Another international break doesn’t slow down the news as Ian and Harrison muse on San Jose’s new manager and other hot topics (1:30) Then it’s back to the playoff deep dives, first the Portland Timbers (20:00) and then the Philadelphia Union (46:00) Intro Music: Let’s Go Get The Goal (MLS) - Don’t Kick The Baby Outro Music: Elementary School Dropout - Yucky Duster Please visit americansocceranalysis.com for more analytically based content. You can follow the crew on twitter at ASA (@analysisevolved), Harrison Crow (@Harrison_Crow), and Ian Lamberson (@ahandleforian). We're also on facebook for some reason!

ASA Podcast 2018 - Episode 29: Portland and Philadelphia Playoff Outlook

American Soccer Analysis is an occasional podcast with a focus on soccer made or played in America, especially NWSL and MLS, from a numbers and analytics perspective. The rotating cadre of hosts bring an enthusiasm, statistical acumen, and deep understanding of the game that can be rivaled only by Alexi Lalas and Carli Lloyd.

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We last checked in on the Kansas City Current in Week 1. What a difference a month makes! They're sitting atop the table on 10 points, have a potential superstar in Temwa Chawinga, and got a road point against Evan and Eric's preseason title favorite, Gotham FC. But is Chawinga the real deal? Were Juan Carlos Amorós's tactics too clever by half? Who looks like the better bet to keep succeeding in the weeks to come? Dive in, baby! 

Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Week 4: Gotham Gets Weird, and the Kansas City Current Put the "Fly" in "Chawinga"

The USWNT is SheBelieves Cup champion once again. Woo...hoo? The Twila Kilgore era comes to a close on a second penalty shootout win over Canada in a month, and leaves us wondering: what did Kilgore do well? What did she miss on? Is the team in better shape now than it was back in August? Furthermore, who is in pole position for each Olympics roster spot? Eric and Evan answer all these questions and more! (Evan may or may not sing at the end of the episode. Fair warning.)

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: USWNT Recap: Does SheBelieve?

Ben went to the Rapids game and hits us with some in person reporting, and the guys answer some listener questions including: how do we make more soccer analysts?

ASA Show - Colorado Rapids and do soccer analytics practitioners grow on trees?

No fewer than three NWSL games were decided in the final moments of stoppage time last weekend, but each were decided in different ways. San Diego survived its battle of attrition through well timed bravery, while Portland's overwhelming attacking talent finally breached Louisville's walls. Bay FC and the Houston Dash fully embraced their stubborn, attack-loving identities and the Dash tripped into victory. Eric and Evan ponder how these teams all managed a late result, hear from Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya on his side's approach, and parse what it means for these teams' talents more broadly. Art by Eli Elbogen  Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs

EXPECTED OWN GOALS: NWSL Late-Game Deciders: A Breakdown of San Diego-Seattle, Portland-Louisville, and Bay-Houston!

Harrison returns from his Kraken based absence and the crew talk about some early season things that may or may not continue as the sample size fairy visits us every week. Also, trivia.

ASA Podcast 2018 - Episode 29: Portland and Philadelphia Playoff Outlook

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