Viola Nation: for Fiorentina fans

It's just two of your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots in this one--McMike's off listening to birdsong to write an Oliver Messiaen-type symphony--but we've got enough gloom for the three of us. Producer Mike and Tito run through the grimmest week of results in recent Viola memory. Yep, we're talking about losses at opposite ends of the spectrum (Real Betis and Venezia) that result in similar outcomes: goodbye Europe. Don't worry, though. We don't confine ourselves to just that one kind of sadness. We look ahead to the potential repercussions of missing out on continental competition, looking at who might be edging towards the exit and which loanees saw their chances of sticking in Florence drastically reduced. We tried to avoid going full Zack Snyder and interspersed the grim dark greys and muted blues with the odd Wes Anderson pastel: Producer Mike pouring his first-ever beer, for example, or Tito trying to combine American football, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and a shrimp. Thank you to ⁠Sport Social Podcast Network⁠ for hosting us and to ⁠Windchime Weather⁠ for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your three favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are back together for the first time in a minute and we've got a lot to talk about. We looked back at the triumphant Derby dell'Arno before glancing ahead at the Conference League semifinal against Real Betis. We also ran through some of the key absences facing the Viola at the moment. The big thing we did, though, was play a little game we're calling McMoneybags McMike. Imagine, if you will, that our favorite big bearded boy bought the club and brought Producer Mike and Tito along for the ride, but with a catch: they both have to present a plan for the summer transfer window. Nepotism? Absolutely. Do they still have some decent ideas? Sure. Is there pandering to those with a fondness for midfielders whose cheeks are sharp enough to puncture tires? Oh, most definitely. Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. You can listen to the episode on the embedded player on this page or wherever you get your podcasts. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EDITOR'S NOTE: We didn't talk about the Celje win (?) because we recorded a couple days beforehand. Due to real world constraints, by which we mean Producer Mike's day job, this one's a couple days behind. Anyways, it's the Tito and Hines show today as McMike is on a super-secret special assignment that certainly doesn't involve hiding in suburban New Jersey shrubbery. We had a somewhat grim conversation about the dire draw against Parma and a somewhat less grim conversation about the first leg win at Celje before swerving into predictions for the rest of the season and then descending back into the serious stuff about the newest betting scandal hitting Serie A, which touches on a couple of Fiorentina players. Come for the heavy topics but stick around for the more important stuff: where McMike is, what conspiracy of primates knocked Producer Mike out of commission as we recorded, and Tito's triumphant return to What Are You Drinking. Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. Feel free to drop us a rating and review but it's whatever. This is for discerning listeners like you rather than the hoi polloi. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The birds sing. The sun kisses your skin. There's no doubt about it, there's something in the air, and that something is a couple of big wins over Juventus and Atalanta. McMike and Tito bask in that positivity (mostly because Producer Mike isn't around to bring it crashing back into an emotional nuclear winter) as they look back over the past couple outings. It's not just the games that count in the standings, though. Stroll with us through the golden garden of halcyon memories as we hit the highlights of #PepitoDay, celebrating the one and only Giuseppe Rossi and some of his friends who swung through town to hang out for his testimonial match. We wrap up with a discussion of Raffaele Palladino's chance of getting the axe before the end of the season or over the summer. Along the way, we listen to McMike try to name a single actor under the age of 30 and find out which American city Tito hates most. Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. Feel free to drop us a rating and review or whatever. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are back for a new episode looking at the same problems plaguing the VIola in deflating losses at Panathinaikos and against Napoli from which they limped away with even more self-inflicted wounds, which should feel like business as usual at this point but still hurts our feelings. We also discuss expectations for the rest of the season and weigh the merits of Serie A versus the Conference League in a discussion that we certainly won't look back on as hopelessly optimistic in a few months. The real fun part, though, is a look at all the Fiorentina loanees. This is the loaniest club in the league and we wanted to look at those short-term deals through a longer-term lens, so we played a new game we're calling Keep or Yeet with the guys currently at the club, and a similar game called Try Again or To the Bin with the guys elsewhere. Along the way, you'll get to hear about the Irish Hineses of Monterrey in Mexico, McMike learning what yeet means, and Tito once again reduced to dead air (because that's what makes for compelling audio content). Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. You can listen to the episode on the embedded player on this page or wherever you get your podcasts. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you feeling happy? In a good mood? Surrounded by your loved ones? Maybe a kitten purring in your lap? Well, your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are here to ruin all that. To be fair, it's not entirely our fault: the Viola have been, in a word, cheeks for the past few weeks and we don't like it. We don't like it one little bit. We talk about the dispiriting loss to Hellas Veorna, particularly the utter failure of the team's medical personnel and the league's health protocols in the wake of Moise Kean's really frightening concussion. After that, we look forward and forecast the rest of the year, trying to figure out if the January mercato made any impact. Spoiler alert: the mood doesn't really lift. Along the way, learn more about McMike barging his way into a familiar bunker, Producer Mike's Beautiful Mind, and Tito's textile tirade. Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The transfer window has slammed shut, thank goodness. Just before the sash met the sill, though, your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots convened to talk it over. We covered most of the arrivals--Nicolò Zaniolo, Nicolò Fagioli--and the departures--Jonathan Ikoné, Christian Kouamé, Cristiano Biraghi--but we did record with a day left, so there are a couple of gaps in the record. That wasn't all that happened, though, because there was a real, honest-to-god Serie A game too. We ran through the action in Fiorentina's alternately enjoyable and miserable win over Genoa. And of course, we couldn't let the episode end without a discussion of Rocco Commisso's burner accounts, which is a real thing that a billionaire in his 70s had (has?). Along the way, we found a new nickname for Producer Mike that he really, really likes and learned about McMike's logic-defying Moebius underpants. Thank you to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Reach out to us on Twitter, Blue Sky, or the website if you're so inclined. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For the first time in what feels like years, your three favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots reunite to talk shop. While that reunion was pretty joyous, the cloud surrounding the Viola is less so. We discuss just how stinky that cloud is following the collapse against Torino, whence that stink is emanating, and whether there's a way to eliminate or just cover it. It's hard to say, but having club leadership slap-fighting in the media probably isn't the best approach. After that, we turn to everyone's favorite disinformation mill: the transfer market. We run down some potential arrivals and some potential departures, as you'd expect. We touch on Michael Kayode and Jonathan Ikoné (both healthy scratches against the Granata) as well as a couple other candidates for a January exit before hitting the names you'd expect. Yep, it's Pablo Marí, Tony Sanabria, Dennis Man, and Brian Cristante. Along the way, we get some god-tier Foley from McMike, an explanation of Tito's new split custody arrangement of his body, and how pantslessness affects an audio medium. In unrelated news, we also get Producer Mike's Rum Reviews. Thanks to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Get in touch with us on the website, Twitter, or Bluesky. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike and Mike convene to break down the Napoli loss in both scatological and eschatological terms, trying to figure out what went wrong (everything) and what went right (nothing). Napoli certainly deserved to win but holy smokes was that unpleasant. It was maybe so unpleasant that your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots think this might have been a Joshua Brillante situation, a demonstration that the squad needs a lot of work in January. That naturally took us into a discussion about the winter transfer window, which we were able to have because Tito wasn't around to be grouchy about it. We talk about the incoming (Michael Folorunsho, Pablo Marí), the outgoing (Lucas Martínez Quarta), and the rumors surrounding players who fall into either category. As you can imagine, that's a lot. Along the way, we learn about Larry David theme music defending, the difference between a fart and a shart in a metaphor, and all about Jarritos sodas. Thanks to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the theme song. Hit us with questions on the website, Twitter, or Bluesky. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off a disheartening defeat against unpleasant Udinese, two-thirds of your favorite podcast idiots convene to discuss the state of Fiorentina. Producer Mike and Tito run through the collapse against the Zebrette, trying to figure out what went wrong and maybe salvage some positives. From there, the conversation took a turn into what's changed for the Viola since Edoardo Bove's exit, trying to figure out some mitigation strategies to replace his unique contributions. After that, we classed up the joint with our favorite (only?) Juventus expert: Danny Penza of BWRAO. Danny and Tito ran through Juve's season to date, including the ex-Fiorentina contingent, and tried to get a handle on what Thiago Motta's been cooking up besides potions of health. We capped it off, of course, with some predictions. Along the way, we learned about McMike's attempts to evade NORAD, Producer Mike's goose-like fear of wooden canines, and Tito's 6-dimensional chess predictions. Thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and thank you to Windchime Weather for the music. Hit us up on the website, Twitter, or Bluesky if you want to get in touch. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While McMike's under the weather and possibly suffering Nyquil hallucinations, your remaining favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots--that'sProducer Mike and Tito if you weren't clear--run through the latest goings on. At the top of our minds, of course, is Edoardo Bove, because his medical episode was terrifying, and we first and foremost hope that he's okay and that he does whatever's best for his health going forward. Losing him for the foreseeable future, though, means that Daniele Pradè and Roberto Goretti have a lot more work to do in the January transfer window, although there may be some in-house solutions to replace Edo. Returning to actual stuff on the pitch, we also discussed the Cagliari game and touched on the Coppa Italia before taking a dive into the future of the goalkeeping position in Florence. Along the way, we also discussed whether it's better to get punched in the mouth or grabbed by the nipple and who's going to stake out McMike's house to confirm that he's alive, as is a Viola Nation tradition. Thanks to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Hit us up on the website, Twitter, or Blue Sky with any questions. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots have decided to sit down in front of their microphones and tempt fate in a way that would make a Sophocles protagonist wince. That's right, we're still flushed with the afterglow of a Moise Kean-inspired win over Hellas Verona and, as we gaze into the abyss of the international break, we're feeling okay. Fine. Good, even. Because we're trying to figure out if Fiorentina is actually good. And you know what? We do. We break down that Verona game, naturally, and compare it to some other recent and perhaps slightly less enjoyable wins against mid-table opposition. We sing Kean's praises, of course, but also dip into some of the less noticeable heroes as well (central defenders, this one's for you). After that, we dip into the depth chart and what the injuries--Albert Guðmundsson, Danilo Cataldi, Marin Pongračić--mean for a team competing on three fronts. We also (big sigh) dip into the winter transfer market, looking at what kind of player the club should target after the APOEL loss laid bare the issues at certain key positions. Along the way, we learned about McMike's grandmother's communication advice, what plant-based beverage Producer Mike will shill for, and just how far Tito can stretch a pit bull metaphor. Big thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Hit us with questions on the website or on Twitter. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Still wrapped in the warm embrace of a 5-1 battering of Roma, your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are in as good a mood as they've been in for quite some time. McMike and Tito open with a long discussion about that incredible performance against the listless Giallorossi, trying to figure out if the limit exists for this edition of the Viola. After that, we run down the injury list, which launches us into a conversation about the current squad depth, which is somehow simultaneously frightening and also better than it's been in years. We round this episode off with a quick look ahead to the Genoa and Torino games, making some predictions that'll send you to look for some holy water, just in case. Along the way, we learn about McMike's masochistic Wheaties, what kind of cloud Producer Mike would be, and Tito's lonely tennis games. Big thanks to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Hit us up on the website or on Twitter if you've got questions. As always, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The club may be on break but (two-thirds of) your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are hard at work. McMike and Tito open this one up with a glimpse back at that insane AC Milan game before looking into how the Viola boys are faring on international duty. Then, for the 3rd episode in a row, it's a look at what might possibly be the chance of a potential agreement between the club and the city for a lease agreement on the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Maybe. The highlight of the episode, though, is obviously you. We got a bumper crop of listener questions that got us talking about all kinds of stuff, from the most unfairly criticized player in the team (Mike-R) to what could be happening to the transfer market after a CAS ruling on Lassana Diarra (Hesanka) to our worst reactions to watching a game (Martin Simanjutak) and everything in between. Along the way, we learned about a healthier McMike, Tito lying facedown on a barroom floor, and the Producer Mike specter of negativity that can seize an unwilling host at any moment. As always, thanks to Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Hit us with any questions on the website or on Twitter. As always, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are back following a snoozefest of a draw at Empoli to, well, discuss the Viola. We start off with a look back at happier times before dipping into some more of Rocco Commisso's comments to the media about the future of the team (content warning: very silly). The meat of this episode, though, is a conversation about what we learned from the Empoli game. We talk about the tactical benefits of a back 3 compared to a back 4, shout out ginger teen god Pietro Comuzzo, and try to figure out if there are any lessons to take into the midweek tie against crack Welsh outfit the New Saints. Along the way, we learn about McMike's post-Disney party hangover, Producer Mike's unconscionable refusal to share his fluency in Welsh, and Tito's musings about what other compound phrases follow the same pluralization rules as attorneys-general. Thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Feel free to reach out to us on the website or on Twitter. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to know who's happy that the international break is over? Yep, it's your three favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots, who are back on the microphone and raring to discuss everything Viola. After running down Tito's safe return from the woods and a quick rehash of the transfer window, we're delighted to dive into affairs that are considerably more current. That means, of course, that we're trying to glean information from Rocco's recent press conference; the club owner turned the bombast way down from pressers past and we're fascinated to pick through this Commisso presser (now with 100% less McMike slander!) and see what we can learn about Fiorentina's long-term direction, from the stadium to potential sales to where Serie A can go from here. Don't worry, though. We move from the esoteric and philosophical to the painfully tangible as we break down that heartbreaker of an Atalanta game, trying to figure what, if anything, it means for Raffaele Palladino and his still-winless boys in the coming weeks and over the rest of the season. Along the way, we learn whose house McMike allegedly hasn't been inside of recently, how Producer Mike's going to fix this defense, and Tito's interest in a new player co-ownership model. Big thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Feel free to reach out to us on the website or on Twitter. As always, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The season's started, the transfer window's closed, and your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots have a lot to say. McMike and Producer Mike try to figure out if Fiorentina is lost in the woods. Are they actually lost? Are they even in the woods? Is Tito out wandering through the forest trying to find them? Are we getting into Betteridge's Law territory? The Mikes start the conversation with a dive into the flurry of activity that closed out the mercato. It's way too early to judge these moves and you'd better believe that won't stop us from running through all of Daniele Pradè's last minute machinations and handing out some grades. Then it's a look at Fiorentina's Conference League draw and the rocky road to get there, Along the way, you get a glimpse of one of McMike's oldest friends, Producer Mike learning live on air just how many central defenders are suspended for the first Conference League game, and just how dead inside your podcasters here are feeling. Thanks to the Sport Social Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music. Feel free to reach out to us on the website or on Twitter. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's the most exciting time of the year for Viola fans: the end of the transfer market and the start of a new Serie A season. The only way we could possibly celebrate it is by getting all three of your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots back together for the first time in nearly two months to talk it all over, starting with what's shaping up to be a furious end to the transfer window, with Nico González, Albert Guðmundsson, Amir Richardson, Pietro Terracciano's extension, and whatever's happening with Sofyan Amrabat as major points of discussion. We also dive into the first game of the new campaign, attempting to glean what we can from an uneven 90 minutes and getting to grips with what Palladinismo actually looks like, from back to front and back again. Along the way, we get a little Mike-on-Mike identity theft, McMike and Warren G's Midfield Regulator Index, and Producer Mike's degenerate history that we can't discuss. As always, thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. Windchime Weather provides our theme song, and check out Nate's new and very different band Friends Friends. Feel free to hit us up on the website or on Twitter. As always, we hope yall enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finally, McMike and Producer Mike get a chance to talk without Tito bringing weird medieval history into the conversation. Instead, we can focus on, y'know, actual Fiorentina stuff. We start with a rundown of Fiorentina's preseason thus far and what we can glean from it (Barák in midfield? Kean looking good?), and then, because that's all too happy, we turn to a topic that will crater any good vibes. We're talking, of course, about the transfer market. We start with the outgoing--Nico González, Sofyan Amrabat--and then turn to the (possibly) incoming--Tanner Tessmann, Edoardo Bove, Albert Guðmundsson, David de Gea (whoopsie that actually happened)--and try to figure out just what this club's vision is. Spoiler alert: the conclusions we reached were uh pretty grim, touching on the long-term plans and how ambitious the Viola really are. Along the way, we learned about McMike's Handsomeness Index, how many times you can fool Producer Mike, and which words we need Tito to pronounce. Thanks as always to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us and to Windchime Weather for the music (Nate's got a new project! It's called Friends Friends! It sounds nothing like the credit music! Listen to it!) Feel free to hit us up on the website or on Twitter. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two thirds of your favorite crew of Fiorentina podcast idiots dips into the Viola mercato thus far. Producer Mike and Tito dip into the preseason friendlies, desperately searching for meaning in games that are ultimately meaningless (and maybe learning some life lessons along the way, but probably not), but that's not what you're here for. You're here for a plunge into mercato madness. And a plunge is what you'll get. We wade in a bit gingerly, looking at the deals that have gone official--Milenković, Kean, Pongračić, Valentini--before diving into speculation. We discuss departures for some guys who look to be well outside the first team (Brekalo, Nzola, Ikoné) and then it's the meat of the transfer industry: potential additions. Of course we're going in on Andrea Colpani, but we hit on a couple other names too. Along the way, we learn what Peyton Manning taught Producer Mike about preseason, get a glimpse into some of Tito's past trauma around empty beer cases, and figure out why we won't be getting live updates on preseason from inside the Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park and Fun Time Activity Center. Big thank you to Windchime Weather for the music (and check out Nate's new project Friends Friends, which is a very fun and very different musical outing) and to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. Feel free to reach out to us on the site or on Twitter. As always, we hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're doing a weird one here, as two-thirds of your favorite podcast idiots are unavailable at the moment. Which ones are missing, and why? Which one's still shrieking unintelligibly into a microphone? Well, you've got to listen to find out. That's how the podcasting business works. The remaining podcast idiot glances at the weird Andrea Barzagli story before running through the Moise Kean deal and looking for clues about the future of Fiorentina's defense, with a little bit of Nicolò Zaniolo chat thrown in for good measure. After that, it's a villainous monologue about what Fiorentina can learn from Italy's performance at the Euros before a glance at how the Viola Primavera break through. Thanks as ever to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us, and to Windchime Weather for the theme music. Also, Nate (the man behind Windchime Weather) has a new project called Friends Friends that's rad as hell. Give it a listen. As usual, get hold of us on the website or on Twitter with any questions. We had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've lived, laughed, and cried. We've gone through helium-sucking highs and survived the dark night of the soul, and we've come out the other side. That can only mean one thing: it's time for