Four At The Back: Episode 15

The long-awaited but barely anticipated 15th episode of Four At The Back is available now, in which Dan Loney and I talk about the USA/Mexico game, Don Garber's decade as Commissioner of Major League Soccer, the just-completed "Summer of Soccer" and the future of our little show.

Who knew Landon Donovan had Swine Flu? Not Dan when we did the show and not me when I took him to task for a poor finish against Mexico. Get well, Landon. And watch out, Grant, that stuff's contagious.

Four At The Back: Episode 14

So is David Beckham really a bad captain and teammate? And what will happen now that he's due back in the States soon and will return to his contractually-obligated, short-term-stint MLS career next week against the Red Bulls in New York? Dan Loney and I will discuss that and other topics in the latest episode of Four At The Back.

So Landon Donovan called Becks out, then said he wished he hadn't. Dan's uncomfortable being in the middle because he likes them both and he has to hear it from both sides and he's just...so over it already.

The USA's performance to this point in the Gold Cup, the upcoming semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and the future of SuperLiga are also on the agenda for our 14th episode, which you can download here.

Keep those emails and iTunes reviews and ratings coming, folks. Or leave a comment below. Thanks to those of you who have subscribed lo these many weeks and to those of you who have just discovered the show.

Four At The Back: Episode 13

Back after a week's vacation, Dan Loney and I pick up with Episode 13 of Four At the Back by looking at the US Nats' shocking run to the Confederations Cup final, the potential demise of the Xtreme Soccer League and third-round results in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, plus we talk to soccer historian and author Roger Allaway about his new book, Corner Offices & Corner Kicks.

The XSL's death (they're calling it a one-year "hiatus") would consign it to the indoor soccer mortuary along with the original MISL, the NPSL, the CISL, the EISL, the WISL, the second MISL and the AISL. Fear not, we will still have the NISL and the PASL. What will happen to the XSL teams (including the longest-running pro team in America, the Milwaukee Wave) is stil to be seen.

Allaway's book looks at the similarities between two American soccer dynasties of very different eras: the New York Cosmos of 1971-84 and Bethlehem Steel FC of 1911-1930. No doubt you've heard of the Cosmos, but if you don't know the story of Bethlehem Steel, you're missing out on a fascinating chapter of our country's soccer history. You can order the book through Amazon.com.

Here's where to download the show, subscribe (and rate and review, if you would) the show on iTunes and send us your feedback (either in an email or in the comments below).

Four At The Back EXTRA #2: Shep Messing

Just our luck - the US pulls off a miracle, and we're going to be on vacation this week. So no new Four At The Back this time around (sorry), but on the second Four At The Back Extra, we bring you our entire interview with former star goalkeeper and current star analyst Shep Messing.

Even if you heard the original show, you will want to listen to this one. Did you know the Cosmos went on strike in 1976? Did you know Shep's book could one day be a movie? Did you ever hear the story about match-fixing in the NASL? It's all here. Give it a listen.

Thanks to all of you who have found our little show since we started it three months ago. Our audience is small, but apparently none too bright (kidding, we love you). We'll be back next week. Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to subscribe on iTunes and/or give us a rating or a review. We appreciate it. Keep those cards and letters coming.

Four At The Back: Episode 12

The plight of the National Team, branding Giuseppe Rossi a traitor, the top team in USL-1 and Mount Rushmore redux are the topics on this week's episode of Four At The Back.

Dan Loney and I look at the first two games of the Confederations Cup for the US and ask "What's next?" Also, Andrew Bell of the Charleston Battery and Fox Soccer Channel's USL-1 broadcasts stops by to talk about his top-of-the-table team and its upcoming US Open Cup challenge. And we look at reaction to last week's question, "Who would you put on the Mount Rushmore of American soccer?"

Download the show, subscribe (and rate and review, if you would) the show on iTunes and send us your feedback (either in an email or in the comments below).

Four At The Back: Episode 11

Josh Hakala from usopencup.com and Rob Penner from WPS are our guests on Episode #11 of Four At The Back. We also talk about the US Men's National Team's qualifier against Honduras and their prospects in the upcoming Confederations Cup, and, just for fun, ask "Who's on your Mount Rushmore of American soccer?"

Download the show, subscribe (and rate and review, if you would) the show on iTunes and send us your feedback.

Four At The Back: Episode 10

Falling between World Cup qualifiers, episode #10 of Four At The Back features discussion of the US Nats' loss in Costa Rica and a look ahead to the game with Honduras. Also, the best subbuteo player in the country, Zach Walker, is our guest (visit the American Subbuteo Association to find out more about this fun game). We'll also talk about Toronto FC's upcoming friendly with Real Madrid and Dan gets his David Beckham hate on.

Download the show, subscribe (and rate and review, if you would) the show on iTunes and send us your feedback (either in an email or in the comments below).

Also, many thanks to Brian Lewis of the New York Post for giving us some love in his soccer blog about last week's interview with Shep Messing.

Four At The Back: Episode 9

Shep Messing is our guest on the latest episode of Four At The Back (sorry it took an extra day to get it online - but, hey, you're not paying for it, so simmer down). We also discuss the US National Team's upcoming busy summer and ask what can be done about the US Open Cup?

Shep shares his insight on this year's New York Red Bulls team, the sad history of MLS' New Jersey/New York franchise and the glory days of the Cosmos in Episode 9.

We have well over 100 subscribers on iTunes now, and if you haven't subscribed, please do so. Also, send us your feedback -either on the show itself or a topic we've covered or a suggestion or just a rant.

Four At The Back: Episode 8

The Steven Cohen affair, ties in Major League Soccer, proFANity in the stands and an NASL reunion are the topics Dan Loney and I cover in the 8th episode of Four At The Back.

In honor of the season finale of American Idol, we even ran a little long this week. Sorry about that.

Here's where to find more information on the topics we discussed on Episode 8 of Four At The Back.

TOPIC 1: Steven Cohen's remarks on the Hillsborough tragedy of 1989 and the resulting fallout:

• The events of 15 April 1989 recounted, 20 years later.
  
• Steven Cohen's comments on World Soccer Daily leading up to the 20th anniversary of the tragedy. (More videos are here.)
  
• Liverpool FC New York Supporters Club, which has led a boycott campaign against Cohen's radio and television shows.
  
• Another boycott site.
  
• World Soccer Daily site.
  
• A petition in support of World Soccer Daily.
  
• Cohen's apology, read on the air a month later. (Text here.)
  
• LFCNY rejects said apology.
  
• The Taylor Report (.zip file)
  
• Liverpool FC itself condemns Cohen on its official website.
  
• Dan Loney's blog post on the situation.
  

TOPIC 2: Draws in Major League Soccer:

• MLS Standings
  
• Dan blogs about the draws.
  
• Percentage of games drawn in Major League Soccer since 2002 (through games of 5/17/09):
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  YEAR	GAMES	DRAWS	PCT.
  2009	68	28	41.2%
  2008	210	57	27.1%
  2007	195	50	25.6%
  2006	192	56	29.2%
  2005	192	44	22.9%
  2004	150	46	#30.7%
  2003	150	41	&27.3%
  2002	158	28	&17.7%
  #=League record | &=MLS used overtime

  
  
  
  

TOPIC 3: Fan Behavior:

• The original email exchange, from The Oregonian.
  
• The Timbers Army responds.
  

TOPIC 4: San Jose Earthquakes 35th Anniversary NASL Reunion:

• Bigsoccer thread on the reunion.
  
• Contact Ron Gilmore here for more information.
  
• NASL Heritage Cup.
  

Thanks for listening. If you've not subscribed on iTunes yet (over 100 of you have - thank you!), please do. If you can add some technical expertise (in terms of other ways for you to easily get the show, artwork, etc.) or if you just want to comment on the show, send us an email. Send us an .mp3 file, we'll use it on the show.

Four At The Back: Episode 7

We're back! Bryan James of the Sons of Ben stops by to talk about Philadelphia Union, we'll look at MLS storylines at the season's 1/4 mark, WPS gets physical and we wonder how super SuperLiga is, all on the new episode of Four At The Back.

