Show notes for the January 12, 2021 episode of the Capital City Soccer Show, your independent source for news, analysis and interviews about Austin FC, hosted by Landon Cotham and Jeremiah Bentley. This week’s episode features an interview with Alexi Lalas, American soccer provocateur and host of the January 15, 2019 Austin FC franchise announcement.

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Latest "Must-Win" Loss, Austin FC II Playoffs, How Long Will Wolff Get, and more – Moontower Soccer: An Austin FC Podcast

This week,  Landon and Mike recap the latest "must-win" loss in Colorado, Austin FC II's playoff run, and discuss an Athletic article about the diluted MLS playoff format. Other topics and questions include:- Austin FC win the only trophy that matters- 1-0 loss in Denver- Fodrey has an encouraging shift – Inconceivable for Wolff to keep his job?- Are the MLS playoffs too diluted?- DC United and LAFC previews- Austin FC II's first playoff win- "Scared money don't make money"- What the rest of the playoffs look like- Free ticket giveaway- moreRemember to rate, review, and subscribe to the show at moontowersoccer.com or via your favorite podcasting app.This episode is brought to you by FVF Law with additional support by McGuireWoods ConsultingSupport the show

Let it Snow

We kicked off the show by discussing a snow day in Austin. Fans from around the city posted their snow pics, and the club also got in on the action. Some of our recent additions from the New York area seemed less excited about the weather.

Matt Besler Rides into Town

On Wednesday, the club announced the signing of veteran CB Matt Besler. Besler, who will be 34 this season, had a long and successful career in Kansas City before signing. In addition to anchoring the backline, Besler also provided a mean Matthew McConaughey impression in his intro video.

Adrian Healey Video and Other Roster Talk

Adrian Healey provided a video overview of the roster to date. The video was notable for who did (and didn’t) receive a callout when discussing roster regulars. We believe that as many as 17 of the club’s 20 senior roster spots are now taken, with two DP spots to fill, along with five remaining international slots. We discussed the crowded roster, along with how future additions (including the four players we expect to add through the SuperDraft on January 21) will fit in.

When Will The Season Start?

Nobody really seems to know when the 2021 season will start. Speculation on a recent Allocation Disorder is that the early March timeframe thrown around by the league seems unlikely. Clubs generally seem in the dark about the specifics and the possibility that the COVID vaccine rollout will be later than expected is another factor contributing to the uncertainty.

Alexi Lalas Interview

Two years ago, Alexi Lalas hosted the Austin FC franchise announcement in front of a large, rowdy group of supporters, elected officials and others. Alexi visited the show for a length interview that touched on a variety of topics including his memories of that day, the progress Austin has made over the last two years both on and off the field, the ongoing bitterness toward Austin from some Columbus fans, the changing perception of American players in Europe and his varied musical tastes.

On the Next Episodes

We will be back next week with more player and club news. We will also interview Travis Clark as a preview for the MLS SuperDraft to be held on January 21.

In the meantime, check out the offseason timeline and an overview of Matt Besler (including the video we talked about on the show) at CapitalCitySoccer.Com.

This episode was brought to you by FVF Law