Soccer in Theory: Recent Episodes
Soccer in Theory
Our thoughts on the tactical, political, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the WC final (though in the end we mostly gush about Messi and Mbappe).
Thoughts on the second round of the WC, mourning Germany, and looking forward to the quarterfinals.
Brief thoughts on living in a country where the men's national team is legitimately good, on Argentina's tactics, on the merits of 5 v 4 in the back, on Alphonso Davies as a #10, and some other aesthetic and neurotic fixations.
A wide-ranging discussion about the implications of Qatar hosting the World Cup, featuring our thoughts on Enlightenment values, Zizek, commodity fetishism, Borges, and the place of politics in the beautiful game.
Thoughts on the tactical disparity b/w the international and club game, as well as a bit of analysis of WC Group B (England, Wales, Iran, and the US).
A brief discussion about the calamities at Barca (is Busquets to blame?), the glories of Arsenal (is Arteta fully vindicated?), and the comparative fortunes of La Liga and the Premier League (Unai Emery leaves Villareal, Champions League semifinalist, to go to Villa, relegation contenders).
Haphazard speculations about the coming World Cup, and a few scattered reflections about the last weeks of club football.
Sundry thoughts on the Tuchel firing, the philosophy of managing a football team, the validity of punditry, and the last week of games across Europe. Time stamp: 0 - 18 -- Tuchel and the Chelsea debacle 18 - 40 -- philosophy and modern management 40-55 -- roundup of the premier league, mostly Arsenal v Man United 55 - end -- champions league thoughts and baseless predictions.
Sundry thoughts on the evolution and insanity of the transfer market, Champions League prospects, and Arteta's Invincibles 2.0.
Timestamp:
0-41 — transfer market and champs league
41-44 — Bayern
44-51 — possible upsets in week ahead
51-57 — PSG Bayern
51-1:01 — Liverpool’s poor start
1:01 - 1:04 — Palace
1:04-1:06 — City and Halaand
1:06-1:09 — Madrid and Barca tricky games ahead
1:09- end — United v Arsenal
Arsenal: top of the table. Also, our thoughts on the tactical approaches of PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, and Liverpool, and the greatness of Wilfried Zaha.
Sundry thoughts on the hegemony of the premier league, the shambles at Barca and Man United, the ego clash at PSG, and the chest bumping between Conte and Tuchel.
We discuss the start of the domestic leagues in England, Germany, and France, the merits of streaming/bootlegging, and the ongoing fiasco at Barcelona.
Thoughts on the legacy of Pep and Klopp vs. Wenger and Ferguson, forecasting the prospects of Arteta's Arsenal, Ten Hag's United, Xavi's Barcelona, and Tuchel's Chelsea, and broader analysis of how the beautiful game has shifted aesthetically, philosophically, and tactically these past few decades.