist MLS cup once again, we break down the match that had its controversies but certainly only ever really seemed like there was one team in it. We also already look at some big post season coaching and player moves and talk about what the most 'That's So MLS-y' moments of the year were.
And just like that, we're down to the final two. LAFC will face a high flying Columbus but before then we break down how everyone did, including some retroactive book throwing the Disciplinary Committee. But even before all of that, we bid (international) farewell to the legend, Christine Sinclair.
And then there were eight! We catch you up on all the teams vying to make their case in the conference semi-finals, as well as the goings on of the teams who finally crashed out. We update the coaching and player carousel, including some familiar faces in Portland and Colorado...
With the wild cards already done and dusted and round 1 of best of 3 also in the bag, we go through the results and who we think has the best shot of making it through. We also look at roster updates across the league for the teams NOT in the playoffs, including the Suarez rumours and my prediction that Chicharito has played his last LA Galaxy game (recorded before they made it official).
With Decisions Day looming, we thought we would take a look at the teams who are right on the edge. Some of these clubs have their futures in their hands, some a little less so. We also talk about two more MLS coaching vacancies and Michael Bradley's retirement. If you have a suggestion for a That's So MLS moment of the year, send it to us on Instagram @ThatsSoMLS
Another busy few weeks of MLS action sees two more coaches exit, a player get fired for starting a fight in an indoor soccer league, and the Whitecaps winning a whack of road games! What's not to love?!
It's been a busy August, so we have a lot to catch up on: Inter Miami's annoying dominance of Leagues Cup, Spain's historic World Cup win, a deluge of MLS transfers, and a familiar face in John Herdman taking up the mantle of a dismantling the dysfunctional Toronto FC.
It's silly season again as the inaugural League's Cup kicks off between MLS and Liga Mx sides and as Messi polishes off his first (non-league) goals. We also look to the Women's World Cup, which Canada just crashed out of :( (we recorded before the Australia game).
We're back with another glut of games in MLS action, so we take a look around the league, talk what it will take to get into the playoffs this year, Cincinnati's continued dominance of the East, the 3 red card game, and we also check in on Women's World Cup and the Gold Cup that wasn't for USMNT and CMNT. This week's episode is brought to you by excited touchline celebrations that see yellow.
We of course talk through that announcement plus run down the Canadian Championship final, the Leagues Cup, and the most recent results of the Canadian MLS clubs.
It was a *spicy* one last week and we are here with all the news on the yellow cards, the second yellows, the thirds, some reds, and TWENTY-ONE fines issued. We also have news, including another MLS team and our first two coach firings of the season.
We've got you covered for all the transfers, news, results (and non-results) from MLS from the last two weeks plus some Champions League and CanPL news.
This week we talk about that comeback that had Seattle fuming, the ongoing firepower prowess of St Louis, and a look around the league at who's flying and who's sighing.
If you've been watching MLS and thinking to yourself "Gee, there haven't been a lot of red cards of late," boy do we have you covered! We talk about the Houston/LA scenes and another Rudy Camacho red card at BC Place. We also look around the league for where the interesting stories are developing, including a Chicago Fire side that is slowly climbing the table.
It's been a few weeks since we've talked so we're taking a look back at the last few matches for the Canadian MLS clubs. We note that none of them are irredeemable but none of them have really put the full package together either. We also have a look around the league at those making noise and taking space up top in the standings.
MLS is officially back! After a weekend of inclement weather, we take a look around the league at the surprising and not-so-surprising results and start to make some (foolish) predictions about the season.
With the 2023 MLS season just around the corner, we take a look at somewhat muted preseason but look at some big transfers and talking points, explore Mark Geiger's promotion, and share the latest chaos out of Canada Soccer.
We are back folks! After an off season that seemed to fly by, we are here to talk you through some big retirement news, salacious transfers, odd choices, and more!
Since there are no globally recognized soccer tournaments currently taking place, we decided to take a look at MLS roster updates, including some notable options declined, talk about MLS Expansion draft, and also say some stuff about the Global Trophy for Football.
It is with some sad Doops that we draw a close to another wild year of MLS in a truly wild final clash between LAFC and Philadelphia Union. From the goals, horrific leg bending saves (and red cards), to the PK shootout, come relive the mayhem.
We've got a big show for you this week as we take a look at the decision day results of who is in and who is out of the MLS Cup Playoffs. We share our predictions -which were recorded Friday, Oct 14th ;) About the 1hr 20 min mark, we start talking about the Sally Yates report and its implications across soccer in North America.
It's been five years of That's So MLS! We celebrate by catching up on some of the major developments, including Josef Martinez flipping a table, Sebastian Giovinco coming back to Toronto, kind of, and how the MLS playoff picture looks heading into the last two weeks of the regular season.
There's been so much MLS action, news, transfers, and a Canadian Championship to boot, that we find ourselves playing a bit of catch up and breaking down some previous weeks as well as the fate of every team around the league. We also spend a good chunk of the show discussing the ongoing debacle surrounding the Whitecaps' handling of Bob Birarda (Mins 8-18 in the episode).
After another busy week of games we take a look around the league, including the ongoing transfer madness. We of course talk about what Julian Gressel will bring to the Whitecaps, revisit some teams we had doubts about, and touch on the CSA saga.
There's been a lot of shuffling around the league and a stack of games so we are here to catch you up on the big name moves. We also talk about the return of Rooney to DC, Toronto's rebuild, and the scary lineup LAFC has assembled.
Well, you turn your head for one minute for the international break and a lot can happen! We break down all the #CMNT drama (and there was a fair bit), World Cup announcements, MLS transfers, coaching changes, Apple deals, and yes, some league games too. It's a lot but we'll catch you up!
Nick and Andrew peruse the MLSPA salary list, chat the CONCACAF Champions League final and what it means in the context of Seattle's season, a Whitecaps win and Portland blowing out Sporting Kansas City.
This week we talk about the firing of Hernán Losada from DC United, a surprise Earthquakes victory, the Crew moving on from Zardes, and the Whitecaps' persistent woes (which may be slightly lessened soon).
Some controversial calls and glorious golazos round out gameweeks 6 and 7 and we have a run down of both conferences and how everyone is faring. We also talk about the long anticipated departure of Almeyda from the Earthquakes.
This week, and coming in a little late, we look at Game Week 6 plus the last few games of World Cup Qualifying. if you're just here for an MLS catchup, we start talking MLS at the 42 min mark :D
After a few busy weeks of MLS action, we are finally back to review the first four game weeks of the season. We take a look through the lens of the Canadian MLS clubs and well, it's not so great.
It is that time again! We talk through ALL of the clubs and where we rate them this year, as well as rate their signings. We cover some big news from NWSL and across the league. We recorded Wednesday night as Russia invaded Ukraine so we mention it but of course recognize the situation has since deteriorated significantly. Be well
MLS is coming up in a couple of weeks and as the (not streamed) pre-season games get underway, we look at some of the big moves across MLS but first we go back and break down the Canadian Men's National Team dominance as of late. We also give an update on the situation at Portland Timbers/Thorns.
As preparations begin for MLS 2022, we talk about some possible wrenches to a smooth start and go over all the big transfers, including some Super Draft news! We recorded earlier in the week so will be back for our Crepeau emotional processing next time.
We finally get to tackle the final game! We talk about what it all means for Portland and for the new champs, New York City FC. We put a stamp on the year, talk some of the more recent interesting moves. We'll catch you in 2022! Take good care