Episode XV
Our thoughts on the tactical, political, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the WC final (though in the end we mostly gush about Messi and Mbappe).
Episode XIII
Thoughts on the second round of the WC, mourning Germany, and looking forward to the quarterfinals.
Episode XII
Brief thoughts on living in a country where the men's national team is legitimately good, on Argentina's tactics, on the merits of 5 v 4 in the back, on Alphonso Davies as a #10, and some other aesthetic and neurotic fixations.
Episode IX
Thoughts on the tactical disparity b/w the international and club game, as well as a bit of analysis of WC Group B (England, Wales, Iran, and the US).
Episode VIII
A brief discussion about the calamities at Barca (is Busquets to blame?), the glories of Arsenal (is Arteta fully vindicated?), and the comparative fortunes of La Liga and the Premier League (Unai Emery leaves Villareal, Champions League semifinalist, to go to Villa, relegation contenders).
Episode VII
Haphazard speculations about the coming World Cup, and a few scattered reflections about the last weeks of club football.
Episode VI
Sundry thoughts on the Tuchel firing, the philosophy of managing a football team, the validity of punditry, and the last week of games across Europe.
Episode IV
Arsenal: top of the table. Also, our thoughts on the tactical approaches of PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Liverpool, and the greatness of Wilfried Zaha.
Episode III
Sundry thoughts on the hegemony of the premier league, the shambles at Barca and Man United, the ego clash at PSG, and the chest bumping between Conte and Tuchel.
Episode 1: Preliminaries
Forecasting the prospects of Arteta's Arsenal, Ten Hag's United, Xavi's Barcelona, and Tuchel's Chelsea; offering some thoughts on the legacy of Pep and Klopp vs. Wenger and Ferguson; and some final musings about how the beautiful game has shifted aesthetically, philosophically, and tactically these past few decades.