The Hot Cast

After a week of technical difficulties, the Hot Cast returns. Ruben and RJ discuss the Revs match and contrast that performence with the two lost games from last week. But before that, they talk about the staleness of the club overall, and how much these last couple of weeks are going to stink.

however, there was some positives. They discuss the play of the young talented core of players they have including Jonathan Dean and Brian Gutierrez's (before his injury) games. Ruben also pushes back on the push back he's been getting over Carlos Teran being good.

Then, they discuss the Eastern Conference playoff race and how no one actually wants to be in the 8/9 play-in game. Because of that the Fire are still in it! It's a joke! All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast!

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Ruben and RJ return to the Hot Cast to discuss everything going wrong with the Chicago Fire. They talk about the seeming lack of effort on display against DC and the disappointment they have in the front office and coaching staff, along with the players. They also have a deep discussion on the role of the designated player and whether or not they should be looked at to be leaders of the team.

In the second half of the show, they talk about playing the Fire's kids and what a lineup where they do that will look like. All of that plus what the boys are going to do during the international break on this week's Hot Cast.

On this week's episode of the Hot Cast, recorded just after Wednesday's final; whistle, Ruben is... upset at the approach the coaching staff Fire took in last week's losses in LA and Vancouver, but especally against the Whitecaps. He reads the riot act to the coaching staff while RJ does his best to calm him down while also acknowledging what a poor display the Fire put on.

Things get lighter in the second half of the show. They talk about all the clubs around the Fire also slipping up and preview Saturday's winnable game against DC United in DC. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast.

You can support the podcast via Patreon over at patreon.com/TheLantern

Ruben and RJ return to the Podcast Studio after what was determined to be a sad performance by the Chicago Fire. They discuss the lack of verve and desire at the end of the game. and talk about Georgios Koutsias's poor performence.

On the flip side, They talk about how good the Fire's spine was with the addition of Ousmane Doumbia and how despite his bad performence, Koutsias's disallowed goals were more unfortunate bad luck than anything else.

In the second half of the show, they talk about the Fire's playoff position-- the loss didn't really affect them. And the upcoming week against LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps. And in the last few minutes, they touch on Portland changing coaches and a host of other topics.

You can support the podcast over at Patreon.com/TheLantern

Ruben and RJ return to the microphone to discuss the end of the Fire's run in the Leagues Cup at the hand of Club America. They discuss the Fire's performence in the match and how it was actually pretty good from a certain point of view. They talk about Mauricio Pineda and Osumene Doumbia's growth and the offense's continued struggles to create and score goals.

In the show's second half, they step back and look at the Leagues Cup as a whole to try and find some meaning in the tournament. Plus, they speak on what they're looking forward to as the European Season is about to begin. All of that plus Ruben has a video game recommendation on this week's Hot Cast.

you can support the show at patreon.com/TheLantern

The Fire finished P1 in the Central 2 group over Pachuca and Minnesota United and Ruben and RJ needed to discuss it with you! They started by discussing the tournament as a whole and tried to determine it's value to the soccer ecosystem. Then they went on to discuss the Fire's performence and what they did to get on top.

In the second half of the show, they look forward to Friday's match against Club America. Ruben gets all football romantic about it and RJ has to bring him crashing down to reality. All of that plus 90 seconds of Messi talk on this weeks's Hot Cast.

Ruben and RJ are back just in time to take a break! They discuss the Fire's recent good run of results, but both of them have questions about the quality of those performances. Then in the second half of the show, they discuss the League's Cup, its worth as a tournament, and how they think the Fire will get on in it. All of that plus a fun idea brewing on this Week's Hot Cast!

Thank You to all out patrons over at patreon.com/TheLantern

The Fire followed up their 2 road wins with an egg-laying in central Florida, and your hosts try to figure out what went wrong. Ruben and RJ discuss the Fire and Orlando's tactical approach, poor refereeing, and the Fire's lackluster performence, all of which contributed to the loss.

They then talk about what it would take for the Fire to still, despite everything, be a playoff contender.

Then in the second half of the show, they talk about the Jim Curtin news and what it means for the Fire's coaching search. They also decide whether it was a mistake by ownership to wait until the offseason to make a hire.

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On today's episode of the Hot Cast, Ruben and RJ discuss the 6-point week on the road for the Chicago Fire. They start with the 2-1 win in Portland and use that game as a framework to discuss the emerging greatness that is Brian Gutierrez. They also talk about Jairo Torres and his improvements, as well as the return to the back 4 and how that's helped them. They then talk about the win against Kansas City and dicsuss whether or not this was the best win of the year.

In the show's second half, they talk about new signing Ousmane Doumbia and what his signing could mean for the way the Fire play in the future, and what it means for the current roster.

All of that plus RJ's opinion on the League of Legends Coke on this week's Hot Cast.

The Chicago Fire have been eliminated in the US Open Cup and we're here to talk about it. Ruben and RJ discuss the penalty decision and how it was game over afterward, the questionable tactics from Head Coach Frank Klopas, and how the roster was not prepared for the schedule congestion. Then they spend some time on where the Fire go from here and we stake our early claim on who the new manager should be of all the known candidates. All of that plus some rage and sadness on this week's Hot Cast.

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The Hot cast is back and so is the Frank Klopas era! Ruben and RJ discuss his two first league games and the highs and lows their in. They talk about how on the road, his conservative approach led to Charlotte having too much time on the ball, whereas RJ talks about how the players let themselves down. Then they talk about the St. Louis match and how Frank got the personnel and the tactics 100% right. They go on to discuss how he can try to find some sort of middle ground.

After thanking our patrons, They then talk about Xherdan Shaqiri and try to identify what if anything is different is going on with him. Then they move on to the games at the weekend and whether or not they should rotate the squad at home against Atlanta to make sure they have the best chance of winning their Round of 16 Open Cup match in Austin midweek. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast

Ruben and RJ are back to discuss an action-packed week in Fire soccer, and it's not even over yet. They start with the game against Nashville and talk about how much it stunk to lay down in service of the Open Cup midweek. Then they discuss Ezra Hendrickson firing what it means for the club, and how Frank Klopas would change the team. They transition nicely into the Open Cup game from Tuesday. They discuss how the team played well and how they dealt well with St. Louis's press at times. Then they look at Saturday and beyond to see how the next few weeks could go for the club.

Thank you to everyone who supports the podcast and everything else going on at patreon.com/TheLantern

Ruben and RJ are back after a disappointing draw with the New York Red Bulls. They discuss some big-picture themes on what's going on before getting on to the game proper. There, they discuss the pleasant surprise of Meran Halie-Selassie and what he means for the team. Then they talk about the goal at the end of the game, and discuss what is actually the real problem. After that and the Patreon thank yous, they look forward to the game against Nashville. All of that plus RJ reviews a Jack & Coke on this week's Hot Cast.

Ruben and RJ are back post US Open Cup to discuss the last week of Fire soccer. They start, inevitably, with Xherdan Shaqiri and the Fire's loss against Atlanta United. They discuss the wasted good performances and worry about things other than performence deciding lineups. Then they discuss the first-ever Chicago Derby as the Fire took on Chicago House for the very first time. They talk about how impressed they were with the amateur squad and what the game meant to them. Finally they talk about the upcoming game against the Red Bulls—all that and more on this week's Hot Cast.

You can support the podcast over at Patreon.com/TheLantern

Welcome back to the Hot Cast. On today's show, Ruben and RJ go over another collapse against the Philidelphia Union. They start by discussing Gastoin Gimenez's value while Ruben asks if he's either the only sane man or the actual crazy one when mentioning how valuable the former DP is to the team this year. Then they spend some time talking about Xherdan Shaqiri and Georgios Koutsias, who made their return from injury and team debuts respectfully. Then, after taking a break to thank our Patrons (patreon.com/thelantern), they go on to discuss the defense and the problems the team face there. They end the show with concerns over this Sunday's game against Atlanta. All of that plus RJ's allergies on this week's Hot Cast.

PS. I apologize for the audio. We had some technical difficulties.

