Everyone wants to stop Messi. Danny Higginbotham says that’s the first mistake.

This week on Soccerish, the former Stoke City captain and current MLS Season Pass analyst joins Christina Unkel and Lori Lindsey to explain why obsessing over Messi breaks teams before kickoff — and what the real tactical challenge actually is. It’s not about stopping one genius and the game's "greatest player". It’s about denying rhythm, space, and identity to the entire team.

Danny also unpacks the myth of the “cold, rainy night in Stoke,” takes us inside Tony Pulis’s infamous training sessions, and explains why long throws and set-piece chaos are suddenly back in fashion.

Plus: what he misses most as a player, how hypnosis helped him conquer a fear of flying, and what he’s seeing in the MLS Playoffs.

It’s tactics, toughness, and a touch of therapy — Soccerish style.

00:00 Welcome — Christina introduces Danny Higginbotham, former Premier League defender & MLS analyst

02:27 Backstory — Lori recalls their delayed flight from Miami and Danny’s fear of flying

03:30 Hypnosis — how Danny beat flight anxiety and what it taught him about control

04:37 Home base — the basement games room, framed shirts & two floods

06:00 Ref chat — VAR controversy from Cincinnati vs Columbus and what analysts see differently

09:20 Pulis era — 6 a.m. bike rides, grind culture & learning to suffer for fitness

10:10 Stoke style — the long throw, set-piece chaos & why old-school weapons are back

23:45 Messi myth — “Teams try to solve the problem that is Messi… you’re wasting your time.”

25:10 Defending the unstoppable — discipline, distance & structure over fear

44:42 Game evolution — why slower tempo is bringing back box-to-box midfielders

46:20 MLS trends — set pieces, transitions & the return of the gritty team

1:08:20 Hypnosis revisited — panic, respect for anxiety & mental resilience

1:08:43 Airport habits — Christina confesses she arrives 30 minutes before take-off

1:09:22 Playoff preview — Philadelphia vs NYCFC and what to watch for

1:09:39 The joy of live sport — unpredictability and why he still loves the game

1:11:14 Final question — “Which team is the MLS Stoke City?”

1:11:30 Danny’s answer — “Philadelphia Union and Minnesota United.”

1:12:00 Wrap-up — Christina & Lori thank Danny and close with next-week’s tease

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