It’s a super sized episode highlighting everything that went on in North American soccer in the week that was. First, we’ve got St. Louis FC and former New York Red Bull Brandon Barklage, then Analytics guru Danny Page stops by to chat about the future of analytics in the beautiful game. If you have been living under a rock, you might not have heard that NASL’s Minnesota United is joining MLS! Northern Pitch’s Bruce McGuire talks about the impact the announcement has had, and how he knew all along! Then Kevin Mercer stops by to sit at the round table about supporter violence, the USMNT’s loss to Denmark, Kaka, and fantasy MLS!
Roger Cleaves is a Business Major at Sacramento State and a six year Navy Vet, but more importantly an avid soccer fan and coach. Growing up in Northern California he began playing and watching soccer at a young age. While visiting family in Washington State he attended a Seattle Sounders game and fell in love with the team. Always learning about the intricacies of the sport, he considers himself a student of the game and looks to share his knowledge to the masses every Thursday night. Matt Pollard is a Chemical Engineering Grad Student and Staff Writer for the MLS department at Last Word on Sports. When he’s not playing with fire, he’s going for a run, trying a microbrewery, or watching sports. His first sports love was the LA Kings, though MLS didn’t exist at the time. Once called the Shakespeare of the department, he describes himself as a typical tuba playing Ginger Ninja, Environmental Crusader, Sports Hipster, and Miami Hurricane. Like the Galaxy, he too was handcrafted in LA Alec Rivera is a Major League Soccer Editor at Last Word on Sports; a longtime fan of both the sport and the league, he has been delighted to cover D.C. United as a writer for the past several months. He grew up playing soccer from the age of three and, for the longest time, refused to even acknowledge any other sport except in passing. Nowadays, he is not so discriminatory to the lesser sports. Except hockey. Because ice makes him cold. #VamosUnited #GoNats #GoRavens #GoWizards #DCrising Russ “Big Mick” McKenzie is the head of the MLS department at Last Word on Sports, and has spent a tremendous amount of time on the radio in the past, with WSIA 88.9 NY, WZBT 91.1 PA, and has own independent podcast, The Psychedelic Toaster Show. There are 5 things he loves – his wife, his dog, technology, beer, and good sport. He spends most of his free time thinking about tactical changes on his beloved New York Red Bulls. He also enjoys herding cats and arguing with trees.