The Chicago Fire have won two in a row, but more importantly, they have an opponent for their Third Round Open Cup match, and It's Chicago House! Ruben and RJ start this week's show by talking about the cupset and giving some Open Cup trivia about the last time the Fire played another team from the Chicagoland tournament in the oldest of American Soccer traditions. After that, they then transition to talking about the Fire's relatively easy win over Minnesota United and the looming specter of Xherdan Shaqiri. Then after thanking our Patrons, they go on to talk about next week's clash with the CCL-depleted Philidelphia Union. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast.

You can Support the podcast at patreon.com/TheLantern

Ruben and RJ are back this week for a quick episode of the Hot Cast. In today's show, they discuss the 0-0 draw against a DC United side trying to figure themselves out. They talk about the improvements at full-back for the Fire and how that will help them move forward. After that, they talk a bit about up front and what the club needs to do to get back to the way they were playing and scoring in the last two weeks. Then they go on to discuss the upcoming game against MNUFC. All of that plus Ruben has a cold on this week's HotCast.

Welcome back to the Hot Cast! Ruben and RJ return to discuss the Fire's first win of the year. Unfortunately, it's not the happy discussion that one would think. The Fire blew a 2-0 lead and the hosts are feeling some type of way about it. They also discuss Ezra Hendrickson's stubbornness about the number 10 situation. Then they go on to talk about next week's game against DC United and what to expect from Wayne Rooney's side. All that plus RJ's pizza adventures on this week's Hot Cast.

The Chicago Fire blew another 2 goal lead and Ruben and RJ have things to say! On this week's episode of the Hot Cast, your hosts discuss the collapse against Cincinnati while also being positive about the things they should be positive about like the play of Maren Haile-Selassie and Brian Gutierrez. Ruben then breaks down where the Fire went wrong on the goals. Then they discuss why they play better with Gaston Gimenez and without Xherdan Shaqiri. All of that plus them desperately trying not to talk about the World Baseball Classic on this week's Hot Cast.

Welcome back to they return of the HotCast. On Today's show, Ruben and RJ talk about the two opening games of the season, and how much trouble they think the Fire are actually in. They break down what worked and didn't work against NYCFC and Philly; including a breakdown of the how the Fire stopped the Union from finding many dangerous chances. Then they discuss the news of the new left-back,  the new training facility, and more. It's all that and the World Baseball Classic on this week's HotCast. 

The Chicago Fire are back and so is the Hot Cast! For the 5th year, Ruben and RJ Preview the season just days before the first match against NYCFC. They review all the outgoing and incoming players before talking about each position group and their key players, including what they think about Kacper Przybylko, Xherdan Shaqiri, and new face Arnoud Souquet (and hear Ruben struggle with basic French pronunciation) After that and a time out to thank our Patreon subscribers, we then move on to discuss the weekend's matchup wth NYCFC. All of that plus what RJ thinks of the confetti kit on this week's Hot Cast.

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The 2023 schedule is out and that means the return of the Hot Cast! Ruben and RJ return to talk first about the last month or so of soccer. From the World Cup and Xherdan Shaqiri's performances to the tragedy surrounding Grant Whal's passing. Then they talk bout Jhan Duran's situation. What clubs are coming for him, and where the best place for him to end up would be. After that, they transition into talking about the Fire's schedule. What are the most interesting games? What's the toughest stretch for the club? And is it an easy schedule or difficult? All of that and more on this schedule reveal edition of the Hot Cast. 

It's been an absolutely crazy couple of days in Qatar and Ruben and Alex are here to talk about it. Group E and Group H finished off with some crazy results and some surprise additions to the knockout stage. Ghana get revenge of a sort against Uruguay for the actions of 12 years ago and South Korea continue the country's year of miracles by beating Portugal and qualifying themselves into the last 16. Their reward? A match against Brazil. Meanwhile, the hosts look forward to the first knockout round. Ruben has some American optimism while Alex is not so sure. And Did Spain Miscalculate by wanting to finish 2nd in the Group? All that and more on the Group Stage wrap up edition of the World Cast

Welcome to episode 2 of the World Cast, Hot Time's World Cup podcast. Today on the show, Ruben and Alex start by talking about their feelings on the tournament as a whole, from the lack of quality games and the crackdown on protesters of all sorts to the amazing upsets and teams underperforming. Then they go over all the groups and scenarios on who will make the knockout stage. They talk about what went wrong for Mexico, which team is going to play spoiler, and which Cinderella teams are going to make it to the dance. They end the show discussing USA vs Iran and why Geovanni Reyna is going to be the most important player in the squad tomorrow. All that plus Can Wales ruin the England party on this edition of the World Cast! 

