Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard

Episode: Pulisic’s On Form, Philly Chase the Shield, and Chelsea’s Keeper Sees Red

Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This week, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard break down standout USMNT performances in Europe—including Christian Pulisic’s red-hot form—before surveying MLS’s intense Supporters’ Shield race and peeling back the curtain on some dramatic Premier League moments, most notably Chelsea’s keeper Robert Sánchez’s costly red card. They sprinkle in insider player anecdotes, a deep-dive into the EA Sports FC 26 ratings (with plenty of banter), and take fan questions ranging from offside rule reforms to the unsung heroes of soccer. The hosts keep their analysis conversational, candid, and often hilarious, making this a must-listen for American soccer fans as anticipation for 2026 World Cup builds.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. USMNT Latest & FIFA Rankings

• US drops to 16th in FIFA rankings:
  • Tim: “These things are so weird, man.” [02:44]
  • Landon: “I mean, in short, don’t care about the FIFA rankings…” [03:57]
  • Landon critiques the artificiality of rankings, suggesting the U.S.’s spot flatters them, and questions Panama’s ranking (29) as well.
  • Players benefit financially from better rankings thanks to CBA clauses (Landon: “If you win that game, you then get more money.” [04:20])

2. US Nationals’ Strong Runs in Europe

• Christian Pulisic’s Electrifying Week:
  • Tim: “That’s the Christian everyone loves to see.” [05:06]
  • Set a new USMNT record (59 goals in Europe’s top five leagues), surpassing Dempsey and Wagerly.
  • Landon: “He told us in the summer, when he plays, he scores. So not surprising. He’s obviously the top player and best player the U.S. has.” [05:31]
• Other USMNT Highlights:
  • Malik Tillman impressing at Leverkusen, showing resilience amid changing management. Landon emphasizes the challenges players face with managerial changes in Europe. [06:19–07:24]
  • Ricardo Pepi rebounds from Champions League gaffe with two PSV goals, while Aong debuts promisingly for Derby, and Haji Wright ties for most goals in the Championship alongside Josh Sargent. [10:16]
  • The U.S. is developing a “decent firepower” among strikers as the October national camp nears. [11:14]

3. USMNT Player Updates and Concerns

• Jedi Robinson (Anthony Robinson/Fulham):
  • Missed a game, raising fitness concerns. Recent comments from manager Marco Silva confirm there’s no injury relapse, just a cautious return to fitness. Both hosts agree Fulham relies heavily on Jedi’s athleticism. [09:36–10:16]

4. Player Banter & Trivia: EA Sports FC 26 Ratings

• Extended, humorous trivia segment testing Tim and Landon’s knowledge of the new EA Sports FC 26 player ratings:
  • Top-rated American: Christian Pulisic (84) [14:22]
  • Suprises: No Tyler Adams/Chris Richards among top four, but Malik Tillman, Jedi, Johnny Cardoso, and Tim Weah are. [15:03, 15:14, 15:29, 15:42]
  • Matt Turner is top-rated goalkeeper [15:57], Cameron Carter-Vickers highest center back (contrary to their expectations). [16:18]
  • Highest overall American: Sophia Smith (88, women’s team) beats Pulisic. [17:14]
  • Messi is MLS’s highest-rated (86), but Tim: “He’s like 107.” [17:25]
    Memorable banter:
    • Landon, upon learning Tyler Adams isn’t top four: “Do me a favor. Come on.” [15:25]
    • Re: rating creators: “It’s the same people who do the FIFA rankings.” [17:39]

5. MLS Focus: Supporters’ Shield Race & Week’s Stories

• Philly’s Big Win, But Recent 7-0 Battering Questioned:
  • Landon: “I have, Tim, I’ve been a part of a lot of really good teams... A really good team never ever, ever loses 7-0.” [23:39]
  • Both describe the mindset in lopsided matches: “Like, three-nil is fine… let’s make sure it’s three-nil.” [23:57]
• MVP Race: Dreyer vs. Messi:
  • Dreyer has 15 goals/16 assists; Messi, 22/10. Landon argues Dreyer must be MVP if Philly wins the Shield, despite Messi’s stature. [25:20–25:57]
• Vancouver’s Late Surge: Two or three games in hand could see them clinch the Shield – Landon now tipping them. [26:26–26:54]

6. Unfiltered Refresh: Matty Freese's Extension

• NYCFC keeper signs through 2030; both see it as smart business and validation for US goalkeepers (could be USMNT #1 in ‘26). [27:26–28:40]

