Episodes
Friday May 29, 2015
Episode 113 - The AFTN Soccer Podcast (Wrapped In The Canadian Flag)
Friday May 29, 2015
Friday May 29, 2015
The 2015 Women's World Cup is just over a week away. Forget all the FIFA scandals for now and look forward to what football should be about, the actual action on the pitch.
So join us for the second of our special Canadian Women's National Team pre-World Cup podcasts.
We look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Canadian team and their opponents with the help of Harjeet Johal. Where will Canada finish? Who is going to win the whole thing? And who are the dark horses to watch out for?
We also bring you more of our fun chats with the CWNT players.
Kicking things off is goalkeeper Erin McLeod, as we delve into the mind of the player on the pitch and the artist and speaker off it.
Another goalie is next up, with Karina Leblanc the latest to spill the beans on her friends and squad member with our latest instalment of "Teammates. You know that's going to be radio gold.
From the oldest player on the team to the youngest! We chat with new sensation Jessie Fleming about coming into a group of players that's been together so long, what she learned at the U20 World Cup, her plans for the future and do her teammates try and sneak her into clubs?!
We finish up our players chat with one of our faves, the Destroyer, Desiree Scott as we talk playing in England, nicknames and fish and chips!
And there's still time to talk jam, with Emily Zurrer, Rhian Wilkinson, Allysha Chapman and Diana Matheson.
Have a listen!
Monday May 25, 2015
Episode 112 - The AFTN Podcast - "There's Still Time" (One F In Referee)
Monday May 25, 2015
Monday May 25, 2015
What can you say after Vancouver Whitecaps and the referee's performance in Colorado on Saturday night? A lot as it turns out.
We look back on the game, and some of its more controversial moments, with AFTN writer Jay Duke.
Just what did the referee see at Pedro Morales' free kick? Just what was going on with the officiating on Saturday? And why is he still allowed to referee in MLS in the first place?
But it's not all about the ref. Too many Whitecaps players are not performing. Do the tactics need to change? What about the formation? And why is there no variety apart from playing fast guys who can't break down defences? Can they back on track against RSL?
One player who might be back in the MLS line-up soon is centre back Diego Rodriguez and we talk to him about his return to playing for WFC2, his injury, his initial thoughts on MLS and his hopes for the rest of the season amid a fierce battle amongst the centrehalfs.
Have a listen!
Monday May 18, 2015
Monday May 18, 2015
A winless weekend for the Whitecaps, but fear not, the AFTN podcast is here to try and take your mind off things. Although talking about the things probably doesn't quite do that. Hmmm.
We're joined by guest Harjeet Johal for most of this episode, to look over the loss to Seattle Sounders and look ahead to this Wednesday Canadian Championship semi-final second leg at FC Edmonton.
What went wrong and can Robbo turn things around quickly? How strong a team will take the pitch at Clarke Field? Was the 'Caps early season success a true indication of the team or inflated?
We hear from both head coaches, Vancouver's Carl Robinson and Seattle's Sigi Schmid, along with audio from the victorious Sounders locker room as we chat with goalscorer Chad Barrett and the central defensive pairing of Brad Evans and Chad Marshall.
And we have a couple of MLS veteran goalkeeping guests on this episode as well. First up, former Sounders keeper and current colour guy Kasey Keller talks a little bit about the weekend's match and then former Sporting KC keeper Jimmy Nielsen talks to us about getting in to coaching in Oklahoma and shares his thoughts on his fellow Dane, David Ousted.
And there's still time to look at WFC2's 2-2 draw with OKC Energy in USL action and chat with coach Alan Koch.
Have a listen!
Sunday May 10, 2015
Sunday May 10, 2015
Vancouver Whitecaps are back to winning ways. Sure it was just against a hapless Philadelphia Union side, but still, 3-0 is 3-0.
We look back at the match that was and just what is up with the Union with the help of Philly.com writer Jonathan Tannenwald. Can Philly turn things around and help keep TFC out of the playoffs again? We certainly hope so!
