An Interview with DCFC's Sarah Huge

So tell us about yourself!

Sarah Huge (actually pronounced like Hugee and not just huge haha though I definitely respond to “huge”). I grew up in Northville, MI as Sarah Stern and played locally with MI Rush and Hawks. I earned a scholarship to play at Michigan State University for the 2008-2011 seasons. I met my husband there, Cody Huge (always called ”Huge”) who played baseball for MSU. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and eventually my Masters. I taught 4th grade for 5 years in Ann Arbor. While I did my student teaching, I began coaching youth club soccer. We moved to Canton and I fell in love with the Canton Soccer Club which is the DCFC Youth West program you see today! I never stopped playing soccer. I played for a couple women’s club teams, Motor City FC, and Ann Arbor Lumberjills. My times off were to have our daughter in 2017 and son in 2019. I was super motivated to get back in shape for the forming DCFC Women’s team. I just celebrated my quarantined 30th birthday in April. 

Can you describe your game?

I’ve always been an attacker but I’ve played defense for teams that needed it specifically. I have scored a lot of goals in my day but assists have always been as important to me. I was the youth player that after I scored multiple goals, I’d hold the ball in the opponents box and wait for a teammate to get there. Most of my coaches didn’t like it. 

What was your experience/knowledge with DCFC prior to trying out this year?

I would say I have a pretty good soccer IQ and see the field well. I am very vocal on the field and am sure you will never hear me shut up in the center back position. 

You were named the first women's captain of DCFC, how does that feel?

I am honored for the opportunity and will take the role seriously. I know several of the players through playing with them at some point in my career or know them from coaching youth soccer. Hopefully I am a good link to keep everyone motivated in this weird time.

Have you been captain on previous clubs?

I was captain of my youth and women’s club teams, high school soccer, high school basketball, and I have been given the band for games with my previous semi-pro teams.

What's the experience with DCFC been like so far (barring the pandemic, obviously)

The DCFC has given me an experience that I’ve never had before! I’ve never experienced this type of fan support, hype, or excitement with a team I’ve played for, and that’s saying something coming from Big10 soccer. The organization and professionalism is so amazing as well. 

The pandemic sort of shut everything down, how have you been coping?

It’s been interesting. Luckily my kiddos are young enough they won’t remember this and our schedule didn’t change all the much besides activities we would go to throughout the week. We all really miss our frequent visits from my mom, GiGi! Who with her help and my husband’s makes playing even possible!  Trying to stay in shape in the sometimes 40 minutes of nap time is tough, but my husband has been doing an amazing job taking the kids for me to do stuff as well between his busy and demanding schedule running a heating and cooling business. Shout out to Crain Heating and Cooling!  

Will the club be getting in any soccer in 2020?

The club is very committed to getting us on the field in some fashion but obviously changes have already been made to the season and more will come I'm sure. I am very hopeful, though! 

What kind of formation/tactics/style will the club bring to the field?

I’ve worked with the legendary Coach Sam Praine, for several years now and he actually coached me in my first travel club soccer year at U10! He knows how to take talent and put us in the best position to win. We have so many amazing attacking players that it will be a fun challenge putting together the right combination and formation. With the help of the rest of the awesome staff, Charlie Bell, Kyle Winningham, and Jon Evans, it’s going to be fun to watch! Defensively, we will be organized and disciplined but we have a ton of skill and speed to contribute on the attack as well. 

Any hype music you listen to every match?

At MSU it was anything we could dance to and the dance parties before games in the locker room were pretty epic but otherwise I am one that plays best when I am relaxed and having a great time with the laser focus starting with the whistle, so I’ll jam to anything up until that point! 

Chips Ahoy: original or soft baked?

Original I guess, though I’m much more of an ice cream gal!

Anything else we should know?

Thanks to all the supporters that have continued to stay engaged and excited with us!  Cannot flipping wait to get going!!! Mama needs some soccer in her life again!!! Lol 

DCFC Making Friends on the Road

The quest to find fans and convert disinterested people to true believers is the key to survival in grassroots soccer. Soccer fans are a subset of sports fandom in this country and the field is full of rival clubs, both foreign and domestic. Every supporter group member and player is an ambassador for your club and how they represent themselves can ensure the long-term stability of the organization. And last weekend, Laura Horah became a fan of Detroit City FC.

