The AFTN football/soccer podcast primarily about Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, and the Canadian Premier League with lots of interviews and fun segments thrown in.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 07, 2016
Thursday Apr 07, 2016
Another Vancouver Whitecaps MLS match, another week we end up speaking non stop about MLS referees and their DisCo overlords. It's all getting a bit old now.
The ten man 'Caps battled for a point against LA on Saturday. We look back at the big talking points from the game - Matias Laba's red card, Pedro Morales' injury, the play of Kekuta Manneh, and the continued lack of goals - and take a look ahead to this weekend's cross-country crash with DC United.
Onto brighter news, and WFC2's first home match of the season gets underway on Sunday. We look over the young 'Caps strong start to the season and hear from two of the team's big players, striker Daniel Haber and defender Kadin Chung. Both Canadians and both hoping to make the jump to the Whitecaps' MLS squad with standout performances at USL level.
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Wednesday Mar 30, 2016
Wednesday Mar 30, 2016
Vancouver Whitecaps made it back to back MLS wins at the weekend, facing Houston Dynamo very shorthanded and coming away with the 1-0 win.
The defensive side of the Whitecaps game is improving by the week. What's behind the turnaround and is it here to stay? We hear the thoughts of head coach Carl Robinson, goalkeeper David Ousted, and defenders Jordan Harvey and Fraser Aird.
At the other end of the pitch, Vancouver are still struggling to put the ball in the net from open play. Are the goals coming or should we be deeply concerned? Ousted and Robbo give us their thoughts and we share ours.
We look ahead to the visit of LA Galaxy at the weekend and ponder what lies in store from that one and which of their big name players may or may not make the trip north.
Our special guest this week is Houston Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle (find it at the 21.55 mark). We sit down with him for an extended chat about his move to MLS, life at the Dynamo, the challenges the league presents, his career to date as a player and a manager and a lot more.
And there's still time to talk a little bit of Canadian men's national team.
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Wednesday Mar 23, 2016
Wednesday Mar 23, 2016
What a weekend lies in store for football fans in Vancouver. It's a club and country double header at BC Place, as Canada take on Mexico on Friday and Vancouver Whitecaps host Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
And we have a jam packed podcast for you looking ahead to both matches.
With so much to cover we've cut the chat and gone interview heavy.
We hit the Canadian camp and chat with head coach Benito Floro about the Mexico game and what qualifying for the Hex and the World Cup would mean to soccer in Canada.
We chat with newest Canadian recruit Scott Arfield about pledging his international future to #CanadaRed and talk to two veritable old hands now, Toronto FC midfielder Will Johnson and Orlando striker Cyle Larin.
There's no Whitecaps players with the senior Canadian team this weekend, but they are losing four starters to international duty and we chat with two of them.
Christian Bolaños looks back at Saturday's controversial Cascadian derby in Seattle and looks ahead to Costa Rica's two crunch World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, while Tim Parker has his eyes firmly set on the qualifying for the Rio Olympics with the US U23 side.
Those absences will weaken the Whitecaps considerably for this weekend's MLS match against the Dynamo, and it might mean the first MLS minutes for rookie centre back Cole Seiler. We talk to Cole about that prospect and find out how's he's settling in to Vancouver and what he's been learning about his game.
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Here's a breakdown of where to listen to each guest in the podcast this week:
Benito Floro (04:16)
Scott Arfield (13:46)
Will Johnson (22:48)
Cyle Larin (33:20)
Christian Bolaños (42:01)
Tim Parker (45:58)
Cole Seiler (51:36)
Wednesday Mar 16, 2016
Wednesday Mar 16, 2016
Don't panic Whitecaps fans. We're not in Kansas any more. Well that's the good news. The bad news is that a winless Vancouver side now has to head down the road to take on a pointless Seattle side. So now change there.
It's the first Cascadia Cup clash of the year this weekend and we'll have plenty of talk preview that match up, as well as a look back at whatever that was last weekend in Kansas City.
We'll also look at Vancouver current defensive plight, particularly in the right back position, and get some thoughts from 'Caps coach Carl Robinson on the issue.
And talking of Whitecaps defenders we're joined for this podcast by special guest Fraser Aird to talk about the 'Caps, and his own, start to the new MLS season, making the adjustment from a right winger to a right back, the Seattle game, and playing in an Old Firm derby with Rangers.
