Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

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Episode 118 – The Referee’s A Sounder! 

We are back for yet another September episode of Defenders of the Banc, and it’s another tough result for LAFC. LAFC makes their way up to the Emerald City to take on the defending champs, and, unbeknownst to them, the referee, as well. It’s a 3-0 loss to the champs, and it’s Episode 118 of Defenders of the Banc. 

LAFC started out well, and it was punch/counterpunch for the first 25 minutes or so. Solid chances by both sides wiped away by errant touches or an offside call, and one solid save by Pablo Sisniega. In the 27th minute, things took a bit of a turn as Dejan Jakovic was called for a handball that everyone in the building missed the first time around. Nico Lodeiro slots it home and LAFC are down early, yet again, 1-0. Just five minutes pass before referee Joseph Dickinson switches out his yellow PRO referee top for rave green, as Latif Blessing is whistled for a foul in the box that is literally never actually called a foul except for tonight, and one more Nico Lodeiro PK later, it’s 2-0. The sky is falling along with the rain in Seattle. 

LAFC looked to regroup after the half and bringing on both Andy Najar and Eduard Atuesta seemed to do the trick. Play improved and passes tightened up a bit, but LAFC was still having trouble creating meaningful chances. To further the Black and Gold frustration, a clear handball on Seattle wasn’t just missed, there was also no call to review it. Turnabout couldn’t even lead to fair play. A crisp connection between Joao Paulo and Raul Ruidiaz late in the match salted things away for Seattle, and it’s another punchless, shutout loss for LAFC in September. 

Also, on this episode, a significant PK makes its way into This Day In LAFC History, Hello Kitty stops by, Filly learns the word pejorative, and for much of the episode, it’s actually Scarf who sounds like the optimist. We celebrate both Hispanic Heritage Month and Rosh Hashanah while Beita Time returns to MLS. The boys remember their “Wait, What?!” moment of the podcast, and it’s not Kenneth Vermeer’s FIFA 21 rating, Filly quotes Dolly Parton, and Scarf helps the haters on social media do some good with their awful hot takes. Lick your wounds quickly, Defenders, as LAFC heads back home to take on the Whitecaps in just 5 days! We hope you enjoy Episode 118 of Defenders of the Banc!

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As all of the Black and Gold faithful awaited the Kaiser Permanente injury report yesterday, the question around the Banc was, “Will Eduard Atuesta be healthy enough to give it a go?” Well, much to the delight of LAFC supporters, he’s baaaaaaack!

LAFC looked to close out phase one of the restart of the 2020 MLS season on a high note. After the roughest patch in club history over the last five matches, would the return of our midfield maestro, coupled with a Timbers team missing two of their stars, Sebastian Blanco and Diego Chara, be enough to spark a revival at the Cathedral of the Black and Gold, Banc of California Stadium? YES.

LAFC conceded first. Also, the Earth is round, and ice is cold. In what has become more fact than pattern at this point, LAFC falls behind again, this time off another defensive blunder in the box. Eryk Williamson puts Portland up 1-0, and the thoughts had to be going through LAFC’s fans’ minds: Is this déjà vu all over again? After a few bites at the cherry, as Max would say, LAFC gets the equalizer off of a stellar set piece. It’s Rayito to BWP to MAK, and we are level at one. In quick succession, LAFC would get two more, the 10th of the season for Diego Rossi and the 113th in the career of BWP, and LAFC looked to head into the half up 3-1. 

However… this is 2020, so LAFC has to make it harder on themselves than it should be. LAFC would concede just before the half time whistle, and we go in up 3-2. After a few subs, and a few bullets dodged, LAFC look to have settled down. In the 80th minute, along with the Moose, Danny Musovski, Eduard Atuesta checks into the match for the first time since late July. In stoppage, these two, along with Mark-Anthony Kaye, would combine for the insurance goal right before the final whistle, and its 4-2 LAFC. From 10th to 4th we go, and hopefully, we are back on track. With three more matches in the next 14 days, LAFC will look to build momentum.

Also on Episode 117, This Day In LAFC History celebrates “Backup Keeper Birthday Day”, there’s a ghost sighting in San Diego, and it’s still #KickChildhoodCancer month, so keep using that hashtag to donate Continental Tire’s money! Did Filly drink himself into oblivion? Why is Scarf talking about a Coach Wondolowski? And, most importantly, did the Defenders remember their “Wait, What?!” moment of the episode? You’ll have to listen to Episode 117 to find out!

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5 matches in 19 days. But for some reason, it has seemed like an eternity. LAFC, mired in their worst stretch of play in their young history, travel to Sandy, Utah. Rio Tinto Stadium has been a welcome sight for LAFC, as the Black and Gold have taken all three prior matches by an aggregate of 10-1. However, much like this season as a whole… heck, much like 2020 as a whole, today’s result would be very, very different. 

Bob shook some things up against RSL, giving four players their first career starts for LAFC: Danny Musovski, Andy Najar, Bryce Duke, and Mohamed Traore. The latter two, just teenagers, 19 and 18 years old, respectively. You could argue that the 18 (23, actually, with the COVID rules) was more familiar to LAFC supporters than the starting squad: Eddie Segura, Latif Blessing, Tristan Blackmon, Bradley Wright-Phillips, and Diego Palacios. We catch a glimpse of the future as well, perhaps, with Erik Duenas and Tony Leone making their first-ever MLS active rosters.

The ball just isn’t bouncing LAFC’s way during the past handful of matches, and nowhere else was that more evident than in two plays during this match, one to begin the first half, and the other to begin the second. Identical plays, balls pinballing around the box, with completely different outcomes. In the first half, the ball barely eludes Danny Musovski and RSL is able to clear. In the second half, the ball finds Justin Meram, and RSL has a backbreaker. A rough one for Jordan Harvey, to be sure, conceding a penalty to Albert Rusnak, and the rout was on. LAFC fall, 3-0, and limp home to take on Portland in just 4 days.

Also on this episode, Filly and the Scarf show some love to a new sponsor and a new kit. This Day In LAFC History taps into a history-clinching match that LAFC didn’t even play in, a member of Black and Gold past changes addresses. Find out the difference between a fan and a supporter, and you won’t believe who Scarf thinks was the player of the match against Real. Here come the haters! But don’t worry, the boys will give you more reasons to “at” them in just 4 days, on Episode 117. 

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For the third time in 2020, despite COVID, despite quarantine, despite all of the challenges that this year has brought the Black and Gold faithful, it’s Derby Day. First in Orlando, then Los Angeles, now the scene shifts to a tiny suburb on the outskirts of L.A. County, Carson. 

Unfortunately, for LAFC, it would be more of the same from the last matchup: no goals, more questions. Whereas the first matchup produced electrifying goals, six in total, the last 180 minutes have given us nothing but pain. This wasn’t the listless, rundown performance from a few weeks ago, however. In fact, the first half, though scoreless on both sides, produced many moments of optimism and reasons to look forward to the final 45 minutes. 

Things turned south quickly for LAFC in the second half. Pablo Sisniega went on walkabout to meet Cristian Pavon, allowing the talented Argentine to chip it over San Pablo for the first goal of the match. Just a few minutes later, a questionable bit of defending and a studs-up tackle by today’s match captain, Mark-Anthony Kaye, saw him receive a straight red and an early exit. 

Kaye’s red seemed to be the death knell for any LAFC comeback. Two more goals for Carson and the rout was over. A 3-0 defeat at the hands of our bitter rival was not how we anticipated this holiday weekend to shape up. While the questions abound, LAFC takes the pitch again in just three days, heading up to Sandy, Utah to take on Real Salt Lake. 

While the team didn’t have much to celebrate, it was a wonderful first for the Defenders, as Filly and the Scarf joined Mark Rogondino on YouTubeTV’s post-game broadcast. Very exciting, indeed! Filly celebrates his Islanders while Scarf needs to stay away from the Apple News app. 

How does Filly manage to make a comparison between Kobe Bryant and Brian Rodriguez? Why is Scarf worried about zombie pathogens and the moon rusting? And will the long-awaited Defenders of the Banc website really be coming soon? You’ll have to listen to Episode 115 to find out! See you in three days for the recap at Real. 

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History has a way of repeating itself. Coming into this matchup LAFC has dominated the series vs San Jose and today was no different. LAFC was back at the Banc in search of their winning ways and boy did they win today. LAFC, without Carlos Vela and Eduard Atuesta, managed to once again dine on Smurf Stew. How does Smurf Stew taste, it’s good enough for 5 servings. 

Diego Rossi and Bradley Wright-Phillips continued to add goals to their stat lines with some beautiful plays. We had two newcomers make their presence felt in the goal columns.  Welcome Jose Cifuentes and Danny Musovski. So exciting to see these young men enjoy the fruits of their labor. This was also a coming out party for Chiqui Palacios he added an assist and several important tackles. Latif Blessing started in the backline and was seen everywhere on the pitch. We finally looked solid in the backline. We even had an Andy Najar sighting and another glimpse of academy player Christian Torres. It certainly was a fun night at the Banc. 

Episode 114 has some of the usual segments, This Day in LAFC History, Scheduling with the Scarf, and we even managed to remember our Wait What segment.  Hear Filly howl like a wolf, and Scarf call someone a poop-sicle. All this and more on the 114th edition of Defenders of The Banc  

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LAFC. Seattle. It's taken just two-plus seasons for MLS to have a new must-see matchup. Last year's Supporters Shield winners taking on last year's MLS Cup champions. A game made all the more important considering LAFC's previous result against Carson, our current unfamiliar place in the standings, and our holes in the lineup created by injuries to our captain Carlos Vela and midfielder extraordinaire Eduard Atuesta. Could LAFC stop the slide of recent losses and poor play at the site of our first win in club history? In a word, no.

Episode 113 sees Filly in Las Vegas, Scarf in Lawndale, and our back line in tatters. Seattle's Peruvian talisman, Raul Ruidiaz, struck yet again, this time from distance, while Jordan Morris ran laps around the defense en route to a brace. Questions abound. Should we see more of San Pablo in net? Was that injury the end for Danilo Silva? Do we need to look outside the club for defensive help? Can we call "take-backs" on the deal with Nashville? 

Though the sky may be falling right now for LAFC, there were several silver linings during the match. Jose Cifuentes's midfield play looked solid as he did his best to fill in for Atuesta. Diego Rossi netted once again to move back to the top of the Golden Boot race. And in a bit of history for the club, 16-year old Christian Torres, the pride of Fontana, became the first LAFC Academy product and Homegrown signing to take the pitch in an MLS match. Perhaps the light at the end of the tunnel isn't an oncoming train after all. 

On this episode, we wish a very happy 21st birthday to Phillip Ejimadu while recalling our own 21st birthday celebrations. This Day In LAFC History takes us back to Carlos Vela's "Houdini" goal against San Jose, our "Wait, What?!" moment takes 61 seconds, Scheduling with the Scarf makes a comeback, and Banc of California Stadium gets a new address! Hear yet another reason we are proud of Bob Bradley, inspired by Mark-Anthony Kaye, and disgusted with Dell Loy Hansen. 

Not much time to cry in our Cheerios, Defenders, as we take the pitch in just three short days against San Jose at home. Will we right the ship against the Smurfs? You'll have to tune in to Episode 114 to find out!

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LAFC has had several Hollywood endings inside Banc of California Stadium over the course of our first two and a half seasons. Our first match against Seattle. Our first win over Carson. The win over Leon. Capturing the Supporters Shield. So many reasons to celebrate. We entered Derby Day with the expectations that this match against Carson would share the same fate: spectacular play, big moments, great goals. However, this was an entirely different kind of script that played out in front of a fanless-stadium.

It was a horror movie in every sense of the word. LAFC was completely outplayed in all facets by the team from Carson. Our offense was non-existant. Our defense didn’t communicate. Our midfield couldn’t string passes together. And to top it all off, Carlos Vela, playing in his first match in months, came off injured in the 58th minute. For the first time in the Derby, LAFC was shut out. For the first time in 12 matches, Carlos Vela didn’t score. And, for at least the next few weeks, bragging rights go to Carson. Yuck. LAFC loses to Carson, 2-0. Hear the minute-by-minute recap on this episode.

This Day in LAFC History recounts two more Derbys along with the club’s first international trophy. We say goodbye to our club President, Tom Penn (though he will still certainly be around the Banc) while saying hello to our newest club member, Mohamed Traore. And the episode would not be complete without a few thoughts on the Samba release at 7:00am. (More shoes, please.)

Scarf finally picks his EPL side, and it’s a good one. (He almost dies from a sneeze, too!) For some reason, Filly offends the platypus. The Defenders try to exercise the demons (and save themselves from more expensive therapy bills) on the awful loss. And, of course, we look ahead to the next 5 games in the restart of the MLS season. Be sure to check out our new pre-game segment, One More Sleep, on IGTV! Though times are tough, it’ll be just 4 days until we get to play again, and you can count on us here at Defenders of the Banc to bring you all that is LAFC.

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It’s Episode 111, and, more importantly, Filly survived his 40th birthday! FillyFest 2020 was a resounding, socially distant success, complete with videos from loved ones, small tokens of affection, and shots! Back behind the mic at world famous Filimonster Studios, the lads of Defenders of the Banc are ready for the restart of the 2020 MLS season.