The story popped up on twitter and was too good to not follow. Laura posted a response to a Detroit City FC post about meeting the club in the hotel they were both staying at.  We reached out for more of the background.

Laura was travelling on business and happened to share the hotel with the Detroit City players who were in town for their match with LA Force. Laura isn’t exactly a soccer fan. When we asked if she followed soccer or DCFC prior to this weekend, she was blunt. “I do not and did not know anything about them prior to this hotel stay.” She happened to spot all the young men wearing Detroit City jackets and her interest was piqued.

I am staying in your hotel and have chatted with a few of you in the elevator and breakfast area. You are all such polite and friendly young men. Your parents should be super proud! Congrats on your win too!

— Laura Jane (@LJHorah) February 29, 2020

“One of the players was in the coffee area trying to determine the various types of coffee being served. I pointed out the Hazelnut, regular and decaffeinated. He asked me what decaffeinated meant and I explained it was coffee without caffeine. I then said ‘I don't know why anyone would even bother drinking coffee without caffeine’ and he said the same thing. He was looking for real coffee like I was. I wished him a nice day and he did the same and thanked me.”

Laura’s dog, Cessna

The next day, as Laura and her husband were trying to make the elevator, “Several players were in that left elevator and yelled out to us, holding the door for us and telling us there was room. I believe George Chomakov and Matt Lewis were two of those players. I think there were 3 or 4 total? I thanked them for holding the door open. We were dressed for exercising and one of them (George I think) asked us if we were headed to work out. I said yes and that we needed to do something to help with the breakfasts they had been serving. He agreed. I asked him when their game was (I said game but I think it's called match, as I now know!) and he said it had been the prior night and that they had won. I told them congratulations. They seemed very excited about the win.”

When she got back to her room, she decided to do some investigating. “Out of curiosity I looked up the team online when I got back to the hotel later that morning. I wanted to reach out because we rarely get anything positive news-wise. Athletes, as well as others in the public eye, are often described as rude and entitled. I have heard all kinds of horror studies. My interactions with this team were so positive I thought it might be nice for them to be recognized in some fashion.”

And now, Laura, who seems like the nicest person on twitter (you can see how cute her dog is), is a fan of the club. “I definitely will. I now know their games are streaming and I plan to check them out. I am a big sports fan so I will add this to my list and will always consider Detroit City FC my favorite soccer team!”

You never know who you are holding the elevator for, maybe it’s your next biggest fan!

- Dan Vaughn

Ranking the NISA Home Openers

For those that missed it, NISA put out a list of the home openers for the Spring 2020 season. With the first match kicking off on the weekend of February 29, we’re sitting 6 weeks out from the kick-off of the expanded season of NISA play with the addition of Chattanooga, Detroit City, and Michigan Stars. The full schedule won’t be released until later this month, so for now, let’s rank the home openers.

- Dan

---

★

Stumptown Athletic vs. 1904 FC (2/29/20)

Stumptown Athletic was the runner up in the East to Miami FC, but with Philly Fury forfeiting the season and Atlanta SC’s 2 wins coming in matches that Philly vacated, they have a tremendous amount to prove heading into this season. The addition of heavy hitters in the East will mean that task will be even harder. 1904 only managed two wins in the stronger West and will be desperate to start off their season with a win. This will be a match most will skip out on and, with Stumptown’s attendance issues last season, the stands will reflect that.

★★

Cal United Strikers FC vs. Michigan Stars FC (2/29/20)

This isn’t going to come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the NPSL, Michigan Stars was the little brother in a conference dominated by big name clubs, including their fellow NISA expansion, DCFC. Stars have a lot to prove in their league and will have to kick off their season on the road, heading to Orange County to face Cal United Strikers. Strikers finished the last regular season in second position in the standings. They followed that up by beating LA in the playoffs on PKs. Kicking off their season against an unproven NISA expansion side should be a recipe for a quick 3 points.