We hear from both coaches, Vancouver's Carl Robinson and Philly's Jim Curtin, along with 'Caps captain Pedro Morales and former Whitecap, and MLS debutant, Union 'keeper Brian Sylvestre.
And there's still time to look ahead to this Wednesday's Voyageurs Cup clash with FC Edmonton.
Have a listen!
Thursday May 07, 2015
Thursday May 07, 2015
The 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off a month to this very day in Edmonton (hopefully without any snow).
With the eyes of the world's game focusing on Canada for a month or so, we thought we'd get you in the mood with the first of two Canadian Women's National Team special podcasts that we'll be bringing your way before the tournament kicks off.
We'll be talking with a number of different aspects to the CWNT - coaches, players and fans. Kicking things off is head coach John Herdman, who talks a little bit about some of the players announced to his World Cup squad and what the thrills of playing at home will mean to him and the team.
We kick off our chats with the players with our first ever CWNT "Teammates" section, as Emily Zurrer shares some insights and home truths about the team. Who has the worst dress sense? Who's the most intelligent? And who takes the longest in the shower and in front of the bathroom mirror? All this and more inside info!
One name that cropped up a few times in Emily's "Teammates" section (and Karina Leblanc's which you'll hear in another episode) was midfielder Rhian Wilkinson. Now, I have to admit here, Rhian was my particular favourite player we spoke with for these two podcasts. She was great fun to chat with (not the others weren't, but we could have chatted with her for way longer than we did!) and we covered a whole host of topics including what playing a World Cup in Canada means to her, the learning process from tournaments past and whether a coaching role is in her plans after she finishes playing.
Away from the playing side we find out about her podcast habits, her childhood without television and playing so many other sports, whose Panini sticker she carried around and we try and get her to write for us here at AFTN (the offer of which is still open Rhi!!).
Taking a break from the players for a few minutes, we chat with one of the leading lights of the Voyageurs supporters' group of west, Curva Collective member Zachary Meisenheimer. Zach talks to us about what having the tournament here means to the fans and how they plan to support not just the CWNT but the whole tournament.
One of the newest faces in the squad is Allysha Chapman. After only getting her first senior cap last October, the 26-year-old is now set to play a World Cup on home soil. We talk to Allysha about her journey, what it was like coming into such a close knit group, playing in Sweden, how hard it is to keep hold of mascots hands, her love of Maple Leafs and maple butter, and we find out who sent her an email saying "we're watching you"!
A player who was touch and go to make the World Cup roster was one of our particular favourite players, Diana Matheson. The midfield dynamo talks to us about her recovery from her two injuries, the x-factor John Herdman brings to the team, what the girls learned from the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Olympic experiences, dealing with the mental pressures and advantages of playing a World Cup on home soil and her Netflix habits.
And there's still time for some more jam talk, this time with Erin McLeod and Karina Leblanc, the youngest player on the squad, striker Jessie Fleming and midfielder Desiree Scott.
Have a listen!
Friday May 01, 2015
Episode 108 - The AFTN Soccer Podcast (Portland Preview Show)
Friday May 01, 2015
Friday May 01, 2015
There's nothing like a tasty Cascadian derby to get those juices flowing.
Vancouver Whitecaps head south this weekend to take on their heated rivals, the Portland Timbers and we've got you covered for the match with our preview podcast.
We look ahead to what might be in store at Piggy Park, who the 'Caps might play and whether any of the Timbers' key injured players might return. We also hear from both coaches as Whitecaps' boss Carl Robinson exclusively gives us his thoughts on what kind of game the 'Caps need to bring and we hear from Timbers' boss Caleb Porter's training scrum.
We also look at the 'Caps center back issues and hear the full awkward, and unedited, chat with Pa Modou Kah at training this week when asked about his mistakes in game. You can cut the tension with a knife!
And there's still time to look ahead to next Wednesday's Voyageurs Cup game in Edmonton and bring you another in one of our favourite features, "Carl Robinson's Big Question".
Have a listen!