Extratime

The MLS news machine never stops! After listening to the first-ever Hot-Take Hotline submission, the guys dive into Mike Petke's appointment as the fourth head coach in Real Salt Lake history, discuss the long-term implications of Oscar Pareja's contract extension in Dallas and then ponder how exactly the Chicago Fire might qualify for the World Cup. Confused? So was Bastian Schweinsteiger. There's plenty of weekend action to break down as well. You won't want to miss a marquee matchup between Seattle and Atlanta on a rare Friday night MLS doubleheader.

After the break, those pesky transfer rumors around Cyle Larin just won't go away. Doyle gives his take on the young striker's future, then veteran defender Jonathan Spector calls in to give Larin his vote of confidence, explain why moving to MLS now made sense and what it's like to make the move to Manchester United at 17 years of age. Spector is also high on Christian Pulisic (duh) and says he'd love to get his national career going again under Bruce Arena. Speaking of, the US got a 1-1 draw on Tuesday in Panama City, and David takes Andrew to task for expecting more. Doyle also got taken to task ... on Twitter ... by Jermaine Jones ... and shares the full story and the opinion that annoyed the LA Galaxy man.

In the mailbag, there's breaking news as the Whitecaps trade Kekuta Manneh to Columbus for Tony Tchani and an allocation money grab bag. What's going on with Vancouver? How does affect the Crew SC XI ... and could there be another trade in the works? Once that's out of the way, the guys listen to the inaugural crop of Hot-Take Hotline voicemails. You won't want to miss history being made!

Want to be a part of the show? Call the Hot-Take Hotline at 401-206-0MLS to leave a voicemail (keep it short and sweet and avoid colorful language) that could appear on ExtraTime Radio!

Direct download: ETR_Mar30.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:54pm EDT

Everyone wants to talk about the US national team's big win, but first Ben 'The Research' Baer steps into the starting lineup to drop some knowledge that's downright painful for Minnesota United fans. It may have been a truncated MLS weekend, but there are still plenty of takes (hot, lukewarm and cold) to be had. Are the Loons really in contention to set records for futility or will this trend reverse? Is Pipa Higuain back to his best or was that a beautiful mirage against the Timbers? Is Tyler Adams the next coming?

 

Breathing easier this week? That might just be because the USMNT shook off months of uncertainty and worry after disposing of Honduras 6-0 at Avaya Stadium. As many tweeted at ExtraTime Radio, a hat-trick for Deuce -- and yes, we were watching the game and not just looking at the stats -- and some special moments from Christian Pulisic and Jozy Altidore, among others, got Bruce Arena and the boys back on the track. With Clint Dempsey bearing down on Landon Donovan's goal record, the guys wonder if there's a new all-time USMNT best soon to be crowned. Plus, how much can we really take away from such a lopsided result?

The first chance to find out whether the Americans have turned a page comes Tuesday against Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez (10 pm ET; beINSPORTS, Follow on the MLS App). David Sakata of Diario Pro joins the guys to explain why Graham Zusi is known as the ghost in Panama, what happened to Los Canaleros in Trinidad and how they'll attempt to grab a huge three points at home against a CONCACAF giant.

In the mailbag, the ETR curse is back (and may be Wiebe's fault), the guys debate Atlanta's effect on MLS, Ben wonders if the Red Bulls will stick with the 4-2-2-2 long term and David claims the Tyler Adams hype train for himself.

 

Direct download: ETR_Mar27.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:01pm EDT

Are you excited or nervous (or both) for the US national team’s Hex must-win on Friday against Honduras? To help you get through the week, the guys put together a comprehensive preview that includes interviews with Sebastian Lletget and Diario La Prensa’s US correspondent Eduardo Solano.

But first there’s plenty of MLS news to cover, including Bastian Schweinsteiger’s arrival in Chicago, where the Fire hope he’ll help usher in a new era in club history. That’s not all, either, as Jeff Cassar became the first head coach to lose his job in 2017. What will Real Salt Lake do next? That’s still a bit of a mystery, but there are hints.

Once that’s out of the way, Solano calls in to give an insider look at Los Catrachos, offer perspective on the changing profile of MLS in Honduras and make a prediction that might worry USMNT fans. Don’t worry, Lletget’s up next and Da Boy gets on the horn to give the American side of the story ahead of his first World Cup Qualifier and talk LA Galaxy and his position of choice. That’s all well and good, but what Andrew and David are really interested in is the new Power Rangers movie and Becky G’s role in it.

In the mailbag, listeners offer up potential soccer rule changes, the guys try to help get an MLS watch party in Korea off the ground and an RSL fan offers up four-pages of complaints.

Direct download: ETR_Mar23_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:54pm EDT

How does 40 minutes of unfiltered MLS, Olympic and US national team stories with Brian Dunseth sound? We thought so. Enjoy this bonus episode and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

Direct download: ETR_Dunny_Special_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:08pm EDT

Goals, goals, goals. Oh, and a howler of epic proportions. If you averted your eyes this weekend in MLS, you most definitely missed something.

Let the ETR crew catch you up, starting with an almost impossible question: If you could only watch one team the rest of the year, which would it be? Some say Portland (three wins in three games), others might go with Seattle (MLS Cup defense + scary attack), and if you're really brave, you might opt for Houston (La Pantera!) or Minnesota (someone is going to score goals). You'll have to listen to see who the guys went with. Let us know who you'd go with in the comment section below!

Also of note, big days from No. 9s. Josef Martinez had yet another big day for Atlanta United, Cyle Larin keeps scoring at home, Fanendo Adi is a bull in the box and Jozy Altidore closes the door in Vancouver. So who's the best finisher in MLS? Once again, opinions are split. Same when it comes to the US national team, where there are changes galore ahead of a must-win Hexagonal matchup with Honduras.

Plus, tune in for a wildly entertaining interview with Brian Dunseth and a mailbag with hot, lukewarm and cold takes from you, the listeners!

Direct download: ETR_Mar20_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:37pm EDT

First things first, have you taken the pledge? Don't Cross the Line may be a slogan, but it's also a way of life, so join the ExtraTime Radio crew in standing against discrimination of any kind. It's the right thing to do.

Kellyn Acosta knows something about the right thing to do, if that thing is banging in Beckham-esque free kicks in CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. Yeah, it was dope. Yeah, FC Dallas knocked off Pachuca. Yeah, they've still got a lot of work to do before we're talking CCL Final. Vancouver's situation isn't so positive, down 2-0 to Tigres, but they're headed back to Canada for the second leg, so who knows? Once that's out of the way, the guys turn their attention to MLS, where some would prefer the takes stay lukewarm until summer.

The US national have a must-win game (serious understatement) coming up against Honduras, and now we know the roster Bruce Arena will choose from to select the 11 players best suited for the job. Matt breaks down a confounding and encouraging group -- yes, that's possible -- then Chicago Fire midfielder Dax McCarty joins the guys to talk about his place on the team, his transition to life in Chicago and the beast that is Tyler Adams.

In the mailbag, a shout out to a listener making his way through Southeast Asia (but still listening to the show), more Acosta talk (not our fault, we're jacked) and a scouting report on the coach linked with the Canadian national team.

Direct download: ETR__Mar16_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:46pm EDT

Now that MLS is back, Mondays just got a whole lot better. The guys gather to break down the Round 2 results, starting with a frigid first-ever game in Minnesota that saw the Loons lose 6-1 to a rampant Atlanta United side under a blanked of snow. So what has to change? First things first, the defense, says Doyle, while David likes the look of the Josef Martinez-Miguel Almiron one-two punch up top for ATL.

