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Mint City Soccer Show

Mint City Soccer Show

By Mint City Collective

A Charlotte FC podcast.

We love Charlotte. We love soccer. We love Charlotte soccer.

Listen for Charlotte FC and MLS news, the history of the beautiful game in Charlotte and interviews with folks who love Charlotte soccer as much as we do.

Brought to you by the Mint City Collective, CLTFC’s supporters’ group.
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Currently playing episode

30. Charlotte FC's first goal

Mint City Soccer ShowMar 16, 2022

00:00
54:28
PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati

PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. FC Cincinnati

Charlotte FC is back at the bank this weekend to take on that fake Queen City. Matt Swift breaks down the Crown's match against FC Cincinnati.

Mar 28, 202406:55
111. Zero Sympathy | Charlotte FC 2 – Columbus Crew 0

111. Zero Sympathy | Charlotte FC 2 – Columbus Crew 0

Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe are celebrating another Charlotte FC home win with a live show! They break down CLTFC's 2-0 win over Columbus Crew and go deep into one of the weirdest first halves of soccer we've ever seen. (Did Derrick Jones deserve a red card? How did Brecht Dejaegere miss that shot? What happened on that penalty? Why did the kick off happen three times?)
We also answer all your questions, including what to expect as Liel Abada gets closer to making his Charlotte FC debut.
Mar 26, 202401:31:30
PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew

PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. Columbus Crew

Charlotte FC is back at the Bank! Matt Swift gets you ready for Saturday's home match against the Columbus Crew.

Mar 22, 202406:59
110. Music City Blues: Charlotte FC 1 - Nashville SC 2

110. Music City Blues: Charlotte FC 1 - Nashville SC 2

Charlotte FC lose the third and final game of its early season road trip 2-1 to Nashville SC. And wow, there's a lot to discuss.

Vaughn Pollman joins Matt Swift this week to discuss the changes to the starting lineup, the baffling calls (and no calls) in the match and what new players we may see in the lineup next week due to injuries and international duty.

Also, Vaughn shares his thoughts on the season as a whole so far, and Matt announces a special event we'll be doing at the April 6 watch party at Salud!

Mar 19, 202401:44:19
PREVIEW: Charlotte FC at Nashville SC

PREVIEW: Charlotte FC at Nashville SC

Matt Swift breaks down this weekend's match between Charlotte FC and Nashville SC. Nashville haven't lost ... but they also haven't won, and are coming off a loss to Inter Miami in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The Crown will hope to capitalize on tired legs and will look to other players to find scoring opportunities with Enzo Copetti out with an injury.

Mar 15, 202406:03
109. Undone by golazo

109. Undone by golazo

Charlotte FC lost its first match of the 2024 season 1-0 to Toronto FC. Despite playing well for most of the match, missed opportunities and a golazo from Lorenzo Insigne prevented the Crown from getting any points on the second leg of its away trip.

Matt Swift and David Gusler discuss the match, analyze substitution patterns so far this season and, of course, answer your questions!

Mar 12, 202401:11:16
PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. Toronto FC

PREVIEW: Charlotte FC vs. Toronto FC

We're back with a bonus episode! Matt Swift previews Saturday's Charlotte FC away match at Toronto FC.

Mar 07, 202403:50
108. A draw in Vancouver (and a new signing?!?)

108. A draw in Vancouver (and a new signing?!?)

Two matches, four points and the Charlotte FC season is off to a strong start. Matt Swift and David Gusler discuss Saturday's 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps – what they liked and didn't like – and marvel at how different this season feels compared to last year.

We also discuss a possible new player signing, Matt chimes in with more thoughts about MLS participation in the U.S. Open Cup and we talk about the supporters even at Hopfly.

Mar 05, 202401:14:14
107. Charlotte FC won a home opener!

107. Charlotte FC won a home opener!

Charlotte FC beat New York City FC 1-0 to open the 2024 campaign, and your podcast hosts are feeling great. If you're here for a deep dive into the match itself, hang with us – we get there, but we go on a bit of a tangent to start the episode.

Specifically, we discuss:

  • What surprised and impressed us most about the match.
  • The impact of new players like Urso and Tavares.
  • Our man of the match.
  • New gameday traditions.
  • And Fred Dust. Yeah, that one.

