The Mint City Soccer Show

28/08/2025

David Gusler is joined by the legendary Fat Bird (Donny Embleton) and Mr. Fulham (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, allegedly, all of Portugal is watching! We get into his recent form and what it would take for him to make the big move overseas.

The Toffolo Rollercoaster: Harry Toffolo's debut was a wild ride of brilliant plays and a heartbreaking hamstring injury. We discuss the immediate impact he had on the attack and how his injury affects the team's game plan.

Idan Toklomati: A Future Legend? We break down his physicality, his impressive consistency, and why he could be the next record-breaking transfer for the club.

And we answered your questions.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PI3ORC0Nl3RMr3RegN0rU?si=YU1HXy_rRsuytl2Qj2eClA&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A3G7vSeluPM2wcvdUrV3cjN

---
We've started doing occasional special episodes as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.
Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Talking all things Charlotte FC

20/08/2025

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 might come in this final week of the window and answer your many great questions.

Oh, and we talk about Zaha being Zaha.

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 08/20/2025 · 1h 37m

13/08/2025

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 Drake Callender and what that means for the future of Charlotte's goalkeeping situation.

--

We've started doing occasional special episodes as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.
Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000721799451

Soccer Podcast · Updated Weekly · A Charlotte FC podcast. We love Charlotte. We love soccer. We love Charlotte soccer. Listen for Charlotte FC and MLS news, the history of the beautiful game in Charlotte and interviews with folks w…

08/08/2025

When you see the in the air and Bill near by, you just know it’s

06/08/2025

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 transfer window. Finally, we discuss the meaning of time in a soccer match. Stay to the end to see what we mean.

--

We've started doing occasional special episodes as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.
Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000720907397

Talking all things Charlotte FC

02/08/2025

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 get access to the Secret Show and our Discord.
Now about this episode ...

---

Welcome to the Mint City Soccer Show Secret Show Game Show, the only Charlotte FC game show that is a run-on sentence.
Your host, David Gusler, has invited Russell Varner and Vaughn Pollman onto the stage to try and answer 20 questions about Charlotte FC. The rules are made up and the points don't matter, which will quickly become very clear.
Listen in to see if you could do better than our contestants – and see if you remember the No. 1 song of 2022, just for fun.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000720409414

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 08/02/2025 · 35m

31/07/2025

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's potential.
The summer transfer window rumors and hopes.
And they answer listener questions.

We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.
Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000719784140

23/07/2025

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 match and also discuss:
How the same defensive issue led to both ATL goals.
The beautiful link-up play between Zaha and Pep.
The debut of the Lightnin' kit against D.C. United (we have some thoughts on that collar).
And we answer your listener questions as we get ready for the summer transfer window.

---

We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000718668102

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 07/23/2025 · 1h 29m

11/07/2025

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 place.
And we answer some listener questions.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000716483407

---

We've started doing a special preview episode each week as well! ⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just a few bucks to get access to that and to our exclusive Discord channel, which we pull listener questions from.

Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/MintCitySoccerShow

Talking all things Charlotte FC

10/07/2025

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 place.
And we answer some listener questions.

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 07/09/2025 · 1h 17m

02/07/2025

🎙️ Episode 158 of the Mint City Soccer Show is out now!

Not with a bang, but with a whimper — Charlotte FC closed out a grueling road trip with back-to-back disappointing losses to Sporting KC and Chicago Fire.

Matt, David, and Corey are back to unpack what went wrong over the last few matches, what needs to change, and where Charlotte goes from here.

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 07/02/2025 · 1h 10m

12/06/2025

Charlotte FC is back after a week off — and headed to Philadelphia for a showdown with one of the top teams in the East, the Union. That means it’s the perfect time to welcome back a great friend of the show, MLS beat reporter José Nuñez!

José joins David (and a fashionably late Corey) to talk through:
⚽️ How the Union’s season has gone so far
👀 His outsider perspective on Charlotte FC
🤨 His thoughts on the Zaha signing
🌍 FIFA Club World Cup
🎉And what Charlotte needs to do to leave Philly with three points

José’s one of the sharpest voices in MLS coverage — you can follow him on Twitter , subscribe to his Substack at nunezj.substack.com, and read his work on mlssoccer.com.

🎧 Don’t miss this one, Crown fans!



https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mint-city-soccer-show/id1497039957?i=1000712582365

Podcast Episode · Mint City Soccer Show · 06/12/2025 · 1h 40m