Tunnel Talk 213: Tulsa Heat, Missing Goals and a Tampa Bay Reality Check

The Crew returns to the tunnel and immediately spends valuable recording time deciding what Europeans call American football, questioning the NFL’s overseas ambitions and proposing a 20-round, all-time Detroit City FC fantasy draft destined to end with someone selecting an MPSL backup fullback from 2013. Serious preparation continues to define Channel 4:51.

Jam survives Tulsa, oppressive humidity and life as a self-described dehydrated queen. Rhys Williams’ family carries the away section, Le Rouge finally beats FC Tulsa and Darren Smith supplies another winning goal.

Then Detroit returns home and lays an egg against Loudoun United. The Crew examines the scoreless draw, the crowded Eastern Conference table and DCFC’s continuing dependence on Smith. Detroit owns one of the league’s best defenses, yet no teammate has scored more than two league goals. Potential loan help receives a cautious welcome following several forgettable attempts from past seasons.

First-place Tampa Bay visits Keyworth next, producing predictions ranging from a 2-0 Rowdies victory to a bold 1-0 Detroit win. Haruki Yamazaki continues getting kicked across every USL stadium, Carlos Herrera keeps Detroit alive and everyone searches for a secondary scoring option.

Jam also shares details about the NGS Cares clothing drive supporting Sundays in Cass, plus an upcoming Freedom House community cleanup. The shoutouts cover Frank Lampard, Coventry City’s mysterious Detroit connection, a 1970 match at Keyworth, the missing Dennis, the women’s Black Arrow winner, Garret and Tunnel Talk’s growing audience in Burma.

It’s Tunnel Talk: serious soccer analysis after twelve minutes of pointy-ball discourse and several avoidable detours.