Join us for this live episode as we also answer your questions!

Feb 27, 202401:52:59
106: Jozwiak and Swiderski out. What's next for Charlotte FC?

106: Jozwiak and Swiderski out. What's next for Charlotte FC?

The big news out of Charlotte FC recently has been all about players leaving: Kamil Jozwiak, Karol Swiderski, Vinicius Mello and Guzman Corujo (?). What does that mean for CLTFC just a couple of weeks before the season starts?

Special guest Vaughn Pollman joins Matt Swift and David Gusler to counteract the negativity you may be seeing on social media and give us some hope about what the team can accomplish this year.

Feb 07, 202402:02:13
105: Stop freaking out

105: Stop freaking out

We're back! Well, two-thirds of us. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe get back behind the mic to break down the latest Charlotte FC news, including:

  • Kamil Jozwiak's future (or lack thereof) on the team
  • Reactions from Dean Smith's Wednesday press conference
  • And the biggest roster needs heading into the season

We also invited our friend from Philly, José Nuñez, on the show to talk about the breaking front office news this week: CLTFC hired Tommy Wilson from the Philadelphia Union as Technical Director and Miles Joseph from Portland Timbers as Associate Head Coach.

And, of course, we take your questions live – and talk a little bit about corndogs.

Jan 25, 202401:31:51
104. Charlotte FC's new head coach, Dean Smith (LIVE!)

104. Charlotte FC's new head coach, Dean Smith (LIVE!)

Matt Swift and David Gusler hop on a live show to discuss some Charlotte FC breaking news: We have a new coach! We discuss what impact Dean Smith could have on the organization, what to expect from him next season and how it could affect CLTFC's current roster. Then we take your questions, ask to be connected with Dr. Cookout and David gives a long speech about the power of air fryers and ... corn dogs?

Dec 13, 202301:37:03
103. Friendsgiving
Nov 21, 202301:33:21
102: Lattanzio out (LIVE!)

102: Lattanzio out (LIVE!)

Charlotte FC parted ways with Christian Lattanzio Wednesday morning. So we felt it necessary to grab the mics, invite the one-and-only Vaughn Pollman on, and record a live episode about the news.

Matt Swift, David Gusler and Vaughn discuss why Lattanzio is out, give their thoughts on who should be the next head coach and take a bunch of your questions.

Nov 09, 202301:16:44
101. We're still not over it

101. We're still not over it

It's been over a week since Charlotte FC lost its playoff match against New York Red Bulls – and the guys are still mad about it. Matt Swift, David Gusler and Corey Inscoe talk about the 5-2 loss, share some surprising stats from the season as a whole and look toward next year and what we hope to see in Year 3 for CLTFC.

Nov 07, 202301:23:16
100. WE'LL DO IT LIVE! (w/Shawn McIntosh and Will Palaszczuk)

100. WE'LL DO IT LIVE! (w/Shawn McIntosh and Will Palaszczuk)

Happy 100 episodes to us!

Special guests Charlotte FC Chief Fan Officer Shawn McIntosh and Radio Play-by-Play Host Will Palaszczuk join Matt Swift, David Gustler, Corey Inscoe, Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman for a very special 100th episode as we enter the final week of the regular season and reminisce about all that has happened over the past few years. Join us!

Oct 17, 202302:00:49
99. It's not as bad as you think (LIVE!)

99. It's not as bad as you think (LIVE!)

Four draws and a loss: Not exactly the form Charlotte FC was looking for as the Crown makes a push for the playoffs. In this episode (streamed live Tuesday night) Matt Swift and David Gusler talk about the recent form, give a realistic look at CLTFC's playoff chances, and discuss what changes need to be made for this team to improve next season.

Sep 27, 202301:24:29
98. Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union preview (w/José Nuñez)

98. Charlotte FC vs. Philadelphia Union preview (w/José Nuñez)

After yet another draw with D.C. United over the weekend, Charlotte FC have a quick turnaround with Philadelphia Union coming to town Wednesday night. To preview the match, Matt Swift invited the amazing José Nuñez, who covers the Union, to join him on this week's episode.

Sep 19, 202301:30:36
97. Deja vu all over again (LIVE!)

