Sam's Army
Sam's Army
Samuel Army
The wild and wonderful world of soccer from an American perspective. Samuel Army and a rotating cast of fans, athletes and athlete fans discuss all the relevant goings-on from both sides of the pond. Headlines and a weekly recap plus previews and predictions with an emphasis on the Premier League and Champions League, along with the US men’s and women’s national teams, and just enough from the rest of Europe, MLS and NWSL to be dangerous. Episodes also typically feature candid interviews with players, coaches and other people of interest from in and around the sport. We aim to keep things light and entertaining but with enough analysis to appeal to fans new and old. Many people are calling Sam’s Army Podcast the best podcast they have ever listened to – not me, but many people. Note: true believers in #b2bwcw are eligible for a 22% to 26% discount at checkout. Holler!
Ep 2.245: USMNT Transfer Talk, Ange The Werner Whisperer & Arsenal's Panic Level
HEADLINES: thots on January transfer moves including a glut of USMNT-related moves and Timo to Tottenham, along with an under-the-radar but potentially serious concern for Serie A fans WHAT IF: you had the opportunity to produce a Netflix documentary like the one in the works on Dear Leader Jozay... what player or coach you picking? PREMIER LEAGUE: what to make of Arsenal's inability to score plus a preview of a weekend slate that is low on quantity but high on quality ROUND THE WORLD: what clubs will be affected most by Afcon/Asia Cup and reaction to USMNT roster for January camp STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Jan 9
1 hr 11 min
Ep 2.244: Super League 2.0, Turkish Super Cup Drama & Premier League's Hot vs Not
HEADLINES: Fuck Soccer Get Money European Super League is back but is anyone actually buying it; is it fair for United fans to get a little excited now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has finally bought in; pluses and minuses of MLS following Japan's J-League by realigning the schedule with Europe WHAT IF: Pulisic leads the USMNT to back-to-back World Cup titles in 2026 and 2030 cementing his name in soccer lore... should the USSF retire his #10 jersey? PREMIER LEAGUE: making sense of a busy holiday period including what to makes of the recent risers (eg West Ham and Wolves) and fallers (eg, Arsenal and Newcastle), plus some FA Cup games to watch this weekend ROUND THE WORLD: fallout from the last minute cancellation of Turkish Super Cup due to 11th hour demands by Saudi hosts plus some transfer chatter involving Johnny Cardoso to Betis, Hugo Lloris to LAFC (!?) and Antonee Robinson to Liverpool STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets where the Over Train is cooking with thermonuclear gas again and GOAWs
Jan 2
1 hr 31 min
Ep 2.243: MLS Own Goals, FIFA Club World Cup & Liverpool/Arsenal Preview
HEADLINES: MLS (disappointing) roster rule changes and (frustrating) decision to drop US Open Cup; USMNT/WNT players of the year; debating how big FIFA's Club World Cup could become; Boehly leaves his mark on Premier League and do we care about this winter's Messi vs Ronny matchup? WHAT IF: college football implements some form of promotion and relegation... would that sneakily be the best/surest way for it to happen for soccer in the US? PREMIER LEAGUE: Tyler is #notmad about United holding Liverpool to 0-0; Everton deserve some flowers; Mikey wakes up with a new most-hated team (apart from Spurs) and we get some shocking predictions for this weekend's massive Arsenal vs Liverpool game ROUND THE WORLD: Champions League R16 matchups; Girona: La Liga contender or pretender and America's latest strategy for keeping up with the European (women's soccer) Joneses STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Dec 18, 2023
1 hr 28 min
Ep 2.242: Bundesliga Selling Out, Aston Villa's Title Hopes & The War on Refs
HEADLINES: US and Mexico confirm joint bid for 2027 Women's World Cup and Bundesliga votes in favor of exploring sale of future broadcast revenues to private equity to better compete with Premier League WHAT IF: Ted Lasso was flipped on it's head and you had to pick a Premier League coach to come to the US and coach an American sport (eg NFL, NBA or MLB)? PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa burnishes title contender qualifications by beating City and Arsenal in a matter of days; should Pochettino and/or Ten Hag be on the hot seat; if Newcastle should be hitting the panic button and wtf has gotten into Everton? ROUND THE WORLD: giving Columbus Crew their deserved flowers and how much (if any) grief does MLS deserve for punishing LAFC supporter's group shenanigans and what to watch in Champions League this week STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Dec 12, 2023
1 hr 25 min
Ep 2.241: Women's UCL, Copa America Draw, City/Spurs Postmortem & MLS Cup Preview
HEADLINES: UEFA announces changes to women's Champions League, best- and worst-case groups for USMNT from Copa America 2024 draw (on December 7) and high/lowlights from this week's UEFA 2024 group draw WHAT IF: you could change one rule/thing about soccer? PREMIER LEAGUE: Spurs walked away winners from 3-3 draw at City, Tyler waxes poetic about Liverpool after beating... Fullham, abbreviated Power Rankings and what to watch from full slates this midweek and weekend (f/t Chelsea vs United and big week for Aston Villa) ROUND THE WORLD: Preview of Columbus vs LAFC in MLS Cup, what to watch in this week's final Champions League group stage games and shoutouts for Brazil's Serie A title race finale and MASL is back STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Dec 5, 2023
