Shows
The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySet Pieces, Transfers, Private EquityThe Double Pivot has introduced a term into the football vernacular and we talk through the set pieces story, Caley's study, and Jonathan Northcroft's column in the Times. And then we talk transfers including Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo and Ademola Lookman, which leads naturally into a discussion of private equity in football. The Northcroft column: https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/premier-league-goalkeepers-set-pieces-ft66m8hn5Set pieces study: https://www.expectinggoals.com/p/the-set-piece-revolutionSupport the show
2026-02-0541 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Set Piece Revolution (plus a few CL thoughts)We had a goofy final day of the Champions League and a few thoughts on Benfica and Real Madrid and the joy of whiparound soccer.And then we get into Caley's new study on The Set Piece Revolution and the evidence that the game-changing insights here are mostly just chucking it into the mixer and crowding the keeper. We disagree(!) about some likely responses and we discuss what is likely to come next as set piece thought continues to spread.Read the full study: https://www.expectinggoals.com/p/the-set-piece-revolutionSupport the show
2026-01-2943 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryNew Premier League Team RatingsCaley has built a new projection and team rating model so we talk through what it tells us about the Premier League right now. Arsenal's incredible defense, Newcastle's confusing defense, Liverpool's problem defense, Palace's attack, Spurs not looking entirely terrible, Sunderland looking strong, and more. Support the show
2025-10-2336 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Double Pivot Theory of the Business of FootballWe wrote an article on financialization and soccer for Bloomberg, and it helped us crystallize our thinking on the state of the business of football. On labor costs and competition, on regulation and financialization, on Covid-era changes in the economic environment, on oligarch and state ownership and what it means for solidarity in the capital class, it's all here.A whole bunch of links.Our Bloomberg article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-01-29/how-football-has-become-a-hotbed-of-financial-engineeringCaley's further thoughts: https://www.expectinggoals.com/p/further-thoughts-on-the-businessInterview with Jon Sindreu on Barca's...
2025-02-1140 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySchedule Adjustments and the Premier LeagueCaley did an analytics. Talking about Chelsea, Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton, Forest and the bottom of the PL table in terms of their schedule-adjusted numbers. And stick around for the appendices.For reference, Caley's xG table: https://twitter.com/MC_of_A/status/1703908497543356705Support the show
2023-09-1942 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryMedia, Arsenal and Analytics with James BengeMike Goodman is joined by CBS soccer correspondent James Benge (@jamesbenge) to talk about all things media, analytics and yeah a little bit of Arsenal.Support the show
2023-05-1145 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryEngland and SpainMike thinks England are going to win the World Cup. Michael thinks Alvaro Morata could score lots of goals. We're coming in hot.Support the show
2022-11-1832 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryNWSL with Arielle DrorOfficial Double Pivot NWSL Correspondent Arielle Dror (@arielle_dror) joins us for what is not really a preview of the NWSL season because it's been going on for a little while now, but we take a look at what's going on so far in the league, why San Diego is so good, what's holding back the Reign, why Caley's beloved Gotham are probably not going to give him much joy this year, and more.Support the show
2022-06-0254 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryRelegation RaceMike's fave episode in a while! We break down the race to survive -- what's gone wrong for Burnley and Everton, what went right for Newcastle, where do we stand on Leeds' recent turnaround?Support the show
2022-03-2543 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Best TeamsThe Champions League has returned, and both Mike and Other Mike have returned to sufficiently stable living conditions to "watch" the "games" so it's time to talk about Liverpool, Inter, Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern and Salzburg.Support the show
2022-02-1739 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Premier League But More SoOpening from Really??? With Mike & MikeThe Premier League season resumed and every game seemed to encapsulate a different narrative and statistical issue we've been following. Liverpool, Chelsea, Brentford, West Ham, Newcastle, what have we learned so far?Support the show
2021-10-1834 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySuperteams In Crisis, Pt 1Barcelona's crisis just keeps rolling. Is the manager the problem? Could anything solve the problem in the near term? And then we stay in La Liga where there is no obvious Real Madrid crisis but it remains unclear that they're, like, particularly good. And while Atletico don't find the theme, Mike has takes y'all.Support the show
2021-09-3039 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryIs The (xG) Table Lying?It's five matches into the season and everyone knows the table is lying... but is the xG table lying? More specifically, what can statistics tell us this early in the season, what does it mean that statistics "become reliable" after a certain period of time, and how does this inform how we're thinking about Tottenham and Chelsea and Arsenal and Everton?Caley's R2 charts: https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2015/10/19/9295905/premier-league-projections-and-new-expected-goalsSupport the show
2021-09-2343 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryRonaldo and the Media, and then All The Transferscontent notice: discussion of rape and sexual violenceCaley 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-backWe are sponsored by thepowerrank.com, Ed Feng's website...
