The Double Pivot: Soccer Analysis, Analytics, And Commentary

The two Mikes interrupt this transfer window discussion with the Arsenal Crisis Conch (patent pending), and use it as a springboard into more transfer talk, not just about the Gunners, but also many of their Top 6 counterparts. There's also some Dortmund and PSG chatter that gets mixed in, thanks to the players involved in some of the bigger transfers this window. Plus, one Mike uses the opportunity to talk about pundits saying players "lack end product," and how it never means what they think it means. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week a conch was blown. This conch, unbeknownst to us, was endowed with the power to make Arsenal win a blowout and reach a cup final. So we return to Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham to ask what we got wrong and what we want to retract from last week. Plus Coutinho, Alexis, Mkhitaryan and more transfer talk.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea are still in a comfortable spot in the Premier League table, but also don't look quite right (and might be buying Andy Carroll? What?). Arsenal are definitely in a more complicated predicament, despite being a very good team. And who the heck knows how to correctly explain what's happening with Real Madrid? The two Mikes try!This episode is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/TDP to support the show and see if you qualify.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As if mega blockbuster transfers in January weren't enough, now we've got a "mystery player" in the mix. Or something. The two Mikes break down the big moves you already know about, the one that's probably next, and answer your questions about the window with varying degrees of incredulity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Choosing a new club to support at some point in life is not only very OK but also sometimes a more organic & admirable form of connection." Zack Goldman's tweet launched a fierce debate, and the two Mikes want to weigh in. Then, in the non-soccer portion of the show, they break down their takeaways from the new Star Wars. SPOILER ALERT: There will be spoilers.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester United were supposed to challenge City in a race for the title this season, but it hasn't played out that way. The two Mikes attempt to figure out why, whether Mourinho has lost some of his touch, and if there's any validity to his reasons for the club's struggles. Meanwhile, rival Liverpool just splashed a whole lot of cash on a center back, and there are no shortage of angles to examine.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

PSG brought in Neymar and Mbappe for matches against Real Madrid, they just thought it would be a few rounds later. Is Manchester United now the English team in crisis? And the two Mikes break down who they're most concerned about in the relegation zone.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We now know the final 16 teams in the Champions League, but are we any closer to understanding who has the best chance to win it? Sitting at Caley's kitchen table, the two Mikes try to sort through what we've learned from group play. Plus, the results of the Champions League mean the Europa League may actually be pretty exciting this year, so they briefly mention that before closing the majority of the show out with some thoughts on the race between the two Manchester clubs.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yet again, there are a lot of confused people on the interwebs who can't quite wrap their heads around expected goals. The two Mikes are here to help, and Burnley is the focal point. They tackle topics like how xG and tactics inform each other and what exactly is in that Burnley black magic. Then, they attempt to sort through the logic behind recent managerial appointments in the Premier League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International breaks and the second half of Champions League group play are a drag, so the two Mikes turn their attention elsewhere. They review Arsenal's victory over rival Spurs, what it means for both teams going forward and where they fit in the league pecking order. Then, they talk about just how good Manchester City are, how Pep Guardiola's squad currently works, and how remarkable the tactics are in execution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two Mikes are on an international break quest to determine who the true 7th-best team in the Premier League might be. The table says it's Burnley, Everton fans believe it is theirs indefinitely, and Southampton is awfully good at being the most annoying candidate of the bunch. Plus, some recalibration after key Bundesliga clashes force our fearless leaders to examine their previous assessments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Bayern...fine? What's wrong with Dortmund? Have you noticed these other German clubs that are on fire? Is Real Madrid in crisis? Is Barcelona actually OK? These questions and more answered by our two fearless leaders. Plus, OK, fine, they talk about who gets the crisis conch in the Premier League now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It turns out the two Mikes were wrong about Spurs, but in a surprising way. They discuss how Mauricio Pochettino's club continues to improve in the face of tough expectations before turning their attention north to Liverpool and Everton. Namely, they take a closer look at what's wrong with Jurgen Klopp's Reds than they have before, and walk through all the contradictions and weird decisions that led Everton to sack Ronald Koeman. And who would be Goodman's first choice as his replacement? Giggsy, obviously. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some key pieces will be missing for both sides at Anfield, so what should we expect? The two Mikes go through the options available to each manager, what the true strengths and weaknesses of each side really are, and why Liverpool's been such a problem for Spurs where other teams have not. Plus, they briefly touch on United, City and especially Chelsea, since Conte’s group is having some issues.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are bigger problems in the world, but two very depressed Mikes reflect on the utter calamity that crashed with a hollow thud in Trinidad and Tobago and cannot be ignored. What's the USMNT doing wrong? What could it be doing right? Is there a manager out there who makes more sense than others? Will the USSF go that direction, or do something disappointingly predictable? How do you organize the narratives floating around this mess? And if you're tired of thinking about it, they cleanse the palate by previewing Liverpool vs. Manchester United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Morata's absence destroy the way Chelsea want to play? Will Manchester United be OK without Pogba? Will Liverpool be OK without a defense? The two Mikes take a look at the Top 6, some teams a little more closely than others, and try to sort out how important the next few months will be and whether absences will alter the razor thin margins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Juventus made some big changes over the summer, and the team that came out the other end looks different than the one we saw in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Madridistas are panicking, and Arsenal is either a trash fire or just fine, depending on who you talk to. The two Mikes hash it all out with Copa90's Aaron West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a much better podcast with a much better guest host (Aaron West) was eaten by gremlins, Caley does his best to fly solo without Goodman on topics like Everton, the title race, Spurs and Chelsea, before bringing in Producer Max to talk about Liverpool's sky-is-falling narrative after a draw with Burnley and a loss to Leicester City. How much does he Carabao those results? (Sorry, we're sorry, we're trying to delete it.)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two Mikes talk about Crystal Palace firing their manager, don't talk about Sadio Mane's red card, go deep on Tottenham's Champions League tactical shift, and revel in Barcelona's strong start to the season. Plus the return of Bible History Corner. It's like it never left. Because it didn't.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you think you've got theories on what's happened to Arsenal, just wait until you hear what former Vice Sports (R.I.P.) writer Aaron Gordon's been simmering about. While he melts down over the direction of his rudderless club, the two Mikes play nice and attempt to point out a few silver linings. Then it's on to a very not nice set of topics: the corruption of FIFA and the ignored possibilities for rampant doping in the sport. Also, the USMNT comes up, but as with their performance in Honduras, expecting even the bare minimum might be too much to ask in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices