Soccer 101

Latest Episodes:

How Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea changed soccer forever Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

This week, we take a look back at the footballing landscape in Britain before and after Roman Abramovich acquired Chelsea. What was the ownership model generally like prior to his arrival? What impact did his arrival have on the club itself, as well as the league as a whole? How did his approach influence the billionaires that followed, and what role does he play in the present state of the Premier League?

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How did Jurgen Klopp turn Liverpool into a superpower again? Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

On the 11th anniversary of Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Liverpool manager, Graham and Taylor take a look back at the situation he inherited, the work he put into immediately restoring supporter confidence, the importance of FSG's acquisitions, the immense role Virgil van Dijk played in shaping the team's defensive identity, and more!

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A history of American wonderkids Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

In honor of the many many youngsters getting minutes for the USMNT this international window, we take a look back at the history of wonderkids/wunderkinds in American men's soccer. Was Freddy Adu the first? Where does Julian Green fit in? Is Pulisic the most successful so far? And, generally speaking, why are Americans so obsessed with the next big thing? But we also range all over the place, with discussions about the wildness of Jermaine Jones, the Donovan-Dempsey debate, Project 2010, and much much more!

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Messi and Argentina's Twenty-Year Story Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

With Messi's final Argentina farewell looming, Graham and Taylor take a look back at his time with the national team: from a red card on his debut to somehow still looking elite as a 39-year-old in 2026, we trace his time with Argentina to understand the lowest lows and the highest highs.

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Why isn't the national team of India better at football? Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode, we're diving into football in India: it's the world's most populous country, but why can't it qualify for a World Cup? We get into the history of the sport in the country, the growth of the domestic professional league, and the possible explanations for why the world's most popular sport still hasn't quite caught on yet.

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How has Como built such a successful club? Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

With young talent, a manager full of potential, wealth that would make Scrooge McDuck look like a pauper, and an idyllic location, Como has become one of the biggest stories in Italian football. How have they had such a meteoric rise? What role have players and tactics played in those successes? What does the future hold, both for this season and beyond? All that and much more on this week's episode!

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How did the Premier League become the dominant league in the world? Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

This week, we dive into the dominance of the Premier League: when did it take the top spot in terms of global popularity and league strength? What factors allowed it to become the dominant league in the world? Can any other leagues challenge them, anytime soon?

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What happened to Paul Pogba? Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Paul Pogba went from teenage wonderkid to World Cup winner to a doping ban that nearly ended everything. And now, out at Monaco but battling fresh injury setbacks, his career is at another crossroads. We trace the full ride: his breakout at Juventus, his blockbuster return to Manchester United (and why it never quite clicked), the positive drug test that derailed everything, his comeback attempt in France, and what might come next — including whether MLS could be the final chapter.

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Ted Lasso returns! What are the origins of the show, how did it become so beloved, and what comes next? Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Graham and Taylor are together again on the 101 feed to discuss the return of Ted Lasso! How did the show go from NBC ad to beloved series? What role has it played in helping grow the game in the US? What are our personal opinions on the show, the storylines, and what's worked (and not worked).

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Three Flags, One Badge: The Story of Bosnian Football Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

The Premier League of Bosnia was born in 2000 out of the wreckage of a brutal civil war, and served as a deliberate attempt to unite three separate ethnic football cultures under one roof. It hasn't always worked cleanly, but out of that turbulence came something remarkable: a golden generation that took a young, war-scarred nation to its first World Cup in 2014, and now back again in 2026.

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