I am excited to launch Episode 2 of Extra Time with Collins with Sacramento Republic FC Manager Neill Collins.
As a refresher, Extra Time was something I originally launched years ago with former Republic FC Managers Paul Buckle and later with Simon Elliott for Indomitable City Soccer, and I am excited that it’s back.
In our latest conversation, Collins and I discussed the club’s recent form, the importance of this week’s two-game road trip where they will face FC Tulsa and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, his go-to State Fair food, and more. In some instances, our conversation was edited for clarity and brevity. Happy reading!
Another impressive win last Saturday against Sporting Club Jacksonville. That marks two-consecutive wins, and you’re unbeaten across your last four matches. Anything different that you’re seeing over the past few weeks from the guys?
[I would say] consistency in team selection. We’ve been able to select, you know, guys in the right positions, which helps, as opposed to maybe some things happen to push guys into different areas to fill a role due to injuries — so consistency. We had a big turnover here, [but] it’s almost at the end of a cycle.
At the end of last year, we had RoRo [Rodrigo Lopez] retiring, Nick Ross and Russell Cicerone leaving…like guys that had been [around] three or four really successful seasons, so it takes a little bit of time to turn that around.
Fans have been thirsting for goals and more consistency in the final third. Is the last two games more of what you expected when the season started, or am I reading too much into a couple of games?
Yeah, we planned this squad around being able to do what we did tonight. There are a lot underlying numbers that show that we’ve been pretty close to that. But if you don’t put the ball on the net, and the fans are right too, where are the goals?
But I think we’re heading in the right direction and [last Saturday], that isn’t an endpoint. It’s just something that gives us confidence to just continue to build.
A few months ago, we talked about how tight the Western Conference table might be. Like, every point would matter. Is it playing out as you expected?
Yes, every three points is going to be very valuable. Every game against Western Conference opponents is going to be vital…taking points off of them. But yes, it's continuing to take the trend that we expect, that anyone can beat anyone.
Some of the games [last weekend] were crazy. We need to win the ends, and if we continue to win games, that will put us in a really good position.
Two massive road games coming up this week. You’ll be on the road for essentially a week. I know we just talked about how every game is important, but how critical is this trip for the club to keep the momentum going?
Listen, we’re going away for a week together. It’s definitely easier heading away on the back of a five nil victory. But we spend a lot of time together. This is a resilient group and we’re going to need all that resilience this week. It’s a great challenge.
I think it’s two of the toughest road games you can have based on the environment you’re going into. So it’ll be very different from what it felt like tonight, but we’re gonna have to show a different side of ourselves. But I think we can do that.
Final question, the State Fair was a nice backdrop over the weekend. Obviously, the Fair is known for its eclectic food. Do you have a go-to Fair food?
Honestly, something simple. Like popcorn. I would be happy with that [laughs].
William Hodges is a contributor with U.S. Soccer, TheCup.Us and was formerly editor of Indomitable City Soccer. You can follow him on X @william_hodges.