your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots to dive into the transfer rumors that summer always brings. After a quick rundown of the Viola players on international duty, we fully embrace the mercato. We start with the current squad, looking at players who are certainly departing or likely to do so, but that's just the appetizer. The primi and secondi piatti here are all the names the rumor mill has spat up. We analyze them, decide if they're realistic targets, and then rule on whether they'd be smart additions. Along the way, we get the return of McMike's 1990s Movie Corner, which former New York Mets pitcher's house Producer Mike is squatting in and/or being escorted out of, and which of our intrepid heroes really likes the Big Boys. Big thank you to Windchime Weather for the theme music and to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. Get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter with any questions. As always, we had a blast and hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The end of the Serie A season can only mean one thing: your three favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots stretching their hearts and minds over the 3-front campaign and figuring out what it all means. We each pick standout performers and try to dredge some conclusions out of a typically unhinged Viola year. We also bid a fond farewell to Vincenzo Italiano and look ahead to Raffaele Palladino. Along the way, we get to (?) learn about McMike's Tina Turner legs, hear Producer Mike refute the tenets of linear algebra, and get a brief insight into Tito's pre-podcast life through a Paulo Sousa lens. Feel free to get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter. Big thank you to Windchime Weather for the music and to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. As always, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are all back in one place and in fine form, talking about these final few fixtures of the Viola season. The Conference League is obviously first and foremost in our minds and we run through our preliminary thoughts on that game in Athens. We aren't looking too far ahead, though, as we also detour into a brief conversation about the trip to Cagliari before getting a bit more philosophical wondering about whether or not this season has been a success. For the second half of the pod, we talked about squad turnover, replacement managers, unpredictable highs and lows in the league, European triumphs and tribulations, and fans throwing flares that irritate their own team. No, it's not Fiorentina; we were so lucky to get Denis and Gav from the Red Sea Podcast, who explained all things Olympiacos to us. They covered the feeling in Athens, what to expect from the game, and just how wild the Erythroleykoi season has been. Spoiler alert: this may be the only team in Europe that's more capable of emotional whiplash than the Viola. Along the way, we learned about our podcast's dark specter of negativity, McMike's fruit preferences, and just a single reference to Martin McDonagh's seminal film In Bruges. A huge thank you to Denis and Gav for coming on and to Windchime Weather for the music. Thanks as well to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. If you want to get in touch, hit us up on the website or on Twitter. We had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening to it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots recorded an episode on Saturday. Remember Saturday? It was a day of sunshine, joy, hope. The birds sang l'inno della Fiorentina. And you know what? McMike and Tito (no Producer Mike in this one) leaned into it, striking a tone that's way more optimistic than what we usually do around here. Don't worry. We thought it was weird too, but bear with us. After a heartbreaking loss to Atalanta in the Coppa Italia semifinal second leg at Atalanta, maybe that kind of happiness can help us learn to feel again. So dive in to hear us discuss (sigh) our expectations for the game against la Dea. Fortunately, though, it's not all Coppa blues, as we also dug into the Conference League win over Viktoria Plzeň and looked ahead to the semifinal with Club Brugge before detouring through one of the most tempest-in-a-teacup stories about Vincenzo Italiano "kissing" a Sky Sports reporter you've ever heard. Along the way, we learned about McMike's yearning for a certain syrupy evening treat, got a glimpse into Tito's weirdly encyclopedic memory for decade-old transfer rumors, and found out about what's going on with Allen Iverson's tiny statue. Big thank you to Windchime Weather for the music, as always, and thank you to the Sport Social Podcast Network for hosting us. We had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Feel free to get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter, and, as ever, Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Mike special this week! McMike sat down with Giancarlo Rinaldi to talk Queen of the South, Fiorentina, and the weather. After their chat, the Mikes^2 talk the loss to Juve and all the midweek shenanigans your heart could desire. We also talk coaches and conspiracies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a Tuesday evening so it's time for a new Viola Station. No McMike today, so it's just Producer Mike and Tito to run through the doldrums of the international break. First and foremost, your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots discuss their shock and grief at the untimely passing of Viola president Joe Barone last week. There's obviously nothing about this we can spin into humor or even lightheartedness. It's just heartbreaking. Our next topic of discussion was the international friendlies that a number of Fiorentina players popped up in; there wasn't much to report, so we instead focused on some guys who may have deserved a call (paging Luca Ranieri). We then shifted to this upcoming summer, which sounds like it'll be as topsy-turvy as ever for this team, what with Vincenzo Italiano on his way out and Arthur Melo unlikely to be redeemed. Along the way, we learn that McMike's absence doesn't protect him from strays, that Hines finally betrays his lack of American patriotism, and that Tito has a surprise candidate for next year's manager. Big thank you to the folks at Sport Social Media