Podcasts about adama diomande

Toronto FC added striker depth, signing Adama Diomande. What does that mean for Jesús Jiménez and Ayo Akinola? Plus, what's left to do for the Reds, who are currently in California for the first part of training camp. Don't miss out! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Episode 228, and there is PLENTY to talk about! The boys are back in Burbank, and we are beyond excited for the 2023 Preseason to get underway!In this episode, JT and Larry are back, Gareth Bale and Sebas Mendez are gone, and the rumors for Chicho and Mahala are in full effect. Houston has a problem on their backline, LAFC needs a midfielder (or three), and ADAMA DIOMANDE is back in MLS (and with Bob!). Also on this episode, Nathan Ordaz turns 19, Max Bretos gets a bite at the Apple, and LAFC pays out several investors, including Filly's favorite, Tony Robbins. Defenders, we hope to see you all out in Coachella, especially for the Toronto match and the return of Dio! Until then, we'll get our stuff together for Episode 229!

LAFC begin their biggest and longest test of the season, with 5 matches in just 15 days. The first of the five is a showdown with the best club in the East, the Philadelphia Union, the last team LAFC played pre-pandemic. Their last match was a 3-3 knockdown heavyweight draw. This one begs for a trilogy to settle it, as the two combatants play to another draw, this time 2-2. Despite controlling much of the run of play, LAFC would give up an early goal yet again. In the 9th minute, Daniel Gazdag puts Philly on top after a beautiful set of passes in and around the box. LAFC would mount attack after attack in the first half, mostly off of their seven first-half corners. The Union, however, would make it to the half up 1-0.As LAFC does, they would come out swinging in the second half. Just 12 minutes in, Mahala would find the equalizer with a laser beam over the right shoulder of Andre Blake. The sheer joy in a Mahala goal celebration seems like it would power the entire stadium. In the 67th minute, however, LAFC would surrender their first second-half regular-season goal of 2022, as Julian Carranza bends one around the outstretched arms of Maxime Crepeau to once again give the Union the lead. But in this fight, no lead was safe, as LAFC proved in the 82nd minute. It comes off a corner (of course) from Carlos Vela (of course), which finds its way to Cifu. CIfu's shot is saved by a diving Blake, but the rebound comes off to a wide open Franco Escobar, who may have salted away the starting RB spot with his performance in this match. After an absolutely insane bicycle attempt by Mamadou Fall and plenty of Sharks vs. Jets posturing on both sides after the match, the great refs at PRO blow it dead for a 2-2 draw. What a match!Also in this episode, we check in on Adama Diomande, we welcome Nathan Ordaz to the family, and try to let our moms know exactly how much we love them. To ALL of the other moms out there in Defenders Nation, we hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and healthy Mother's Day as well! See you all real, real soon for Episode 192!

For the final time in 2021, the boys are at World Famous Filimonster Studios to record an episode of “The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth”, Defenders of the Banc! There is SO much news to discuss since our pasting at the hands of the Commerce City Rapids, and Filly and Scarf try to get to ALL of it! This offseason saw, without a doubt, the most significant player movement of any of our first four seasons. El Profe, Eduard Atuesta, is gone, and not to a club that many could have predicted. Eduard gets to try to make it a Copa Libertadores three-peat for Brazil's Palmeiras. Also gone is the only coach we have ever known, Bob Bradley, as he heads north of the border to drink Labatt's and coach his son, Michael, at Toronto. He's been given the keys to the kingdom, eh, as he was named both head gaffer and Sporting Director at TFC. Also gone is an unsung hero who truly has been there from the beginning, Defender of the Banc Tristan Blackmon. Picked with our second ever SuperDraft pick in 2018, Tristan leaves behind a legacy of grit, toughness, and a fun social media follow. Who will play keeper? With Jamal Blackman being given his walking papers and Pablo Sisniega traded to the new Al Raitt FC, Charlotte, Tomas Romero is the only keeper under contract as of the recording of Episode 178. Also gone, as of now, are Raheem Edwards, Jordan Harvey, Daniel Crisostomo, Alvaro Quezada, and Michee Ngalina. LAFC has also begun to re-tool, or “tweak”, as JT put it, by bringing in two players with bona fide MLS Cup experience. The newest Defender of the Banc, Franco Escobar, comes to us by way of Atlanta United, where he scored the second goal in their 2-0 MLS Cup win over Portland in 2018. The Argentinian looks to help the Black and Gold on the wings. Fresh off winning MLS Cup with NYCFC in 2021, then being drafted by Charlotte in the Expansion Draft, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi lands with LAFC by way of a trade with MLS's newest club. In the mold of a Danny Musovski-type, or, dare we say, Adama Diomande, Israel knows how to put the ball in the back of the net and provides much-needed depth when Chicho, Rayito, or Vela are off the pitch.      And don't forget, Defenders… we also get a full season of Chicho Arango, a healthy Eddie Segura, and (at least) a full half-season of a healthy Carlos Vela. (We explain, don't worry.) All we need now is a head coach. And a starting center midfielder. And a starting keeper. And a little more depth. Also on this episode, we celebrate Chicho Arango taking home the Newcomer of the Year Award for 2021, the U19's as they advance in Open Cup Qualifying, and Lee Nguyen's NWSL trophy! We get a new toy in Filimonster Studios, we circle some key dates on the calendar that we are looking forward to, and Scarf doesn't have Covid (according to two tests) even though he feels and sounds like death. Which inaugural team player signed to coach with Sister Jean over at Loyola-Chicago? How is Diego Rossi doing in Turkey or Christian Ramirez in Scotland? And why does Filly now have a vested interest in our eMLS player? You'll have to listen to find out!Finally, stick around for the end, please. We know it's long, but Filly and Scarf both chat about their New Year's Resolutions, or as Filly says, goals for 2022. This may be it for 2021, but we can't wait to experience what's in store for 2022! Defenders Nation, thank you, and we love you! Here's to all the best in 2022 to the millions… and millions! 

