S2E52 - For the Glory KC is back with the 59th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City don't play any games, but there is still plenty to discuss. While we're calling it the "Logan Ndenbe Appreciation Hour," we don't do an hour on Logan, but we have to discuss his torn ACL, how he's a "dawg," and who is next up to replace him since he's out until next summer.

We also give early thoughts on the Houston Dynamo advancing past Real Salt Lake to host Sporting KC in round two of the playoffs. Sheena and I discuss their empty stadium and a possible lack of home field advantage and how sadly none of their players got suspended. 

I also completed a re-watch of the second Sporting KC versus St. Louis City SC game. I counted out all the stoppage time (spoiler, it was pretty accurate), address the STL haters in Twitter and give my take on if Taylor Twellman called it straight.

The KC Current don't have a ton of direct news, but the NWSL made waves this week. They announced a massive new broadcast deal across four different partner's channels and streaming services, in addition to their own NWSL direct-to-consumer option. 

Speaking of the Digital Crawl, y'all, we dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Spotify took away our ads (which is a win for most, because they pay so little and annoyingly break up the podcast), so we turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you are a rich person and fan of the pod, we'll take your money.

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E51 - For the Glory KC is back with the 58th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City send St. Louis packing from the playoffs as the eight seed upsets the one seed. Sheena and I have instant reactions from the night of the victory instead of going to bed. We break down the goals (highlights here) and all the big events from the game.

It was another incredible atmosphere, and sadly the last Sporting KC home game of 2023, no matter how many more games they manage to win (the New York Red Bulls ruined that minor home MLS Cup chance by getting eliminated).

We also discuss our favorite memes from the night from Zach throwing the cease and desist back in their face, or the fact that St. Louis invented soccer in 2023 (and many other things, like getting eliminated without winning any games).

Then it's question time. I ask Sheena a question (is this season a success?) and she asks me one (who do I want in the next round for SKC?).

The KC Current have a pretty quiet week, but we at least give them (and really the NWSL) some attention in the Digital Crawl.

Speaking of the Digital Crawl, y'all, we dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E50 - For the Glory KC is back with the 57th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City continue to blow minds, this time both San Jose and St. Louis fans learned the meaning of disappointment. Sheena and I breeze by that San Jose Earthquakes game to focus on the main event -- a potential three-game series against St. Louis City SC. Sporting KC landed the first blow with an amazing 4-1 road win in the cold and rainy conditions of CITYPARK.

We discuss the refereeing of Ted Unkel, the commentary of Taylor Twellman and a whole lot of soccer. Sheena's boy Remi gets a goal. My boy Radoja plays lights out. Alan Pulido has a return to form with two assists. Gadi Kinda balled out. And Peter Vermes reads the KC Soccer Journal, clearly, as he rolls out our tactical plan to great success.

Plus, we follow-up on the rumors that Roger Espinoza is set to leave in the offseason with a one-on-one locker room interview by yours truly.

The KC Current are also in the news with the hiring of new head coach Vlatko Andonovski. We give our thoughts from his introductory press conference. Plus, the team announced the signing of a 15-year-old forward less than a week later. The youth movement is in full effect.

And of course, the Digital Crawl, y'all! We dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Game

Spotify took away our ads (which is a win for most, because they pay so little and annoyingly break up the podcast), so we turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you are a rich person and fan of the pod, we'll take your money.

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E49 - I said it eight months ago. Sporting KC waited until the last minute to prove me right, but 'everyone' gets in. It was quite a feat as no team that was winless through 10-games has ever done it before.

For the Glory KC is back with the 56th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City do what seemed impossible at points during the season. They finished the season with the best record, most goals and most points since May 1st in the entire Western Conference to slide into the 8th playoff spot.

Sheena and I discuss if the wild card game is really the playoffs, or if they have to win, since the first round is after that. We also talk about what went so right against Minnesota United and what should be the strategy against San Jose and potentially St. Louis City SC in the coming days.

I also promised you a gif of Thommy getting into it with Will Trapp. That wasn't even his best gif of the night though, so I'll share them both.

And as promised, here is George Brett being really happy about that Sporting KC win. I'd like to think George is all of us here, just a bit.

We can't skip the news that the new salaries that are out for Sporting KC (and all of MLS) and we see if Sheena still think Nemanja Radoja makes too much and wants to cut him.

The KC Current were back in the headlines with news leaking that they have likely landed on a new head coach -- Vlatko Andonovski. That announcement will officially come on Monday, but we got the chance to weigh in early.

And of course, the Digital Crawl, y'all! We dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Game

Spotify took away our ads (which is a win for most, because they pay so little and annoyingly break up the podcast), so we turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you are a rich person and fan of the pod, we'll take your money.

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E48 - For the Glory KC is back with the 55th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City don't play a game, so instead we take the opportunity to look at their roster and play Fantasy Sporting Director. Imagine if Sporting KC's ownership put us in charge of roster decisions.

We decided who to re-sign, who to cut and who's option(s) to decline. Additionally, we both get the chance to buy out one Sporting KC player's contract to save the salary room and get them off the books (and the roster). And finally, we decide what positions are of the biggest need at this moment.

There are a lot of easy choices on who to bring back but, but a couple of very tough decisions. Sheena has a bit more of a heart, but in the ruthless business of sports, I act accordingly. 

You'll probably want to look at all the contracts and salaries to know if we made the right choices.

We also talk about Sporting KC's season ending awards, who we voted for, and who actually won. 

Not to be left out, the KC Current battled back to earn a 2-2 draw against NJ/NY Gotham and to secure the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NWSL College Draft.

And of course, the Digital Crawl, y'all! We dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Spotify took away our ads (which is a win for most, because they pay so little and annoyingly break up the podcast), so we turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you are a rich person and fan of the pod, we'll take your money.

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E47 - For the Glory KC is back with the 54th episode of the show and it's winning all around!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City get a favor from their long-time rivals Real Salt Lake with a 0:37 red card. Despite a 3-0 lead, it was a little bit of 'hold on to your butts' in the final minutes as RSL clawed back against Sporting KC. Sheena and I break down all the action, our highs and lows, and why there is still plenty to be concerned about.

We also go over the Sporting KC playoff scenarios (if they win, the odds are pretty solid) and if we think they'll make it in with just a single game to go against Minnesota United on Decision Day at Children's Mercy Park.

The KC Current were back in action and won twice (!!) in the same week. Sadly, it was the same week they were eliminated from the playoffs. First, they beat Monterrey Femenil in a friendly then they break an attendance record and eliminates the Chicago Red Stars in the same night. With this being the last home game at CMP before their new stadium opens, we reflect on that, look ahead and take a look at NWSL franchise values (KC are third!) as we start to put a bow on the Kansas City Current season.

And of course, the Digital Crawl, y'all! We dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Spotify took away our ads (which is a win for most, because they pay so little and annoyingly break up the podcast), so we turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you are a rich person and fan of the pod, we'll take your money.

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E46 - For the Glory KC is back with the 53rd episode of the show... and it's a sad week in KC soccer. So. Much. Losing.

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City lose the season series to St. Louis City SC. And it got ugly. We break down all four goals and what went wrong, ask some questions of the tactics on the day and more widely on the decision making of the club. After the game, Peter Vermes said it was poor decisions that led to the goals. One assumes he's speaking of the players, but maybe he was talking about him and his staff's inability to adjust to the changing state of the game.

It also wouldn't be a podcast hosted by me if I didn't sneak in a little referee complaining. Jake Davis got crushed by Sam Adeniran and headbutted a bit after that. Obviously, Sporting KC have to win the game they are playing in, but of course these calls could change the game.

Our conversation naturally evolved into a discussion on if Peter Vermes should be fired or not and Sheena thinks he needs to be more emotional. I said, if he's too emotional, he gets yellows (you see what I did there). If he comes out ranting and raving, fans won't be happy with that either. Winning fixes everything and KC forgot to win this weekend.

And because our analysis went so long on the SKC/STL game, we keep the rest of the podcast brief (which is ironic to say on an episode this long). We dive into the following topics:

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E45 - For the Glory KC is back with the 52nd episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City play twice and get two wildly different results. We spend way more time on the happier of the two results as Sporting KC stole all three points off the Houston Dynamo despite playing down a man. We give our thoughts and observations on the squad rotation, Johnny Russell's red card, Erik Thommy's hell of a night, Khiry Shelton's best game of the year and a bit of a stinker from my favorite, Nemanja Radoja.

If you prefer your thoughts in video/Tweet form, I encourage you to check out this thread I did after the game if a podcast isn't your thing. It's got video and gifs of the red card, some questionable fouls and officiating and some downright scary plays.

We can't avoid bringing the ugly Nashville SC game into it, although we keep that brief because to quote Sheena, she forgot about that game.

The KC Current get the week off, so we instead do a mailbag of Sporting KC centered questions, including:

The Digital Crawl does get some KC Current love as well as SKC II, the USWNT and USMNT and of course I annoy Sheena by updating her on Messi and briefly saying what's going on with him (he's hurt! -- probably). [Sorry for the delay getting the episode out. We recorded yesterday but my mic was all funky and it took a while to try to fix it.]

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

S2E44 - For the Glory KC is back with the 51st episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City absolutely pull a smash and grab on Minnesota United and stole all three points on the road (just their second road win of the season). Sheena and I give our thoughts on the game with some behind the scenes press conference items snuck in. We also had to talk about if Andreu Fontas should have been sent off for a couple challenges once he was on a yellow card.

Perhaps bigger than the win (which was big!) is the news that Alan Pulido has signed a new three-year contract with the club through the 2026 season. We discuss the opportunity cost of the team getting another year older, a younger player not getting signed instead and what it means for Willy Agada and others on the forward line who may need a change in plans since Alan is here to stay (Sporting KC simply cannot keep everyone).

The KC Current did a little thievery themselves, with the help of the officials. They pulled off a 2-1 win on the formerly Supporters Shield leading San Diego Wave. But the game was full of controversy. Here are the two plays in question, neither of them led to penalty kicks for San Diego.

Also, we ask if the KC Current should tank for the number one pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft. Finally, we get to the Digital Crawl where we discuss a bunch of KC Current stories, more on the Bruce Arena/New England Revolution saga, the weekly Messi update (Miami lost!) and ideas for offseason pods.

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games

S2E43 - For the Glory KC is back with the 50th episode of the show!

On this week's episode, Sporting Kansas City come back down to earth. After two straight wins at home, they hit the road against a depleted Inter Miami team and slip up dropping all three points. We talk through the key moments, the "controversial" game winning goal and a whole lot more. We also take some of your listener questions and sprinkle them throughout the episode.

Beyond just the game, we get into the controversy surrounding Gadi Kinda, the Israeli National Team and Peter Vermes. We also talk about the impending contract end for Kinda and if this will have any impact on him re-signing with the team.

The KC Current may have finally done it and given us nothing to care about until the offseason. They had a chance to get a trophy in the first and last 'real' NWSL Challenge Cup, but they gave it away at the end against the North Carolina Courage (the eventual champions against Racing Louisville). The season isn't technically over, but it basically is. 

Then of course we discuss news in the Digital Crawl, which includes some good news from the Spanish National Team, controversy in MLS around Bruce Arena suddenly resigning, the United States Men's National Team and more! (I used the word controversy three times...)

Here is a quick rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

Upcoming Games