Alexander Lauber and Phil Almodovar critically analyze and evaluate the world of professional football, breaking down club moves, fixtures, news stories and tactics across Europe's big five leagues, the MLS, International Football, and much more!!
After a hiatus, Alexander and Phil are back with the latest episode of the Cleats First, Logic Second Football Podcast. Manchester United's thrashing at the hands of Watford has led to the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, another Ligue 1 match has been abandoned due to violent fans, and the top matches of the past weekend are discussed!
Alexander and Phil preview the upcoming Champions League and Europa League quarterfinal fixtures and look ahead to the big matchups the round has in store.
Alexander and Phil explain the path for the European and Concacaf qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, preview the groups and stories revolving around the international superpowers, and give their predictions on who they see coming out of the group stage.
Following their shocking dismissal from the UCL Round of 16 by Porto, Alexander and Phil evaluate the current state of Juventus, the squad and if Ronaldo the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo has inadvertently thrown the direction of the club off course over his three seasons in Turin.
With uncertainty surrounding the upcoming International Break due to the compact schedule and quarantining requirements upon returning to their club, Alexander and Phil look at the possibility of managers withholding their players from their international duties and play devil's advocate, looking at both sides of the argument.
Following the long-awaited takeover of Sunderland AFC by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and the surprise takeover of Wrexham AFC by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Alexander and Phil evaluate the prospect of investing into a fallen giant and the viability of building upon their rich history.
As VAR continues to make its presence felt in the 2020-21 Premier League season, Alexander and Phil evaluate the effect it has had on the quality of refereeing, analyze the numbers of calls overturned due to VAR, and evaluate the possible ways that VAR can be improved moving forward.
With the 2020/21 Premier League Season highlighting the decline in quality of English refereeing through constant errors and rule amendments, Alexander and Phil evaluate the state of the PGMOL and the problems that have led to the continental and international infamy that comes with English referees.
With the January 2021 transfer window now closed for the major European leagues, Alexander and Phil analyze and evaluate the moves, or lack thereof, made by the top clubs in La Liga and pick their league-wide winners and losers.
With the January 2021 transfer window now closed for the major European leagues, Alexander and Phil analyze and evaluate the moves, or lack thereof, made by the top clubs in Bundesliga and pick their league-wide winners and losers.
With the January 2021 transfer window now closed for the major European leagues, Alexander and Phil analyze and evaluate the moves, or lack thereof, made by the top clubs in Premier League and pick their league-wide winners and losers.
With the January 2021 transfer window now closed for the major European leagues, Alexander and Phil analyze and evaluate the moves, or lack thereof, made by the top clubs in Seria A and pick their league-wide winners and losers.
With the January 2021 transfer window now closed for the major European leagues, Alexander and Phil analyze and evaluate the moves, or lack thereof, made by the top clubs in Ligue 1 and pick their league-wide winners and losers.
With more developments coming from the proposed European super league, including initial responses from FIFA and UEFA, Alexander and Phil discuss the viability of such a competition, the implications it can have on football not only in Europe, but worldwide, and speculate on the teams that will form the foundation of the league.
In the second episode of the Cleats First, Logic Second Royal ROI series, Alexander and Phil take a look at the genius transfer business conducted by LOSC Lille that has not only resulted in a successful revolving door in turning over profits on players brought into the club, but also sustained success as one of Ligue 1's top clubs.
In the latest episode of the Cleats First, Logic Second Football Podcast Road to Redemption Series, Alexander and Phil take a look at the malpractices of FC Schalke in their transfer dealings over the last 10 years and how it has culminated in their struggles at the bottom of the Bundesliga table this season.
In the debut of the newest series on the Cleats First, Logic Second Football Podcast, Alexander and Phil take a look at the clubs who have conducted the best business in the transfer market over the last 25 years and begin with the club with highest net income, SL Benfica.
As Sheffield United continue to struggle in their second season in England’s top flight, Alexander and Phil discuss the belief that newly promoted clubs are prone to a so-called ‘sophomore slump’. Clubs who have fallen to it and overcome it are discussed, and suggestions are made as to how clubs can overcome this struggle.
Alexander and Phil take a look at the shambolic state of Arsenal Football Club, and evaluate the manager's, players', and owner’s respective roles in bringing the club out of its current downward spiral. Alexander and Phil also preview the Europa League Round of 32 and Champions League Round of 16 draws.
In honour of the upcoming MLS Finals between Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders, Alexander and Phil preview the match and evaluate the rest of the field’s performance that led to early departures. Alexander and Phil also break down the FA’s Brexit rule changes and the USWNT’s recent settlement and look at the significance of both.
In their collective debut to the world of podcasting, Alexander and Phil don the kit of their new football podcast, Cleats First, Logic Second. Alexander and Phil break down the goals of the podcast, discuss the current landscape of the big five European leagues, and reminisce on the legend of Diego Maradona.