The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentary

Dan Davies, author of The Unaccountability Machine, dives into the fascinating intersections of cybernetics, economics, and football. He explains how complex systems and accountability shape the sport and capitalism alike. The conversation highlights systemic issues in European football, using a metaphor involving squirrels to discuss accountability failures. Davies also tackles the challenge of translating elite football insights into coaching practices and unpacks the intricacies of club ownership, debt, and investment dynamics in the football industry.

We break down Arsenal's big win, Real Madrid's toothlessness, Inter's away result, and why we continue to see PSG and Barcelona as the best remaining teams in the tournament, probably the best teams in the entire world. And that brings us to Lamine Yamal, who is good.Support the show

No football just literature and history.A Drop of Corruption: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735559/a-drop-of-corruption-by-robert-jackson-bennett/Support the show

Tactics Tom is in charge for England the results were the same and the football was not scintillating but it was tactically distinct and interesting to discuss. So we had Grace Robertson of graceonfootball.com join us to discuss it. Support the show

In this engaging discussion, Adam Crafton, an Athletic journalist specializing in Manchester United, dives deep into the ongoing changes at the club since Jim Ratcliffe's takeover. He reveals the impact of financial struggles and recent layoffs on Manchester United's operations. Adam also explores the complex intersection of politics and soccer, particularly around the upcoming World Cup, discussing visa challenges and the broader implications for U.S. soccer in a rapidly shifting political landscape.

We are joined by financial journalist (and soccer and cycling fan) Ben Walsh to learn about the great sport of road racing, the background of INEOS as a sports ownership group, and how fans of cycling were well ahead of the curve on what to expect from Ratcliffe at Manchester United. Check out Ben's newsletter, The Bender: https://bendwalsh.substack.com/Support the show

Big matches in the Serie A title race get their due and then we talk about the team with the best underlying numbers in the Premier League recently, which as you surely all know is Crystal Palace.Palace:  https://bsky.app/profile/scott.cannonstats.com/post/3ljdm73v3wn2oOvalle: https://bsky.app/profile/lawsonsv.bsky.social/post/3ljjheamocs26Support the show

Huge six-pointers all around and we take stock of the teams we covered last week (City, Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, Bournemouth) and ask how much we need to think further about Brighton and Villa after they made up ground. Simon Tinsley's PL projections: https://analytic-fpl.streamlit.app/Support the show

There are probably right now five teams in a race for three spots. We take a close look at Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, City, Bournemouth and Newcastle and handicap the race. It's a close one!Simon's projection website: https://analytic-fpl.streamlit.app/Support the show

Dive into the financial intricacies of soccer, exploring how club ownership impacts league governance. Discover Barcelona's financial crisis during the pandemic and the drastic measures taken to stabilize its finances. The conversation tackles economic disparities in player wages across Europe and the U.S., highlighting the challenges of balancing costs and competition. Ownership dynamics are also dissected, especially in light of the failed Super League, and the ongoing quest for sustainable profitability in a polarized market.