Podcasts by Soccer 101
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#88 How does MLS expansion work, and what comes next for the league? from 2022-02-25T21:30:04
On today's episode, with the MLS season kicking off this weekend, Graham and Taylor take a long look at the league's expansion history. What did they get wrong early and how they turned it around, ...
Listen#87 What happened to all that money being pumped into Chinese soccer? from 2022-02-18T16:15:20
Five years ago, Antonio Conte, Arsene Wenger, and many more notable figures were worried about the looming giant wading into the world of football: China. Chinese investors were buying into Europea...
Listen#86 What is Boxing Day and why is it such a big day for British football? from 2021-12-24T15:24:07
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery look at the British cultural phenomenon of Boxing Day soccer: its origins, its importance in the calendar, and the traditio...
Listen#85 How and why are games postponed, abandoned or canceled? from 2021-12-17T17:05:57
This podcast usually looks at what happens during soccer games, but for today’s episode, we look at the times when soccer does not happen! In light of the recent spate of Premier League games that...
Listen#84 Everything you need to know about MLS Cup from 2021-12-10T16:51:31
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery take a look at the showpiece event of the Major League Soccer season: MLS Cup. We delve into its format, i...
Listen#83 All about that Ballon d'Or! What is it, how did it come to exist, who are some lesser known winners, and does it matter all that much? from 2021-12-03T19:06:48
On this episode of Soccer 101, Graham, Joe, Ryan and Taylor get into a timely topic: The Ballon d'Or! We attempt to explain the following: 1) What is the Ballon d'Or and what's the history behind ...
Listen#82 Playoffs in soccer: their origin in the sport and weirdness throughout history from 2021-11-27T13:51:24
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery go deep on playoffs: their history, their usage around the world, and some of the greatest moments they have inspired. S...
Listen#81 Where did the terms brace and hat-trick come from, and what are our favorite examples of each? from 2021-11-19T19:14:57
On this episode, Ryan is joined by Graham and Joe to learn from history and reminisce about spectacular moments as they go deep on the origins of the terms "brace" and "hat-trick" as well as the be...
ListenBonus Episode! Can I Kick It presents... A History of Cobi Jones from 2021-11-16T00:36:52
This week, our friends over at Can I Kick It are chatting with Cobi Jones about his life and legacy. So, we're airing their original bio episode of the USMNT legend in our feed to honor their effor...
Listen#80 New to soccer? Things to consider when picking a soccer team to support from 2021-11-05T17:14:38
On this week's episode, it's semi-strange topic for Graham and Ryan and a more relatable topic for Joe and Taylor: how do I choose a club to support? We discuss how we each came to support the team...
Listen#79 What is the Golden Goal rule and why isn't it around anymore? from 2021-10-29T17:16:44
On this episode, Taylor is joined by Graham and Joe (whoever speaks first wins!) to discuss the Golden Goal rule. How did it first come to be, how long was it in use, what are some of the best exam...
Listen#78 Everything you need to know about pressing: what it is, its many forms, how it evolved, and much more! from 2021-10-22T17:26:58
In an homage to Daryl Grove's introductory explainer on pressing in episode 27, your intrepid podcasters take you on a longer journey through the topic: what does it mean, how do teams utilize it, ...
Listen#77 Who can own a soccer team, and how does club ownership work? from 2021-10-15T14:31:04
On this episode of Soccer 101, we discuss club ownership: who is allowed to own a team, and how do the regulations vary between leagues? Which owners have done a good job at the helm, and who leave...
Listen#76 What are fan-owned clubs and how do they work? from 2021-10-08T17:35:51
The first part of the above question might seem straightforward... and it is. But! There's a lot more going on. If a thousand people own a team, who makes the decisions? Why are fan-owned clubs bec...
Listen#75 The comprehensive history of the soccer ball from 2021-10-01T00:37:31
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery are talking balls. More specifically, the history and development of the humble soccer ball. From pig’s bladders to microch...
Listen#74 The best (and least best) approaches to soccer commentary from 2021-09-24T14:13:18
Graham, Joe, Ryan and Taylor take a quick look at the history of commentary in soccer, before discussing their favorite play-by-play and color commentators and revealing their favorite-ever moments...
Listen#73 "You're not singing anymore!" A brief history of chanting and singing in football from 2021-09-17T17:38:19
Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss the history of chanting and singing at football: how did it start, how has it evolved, why does it lend itself to problematic lyrics, and what are our...