And there's still time to look at the Whitecaps Designated Players and ask, are team just simply not scared of them any more?
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Monday Mar 07, 2016
Monday Mar 07, 2016
So for the second straight year, MLS First Kick ended up feeling more like a first kick in the nuts of the year for Vancouver Whitecaps, as they went down to a 3-2 defeat to an impressive Montreal Impact side.
We're joined by Harjeet Johal to pick over the bones of the 'Caps season opening loss. What went wrong? What was up with the usually stellar Vancouver defence, Fraser Aird and the lack of tracking back from the midfielders? And what happened to converting more of those chances? We look at all this and a lot more from the game from both a Whitecaps and an Impact perspective.
We hear from both coaches, Carl Robinson and Mauro Biello, about what they thought of their sides opening day performance and what they can take away from the match, and chat with one of Montreal's goalscorers, Dominic Oduro, about the game, his goal and the play of Ignacio Piatti.
And there's still time to catch up with new Montreal midfielder Harry Shipp and find out about how he's settling in to his new team, the weirdness and pressure of not turning out in a Chicago jersey, and his thoughts on the season opener.
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Wednesday Mar 02, 2016
Wednesday Mar 02, 2016
MLS First Kick 2016 is just around the corner and the excitement is building in Vancouver for what could be a season of great possibilities for the Whitecaps.
Montreal Impact come a calling to BC Place for the 'Caps home opener. They'll be without Didier Drogba, so exactly how much of a challenge with they post to Vancouver? We look ahead to the game and cast an eye over Montreal's line-up, their preseason form and what we can expect from the eastern Canadians in the new season. How will Vancouver counter them and what line-up and formation are we likely to see from Carl Robinson?
There will be a couple of Whitecaps MLS debuts on Sunday and one of them with be from influential Costa Rican playmaker Christian Bolaños. We sit down with the veteran midfielder to discuss what's brought him to MLS now, what role he sees himself playing in Vancouver, take a brief journey through his career, discuss the rise of Costa Rican soccer and find out what he still wants to achieve in the game.
And there's still time to look ahead at the upcoming MLS season. Who will reign in each Conference? Will there be any dark horses? And who is going to take home the Cup this year and what are the chances of it sitting in the Whitecaps trophy cabinet as an early Christmas present?
There's a lot of chat to be had, so have a listen!
Friday Feb 26, 2016
Friday Feb 26, 2016
Can you believe it? The 2016 MLS season is just over a week away! And it's exciting times with Vancouver Whitecaps as the new season draws close.
Confidence and expectation remains high and we're down with the 'Caps in Portland as they start to wrap up their preseason camp, but there's a lot of questions still to be answered.
We're joined by new AFTN columnist Zachary Meisenheimer as co-host this week to look at some of those questions and the latest news surround the 'Caps camp. Who will win a starters spot? What's been up with Masato Kudo? Where in the world is Darren Mattocks? And will there be some more new additions in the immediate future? We chat about all of these things and get some thoughts from 'Caps coach Carl Robinson.
One of the biggest battles appears to be in the full back positions and our main guest this week is Canadian international Sam Adekugbe, who's looking to beat out Jordan Harvey for the left back role. We chat with Sam about the battle, his own preseason, the competitiveness and depth of the Whitecaps this season and his offseason training stint at Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Championship.
There's also a lot of competition in the center back department as well, and we speak to the player who got his big break last year and grabbed it with both hands, Tim Parker. Is he feeling the pressure in his second season? And will he be heading to the Olympics in Brazil with the US?
One former Whitecap who is looking to get his big break this year is Residency alumni Callum Irving. The former University of Kentucky keeper was passed by in the MLS SuperDraft but is getting his chance at Chicago Fire. We catch up Callum to find out how it's going, that whole draft experience, being a Canadian in MLS and his first senior camp with the Canadian national team.
Line up the balls, pot a maximum and have a listen!
Sunday Feb 07, 2016
Sunday Feb 07, 2016
The Road to Rio begins for Canada's women's national team on Thursday when the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament takes place in Texas. Canada looks well placed to make it to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil and we have you covered with a special podcast dedicated to the women's team.
We hear from head coach John Herdman, who chats about his new look roster, the qualification campaign ahead and the future for the Canadian women's program.
We welcome one of the veterans of the team back to show as we chat with Rhian Wilkinson about the pressures of last year's World Cup, the changing of the guard, the exciting new crop of young talent coming through and the future of women's soccer in Canada beginning with this Olympic campaign.
One of the newer faces during the World Cup is now one of the veterans. Allysha Chapman talks to us about her breakout tournament last summer, taking on a leadership role within the team, the Olympic quest and the legacy for the women's game in Canada.
Now our knowledge of the women's game has some gaps, so we turn to an expert to look ahead to the tournament and how Canada might fare, as we chat with journalist, and AFTN regular, Harjeet Johal.
Have a listen!
Tuesday Feb 02, 2016
Tuesday Feb 02, 2016
David Bowie sang about "Young Americans". We were hoping to find a cover version with someone singing about "Young Canadians" instead for this podcast. We couldn't find that, so you'll have to make do with interviews with three of Vancouver Whitecaps young Canadian stars.
We have an extended chat with new signing Fraser Aird who's looking to establish himself as a first team regular after his loan move from Rangers? Is he keen to hang around long term, what was behind his decision to come here and what might it mean for his Canadian national team hopes? All this and a lot more discussed in his first media conference call.
We also have exclusive interviews with two Whitecaps Residency alumni, who are hoping to see first team minutes this season, midfielder Ben McKendry and goalkeeper Marco Carducci.
It was a tough season last year for both players, for differing factors, but both are back, ready and raring to go and show Carl Robinson they deserve to be part of his long term plans.
We also look at the imminent arrival of Blas Perez. What will it mean to the team, their goalscoring and their disciplinary record? Will the fans accept the horned striker? And there's still time to cast our fashionista eyes over the new Whitecaps away kit.
Have a listen!
Thursday Jan 28, 2016
Thursday Jan 28, 2016
Vancouver Whitecaps hit the training pitch for the first time in 2016 and AFTN was there to bring you all the action! Well, all the audio.
As players new and old try and make a lasting impression on 'Caps coach Carl Robinson, he'll just be hoping that one or more of his strikers can put the ball in the back of the net on a more consistent basis. We chat with two of those strikers, both of whom have been linked with moves away to pastures new this offseason, Jamaican international Darren Mattocks and Erik Hurtado.
Mattocks talks about those transfer rumours, finding his international form at club level and his new found maturity and perspective as a soon to be father, while Hurtado tells us about his loan period in Norway and trying to come back and crack the 'Caps gameday squad.
If both players hang around, they'll have a new striker's coach, with former Welsh international Robert Earnshaw announcing his retirement to take that position along with becoming head coach of the U14 Residency team.
We chat with Earnie about his decision to retire, his coaching path, the challenges ahead, what he hopes to bring to the U14 team and a lot more.
And there's still time to hear from Christian Dean about trying to unseat the centre back pairing of Waston and Parker and making an impression of his own, along with some of the big stories from the first week of preseason camp.
Have a listen!
Friday Jan 22, 2016
Friday Jan 22, 2016
The boys are back in town! Well for some of them it was for the first time, as was the case with Vancouver Whitecaps new Japanese striker Masato Kudo.
Friday was Media Day in Whitecapsland as the team headed back for day one of their 2016 preseason camp.
We hear from Kudo as he meets the Whitecaps media for the first time and we chat to him about making the move to MLS from the J League, the challenges ahead, what kind of player the 'Caps fans can expect to see and a lot more.
Keeping the Kudo and Japanese flavour, we speak to journalist Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo on Twitter). Dan is an American based in Tokyo and he covers the J League, the Japanese national team and international soccer for Football Channel. Dan tells us the impact he expects Kudo to make in Vancouver, what kind of player we'll see, how the two leagues compare, the interest his move will create amongst fellow players and what it might mean for the future of the J League.
From a player who is coming to a player that was rumoured to be going - Gershon Koffie. We ask Gersh about the rumours of a move to Belgium or elsewhere in Europe, whether he's looking for a new challenge, how he spent his offseason and the fast tracking of his Canadian citizenship application.
And there's still time to hear from 'Caps coach Carl Robinons about future roster moves and the camp invitees he's having a look at, while Russell Teibert tells us about what making an impact at the stacked DM position and Jordan Harvey talks about the battle he faces once again from Sam Adekugbe for the left back role.
Have a listen!
Monday Jan 18, 2016
Monday Jan 18, 2016
Another week, another MLS draft, but this was the big one!
The 2016 MLS SuperDraft took place in Baltimore on Thursday. Vancouver Whitecaps ended it with three new players, and we chat with all of them on our latest podcast.
We have post draft conference calls with Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson and Georgetown defender Cole Seiler and exclusive one on ones with Lynn University's German striker Chris Hellman and Princeton University forward Thomas Sanner.
And there's still time to hear from Robbo about one player who wasn't selected on Thursday, Whitecaps Residency graduate, Callum Irving.
Have a listen!
Tuesday Jan 12, 2016
Tuesday Jan 12, 2016
With less than two weeks till Vancouver Whitecaps start their preseason training camp, we look at all the latest news and rumours from Whitecapsland.
It's been a busy time and we chat with 'Caps coach Carl Robinson about how the signing of Masato Kudo came about and tapping into the Asian market, re-signing Cristian Techera, the TAM mechanism, his draft priorities and how he will approach Thursday's SuperDraft in terms of possible trades and moving up, and more.
We then also look at the imminent signing of Christian Bolaños, what holes that leaves the 'Caps to fill and who might fill them, and the latest goalkeeping situation.
And there's still time to look at the 'Caps 2016 schedule.
Have a listen!
Friday Jan 08, 2016
Friday Jan 08, 2016
With the MLS schedule out and the signings starting to take shape, it's already getting exciting in Whitecapsland, two months before First Kick.
In the last of our three end of season roundtable discussions, AFTN writer Jay Duke, and Curva Collective's Zachary Meisenheimer and Steven Lamothe join your regular podcast co-hosts to look at what Vancouver Whitecaps need to do next, after their best season in MLS so far, to take that next step and raise some silverware.
Carl Robinson now has two years under his belt as head coach. We cast a critical eye over his performance and his tactics, formations and man management.
Robbo likes his youth but is the team missing some players in their late 20s to add that bit more experienced heads and calming influence at key times? Is there real leadership on the team from captain Pedro Morales?
Do the 'Caps need to splash the cash to challenge with the big spenders in the league or risk getting left behind? And with the roster now taking shape, who won't be here come First Kick, are the team too heavy with DMs and how do you get the young homegrowns regular minutes in a pretty set starting line-up?
Where will, and what should, the Whitecaps priorities lie for this year ahead and are modern day footballers too pampered and whiny?
We chat about all of this and more. Have a listen!
Monday Jan 04, 2016
Monday Jan 04, 2016
Happy New Year!
As the hangovers clear and you wonder if that turkey belly will ever reduce again, we thought we'd bring you something fun and light-hearted to kick off 2016. And that something is a special gameshow episode of the podcast, as we welcome in the new year with '30 Seconds To Mars'.
We're joined by AFTN writer Jay Duke and Curva Collective's Zachary Meisenheimer and Steven Lamothe to ponder over which Vancouver Whitecaps player was the best addition in 2015 and who was the worst? Which young player offers the most potential going forward, what were the most disappointing defeats, high and low points of the year, which MLS players should the 'Caps sign and a lot more!
It's chaotic, it's pointless, it's childish, it's heated (as you'd expect when there's a mars bar and a copy of a 1974 Scorcher annual at stake) and hopefully it's a fun listen too. And just a warning - this podcast contains horns!
Wednesday Dec 23, 2015
Wednesday Dec 23, 2015
Ho Ho Ho everyone!
It wouldn't be Christmas without AFTN's Christmas Special podcast and aptly, we have a veritable cracker in store for you this year.
There's a lot of magical things about Christmas, but let's be honest, the best part is the presents! And if they're football related pressies, then all the better!
I'm sure we've all had a few over the years. Vancouver Whitecaps players and managers certainly have and there's some they'd still like to get this year as Carl Robinson, Alan Koch, Kendall Waston, Tim Parker, Pa Modou Kah, Kekuta Manneh, Pedro Morales, Mauro Rosales and Octavio Rivero share with us.
Also in the show, Kekuta tells us about the first pair of proper football boots he ever received, Robbo talks Boxing Day games back in blighty, and Mauro and WFC2 player Victor Blasco tell us what Christmas is like in Argentina and Spain.