After Episode 110 meandered like the actual 110 Freeway, it was time to get back to the business of the Black and Gold, with a side dish of plenty of other MLS news and notes and a few Champions League thoughts as well. Just 12 episodes after we interviewed him, Filly and the Scarf bid a fond farewell to one of our favorites and a true icon in our club’s history, Adama Diomande. Our number 99 will always be LAFC’s Great One, and we are really going to miss his presence, personality, and oh, those goals. Those back-breaking, morale-stealing, roof-off-the-Banc-lifting, Carson-crushing goals. Dio will ALWAYS be Black and Gold.


We also discuss some other Black and Gold news, including all the hardware that Diego Rossi brought home from Orlando, the opening of the transfer window (it doesn’t close until October!), and an article from the venerable Rome Sentinel about our fantastic head athletic trainer, Sean Kupiec. Shout out to Holland Patent, New York!


Hear the hopeful and triumphant return of Scarfstradamus, Filly’s Bundesliga-heavy Champions League predictions, and, of course, This Day In LAFC History. We have a really fun interview scheduled with The Most Interesting Player In MLS coming up, as well as SIX, yes, SIX games coming in the next 28 days! Please join us on this crazy magic carpet ride, and, as always, thank you for your support of Defenders of the Banc!

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Episode 110 is here, and, like the actual 110 Freeway, this one meanders a bit. With no LAFC game to chat about, and with the Filly birthday episode on the horizon, Filly and Scarf go down the rabbit hole of topics. Our athlete of the podcast is a goalie, but he plays hockey. We talk college football, Syracuse basketball, our sad, sad Metropolitans, and so much more. But don't worry, we talk LAFC and other soccer (but no Patriots!). 

For Episode 110, we also bring on Connor Kalopsis and Jerry Reynoso, the lads over at 110 Football, a budding media conglomerate with a small crew and big dreams. Previously able to make it work with just a producer, director, director of photography, editing and sound crew, and maybe a show runner or two, they have now added a few mega-stars of LAFC lore, the incomparable Vince La Rosa and former LAFC captain Benny Feilhaber. 

This 17-year old duo Zooms with us about a wide range of topics: both of their first times meeting each other, what goes into a production of 110 Football, their thoughts on the Covid Cup, the Champions League, and their aspirations for the future. Please stick around until the end to hear about an amazing project Jerry is spearheading called L.A. Saga, as he looks to empower teens and help them get their foot in the door in the many avenues of journalism. 

Episode 111 and Filly's 40th are on the horizon, so be on the lookout for another episode soon as we get ready for the restart of the 2020 MLS season and celebrate the big 4-0!

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The House of the Mouse became a house of horrors for LAFC, as the pre-tournament favorites were bounced by, of all teams, the cinderella story of the COVID Cup, Orlando City SC, led by, of all players, Joao Moutinho. LAFC loses on PK’s 5-4 after ending regulation locked at 1. 

This week should have been a celebration of epic proportions at Banc of California Stadium. The All Star Game was set to pit a team of Liga MX foes against a likely LAFC-laden MLS All Star squad at the Cathedral of the Black and Gold. Unfortunately, the hell that has been most of 2020 cancelled those plans, pushing them back at least a year. In light of these crazy times, at least we had the MLS Is Back tournament to look forward to. 

Well, the run is over, after a decidedly-tired looking but valiant effort from our boys. Another BWP goal was not enough, as a 90th minute equalizer from Joao sent the game to PK’s. Tied after one round, Jordan Harvey unfortunately bangs his shot off the crossbar, and the hopes of LAFC advancing were tenuous at best. Though LAFC was able to see out their subsequent rounds, so was Orlando, and, just like that, the dream of hoisting the COVID Cup was over. 

It’s out of the bubble and back to L.A. for the Black and Gold. The world has taken notice of Diego Rossi. Bradley Wright-Phillips has found the magic that he had for so many years in New Jersey. The tournament was finally the coming out party for Brian Rodriguez that we were waiting for, with 2 goals and 4 assists. And, in our humble opinion, we look to have our #1 keeper in Kenneth Vermeer. All that being said, it’s an unfortunate exit for the favorites. 

Licking our wounds is never easy, and this one certainly hurts, but we do our best to keep it nice and regular for you as well, with two “Wait, What?!” moments, This Day In LAFC History, and the usual banter back and forth. 

Why does Filly have some ‘splaining to do? When will Scarfstradamus get one right again? And will the Defenders ever be able to walk around Vietnam without being mobbed? (You’ll hear why, don’t worry.) Please make sure to stick around for the end of the episode for our heartfelt tribute to the godfather himself, Jerry Jimenez of Heart of LAFC. Thank you for listening as we head to Episode 110!

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