Beyond the 90 Podcast

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Michael Hitchcock needs no introduction to the vast majority of our readers and listeners. Widely acknowledged as one of the sharpest business minds in the game in this country, Hitchcock’s career in the game spans back to the early days of MLS.

After serving as President of FC Dallas for many years, Hitchcock launched Playbook Management International in the late 2000’s and was instrumental in the early success of the NASL 2.0 (Full disclosure: I worked closely with Hitchcock in this period). Since, Hitchcock has served as Chairman of NPSL, a board member of NPSL and an investor in more than a dozen clubs on both the men’s and women’s side playing in various domestic leagues, in addition to his investments in England as well.

Hitchcock also founded the PRO/REL Soccer Shop in Historic McKinney, TX in 2023 and its become a hub for local soccer activity as well as national attraction among soccer fans.

On this Monday edition of The Third Half:

* Charleston Battery and Phoenix Rising get season’s on track.

* Late goals cost Indy Eleven and Sacramento Republic.

* Loudoun United, the early season surprise package.

* Is it time to start worrying about Lexington SC?

* Orange County and Colorado Rapids come to terms for Bryce Jamieson.

* Las Vegas Lights get late win.

* Monterey Bay still can’t score against Detroit City

* Rhode Island finds cure to early season woes, play Oakland Roots.

* We also talk about other late week signings.

On this Friday edition of The Third Half:

We give our thoughts on the 2nd Round of the US Open Cup and our thoughts on what 3rd round matches interest us the most.

Orange County SC announce partnership with Strikers FC, Irvine.

Birmingham Legion name Nick Hall as clubs first Chief Business Officer with Jay Heaps role expanded to being CEO and Chief Soccer Officer.

SigningsLoudoun United: former SC Braga and MLS winger Pedro Santos on a 25 day contract.

Monterey Bay: defender Sami Guediri. Was in MLS before going to Algerian side ES Sétif.

SchedulingColorado Springs home match with New Mexico United this weekend moved due to the threat of inclement weather. New date is September 24th at 7 pm Mountain (9 Eastern).

North Carolina FC’s home match with Rhode Island moved from October 19th to Saturday 18th October at 7 pm Eastern.

Birmingham Legion FC’s match with North Carolina FC moved from October 16th to October 15th at 8 pm Eastern due to stadium availability at Protective Stadium.

Discussing another wild and whacky night of US Open Cup Madness from Penalty shootouts to crazy red card situations and so on. If you can’t take it, then you are watching the wrong tournament.

I am reviewing the first day from the second round of the 2025 US Open Cup, and Previewing the second day. Don’t forget the draw for the third round on Thursday, April 3rd.

With many changes afoot within the US Soccer landscape maybe scheduling will change as well.

On this edition of The Third Half:

* Lexington v San Antonio - what did this performance tell us about both.

* Two sides in the Eastern Conference have underperformed in the Eastern Conference. Let’s dive into Rhode Island FC and Charleston Battery. Are Khano Smith or Ben Pierman in trouble after a month?

* The Mikey Maldonado show for North Carolina FC.

* Adbellatif Aboukoura makes Loudoun United sing.

* FC Tulsa adds Sacramento Republic to their first win club. We look at the luck FC Tulsa rode in the first half and how game management in the second half left them with all 3 points.

* Monterey Bay does it again. Now Phoenix Rising are hoping any of the 9 injured players can come back against San Antonio with Pape Boye and Carl Sainté serving red card suspensions.

* New Mexico United, is Dennis Sanchez’s deliberate play going to be their undoing?

* Miami FC’s passing success rate (65%) and lack of possession (35%) undoes the chances they did get.

* And the rest:

* Did any team learn the lessons Rhode Island showed in how to beat Louisville City in Louisville? Detroit City sure didn’t.

* El Paso gets their season on track with a win in Hartford. The promise of the end of ‘24 looks a distant memory for Hartford.

* Don’t let the Indy Eleven 2 Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3 scoreline fool you. Indy Eleven looked lost after giving up the equalizer.

* Pittsburgh Riverhounds pick up win 100 at Highmark. Is Birmingham going to get Ronaldo Damus any help?

* USL After Dark turned into a controversial snoozefest. Should Baboucarr Nije been sent off for his arm to the face of Shawn Smart? Despite that, Oakland was inches from their first win of the season.

We discuss the following:

1- US Open Cup back on CBS/Paramount (until 2026)

A year later than it should have been, but after the good work in 23, this is nothing but a plus.

2- FC Tulsa announce local partnership with Blitz Academy FC to form FC Tulsa Academy. Partnership seems very akin to Sporting Jax partnership with Florida Elite

3- Phoenix Rising announces National Scouting Department

This seems like a preparing for the future move

Signings:

Detroit City sign former Michigan Stars starting keeper Tatenda Mkuruva. Decent keeper with plenty of reps. Also, a byproduct of where NISA is right now? Club de Lyon summer move makes sense but what does it tell us about NISA?

Colorado Springs picks up Forward Herbert Endeley on loan from FC Dallas. 23 year old played on North Texas SC’s title team last year.

Other news:

Good community outreach: Louisville City doing a blood drive at game v Detroit City. Those who show an appointment for the drive will receive ticket to game.

Schedule news:

New Mexico United reschedule 2 games

Oakland Roots game from October 18th to 19th at 3 pm Mountain (5 Eastern)

Rhode Island FC game from October 25th to 24 at 7 pm Mountain (9 Eastern)

San Antonio FC schedule 31 May friendly with current La Liga side Las Palmas

Lou City v Eintracht Frankfurt July 29th as part of Eintracht’s preseason tour.

Warburton hiring:

Mark Warburton on Sporting Jax Soccer Hour - embedded below: