Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

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Cruz Azul at home? Postponed. A trip to Estadio Azteca? Grounded. Turning the Timbers into toothpicks? Delayed. But it's going to take more than a worldwide pandemic to keep Filly and the Scarf from recording our latest episode!

Welcome to Episode 89, Podcasting While Social Distancing. Keeping a standard 6-city distance away from each other, Scarf is home in Lawndale while Filly sets up shop at world-famous Filimonster Studios to record our first episode since COVID-19 reshaped our collective reality. You may hear a few minor audio issues while we work out the kinks of recording remotely.

There's still plenty of LAFC-related talk to be had! Did an MLS defender throw all the other MLS defenders under the bus while also talking smack to Carlos Vela? Did Marco Ureña really sign with a newly promoted K-League side? And what part does Niko Hämäläinen play in this episode?

Filly and the Scarf also take a second to remember Jeffrey Ghazarian, a member of the Black and Gold family who lost his life to COVID-19. 

Finally, on this episode, you'll hear some of our opinions on this strange new normal that we are all facing in light of the coronavirus pandemic. We may be two outspoken, goofy, shooey-consuming podcast hosts, but we also understand how important it is that we all come together in these extremely trying times. We can only hope that by sharing our thoughts with all of you, we can weather all of this together. One big Black and Gold family. 

We'll be back to Defending the Banc soon enough, but until then, stay safe, stay healthy, stay home, and thanks for listening to Defenders of the Banc!

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The headline on CNN said it all: "America is on hold." In what seemed like mere minutes, sports leagues, concerts, festivals, celebrations, and other large galas went from "wait and see" to "postponed indefinitely" or canceled. Coronavirus has made its way into the very fabric of the world, and, with it, among many other things, postponed the CCL match between your LAFC black and gold and the blue cross of Cruz Azul.

An hour or so after recording a superpod with many of the other #lafcpodfam on YouTube, moderated by Jerry Jimenez of Heart of LAFC, the boys sat down to tackle the topic on Defenders. Clearly, "strange things are afoot at the Circle K", so Filly and Scarf dive headfirst into the issue. We know that our listeners share the concerns that we both have about everyone's safety and health. But we also know that you need a break from the constant updates on social media and texts among friends about all this. 

We can only hope to be a nice 45-minute distraction, a reason to make you laugh, think, or smile, and to bring a bit of Black and Gold levity to these times. On this episode, we bid a not-so-fond farewell to Carlos Cordeiro, we wish happy birthday to ex-LAFC netminder Tyler Miller, and we implore you once again to support the NWSL to LA movement. 

From the opening stanza of Filly's introductory rap to our trademark "bye-bye" at the end of the episode, we hope you enjoy a break from the whirlwind, and we want to remind you that we are all in this together. Stay safe, be smart, and wash your hands! A friendly message from your neighborhood Filly and the Scarf! Enjoy episode 88!  

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Welcome to Episode 87 of the LAFC Podcast for the People, Defenders of the Banc! We head back at the Banc for the second match of the 2020 season. In town are the Philadelphia Union, and who could have predicted this match would have gone much like many of the boxing matches of Philly’s Finest Fictional Fighter, Rocky Balboa. 

It was a true back-and-forth affair, as LAFC played catch-up for the entire 90 minutes. Philly would score, and LAFC would respond. Philly got another, and then so did LAFC. When the dust settled, not only were Union players strewn all over the pitch, but the score was deadlocked at 3. Certainly not the result we wanted, but a point is a point. It was a long night and a long match, with kickoff being pushed back to just about 11:00pm Philly time, and the game’s final whistle blowing at just before 1:00am on the East Coast. Factor in an almost full moon and about 16 minutes of stoppage time and wow, it was a long, late one. 

In addition to the recap, we bring all the usual tomfoolery, including This Day In LAFC History, LAFC News and Notes, and the long-awaited return of our “Wait, What?” moment! Filly sings a popular jingle, Scarf regains a good portion of his voice, and the boys celebrate International Women’s Day as only we can, by recording an episode!

A big congratulations to all the LA Marathon runners, a hearty shout out to the NWSL in LA movement, and a hefty congrats to Carlos Vela on goal number 50! Thanks again for listening to the most LAFC podcast on Earth!

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Reunited... And it feels so good! Filly is back from Italy, and just in time, too! It's time to celebrate the 31st birthday of the greatest player in team history and the owner of the left foot of God, Carlos Vela! In honor of Carlos's birthday, footballing legend David Beckham and his Inter Miami CF have been invited to the Banc to kickoff MLS's 25th season and the third season for your boys in Black and Gold!

While it wasn't quite the 3-0 beatdown of Leon, LAFC do everything they need to in a 1-0 win against the Fighting Ibises of Fort Lauderdale. A world-class chip by Carlitos, his gift to us all on his birthday, was enough to secure all three points. 6 saves by the Vermeer Wall and excellent play by Eddie Segura once again was all we needed to start the year off right.

Why were the boys singing Will Smith? What was Filly ranting about now? And why did Scarf get a hug from David Beckham? You'll have to listen to Episode 86 to find out. This is the way!

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The Cathedral of the Black and Gold welcomes the faithful and the spirited of LAFC as Liga MX foe Leon enters their worst nightmare, the den of the 3252, to take on LAFC in the second leg of Round 1 of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. 

In what would turn out to be a historic night for LAFC, the boys would go on to not only defeat Leon but advance in the CCL, 3-2 on aggregate, and secure a date with Cruz Azul in Round 2. We're off to Mexico City!

Episode 85 of Defenders of the Banc, the LAFC Podcast for the People, recaps the amazing night at the Banc. The incredible tifo. The return of Eduard Atuesta. The amazing play by our back line, allowing zero shots on target. The dominant play of Diego Rossi, reminding so many why he was courted in Europe for much of last season. And of course, the left foot of God and another brace by our MVP, Carlos Vela. Hear all the details of our 3-0 win!

No episode is complete without This Day In LAFC, but this one is a short segment consisting of three birthdays. Whose birthdays? Take a listen! LAFC News and Notes renews our contract with ESPN, delves into another trade with Nashville, bids farewell to an LAFC owner, and examines the expectations put upon the MLS by another owner.

We debut our new segment "Catching Up with Cruz Azul" as we put "Looking at Leon" to bed. We take our first look at the 92-year old Liga MX power, Cruz Azul, and the football landmark that is Estadio Azteca. 

Finally, "Scheduling with The Scarf" makes its 2020 debut, covering all 5 games in March. The month may be hectic, but Scarf is there to break it all down for you. 

Which two bands would Filly love to see in concert at Azteca? With the 3-0 win, is the hashtag #BlameFilly finally dead? Where did Scarf's voice go? All these questions and more are answered on Episode 85 of Defenders of the Banc!

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Away Days in Leon. Just typing the words brings me (Scarf) back to tacos and seafood, a few too many tequila shots, and the incredible atmosphere inside Estadio Leon, home of Los Panzas Verdes, Club Leon FC. 

Welcome to Episode 83. What Tom Hanks was to Cast Away, Scarf is to this episode. Alone. With Nina in Anaheim and Filly and Panda in Rome, it's all Scarf, all the time on Episode 83. But don't worry! Scarf keeps it pretty short, barely topping the 30-minute mark as he recaps the events in Leon as the Black and Gold make their CONCACAF Champions League debut down in Mexico. 

No episode would be complete without This Day in LAFC History, so it's here, along with LAFC News and Notes, our newest segment, Looking At Leon, and a little bit about our first tailgate and our next episode. 

A big shoutout to our capos and drummers in Leon, as they were the real heroes of the evening! How did our drummers drum without bringing drums? How did our capos...er... capo (?) without a capo stand? How did our fans cheer and sing without water? You'll have to tune in to Episode 83 to find out! 

Just 6 more days until the start of the MLS regular season, and we will be there for every kick, save, and shooey! 

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To deal with the chaos and carnage of the MLS season, the Champions League, the Open Cup, the MLS Playoffs, and the many, many cool events that LAFC puts on, some people like to unwind with a run. Apparently, this is a relaxing endeavor. While Scarf does not understand this concept, Filly and Panda are avid runners, even when something is not chasing them. (Please do not chase Scarf.) 

The Defenders are joined in world-famous Filimonster Studios by the founder of the Black and Gold Running Club, Neal Tyner, as part of our Stories from the Stadium series. Neal explains the origins of the Black and Gold Running Club, the running club's plans for the future, his sweet Instagram handle, and, of course, all things LAFC. 

We had a blast hosting Neal in the studio, and you should expect to see the Defenders out to support the Black and Gold Running Club! You can even listen to this episode today while running with the club on tonight's scheduled trek to Staples Center and the Farmer's Market! 

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The preseason comes to a close with a mid-day, mid-week match against Toronto FC, and with that comes Episode 82 of the LAFC Podcast for the People, Defenders of the Banc!

Walker Zimmerman was traded to Nashville SC. We didn't believe the headline when we read it, either, but it's true. Yes, it was for a potential record-setting amount of GAM for a defender, but, wow. Just like that, one of the key members of our record setting first two seasons is gone. It felt different than the departures of Tyler, or Lee, or Laurent. But the team presses on without him, and so do we.

Just 6 days from the kickoff of CCL in Guanajuato, LAFC wraps up the 2020 preseason with a solid 3-1 win over Toronto. The start of the match felt a little different, as the Black and Gold played to a crowd much smaller than usual due to the noon kick time on a Wednesday. The pre-match festivities saw the debut of Sunny, the falcon named after Sunset Blvd. After her longer-than-usual flight, and in front of about 6,000 or so, our boys did not disappoint. 
 
Brian Rodriguez got us on the board first on a pass from Carlos, and he nets his 3rd in as many games this preseason. We are really hoping this carries over into the regular season, CCL, and beyond! After Toronto tied things up at 1, it was our MVP's turn to get in on the action. This time, it wasn't a left-footed curler as much as it was a straight smash home to put LAFC back up 2-1. 
 
In the 81st minute, another chapter in the LAFC history books was written, as Latif Blessing sets up LAFC Academy product Christian Torres for the goal, the first goal scored by an Academy player in team history. This might just be a preseason match, but it's moments like this that we can all build on and look optimistically toward the future. Congratulations to the 15 year old on his history making accomplishment. 
 
Also on the episode, there is a Peter-Lee Vassell sighting in Denmark, a Locomotive trains with LAFC, a surprise trialist makes his mark in the final match before it gets real, Imad and Joe share a birthday, and Number Watch 2020 hits Day 64. Oh, and Filly sings Good Charlotte! But don't worry, no XFL news to be found. 
 
It's on to Leon for Scarf, and Rome for Filly. Will we return from Leon with a point, three, or the dreaded zero? You'll have to tune into Episode 83 to find out!

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The Defenders tackle Ontario, CA as they record the 81st edition of the LAFC Podcast for the People! 

 The LAFC news never stops, but this week was a big one. Filly and the Scarf break down the potential ramifications of the Adama Diomande injury, a fractured 4th metatarsal in his right foot, the release of former phenom Josh Perez, the departure of every draft pick we made this season not named Hallahan, and… *cue the Stone Cold Steve Austin intro and channel your inner Jim Ross voice* LAFC has signed BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS!

 Despite many reports to the contrary, John Thorrington and company got another great deal done. The 3-time Supporters Shield winner and 2-time Best XI member has done nothing but score since he entered MLS midway through 2013, tallying 126 goals over 240 competitions. We are certainly looking forward to seeing BWP in Black and Gold!

 Recording live from the Best of the Westerns in the Rancho Cucamonga/Ontario are, the boys were lucky enough to see the Ontario Fury honor alum Adrien Perez between quarters while putting the beatdown on Mesquite, 7-0. We take a look at the CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as Diego Rossi, Francisco Ginella, Eduard Atuesta, and Eddie Segura represent their countries and push to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. 

 Scarf explores a small LAFC to XFL connection as he tries to fit in another nod to the Patriots. In a mini “Rants with Filly”, Christian has some words of advice for those who want to express their opinions on the new kit. The Defenders recap the preseason tie with FC Dallas while checking in on our CCL opponent, Leon. Finally, we dissect the new Collective Bargaining Agreement signed by both MLS and the MLS Players Association. 

 In case you’re counting, that’s 6 teams down on Scarf’s road to 100 clubs in 2020, 7 episodes recorded already this year, and 9 days until the CCL kicks off against Leon. But what number will BWP wear? You’ll have to listen to the next episode of Defenders of the Banc to find out!

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It’s Episode 80, or as we are calling this one, Episode LXXX, in honor of the Super Bowl, played today between the Chiefs and 49ers. 

The preseason is underway, and as such, we recap the closed-to-everyone friendly victory over NYCFC, 3-1. The match had plenty of history for being a preseason friendly, as Brian Rodriguez finally put one in the back of the net for the Black and Gold. 2020 SuperDraft pick Jorge Gonzalez also got on the board, a goal you could have seen LIVE on Defenders of the Banc’s Instagram @defendersofthebanc! Kenneth Vermeer got the start before eventually giving way to Pablo Sisniega. 

In our LAFC News and Notes segment, LAFC changes the start time for the Houston match in May, a third different LAFC player nets a game winner in the CONMEBOL Olympic Qualifying tournament, and a great new series from LAFC debuts on YouTube, “Behind the Crest”. Make sure you check out the first episode! This next coming week is a big one, as the new kit drops February 5th among several other events in Jersey Launch Week. Listen to this episode for all the details and how to register for everything coming up this week!

The Defenders took a detour down the 110 to watch the USMNT and Walker Zimmerman take on his former teammate Marco Ureña and Costa Rica in a 1-0 snoozer of a victory. Walker did almost score and had several good opportunities inside the box. 

In our new segment Looking to Leon, we take a quick look at Leon’s win over Morelia. In Just 16 days, LAFC takes on Leon in Guanajuato in the first leg of the first round of the CCL. Will you be joining Scarf in Leon?

The boys close the episode with their thoughts on Super Bowl LIV and, of course, the tragic passing of Kobe, Gianna, and 7 others a week ago. Though we may close this episode a little differently, we hope you enjoy episode 80 and the build-up to Leon.   

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