Mint City Soccer Show

David Gusler is joined by the legendary Fat Bird (Donny Embleton) and Mr. Reliable Matt Chantry to break down Charlotte FC's 1-0 win over New York Red Bulls and the teams seven – 7! – game win streak. Undefeated Vibes: We discuss what's driving the team's incredible unbeaten run and what it means for the season. Kerwin Vargas: The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Kerwin Vargas is on fire and...

Charlotte FC won its sixth MLS match in a row 1-0 over Real Salt Lake Saturday and are in the heat of a tight race for playoff seeding. Meanwhile, the team has been busy in the transfer market, saying hello to some new (surprising) players and goodbye to some (not-so-surprising) players. Matt, David and Corey are back together this week to talk through the match, the latest transfer news and what...

Charlotte FC got a surprise 1-0 win over Cincinnati Sunday night – the perfect start to this last stretch of the season. David is joined this week by Donny (aka Fat Bird) to discuss: Charlotte's unbeaten run in MLS play, showcasing resilience after a League Cup exit. Kahlina's crucial performance to keep Charlotte in the match with FCC. The red card, refs and fans. The potential signing of...

What is there to say about the first two Leagues Cup matches? A lot, apparently. David, Matt and Corey are back together this week to discuss Charlotte FC's 4-1 loss to Juarez and the penalty shootout loss to Chivas. There were some positives (yay Nathan Byrne!) but also a lot of negatives (😢 Pep). We break it all down this week, while also answering your listener questions around the summer...

We're letting y'all in on a little secret by sharing the latest episode of the Mint City Soccer Show Secret Show! You may have heard us mention on the show that we've started doing weekly bonus episodes for our paying Patreon members. If you want to hear more like this, you can join our Patreon here –  patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow – and become a paying member of The Corndog Stand to...

Four wins in a row heading into Leagues Cup – not too shabby. Charlotte FC is on a hot streak after a 2-0 win over Toronto FC. But is the Crown really back, or has it benefitted from the quality (or lack thereof) of the teams on the schedule? David Gusler is joined by good friends of the show Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman to discuss this run of form, plus: Zaha's recent form. Toklomati&#39...

Charlotte FC and a few thousand of their closest fans made the short drive down I-85 to take on Atlanta United Saturday. And, despite an incredibly slow start and shaky first half, the Crown did as it often does and turned that stadium into a library. Charlotte FC won 3-2, winning its third match in a row during this important stretch before Leagues Cup. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe break down the...

It wasn't always pretty, but the Crown got it done. Charlotte FC kept a clean sheet (somehow) and got a badly needed home win over New York City FC 2-0. Matt and Corey break down the match, then discuss some other big news: A big match coming to Charlotte next summer. Wednesday's kit release. Goodbye, Pat. And we answer your questions! --- We've started doing a special preview episode...

Charlotte FC finally returned home Saturday to play Orlando City at the Bank. A game that started with so much promise and a two-goal lead ended with a defensive collapse and only a point for the Crown. Matt, David and Corey return this week to discuss: The problems at right back. Bill Tuiloma's strong performance. The ... interesting ... substitutions. The roster decisions that got us to this...

Not with a bang, but with a whimper. Charlotte FC wrapped up its brutal five-game road trip with two equally brutal performances against Sporting KC and Chicago Fire. Matt, David and Corey are back this week to talk about those two matches, what's gone wrong over the past 10 games, and where the team goes from here. --- ⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks and get access t...

After a week off, Charlotte FC heads up to Philadelphia to take on top-of-the-East Union Saturday. Which means its time to bring on great friend of the show and Union beat reporter José Nuñez ! José joined David and a late-arriving Corey to discuss: The Union's performance so far. His perspective on Charlotte's season from the outside. Why he didn't like the Zaha signing. His feelings...

Charlotte FC got a much-needed road win in Toronto, playing one of the best matches of the entire season. David and Corey are here to talk about it. Topics include: Can we keep this up? Is this the defensive lineup we need to keep going forward? When does Kahlina return after getting benched for Bingham? The attack is finally clicking. Summer transfer rumors. And beach music. Support us on Patreon...

If we recorded this one on Tuesday, the tone would be very different. Charlotte FC looked great in a home win over Columbus Crew Saturday, but followed that with a disappointing performance in New Jersey Wednesday. David, Matt and Corey are back together to discuss the matches. Topics include: What's actually going wrong with the defense. Refereeing and VAR. Expectations for the rest of this r...

Lie down, close your eyes (unless you're driving) and take a deep breath in ... hold it ... and breathe out ... We'll get through this together. Charlotte FC lost two more matches – Saturday at home against Chicago in one of the worst home performances in club history and Wednesday on the road at D.C. United in the U.S. Open Cup. David and Corey are here to try to talk you through it and s...

The whole gang is back together, and we sure wish it was under better circumstances. Since we last published, Charlotte FC lost two away matches against Nashville Saturday and Orlando Wednesday. That's now four straight MLS losses for the Crown. In addition to answering your questions, we asked: Why are we meddling with the defensive strategy? Is it time to panic? What kind of team-building ex...

Charlotte FC has been busy since our last show, losing on the road to Columbus Crew 4-2 and winning a while extra time battle with in-state rival North Carolina FC in the U.S. Open Cup. David is here – all by himself! – to break it all down and answer your questions. Questions like: Was the Columbus Crew loss as bad as it looked? Is our depth so bad that one or two injuries can tank us? If you wer...

That's one way to break a home winning streak. Charlotte FC fell to New England Revolution 1-0 in a frustrating and messy match. David and Corey get together this week to discuss: Was it a bad match for Charlotte FC? Or bad luck? What is offsides, really? Referees in general. This one in particular. Zaha's Snapchat. Everyone gets a fine! And we answer your questions. --- Get 20% OFF + Free...

Not many people know Charlotte FC better than Eric Krakauer . He's been with the club since the beginning, serving as the Crown's play-by-play commentator during its inaugural season, and he's stayed close with the players, coaches and front office ever since. So he's the perfect person to bring on for our 150th show as we explore the evolution of Charlotte FC from expansion team t...

Charlotte FC earned an improbable 2-1 win over Nashville SC at Bank of America Stadium Saturday. And there's plenty to talk about: That ... unusual starting XI. Seriously though, what was with that lineup? Privett and Malanda's special connection. Zimmerman's horrific injury. Zaha taking the match by the horns. Toklomati's unreal, game-winning goal. Matt and Corey are here to break...

The road woes continue for Charlotte FC, as the Crown fell 2-0 to Colorado Rapids over the weekend. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe use your listener questions to guide the conversation as we discuss: Why Charlotte FC hasn't performed as well away from home. The subs against Colorado. The issues with the back line against Colorado. What's going on with Abada. If you want to continue discussing...

Charlotte FC General Manager Zoran Krneta joined us this week for a very special episode! In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss: Zoran's appearance in MLS' "Onside" show. Zaha coming to Charlotte. Pep Biel's performance and return to the club. The LB position. Patrick Agyemang's call up to the USMNT. The season so far. And what rule change he'd love to see in...

What a win for the Queen City. Charlotte FC debuted the Fortress kit at home and used two quick second-half goals to take down FC Cincinnati. The goals couldn't have come at a better time for Patrick Agyemang and Liel Abada. David Gusler and special guest Matt Chantry discuss all of that, then look ahead to Saturday's match against San Jose in which we'll be missing several players for...

We know you're probably trying to forget Sunday's match, but we still need to talk about it. Charlotte FC traveled to play Inter Miami. Messi didn't play. Miami got a red card in the first half. And somehow The Crown still lost 1-0. We try to pull some bright spots out of a tough result and discuss what else we've learned about this team three matches into the season. Then we dive...

That's how you do a home opener. Charlotte FC beat Atlanta United 2-0 in Bank of America Stadium and Wilfried Zaha scored his first goal for The Crown. Matt Swift and David Gusler break down the match and talk about the differences they saw this week compared to the lackluster performance in Seattle.

It wasn't pretty, but Charlotte FC earned a point against the Sounders on a rainy night in Seattle. Matt Swift and Corey Inscoe are joined by special guest Russell Varner to discuss the bright spots from the match – like Malanda rising like a salmon for a corner kick goal – and also any worries we have about the team after the performance. We also see where Own Goal ranks on the list of all-ti...