The boys are back in town! Vancouver Whitecaps 2023 preseason camp is underway and we've got your covered with all the news, rumours, and chat on this episode of the AFTN Soccer Show.
We hear from head coach Vanni Sartini as he talks about the preseason ahead and getting the team ready for the tough season to come, where the 'Caps will be fighting on four fronts. How many more players does he see coming, what will he do with the ones he has, where does new signing Mathias Laborda fit in, can the club avoid the Champions League hangover that many others suffer?
We delve into all of that and more, including the search for a new shirt sponsor, plus we bring you two interviews with two of the new Canadian faces in the squad - defender Karifa Yao and forward Levonte Johnson. We chat about their journey to Vancouver, their careers so far, and their hopes for the season to come. Plus we find out the burning question - do either of them fancy a chocolate digestive?
Plus we talk about the rise of Wrexham FC and is it a good or a bad thing for lower league football in the UK, chat about some possible rule changes we'd like to see implemented in the game, and pay tribute to another footballing legend gone way too soon, Gianluca Vialli.
Here's the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.30: Intro and Gianluca Vialli tribute
17.12: The Rise of Wrexham - good or bad for lower league UK football?
28.05: The Whitecaps preseason has begun
42.50: Vanni Sartini talks preseason and the campaign ahead
54.41: Bell ends
61.17: Unpacking Vanni - 22 man rosters, formations, Laborda
70.07: Karifa Yao interview and discussion
80.26: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive - Karifa Yao
85.12: 'Caps Chat - the goalkeeping situation, Tai Baribo rumours
96.25: Levonte Johnson interview and discussion
109.26: Anyone Fancy A Chocolate Digestive - Levonte Johnson
113.17: Talking Point -changes to the rules of football
127.58: Wavelength - Chelsea 2000 FA Cup Squad - Blue Day Tomorrow
Episode 615 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Da Diddley Qua Qua - Whitecaps' week of penalty drama, Can Champ, Messi Mania, Jesse Marsch)
Episode 614 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Cracks In The Ground - LAFC v Whitecaps, Can Champ, Messi mania in Montreal, TFC postgame madness)
Episode 613 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Celebrations and Consternations - Whitecaps v Austin, TSS heartbreak, Can Champ, CMNT coaching search, Vancouver and FIFA 2026)
Episode 612 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Chasing The Dragon - Red Bulls v Whitecaps, Wrexham AFC head to Vancouver, Katie Collar interview)
Episode 611 - The AFTN Soccer Show (The Running of the Bulls - NYRB v Whitecaps preview, Brian White homecoming, Bovalina signing, CanChamp, Todd May)
Episode 610 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Bringing Back Rock and Roll Football - Seattle v Vancouver, CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan, Matteo Campagna, TSS Rovers)
Episode 609 – The AFTN Soccer Show (I Dreamt I Was Alone In A Crowded Place with special guest Callum Irving)
Episode 608 - The AFTN Soccer Show (No More Shuffling In The Shadows - Whitecaps demolish TFC, Vanni Sartini, John Herdman, CPL Season Preview)
Episode 607 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Ringing The Bell of Hope with guests Kamal Miller, Maxime Crepeau, Zach Verhoven and Moses Dyer)
Episode 606 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Listening To The Raindrops - Whitecaps vs RSL, Canada Copa bound, VFC preseason, sh!t kits)
Episode 605 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Sunlight Through Our Window with guests Matias Laborda, Elage Bah, and Afshin Ghotbi)
Episode 604 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Set Like Jewels In Eternity with guests Stuart Neely and Belal Halbouni)
Episode 603 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Is Blue The Colour Of The Season? with Axel Schuster and Scott Arfield)
Episode 602 - The AFTN Soccer Show (I Lay On My Bed With My Hands On My Head)
Episode 601 - The AFTN Soccer Show (It's All About To Kick Off)
Episode 600 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Here Until The Whistle Blows with guests Vanni Sartini and Gabriel Bitar)
Episode 599 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Let The Fun Begin with David Norman and Vanni Sartini)
Episode 598 - The AFTN Soccer Show (The Effects Unknown - CSB v Mediapro court battle, Gauld re-signs, Paris Gee, TJ Tahid)
Episode 597 - The AFTN Soccer Show (He Moves Like a Generator with special guests Fafa Picault and Grady McDonnell)
Episode 596 - The AFTN Soccer Show (So Many Colourful Rays with special guests Damir Kreilach and Ben Fisk)
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