The soccerless stretch is over. In Episode 5, we close the book on preseason and set the table for opening day with a full RSL season kickoff: preseason recap, roster check-in, projected XI talk, bold predictions, a Vancouver road preview, and your questions from the Boot Room 801 community.

On the docket:

• Preseason recap: RSL vs Galaxy plus the overall vibe from wrap-up interviews

• Roster check-in: who’s out (Vera, Ojeda) and who’s in (Engel, Spierings, Juanma Sanabria, Morgan Guilavogui, Arias, Booth, Cowell, Dillon, Kropp, Riquileme, Solans)

• DP/U22 snapshot: DP spot watch, and the U22 group (Luna, Marczuk, Piol, Arias)

• MLS projected Starting XI: what MLS got right, what we’d change, and thoughts on a 3-5-2 plus the top bench impact guys

• Call your shot: where RSL finishes in the West, Supporters’ Shield expectations, playoff ceiling, and player awards (MVP, Golden Boot, Breakout)

• Match preview at Vancouver: last 5 meetings trends, the Thomas Müller factor, visa availability questions, how RSL should adjust, and score predictions

Listener questions and takes included:
Goal-scorer predictions (Gozo, Olatunji), a spicy hot take about Glad, and real opening-day realism from RSL Nation, including 2-1 and 2-0 Vancouver predictions.

Submit your questions for next week at bootroom801.com/listener-questions and we’ll bring them into the room.