Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard

Episode: Fired/Hired in MLS and EPL, and Is McKennie the Best USMNT Midfielder?

Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard return to dissect a wild week in global soccer management, with significant coaching changes in both MLS and the EPL, and debate whether Weston McKennie is truly the best midfielder in USMNT history. The episode spans topics from emotional manager sackings and hires, the challenges of coaching transitions, major player injuries, the rapid growth of soccer’s popularity in the U.S., to in-depth discussion on USMNT selection and Premier League dynamics. Sprinkled throughout are candid opinions, personal anecdotes, and fun banter that keep the discussion engaging and insightful.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Managerial Upheaval in MLS

• Rapid-fire MLS Coaching Changes

  • Rafael Wiki to Sporting KC – Formerly of Chicago Fire and Young Boys, his record (12-25-14 at Chicago) raises questions about recycled coaching hires over new American talent.
    • Tim: "We have some really good coaches in America who just will never get a chance in the MLS. They just won't." (03:00)
    • Both praise Ben Pirmann (Charleston Battery) as an overlooked domestic candidate.
  • Matt Wells to Colorado Rapids – Former Spurs assistant faces challenges transitioning from a club with vast resources (Tottenham) to a notoriously frugal MLS side.
    • Tim: “Going from Tottenham where you have endless pockets, to Colorado... that's a tough one too.” (05:04)
  • Discussion on assistants vs. head coaches:
    • Landon: "I’d much prefer a coach who’s coached really, really low... versus someone who was an assistant... Assistant coach vs. head coach are two completely different roles." (06:20)

• Other Moves with Context

  • Mark Dos Santos to LAFC - The news was unveiled during the World Cup draw, possibly to deflect attention.
    • LAFC praised for operational savvy but questioned for their announcement timing.
  • Michael Bradley to New York Red Bulls – Despite limited head coaching experience, Red Bulls’ clear system and pathway provide context for the appointment.

• Wilfried Nancy Sacked at Celtic

  • Nancy, highly regarded, fired after only eight games (six losses). His risky mid-season move from a stable job in Columbus to Celtic sparks passionate disagreement between Landon and Tim:
    • Landon: “Coaching hires are about timing for the coach and timing is everything.” (12:08)
    • Tim: “US-based coaches... can’t pick and choose. If Celtic comes knocking... you’ve got three minutes or we're moving on.” (14:10)
    • Both weigh the pros and cons of ambitious jumps versus measured career steps, with cautionary tales from personal experience.

2. MLS Player Moves & Injury Fallout

• Riqui Puig’s ACL Injury (LA Galaxy)

  • Major blow, forces Galaxy to rethink team structure, possibly moving on emotionally and tactically.
    • Landon: “Everything was built around him... It feels like they're almost starting over.” (19:09)
    • Tim: “They have to mentally move on from Riqui... build a really good competitive team.” (19:36)

• Inter Miami’s Blockbuster Offseason

  • Additions: GK Dayne St. Clair, Sergio Reguilón, Facundo Mora, Rodrigo De Paul (full transfer), Luis Suárez re-signed.
    • Tim: “The rich get richer. Dane St. Clair is a good signing. Sergio Reguilón... jury’s out for me a little bit.” (21:26)
    • Landon: “Messi factor, Tim. If he's doing it, everyone's going to do it.” (22:03)

• Other Moves:

  • Jacob Shaffelburg (LAFC), Walker Zimmerman (Toronto FC), changes at Philadelphia Union & under-the-radar move Luca De La Torre (San Diego FC ➔ Charlotte FC) as he fights for a World Cup spot.

3. Soccer Surges in U.S. Popularity

• Soccer Surpasses Baseball
  • Recent APMR analytics: soccer now the third-most popular self-declared favorite sport in the U.S., overtaking baseball.
    • Landon: “Soccer's now the big four, so you can stop referring to hockey as the big four... now you can say the big three include soccer.” (25:45)
    • The hosts reflect on how seismic this shift is compared to their playing days, where soccer was an afterthought.

4. USMNT Roundup – Players & New Faces

Key Performances (Weekend Highlights)

• Brenden Aaronson scores for Leeds vs Manchester United.
• Weston McKennie scores for Juventus, two goals and two assists in last six games, ever-present under new coach.

Notable Debate: Is Weston McKennie the Best USMNT Midfielder Ever? (31:04)

• Doug McIntyre’s Tweet: “With all due respect to Michael Bradley, Tab Ramos, Claudio Reyna etc., Weston McKinney is the best midfielder in US Men's National Team history.”
• Tim: “False. Weston’s in the conversation, no question. But Doug is saying this as if it’s a landslide... not even close.” (31:51)
• Landon: “[McKennie is] arguably second or maybe most talented... But what those guys did for the national team, there’s... maybe he’ll be there in five years, but not now. No way.” (33:43)
• Discussion on recency bias versus recognizing past greats (Bradley, Reyna, Tab Ramos).

