Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

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Season 4 is almost upon us, and, with the preseason about to begin, Filly and the Scarf are here to catch you up on all the Black and Gold news from the past few weeks!

The biggest news of the last 11 months or so MUST be the potential return of at least some supporters to the Cathedral of the Black and Gold, Banc of California Stadium, starting on April 1. As long as numbers continue to progress in a positive direction, we can expect at least some of us to be there for our boys!

LAFC announced a rather abbreviated preseason schedule, featuring an intrasquad scrimmage and two games against the Revolution. It's the first Scheduling with the Scarf segment of 2021!

LAFC also finalized two incredibly important partnerships, one with the Las Vegas Lights of the USL and another with Real So Cal and their youth squads. The pipeline has now been extended through Southern California and even into the Nevada desert! LAFC brought in Steve Cherundolo to head the USL club, bringing a USMNT and Bundesliga legend's pedigree to the pipeline. From youth opportunities, to the Academy, to USL, and on to the parent club, the Black and Gold system is stronger than ever. 

We couldn't be happier for our Athletic Training staff, Sean and Luis, as they were named Staff of the Year according to PSATS. Our first captain in club history, Laurent Ciman, retired to join Thierry Henry's staff on Club de Foot just in time to be deserted by the leader of the Foot Clan, becoming the second former LAFC member to join the coaching ranks this offseason. (Benny!) 

On the player news front, Uruguay hopes Diego Rossi and the recently loaned Brian Rodriguez can give their national team a lift. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for Rayito in Spain, either. it's a pair of U-23 national team call-ups for Tomas Romero (El Salvador) and Marco Farfan (USA). Hopefully, they'll still be on the final rosters for their respective countries when they are announced March 8. Our history-making trio of teens, Erik Duenas, Tony Leone, and Christian Torres, were all called in to join El Tri's U-17 camp, marking another first in their wonderful careers. Finally, our eMLS stud, RemiMartinn, makes one more push for the eMLS Cup in the Last Chance Qualifier, beginning March 16. 

We are back and couldn't be happier. Our fans are getting healthier, our club is practicing again, and we are together in World Famous Filimonster Studios for another episode! Let's get back to the Banc!

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 Filly and the Scarf are back for another episode of “The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth”, and there are tons of LAFC-related news stories to discuss!

 Two big stories dominated the LAFC-multiverse: A new CBA agreed upon by MLS and MLSPA and the departure of another 3rd DP. Filly breaks down the numbers and potential improvements to be seen in the new collective bargaining agreement, and there are a lot of numerical details to be hashed out, indeed. The most important detail, however? The potential for a lockout and delay to the start of the season looks less and less likely. 

 It also looks like Brian Rodriguez (and his agent) got his wish, soft of… At the close of the transfer window, LAFC and Spanish 2nd (yes, 2nd) division side Almeria agreed on a loan deal through the end of the LaLiga 2 season with an option to buy. Brian’s time with the Black and Gold looks like it has come to a rather unceremonious end. It could all work out very nicely for LAFC, with a potential profit in the millions of dollars when Almeria picks up the option. 

 How much is there to the rumors of an LAFC takeover in Las Vegas? We certainly hope a lot! LAFC may be on the verge of establishing another formal affiliation with a USL side, the Las Vegas Lights. More details to come, but Filly and Scarf will keep their fingers, toes, and eyes crossed until then.

 We cover so many other smaller stories on this episode, too! What happened during Tristan Blackmon’s time at the USMNT camp? Not a whole lot, unfortunately, as he was sent home with a concussion and a doctor’s note to miss work for a short time. Tomas Romero was signed to a Homegrown contract, potentially locking up our third keeper position going into the 2021 season. McDonald's upgrades the modem at RemiMartinn’s gaming room while bringing back their spicy chicken nuggets. Benny Feilhaber has a new job at his old stomping grounds. And why, oh why, is the hashtag #BringNajarHome trending? #ThanksBillHamid!

 Also on this episode, the Defenders practice some mindfulness while restarting the Antoine Griezmann rumors. We also conjure up the ghosts of LAFC players past: Nico Czornomacz, Buba Lopez, Lamar Batista, James Murphy, Fito Zelaya, Quillan Roberts, and many others are mentioned on the menagerie of thoughts that is Episode 137. Stay tuned for Episode 138 and the long-awaited second part of Brian’s Song! 

