Mint City Soccer Show

Charlotte FC got a much-needed road win in Toronto, playing one of the best matches of the entire season. David and Corey are here to talk about it. Topics include:

• Can we keep this up?
• Is this the defensive lineup we need to keep going forward?
• When does Kahlina return after getting benched for Bingham?
• The attack is finally clicking.
• Summer transfer rumors.
• And beach music.

If we recorded this one on Tuesday, the tone would be very different. Charlotte FC looked great in a home win over Columbus Crew Saturday, but followed that with a disappointing performance in New Jersey Wednesday.

David, Matt and Corey are back together to discuss the matches. Topics include:

• What's actually going wrong with the defense.
• Refereeing and VAR.
• Expectations for the rest of this road trip.
• Beer showers.
• Roller coasters.

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Lie down, close your eyes (unless you're driving) and take a deep breath in ... hold it ... and breathe out ...

We'll get through this together. Charlotte FC lost two more matches – Saturday at home against Chicago in one of the worst home performances in club history and Wednesday on the road at D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. David and Corey are here to try to talk you through it and search for any positives we can find in this horrible run of form.

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The whole gang is back together, and we sure wish it was under better circumstances. Since we last published, Charlotte FC lost two away matches against Nashville Saturday and Orlando Wednesday. That's now four straight MLS losses for the Crown.

In addition to answering your questions, we asked:

• Why are we meddling with the defensive strategy?
• Is it time to panic?
• What kind of team-building exercises should CLTFC do to help right the ship?
• And more ...

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Charlotte FC has been busy since our last show, losing on the road to Columbus Crew 4-2 and winning a while extra time battle with in-state rival North Carolina FC in the U.S. Open Cup. David is here – all by himself! – to break it all down and answer your questions. Questions like:

• Was the Columbus Crew loss as bad as it looked?
• Is our depth so bad that one or two injuries can tank us?
• If you were able to put one player on a live mic through the whole match, who would it be?

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That's one way to break a home winning streak. Charlotte FC fell to New England Revolution 1-0 in a frustrating and messy match.

David and Corey get together this week to discuss:

• Was it a bad match for Charlotte FC? Or bad luck?
• What is offsides, really?
• Referees in general. This one in particular.
• Zaha's Snapchat.
• Everyone gets a fine!
• And we answer your questions.

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Not many people know Charlotte FC better than Eric Krakauer. He's been with the club since the beginning, serving as the Crown's play-by-play commentator during its inaugural season, and he's stayed close with the players, coaches and front office ever since.

So he's the perfect person to bring on for our 150th show as we explore the evolution of Charlotte FC from expansion team to the No. 1 team in the East.

In a fun, wide-ranging conversation, Eric, Matt and David discuss:

• What has made this year's team so successful compared to previous seasons.
• Eric's thoughts on players like Pep Biel, Wilfried Zaha and Liel Abada.
• What Charlotte needs to get out of the tough away stretch coming up.
• What Eric loves about living in Charlotte.

Last time we had Eric on (nearly 100 episodes ago!) it was a loud night at Salud (remember those?). The audio quality is much better this time, we promise.

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Charlotte FC earned an improbable 2-1 win over Nashville SC at Bank of America Stadium Saturday. And there's plenty to talk about:

• That ... unusual starting XI.
• Seriously though, what was with that lineup?
• Privett and Malanda's special connection.
• Zimmerman's horrific injury.
• Zaha taking the match by the horns.
• Toklomati's unreal, game-winning goal.

Matt and Corey are here to break down it all and answer your questions!

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The road woes continue for Charlotte FC, as the Crown fell 2-0 to Colorado Rapids over the weekend. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe use your listener questions to guide the conversation as we discuss:

• Why Charlotte FC hasn't performed as well away from home.
• The subs against Colorado.
• The issues with the back line against Colorado.
• What's going on with Abada.

Charlotte FC General Manager Zoran Krneta joined us this week for a very special episode! In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss:

• Zoran's appearance in MLS' "Onside" show.
• Zaha coming to Charlotte.
• Pep Biel's performance and return to the club.
• The LB position.
• Patrick Agyemang's call up to the USMNT.
• The season so far.
• And what rule change he'd love to see in MLS.

What a win for the Queen City. Charlotte FC debuted the Fortress kit at home and used two quick second-half goals to take down FC Cincinnati. The goals couldn't have come at a better time for Patrick Agyemang and Liel Abada.

David Gusler and special guest Matt Chantry discuss all of that, then look ahead to Saturday's match against San Jose in which we'll be missing several players for the international break. Finally, we take your listener questions!

We know you're probably trying to forget Sunday's match, but we still need to talk about it. Charlotte FC traveled to play Inter Miami. Messi didn't play. Miami got a red card in the first half. And somehow The Crown still lost 1-0.

