The 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs are on and flying. David leans on Kurt Larson (Toronto Sun) and Sam Stejskal (mlssoccer.com) in Columbus to break down everything in the eastern conference championships. Then Matt Doyle joins in to breakdown the Sounders roaring start in Texas as the cup holders head towards a repeat.

In the mailbag Kurt and Sam stick around to talk the USMNT coaching options, and MLS playoff format.

2:56 TFC Tactical risks

8:28 Blueprint for Crew SC for 2nd leg

12:54 Pressure mounting on TFC

17: 27 Greg Vanney’s impact in Toronto

19:23 Debate over newcomer of the year

23:15 What buttons are Gregg Berhalter going to push?

29:21 Sounders looking like the reigning champs again

33:02 What went wrong for Houston?

36:47 MLS Cup Playoff theatrics

38:40 Leg 2 preview

41:20 Caleb Porter for USMNT? If not then who?

44:10 Could Justin Meram have been a USMNT star?

45:32 Playoff format debate

And of course Happy Thanksgiving to all our ETR listeners.

The Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs are finally back after a two-week absence and the crew here is to breakdown everything you need to know heading into both Leg 1's on Tuesday night.

In Columbus, Crew SC have a huge opportunity ahead of them as Toronto FC will be without Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. What will head Gregg Berhalter do tactically to befuddle the Supporters' Shield winners and who will TFC rely on to fill the scoring void (8 pm ET; ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US | TSN 1/3/4/5, TVAS in Canada).

Out West, the Houston Dynamo host the Seattle Sounders at BBVA Compass Stadium (9:30 pm ET; FS1, FOX Deportes in US | TSN1/3, TVAS in Canada). The big question for Houston is who will start in the attack while Seattle will be weighing whether to push forward for an away goal or try to keep a clean sheet. Plus, the guys discuss Caleb Porter's exit from the Portland Timbers.

Segment 1 - Full breakdown of Eastern Conference Championship Leg 1

• What do Crew SC need to do vs. short-handed Toronto (2:33)
• Who replaces Jozy and Giovinco for TFC? (10:02)

Segment 2 - Full breakdown of Western Conference Championship Leg 1 + Caleb Porter reax

• How does Wimer Cabrera juggle attacking pieces? (18:12)
• Do Seattle repeat performance from Leg 1 vs. Vancouver (20:53)
• Predictions for Leg 1 (32:21)
• Reaction to Caleb Porter leaving Portland (32:41)

Segment 3 - Mailbag and Hot-Take Hotline

• Are Ben Baer's takes really that hot?
• Does Caleb Porter's departure make him a more likely USMNT option?
• Should Almiron have won Newcomer of the Year (47:54)

The guys get back together to discuss the four teams left in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. What are the expectations and points pressure for each side? How were able to get to this point in the season? What will the future look like win or lose for them? Plus a sit down with Howard Webb on Video Review

3:48 TFC the pressure and task at hand

10:30 Crew SC how did they get here, what’s in store for the future?

20:20 Does Dempsey need this MLS Cup to cement his legacy?

31:30 How Houston was built, what is their core going forward, and how do the Honduran Internationals perform after their heartbreak in Australia.

42:27 Howard Webb interview on Video Review’s historic roll out, goals for improvement, and what to expect in 2018.

56:45 USMNT-Portugal reaction, debating the future of the GK position

1:08:20 International NIT?

With the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs still on a break and Andrew Wiebe welcoming Cameron Russell into the world (congrats!), the ExtraTime Radio crew spends some time talking to new Revolution head coach Brad Friedel to understand his philosophy heading into his first professional coaching gig, and previewing the young USMNT squads matchup in Portugal (3:45 pm ET; FS1, Univision, UniMás).

3:47 Brad Friedel Interview
10:16 Friedel on his International contacts he can bring to New England
12:11 How player acquisition will be handled
13:17 Friedel on Revs Academy
16:28 Revs attacking pieces fitting together
20:26 Cody Croppers future
21:25 Friedel on the profile of player the Revs will look for.
32:11 What to look forward to for USMNT fans on Tuesday
37:36 Should the US Soccer foundation be taken down or built on?
42:22 Timeline for hiring next US coach
44:24 Pulisic’s TPT article
50:24 The progress of MLS Homegrowns
53:55 Yaya Toure to NYCFC?
57:00 Debate over Sounders Dynasty

The last time in a little while soon to be father Andrew Wiebe and the gang get together to cover all the MLS news. New England make their big coaching hire what will Brad Friedel bring to the club? Up north Remi Garde could be a game changing manager for both Montreal and MLS.

In the second segment Dave Sarachan USMNT Interim Manager calls in from Portugal to discuss the future for his young squad, and look back on the dark days of CONCACAF Qualifying.

In the mailbag the guys pick through some fantasy MLS trades, fan fiction MLS Cup 2017 finishes, and debate MLS dynasties.

Turmoil in the tunnel. Handbags in the hallway. Clash in the club. The 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs got heated on Sunday as the field was narrowed to four, and Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan got all the headlines for the fracas that led to red card to both ... at halftime!

The guys weigh in on the BMO brouhaha, break down Crew SC's loss (but series win) at Yankee Stadium and try to find the balance between injuries and results as the Dynamo busted brackets in Portland.

Plus, USMNT chatter and much more in the Hot-Take Hotline!

The guys break down the Sounders victory as they continue on their quest for MLS Cup repeat. They ask what is next for the Whitecaps. In the second segment they preview the Sunday action of leg 2 MLS playoff action as it is win or go home time. 

With the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in full swing, the guys get together to dig into Tuesday's Crew SC-NYCFC match and the three Conference Semifinal first legs already in the books. Can anyone stop Toronto FC? Are fans right to boo Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley? Can Portland cope with the loss of Diego Chara? Why can't anyone score goals in the Western Conference?

Four games and the Knockout Round down, 13 games and a season-capping trophy lift to go as the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs roll on. After two long nights – one with goals, and one without (though no shortage of drama) – the guys sit down to make sense of it all ahead of the first leg of the conference semifinals.

In this episode...

Segment 1 - Knockout Round review

• Sorry Atlanta, Columbus are officially the darling of the MLS Cup Playoffs (4:26)
• Pipa goes Panenka, Zach Steffen's coming out party in PKs (11:01)
• Set-piece dominant Vancouver wipes the floor with Earthquakes (13:12)
• Sporting KC fans lament yet another disappointing playoff loss (16:05)
• Where Kansas City must improve, no excuses (20:12)
• Fire peak in June, Red Bulls get rolling at just the right time (24:20)

Segment 2 - Semifinal matchups

• VANvSEA - 'Caps look to replicate Sounders 2017 run, No Dempsey for Seattle (28:53)
• NYvTOR - Why the Red Bulls could pull the upset, Why Toronto won't let that happen (33:28)
• HOUvPOR - Dynamo revolve around ... Vicente Sanchez, Timbers easy favorites (39:52)
• CLBvNYC - Everyone is rooting for Columbus, David Villa must carry NYCFC (45:28)

Segment 3 - Mailbag and Hot-Take Hotline

• Offside calls get Soccer Twitter up in arms (53:33)
• Why didn't Tata reorder the PK shooters? (55:32)
• Pedro Santos hot take, but what about final product? (57:05)
• Sam Allardyce for USMNT? San Jose? No thanks (1:05:38)

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There's no better time than the present for MLS fans, and the guys are in heaven following an insane Decision Day that saw the sixth and final playoff spot change hands seven times, the Western Conference picture shuffle and the Eastern Conference go bonkers only to stay the same (somehow). Listen for analysis from the final day of the regular season, plus a Knockout Round preview that includes a few fearless predictions!

In this episode...

Segment 1 - Decision Day drama

• Can we do that every single weekend? (1:55)
• Scoreboard roulette for the final playoff spot (3:35)
• Should wins be the first tiebreaker? Or goal differential? (7:02)
• What's next for FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake? (9:15)
• 'Caps talk a big game but can't back it up (12:33)
• Should Clint Dempsey miss mulitple games for that elbow? (14:05)
• Joy for Houston ... and despair for Kansas City (16:50)
• USMNT players booed, Miggy returns in ATL (21:10)
• New York City holds serve thanks to Villa (25:45)

Segment 2 - Knockout Round previews

• CHIvNY - Dax trade referendum, pressure on the Red Bulls (29:20)
• VANvSJ - Fredy Montero's attacking futility, Quakes hoping for Goonie magic (34:01)
• ATLvCLB - Potential for fireworks as Almiron returns, Crew SC play for the fans (38:05)
• HOUvSKC - Who starts up top for Dynamo? Can Sporting buck history? (43:11)

Segment 3 - Mailbag and Hot-Take Hotline

• This week's Baerantee is trash (49:40)
• Shame, shame, shame from Canada (52:04)
• Revisiting preseason predictions (52:54)
• Naming names and revealing our awards ballots (59:15)

Subscribe to ExtraTime Radio to listen to the podcast twice a week. "Like" ExtraTime Live's page, so you never miss a show on Facebook Live!