Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast · CBS Sports, USMNT, U.S. Soccer, MLS, World Cup, UCL, Americans Abroad

Adams injured, McKennie flying, Pulisic snubbed & Americans in LaLiga (Soccer 12/23)

·1 hr 8 min·4 clips

Ricardo Pepi has five straight starts and goals in five of his last six games.

1. Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast centers this December 23 episode on Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, and Americans in LaLiga. 2. Jimmy Conrad hosts with Charlie Davies and Tony Miolla, and all three use their U.S. men’s national team and club football experience to frame the discussion. 3. The episode asks whether American players are being undervalued, whether injuries are reshaping the national-team picture, and which club performances should change the World Cup conversation. 4. Weston McKennie’s 200th Juventus appearance comes in a 2-1 win over Roma, and he supplies the decisive assist. 5. The hosts say McKennie is now being used as a right wing back by Luciano Spalletti, which changes how they think about his national-team role. 6. Charlie Davies notes that McKennie can fit under several coaches because he does many different jobs on the field. 7. Tony Miolla says McKennie’s positioning against Roma showed both defensive discipline and danger near the box. 8. The conversation turns to McKennie’s Juventus contract, which the hosts describe as having about six months left. 9. The hosts debate whether an MLS club would pay $5 million, $6 million, or even $8 million to $10 million for McKennie. 10. They also raise the possibility that a free McKennie could attract clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid after a strong World Cup. 11. Ricardo Pepi is named the show’s striker of the week after five straight starts and four Eredivisie goals. 12. The hosts add that Pepi has scored in five of his last six games and has three goals and one assist in 149 Champions League minutes. 13. Charlie Davies highlights Pepi’s movement, first touch, and improved hold-up play as reasons his PSV form has changed. 14. Tony Miolla focuses on the physical battles Pepi took against Utrecht and says he kept fighting through contact and set-piece wrestling. 15. Jimmy Conrad points to Pepi’s finish against PSV’s opponents as evidence of his confidence and technique from a full-speed run into the box. 16. The Pepi discussion also turns into a transfer-path conversation, with La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga all mentioned as possible next steps. 17. Tyler Adams’ injury update comes from Donnie Irola, who says Adams has torn his MCL and will be out for two to three months. 18. The hosts call the March friendlies “pointless” in Adams’ recovery timeline and prefer a careful return before June. 19. This episode uses a fast, conversational studio format with overlapping reactions, quick humor, and repeated back-and-forth arguments. 20. U.S. men’s national team followers tracking club form and roster debates should listen; casual MLS-only fans may skip it.

As heard by us

Holiday banter and USMNT roster talk keep the conversation moving.

Call It What You Want opens with a holiday catch-up and settles into familiar U.S. soccer territory: the Guardians Top 100 snub for the player pool, Tyler Adams' injury, and the Noah Kai Banks discussion.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for the USMNT snub talk, Tyler Adams injury update, and an American making history in La Liga.

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