The Final Third Soccer Podcast

The 2021 MLS Playoffs have revealed the issues of the current format: long bye's for first seeds, no obvious advantage for good teams, the regular season becoming more and more meaningless. We all love good chaos in playoffs, but it's good to balance that with making sure that the best teams get some sort of meaningful advantage. Let's talk about the issues with the playoffs and potential solutions to fix them.

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We're back on Monday to talk about the craziness happening in world football. Whether it be former Red Bull man Ralf Rangnick becoming the interim manager at Manchester United, the controversy surrounding the UEFA WCQ Playoff Draw, or the MLS playoffs being as insane as ever.

Topics Covered:

1. Ralf Rangnick in at Manchester United as interim manager - What does this mean for United?
2. Should Chelsea be worried after drawing against United?
3. What happened in the MLS Playoffs second round? RSL, Portland Timbers, and Philadelphia Union all advance.
4. Can Dortmund finally beat Bayern now that Haaland is back and healthy?
5. The Intercontinental WCQ Playoff/UEFA WCQ Playoff matches have been drawn. Portugal and/or Italy will miss the World Cup. Is this fair for European teams?
6. Washington Spirit win NWSL Championship
7. Union Omaha win USL League 1 Championship
8. Orange County SC win the USL Championship Championship
9. Palmeiras win the Copa Libertadores  
10. Last (Last) Week’s Predictions: Canada v Mexico (CONCACAF WCQ, 11/16), Argentina v Brazil (CONMEBOL WCQ, 11/16), Liverpool v Arsenal (EPL, 11/21), Chicago Red Stars v Washington Spirit (NWSL Final, 11/20), Portland Timbers v Minnesota United (MLS R1, 11/21)
11. This Week’s Predictions: New England Revolution v NYCFC (MLS Cup QF, 11/30), Everton v Liverpool (EPL. 12/01), Manchester United v Arsenal (EPL, 12/02), West Ham v Chelsea (EPL, 12/04), Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, 12/04)

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Happy Thanksgiving! Jack and I sit down on this joyous holiday to talk about what we're thankful for, both related to soccer and specifically the podcast. So sit back and listen to some thankful reminiscing.

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Join our MLS Playoff Bracket League: https://bracket.mlssoccer.com/#league/standings/3068?code=4S7U9FYN

It's soccer postseason time in America! MLS is starting their amazing playoff season while the NWSL wraps up with a final on Saturday, let's preview it all!

Topics Covered:

• The NWSL Final - Chicago Red Stars v Washington Spirit. What are the X-factors for each team and who's gonna win?
• MLS Playoffs, what are each teams' strengths and weaknesses, who's winning the first round, and who'll make a run for the MLS Cup?

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Join our MLS Playoff Bracket League: https://bracket.mlssoccer.com/#league/standings/3068?code=4S7U9FYN

It's been a great international window so far, so let's talk about all the action from this weekend, from the USA to Europe!

Topics Covered:

1. the USMNT beat Mexico "Dos a Cero" in Cincinnati. What happened, why were the USA so dominant, and what does this mean going forward?
2. World Cup Qualifier Updates: Which teams from each confederations (AFC, OFC, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, UEFA) are qualified or about to qualify for the World Cup?
3. Hot-or-Not: Steven Gerrard to Aston Villa, Dani Alves to Barcelona, Dean Smith to Norwich City, Pulisic to Barcelona
4. Sergio Aguero's heart issues may mean he can't play anymore
5. PSG Women's situation
6. NWSL Final is set - Washington Spirit vs Chicago Red Stars
7. Stat-Padding: UEFA WCQ edition!
8. Last Week's Predictions: USMNT v Mexico (CONCACAF WCQ, 11/12), Uruguay v Argentina (CONMEBOL WCQ, 11/12), Italy v Switzerland (UEFA WCQ, 11/12), Portugal v Serbia (UEFA WCQ, 11/14), Portland Thorns v Chicago Red Stars (NWSL Playoffs, 11/14)
9. Next Week's Predictions: Canada v Mexico (CONCACAF WCQ, 11/16), Argentina v Brazil (CONMEBOL WCQ, 11/16), Liverpool v Arsenal (EPL, 11/21), Chicago Red Stars v Washington Spirit (NWSL Final, 11/20), Portland Timbers v Minnesota United (MLS R1, 11/21)

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The MLS Season has drawn to a close, which means that it's time for us to review and recap the season team by ream, talk about what's in store for them next season - and give out some end of season awards!