1 hr 3 min
Ep 2.240: Expanding VAR, City vs Liverpool + MLS Playoffs f/t STL City's Tim Parker
HEADLINES: FIFA discusses expanding use of VAR, Premier League votes *against* temporary ban on loan deals between "affiliated" clubs and MLS looks to add 4th DP slot WHAT IF: the Premier League did away with designated home and away sections... net plus or minus? PREMIER LEAGUE: takeaways from City/Liverpool draw and Spurs "encouraging" loss to Villa, plus Power Rankings and previewing United's chance to shush the haters at Newcastle ROUND THE WORLD: Tim's opinion on MLS's playoff format plus reactions to VAR-heavy controversies in Cincinnati/Philly and Houston/SKC games, plus a quick look at this week's marquee Champions League matchups STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets (OverTrain cooking with thermonuclear gas again!) and GOAWs
Nov 27, 2023
1 hr 15 min
Ep 2.239: USMNT vs T&T, Dest's Dismissal + EPL Preview f/t City vs Liverpool
USMNT: we get balls deep in the "successful" home-and-home with T&T, put the results in context and try to make sense of Sergiño Dest's meltdown (including what an appropriate punishment looks like) HEADLINES: Everton's 10-point deduction and what it means for City and Chelsea; IFAB contemplates instituting rugby-like rules, insurance company (of all people) issue report that may actually make an impact on schedule congestion and CONMEBOL reveals two Copa America 2024 host cities WHAT IF: Torsten Frings did not criminally use his hands to block Greggory Berhalter's potential game-winning volley in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal... would his USMNT coaching experience be any different? PREMIER LEAGUE: time to hit the ground running with preview of City vs Liverpool and Newcastle vs City plus a painfully honest prediction about Tottenham vs Aston Villa ROUND THE WORLD: MLS playoffs in full swing (feel the momentum!) and U17 World Cup update STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Nov 21, 2023
1 hr 31 min
Ep 2.238: NWSL/USL Media Deals, Cole Palmer's Glow-Up + USMNT vs T&T Preview
HEADLINES: NWSL and USL sign splashy 4-year media deals, Premier League overdue yet reactionary ban on loan deals between "associated" clubs and Luiz Diaz's dad WHAT IF: How bad and for how long would Man City need to be to get Pep fired? PREMIER LEAGUE: what we learned about Chelsea from the thrilling 4-4 draw with City (aka the Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling revenge game), the wheels start falling off Tottenham and perhaps Newcastle, and perhaps United's woes have been slightly exaggerated ROUND THE WORLD: thoughts (not very nice ones) on MLS's new playoff format, NWSL and USL silverware, USYNT updates and preview of this week's USMNT home and home versus T&T STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets (where the Over Train is cooking with thermonuclear gas) and GOAWs
Nov 14, 2023
1 hr 17 min
Ep 2.237: WC34 "Shocker" + VAR vs Soccer's Soul (Spurs/Chelsea & Arsenal/Newcastle)
HEADLINES: Gianni Infantino reveals poorly kept secret that Saudi Arabia will host World Cup 2034, does Luis Suarez make Inter Miami better / favorites for MLS Cup 2024 and reaction to Timbers hiring Phil Neville WHAT IF: MLS players called a strike -- is now the perfect time to finally get one over on owners? PREMIER LEAGUE: instant reaction to Chelsea beating 9-man Spurs and Arsenal falling to Newcastle, including a serious discussion about whether VAR is ruining the sport we love; also some love for Luiz Diaz (and Darwin - sorta) and weekend preview featuring Chelsea at home vs City ROUND THE WORLD: MLS playoffs (oh no STL!) and Champions League preview STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Nov 7, 2023
1 hr 21 min
Ep 2.236: 2024 Ballon d'Or, Current vs Past USMNTs + MLS Playoffs Deep Dive
Tyler and I are joined by Keegan Rosenberry of Colorado Rapids and DC United's Alex Bono to discuss... HEADLINES: Messi wins Ballon d'Or but who is the favorite to win in 2024; Sandro Tonali's suspension and chatter inside MLS locker rooms about gambling; sad situation involving Luis Diaz's parents plus Timothy Weah injury news WHAT IF: you had to pick one USMNT squad from anytime in history to face the Monstars in a soccer version of Space Jam... who you picking? (Also: we debate -- aka Sam is harassed about -- the cultural resonance of Space Jam) PREMIER LEAGUE: takeaways from City spanking United; some love for Wolves and Everton; we critique Bono's Power Rankings and Sam makes shocking admission about this weekend's Tottenham vs Chelsea game ROUND THE WORLD: Keegan and Bono offered their two cents on the new MLS playoff format plus thoughts on some of the most intriguing matchups, plus a brief reaction to USWNT's games versus Colombia STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs
Oct 30, 2023
1 hr 31 min
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