Flyover Footy: A St. Louis CITY SC and Soccer in STL Podcast · Flyover Footy, Bleav

Bonus Show! Soccer in the Lou's Season Ending Roundtable!

·53 min·5 clips

Matt Baker reports that Klaus is not at post-season training and may have been fined by St. Louis CITY SC.

This bonus episode of Flyover Footy presents a roundtable discussion from the "Soccer in the Lou" radio show, hosted by Matt Baker with panelists Phil Grooms and Brendan Wheeley. They analyze the uncertain state of St. Louis CITY SC following its third MLS season, focusing on unresolved leadership and unusual team activities. The central topics include the ongoing vacancies for the sporting director and head coach positions, with no official announcements by late October despite earlier speculation. The panel examines the team's mandatory postseason training sessions, which are closed to media and described as highly unusual within MLS. Matt Baker reports that midfielder Klaus is absent from this training due to personal family matters, citing a club statement. Baker also shares unverified sources claiming Klaus may have been fined for this absence, suggesting the training's mandatory nature. The discussion questions the training's purpose, considering possibilities like player evaluations for potential sporting director candidates or new coaches. Phil Grooms notes the club executed player options to legally hold this training, with only four players having options declined. The hosts express concern over the lack of transparency from the club, particularly from President/GM Diego Gigliani, and the vacuum of information fostering rampant speculation. They reference the recent departure of longtime director of team operations Vinnie, viewing it as part of a broader leadership transition following the dismissal of former sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel. A surprising claim is the suggestion that Gigliani may be taking a more active, direct role in sporting decisions, with John Hackworth potentially as a "puppet" sporting director. The panel debates the danger of a CEO making technical player decisions, arguing it deviates from standard global sports organization structures. They contrast the current opacity with Pfannenstiel's candid five-year plan and open communication style, which they found healthier for fan engagement. A memorable moment is the revelation of Klaus's situation, framed as breaking news during the live roundtable. The hosts find it notable that no other MLS club they contacted conducts similar mandatory postseason training, making St. Louis's actions an outlier. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending fan concern with journalistic inquiry into the club's internal machinations. The style is speculative and investigative, parsing limited facts, unnamed sources, and observed patterns to understand the club's direction. This episode is ideal for dedicated St. Louis CITY SC fans seeking deep, insider analysis of the club's front-office turmoil and offseason mysteries. Listeners interested in MLS roster construction, front-office politics, and media reporting on sports organizations would also find it compelling. Casual fans or those seeking game highlights or straightforward news updates might find the speculative and procedural focus less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Flyover Footy: A St. Louis CITY SC and Soccer in STL Podcast