The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast
We are The Designated Players | An MLS Podcast! Your home for all things MLS, Past Present and Future! Hosted by Andrew Barnikel and Connor Wright
Episodes
In this episode, we dove into the numbers to find out which players REALLY were the best of the best in MLS in 2025! Which players are you shocked by? Which players were still snubbed? Let us know!
Recorded on: 12/30/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcun...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're ending off season 6 with just a little more MLS news. This week we're talking about Vancouver's talks of almost moving and also a new stadium, followed by Colorado's new coach for 2026, lastly ending with a little bit of transfer talks on some recent confirmed and rumored moves. Let us know your thoughts!
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're reacting to our predictions we made at the start of the season, and oh boy there are some bad ones in here. Our predictions included standings predictions, awards predictions, and bold predictions, so come listen to how well we did (spoiler not very well). Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austi...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're covering Don Garber's State of the League address. In his address, Don talks about all things from the calendar change to the possibility of MLS adopting pro/rel sometime in the future, and we're here to give you all our thoughts. Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're coming in with a recap of the MLS Cup Final as Miami and Messi have lifted their first ever MLS Cup! We recap the game and see where things went right and wrong for both sides and highlighted some standout performances. Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #...
In this episode, we review every game in the Conference Finals of the MLS Cup Playoffs, and give our predictions for MLS Cup Final! Will Messi or Muller Prevail?!
Recorded on: 12/5/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo ...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're coming with a brace as we're recapping both the conference finals and predicting the MLS Cup Final! Some really exciting games this round to recap, and then we're going to preview the big game, MLS Cup Final. Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #c...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're coming with a double whammy as we're recapping the conference semifinals and predicting the conference finals! Some really exciting games this round to recap, and then we're going to preview each matchup as the teams are one step away from MLS Cup Finals. Let us know your thoughts!
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're predicting the conference semifinals! Some super exciting matchups this round, specifically LAFC v Vancouver, and we're going to predict the winner of all games setting up the conference finals matchups. Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're catching up on some BIG recent MLS news, specifically we are talking about the MLS calendar change, some changes to AppleTV deal, and the potential elimination of conferences and change to one league with divisions. Let us know your thoughts!
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chic...
In this episode, we recap every game from round 1, giving our thoughts on the best performers and some post mortems on those whose seasons ended without a trophy! Who has the best chance of moving on from round 2?!
Recorded on: 11/10/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're catching up on some recent MLS news with a focus again on the coaching side. This week we're going to be talking about some coaching hires, specifically Tata Martino to Atlanta again, as well as Marko Mitrovic to New England for his first ever senior head coach role. Lastly, we give a little shoutout to the RBNY 2 boys for their succe...
In this episode, the boys are back to chat about what went wrong with DC United to cause them to miss the playoffs in 2025!
Recorded on: 10/25/2025
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo #holditdown #sportingkc #skc #lagala...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're catching up on some recent MLS news with a focus on the coaching and front office side. This week we're going to be talking about Chris Armas out in Colorado, followed by a duo out at Red Bull in coach Sandro Schwarz and Director of Football Jochen Schneider. Next we talk about Corey Wray off to St Louis as their new Sporting Director...
In this episode, we are joined by Ivan from Tectonic Takes to chat about what went wrong with the San Jose Earthquakes to cause them to miss the playoffs in 2025!
Recorded on: 10/18/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo...
In this episode, we are joined by Juan from Box State Footy to chat about what went wrong with the Colorado Rapids to cause them to miss the playoffs in 2025!
Recorded on: 10/18/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo #ho...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're catching up on some recent MLS news. This week we're going to be talking about Ronny Deila out in Atlanta, followed by Marco Donadel announced as the permanent new head coach in Monteal. Next we talk about Chris Armas press conference crash out on Matt Pollard and the Burgundy Wave. Lastly, we discuss the MLS Cup Playoffs being availa...
In this episode, we sit down to give a preview and our predictions of the first round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs!
Recorded on: 10/23/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo #holditdown #sportingkc #skc #lagalaxy #losang...
In this episode, we are joined by Mark from Seeing Red to chat about what went wrong with the New York Red Bulls to cause them to miss the playoffs in 2025!
Recorded on: 10/13/25
#MLS #MLSCup #mlscupplayoffs #ATLUTD #atlantaunited #austinfc #charlottefc #forthecrown #cf97 #chicagofire #fccincinnati #fcc #allforcincy #coloradorapids #rapids96 #columbuscrew #crew96 #dcu #dcunited #fcdallas #dtid #houstondynamo #hold...
In this episode of the Designated Players Podcast, the guys are back and this week we're giving our flowers to many recent retirement announcements from guys in MLS including some absolute legends such as Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Darlington Nagbe. We will recap their entire career, including what they have meant to their teams, to MLS, and to the sport. Let us know your thoughts!
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