The 4th Officials: Recent Episodes
James Lewis
Talk EPL and world football with a bunch of dudes from Baltimore.
Tom, Ken, James, and Pete bring you the results and opinions on the Premier League and other interesting stories from around the footballing world. @the4thofficials :: https://twitter.com/4thOfficialsPod
Liverpool stumble (uncharacteristcally) to the manufactured (?) passion of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal. What does it mean for the title race, and why do we already know Arsenal aren't in it to win it?
Tott and United play to a sloppy draw, and Tom has resigned himself to the Europa Conference league. City back on the start of another winning run? and Jordan Henderson solves bigotry.
Some things never change, and that's comforting ... to some. Arsenal fans might not feel the same as Winter rears its ugly head and the yellow ball comes out. Poor Ken.
Mentality. Some teams (City, Pool) have it, some teams (Tottenham, Arsenal) don't. It makes a difference.
United pull off a defensive masterclass .. VVD not happy about. City lose focus, Tottenham rack up the reds and Arsenal win again. And more.
Wow ... talk about luck. Pool 4-3 Fulham, Arsenal 4-3 Luton ... Tott steal a 3-3 vs. City. And United lose 4-3. Whatever.
Lots of teams carrying lots of injuries ... United and Tottenham try to set up for succes ahead of the holiday fixture list. City and Pool play to a draw, so much happens, we try to keep up.
James defects to China after a shocking draw against Chelsea, Liverpool kidnap Brentford, Tots lose to Jenkins' Wolves in added time, Utd beat another relegation battler, and Arsenal win.
The saying goes "As Arteta goes, so goes Ken" and it's never been truer than today.
Arsenal lose in 'embarassing' fashion, not my words. Tottenham stand defiant in defeat. United at the last against mighty Fulham .. wild week
United just can't catch a break, and we're here for it.
City Dominate, Tottenham stumble to an uninspiring win, Arsenal are just meh. We must be getting towards mid season ...
We had a beeping issue ... so we added more beeping in this episode as Tom and James discuss Arsenals title credentials, Chelsea's "back" status, City's position in the table and some of the charmingly unique British things that we all love.
Ken Lee's Arsenal face off against James' City to devastating effect, Pete's Tots are top of the table, Man Utd win easily, Pool draw, and Chelsea finally win.
Tottenham beat a 9(!) man Liverpool with the help of a horrendous lack of communication between officials, Wolves beat City(!), United lose twice, Arsenal coast, and Chelsea win(!).
Arsenal lose ... so no Ken today boys and girls. It's ok, Pete gives us his take on Tott vs. Arsenal and Tom loses his battle with AI.
Pool win late down a man, Arsenal drop the ball, Utd come back, Tots continue to swing, City win, and Chelsea show up(!).
The Dynamic Duo is back, better than ever.
Tottenham flying high, United teetering, Chelsea still terrible, and City Win. Some things change and some stay the same.
It's early in the season, but we've got lots to talk about.
The Premier League kicks off with a bang and without Ken and James. City and Arsenal win, United sneak past Wolves, Chelsea draw Liverpool but steal their transfer list, and Pete waxes lyrical on Harry Kane.
We're here talking about how Man City are going to repeat the treble (and maybe go Septuple!?) on the eve of the Community Shield. We've got transfer talk, trash talk, tactics talk ... and Tottenham Talk (Tottenham Bad).
The season is over, City win! Arsenal console themselves with a job "well done," ... we tralk about the biggest bust! Team of the year! Why Tottenham struggle so badly (rhymes with tentality) ... and more!
Winners Win ... it's that simple.
Arsenal lick their wounds and see if they can muster the courage for a charge next year. United back in the CL, Chelsea in the dirt. Liverpool make the Europa (!?!) Let's talk about it.
What more needs to be said ... teams show what they're made of at the end of a season. Some have it, some don't.
So it goes ...
Tom fires James and Ken and replaces them with Millers. And Man Utd lose to a bad West Ham team.
Mentality who has it? Who doesn't? It's hard to say ... unless you're talking about Tottenham and Arsenal: They don't have it.
Arsenal fan Ken Lee is back to give us his take on the Arsenal slide and City's chase, Chelsea are still the worst, Tottenham lose to the worst team in the league, and Utd and Pool roll.
