Sam's Army

USMNT: what we have learned about this team and individual players so far this tournament plus what to expect from Costa Rica and (unbiased) predictions GOLD CUP: the pluses and minuses of Jesse Marsch proactively painting himself as the bad boy of CONCACAF as well as whether Saudi Arabia give Mexico problems in other quarterfinal ROUND THE WORLD: thoughts on the Club World Cup so far, games to watch from the last matchday of group stage games and power rankings of both teams and fanbases STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets (#OverTrain is NOT cooking) and GOAWs

USMNT: takeaways from comfortable win over Trinidad & Tobago plus a look ahead to Thursday's tougher game against Saudi Arabia, including starting XI and predictions (plus some broader thoughts on the first round of games and what to watch for in the Gold Cup) HALFTIME: What If... Jesse Marsch had been hired as USMNT coach and Compliment Corner for Mr. (Manufactured?) Controversy himself, Alexi Lalas ROUND THE WORLD: early thoughts on Infantino's beloved Club World Cup and an extra abbreviated Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Highlights and WAY more lowlights from Saturday's 1-2 loss to Türkiye and Tuesday's 0-4 shellacking by Switzerland. We scour the wreckage of another catastrophic international window for silver linings. How much of this is on Pochettino? Who from this USMNT roster is in the mix for World Cup 2026? Is Sam capable of criticizing Pulisic? Are we about to get grouped in the Gold Cup??

PREMIER LEAGUE: Top 5 battle ends appropriately with a damp fart as Newcastle backs into UCL while Aston Villa backs out (albeit somewhat controversially) and Nottingham Forest can't get it done. Long summer ahead for some teams, notably Villa. Also, flowers are festooned on deserving FPL winners... and one loser. HALFTIME: What If you could choose where Ronaldo plays next - where's he going? ROUND THE WORLD: the lads try their best to tear down Tottenham's European Championship, plus a preview of the Champions and Conference League finals, highlights from around the rest of Europe, MLS hit-it-n-quit-it minute and some quick thoughts on Poch's USMNT roster (notably the absence of Christian Pulisic). STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Maël Corboz and Isaiah Young -- two Americans from Jersey -- discuss Arminia Bielefeld's insane run beating three Bundesliga teams - including Bayer Leverkusen in the semis - to reach the DFB Pokal Cup final, plus how two kids from New Jersey ended up on the same German 3rd division club (albeit one with 2nd or even 1st tier history and fan support). Plus, a preview of Saturday's massive DFB Pokal Cup final versus Stuttgart.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Palace beating City (and fans' reaction) is everything great about soccer. Teams mostly hold serve in MW #37 setting up an interesting battle for Champions League spots on Decision Day - especially if Bournemouth can pull a midweek upset vs City. HALFTIME: What If you could own any one relic in history -- anything at all -- from your favorite club? ROUND THE WORLD: preview of one of the weirdest Europa League finals in history as 17th place Tottenham and 16th place Man United fight it out to avoid one of the more embarrassing seasons in recent memory, plus Tyler spits some hot fire in this week's MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: in defense of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, explaining City's inexplicable Southampton setback, Tommy questions the importance of the top 5 battle and LOLing at the Zero F's Given Brigade (Tottenham and United) HALFTIME: Pop Quiz on the latest Sportico report listing the top 50 "biggest" clubs in the world ROUND THE WORLD: MLS hit-it-n-quit-it minute STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal's recent slide risks transforming five-team race for three top 5 slots into six-team race for four slots. The emasculating Guard of Honor tradition may have saved Chelsea's season. Aston Villa's tightrope walk (without a safety net) deserves more attention. HALFTIME: What If you attempted 10 penalties on Gianluigi Donnarumma - how many you making? ROUND THE WORLD: Champions and (abbreviated) Europa League previews of semifinal second legs plus the MLS Minute Man spits one of his best segments in a while STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool get some just rewards for being worthy champs. Brutal week for Unai's Aston Villa. Secret to Pep's success with City (hint: #TeamLove). FA Cup semifinal recap. FPL updates. HALFTIME: based on disclosure that Darvin Ham (ex-Laker coach and current Bucks asst) had his Los Angeles storage locker sold at auction... What If you could bid on the storage locker of ANY current or former player - who you going with? ROUND THE WORLD: preview plus predictions for Champions and Europa League semifinals leg 1 STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa put on one of the performances of the season against Newcastle. Chelsea stare death (of their season) in the face but bounce back against Fulham. Tottenham and Manchester United officially wave the white flag on the 2024-25 PL season. HALFTIME: What If you could only watch one game show for the rest of your life? ROUND THE WORLD: important announcement about Champions/Europa Leagues, MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute and breaking news on the Championship front (with big ramifications for some long-time friends of the program) STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest suffer a (potentially) costly defeat, Tottenham and Manchester United continue to stink out loud plus a look ahead at one of the low-key bigger games of the season as (tired) Villa host Newcastle. HALFTIME: What If the unthinkable happens and USMNT lose in the semifinals *but* you get to handpick two teams to play in the World Cup 2026 final - who you going with? ROUND THE WORLD: preview of the three "live" Champions League ties, including Real Madrid's chances of overturning a 0-3 deficit against Arsenal, plus Tottenham and United peaking at the right time (LOL) for their dates with Europa League destiny. STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs.

