Union Pitchside Podcast

Switching out football for futbol, Allie and Shaun figure out how the kids’ classic Little Giants and what all would need to change if this were a film about soccer. Along the way they discuss whether the movie holds up, if it’s a good movie and who would play key roles if the movie were re-cast in 1994…or today.Want to hear Allie and Shaun switch out your favorite sports movie? Send your suggestions to @philaunion on twitter using #CinemaSubsPod

Join Allie and Shaun as they discuss class (or not so classic) sports movies and talk about how they would be different, and probably better, if they were about soccer. In their first episode they reminisce about Space Jam and come up with some wild ideas on how it could have been done with the beautiful game and who, in 1996, would have filled the Michael Jordan role. Then they cast a reboot to the franchise in current day, using Union players and a couple other celebrities.

The Union Design Team (Shaun Kreider, Bjorn Rulloda, and Randy Cunningham) rank each Union kit in Union history. From the 2010 OG gold bar down the middle to the 2020 "Forever Faithful" jersey, there will be lots of hot takes on this episode. Find out to see which one wins the greatest Union kit of all time. Let us know do you agree with the Union design team? What are your favorite Union kits and in what order?

Former Union TV Analyst Kyle Martino joins JP Dellacamera along with Adam Cann. Kyle discusses the first time he broadcasted with JP, why they call Kyle "the Sponge," how they prepare when when the season resumes,  and much more. 

JP Dellacamera drops by the pod and talks with Adam Cann about MLS in 1996 and American soccer's progress. Share, rate, and subscribe to the podcast! #DOOP

In his first interview in Philadelphia, new signing Andrew Wooten sits down with Adam to discuss everything from changing numbers four times in his previous club to where in Philadelphia can he find a good steak. One of the hottest strikers of the back half of the 2018-19 season in Germany was a 6’1” German-American plying his trade with Sandhausen in 2. Bundesliga. Thirteen goals in 18 games to finish the season cemented the American international — Jurgen Klinsmann called him up in 2015 and he made one appearance against Costa Rica — as someone who could make a big difference on a club when his deal with Sandhausen ran out in the summer. Sandhausen admitted they wanted 17-goal scorer Andrew Wooten to stay, but the striker was ready for a move to America.

On this week's episode, Union Digital's Tom Via sits down with the Union's newest forward Michee Ngalina! Ngalina talks about adjusting to like in America, what got him playing the beautiful game, and his signature goal celebration - the back flip Adam Cann also breaks down the Union's latest roster moves and U20 World Cup Call-Ups. Remember to rate, review, subscribe, and share the podcast. This helps get the pod into the ears of others! (If we see you sharing the pod on your favorite social network, we may even have a prize for you

American-born Jamaican Olympic Skeleton Racer (and Union Fan) Anthony Watson stops by the Union Annex to meet with the team after training. Watson has been a Union fan since the very beginning, and he was lucky enough to see his first home game in person on April 6th vs. FC Dallas. Watson sits down with Adam to discuss his Union fandom, teamwork, his personal triumphs in the skeleton world, and how to do the proper skeleton goal celebration for Ale and Marco. Remember to rate, review, subscribe, and share the episode

Coming off of his MLS debut, host Adam Cann brings you an interview he first had when the homegrown goalkeeper Matt Freese signed his first professional contract. Freese discusses why he became a goalie, how adversity made him a better athlete, as well as his dog's middle name. Also, Adam discusses how the Union have been in such good form lately, and as well as up-and-coming players that are currently on the Steel's roster. Remember to rate, review, subscribe and share the podcast to anyone and everyone.

On this episode of the Union Pitchside Podcast, we sit down with Union Midfielder Haris Medunjanin and discusses the Union's defensive structure, his role within the team, and how the team transitions into the attack. Medunjanin also discusses how Brenden Aaronson is playing well beyond his years and is already a very mature player (and Haris puts Brenden on a new "diet" routine as well). We also look ahead to this weekend's opponent FC Dallas, as they come to Talen Energy Stadium, this Saturday, April 6th at 7:30 PM Be sure to share this and every episode, with friends, family, frenemies, opposing teams, opposing fans and everyone in between. We thank you, our listeners, but please be sure to still rate, review and subscirbe to the podcast.

What a game for 18 year old Union homegrown, Brenden Aaronson! Getting his first start and first goal against defending MLS Champions Atlanta United. Adam Cann revisits an interview he had with Brenden right after he signed his professional first team contract.