Listen#72 How does World Cup qualification work? AFC, CAF, Concacaf, Conmebol, Oceania, and UEFA explained! from 2021-09-02T13:53:09
This episode of 101 fell in an international break, so Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are here to discuss the process of World Cup qualification. We run through how eac...
Listen#71 Why isn't Scotland better at football, aka fitba? from 2021-08-27T16:16:13
Graham Ruthven takes us through a history of Scottish football, from their role in helping develop and spread the game to The Three Kings era to a mythical time when they qualified for multiple Wor...
Listen#70 Everything you need to know about MLS All-Star Game, past, present and future from 2021-08-20T13:14:42
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery discuss Major League Soccer’s showpiece event, the All-Star Game! The gang look at its history, the events...
Listen#69 The complete history of soccer kits from 2021-08-13T12:31:27
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery talk about uniforms! When did they first appear in soccer, how did teams pick their colors and what are th...
Listen#68 What do footballers do in the off-season? from 2021-08-05T17:39:27
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery look at what happens between seasons! Do players actually get any time off these days? If so, what do they...
Listen#67 Your Guide To Cheating In Soccer from 2021-07-29T22:52:49
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery delve into the dark arts! What constitutes cheating in soccer? How innocuous—or serious—can it be? And wha...
Listen#66 How do academy systems work? from 2021-07-23T14:12:11
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are on hand to answer a listener’s question about Academy systems. What are they? Why do soccer teams have them? How many p...
Listen#65 How did Argentina win the Copa America and how much does it mean for Lionel Messi? from 2021-07-16T18:07:12
Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas to break down Argentina's victorious campaign at the 2021 Copa America. Specifically, our goal is to figure out 1) why this silverware matters so much for the le...
Listen#64 What is the ideal pitch size for a professional soccer game? from 2021-07-03T03:21:26
On this week's episode, Taylor takes a deep (but brief) look at some different leagues and clubs around the world to determine 1) the actual requirements for a soccer pitch to be a soccer pitch but...
Listen#63 Why do the Dutch wear orange, the Italians blue, and the Australians gold? Explaining some of the iconic kit colors of international soccer from 2021-06-18T14:27:40
On this week's episode, Taylor takes a look at some of the iconic kit colors in international soccer and tries to get to the bottom of how they came to be. Nations discussed in this episode are Ita...
Listen#62 Commentator terminology explainer: Zone 14, half turn, sixes and sevens, under the cosh, and many more! from 2021-06-11T17:23:28
On this week's episode, Taylor breaks down two different senteces that are each chock full of soccer phrases and terms that are commonly used but not always commonly understood. Terms discussed/ex...
Listen#61 What is the Concacaf Nations League and why does it exist? Plus, a preview of Honduras ahead of their match with the USMNT from 2021-06-03T04:01
On this week's episode, Taylor explains all you need to know about the Concacaf Nations League: what is it, how does it work, and why did it need to exist in the first place? Plus, the second half ...
Listen#60 What is the Copa America, what are its biggest rivalries, and why won't Colombia be hosting this summer? from 2021-05-21T16:48:17
Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas of The Athletic to explain the basics on the Copa America itself, as well as its biggest rivalries. Felipe then gives a lot of excellent insight into the situati...
Listen#59 How does a transfer work and why do they get so complicated so quickly? from 2021-05-13T13:08:12
Hosts David Gass and Josh Schneider-Weiler go in-depth on all things transfer, and share some of their favorite transfers of all time. Why are agents so prevalent? How do buy-out clauses differ fro...
Listen#58 Where did the penalty kick rule come from? from 2021-05-07T16:27:54
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe digs into the penalty kick rule. Where did it come from? When did it originate? And who invented it? All that, and more, on the show. The Soccer 101 theme (and p...
Listen#57 Why didn’t Matt Le Tissier play more for England? from 2021-04-29T16:42:09
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the legend of Matt Le Tissier—and his distinct lack of international call-ups. Premier League fans of a 90s vintage will have fond memories of L...
Listen#56 Did Didier Drogba really stop a civil war? from 2021-04-23T19:17:16
Today's episode tells a story of political strife, armed conflict, World Cup qualification, missed penalties, and the power of one individual to inspire a country, as Taylor answers the question: d...
Listen#55 Why is Marcelo Bielsa so beloved in world soccer? from 2021-04-22T02:21:29
This week, Taylor takes a looong look at the career of Marcelo Bielsa to determine why he is so revered by so many people despite never winning that many trophies or titles. Today's episode is br...
Listen#54 Why are there eleven players on a soccer team and how did that number become standard? from 2021-04-09T15:41:50
This week, Taylor gets to the bottom of a question that no-one is asking but everyone might want to know: why are there 11 players on a soccer team? Or, maybe more specifically, how did 11 players ...