Welcome to the World Cast! Hot Time in Old Town's World Cup podcast. In this episode, Ruben and Alex preview the group stage and get you ready for the month-long journey in West Asia. They start by going over the USMNT roster and attempt to figure out who's going to start up top and on the wings, as well as what their ideal XI is. They then go group by group talking about the teams and who will survive to the knockout stage. There are some spicy hot takes here, and you don't want to miss out on which big teams they think are going out in groups! But before all of that, there was a bit of MLS news they had to discuss. The pricing of the Apple TV deal was released and both Ruben and Alex have some thoughts (The WC preview starts at 10:52 if you want to skip the MLS media talk). All of that plus what is going to be the most entertaining game of the group stage on this preview edition of the World Cast.

On the final episode of the HotCast for the 2022 season, Ruben and RJ take stock of the Fire in a free-flowing conversation that takes you all over the place. They start with the question of whether or not the campaign was a disappointment (it was) and from there, they discuss what part randomness had to play in the fate of the 2022 Men in Red. From there, they discuss what the club needs to do in the offseason to improve, and little room for error there is. Plus, Ruben has a bad take about the GM position. All of that and more on the season finale of the Hot Cast

On this week's episode of the Hot Cast, Ruben and RJ break down all things Fire at Cincinnati. They discuss all the blossoming of young talent on this team after the Team of the Week performances by both Brian Gutierrez and Jhon Duran. They then question whether or no the team is better without Xherdan Shaqiri, and what that could mean going into next year. They then leapfrog from that to discussing where the Fire would be best served by DP's with all this young talent on the roster. Do you want to stick a DP in front of Guti, Duran or Mueller? And finally, at the end of the show, they also briefly discuss the findings of the Yates investigation of the NWSL misconduct allegations. All that and more on The Hot Cast.  

The Hot Cast returns as Ruben and RJ are here to herald the end of the season. They start the show talking about Saturday's collapse against Charlotte, and the play of Kendell Burks, and how he's a talented but not an MLS-level player. (yet, according to Ruben) And from there, they talk about Xherdan Shaqiri. How he seems uninterested in helping the Fire and they discuss whether or not the Fire should accept a deal for him, what a deal like that would look like, and where it could come from. After that they talk about some of the good things that came from that game, including the emergence of Jhon Duran and the continued improvement of Brian Gutierrez. All of that plus some needed clarification on their comments about Georg Heitz and Nelson Rodriguez.  

On today's show, Ruben and RJ talk about the virtual end of the Chicago Fire's season. They go over the good, bad, and indifferent of the two games against Miami and Montreal- including the performances of their younger players. That dovetails into a discussion about Ezra's job as a coach as well as Georg Heitz's positive and negative qualities. Then, they start thinking about next season a bit as they discuss where the roster needs to improve, and what space they have on the roster to do so. All of that plus Gaga under Graham Potter on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ are back to discuss the week in Fire news. They start by briefly discussing the results of the two Derbys from last week, both 0-0 draws on the road. They complain a bit about the Gillette Stadium field quality and lament the lack of finishing from Fire attackers. Then they talk about the injuries that have plagued the team's creative players for the last month. They then get positive with praise for the defense and the job the coaching staff have done to make them one of the best units in MLS. All of that plus a look ahead on this week's Hot Cast.  

Ruben and RJ are back this week to prematurely eulogize the Chicago Fire's season. They dissect the loss against Montreal and explain how it wasn't that bad a performance until they couldn't score any goals. They then talked about the injuries to Shaqiri and Czichos and how that, more than the loss itself, was the nail in the Fire's coffin. They then talk about how the club are going to finish the season with these injuries and a two-game rivalry week on the horizon. Finally, they talk about the emotions of the upcoming week of matches and Ruben tries to convince you to go to Columbus this weekend. All that and more on this week's Hot Cast.

Ruben and RJ are back to discuss the demoralizing loss to NYCFC. They break down what went wrong for the Fire, including an in-depth explanation of what happened during the pigeon's first goal. They also discuss what City did well and how they smothered the Fire's potent midfield attack. They eventually move on to talk about the injury problems and what they're going to do if Carlos Teran isn't healthy. They also look at the remaining 8 games to see if the Fire can do the damn thing. Ruben is more positive whereas RJ has trouble believing, and you can't really blame him. All that and more on this week's Hot Cast.

The Hot Cast returns to look at the Fire's loss against the Union. Ruben and RJ break down the defensive errors, and both of them have positive and negative things to say. They then talk about what the Fire should do moving forward without Gaston Gimenez, including tactics and personnel decisions that need to be made rather quickly. After that, they leave MLS behind to talk a little about the first ever Girrard/Lampard coaching derby and a detour to the Field of Dreams game. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ return with another episode of the Hot Cast. On today's show, they rap about the Fire's come from behind win on the road in Charlotte. They discuss how this wouldn't have happened in the past, and how this team's mental fortitude projects to good things going forward. They also talk about how good the defense was, considering the circumstances, and they praise Xherdan Shaqiri and Kacper Przybylko for finally coming into their own.

 Then they talk about all the news from the last week. They go over the Chinonso Offor deal, and Ruben explains why it was good, even if at first glance it looks like they got hosed in the deal. They then spend a few minutes talking about the Jhon Duran Instagram controversy. All of that plus EVO 2022 on this week's Hot Cast! 

Welcome back to the Hot Cast. Ruben and RJ start the show with the big news of the week; Gabriel Slonina's impending transfer to Chelsea in England. They discuss what it means for his career, the pros and cons of the move, and what it means for the Fire. Then they go on to break down the Fire's 0-0 draw with Atlanta. They talk about Jairo Torres getting the start, as well as all of the other tweaks Ezra Hendrickson made over the weekend. They also talk about what tactical changes he could make to get the best team on the field. Plus, Ruben makes a bold tactical comparison in which an ex-Fire player is involved. All that and more on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ return to the Hot Cast! On today's show, your hosts discuss the amazing turnaround of the Fire's season over the last 10 or so days. They talk about what's happened for the Fire to get there, and what they need to do to continue to get better in order to not just make the playoffs, but do some damage there. They look forward to the weekend against Atlanta and fantasize about the results. All of that plus RJ's Food Review on Water!!! on this week's Hot Cast. 

On today's episode of the Hot Cast, Ruben and RJ break down the game against Columbus. They discuss the role the front office and coaching staff played in the Fire's total collapse, and what Ezra and co. could have done to change the outcome. They then have a frank discussion on where the club is both in the season and toward the future. Then things get a bit positive toward the end as Ruben discusses all the good stuff from Saturday, including the continued maturation of Jhon Duran and Brian Gutierrez. All of that plus convenience store pizza on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ are back to squeeze in a HotCast! Recorded just after the Final Whistle on Wednesday, your hosts revel in the victory as much as they can, breaking down what went right against Philly that didn't happen on Saturday in Houston. They talk about Shaqiri's effectiveness and relitigate where he's most effected. All of that and more on this post-game edition of the Hot Cast.

Note: Ruben was feeling sick and tested positive for Covid the next day. We apologize for any quality issues. 

Ruben and RJ are back from the international break, and so are the Fire's winning ways! Your hosts break down all the happenings of the match. They praise the breakout performance of Brian Gutierrez as well as heap praise on Chris Mueller. Then they talk about the narrative surrounding Gaston Gimenez and how is performances don't quite fit it. They go on to talk about all the things they missed from their time off. RJ has some thoughts on the Arlo White situation, and Both Ruben and RJ have thoughts on the Apple TV situation. All of that plus NASCAR(!?) on this week's Hot Cast.

Start your 4 day week right with this week's episode of the Hot Cast. Ruben and RJ talk about the heartbreaker against TFC and what went wrong (spoiler, not much), and why it always seems to happen to the Fire. Then, they talk tactics. They figure out why things looked so good over the weekend Ruben makes an argument that the Fire are clearly better then their record is, and RJ pushes back a little. After they exhaust the topic, they talk a bit about the weekend in world soccer. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast. 

