4 The Crew Podcast

Three times behind, three times fighting back, AND one unforgettable stoppage-time winner.

The Columbus Crew's 4-3 victory over the Chicago Fire might have been their wildest match of the season, and Matt, Gabe, and Sam are back to break down every bit of the madness.

Gonzalo Tapia scored twice, Anass Zaroury added another, and Brais Méndez delivered a dramatic 93rd-minute winner that sent Columbus into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

But getting there was anything but easy.

The guys dissect Sekou Bangoura's nightmare first half, including the two penalties h...

Decision Day is almost here, and we're bringing in a special guest to help break it all down!

Matt and Gabe are joined by David Gass from Soccerwise for an in-depth preview of the Columbus Crew's regular-season finale against the Chicago Fire and a look at how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket could take shape.

With Columbus riding an incredible late-season surge, the conversation begins with the Crew's transformation. Then it's time to dissect Chicago.

How dangerous are Robert Lewandowski, Philip Zinckernagel, and Jonathan Bamba? Where are the Fire vulnerable defensively? And how...

From last place in the Eastern Conference to the MLS Cup Playoffs. What a difference two months can make.

Matt, Gabe, and Sam are back to celebrate Columbus' 3-0 victory over D.C. United and break down one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Crew history.

Sean Zawadzki and Anass Zaroury found the net, Dylan Chambost delivered two assists, and the Black & Gold extended their winning streak to five matches.

But the biggest story goes far beyond one result.

After collecting just 20 points in their first 22 matches, Columbus has earned 24 points...

Four straight wins. Another clean sheet. And the Columbus Crew are back above the playoff line as the most in-form team over the past 7 matches in all of MLS!

Matt, Gabe, and Sam break down Columbus' massive 2-0 road victory over FC Dallas, where Gonzalo Tapia and Santiago Rodríguez found the net and Patrick Schulte helped shut down one of the Western Conference's top teams.

The guys discuss the remarkable turnaround since the World Cup, the improvement of the Amundsen-Moreira-Zawadzki back line, and whether the Crew's recent defensive performances are a sign of genuine p...

From Open Cup heartbreak to four goals against Toronto, it's been another emotional week for Columbus Crew supporters.

Matt, Jay, Gabe, and Sam are back to unpack the Crew's Open Cup Final defeat to St. Louis CITY SC, including Jay's first experience of a packed stadium for a final, an electric atmosphere, and his first live penalty shootout.

Then, the guys turn their attention to Columbus' 4-2 victory over Toronto FC. Is this the response Crew fans needed, and is this team able to continue its late playoff push??

Finally, it's time to...

4 The Crew went LIVE from Retro Screamers on the eve of the U.S. Open Cup Final! Matt, Gabe, Brian, and Jay got together in Columbus for a special episode packed with soccer culture, rivalry bragging rights, and cup final anticipation.

First, the guys sit down with Josh, owner of Retro Screamers, to talk about his store, vintage soccer kits, and the culture behind collecting football shirts.

Then it's time to celebrate taking down FC Cincinnati in the Hell Is Real Derby! The crew breaks down the rivalry win, the biggest moments, and what the...

23 shots in the first half. 3 goals. 3 points. The Columbus Crew's attack came to life in a wild 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC!

Matt and Gabe break down one of the Crew's most relentless attacking performances of the season, as Columbus responded to an early setback by absolutely peppering Charlotte's goal with chances.

From Brais Mendez's clinical finish to Zaroury's breakthrough goal, the guys discuss the attacking combinations, individual performances, and mentality that helped Columbus take control of the match.

Matt and Gabe discuss the chances Columbus conceded, whether the back line can be...

The Columbus Crew’s trip to Orlando ended in a frustrating 3-2 defeat, leaving plenty of questions for the Black & Gold.

Matt and Gabe break down the Crew’s disastrous start, Taha Habroune’s equalizer, and the attacking moments that showed what this team can do. But defensive mistakes and questions surrounding Patrick Schulte’s performance ultimately overshadowed the positives.

Should Schulte have done better on Griezmann’s free kick? Are the center backs still a major concern? And how can Columbus turn flashes of attacking brilliance into consistent results?

We dig into what went...

The USMNT is riding high after a perfect four-match international window, and Matt and Gabe are back with a quick 20-minute episode!First, the guys break down the USMNT's four straight wins, the performances that stood out, and what this run could mean for the team's future.

Then, attention turns back to Columbus as they preview the upcoming matchup against Orlando City SC.

To wrap things up, it's time for Keep 4, Cut 4: Crew Legends Edition! Four stay, four gotta go!

A little USMNT talk, a Crew preview, and a fun game to end...

Matt is joined by Tyler from BIGTVNSC for a special edition of The Massive Mic as they sit down with Kevin Egan, the lead studio host for MLS on Apple TV and the host of MLS 360.Kevin takes us through his incredible journey from growing up in Dublin to becoming one of the recognizable voices in American soccer broadcasting.The conversation covers his Irish and Chicago roots, how an injury helped push him toward broadcasting, and what it was like getting his start in television before eventually working across some of the biggest sports networks in the United States. Kevin...

THREE STRAIGHT WINS.

Remember when the season felt completely lost?

Matt, Gabe, Sam, and Brian are finally getting to enjoy some good vibes as the Columbus Crew defeat Inter Miami 2-1 to make it three straight wins in all competitions.

After beating Orlando City in the US Open Cup semifinal, taking down CF Montréal in Canada, and now defeating Miami, the Crew have suddenly put together their best run of form in a long time.

And this one felt different.

The guys break down the 2-1 victory over M...

WAIT… ARE WE ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO HAVE HOPE AGAIN?

Gabe and Matt celebrate another Columbus Crew victory as the Crew defeat CF Montréal 2-0 in Canada and suddenly find themselves giving fans something they haven't had much of this season: hope.

After everything that has happened, Gabe admits his brain is already starting to convince him that the Crew could somehow make the playoffs again. But should we actually believe it?

Matt and Gabe break down the Crew's lineup, the lack of chances from both teams, and the moments that ultimately allowed Col...

THE CREW ARE GOING TO THE US OPEN CUP FINAL!

Jay, Gabe, and Matt celebrate an unforgettable night as the Columbus Crew defeat Orlando City SC 2-1 in the US Open Cup semifinal to send Columbus to the final!

For the first time since 2010, the Crew are heading back to the US Open Cup Final.

The guys relive the emotions of the night, from the early goal and the nerves that followed to Columbus finding a way to hold on and finish the job.

Matt also has to eat a little...

After another late loss, it’s getting harder and harder to see where this Columbus Crew season goes from here.

Matt, Gabe, and Sam break down the Crew’s 1-0 loss to Red Bull New York, another match where Columbus struggled to create in the final third before conceding late and leaving fans fuming.

The guys break down the biggest problems, including the Crew’s lack of a killer instinct, defensive communication, missed opportunities, and a team that seems incapable of putting matches away.

They also take a hard look at the roster moving...

The Columbus Crew finally have something to celebrate. After five straight losses, the Crew came out of nowhere with a dominant 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids and Matt and Gabe are breaking down exactly how it happened.The guys discuss the surprising starting lineup, including a formation featuring THREE natural right-backs, Santi Rodríguez making his first start after just joining the team, and why these bold decisions paid off.They also break down Rodríguez's opening goal, the Crew's aggressive start, the team's ability to control the match without dominating possession. But is this actually a turning point?We...

The Columbus Crew are in the middle of their worst stretch of the season, and the frustration is reaching a boiling point.

Brian, Matt, and Gabe break down the Crew's 3-1 loss to New England, the team's fifth consecutive defeat, and the growing concerns surrounding a team that desperately needs to find a way out of this slump.

But there could be some hope on the horizon.

With the summer transfer window officially closed, we take a deep dive into Columbus' moves, including the arrivals of Santiago Rodríguez and Anass Zaroury, along w...

Matt and Jay sit down with Bradley Wright-Phillips for a wide-ranging conversation about his journey from England to becoming one of the most prolific goalscorers in MLS history.

BWP opens up about growing up with the family footballing legacy, the expectations he placed on himself, and more.

We also talk about the culture shock of playing in MLS, the league's evolution, why he thinks the "retirement league" label is outdated, and what he loves about the freedom and unpredictability of MLS.

And, of course, BWP tells some incredible stories from his playing days...

The Columbus Crew suffered another frustrating defeat, falling 3-2 to Nashville SC after a late collapse that once again exposed some of the team's biggest problems.

The Crew showed flashes of quality, including a fantastic team goal finished by Mohamed Farsi, but those moments were overshadowed by defensive mistakes, missed assignments, and another late-game collapse.

They also look at the bigger picture. Is this simply a bad stretch against one of MLS's best teams, or are these defensive and organizational problems becoming a fundamental issue with the team?

The Crew lost 3-2. But...

A little bit of a longer episoide....

The Columbus Crew had a chance to get back on track against a CF Montreal team that had not won a game since May.

Instead, they lost 2-1.

Jay and Matt break down one of the most disheartening performances of the season and ask the question that is becoming harder and harder to ignore: what is going wrong with this team?

From the opening minutes, Columbus never looked like the better side. We talk through the biggest moments of the match, the lack of...

The Columbus Crew's loss to Charlotte was a rough one, but it also raised some much bigger questions about where this team stands heading into a massive stretch of the season.