Union Academy Director, Tommy Wilson, sits down with Adam to discuss what to look forward to in the second half of the Union Academy's Season. He discussed the U13 Union Academy being represented in a prestigious CONCACAF tournament, being names "Academy of the Year" by MLS, and what it means for academy players to be given an opportunity to play on the first team. Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the Union Pitchside Podcast for all your Philadelphia Union content!

Philadelphia Union announced today that the club has agreed to a deal with German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt for the transfer of two-time FIFA World Cup and Mexico National Team midfielder Marco Fabián (pronounced: Fah-bee-AHN). Fabián will be added to the Union’s active roster following receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 Visa and will occupy an international roster slot as a Designated Player.

There's never really an off-season during the MLS off-season. We sit down with Director of Communications, Ryan Schwepfinger, about all of the latest roster moves heading into the 2019 MLS Season. We comment on Ernst Tanner's end of the year press conference and what he sees for next year. Finally, we provide you an update on all the roster moves on Bethlehem Steel FC. If you have any questions or topics you'd like to hear about, tweet at us at @philaunion or email us at pitchsidepodcast@philadelphiaunion.com.

Philadelphia Union are back in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second time in three seasons. This year's opponent? NYCFC. On a special Playoff Pitchside Pod, we bring in MLSSoccer.com's Bobby Warshaw to discuss what the Union will need to do to get a win and how players prepare for and think about one-and-done playoff games. We also take a look at how Philly got to the playoffs and make a deep, deep dive into what they need to do to avenge last Sunday's loss to NYCFC. It's playoff time, Philly! And the boo-tiful game is here to make your Halloween a special one. Remember to send questions and comments to pitchsidepodcast@philadelphiaunion.com or tweet @adamtcann to connect with us.

It's a special Bethlehem Steel Playoff Edition of the Pitchside Pod! Steel are taking young Union players and Union academy talents like Brenden Aaronson, Anthony Fontana, Matt Real, Olivier Mbaizo, and Ben Ofeimu to Pittsburgh for their first-round matchup with Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The Hounds knocked off Steel twice in the regular season, but now Brendan Burke's men have more experience and hung with heavily experienced clubs down the stretch run of the USL season. Pitchside Pod host Adam Cann gives a quick intro to the Steel playoff situation, then we bring you interviews with Bethlehem Head Coach Brendan Burke and captain James Chambers. Both guys go deep about why Steel is important to them and how they view and participate in the Union's youth development process. Chambers also talks about his path to Steel, his work with the Union's pre-academy, and dealing with personal issues while being a public figure and an athlete. Check it out, then tune in at 7PM on Saturday, October 20 on ESPN+ for Steel vs

Take a listen to "Behind the Shield" a live Q&A with Sporting Director Ernst Tanner, Chief Business Officer Tim McDermott, and Head Coach Jim Curtin

On this edition of the Pitchside Pod, Jim Curtin talks us through all the people that work to get the Union ready for game day each week. Often, Curtin is the face of this side of the club, but after the win over Minnesota, he thanked a lot of others that helped him and the players deliver a playoff spot. We dig in to find out who those people are and what they do behind the scenes. Also, Adam gives some insight into Ilsinho's goal celebration against the Loons and we talk through what it was like to fly back with the team after the heartbreaking Open Cup final loss. Last, we talk about the Union U15 and U17 sides that competing in the GA Cup last weekend. Make sure to subscribe and send questions/comments to pitchsidepodcast@philadelphiaunion.com or to @adamtcann on Twitter!

Ahead of Philadelphia Union's monster showdown against Houston Dynamo in the 2018 US Open Cup final, we break down each team individually and look at what the Union must do to Bring It Home! A detailed breakdown of Houston is first, including a look at their season, their Open Cup run, their tactics, and lineup questions. Then we do the same for Philly. Make sure you check this one out so you're updated and ready for this huge matchup!

On this episode of the Union Pitchside Podcast, we take a deep dive into innovative ideas in soccer. Our big interview is with Harrison Crow of AmericanSoccerAnalysis.com. Harrison and his colleagues have been trailblazers in statistical analysis of Major League Soccer, and he tells us about how Ale Bedoya was a surprise pick for his personal All-Star team. We also get into why it's difficult to analyze defenders and more interesting Union numbers. Our opening and closing segments try to address listener questions about how the Union identify talent. Technical Director Chris Albright talks about utilizing a variety of mechanisms to put together a competitive first team, then the academy's Director of Talent Identification, Jon Scheer, tells us about the process of finding top young players to continually improve already strong Union academy program. It's all here in the latest Union Pitchside Pod!