PREMIER LEAGUE: theories on why top 5 teams in the table amassed zero wins this weekend, juice-less Manchester Daerby and Aston Villa peaking at the right time HALFTIME: what if you were given the choice of attending three straight Champions League finals or one World Cup final? ROUND THE WORLD: MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute plus preview of huge midweek slate f/t Champions League and make-or-break Europa League for Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: rapid rundown of FA Cup quarterfinals and thots on semifinals draw; double dose of previews f/t London, Manchester AND Merseyside daerbies plus especially critical weeks for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest HALFTIME: What If Neal Maupay (wanting out of Marseille and unwelcome back at Everton) rings you asking your recommendation for world's best shithouse league... where you sending him? ROUND THE WORLD: MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute and ode to Peter Vermes STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

ROUND THE WORLD: postmortem of USMNT's nightmarish international break featuring lifeless losses to Panama (0-1) and Canada (1-2), featuring who is to blame and what needs to change HALFTIME: What If we had Dest and Jedi available this window... and Josh Sargent's turn in Compliment Corner MLS HIT-IT-N-QUIT-IT MINUTE PREMIER LEAGUE: FA Cup quarterfinals preview STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: the Ghost of Tyler Terens reacts to Liverpool (wanted it) vs Newcastle (needed it) in League Cup final. Brighton take City for a ride and Spurs down weapons versus Fulham. Also, is anyone in the league in better form than Bruno Fernandes? HALFTIME: Pop Quiz on odds to win this summer's FIFA Club World Cup ROUND THE WORLD: reaction to Poch's latest USMNT roster, including late additions and subtractions. Who what XI we expect to see on Thursday against Panama. Why this game is actually sneaky important. STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: NunoBall earns Forest a deserved 1-0 win over City. Arsenal escape with a gross 1-1 draw vs United. Spurs show a little spine against Bournemouth. Preview of Liverpool vs weakened Newcastle in League Cup final. And we look ahead to the rest of the weekend, featuring City/Brighton, Arsenal/Chelsea and Bournemouth/Brentford -- plus what there *really* is to play for this season. ROUND THE WORLD: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute and rundown of Champions League R16 second legs (notably Liverpool heading back to Anfield lucky to be up 1-0 on PSG plus heated Madrid Daerby) HALFTIME: What If you were tasked with running the newly announced halftime show at the World Cup 2026 final... who you booking? STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: red cards galore in the FA Cup 5th round, including an extra painful ones for JP Mateta and Anthony Gordon, plus weekend preview featuring Forest hosting City and the battle between Arsenal and United that precisely NOBODY is excited about (per Mikey) HALFTIME: What If the rules were changed such that nil-nil draws resulted in zero points for both teams (instead of one)? ROUND THE WORLD: MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute plus preview of Champions League R16 first legs, including Liverpool vs PSG and Madrid Daerby STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool put a bow on their pre-championship season by outclassing City in Manchester, West Ham force Arsenal to wave goodbye to the title race, Newcastle out-gun Forest, Everton and especially Palace continue their surges up the table, listener feedback on recent anti-Amorim (and Ange) takes plus a preview of big midweek slate (eg, Liverpool v Newcastle and Forest v Arsenal) and our favorites to win FA Cup HALFTIME: What If your teammate refuses to let the designated penalty-taker take a penalty, how would YOU deal with the situation? ROUND THE WORLD: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute is so back STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets (#OverTrain is cooking) and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Omar Marmoush silenced critics in a big way vs Newcastle. Slightly healthier Spurs withstand midfield-less United in Banter FC daerby. Fulham outclasses Forest. Plus a look ahead at a big week for City and Liverpool culminating in battle of defending champs vs champs-elect. HALFTIME: What If you were anointed FIFA rule-maker for a day... what would you do to cut back on diving? ROUND THE WORLD: USL takes aim at MLS with plan to launch a first division in 2027 with promotion and relegation along with this week's must-watch Champions League playoffs STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: why Spurs' latest loss vindicates Big Ange and other FA Cup thots (including Liverpool/Big 6 quietly killing the tournament and upside of Lester getting absolutely hosed by linesman against United) plus weekend preview featuring City/Newcastle, Fulham/Forect and the battle to be Banter FC: Tottenham vs United HALFTIME: What If the Premier League follows through on implementing a salary cap - net positive or negative? ROUND THE WORLD: games worth watching among this week's Champions League playoffs and other must-watch tilts around Europe STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Arteta gets one over on Pep as Arsenal HUUMBLE City 5-1. Liverpool might be even better than we gave them credit for. Ange is... evolving? Amorim silences United's already quiet attack. Power Rankings. League Cup semifinals (leg 2) preview/predictions. HALFTIME: What If Jhon Duran did not receive the controversial red card against Newcastle... how would it changed his career trajectory now and several years down the road? ROUND THE WORLD: Champions League chaos plus One Minute Man's thots on a wild offseason full of big moves into, within and out of MLS STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth put a hurting on Nottingham Forest. Why Ange is safe despite Tottenham plumbing new depths. Conspiracy theorists sound off on Michael Oliver's (mis)treatment of Arsenal. Weekend preview f/t Liverpool hosting Bournemouth and City visiting Arsenal. HALFTIME: What If your life depended on someone from the Premier League going undercover as a spy - who ya got? ROUND THE WORLD: Champions League permutations ahead of Wednesday's final matchday with do-or-die games for the likes of Manchester City and PSG STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Tottenham enter the relegation battle. Bournemouth join Forest as coolest stories going. Darwin saves Liverpool. Arsenal collapse. Divorced Pep (plus billions of petro-bucks) may be a problem. Weekend preview f/t City vs Chelsea, Bournemouth hosting Forest and Ange's must-win. HALFTIME: what if you were asked to invite the most famous person in your phone to a Sunday league match... and Compliement Corner: Ange Postecoglou ROUND THE WORLD: must-watch Champions League games from matchday 7 of 8 STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: FA Cup recap f/t United withstanding Arsenal, Tamworth giving Tottenham the business and Brentford falling to Plymouth. Double dose of preview with full midweek and weekend slates highlighted by North London Daerby, Liverpool visiting Nottingham Forest and Newcastle hosting Bournemouth. HALFTIME: in honor of Elon Musk's alleged interest in buying Liverpool, what if you could choose any person in the world to buy your club -- who you picking... plus Mikel Arteta's turn in the Compliment Corner ROUND THE WORLD: flurry of MLS moves plus instant reaction to a Saudi Arabian edition of El Clasico STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Pochettino dropped the MLS-heavy roster for USMNT's January camp so we sat down with Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport and SoccerwiseHQ to discuss who could make WC26, what the key question marks are (ie, CB depth chart) and one big huge massive WTF?!

