Still in the post-Omaha haze, the guys sit down with FMFC assisant coach and set piece specialist Neil Hlavaty to chat about the 1-1 draw on the road, our likely largely incorrect analysis, and the delicious phenomenon that is Red Beer™. This is hopefully our last "long form" episode before some format changes, so enjoy the extra discussion with Neil (no game this weekend means more time to listen, right?). Football is back!
It's part 2 of our 2023 season preview, as Andrew, Grant, and perennial over-sharer Steve chat to FMFC returnee and skipper, Mitch Osmond. We ask Mitch how the club and team has improved from last season, the impact Isidro Matrinez will have on the pitch, and how youngsters like Julio Benitez and Tino Vasquez fit into the manager's plans. Bonus: Australian language lessons, a Red & Black Sydney, and the new Flamingo impressing the vets during preseason.
The 2023 season is upon us, and we realized we havent chatted much on the show with the returnees from 2022. Andrew, Grant, Mitch, and April chat to Derek, Nazeem, and Wheels about why they came back to Madison for another season, FMFC's fan support, and what it will take to bring silverware home to Madison. Also: what constitutes a "rivalry" and how they're different for players compared to fans, and which USL1 matchups they're most relishing.
We're joined on this episode by old friends and new, as Grant, Andrew, and Steve welcome April and Travis as well as new FMFC #10, Jayden Onen. Jayden chats about his time at Arsenal's Hale End Academy, his love for basketball and American football, and his personal goals for the season. Jayden may seem soft-spoken, but really he's calculating. We're glad he's here, because he looks quite the player.
The guys sit down with Fresno, CA, native and new FMFC striker Christian Chaney, discussing growing up with dual heritage, chasing the USL1 golden boot, leaving Fresno for Madison, and carpe-ing that diem. Formerly playing in Mexico, Malta, Armenia, CC9 brings a wealth of experience and a voracious appetite for scoring to a club long overdue for a prolific striker. Chaney is a big personality, someone who loves his family, and takes great pride in his background and culture — and his level of confidence ahead of this new campaign is infectious. The vibes are most certainly good at the moment, which is crucial being that we’re just a little over two weeks away from kicking things off down in Omaha.
Andrew, Grant, and Mitch sit down with new boys Aiden Mesias and Mauro Cichero to discuss how they're settling in to Madison, growing up with footballer fathers, the importance of family, and the deliciousness of Filipino food. Mauro shares about his comeback from ACL injuries, not once but twice, and Aiden's choice of favourite film may surprise you. This is the first time we've chatted with Aiden, who looked quite good in the CF97II scrimmage last Friday. The game was a closely-contested affair in the first half, opened up by a group of trialists in the later part of the game, one specific trialist especially impressing this publication's staff. Time will tell if he's given a contract, but let's just say he's got family ties to Madison and in my estimation would be an easy fan-favorite.
It's a full house this week as the guys sit down to chat with returning guest Keith Tiemeyer, FMFC's Director of Soccer Operations and Development. We discuss fashion at the Polar Plunge, how community events galvanize the club with fans and the city, Paul Mullin's wondergoal vs Aldershot Town, and what a player's boot colorway says about their personality.
FMFC owner and COO Conor Caloia joins us for a spirited chat about all things 2023. We discuss FMFC's offseason dealings, new USL1 clubs, and wealthy owners' use of public money to fund stadiums. Also: Conor and Vern join the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics, the rumored ESPN+ deal, and 2023 stadium improvements.
The guys sit down with Rob Chappell, the co-host of FMFC podcast Talkin' Flock and Executive Editor of local non-profit news outlet Madison365. We discuss Rob's history as a journalist, our favorite Sean Connery b-movies, and our hopes for the new boys and the season ahead.
The gang's all here for an retrospective of FMFC assistant coach John Pascarella's career as a player, coach, author, and intellectual. We discuss how a chance meeting led to coaching and then playing in Peru, the best pasta sauce surnames, and playing for the first LA Galaxy team in 1996.