Garret and JP join Gio to recap LAFC's 1-1 tie against the Houston Dynamo. They also talk about the upcoming game against FC Dallas. And they also talk about the fans wanting Adama Diomande back. Gio Garcia - https://twitter.com/GioGarciaLA JP Marquez - https://twitter.com/jp_marquez20 Garett Rodriguez - https://twitter.com/weareLAFCLIVE

Episode 143 – A Point-ed Effort Against Seattle It’s Episode 143, and we love you, too! LAFC welcomes a team into the Cathedral of the Black and Gold that has earned no love in our club’s history, the Seattle Sounders. In what has become the second most important set of matches on LAFC’s schedule every year, LAFC’s depth would come into play for the second week in a row, as the Black and Gold took a well-earned point at home.  In a packed News and Notes segment, we recount Scarf’s love for Adama Diomande, Carlos Vela’s health at Dodger Stadium, and revel in the fact that LAFC was part of the most-watched soccer match in the US last week! LAFC and Farmer John remain BFF’s, an Anteater signs with the first team, and the club continues to set the standard as they debut a fully-vaccinated supporters section.  LAFC earns a wonderful draw at home, behind another golazo for Eduard Atuesta on a set-piece and another good effort by Pablo Sisniega. LAFC sees the debut of both Marco Farfan (as a starter) and Cal Jennings (as Filly’s new hair inspiration and LAFC forward). The Colombian center-backs star again while we wait for a new Moon to rise in Los Angeles.  We’ve had a wonderful time with our new friends at FLEX and Party Beer Co., and we’ve been lucky enough to have had an even better time at the Banc! With LAFC on the road, we’ll be live tweeting the match against Houston on May 1. The game may not matter anymore for the U.S. Open Cup, but every point matters to us, and to LAFC on our way to the MLS Cup this season! See you for 144.  For the SOCIALS:LAFC's depth nets them a well-earned point against Seattle at home. Dio scores, Max Bretos brings bacon back to LAFC, and Eduard Atuesta is simply world class. It's Episode 143, and we love you, too!

Aaaaaaand… we’re back! It may only be for a pre-season tilt against the Revolution, but wow, does it feel good to be back at the Banc! If we’re at the Banc, then it must be time for Episode 140! Season 4 is underway, and we’ve even got some bonus soccer! On this episode, we catch up with a ton of news and notes from the past 2 weeks. Player news? Oh, we’ve got your player news! Brian Rodriguez, Adama Diomande, Mohamed El-Munir, Phillip Ejimadu, CC Uche, and Jorge Gonzalez all make the cut, and none of them are even on the team!  We also bring you a full recap of the pre-season match against New England. Want something more? OK, how about a recap of the first 30 minutes of the unannounced pre-season match against our new USL affiliate, Las Vegas Lights? We’ve got that, too! And be careful, llamas, because the Moose was loose! How did the Canadian Glory Machine, Mark-Anthony Kaye, fare against the Cayman Islands? Why was Tomas Romero one of the few bright spots for El Salvador? And how did Jordan Harvey move up a few MLS Leaders lists without even playing in a match? You’ll just have to listen to this episode to find out! Also on this episode, we cover MLS’s new concussion substitution rule while Scarf attempts to break down the US Open Cup’s 2021 qualification process. (Get your notebooks ready) In unsurprising news, Larry Freedman and John Thorrington make it official. And it wouldn’t be an episode without Filly finding a way to work in his Indiana Hoosiers.  We’re back and in full stride here in 2021. Episode 140 gets the ball rolling on what we hope will finally be the season we bring home MLS Cup. Stay with the Defenders for all your Black and Gold news for season four! See you next week for Episode 141!

There are times here at Defenders of the Banc where we really, really enjoy ourselves. The time we recorded after our first defeat of Carson? Amazing. The episode we knocked them out of the playoffs? Fantastic. And being able to sit down with people like Larry "The Legend" Freedman, Adama Diomande, Steven Beitashour, Max Bretos, and many others? Top of the list. Well, here on Episode 121, you can add another interview to that list of episodes that have been an absolute blast to record. We sit down with the Most Interesting Man in MLS, 2018 Inaugural Black and Gold teammate and current MLS pool goalkeeper Charlie Lyon. This interview actually happened a few months ago, but with games coming almost every three or four days, we wanted to wait until we had a little bit of time and space to let this one breathe. And what better day than International Podcast Day! Hear Charlie's incredible story of going from LAFC, to the MLS pool keeper, to logging, to suiting up for (almost) every blue-uniformed team in MLS. Hear a first-hand account of exactly what it was like in the bubble in Orlando, including why Charlie couldn't play for a Canadian team during the tournament. What does Charlie think of Banc of California Stadium and The 3252? Why might Tyler Miller be Charlie's biggest rival in MLS? And when was the last time Charlie cut his hair?! Please take a listen to one of our favorite episodes we have put out in quite a while. This one is a whole lot of fun, and a really interesting listen. Trust us, we recorded it!Enjoy Episode 121, and the Most Interesting Man In MLS, Charlie Lyon.

It’s Episode 111, and, more importantly, Filly survived his 40th birthday! FillyFest 2020 was a resounding, socially distant success, complete with videos from loved ones, small tokens of affection, and shots! Back behind the mic at world famous Filimonster Studios, the lads of Defenders of the Banc are ready for the restart of the 2020 MLS season.After Episode 110 meandered like the actual 110 Freeway, it was time to get back to the business of the Black and Gold, with a side dish of plenty of other MLS news and notes and a few Champions League thoughts as well. Just 12 episodes after we interviewed him, Filly and the Scarf bid a fond farewell to one of our favorites and a true icon in our club’s history, Adama Diomande. Our number 99 will always be LAFC’s Great One, and we are really going to miss his presence, personality, and oh, those goals. Those back-breaking, morale-stealing, roof-off-the-Banc-lifting, Carson-crushing goals. Dio will ALWAYS be Black and Gold.We also discuss some other Black and Gold news, including all the hardware that Diego Rossi brought home from Orlando, the opening of the transfer window (it doesn’t close until October!), and an article from the venerable Rome Sentinel about our fantastic head athletic trainer, Sean Kupiec. Shout out to Holland Patent, New York!Hear the hopeful and triumphant return of Scarfstradamus, Filly’s Bundesliga-heavy Champions League predictions, and, of course, This Day In LAFC History. We have a really fun interview scheduled with The Most Interesting Player In MLS coming up, as well as SIX, yes, SIX games coming in the next 28 days! Please join us on this crazy magic carpet ride, and, as always, thank you for your support of Defenders of the Banc!

