You're Smarter Than Us

In this episode Tim speaks with Asheville City legend and professional womens footballer Jennider Cudjoe about her ascension from an open tryout with Sky Blue FC to regular starter in the NWSL Challenge Cup. Together they discuss what life is like inside a sporting bubble, the speed of the professional game, and why Jennifer was so successful so quickly. 

For the second Rewind, Tim has the chance to chat with a wide variety of stakeholders and personalities connected to ACSC. He speaks with captain Molly Dwyer, color comentary Josh Blake, PA announcer Bobby Somerville, and owers Meghann Burke, Stacey Enos, and Lydia Vandenberg.

In the audio version of an ambitious project, Tim talks to seven different lower league stakeholders about the third Carolina Clasico of the 2019 NPSL Season - ACSC v GVLFC in the NPSL SE Semifinals. 

In a somber episode with some audio issues, Tim speaks with club president Ryan Kelley on the decision to cancel all three Asheville City SC seasons, how sponsor hardships played into that decision, what happens with contracts, and what you can expect from the club during this extended hiatus. 

In a free-wheeling conversation, Tim discusses the progress of the women's game with @meghannburke, Asheville City SC owner and general counsel for the @nwsl_players. Together they touch on the growth of the league and the importance of the Players Association becoming officially recognized in an effort to affect change. They also discuss barriers to a professional second division, the Equal Pay debate, and the current USWNT lawsuit against the Federation. 

MLS is coming to Charlotte and fans have thoughts... Tim chats with Ben - The Soccer Goose, Charlotte resident and Independence supporter, about the long history of MLS4CLT, the boots-on-the-ground response to MLS' announcement, the positioning of the Independence as a "minor league" option in town, and if he believes MLS will be successful. 

In by far the longest pod we have recorded, Tim sits down with Mathes Mennell, former UNCA men's coach, and discusses a wide range of topics including promotion-relegation in America, how the MLS is like land speculation, which needs to change first for the USMNT to improve - players or coaching, how the pay-to-play system has created participation trophies, and if MLS will succeed in Charlotte. 

After the episode earlier this week that said goodbye to NPSL,  Tim chats on this pod with @CardinalRAL member Zac Hines and Tobacco Road fan @_Zackkkk about the South Atlantic and Deep South Divisons in USL L2, one of which Asheville City's men will end up in. Connections to academies, in-state rivaliries, talent pools, and gameday atmospheres are all discussed. 

In this episode, Tim speaks again with Jim of the 423 Soccer Pod about CFC's season and transition into a new league, then they say goodbye to the NPSL and wrestle with expectations for NISA. Jim can be found at @chattagooner on Twitter and the 423 Soccer Pod on all major podcast platforms.