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In this episode of The Technical Area, Andrea Lombardo and Luca Forno are joined by Alecko Eskandarian — former MLS Cup Champion 🏆, MLS Cup MVP ⭐, and current Vice President of Player Relations & Development at Major League Soccer ⚽.

Alecko shares his journey from growing up in a legendary soccer household — his father, Andranik Eskandarian, played alongside Pelé and Beckenbauer at the New York Cosmos 🇺🇸 — to making his own mark as a #1 draft pick and key figure in D.C. United’s 2004 MLS Cup run.

We talk:

• Playing alongside legends like David Beckham 🌟
• The emotional toll of career-ending injuries 🧠
• His transition from player to exec 👔
• Youth development, academy culture & keeping the game fun ⚽🎒
• How MLS is supporting the next generation on and off the pitch 🔄📈

This one’s for the players, coaches, dreamers & die-hards.
🎙️ Tune in, subscribe, and send us your questions for Extra Time Banter!

#FantasyPoolies #TheTechnicalArea #AleckoEskandarian #MLS #MLSHistory #YouthDevelopment #SoccerLeadership #USSoccer #CPLTalk #FootballPodcast

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This week on the Fantasy Poolies Footy Show, we break down the chaotic carnage of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
From Inter’s tactical clinic 🇮🇹 to Barça’s meltdown 🇪🇸, we dive into:

⚖️ VAR madness (yes, again)
🧠 Inter’s masterclass in grit and game management
🌟 The Lamine Yamal era is here
🎮 Coaching decisions that had us yelling at the screen
🧪 Fixture congestion, squad depth, and final predictions for PSG vs Inter
💭 And as always... a little banter with your footy fam

Hit play, argue with us, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a hot take.
🚀 #HalfVolleyHotTakes #FantasyPoolies

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Light Banter
00:17 Champions League Semi-Finals Overview
03:07 Inter vs. Barcelona: A Dramatic Clash
06:11 Injury Management and Player Resilience
09:20 VAR Controversies and Referee Decisions
12:06 Analyzing Key Moments and Fouls
17:10 Analyzing the Match Dynamics
18:01 Inter's Tactical Mastery
25:15 Individual Brilliance and Team Spirit
31:58 Coaching Decisions Under Scrutiny
37:06 The Beauty of Football and VAR's Impact
43:36 Semi-Final Reflections
49:27 Key Players and Tactical Insights
55:51 The Impact of Injuries on Performance
57:26 Final Predictions and Expectations

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In this episode of The Technical Area, we’re joined by Rocco Placentino — former Canadian international and current Sporting Director at CS Saint-Laurent — for a powerful conversation on the real journey to becoming a professional in Canada.

Rocco shares:

• His personal path from Quebec to the pros
• The stories behind Ismael Kone and Moise Bombito
• Why mentality, sacrifice, and work ethic are non-negotiables
• The legacy of the late Jason Di Tullio and what he meant to Montreal soccer
• The rise of unsanctioned academies, the role of parents, and what needs to change in Canadian development
• The crucial influence of the Saputo family in shaping Quebec’s soccer culture

This one’s for the dreamers, the grinders, and anyone trying to navigate the system.
🎙️ Hosted by Andrea Lombardo

#FantasyPoolies #TheTechnicalArea #RoccoPlacentino #CanadianSoccer #CSStLaurent #QuebecSoccer #JasonDiTullio #YouthDevelopment #CPL #CanadaSoccer #FootyTalk #SoccerCulture

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The Champions League semi-finals are HERE — and Episode 8 of Fantasy Poolies Footy Show has dropped

We kick things off with a quickfire recap of the quarter-final second legs:

• Real Madrid stunned at home by Arsenal 🫢
• Inter holding off Bayern in a back-and-forth thriller 🛡️

Then we dive deep into the mouthwatering semi-final matchups:

• Arsenal vs. PSG: Can Dembele stop the most balanced Gunners team we’ve seen in years?
• Inter vs. Barcelona: A rematch 15 years in the making. Is it revenge or repeat?

Plus: 🚀 Half-Volley Hot Takes — bold claims incoming.
💬 Extra Time Banter — where we dig into your DMs and answer listener questions.

