The Double Pivot: Soccer analysis, analytics, and commentary

The two Mikes are on an international break quest to determine who the true 7th-best team in the Premier League might be. The table says it's Burnley, Everton fans believe it is theirs indefinitely, and Southampton is awfully good at being the most annoying candidate of the bunch. Plus, some recalibration after key Bundesliga clashes force our fearless leaders to examine their previous assessments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

It turns out the two Mikes were wrong about Spurs, but in a surprising way. They discuss how Mauricio Pochettino's club continues to improve in the face of tough expectations before turning their attention north to Liverpool and Everton. Namely, they take a closer look at what's wrong with Jurgen Klopp's Reds than they have before, and walk through all the contradictions and weird decisions that led Everton to sack Ronald Koeman. And who would be Goodman's first choice as his replacement? Giggsy, obviously. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

Some key pieces will be missing for both sides at Anfield, so what should we expect? The two Mikes go through the options available to each manager, what the true strengths and weaknesses of each side really are, and why Liverpool's been such a problem for Spurs where other teams have not. Plus, they briefly touch on United, City and especially Chelsea, since Conte’s group is having some issues.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

There are bigger problems in the world, but two very depressed Mikes reflect on the utter calamity that crashed with a hollow thud in Trinidad and Tobago and cannot be ignored. What's the USMNT doing wrong? What could it be doing right? Is there a manager out there who makes more sense than others? Will the USSF go that direction, or do something disappointingly predictable? How do you organize the narratives floating around this mess? And if you're tired of thinking about it, they cleanse the palate by previewing Liverpool vs. Manchester United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

Will Morata's absence destroy the way Chelsea want to play? Will Manchester United be OK without Pogba? Will Liverpool be OK without a defense? The two Mikes take a look at the Top 6, some teams a little more closely than others, and try to sort out how important the next few months will be and whether absences will alter the razor thin margins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

Juventus made some big changes over the summer, and the team that came out the other end looks different than the one we saw in the Champions League final. Meanwhile, Madridistas are panicking, and Arsenal is either a trash fire or just fine, depending on who you talk to. The two Mikes hash it all out with Copa90's Aaron West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

After a much better podcast with a much better guest host (Aaron West) was eaten by gremlins, Caley does his best to fly solo without Goodman on topics like Everton, the title race, Spurs and Chelsea, before bringing in Producer Max to talk about Liverpool's sky-is-falling narrative after a draw with Burnley and a loss to Leicester City. How much does he Carabao those results? (Sorry, we're sorry, we're trying to delete it.)Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

The two Mikes talk about Crystal Palace firing their manager, don't talk about Sadio Mane's red card, go deep on Tottenham's Champions League tactical shift, and revel in Barcelona's strong start to the season. Plus the return of Bible History Corner. It's like it never left. Because it didn't.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

If you think you've got theories on what's happened to Arsenal, just wait until you hear what former Vice Sports (R.I.P.) writer Aaron Gordon's been simmering about. While he melts down over the direction of his rudderless club, the two Mikes play nice and attempt to point out a few silver linings. Then it's on to a very not nice set of topics: the corruption of FIFA and the ignored possibilities for rampant doping in the sport. Also, the USMNT comes up, but as with their performance in Honduras, expecting even the bare minimum might be too much to ask in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show

When PSG triggered Neymar's enormous release clause, the transfer market exploded and prices shot through the roof. The two Mikes try to make sense of what's happened, what might still happen, and explore the market's effect on the teams trying to make moves in the final hours of the transfer window. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport the show