Pete and Tom sound off late on the fixture list, Arsenal start sliding, and cowardly managers.
Headline story here ... Tottenham are perennial losers, and that's a verbatim quote from Antonio Conte.
A nice little morsel to whet our appetites heading into the amazing international break ...
Some teams raise their game for the big moment and then deflate afterwards ... some examples to follow.
Manchester United lose a tight one to rivals Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal don't crap their pants (yet), City rolls a sinking Newcastle, Tottenham lose to a strikerless Wolves, and Chelsea win a game.
Everyone wins! (except Tottenham in the Cup) we're getting to a tricky part of the season ... can Chelsea stop this slide? Are Liverpool really back this time? (really?) can Arsenal control their own destiny? Don't look now ... we've got an International Break in the near future.
Who let this mutant out in public? City DRAW Forest, Arsenal perform a miracle, Tottenham slaughter the Hammers ... Chelsea is still Chelsea, and Liverpool's resurgance may have been greatly exaggerated.
James' City smack Ken's Arsenal in London and take a firm hold on the PL trophy, Utd beat Leeds and then draw Barca (who are implicated in a ref bribing scheme), Chelsea draw, lose, and look bad again, Tottenham puke against Leicester while Conte recovers poorly from surgery, and Liverpool win a game.
Great change of pace here as we only have a good group of games to talk about, no drama whatsoever ... no impending doom ... I don't know what you're talking about.
City Lose United Win (That's backwards), The Wormeater Returns to bully Ken's kids, and Chelsea and Liverpool just look bad.
Action packed weekend as Arsenal beats United at the death and declare war on Man City. Tottenham get back on track and Liverpool and Chelsea play football in a toilet.
A big weekend in the books, some teams win while cheating the offsides rule, and some teams win because the other team didn't show up in the first half ... who's who!?
We're back and right into the thick of it. City Win, United Win, Pool Win, Newcastle Win, Arsenal Win, Tottenham ... draw. Eww.
Could Arsenal possibly be top of the league come boxing day? (Does it matter?)
Cristiano Ronalso craps on United, City lay a turd at the Etihad and Spurs celebrate a comeback win vs. Jesse Marsch's American Revolutionary Soldiers ... AND MORE.
Never felt more like singin' the blues, City win, United Lose.
Some teams can't hack it in multiple competitions and that's ok.
The people have banned James after his last poor performance. Tom, Ken, and Pete create a masterpiece of brilliant commentary on Liverpool's loss, Chelsea's skulldragging, and the winner's wins.
The people finally get what they want, 100% James and Pete.
This episode is just pure vibes as we talk about Liverpool losing to Forest, Tottenham losing to everyone, and United and Chelsea as they look to outdue the others mediocrity.
James is back in the state but unavailable after Man City loses to Liverpool, Utd take out Tottenham, Chelsea saved by Kepa(?!), and Arsenal are lonely at the top.
James has wandered off on a guise of Aussie Rules football while Ken and Tom celebrate a winner's pod. Arsenal, City, United, and Tottenham are all victorious on the weekend.
There are few certainties in life ... but you can always count on Tom being late to studio, and you can double count Ken hating Xhaka.
We dig into that and more news from around the league as Tom comes to terms with united losing to City (again).
City Drop Points, Everton and Pool battle it out to a draw, Chelsea squeak by and Arsenal fall at the first huddle. Do they have the mental fortitude to recover? We're not all convinced.
It's not often everyone is happy on this pod ... but with Arsenal, City, Tott and EVEN UNITED all winning, what do we have to complain about? Well ...
United pull off their biggest win in the last 4 years, Arsenal stay top and City struggle but come back ... The Prem is hot and this season is shaping up to be one of the best yet. Chelsea lose and their strategy becomes clear: Buy every defender in the world.
Arsenal just. keep. winning. (Unconvincingly, according to Tom). United just. keep. losing (more and more convincingly). City win! Liverpool Draw! (Again) After this week, we are going to need a Tuchel v. Conte Pay-Per-View. I'm watching, who else?
City Win, United Lose ... Liverpool can't get past Mitrovic and the mighty Cottagers. Tottenham put 4 past Southhampton and Ken would not take a guaranteed top 4 finish if it meant that Tott win the league. Come on and listen.
