What a weekend. What a week. It's had us away with the ferries, and that's where this rather different, and shorter than usual, episode of the AFTN Soccer Show has been recorded as we take to the high seas to travel to Victoria.
The Canadian Premier League kicked off its inaugural season this weekend and we headed over to Pacific FC's first ever match, a 1-0 win over HFX Wanderers. We hear from both head coaches and catch up with CPL commissioner David Clanachan to chat about the opening weekend, the growth of the league so far, Pacific's opening game, the One Soccer deal, and a lot more.
Turning our attention to MLS, we also break down another disappointing home draw for Vancouver Whitecaps against Philadelphia Union on Saturday afternoon.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
02.31: Pacific FC and the CPL kicks off
08.28: Michael Silberbauer postgame audio and more chat
22.18: Stephen Hart postgame audio
27.37: A chat with CPL commissioner David Clanachan
44.47: Vancouver Whitecaps v Philadelphia Union match analysis
Happy Easter everyone. It wasn't quite the eggcellent Easter week that Vancouver Whitecaps yearned for. A win and a defeat is okay on paper, but how did it leave you feeling as it played out in front of your eyes?
We look back at the 'Caps win over LAFC and the loss in Orlando. Where did it all go right and wrong, and where does the team need to go from here? We chat a little with Marc Dos Santos to get his thoughts on that and how the team is shaping up eight games into his tenure.
We have a couple of feature interviews for you this week, both with a defensive slant, and featuring a current and an ex Whitecap. We sit down with goalkeeper Max Crepeau about his early days playing football as a kid in Quebec and the recent 'Caps matches.
Then we catch up with an old friend, LAFC right back Steven Beitashour to chat about not being valued as a defender in MLS, his career high, his new podcasting venture with Jordan Harvey, and more.
Plus we continue our 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations, look at the weeken'ds action in the MLS West, hear some gold from LAFC head coach Bob Bradley on the BC Place turf, and go a little French for this week's Football Violence Awareness Month Wavelength.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
03.04: Vancouver Whitecaps v LAFC and Orlando analysis
30.53: What's going wrong with the 'Caps with Marc Dos Santos audio
65.06: Max Crepeau interview and defensive discussion
79.25: Steven Beitashour interview
91.29: 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations continue
94.50: MLS West Week in Review
110.32: Wavelength - Bolchoi - Hooligan
116.23: The Whitecaps women's team abuse allegations
VAR has certainly given us a lot to talk about on the show this year, but at some stage we just want it to stop.
As Vancouver Whitecaps lost more points after a video review, we look back at the draw in Chicago on Friday night and the good, the bad, and the ugly things to come out of the game. We hear from both head coaches and look at what, if anything, the 'Caps can do to quickly turn their fortunes around.
It won't be easy with two tough games coming up this week, with LAFC coming to Vancouver on Wednesday and then a long trip to Orlando on Saturday. We look ahead to both of those matches and review the weekend's action in the MLS West.
Plus we imagine MLS teams as Game of Thrones house, continue our 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations, find out if Jon Erice fancies a chocolate digestive, bring back an old segment with new Whitecap Scott Sutter and The Young Boys are here for this week's Football Violence Awareness Month Wavelength.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
03.02: Chicago Fire v Vancouver Whitecaps
35.42: Coaches audio - Veljko Paunovic and Marc Dos Santos
42.15: What will turn the Whitecaps fortunes around
51.46: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive - Jon Erice
55.04: 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations continue
61.04: LAFC preview
77.30: MLS reimagined as Game of Thrones
84.20: MLS West Week in Review
98.24: What's Your Favourite Jam? - Scott Sutter
101.32: Wavelength - The Young Boys - Football Violence
104.28: BC Soccerweb Headlines - football news from around the world including the continuing Whitecaps women's team abuse scandal
It was all looking fairly good at half time, penalty horrorshow aside. It was looking like the Lion Ibrahimovic was sleeping tonight, with Doneil Henry as the Lion tamer. Then it all went horribly long, Vancouver Whitecaps looked a disorganised and dysfunctional mess, and another loss was handed out following another blank at home.
We look back at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the loss to LA, hear from both head coaches, chat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and ponder where the 'Caps go from here.
Plus we look at the weekend's action in the MLS West, talk CPL jerseys and football clichés, continue our 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations, find out if Scott Sutter fancies a chocolate digestive, and The Business are back again in this week's Wavelength.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
03.21: Vancouver Whitecaps v LA Galaxy analysis
29.45: Coaches audio - Marc Dos Santos and Guillermo Barros Schelotto
36.39: More Whitecaps v Sounders chat
44.35: Zlatan Ibrahimovic audio and discussion
58.31: 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl celebrations continue
64.13: Football clichés
73.15: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive - Scott Sutter
78.20: MLS West Week in Review
89.23: Canadian Premier League jersey launch
102.36: Wavelength - The Business - Hardcore Hooligan [Explicit Lyrics]
106.29: BC Soccerweb Headlines - football news from around the world including the continuing Whitecaps women's team abuse scandal
It's Vancouver Whitecaps first Friday night lights match of the new season this week and the Billy big boys of the MLS, LA Galaxy, are coming to town with their eight DPs.
Joe, Nick, and Gideon are back with AFTN's latest preview podcast as they look ahead to the match. Can the 'Caps build on their first points of the season against yet another Western Conference rival? Can they contain Zlatan and avoid giving away any more penalties to him? And does Portland's goal against LA last weekend give Vancouver quite a bit to work on in terms of getting through the Galaxy defence? All this and a lot more are discussed in a highly entertaining episode this week.
LA head to Vancouver with a young striker called Zlatan Ibrahimović making some headlines around MLS. He's only a second year player but he's shown signs that he has what it takes to make it in the league. The lads discuss the Swede and debate whether he'll turn ip, sorry, up.
And it amongst all the chat, Do You Know Who I Am? returns, as does the prediction game, and see if you can pinpoint the moment in the episode when Gideon's heart is broken. Have a listen!
We have a point! From small acorns do big playoff pushes grow. Hopefully.
Vancouver Whitecaps finished March with a draw against Seattle Sounders. We look back at the match, hear from both head coaches, and look at some of the 'Caps news from both heading into the game and coming out of it. Plus our feature interview this week is a chat with Spanish midfielder, and new 'Caps captain, Jon Erice.
Plus in a packed show we kick off our season long homage to the 'Caps historic 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl win on the anniversary weekend of that year's season opener. We look back at what was happening that weekend, the game against Dallas Tornado, and dig into our vaults to bring you an interview we had with the wonderful Willie Johnston back in 2014.
Plus we look at the weekend's action in the MLS West and it's a special double Frank Sidebottom Wavelength this week to celebrate the release of the documentary film honouring his life, Being Frank.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
02.08: Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders chat
10.53: Coaches audio - Marc Dos Santos and Brian Schmetzer
17.00: More Whitecaps v Sounders chat
29.13: Whitecaps talking points of the week
32.03: Jon Erice interview and discussion
40.25: Wavelength - Frank Sidebottom - Estudiantes (Striped Shirts, Black Panties)
43.25: MDS on 'cheaters'
51.41: 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl win chat
58.51: Willie Johnston interview
78.02: MLS Week in Review
94.55: Wavelength - Frank Sidebottom - 6 Greatest Football Chants
101.41: BC Soccerweb Headlines - football news from around the world in partnership with BCsoccerweb.com