USL Cup Round 1 reaction, Hattrick history in Oakland, Goodbye Highmark - Hello FNB, plus much more!

Thomas Vancaeyezeele on Making History with Brooklyn FC, Building Team Trust, Pre-Match Diet, & FWC Preview of France

TalkUSL welcomes its second-ever guest, defender Thomas Vancaeyezeele, a USL Championship veteran and a key player apart of Brooklyn FC’s inaugural season. Host Vince Galvano highlights Vancaeyezeele’s journey from France to the United States, including his college success at the University of Charleston, his long USL Championship career across clubs such as Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Tampa Bay Rowdies, San Diego Loyal, Birmingham Legion, Hartford Athletic, and now Brooklyn FC. Thomas, or how his teammates call him 'Vanca', shares what it means to be part of Brooklyn FC history, his early impressions of playing at Maimonides Park, and how the team is building chemistry as an expansion side. He also discusses his versatility across the backline, his leadership role, the meaning behind his No. 92 shirt, and the importance of trust, consistency, and commitment in a professional locker room. The conversation also covers his pre-match diet, life as a new father, memories of watching RC Lens in the Champions League as a kid,  and a fun activity that has him name his France starting XI for a upcoming World Cup preview. Don’t miss the ending: Vanca shares the two big career goals he still has left — and they say a lot about what still drives him after eight seasons in the USL Championship. 👉 Follow Thomas Vancaeyezeele on Instagram: @Vankizi Timestamps 00:00 – Thomas Vancaeyezeele joins TalkUSL 02:00 – Making history with Brooklyn FC 04:00 – Brooklyn’s early progress and building chemistry 07:15 – Versatility, leadership, and reading the game 15:15 – Pre-match diet, routine, and staying consistent 20:30 – Building trust with coaches and teammates 26:15 – France World Cup preview and Thomas’ starting XI 34:00 – Thomas discusses his remaining career goals as a pro soccer player Follow the podcast @TalkUSL across all social media channels (Instagram, Threads, BlueSky X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook) Support the podcast by leaving a review Do you want to share your thoughts on the show? Feel free to write to host Vince Galvano by emailing: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com] Inquiries: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com]

Ted Lasso goes El Paso, JAX get first win, USL Cup Round 2 reaction, plus much more!

In this episode, we react to USL Cup Round 2 and start with the headline grabber: actor and former academy player Cristo Fernández (aka Dani Rojas from Ted Lasso) signing with El Paso Locomotive. We dig into what it actually means on the field, why this does not feel like a gimmick, and what a realistic role could look like as El Paso pushes toward the top of the West. Round 2 also gave us real Cup moments across the map, led by Sporting JAX’s first official men’s pro win with a composed 2-0 result. Plus, we hit the standout performances and scorelines, including Colorado Springs’ 4-0 statement, Tampa Bay’s 4-1 road thumping, and Boise’s 4-3 comeback thriller, along with the other results that shaped the week. Follow the podcast @TalkUSL across all social media channels (Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook) Support the podcast by leaving a review Do you want to share your thoughts on the show? Feel free to write to host Vince Galvano by emailing: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com] Inquiries: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com]

POTM April, FWC trophy in Birmingham, and action heats up prior to USL Cup recommencing, plus much more!

Wolfgang Prentice takes home USL Championship Player of the Month for April, and Week 9 delivered headline moments everywhere you looked: the World Cup Trophy’s stop in Birmingham set the stage for well attended night, while Pittsburgh went into Louisville and left with a statement 2-0 win built on ruthless finishing and a standout goalkeeping performance. Across the rest of the slate, Phillip Goodrum finally opened his Lexington account as LSC broke their winless run, Oakland got debut magic from Tucker Lepley to complete a comeback, Hartford snapped their drought with late set-piece drama, and New Mexico kept Isotopes Park feeling like a fortress. Next up, we turn the page to USL Cup action and what it can reveal about squad depth, rotation choices, and which teams can carry weekend momentum into midweek results. Follow the podcast @TalkUSL across all social media channels (Instagram, BlueSky, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook) Support the podcast by leaving a review Do you want to share your thoughts on the show? Feel free to write to host Vince Galvano by emailing: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com] Inquiries: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com]

Agreement for Players Association? Open Cup Sorrows, Coaching Carousel Commences, Who is Next? POTM April Nominees & much more!

The USL Players Association and league are finally closing in on a new CBA, with real movement on 12-month contracts, minimum compensation, and mandatory health insurance but with key details still to be finalized, including NIL and long-term healthcare structure. We also react to another gutting U.S. Open Cup exit for the Championship, track the coaching chopping block as changes begin and the carousel keeps spinning, and run through April’s Player of the Month nominees, plus match takeaways, storylines to watch next, and much more. Follow the podcast @TalkUSL across all social media channels (Instagram, BlueSky, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook) Support the podcast by leaving a review Do you want to share your thoughts on the show? Feel free to write to host Vince Galvano by emailing: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com] Inquiries: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com]

USL Cup Round 1 reaction, Hattrick history in Oakland, Goodbye Highmark - Hello FNB, plus much more!

This week, we break down a loaded slate across league play and the opening round of the Prinx Tires USL Cup, where the chaos arrived early. From Brooklyn’s late heartbreak against Sacramento to Rhode Island’s second-half statement and the rivalry heat of El Clamico, we hit the biggest storylines, tactical themes, and the performances that shaped Match Day 08. Peter Wilson making history with Oakland Roots’ first-ever USL Championship hat trick, then it’s all about the Cup moments: surprise results and shootout drama around the groups, and what the new sponsor era means for the tournament’s identity. Plus, we close with Pittsburgh turning the page from Highmark to F.N.B. Stadium and a look at why Group 4 might be the toughest path of them all. Follow the podcast @TalkUSL across all social media channels (Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook) Support the podcast by leaving a review Do you want to share your thoughts on the show? Feel free to write to host Vince Galvano by emailing: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com] Inquiries: talkuslchampionship@gmail.com [talkuslchampionship@gmail.com]