Breakout & Bubble Players

• Who Could Rise by the World Cup?
  • Tim’s Pick: Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), nailed starter in the Premier League, emerging USMNT leader.
    • Tim: “He became a leader, a vocal, physical, outspoken leader. That’s huge for me.” (36:01)
  • Dark Horses: Matt Freese (GK, NYCFC), Alex Freeman, Max Arsten (left back options), as potential breakout stars.
  • Consensus: Deep, young talent emerging on the wings and at goalkeeper, some uncertainty at center back.

Biggest USMNT Question Mark for 2026

• Consensus concern: Third center back slot, depth and consistency at the heart of defense for knockout rounds.
  • Tim: “That third center back for me is still a bit of a coin toss... Not an easy one.” (39:15)
  • Landon: “We need to find someone who is like, that is the guy. And I think that’s the biggest question.” (40:47)

5. Premier League: “Manager Madness”

Manchester United Sack Reuben Amorim

• Contextualizing Amorim’s Record:

  • Worst win and clean sheet ratios in United’s Premier League era.
  • Only Nuno Espírito Santo (Spurs) lost more games in a similar timeframe.
  • Key Stat: “He lost 19 games in 14 months. Sir Alex lost 19 his whole career.” (42:45)

• Should Amorim Have Been Sacked?

  • Tim: “He shouldn’t be sacked. Those stats need context... He and the board agreed: play a certain way, figure out who belongs... but egos got in the way. He didn’t have enough currency to ask for more power.” (43:11, 45:36)
  • Discussion on shift from powerful “managers” to “head coaches” with limited autonomy. Clubs now seek pliable coaches, not personnel czars.
    • Landon: “Clubs are saying, we're not doing that anymore. We're going to hire the guy who will play ball... Assistant coach vs. head coach are two completely different roles.” (49:58)

• What’s next for Man United?

  • Open conversation about who takes over: interim vs. big names possibly after the summer (Tuchel, Ancelotti, Pochettino).
  • Will United cede power to a big name or keep “board-first” philosophy?
    • Tim: “You want someone to fall in line? You ain’t getting one of the best coaches in the world. Because they're going to want power.” (52:22)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Landon, on recency bias
  “There’s like recency bias... very few people have the ability to like come to the middle and figure it all out.” (33:00)

• Tim, on the shift in coaching power
  “In football, the director of football and the board is now more powerful than the manager... Managers used to—everything began and stopped with the manager. Now they name head coaches so that all of the decisions can be made above his head.” (45:30)

• Landon, on USMNT center back worries
  “If nobody really emerges, it’s kind of like when you have two quarterbacks in the NFL, you don’t really have one.” (40:47)

• Tim, on emotional fallout of failure
  “What made me successful or the greats great is the ability to battle those demons on a daily basis. Because it's a dark place... when you failed in front of 80,000 people... it’s not a fun place.” (62:01)

Fan Questions & “Fan Connection” Segment (59:32)

• Dealing with Regret & Mental Resilience

  • Athletes constantly replay pivotal moments—both Landon and Tim reflect on battling the mental side of disappointment.

• Perceived Bias Against Certain EPL Clubs

  • Listeners ask about the hosts’ supposed dislike of Arsenal; both clarify, revealing the unique scrutiny from fanbases and impact of social media.

• Landon Nearly Playing for Real Salt Lake

  • Reveals league/administrative hurdles, possibly due to salary cap or registration rules, scuttled the move after he had agreed to join.

• College Soccer & Roster Building (UW Example)

  • Both support varying models—local kid cohesion vs. recruiting internationals—but note the “cheat code” is extended, year-round team experience in lower leagues (like USL2).

• New “Chaotic” Rule Proposal

  • Home coach decides after a draw: penalties for 2 points, loser gets none, or both settle for a point with a draw. Both hosts love the chaos and fan engagement.

Other Notable Segments

• Premier League Stoppage Time Picks

  • Arsenal vs Liverpool preview: Landon predicts a cautious, low-scoring match with Arsenal win.

• Rapid-fire banter on MLS, USMNT roster headaches, and the fast-evolving soccer landscape in the U.S.

Notable Timestamps

• Managerial carousel & MLS coach hiring philosophy: 02:19–09:47
• Wilfried Nancy debate – risk and reward in career moves: 12:08–18:19
• Riqui Puig injury fallout: 19:24
• Inter Miami revamp: 21:24
• USMNT “Best Midfielder” debate: 31:04–34:13
• Breakout USMNT stars discussion: 35:26–38:48
• Man United sacking, the changing role of the coach: 42:47–53:56
• Fan questions—dealing with regret, bias, college soccer roster-building, new rules: 59:32–73:20

Summary

This episode is a must-listen for any U.S. soccer fan hungry for both high-level analysis and honest, behind-the-scenes takes. Landon and Tim are unafraid to question American coaching pathways, call out MLS front office habits, and deconstruct the volatile environment facing modern EPL managers. Their USMNT discourse is nuanced, bridging the excitement for young talent with reverence for “old guard” legends. Above all, the show brims with witty banter, fan engagement, and the veteran perspective of two icons unafraid to tell uncomfortable truths.

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