97. Deja vu all over again (LIVE!)

Two matches, two late goals conceded, two draws. In this episode (broadcast live on YouTube), David Gusler and special guests Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman take a look at Charlotte FC's draws against Nashville and Orlando City. Who is to blame for these late-game mistakes? How can the team avoid this in the future? And what do CLTFC's playoff chances legitimately look like?

Join us as we try to find the answers.

Sep 08, 202301:21:00
96. A new hope

96. A new hope

Charlotte FC came out of the Leagues Cup break with a huge home win over LAFC. Matt and David break down the much-needed victory, discuss Christian Lattanzio’s … very different lineup, and look ahead to a big midweek home match against Orlando City.


Aug 29, 202359:39
95. Zoran Krneta, Sporting Director of Charlotte FC

95. Zoran Krneta, Sporting Director of Charlotte FC

This week we have a special guest! Charlotte FC Sporting Director Zoran Krneta joined Matt Swift and David Gusler to take a deep dive into what it took to build Charlotte FC's roster over these first two seasons. We talk to him about how he built the initial team, the obstacles CLTFC overcame being a new team in MLS trying to recruit overseas and how he hopes to see the team build in going forward. It's a conversation you won't want to miss!

Aug 22, 202301:20:35
94. The gang brings the tea
Aug 16, 202301:16:42
93. 3 points – what is this feeling?

93. 3 points – what is this feeling?

Finally, something good to talk about! Charlotte FC dominated Necaxa 4-1 to move on to the knockout stage of the Leagues Cup and looked as good as they have all season. Matt Swift and David Gusler break down the match, explain why the next game will be played in Texas, discuss the summer transfers so far and answer your listener questions.

Aug 01, 202301:12:48
92. Charlotte is a bit Messi

92. Charlotte is a bit Messi

This episode, we're going to spend most of our time talking about the big news in MLS this week – Charlotte FC's abysmal 2-0 loss to CF Montreal. Wait, there was other news?

Good friend of the show Vaughn Pollman joins the crew to talk about where Charlotte FC goes from here, and, of course, we discuss the impact of Lionel Messi joining MLS and Inter Miami.

Jul 18, 202301:40:58
91. Things are getting dumb

91. Things are getting dumb

Another week, another frustrating draw for Charlotte FC. This time it came after the Crown took a 2-0 lead in the first half then conceded twice in the second half to draw FC Cincinnati 2-2. Why does this keep happening to Charlotte? Why do we keep messing with the lineup? Where is Ben Bender? So many questions and David and Swift try to answer them all this week.
Stay tuned to also hear a little more about our new sponsor, Renegade GK!
Jul 11, 202301:35:23
90. When a draw feels like a loss
Jun 27, 202301:07:54
89. When a draw feels like a win

89. When a draw feels like a win

Charlotte FC and Seattle Sounders played to a wild 3-3 draw at Bank of America Stadium Saturday night, with Crown goals from Jaylin Lindsey (set up by an unbelievable touch by Karol Swiderski), Ashley Westwood and Patrick Agyemang. Matt and David break down the match, look ahead to an off weekend and answer your questions.

Jun 13, 202301:26:19
88. "Sometimes we may be good, sometimes we may be shit"

88. "Sometimes we may be good, sometimes we may be shit"

Matt and David are back together to talk about ... another loss. Charlotte FC fell on the road to Columbus Crew 4-2, so the guys discuss what went wrong ahead of this weekend's home MLS match against Seattle Sounders. (Are the calls for #LattanzioOut getting louder?) Then we take a look at goal – who has been the better goalkeeper this year: George Marks or Kristijan Kahlina? And then, of course, we answer your listener questions.

Jun 06, 202301:14:25
87. You win some, you lose some

87. You win some, you lose some

A tale of two 1-0s. Charlotte FC beat LA Galaxy on the road Saturday, but lost in Philadelphia to a strong Union squad Wednesday. Matt Swift is back with Corey Inscoe to break down the two matches, discuss the positive (and not-so-positive) things we took away from the matches and, of course, answer your questions.

Jun 02, 202351:23
86. Mantis shrimp

86. Mantis shrimp

Since we last recorded, Charlotte FC beat Chicago Fire at home – that feels like a long time ago ... – then lost a heartbreaker to Nashville and fell apart against Birmingham Legion in U.S. Open Cup. How worried should we be at this point? David and Corey break down both matches, look ahead to LA Galaxy Saturday and answer your questions.

May 26, 202301:20:29
85. 1,200 CLTFC fans went down to Georgia

85. 1,200 CLTFC fans went down to Georgia

David and special guest Jeff Eklund revel in Charlotte FC's dominant 3-1 win over That City, which they watched as part of a large and rowdy group of traveling supporters that crashed Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Then they looked ahead to the mid-week match with Chicago Fire, leaning on Jeff's history as a Fire fan and his knowledge of Chicago food. Finally, of course they answered your listener questions and gave their predictions.

May 17, 202301:56:16
84. Embrace the brace

84. Embrace the brace

On the heels of another Charlotte FC home win – 3-2 over New York City FC – and ahead of an Open Cup clash against Orlando City and the weekend's rivalry match down in That City, Matt and David discuss Enzo Copetti’s brace, lineup options for this week and, of course, answer your questions.
May 09, 202301:09:16
83. As the World Turns
May 03, 202301:11:51
82. Dinner for 4 with Sir Minty

82. Dinner for 4 with Sir Minty

Charlotte FC beat Columbus Crew for its first home MLS win of the season, Crown Legacy won its fourth-straight match the following day and CLTFC earned a convincing win against South Georgia Tormenta in the U.S. Open Cup match Tuesday. And David wasn't there to see any of them. Coincidence? We break down the winning week and answer your questions about the backline depth (or lack thereof) after Bill Tuiloma's injury, whether Marks or Kahlina should get the start Saturday against D.C. United and some ... interesting ... recent roster moves.

Apr 28, 202301:34:41
81. Park the bus (?)

81. Park the bus (?)

What looked like a euphoric Charlotte FC comeback home win turned into a disappointing draw Saturday night, as Colorado Rapids equalized late to keep CLTFC winless at Bank of America Stadium this season. Matt, David and Corey debate the late-game tactics, specifically the substitutions and how the team switched to a defensive posture in the final 15 minutes. But it's not all doom and gloom. To keep things light, we asked listeners to send us some fun questions, and boy they delivered. Sometimes you just need to laugh.

Apr 18, 202301:33:30
80. Bad vibes

80. Bad vibes

Charlotte FC ended its three-game unbeaten streak with a disappointing 3-1 loss on the road at Real Salt Lake. Why? Let us count the ways. Matt and David break down the game, including the head-scratching substitutions, and answer all your questions. Then we turn a hopeful eye on this weekend's home match against Colorado Rapids. Let's share our feelings together. This is a safe place.

Apr 11, 202301:24:48
79. Cornercopia

79. Cornercopia

Another match, another draw. Charlotte FC traveled to windswept BMO Field and erased a two-goal deficit in the second half to draw Toronto FC 2-2. Ben Bender got back in the scoring column and Kamil Jóźwiak finally opened his MLS account. Matt and David discuss their takeaways from the match, look ahead to Real Salt Lake this weekend and answer your listener questions!

Apr 04, 202301:46:17
78. #SendIt

78. #SendIt

After Charlotte FC’s 1-1 draw with New York Red Bulls, we had a sense that super guest Vaughn Pollman was itching to get back on the show. We dedicate this episode to answering all your fan questions, and in the process break down the weekend’s MLS match, preview the upcoming fixture against Toronto FC and touch on Crown Legacy’s first match.
Mar 29, 202301:35:48
77. Orlando magic

77. Orlando magic

Finally! We get to record an episode after a Charlotte FC win – on the road no less! Charlotte FC beat Orlando City SC 2-1 Saturday to get its first win of the 2023 season. We discuss the lineup changes for this match, player performances that stood out and Matt's tweets. And, of course, we answer your burning fan questions.

Mar 20, 202301:12:53
76. We're not mad, we're just disappointed

76. We're not mad, we're just disappointed

What can we say about that match? Charlotte FC lost to Atlanta United 3-0 at Bank of America Stadium in one of the most deflating performances of the team's short history. So we're doing this episode a little differently: Y'all sent in a ton of questions, so we devoted the entire episode to answering them. We cover everything from who gets the blame for the goals, what's happening at left back, what's the most worrisome part of this slow start and why there were so many Atlanta fans in the crowd. Strap in and feel your feelings with us.

