4 The Crew Podcast

Matt and Jay are joined by Josh from Retro Screamers, a vintage soccer kit store based in Columbus, Ohio, for a conversation about the culture, history, and obsession behind soccer kits. We talk about how Retro Screamers got started, what makes vintage kits so special, and why collecting soccer shirts connects fans to clubs, players, memories, and eras of the game. The conversation also dives into...

The USMNT’s World Cup run is over, and it ended in brutal fashion. Matt and Gabe break down the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16, one of the most embarrassing knockout performances for the USMNT ever. We talk through what went wrong, why the game got away from the U.S., and what this result says about the team’s ceiling on the biggest stage. We also dive into the controversial...

The USMNT has finally done it! Matt, Brian, and Sam break down the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, giving the USMNT its first World Cup knockout win in over 20 years. We discuss the biggest moments from the match, what went right for the U.S., and how much this result changes expectations moving forward. Then we dive into the controversial red card shown to...

Matt and Gabe are back for WC Coverage #6 as the USMNT closes out the group stage with a 3-2 loss to Turkiye. With the United States already locked in as Group D winners, this match did not carry much real consequence, but there is still plenty to break down. We discuss what mattered, what did not, which players stood out, and whether this result changes anything heading into the knockout stage. T...

Matt is joined again by special guest Sam from Soccer With Sam to break down the USMNT’s 2-0 victory over Australia in its second game of the World Cup! We discuss how the United States secured another important result, what stood out from the performance, and where the team stands heading into its final group-stage match since we've already clinched the group! With two wins from two games, ho...

The World Cup coverage continues with a familiar voice in Columbus. Brian, Matt, and Gabe are joined by Columbus Crew matchday host Cameron Fontana for a wide-ranging conversation about the World Cup, the Columbus Crew, and what it takes to be a great presenter. Cameron shares his perspective on hosting, connecting with fans, bringing energy to big moments, and how the World Cup raises the standar...

The World Cup is officially underway, and the USMNT could not have asked for a much better start. Matt and Gabe are joined by Sam from "Soccer With Sam" to talk through the first few days of World Cup action before diving deep into the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay. We break down what went right for the USMNT, who stood out, how the attack clicked, why this is historic, and why this perform...

The World Cup is here, and we are shifting into full tournament mode. Matt and Gabe preview the USMNT’s opening World Cup matchup against Paraguay, breaking down what the United States needs to do to start the tournament strong. We talk key players, score predictions, and what kind of performance would calm nerves heading into the rest of group play. From there, we look around the first few days o...

Our interview series "The Massive Mic" returns for its second episode of the year. Jay and Gabe sit down with MLS content creator and longtime soccer fan Eli Lesser for a conversation that spans the past, present, and future of American soccer. As fans of some of MLS's original clubs, we discuss how the fan culture has evolved, and whether MLS has exceeded expectations where it is at now. We also...

Note: If you'd like to hear our first conversation with Chris look back to S1 Ep51! Matt and Brian are joined by Chris Doran for a wide-ranging conversation covering the biggest topics in Columbus, MLS, and American soccer. We discuss how the Columbus Crew are navigating life after Henrik Rydström, if it effects their strategy going into the transfer window, and if Laurent Courtois is the man...

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is officially on, and the U.S. Men’s National Team just gave us a massive performance to talk about! In this episode, we are diving deep into the USMNT’s thrilling 3-2 victory over African powerhouse Senegal in front of a packed crowd at Bank of America Stadium. We break down the attacking display from our marquee names, the big moments, and individual performan...

What exactly is the state of the Columbus Crew right now? After a turbulent stretch filled with coaching changes, inconsistent performances, and signs of life starting to emerge again, Matt and Gabe sit down to evaluate where the Crew truly stand. Are things finally stabilizing under Laurent Courtois? What still needs fixing? And what should expectations actually be moving forward? Then the conver...

The Columbus Crew are starting to look like themselves again. Columbus picked up a massive 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC, continuing the positive momentum under Laurent Courtois. Matt, Jay, and Gabe break down the performance, the tactical improvements, and the players stepping up as the Crew continue trying to turn their season around. Then we shift gears and react to the leaked United States me...

Just days after the Crew fired Henrik Rydström, interim head coach Laurent Courtois stepped into his first match against the same New York City FC side that embarrassed Columbus 3-0 not long ago. This time? The Crew responded with a strong 1-0 win and one of their best overall performances in weeks. Matt and Gabe break down the tactical changes under Courtois, why the team looked more alive and co...

The Columbus Crew have officially pulled the trigger. Henrik Rydström is OUT. We originally recorded a completely different episode for this one but had to start from scratch after the news dropped. After a incredibly rough start to the season filled with flat performances, tactical confusion, dropped points, and growing frustration around the club, the Crew announced Sunday afternoon that they ha...

The Columbus Crew suffer a brutal 3-0 loss to New York City FC, and the concerns surrounding this team continue to grow. In this episode, we break down everything that went wrong in Columbus Crew vs NYCFC, from the disconnected midfield pairing to the complete lack of attacking rhythm and dangerous transition play. We analyze the flatness of the offense, the recurring tactical and structural issue...

The Columbus Crew head to Yankee Stadium to take on New York City FC in one of the strangest road environments in MLS. In this episode, we preview the upcoming Crew vs NYCFC matchup and break down the key tactical storylines surrounding the game. We discuss NYCFC’s strength on set pieces and why Columbus’ set piece defending could be tested heavily in this matchup. We also talk about the unique di...

The Columbus Crew experience two completely different nights this past week. First, we break down a dominant 4-1 U.S. Open Cup win over Knoxville SC, where the Crew delivered one of their most complete attacking performances. We highlight standout players, key moments, and what clicked in a match that showed the team’s potential. Then, everything flips. Columbus fall 3-2 to Minnesota United FC in...

In this episode we break down Saturday's 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union. Precise diagonal switches successfully dismantled Philly’s compact high line. We provide deep dives into the clinical performance of Max Arfsten, the high-intensity engine of Sékou Bangoura, and the steady growth of Taha Habroune. Most importantly, we discuss the emotional significance of Mo Farsi’s return to the pit...

The Columbus Crew get back on track with a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy, delivering one of their most complete performances of the MLS season. Columbus took a 1-0 lead into halftime and doubled it just over a minute into the second half, controlling the match for long stretches before a late push from LA made things interesting. In this episode, we break down the Columbus Crew vs LA Galaxy recap, in...

The Columbus Crew fall 2-1 to the New England Revolution after taking a 1-0 lead into halftime, marking another frustrating result in MLS play. In this episode, we provide a full Columbus Crew vs New England Revolution recap, breaking down what changed in the second half and why the match slipped away. We analyze the tactical adjustments, individual performances, and recurring issues that continue...

Open Cup night brought the goals and maybe upped the confidence. The Crew defeated the Richmond Kickers 3-0 in the R32, highlighted by Hugo Picard’s first two goals in Black & Gold and Jamal Thiaré getting on the scoresheet for the first time as well. We dive into player grades, discuss why we thought Sekou Bangoura impressed, and evaluate what these performances could mean for rotation and de...

It was a night of deep frustration in Columbus as the Columbus Crew failed to take advantage of an Orlando City side that has been struggling significantly, particularly on the road. Despite the visitors coming in with a porous defensive record, the Crew appeared sluggish and lacked the clinical edge needed to control the match. The performance felt disconnected for long stretches, leaving the hom...

Next up for the Columbus Crew is a home matchup against Orlando City SC. On one side, Orlando’s defense is making unwanted MLS history, allowing 23 goals in just 6 games. On the other, the Crew are desperate to score at home and build momentum after getting shutout the first 2 games at the SMG.We analyze the numbers, the tactical setup, and the pressure facing both clubs heading into this match. W...

WE FINALLY WON A GAME! In this episode, we dive into the tactical evolution of the team under Rydstrom, specifically analyzing the defensive structures that defined our 3-1 win over Atlanta United. We break down a sequence of scoring that redefined the concept of an "instant response" and highlight a significant career milestone for a key member of the backline. Our analysis explores how...