Follow, share, and send us your UCL final predictions — we might read yours next episode!

🎙️ Powered by Addis & Albert + The Genius Studios
📍 Hosted by Andrea Lombardo, Luca Forno & Adrian Pena

#FantasyPoolies #TheTechnicalArea #UCL2025 #ChampionsLeague #ArsenalPSG #InterBarca #SoccerPodcast #CPLTalk #CanadianSoccer #FootyBanter #UEFA #HotTakes #ExtraTimeBanter

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The UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals kicked off with fireworks — and we’re breaking it all down on this episode of Fantasy Poolies Football Show.

👉 Pena opens with a love letter to Barça’s 4–0 thrashing of Dortmund
👉 Luca covers the rest: Arsenal bossing Madrid, Inter edging Bayern, and PSG flexing on Aston Villa
👉 We close with 🚀 Half-Volley Hot Takes — wild claims, some truth, maybe a little delusion

Whether you're team tiki-taka or park-the-bus, there’s something for every footy fan in this one.

This episode is brought to you by:
– Addis & Albert Inc. – Luxury events that don’t miss
– The Genius Studios – The agency behind brands that actually pop

Follow the show, drop a rating, and tag us with your UCL second leg predictions.

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In this episode of The Fantasy Poolies Footy Show, Andrea Lombardo, Luca Forno & Adrian Pena sit down with the one and only Carmine Isacco — a true architect of the Canadian soccer landscape.

They cover it all:
🇨🇦 The evolution of soccer in Canada
🏆 League1 Ontario’s rise and the shift from OYSL to OPDL
⚽ How to actually develop players — and the accountability coaches need
🧠 The psychology of building a winning team
🎤 Respect for refs, local legends, and the importance of celebrating each other

Carmine shares honest reflections on his career, the systems in place, and what still needs to change to support players from all backgrounds. There's real insight here — and a few laughs along the way.

🎙 Hosted by Andrea Lombardo
📲 Follow us @fantasypooliesfootyshow on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok
💬 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share!

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In the premiere of The Technical Area by Fantasy Poolies Footy Show, we sit down with the first Head Coach to make the jump from League 1 Ontario to CPL — Patrice Gheisar, Head Coach of the Halifax Wanderers (CPL) as they kick off their 2025 CPL campaign in the next few days.

From his early days at Vaughan SC to leading at the pro level, Patrice shares his thoughts heading into the 2025 CPL season and the transition from coaching youth to commanding a professional sideline.

We dive into:

• Preparation and Expectations for 2025
• His Coaching Journey and the Vaughan Soccer Club days
• Navigating egos and elevating young talent
• Creating and Establishing Culture

00:00
Introduction to the Technical Area

04:37
Patrice Gheisar's Coaching Journey

08:53
Building a Team Culture

13:43
The Importance of Player Development

18:18
Vaughan Soccer Club's Impact

23:13
Challenges and Triumphs in Coaching

27:43
Future Aspirations and Goals

33:19
The Importance of Team Dynamics

33:42
The Future of Canadian Football

38:17
Challenges of Coaching in the CPL

41:08
Memorable Players and Coaching Lessons

45:36
The Role of Competitiveness in Coaching

50:39
Building a Dream Team

53:47
Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

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EPISODE 4 – Nations League, South American Chaos & Canadian Transfer Drama

In this episode of Fantasy Poolies, the boys go international. 🌍
We cover:

• 🇨🇦 The CONCACAF Nations League drama and what’s next for Canada
• 🇪🇺 UEFA Nations League Quarterfinals — who's looking sharp, who's looking shaky
• 🇧🇷 South American World Cup Qualifying — pure chaos, pure vibes

🚀 Half-Volley Hot Takes:

• Jonathan David’s inevitable summer move — where’s he headed?
• The City of Toronto’s resale ticket packages… we said what we said.

As always, it's sharp analysis, shameless banter, and a couple controversial opinions we probably won’t walk back.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your footy fix.
📺 Full episode also on YouTube – hit subscribe and join the conversation.

#FantasyPoolies #SoccerPodcast #CONCACAF #UEFANationsLeague #CanadaSoccer #JonathanDavid #FootyTalk #football #USSoccer