Total Soccer Show: USMNT, Champions League, EPL, and more ...

Taylor talks to Lutz Pfannenstiel about the many ups and downs of his playing career, his philosophy when it comes to scouting and roster construction, and the value American players represent in the Bundesliga. Plus, how he managed to bring in Zack Steffen, and why it's best not to end up in a Singapore prison.

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Hims! Get your first month free here

Use code SOCCER at SundayScaries.com for 25% off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's listener questions! Got one for us? Please submit here

Timestamps:

1:40 — Black Lives Matter

9:05 — Can the USMNT win the 2026 World Cup?

21:15 — Use code SOCCER at SundayScaries.com for 25% off

23:10 — What are some of the most famous examples of players protesting?

32:30 — Why wasn't Kaylor Navas in our best player in Concacaf discussion?

37:55 — Advertise with The Athletic's podcast network! Visit TheAthletic.com/podcastads to learn more

40:10 — Can you tell us more about your guys' time as announcers with the Richmond Kickers?

51:02 — Why are young players with attacking talents but limited defensive skills asked to play fullback?

58:45 — Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free shipping

1:01:11 — If there's an MLS lockout, could players play elsewhere?

1:09:40 — If you could have any soccer memorabilia in the world, what would it be?

1:15:40 — When hiring a head coach, what four or five traits would you look for?

Sign up for the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Big Virtual Climb, sponsored by Abbvie, at LLS.org/bigclimb

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Lowery is joined by John Muller of American Soccer Analysis to talk about goals added, the new soccer metric that captures the effect of every touch on the ball on that team's chances of scoring or conceding and might change the way we measure soccer.

John says goals added is a soccer metric that "tells us what matters" on the field.

See more of John's work at AmericanSoccerAnalysis.com

SPONSORS!

Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two-day shipping

Use code SOCCER for 25% off at SundayScaries.com 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a slightly somber start, Ryan and Taylor discuss the Premier League restart, plans for the resumption of the Champions League, and a looming lockout in MLS. Plus, goals galore in Bayern Munich v Dusseldorf and Paderborn v Dortmund, as well as Schalke's continued poor form merits further discussion.

Oh, and I can't stress this enough... neither David Guetta nor his musical attempts at whatever he was musically attempting are featured on this episode. 

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by..,

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Hims! Get your first month free here

Visit DrinkHydrant.com/soccer for 25% off your first order  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plenty to talk about on today's show. Here are your timestamps:

1:40 — Premier League is coming back June 17

13:55 — Use code TSS for 10% off at Hawthorne.co

16:25 — Possible changes to Concacaf qualifying for the 2022 World Cup

23:30 — Gregg Berhalter indicates the USMNT will defend in a pressing 4-3-3

30:30 — Jesse Marsch wins the Austrian Cup!

35:55 — Visit Podiumwear.com to order your team soccer kits or to order a custom face mask

LISTENER QUESTIONS

Got a question for us? Please send via http://totalsoccershow.com/questions

38:40 — Why is women's soccer more valued than men's soccer at the Olympics?

42:50 — Who is the best player in Concacaf?

46:10 — Who would you rather have on your favorite team — Diego Lainez, Christian Pulisic, or Alphonso Davies?

49:24 — Glorious sidetrack into a Weston McKennie at Schalke conversation

58:50 — Use code SOCCER for 25% off at SundayScaries.com

1:02:25 — Which league has the best-looking trophy?

1:07:29 — What is typically included in a player contract?

1:17:35 — Use code TSS20 for 20% off plus free shipping at Manscaped.com

1:20:45 — Why can center backs stay competitive at older ages

1:25:40 — What are 2-3 non-American, non-English things worth knowing about the Bundesliga?

1:29:35 — If you had to pitch a Bundesliga team to a novice American soccer fan, which team would it be and why?

1:32:45 — Daryl's take on  what happened wit Joshua Kimmich's goal versus Borussia Dortmund

1:36:25 — Non-soccer things we've been watching

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio discuss the USMNT's depth chart and pick their preferred starting elevens

This episode is a companion to Paul's interview with Gregg Berhalter, which Athletic subscribers can read here: https://theathletic.com/1844942/2020/05/29/

Not a subscriber? Sign up via http://theathletic.com/totalsoccer

SPONSORS!

Register for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Big Virtual Climb, sponsored by Abbvie, at lls.org/bigclimb

Visit PodiumWear.com now for custom face masks and in the future for custom soccer team kits.

Check out Hawthorne.co and use code TSS for 10% off your first purchase

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NWSL is returning to action this summer, with the NWSL Challenge Cup scheduled to run from June 27 until July 26th, when a tournament champion will be crowned. To  explain the creation of the competition, as well as the proposed structure, dates, format, and competitors, Taylor talks to The Athletic's Meg Linehan. And by "talks to" I mean "sits and listens as she does all the heavy lifting." 

You can find Meg's work over at The Athletic

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manuel Veth is on the line to discuss Schalke's abysmal form, a looming goalkeeper battle at Bayern Munich, the most valuable Americans, and why Jadon Sancho might not be on the move but that doesn't mean Dortmund will have a quiet summer. Plus, why are Stuttgart bad, why are Hertha Berlin suddenly good, and much more!

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Visit DrinkHydrant.com/soccer for 25% off your first order  

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby "I take audio production seriously" Warshaw returns to the show to help break down Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich. How fine were the margins, how much has Alphonso Davies developed, how Bayern frustrated Dortmund's approach, and how strange it was to hear crowd noise without a crowd?

Of course, we also meander into a wide range of other topics including podcasts that Bobby thinks are better than ours, the best ways to discuss soccer without relying on "hot take" formats, if predestination is a valid reason for avoiding player analysis, and much much more.

If you want to read all of Bobby's book (which I definitely have) you can find it here

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Podiumwear.com Get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Hawthorne.co Take care of yourself, smell good, AND get 10% off your first purchase when you use the promo code "TSS"

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There gave been many great Designated Players in MLS history, and then there have been quite a few that have been the opposite of that. Joe and Jordan work together to determine the consensus (ish) best DPs in league history, including David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and many more. If you're new to American soccer, there's also an explanation of the Designated Player Rule and how it came to be.

Sponsors! Today's episode of MLS Assist is brought to you by...

Podiumwear.com Get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Visit DrinkHydrant.com/soccer for 25% off your first order  

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan and Taylor review the biggest moments from Sunday's Bundesliga action

1. Schalke 0 - Augsburg 3
2. Mainz 0 - RB Leipzig 5
3. Koln 2 - Dusseldorf 2

They then preview the midweek fixtures, including Dortmund-Bayern, Leverkusen-Wolfsburg, and Leipzig-Hertha.

Sponsors! Today's episode of The Total Soccer Show is brought to you by...

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Register for their Big Virtual Climb here. 

Podiumwear.com Get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Hawthorne.co Take care of yourself, smell good, AND get 10% off your first purchase when you use the promo code "TSS"

REMINDER! Grant Wahl has a podcast! if you haven't already, you can subscribe in a number of different ways:

Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3:13 - Wolfsburg v Dortmund: John Brooks does his best to stifle Erling Haaland and Company

16:41 - Today's show is sponsored by... TheBlackTux.com — use code SOCCER for 10% off

18:42 - Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt: Alphonso Davies is good.

 33:27 - Today's show is sponsored by... GetRoman.com/TSS — for a free online visit and free two-day shipping

35:18 - Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen: Kai Havertz can not be contained!

48:09 - Freiburg v Werder Bremen: Sargent on the field as Bremen get three points!

Today's show is sponsored by Remarkably Remote! Listen to Remarkably Remote, the new microcast from GoToMeeting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your second favorite soccer-podcast-duo go deep on Major League Soccer's plan to resume play via a summer tournament in Orlando. What will be the structure, who will be the seeded teams, and how are the groups determined? Your Allocation Disorder hosts have the answers, as well as information on how the season will resume after the tournament.

If you want to read more about The Orlando Approach, The Athletic has got you covered:

Here's some combined reporting on the plan.

And here's Jeff "Please pronounce it like the news agency" Rueter with additional info on the structure and protocols that are currently taking shape.

SPONSORS:

TheBlackTux.com — use code SOCCER for 10% off

GetRoman.com/TSS — for a free online visit and free two-day shipping

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here are you timestamps!

Starting at 3:05 — The Premier League is back in action! Sort of. They're training at least. In small groups. And the Bundesliga is back this weekend, we let you know which game are on TV, and which games to look out for. Gio Reyna-watch starts now.

PROFILES:

26:30 — The Celtic FC Lisbon Lions of 1967

38:40 — The Bayern Munich team of the 1970s, featuring Gerd Muller, Franz Beceknbauer, and Uli Hoeness

1:10:30 — Red Star Belgrade 1991

1:14:25 — Steaua Bucharest 1986

1:30:23 — Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan, 1988-90

SPONSORS:

Listen to Remarkably Remote, the new microcast from GoToMeeting

Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two day shipping.

Go to DrinkHydrant.com/TSS for 25% off your first order

Get 20% Off and free shipping with code TSS20 at Manscaped.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talked "best debuts" last week, so now we're getting into best farewell performances in soccer. It could be the final game of a player's career or it could be a fine performance in their last game for club or country. But if it was a fitting way to sign off on a moment in a career, it's probably discussed on this episode! Pele, Cruyff, Raul, Zidane and Neymar are all in there, plus many more!

TODAY'S SPONSORS:

Remarkably Remote — a daily microcast from GoToMeeting

TheBlackTux.com — use code SOCCER for 10% off

GetRoman.com/TSS — for a free online visit

 And a quick reminder... if you haven't already, you can subscribe to Grant Wahl's new show in a number of different ways:

Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Lowery has a detailed conversation with Luchi Gonzalez about  the FC Dallas head coach's football philosophy and tactics, his approach to developing and promoting talented young players, and how he's risen through the ranks so quickly.

If you're interested in the future of American soccer, don't miss this episode.

SPONSORS
Listen to Remarkably Remote, a new microcast from GoToMeeting

Visit DrinkHydrant.com/soccer for 25% off your first order  

Use code SOCCER at TheBlackTux.com for 10% off your first purchase

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TSS has partnered with Grant Wahl to launch a  new interview podcast, Fútbol with Grant Wahl.

The first episode of FwGW, in which Grant interviews Tyler Adams about experiencing the Bundesliga's coronavirus protocols, is now available.

We're cross-publishing the first half of that interview here to promote Grant's new show. To hear the full episode, and future episodes every Monday and Thursday, please support our new project and subscribe to Fútbol with Grant Wahl. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl talks to Grant Wahl about his career in soccer journalism and his new project, the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast, which the TSS is helping produce.

Topics discussed include advice for aspiring soccer writers, the 1998 World Cup Final, the 99ers, The Beckham Experiment, the awesomeness of Alan Gordon, and how to get a player like Mohamed Salah to commit to an interview.

Here are some links to help you subscribe to the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast:

Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher / Google Podcasts 

TODAY'S SPONSORS:

Remarkably Remote — a daily microcast from GoToMeeting

TheBlackTux.com — use code SOCCER for 10% off

GetRoman.com/TSS — for a free online visit

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl and Taylor go deep on Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke. No spoilers in the show notes, but analyze the tactical setup of both teams and break down what happened on every goal.

We also get into RB Leipzig vs Freiburg, and touch on Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Monchengladbach and Augsburg vs Wolfsburg.

USMNT players in today's conversation: Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna (briefly), Tyler Adams, John Brooks.

Referenced at the end of today's show, we're teaming with Grant Wahl to bring you a new podcast: Fútbol with Grant Wahl — click here to subscribe via Apple Podcasts 

SPONSORS!

Listen to the Remarkably Remote podcast on this very podcast app you're using now, or visit GoToMeeting.com/tips

Go to Podiumwear.com and get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 2020 MLS season had only just got going when it was brought to an abrupt halt by the coronavirus pandemic. MLS has a plan to replace the regular 2020 season with a televised tournament in Orlando. But how realistic is that plan? And will the players agree to play? Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio discuss Major League Soccer's proposal from all angles.

Here are Sam's two stories for The Athletic:

Revealed: Details, dates of MLS’s proposal to return to play in Orlando

More details emerge on MLS’s Orlando plan, players’ concerns about a return

Not a subscriber? We can fix that! Subscribe to The Athletic with this link: http://theathletic.com/totalsoccer

SPONSORS

Today's show is sponsored by the microcast Remarkably Remote. Find it in your podcast player or via GoToMeeting.com/tips

Get 25% off with code SOCCER at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bundesliga is back in action this weekend! Daryl and Taylor discuss the teams, players, tactics and narratives to keep an eye on this weekend, as well as in the remainder of the season to come.

What position will Weston McKennie play? Who will hit the ground running and who might struggle? Will Daryl ever stop being excited to talk about Tyler Adams? The answer to that last one is pretty clearly no, but you'll have to listen to the show to find out our answers to the first two questions, as well as many others.

Josh Sargent, Giovanni Reyna, John Brooks, and Uly Llanez are all in there, as are catch-ups on Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund. 

SPONSORS!

Listen to the Remarkably Remote podcast on this very podcast app you're using now, or visit GoToMeeting.com/tips

Go to Podiumwear.comhttp://Podiumwear.comand get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Go to DrinkHydrant.com and enter promo code "soccer" to get 25% off your first order.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Champions Champions Cup of History continues with two more matchups.

First we have the famous 1954 Honved team that conscripted its way to being maybe the greatest club team in the world before the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 put an end to Puskas and co playing together.

Their opponent is Pep Guardiola's Manchester City team that won the Premier League in 2017-18 by putting 100 points on the board.

The second game features Johan Cruyff's 1992 Barcelona team, with Hristo Stoichkov and Michael Laudrup in attack, Ronald Koeman in defense, and  a young Catalan man named Josep Guardiola playing the passes in midfield.

Barcelona face the 1977 New York Cosmos, featuring the star wattage of Pele, Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto. Will that triumvirate of legends be able to carry their less famous teammates to glory against Cruyff's men? The answer is, obviously, no. But it's a fun conversation nonetheless.

SPONSORS!

Listen to the Remarkably Remote podcast on this very podcast app you're using now, or visit GoToMeeting.com/tips

Go to Podiumwear.comhttp://Podiumwear.com and get your custom mask today, and bookmark them for when you’re ready for your next soccer kit order.

Get 25% off your first order with the code "SOCCER" at SundayScaries.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a listener question extravaganza! 

3:35 - How similar is FC Dallas’ system to the one used by Gregg Berhalter? 

12:57 - Would similar systems at club level help the USMNT at international level?

16:27 - Is there an ideal position for set piece taking? Is having a defender take it an advantage?

20:48 - Today's episode is brought to you by Hydrant! Go to DrinkHydrant.com and enter promo code "soccer" to get 25% off your first order.

22:55 - Can any tactical system work if the coach is given unlimited time and the right players? Are some systems better than others, or is implementation the key?

29:13 - Favorite and least favorite formations?

34:10 - Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com, where you can buy facemasks and soccer team uniforms.

35:43 - What is the basic strategy behind substitutions?

42:51 - What tactical differences might we see if/when the MLS season resumes in an abbreviated timeframe?

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A 2020 debutant. A pre-bald brace for a French midfielder. A bombastic hat trick at the Camp Nou. They all feature on today's show in which we leave no stone unturned in history of soccer (starting in the Premier League era) to discuss the eleven greatest debut performances (by an attacker who scored in the game) in soccer history.

Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com, where you can buy facemasks and soccer team uniforms.

Today's show is sponsored by Sunday Scaries, specially formulated CBD gummies with Vitamins D3 & B12. Get 25% off your first order by using the coupon code "SOCCER" at checkout.

Today's show is sponsored by Remarkable Remote, the new microcast from GoToMeeting available on your preferred podcasting device.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam, Matt and Paul take turns drafting players into their respective USMNT squads. Here are the rules: "We got to choose our own formations and points of emphasis. Each player was presumed to be at his personal peak from 2002 forward, and had to have lined up at his chosen position at some point in his career."

Who gets rattled, who draft's Freddy Adu and which former USMNT coach isn't really enjoying this concept? All that and more!

Sponsors! Today's episode of Allocation Disorder is brought to you by Roman. Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two-day shipping. 

And for you Athletic subscribers out there, here's a link to the article: https://theathletic.com/1802215/2020/05/08/mock-draft-building-three-u-s-national-teams-with-players-from-2002-present/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Davis and Jared DuBois are the co-hosts of JD and The Rod, a soccer and pop culture podcast.

In this two-part crossover episode, our two shows have combined to make career mixtapes for two American icons.

In part one, we each choose three Tom Cruise movies. You can find that episode in the JD and The Rod podcast feed. Go do it, I highly recommend it.

In this, part two, we each choose three Landon Donovan games to watch, leading to a wide-ranging discussion about Landon Donovan's career.

Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com, where you can buy facemasks and soccer team uniforms.

Today's show is sponsored by Roman. Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two-day shipping.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's episode two of the TSS Book Club! We're reading "The Age of Football: Soccer in the 21st Century" by David Goldblatt. You don't need to have read the book to enjoy these episodes, I promise.

Chapter two is all about soccer in the Middle East, from the Egyptian ultras role in the overthrow of Mubarak to that little kid with the blue-and-white-striped-plastic-bag Messi jersey.

Want to buy the book? Here are some links:

To buy a hardcover copy of The Age of Football, go here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-age-of-football-soccer-and-the-21st-century/9780393635119

(we're not getting a cut, just providing the link)

To read via Kindle, try here: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Football-Global-Twenty-first-Century-ebook/dp/B07P55K5BZ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com and Policygenius.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of The Total Soccer Show...

0:00 - The Bundesliga returns... in a few weeks

6:48 - When  did the Ronaldo vs. Messi debate begin?

12:33 - Today's show is sponsored by Hyndrant! Go to DrinkHydrant.com and enter promo code "soccer" to get 25% off your first order.

14:37 - Would the USMNT have won the World Cup if it had 1986 peak Diego Maradona as a one-man army on one of its prior teams? 

23:24 - Would the current USMNT qualify for the 2022 World Cup if they were put in CAF (Africa) qualifiers?

27:47 - Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com

29:52 - Which players shouldn't Everton have sold?

37:01 - How has the style of play under Pep Guardiola different between each of the three teams he's managed?

48:07 - Today's show is sponsored by Roman. Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two-day shipping. 

49:50 - Dream soccer jobs that aren't podcasting?

54:50 - Best cleats/boots/exterior footwear that we've worn and would recommend?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We profile Bianchi's brilliant turn-of-the-century Boca Juniors, built around the magical feet of Juan Roman Riquelme. 

We then examine the incredible Ajax team Louis van Gaal put together in 1995, featuring Davids, Litmanen, Overmars, Rijkaard, plus the teenagers Kluivert, Seedorf, and Kanu. What would happen if these two played each other?

In part two, we imagine a match up between the Zinedine Zidane's first Real Madrid team, and Jurgen Klopp's current Liverpool team (the one with Allison in goal and with Mohamed Salah's shoulder firmly in its socket).

We're asking you to vote to determine the winner of that Real Madrid vs Liverpool game. Please use this poll here: https://forms.gle/RGd52vy2pgUGEh7Z6

Today's show is sponsored by Podiumwear.com

Today's show is also sponsored by Roman. Go to GetRoman.com/TSS for a free online visit and free two-day shipping. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the today's episode of MLS Assist, FC Cincinnati interim head coach Yoann Damet joins Joe for another wide-ranging conversation. Topics discussed include:

Damet's pathway into coaching

Cincinnati's new soccer philosophy

The team's latest acquisitions

His ideas about player development

What his hopes are for the season and beyond

His thoughts on the youth movement in coaching

Inspirational managers

Today's episode of MLS Assist is sponsored by...

PolicyGenius! If you’re one of the many people looking to buy life insurance right now, but you’re not sure where to start, head to Policygenius.com

Podiumwear, a custom team apparel manufacturer in Minnesota. Because of the COVID-19 crisis, Podiumwear has started making face masks. Go to Podiumwear.com and get your custom mask today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan and Taylor detail their (combined) 20 favorite transfers that almost happened, but ended up falling through for whatever reason. 

They also get into Alternative Timelines in which Blackburn were (and remain) the dominant side in the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson gave the hair-dryer treatment to no less than 3 global names, and Pele, Maradona and Garrincha all find themselves at new European homes.

Spoilers below if you want to players and clubs discussed, in order:

1. Zinedine Zidane to Blackburn Rovers, 1995
2. Roy Keane to Blackburn Rovers, 1993
3. Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn Rovers, 2010
4. Ronaldinho to Blackburn Rovers, 2011
5. Ronaldinho to New York Red Bulls (2010) and Man United (2003)
6. Alan Shearer to Manchester United (1992 and 1996)
7. Paul Gascoigne to Manchester United (1988)
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Arsenal (1996)
9. Ronaldo to Arsenal (2003)
10. Rivaldo to Bolton (2004)
11. Steven Gerrard to Chelsea (2005)
12. Kaka to Manchester City (2009)
13. David De Gea to Real Madrid (2015)
14. Gareth Bale to Birmingham (2009)
15. Andres Iniesta to Rangers (2004)
16. Leo Messi to Rangers (2004)
17. Pele to Real Madrid (1962)
18. Garrincha to Juventus (1963)
19. Maradona to Sheffield United (1978)
20. Didier Drogba to the Chicago Fire (2015)

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

Hyndrant! Go to DrinkHydrant.com and enter promo code "soccer" to get 25% off your first order.

Roman! If you're struggling with issues relating to ED, go to getroman.com/tss for a free online visit and free two day shipping

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking Pele and Maradona at the peak of their powers, but also their respective Santos and Napoli teams and the teammates and tactics that made everything tick.

Timestamps:

1:40 — Chocolate Hobnobs  rule!

5:10 — Cancer update

11:05 — USWNT lawsuit update

23:05 — A profile Pele's Santos team of 1961-62, featuring Pele at his peak surrounded by teammates he grew up with.

35:55 — Remembering Jose Mourinho's first Chelsea team, a relentless winning machine from 2004-2007

46:45 — Santos vs Chelsea simulated (in our heads)

53:30 — Carlo Ancelotti's Milan of the 2000s

1:06:40 — Diego Maradona's Serie A-winning Napoli team of the late 80s and how it got the best out of El Diego.

1:20:30 — Milan v Napoli simulated (using the power of imagination)

SPONSORS!

—Listen to the GoToMeetings microcast, Remarkably Remote

—Get 25% off your first Sunday Scaries CBD order with code SOCCER. Use this url: https://sundayscaries.com/?affId=E7457011&c1=[theathletic]&c2=[aff]&c3=[podcast]

—Get 10% off at TheBlackTux.com wit code SOCCER

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daryl and Taylor answer your listener questions...

0:00 - New changes to the substitute rule

7:11 - Why didn’t England's Golden Generation win stuff?

21:37 - Today's show is sponsored by DoorDash! Get $5 off your first order and zero delivery fees for a month when you download the DoorDash app in the App Store and enter code TSS.

23:52 -  What is the appropriate number of teams Major League Soccer should have?

29:40 - What is a wing back and what skills are unique to that position versus a fullback who joins the attack?

36:59 - What, if any, competitive advantages do professional soccer players have when playing FIFA?

 44:18 - Today's show is sponsored by The Black Tux Use code SOCCER at TheBlackTux.com for a 10% discount 

47:57 - Is the USMNT better now than in 2002?

57:52 - What should Newcastle fans do with the impending Saudi takeover at the club?

1:08:46 - Is DeAndre Yedlin a better player for his club team than the national team?

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We take turns detailing the most disappointing/underperforming players (for whatever reason) in the 2019-2020 Premier League season. Spoilers ahead...

Ryan's Squad (4-4-2): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Joao Cancelo, John Stones, Fernandinho, Angelino; Che Adams, Douglas Luiz, Tanguy Ndombele, Fabian Delph; Nicolas Pepe, Moise Kean

Taylor's Squad (3-4-1-2): Kepa Arrizabalaga; John Stones, Jesus Vallejo, David Luiz; Nicolas Pepe, Paul Pogba, Danny Drinkwater, Christian Pulisic; Michy Batshuayi, Joelinton

Sponsors! Today's show is sponsored by TheBlackTux.com  — use code "soccer" for 10% off

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Bobby Warshaw joins Joe and Jordan for a wide-ranging conversation. Topics covered include:

Bobby's career

Life after professional soccer

How to analyze a soccer match

Principles of play vs tactics

Why some basic soccer assumptions might be worth rethinking

The brilliance of Bob Bradley

The MLS players who could make a big move

Read more of Bobby's thoughts at BobbyWarshaw.com/share

SPONSOR: Get 10% off your suit or tuxedo rental at TheBlackTux.com when you use code soccer

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Timestamps!

3:20 — Quick news check-in: Eredivisie season officially canceled, Bundesliga season waiting for green light to restart.

8:45 — Barcelona 2009-11, profiling Guardiola's masterpiece

21:15 — Leicester City 2015-16, the 5,000-1 longshot

30:21 — Barcelona vs Leicester, how does it go down?

38:40 — Arsenal 2004, examining The Invincibles

50:10 — Real Madrid 1955-60, back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back European Cup winners.

1:01:15 — Arsenal vs Real Madrid, who wins?

Video!

1960 European Cup Final, Real Madrid 7-3 Eintracht in Glasgow: 

 SPONSORS!

Today's show is sponsored by TheBlackTux.com  — use code "soccer" for 10% off

Today's show sponsored by DrinkHydrant.com — use code "soccer" for 25% off your first order

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Whether you're for or against the MLS and Liga MX merger, you need to hear what The Athletic's Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio have to say about it.

Sponsored by the Remarkably Remote microcast — give it a listen!

and TheBlackTux.com — use code SOCCER for 10% off

Find Allocation Disorder, Sam, and Paul on Twitter:

@AllocationDsrdr

@SamStejskal

@PaulTenorio

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Haven't read the book? Trust us and listen anyway! Daryl and The Athletic Soccer's George Quraishi are using introduction and chapter one of David Goldblatt's book The Age of Football as the jumping off point for a discussion about the commercialization of the World Cup, and soccer in 21st-century Sub-Saharan Africa.

Buy the book!

To buy a hardcover copy of The Age of Football, go here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-age-of-football-soccer-and-the-21st-century/9780393635119

(we're not getting a cut, just providing the link)

To read via Kindle, try here: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Football-Global-Twenty-first-Century-ebook/dp/B07P55K5BZ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

SPONSORS!

Donate to the Salvation Army via SalvationArmyUSA.org

 Use code SOCCER at TheBlackTux.com for a 10% discount 

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How do you determine the greatest club team of all time? You start with a draw, of course. We pull 32 balls (AKA balled up pieces of paper) to determine the first round match-ups in the 2020 TSS Champions' Champion Cup of History. We'll begin analyzing the teams and determining some early victors of the first round starting next week. For now, here are the 32 squads involved:

1. Honved 54-56
2. Real Madrid 56-60
3. Benfica 60-62
4. Santos 1962-3
5. La Grande Inter 64-67
6. Celtic 1967 
7. Man Utd 1968
8. Ajax 71-73
9. Bayern 74-76
10. New York Cosmos 1977
11. Nottingham Forest 1978-1980 
12. Liverpool 81-84
13. Napoli 85-90
14. Steau Bucharest 86-90 
15. Milan 88-90
16. Barcelona 1992
17. Ajax 1995-96
18. DC United 1996
19. Juventus 1995-1998
20. Man Utd 1999-2001
21. Boca Juniors 2000-2003 
22. Real Madrid 2001-2003 
23. Milan 2003-2007
24. Arsenal 2004
25. Chelsea 2004-7
26. Inter 2009-10
27. Barcelona 2009-2011
28. Bayern 2013-16
29. Leicester City 2015-16
30. Real Madrid 2016-2018
31. Man City 2017-19
32. Liverpool 2018-2020

SPONSORS!

Listen to Remarkably Remote, the new microcast from GoToMeeting 

Use code SOCCER at TheBlackTux.com for a 10% discount 

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Here are the timestamps for today's show:

 2:55 — Describing our plans for a greatest club teams of all time knockout tournament, and the plan to discuss David Goldblatt's new book, The Age of Football.

To buy a hardcover copy of The Age of Football, go here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-age-of-football-soccer-and-the-21st-century/9780393635119

(we're not getting a cut, just providing the link)

To read via Kindle, try here: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Football-Global-Twenty-first-Century-ebook/dp/B07P55K5BZ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

9:30 — If FIFA were to switch all international tournaments to be co-ed (5/5 for field players, goalies change at half) where would you ranked the United States, and why? Which country rises the most, and which falls the furthest?

18:02 — What will happen to the Euro 2021 Women's Championship?

20:02 — Which professional team would be your ideal place to play if you were a professional footballer?

30:30 — On Soccer 101, Joe and Daryl recently reviewed the USMNT's 2009 win over Spain in the Confederation Cup. If you were to recreate the gameplan (defend and transition 4-2-2-2) with today's player pool, how would you line the US up?

41:03 — Is there a particular reason that the West Indies have a combined cricket team but do not field a combined side in other sports such as soccer? Would a combined West Indies team challenge for WC qualification?

51:57 — What are the pros and cons to having "B" teams play in a lower level of the soccer pyramid, like in Spain or the US, versus having them play in a completely separate league, like in England?

SPONSORS!

Listen to Remarkably Remote, the new microcast from GoToMeeting

 Use code SOCCER at TheBlackTux.com for a 10% discount 

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Joe and Jordan take turns assembling their best elevens for an MLS Assist Tactics Showdown (patent pending). They've both got tactical instructions for their respective players, and are ready to talk some trash along the way.

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2:32 - Discussing the proposed takeover at Newcastle by a consortium featuring the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.

13:35 - The best curses in soccer history, featuring seven (hopefully predeceased) black cats, public urination, and Saxon burial grounds. 

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Salvation Army! Your donations can help those affected by COVID-19 find help and hope. Make your gift at SalvationArmyUSA.org

Use code "soccer" for a 10% discount at TheBlackTux.com

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We review episode six of Sunderland 'Til I Die, featuring dropped defenders, an overly emotional owner, and pain-killing injections.

We also offer our up a few ideas for how we'd run SAFC, if we were in charge.

We mentioned the Wise Men Say podcast in this episode. Here's a link to the episode where they review STID season two: https://wisemensay.co.uk/ep548/

SPONSORS!

Listen to the new microcast Remarkably Remote. Find it in the podcast app you're using right now, or via GoToMeeting.com/tips

Get 10% off at TheBlackTux.com by using the code SOCCER

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Your intrepid hosts are back together to talk about the big news that US Soccer has shut down the Development Academy. What brought about this decision? Where do we go from here? How will MLS teams move to protect their interests? 

Paul and Sam also extol the merits of the DA, as well as the drawbacks that need to be addressed in order to ensure longterm stability in youth development in the United States.

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It's a listener question special! Here are the timestamps and questions:

2:40 — Why did US Soccer shut down the Development Academy? What does it mean for soccer in America? Is this a good thing or bad thing or somewhere in the middle?

24:25 — What has gone wrong with Mario Götze's career?

32:30 — What would it take for Borussia Dortmund to Bundesliga title favorites?

36:20 — Why doesn't Berlin have a dominant team despite being the largest city?

39:40 — If you could drop 3 current USMNT players into the same squad in a top 5 European league, who would you choose and where would you play them?

51:30 — Why could no one stop Arjen Robben from doing the one thing he was famous for? 

Here's a clip of Robben scoring the same goal, many times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoZ4jhE_FVw&

59:55 — What characters or combination of characters from your favorite TV shows are you two most closely aligned with?

SPONSORS!

Find the Remarkably Remote microcast at GoToMeeting.com/tips

Use code "soccer" for a 10% discount at TheBlackTux.com

Use TSS for 20% off at Manscaped.com  

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We break down Episode 5 of the current season of Sunderland 'Til I Die, and ponder the big questions like why is Brexit involved in this episode, what is the Checkatrade Trophy and why is it important, is the themself song good, and much much more. 

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Black Tux! Go to TheBlackTux.com and use code "SOCCER" for 10% off.

Remarkably Remote, a new daily microcast from GoToMeeting all about making work from home work for you. Add to your Flash Briefing on Alexa or subscribe on your favorite podcasting app.

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Taylor talks to America's right back Steve Cherundolo about his current role as a temporary teacher and then also his five most memorable games for the US men's national team. We talk debuts, multiple world cups, qualifying in Central America, and much much more!

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Black Tux! Go to TheBlackTux.com and use code "SOCCER" for 10% off.

Remarkably Remote, a new daily microcast from GoToMeeting all about making work from home work for you. Add to your Flash Briefing on Alexa or subscribe on your favorite podcasting app.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why has soccer been slow to buy into analytics? What are some advanced metrics that can help analyze the game? How is MLS doing on the date collection and analysis front?

Joe Lowery talks to Eliot McKinley of American Soccer Analysis to get answers to these questions.

Because data is good, here are a few helpful timestamps:

4:35 — Expected Goals

12:15 — Expected Assists

15:10 — Post-shot (or Keeper) xG

18:10 — Expected Passing

23:30 — How is MLS doing with data collection and analysis?

27:00 — Tracking data and how it opens up analytics

30:40 — Which MLS teams are most committed to data analysis? (Spoiler: they played in three of the last four MLS Cups ... )

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0:00 - Ryan catches up on The English Game, and then catches Taylor up on Tottenham reversing their furlough planning.

5:37 - The duo take turns giving their selections for the inaugural Stewart Donald "10 best January transfers of all time" that weren't at all panicky. Some big names, some smaller names, and one obvious name are all included!

Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by...

The Black Tux! Order your suit or tuxedo at The Black Tux to get 10% off with the code “soccer”

Hydrant! They provide flavored electrolyte packets that can be mixed directly into your water to make hydrating your body easy and delicious. To get 25% off your first order, go to DrinkHydrant.com and enter promo code soccer at checkout.

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0:00 - Catching up on the biggest stories from world soccer, including proposed league restart dates, FIFA indictments, a crisis at Barcelona, sackings in Ireland, Mario Gotze on the move, and much much more!

46:10 - Reviewing Sunderland 'Til I Die episode 4, and explaining lots of the background that was left on the cutting room floor.

TSS is sponsored by Remarkably Remote. Listen via the podcast app you're using right now, or via this url: GoToMeeting.com/tips

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