2021-09-0147 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Super LeagueWe've got news. Caley and Goodman walk through the setup of the proposed Super League, its apparent business goals, the structural problems in European football that brought us to this point. and what we think is likely to emerge on the other side of this.@Guidetobirds on the wage issue at the heart of the Super League: https://fileundertragicomedy.wordpress.com/2021/04/19/the-super-league-is-about-wages-too/Murad Ahmed and Arash Massoudi in the Financial Times on the financing of the league: https://www.ft.com/content/f00bb232-a150-4f7d-b26a-e1b62cd175c3Joshua...
2021-04-201h 02The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League "Is This Anything?"Mike and Michael look at the hottest narratives of the first week or two -- Everton, Palace, Arsenal, Leicester, Weston McKennie and more -- and ask, "is this anything?" How much can we have really learned from 180 minutes of football? In most cases, of course, not that much, but there are real trends to take a look at.Support the show
2020-09-2542 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryIt Begins: All the Takes from the First WeekendLeeds and Liverpool played a classic and (parts of) the popular narrative about it are more right than the shot stats might suggest. Arsenal were good and Chelsea were bad but does it mean anything? Oh yeah and Everton - Spurs. Support the show
2020-09-1648 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League Preview Extravaganza Eleganza: Part IIt's that time again! A new Premier League season kicking off and we preview all 20 teams and try our best to stuff it into two hours. Here's the first hour!Support the show
2020-09-101h 03The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Top Four(?) Race(?)The Premier League season is almost upon us, and we've seen very different strategies so far from the teams we'd rate 3rd to 9th in the Premier League as they approach another run at the Champions League places. Who's doing it right, Everton or Spurs, Wolves or Leicester, Arsenal or United? We break it down. (Chelsea... Chelsea's fine.)Support the show
2020-09-0345 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChampions League Final, EvertonGoodman and Caley walk through a tactically fascinating but sadly short of actually great Champions League Final and appreciate how Bayern replaced Arjen Robben with Serge Gnabry and became the best team in the world again. Then they turn to Everton, a team with no plan that will probably be good and fun anyway.Support the show
2020-08-2644 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChampions League SemifinalsA fascinating if not super competitive pair of semifinal matches are in the books. We look at everything PSG did right and, as is typical for us, spend a lot of time perserverating on what went for a Bayern team that won 3-0. Support the show
2020-08-2039 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChampions League Quarters, Part IIWow. Bayern-Barca was the perfect crescendo to everything we'd predicted and City-Lyon was.... not. We talk about the distinct patterns of the Bayern match and consider whether Pep's shit works in the playoffs.Support the show
2020-08-1732 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChampions League Quarters, Part ITwo quarterfinals are in the books and one semifinal is scheduled. We break down two very exciting but tactically meh games -- Leipzig did enough to break down Atleti's profoundly negative side and PSG almost got football'd by an exhausted Atalanta but... didn't -- and then we give you our preview of that semi.Support the show
2020-08-1429 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Final Day and What We LearnedWe break down the big games, Leicester-United and a little bit on the others (Watford-Arsenal!) and then ask, well, what did we learn from these 90 matches since the shutdown? Kinda turns into a City pod.Support the show
2020-07-2855 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Final Day, Part IWe have actual final day drama in the Premier League. Six teams with everything on the time, five crucial matches. We tour the games with plentiful tangents, here's part 1 with Manchester United and our picks for the relegation chase.Support the show
2020-07-2442 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryCAS saves Man City but can anything save Barcelona?We break down the ruling against UEFA from the Court of Arbitration in Sport, and how it crystallizes the fundamental issue here: there are no good guys, and UEFA got caught breaking its own rules, but nothing about the ruling exonerates City either.And then we have Real Madrid's title, how Zidane put together a title-winning team despite crucial things going wrong early in the season, and what the future of La Liga will look like -- maybe without a great Barcelona side for a long time?Support the show
2020-07-1755 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhat Remains of the Premier LeagueHas the top five race ended? Has the relegation chase ended? We break down Leicester-Arsenal and look at the teams remaining in contention for the top five and there's not a lot left here. At the bottom things remain more in doubt, but the chances we're talking Europa places in a week are pretty high.Support the show
2020-07-0946 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryHow Liverpool Won the TitleIt's been inevitable for a while, but it was certainly not inevitable 12 months ago and even less so six years ago. How did Liverpool build a team to win a Champions League and Premier League trophy in back to back seasons? How do we tell this story, and how do we parse out the different causes, from business development to analytics to coaching and tactics to good fortune. It's an unquestionable analytics success story, and also one that takes on a different shape from many of those we're used to in American sports.Support the show
2020-07-0153 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League Return: Part 1We walk through the whole Premier League team by team. And there's a lot of football coming and we want to help you out, so for each team we make the case that you shouldn't watch them. It gets harder as we go along.Support the show
2020-06-1958 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTimo Werner podHe's going to Chelsea! Probably! But the podcast works better if we treat it as settled fact!We break down what kind of player Werner is, how he might fit on this Chelsea side and within Lampard's style, and what this transfer indicates about the state of the football economy.https://thecorrespondent.com/517/three-reasons-the-football-season-is-starting-again-money-money-money/4240227200-05001e50Support the show
2020-06-1048 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Title Race That WasWe break down Bayern's victory over Dortmund and the effective end of the title race in the Bundesliga. And we discuss the new substition rules in soccer, how they're being used, and what we'd like to see from managers with this new resource.Support the show
2020-05-2950 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryBundesliga! Soccer! Games!Time to talk about actual soccer games with actual soccer statistics. The Bundesliga is back and Dortmund and Bayern won and we spend a lot of time talking about Gladbach and Leverkusen's underlying statistics because of course we do.Support the show
2020-05-211h 02The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySports, Education and Incarceration with Clint SmithCaley is joined by poet, scholar, activist and wikipedia-confirmed Arsenal fan Clint Smith (@clintsmithiii) to talk about why he loves and misses sports (even Arsenal!), and about his academic work in the study of education and the way people who have been incarcerated make meaning through education.Support the show
2020-04-3046 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryNewcastle's New OwnershipThe Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has nearly completed its purchase of Newcastle United Football Club. We talk about what this means. Another ownership group in the Premier League driven not by a need to make profits but by a drive for soft power, sportwashing a reputation sullied by war crimes, murder and oppression. What will that mean for Newcastle and the Premier League?George Caulkin's report in The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/1759832/2020/04/21/newcastle-takeover-bruce-charnley-transfers/Support the show
2020-04-2344 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWill soccer restart anytime soon?We've reached the point of the pandemic where sports leagues around the world are scrambling to find ways to safely return to action. The Bundesliga is poised to make the first attempt in the soccer world, and the Two Mikes size up the odds against the Germans (and really, everyone else). Then they talk loosely about generational gaps and leaps before turning to lobsters and chocolate tortas (but not together, that would be gross). Support the show
2020-04-1436 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySpurs and Surveys with Brian SchaffnerMike Goodman is joined by political scientist and Tottenham fan Brian Schaffner to go back over the season for Tottenham, because that's fun, and then they talk about the use of analytics in another field entirely, with Schaffner's political science / public opinion research.Support the show
2020-04-1042 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryE-Sports with Kim McCauleyThe Double Pivot Interview Series continues, with Mike Goodman talking to SB Nation's erstwhile soccer writer and current e-sports writer Kim McCauley (@lgbtqfc) about the only kind of sports that people can play under pandemic, how to understand it, how to watch it, and more.Support the show
2020-04-0343 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryUS Soccer drama with Meg LinehanSoccer! Sort of!Michael interviews Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan), a reporter from The Athletic who has been covering all the drama with US Soccer, for a recap and analysis of everything that's gone down in the last month with the equal pay lawsuit filed by the US Women's National Team. There's a lot to cover, and it's about soccer, mostly.Support the show
2020-03-3037 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe hours pass like daysThe two Mikes are parents at home with young children in their respective cities, and in today's podcast, they recount their struggles during isolation. Also, they watched some bad comedies and have thoughts. It's a free podcast and you're bored anyway. Enjoy!Support the show
2020-03-2431 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySoccer in the time of COVID, reduxWe're back and the Premier League has now shut down, and it raises more specifically the question of what sports will be while we're shut down, so we talked about it on this podcast, too.Support the show
2020-03-1324 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySoccer in the time of COVIDWhat's this pod going to be during the pandemic? We have a plan! We will be doing shorter podcasts, several per week, on various topics. This week becuase things are nuts, we have a pair of podcasts directly on the news and soccer and coronavirus.We have a little soccer to talk about (Atletico did a soccer) but we're as overwhelmed with the pandemic as anyone and the question of what sports will be, so we talked about on this podcast.Support the show
2020-03-1319 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPandemic and RelegationThe COVID-19 not-yet-a-pandemic is already disrupting the Italian football season, and if the projections from epidemiologists are to be trusted, it won't be for just a few weeks and it certainly won't be just Italy. We dig into the newest example of how sports themselves don't stick to sports.Then we talk about relegation, honestly, pretty much as if there will be a normal Premier League season. It's hard to keep your brain in pandemic mode.Support the show
2020-03-051h 00The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTwo Princes: Man City's ban, explainedManchester City have been banned from the Champions League for the next two seasons, and fined $30 million for breaching Financial Fair Play rules. City are appealing to the CAS. The Two Mikes explain what the hell CAS is and also sort through the rest of the mess to clear it all up for you. Der Spiegel article on Football Leaks: https://www.spiegel.de/international/manchester-city-exposed-bending-the-rules-to-the-tune-of-millions-a-1236346.htmlTariq Panja on UEFA and PSG: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/sports/psg-uefa-ffp.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=ArticleSupport the show
2020-02-2052 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChampions League Knockout Preview, Pt. 1The knockout stages of the Champions League are upon us, so the Two Mikes break down each matchup. In this episode, they talk Atleti-Liverpool, Dortmund-PSG, Atalanta-Valencia and Leipzig-Spurs. Support the show
2020-02-1355 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWho wants more mailbag? Cool, here's Pt. 1The two Mikes race through the latest results in England (and what we've learned of late about the clubs in the thick of the most noteworthy results) before turning their attention to more of your questions. Support the show
2020-02-0651 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryMousa Mailbag, pt 1We start with one of our "Mousa Dembele" pods where we scout a player using the stats. Here it's United's new signing Bruno Fernandes, an elite creator who may or may not be a possession sieve, and what to expect from him and why we're excited to watch him in a top league.Then we take listener questions about what "ball progression" means and why different measurements are proliferating, about the ongoing transformation of the fullback position and its knock-on effects on football tactics, on what sorts of attackers United needs to target beyond Bruno, and more.
2020-01-3053 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryStuff is Weird, Premier League EditionThese were not two slates of matches that reward analysis. Chelsea-Arsenal and Everton-Newcastle actively defy any attempt to analyze them. But we find our way through, taking stock of the extent of Chelsea's decline, Wolves' rise, and whether there are any new takes we can wring out of Spurs and United anymore.Support the show
2020-01-2352 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySoccer and True Crime with Nate ScottNate Scott of For the Win and USA Today sits in for Caley and talks Fulham soccer, off ball movement and the dangers of playing pretty football at the bottom of the Premier League table with the remaining Mike. Make sure to also check out Nate's true crime podcast, The Sneak, about an armored car heist and the once great athlete who committed it."For more on The Sneak, see here: https://wondery.com/shows/the-sneak/Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2020-01-1549 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTeaser: European Players and Transfer PodsThis week at patreon.com/doublepivot we've got a continuation of last week's player pod with discussions of players around Europe including among others Achraf Hakimi, Fede Valverde, Christopher Nkunku and, uh, Messi.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2020-01-1001 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League Players to Watch, Pt. 1Halfway through the season, we've seen enough of key players at every club to make some observations. The two Mikes point out a player or two from nine EPL clubs (Arsenal, Brighton, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Norwich City, Sheffield United, Newcastle, Palace) that you should be noticing, and not always for good reasons. Part 2 (and the other 11 clubs) follows on Patreon.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2020-01-0357 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryBoxing Day Special, Pt. 1: The race for top 4Spurs and United won on Boxing Day while Chelsea lost, and all of the sudden, Frank Lampard's squad looks more wobbly than they did a month ago.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-12-2750 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhat's the ACTUAL deal with Liverpool?Analytics seem to be missing something about Liverpool. Or at least, that's how it seems to a lot of people trying to understand the club's run of dominance. The two Mikes take a closer look and explore a few theories, and use Tuesday's Dortmund-Leipzig match as a perfect jumping-off point for the discussion.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-12-1852 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryEverton rebounds, City stumbles & Leicester is HOTThe two Mikes explain why Everton should stick with Duncan Ferguson in perpetuity (full disclosure: this misleading and completely incorrect statement was written by a Liverpool fan), and then move on to the Manchester Derby, which may have killed the title race. The only hope for that title race may now lie with Leicester City, who have figured out some things.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-12-1253 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryEmery OutThere's a new manager at Arsenal, the very early returns weren't different. Will we see something different? How will it affect the top four race, if there even is a race? Leicester, Chelsea, United, Spurs, Wolves, Arsenal, is anything gonna happen?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-12-0352 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryMore-inhoMourinho is managing Tottenham, they won two games and look, it's not our fault this is objectively interesting. It is! So we've got a podcast on it, and also City-Chelsea.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-11-2852 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySpurs' Mourinho era beginsThere are so many reasons why the marriage of Tottenham Hotspur and Jose Mourinho is bound to end in an ugly divorce, but for now, the two Mikes imagine a world where it just might work. Before that, they take a quick look at the biggest match in England this weekend: Manchester City vs. Chelsea.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-11-2156 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhat cost City against LiverpoolLiverpool put some distance between themselves and Manchester City (and Chelsea!) with a big win, and while the teams performed relatively evenly in the match, the two Mikes spotted some tactical issues that made things tough for Pep Guardiola's squad. As previously mentioned, Chelsea is pretty dang good, while Leicester vs. Arsenal perfectly encapsulated both squads.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-11-1352 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhy Liverpool vs. City might get weirdAs Liverpool grow more heavily reliant on fullbacks attacking, and Manchester City deal with injuries and inconsistency on the backline, it creates some odd possibilities for the squads' clash this weekend. Outside of the title race, the race for top 4 is shaping up to not be much of a race at all if nothing changes, and the same could be said for the relegation places. But as usual, the numbers suggest otherwise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-11-0755 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryUnpacking everything from Liverpool vs. SpursThe latest edition of Liverpool vs. Spurs contained multitudes and the two Mikes are here to break it down, but not before a quick look at Burnley vs. Chelsea, which was super weird in its own right.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-10-3056 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Premier League is badWelcome to the 2019-20 Premier League season, where even the teams fighting for the top spots in the league are doing so in the most uninspiring fashion imaginable. If you like goals and you like shots, well, this isn't the place to find them. The two Mikes attempt to figure out what the heck is going on.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-10-2459 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryStatsbomb Conference PodMike and Michael are at the Statsbomb conference in London. They talk through some of the highlights of last weekend's matches in the Premier League and then discuss what they saw at the conference and the new key concept in soccer analytics introduced by Thom Lawrence, "The Valley of Meh" and what it means for understanding the game.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-10-121h 06The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryChecking in on the early season narrativesA Manchester United - Arsenal match seemed to confirm every one of our priors about these two teams. But is something wrong with City? Why are Liverpool a bit less good than they seem? My god what is happening with Spurs? Mike and Michael start to reconsider Spurs and Chelsea while holding the line on the rest. Plus more of the same questions from La Liga, while Real and Barcelona continue not to whelm us.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-10-0452 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryGiant Weirdo Grab Bag, Part 1Teams outside the top two in the Premier League may just be mailing it in and playing the kids this season. Chelsea vs. Liverpool was an interesting watch, and Leicester City showed its best lineup against Spurs, Other things are happening, too! This is just part one!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-09-2555 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTeaser: Champions League (P)reviewFor subscribers at patreon.com/doublepivot we have a two-part (p)review, where we cover our eight Champions League groups, by way of discussing the matches in the first round on Tuesday and Wednesday, and what to expect in the groups over the next few months.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-09-1801 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryCity Lost PodYeah so Man City lost to Norwich City. We get into what happened and what it could mean as we survey the weekend's results in the Premier League and ask if the table is already shaking out about the way we expected? Leicester, Wolves, Spurs, Norwich, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea all covered.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-09-1855 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySoccer and Stuff with Astead HerndonMike and Michael are joined by the New York Times' Astead Herndon, a national political reporter and Tottenham Hotspur fan. The conversation winds from Americans finding their Premier League team to polling analytics and diversity in media, back around to why Michael and Astead still feel good about Tottenham this season.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-09-0945 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryComeback Weekend ChaosThe North London derby provided all the insanity it normally does, and weird come-from-behind results echoed the sentiment around the league. That all leads the two Mikes to ask what we really know about the Premier League this season after four matches. Then, their attention turns to all the giants having a hell of a hard time getting going in La Liga, Serie A and the Bundesliga. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-09-0457 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryAround the Premier LeagueA chronological tour of the weekend's Premier League matches. There were many things to talk about, it was a chance to expand from our top six discussion of last week to look also at the middle of the table and below and see what we're expecting from everyone after a few weeks of matches.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-2952 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryLooking back and ahead in the Premier League, and of course, Atalanta talkCity vs. Spurs was weird, Wolves vs. United was boring, Chelsea vs. Leicester was confusing, and Liverpool vs. Arsenal could get wild. To close the episode out as a teaser to Serie A talk on the premium side, the two Mikes pen their usual love letter to Atalanta.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-2359 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League Week 1Is Chelsea in crisis? Is Mancheter United great now? Are Liverpool and City running away with the league? We pump the brakes a lot, it's the first week. We have questions about Chelsea but they weren't 0-4 awful. We still don't know what United's midfield is, and Liverpool and City were weirdly not their best. Then Caley takes you on a tour of Broadway musicals and ancient feminist hymns.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-141h 04The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTeaser: Deadline Day RoundupWe covered the action from Deadline Day for our subscribers (as well as those 10 other PL teams in the second part of the preview) and this is the teaser about it.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-0801 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League Preview Extravaganza-eleganza Part 1The two Mikes reunite to kick off the season with a mega preview. They cover 10 teams in this episode, and the other 10 over on the subscriber side. Here, they'll touch on Liverpool's lack of movement in the transfer window, Leicester's best case scenario post-Maguire, Everton's looks-can-be-deceiving moves, whether Norwich can stay up, and much more.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-071h 07The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryLiverpool and Brooklyn PoliticsIn the first of a series of interviews with people we think are cool who also happen to be soccer fans, I talk to Brandon West (@btwest) the president of New Kings Democrats, about grassroots organizing in Brooklyn, the county committee and Democratic Party reform, and his theories of politics. And also we talk about Liverpool's preseason and Adam Lallana at the 6!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-08-011h 00The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Tale of Mauro IcardiSalacious gossip correspondent Joel Wertheimer (@wertwhile) returns and we give your our best attempt to explain all the drama around Mauro Icardi. There is so much drama. It all starts with an affair. We give you dramatic readings. There are instagram influencers, plural. A "soccer gossip" show called Tiki Taka. And then we talk about Spurs some. The Wanda Derby: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/14/maxi-lopez-sampdoria-wanda-derby-interThe tattoo: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2663942/Mauro-Icardi-gets-tattoo-Maxi-Lopezs-three-children-Inter-Milan-striker-sets-home-ex-wife-Wanda-Nara.htmlThe Wan Collection: https://www.wancollection.com/woman/The Autobiography: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/oct/17/mauro-icardi-v-inters-ultras-an-unhappy-chapter-in-his-ongoing-san-siro-sagaThe Ultras' Response: http://www...
2019-08-0150 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTransfers a-go-go with a-GoodmanGoodman is back from paternity, briefly, to fill in this week for a Lost Podcast (which will be re-done soon). We talk about West Ham, Chelsea, Bayern, Dortmund and you know, a bunch of the transfers that have happened.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-07-2651 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryArsenal and Barcelona with Zito MaduWith Goodman on paternity leave, Caley has been lining up guests. This week features SB Nation writer, advice columnist and man-about-Twitter Zito Madu (@_Zeets) for a conversation about the confusing (but also not actually bad yet) summer transfer windows of Arsenal and Barcelona, with a little bonus advice at the end.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-07-1756 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryRapinoePodMeg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) goes deep on Megan Rapinoe and the meanings and contexts of her activism, in particular her advocacy for racial justice causes as a gay white woman. Meg calls in the big guns for this pod, joined by a scholar of theology studying racial justice movements, Marjorie Corbman, who also happens to be Meg's wife. That's right y'all, it's a wifepod. Oh and also it's about the World Cup final and stuff.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-07-061h 12The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryAround the World Cup with Meg and MichaelWe got together this weekend to talk about the US game, how Meg's wife jump-started one of the best news stories of the week, the disappointing Germans, the ehhhhhh Dutch, the sad story of France, and everything else we could jam into a pod.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-07-0140 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySerie A and Broader Questions of Ethics Related To Manchester CityMike and Michael get into the final day of the Serie A season -- late Sunday matches are the ones to watch -- and then for the FA Cup. But it's not a game recap, and there's not much to recap. Why has everyone gotten mad at Manchester City suddenly? What must we as fans confront when we think and talk about the sportwashing ownership model practiced by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar?Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-05-2356 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTeaser: Champions League Stat TakesCaley's throat was not up to two hours of podcasting this week so the only Double Pivot is on the subscription side, at patreon.com/doublepivot, where Mike and Michael give you their takes on Liverpool-Bayern and Caley wades into the stats to see what he can glean from them on games he did not watch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2019-02-2201 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhere did the Premier League c0me from and where is it going?This week Mike and Michael are joined by Wall Street Journal sportswriter Jonathan Clegg, co-author of the new book, The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports. It's a history of the business of the Premier League, how it was formed and negotiated, how it grew, the structural forces that shaped its growth. It's catnip for a Double Pivot conversation, and we had a lot of fun.You can follow Jonathan on twitter at @cleggjon and read more about the book from the publisher here: https://www.hmhbooks.com/shop/books...
2019-01-2254 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryFootball and Race, Chelsea and Man City, RelegationWe talk about the questions of race and racism in sports media that Raheem Sterling has helped surface, about why it's necessary to think critically about race simply to do soccer analysis well, and then over to the weirdness of Chelsea - Man City and why are Chelsea so good at defending sometimes... and finally the relegation scrap. A lot in here! Caley got to talk about discourse.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-12-1359 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentarySadness Derby I: Caley EditionIt's our North London Derby --- how bad did Spurs get wrecked --- wait are Arsenal good now --- is Unai Emery figuring it out --- make Caley sad episode but boom he's in Mexico and it's 80 degrees so who's the real loser here episode. Look for Goodman sadness on the Patreon side.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-12-0647 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTeaser: Champions League RankingsIn which the Mikes rank the Champions League favorites. They both agree about City at the top, but they disagree--somewhat--about how it shakes out just below that. See what they think of Juventus, Barcelona, Bayern, Liverpool, Madrid, Dortmund, Atleti and Napoli by subscribing at patreon.com/doublepivot.Also a little preview of the Caley Bible Podcast at the end of this one.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-10-2501 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryStats around the Premier LeagueMike and Mike break out some of Caley's stats and a few Statsbomb numbers and pick out some surprising numbers, Who have been the Premier League's best passers? Who plays an unexpectedly key in their team's build up? Are they going to gush about James Milner again? Numbers on Kieran Trippier, James Maddison, Granit Xhaka, Marcos Alonso, Ruben Neves and more. (And by more we mean, James Milner.)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-09-2657 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Triumph of Basic Football (and also Juventus)Caley is not happy about the football but he's happy to have his primary, gremlin-free-usb laptop back. He and Goodman talk about Spurs not bottling it against Juventus and the weird, basic, extremely good tactics of Valverde's Barcelona. Can Chelsea beat them? The two hosts slightly disagree. Then a little love for Liverpool before it all ends.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-03-0942 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryParsing through an extremely deep relegation battle in the Premier LeaguePRODUCER'S NOTE: We apologize in advance for a few moments when Caley's audio goes south for a minute or two. It's a free-for-all in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but the two Mikes have some ideas about which clubs are in a lot more trouble than the rest. And they even see a few obvious problems that the clubs themselves aren't doing much to address correctly. Before they roll through all the teams under the threat of the drop, they quickly touch on the two big matches between top six clubs over the weekend, and finish with a...
2018-02-281h 21The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryExamining the transfer window on the eve of it closingThe two Mikes interrupt this transfer window discussion with the Arsenal Crisis Conch (patent pending), and use it as a springboard into more transfer talk, not just about the Gunners, but also many of their Top 6 counterparts. There's also some Dortmund and PSG chatter that gets mixed in, thanks to the players involved in some of the bigger transfers this window. Plus, one Mike uses the opportunity to talk about pundits saying players "lack end product," and how it never means what they think it means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2018-01-3157 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe Champions League final 16 are set, so who's the favorite?We now know the final 16 teams in the Champions League, but are we any closer to understanding who has the best chance to win it? Sitting at Caley's kitchen table, the two Mikes try to sort through what we've learned from group play. Plus, the results of the Champions League mean the Europa League may actually be pretty exciting this year, so they briefly mention that before closing the majority of the show out with some thoughts on the race between the two Manchester clubs.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-12-081h 01The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryEverton's mess, the Manchester title race and Liverpool in crisisAfter a much better podcast with a much better guest host (Aaron West) was eaten by gremlins, Caley does his best to fly solo without Goodman on topics like Everton, the title race, Spurs and Chelsea, before bringing in Producer Max to talk about Liverpool's sky-is-falling narrative after a draw with Burnley and a loss to Leicester City. How much does he Carabao those results? (Sorry, we're sorry, we're trying to delete it.)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-09-2150 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryTottenham Hotspur's Serge Aurier problemAs a Spurs fan, Caley can't stand idly by while his team considers bringing in a player with a questionable past. He and Goodman talk through the issue before turning their attention to Manchester City vs. Everton and Chelsea vs. Spurs, two matches that contained far less sense than they should have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-08-2351 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryHave Monaco proven they're good enough to win the Champions League?The Champions League is down to four teams, and the two Mikes posit whether Monaco's dream run can end with them lifting the cup. The F.A. Cup is also down to four clubs, and despite a bevy of jokes throughout the current season, the guys are actually going to talk about these two matches, and the implications surrounding the teams playing in them. Mostly Arsenal, but a little bit about everyone else, too. Due to a technical malfunction, Caley's audio is off a bit this week, so apologies in advance.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
2017-04-2154 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryHot takes! Come and get 'em!Just about everyone who cares has a theory on what's wrong at Arsenal. One Mike's stance was so white hot that Twitter is yet to recover. The other Mike started a European war when he suggested that the top English teams would be better if they could sign the best players away from the teams directly below them. Have your extinguisher nearby for this one, your listening device may spontaneously combust!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-03-2359 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryExamining Liverpool's bizarre record vs. good and bad clubsSome guy named Mike Goodman joins the podcast to figure out what's going on with Klopp’s squad on Merseyside, as well catch up on everything he's missed, from Claudio Rainieri's exit, PSG's thrashing of Barcelona and Caley's time spent watching "Newsies.”Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-03-0855 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryThe MAGIC of the League Cup and a short trip to ItalyWith Mike Goodman still on paternity leave, Michael Caley welcomes Ben Daniels to the pod to talk about the big stories of the day. They cover Barcelona's tragic situation of merely having a good shot at winning two trophies this year, after winning merely two last year as well. Both Michael and Ben were drawn fully into the magic of the League Cup, where Southampton failed to gain a deserved victory over Manchester United. But, they ask, what does it all MEAN you know? And then to Italy, where both Michael and Ben took their first looks at upstarts Atalanta a...
2017-03-021h 02The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryLeicester City's fall from grace and the relegation battleOne Mike continues to march alone while another is graduating from training wheels as a father. In this episode, the remaining Mike welcomes a first guest, Bobby Gardiner, to break down the issues with the teams scrapping at the bottom of the Premier League table with a special spotlight on the defending champions. Then, Mike welcomes in Conrad Appiah of Opta to figure out what goes on behind the scenes to record all the data that's vital to the world of soccer analytics.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-02-231h 01The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryWhy Alexis is like the Spartan general Brasidas, and other blowout revelationsQuick note off the top: The audio quality of this episode isn't up to our normal standards, and we're sorry for that. This was our second attempt, and we decided a grainy-sounding something was better than nothing this week. SB Nation's Graham MacAree joins Michael Caley to talk about some weird results, the questions we're not asking in analytics, and yes, a digression that ties together Alexis Sanchez and the Peloponnesian War.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2017-02-171h 03The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPremier League: To buy, or not to buy?In the most congested part of the schedule for England's top clubs, some seem to be solidifying their style while others are falling off their expected pace. The two Mikes dive into whether the solution to Pep's woes at City is to buy more stars, if it's just too late for Liverpool to make a useful addition in this transfer window, and where they'd strengthen at clubs where there are less obvious holes to fill (United, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea). Also, it turns out Hawai'i is very nice, and Caley's dog vehemently objects to the Double Pivot Pod.Learn more...
2017-01-1855 minThe Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryEuro 16 mega episode: Recapping the quarterfinals and previewing the semifinalsThe two Mikes keep riding with Portugal (who, along with Ronaldo, is getting a bad wrap), while Wales made Caley look prescient, Germany vs. Italy wasn't the chess match we were looking for, and Iceland's dream died an honorable death. Plus: Will Germany be able to adapt with so many missing pieces against France, and can Wales keep the miracle run going against Portugal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2016-07-041h 01The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentaryPodcast Debut: Previewing Copa América CentarioIntroducing The Double Pivot, hosted by Mike Goodman and Michael Caley. The Double Pivot is for people who want smart commentary with a healthy dose of analytics to back it up. First up: the Copa América, and why Argentina’s 2 to 1 odds to win it is a tad, shall we say, crazy. Mike and Mike also discuss what they’ll be watching for in the early matches, what to make of the USMNT right now, and touch on a few predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show
2016-06-0348 min