The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentary

Latest Episodes:

Euros Quarterfinals Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

Well those were certainly four football matches. Another discussion of what's wrong with England, why the Netherlands struggled with Turkiye and what it might mean for the semifinal, and then there's the other semifinal! Why Portugal-France was so bad, an elegy for Portugal's wasted tournament, the big Mbappe question, how Spain barely survived, why we're both picking Spain for the final... it's a lot of podcast.

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USMNT Out, Berhalter Out? Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

The Copa America is over for the USMNT after just three matches. It was pretty dumb. We consider what we learned, if anything, from this tournament and what the US should do now with limited competitive matches before 2026.
And some bonus Uruguay and Italy takes.

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Double Pivot Picks the Euros, Part I: Weak Side Bracket Jun 28, 2024

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England and a number of other countries. What's wrong with England and why they're still the favorites, some depressive Italy/Switzerland takes, Netherlands pretty good, and accountability for our Lawnball picks.

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Euros Round One Whiparound Jun 18, 2024

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The favorites mostly keep winning, but all the different ways they're winning are worth some discussion. England, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, and Switzerland, a lot to whip through!

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Euros Preview Blowout (with Grace Robertson): Part I Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

We've got a full Euros preview for you in three parts. Part 1 covering groups A and B is right here with takes on the highly competitive Group B of Spain, Italy and Croatia, on the enigma that is Germany and Nagelmann's plan to make them even weirder, and I guess Switzerland is there too.
You can read Grace's newsletter at graceonfootball.com.

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Worst Contracts of the Premier League Draft, Part I Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

The double-correspondent triple-podcast blowout draft commences. We are joined by Salacious Gossip Correspondent Joel Wertheimer (@wertwhile) and Financial Shenanigans Correspondent Skanda Amarnath (@irvingswisher) to draft the very worst contracts in the Premier League.

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The Managerial Merry-Go-Round May 28, 2024

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Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern and Chelsea appear to have lined up their managers. It's not exactly what we expected. Some takes on how the managerial market has changed in the last few years as well as our skepticism about these choices for most of the clubs involved.

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Fullbacks and the Rise of Five Guys Tactics May 21, 2024

Show notes

We talk briefly about the Champions League final and then take a question from the discord about fullback / wingback transfers which segues into a longer discussion about trends in buildup structure and pressing in top level football and the diverse expectations of wide defenders in these systems.

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Non-Big Six Team of the Season, Part I May 15, 2024

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A mailbag question on what the team of the season is, excluding players on the richest clubs, prompts a discussion of what "non big six" should mean anyhow, and then we get moving on talking about some great striker seasons.

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Arne Slot and the state of Liverpool with Grace Robertson May 09, 2024

Show notes

We are joined by Grace Robertson of www.graceonfootball.com to discuss Liverpool, who have chosen a manager. What do we know about Arne Slot, what's intriguing and what's worrying, and how do we think Liverpool are approaching the current transition?

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