Extratime

Why did the Red Bulls trade Sacha Kljestan? The guys, including Bobby Warshaw (!!!), give their takes, then New York sporting director Denis Hamlett calls in to give his side of the deal.

Also in this episode, MLS schedule release and Benny Feilhaber trade reaction, plus which MLS bosses would the guys want to be their soccer coach and life coach?

The calendar isn't the only thing changing as Matt Doyle breaks big news to start the first ExtraTime Radio of 2018. Once that's out of the way, the guys make resolutions for all 23 MLS teams (welcome, LAFC), plus the USMNT and CanMNT.

Can Toronto make history in CCL? Which teams should play their kids? Who needs to make a splash (or a sale) in the transfer market? What big news did you miss while you spend two weeks in your sweatpants? In the mailbag, a bold Baerantee and listener wishes for the New Year.

Remember, you can call or text the show at 401-206-0MLS or email at extratime [at] mlssoccer.com with your questions, comments or hot takes. Subscribe to ExtraTime Radio to have the podcast delivered straight to your phone twice a week!

Need some soccer talk to get you through 2017? Andrew sits down with AT&T Rookie of the Year Julian Gressel to talk Atlanta United and his unconventional path from Germany to Providence to the pros. Sporting KC backstop Tim Melia also stops by to explain why it took until now for him to become a game-changing 'keeper and what his future might hold (hint, GM).

While the holidays are on David sitdowns with MLS legend Dero to talk about his career path, finding the next Dero, and winning championships. David also talks MLS with Jack Harrison and Kelyn Rowe. Link here to Jessie Rees Foundation http://negu.org/kelyn-rowe/

Forget TAM and GAM! The guys sit down with the newest member of the ETR family -- that'd be Cam Wiebe -- to break down expansion news, talk transfers, and chat with USMNT starlet Kellyn Acosta about his WhatsApp buddies Christian Pulisic & Weston McKinnie, his future plans and FC Dallas heading into 2018.

The guys break down the hire of Gio Saverese with Dave Martinez, and talk to LAFC GM John Thorrington about Diego Rossi, Ciman/Zimmerman, Bob's plan, and more.

Either the internet has eroded our attention spans past the point of recognition, or there was just that much massive news in Major League Soccer this week. Maybe both. Not even a week ago, Toronto FC were winning MLS Cup and claiming best-ever status. Now? It's all Darlington Nagbe to ATLUTD, LAFC's ever-growing roster and silly season in full swing.

Nagbe to the South could be the biggest MLS trade yet, and the guys dive in to provide analysis from top to bottom to give you the lowdown on the Five Stripe's big gamble and Portland's big payday. Then ATLUTD president Darren Eales calls in to talk Nagbe, those Ezequiel Barco rumors and Arthur Blank's desire to push the on-field envelope.

Silly season got, well, even sillier in a matter of days. LAFC sign Uruguayan starlet Diego Rossi to a DP deal, those Sacha Kljestan rumors won't go away and the newest club in MLS grabbed five new players (and traded two) in the Expansion Draft. And that's just the beginning. Praise be to Panterita! The Dynamo locked up Alberth Elis. Plus, NYCFC and Sporting KC are making moves and making trades, the LA Galaxy have a new centerback and there are so many rumors that you won't be able to keep up.

In the mailbag, a new Hot-Take Hotline theme straight from the 70s, the guys realize their reading comprehension is lacking and wonder which players might have Twitter burner accounts a la Kevin Durant. Remember, you can call or text the show at 401-206-0MLS!

Toronto FC are your 2017 MLS Cup Champions! The guys crown the Reds as the best team in MLS history – feel free to disagree via the Hot-Take Hotline – while trying to understand why Seattle took so long to adjust to Greg Vanney’s tactical switch. The result also proves the ETR curse lives on after five hosts picked the Sounders to repeat. Plus, don’t miss an opportunity to bask in the glory that is Jozy Altidore’s speech from the championship parade.

Of course, there’s no rest for the weary as the MLS offseason gets off to a flying start with a half-day trade window that can only be described as “lit,” TAM Injection tours all 23 league markets, the free agent list comes out and the Expansion Draft gets set for Tuesday. What do Kei Kamara and Walker Zimmerman bring to their new teams? Are there handshake deals going down between ATLUTD and the new boys? Which free agents are getting wined and dined? 

In the mailbag, Doyle and Ben give a bandwagon fan the business, then turn the heat up on themselves. Remember, you can call or text the show at 401-206-0MLS!

The 2017 MLS season comes down to this. Seattle Sounders vs. Toronto FC, an MLS Cup rematch from one year ago.

Will the Sounders repeat? Will Toronto FC claim the best MLS season of all-time? David and Sam Stejskal get things started from the Six, as the locals say, and Andrew and Matt finish things off from the Green Room back in New York.

Comments or questions before, during or after the big game? Hit up the Hot-Take Hotline! Call or text at 401-206-0MLS.

It's 2017 MLS Cup Week! Wiebe returns from baby duty a changed man, but the convo on the pod is all about the big championship rematch.

What legacies are set to be cemented, created or destroyed when Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders meet on Saturday (4 pm ET; ESPN, UniMás in US | TSN, TVAS in Canada)? Also, can TFC return to the all-time form they showed midseason or will they keep their Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs form going and grind a win out against the Sounders? And what would back-to-back titles mean for Seattle?

In the second segment, the guys shower some praise on 2017 Landon Donovan MLS MVP winner Diego Valeri and explain why it was never really a discussion about who would take home the award. Of course, there is also plenty of time to quibble about some of the voters' decisions. They also take a look at the latest MLS rumors and reports as silly season begins.

Some competition to the show could also be on the way as Jermaine Jones announces his own radio show! That ought to be fun. Plus, Ben Baerantees an MLS Cup pick that doubles as a troll move, and Wiebe divulges a little too much about his life over the past three weeks.