Meanwhile, Andrew is jumping on the Houston Dynamo bandwagon, San Jose get some love (with a caveat), Luis Robles is the new MLS iron man, the Galaxy lose again in a bizarre match at the StubHub Center and Ben 'The Research' Baer gets his own segment. Itwasn't just about the games this weekend, either. There was some drama, featuring a Twitter back-and-forth between Alejandro Bedoya and Jozy Altidore.

It's not just MLS occupying our attention this week, as the CONCACAF Champions League returns with semifinal matchups for the Vancouver Whitecaps and FC Dallas against Liga MX compeition. ESPN FC's Tom Marshall joins the guys to explain why Tigres might just be the best Mexican team of all-time (gulp, 'Caps fans) and give Omar Gonzalez some props for his performances for Pachuca. Is this MLS's year? Maybe, but it's going to be a grind.

In the mailbag, a shout out to two long-time listeners, props for the Cauldron in Kansas City, some sketchy match in the Montreal Impact midfield, more love for the Dynamo and a vocabulary lesson from Helsinki.

Direct download: ETR_Mar13_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:35pm EDT

Superman on ExtraTime Radio? That’s something you’ve got to hear.

 Soccer is back – that has a nice ring to it – so Andrew and David sit down with a few MLS players to take the temperature of the league. First up, though, the guys dare to Zlatan, with rumors flying that the Manchester United star could be on his way to the LA Galaxy in the summer. They also look ahead to a weekend filled with big matches, from Sporting hosting FC Dallas, a Toronto-Philadelphia playoff rematch and hype trains making stops coast to coast.

After the break, Minnesota United striker Christian Ramirez, who scored the club’s first MLS goal, calls in after a team breakfast to shoot the breeze for more than half an hour. Ramirez describes his stop-start path through college and then up the pro ranks, how he almost ended up playing in Mexico this season, his superhero friendship with Migeul Ibarra (who was spying the whole time), and how wild (and maybe a little weird) TCF Bank Stadium is going to be on Sunday vs Atlanta (5 pm ET; ESPN2 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada).

 No mailbag on this day, as the guys leave their cozy studio space to head to New York City FC media day, where they sit down for a chat with Jack Harrison and Rodney Wallace. Wallace gets things started by interviewing Harrison about the season, then they move on to the Costa Rican’s time in Brazil, Frank Lampard and much more.

Direct download: ETR_Mar9_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:48pm EDT

MLS is back – no more previews, just the real thing – and the guys jam into one room to break down the Week 1 action. And there was no bigger story than firsts for Minnesota United and Atlanta United, each of which had their party spoiled in very different ways. The Loons absorbed a 5-1 loss in Portland on opening night, but is that really indicative of who'll they'll be in 2017? Meanwhile, Atlanta were Twitter darlings for 75 minutes ... then the Red Bulls reminded them that winning in MLS won't be some easy feat.

Jason Kreis knows a little something about tough expansion seasons, and while he was glad to open Orlando City's sparking new stadium with a win, the Lions boss probably lost sleep over an injury to Kaka that will keep the Brazilian out for six weeks. Can his teammates pick up the slack? It's going to be tough, that's for sure. Any game against FC Dallas is tough, which the LA Galaxy now know from experience after Kellyn Acosta's star continued it's steady rise with a game-winner at StubHub Center.

There's plenty more to chew on from Week 1, too. Should Houston be at the top of your MLS LIVE rankings? Are the Rapids MLS's answer to the binary code? Why aren't you on the Alphonso Davies hype train?

Direct download: ETR_Mar6_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:17pm EDT

The whole crew gets together one last time before #MLSisback to make are the normal and crazy predictions they can. Andrew, David, and The Research Baer are joined in studio by Matt to go from Rookie of the Year to MLS Cup predictions and everything in between. Who has the best shot at a treble? The leading USA soccer goal scorer on the year? Who will be the 2017 stepover king and so much more!

 

Don't forget to join the ETR fantasy league use code 12-308. And the guys will be back on Monday to break down the opening week!

Direct download: ETR_Predictions_2017_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:30am EDT