The MLS regular season is over, and the MLS Cup Playoffs are next, so this episode is spent mostly getting ready for the start of New York City FC's best-of-three series against Charlotte FC.

We can't jump right into our Charlotte preview, though, because there's Decision Day and one final regular-season game to revisit. Hosts Mark Radigan and John Baney and producer Andrew Leigh discuss the disappointments and concerns coming out of the loss to Seattle Sounders FC, flagging some points of worry that emerged for NYCFC over the final few games of their MLS season.

With the dust from Decision Day settled, we also survey the full MLS playoff picture across the Eastern and Western Conferences and call out some of our most-anticipated match-ups set to take place during Round One of the postseason.

Our main focus in these MLS Cup Playoffs, though, is the series between Charlotte and New York City FC. New York City has never won in four all-time trips to Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina, though a few factors – Pep Biel's injury and Wilfried Zaha's Game One suspension – are leaning in NYCFC's favor as Game One approaches.

How confident are we feeling about this first New York City away day of the MLS postseason, and how do we feel about Pascal Jansen's team, given we now have a full season's worth of evidence on their strengths and weaknesses?

Get playoff-ready by listening to the full episode, then find more of our coverage at HudsonRiverBlue.com or on social media via Bluesky, Instagram, and Threads.

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