Chattanooga FC vs. Michigan Stars FC (3/14/20)

CFC is one of two big names to cross over into NISA during the offseason. With their ability to fill Finley, it’s reasonable to expect a crazy crowd for this first professional match for Chatta. The club should make quick work of their fellow ex-Members Cup opponent. Speaking of Members Cup, Michigan finished with only 2 wins and a negative 8 goal differential. Not good, man.

★★★

Michigan Stars FC vs. Los Angeles Force (3/21/20)

So I’ve dunked on Michigan Stars in two previous previews, so let’s give this home opener a 3 star rating. I’d expect the club to be on a losing streak and this will be a chance to bounce back, facing a club that had to travel over 2,000 miles. Is anyone else a little troubled the match is scheduled at a location TBD? Seems a little late in the game for details like that to not be settled. Anyway, back to the match, so good chance for a bounce back for the hosts, EXCEPT their opponent was the regular season champ in the West and lost on PKs in the playoffs. LA Force will have faced DCFC at home for their opener (more on that later) and we don’t know the rest of the schedule yet, but without a doubt this appears on paper to be a big win opportunity for LA.

★★★★

Detroit City FC vs. Oakland Roots (3/21/20)

Detroit City FC heads into NISA with a ton of steam after soundly defeating the rest of the Members Cup participants in the Fall. Detroit really matched their support and swagger with solid play on the field and look to be the favorites of this first season in NISA. Their first NISA opponent at Keyworth will be Oakland Roots, a club that nailed every aspect of their rollout in 2019, except for their on-field play. With a new coach and a renewed roster, Oakland will be looking to match their looks with substance in 2020.

Oakland Roots vs. Chattanooga FC (2/29/20)

Everything I said about Oakland in the previous preview, but now they get to host the other big boy expansion club, Chattanooga FC. It’s a long trip from Chattanooga, so maybe that helps Oakland? Especially considering Oakland draws well, something that CFC rarely has rarely seen outside of Detroit. I think this match is sneaky good and should show us where Oakland is headed into 2020.

★★★★★

Los Angeles Force vs. Detroit City FC (2/29/20)

Yet another match to be played at TBD, but WHAT a match. The 2019 regular season winner from the West hosts the bad boys of Detroit on the first week of the 2020 season. This should bring all the eyes on opening weekend. Circle this match.

Club of the Year Nominee: Detroit City FC

In every industry, there’s a gold standard. Every competitor aims to replicate its success, to mirror results, to match the reputation, but the item that occupies that top spot is universally appreciated and admired. Even the haters and detractors throw their barbs with the knowledge they are doing it out of jealousy and they’d trade spots in a heartbeat, if they could. But no amount of wishing ever gets a thing to the apex position, instead it is achieved through hard work, dedication, passion, consuming ambition, fierce aggression, and a recognition that building something that will last will require massive amounts of sacrifice.

The history of the lower leagues is a bloodbath, awash with the corpses of thousands of clubs that have come and gone. Each year, clubs bow out of competitions and leagues, shut up shop and send out defeated emails to fans. It’s not the exception, but the rule in the current American landscape. Well-intentioned men and women have wasted millions of dollars and thousands of hours trying to create a lasting legacy of success for their club, only to watch the stands sit empty and the bill pile up, until eventually, emptied of resources and devoid of confidence, they give up. Sometimes it’s the plan, sometimes it’s finances, sometimes it’s the lack of fan support, sometimes it’s the players, sometimes sponsors can’t be found, and sometimes it just wasn’t meant to be.

To get to the mark of the gold standard, acts of faith and sacrifice are required. Honestly, there’s so much advice against trying it, most friends will have to be ignored. You’d be insane to believe you’re going to be the club which makes it. All of the facts tell any reasonable person to find something else to invest your time into. And the money, people have gone bankrupt doing this, throwing away retirement funds, burning bridges by borrowing operating expenses, maxing out credit cards in pursuit of the dream. None of it makes sense, but if you can push through, maybe you can climb the mountain of dead and failing clubs. That’s the dream anyway, that’s Detroit City FC.

Detroit City FC (DCFC) played its first season in the NPSL in 2012 and Alan Jacobson, a member of the Northern Guard Supporters Group (NGS), was there. Alan had watched other clubs try to connect with the city, but when he met Sean Mann, one of five DCFC owners, he sensed something different. “Sean made it clear that active support would not only be ok, it would be appreciated. The willingness to allow an organic culture to develop at DCFC is an example of the approach the team owners would take in terms of managing the team. As Sean has said in the past, they (the owners) are the “hosts of the party, not the stars of the party.” For a lot of people this was a big contrast to sporting events run by the big pro teams, where every game day element seems to be contrived and controlled.” Mark Navarro, a fellow member of NGS, seconded that idea of organic connection. “City stands out over other clubs because it genuinely cares about the community in which it plays and wants to see that community thrive, not just in soccer, but also in the well-being of the people who live there.”

Writing about DCFC without discussing the importance of NGS would be ignoring a primary part of what makes DCFC the gold standard. Lindsey Pehrson, DCFC Communication Director agrees. “Without Northern Guard, Detroit City FC wouldn't be what it is today. They are the life and soul of this club and they are largely the reason for the growth the club has experienced over the years. We are supporter built through and through.” Many clubs have attempted to replicate the connection between club and fan, but the organic symmetry between the club on the pitch and NGS in the stands is magic. The rising smoke of the flares, the screaming faces in the crowd, the banging of the drums, the club feeding off that energy on the field, there is nothing like it in ALL of American soccer.

Navarro highlights that feeling as contagious and bigger than soccer. “I’ve met many people in NGS who didn’t care about soccer until they came to a match and saw what NGS does. And, as a result, they’ve fallen in love with the club, which is our ultimate goal as a group. It’s about the environment: Not just the smoke and the drums and all of that, but the fact that all people--regardless of race, gender identity, sexuality, religion, citizenship status, political affiliations, or any other identities--are welcome into our section as long as they love City is vital.”

This year saw the culmination of 8 years of growth with the club announcing a move to NPSL Pro, then Members Cup, and eventually into NISA - DCFC would become fully professional. But the business of the NPSL saw the club win its division, before absolutely dominating the short but heavily stacked Members Cup lineup. Detroit lost a single match in the league, led by a stifling defense which only allowed 4 goals in 10 matches. The play on the field matched the passion of the crowds filling Keyworth Stadium. When asked what stood out, Pehrson listed off the accomplishments, “winning the NPSL Great Lakes Conference before hoisting the 2019 Members Cup championship, beating Atlas FC at home, going nine games unbeaten in 23 league games, etc. It's hard to boil it down to just one moment.” Pair that on the field success with the continued expansion of Detroit City Fieldhouse, a 75,000 square foot indoor multi-sport facility, and the announcement of the creation of a women’s side. 2019 was a ringing success for Le Rouge.

Every club in the country would do anything to have what DCFC has, few are willing to work as hard to achieve that goal. The club has succeeded by putting city on their heart and never straying. And that connection to Detroit has made DCFC’s players family for the fans that fill the stands of Keyworth. They cheer for their club because they cheer for their city. It’s time to recognize the gold standard. It’s time to vote for Detroit City FC.

- Dan Vaughn

The Interview: Daryl Grove

You're famously a Wolves fan (the only one we know of), tell us about your soccer background?

Hey, there’s loads of us in Wolverhampton! My Wolves fandom is a family tradition. My dad used to go and watch the team back in the 1950s, when they were at one point the best in England, maybe even in Europe. I started going to Molineux with my older brother in the 1990s, and also go with my sister and brother in law whenever I’m home. So it’s a thing that really connects me to my family and to the region I’m from.

My soccer fandom starts with the England national team. I didn’t care too much until the 1990 World Cup happened, and England made the semifinals. I was all in after that, but with England as my focus, and then the Premier League launched a couple of years later and English football was suddenly exciting and glamorous, and then I started going to Wolves games a few years later.

How high do Wolves have to finish to consider the season a success?

I’d say top 10 is a success. I’d love to see them qualify for the Europa League, either via the FA Cup or by finishing seventh. In both cases, Watford stand in the way right now.

You're from a different country, so we assume you have a unique perspective on American culture. What are the major differences between your country of birth and your country of choice?