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It’s the first episode of 2021 and the first of Season 4! Filly and Scarf are back in Filimonster Studios to kick off the year with a rundown of all of the happenings since the calendar flipped to this year. 

 The front office has been quite busy in 2021. Mission accomplished for LAFC’s chief concern of the offseason, as Jesus David Murillo is officially back in Black and Gold. The Colombian combination of center-backs was a force towards the end of 2020, especially in CCL, and we predict more great things ahead for the firm of Murillo and Segura this season. 

 Reinforcements are also on the way for LAFC, as the club brings in our first player of Korean descent, Kim Moon-Hwan. The fully-capped South Korean brings great pace and versatility to the back line. Versatility was also at the forefront of bringing in the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year, Corey Baird, from Real Salt Lake. Will he push for a spot in the 11, or take a super-sub role in 2021? Either way, LAFC has options with these two new additions. LAFC also brings in a young keeper, acquiring the rights to Tomas Romero from Philadelphia. 

 The 2021 SuperDraft provided three more young players, and Scarfstradamus got one exactly right with our first-round pick. Danny Trejo, the pride of Mendota, joins LAFC after being selected 14thoverall. We really love this kid, and we certainly hope he sticks with the club. In the 2nd round, it was center-back C.C. Uche from Ohio State. LAFC completed their draft taking an Anteater, Alvaro Quezada. 

 Also on this episode, we begin remembering several LA icons, as we say goodbye to Tommy Lasorda, Don Sutton, and Larry King. We also take a moment to honor the life of legend and Civil Rights Movement icon Hank Aaron. RemiMartinn is back at it again in eMLS, and he moves up a few spots in the power rankings after the first round of competition. Round out the episode, Fortnite adds a sweet LAFC skin (and two cool, new emotes) to the popular game.

 We’re glad to be back at it again in 2021, and we cannot wait to begin Defending the Banc with all of you, the Black and Gold Faithful, this year!

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Defenders faithful, Episode 135 is our love letter to you. We are ALL ready to see 2020 kick rocks, but before it goes, Filly and the Scarf want to give it one more "how's your father". 

Unscripted. That's right, Episode 135 is completely unscripted! This episode is our little gift to you. Come join us on a wild ride that we hope perfectly caps off whatever it was that we will look back on in 2020. You'll get a short This Day In LAFC History, as we wish a very, very happy birthday to the Game Changer himself, Latif Blessing. We also update you on some former LAFC player movement, from Columbus, to our nation's capital, to the beautiful city of Ho Chi Minh. 

Filly and Scarf give you their top 5 moments of 2020! The best part? Even though they go through about 15 moments, NONE of them are the same! While neither of their lists included Andy Najar or Brian Rodriguez, the boys give you their take on the 5 best moments of an otherwise forgettable year. 

Finally, both of the Defenders leave you with their thoughts on the year. Some of it is LAFC related. Some of it is not. But all of it is from the heart. Whatever 2020 meant for any of you, the millions... and millions, please know that you meant the absolute world to the both of us. Thank you for giving us even a few moments of your time, and, honestly, we hope you'll come with us on the journey of wherever and whatever 2021 brings us. We love you, and we love the Black and Gold! 

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The hellish ride that has been 2020 and the roller coaster that has been LAFC this season converged in Orlando for our final match this year. LAFC, as improbable as it may have seemed at times, found itself in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament, and oh, what a ride it was!

After a contentious and well-played first half by both sides, LAFC, without Eduard Atuesta, raced out to a 1-0 lead off of a chip shot from the 2020 Golden Boot winner, Diego Rossi, from a great pass by “The Canadian Glory Machine”, Mark-Anthony Kaye. Unfortunately, LAFC couldn’t hold the lead, as the most capped man in Tigres history, Hugo Ayala, leveled the match at one apiece. It would be a war of attrition until the waning moments, when Tigres’ star André-Pierre Gignac found a relatively open net in the 84th minute, ending the season for the Black and Gold and dashing the hopes of a win in our first final. 

