Friday Football Podcast Round-up

Every Friday I will be recaping 4 shows in the wide world of football podcasts so that you can find some gems to listen to. Explore new topics and learn more about the game you already love. I don't intend to critique the show or the hosts of the show, at least not yet. Instead, I want to give you an array of samples, like a man holding 4 trays at a mall food court. Sample and see what you want to invest your precious time in.

Please note: I will not be including shows that focus on game results but instead on shows >50% on non-game result based discussion. This is because, as a round-up most people don't want to hear game result based discussion 6+ days after the games.

A Team of John O’Sheas:

Looking for an Idiom: The Future of Football Biographies

Summary:

ATOJO talks to Andrew Downie about his book, Doctor Socrates, about the Brazilian football great Socrates. He goes into how Socrates had three main interests, football, politics and joie de vivre. He takes an in-depth look at the 1982 Brazilian national team and how it was “one of the best teams to never win the world cup.” He also looks at the player power movement that Socrates was trying to push with “Corinthians democracy” and Socrates. They discuss how players are increasing reluctant to reveal details of their life and how it may get even worse in the future thus harming the possibilities of football biographies. Also, why should football players look at basketball and American football players for inspiration?

Interesting fact:

Andrew discusses how Socrates was a doctor and studied to be a doctor while other players trained more leading Socrates to being especially lean and weak.

Best Quote(s):

“There’s something almost heroic in that particular failure. That is possibly one of the greatest world cup games.”- Alex Stewart

“Socrates biggest goal, the one he spent his whole life fighting for was not democracy but freedom.”- Host

“If Brazil returns to democracy I will not sign with an Italian club.”-Socrates

“I want stories, I want interesting people who are sharing their experiences, hopes, fears, the things they’ve done, the things they’ve done on a day to day basis. That stuff just doesn’t exist around top-flight football anymore.”-Alex Stewart

You should listen to this show if you… like Brazilian football, are interested in how football and politics mix, enjoy football biographies.

Shoot the Defence:

Interview with Alexi Lalas

Summary:

He called Lalas while he was in the car stuck in traffic. Lalas talks about his childhood and his love of hockey. He also goes into how he really didn’t anticipate being a professional football player and how he milked the 1994 World Cup for all it was worth. He delves into how football is like a performance, and why he chose playing in Italy over Germany and England. He goes into why there is no better stock to buy than the MLS, comparing it to the rise of England. He goes into how the MLS is adjusting to the use of VAR. He also goes into the perception of Stan Kroenke and gives a good rant about Arsenal’s shortcomings.

Interesting moments:

Lalas talks about how the 1994 World Cup team prepared for 2 years preceding the world cup, traveling the world playing friendlies and having a residency program. He reveals going on trial with Arsenal, and getting picked up by Iain Wright, Paul Merson and Tony Adams.

Best Quote(s):

“I was that proverbial kid playing sand lot soccer albeit in Athens, Greece. That American kid not speaking a lick of Greek, going down to the sandlot sitting on the sidelines working my way into being able to play and that’s how I started.”

“He [Coach of US team] is a man that changed my life. He had belief in me when others didn’t and he gave me the opportunity to play when other people told him he was being crazy.”

“I consider myself a performer, an entertainer and don’t make any apologies about it.”

You should listen to this show if you… care about US soccer, MLS/Arsenal discussions, like Alexi Lalas, and Serie A in the 90’s.

Extra Time Radio:

How Lamar Hunt kept MLS alive | MLS storytime w/ Dan Hunt

Summary:

Andrew Wiebe and David Gass start with a recap of the MLS midweek action and then preview the Hudson River Rivalry, Red Bulls vs NYCFC. Dan reminisces about Dallas professional football teams and World Cup memories dating back to 1986. He then talks about the importance of soccer specific stadiums, like the one in Columbus that his father built. He then goes into the challenges that the league had to overcome and how they did it. He praises a lot of people. A lot. He goes into his approach to academy building.

Interesting Moments:

Hunt talks about his history going to World Cups including going to the 1990 Italy World Cup where he went to 22 matches sometimes two in a day. Hunt goes into his first day of work at Dallas, and the conference call in which the league [MLS] said they needed bankruptcy lawyers.

Best quotes:

“Here’s a theory, if there was a total eclipse every week in Oregon would Darlington Nagbe score 34 goals in a Major League Soccer season.”-David Gass

“My mother was a rotary scholar at the University College Dublin and he[Lamar Hunt] was over visiting her in Ireland and his first game was a Shamrock Rovers game.”-Dan Hunt

“We get asked all the time, why soccer? And look, he said it is a great game for families to play together. Mothers and daughters can join. Sons and husbands…and that’s why he fell in love with the game.”-Dan Hunt

“My dad came to the conclusion after several years that the only way the league was going to make it was to have soccer specific stadiums.”-Dan Hunt

You should listen to this show if you… like Dallas soccer history (Dallas Psychics), World Cup nostalgia, Lamar Hunt, sports business and league building.

The Sound of Football:

Who needs a sporting director?

Summary:

Jan Bilton, Terry Duffelen and Graham Sibley start off with a discussion about how they feel media will cover the World Cup preparations in Russia. They begin the discussion with Crystal Palace’s decision to sign Dougie Freedman as sporting director. To add context they look at the sporting director role at Sunderland. They look at the pros and cons of sporting directors, like the long-term stability of the club. They then examine German clubs that English clubs can model themselves after.

Interesting Moments:

Retracing the sporting directors at Sunderland and their poor signings. They go into the history of managers who did it all at the club like Herbert Chapman in the 20’s-30’s.

Best Quotes:

“He [Jozy Altidore] was dreadful…no arguing with the data. You can take issue with data but you cannot take issue with Jozy’s stats while he was with Sunderland.” [Multiple speakers]

“I wonder if its just the title that puts a lot of people off over here cause I think when people think of a director they are thinking of someone on the board.” Graham

“When you add an extra layer it makes it harder for corruption to come through.” Terry

You should listen to this show if you… think Germans do it better and want affirmation of that, need to feel better about your team because its always worse to be a Sunderland fan, and if you are interested in how clubs are run.