You mean in a wider sense than soccer? I’m going to steal this answer from Zadie Smith, the (excellent) English author who splits her time between the UK and the US. I was at one of her readings a couple of years ago, and in the Q&A afterward I asked her essentially the same question you’ve asked me, because I knew she’d have a great perspective on it. She said if she could transpose one thing about each, she wished the UK culture had more of America’s spirit of adventure and can-do and get-up-and-go, and she wished American culture had more of the UK’s spirit of togetherness and willingness to try and look after everyone in the society. I think it’s a perfect answer, and I also think it gets at the (maybe impossible?) balance any nation has to try to strike between the rights/needs/demands of the individual versus the collective good of society.

Let's zero in on the difference in soccer culture. Obviously soccer is more popular, but aside from that, what differences would you pinpoint?

I think the biggest difference among fans is the club versus country hierarchy. Seems to me that in the US, the national team comes first for a very high percentage of soccer fans, maybe because watching the US at a World Cup was their introduction the game. There’s constant interest and news and debate about every aspect of the national team and I love it. But in England there’s a lot of fans for whom their club is everything, be it Arsenal or Liverpool or whatever, and the national team is at best secondary, and at worst getting in the way. Everyone gets into it for the World Cup or the Euros, when the whole nation gets hyped up, but outside of those summers, a lot of people are very much focused on their club team.

The other major difference is the media. Because football is so high profile in England and the players are A-list celebrities, there’s endless coverage. Some of it is great, but there’s also all kinds of nonsense rumors and speculation and manufactured drama. I kind of enjoy that in the US the soccer news is, for the most part, actual soccer news, as opposed to TMZ-style content.

Your podcast is a must listen for us, but for those that don't listen to TSS, can you nutshell the idea?

Feel like I should have this down by now, but I always find it hard. Our aim is to try and provide insight and analysis in an entertaining way. But we’re going for actual insight, not some made-up opinion or lame-ass guess at something that sounds like it might be right. We really and truly try to put the time in and do the watching and reading and critical thinking to figure things out and have something original to say.

The best tool we’ve found for this is to always ask “why?” So anyone can say, “the USMNT’s passing was poor tonight,” but the more interesting question is, “OK, but why was it poor?” And then you get into things like spacing between players, what they’ve been asked to do, what they were trying to accomplish, the opposition team’s defensive scheme, and all kinds of next-layer factors. For me, that’s where the interesting conversation is.

Secondarily, we want to make it fun to listen to. Part of how we try and do that is to be so well prepared for every show that we’re never nervous about the content or nervous about saying the wrong thing, and so then you’re hearing two people have a conversation where they’re both very relaxed and confident but also excited to have the conversation. We hope that that, plus the friendship and familiarity that Taylor and I have with each other, creates conversations that are enjoyable to listen to.

Ever get tired of talking soccer?

No! And the main reason is that we really only talk about the things we want to talk about. Also, if there was no show, Taylor and I would be having these conversations anyway. Maybe via text or something, maybe over food and drinks.

You've mentioned the Richmond Kickers on your show, thoughts on USL's reformatting and Richmond being placed in League 1?

I think I like the reformatting, especially if — as the league has suggested but not promised — it could lead to some form of promotion and relegation between USL divisions in future. I’m hoping that as the league grows and maintains stability, which we couldn’t take for granted in the past, it leads to players getting better salaries and better working conditions. I know the USL players formed a union or players association in late 2018 and they’re negotiating a CBA, which is an encouraging step.

I have concerns about USL starting teams in places where there were already teams from other leagues, like the Chattanooga Red Wolves franchise in the same city as the NPSL’s Chattanooga FC. Kind of wish all the leagues would just band together or at least agree to get along, as opposed to competing for market share.

With the Kickers, it was pretty clear from the previous two seasons that the club was struggling to compete in what is now the USL Championship. They finished bottom but one in the Eastern Conference in both 2017 and 2018. No one has shown me the numbers or anything, but my understanding is that the budget of teams like Louisville City or FC Cincinnati or any of the MLS-affiliated teams like Red Bulls II were beyond what the Kickers could match. In League One, the team is at a level where it should be able to compete, which will make going and watching the team way more fun. And in many ways, given those low finishes in 2017 and 2018, this is what would have happened in a pro/rel system anyway, right?