Listen#53 Who is the USMNT's biggest bogey team away from home in World Cup qualifying? Plus, possible explanations for why that's the case from 2021-04-02T22:41:26
On this week's episode, Taylor takes a long look at the Concacaf nations where the USMNT has the worst record away from home, and tries to figure out why things tend to go so poorly in one particul...
Listen#52 What is a loan and how does it work? from 2021-03-24T13:57:59
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the world of loans in soccer. How and why did the loan system start? Why is it useful? And how is it exploited? This episode is brought to you ...
Listen#51 Why isn't Olympic soccer as popular as the World Cup? from 2021-03-19T14:47:46
On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor discusses the history of soccer/football at the Olympics, and prevents some explanations for why the World Cup has so much more significance. Plus, how did eli...
Listen#50 What is a super agent? And who are some super agents? from 2021-03-09T15:49:27
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery dives into the world of super agents. Who are they? What do they do? And do they wear their underwear on the outside of their pants? Sponsors! This episod...
Listen#49 What happened to Wimbledon FC and how did Wimbledon AFC come to be? from 2021-03-03T17:14:44
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the story of the team he holds dear to his heart, AFC Wimbledon. The club was founded by fans in May 2002 following the highly controversial dec...
Listen#48 Who are the Baggies? Exploring the naming origins of clubs around the world from 2021-02-25T16:30:02
Why are there so many Uniteds and Towns in England, Spartas in Europe, and rowing-inspired football teams in Brazil? Taylor attempts to explain the history of some of soccer's most common naming co...
Listen#47 What is the SheBelieves Cup and how did it come to be? from 2021-02-18T16:33:52
With the 2021 SheBelieves soon to kick off, Taylor takes a look at the history of the competition. What came before it, how and why did it come to be, and what's at stake this time round? Sponsors...
Listen#46 Who are the all-time top scoring Americans in Europe? from 2021-02-10T17:24:37
On this week's episode of Soccer 101, Taylor answers a question he's been trying to figure out for weeks: which Americans have the best goal scoring records in Europe? We look at the top five goal ...
Listen#45 What is La Masia? from 2021-02-03T21:59:56
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery talks all about La Masia. What is it? How did Johan Cruyff change it? And how important is it today? This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download th...
Listen#44 Why are there so many Americans in the Bundesliga? from 2021-01-29T20:22:41
On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor gives a three-pronged explanation for why so many Americans play (or have played) in the Bundesliga. We'll also take a look at how Spain and the Netherlands ap...
Listen#43 What is the Champions League? from 2021-01-26T15:59:01
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explains everything you need to know about the Champions League and its origins as a competition. Plus, a Back to the Future reference inside the first 90...
Listen#42 What is man-marking? And what is zonal-marking? from 2021-01-21T20:53:21
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery rolls out the tactics whiteboard and dives into the fundamentals of man-marking and zonal-marking. This episode is brought to you by Keeps! Go to keeps.co...
Listen#41 Who is Paul Gascoigne and what was Gazzamania? from 2021-01-20T16:51:39
On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the story of Paul Gascoigne. The maverick midfielder was one of England’s brightest talents, a born entertainer, and an imperfect hero. This epi...
Listen#40 What is the origin of the red card? from 2021-01-11T17:22:23
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery dives into the origin of the red (and yellow) card. From the Battle of Santiago to the streets of London, the story of the red card is a winding one. Thi...
Listen#39 What is a rondo and why is it useful? from 2020-12-10T21:24:55
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery talks about rondos. What are they? Why are they useful? And how do they relate to soccer's past and present? This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN....
Listen#38 What is a football group? from 2020-12-04T23:02:23
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery answers the question, what is a football group? Hint, there’s a lot of money involved. This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN. Go to expressvpn.com/...
Listen#37 What do the terms regista, enganche, and raumdeuter mean? from 2020-11-27T19:13:18
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery explains what the terms "regista", "enganche", and "raumdeuter" mean - and how they shine a light on soccer's diversity, its tactical evolution, and some o...
Listen#36 Why isn’t the U.S. Open Cup a big deal? from 2020-11-19T16:00:54
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery explains why the U.S. Open Cup isn’t a big deal. From missed opportunities to capitalize on wild upsets, to financial constrictions, to formatting problems...
Listen#35 How did sibling strife lead to the creation of Adidas and Puma? from 2020-11-13T22:56:03
On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor explains the history of the Dassler brothers who 1) did not like each other and 2) founded Puma and Adidas, respectively. This episode delves into some of the ...
Listen#34 What are soccer’s phases of play? from 2020-11-05T18:40:28
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery digs into soccer’s phases of play. What does the term “phase of play” mean? And what are soccer’s phases of play? The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of othe...
Listen#33 How many leagues are in this season? from 2020-10-31T12:00
On this episode, Taylor tries to get to the bottom of a straightforward topic that invites ten million tangents: there are so many different competitions that seem to be happening simultaneously? W...
Listen#32 What is xG and why are advanced stats useful in soccer? from 2020-10-29T21:57:14
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery provides an introductory look at soccer analytics. Can advanced stats really give insight into soccer? The answer, as you’ll find out, is yes. The Soccer ...
Listen# 31 Why is El Clásico so important? from 2020-10-23T07:25:28
On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery examines El Clásico, the famous rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Why is El Clásico so important? Where did the rivalry come from? How was it i...
Listen#30 Why did the United States fail to qualify for the World Cup for 40 years? from 2020-10-16T18:25:50
On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor takes a trip in the way-back-machine to attempt to figure out why the United States failed to qualify for the World Cup from 1950 until 1990. How much of the b...
Listen#29 What are FIFA’s new national team eligibility rules and how could they impact the USMNT? from 2020-10-08T19:59:10
At the 70th FIFA Congress in September 2020, FIFA authorized new rules relating to national team eligibility. How did things formerly function, what are the new rules regarding dual nationals and o...
ListenWhat is the Premier League and how did it come to be? from 2020-09-25T20:49:54
Taylor explains the origins of the Premier League and how broadcast money paved the way for a global juggernaut. This episode is bought to you by ExpressVPN. Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get 3 a...
Listen#27 What is pressing? (including: What is gegenpressing?) from 2020-06-10T04:04:42
Daryl explains the basics of pressing and gegenpressing Sponsored by Hims. Go to http://forhimscom/totalsoccer for your first month free
Listen#26 How have Bayern Munich been so good for so long? from 2020-05-19T02:51:20
Taylor is joined by Manuel Veth of the Gegenpressing podcast to discuss the absolute juggernaut that is Bayern Munich, a team that has won 50% of the available Bundesliga titles since they first jo...
Listen#25 What is Positional Play? from 2020-05-12T00:55:16
Daryl explains positional play, the football philosophy favored by Pep Guardiola. Today's show is sponsored by Hims. Go to http://forhims.com/totalsoccer to get your first month freeNotes and furt...
Listen#24 What is the Bosman Ruling and how did it impact the transfer market? from 2020-04-30T21:39:29
Taylor explains what the Bosman Ruling was and goes deep on the impact it had on the European transfer market. Today's show is sponsored by ExpressVPN. Go to http://expressvpn.com/soccer for thre...
Listen#23 What is GAM and what is TAM? from 2020-04-26T01:30:23
Daryl answers the questions what is General Allocation Money and Targeted Allocation Money, and how does it work in Major League Soccer? Today's show is sponsored by ExpressVPN. Go to http://expre...
Listen#22 Diego Maradona v England at the 1986 World Cup from 2020-04-16T23:24:31
In the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal, Diego Maradona scored two of the most famous goals of all time. One with his hand, the other with his feet. We break down the entire game, including a deep anal...
Listen#21 Liverpool FC v AC Milan, 2005 Champions League Final from 2020-04-07T04:11:31
We revisit and review the Miracle of Istanbul, paying special attention to tactical changes and some incredible individual performances. For your viewing pleasure:Lineups: https://en.wikipedia.or...
Listen#20 USA v Spain, 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal from 2020-03-30T10:00
Daryl and Joe Lowery review the USA's shock 2-0 win over Spain in the 2009 Confederations Cup semifinal, featuring a teenage Jozy Altidore, a 21-year-old Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan and Clint D...
Listen#19 USA v Argentina, 1995 Copa America from 2020-03-24T03:00:28
We review the USA's incredible 3-0 win over Argentina at the 1995 Copa America, maybe the scrappiest upset win in US history. Here's video of the full match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th7DEe...
Listen#18 USA v Mexico, 2002 World Cup from 2020-03-16T04:38:06
We review the game that made Dos a Cero go mainstream. It's the USA's famous 2-0 win over Mexico at the 2002 World Cup.The context, the tactics, the players, the goals, the handball that wasn't ca...
