The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentary

Latest Episodes:

Ronaldo and the Media, and then All The Transfers Sep 01, 2021

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content notice: discussion of rape and sexual violence
Caley is really mad about the media coverage of the Ronaldo transfer, and Goodman has his own thoughts about the dilemmas that drive and screw up the media here.
And there was also an incredibly dramatic transfer window! United and Madrid and Barcelona and Atletico and Chelsea and around we go.
We discuss Jessica Luther and Kavitha Davidson's book Loving Sports When They Don't Love You Back: https://utpress.utexas.edu/books/luther-davidson-loving-sports-when-they-don%27t-love-you-back
We are sponsored by thepowerrank.com, Ed Feng's website and newsletter for sports betting and analytics. Check it out, he's a friend of the pod too!

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Kane and Mbappe Aug 25, 2021

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News! Breaking! Kane stays with Tottenham and Madrid lodge a frankly unbelievable bid for Mbappe and PSG even more unbelievably turn it down. What's going on in the striker market, in the business of football at the tippy-top level, and what does it all mean?

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Begin the Premier League season with your friends at the Double Pivot Aug 17, 2021

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We get into some hard agreements at the five minute mark and just keep rolling. Brentford, Arsenal, Leicester, Wolves, West Ham, Spurs, City, Liverpool, it's all here.

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Premier League Preview, Part I Aug 12, 2021

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We try to rank the whole Premier League. Here's part one.

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Messi Out Aug 06, 2021

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Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona because they cannot pay him any money. It's a financial story and a football story and we get into it -- what is Barcelona's best way back and how long will it take them? Where is Messi going and if it's PSG, what is that gonna look like?

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Mailbag of Nerdery, Pt 1 Jul 21, 2021

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We take your questions on soccer and how it works, discussing struggleball and pressing, xG in video games and what it reveals about what analytics is, and the ongoing search for WAR.

(also uh lol sorry Heather we'll actually answer your question on an upcoming pod.)

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Italy Win the Euros Jul 12, 2021

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A dramatic game with a lot to dig in to! We talk about England's impressive opening goal and good first half, how Italy regained control in the second half and what went wrong for England in their attempt to respond in turn. And the penalties, yeah, the penalties. But really it's the stuff before that that matters.

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Euros Semifinals (Unlocked Subscriber Episode) Jul 11, 2021

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Italy were fortunate to get through, England were a defensive powerhouse again... without Spinazzola, is there anything Italy can do? We talk about why Southgate has done a very good job despite the Saka and subs weirdness, the dynamics we expect in the final, Kyle Walker, Bonucci and Chiellini, Sterling dribbling... all the stuff.

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Euros Quarterfinals Jul 05, 2021

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The quarterfinals were not quite as compelling as the round of 16 as matches but they set up a ton of fascinating questions for the semifinals. What is Italy without Spinazzola? Why did Spain struggle so much at even strength against Switzerland? Has Denmark run out of gas? Is there any way to get one over on this England team... if Southgate plays the good forwards at least?

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Euros Round of 16, Part 1 Jun 28, 2021

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lol we called it a "mini Euro pod" at the start and then we couldn't stop talking about Italy and Belgium and Portugal and went 35 minutes anyway.... enjoy!

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