We try to pull some bright spots out of a tough result and discuss what else we've learned about this team three matches into the season. Then we dive into your questions and talk about Big Pat's big news.

It wasn't pretty, but Charlotte FC earned a point against the Sounders on a rainy night in Seattle. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe are joined by special guest Russell Varner to discuss the bright spots from the match – like Malanda rising like a salmon for a corner kick goal – and also any worries we have about the team after the performance.

We also see where Own Goal ranks on the list of all-time goal scorers for the crown and answer your listener questions.

The whole gang is back together to talk about Charlotte FC's preseason matches against LA Galaxy and Phoenix Rising, the recently announced Leagues Cup schedule and Wednesday's Kit Reveal party. We also take your questions about the roster as we get closer to the start of the season.

We're back for the final episode of 2024 and we have some feelings about the front office moves we've seen from Tepper Sports & Entertainment the past few weeks. Specifically, how these changes affect Charlotte FC and what they may say about the focus of the organization.

Agree? Disagree? We want to hear from you. Hit us up in the comments or on social!

And we hope everyone has a Happy New Year! We'll see you in 2025.

The 2025 Charlotte FC and MLS schedule came out this week, so Matt and Corey took a look at the road ahead for the Crown. We break down some of the bigger matches, interesting away days and an especially difficult stretch of road games in the middle of the season.

And we answer a listener question about egg nog.

Now that we've had some time to reflect on the premature end of Charlotte FC's season, we invited super guests Vaughn Pollman and Russell Varner to join Matt Swift and David Gusler to answer your many questions about this season, the offseason and beyond.

We cover everything from our favorite moments to player moves to team giveaway ideas.

David and Corey are back, and it's time to reflect. Since we last talked, Charlotte FC won its first home playoff match (yes, they won) but then lost Game 3 of the series with Orlando in heartbreaking fashion. We talk about those matches and reflect quickly on the season as a whole.

But first! Some good news: Kristijan Kahlina was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year!

Charlotte FC travels to Florida Sunday night to open its first-round playoff series against Orlando City. Matt, David and Corey reminisce on the season finale win over D.C. United, get you ready for the match in Orlando and answer all your questions. Or at least most of them.

Matt, David and Corey are back in the virtual studio to break down Charlotte FC's incredible recent run of form that has the team bound for a first round playoff series. We discuss what's working, make some predictions and talk or way too long about Walter's.

Finally! Finally, Charlotte FC fans saw the new attacking pieces click together and put on a show in a 4-0 win over New England Revolution. David Gusler and Corey Inscoe talk about Dean Smith's lineup tweaks, discuss player performances and new contracts, and answer your listener questions.

Matt, David and Corey are back in the studio to gear up for a huge week for Charlotte FC and its playoff chances. We did things a little different this week, spending almost the entire show answers all of your wonderful listener questions about roster moves, tactics and ... peach cobbler. We also look ahead to Saturday's crucial match at CF Montreal.

Charlotte FC hosts That City at Bank of America Stadium Saturday. David Gusler is here to break down the match, let you know what to expect, and offer his prediction for the final score.

It's match week and we're back with a very special guest: Charlotte FC General Manager Zoran Krneta. Zoran returns to the show to break down the latest transfer window, including his frantic week in London.

We talk about the players we have coming in this summer, the success the team has had so far this season and get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes in to making a deal on deadline.

We're sneaking in with a quick episode this week. Matt Swift takes a look back at Charlotte FC's 2-2 draw with Orlando City Wednesday and looks ahead to Saturday's away match against Philadelphia Union.

We'll be back with a full episode next week, we promise.

Charlotte FC and more than 2,000 supporters went down to Georgia and came back with a big rivalry win. Charlotte FC beat that city 3-2 with the help of an own goal and a brace by Liel Abada.

Matt and David are back on the show this week to discuss the win and answer your questions – and Corey has a special surprise to open the show.

Another busy week for Charlotte FC and the results ... were a mixed bag. After a scoreless draw with Philadelphia Union Saturday, the Crown traveled up to New Jersey and gave up three goals late in the second half against New York Red Bulls. We break down both matches, and take a look at the very interesting Karol Swiderski news that came out this week.

Kristijan Kahlina saves us again! He made two massive saves in the final moments of Charlotte FC's draw with LA Galaxy Saturday night. David Gusler and guest host Donny Embleton (aka Fat Bird) break down the scoreless draw and Charlotte FC's recent run of form.

Then we have a special guest, Philadelphia's own José Nuñez, on in the second half of the show to preview Charlotte's upcoming match with the Philadelphia Union.

We have a jam-packed live show for you this week! Matt Swift and David Gusler break down the Charlotte FC wins over Nashville and Chicago and look ahead to this weekend's home match against LA Galaxy. Then we answer your questions and tell you about our favorite planets.