With the Champions League Final set to take place at Wembley this weekend, Graham and Taylor dive deep into the history and lore of the host stadium. How did it come to have the prominence it enjoys, what are some of the most memorable matches in Wembley history, what are its best and worst features, and how does it compare to some other new-ish st…

With the Championship playoff final looming, Graham and Taylor discuss the history of the competition and how the format first came to be. Then it's on to the money on offer, how clubs tend to utilize their winnings, the most notable matches in playoff history, and how this weekend's final is likely to play out.…

With the end of the season upon us and trophies soon to be hoisted aloft on pitches across the planet, Graham and Taylor take a look at the history of silverware in football. When were trophies first handed out, and why? What are the different types and what makes a good one? What are some of the best (and worst) examples in soccer history? All tha…

On this episode. Graham and Taylor take a longer look at the Champions' League's less-heralded sibling, the Europa League. What is the history of the tournament? How is it different from its big sibling? What changes are in store for the competition's format starting next season? And why don't we spend much time discussing it over on The Total Socc…

Graham and Taylor continue to talk video games on this week's episode! This time, it's Football Manager! What is it? Why is it so popular? How into the weeds can you wade? What has been its real-world impact? We're getting into it!توسط TSS

Graham and Taylor are here to discuss a topic 21 years in the making: the FIFA video game series. How long has it been around? How have the games evolved over time? What are the different options to play and why you don't just have to fear mean teens on the Internet! Plus, the role the games have played in developing the game here in the US, and th…

Graham and Taylor head to South America to discuss one of the longest-running, most prestigious club competitions in world soccer: the Copa Libertadores. What is it, how does it work, who can play in it, and how do they qualify? Plus, which clubs have been the most successful historically, and how have Brazilian clubs come to dominate it more recen…

It's a Ripped-from-the-headlines-of-the-life-of-Graham Special! What are match programmes and why are they still around? Do they exist in other sports and in other countries around the globe? How long have they been a thing? What are some of Graham's favorites, and will anything ever top the one with John McGinn on the cover? Answer: no.…

On this week's episode, Graham and Taylor don their respective armbands to discuss captains in soccer. What do they actually do? For how long has the role existed? What are the different types, and styles? Who are some of the most notable captains in soccer history? And, perhaps most importantly, who is the best Scotland captain to ever roam the pi…

MONEY PLEASE! On this week's episode, we're discussing Parachute Payments! What they are, how they work, and why they exist. Plus, the benefits and drawbacks to their usage in England, the role they've played in further stratifying the English football pyramid.توسط TSS

On today's episode, Graham is fresh from some injections and ready to join Taylor in discussing doping in soccer. What is it? How many different forms of doping are there? How do players get tested and what happens if they get caught? How prevalent has it been in the history of the sport? And how widespread might it be in the present day? All that …

This week, Graham and Taylor avoid fisticuffs to instead talk out the history of hooligans (and hooliganism) in football! We answer a variety of questions on the topic, including... 1) What does the word "hooligan" mean, and from where does it originate? 2) When were the peak years for hooliganism in football? 3) What are the most famous examples o…

A bonus episode this week! We're cross-posting an episode from our friends over at the Can I Kick It podcast. Host Elliot Bar sits down with Greggo from For the Culture to discuss the new joint Anti-Discrimination Policy by MLS, MLSPA, and Black Players for Change. They get into how the policy came to be, why it was necessary in the first place, ho…

This week, Graham and Taylor discuss a topic that they somehow haven't yet discussed on the podcast... Designated Players! What is a DP? Why does the concept exist in the first place? How has the reliance on DPs evolved over time? Who are the most notable Designated Players in MLS history? What does the future hold for the DP rule? Plus, Graham hel…

On this week's episode, Taylor (who could be sacked at any moment) and Graham (waiting to take over as Interim Podcast Host) discuss Interim Managers. When should a club appoint one? Are there different types? Is it always a bad sign when one comes in? And who are the most successful examples in soccer history? Graham also manages to get in multipl…

Graham and Taylor don their tin foil caps to discuss soccer's greatest conspiracy theories, and attempt to determine which ones are completely fictional (most of them) and which ones have some truth to them (some of them). Topics covered include... 1) Nike forced Ronaldo to play the 1998 World Cup final 2) A swimming pool scandal ended Johan Cruyff…

This week, Graham and Taylor make sure not to record on Saturday at 3pm, so they aren't in violation of any sort of blackout rules. Is that how it works? Well, if you aren't certain either, this episode is for you! What is The 3pm blackout? What's the logic behind it? How is it enforced? Does it still serve a purpose? Those and many more questions …

This week, Graham and Taylor delve into the history of the Asian Cup, and there's a lot of surprising history there for the delving. When did it first begin? Who are its most successful competitors? What are the factors holding it back from getting the billing it deserves?توسط TSS

Graham and Taylor discuss everyone's favorite hype-train-generator: the wonderkid! Why is there such fascination with these players? What are the pitfalls of being one? Who are some of the most memorable wonderkids in soccer history, and which ones actually came good? That and much more… including the mention of the name Freddy Adu.…

With the 2024 (but actually 2023) iteration of the Africa Cup of Nations about to kick off, Graham and Taylor spend some time on the history of the tournament itself. When was the first AFCON? How has the tournament grown over the years? Why does it take place in the middle of the season? Which countries and players have had the greatest successes …

On this episode, we get into the past, present and future of Gianni Infantino's current favorite child: The Club World Cup! What is it, how has it evolved over time, who are its most successful competitors, and what will future iterations of the tournament look like? Plus, does it actually need to change? Will it ever be a "marquee" tournament? How…

With the recent news that Everton would be docked 10 points for violating Financial Fair Play rules, Graham and Taylor spend some time discussing points deductions. What are they, who hands them out, and why do they feel like the nuclear option? Plus, historical examples of their usage throughout English football history, and the rest of the world …

On this episode, Graham and Taylor toss themselves into the world of the throw-in. It's more interesting than it sounds, I promise! What is a throw-in? What is its history? Who are the great Champions of the Throw? How could throws evolve in the future? All that and more!توسط TSS

Graham and Taylor discuss a moneymaker... the expansion of the record transfer fee over the years. Why did the transfer record grow so quickly? Which ones have worked out and which ones weren't exactly a bargain? Which ones are responsible for inflating the market? What is the history of the transfer fee, while we're on the subject? All that and mo…

Graham and Taylor discuss your grandmother's favorite topic... scarves! How did they first become common in football, how have their usage and sales evolved over time, why half-and-half scarves are a sign you're a tourist, and much more! Plus, some of our personal favorites... or rather, some of Taylor's favorites and then Graham's single favorite.…