Soccer Saturday - INDY ELEVEN for 01/22/22

(0:00-5:03) Greg Rakestraw is back for another edition of Soccer Saturday on 93.5 and 107.5 the Fan. Greg opens with January World Cup qualifiers starting in less than a week, as well as a new signing that features an Indy Eleven Academy player skipping college and signing his first professional contract. He then sets the agenda for a busy hour of soccer on Indy's weekly soccer show

(8:04-18:21) Greg welcomes Indy Eleven defender Alex McQueen to the program to talk about his upcoming schedule with the Grenada National Team and how he's able to compete with that national team. McQueen touches on why it's the perfect time for him to make the jump from European soccer to the United States and his experiences playing in the fifth league of English soccer. How big of an adjustment is going from natural grass to turf? Greg asks Alex if there will be any adjustment in that category and what he's heard about the soccer and the city in Indianapolis. To finish the segment, Greg gives the back of Alex's player card so you can get to know the new Eleven defender.

(21:23-31:23) Another new addition to the Eleven stops by, this time it is defender Mechack Jerome. Greg and Mechack touch on what he remembers about his trips to play in Indy as the opponent and his transition to the city of Indianapolis. The defender has spent the overwhelming majority of the last seven years with new Indy Eleven head coach Mark Lowry and he details what about the coach makes him want to follow him wherever he goes. Jerome is also being reunited with a familiar teammate in Indianapolis. To round out the conversation, Greg and Mechack touch on the Haitian National Team, what he's heard about Indianapolis and Coach Lowry. Once again, Greg gives you the back of Alex's card to give you more information about the center back.

(34:26-45:52) It's news and notes time. Greg touches on a pair of US Men's National Team members that are linked to high profile moves on the other side of the pond, as well as the departure of one of the best to ever do it in MLS, Diego Valeri. After nine seasons in Portland, Valeri is headed back to Argentina to finish his professional career. Then, Rakestraw touches on the idea of playing a World Cup qualifier in Columbus and Minnesota during the coldest months of the year.

(48:54-56:17) To round out another edition of Soccer Saturday, Greg takes a look around the English Premier League and puts a bow on a packed show.