Episode 584 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Playing With A Passion with special guest Richie Laryea)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and Canadian Premier League chats and interviews and soundbites galore!

The Whitecaps learned their playoff path on Saturday after their home draw with LAFC set up another three games series against the defending MLS champs in the first round of the postseason. We look back on that draw, look ahead at the matches to come, and hear the thoughts of both head coaches, Vancouver's Vanni Sartini and LAFC's Steve Cherundolo. We also hear from the villain of the piece, LA goalkeeper Max Crepeau.

Our feature interview this episode is with Whitecaps wingback, and Canadian international, Richie Laryea. We chat with Richie about his career so far, coming to Vancouver, playing at a World Cup, and what the future may hold in store for him.

Plus we talk Whitecaps and MLS salaries and where Vancouver sits amongst it all, look at the other playoff match-ups around the league after an exciting Decision Day, and ponder who should play Vanni Sartini and Axel Schuster in any upcoming Whitecaps movie!

Turning our attention to the CPL, we chat with Vancouver FC's Rob Friend and Afshin Ghotbi about attendances, marketing, and the challenges of a tough inaugural season.

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

01.28: Intro - busy weekend, spicy food, Sinc retires
14.03: Whitecaps playoff path set after LAFC Decision Day draw
31.05: Max Crepeau audio and discussion
41.55: Decision Day and MLS playoffs round-up
50.41: A look ahead to Whitecaps-LAFC playoff series
60.27: Vanni Sartini and Steve Cherundolo on playoffs
67.37: Who will play Vanni and Axel in the Whitecaps movie?
75.48: Richie Laryea interview and discussion
107.36: Whitecaps and MLS salary latest - money doesn't equal success
135.15: Rob Friend on VFC's attendance and marketing issues
156.45: Friend and Ghotbi talk VFC's challenging first season
171.09: Wavelength - Resistance 77 - You Reds