Mar 13, 202301:47:41
75. Ribs, tattoos and bad luck

75. Ribs, tattoos and bad luck

Bad mistakes. Charlotte FC's made a few. 

Matt and David are back from St. Louis after watching CLTFC lose 3-1 to the expansion side. We discuss the trip as a whole before trying to understand what happened on the field. Then we look ahead to That City coming to town Saturday and the Anton Walkes scarf and tribute. Finally – understandably – we got a lot of fan questions this week so we dig into those as we try to figure out how Charlotte FC moves forward from this slow start.

Mar 08, 202301:31:39
74. False start

74. False start

It wasn't the start we wanted. Charlotte FC lost the first game of the 2023 season 1-0 to New England Revolution in front of a home crowd of 69,000+. Matt and David discuss what went well and what didn't during the match – both on and off the field – and ask some questions about the starting lineup and substitutions. Then we look ahead to St. Louis this weekend and answer your fan questions.

Mar 01, 202301:15:56
73. 2023 Charlotte FC kickoff show LIVE

73. 2023 Charlotte FC kickoff show LIVE

This episode, we celebrate. We celebrate the kickoff of the 2023 Charlotte FC season this weekend at Bank of America Stadium. We celebrate the release of Lenny Boy Brewing's Mint City Pilsner. And we celebrate the people who make Charlotte FC's supporter culture the best in the league by inviting some of our good friends onto the show that we recorded live at Lenny Boy Brewing Friday night. (Yes, another live show at a bar. Ambiance at no additional charge.)

Feb 25, 202301:14:32
72. For Anton: This year feels different

72. For Anton: This year feels different

This Charlotte FC season feels different for many reasons. First, the tragic loss of Anton Walkes. We discuss that and tell you about a fundraiser that supporters in Charlotte in Atlanta created together to support Walkes' family. But it also feels different on the field with new signings and more positive preseason results. With less than two weeks until the season opener, Matt, David and Corey dig into how the team looks now, the 3-0 preseason win over Charleston Battery and what we can expect this season. Oh, and of course we talked about the new kit leak and higher ticket prices. How could we not?
Feb 15, 202301:06:15
71. What's NEXT (w/Darrius Barnes)

71. What's NEXT (w/Darrius Barnes)

There's a new team in town: Crown Legacy FC. Team President Darrius Barnes joined the show this week to talk about Charlotte FC's new MLS NEXT Pro squad. We talk about the team's branding, where it fits within the club's structure, how it will impact the first team and what to expect at matches this summer.
Jan 31, 202332:37
70. Happy Enzo Copetti Day

70. Happy Enzo Copetti Day

Charlotte FC news is coming fast and furious as we get closer to the start of the season. Matt and David break down the latest, including the worst-kept secret in Charlotte: Enzo Copetti joining the club. They also talk about Christian Fuchs' move to the coaching staff, Harrison Afful's dual role and the Ashley Westwood signing. And they answer a boatload of your reader questions.

Jan 12, 202301:10:44
69. The Mighty Purple and Pink

69. The Mighty Purple and Pink

We all knew the black and mint kit would only last a season. So how will Charlotte FC replace that wildly popular look? We got a clue this week through a leaked color scheme and David and Matt have very different feelings about it. They debate the look in the first half of this week's episode, then dive into the mailbag to answer your questions. 

Nice.

Dec 30, 202201:16:30
68. 2023 schedule release and MLS SuperDraft preview

68. 2023 schedule release and MLS SuperDraft preview

Now that we know who and when Charlotte FC will play in 2023, it's time to start marking our calendars and circling matchups we don't want to miss. Hosts David Gusler and Matt Swift are joined by the great Vaughn Pollman to discuss the schedule, the upcoming MLS SuperDraft and other CLTFC roster news. Finally, the guys talk a little World Cup and take your listener questions.

Dec 21, 202201:12:04
67. World Cup Group B Preview

67. World Cup Group B Preview

Wales. England. Iran. The United States. Four will enter, two will advance. Who will it be? Matt Swift is joined by two other Matts – Chantry and Livingston – and a Russell (Varner) to break down World Cup 2022 Group B and answer important questions like, "How many countries are in this country?"

Nov 16, 202201:00:20
66. World Cup Group A Preview: 'Moisex'
Nov 10, 202201:14:33