15 episodes and 101 days. That’s how long it’s been since we were in the same room recording together. Much in the world has changed. Much in the world still needs to change. But as the song goes, “Reunited, and it feels so good!” Filly and the Scarf invade Culver City to record Episode 102 TOGETHER for the first time in a long time, and we couldn’t be happier. If you haven’t heard our interview with Adama Diomande on Episode 99, Episode 100 featuring Stix discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, or Steven Beitashour joining Filly and the Scarf on Episode 101, please go check those out! Episode 102 takes a bit of a break from the healthy interview circuit we’ve traveled over the last few episodes to focus on all the LAFC news and notes in the world over the last few weeks, and there is a lot to cover!Yes, the COVID Cup, also known as the MLS Is Back Tournament, is the main topic of discussion. Houston, Portland, and, of course, Carson join LAFC in Group F, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. While there’s still a lot of info to be determined, like “Will Carlos Vela play?”, we break down as much info as we have leading into the group stage. Don’t worry, as we get more info about when we play our group stage matches and who will fill out our roster, we’ll be back with another episode to cover it!The Black and Gold also welcome a new member into the fold, Andy Najar. The 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year adds depth, youth, and experience to an already excellent back line. He’ll be eligible for the COVID Cup, too!It’s not just MLS that’s back; eMLS is coming back, too! RemiMartinn, eMLS’s 5th ranked FIFA player, is set to take on the winner of the win-and-you’re-in “Last Chance Qualifier” in the first round of the final tournament of the eMLS season. Couple this with the Sports Illustrated article on Remi, and it’s shaping up to be quite the month for Martin and LAFC Gaming!Also on this episode, LAFC may add an Emmy to its trophy case, Dio continues to flex his gaming skills, the NWSL might actually be coming near L.A., not quite TO L.A., and free COVID testing wraps up at the Banc June 30th. Finally, PLEASE join LAFC and sign the petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday! Let’s continue to try to be the change we want to see in the world, one step at a time. Stay tuned for Episode 103 dropping next week, featuring yet another VERY special guest with an intro very different from anything we have done on the previous 102. As always, thank you for your support, and for taking a little time out of these crazy days we have all experienced together to give Defenders of the Banc a listen!

This is normally the part where we try to come up with some clever hook to get you excited about listening to our latest episode. Here it is: ADAMA DIOMANDE IS ON DEFENDERS!!! Yes, that’s right, LAFC’s own Great One, #99, the man who registered the first hat trick in team history, the ender of Carson’s season, and the third-leading scorer all-time at LAFC, Adama Diomande sits down with Filly and Scarf for a half hour we will never forget! We discuss his entire career: his first match at Lyn, joining Bob Bradley and taking Stabaek by storm, his time in the EPL with Hull City, and, of course, his history-making time with the Black and Gold. Dio also talks about his support from the Black and Gold faithful and in which EPL stadium he most looked forward to taking the pitch (sorry, United fans…). An avid gamer, we discuss his prowess using himself to score insane goals… with himself, his player rating, and what else he plays when not on FIFA. Oh, and, in case you forgot, “He’s not Tyler Miller!” You HAVE to check out Episode 99. Find out how Dio felt subbing onto the pitch before scoring the brace that would sink Carson, which athletes and clubs he follows when he’s off the pitch, how his faith guides him both on and off the pitch, and so much more! The first 99 episodes have been a long, strange, wonderful ride, and we really do appreciate all of our listeners, supporters, and even the haters along the way! Thank you for listening to our biggest interview yet! See you at 100!

It might be hard to keep track of the days of the week, but at least the boys at Defenders of the Banc are keeping track of their episode numbers. It’s time for 93! Since the quarantine, it’s been the RemiMartinn show, and he has provided us with plenty of entertainment. This weekend marks the kickoff of the eMLS Tournament Special, a new 32-player tournament featuring one active MLS player and their eMLS teammate from 16 MLS squads. The tournament has a fair amount of star power from the league: USMNT players Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Paul Arriola (DC), and Aaron Long (NYRB), former Manchester United stars Nani (Orlando City) and Chicharito (Carson), and the newest starting keeper for Minnesota, Tyler Miller. LAFC has a duo in the tournament as well, led by 5th ranked eMLS gamer RemiMartinn and rounded out by our Great One himself, #99, Adama Diomande. Our first-round matchup in the tournament? Of course. Bring on “e-Trafico”! The first match pitted Dio vs. Chicha, and it was a close, tight affair. Dio came away the victor, 1-0, handing Remi a one goal aggregate advantage. Remi fell down 1-0 early off a bad giveaway but stormed back with three unanswered goals to close out Carson, 4-1 on aggregate. Next up were the owners of the worst crest in MLS history, the Chicago Fire, architects of the upset win over FC Cincinnati (is any win against Cincy really an upset?) and current #1 ranked eMLS player “Fiddle”. Dio absolutely dominated his matchup, 4-0, while Remi took his game going away, 2-1, for a 6-1 aggregate win and a spot in the semi-finals. We’ll have to wait four weeks to see Remi in action again in the tournament. Also on this episode, the Defenders discuss the disappearance of promotion/relegation in Liga MX, the disappearance of the US Soccer Development Academy, and the disappearance of Schmitty McMittens’ litter box from Filimonster Studios! Filly rants on the Berhalter family again while Scarf runs down This Day in LAFC History. We’ve absolutely loved all the Black and Gold (and white, and yellow, and navy, and camo) kits in our #ShowUsYourKits weekend, and can’t wait until next weekend, where every day is #Haturday! While we work through this strange journey, thanks so much for taking the time to listen to Defenders of the Banc. Stay healthy, everyone!