Matt, Gabe, and Jay break down the Crew's 3-1 loss to Charlotte, the biggest moments from the match, and what went wrong as Columbus failed to build on its recent momentum.

Then we turn our attention to one of the biggest questions surrounding the roster: striker. Martinez, Adams, Tapia, Gazdag, Thiare...Who should be starting? Who deserves more minutes? And if you had to...

The Columbus Crew are sitting at the top of the Leagues Cup standings after a massive week that included two very different results.

Matt, Gabe, and Sam break down Columbus' 2-1 win over Pachuca before diving into the wild 1-1 draw against Pumas that ended with a 3-2 penalty shootout win. From taking down Pachuca to surviving the drama against Pumas, the Crew found two very different ways to get the job done and now sit on eight points.

We talk about what these performances say about the team, how the recent run of form...

Matt, Gabe, and Jay break down the Columbus Crew’s 3-1 win over Atlas in the opening game of Leagues Cup.

The Crew jumped out to a 3-0 lead and looked in control before Atlas turned up the pressure and bombarded Columbus over the final 30 minutes. Even with the late stress, the Black & Gold held on for a huge opening win and now turn their attention to Pachuca, who enter the matchup after a 3-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.

We talk through the biggest moments from the Atlas match, what went right, what got nervy la...

Matt, Gabe, and Sam break down the Columbus Crew’s 2-2 draw with Inter Miami in a match that had goals, chaos, big moments, and some real signs of progress.

We talk through the key parts of the game, including Casemiro’s own goal, Brais Mendez scoring on his Crew debut, and shutting down a returning Lionel Messi. Even though Columbus did not get all three points, there were encouraging moments in how the team played, created chances, and continued building under the current system.

From there, we shift into Leagues Cup mode and preview the...

Matt and Jay are back to break down the latest Hell Is Real Derby between the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati.

We talk through the biggest moments of the match, the goals, the key turning points, and the post-game scuffle that added even more heat to the best rivalry in MLS. From the intensity on the field to the emotions after the final whistle, this Hell Is Real matchup gave us plenty to discuss.

We also look ahead to MLS All-Star week, including the upcoming MLS Skills Challenge and All-Star Game, before closing with a...

Matt, Gabe, and Sam are back to break down a packed episode covering the World Cup, Columbus Crew news, and a major moment of online backlash.

We start with reactions to both World Cup semifinal results, who stood out, and how we think the final will play out. We talk standout players, key matchups, and what could decide the biggest game of the tournament.

Then we shift to Columbus Crew vs Burnley, including the frustration around ticket prices, parking costs, and the lack of online visibility for the match. Was this event handled the right...

Matt and Jay are joined by Josh from Retro Screamers, a vintage soccer kit store based in Columbus, Ohio, for a conversation about the culture, history, and obsession behind soccer kits. We talk about how Retro Screamers got started, what makes vintage kits so special, and why collecting soccer shirts connects fans to clubs, players, memories, and eras of the game. The conversation also dives into the differences between British and American soccer culture, how MLS and the Columbus Crew fit into the larger soccer landscape, and what the World Cup means for the growth of the sport. From...

The USMNT’s World Cup run is over, and it ended in brutal fashion.Matt and Gabe break down the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16, one of the most embarrassing knockout performances for the USMNT ever. We talk through what went wrong, why the game got away from the U.S., and what this result says about the team’s ceiling on the biggest stage.We also dive into the controversial reversal of Flo Balogun’s red card, how that decision affected the team, and whether the fallout from the Bosnia match carried into this Bel...

The USMNT has finally done it!

Matt, Brian, and Sam break down the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Round of 32, giving the USMNT its first World Cup knockout win in over 20 years.

We discuss the biggest moments from the match, what went right for the U.S., and how much this result changes expectations moving forward. Then we dive into the controversial red card shown to Flo Balogun, whether the decision was fair, and how his absence could affect the team in the next round. After that, we recap the other Ro...

Matt and Gabe are back for WC Coverage #6 as the USMNT closes out the group stage with a 3-2 loss to Turkiye. With the United States already locked in as Group D winners, this match did not carry much real consequence, but there is still plenty to break down. We discuss what mattered, what did not, which players stood out, and whether this result changes anything heading into the knockout stage. Then we zoom out and talk through the biggest World Cup storylines from the final phase of the group stage, including surprise results, teams advancing, teams crashing out...

Matt is joined again by special guest Sam from Soccer With Sam to break down the USMNT’s 2-0 victory over Australia in its second game of the World Cup! We discuss how the United States secured another important result, what stood out from the performance, and where the team stands heading into its final group-stage match since we've already clinched the group! With two wins from two games, how confident should USMNT supporters be, and how far can this team realistically go? We also react to the biggest results, surprises, and storylines from the past few days of Wo...

The World Cup coverage continues with a familiar voice in Columbus. Brian, Matt, and Gabe are joined by Columbus Crew matchday host Cameron Fontana for a wide-ranging conversation about the World Cup, the Columbus Crew, and what it takes to be a great presenter. Cameron shares his perspective on hosting, connecting with fans, bringing energy to big moments, and how the World Cup raises the standard for soccer coverage across the country. We also dive into the USMNT’s chances against Australia, what the United States needs to show in its next World Cup match, and how fans should fe...

The World Cup is officially underway, and the USMNT could not have asked for a much better start.

Matt and Gabe are joined by Sam from "Soccer With Sam" to talk through the first few days of World Cup action before diving deep into the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay. We break down what went right for the USMNT, who stood out, how the attack clicked, why this is historic, and why this performance should give fans real confidence moving forward. From there, we look ahead and give score predictions for the next few days of Wo...

The World Cup is here, and we are shifting into full tournament mode.

Matt and Gabe preview the USMNT’s opening World Cup matchup against Paraguay, breaking down what the United States needs to do to start the tournament strong. We talk key players, score predictions, and what kind of performance would calm nerves heading into the rest of group play.

From there, we look around the first few days of World Cup action and give score predictions for the early matchups. Then we go all in with a full World Cup bracket challenge, picking ou...

Our interview series "The Massive Mic" returns for its second episode of the year. Jay and Gabe sit down with MLS content creator and longtime soccer fan Eli Lesser for a conversation that spans the past, present, and future of American soccer. As fans of some of MLS's original clubs, we discuss how the fan culture has evolved, and whether MLS has exceeded expectations where it is at now. We also dive into content creation in the modern soccer landscape, building audiences around the sport, and how coverage of the game continues to change. The conversation also turns toward...

Note: If you'd like to hear our first conversation with Chris look back to S1 Ep51!

Matt and Brian are joined by Chris Doran for a wide-ranging conversation covering the biggest topics in Columbus, MLS, and American soccer. We discuss how the Columbus Crew are navigating life after Henrik Rydström, if it effects their strategy going into the transfer window, and if Laurent Courtois is the man going forward for the Crew. The conversation then shifts to the FIFA World Cup and its impact on soccer in North America. How will World Cup c...

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is officially on, and the U.S. Men’s National Team just gave us a massive performance to talk about! In this episode, we are diving deep into the USMNT’s thrilling 3-2 victory over African powerhouse Senegal in front of a packed crowd at Bank of America Stadium. We break down the attacking display from our marquee names, the big moments, and individual performances. It wasn't all smooth sailing, though. We analyze the defensive errors that allowed Sadio Mané to net a brace for Senegal, and we ask the big question: Is Mauri...

What exactly is the state of the Columbus Crew right now? After a turbulent stretch filled with coaching changes, inconsistent performances, and signs of life starting to emerge again, Matt and Gabe sit down to evaluate where the Crew truly stand. Are things finally stabilizing under Laurent Courtois? What still needs fixing? And what should expectations actually be moving forward?

Then the conversation shifts to the growing drama surrounding the United States men's national soccer team. We break down the latest controversies, roster discourse, fan frustration, and the bigger questions surrounding the direction of the national team...

The Columbus Crew are starting to look like themselves again. Columbus picked up a massive 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC, continuing the positive momentum under Laurent Courtois. Matt, Jay, and Gabe break down the performance, the tactical improvements, and the players stepping up as the Crew continue trying to turn their season around.

Then we shift gears and react to the leaked United States men's national soccer team roster for the upcoming World Cup, discussing the biggest surprises, controversial inclusions and omissions, and what it could mean for the future of the national team.

Just days after the Crew fired Henrik Rydström, interim head coach Laurent Courtois stepped into his first match against the same New York City FC side that embarrassed Columbus 3-0 not long ago. This time? The Crew responded with a strong 1-0 win and one of their best overall performances in weeks. Matt and Gabe break down the tactical changes under Courtois, why the team looked more alive and connected, whether this can actually spark a turnaround, and what still needs work moving forward. It was only one game… but Crew fans got something to feel GOOD about goi...

The Columbus Crew have officially pulled the trigger. Henrik Rydström is OUT. We originally recorded a completely different episode for this one but had to start from scratch after the news dropped. After a incredibly rough start to the season filled with flat performances, tactical confusion, dropped points, and growing frustration around the club, the Crew announced Sunday afternoon that they have parted ways with their head coach. And honestly? There is a LOT to talk about. Matt and Jay jump on for an emergency-style episode breaking down how things fell apart so quickly, what ultimately doomed the R...