A look back at 2024 while also looking ahead at 25 categories that interest us about Charlotte FC, MLS, and soccer in the US.

I am joined by two friends of the podcast, Logan Meyer from the Crowncast and Eli Finelli from Side Story Sports. We give our assessments of 2024 and predictions for 2025 from coaching to players to playing style to MLS All Star Game to Apple TV coverage. Enjoy!

Category

Manager: Dean Smith

1. What is his focus as a leader?

2. Dean’s Tactical focus?

3. Assistant coach most important to the club?

CLTFC:

4. Most impactful DP

5. Most Impactful Newcomer

6. Starter that makes the most difference / hard to replace

7. CLTFC player that got least amount of time on the pitch who should have earned more

8. 1st to depart after season starts (only 2025)

9. Strength of the squad

10. Achilles heel of this squad

11. Competitions (which one do you think will be the best; any that MLS teams compete in)

12. International country most influence on MLS

13. All-star match up (in Austin) vs? (Only 2025)

MLS

14. MLS Supporters Shield (2025 only)

15. MLS Surprise team

16. MLS Overrated Team

17. Playing style wins out or formation

18. MLS player most impactful to team success

19. Set play

(PKs or CK or Free Kick or other)

20. Rule change

21. Celebrations (type)

AppleTV MLS Season Pass

22. Graphics style (2025 only)

23. Statistics (ones we liked introduced in 24’ and ones we think should exist in 2025)

24. Fan Tradition (pre or post) or Chant or types of chant

25. Charlotte FC Regular Season Finish and overall MLS Cup

On this episode Nic talks with Andrew Wiebe, a journalist with Major League Soccer working on MLS Season Pass as an analyst, a columnist at MLS Soccer, and Extratime Podcast Host.

Today on the show, we have a conversation with Kristijan Kahlina, Goalkeeper for Charlotte FC. Kristijan has been one of the few faces of Charlotte FC that have been with the club since match one back in 2022. He is a fan favorite and having the best season of his career. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him this week to learn more about him, what it was like for him growing up, how he became a goalkeeper as a young kid, his growth as a player and person, and his love and respect for his family, his country of Croatia, his home in Charlotte, and much more.

IG: kahlina_k

🎶- https://youtu.be/100LtGMmd7U?si=xQir6D-3SXb_wlKY -

On this episode I talk with Gabriel Gabor, Major League Soccer's Senior International Communications Consultant about his job, how he got there, what makes MLS special and the adventures he has had along the way.

IG: thegabegabor

X: @MLSGabor

Black and White Cookie Song

On today's episode we talk with Charlotte FC Match Entertainment Manager, Courtney Wright. Courtney has such a positive energy about her that it is not hard to see why she thrives in leading what fans see before a match, halftime, and after that have made some of the club's traditions and entertainment special.
We talk with Courtney about her work, how she got here, the risks and challenges she has tackled along the way and her joy in helping make every Charlotte FC match a must be there event.

I want to welcome you into my conversation with Natalee Jarrett, the Vice President of Business Operations for Charlotte FC. As you may know, we created this podcast because there are so many fascinating people behind the scenes that drive what fans and the community see. We want to share their stories. Natalee was one of the first employees for the club working in partnerships during the beginning days when the club did not even have a name and was just MLS Charlotte. Now she manages a vast array of departments across Charlotte FC and is the facilitator that keeps it all together. We talk with Natalee about growing up around NASCAR, getting her big chance at World Team Tennis, and what she has helped build in Charlotte.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalee-jarrett/

Enjoy.

On today's episode I was lucky enough, no Irish pun intended there, to sit down with Kevin Egan the host of MLS 360 and MLS Wrap-Up, part of MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. We talk about what it is like working for MLS, these shows, how he approaches his career, and a little about his journey and things learned along the way.

#MLS360

@kev_egan

On this episode I talk with Steven Marques, the cog in the relationship between Ally and Charlotte FC. Steven has been a part of the Ally team working with Charlotte FC since they first were secured the kit rights with the club. Learn more about what Steven does day to day and about his journey to get to be a part of this relationship and his role with Ally. Steven's family immigrated from Portugal and he moved to North Carolina when he was 6. His passion for soccer been with him to this day and has found a good fit at Ally.

Today we have an amazing English commentator, born and raised in Birmingham, England and works for Apple TV MLS Season Pass as a play by play commentator as well as studio host at CBS Golazo. We talk about his journey in football, his connections to Charlotte FC, and more....Let's meet Callum Williams.
Cal has become a staple in world football commentating from MLS to Conmebol to EPL to LaLiga and he continues to rewrite and up his craft. I forsee him being a part of football commentating for a long time and doing many World Cup matches. I love how focused he is on building community with his group of commentators and bonding with them and also that he is always learning from the fans in the cities he visits for each match. Our conversation reinforced in my head that you have to continue to put yourself out there like Cal and prepare or do the work to put yourself in the best position to be successful.

On this episode Nic talks with Will Martin, the Communications Coordinator for Charlotte FCs day-to-day media for 1st Team schedules and media operations as well as the primary contact for media assets and player requests. In just a short time, Will has managed to use his writing skills, maturity and understanding of big moments, and a little bit of luck to craft his soccer journey at Charlotte FC.

We talk about his journey and what he does with the team, along with other areas of interest including running, hiking, and appreciation for others including referees.