The Defenders tackle Ontario, CA as they record the 81st edition of the LAFC Podcast for the People! The LAFC news never stops, but this week was a big one. Filly and the Scarf break down the potential ramifications of the Adama Diomande injury, a fractured 4th metatarsal in his right foot, the release of former phenom Josh Perez, the departure of every draft pick we made this season not named Hallahan, and… *cue the Stone Cold Steve Austin intro and channel your inner Jim Ross voice* LAFC has signed BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS! Despite many reports to the contrary, John Thorrington and company got another great deal done. The 3-time Supporters Shield winner and 2-time Best XI member has done nothing but score since he entered MLS midway through 2013, tallying 126 goals over 240 competitions. We are certainly looking forward to seeing BWP in Black and Gold! Recording live from the Best of the Westerns in the Rancho Cucamonga/Ontario are, the boys were lucky enough to see the Ontario Fury honor alum Adrien Perez between quarters while putting the beatdown on Mesquite, 7-0. We take a look at the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as Diego Rossi, Francisco Ginella, Eduard Atuesta, and Eddie Segura represent their countries and push to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. Scarf explores a small LAFC to XFL connection as he tries to fit in another nod to the Patriots. In a mini “Rants with Filly”, Christian has some words of advice for those who want to express their opinions on the new kit. The Defenders recap the preseason tie with FC Dallas while checking in on our CCL opponent, Leon. Finally, we dissect the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed by both MLS and the MLS Players Association. In case you’re counting, that’s 6 teams down on Scarf’s road to 100 clubs in 2020, 7 episodes recorded already this year, and 9 days until the CCL kicks off against Leon. But what number will BWP wear? You’ll have to listen to the next episode of Defenders of the Banc to find out!

There’s a new set of roster rules in Major League Soccer! The League and the MLS Players’ Union reached an agreement on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and Andrew, Dave and Doyle dig into the details: increased spending, TAM turned to GAM, free agency changes, charter flight requirements, media deal revenue sharing and a Under-22 player initiative that’s very much TBD. What will the league look like for the next five years? Here’s your answer. Also in this show ... There’s a new crop of kits in MLS (#Forward25), and Susannah drops by to give the guys the behind-the-scenes stories from the party before the crew names their favorites from the bunch … and those they don’t really vibe with. To each their own! Plus, Nacho Piatti, Minnesota’s No. 10 target and a big CCL problem for LAFC. We’ve also got exclusive 1v1 interviews with Orlando City star Nani, who tells the incredible story of how he willed himself into an academy as a child, Montreal Impact midfielder Bojan Krkic and Best XI selection Alejandro Pozuelo. Major League Soccer's long-running podcast Extratime is now available on YouTube, every Monday and Thursday. :58 – League and MLS Players’ Union agree to new Collective Bargaining Agreement 9:55 – What new free agency rules mean for MLS’s future 14:55 – The yet-to-be-finalized rule that could help MLS be more of a selling league 18:40 – Possible change to the Designated Player rule 25:27 – Nani tells his incredible “How I made it” story 35:49 – What would Boca Juniors’ No. 10 Emanuel Reynoso mean for Loons 42:57 – Bad news for LAFC’s CCL dreams as Adama Diomande picks up injury 51:15 – Bojan on why he came to MLS and Thierry Henry’s place in his career 59:07 – Susannah Collins joins to evaluate a new crop of MLS jerseys #Forward25 1:09:45 – Alejandro Pozuelo on Year 1 in MLS, and how to know when to chip the ‘keeper 1:17:15 – MAILBAG: Who will score more goals … Jurgen Locadia or Chicharito?

Dave Denholm was at LAFC Training Camp for the past few days and will to tell you all about it. And, could this 2020 LAFC roster be the best ever in MLS? Plus, Denholm sits down with Jordan Harvey, Adama Diomande, Latif Blessing and more.

Max and Vince are back to start 2020 with a very special guest. Adama Diomande joins the guys in the second half of the podcast. They start off with the tough question on the tip of everyone's tongue: Will it be Dio or Diomande on the back of his jersey in 2020? But before Dio joins the guys, there's a lot to talk about since the holiday break. Max and Vince talk about the start of preseason camp. There's a competitive vibe on the pitch and the guys do their best to paint the picture. Then it's time to talk about the South American pipeline to LAFC as of late. Max and Vince give their thoughts on new signing José Cifuentes and LAFC's 7 South American players under the age of 22.

Los Angeles Football Club beat the Galaxy, Los Angeles Football Club is two wins from history! It took six attempts, but the first playoff matchup between the Los Angeles rivals was LAFC's time to register its first win in the derby. It was without a doubt the biggest match up of the season thus far, and Los Angeles got up for it. Tickets to the match were hotter than the NBA season opener between the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers and there were over 300 media requests for the match. This was LAFC's biggest game ever, and perhaps the biggest league match for the Galaxy since winning its fifth championship in 2014. It was a massive moment, to say the least, and the game lived up to it. Eight goals tied the MLS playoff record, and while Zlatan had his expected moments of magic, a goal from Diego Rossi and braces from both Carlos Vela and the returning Adama Diomande gave LAFC all the offense in needed in a 5-3 victory that will stand as the team's biggest ever victory until... Tuesday night if LAFC can punch a ticket to MLS Cup with a win at home over the Seattle Sounders in the Western Conference Final. Ryan Wallerson of the Southern California News Group and Alex Dwyer of MLSsoccer.com break down LAFC's performance against the Galaxy, dig into the L.A. media's reaction to the match and preview Tuesday's conference final against Seattle.

It took six tries, but when it mattered most, when we needed it most, when we wanted it most, history FINALLY happened at Banc of California Stadium. Los Angeles Football Club defeats the Carson Galaxy, 5-3, in a loser-goes-home Western Conference Semifinal playoff match. Welcome to Episode 66, and to paraphrase Dave Chapelle as the late, great Rick James: "It's a celebration, Defenders!" What an incredible night at the Banc. Led by our MVP, Carlos Vela, the return of Adama Diomande, and some incredible saves by Tyler Miller, LAFC check off a lot of boxes. First playoff win? Check. First win over our hated rivals? Check. One step closer to winning MLS Cup? Check!Hear a full game recap from Filly and The Scarf, as well as a few thoughts on the upcoming match against Seattle, a small sermon in the beginning from Scarf, and some emotional moments from Filly towards the end of the episode. Defenders, what a night. Enjoy the episode!

The first round of the playoffs in upon us, but Los Angeles Football Club (21-9-4)is enjoying its first round bye and watching this weekend's games from home. The first playoff game at the Banc will be Thursday, 18 days after decision day. Does the long break do more good or bad for a team? International Duty is done and the team is whole ahead of Thursday's match. Defender Walker Zimmerman's positive prognosis after his injury in the finale and forward Adama Diomande's return to the team after a month away for personal reasons are both big boosts for LAFC, but the hamstring injury midfielder Mark Anthony Kaye while with Canada is a cause for concern. Ryan Wallerson of the Southern California News Group (Daily News), Alex Dwyer of MLSsoccer.com & special guest host Bob Carlson of KCRW Public Radio discuss how the long break between the regular season finale and LAFC's first playoff game on Thursday could affect the team, news surrounding LAFC's international players, and debate which team LAFC would prefer to face between Minnesota United and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In this episode, Andrew Wiebe, David Gass, Charlie Davies and Matt Doyle mourn Josef Martinez’s knee injury and wonder how Atlanta United’s dreams of winning back-to-back MLS Cup championships might be affected by the potential absence of the league’s goal king. What’s the best-case scenario for Martinez and Atlanta? What’s the glass half-empty take? Who might fill in for the rest of the regular season? Why doesn’t Doyle have faith in Pity Martinez? Also in this episode … LAFC haven’t won in five games, is something wrong with Bob Bradley’s squad? Which career MLSers deserve a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame? Should Montreal bring back Nacho Piatti in 2020? How about Michael Bradley and Toronto FC? Will the general be back at BMO? Plus, hapless playoff contenders, a midweek preview and the best German in MLS. Major League Soccer's long-running podcast Extratime is now available on YouTube, every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe to Extratime on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts! 2:32 – Josef Martinez is hurt … What does it mean for Atlanta United? 6:21 – How might Frank de Boer replace Josef? Short- and long-term 13:33 – Celebrating the career of Michael Parkhurst 20:45 – Which MLSers deserve a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame? 32:48 – What’s wrong with LAFC? Plus, Adama Diomande out indefinitely 41:31 – Should Montreal bring back Nacho Piatti in 2020? 46:18 – Toronto FC and Michael Bradley: Will they stay together? 51:07 – Is the playoff field one team too big? Hapless race for the seven seed 55:00 – Midweek preview! Playoff implications galore 59:16 – Who is the best German player in MLS?   

