Soccer 101

I joined my buddy Elliot Barr on his podcast Can I Kick it, and we went way way over time. So, we split our chat into two segments. Part 1 is available over on their feeds and Part 2 is available over here. We covered a lot of bases, with the primary focus on what different leagues around the world have done to combat racism, and whether or not it's succeeding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

On this episode, Graham and Taylor delve deep into an increasingly common setup: multi-club ownership. Along the way, they answer questions like... What is the difference between a selling club, a feeder club and a sister club? What are the most and least prominent examples of multi-club setups? Why are club networks becoming more common? What are the issues inherent to owning multiple teams? And...

As a logical counterpoint to last week's Promotion special, this week we're tackling Relegation! What sort of damage can relegation cause? How do relegated teams respond to dropping down a division? What does relegation change for fans? All that and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Graham and Taylor dive into one of the happier things that can happen to a club: promotion! What are the approaches to getting promoted and then staying up, what are the obvious benefits and the less obvious drawbacks, what changes from the fan perspective, and much much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Graham thoroughly enjoying his 4th cancellation of the season courtesy of Dumbarton, we discuss why a match might be postponed, who makes the decision, what happens after the decision is made, and much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Graham and Taylor are taking a look at a big ol' concrete structure of a topic: stadiums! What makes a great stadium? What are the main differences between the facilities of the past and those of the present? How important is location location location? Plus, our favorites we've been too, and some of the most underwhelming we (Graham) have experienced. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing the historic rivalry between Scottish clubs Celtic and Rangers, AKA The Old Firm Derby. How did the rivalry originate, how has it evolved over time, the key figures and moments in the derby's history, and what the future may hold for both teams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Graham and Taylor do their best to avoid having to sing while discussing anthems in soccer: when did the tradition begin, how do they differ between club and international competitions, which ones work and which ones don't, and much much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, it's a look at not-quite-ready-for-primetime competitions, aka development leagues. What is a reserve league, is it different from a development league, how do they differ from country to country, and much much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham and Taylor take a look at a narrative that pops up every time a coach gets sacked: The New Manager Bounce. When things aren't working and clubs decide to sack their manager, it's often expected that with the hiring of a new manager will come improved results (hence, New Manager Bounce). But is it real? What do the stats say? Should you sack a manager when things seem bleak, or can that deci...

We don't know about you, but we're pretty excited for the USMNT's game against England that's coming up next week. On this special episode of Soccer 101, courtesy of The Backheeled Show, we dig into that matchup and answer questions like "what's gone wrong for England recently?" and "is this World Cup four years too soon for the US?" You can follow The Backheeled Show on Apple Podcasts , Spotify ,...

What if we told you there were some tricks that your team could use to boost their odds of making a deep run in the World Cup? Sounds pretty good, right? Today, we’re talking about some of those tricks. On this special episode of Soccer 101, courtesy of The Backheeled Show, we dig into what makes good World Cup teams...good. You can follow The Backheeled Show on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or where...

On this week's episode, Ryan and Taylor answer a listener question that felt Soccer 101 appropriate: why do little kids walk onto the pitch with players before games? Who are these children, how did they get such a good gig, and what are some of our favorite moments involving mascots in soccer history? The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here . And a remin...

On today’s episode, we're tackling a topic that won’t cause any furor online, never has copious columns written about it in newspapers, and always makes Piers Morgan keep a level head: politics in football!  Does politics belong in soccer? What are the rules about political messages in football? Is soccer becoming more political? What are some of the most notable examples of the intermingling of s...

The 2022-23 Women's Champions League season is underway, so Ryan, Graham and Taylor are here to explain the history of the competition, its dominant teams and players, and its outlook for the future! The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here . And a reminder that WE'RE DOING A LIVE SHOW! The TSS foursome will be in New York for a live show on Sunday, Novemb...

Ryan, Graham and Taylor convene to discuss the meaning of the term 'Golden Generation' in the beautiful game, while offering some examples of the teams that lived up to the moniker—and those that didn't. The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here . And a reminder that WE'RE DOING A LIVE SHOW! The TSS foursome will be in New York for a live show on Sunday, No...

On today's episode, Ryan, Graham and Taylor dig into the world of scouting. Why do teams need scouts, how does one become a scout, and which teams have the best recruitment networks? The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com . And a reminder that WE'RE DOING A LIVE SHOW! The TSS foursome will be in New York for a live show on...

On this week's episode, we're taking a closer look at something that every player does when they join a new team, but something we don’t necessarily know a ton about: the medical. Why are they necessary, what actually goes into the process, what happens when a player fails, and much more! The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp...

WE’RE DOING A LIVE SHOW! The TSS foursome will be in New York for a live show on Sunday, November 20th. We’ll be talking World Cup, USMNT, and so much more.  Check out this link for tickets and the rest of the details ! — On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor, Graham, and Joe dive into the world of World Cup hosting. How does a country end up hosting the World Cup? What goes into the bidding proce...

On this week's episode, we're looking at a position on the field that's made a comeback on the pitch, quite literally in most cases: The Number Nine. The center forward has long been a staple of the beautiful game, but how did it evolve, why did it's popularity wane, and why has it reemerged? We have answers to those and many other questions! The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent mus...

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan, Graham, and Joe talk all about World Cup jerseys. Why are they important? What can they look like? How have the changed? And what are some of the best and worst ones of all time? All that - and much more - on the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League is regarded as the gold standard for global domestic soccer. It has the most fans, the most money, and the biggest brand of all the top leagues. On this week's episode, Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss the league's origins, the specific factors that led to its rapid growth, and what the future holds for the Premier League as soccer's top dog. The Soccer 101 theme,...

With the 2022 World Cup looming, Taylor is joined by Graham and Joe to discuss the Qatar national team itself... a team, we should note, that has never been to a World Cup before. What is Qatar’s soccer history? How have they prepared for their moment on the global stage? What should we expect from them in terms of style and results? The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can b...

Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss all-things relegation: what is it and which teams have successfully avoided it? We then turn our attention to the most surprising relegation campaigns in soccer history, for whatever reason. England, Scotland, Spain, Germany, Argentina, and a notable Italian club all get mentions! The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found...

From his days as a prospective med student-turned-footballer to winning the Champions League with Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has had a fascinating career. On today's episode, we go deep on his history and influences to get a better idea of the pioneering football genius who is known the world over as one of the game's top managers. What are the defining characteristics of his style, who are his prima...