Sam's Army

HEADLINES - who is winning the "Shakira vs Piqué" break-up, what happens now with Benjamin Mendy and we pick favorites among Puskas nominees

WEEKLY WHAT IF [17:00] - how would things be different if the Premier League were decided by cumulative goal differential rather than normal points system?

PREMIER LEAGUE [20:30] - breakdown of Manchester and North London Dærbies including in depth debate about if Rashford was offside and lots of butthurting from Sam (respectively), pain everywhere in Merseyside, Power Rankings and preview of the week ahead f/t massive midweek games for United and City plus Sunday's big one between Arsenal and United

STOPPAGE TIME [1:07:00] - Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

HEADLINES: we debate newly retired Gareth Bale's underratedness and discuss NWSL's decision to ban four coaches for life

WEEKLY WHAT IF [7:45]: if you were sentenced to a trial by combat and had to pick someone from MLS... who you picking?

PREMIER LEAGUE [11:15]: FA Cup 3rd round recap featuring some big cupsets, a shockingly peaceable Power Rankings plus a look ahead to this week's massive North London and Manchester dærbies (with predictions)

STOPPAGE TIME [38:15]: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

The good, the bad and (mostly) the ugly of the Desperate American Soccer Housewives situation unfolding WAY too publicly before our eyes as the discord between the Berhalter's and Reyna's has snowballed into a genuine public relations nightmare for US Soccer:

• What actually happened?
• Who is to blame?
• Where does USMNT go from here?

HEADLINES: Ronny almost signing with... Sporting Kansas City(?!?!); Russia leaving UEFA and Infantino's non-penile Pele plan

WEEKLY WHAT IF [16:00]: what if it had been Messi had been on Real Madrid and Ronaldo was on Barcelona back in La Liga's golden days

PREMIER LEAGUE [21:00]: how hot is Jesse Marsch's seat; what is wrong with Tottenham, are Arsenal gonna mess around and win the damn league and highly unbiased Power Rankings

STOPPAGE TIME [57:00]: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

HEADLINES: drama at Club Brugge and Pele update

WEEKLY WHAT IF [7:45]: if your club could have one do-over on a sale or signing - who?

PREMIER LEAGUE [15:30]: what we learned about who from the Boxing Day restart, Power Rankings and weekend preview (f/t Arsenal vs Brighton and Liverpool vs Lester)

STOPPAGE GAME [39:30]: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

Hold onto your butts because the Premier League is about to return with a VENGEANCE starting on Monday (aka Boxing Day) so the hardest working crew in the soccer podcast game is here to ship your brains right back into midseason shape.

HEADLINES [3:00]: Messi to Miami on hold plus new MLS playoff format

WEEKLY WHAT IF [10:00]: Mourinho to USMNT?

PREMIER LEAGUE [14:45]: Who was hurt/helped most by the WC22 break; who has the hardest/easiest holiday schedules and preview of Boxing Day fixtures (ft Arsenal vs West Ham and Lester vs Newcastle)

STOPPAGE TIME [30:45]: Ivan Toney Best Bets and GOAWs

Dan Katz makes a triumphant return to the big stage and bright lights after a 4.5-year hiatus, joining Mitch and Tommy to discuss where Argentina vs France stands in the pantheon of great soccer (and even sports) games and put a big beautiful bow on the good, the bad and the ugly of WC22. Gato Grande also gives Emi Martinez a run for his money as the soccer world's most committed troll and we decide once and for all what the USMNT's bar for success is at WC26. Finally, of course, GOAWs.

Get up to speed on World Cup 2022 starting with a rapid recap of the two semifinals - Argentina/Croatia and France/Morocco - as well as the storylines, key matchups and how we see Argentina vs France playing out.

We also start out with a quick discussion of who we would like to see step in as next USMNT manager and close out with Stoppage Time f/t Best Bets and GOAWs.

We taped Episode 2.186 on Sunday night just as news of Berhalter's off-the-record convo about "a player" at WC22 started picking up steam and reports of him asking individual players to vote on whether to send Gio Reyna home began circulating. We did the best we could trying to process the info we had in real time but ultimately, especially after conflicting reports debunking certain elements and a statement from Reyna himself emerged on Monday, we felt it important tape an EMERGENCY UPDATE on Monday offering some more nuanced thoughts (and calling out some Mikey Mouse reporting) on the situation in the hopes of better outlining our thoughts on what this means for Reyna, Berhalter and the future of USMNT.

We get everyone up to speed on a wild and wooly weekend in the soccer universe, especially so within the American orbit, by discussing:

• Berhalter's ("off the record") remarks about the Gio Reyna situation and what it means for the coach, player and team
• [17:15] Recap of a truly incredible quarterfinal round, including a debate on which game was our favorite
• [33:15] Preview of this week's semifinals
• [51:15] We circle back around to Gregg/Gio when a WILD report comes out mid-episode about players (allegedly) being asked to vote individually on if Gio should be sent home from WC22
• [57:45] Stoppage Time f/t Best Bets + GOAWs