the state of the top four race

the narrative cannot be denied

This can only end well.

No, it wasn't handballs.

Plus, there may be no races for places in the Premier League this year.

There was a whole lot going on at Anfield.

It has not been an inspiring first few months in England.

There's too much going on to organize any of these topics in some clean format this week, so you're just getting it all, in no specific order.

It was a good weekend for the highly unlikely.

games games games games

Three big matches in the premier league, and one coming up this weekend. And an Italian team. Because.

featuring some of your questions

A preview with no coherent structure other than all the teams will be covered.

Salacious Gossip Pod Returns

Women's World Cup roundup and a big time guest

USA wins by a lot, other teams win by less!

Double Pivot's new WWC correspondent takes us through the groups

Searching for the standout player for each of the 20 clubs.

Does anybody want to win soccer games anymore?

It's time for another episode of Deep Blue Something.

Mo Salah hits a thunderbastard and Troy Deeney did not get away with a bad idea.

It's a whole mess of soccer in this weeks' Everton-themed pod.

The results haven't necessarily reflected the performances.

For better or worse, reality hasn't aligned with August expectations for some squads.

Answering your non-international friendly-related questions!

What does regression look like and which PL teams are suffering from it?

Four kinds of spin from two somewhat underwhelming rivalry matches.

There weren't any goals in the big games but we still have stuff to pod about

Breaking down the problems at Stamford Bridge and looking at a six-team fight for survival.

Liverpool drop more points as City cruise to back-to-back wins.

Breaking down which of the Premier League's top six teams currently have the most worrying issues.

an interview with Jonathan Clegg

Assessing the severity of some key absences in the Top 4, and the actual abilities of Huddersfield's former manager.

Do the Blues need a striker? How screwed are the Galacticos? How awesome is Felipe Anderson?

two big stories... one big pod

A grab bag of topics of varying degrees of seriousness

but, he's in paradise, so joke's on you

The quest to understand what advanced analytics and metrics are trying to accomplish and why and how.

The things we learned about the Bundesliga, and the things we can't figure out about the Red Devils.

It's all the rage right now, so what exactly is this proposal really all about?

Tactical analysis takes a back seat

Methods of evaluating the most basic things that are actually kind of complicated

You asked. Two Mikes answered.

The heck is wrong with Europe's elite clubs so far this season?

We got our first defining week of the season for three of England's biggest clubs.

A handful of clubs are developing new identities or straying from old ones — how's that going for them?

Which teams are off to great starts, and which are already in trouble after the season's first few weeks?

What are the odds things get better from here for Jose Mourinho and his men?

What can we learn from the second match of the season between two rapidly changing squads?

Two clubs with different looks in Madrid, Barca out front, and lots of other intrigue.

Plus: Jack Grealish to Spurs – useful signing?

Being on this side is no fun, but it's been a lot more fun for those watching.

Argentina somehow got through, and the favorites all look flawed in their own ways.

The FIFA World Cup is finally here, and the two Mikes have their predictions ready.

Breaking down the fit of the new faces at the helm of noteworthy clubs.

Four very weird teams battle for two trophies.

Plus, if Chelsea comes up short, how does the future look at Stamford Bridge?

We have our two European finals, but we didn't get the same kind of shows to set them up.

Was the F.A. Cup semifinal loss another defining moment in a dying era for Tottenham Hotspur?

It would take an epic combination of a run and collapse — but it's possible.

Champions League got good, we got into it

City and Barcelona are title winners and today they're losers. What's it all mean?

yeah you heard us

This week's episode is all about the listeners, and features a special announcement to kick things off.

no really we talk about international football

It's everybody's favorite manic game of analysis. It's all the rage.

Barca-Atleti, Barca-Chelsea, and ugh Spurs-Juventus

Just 12 points separate the bottom 10 teams in England's top flight.

Checking in on the Top 4 race in Germany and breaking down Chelsea vs. Barcelona.

Controversial calls, a crazy atmosphere and...the end of Juve's run?

Why talk about two exciting clubs when you can instead talk about the interpretation of rules?

Which moves have made sense, which haven't and which still could.

The Crisis Conch Blows for the Double Pivot

With previous conch holders now in calmer waters, it's time to examine their somewhat teetering compatriots.

Coutinho, VVD, Alexis and MYSTERY PLAYERS.

A Twitter debate revolving around soccer fandom spills over into this week's podcast.

Jose Mourinho's got excuses, but is anyone buying them?

Coming to you from New York, it's two Mikes sitting around a kitchen table, talking soccer.

Sean Dyche's squad seems to possess a black magic that confuses the computers, sort of.

Deep dives on the North London derby and Manchester City's tactics.

Also, how'd all those assessments last week of the Bundesliga work out?

The two Mikes take a break from Premier League talk to take a look around the rest of Europe.

Things are looking up for Tottenham Hotspur while the two clubs in Liverpool hyperventilate.

Few managers are as much fun to watch match wits as Klopp and Pochettino, so buckle up.

It took a lot of crazy things to happen for the USMNT to miss the World Cup, but here we are. What's next?

Plus, you know, more about whether Liverpool should be panicking after another weird performance.

When all of your favorite teams are this interesting, there is no shortage of talking points.

Checking in on league narratives that seem to change with every result thus far in the young season.

Also, Spurs looked different and it made all the difference against Dortmund.

Can a parallel be drawn between Arsene Wenger and the Simpsons? Is FIFA bad? Was Job a nihilist? This podcast has it all.

All that money from Qatar sure has made a mess.

The two Mikes get serious about a transfer rumor before turning to two of the weekend's key EPL matches.

Snap judgments after one week in England, plus speculating on the 2017-18 title races elsewhere in Europe.

We're kicking off the 2017-18 season with a two-part blowout preview!

We're kicking off the 2017-18 season with a two-part blowout preview!

Will PSG become a Champions League favorite with his addition, and what the heck will Barcelona do?

From Giroud's underrated-ness to the future of sports on TV, our listeners ask the best questions.

The two Mikes take your transfer questions, turn them into larger questions, and then get back to the point.

With good soccer options limited, it's time to do an analytics deep dive.

Plus, a quick recap of the USMNT-Mexico draw at the Azteca.

Bruce Arena has fixed everything, right? RIGHT?

Also, that Sergio Ramos guy is a good sport.

The two Mikes chat with the Ajax expert ahead of Wednesday's clash with Manchester United.

When it comes to analytics, there are two kinds of wrong. We'll explain.

The two Mikes answer more listener questions than ever before because, quite simply, their listeners are awesome.

Since teams don't come back from big deficits in the Champions League, there's nothing to talk about, right?

Two showdowns. Only one delivered.

Plus, the magic of the F.A. Cup! No, seriously!

One red card may have decided whether Bayern or Real Madrid has a successful season.

Chelsea has a stranglehold on first, Spurs are quietly secure, and Liverpool and Arsenal are confusing.

In the first of two Double Pivots this week, the Two Mikes answer listener questions.

The Two Mikes had extremely controversial opinions (not really) that set Twitter ablaze.

Sometimes, there's no analysis to be made. Barca vs. PSG fits the bill.

The numbers paint an interesting story about the Reds' weird variance.

Michael invites Ben Daniels on the pod to talk Barcelona, Southampton and Atalanta

What the heck happened to the Foxes? A look at the fight for Premier League survival.

Examining the aftermath of Barcelona, Spurs and Arsenal all suffering (mostly) uncharacteristic defeats.

Who's in more trouble: Manchester United or Arsenal?

Manchester City finally went all-out in attack, and it was a chore for Spurs to contain.

As the top of the table tightens up, do certain clubs need to make changes now to not lose their shot at the top of the pack?

Sometimes when two great teams meet, the match lives up to the hype.

Breaking down the football gossip world's biggest story since whatever weird thing Balotelli last did.

Antonio Conte's group has a massive lead, Arsenal's Ozil problem, and the thing holding Southampton back.

When numbers and defense collide, things get complicated.

The world's greatest mediocre squad? It'll make sense when the two Mikes explain it.

