Finally! After eight years of trying, the Seattle Sounders are in MLS Cup after long last. Wait, finally? Long last? David is happy for the Cascadians, but he’s not sure why they’re being made out to be the Chicago Cubs of MLS. Jordan Morris may have some common ground with Michael Jordan, however, after his Flu Game performance helped take the club he grew up supporting to the brink of a title. Morris calls in to give an update on his stomach bug, describe the celebrations in the locker room and at the airport and look ahead to the biggest game of his life on Dec. 10. Plus, are the Rapids set up to compete for years to come or was this a flash in the pan?

Who will the Sounders play in MLS Cup? We know it will be a Canadian team, with Toronto hosting Montreal on Wednesday (7 pm ET; FS1 in the US, TSN/RDS in Canada) facing a 3-2 aggregate deficit. Should Greg Vanney start Will Johnson and Tosaint Ricketts? Is Didier Drogba on the brink of a Flu Game himself? The guys dive in full steam, then hit up TFC defender Justin Morrow for the lowdown on the paint fiasco in Montreal, the genius of Giovinco and the opportunity to host MLS Cup at BMO Field.

In the mailbag, big news in Los Angeles as the Galaxy name a new general manager and give some hints about their future head coach. Plus, US national team, Designated Player and Cascadia chatter.

Soccer doesn’t take a break for the holidays, and neither do Andrew and Dave in the wake of the first leg of the Conference Championships. With Matt off eating brisket in Texas somewhere, the guys celebrate Thanksgiving in the broom closet by breaking down the return of the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night.

 First up, the measurement snafu at Olympic Stadium that delayed the game for half an hour, but has David making Copa Libertadores comparisons. Let’s just say it was memorable. The delay didn’t effect the Impact, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead that had Toronto FC fans thinking déjà vu following last season’s playoff disappointment. Only it wasn’t to be, as the Reds stormed back to grab two away goals. In the late game, it was a similar tale. Colorado scored first, but Seattle quickly found their feet and ended up with a 2-1 win at home that sets up a tantalizing second leg on Sunday afternoon.

Sounders right back Tyrone Mears could make the difference in that game, and he calls in to chat with the guys about the playoff atmosphere in Seattle, the team’s up-and-down 2016 campaign, Nicolas Lodeiro’s class, Jordan Morris’ future, Roman Torres’ dance moves and an international career that took some strange turns. Then Dave and Andrew offer their takes on Bruce Arena’s new/old post with the US national team and Celtic’s rumored interest in Darlington Nagbe.

In the mailbag, it’s time to give thanks. For the soccer community, for MLS, for everything that makes the beautiful game unique in the United States and Canada.

In the wake of Jurgen Klinsmann's dismissal as US national team head coach and technical director, Andrew Wiebe, Matt Doyle and Ben Baer react to the news and look ahead. Could Bruce Arena be the next head coach? Who will benefit from the change atop the USMNT?

In the first segment the guys break down both conference finals first legs. In front of two packed stadiums who will be the X-factors that will swing the series. Kurt Larson calls in from Olympic stadium in Montreal to discuss Giovinco vs Piatti, and the home field advantages Montreal will try to use.

In the second segments the guys sit down just minutes after US Soccer announces they will be moving on from Jurgen Klinsmann as Head Coach and Technical Director. Also check out a separate special episode of ETR reacting to the US news in your podcast feed and on mlssoccer.com

In the mailbag how would Bruce Arena's appointment to the US job affect the LA Galaxy, and when will a Technical Director be hired.

Welp, that was a bad week for the US national team. After a 4-0 loss to Costa Rica in San Jose, it's crisis time in the Hexagonal for one of the favorites. Jurgen Klinsmann is understandably under pressure, and the guys ponder what went wrong (again) and what it means for the future of the program. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle joins to give his two cents on the German's job security as well as rumors that LA Galaxy boss Bruce Arena could be waiting in the wings.

The offseason hot stove is starting to heat up in MLS. First up, rumors (Carlos Tevez? Please tell us it is true) and a first-ever home jersey in Atlanta, then FiftyFiveOne's Wes Burdine calls in from Minnesota to provide perspective on reports that Adrian Heath will be the club's first MLS head coach as well as provide news (or lack thereof) on the player front. Also, Benny Feilhaber's new deal in Kansas City, D.C. splash cash on Luciano Acosta, a former MVP's son signs for FC Dallas and award season rolls on.

In the mailbag, a debate about Designated Players that revolves around Tim Howard's injury, #Bielsa4USMNT, questions about the MLS Cup Playoffs schedule and Soccer Thanksgiving requests.

After 12 hours on the road and some fitful sleep, Andrew and David are back in the broom closet to break down the death of Dos a Cero with Matt. Though the atmosphere was spectacular and the fans respectful and passionate, the tactics from Jurgen Klinsmann left something to be desired.

First the what, how and why behind the 3-4-3 that saw the Americans go down early, then the changes that helped the hosts fight back valiantly before the villain of all CONCACAF villain (Rafa, baby) got the goal the gave El Tri three valuable points in Columbus. Of course, there’s no rest for the weary. A trip to Costa Rica, where the US have never won, is next and the guys are split on how they think the result will pan out.

If you thought things would be quiet in MLS during the international break, think again. There’s big news from Frank Lampard, some hints but no confirmation from Steven Gerrard and an untimely injury for Tim Howard that will change the trajectory of the USMNT and Rapids’ MLS Cup bid. In the mailbag, a big congrats to FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges for his Defender of the Year nod.

The guys abandon the broom closet for the open road, road tripping to Columbus for United States-Mexico (7:45 pm ET; FS1, Univision) in the opening round of the Hexagonal. Will there be another Dos a Cero to add the legend or will El Tri shed the burden of history with a huge result at MAPFRE Stadium? Jurgen Klinsmann has some big decisions to make. Should Jermaine Jones start? Who partners John Anthony Brooks? Will Christian Pulisic explode into the mainstream with a big performance? The guys are buzzing ahead of the game. Don’t forget to say what’s up if you see us in the parking lot or at the stadium!

In the second segment, the guys get things started with a Rookie of the Year discussion. Jordan Morris won the award and deserves huge plaudits, but so do the other ROY finalists. There’s also big news out of Real Salt Lake, where Jeff Cassar found out he’ll stick around for at least one more year. Not so, in all likelihood, for Javier Morales, as it appears an era has ended in Utah.

 The mailbag begins with a Terrence Boyd proposal, then a long-time listener has beef with the way the LA Galaxy eulogy affected his daughter. Apologies!

Who else is dragging this morning? That’s what happens when you mainline the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs for 10 hours on a Sunday night. Whether you devoted your weekend to the Conference Semifinals or not, the guys are here to catch you up. First up, why can’t the Red Bulls seem to get over the hump? And what about the Impact, even with all the drama, makes them such a dangerous playoff team? Then, a jaunt over to Yankee Stadium, where Toronto FC embarrassed New York City FC, and looks out West as the Galaxy’s race to seis ended at the hands of the Rapids and the Sounders lost in Dallas but moved on to the Conference Championships all the same.

In the second segment, ESPN’s Taylor Twellman calls in from his secret lair outside of Boston to help the guys make sense of the playoffs so far and what the future holds for the teams who stumbled before the finishing line. Of course, there’s US national team talk as well ahead of a huge Hexagonal match in Columbus. Twellman thinks the pressure is on Mexico and that a US win is in the cards, but Andrew isn’t so sure.

There’s nothing quite like organ music. You’ll get plenty of it in the mailbag as the guys eulogize the seasons of both sides of New York, FC Dallas and LA. Finally, CCL qualification for a surprise club (should the results go their way) and decision time on some Designated Players.