Hands Off Those Balls
Hands Off Those Balls
Mike McGlinchey and Jared Berg
Tired of sports talk shows with hosts who take themselves waaaay too seriously? Interested in some light analysis of English Premier League soccer from a couple guys who admit they don’t have all the answers? Curious how many times you can laugh at them for struggling with pronouncing player names or just straight up getting them wrong? Then come join Mike and Jared as they discuss the great game of soccer, the best club team league on Earth and whatever else strikes their fancy. New fans to the game can learn things along with the guys, seasoned fans can chuckle at their ignorance.
Episode 50 - 5/30/2021
As the show hits its 50th episode, the guys reflect on the last several weeks with another installment of "Now What Did We F#*% Up?" to clean up some recent on-air errors.  Mike tips the hat to the various clubs that have closed their seasons by winning trophies while Jared gives a preview of the three teams getting promoted to the Premier League next season.  Finally, with another season in the books, it's time to recognize the PL's great (or not) performances with the 2nd Annual Hands Off Those Balls Awards (a.k.a. "The Handsies")!
Jun 1, 2021
54 min
Episode 49 - 5/25/2021
On the final day of the 2020-2021 Premier League season, all of the drama was about qualifying for European play next year.  Now that the dust has settled, Mike gives a rundown of who punched their tickets to Europe and examines the new Europa Conference League.  Jared summarizes the Sunday matches and the guys discuss the performance of their fantasy team, which came up juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust short of winning its league.
May 25, 2021
50 min
Episode 48 - 5/17/2021
The past week saw Manchester City clinch its fifth Premier League title in ten years and Leicester City win its first FA Cup title in the club's 137 year history.  Mike compares the total points accumulated by various teams at this point last season to see whose form has improved (West Ham) and whose has worsened  (Liverpool, obviously).  Jared takes us through some of the past week's games as we prepare for an exciting final stretch in which two matchweeks are compressed into five days.
May 18, 2021
45 min
Episode 47 - 5/10/2021
The tension continues between Manchester United ownership and the club's fans as an open letter from owner Joel Glazer addressing the supporters's concerns appears to have satisfied no one.  As for some good news, the UK government has ordered that up to 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend outdoor sporting events beginning on May 17 -- meaning fans in the stands for the last two matchweeks of the PL season.  Mike and Jared discuss these developments and recap the past week's games as the relegation picture comes into focus.
May 11, 2021
47 min
Episode 46 - 5/3/2021
Peaceful protests calling for an ownership change outside Old Trafford on Sunday got out of hand when a vocal minority got violent, throwing bottles, smashing a gate into the stadium and injuring two police officers.  Mike and Jared discuss whether the fans truly have the power to engineer a transfer of ownership and the events over the past few years that led to where Manchester United and its supporters find themselves.  Mike takes several opportunities during Jared's match recaps to complain about Premier League managers not doing enough to help the Hands Off Those Balls fantasy team.
May 4, 2021
49 min
Episode 45 - 4/26/2021
That pain in your neck is whiplash from the Big Six's sudden reversal of plans regarding the ill-conceived (and now defunct) European Super League. Mike discusses the chain of events leading to the change of heart and associated apology tour the club owners have had to endure after swift and pronounced fan outcry. A quick note on the EFL Carabao Cup, Jared's game recaps and a shout out to the newly-inducted inaugural class of the Premier League Hall of Fame round out the show.
Apr 27, 2021
49 min
Episode 44 - 4/19/2021
News of the formation of a European SUPER LEAGUE just came out, so the guys try their best to unpack what this means for the Premier League. Will the Big 6 actually have to leave the PL over this? Mike takes a moment to bid farewell (good riddance?) to Jose Mourinho, who was sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur hours ago.  And Jared is back to give a recap of the weekend's matches and to correct Mike on his continuing failure to understand the offside rule.
Apr 20, 2021
46 min
Episode 43 - 4/12/2021
This week, Jared was unavailable to join the show, so that means listeners will be left with just Mike's "unique" form of Premier League analysis (don't worry, Jared will be back soon).  Mike starts things off with his very own list of the Top 5 managers in Premier League history.  He follows that up with a recap of some of the exciting matches this week, along with what seems to be a now weekly rant about VAR and the inability of Spurs to hold a lead.
Apr 13, 2021
50 min
Episode 42 - 4/5/2021
Manchester City is all but assured to win its fifth Premier League title this year, but when it comes time to defend that championship next year, the club will do so without longtime Cityzen Sergio Aguero.  The striker's contract will not be renewed next season, so Mike discusses some of his records and achievements that top the record books for both the franchise and the Premier League itself.  Jared recaps several games from the past week, including another instance of Spurs squandering a late lead and sending Tottenham fan Mike into a mild rage.
Apr 6, 2021
50 min
Episode 41 - 3/22/2021
West Ham United's score off a "quick free kick" against Arsenal had Mike so thoroughly confused that it was time for another look at the Laws of the Game, this time to find out why sometimes players have to wait for a referee's whistle before kicking and sometimes don't on free kicks. There were only four matches for Jared to talk about this week, but several superior performances warranting a tip of the hat, like Meslier's acrobatic goalkeeping, Bamford's two goal involvements despite injury and a much more formidable back line for Spurs.  No show next week as the Premier League is idle until Easter weekend.
Mar 23, 2021
50 min
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