Jon and Ted discuss the return of MLS, recent player signings, and the impact of the World Cup on the league. They also explore the challenges of developing young talent and the potential for future growth in the league.

Takeaways

• MLS is back and the hosts are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming season.
• The development of young talent and the impact of the World Cup on the league are key topics of discussion.

Chapters

• 00:00 MLS is Back
• 07:27 The Impact of the World Cup
• 24:04 Offseason Player Signings
• 30:19 Challenges of Developing Young Talent

We're back. After a hiatus — and a Riverside studio that updated itself the second we hit record — Jon and Ted return to a weekend with no DC United or Washington Spirit match (World Cup + international break). So we ran a full World Cup roundup, made the case that the Washington Spirit are the best team in town, and broke down DC United waiving Aaron Herrera.

The World Cup has us hooked against our will: the USMNT's four-goal outburst, Folarin Balogun climbing the all-time charts, a Christian Pulisic calf scare, Gio Reyna's worldie and the celebration that told on him, plus why Cape Verde, Curaçao and Haiti are the best argument for a 48-team field. Then it's all things Spirit, and a primer on how MLS waivers actually work now that Herrera's on his way out.

More DC United news — the stuff for the sickos — is on the $5 Patreon edition.

• Welcome back / the new Riverside studio and live on-air troubleshooting
• Jon's hockey injury and a PT's blunt advice
• A man of no conviction: the World Cup has us
• USMNT score four; Folarin Balogun fourth all-time in US men's World Cup scoring
• Christian Pulisic dazzles, then the calf scare
• Gio Reyna's worldie vs Paraguay & the celebration
• The 48-team debate: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Haiti — and Italy out again
• Japan's comeback draw with the Netherlands; Scotland and Japan as dark horses
• Fox's coverage gets roasted
• Why the Washington Spirit are on a rocket ship
• Aaron Herrera waived: how MLS waivers actually work
• World Cup targets for DC + Kevin Paredes a free man
• Who we want to win vs who'll actually win

🎙️ Extended DC United breakdown at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

Vamos. 🔴⚫

DC United draw 4-4 with Montreal CF in their last game before the World Cup break. Four goals scored. Four goals conceded. Dead legs everywhere. Renée Weiler's future is the big conversation — Jon says he's gone after the half season, Ted says end of 2028. Either way, he'll go when he wants to go. Plus the Washington Spirit lose the CONCACAF Women's Champions Cup final 4-3 to Club América in heartbreaking fashion.

In this episode:

• DC United 4-4 Montreal CF: four goals, four goals conceded, the dead legs problem explained
• Why does DC keep blowing leads? It's not complicated — there's no rotation depth Weiler trusts
• Louis Munteanu looking more settled: less pressing, more facilitating
• Jared Stroud scores and continues to quietly have a moment
• Lucas Bartlett peaks and valleys — Owusu [confirm spelling] caused problems all night
• Tai Baribo: quiet game other than the penalty kick goal
• Keisuke Kurokawa handball: was it a penalty?
• Sean Johnson: largely not at fault
• Renée Weiler's future: Jon says half season, Ted says end of 2028
• "Nothing about this club is sustainable" — Jon's long-term take
• Caden Clark heading for the exit in the summer window
• Aaron Herrera and Gabriel Pirani departure timelines
• Kevin Paredes out of contract at Wolfsburg — a realistic target?
• International slot situation and what it means for incoming transfers
• Mauricio Pochettino's phone call controversy
• Washington Spirit 3-4 Club América: Sofia Cantore screamer, Rose [confirm] takes over, Sandy McIver's difficult moment
• Spirit still second best in goals conceded in the NWSL
• Backup goalkeeper discussion
• Vote for who Jon interviews during the World Cup break — get your votes in by June 2nd

Extended analysis, roster grades, and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

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Vamos.

DC United lose 1-3 to Chicago Fire and draw 1-1 with St. Louis City. The vibes are undecided. Aaron Herrera wants out. Gabriel Pirani's contract is being terminated. Nikola Markovic at right back did not work. But João Peglow scores a late equalizer, Louis Munteanu and Tai Baribo are starting to show something together, and Jared Stroud is quietly having a moment. Jon and Ted break it all down before the World Cup break.

In this episode:

• DC United 1-3 Chicago Fire: Nikola Markovic at right back, Louis Munteanu's back heel assist, the Zickernagel goal, the soft penalty
• Aaron Herrera officially wants to leave — and Renée Weiler said it out loud
• Gabriel Pirani contract termination: where does he go?
• Jackson Hopkins: he can only be failed, not fail
• Sean Johnson: saves the point against Chicago, rough night on the third goal
• DC United 1-1 St. Louis City: João Peglow's late equalizer, Tai Baribo's missed header, Louis Munteanu bundling one in... offside
• Jared Stroud quietly having a moment
• The Munteanu-Baribo partnership: something is developing
• Renée Weiler's brutal press conference honesty: "It astonishes me that people are surprised we lost"
• Kevin Paredes out of contract at Wolfsburg — could he come home?
• Caden Clark likely on the way out in the summer window
• International slot situation and what it means for the transfer window
• Vangar offside rule debate: Ted is not a fan
• The vibes are undecided heading into the World Cup break

Extended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugees

Vamos.

DC United go up 2-0 at Nashville. Silvan Hefti gets a red card. Nashville score twice in 14 minutes. DC hold on for a 2-2 draw. It's a monkey's paw. Jon and Ted break it all down plus Chicago on Wednesday and a Washington Spirit update.

In this episode:

• DC United 2-2 Nashville SC: the monkey's paw draw
• Louis Munteanu scores again — the DP slot is starting to look better
• Silvan Hefti red card: Ted referees the refs
• Aaron Herrera: poor performance, 90 minutes Wednesday to prove himself
• Jackson Hopkins misses two clear chances — he's not a forward
• Matti Peltola: steady as ever
• Sean Johnson: 3.38 expected goals faced, saved the point late
• Gabriel Pirani: mutual contract termination reportedly agreed
• Andy Najar: DC's greatest academy product, still embarrassing us at 33
• Renée Weiler's sub decisions explained
• Tai Baribo return: how does the Baribo-Munteanu partnership work?
• Caden Clark trade value in the summer window
• Kye Rowles green card update
• Chicago Wednesday: seven points minimum from the next three games
• Washington Spirit lose in Seattle: Claudia Martinez scores, Trinity Rodman ankle scare
• Sandy McIver: a tough night in goal
• Full Patreon listener Q&A

Extended analysis and Chicago preview at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

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Vamos.

DC United win 2-0 at NYCFC. Louis Munteanu scores twice. First back-to-back wins since October 2024. Fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Jon and Ted are back together and taking full credit. Hold onto it. Treasure it.

In this episode:

• DC United 2-0 NYCFC: the best road performance of the season
• First back-to-back wins since October 2024
• Louis Munteanu: two goals, the partnership with Tai Baribo to come
• Keisuke Kurokawa and Jared Stroud: the long throw combination
• Renée Weiler buries Pirani again — is he ever playing for DC United again?
• Brandon Servania's best game of the season
• Matti Peltola and Silvan Hefti: the unsung backbone
• Jackson Hopkins or Aaron Herrera on the right when Baribo returns?
• DC's open DP slot: winger or eight?
• Kye Rowles green card situation
• Nikola Markovic vs Lucas Bartlett — not yet
• Caden Clark trade value
• Nashville preview: can DC steal a result on national TV?
• Four games before the World Cup break — how many points?
• Washington Spirit: Claudia Martinez is a star, Andy Sullivan is back
• Adrian Gonzalez wins manager of the month
• Full Patreon listener Q&A

Extended analysis at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

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Vamos.

Ted is here to break down a wild week that saw 7 goals and 4 points. He talks briefly about the 4-4 draw against the New York Red Bulls that saw the team come back 3 times. He also talks about the wild 3-2 win at home against Orlando including goals from the shiny DP from Romania

Ted's on vacation so Jon called in Gregory Roche from Pitch Pass for 90 minutes of group therapy. DC United grind out a 0-0 draw against Philadelphia Union, the CSO posts AI-written LinkedIn content that doesn't know how many championship stars are on the badge, and Louis Munteanu's future becomes a very real conversation.

In this episode:

• DC United 0-0 Philadelphia Union: defensively solid, offensively invisible
• The LinkedIn Chronicles: AI-written post cites wrong number of stars on the badge
• Renée Weiler sounding like a podcast host in press conferences, not a coach
• Open Cup exit vs One Knoxville SC: the beginning of the end for Gabriel Pirani?
• Was this Weiler's transfer window or the doctor's? Gregory makes the case
• The schizophrenic roster build: great defense, no attacking plan
• Louis Munteanu: Gregory raises the uncomfortable question — is he gone before the end of the season?
• Silvan Hefti and Aaron Herrera: the right back situation explained
• Gavin Turner and Caden Clark need more minutes — both hosts agree
• Nikola Markovic in the six role: working for now
• The Pirani Summer/Fall cycle: it's coming, it always comes
• Locker room sources: reportedly not well-liked internally
• Is the season done and dusted? Gregory says absolutely not
• Eastern Conference reality check: DC United are in a playoff spot
• How to actually market this club — Eddie Pope, Clyde Sims, the flag
• The academy, Kevin Flanagan, and the talent rich DC area
• Orlando preview: yin and yang of MLS mediocrity
• Full listener Q&A

This week's full episode is on the free feed — no Patreon required.

Check out Gregory Roche at pitchpass.com
Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @rfkrefugees

Vamos.

DC United fall 0-1 to the New England Revolution and Louis Munteanu still hasn't started a game. Jon has a theory. Renée Wilder won't say. Jon and Ted break down the loss, the Munteanu situation, Aaron Herrera's return, and whether this team should go all in on Wednesday's Open Cup match.

In this episode:

• DC United 0-1 New England Revolution: another clean sheet on the wrong side
• The Louis Munteanu situation: $7 million, still no start, Jon has questions
• Why does Renée Wilder keep starting the same lineup?
• Gabriel Pirani: grading on a curve per Jason Anderson, still not good enough per Jon
• Aaron Herrera returns: solid, five of five on crosses, right role in the system
• Kye Rowles back: DC's best defensive pairing in years
• Tai Baribo out injured — Foot Mob says mid-May
• Hakim Karamoko: still listed as illness, still no update
• Matti Peltola hits the post again — the brand is building
• Silvan Hefti and the goal conceded
• Jackson Hopkins as false 9: too close to goal, not his best
• Gavin Turner off the bench: flying around with something to prove
• Louis Munteanu's 30 minutes: what we saw
• Would Renée Wilder get fired or walk away first?
• Open Cup Wednesday vs one Knocks: full rotation? Jon says yes
• Listener Q&A: Atlanta transfers, Wilder's future, lineup questions

Extended analysis and full Patreon listener Q&A at the $5 tier: patreon.com/rfkrefugees

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Jon has a chat with Jason Anderson from Green Line Soccer (https://green-line-soccer.ghost.io/green-line-soccer-intro/) about DC United's season so far and touched briefly on the Washington Spirit's season that is much better than the standings would have you think.