Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

Episode: Gabe Hoffman-Johnson from Hearts of Pine, USMNT vs Ecuador Review, & A Lesson In Soccer Chants
Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This week, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard deliver their signature blend of incisive soccer analysis and banter. The episode focuses on three major topics: a deep dive into the recent USMNT vs Ecuador friendly, an inside look into the community-driven rise of Portland Hearts of Pine with founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, and a candid discussion on the state of soccer chants in the US compared to Europe. Expect honest assessments, entertaining anecdotes, tactical insight, and thoughtful commentary on the evolving state of American soccer culture.

USMNT vs Ecuador Review

Segment starts at [02:01]

First-Hand Match Analysis

• Landon was in the stadium in Austin and described the city and the venue as “gorgeous” and the overall atmosphere as electric.
• Initial Impressions: Both hosts agree the US started the match well, but Ecuador’s Enner Valencia (whom both are surprised is “still playing”) scored first, “against the run of play.”
• Second half domination:
  • Landon: "Second half, I thought we were really good. Like, really, really good. It was the first time, Tim, since Pochettino’s been there where we were playing a real team… we should have won the game." [03:11]
  • Praises for Chris Richards (besides the goal), Tanner Tessmann, and Florian Balogun. Landon: “Flo Balogun in the flesh, Tim. He is a very good player. Very good player.” [03:38]

Striker Focus: Folarin Balogun

• Tim Howard’s breakdown: Balogun the undebatable striker option.
  • "He’s our number one go-to striker for sure." [03:57]
  • Detailed analysis of his movement, ability to hold play, and threat to defenders.
  • "That’s a striker there who, who can control the center back with his body. He can face you up. You talked about making him making defenders scared." [05:06]

Defensive Questions & Tactical Concerns

• Tim raises concerns about the back three, especially transitions against quality opposition, referencing a moment when:
  • “Robinson, Richards, and Ream were all one versus one… If that’s Tottenham or that’s Liverpool… at that moment I went, oh boy, this is a problem.” [06:48]

Positives and Injury Woes

• Landon: “Overall good performance” but underscores ongoing injury and availability challenges for the US—listing absences of Tyler Adams, “Jedi” Robinson, Christian Pulisic, and others.
  • “For whatever reason, we are just never healthy. And so we just have to deal with that. That’s just what it is. We’re going to have these mixed lineups.” [09:42]

Player & Roster Management

• Tim: Highlights dilemma of never having the “best 11” healthy at the same time before major tournaments, but expects top players “will 1 trillion percent be fit for the World Cup” [11:14].
• Landon: On performance-based selection under Pochettino, stating absent players will now "fall behind a little bit" if others continue to take their chances [13:24].

Notable Quotes

• Tim Howard ([03:57]): “Flo Balogun, for me is like, he's our, he's our number one go to striker for sure.”
• Landon Donovan ([09:42]): “We are never going to arrive into camp with everyone healthy. I just… I hate it. I don’t. People like to say it’s unlucky. It’s not unlucky… that’s just what it is.”

Portland Hearts of Pine: Building a Club & Community

Interview with founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson begins at [32:22]

How Hearts of Pine Was Born

• Gabe’s backstory: Son of a soccer coach and an international peacebuilder, played through college (Dartmouth), brief pro career in USL ended by injury, followed by financial work before returning to launch a club in his home state.
• “I was a good youth soccer player… but I had no idea how to do [launch a USL club] right.” [36:08]
• Describes the process: "You have conversations with the league… working with the city on potential stadium solutions… and raising capital as well." [36:17]

Philosophy: From Community to Club (Not the Reverse)

• Unique approach: Rather than launching a club and hoping for supporters, “We started with the community. It was almost inside out... I don’t really even think about us as a soccer club. To me, we’re a lifestyle brand of Maine and we happen to be a pro soccer team.” [40:23]

• Stunning fandom: 96% of season tickets sold before the first game—an unprecedented figure in League One.

  • Tim: “One of the hardest things… is putting butts in seats in America... from where I sit, it’s like, yeah, there’s teams that do it right. Well, if you go talk to those teams and then try and implement it in your town, it doesn’t always work out. And the proof’s in the pudding that we’re not seeing enough butts in seats.” [39:03]

Embracing “More Than Soccer”

• Branding & Storytelling:
  • Gabe: "You don’t have to like soccer to enjoy Hearts of Pine." [43:07]
  • Explains “pro soccer match meets a street festival meets a farmer’s market... this community living room” on game days [44:06].

Club Name & Identity Origin

• "Hearts of Pine" name: Rooted in a quirky local tradition where anonymous “bandits” post hearts around town every February 13th—a metaphor for community love and togetherness—combined with the state's nickname, "The Pine Tree State."
  • “For years I didn’t have a good name... It wasn’t until... we felt this remarkable continuity... as the son of a coach, I have a 2002 Hearts jersey... combining all those pieces and Hearts of Pine.” [48:42]

On-Field Ambitions

• Success for Year 1: “Let’s make the playoffs… assemble the right group of boys and be competitive.” [50:12]
• The club’s ideal: “For the community to see themselves in the way that you play on the field. There’s a level of work, there’s bring your lunch pail mentality… there’s no ego, there’s no pretense.” [50:12]
• Tim: “You should be an Everton fan!” (riffing on the ethos of grit over glamour) [52:42]

Views on Promotion/Relegation

• Enthusiastically open to it long-term, but notes “sustainability” is key. “At the end of the day, my general perspective is it shouldn’t matter what league you’re playing in.” [56:16]

Women’s Soccer Plans

• “Definitely something we’d like to do... It has long been the plan of what this club should be in Portland.” [57:45]

Pandemic-Era Club Community

• On hearts, community, and connection: “In the digital age… people are starving for that in their lives. It’s this human experience.” [44:06]

Notable Quotes

• Gabe Hoffman-Johnson ([40:23]): “We started with the community. It was almost inside out… I don’t really even think about us as a soccer club… we’re a community organization and we happen to be a pro soccer team.”
• Landon Donovan ([48:42]): “That’s such a beautiful story. And I didn’t know that, actually, about the hearts.”

A Lesson in Soccer Chants: US vs England

Q&A segment starts at [72:13]

The “I Believe” Problem & American Chant Culture

• Fan question references the Kelsey brothers’ comments and general “cringiness” of MLS and USMNT chants.
• Landon is blunt:
  • “The majority of the chance US fans in MLS… they’re just boring or they’re old and used or they’re so uncreative… If you scroll through your social media Instagram and like you come across something that’s like fun or famous chants in the UK, they’re so creative and brilliant, whether you like it or not. At least people sat down, thought about it for a long time and made a really good chant.” [73:20]
• Junior Hoilett: "This is one of those places where we have to bow to the English superiority… American fans do a lot of clapping. English fans, it’s, like, a whole song about the goalkeeper's arrest record to the tune of Frankie and Johnny…” [74:33]
• Tim’s United experience: “They would constantly… sing, ‘swear in a minute, he’s gonna swear in a minute’… and then I would obviously lip a curse word to them because that’s what they wanted and they’d go bananas.” [77:35]
• Landon: “Be more creative. US, be more creative. Come on, just go sit in a bar, have some drinks… figure stuff out.” [78:17]

Other Highlights

US Youth National Team – U20 World Cup Review

Starts at [20:36]

• Landon’s candid assessment: “We lose the game 3:1 [to Morocco]. And it was like… a tactical master class from Morocco and just naivety on our side… Just the level of superiority in that way, they just sat in, absorbed pressure, got a few counters, and made us pay.” [21:02]
• Frustration with lack of youth development progress and inability to take a “next step” by breaking through the quarterfinal barrier.

MLS Update

Starts at [23:48]

• Messi’s dominance with two goals and an assist for Miami, but hosts wish for other MVP candidates to get recognition.
• “It’s just stupid. Like, the stuff he does…” – Landon [23:59]
• Retirement of Jordi Alba and Busquets, and speculation on Inter Miami’s next moves.
• Vancouver leading the West, playoff race analysis.

Unfiltered Refresh: Honoring Darlington Nagby

Starts at [25:51]

• Recognition for Darlington Nagby’s retirement, four MLS Cups with three teams, and his overlooked legend status.
• Tim: “He was a really great teammate as well. Good family man. So excited for what is to come… here we’re willing to give you your flowers.” [27:13]

Audience Q&A – Noteworthy Answers

Fan Connection presented by AT&T starts at [63:05]

• Local Clubs vs. Big MLS: Landon addresses Loyal's closure after San Diego FC’s arrival: “It was frustrating. It’s like… if you own a mom-and-pop coffee shop that’s really successful, but Starbucks moves in across the street… obviously, you guys know how I feel about MLS. Love it. It’s done so much for me… but I miss Loyal.” [64:40]
• Goalie selection for USMNT: Tim on why national teams usually prefer experienced, older keepers, “You always select older goalkeepers who are slightly in their prime unless they’re just a completely generational talent.” [67:50]
• Goalkeeper Coach Influence: Tim: “People will be surprised at this. I know top, top level coaches… that literally ld will go, ‘I don't want to know. I don't know anything about goalkeeping… Tell me who to play.’” [70:45]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Landon on the effect of Pochettino:
  “Pochettino now has complete control of this group. And I’m going to tell you why… Christian [Pulisic]… Should not have been playing in the game. And a month ago, Tim, he would have said, I can’t play in the game. I'm sorry. Now he’s like, damn right I’m playing in the game. Right?” [18:32]

• Tim’s enduring fan culture story:
  “First half… the stands to the right would all be the away supporters. They would… start singing, ‘swear in a minute, he’s gonna swear in a minute…’ and I would obviously lip a curse word to them because that’s what they wanted and they’d go bananas. It was so funny…” [77:35]

Episode Structure & Key Timestamps

• [02:01] USMNT vs Ecuador play-by-play and analysis
• [32:22] Hearts of Pine interview with Gabe Hoffman-Johnson
• [63:05] AT&T Fan Connection Q&A
• [72:13] Soccer chants segment

Tone & Style

The episode is candid, conversational, and infused with self-deprecating humor and deep domestic and international soccer insight. Landon and Tim make a point to both critique and celebrate facets of American soccer’s growth—from match tactics to supporter culture—while also spotlighting success stories outside the top professional tier.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In

You’ll come away with:

• A nuanced understanding of the USMNT’s strengths, weaknesses, and tactical direction heading towards 2026.
• An inspiring look at how soccer clubs can transform communities, as exemplified by Hearts of Pine’s meteoric rise.
• Honest, sometimes funny, sometimes pointed, takes on the state of American soccer chants and culture.
• Indispensable anecdotes, both historic and contemporary, from two of the country’s most respected soccer figures.

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