On our latest episode of Defenders of the Banc, we hit the big 6-0! 60 episodes of Defenders, and this one is special for the Bradley family. Our intrepid leader, Bob, matches wits against Toronto FC and their midfielder, his son, Michael, for the first time at Banc of California Stadium. With history in our sights and the playoffs inching (or as Filly says on this episode, millimetering) closer, we recap the 1-1 tie with Toronto. For what seemed like the seventh or eighth time in a row, LAFC falls behind early. A deflection in the box fell to the feet of USMNT stalwart Jozy Altidore. His pass to Endoh led to a goal from a tough angle, and just like that, it's 1-0 Toronto after 20 minutes. However, that would be the end of the Toronto offense, as LAFC did not give up a single shot on goal for the remainder of the night!LAFC certainly rallied in the second half, looking a little smoother on offense, generating many more chances, and allowing the large foul disparity in the first half to even itself. However, it seemed like the FC Dallas game all over again, for despite plenty of chances, the score still stood at 1-0. Laurent Ciman, formerly of the Black and Gold, subbed on in the 76' to firmly park the bus and shore up a road win for Toronto. However, our game MVP, Latif Blessing, doesn't know when or how to quit, and his effort right before the death netted LAFC a much-deserved penalty kick. Carlos Vela stepped up and buried it right before the final whistle to move closer to the Golden Boot and the single season goal scoring record. Also on Episode 60, both Filly and Scarf address the rumors surrounding Adama Diomande and his leave from the team. Spoiler alert: We support you, Dio. The boys also recap LAFC's chase of individual and team records and the Supporters Shield race, share another event from This Day in LAFC History, and give a shout-out to the Black and Gold Running Club one episode later than they had planned.Find out how Scarf's Topps MLS card sale fundraiser for the Children's Oncology Group Foundation went! Find out which kit Filly received in his latest shipment from Away Days! Learn a little about the Southern California Seahorses! And maybe, just maybe, we can put the hashtag #BlameFilly to bed. The Shield is just one win away, Defenders! We'll be back in just a few days as the reunion tour continues. Houston, led by former striker(-ish) and local product Christian Ramirez, will be at the Banc on Wednesday just in time for us to celebrate the Black and Gold taking home our first piece of hardware. See you then!

Josh and Kirk go in depth on the San Jose match and discuss THE GOAL, Josh Perez, Adama Diomande from the bench, etc.

LAFC takes it's talents to sunny Sandy, Utah, and you'll hear all about it on Episode 54 of Defenders of the Banc! If you weren't able to attend the game, The 3252 did it's best to make you feel right at home while watching the TV broadcast. As always, from the opening kick, all you could hear was the Black and Gold faithful for the full 90'. LAFC had it's chances in the first half, especially off the foot of Adama Diomande, but it was scoreless as the teams went to their locker rooms. Walker Zimmerman wasted no time injecting drama into the second half, picking up his second yellow just 3 minutes into the frame. LAFC would go down a man, but, seemingly inspired by the odds, they would also respond in kind. A PK by the MVP, Charlie Candle, would knot the score at 1 and the men on the pitch at 10. That goal would also solidify Vela's place in the MLS record books as having amassed more points in one season than any player in league history. (He still has 9 games to play!) Dio finally broke through about 10 minutes later with a goal of his own, and the party was on!LAFC, behind a largely untested back line, clinches a berth in the playoffs (it's only August 17th!) and moves ever closer to the Supporters Shield with the win. Great games were had by Vela, Dio, Nguyen, Blessing, and many others as LAFC put together another signature win on the road. LAFC also moved ahead of the all time goal differential mark with a video game-esque +42 on the season. Who knows how high they can push that number by season's end! It will be a tough week ahead for LAFC, and a quick turnaround. The Black and Gold have a home match in just 4 days, against in-state rival San Jose, followed up by another match 4 days later at the Banc against hated Carson. The boys passed their first of three tests, and look to all-but-wrap-up the shield, and taste victory for the first time against the Galaxy, by the end of next week.Enjoy our look at This Day in LAFC History and our "Wait, What?!" moment of the podcast, and we hope to have all of you back for our next episode recapping the home tussle against San Jose.

Max and Vince breakdown the thrilling win over Sporting KC in the dying seconds of the home opener thanks to Adama Diomande's goal. They talk about the budding rivalry between LAFC and SKC, where it ranks in relation to LAFC-Galaxy and LAFC-Portland, and what is the best analog to derbies in world football. And finally, LAFC defender Walker Zimmerman joins with a special announcement.

Welcome to a special Valentine’s Day episode from Filly and The Scarf! Whether you’re at work or on the road, listening to a quick, fun episode of Defenders of the Banc has to be the best way to spend your Valentine’s Day, right? In this special episode, the Defenders catch you up on all the news and notes of LAFC, including a bit of BREAKING roster news brought to you by Filly and The Scarf!In Episode 7.5, the boys wish a very happy birthday to Adama Diomande, recap the 2-2 tie against defending Cup champions Atlanta, wish all the best to the newly-retired Aaron Kovar, update our listeners on the changes on the LAFC roster thus far in camp, and, in breaking news, announce the SIGNING of defender Lamar Batista! Welcome to the Black and Gold!Of course, the boys have their usual fun, including Filly making some of us jealous with his upcoming 2-week trip to Australia to see the Western Sydney Wanderers, The Scarf discussing the Roman feast of Lupercalia, and changes to the “Birthdays” and “This Day in Sports History” segments (we’re listening to your feedback!). Stay tuned next week for a very special episode involving club legend Olly! Happy Valentine’s Day from Filly and The Scarf!

Dave investigates the Portland Timbers filing a formal protest over their 3-2 loss to LAFC in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. Following the match LAFC forward Adama Diomande alleged on social media that a racial slur was directed toward him. Tim Howard of the US Men's Nat'l team and Colorado Rapids comes on and recaps the World Cup and his favorite moments in his career. Manchester United legend Dennis Irwin comes on and looks at the current style of play in soccer.

The guys head to the Tire District and add a fourth co-host to tackle the hot topics around MLS. First up, serious US Open Cup drama as the Timbers protest their loss, Adama Diomande calls out an unnamed player on Instagram and Peter Vermes shreds his own guys. Then it's all about the transfer window, most importantly the reportedly $3.9 million bid Crew SC have for goalkeeper Zach Steffen. Should Columbus take the money? Is the move right for the USMNT prospect? Plus, Ezequiel Barco's first half season, Rooney's first road game, Mauro Diaz's replacement, Homegrown draft and Thierry Henry, more Downton Abbey (ask Bobby) and Costa Rica in the mailbag.

Reid (via the traveling MLSFI studio) is joined by Mike and Blayne to review the important Fantasy takeaways from Round 18 and prep for the upcoming massive Round 19 DGW which start TUESDAY! Mike and Blayne get distracted by an early episode rant about the fantasy value of Minnesota players and everyone weighs in on what kind of future production we can expect from LAFC wonder forward Adama Diomande. They then break down Round 19 focusing on the DGW teams before wrapping up with a preview of the MLSFI H2H playoffs! 1:27 - Round 18 Review 17:13 - Housekeeping 19:41 - Injury News 12:11 - Round 19 DGW Preview 51:53 - Lone SGW Options 57:05 - Player Picks 59:40 - Community Time 1:02:54 - Plugz

With Andrew and David out of town, Matt Doyle and Bobby Warshaw take over. They start with a quick World Cup recap, breaking down Mexico's World Cup and Spain letting down the world, then get into the big MLS storylines. Adama Diomande has 7 goals in less than 300 minutes ... How? Dome Torrent has already started to make changes at NYCFC? ... What? Chicago has now gone 5 unbeaten? ... Why? Montreal have won 3 in a row and 4 of 5? ... Huh? Plus...it might be time for Toronto to hit the panic button; what would that look like? Giovinco for Piatti... which team says no?

I denne ukas episode titter vi i spåkula, og tipper hvor våre heteste landslagsstjerner havner i sommerens overgangsvindu! Men ikke nok med det. Vi tar for oss aktuelle landslagsnyheter, og snakker blant annet om Hugo Vetlesen, Adama Diomande og Martin Samuelsen for å nevne noen! Som vanlig avslutter vi med en runde 20 spørsmål!