City keep dropping points. Liverpool also dropped points against United in one of the most tactically bizarre matches of the season. Arsenal did not drop points. But now they're both ahead of City, and we take a look at the three teams most likely to win the Premier League.Support the show

The launch of fbref.com has changed public soccer analytics, and we sat down to interview Sean Forman, the president of Sports Reference, about the website, how it came to be, what he learned about soccer analytics from building it, and about their new Stathead feature (stathead.com). Support the show

The Premier League is holding serve so we're talking about a more general subject. Where do you go if you want to progress up the table as a manager? Thomas Frank has done an excellent job at Brentford, but exactly where does he go next and what is likely to be open to him? Why and how has the managerial market changed in the past decade?Support the show

The relegation race, such as it is, is defined by the historic weakness of the promoted teams and the 10-point deduction taken by Everton. We put the weakness of Sheffield United, Luton Town and Burnley in recent historical context and talk about how we remain relatively unconcerned about Fulham, Bournemouth and even Everton despite those teams being in situations that would make them serious relegation fodder in a normal season.Support the show

Liz Hoffman, a finance and business reporter, joins the podcast to discuss 777 Partners and their acquisition of Everton Football Club. They delve into the concept of reinsurance in the life insurance industry, alternative investments in soccer, the Premier League's fit and proper test for club owners, and the controversies surrounding 777 Partners' financial transactions.

Delving into leaked Cyprus Confidential Files, the podcast explores implications for Chelsea's history, the politics of oligarch ownership, and nation states owning football clubs. It uncovers the complex web of money flow between Western Europe and Russia, raising concerns about transparency and legitimacy. The podcast compares the financial activities of Abu Dhabi and state-owned industries to individuals like Roman Abramovich, emphasizing the absence of subterfuge. Discussions also touch on ownership motivations and potential sanctions faced by clubs like Chelsea.

Everton, Brentford, Arsenal, United, Bournemouth, West Ham, Brighton, Liverpool and more.Support the show

The Derby gives us the opportunity to do the United pod that's been needed. An impressive win for City (who attacked!) but the real story coming out of it is how bad United were and how fully in line with their performance this season that is. Why is it so bad and can it get better?Support the show

Newcastle United's impressive numbers and weird stats are analyzed. Their tactical approach and improved efficiency are explored. The types of soccer teams and their performance are compared. The impact of injuries on a successful soccer team is discussed. Good management and team performance in the Premier League are evaluated. The factors influencing Newcastle's success and the path to sustainable success are debated.

We asked for your galaxy-brain ideas to fix the game of football and you delivered. We discuss proposals to fix video review and the offside rule, as well as the multi-ref system.Support the show