Spike'd Up

This week, one of our most recent signings, midfielder Jürgen Damm, joins us and tries not to feel the pressure from being on the President's podcast. Since Darren is the only one of us down in Orlando right now, he gives us an update on what it has been like in the bubble and what the players are doing. Jürgen tells us about himself, describes his playing style, and breaks down his favorite social media platform since he is already a hit with our fans. Matt gets super excited and hopes to have found a new doubles partner when he finds out Jürgen not only plays tennis, but is really good. And from the perspective of a seasoned Liga MX player, Jürgen reveals his thoughts on MLS vs Liga MX. Matt may have won $20 but somehow I think Darren is happier just to have Atlanta United themed "scratchers." Guest: Jürgen Damm: twitter.com/jurgendammr25?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 Atlanta United Group Stage Matches: 7/11 - New York Red Bulls - 8:00 p.m. EST - FOX 7/16 - FC Cincinnati - 9:00 a.m. EST - ESPN 7/21 - Columbus Crew SC - 8:00 p.m. EST - TUDN MLS is Back Tournament - Complete Broadcast Schedule: matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/ SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Head Coach Frank de Boer joins us on Spike’d Up this week and shows more of his personality than you typically get to see. We learn what games Frank was playing with his family while in quarantine, his take on Tiger King, and we review one of Frank’s most memorable assists; was it skill or was it luck? Frank also gives us an update of the upcoming tournament and how the team is looking. Guest Frank de Boer: twitter.com/FdeBoerofficial?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Coming up in England's Youth National Team with David Beckham, Atlanta United’s Director of Academy Tony Annan knows a little something about soccer and joins us this week to break down the importance of a successful academy system. As the club’s 6th (maybe 7th) employee, he has plenty of stories from early in the club’s history and shares a few with us today. He also gives us an update on what he has been doing since quarantine and how the academy teams have been coped with the changes. Tony also unveils, for the first time, that he is publishing two new children's books! Guest Tony Annan: twitter.com/TonyAnnan1?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Howard Webb, Manager of Video Assistant Referee Operations for MLS's Professional Referee Organization, joins us on this week's podcast as we go into a deep dive on VAR, how successful it's been in MLS versus other leagues around the world. We talk with him about some of his favorite memories from his career, which call was his biggest regret, and Matt finds out how often Darren and Carlos call Howard after our matches. Guest: Howard Webb: https://twitter.com/HowardMWebb?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: https://twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: https://twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra joins us this week on Spike'd Up and gives us an update on the team's morale and fitness level after returning to full team training. Darren puts the pressure on Carlos for a favorable draw in the MLS is Back Tournament. We bet Carlos to say a secret word during the tournament draw, money gets donated to Atlanta Community Food Bank and then we revisit his epic failure trying to break a glass window at the training ground in 2016. Guest: Carlos Bocanegra: https://twitter.com/BocaBoca3?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: https://twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: https://twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Atlanta United defender Anton Walkes and striker JJ Williams join us on this heavy episode of Spike Up. They share just a few of the times they experienced racism in their lives and share their opinions of how to forge a better future together. Guests: Anton Walkes: https://twitter.com/AntonWalkes?s=20 JJ Williams: https://twitter.com/JJ23Williams?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: https://twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: https://twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 "Together we will rise above this on the strength of what has always made Atlanta great – its people, its leaders of past and present and its unique culture that is welcoming to all. Our Family Foundation and the rest of our businesses here in Atlanta and elsewhere remain committed to being part of the solution.” - Arthur M. Blank We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

WSB TV Sports Director Zach Klein joins us this week on the show. We relive the early days of Atlanta United when the three of us represented the club during the Soccer In The Streets Tournament. Zach also breaks down some of the special moments in his career and some of his top stadium experiences. Plus an epic moment for a young Zach, being invited to play poker against Michael Jordan. Guest: Zach Klein: https://twitter.com/ZachKleinWSB?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: https://twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: https://twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE! Help us get some more hardware for the trophy room!! We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene, avoid social gatherings, and listen to your state/local authorities to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

They may be in the NFL now, but they will always be legends at UGA. Jake Fromm and Rodrigo Blankenship join us this week and talk about Atlanta United's footprint in Athens, how the pandemic has affected their transition into the NFL, and the surprising list of athletes from their home county of Houston County, GA. Darren relives an epic moment from 2015 when he nailed a 52 yard field goal and Atlanta United's newest hardware makes a guest appearance. SUBSCRIBE for more inside looks at Atlanta United. We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene, avoid social gatherings, and listen to your state/local authorities to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

Some of the funniest soccer dads in all of Atlanta. Current Captain Brad Guzan and former Captain Michael Parkhurst join us for this episode where we discuss homeschooling our kids, Brad thinks he is an expert carpenter now, Parky gives us an idea of what it's like to play with Brad in goal, and the boys share what the stimulus was for winning the MLS Cup in 2018. SUBSCRIBE for more inside looks at Atlanta United. We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene, avoid social gatherings, and listen to your state/local authorities to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer

One of the best duos in soccer, Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman, join us this week on Spike'd Up. We can't miss the opportunity to make Taylor eat the words he said about the city of Atlanta back when it was awarded the franchise. The boys also tell us how they have been staying busy while staying at home, their first and favorite stadiums, and we see if there are any game calls from their careers they wish they could change. Guests: Jon Champion: https://twitter.com/JonChampionJC?s=20 Taylor Twellman: https://twitter.com/TaylorTwellman?s=20 Hosts: Darren Eales: https://twitter.com/DEalesATLUTD?s=20 Matt Moore: https://twitter.com/MMooreATLUTD?s=20 SUBSCRIBE for more inside looks at Atlanta United. We miss playing for you, help us get back on the pitch and please practice good hygiene, avoid social gatherings, and listen to your state/local authorities to help slow the spread. #UniteAndConquer