There’s also a new ownership group at the Kickers and a lot of new players, so it’s very much a fresh start for the club in 2019. We haven’t announced this on the show yet, but we’re going to be partnering with the Kickers to produce some weekly content. We used to do their play-by-play, but that’s all been moved in-house at USL now. So for the 2019 season we’ll be producing a short, weekly episode in the TSS feed, reviewing the Kickers game and breaking down the goals. We’re hoping Kickers fans like the analysis and we’re also hoping maybe some TSS listeners who are neutrals might adopt the Kickers as their USL League One team and follow along throughout the season.  

Obviously your show focuses on Euro, USMNT and MLS, do you follow any soccer below those levels?

The Kickers, of course, because they’re our local team. I also follow the fortunes of 10th-tier English team Tividale FC because my nephew plays center forward for them. They’re in a title race right now. And I feel a strange pull toward Detroit CIty FC because my wife’s originally from there and I love the team’s independent streak, but I’ve never been to a game because the season is so short our visits back to Detroit have never coincided with a home game. Outside of that, Taylor and I just dip into anything interesting that’s happening, whatever league or location.

Do you have any thoughts on NPSL establishing a pro league or is that outside your coverage/interest area?

DCFC Bump? Image courtesy of the club.

I’m very interested and I hope it’s successful, because it’s the next step for teams like Detroit City FC. Last year, the only chance to go bigger and better would have been to join the USL, which I get why some teams don’t want to do. So I see the NPSL pro league as a great alternative for teams that outgrow their regional NPSL league and want something more. I also think the Founders Cup season is a smart way to transition to the full league season. It buys everybody time but also raises interest and gets things moving.

My concern is that as the league grows we might end up with a USL vs NPSL situation, and we’re back to the soccer wars where leagues are competing against each other and everybody loses. But that’s not reason enough to think an NPSL pro league shouldn’t happen or won’t be a great thing.

Did you follow the Chattanooga story, going public and selling over 600k worth of shares? Wonder what your thoughts were on that model and Chatta specifically?

I didn’t follow super closely, but I was definitely aware of it. Great way to raise revenue. Does buying shares give the new fan-owners a vote and a voice in terms of decisions the club makes? If so, I love it, and think it’s exactly the sort of thing you can do in the NPSL but probably can’t do in USL or MLS, where it’s more about having one wealthy ownership that’s willing to lose money.

Your podcast has been very successful, what do you think are the reasons for that?

I think a big part of it is that we’ve been around since 2009 and we’ve never, ever stopped. It’s really hard for an independent show to find listeners and so growth can be really slow to begin with, and I think that’s where a lot of shows end up calling it a day. But we always enjoyed it so much and always thought it was worth doing, and so we just kept going.

The other thing is that we never fake it. We do our research and try to know everything possible, but if we don’t know something then we don’t know, and we won’t pretend otherwise. My theory is that listeners can tell when you’re faking, even if you think you’re getting away with it, and that listeners are more willing to come back if they know they can trust you to be honest.

The big turning point was the 2014 World Cup, where we did a proper preview and review of every single game, every single day. I think that’s where we realized that if you go extra hard you can publish content people can’t find elsewhere, and new listeners will keep finding you.

The next big component was the listener support model, where we asked listeners to contribute a monthly amount, from $5 to $25. In exchange, those subscribers were welcomed in to create content for the show via the scouting network , where we receive and read out subscribers scouting reports on up-and-coming players, or listener questions, where we’ll guarantee to answer one question per month on the show if you subscribe at a certain level. That gave us a steady revenue stream to build on, and let us take a gamble on doing more shows per week, which led to more growth, and so the listener support model is really the foundation for everything that’s happened since.

The thing we figured out next was how to find advertisers and how to make ads work. Around 2016, we started pitching advertisers. It was trial and error but we found the best way was to do some research and find companies where we genuinely liked the product and genuinely thought our listeners would buy it, and then we’d pitch companies with an affordable ad rate and a campaign idea for how their product would sell — for example, suggesting a genuinely deep discount.

Once we’d proven that our ads produced return on investment for advertisers, we then found some podcast ad agencies that would do the legwork for us and find advertisers in exchange for a percentage, and the ad component has grown from there and allowed us to go full time and do five shows per week.

When did podcasting transition to real journalism?