Network for hosting the pod, and big thank you to Windchime Weather for the music. Finally, a big thank you to you for listening. Hit us up on the website or on Twitter if you've got any questions, and forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back. Sorry for being a day late; we encountered and overcame some technical difficulties en route, but we're back. Anyways, this was quite a podcast to record: two straight Fiorentina games defined by last-gasp goals (against Maccabi Haifa and Roma) left us reeling, grasping at answers, and eventually settling back into our usual rhythms. We worked through that wild finish against the Giallorossi--tactical, technical, and vibes-based opinions included--and spun that out to encompass a wider look at the Viola right now, particularly how Vincenzo Italiano's done during his time in charge. After that, of course, it was the fun part. Yep, that's the part where we answer listener questions, ranging from youth development to Serie A dynamics to the state of the Artemio Franchi and beyond. Along the way, we learned that Hines' American supremacy remains unchecked, that McMike's reading comprehension is at a very different level from anyone else's, and that Tito needs to work on his transitions to ad breaks if Hines is going to give him any respect. Big thanks to Jake, Laura, and the team at Sport Social Media, and to Windchime Weather for the theme music (Nate's got a new band called Friends Friends that's really good too). We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this one. Feel free to reach out with any questions at the website or on Twitter. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two-thirds of your favorite Fiorentina podcasts are here with a little doom and gloom. This time, it's Producer Mike and Tito, with McMike allegedly off keeping an alleged eye on Rocco Commisso, allegedly. The remaining musketeers engage in some pessimistic gazing at the Viola, looking at recent results, upcoming fixtures (which look awfully difficult!), the Conference League, and some bigger picture goals. If we sound pretty down, well, keep in mind that we recorded this the day before the Lazio game, which may have altered our outlook just a little bit. We touch on new signings in February, the future of Gaetano Castrovilli and Dodô, and where Vincenzo Italiano should place his focus for the rest of the year. Along the way, we get scorching hot transfer predictions from Producer Mike, Tito talking himself back into a dark place (that may or may not be a closet with a washer/dryer), and which Fiorentina player is like Pippo Inzaghi but without the tantric sex stuff. As always, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Feel free to reach out to us on the website or on Twitter if you have questions or comments. As always, a big thank you to the Sport Social Media Network for hosting the podcast. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well hello again, friends. Two of your three favorite podcast idiots are back on the airwaves to talk all things Fiorentina, as we always do. No Producer Mike Hines this time because he decided to spend his honeymoon doing something that wasn't chatting with us (and again, auguri, Producer Mike!), so it's McMike and Tito behind the microphones to bring you the kind of hard-hitting journalistic excellence you've come to expect from us. That last part was, if you've listened to any previous episodes, obviously a joke. Anyways, this time we're digging into the January transfer window and trying to figure out what it means for the club and its going forward; only adding a couple of veterans on loan deals definitely has us feeling certain emotions. We also dig into Cristiano Biraghi's frustration in the post-Lecce presser, the firepower of this fully armed and operational Viola attack, and the life and impact of the recently departed Kurt Hamrin. We hope you enjoy listening to this one as much as we enjoyed making it. Hit us up on the website or on Twitter with any questions or comments, as usual. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back baby. It's been a minute but your favorite podcast hosts are back and have dragged Producer Mike out from behind the curtain. It's been a little over a year so we're just doing a quick overview over how the season has gone thus far and whether Fioretina has lived up to expectations (not just a rhetorical question). We talk about tactics, Christian Kouamé's marriage, and how the goal scoring wingers that the Viola desperately need were the friends we made along the way. We'll be getting nittier and grittier in subsequent episodes, never fear; we're just dipping our toes back in for the moment. Listen, rate, enjoy! If you have comments or have anything you want us to talk about on future episodes then you can comment on the site, or tweet at us (We're not calling it X. That's weird.). Big thank you to Jake, Laura, and the whole team at Sport Social Media for getting us back in the action. It's great to be recording these again, so we hope you enjoy hearing us as much as we enjoyed talking to you. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No Mike this week, so it's just Tito in this one, but the presence of our most tactically-savvy guest ever should more than make up for it. Marco Lai (also subscribe to his Substack, because it's consistently fascinating) is a certified match analyst who's quickly become one of VN's favorite social media presences due to his fantastic analysis of Serie A matches. We were lucky enough to track him down for a conversation about Fiorentina's approach under Italiano. Our chat covered a range of topics, bouncing around from the abstract--the necessity of a striker who can press for a team that's predicated on pressing, tactical dogmatism, the burden on the wingers to create--to the more concrete--reasonable transfer targets, how Fiorentina can get more out of the number 10 spot, and the asymmetrical use of fullbacks--and it's safe to say that this is the most educational episodes we've ever done. Grazie mille, Marco, for the time, the knowledge, and the genuinely fun conversation. As always, thanks also go to Producer Mike Hines for producing this episode, and to Windchime Weather for our theme song (and check out Nate's other project Shaylee). We had a blast making this episode and hope you enjoy it too. Feel free to get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter, and if you like what you hear, feel free to drop us a rating and review. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The games are coming thick and fast for Fiorentina right now, so your favorite podcast idiots are back in the saddle. This time, we're looking back at how the Viola have looked over the first part of the season and how they've emerged from the restart, which naturally steers the conversation into the transfer market. With that out of the way, we also consider what this team's expectations ought to be for the rest of the year. Then, ahead of a weekend clash with the Giallorossi, we got in a rollicking discussion with Chiesa di Totti's Lord Commander Bren, who caught us up with everything happening in the Romaverse. Along the way, we learn that Mike's been brushing up his Italian, Tito's view on the nature of eternity (which involves a certain Viola midfielder), and which 1990s kids sports movie applies to Roma this year. Big thank you to Bren, whose taste in tracksuit jackets is impeccable, and to Producer Mike for doing the producing. Our theme music is by Windchime Weather (and check out Nate's other project Shaylee). As always, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. If you've got any questions, hit us up on the website or on Twitter, and leave us a rating if we did an okay job. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the winter holidays wrapping up, your favorite Viola podcast idiots have a late present for you: an episode devoted entirely to you! That's right, Mike and Tito are here to tackle questions ranging from how to get Fiorentina back in the Champions League, the Primavera-to-US-insurance-salesperson pipeline, and the Hipster Super League. So settle into that ugly sweater, pour yourself another mug of nog, and dive into, well, your thoughts about this team. Along the way, you can also learn about McMike's uncanny resemblance to a certain pivotal Yuletide figure, Tito pulling the Reverse card and dropping some thoughts on viticulture, and Candle Talk with Mike and Tito. Thanks as always to Producer Mike for producing this one and to Windchime Weather for the music (and check out Nate's other project Shaylee). And finally, thanks to you for listening. Feel free to get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter, and drop us a rating and review on whatever platform you're listening to if you feel like it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, we know this is a Fiorentina podcast, or at least a hipster wine/beer podcast, but when Juventus winds up under federal investigation for fraud, we've got to talk about it. And there's only one guy we trust to talk all things Bianconeri: Dom Penza. If we can't get hold of Dom, though, we'll grab Danny--the Blog Overloard at Black & White & Read All Over--to walk us through the Juve board's resignation and what exactly it entails. We'll also chat a little bit about the Juvenuts' January transfer market business and rest-of-season goals. Along the way, we'll learn about Juve's efforts to reunite the EU and the UK via transnational criminal investigations, whether or not Tito is just a deepfake AI, and one cool trick to spike Danny's blood pressure. Thanks as always to Producer Mike for producing this one and to Windchime Weather for the music (and check out Nate's other project Shaylee). Big thanks also to Signor Penza, who may support Juve but has the kind heart and gentle soul of a Viola fan. And finally, thanks to you for listening. Feel free to get in touch with us on the website or on Twitter, and drop us a rating and review on whatever platform you're listening to if you feel like it. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite friendly Fiorentina podcast idiots spend this episode searching for the meaning in these meaningless days without the Viola, and they come pretty close to finding some. The conversation ranges from the revolving door of the January transfer market to the two-steps-forward-one-step-back nature of the women's game in Italy to the return of the Blessed Adrian Mutu. And okay, fine, we'll give you some grudging World Cup predictions, along with all the Sofyan Amrabat propaganda you can handle. Along the way, we learn what you can expect when McMike brings you a birthday present, why Tito's genuinely worried about some Tuscan anti-Polish sentiment, and what word the Viola Nation legal department made us learn to keep us out of trouble. Thanks to Windchime Weather (also, check out Nate's other project Shaylee) for the music and Producer Mike for the production. As ever, we had a blast making this and hope you enjoy listening. Drop us a rating and/or review if you're into that kind of thing, and feel free to hit us up on the website or on Twitter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've got a slightly different format today, featuring a shorter episode and just a single host. It's just Tito in this one, but McMike will be back shortly. We want to make this a weekly show but it turns out that getting both of us and Producer Mike in the same Zoom room every week is really tough, considering that we've all got other stuff going on, so this is our compromise: a shorter solo show whenever we can't all get together for a full-length one. So jump in for half of your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiot team's thoughts on the World Cup, the Viola players in (and out of) the tournament, some thoughts about how the club is being run as a whole, and a quick rundown of the transfer rumors that are desperately trying to fill the vacuum of domestic calcio coverage. Along the way, find out what I'm getting a certain special team owner for his birthday (and happy birthday, Rocco), a brief history of bald Viola midfielders associated with heavy armor, and sign number 572 that your despair indicates your understanding of how Fiorentina works. As always, huge thanks to Producer Mike for all his work making this listenable and to Windchime Weather for the music. Feel free to hit us up on the website or on Twitter, and feel free to leave us a rating and a review on whichever platform you listen on. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Viola's season on pause for some reason nobody can quite explain, your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are back to bring that splash of purple back to your life. We started off with a quick look at the AC Milan game and the absurdity that came with it before zooming out and trying to figure out where this team is right now after a wretched start, highlighting a few newer developments that have the good guys flying, well, maybe not high, but at least not into a smoking crater. After that, we turned our attention to the World Cup and what it means for the 5 Viola players there (we recorded before the Nicolás González injury hit, so just ignore all the stuff we said about him). We wrapped up with a surprise interview featuring an international man of mystery. Who is he? Guess you gotta listen to find out, suckers. Along the way, we learned that Mike's branching out into other types of football, that Tito's a sommelier of sadness, and that Producer Mike thinks we're number one and he's got the fingers to prove it. As always, thanks to Windchime Weather for the music. We had a blast making this and hope that you enjoy listening. Feel free to get in touch with us at the website or on Twitter (assuming it's still around by the time this is live), or to leave us a review on whatever platform you listen on. Thanks, and Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not always fun to talk about Fiorentina, and it's even less fun to talk about Fiorentina during the international break. Nevertheless, your favorite Viola podcast idiots do their level best. This is a less granular episode and more of a zooming-out, higher-level (for us, so it's all relative) look at the club as a whole. We talk about the possibility of bringing back Saint Gabriel Omar Batistuta to Florence in an official capacity before looking at the org chart and figuring out what it means for the club, then do a quick run-down of the Fiorentina players who're on international duty. The best part, of course, is a chat with the ever-brilliant Massimo Basile (wait, were we supposed to bleep the name?). A long-time friend to the website and the podcast, Massimo gives us his inimitable insight into how Fiorentina's being run right now, what the office hierarchy looks like, and the difference between great ambition and great experience. Along the way, we also learned about some Poland-to-Tuscany Szynanigans, Mike's expertise on chaos, and which former players would and wouldn't make great club employees (and why it breaks Tito's heart). Thanks for listening. If you want to get in touch, hit us up on the website or on Twitter. Feel free to leave us a rating and review on whatever podcast service you listen on, and, as always, Froza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your favorite Fiorentina podcast idiots are back to talk about a slew of topics. We begin with a breakdown of the Viola mercato (spoiler alert: we think there may still be gaps in the squad), then veer into how the team's looked on the pitch (another spoiler alert: not very good!), and wrap up with a discussion about what some possible fixes could be. Oh, and I guess it's worth mentioning that we touch on why Fiorentina owner and president Rocco Commisso is badmouthing our very own Mike McCormack in team press conferences, and how exactly we feel about it. Along the way, we learn about the Samuele Ricci slide whistle, that Mike lives a liquid IV, that Tito is VERY hungover, and that we should never, ever, ever name any names, under any circumstances. We had a blast making this one and hope you enjoy listening. If you want to get in touch with us, hit us up on the website or on Twitter, and feel free to leave a rating (unless you're on Mediacom payroll, in which case maybe don't do that, please). Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's happened. Everybody, it's happened. Fiorentina has played some games (albeit against your sister's boyfriend's cousin's amateur team), so the calcio is officially back and your favorite Viola podcast idiots are back to talk about how that makes them feel. Of course, because we're still at the height of summer, we're also going to run through plenty of transfer rumors while addressing the current state of the squad. Along the way, we learn about Mike's love of sending cheesesteaks through the international postal system, Tito's certainty that he can outplay a bunch of 6-year-olds, and that things on the screen of your cell phone might just be smaller than they are in real life. Thanks as always to Windchime Weather for the music and to Producer Mike for his unwavering, single-fingered support. We had a blast making this one, as always, and hope you enjoy listening. If so, feel free to drop us a rating and/or a review, and get in touch with us either on the website or on Twitter. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh hello. It's been a minute since we released an episode, but we've got plenty of good reasons: We ran out of gas. We... we had a flat tire. We didn't have enough money for cab fare. Our tuxes didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole our car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts! IT WASN'T OUR FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD! (Really, though, blame either Coronavirus or Disney or both.) As you maybe guessed by the title of the episode, we're talking transfers in this one. So yeah, we'll dip into Luka Jović and Pierluigi Gollini and Rolando Mandragora. We'll even talk about Dodô. We'll dive into some of the guys likely edging towards the exit. But, as you'd expect, we're diving in deeper to talk about potential additions, ideal upgrades, and how the squad looks at time of recording. Along the way, we learn about Mike's X-rated tattoo (and why you shouldn't touch that third rail), Tito's insatiable lust for more blasphemy, and Gollorius. Oh, Gollorius. You're the best. If you want to get in touch, you can find us on the website or on Twitter. Feel free to leave us a rating and a review to let us know how we're doing. Hope yall enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it. As always, big thanks to Producer Mike for making us sound better than we are and to Windchime Weather for the music. Forza Viola! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices