The Average Fan: A Hartford Athletic Podcast

Hartford Athletic’s playoff run ended in heartbreaking fashion after they built a 3–0 lead over Charleston Battery, then watched the match go to penalties. Sam and Oliver unpack the collapse, asking what went wrong—and what the team can learn from a season that came so close to a historic finish.They discuss Sadat Anaku’s late-season scoring surge, Barry Coffey’s 10-goal campaign and Michee Ngalina's memorable strike, alongside Hartford’s defensive lapses, fatigue, roster depth and late substitutions. They also examine the officiating, Charleston’s composed comeback, the club’s season-long near-misses, and what the folding of USL League One clubs means for the league’s future and its plans for promotion and relegation.

Hartford Athletic are still alive in the playoffs! Sam and Oliver break down the club’s first-ever playoff win, a chaotic match against Detroit City that included an unusual red-card incident and a brace from Sadat Anaku.They also discuss Hartford’s performance with a man advantage, defensive lapses to address, and the challenge ahead against Charleston Battery. Plus: what veteran signings could mean for the USL.Subscribe to the Average Fan Podcast, leave a five-star review, and follow us on Instagram for Oliver’s training and post-match updates.

Sam Lattof records live from his car outside Gillette Stadium, and Oliver joins him from home. Together they break down Hartford Athletic's El Clamico result and look ahead to Friday's playoff match in Detroit.Timestamps0:00 Live from the car at Gillette Stadium2:29 El Clamico: an hour of flat play, then the turnaround5:43 Why Hartford struggles to start games, and how the substitutions changed the spacing8:54 How much can Samuel Careaga change a game in limited minutes?11:17 The attack: who steps up in the playoffs?13:49 Playoffs at Detroit: the road environment17:01 Detroit players to watch18:54 Hartford's defense: goalkeeper confidence and communication22:52 The one player who could make the difference24:59 Prediction: 0-0 and penalties?26:35 USL clubs folding: Westchester, Corpus Christi and Spokane rumors34:19 Hartford's stability and the coming league pyramid40:13 Wrap-up and where to follow the show41:53 Final word: vote on Tuesday, Nov 3Subscribe to the Blazing Musket YouTube page, and follow The Average Fan on Instagram for clips and Oliver's post-match and post-training thoughts.

Hartford and Rhode Island are headed for a derby with real bite, but the biggest question might not be who wins - it’s whether either team can find a goal when it matters most. Matt Enterkin from Raising Anchor joins Sam and Oliver with the inside scoop on Rhode Island FC. Oliver adds the Hartford side of the rivalry, from a run of frustrating results. Then the conversation widens to the bigger picture: the weirdly undercooked state of the Hartford-Rhode Island rivalry, the need for better fan travel and front-office marketing, and the moment when a derby stops being “just another game” and becomes something fans actually circle on the calendar. The episode closes with a full reaction to USL’s new brand identity rollout.

Hartford Athletic are in the playoffs, but the real question is whether they can fix the cracks before the games that matter most. Sam and Oliver break down the team’s frustrating run, the defensive lapses, and why Samuel Careaga's return could completely change the ceiling of this squad. The episode closes with a bigger look at the changing expectations around Hartford Athletic and what it now means when simply making the playoffs is no longer enough

Hartford Athletic just walked into the most electric home atmosphere in club history and still came up short in the USL Cup final. Oliver, Perrin, and Sam break down what went wrong, why the loss felt so brutal, and what the team has to clean up before a massive road test against Pittsburgh.Perrin, fresh off a whirlwind solo tour, brings a unique perspective from the road - from New York and DC to Kentucky, St. Louis, Louisville, and Hartford. He shares what it was like chasing matches in tiny venues, massive stadiums, and even a Red Robin in Pennsylvania.Oliver also explains why Hartford’s performance was both encouraging and frustrating at the same time: they controlled long stretches, outshot Louisville, and still lacked the final decisive moment. Perrin adds the outsider’s eye, comparing the energy in Hartford to the broader landscape he’s been documenting across American soccer - where some clubs have a real foundation to build on, and others still feel like they’re fighting for basic awareness.

Hartford Athletic are 90 minutes away from silverware, but the biggest threat to their USL Cup hopes might be the questions they still have to answer. Can Brendan Burke trust his back line after Britton Fischer’s red card? Is Michee peaking at exactly the right time? And does Louisville City have enough firepower to punish every mistake again?Sam and Oliver break down the 2-2 draw that served as a tense, windy preview for the final, including the penalty decisions, Hartford’s missed early chances, and the midfield battle that could decide Sunday. They dig into Fischer’s season-long rise and recent wobble and what Hartford must change if it wants to lift another trophy at Trinity Health Stadium.The conversation also gets into the bigger picture around Hartford Athletic, from roster health questions on Arturo Ordonez, Samuel Careaga, and Emmanuel Samadia to the club’s lingering off-field challenges with supporters, attendance, ticket prices, and front-office turnover.

Hartford Athletic just survived a rotated road test in Las Vegas, and now the real pressure starts. Before a home USL Cup final match, Hartford will play Lou City in USL Championship play.Sam Lattof and Oliver Scholes break down the 1-1 draw against the Lights, why the late push still mattered, and how a heavily changed lineup held the line through a brutal stretch of fixtures.Oliver also tackles a bigger issue in American soccer: why clubs charge for open tryouts, who that excludes, and whether Hartford should be leading differently. Then the conversation turns to next season's Northeast Division, with Portland Hearts of Pine entering the USL W League and instantly raising the stakes for everyone else.

Join us as we dive into the latest episode of The Average Fan Podcast, where we discuss Hartford Athletic's incredible run. Hartford is on fire, currently one of the hottest teams in the league, and we break down their recent matches against Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. With nine unbeaten games, can they keep the momentum going against Las Vegas Lights?