PREMIER LEAGUE: United's impressive road draw at Anfield, Ange's mid- and post-game theatrics, Chelsea's sudden fall from grace, City's false dawn and Nottingham Forest quintessential victory HALFTIME: What If the deal sending Villa's Jhon Duran to West Ham had gone through and Trent Alexander-Arnold gets the Compliment Corner treatment ROUND THE WORLD: USMNT news, notes and roster drop STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: did Ipswich's win expose Chelsea, United's relegation chances and how hot is Ruben Amorim's seat, plus why Aston Villa may face the most important game of the weekend HALFTIME: what if you were Gio Reyna agent for this transfer window and Compliment Corner for Josh Zirkzee ROUND THE WORLD: is Netflix acquiring rights to the Women's World Cup a good thing and will NISA be missed? STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Boxing Day instant reaction featuring Fulham, Forest and Bournemouth making moves; Tottenham, United and City struggling mightily; plus a heated debate about Jhon Duran's controversial red card against Newcastle

Sam and Tyler chat with Johnny Nelson about playing with Pulisic, Adams (et al) and sleeping next to Tommy McGunner with USYNT, getting drafted by FC Dallas, being banished at St Louis City as a result of acrimonious contract negotiations, and bouncing right back to win MLS Cup with LA Galaxy

PREMIER LEAGUE: takeaways from worst Manchester daerby in recent history, why it may get worse for Pep before it gets better, Forest earns more flowers and thoughts on this weekend's spate of managerial sackings HALFTIME: What If you played KickIt (soccer tennis) vs Messi and Jordi Alba... who from MLS are you picking at your partner? ROUND THE WORLD: Gianni Infantino just pissed on our leg and told us it is raining with the shocking (but not surprising) official unveiling of World Cup 2030 and 2034 hosts STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea burnish their title-contending credentials while injuries prove just how precarious Tottenham's deck of cards really is, Forest's win at United crystallizes all kinds of suspicions, why the tears of Man City fans taste so delicious and weekend preview f/t latest installment of the Manchester Daerby HALFTIME: What If the USMNT have a game-winning penalty at WC26 but Pulisic isn't available... who takes it? ROUND THE WORLD: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Cup Minute plus abbreviated Champions League preview STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Chicago Fire's newly minted head coach (and chief soccer officer) Gregg Berhalter sits down to discuss his vision for turning the Chicago Fire around, how MLS has changed since his Columbus Crew days, how his USMNT experience has reshaped his coaching philosophy, the inside scoop on behind the back passes and whether blood is thicker than wins (hint: nope... sorry Sebastian)

PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool vying for "crown" as Europe best after handing City yet another loss, which raises big questions about Pep Guardiola that won't go away (perhaps the opposite) after he responded to "you're getting sacked in the morning" jeers by holding up six fingers; what is Ruben Amorin doing right at United [24:30]; Aston Villa and Newcastle are neck-and-neck in the race to be the league's biggest disappointment; Mikey and Tyler say mean things about Tottenham; Forest wins must-win game and preview of the week to come featuring Arsenal/United and Spurs/Chelsea HALFTIME [41:30]: if we could choose one Premier League club to manage (inclusive of financial restrictions, toxic fanbase, etc) who would it be, and which of us would be most successful? ROUND THE WORLD [48:00]: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS *Playoff* minute STOPPAGE TIME [52:00]: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Big Ange pulls a fast one Pep - AGAIN, Mo Salah raises eyebrows by admitting he is "more out than in" after not receiving a new contract offer from Liverpool, Odegaard cements his importance to Arsenal and preview of next weekend f/t Liverpool vs City HALFTIME: What If you could only play for your club or country ROUND THE WORLD: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Playoff Minute and this week's must-watch Champions League games STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

USMNT: Thoughts on Poch's decisions and who impressed most as USMNT put the finishing touches on a fun, solid but far from flawless performance against an undermanned Jamaica HALFTIME: What If FIFA decided to implement a change to VAR that would see coaches get a limited number of challenges rather than the current "constant eye in the sky" system - would it be a net positive or negative? PREMIER LEAGUE: matches resume on Saturday f/ City welcoming in their personal bogey team in Tottenham while Arsenal are on upset alert against a plucky Nottingham Forest STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