For us? I’m not sure it fully has! We both have a semi-journalistic background in that we’ve both written freelance for non-soccer magazines, plus some alt weekly arts and culture stuff. And we do some journalistic work in that we’ll sometimes talk to front offices or communications people to try and get details about what’s going on. We do try and hold ourselves to something resembling a journalistic standard in terms of ethics and professionalism, but we’re not ever breaking stories in the way, say, Paul Tenorio does for The Athletic.

Johan Cruyff. Images courtesy of FC Barcelona.

You get to have dinner with one soccer player dead or alive - Who and why?

Johan Cruyff, for sure. He was so great at explaining tactical and philosophical concepts and I’d have SO MANY questions. I’d call ahead and request a chalkboard so Cruyff could illustrate what he’s saying. Would also try and get the full story of why he missed the 1978 World Cup. “It’s just me and you here, Johan, I won’t tell a soul!”

Pro/Rel. Are you for it? Will it ever happen in this country?

Definitely for it, definitely want it. I think if we could figure out the logistics, figure out the legalities, and figure out a way of getting all the current stakeholders on board, and make it happen in a non-chaotic way, it would be a gigantic boon for soccer in the United States. More clubs with more opportunities and more players with more opportunities to make themselves a career.

But if it doesn’t happen, I’m going to keep enjoying soccer anyway.

That said, I do think it happens eventually in some form. Maybe FIFA forces US Soccer’s hand. Maybe MLS gets so big it just swallows everything and has pro/rel but everything pro soccer related is MLS-branded. Or maybe everyone just sees the money that could be made and all parties align to get it done. The encouraging thing right now is that there are serious people who have invested in soccer, say Dennis Crowley at Kingston Stockade or the 100+ clubs who signed the letter to FIFA, that are trying to make it happen.  

How has your cancer diagnosis shifted your focus?

In a weird way it hasn’t too much. Before the diagnosis, I was keenly aware that life was good. I love my wife, love my friends, love my family, love doing TSS. The diagnosis did make me take a brief pause to assess, like, am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing with my life? And I found the answer was yes. So in a paradoxical way it’s been really life affirming because I know not everyone is fortunate enough to have that same answer, often for reasons beyond their control. So now I wake up every day knowing how lucky I am and it makes me determined to really enjoy all the things in life that I love so much.

I’m taking a few days off from TSS here and there for chemotherapy, and I’m really grateful that Taylor has found ways to make it work — Ryan Bailey has been brilliant as well, filling in for me on Mondays for the weekend review. But I’m still all-in on the show, even if I have to miss a few days. Aside from that, the only other thing I’ve changed is I’ve made a conscious decision to not get into debates that go nowhere, especially on Twitter. So if someone is @ing us with a loud opinion about how this player sucks and should be banned from the national team forever, but they really haven’t paid that much attention, they’ve just decided they have a vendetta against this player ... I used to engage and try and explain why that player is useful because here’s his role and so on. I thought I was being helpful. But now I just keep scrolling past that person’s tweets, or, if needed, I send them to mute mountain where they can yell into the void. Because I’ve realized my time is better spent elsewhere. That’s five minutes of futile tweeting that I could instead spend with my wife, or texting an old friend in England, or watching a Duane Holmes all touches video. :)

Where are you at health-wise?

The initial colon tumor has been surgically removed, but it had spread to my liver. So now I’m having chemotherapy every two weeks to hopefully shrink the tumors on my liver. Chemo is obviously not fun, but it’s tolerable so far and only lasts a few days at a time. Outside of those days I feel great, like my usual self. I’m just starting to play soccer again now. Have been to some practice sessions for the team Taylor and I coach and play on, and should be back on the field by the time you read this.  

Cookie question: Chips Ahoy - Original or Chewy?

Original, I like a slight crunch.

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If you have any interest in contributing to help cover the cost of Daryl’s treatment, please do so here. To find his show, just search for Total Soccer Show or follow them on twitter.

Professional Games, Professional Management – Detroit and Milwaukee Hire Historied Coaches Ahead of Founders Cup

With the NPSL’s Founders Cup taking place later this year and representing the bridge for several clubs from an amateur or semi-professional status to a truly professional one, a major question for clubs was how they would, or wouldn’t pursue professional level coaching. For some clubs, especially the former-NASL clubs, the path seemed somewhat clear as they already had coaches with that history, but for others the fog is only beginning to clear.

We can begin to find our answers in the recent hiring of two new head coaches for two of the Founders Cup’s clubs, the Milwaukee Torrent and Detroit City FC, both of which play in the NPSL Midwest Great Lakes conference.

Detroit City FC

Detroit City called Ben Pirmann coach for six seasons, seasons that saw the club win conference and regional titles, play clubs from across the planet, and become one of the NPSL’s biggest names. While Pirmann’s legacy at the amateur level is about robust as it comes, he will not be leading the club into the professional realm after leaving to become an assistant coach for Memphis 901 FC, a new USL Championship franchise set to play in 2019.

With a key leadership position open for business, City announced Trevor James as its new head coach on January 4th. On top of a playing career, James has an extensive list of credentials in various staff and freelance positions, working with the legendary Sir Bobby Robson as a scout for towards a decade before becoming an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He would hold that position, along with other duties with the Galaxy, for four years before moving to the Portland Timbers where he was assistant head coach from 2010 to 2012. James also worked as Director of Scouting and Assistant Technical Director for the Chicago Fire and coached with the Indy Eleven in 2017. From scouting for Barcelona, Newcastle, and Porto, to coaching top clubs in the professional tiers of the United States, to say Trevor James is an experienced individual would be an immense understatement.

The question will be if James can lead Detroit City to a big result in the 2019 NPSL Great Lakes season and the Founders Cup. City finished in fourth last season, low for their historical standards, and will surely hope to return to the top of their conference. At the same time, the club faces a cup campaign that will pit them against two former NASL titans, the Cosmos and Miami FC, along with other top NPSL clubs like Miami United and Chattanooga FC. Doing well in the tournament would provide Detroit with a brilliant start to the next stage in their history.

2018 was Detroit’s year in many ways, but a successful upgrade with James could leave Detroit the undisputed champions of 2019.

Milwaukee Torrent

The Milwaukee Torrent also added their already-professional organization with the hiring of Carlos Cordoba as Head Coach for the 2019 season, which will see them play in the Founders Cup but not the NPSL Great Lakes conference. Cordoba has a strong record on and off the ball, spending nine years as a left back for Boca Juniors before making the move to management. Cordoba first managed as an assistant coach for the Dallas Burn (now known as FC Dallas) before spending a year as manager of the Miami Fusion, a now-past MLS franchise. The Fusion finished fourth in the East and made it to the conference semi-finals and Open Cup quarterfinals during Cordoba’s tenure. Cordoba would begin a career in Wisconsin while managing the Milwaukee Rampage, a former pro-club that played in the A-League from 1993 to 2002. Cordoba has also served as Technical Director for Strike F.C., a position he will continue to hold. Between the Rampage and Strike F.C., Cordoba’s career has included time with the Colorado Storm, Dallas Texans, UW Whitewater, the San Diego Hornets, and clubs like Chivas and Tecos FC.

Needless to say, the Torrent have recruited an immensely experienced man to lead their new endeavor into the experiment that is the NPLS’s Founders Cup. The club’s time in the NPSL has been a challenging stint, including their second-to-last Great Lakes conference finishes in 2017 and 2018. With no regular season to worry about in 2019, Cordoba has been presented a chance to lead the Torrent to a level of success the club has yet to achieve.

In Conclusion

Both Milwaukee and Detroit have made serious and professional signings when it comes to who will be guiding their squads from the side line. Both James and Cordoba have made things work at the professional level and will have an eye for what makes a player special, both from playing in historic sides like Maradona’s Boca like Cordoba and through scouting for the great clubs of the world like James.

The Founders Cup is a tournament surrounded in mystery, even by those entrenched in following the NPSL both in the past and present, but the slow coming together of a set of professional leaders for its clubs allows us to begin to form expectations for the cup’s nature and execution. Many questions remain. How will both clubs’ rosters reflect this new level of professionalism? How will Detroit manage its regular season while preparing for the Founders Cup? Milwaukee and Detroit have begun to show us the near-future of the NPSL. It surely, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

- Dominic Bisogno