Who finishes where? Who will be Top scorer? Why does Tom always try to bring it back to United? And who does Barca buy next!?
Real Madrid win another Champions League title, Liverpool pundits claim an existential victory, and the boys release their Team of the Season.
City bring the Drama! Wow what a final day ... an almost unbelievable ending to a crazy season. Spurs also come out big winners, and Burnley join Norwich and Watford on the DROP! (this means James has to get a tattoo).
City and Liverpool neck and neck, Arsenal lose their nerve ... Will united be playing on a runway in Eastern Europe next season? Tune in and find out.
Liverpool DRAW, City win emphatically ... it's coming to the end and everything is still up for grabs.
Arsenal are close to claiming a miraculous 4th place, but Tottenham are still on their heals ... listen in to find out how we feel about it.
Well, it happened. City fall to Real Madrid in a thriller.
Arsenal Win, United ... win? Liverpool Win. There's gonna be a showdown ... and unfortunately it looks like Burnely will be safe.
There's a lot going on
Man VAR is bad ... I mean Prem refs are bad ... I mean the Prem Refs implementation of VAR is bad. It's all bad.
The Race for 1st, the Race for 5th, the Miracle Escape ... we cover it all.
What's going on at United? Well, they're terrible for starters ... but are they bad enough to overcome Arsenal's own history of late season collapse?
A lot to talk about here, plus City and Pool Win ... and who wants 4th?
Man United in crisis? City for the title? Burnley for the drop?
Tottenham on the Rise! Are arsenal going to blow their shot at 4th? Ken isn't here to talk about it, but we do!
Arsenal Lose, Tottenham win ... Ken let's his feelings be known.
City and Pool win (expected) and United draw (again).
There's a lot going on, and the hope of Burnely getting relegated grows every day.
Do Arsenal have a mentality issue? Or is it ok to coddle your kids and not burden them with the weight of expectation? Ken's answer might surprise you ...
Pool Win, City DRAW (it feels like a loss), and Burnley lose ... the title race is as tight as could be and the relegation dogfight heats up.
Turbo Episode, fastest we've ever done ... c'est la vie
Man ... United ... are bad. So is Harry Maguire, but is he totally to blame?
Everton having financial issues, and Liverpool keep the heat on City with a big 3 points.
United draw against one of the worst teams in the league ... City scrape by against another bad team (by the grace of VAR) ... Tottenham beat up on Leeds in the league (Bielsa is gone!) but lose to Middlesbrough in the cup, eww ... there's a lot to unpack here.
City Stumble ... is Tott back on track? Or are they just the bogey team of the century for City?
United Win? Sure, it was easy ...
Arsenal win too! and Ken's in a mood.
Things are heating up! Tom and Ken get into it, as an old rivalry rears it's ugly head again.
City Win, Liverpool Win ... Chelsea in the Club World Cup, who cares?
There's a new mutant in Town, hide your worms.
United just can't win; Ken's Arsenal turning corners; Do Tottenham actually even want to win? And more ...
Ken goes ham on Switzerland (and Xhaka); Chelsea forced to play an attacking game; Conte is in trouble; Liverpool make it through without their AFCON stars
The EPL handling of COVID postponments has been a disaster, and when you've got Ken Lee on your case, you know you're in trouble.
City Win, United drop points, Liverpool still in the hunt.
Who cares about Burnley's 5 games in hand?
Phil Jones is back! Will this mean a new tattoo for Tom? There's something about Ralf. Are Tottenham in for Top4 with Conte at the helm? Did City just win the title by virtue of Chelsea and Pool slugging it out for a draw? We'll see.
UEFA mess up paper, all the big boys grab late pen wins, Pink Kevin, and Omicron's ugly head is indeed reared.
Arsenal Still bad, is Arteta a vibes only kind of guy? We're just not sure.
Conte turning spurs around, but will Omicron rear it's ugly head?
City still dominant and are Chelsea too reliant on defenders for goals?
Tom (though absent) is finally happy that United have a real coach (sorta until the end of the season ... and once they sort out his visa); Tottenham hate the snow, and Dyche can't find his worms; City play beautifully, but that's expected, and Chelsea have 200+ million worth of attacking talent that can't score ... apparently not a problem. OR IS IT!?
Listen, Man United might not thank me but get the contract out, put it on the table. Let him sign it. Let him write whatever numbers he wants to put on there, given what he's done since he's come in. Carrick's at the wheel, man. He's doing it. He's doing his thing. Man United are BACK.
Is it the lack of options that's keeping Ole in a job? The crew discusses, and predictably, disagrees.
Oh, and City crush United ... who fall behind Arsenal in the table. Dark days.
Oh, and Liverpool lose to West Ham ... Oh and Chelsea draw Burnley. Worms for days. Lots to talk about.
We lose Pete to a thunderstorm halfway into a discussion about Tottenham ... but it probably would have found a way to be about how bad United are right now.
Tom finally joins the Ole out crew, and Harry Kane should have left Tott. James knew all along.
Arsenal STILL suck ... Burnley STILL suck ... FIFA wants a world cup every two years and it's a terrible idea.
Instant classic match, like many City / Liverpool ties ... isn't it weird when talented squads play like they actually want to win a game?
we talk about other stuff too, like Chelsea losing in the CL (city too, shhh!)
City beat a boring, boring Chelsea side as their rivals drop points.
Tottenham are still bad, and Arsenal actually won a game.
Chelsea, Liverpool and United look strong ... and City are hanging in there.
Arsenal still bad, Tottenham still bad ... meat pies still bad.
Tom is #back ... or is he?
Ronaldo is #back ... to the Europa League? We'll see how it goes.
Man .. we hate the international break.
But we somehow find the courage to talk about the recent premier league results and transfers that might just shape the rest of the season.
Is it possible that Arsenal are even worse this season? Ken gives his thoughts on Saka and more.
Is this the year that Burnley finally drop? James hopes so.
The Prem is back! "Good teams win and bad teams lose." -John Madden. Pep is up against the ropes after a failure at Tottenham means no invincible season, Utd roll at home, Chelsea and Liverpool get it done like grown-ups, and Arsenal lose to bees.
We made it to part 2!
Pete Unmuted, Liverpool in the spotlight, still no Ken, and James and Tom disagree (what's new!).
Oh boy, a two parter!
We give you a rundown of the top 6 (or at least our top 6) teams for the upcoming season.
Pete explores his mute button, Tom and James get into a tiff (what's new), Ken is absent (what's new).
Can we hold it together until part 2? Let's find out!
We go over the Champions league final, Chelsea vs. Manchester City ... The upcoming Managerial merry go round, and some transfer rumors that will blow your socks off.
Final day of the season review! Tottenham and Leicester work together to ruin both Tottenham and Leicester's season as LC drop out of the top4 and Tottenham drop in to the Europa Conference league! Tottenham coming to an Airport runway near you soon.
Liverpool storm into the top 4, City puff up their chests ahead of a CL final, and Chelsea limp to a defeat with yet another boring performance.
All this and more!
Tom's back, United win, City Lose, Tottenham and Arsenal still suck ... Chelsea? We might have to get used to 'em
We protest ... Tom Counter-protests (he loves the Glazer's), City are destined for greatness and will Tottenham bring back Harry Redknapp?
Chelsea are boring, Arsenal suck ... so do Tottenham. Heavy is the head that wears the Crown ... and Pete definitely is trying to get Poch to sleep with him.
The Super League is coming to take all of your dreams and flush them down the toilet. We talk about that here.
Who's going to win the Champions League? (It's City), How bad are Tottenham? (Real bad) Arsenal might have turned a corner and United wrap up second place.
Chelsea are bad ... how bad? Well you'll find out. Race for 4 is heating up and the transfer rumours are already HOT!
City are just too good (Tom's words), all of Tottenham's since come home to roost, Liverpool look mediocre in victory, and we discuss the stupidity of the delayed offsides flag.
Harry Kane and Gareth Bale ... the new hot kids on the block? Arsenal get slogged, City and United didn't happen (weird).
Gareth Bale Returns baby! Arsenal stumble into a W against a crippled Leicester, City can't stop winning, United and Chelsea are both terrified of losing and Tottenham are resurgent.