HOT TOPIC: new era of Sam's Army is upon us and anyone wanting to help take us to the next level hop on board... next stop: the moon PREMIER LEAGUE: Nottingham Forest fail big test vs Newcastle, City drops a 4th consecutive game, Chelsea hold Arsenal and Tottenham remind everyone they are still Tottenham HALFTIME: rest & recooperation-related Weekly What If and Compliment Corner f/t Big Ange ROUND THE WORLD: wild and wacky MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It *PLAYOFF* minute and thots on Jim Curtin out in Philly and Bruce Arena in in San Jose STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: Arsenal and City stumbles cement the existence of a title race this season, are Nottingham Forest for real this season and weekend preview f/t Chelsea vs Arsenal and Liverpool vs Villa HOT TOPIC: ins/outs of CF Montreal's potential move to Detroit HALFTIME: What If...you had to run the NYC Marathon vs an athlete (non-GK) from your club and Complement Corner f/t Arsenal ROUND THE WORLD: MLS Hit-It-N-Quit(-Not-Spit)-It PLAYOFF Minute and this week's must-watch Champions League matches STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: who came away from Arsenal/Liverpool draw more disappointed, what is Erik Ten Hag's legacy at United and where does club go from here, one of the most ridiculously compelling Saturday slates in recent memory, Power Rankings and weekend preview f/t Newcastle vs Arsenal and United at West Ham HOT TOPIC: Mikey with an all-time spinzone of Real Madrid's petulant boycott of the Ballon d'Or ceremony and theory (or objectively accurate explanation) on why the outcry was so over the top HALFTIME: What If you were given the responsibility of making a Mount Rushmore of all-time soccer player and/or coach content machines plus a bastardized Compliment Corner of Real Madrid ROUND THE WORLD: Extra special Hit-It-N-Quit-It *MLS Playoff* Minute STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE - Bournemouth's (red card-aided) upset highlights Arsenal's disciplinary problems, thoughts on VAR "controversy" in Wolves vs City, Chelsea's trip to Anfield and what to expect from Gunners/Liverpool and the drunken hobo fight (West Ham vs United) this weekend HALFTIME - What If: best 3v3 team made up entirely of professional golfers (in their athletic prime) plus Bruno Fernandes gets lauded in Compliment Corner ROUND THE WORLD - extra special Decision Day version of the MLS Hit-It-N-Quit-It Minute STOPPAGE TIME - Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

USMNT: discussion points from Panama win and Mexico loss, who impressed and disappointed, with focus on Tim Ream and CBs, Brenden Aaronson plus Josh Sargent and striker situation HOT TOPICS: thots on Tommy the Toolbag Terrorist as England's next manager HALFTIME: What If - what is the world single player that Southampton could add that would save them from relegation and Gregg Berhalter faces the Compliment Corner PREMIER LEAGUE: preview of weekend ahead f/t Liverpool hosting Chelsea and a painfully hilarious prediction for United vs Brentford STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: breakdown of Spurs epic collapse against Brighton, is Gary O'Neill the problem at Wolves and ETH's scoreless "masterclass" at Villa HALFTIME: Weekly What If - Conor McGregor had accidentally (or not) taken out Bukayo Saka while play fighting after this weekend's game... plus *NEW SEGMENT ALERT* Compliment Corner ROUND THE WORLD: Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute plus some big picture thoughts on what to expect from the USMNT's Maurizio Pochettino era and smaller picture expectations for this international break (f/t who we suspect will be in the starting XI vs Panama on Saturday) STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

PREMIER LEAGUE: City being held to a draw by Newcastle while Arsenal pulls out a last second win has Sam feeling a little queasy, Tottenham's (WEAK) red card-aided mollywhopping of United and Everton finally stumbles upon the key to winning HALFTIME: what if... Sir Radcliffe handed you the keys to United, what changes would you make top to bottom to pull the club out of the doldrums? ROUND THE WORLD: what games to watch in Champions League, Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS minute and this week's USMNT winners and losers STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs