Extratime

We know the matchup for the 2017 MLS Cup final as Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders will meet again at BMO Field on December 9 (4 pm ET; ESPN, UniMás in US | TSN, TVAS in Canada). Current MLS players Ethan Finlay and Rodney Wallace join the guys for the first segment to provide expert analysis on Toronto's 1-0 win against Columbus Crew SC. Were they surprised by Gregg Berhalter's tactical change and should TFC be favorites in MLS Cup?

In the second segment, Doyle joins Gass and Ben to discuss Seattle's relatively easy time dispatching the Dynamo. Is this time better than last year's squad and are they hitting a high point at the perfect time?

The mailbag let's you know what's wrong about this year's Best XI, which was released on Thursday night.

It's almost time for the 2017 MLS Cup with the second legs of the Conference Championships taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. The guys discuss whether Toronto FC are truly in form right now and if Columbus can take get a huge win on the road while the West looks pretty clear cut with Seattle the clear favorites to advance.

In the second segment, Doyle breaks down the coaching change in San Jose and what Anthony Hudson could bring to Colorado. It's also Contract Deadline Day so they discuss as many moves as they can by Monday afternoon.

The mailbag is filled with a discussion of what story time should be and whether Greg Vanney should have been named Coach of the Year.

The 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs are on and flying. David leans on Kurt Larson (Toronto Sun) and Sam Stejskal (mlssoccer.com) in Columbus to break down everything in the eastern conference championships. Then Matt Doyle joins in to breakdown the Sounders roaring start in Texas as the cup holders head towards a repeat.

In the mailbag Kurt and Sam stick around to talk the USMNT coaching options, and MLS playoff format.

2:56 TFC Tactical risks

8:28 Blueprint for Crew SC for 2nd leg

12:54 Pressure mounting on TFC

17: 27 Greg Vanney’s impact in Toronto

19:23 Debate over newcomer of the year

23:15 What buttons are Gregg Berhalter going to push?

29:21 Sounders looking like the reigning champs again

33:02 What went wrong for Houston?

36:47 MLS Cup Playoff theatrics

38:40 Leg 2 preview

41:20 Caleb Porter for USMNT? If not then who?

44:10 Could Justin Meram have been a USMNT star?

45:32 Playoff format debate

And of course Happy Thanksgiving to all our ETR listeners.

The Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs are finally back after a two-week absence and the crew here is to breakdown everything you need to know heading into both Leg 1's on Tuesday night.

In Columbus, Crew SC have a huge opportunity ahead of them as Toronto FC will be without Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. What will head Gregg Berhalter do tactically to befuddle the Supporters' Shield winners and who will TFC rely on to fill the scoring void (8 pm ET; ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US | TSN 1/3/4/5, TVAS in Canada).

Out West, the Houston Dynamo host the Seattle Sounders at BBVA Compass Stadium (9:30 pm ET; FS1, FOX Deportes in US | TSN1/3, TVAS in Canada). The big question for Houston is who will start in the attack while Seattle will be weighing whether to push forward for an away goal or try to keep a clean sheet. Plus, the guys discuss Caleb Porter's exit from the Portland Timbers.

Segment 1 - Full breakdown of Eastern Conference Championship Leg 1

• What do Crew SC need to do vs. short-handed Toronto (2:33)
• Who replaces Jozy and Giovinco for TFC? (10:02)

Segment 2 - Full breakdown of Western Conference Championship Leg 1 + Caleb Porter reax

• How does Wimer Cabrera juggle attacking pieces? (18:12)
• Do Seattle repeat performance from Leg 1 vs. Vancouver (20:53)
• Predictions for Leg 1 (32:21)
• Reaction to Caleb Porter leaving Portland (32:41)

Segment 3 - Mailbag and Hot-Take Hotline

• Are Ben Baer's takes really that hot?
• Does Caleb Porter's departure make him a more likely USMNT option?
• Should Almiron have won Newcomer of the Year (47:54)

The guys get back together to discuss the four teams left in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. What are the expectations and points pressure for each side? How were able to get to this point in the season? What will the future look like win or lose for them? Plus a sit down with Howard Webb on Video Review

3:48 TFC the pressure and task at hand

10:30 Crew SC how did they get here, what’s in store for the future?

20:20 Does Dempsey need this MLS Cup to cement his legacy?

31:30 How Houston was built, what is their core going forward, and how do the Honduran Internationals perform after their heartbreak in Australia.

42:27 Howard Webb interview on Video Review’s historic roll out, goals for improvement, and what to expect in 2018.

56:45 USMNT-Portugal reaction, debating the future of the GK position

1:08:20 International NIT?

With the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs still on a break and Andrew Wiebe welcoming Cameron Russell into the world (congrats!), the ExtraTime Radio crew spends some time talking to new Revolution head coach Brad Friedel to understand his philosophy heading into his first professional coaching gig, and previewing the young USMNT squads matchup in Portugal (3:45 pm ET; FS1, Univision, UniMás).

3:47 Brad Friedel Interview 10:16 Friedel on his International contacts he can bring to New England 12:11 How player acquisition will be handled 13:17 Friedel on Revs Academy 16:28 Revs attacking pieces fitting together 20:26 Cody Croppers future 21:25 Friedel on the profile of player the Revs will look for. 32:11 What to look forward to for USMNT fans on Tuesday 37:36 Should the US Soccer foundation be taken down or built on? 42:22 Timeline for hiring next US coach 44:24 Pulisic’s TPT article 50:24 The progress of MLS Homegrowns 53:55 Yaya Toure to NYCFC? 57:00 Debate over Sounders Dynasty

The last time in a little while soon to be father Andrew Wiebe and the gang get together to cover all the MLS news. New England make their big coaching hire what will Brad Friedel bring to the club? Up north Remi Garde could be a game changing manager for both Montreal and MLS.

In the second segment Dave Sarachan USMNT Interim Manager calls in from Portugal to discuss the future for his young squad, and look back on the dark days of CONCACAF Qualifying.

In the mailbag the guys pick through some fantasy MLS trades, fan fiction MLS Cup 2017 finishes, and debate MLS dynasties.

Turmoil in the tunnel. Handbags in the hallway. Clash in the club. The 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs got heated on Sunday as the field was narrowed to four, and Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan got all the headlines for the fracas that led to red card to both ... at halftime!

The guys weigh in on the BMO brouhaha, break down Crew SC's loss (but series win) at Yankee Stadium and try to find the balance between injuries and results as the Dynamo busted brackets in Portland.

Plus, USMNT chatter and much more in the Hot-Take Hotline!

The guys break down the Sounders victory as they continue on their quest for MLS Cup repeat. They ask what is next for the Whitecaps. In the second segment they preview the Sunday action of leg 2 MLS playoff action as it is win or go home time. 

With the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in full swing, the guys get together to dig into Tuesday's Crew SC-NYCFC match and the three Conference Semifinal first legs already in the books. Can anyone stop Toronto FC? Are fans right to boo Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley? Can Portland cope with the loss of Diego Chara? Why can't anyone score goals in the Western Conference?