Tom is joined by Chris Keller, the co-owner of Brooklyn's preeminent soccer bar (and Quality Service's home base) Banter, to discuss its origins, the evolution of the game in America, and the growth of soccer-centric pubs. If you're ever looking for a place to catch a match in New York, you know where to go. Learn more about Banter: http://banterbrooklyn.com/ Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

Quality Service

The Banter Chronicles

Tom and Aaron reflect on the USMNT's humiliating 3-0 loss to arch-rivals Mexico, and discuss the institutional impediments within the U.S. Soccer Federation -- from uninspired hires (see: Berhalter, Gregg) to a stubborn refusal to "Euro-ify" the American program. Then Aaron, our resident Australian, offers a helpful point of comparison by considering the Socceroos' own struggles to develop a rich footballing culture. Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

American unexceptionalism

Quality Service returns as Tom and Aaron make sense of Eric Cantona's batshit speech and dissect this week's Champions League draw. Will any of the powerhouses be threatened? Who has the toughest group? And which club is facing more pressure to win it this year: Juventus or Manchester City? Then, the boys turn their fire on the very bad idea to form a European super league. Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

We are for the gods

Can Liverpool overtake Manchester City? Can Arsenal get top four? Could Manchester United fall outside the top six? Who will win the Golden Boot and player of the year? Tom and Aaron are joined by Deadspin staff writer Luis Paez-Pumar to answer all of these questions -- as well as some that nobody thought to ask -- in this very special Premier League preview. Follow Luis on Twitter (@lppny) and check out his excellent soccer coverage at Deadspin (https://kinja.com/luispaezpumar). Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW EXTRAVAGANZA (featuring Luis Paez-Pumar)

Aaron Timms joins Tom once again to revel in Arsenal's blockbuster acquisition of Nicolas Pepe.The two discuss where the transfer ranks among the club's other recent signings, and evaluate some of the other rumored moves around Europe. Then, the boys shift their gaze stateside to talk about this week's much-maligned response from the U.S. Soccer Federation to the USWNT's equal pay lawsuit. Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

Hey Pepe!

After overcoming the technical difficulties that forced us to scrap an episode last week, Quality Service returns with a visit from old friend Aaron Timms, who joined Tom to talk about Gareth Bale's legacy at Real Madrid and the summer transfer activity. The two close the episode with a discussion about the rape allegation brought against Cristiano Ronaldo, and how the rich and powerful so often evade accountability. Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

And we're back

Quality Service squad player John Balnaves (aka "The Contrarian") returns to the podcast to offer up some ideas on how to improve VAR, and to recap the summer transfer window so far. Then, he and Tom briefly look ahead to the ever-approaching Premier League season. Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

VARcical

Jessie Losch, a contributor to the feminist soccer website Unusual Efforts, joins Tom to talk about the U.S. women's team's triumph at the World Cup and their fight for equal pay, the growth of the women's game in Europe and (hopefully) South America, and the conservative outrage over Megan Rapinoe. Follow Jessie on Twitter (@JessieLosch) and be sure to check out the work of the "Effortistas" (www.unusualefforts.com). Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

Rapinoe got you mad, bro (featuring Jessie Losch)

Journalist and British expat Matt McDonald (@mattjpfmcdonald) joins Tom to talk about this summer's World Cup, his newfound love of women's soccer and the growth of the game in Europe, the fantastic US-England match and why he was a bit triggered by Alex Morgan's delightful tea cup celebration. Get over it, Matt! Have a Happy Fourth of July. USA! USA! USA! Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

Tea time (featuring Matt McDonald)

SB Nation's Zito Madu joins the podcast on a soccer-filled Sunday afternoon at Banter, where he discussed his family's immigration to the U.S. from Nigeria and his former life as a professional footballer. He also chatted with Tom about this summer's World Cup, why the women's game has gained traction in America but not in other soccer-obsessed nations, and the rolling calamity that is VAR. Follow Zito on Twitter (@_Zeets) and read his story that we discussed on the podcast (https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/5/16231462/soccer-immigration-united-states). Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Follow the show on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). Music by Atlantic Thrills

Yeah, Zeets (featuring Zito Madu)

In the final leg of their Iberian odyssey, Tom and Jonathan head to Estádio do Dragão in Porto for the final of the inaugural Nations League, where they captured the sounds of Portugal's second title in three years, talked to fans and reflected on their adventure. Thank you for following along with us on this incredible journey, and thank you to all the wonderful fans we met on the way. Follow the show on Twitter: @qualitypod Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Opening song: "Acid Rain" by Atlantic Thrills Closing song: "A minha Casinha" by Xutos e Pontapés

The Iberian Diaries, Chapter 7: Campeões

On match day in Guimarães, Tom and Jonathan traverse the old city, soaking up the atmosphere generated by the tens of thousands of English fans who showed up for the Nations League semifinal. But they also managed to find a couple Dutch supporters, one of whom shared a delightful story about his time in Tom's native South Dakota. Then, the boys make their way to the stadium, where they captured all the sounds from the Netherlands' 3-1 comeback victory over the Three Lions. Follow the podcast's journey on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). And stay tuned for more episodes documenting their trip. Still more to come! Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Music by Atlantic Thrills

The Iberian Diaries, Chapter 6: Don't take me home

Tom and Jonathan arrive in the medieval Portuguese town of Guimarães ahead of today's Nations League semi-final between England and The Netherlands. After watching the first semi between the hosts and Switzerland at São Tiago Square(in the shadow of an old church that just so happened to start ringing its bells after Cristiano Ronaldo's first goal), the boys are introduced to a group of English lads who drove more than 30 hours to Madrid for the Champions League final, and then pressed on to Portugal. Follow the podcast's journey on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). And stay tuned for more episodes documenting their trip. Much more to come! Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com

The Iberian Diaries, Chapter 5: Roadtrippers

What was it like to be in Madrid on the day Liverpool became champions of Europe for the sixth time? Listen for yourself. In a series of vignettes recorded over the course of 18 hours, Quality Series tells the story of the day that was: taking in the scenes from a balcony in the heart of the Spanish capital, wading through the trash and lads at Liverpool's fan fest, interacting with the supporters (including one very outnumbered Spurs fan), posting up at an intimate cantina with our friends from Banter, reacting to the match's extraordinary start, reveling in the Reds' glory. It's all there. Follow the podcast's journey on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). And stay tuned for more episodes documenting their trip. Much more to come! Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Shout out to Dosaka, the fantastic cantina that hosted us (and dozens of Liverpool fans) on Saturday. Delicious food, great -- nay, QUALITY service. Check them out if you're in Madrid: https://www.cafeteriadosaka.com/?fbclid=IwAR1c6RVHY4lDICVhvrnPRQuMclgOhvnGM27qf1Oo2UDUPhey-GblI-ly2CA

The Iberian Diaries, Chapter 4: La Sexta

New York Times chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith (@RorySmith) joins the podcast at Plaza de Santa Ana in Madrid to talk about his career, the recent accusations of the Times' pro-Liverpool bias, the potentially seismic shifts in European soccer and, of course, the Champions League final. Follow the podcast's journey on Twitter (@QualityPod) and Instagram (@qualityservicepod). And stay tuned for more episodes documenting their trip. Much more to come! Email the show: qualityservicepod@gmail.com Music by Atlantic Thrills

The Iberian Diaries, Chapter 3: Destiny is a powerful thing (featuring Rory Smith)

Quality Service is a weekly chronicle of the American soccer experience told from the perspective of the fans at the bars they call home. Hosted by Tom Kludt.

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Quality Service

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