This week, Matt Crocker was officially announced as the new Sporting Director for U.S. Soccer. He comes from Southampton FC where he’s been their Director of Football Operations since 2020.

Since the announcement, I’ve been trying to read all I can about who he is, what he’s done, and what he might do with the USMNT. I’ve read some good things but one piece that’s been missing for me is: What do they think about him in Southampton? He’s been working there for the past three years in a role similar to the one that U.S. Soccer just hired him for. So what do folks around Southampton think about the job he’s done?

To help me answer that question, I’ve invited Jacob Tanswell to join the show. Jacob is a football reporter covering Southampton FC for The Athletic. Previously, he spent three years writing on south coast football, working as a sports journalist for Reach PLC and Dorset Live. In 2021, he was awarded the Football Writers' Association Student Football Writer of the year. He is also a regular guest on the Total Saints Podcast. You can follow Jacob on Twitter at: @J_Tanswell