On this episode, you’ll hear a hurt pair of Defenders. We all feel for our club in this loss, and there is NO doubt in our minds that you are hurting, too. But you’ll also hear optimism from Filly and the Scarf. You’ll hear hope! And you’ll hear our thoughts on a fantastic cup run that came up just short. Should Bob be man-marking, or at least putting someone on the back line? Why is Brian Rodriguez in the doghouse? And who are Filly and the Scarf’s favorite emerging players from 2020?

Also on Episode 134, we thank the millions (and millions), we miss Founders and Christmas Tree Lane, and we play Name That Perez one last time. Here’s to one heck of a ride in 2020, and one more episode of the most LAFC podcast on Earth in season 3!

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LAFC defeats Club América to move on to the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League final!

 
In the single most important match in LAFC history, on the single biggest stage in LAFC history, against the single biggest opponent LAFC has ever played in a match that matters, LAFC comes away victorious! LAFC defeats América, 3-1, to move on to the final. 

In order to get to the final, however, LAFC took us on a roller coaster ride the likes of which we have never experienced in our three years of matches. LAFC came out on the front foot, dominating much of the first ten minutes, only to surrender a set piece goal in the 11th minute. Despite the early strike, LAFC continued to take it to Las Águilas until a stoppage time horror show starring Eduard Atuesta. Atuesta came crashing in to take a shot inside the box, clearly taken out, where he should have earned a penalty, without a doubt. However, the referee clearly missed it and there was no call. Atuesta and América’s keeper/telenovela actor Memo Ochoa got tangled up behind the play. As Ochoa stood over Atuesta, it appeared Atuesta made contact with Ochoa, so much so that Ochoa was sent writhing on the ground. Did Atuesta really make thatmuch contact with Memo? He certainly convinced the refs that he did, as Atuesta was sent off with a straight red card. Just like that, LAFC was both down a goal and down a man, and the half was over. It was truly a nightmare ending to a frustrating first half. 

With Latif coming on at the half for Moose, there was still good reason to be optimistic that LAFC could find the equalizer. However, we’re not sure that anyone could have predicted the lightning storm that ripped through Orlando. In the 46thminute, our fearless leader, our captain, and the best player on the pitch, Carlos Vela intercepts an errant pass in the attacking half and slots it past Memo for a goal! Just like that, it’s 1-1! And if you blinked, you missed Vela scoring AGAIN just seconds later in the 47th minute! Lightning struck twice in just over a minute, and LAFC is on top, 2-1, though still down a man.

After that point, the match was simply incredible. Carlos Vela played his best half since his battles with Zlatan, Kenneth Vermeer made save after save and played with incredible poise, Latif was everywhere, and the back line held to preserve the lead going into stoppage. After another takeaway, Diego Rossi broke in on Memo, who is able to make an incredible save on the 2020 Golden Boot winner. However, the shot rebounded off Memo right to the streaking Latif Blessing, who slotted it home for the nail in América’s coffin. LAFC is headed to their first final in club history!

Also on this episode… not much else. Yes, we cover This Day in LAFC History and News and Notes, but it’s quick. Filly does a quick history lesson on Club América, Scarf uses the word homeostasis, and the boys both wonder where Paul might be. But mostly, we celebrate the huge win by LAFC! LAFC has three days, and likely no Eduard Atuesta, to get ready for Tigres in the final on Tuesday. Listamos!!!

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Finally… LAFC has come BACK… to the Champions League! Crashing through the door like Stone Cold entering the ring, the boys in Black and Gold looked to make a statement against another Liga MX opponent, and, as we said on the pod several times… “Oh! What a night!” 

 
LAFC looked to exercise several sets of demons as they took on Cruz Azul in Orlando. The 2020 MLS season. The Covid Cup experience in Orlando. Heck, even the moniker of not being able to win games that matter. Those demons got way more exercise than Scarf has these past 9 months. LAFC is now the torchbearer for MLS in the 2020 edition of CONCACAF Champions League. 

It didn’t look good for the boys just 14 minutes in, as an early PK put La Máquina up 1-0. But from there on out, Cruz Azul put on a pair of cement boots. LAFC held their opponents to just one shot on target for the entire match, Carlos Vela struck first for LAFC after drawing a PK. With the score level in the winner-take-all match, LAFC began to re-assert themselves in the second half. It would be Mahala Opoku in the 58’, not third DP Brian Rodriguez, who would be the first off the bench for LAFC, taking the place of Danny Musovski. It would take just a dozen minutes for Mahala to play the role of game-changer for LAFC, slotting a beautiful one-timer past Cruz Azul’s backup keeper and putting LAFC up for good, 2-1. 

The stars of the show, however, had to be the stellar backline. A combination of Chiqui, Segura, Murillo, Blackmon, and El-Munir shut down any semblance of an attack from the Liga MX side, and just like that, LAFC moves on to the semi-final as the lone MLS side remaining in the tournament. 

On this episode, you’ll hear everything you expect from the Defenders of the Banc. Our “Wait, What?!” moment comes rather early in the episode, as Cruz Azul seems to have omitted their best attacker! We miss Lee Nguyen a little on This Day In LAFC History while we help Marco Farfan change from forest green to black and gold. You’ll hear how right Filly got certain predictions while also getting a rant from… the Scarf?! Yup, Scarf sounds off on this one, with the little voice that remains towards the end of the episode. 

It’s a date with Club America in the semis on Saturday, but, until then, enjoy Episode 132 recapping one of the biggest wins in club history!

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*Disclaimer: This episode contains some swears. Please be warned, colorful language abounds.

Here on Episode 131, Defenders Nation, you're in for something very, very different. 

Don't worry, we will still have our CCL Preview episode. And we will still have our 2020 MLS Season Recap episode. And we will still have a very special Holidays with the Defenders episode. 

But... this is not any of those. For the next hour and a half-plus, come with the Defenders and our good friends over at FCFC Podcast, Slim, Spice, and Dweez, as we take a journey to places we rarely go. 

This journey actually started over at FCFC Podcast's platform, with Filly and the Scarf sitting down for almost 2 hours with them. They were gracious enough to return the favor, and this is part 2 of the superpod collaboration between Defenders and FCFC, "One Pod to Rule Them All!" 

Hear about Dweez's concept of the "closed internet", why Slim is lovingly called the "Heart of Gold Dickhead", and who would make Spice's voice crack if he met them today. The good men over at FCFC discuss many topics through their Black and Gold tinted lenses, including the 2020 MLS season, CCL, Brian Rodriguez, Andy Najar, and "The Chainsaw" Christian Torres. We also get beverage recommendations from four of the five guys on the episode (nobody asked Scarf...), a Rant with Filly in the middle and Storytime with Filly at the end, and the dream guest for each of them to interview. Shout out to Alyssa Milano. 

Who is the "North End Sex Symbol"? Should Slim change his dream guest now that certain pictures have come out on Twitter? And is Dweez STILL talking about tea? You'll have to come with us on this magical ride with the boys over at FCFC to find out! Enjoy, and remember the earmuffs for the little ones!

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In the strangest of seasons, with the oddest of circumstances, amidst incredible adversity and numerous challenges, despite injuries, COVID, trades, international breaks, poor play, impromptu tournaments, and more COVID, LAFC began their third playoff run in their young club’s history. This run would start, and end, against a familiar foe in a familiar spot with an unfamiliar name, as the Seattle Sounders hosted LAFC in the house formerly known as CenturyLink Field, now known as Lumen Field. 

Seattle has largely been able to avoid both the injury bug and the coronavirus, and, as such, entered the playoffs relatively healthy. LAFC, on the other hand, would be missing five key figures from their 2020 season: Diego Rossi, Brian Rodriguez, Jose Cifuentes, and Diego Palacios, all of whom we knew would be out with COVID, and, surprisingly, Danny Musovski, also “Not Medically Cleared”. 

Andy Najar also did not play. Water is also wet.

