Episode 579 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Knowing Who We Are with special guest Sam Adekugbe)

Explicit content warning

09/08/23 • 164 min

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS, Canadian national team, and Canadian Premier League chat.
The Whitecaps have a bye week for some much needed rest in the middle of their grueling seven-game road spell. They head into it after being crowned Cascadian Cup champions and bolstering their playoff push with a good road point at NYCFC. We delve into that match, the inadequacy of Yankee Stadium for soccer, and look at the lie of the land for the 'Caps in their battle for a postseason place.
We also chat about the initial impact Messi has had on the league both on the pitch and media landscape off it, and ponder whether the growing Saudi league will impact MLS and whether South American teams are wanting a piece of the North American pie.
Our feature interview this episode is with returning Whitecaps star Sam Adekugbe. We chat with some about his return to Vancouver, his hopes for the team, his club career in-between the 'Caps, and some Canadian national team highs, from his jump into a snowbank to his first goal for his country and, of course, playing in his first World Cup. We also chat about the departure of John Herdman, what's next for Canada, and the off-field battles with Canada Soccer.
Plus we chat about the week in the Canadian Premier League, as Vancouver FC lose again, the battle for the five playoff places heats up, and the plan to bring the CPL to Saskatchewan falters, for now. All of this plus Fontaines D.C. begin their residency as our Artists of the Month.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.29: Intro 10.00: The Whitecaps are Kings of Cascadia once again
19.34: Whitecaps playoff push continues after another good road point
48.48: Messi, Miami, MLS, and Media
59.15: Will the Saudi league and South American clubs impact MLS?
80.37: Sam Adekugbe interview
116.57: The Week in the CPL and Vancouver FC chat
138.49: Saskatchewan CPL plans "adjourned"
152.50: Wavelength - Le Man Avec Les Lunettes - Don't Get Fooled By the Football Players Summery Outfit

Previous Episode

Episode 578 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Blowing Up A Storm)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, MLS, Canadian national team, and Canadian Premier League chat.
The Whitecaps mammoth seven-game road spell is well underway now with two games down and five to go until they see BC Place again. They kicked things off with a hard fought 3-2 Cascadian derby victory in Portland at the weekend, making things much harder than they should have done in the end. That was followed up by 1-0 win in Chicago, and all of a sudden the 'Caps are challenging at the top of the table. We look back at the main talking points coming out of both matches and the road ahead.
It's been an eventful couple of days in Canadian soccer, with national team head coach John Herdman leaving his post to take up the reigns in Toronto. We look at the move to TFC and what it might mean for both Herdman and the future of the national team.
Plus we chat Canadian Premier League, that is tight as tight can be going down the stretch, Zach shares his experiences at a LAFC match, and Mog ends his residency as our Artist of the Month.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.30: Intro - 'Hollywood' Zach is back after watching LAFC
15.07: Whitecaps kick off mammoth road spell with two victories
46.28: John Herdman departs Canadian national team for Toronto FC
82.55: The worldwide search for the next CanMNT boss
98.00: Canadian Premier League chat
115.30: Wavelength - The Holy Roman Army - Royston Flies Into The Heart of Darkness

Next Episode

Episode 580 - The AFTN Soccer Show (What A Difference A Week Makes)

We’re back from vacation with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian Premier League chat.
We were originally planning to bring out an episode last Monday, but what a difference a week makes. The Whitecaps were sitting pretty after a win against TFC. If they won their last seven matches, they'd finish first in the West. In the week since, they've lost twice as the long road stretch starts to take its toll and have dropped to 7th but with other results going their way they could be 4th by midweek.
It's crazy in the wild, wild MLS West just now. We look at those three Whitecaps matches, the current lie of the land, and some of the big stories coming out of the Eastern Conference.
Turning our attention to the CPL, we look at wild weekend there too as Cavalry FC win the regular season title and book a berth in next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup, Vancouver FC make it back-to-back wins, the playoff race goes down to the wire, and some teams are in a battle to hit their U21 minutes threshold.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.24: Intro
05.45: The highs and lows of a turbulent 8 days for the Whitecaps
42.17: Hoilett joins but how long will he and Laryea be Whitecaps?
51.40: The wild, wild MLS West battle for the playoffs
67.40: It's getting Messi in the MLS East
77.36: Bruce Arena departs under a cloud
82.22: Matko Miljevic kicked out of Montreal after amateur natch fracas
87.05: Cavalry secure first as CPL playoff battle goes down to wire
97.10: Vancouver FC go back to back!
128.10: Are U21 minutes detrimental to CPL?
142.25: Wavelength - Armchair Loyal - From Mullets To Gullits