The lower third of the table is still pretty crowded – who will escape?

The two Mikes pull the German curtain back a bit with Kirsten Schlewitz of Unusual Efforts.

The axes have been sharpening to oust Jurgen Klinnsman, and a 4-0 result against Costa Rica didn't help.

How the rise of analytics has changed how the sport is covered

Deep dives on Ibra, Vardy, Lukaku, and Kane

A closer examination of the six clubs in the hunt

Two draws were received very differently this week. The two Mikes take a longer look at the scoreless draw at Anfield (sorry in advance), and then flip to the 1-1 result at the Etihad. They examine a few questions along the way. Can this United team wi...

During a riveting international break, the two Mikes desperately search for something else to talk about, and land on the windows of opportunity in front of four premier league clubs. How badly do Manchester City need a fullback? Does Liverpool need a ...

Tottenham Hotspur played a slightly different style against Manchester City, and it totally freaking worked. The two Mikes discuss whether the outcome outlined the ways in which City are vulnerable, revisit the idea that Barcelona might possibly be in ...

The Goalmouth is a new, 5-minute podcast that will show up on your phone by 7 a.m. EST every weekday morning so you can hear the latest soccer news and nonsense on your commute. In collaboration with the Total Soccer Show and Dirty Tackle. For more inf...

How much will injuries to Messi and Harry Kane affect Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively? The two Mikes dive into the numbers, and then re-examine their preseason assessments of four English clubs: Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham and St...

After four matches, the two Mikes assess whether their preseason predictions are playing out as they expected. Is Manchester City's terrifying attack enough to overcome issues at the back? Yes, Chelsea looks fantastic, but there are some problems. Spea...

This episode answers the age old question: Is football played on spreadsheets? In the heart of the international break, the two Mikes take the extra time to dive deep into everything you could ever possibly want to know about expected goals, and then t...

There's more to pressing than the idea itself.

The two Mikes provide the hottest of takes regarding a certain Barcelona star's bleached quaff, but also marvel at how good Barcelona looks in spite of its best player's hair. A bit farther north, Manchester City and Liverpool put in some eyebrow-raisi...

You might think you can learn a lot about a team by watching them play for 90 minutes, but when those are the first 90 minutes of the season, all bets are off. The two Mikes review the most interesting results from the Barclay's Premier League opening ...

Get comfortable with life in the middle, as the two Mikes assess the dealings and futures of the "Middle 7" – teams that probably won't win the title, and probably won't get relegated. Much is covered, including: Liverpool’s favorable schedule, Spurs’ ...

The first installment of this preview covers the top 4 (teams with the best shot to win the title), and the bottom 9 (teams that will probably fight relegation). The two Mikes discuss Manchester City’s attacking options, Arsenal’s lack of significant u...

The upset of the transfer window? The Galacticos (mostly) standing pat.

When a transfer fee climbs this high, it affects far more than the two teams involved.

Do you think the math in the Sadio Mané and the Henrikh Mkhitaryan transfers is a little fuzzy? Are you trying to figure out what the heck Borussia Dortmund and PSG are doing? Ever wonder what's really holding back Liverpool and Everton in the transfer...

Why Didier Deschamps probably gets too much blame, and Fernando Santos not enough credit

Would Portugal winning the tournament be the most anticlimactic result possible?

We're left with two teams we expected, and two that have stunned the field.

Load up at the tactics buffet before you settle in to watch the four matches

Perhaps the best week of soccer this summer provided plenty of talking points.

The reason that U.S. lineup failed may be a little different than you think

Realism is setting in for teams in both major international tournaments.

Now that we've seen each group a few times, what can we make of Besler at left back for the USMNT, Roy Hodgson's striker and midfield decisions, France benching its two best players, and Belgium not quite living up to its potential on paper?

Our fellow fans pay the price when we cast aside serious allegations

The two squads' scorelines looked great, but what did we really learn?

Breaking down the Euro 2016 favorites before more Copa America Centario talk

Introducing The Double Pivot, hosted by Mike Goodman and Michael Caley.