Ken's Kids (fail), Klopp disappoints (again), Everton Triumphant, Tottenham depressing ... and oh hey, City win 18 straight.
City are ON. A. ROLL., unfortunately Ken can't join us to confirm how many corners Arsenal will turn this year ... but Pete is here to talk about how bad Tottenham are, fortunately.
City Win, United can't finish their dinner, Arsenal lose ... but Chelsea win. Can Arsenal still finish in the top 4? (no), Where will liverpool finish and how much will Klopp whine about it? Who knows ...
We're still in the thick of it, Ken says Arsenal can get 4th place ... Pete isn't here so no one cares about Tottenham, and City are rolling. RIP Ozil.
Arsenal Lose, Liverpool lose (again and again and again). City and United win. 2021 is shaping up nicely for Tom and James.
United are top of the league (City have a game in hand), Tom says all's right with the world. Arsenal are back with a win (and so is ken!) and City's defense is actually good.
Apologies for some technical difficulties, we're working on it!
Can Arsenal stop the slide? Can united keep up their momentum? Can City score more than one goal a game against ANYONE? Is Tottenham done? We don't know ... probably Tottenham is done though.
United AND City both can't get it done ... of course Arsenal can't get it done ... Tottenham too ... Chelsea? No? Who?
Arsenal Lose, Tottenham win ... Pete's happy. United with a big comeback, but is it sustainable? City win again, but can we really be happy? Are Chelsea title contenders? Who is?
Arsenal lose again (what's new), Tottenham still top of the table, United have a comeback in them and City are dominant against a terrible terrible Burnley side.
United bribe VAR, City are not doing well ... and neither are Arsenal. Burnley are the worst and no one looks forward to playing them. Maybe that's a compliment.
Arsenal lose, United (but Ole is still bad), City and Liverpool but heads and the Lazio CEO explains the coronavirus to us.
City Win, United lose ... natural order is restored; Tom defends Ole's record in Europe,; We all rag on VAR and the Barcelona board
Harry Kane does it again, Arsenal look like they are out of ideas in attack and David Moyes is the answer (?)
Arsenal return to normal, VAR is complicit in televised assault, Kepa is back ... but for how long?, and Lads ... it's Tottenham.
City can't beat Vardy, Tottenham squeak by a lackluster Chelsea, Arsenal have a bad day at the office, and United aren't buying Sancho + other meaningless Tom stats.
Tottenham win by Forfeit: a Tactical masterclass by Mou, United can't buy a win, Arsenal can't stop winning and City start their roll.
Fighting, spitting, scoring goals ... Tom does it all well except speak. Tottenham taking the 'nothing' approach to all or nothing and is Anfield really Anfield without the fans?
City will win the title, Liverpool might need some more depth, The return of Optimistic Ken Lee, and a special message (or two) from Harry Kane.
Part 1 of the season preview, Ken the Eternal Optimist returns, Liverpool lack depth and City will win it all.
Part 2 to follow!
Bayern win the Champs League, Harry Maguire gets arrest and bonks an entire Greek city (and Ken is next!), Messi might come to City, and Mbappe and Neymar let PSG down.
Barca are a Mess, Sterling miss of the Century, Neymar is both amazing and terrible, and Arsenal are about 13th in talent. Guest appearance by Bro Hart who comes to save the day for Tottenham
City Win; Cron out of the Champions League; The Barca board are a mess; We hope for a United - Inter Europa final; and Tom changes his name ... weird.
- Champions league (City vs. Real Madrid @ the Emptihad)
- The Europa Eastern Bloc
- Arsenal win the FA Cup (cool)
- Paying players who don't play
- Transfer Rumors!
- Jordan Henderson is Mediocre
- Sheffield United were robbed / Aston Villa's great escape
- A (quick!) Team of the Season
- KDB is amazing
- How does Harry Maguire stay upright?
- The Manchester (London?) FA Cup Derby
- Full-Kit ****ers
- Misrepresenting Keeper stats
- David de Gea is Joe Hart? Who's Einhorn? Finkle?
- La Liga (huh?)
We talk City at CAS, The North London Derby, deep Europa league runs and Arsenal being Arsenal.
Who cares about Europa anyway? Tom does.