Are you ready for some impressions?! Tom got his hands on a rare transcript of a meeting of the leaders of US soccer from almost 100 years ago, and like any good historian, he took out his phone and photographed all 168 pages.

The USFA conference on June 30, 1928 is a snapshot of the mostly-forgotten era when US soccer was on the rise--and on the verge of being a world power. The battles and rivalries between US Soccer and the various state delegates are also an echo of the game today.

This episode is history, it's cautionary tale, and (if you're a student of regional accents) it's a performance playground for Kirk and Tom, who can make anyone from any part of the country sound vaguely like a cowboy.

Executive Producers/Hosts: Tom McCabe and Kirk Rudell

Original Music: Patrick White

Tom and Kirk have their first guest! Or, depending on how you look at it, their guest has guests. We sat with Rory Bryce of The Football Heritage, an ambitious independent project based in Scotland which explores the roots, culture and history of the game.

And we talked about Fall River, Massachusetts, one of our favorite soccertowns--a lens through which we can see not just the earliest history of US soccer but also where the game is today.

It's classic AAG stuff but with a Glasgow accent thrown in.

Check out (and subscribe to) Rory's work:
THE FOOTBALL HERITAGE: https://www.footballheritage.co.uk/podcast

Executive Producers/Hosts: Tom McCabe and Kirk Rudell

Original music by Patrick White

Honestly, Mauricio seems like a nice guy, and he's a very talented coach, but he has a lot of very confident opinions about what it takes to win for someone whose only won one thing in his career--a Coupe de France with a loaded PSG squad that was supposed to win Champions League.

That didn't stop US Soccer from falling over itself to renew his deal as USMNT coach. Historically, US Soccer can't resist a coach with an accent. Now, we don't think a US national team coach has to be American-born; Emma Hayes is one of the best coaches in the world and probably the best person the USWNT could have as they prepare for next summer's World Cup.

But Hayes respects US soccer culture; Pochettino thinks he's created it. Just ask him. And that makes us...skeptical of US Soccer handing him the keys for another four years--or, as Poch said right after signing his contract, until a better club offer comes along.

Executive Producers/Hosts: Tom McCabe and Kirk Rudell

Original Music: Patrick White