LAFC hoped to exact revenge on Seattle, but, as many of our expectations in 2020, it was not to be. It took just 18 minutes for Seattle to find themselves, as the three-headed monster of Ruidiaz-Morris-Lodeiro connect for the first goal of the match. LAfC looked to equalize just a minute later as Carlos Vela earned a PK. It was not to be however, as, for the first time in his last 19, Stefan Frei was able to make what turned out to be a remarkably easy save. Near misses by both sides bring us to a 1-0 half where both sides may have felt lucky to get into the locker room.

LAFC looked to turn things around with a few subs and came out on the attack to start the second half. Mahala, Mohamed El-Munir, and Adrien Perez injected some life into the Black and Gold side as Vela moved to the middle of the attack, but Seattle created better chances en route to an eventual second goal, this one for Ruidiaz off a corner. LAFC found new life as Carlos Vela found a streaking Eduard Atuesta to pull one back, but the momentum lasted all of 3 minutes before that same three-headed monster put the match away behind a goal from Jordan Morris. LAFC had one correctly (barely) waved off via VAR as Seattle killed off the rest of the match to advance, convincingly, 3-1, and continue their title defense. To be the man, you have to beat the man. Tonight, LAFC was beaten by the man, and, just like that, the longest, strangest trip that was the 2020 season comes to an end.

Also on this episode, Filly sings while Scarf sings the praises of Angel City FC. We wish a happy birthday to a recently retired member of Black and Gold history, share news of expanding trophy cases for several of our players, and lament the disaster that was the international break for our club. We also celebrate UCLA’s newest Bruin from the LAFC Academy, Lawndale’s own Mauricio Gutierrez while discussing the latest transfer destination for one of our players. Carlos Vela takes home tops honors in kit sales while the Defenders update their Postmates app to order all the finest LAFC threads. So much to talk about, so little time. 

Finally, we spend the last few moments of our episode thanking you, Defenders Nation, the millions… and millions of the Black and Gold Faithful. We could not and would not be here without you. We’ve got at least three more episodes planned in the 2020 calendar year, including getting ready for CCL against Cruz Azul. Please take a second to listen to the last few minutes, our thank you to you. Take a deep breath. Exhale out all the garbage that was 2020. And until then, see you on Episode 131!

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It’s the final match of the season, and potentially, the final match at Banc of California Stadium in 2020. A familiar foe awaits, as for the fourth time this year, LAFC takes on Portland. On Episode 129, Filly and the Scarf break down all the good and the bad from our tussle with the Timbers!

Things got off to a beautiful start, as just 5 minutes in, Carlos Vela, back in the starting lineup, slots one home off a rebound to put the home squad up 1-0. The connections between Diego Rossi, Carlos Vela, and the 16-year old Christian Torres came early and often for the Black and Gold, and it was fun to watch. Rossi found the post and Vela found the crossbar as LAFC head into the half up just one goal. 

It would be more of the same early in the second, as Rossi found the post again. It was a back and forth affair in the second, with LAFC creating fewer chances and Portland finding more comfort, especially off the foot of Diego Valeri. Kenneth Vermeer came up huge several times but was equaled by his counterpart between the pipes, Steve Clark. Just before stoppage, Portland found the equalizer, as Southern California native Jorge Villafana got on the end of a Diego Valeri pass to make it 1-1. It was a somewhat frustrating, if not oddly poetic, end to LAFC’s regular season. 

LAFC sit 7th in the table, which means a date with the Sounders in Seattle to kick off the playoffs. Revenge is a dish best served Black and Gold! It’ll be about a 2-week break for Bob and the boys, which should be plenty of time to get ready for Seattle. Diego Rossi ends the season as the youngest Golden Boot winner in league history, and he and Vela become the first teammates to win the boot back-to-back. LAFC also finishes the season as the Best in the West and the Best in MLS at scoring goals, pacing the circuit with 47. 

Rounding out the episode, we fondly remember Alex Trebek while saying goodbye to the Supporters Shield. This Day in LAFC History celebrates the birth of the first signing in club history while highlighting a goal for Brian (just not one for LAFC). Filly nurses a hangover, Scarf congratulates another expansion team on their playoff berth, and the boys can’t help but feel sorry for Philadelphia as they raise a plastic shield. 

The Most LAFC Podcast on Earth! Who is Defenders of the Banc? (RIP Alex Trebek)

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