3four3 Fm

We sat down for a very practical episode focused entirely on coaching knockout games — semifinals, finals, and any high-pressure elimination match. Whether you have a full week to prepare or you’re in the middle of a weekend tournament, we cover the mental side of the game first because that’s usually what decides big matches. […]

Jimmy Obleda on Keeping Your Coaching Values, Restoring Competitiveness, and Why U.S. Soccer Is Soft In episode 416, we talk with nationally renowned Uruguayan American coach Jimmy Obleda about staying true to your values, refusing to compromise standards, and not “selling your soul” to parents, players, clubs, or owners. Using Tab Ramos’s comparison of Uruguay […]

What a Great First Touch Really Is (and Why the U.S. Still Struggles) Episode 415 focuses on what “first touch” actually means, why it matters, and why it remains a major weakness in American soccer. A good first touch is defined as controlling the ball exactly as intended in any scenario, with biomechanics that look […]

We dive deep into the structure and incentives behind Major League Soccer in this episode. We explain why MLS academies exist primarily to maintain monopoly control over the elite youth pipeline rather than to develop first-team talent, how homegrown rules provide cheap labor while designated players serve as the real attraction for casual fans, and […]

We unpack three critical current events that mainstream media continues to misrepresent or ignore. First, we analyze Wilfred Nancy’s short and unsuccessful stint at Celtic, why Celtic fans saw the writing on the wall immediately, and what it teaches us about the massive gap between MLS coaching environments and genuine high-stakes European football. Next, we […]

In this episode, we tackle the heated debate around futsal in US soccer. We affirm that futsal is a fantastic tool for building technical skills and tight-space play, but we’ve seen it morph into a grift where it’s sold as the magic fix for America’s systemic issues. We address backlash from figures like Eddie Johnson, […]

American Youth Soccer and the Road to World-Class Players In this episode, we dive deeper into why the US hasn’t produced world-class soccer players, despite massive participation numbers. We address misguided views from Instagram comments, debunking myths like pay-to-play, athlete preferences for other sports, and cultural differences. We explain how the lack of an open […]

We off the new year with a variety show driven by listener questions from Instagram. Key discussions include the failure of the US to produce a world-class player despite its large population, issues with US soccer and MLS, and the importance of promotion and relegation. The episode explores how suburban soccer culture impacts player development, […]

Building a Youth Soccer Club from Scratch: Challenges and Triumphs In episode 409, we bring on Alec Lemmon, founder of Toca FC, a youth soccer club based in Kansas City. Alec shares his journey of starting the club from ground zero, the challenges faced, and the importance of values like faith, family, and football. We […]

In Episode 408, we react to the 2026 World Cup draw, highlighting the USMNT’s manageable group and debating home-field edges. Discussions turn to media missteps, like Jimmy Conrad’s flip on Pochettino, and how American soccer commentary often lacks nuance. The USL Players Union’s take on promotion/relegation gets called out for hurting player interests. Finally, insights […]

In this episode, we highlight an important interview with Mauricio Pochettino by Andres Cantor, which outlines critical insights often ignored by English-language media. We break down Pochettino’s key points on how the US can aspire to be a top-tier soccer nation, addressing issues of player entitlement, cultural differences, and systemic challenges. We also share our […]

In this episode, we dissect Mauricio Pochettino’s game-changing approach with the USMNT, from their pressing prowess in beating Paraguay and Uruguay to his bold press conference challenging media disrespect and player entitlement. We examine fan and media U-turns, the benefits of a foreign coach in reshaping US soccer culture, roster insights including surprises like Max […]

Mastering the Art of Pressing in Soccer In this packed episode we pull back the curtain on exactly how we teach teams to press with lethal organization instead of random effort. We share the cone/flag method Brian used from the youngest ages, live training footage breakdowns, pressing triggers we stole from Bielsa and Pep, how […]

In Episode 404 we went full savage on the dark arts of soccer. We explained why diving, time-wasting, shirt-pulling, ref manipulation, and mass confrontation aren’t cheating — they’re the actual game. We broke down how South American street culture creates winners while American soccer culture produces soft, naive players terrified of “unsportsmanlike” behavior. We showed […]

In this episode, we continue our conversation about coaching development in the U.S., addressing the intense pressure to win and its impact on coaching effectiveness. We emphasize the importance of winning to provide coaches with breathing room to focus on player and team development. We discuss real-life scenarios, from dealing with star players and managing […]

In this explosive episode, we kick off with Gary’s no-holds-barred rant on the USMNT’s performance against Australia, highlighting Pochettino’s culture-over-strategy mindset and why our players lack true differentiation or winning nastiness. We break down the entitlement era’s end and draw lessons from Argentine grit. Shifting to coaching development, we explore building a philosophy modeled on […]

In this episode of the 3four3 podcast, we take a hard look at the evolution of American youth soccer, reflecting on its past and critiquing its present. We discuss how the competitive, merit-based Coast Soccer League once set a high standard for youth soccer, producing top talent through a promotion-relegation system. Fast forward to today, […]

In this episode of the 3four3 podcast, Gary Kleiban and Benny Rogers expose the ongoing “brain rot” in American soccer. They go over MLS and US Soccer’s outdated dismissal of rondos, the impossibility of “playing the right way” at youth, college, or pro levels, and the national team’s struggles under coaches like Berhalter. Kicking off […]

In this powerful episode of the 3four3 Podcast, Gary Kleiban hosts Oscar Reyes, a Santa Ana native, former soccer player, and visionary club operator. Oscar, who grew up in the vibrant Latino soccer community of Santa Ana, shares his story of playing in competitive local leagues and training in Europe, only to return with a […]

In this episode, we discuss Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure with the USMNT, exploring how his bold approach—calling up MLS players and challenging the entitlement of A-listers—is shaking up the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. We go into why his strategy to test depth and foster competitive fire is critical, even if it ruffles feathers […]