Note: This was recorded Saturday Night due to scheduling conflicts over the weekend 

The Hot Cast is tired. Ruben and RJ slog through the week that was in Chicago Frie Soccer. They talk through the Fire's week in New York and while there was a lot of good play, the results trump the good progress they've made. They continue to talk about the struggles of Xherdan Shaqiri and what the team has to do to get him going. They then branch out to talk a bit about the larger soccer world, as it was the final day of the Premier League and Serie A. It was not a good day for one of our hosts. All of that and more on this week's episode of the Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ return with a brand new Hot Cast after the Fire's loss to FC Cincinnati. Today, they go over what went wrong with the Fire's defense and why they can't seem to find the back of the net except on set pieces. They have a long discussion about Xherdan Shaqiri and where he could help the team because it doesn't seem like the middle is it. However, the boys are actually pretty optimistic about the club's future despite the loss, so if you want some reassurance for the rest of the year, this is the show for you! All of that plus an RJ Food Review on this week's Hot Cast.

Ruben and RJ return for a brand new episode of the show. Ruben sounds like he's in a fish bowl because he's developed an allergy to bad defense, and the Fire are trying to kill him. They break down what went wrong on the turf fields of the Benz, including a disastrous performance by Carlos Teran. They then talk about what to do with Xherdan Shaqiri and where he's the most effective. Ruben then gets positive about the future while RJ seems a little less convinced. All of that and more on this week's Hot Cast! Now on Mondays!

Ruben and RJ return after a week off because Ruben was moving. They discuss the loss to the Red Bulls and why this keeps happening. They discuss the officiating quality of Jon Freedman as well as MLS and PRO referees as a whole, bemoaning their general lack of consistency and compatance. Then they talk about Jairo Torres and Chris Mueller’s impending arrivals, and what that would mean tactically for the squad. Spoiler: 2011 Real Madrid gets a mention. All that plus RJ’s long-awaited two-sentence review of Hazy Pitch on this week’s Hot Cast.

The Chicago Fire are out of the Open Cup, and Ruben and RJ are here to talk about it. They go over every little detail of the match from coaching strategy to the on-field performances to the rub of the green and lack of it. No stone is unturned and nothing is left unsaid. Then they run down the results from the rest of the 3rd round and go over tonight's fixtures. They also take a bit of time to go over the LA Galaxy match from last weekend and look forward to the trip up to Minnesota at the weekend. It's all that plus some expensive hot dogs on this week's Hot Cast. 

The Chicago Fire finally lost and Ruben and RJ are back this week to discuss the inevitable. They go over the loss to Orlando including praise of the Defense's attention to detail. They also discuss the lack of offensive production, and Ruben finally gives you all permission to panic. Brian Gutierrez's red card is also talked about, and your hosts talk about the lack of discipline of the squad and how they have to wake up to the new reality of not being able to disrupt quick restarts. All of that plus a look to the LA Galaxy this weekend on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ are here to discuss all things Chicago Fire. They begin the show talking about the 0-0 draw with FC Dallas that kept the Brimstone Cup in Chicago for another year. They talk through the team's reaction to having their two most important signings of the winter be out and still be able to get a result. Rhen they talk through their worries about the attack and what they need to do going forward. Then they react to the Fire making the top 10 of the MLS power rankings for the first time in years, and what that tells us about how the MLS Inteligencia feels about the team. All of that plus the US Open Cup 2nd round on this week's Hot Cast. 

Ruben and RJ are back this week after taking the international break early due to health reasons, so they have a jampacked show for you today. First, they talk a bit about the win over SKC and how well they played on the day and what it means going forward. They also discuss the big picture of the Fire's first 4 games. What's impressed them, and what they're still worried about. They then spend the second half of the show talking about all sorts of miscellaneous soccer stuff. They talk about how the CAF and AFC need more love from the west, and how Ocianna does not. They then talk a bit about the USMNT and circle back around to Saturday's match against FC Dallas. All of that and Kingdom Hearts on this week's Hot Cast.