Thanks to all of you who've been downloading the show (we're at 87 subscribers on iTunes). Please, a small request: if you like Four At The Back, just tell one person about it. Send them a link here. Just one person. And send us your feedback.

Four At The Back EXTRA: Jesse Marsch Interview

Some weeks are going to be like this. Dan Loney and I will be unable to connect to bring you a regular edition of Four At The Back this week, but fear not. Here's the first-ever Four At The Back EXTRA, where you can hear an entire interview with one of our guests, instead of just the five or six minutes we're able to fit into a regular show segment.

Jesse Marsch, captain of surprising Chivas USA, discusses the Goats' fast start, playing for Preki, his own potential coaching career, his departure from Chicago, David Beckham, how different MLS is now from when he first came into the league in 1996 and more in a show you can download here.

Thanks for all of your support. Subscribe to us on iTunes, please keep sending us your feedback and we'll be back with a regular edition of Four At The Back next week.

Four At The Back: Episode 6

The plight of last year's MLS Cup finalists, John Carver's departure from Toronto FC, the short and long-term future of the United Soccer Leagues and the first month of the Women's Professional Soccer season are the topics on the latest episode of Four At The Back, America's fastest-growing soccer podcast*.

Tim Holt, USL VP, is our special guest on this week's show - thanks to Tim for agreeing to join us. Thanks go out to all of you who have been listening to the show and subscribing to it on iTunes. Send us your feedback - let us know what you like, what you don't like, what topics you think we should cover or just how much you like my partner, Dan Loney.

*I have no idea if this is true. But we have had a good first month, so thank you, one and all.

Four At The Back: Episode 5

The USL-1 season has begun, Bob Lenarduzzi clues us in on Vancouver's new MLS franchise, Seattle comes back to Earth and whither Bruce Arena's career? It's all on the new episode of Four At The Back.

Download the latest show here, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and send us your feedback so we know what you like and don't like, or what you want to hear.

Four At The Back is a weekly soccer podcast featuring LA-based soccer-blogger and chiropodist to the stars Dan Loney and myself. Hundreds of people download it every week - you should, too!

Four At The Back: Episode 4

The new episode of Four At The Back features discussion of MLS officiating, a visit with Chivas USA's Jesse Marsch, theories on lagging MLS attendance and the US Soccer Supporters Club.

Download the show here, send us your feedback and go to iTunes and subscribe to the podcast if you like it.

Four At The Back is a weekly soccer podcast featuring LA-based soccer-blogger and philanthropist Dan Loney and myself. We like to think it's (fairly) intelligent, but at least (as the saying goes) it's short. So what do you have to lose?

Four At The Back: Episode 3

On this week's show, Dan Loney and I talk about the surprising start by the Seattle Sounders, find out the latest on DC United's stadium search (with correspondent Ed Morgans, on loan from The Fighting Talker podcast), examine USSF's big list of possible future World Cup venues and look at the state of the indoor game.

Download the show here (now with faster downloading goodness, thanks to Andy Mead), send us your feedback and go to iTunes and subscribe to the podcast if you like it. Someday, you'll be able to say, "Yeah, I've been listening to those guys since the beginning. You mean you just discovered them?"

Four At The Back: Episode 2

The second edition of Four at the Back With Dan and Kenn is now available (here and on iTunes). If you gave it a listen last week and enjoyed it, thank you. If you didn't, give it another tumble - we're working on making it better each time out. It's free and it's less than a half hour long.

This week, we touch on the US National Team, faux hooligans at MLS matches, the first WPS match and the new USL-1 team in New York. Download the show, give us your feedback, and subscribe on iTunes if you like it. Thanks.

Four At The Back: Episode 1

My man Dan Loney and I are proud to announce the launch of our new podcast, Four at the Back with Dan and Kenn. You can download the first episode here. We hope to do it weekly (not weakly), but we'll see.

If you're one of those people who knows how to make something like this available on iTunes, please let me know. I'm not good with all that technical stuff.