Larry nearly opines on (possibly fabricated) rumours of Ben Simmons heading to Portland. Headlines: we discuss the ongoing dissolution of Mauro Icardi and Wanda Nara's generational love story [5:45] plus FIFA telling the world to S its D. Premier League [12:30]: recap of wild Saturday and thots on United's immediate future, Power Rankings [24:40] and weekend preview f/t United vs Liverpool [36:15]. Rest of World: Champions League thots, early look at perhaps the year's best Soccer Sunday Fundays [46:10] and Bayern's Lucas Hernandez [54:45]. Also, Best Bets [59:00] and GOAWs.

Sam's Army

Ep 2.122: Icardi drama, Mo Salah & Sunday Soccerpalaooza preview

Scott Darling (Blackhawks/Hurricanes) joins Sam and the Tweedles to walk through the good, bad and ugly of USMNT's win vs Jamaica and loss at Panama, and preview what to expect vs Costa Rica. We discuss the Saudi Arabia[n sovereign wealth fund]'s takeover of Newcastle [25:45] and what players they might go after. Power Rankings [34:15], Mikey admits why he dislikes Watford and weekend preview [46:00]. Some brief Balon d'Or chatter [51:25]. Best Bets [52:50] and GOAWs [56:45].

Ep 2.121: USMNT, Newcastle takeover + weekend preview

What's what with the unfolding drama enveloping NWSL at the moment, plus some inside info and where things go from here. Premier League [12:30]: rapid reaction to the magisterial Liverpool vs City match, what it means for the title race, some status updates for Tottenham and Brentford and finally Power Rankings [30:00]. ROW: thoughts on USMNT roster [39:20], answers to the big questions facing the team ahead of crucial qualifiers vs Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica, plus predictions on what is about to go down. Finally we round things out with Best Bets [1:01:00] and GOAWs.

Ep 2.120: NWSL drama, Liverpool/City + USMNT preview

Headlines: MLS and LigaMX getting increasingly hot and heavy, as do UEFA and Conmebol plus why that is bad news for FIFA. Premier League: North London Daerby [11:15] and City/Chelsea postmortems; wtf happened to James Rodriguez; Power Rankings and weekend preview ft Liverpool vs City. Rest of World: some Champions League madness [58:00] and thoughts on big USMNT roster reveal ahead of Jamaica/Panama/CRC games. Best Bets and top-notch GOAWs. Also, stay tuned for a fun discussion with Nigel Reo-Coker [1:25:20] about youth team experience learning from Wimbledon wild boys; the highs and low of West Ham including inside story on crazy Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano signings; high-profile move to Aston Villa and what really went down with manager Martin O'Neill and his unvarnished thoughts on the state of American soccer coaching.

Ep 2.119: NLD reax, City/LFC preview, USMNT roster thots & chat w/ Nigel Reo-Coker

Headlines/Vent Session: Thoughts on the CBS's Golazo Show. Premier League [11:15]: Spurs/Chelsea reaction; how for real is Brighton(?); Power Rankings; condescending FPL alerts [38:55] and big weekend preview f/t Chelsea vs City and North London Daerby. Rest of World [1:02:45]: Haaland or Lewandowski(?) and PSG's problems. Best Bets [1:12:30] & GOAWs. Drew Conner [1:25:00] on singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" with Basti Schweinsteiger and Dax McCarty; moving to Czech Republic for soccer but finding fist fights and (American) football instead; his life-changing experience playing with polar bears and penguins in Finland; Indy XI life; what the third-tier NISA league is all about and how Chicago House AC sold him on becoming their founding player.

Ep 2.118: Is Brighton for Real(?), NLD preview + Chicago House's Drew Conner

Larry bears his soul on the Portland trade and clarifies his stance on Columbus Crew vs Portland Timbers/Thorns. Headline [5:45]: latest edition of FIFA F*ckery involves Infantino and Arsene Wenger trying to double our pleasure and fun (and their revenues) by making World Cups every two years. Premier League [12:15]: big wins for Chelsea and United, big loss for Spurs and Nuno, and we got a goal and some points for Arsenal; Power Rankings [32:15]; weekend preview f/t Tottenham vs Chelsea (#pray4sam) and FPL tips [50:45]. Rest of World [57:15]: Juve and RBL struggles plus Champions League observations. Best Bets [1:07:10] and GOAWs. Next up Julia Roddar [1:20:15] discusses her connections to Wisconsin and Florida Man; jumping from Europe to NWSL; what this season with Washington Spirit has been like given controversy surrounding the club; and the inside story on her Olympics experience this summer f/t Sweden's spanking of USWNT, the dirty truth behind the anti-sex beds and how the team's medal-winning celebrations.