7. Premier League Highlights–Key Matches

• Arsenal 1:1 City—Pep’s Tactical Oddities
  • Landon marvels at Guardiola’s unpredictability: “He has just like a laboratory. He’s the mad scientist.” [30:45]
  • Tim ponders if Pep’s tactics are necessary adjustments or “just being bored.” [31:34]
• Goalkeeping Decisions—Donnarumma & Sánchez
  • In-depth analysis of Donnarumma’s role in Martinelli’s goal, and how keepers must let defenders defend unless absolutely necessary. [33:31–35:26]
  • Robert Sánchez’s red card: Tim breaks down why keepers shouldn’t always come out and parallels with Donnarumma’s error. [41:56–45:01]
• Liverpool’s Habit of Winning Late
  • Tim credits fitness, mindset, and habitual belief: “If you score enough times at the end, you then believe you can.” [36:53–38:26]
  • Both discuss how late-winning cultures create “team psychology” that feeds itself.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On FIFA Rankings:

• Landon: “Don’t care about the FIFA rankings… could probably rattle off 15 European teams... better than Panama…” [03:57]

On Pulisic:

• Tim: “That’s the Christian everyone loves to see.” [05:06]
• Landon: “He’ll continue to smash that record.” [05:31]

On team mindset in lopsided losses:

• Landon: “This stays three-nil. It doesn’t go to four, doesn’t go to five. There’s absolutely zero conversation about how do we get back into this game… The game’s dead at that point.” [24:16]

On Matty Freese’s extension (NYCFC):

• Tim: “Neither of us expected this to happen. For him to be the national team goalkeeper right now, it’s his spot to lose.” [28:40]

On Guardiola’s tactics:

• Landon: “He’s such a counterpuncher. Just when you think, ‘I got this guy sorted out,’... he goes, ‘nah, we’re gonna sit behind the ball.’” [31:34]

On letting defenders defend:

• Tim: “At the highest level, windows open and close really quickly... If you even think you might react in a certain way and don't do it, you get punished.” [33:49]

On team belief:

• Tim: “Liverpool just believes they can win at the end. Like it’s become a trait of theirs.” [38:26]

On offside rules:

• Landon: “I like where the current rules are... I’m not really sure what the massive issue is.” [57:47]
• Tim: “Soccer has become for the most part so boring... Just get rid of the rule!” [57:49]

On unsung heroes in soccer teams:

• Tim: “There are a lot of players that fans get really frustrated with... Those players are so valuable in a soccer team... When they were on the field, we won exponentially more than... so fans sometimes like, he doesn’t do this, he doesn’t... guess what, you win, so shut up.” [64:34–66:40]

Notable Anecdotes

• Player-Coach/Owner Rivalries:
  Tim recounts a heated exchange when playing at Memphis 901 FC at age 40, taunted by Birmingham’s players:

  • “Bro, I’m 40. I can barely move… you guys are good, but you’re not Brazil.” [53:34, 54:10]
  • “Here’s the thing. I would never sign you. You’re a loser.” [54:10]

• Training with Moyes at Everton—No Offsides:
  Landon fondly describes “old vs. young” games with no offsides:

  • “We’d have guys standing like in the corner flag and it was just... chaos.” [59:05–59:27]

Fan Q&A Highlights

• USL Cup Final Picks:
  Landon: Sacramento Republic at home. Tim: Hartford’s good, but LA’s travel edge is key. [51:46–53:03]

• Life as Player, then Owner (Memphis):
  Tim: “My body was like... what are you asking me to do?... I’m so fiery and competitive, I lost it so many times.” [53:33–54:10]

• Pro’s appreciation:
  Landon and Tim both cite courage—and guys who always want the ball, even after mistakes—as subtle qualities only experienced pros fully appreciate. [63:31–66:40]

  • Tim: “You learn more about it when you coach and when you retire... Guys who always wanted the ball, no matter the situation, were really valuable.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:57] — Landon and Tim on FIFA rankings' true meaning
• [05:06] — Pulisic’s record-setting week and broader impact
• [10:16] — USMNT striker updates & attacking depth
• [13:55] — EA Sports FC 26 trivia segment
• [23:39] — Philly’s 7-0 loss: discussion of locker room mindset
• [25:20] — MVP race: Dreyer vs. Messi
• [27:26] — Matty Freese’s extension & discussion on keeper value
• [30:45] — Premier League: Arsenal v City & tactical chess
• [41:56] — Sanchez’s red card: goalkeeping analysis
• [56:53] — Offside rule debate and VAR’s future
• [63:31] — The “player’s player”—what pros value most

Tone and Style

• Highly conversational and unfiltered, with plenty of good-natured teasing.
• Candid personal storytelling—especially about locker-room realities and life after retirement.
• Analytical yet accessible—always breaking down complex moments for fans without overusing jargon.

Final Note

This episode combines tactical analysis, humor, and deep player insight, reflecting both Tim and Landon’s unique vantage points on American and global soccer. Whether discussing European form, MLS races, video game ratings, or the finer points of courage and character on the field, their honesty and chemistry make the pod a fun, insightful ride for soccer diehards and casuals alike.