Topics Covered:

1. Team-by-Team analysis
2. Where each team finished, what are the strengths and weaknesses they need to address ahead of the playoffs and offseason
3. Where we originally predicted the teams
4. The Final Third Awards:
5. Golden Boot Winner
6. Golden Glove winner
7. Golden Ball Winner
8. MLS MVP
9. Signing of the year
10. Flop of the year
11. Young Player of the Year
12. Supporter's Shield Winner
13. MLS Cup Winner
14. Most impressive team
15. Most disappointing team

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WHAT ON EARTH JUST HAPPENED? One of the craziest weekends to date in terms of MLS, European, and US National team madness. Let's talk about it!

Topics Covered:

1. West Ham beat Liverpool 3-2, are West Ham top 4 contenders?
2. Manchester City win the Manchester Derby, how were they so good?
3. Barcelona choke a 3-0 lead to Celta Vigo to tie it 3-3.
4. Managerial Merry-Go-Round (“hot-or-not”)
5. Barcelona hire Xavi as new manager
6. Tottenham fire Nuno, hire Conte
7. Newcastle looking to hire Eddie Howe
8. Norwich fire Daniel Farke
9. Aston Villa fire Dean Smith
10. MLS Decision Day Recap (LA Galaxy v Minnesota United, Sporting KC v Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids v LAFC, and more!)
11. "Stat-Padding" - MLS Edition!
12. USMNT November Roster Reaction and Analysis
13. Last Week's Predictions: Liverpool v Atletico Madrid, New York Red Bulls v Atlanta United (MLS, 11/3), Manchester United v Manchester City (EPL, 11/6), NYCFC v Philadelphia Union (MLS, 11/7), LA Galaxy v Minnesota United (MLS, 11/7)
14. Next Week's Predictions: USMNT v Mexico (CONCACAF WCQ, 11/12), Uruguay v Argentina (CONMEBOL WCQ, 11/12), Italy v Switzerland (UEFA WCQ, 11/12), Portugal v Serbia (UEFA WCQ, 11/14), Portland Thorns v Chicago Red Stars (NWSL Playoffs, 11/14)

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Gianna Belcastro of the Women's Sports Matter Podcast joins us once again to talk about the NWSL season that just wrapped up and the playoffs that are quickly approaching. From who we think should win MVP to who we think will win the cup, we talk about it all!

Topics Covered:

1. Overall takeaways from the season
2. MVP
3. Goalkeeper of the year
4. Rookie of the year
5. Most Impressive Team
6. Most disappointing team
7. Coach of the year
8. Previews of the following games:
9. Chicago Red Stars v Gotham FC (11/7)
10. Washington Spirit v NC Courage (11/7)
11. Thorns v CHI/NYNJ (11/14)
12. OL Reign v WAS/NC (11/14)
13. Final on November 20th in Louisville

Women's Sports Matter Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/WSMpodcast

Listen to the Women's Sports Matter Podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/womens-sports-matter

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It's been a fun weekend of soccer, which means we're back to recap it! From Koeman getting sacked to FC Cincinnati's third wooden spoon in a row - let's talk about football from around the globe!

Topics Covered:

1. Ronald Koeman has been sacked by FC Barcelona, can Xavi be the next manager?
2. Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-0, is it time for Nuno to leave Spurs?
3. Arsenal beat Leicester 2-0, are Arsenal finally back to winning ways?
4. Messi has yet to score or assist in Ligue 1, should this be a concern to PSG?
5. New England Revolution set the season points record in MLS, is it their year to win the MLS Cup?
6. FC Cincinnati get their third straight wooden spoon, what's gone wrong?
7. Josh Cavallo comes out as gay.
8. KC NWSL rebrands to Kansas City Current
9. Sergio Aguero gets diagnosed with Cardiac Arrhythmia
10. Stat-Padding with Jack: Premier League xG Stats
11. USMNT Corner: Who should be in the next U-20 Camp?
12. Last Week's Predictions: USWNT v South Korea (10/26, Friendly), Nice v Marseille (10/27, Ligue 1), Monterrey v Club America (10/28, CCL Final), Portland Thorns v North Carolina Courage (10/30, NWSL), Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (10/30, EPL)
13. Next Week's Predictions: Liverpool v Atletico Madrid (UCL, 11/3), New York Red Bulls v Atlanta United (MLS, 11/3), Manchester United v Manchester City (EPL, 11/6), NYCFC v Philadelphia Union (MLS, 11/7), LA Galaxy v Minnesota United (MLS, 11/7)

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Jack takes over the podcast this Thursday as AJ recovers from a root canal surgery. He answers the question: Why are Chelsea FC so good this season? They're on top of the league and dominating their opposition, but why?

Topics Covered:

1. Which players are playing well?
2. How are they doing well without the strikers firing at 100%?
3. How does the system Tuchel has employed benefit their players?
4. 
   

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