Defenders of the Banc - The LAFC Podcast

Send us a text Season Six is almost upon us and, as the Defenders will do before the bigger matches of the season, it's time to know thy enemy! Filly and The Scarf delve into Carson's roster, expected starting lineup, offseason issues, and everything else pertinent to our Opening Night matchup with the Herbalife sashes down the road.  Who has Carson brought in to replace the legendary Kevin Cabral...

Send us a text t's Episode 231, and it's Kit Launch Day 2023! Like Dobby, the Defenders were very excited to get clothes, as LAFC dropped the "Smokescreen" Kit hours before their final preseason tilt of 2023. USL-side San Diego Loyal makes the trip up the coast to BMO, bringing with them a couple of familiar faces.  Before the match, LAFC HQ was packed with Black and Gold faithful buying olive gre...

Send us a text The Super Bowl is over, and with that, comes the close of the NFL season and the day every soccer (football!) loving fan in Los Angeles was waiting for: MLS Monday! That's right, the craze sweeping the sports world is here; MLS is taking over the day after the Super Bowl, and Episode 230 is the Defenders' contribution to #MLSMonday! LAFC beat Bob, Dio, and MAK out in the desert, 2-1...

Send us a text In our first episode since the departure of Chicho Arango to Pachuca, the boys have a ton to talk about. The preseason swings into Indio (with no drums or flags allowed!), as LAFC takes on the Wayne Rooney-led, Wooden Spoon-winning D.C. United. Chicho is gone, but we welcome back a familiar face, add another Defender of the Banc (it will ALWAYS be The Banc), and bring on another new...

Send us a text It's Episode 228, and there is PLENTY to talk about! The boys are back in Burbank, and we are beyond excited for the 2023 Preseason to get underway! In this episode, JT and Larry are back, Gareth Bale and Sebas Mendez are gone, and the rumors for Chicho and Mahala are in full effect. Houston has a problem on their backline, LAFC needs a midfielder (or three), and ADAMA DIOMANDE is b...

Send us a text Defenders! The boys are indeed back in town! LAFC has returned to the Performance Center, and Filly and Scarf are BACK in World Famous Filimonster Studios!  On this episode, we chat about all the transactions in the 2023 off-season so far. Latif is gone, and Scarf is crushed. Filly may have less representation from the five boroughs at the Banc if the Will Kuntz rumors are true. Rya...

Send us a text On a very special and very different episode of Defenders of the Banc, we partner with LAFC and the good people at Santa Monica Brew Works for an incredibly entertaining watch party for the USMNT's maiden voyage in the 2022 World Cup, their match against Gareth Bale and Wales.  Listen along with the Defenders as we watch the 1-1 draw between the United States and Wales. We bring on...

Send us a text LAFC has won MLS Cup! LAFC has won MLS Cup!!! After a match now considered the best final in MLS history, and the most intense emotional roller coaster in a 5-year history of intense emotional rollercoasters, LAFC has won MLS Cup! The matchup was #1 in the West, LAFC, against #1 in the East, the Philadelphia Union, for the first time in an MLS Final since 2003, and it lived up to ev...

Send us a text It still doesn't seem real, and every time we say it, we have to pinch ourselves, but in just a few short days, LAFC will play for the MLS Cup! Here on Episode 224, Filly and Scarf break down everything related to our tilt against the Union at the Banc! The Defenders do a deep dive on Philly, highlighting their stars, key contributors, and role players, their preferred formation, a...

Send us a text After 5 years, filled with near misses, heartbreaks, and some major disappointments, LAFC will finally get their first crack at MLS Cup! It's Episode 223, and we have to pinch ourselves on this one. LAFC is on to the FINAL!  In a complete and utter decimation at the Banc, LAFC took Austin behind the woodshed for a 3-0 (or was it 4?) beating en route to the Western Conference crown!...

Send us a text It's Episode 222, and it's our Western Conference Final preview episode. LAFC readies itself to take on Austin FC, and the road to MLS Cup continues to run through the Banc. Learn all about the Verde and Black as they get set to take on the Black and Gold! On this episode, we look at Austin's season: its ups, downs, key players, preferred formation, run of form... you name it, we di...

Send us a text LAFC has knocked Carson out of the playoffs (again) behind a spectacular performance by #99 (again), and you can hear all about it here on Episode 221! Though we still have two more wins to go, tonight we celebrate LAFC's 3-2 triumph over the Galaxy! Somehow, after 17 matches in the Clasico Angelino, this rivalry still gives us magic every. single. time! LAFC went up early, somethin...

Send us a text Episode 220 is a rare preview pod from the Defenders. The stage is set: LAFC. Carson. Winner plays for the West. And we wouldn't want it any other way! On this pod, we talk all things... Carson. Yup, you read that right. We deliberate and dissect almost every aspect of the team from just 13 miles down the road in preparation for our playoff tilt at the Banc, from players to watch, d...

Send us a text It's Episode 219, and the Supporters Shield is home! Yes, we played Nashville, and sure, we lost, but that result was but an afterthought to the all-day celebration at the Banc as the Shield came home. LAFC actually played a great game, as they generated 29 shots and 14 on target, but Joe Willis had ideas to spoil our celebration for at least a few hours. Save after save by Willis a...

Send us a text It's Episode 218, and it's a celebration!!! Thanks to Denis Bouanga, Carlos Vela, and our fearless leader, Steve Cherundolo, the Supporters Shield is coming back to the Banc!  All LAFC had to do was head to a house of horrors, Providence Park, and win for the first time in 12 matches on turf and beat Portland for the first time in 7 matches.  The first half was everything you've com...

Send us a text Revenge is a dish best served at the Banc, and LAFC was able to enact some on Houston with a 3-1 beating behind a pair of PK’s from the Captain. The three points were huge, as LAFC now wrestles back control of their Supporters Shield destiny from Philadelphia.   A Corey Baird 25th minute goal was sandwiched between two Carlos Vela penalty kick finishes, and LAFC headed to the half u...

Send us a text Playing their second match in just four days’ time, and doing so minus ANY of our regular fullbacks, LAFC took a point from the Loons as one of our newest and shiniest weapons, Cristian Tello, made his Black and Gold debut.  No Franco Escobar. No Ryan Hollingshead. No Diego Palacios. Dolo Ball would look very different in the Twin Cities, as Steve patched together LAFC’s 29th differ...

Send us a text LAFC heads to Texas for the final time in 2022, and all we can say here on Episode 215 is good riddance! Ryan Hollingshead sees red during the match while LAFC and their supporters are left seeing red after. LAFC loses a tough one the hard way, 2-1, behind a brace from Jesus Ferreira and an awful day for Jon Freemon.  Just eight minutes in, LAFC would already be dealt a body blow, a...

Send us a text LAFC gets back to the Banc, and back to their winning ways to begin Kick Childhood Cancer Month. Maxime Crepeau blanks RSL, 2-0, and helps LAFC to 60 points on the season while wrestling back control in the race for the Shield. Ryan Hollingshead rips a banger just after halftime, Captain Carlos finds Chicho in the 68th  minute, and Maxime Crepeau does all the heavy lifting with 5 bi...

Send us a text Here on Episode 213, unfortunately, the losing streak continues, as LAFC completes their Texas two-step with a 2-1 loss to Houston, falling into a tie for the Supporters Shield with just 6 matches remaining. The Black and Gold went down early after a handball by Ilie gave Sebastian Ferreira a chance from the spot, but Chicho responded right away to level it after 20’. Despite LAFC h...

Send us a text This matchup had all the makings. Number 1 vs. Number 2 in the West. The two highest scoring clubs in the league. A club looking to strengthen its grip on the shield vs. a club on the rise. Black and Gold vs. Verde and Black. But in the end, the team that was #1 played like number two, and Austin nips further at LAFC's heels after a 4-1 drubbing. Let's get through this together, Bla...

Send us a text In a season where we are living in "pinch me" moments, this entire episode is a "pinch me" moment for Filly and Scarf! None other than DJ Flict himself, Chris Aparri, sits down with the boys for a very special interview. Recorded entirely on location at Saturdays Football in Highland Park, we chat with DJ Flict about everything: How he got started in music, the incredible pantheon o...

Send us a text Episode 210 is upon us, and before we talk about the match against the Quakes, we have an announcement! Defenders of the Banc is proud to announce the podcast’s first official sponsor: FLEX Power Tools. Yes, FLEX, the very same front-of-kit sponsor of our beloved Black and Gold! A huge thank you to everyone in the FLEX family: Joe, Katie, Brady, Vince, Taylor, Shane, and everyone in...

Send us a text Wait, didn't we just do this? Just 48 hours after a 5-0 shellacking of Charlotte, LAFC was back at it again as Wayne Rooney and the club from our nation's capital, DC United, took the 300-mile journey West to the Banc. While this wouldn't end 5-0, 3 points is 3 points, and LAFC runs their winning streak to 7 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory on a strange Tuesday night. The first half w...

Send us a text Back at the Banc for the final time on a Saturday night until playoffs, LAFC looked to make a statement. It's safe to say that they did, hanging a 5-spot on Charlotte as they embark on 3 matches in 8 days! Here on Episode 208, we cover all 5 goals, the birth of Filly, and so much more! While the first half was a little sluggish, LAFC had quality set pieces while looking for a way th...