Listen#17 Bundesliga 50+1 rule — how it works, why it was needed, and how Red Bull beat it from 2019-12-01T00:11:28
Daryl calls up Matt Hermann of the Talking Fussball podcast to get a full and thorough explanation of the 50+1 rule, including the story of how Red Bull found a loophole Talking Fussball website: ...
Listen#16 Why does the UK have four teams? Also: What is IFAB? from 2019-11-28T02:25:03
Daryl explains why the United Kingdom is allowed to have four separate international teams — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland This episode is sponsored ExpressVPN. For three months f...
Listen#15 Promotion/Relegation and how it could work in the United States from 2019-11-22T16:51:41
What is promotion/relegation, why hasn't it been implemented in the United States, and could it be good for soccer in America? Plus, we reveal our plans for how Pro/Rel could be established in the...
Listen#14 Why does the League Cup exist? (and how to make it better) from 2019-11-22T04:56:39
We explain the origin of the English Football League Cup, and ponder the big questions like why does the League Cup exist, why doesn't anyone seem to care about it, and how could it be better? Thi...
Listen#13 History and meaning of the lines and markings on a football pitch from 2019-11-20T19:15:03
We take you all the way back to the 1800s to explain what football pitches used to look like and how they evolved into what we see today. This episode is sponsored ExpressVPN. For three months fre...
Listen#12 How Johan Cruyff changed soccer from 2019-11-15T21:40:16
We look at the life and career of Johan Cruyff, explaining the numerous ways he changed the way soccer is played. Today's show is sponsored by ExpressVPN. For three months free, go to http://expre...
Listen#11 Strengths and weakness of different formations: 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2 from 2019-11-12T17:00
We explain and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of some of the most commonly used formations in soccer. Today's sponsor is Away Days. Visit http://awaydaysfootball.com and use code 101 for 15%...
Listen#10 USMNT All-Time XI from 2019-11-07T22:47:13
We look back at the history of the US Men's National Team and go position by position to decide the all-time best XI. Today's show is sponsored by ExpressVPN. Get three months free at http://expre...
Listen#9 What is a Panenka? (and how to take one) from 2019-07-21T22:50
We explain the Panenka penalty, including the man that started it all, Antonin Panenka. We also explain how to take one, and what can go wrong. VIDEOS!The original, 1976 Antonin Panenka penalty fo...
Listen#8 Parks and Recreation XI from 2019-07-21T13:20
We each select a starting XI of Parks and Rec characters, and explain why they make our team. This is a Total Soccer Show episode, and we'll soon add our other fictional XIs to the Soccer 101 feed...
Listen#7 Why is Pele so famous? from 2019-07-21T13:00
We take a look at Pele's soccer career. Not in a "born in October 1940" kind of way (though he was) but more discussing the moves, the moments, and the attributes that made him such a global soccer...
Listen#6 How to watch a game for tactics from 2019-07-21T12:50
We are often asked how we break down and analyze soccer games. So here's an episode with Taylor and I explaining our method and offering tips on how to spot tactics and understand what's going on i...
Listen#5 Soccer vs Football: American vs British terminology from 2019-07-21T12:40
On this classic episode from the Total Soccer Show archives, we get into the different terminologies that Americans and British people use. Here's the full list: 1. Soccer vs Football 2. Field vs ...
Listen#4 Skills special! Rabona, Trivela, Elastico, Sombrero explained from 2019-07-21T12:30
We explain four classic skill moves: RabonaTrivela ElasticoSombrero We discuss what it is, the most famous proponent, the etymology of each term, and how to pull it offVIDEOS! Jonathan Calleri ...
Listen#3 Why is it called a derby? Plus: our six favorite derbies from 2019-07-21T12:20
We offer two explanations for why the term derby is used for a big soccer rivalry, then each offer up three of our favorite derbies. Worth noting, we don't talk El Clasico or the North London Derb...
Listen#2 What do the numbers mean? Number 6, 8, 10, and all the rest from 2019-07-21T12:10
We answer the question we get asked the most. By far: What do the numbers mean?He's a great number 6, that number 8 is up and down the field, he's an ideal number 9, and so on. We offer a guide t...
Listen#1 The offside rule: how it works, why it exists, and its 100-plus-year history from 2019-07-21T12:00
We offer the ultimate explainer for the most debated thing in soccer: the offside rule. There's plenty here for soccer newbies and experts alike.If you're looking for a simple explanation of how o...
Listen#0 Hello and welcome to Soccer 101: What it is, why we did it, and how you can help from 2019-07-20T16:00
This is our intro episode explaining who we are, what Soccer 101 is, and how you can help us make it successful. Soccer 101 is sponsored by Postmates. Download the iOS or Android app for free and ...
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