We are joined by special guest Q from Hooligan Soccer, who offers his insights on the Roots season so far, and provides a referee’s perspective on the Spiegel Incident. Broad optimism about the direction of the team is tempered somewhat by a growing injury list. Onways and upwards, regardless.

The topic du jour is, of course, Raphael Spiegel’s moment of madness, a truly glorious addition to Roots soccer lore. We also talk formations, CBA negotiations, and the World Cup, and stray further into geopolitics than we normally do. Aaron calls him “Brian Jacquesson” instead of “Bertin Jacquesson”.

With special guest Dan Poulter. An unusually philosophical episode. Things are still good, but its only natural to focus on the 20 minutes during which the Roots lost their unblemished season. But things still look really good for the Roots. Maybe not so much for the world, though.

We’re never losing again! But more importantly, Jon talks to the Voice of the Oakland Roots, Joe Malfa, in a fantastically interesting interview. (Skip to 28:43 if you’re just here for Joe.)

The Bloggers are hyped by Roots opening week 1-0 win over Monterey Bay. The midfield and defense receive glowing reviews. The attack receives an optimistic incomplete. Such is the excitement surrounding the win that for one week, world events go unmentioned. It won’t happen again, probably.

The season is here! Probably! If the labor stuff can get worked out! But if it does, the Roots might be pretty good this year!

Our recording equipment was unprepared for Jon’s supportive, rather lukewarm take on the Roots’ offseason moves. But he persevered, and offered his endorsement. We also discuss whether FIFA can recover from awarding its “Peace Prize” to a failed real estate mogul intent on shredding the world order.

Coaching decisions were made! Roster decisions were made! We discuss those, plus the merits of egg nog, with special guest Daniel Poulter.

Jack joins the Pod to give us some insight into USL CBA negotiations from the players’ side. And we discuss who we’d like to see back, and whether we have any rooting interest in the conference finals and USL championship.

There aren’t many words to describe this season that aren’t synonyms of “disappointing” or “frustrating,” but we nevertheless find about an hour’s worth of them.