Ep 2.117: Biennial WCs, Chelsea or United & chat with Spirit/Sweden's Olympic silver medalist Julia Roddar

Thoughts on a wild international break for USMNT and where things stand with the #BerhalterOut movement, plus some new tidbits about the Weston McKennie drama [17:25] and which players helped or hurt their case this window. Headlines [37:40]: Argentina/Brazil go full CONMEBOL (never go full CONMEBOL) and crazy transfer news involving PSG/Mbappe and Barcelona/Griezmann. Premier League weekend preview ft Lester vs City and Arsenal vs Norwich [45:30]. Rest of World [53:30] ft games to watch this weekend and then in Champions League. Best Bets [57:15] and GOAWs. Next up Henry Wingo [1:02:30] discusses life in the Seattle Sounders system and what prompted the move overseas, what Norwegian ultras are like, how often Eastern Europeans bring up the Habsburg Empire, the pluses and minuses of playing for Hungary's biggest club Ferencvaros and coming to terms with still having a Hotmail email account.

Ep 2.116: USMNT & Berhalter postmortem, weekend prevu + chat with Ferencvaros' Henry Wingo

Headlines: McGunner gushes about Ronaldo's return to United and intrigue of the Champions League group stage draw. Premier League [14:50]: Liverpool vs Chelsea postmortem ft Anthony Taylor's alleged hatred of the Blues, if this is rock bottom for Arsenal, Richarlison's hilarious selfishness and Power Rankings [32:15]. Sam pulls the FPL rip cord. Around the world [44:00] focusing on Bayern sucking RBL dry. Bar for success for USMNT [52:35] in the three WCQ games this international break. Best Bets [1:03:20] and GOAWs. Jonathan Bond [1:11:15] then discusses his unusual path to becoming Galaxy's GK1, whether La-La Land is all it's cracked up to be, Lletget vs Chicharito arm-wrestling, new episode of PR 101 and his advice -- as someone who made the one-time switch from Wales to England's NT -- to Julian Araujo on how to decide between repping the US or Mexico.

Ep 2.115: Ronny, Arsenalol, USMNT & chat with LA Galaxy GK Jonathan Bond

Headlines: Covid-19 coming at Pulisic and WCQ. Premier League [[7:00]]: Arsenal/Chelsea postmortem, Power Rankings [[23:15]] and weekend preview [[29:25]] f/t Arsenal vs City and Liverpool vs Chelsea. Fantasy funboy corner [[37:10]]. Around the World [[42:10]] f/t Dimitri Payet vs entire Nice fanbase. Best Bets (can Larry stay hot??) [[47:45]] and GOAWs (s/o Carol Blymire). Julian Gressel [[57:00]] on DC United's injury woes; how his role has evolved since leaving Falcons FC; his good cop/bad cop routine with Paul Arriola; discussions with Kevin Paredes about moving to Europe; and everything we need to know -- albeit from a lifelong Bayern fan -- about what to watch in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season. (Sidenote: for a German perspective on MLS check out Julian and Chicago's Fabian Hebers on Zee Soccer Podcast.)

Ep 2.114: Huge weeks for Arsenal & Chelsea + '21/'22 Bundesliga preview f/t DCU's Julian Gressel

Thoughts opening weekend of the Premier League f/t United's statement of intent, Arsenal blowing chunks and Spurs/City fallout (including Grealish hot takes). Power Rankings [30:40]. Weekend preview [36:30] f/t Arsenal vs Chelsea. Global soccer roundup [44:40] f/t Barcelona bouncing back and 18yo American Joe Scally's massive debut for Gladbach. Best Bets [52:35] and GOAWs [57:00]. Fantasy Funboy Corner [1:04:10] where all my n00b FPL questions are answered and s/o to the top 5 of the Sam's Army league. Next up Alessandro Canale [1:15:30] -- aka The Most Interesting Man in Soccer -- discusses life as a child actor, entrepreneur, free-styler, skateboarder, pro indoor soccer player and of course member of the US Men's Beach Soccer National Team, which is in Russia preparing to play in the 2021 Beach Soccer World Cup starting on August 19. Everything you need to know about the tournament and beach soccer in general is right here.

Ep 2.113: EPL opening weekend + US Beach Soccer's Alessandro Canale previews 2021 World Cup

Larry & the Tweedles together again. We touch quickly on what Messi's ugly PSG move means for Barcelona before turning to the 2021/22 Premier League Preview f/t hot takes galore [10:30]. Transfer moves we like and dislike [13:30]. Clubs that will over- and under-perform [19:40]. Who wins the league [30:45]. Larry or Virgil Van Dijk wins a headball and why Mikey may get #TheDanglies tatted on his butt [36:10]. What "other" club(s) has the best shot to slip in the top 4 [39:25]. Who's getting relegated [43:00]. Predictions [51:45]: St.Tot's Day - yes or no, Player of the Year, Golden Boot and 1st manager canned. FPL Corner [1:11:30] with a bunch of useful advice and tips. MLS and LigaMX [1:20:30] going head to head all week. Best Bets [1:23:15] and GOAWs.

Ep 2.112: Messi's Messy Exit & Premier League Preview + Predictions

Tweedles and Larry (he back!) join Sam to talk through questions from listeners. Topics include USMNT's Gold Cup success and who is now in mix for WCQ spots; USWNT's Olympics disappointment and who is to blame; and a Premier League pre-preview f/t thoughts on Kane, Grealish and Lukaku. MLS power rankings and (obvi) GOAWs. Next up Charlotte FC president Nick Kelly [[1:12:55]] hops on to discuss getting the MLS club ready to play in 2022, how the pandemic has hurt/helped, which clubs he is modelling CFC's launch on (and what lessons he's learn from others' failures), how he survived the twitter mob out for blood on his first day on the job, $1 beer nights and we finally bond in our shared distaste for a certain team in Atlanta

Ep 2.111: Mailbag Q&A (MNT/WNT/EPL) + chat with Charlotte FC president Nick Kelly

Sam and the Tweedles (Mikey/Mitch) are joined by Euros pick'em pool champ Jack Blanchard to discuss all the big transfer news, including who makes bigger impact between Raphael Varane vs Jadon Sancho [[5:10]] plus Chris Mueller [[15:15]] to... Hibs?! Also: thoughts on USMNT's 1-0 win over Jamaica [[18:10]] plus predictions for Qatar (and maybe Mexico), if USWNT can beat Netherlands in Olympics quarterfinal [[29:45]], MLS power rankings [[38:55] plus Best Bets [[46:00]] and GOAWs. Next up New Mexico United's Amando Moreno [[54:50]] hops on to discuss his experience playing for El Salvador in the Gold Cup, why the team was so dang good, and the keys to beating Qatar and Mexico from someone who just played BOTH teams in the last week.

Ep 2.110: Varane vs Sancho, MNT/WNT & El Salvador's Amando Moreno on how to beat Qatar & Mexico

Headlines: FIFA "trailing" massive rule changes, Americans heading to Europe in record numbers and wild news about a Premier League star (allegedly) arrested for texting underage kids. Gold Cup: thoughts on USMNT [[16:20]] so far, including whose stock has gone up and down, plus which opponents could be a problem. USWNT Olympics preview [[34:45]] and why the games must go on despite Covid for the sake of humanity. MLS's wild weekend [[39:30]] with top 3 power ranking. Best Bets f/t Mitchy Mush and Tommy McMush [[46:00]] and GOAWs. Also, DC United's Paul Arriola [[54:25]] hops on from Texas where the USMNT is preparing for this weekend's Gold Cup quarterfinal to discuss if/when he will be back on the field, how camp is going, who has impressed him the most, what the locker room vibe and Berhalter's postgame speech were like after sneaking by Canada, and some thoughts on his time at Swansea and whether he is going to have to fight Steve Birnbaum and hang onto the DCU captain's armband.

Ep 2.109: Gold Cup, US re-invading Europe, WNT & DC Utd/MNT's Paul Arriola interview

Barstool plus Soccer. A lot of people are calling it the perfect marriage. If you are looking for snooty analytics or foreign accents, alas, you will have to look elsewhere. Within the friendly, non-judgmental confines of the Sam's Army Podcast, Barstool Sam discusses the world's most beautiful game – with an emphasis on EPL, Champions League and USMNT plus plenty of room for touching on Spain, Italy, Germany, MLS, etc – in a way meant to appeal to fans both new and old. Whether breaking down recent results or previewing games on deck, The Sam's Army Podcast aims to keep things light and entertaining while also making sure you stay abreast of all the relevant goings-on in the wonderful world of soccer. Holler! 

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Sam's Army

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