AFTN Soccer Show

Episode 431 - The AFTN Soccer Show (All Quiet On The Whitecaps Front - MLS U22 initiative, Erik Hurtado, Bjørn Johnsen, Football Time Travels, CPL player salaries)

The latest AFTN Soccer Show is out for another packed show of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and Canadian Premier League chat.

It's been pretty quiet in Whitecapsland, so that surely means a shorter show. We thought that too, but turns out we ended up with a two and a half hourer instead as we turned our attentions to other matters.

AFTN writer Jake McGrail joins us to look at the main Whitecaps talking points of the week and share his thoughts on last season, the offseason, and the season to come. Plus we look at MLS' new U22 player initiative and the convoluted rules that seem to surround it.

But while it's been quiet in Vancouver, the same can't be said in Montreal and we take a bit of time to delve into all the happenings out east from the continuing rebrand to new signings to possibly losing their head coach just before the season begins.

Will Thierry Henry be heading to Bournemouth to become manager there? Where does that leave Montreal this close to the start of the season and just who has been behind the club's numerous signings this offseason? We also hear from two of them, striker Bjørn Johnsen and a player very well known to Whitecaps fans, Erik Hurtado about signing for Montreal and more.

All of this plus we travel back in the TARDIS with Whitecaps CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster to talk about revisiting some football history in our new feature and we talk CPL salaries and how the exemplify the need for the players' union to be recognised.

Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

03.55: Whitecaps News of the Week
27.52: MLS' new U22 initiative
40.02: Montreal Impact chat
51.46: Erik Hurtado audio and discussion
66.30: Bjørn Johnsen audio and discussion
81.34: Is Thierry Henry heading to Bournemouth and where does that leave Montreal?
94.47: Football Time Travels featuring Axel Schuster
120.43: Wavelength - Vaudeville Smash ft Les Murray - Zinedine Zidane
129.39: CPL player salaries exemplify the need for recognising their union

Episode 430 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Everything's Changed Since Yesterday - Axel Schuster interview, Don Garber on season ahead, Champions League draw, TSN 1040 demise)

The latest AFTN Soccer Show is out for another packed show of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and North American football chat.

It's Valentine's Day and we love you all. So much so that we're dropping a bumper three hour episode early for you this week as there's lots to talk about.

The new MLS season is all systems go after a deal between the league and the players has been agreed and a lockout has been avoided. We hear from MLS Commissioner Don Garber about the deal and the season ahead.

But what does it mean for the Whitecaps? Where will they play? How disadvantaged will they be by players being away on international duty in the weeks before the season begins? We sit down for an in-depth chat with Vancouver CEO and Sporting Director Axel Schuster to chat about all of that, the plans to keep families together this season, the new head of recruitment, the search for a number 10, and more.

We also look at the demise of Vancouver sports talk radio station TSN 1040, Alphonso Davies winning a World Cup medal, and we delve into the draw for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, chatting with Atlanta United Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra, Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin, and Portland Timbers' Gio Savarese along the way about the draw and what the competition means to them.

Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

01.29: Don Garber on new CBA and the MLS season ahead
25.42: Unpacking Don Garber
47.30: Axel Schuster interview
106.22: CONCACAF Champions League draw - featuring audio from Gio Savarese, Jim Curtin, Carlos Bocanegra, and Caleb Porter
130.41: Phonzie wins FIFA Club World Cup
155.07: TSN 1040's demise and the future of sports radio in Vancouver
172.38: Wavelength - Halftime Oranges - The Girl From 4b

Episode 429 - The AFTN Soccer Show (3 O'Clock On A Saturday - MLS CBA discussions, CCL revamp, Raymond Weir interview, Whitecaps and CPL chat)

The latest AFTN Soccer Show is out for another packed show of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and Canadian Premier League chat.

At the time of recording this episode, it looks like a MLS lockout has been avoided. We talk about what info is flying around regarding the deal between the league and the players, and debate whether the players have given up too much that they'll come to regret in the long run.

We also delve into the Whitecaps and CPL news of the week and look at the exciting revamp of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Our feature interview this episode is tied in with our latest Wavelength selection. Glasgow band The Eisenhowers released their third album last month and the last track on it, and the first single taken from it, is a football based song called "3 O'Clock On A Saturday". Dubbed "a love letter to Scottish football" it's an evocative song, made all the more meaningful by having our ability to attend football matches taken away from us just now. We chat with singer songwriter Raymond Weir about the song, how football runs deep in us all, and give it a play for you all to enjoy.

Plus we find out if former Whitecap Andy O'Brien fancies a chocolate digestive and what is FC Edmonton head coach Alan Koch's favourite jam.

Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

02.12: Has a MLS lockout been avoided?
20.10: Whitecaps News of the Week
31.56: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive? - Andy O'Brien
33.22: CONCACAF Champions League revamp
46.56: Wavelength - The Eisenhowers - 3 O'Clock On A Saturday
53.30: Raymond Weir Interview
84.16: CPL transfer chat
92.56: Alan Koch's Favourite Jam
94.05: CPL prize back competition

Episode 428 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Football Cards Instead Of Cash - MLS lockout looms, Whitecaps add some players, Andy Rose interview, Tommy Gardner and Jackson Farmer on the CPL draft)

The latest AFTN Soccer Show is out for another packed show of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and Canadian Premier League chat.

Is a MLS lockout looming? We chat about that as things aren't looking good between the owners and the players, and while we may now have a start date for the new season to get underway, getting to that point still feels filled with a lot of uncertainties and a long way away.

As it all plays out, the Whitecaps have been busy making some signings to their squad. We look at the additions of winger Deibar Caicedo and goalkeeper Evan Newton, and chat to 'Caps coach Marc Dos Santos and Sporting Director Axel Schuster about the former. Plus we look at the return of Andy Rose and talk with the man himself about coming back to the team and his additional role as U19 assistant coach.

It's also been a busy week in the CPL with their 2021 U Sports draft. We look at some of the picks and chat with FC Edmonton's two selections, Whitecaps academy alumni Tommy Gardner and Jackson Farmer. Plus we hear a little bit from their head coach Alan Koch and we have a special CPL giveaway for one lucky listener.

This episode falls within CiTR Radio's annual Fundrive fundraising campaign. If you would like to help support the station with a donation, you can do so HERE and mention you were referred by AFTN.

Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

03.54: Is a MLS lockout looming?
24.19: Whitecaps add Caicedo and Newton - with audio from MDS and Axel Schuster
52.56: Andy Rose Interview
84.02: CPL Draft chat and prize giveaway
97.15: Tommy Gardner and Jackson Farmer interview
109.40: Wavelength - Tactics - Football Cards