And no special podcast would be complete without hearing what Pedro and Mauro's favourite jam is!
Have a listen!
Sunday Dec 20, 2015
Sunday Dec 20, 2015
2015 is nearly at an end. Of course for Vancouver Whitecaps, their competitive year came to a shuddering halt in the second week of November.
In the second of our three end of season roundtable discussions, AFTN writer Jay Duke, and Curva Collective's Zachary Meisenheimer and Steven Lamothe join your regular podcast co-hosts to look back the 'Caps 2015 season and their first five years in Major League Soccer.
This season was the 'Caps best one in the MLS era in many areas. In such a strong Western Conference, did Vancouver punch above their weight or did they finish where they deserved? And despite the successes, was this year a missed opportunity for the Whitecaps?
There was a first Voyageurs Cup, a first Champions Leagues campaign and a Western Conference semi-final appearance. But with our Cascadian rivals winning the whole shebang, how much pressure does this and the club's achievements this year put on the Whitecaps going forward?
Portland Timbers entered MLS the same year as the Whitecaps, in 2011. Both clubs are now five years into their new eras. The Timbers have won both a Western Conference title and a MLS Cup so far, with the Whitecaps left trailing and trophyless in the league. Just how have those first five years been for Vancouver and what will the next five years hold in store?
We chat about all of this and more. Have a listen!
Sunday Dec 13, 2015
Sunday Dec 13, 2015
It's December, it's the offseason, so that can only mean one thing - AFTN's annual pre Christmas "State of the Whitecaps" chat with 'Caps coach Carl Robinson.
As always, Robbo is very open and honest with us about the season past and what lies ahead for 2016 and beyond.
How busy will the 'Caps be in the transfer market this offseason and where is Robbo looking to strengthen? How will the new TAM be used and will this see at least one more DP come to Vancouver? Where will the goals come from next year?
We cover all this and a lot more in our half hour chat, as we talk tactics and formations, the value of MLS experience, the complexities of moving players within the league, developmental pathways and find out the latest on David Ousted, Cristian Techera, Callum Irving and some other titbits.
And we also ask the big question - what would it take to tempt Robbo away from the Whitecaps right now?
As an added extra this year, we also have a chat with WFC2 head coach Alan Koch about what he's learned from the club's first USL season, preparations for year two, and the upcoming MLS SuperDraft.
Have a listen!
Thursday Dec 10, 2015
Thursday Dec 10, 2015
The 2015 MLS season is over. The less said about exactly how it ended, the better. But that all now means that the silly season is upon us and we're not talking about Christmas festive frolics.
As 19 teams look back as to why the didn't win the MLS Cup and Portland work on how they can retain it, let the magic roundabout of player movement begin with drafts and trades galore.
The Whitecaps have been fairly quiet so far, but we kick off the first of three special end of season roundtables with a look at the players the Whitecaps have released from their roster and who they may like to acquire from the upcoming MLS Re-Entry draft, free agents and trades.
We also have a look at what the new TAM agreement may mean to the 'Caps moving forward.
Regular AFTN roundtablers Jay Duke, Steven Lamothe and Zachary Meisenheimer join regular hosts Michael McColl and Steve Pandher to look back at, and ahead to, all of the latest happenings.
Have a listen!
Saturday Nov 14, 2015
Saturday Nov 14, 2015
The future is looking very bright if you're a fan of Vancouver Whitecaps or the Canadian national team. If you're a fan of both, well then, you're being spoiled right now aren't you?!
Canada's current crop of talent got the latest round of their World Cup qualification quest off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Honduras in Vancouver on Friday night.
We look back at the highs and the lows from the victory and ponder what may lie ahead in the group and in terms of where the next home games will be played.
It's exciting times for both Voyageurs and players alike and we catch up with one of the latest to commit to Canada, Glasgow Rangers right winger/right back Fraser Aird. We chat about his tough decision on his international future and about life at one of the Old Firm giants.
Turning our attention from country to club, we look at the offseason plans and moves for the Whitecaps? Can they keep their top talent like goalkeeper David Ousted? Will some veterans move on? How can the new pieces fit in to the current make up of the team?
We chat with veteran midfielder Mauro Rosales and second year centre back Christian Dean about the season just past and what may lie in the future for both of them.
Have a listen!