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.

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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.
  

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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.

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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.