RFK Refugees Podcast
We're Getting Thin on Dudes | DC United 0-0 LAFC + Transfer Deadline
Nobody predicted a 0-0. Jon said so on air, repeatedly, and he'd like the record to reflect that he's aware of it. DC United held LAFC to a single shot on goal in a sold-out Audi Field, and Kimito Nono is the reason why. He took Son Heung-min out of the match so completely that LAFC eventually gave up on the matchup and moved him centrally to find him space. Keisuke Kurokawa did the same job on the other side. Between them, DC neutralized LAFC's two most dangerous attackers and dared everyone else to solve the problem. Nobody could. The other half of the story is the one this show has been telling for months. Jackson Hopkins put the best chance of the night straight at the goalkeeper. Louis Munteanu cracked one from range that deserved better placement. And without Tai Baribo in the box, every cross DC delivered had nowhere to land. Then there's the roster. Gabe Segal's season is over without a single DC appearance. Caden Clark's move to New York was reported as done right up until it wasn't. Nikola Markovic got two minutes and won't be trusted to start anywhere until next year at the earliest. The transfer window closes tomorrow and DC are, as Jon put it, getting thin on dudes. Plus: every MLS team is returning to the US Open Cup, Jon buys season tickets roughly a week after telling you not to, and the guys disagree sharply about whether the Sprint Season should be a youth showcase. The full FC Cincinnati preview is on the Patreon show. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS DC United hold LAFC to one shot on goal — and it came off a deflection Kimito Nono keeps Son Heung-min in his pocket for ninety minutes Keisuke Kurokawa's much-improved shift, plus a goal ruled offside Andre Dozzell keeps looking like a center back nobody predicted Matti Peltola's strong run and what happens when Kye Rowles returns Patreon question from Jacob Schultz: how did Nathan Ordaz look on his first start? Four chances created, a 7.1 rating — the Ordaz numbers vs. the eye test Jackson Hopkins' 0.64 xGOT miss and the finishing problem Louis Munteanu as a standalone nine without Tai Baribo Silvan Hefti suspended, Sean Nealis in the doghouse, contract confusion Nikola Markovic's two-minute cameo and No. 1 draft pick expectations Gabe Segal's season ends through injury The Caden Clark move to New York collapses U22 slots, international slots and the supplemental list, explained Deadline day predictions: one in, one out Why MLS moved its window behind the European window Every MLS team returns to the US Open Cup — round of 64, December final Folarin Balogun's Everton move falls through Jon becomes a season ticket holder days after telling everyone not to Bluesky question: how hard is it to sit on rumors you can't report? Should the Sprint Season be a youth development showcase? Jon says yes, Ted says absolutely not
