ASA Show - Go Kraken and Small Sample Size Suggestions
/Harrison goes to watch the Kraken, so Kieran and Ben commiserate as wooden spoon buddies. An update on the g+ draft and a deep dive on an MLS legend's instagram feed.
EXPECTED OWN GOALS - NWSL Preview Week: Angel City + Seattle Reign, with Susie Rantz
/
Another two-episode day here at xOG for NWSL Season Preview Week. We’re heading out to the the best coast to talk about two playoff teams at a crossroads. Angel City seems to be tightening budgets as the bill comes due for their previous offseason work. Will now-permanent head coach Becki Tweed be able to recapture the magic of their playoff run, with Messiah Bright and Rocky Rodríguez in tow? Then, Eric and Evan welcome Reign reporter Susie Rantz to unpack how the still-not-closed sale of the Reign has affected their offseason, and whether there is enough spark in the roster to get to the postseason for the eighth time in the club’s 11-year history.
Click here to read ASA's written preview of today's teams (both written by Evan!)
Check out Susie’s work at Ride of the Valkyries
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
EXPECTED OWN GOALS - NWSL Preview Week: Orlando Pride + Washington Spirit, with André Carlisle
/
**RECORDED BEFORE SIMONE CHARLEY’S AND RAFAELLE’S INJURY ANNOUNCEMENTS**
In part two of today’s entries in xOG’s NWSL Season Preview Week, Eric and Evan dive into the fetid swamps of two teams making big moves but also not completely certain of their futures. Pride GM Haley Carter made a big, late splash in signing Barbra Banda. Orlando will score goals, but will they be able to do much else? Is there a Marta succession plan? Will Adriana be their only hope? Then, writer, analyst, podcaster and all-around bon vivant André Carlisle dives deep into the Washington Spirit, and how incoming head coach Jonatan Giráldez will bring his Barcelona DNA to a team that barely managed 46% possession last season.
Click here to read ASA's written preview of today's teams
Check out André’s work at the Beyond the Vaudevillian Cane newsletter, and the Diaspora United and HEY SPIRITS podcasts.
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
Expected Own Goals - NWSL Preview Week: Racing Louisville + Houston Dash, with Theo Lloyd-Hughes
/
Our second episode today heads down south for the next edition of NWSL Season Preview Week. Louisville has a clear recruitment strategy—buy low on young internationals—but are hoping for a clear stylistic identity with new head coach Bev Yanez. The Dash are doing something similar with Fran Alonso and players like Cece Kizer and rookie Avery Patterson. Dash reporter and Squad Depth podcast host Theo Lloyd-Hughes breaks down Alonso’s approach to making the Dash a playoff contender. This is a good one, folks!
Click here to read ASA's written preview of today's teams
Check out Theo’s work at the Squad Depth newsletter and podcast
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
Expected Own Goals - NWSL Preview Week: Chicago Red Stars + Kansas City Current
/
It’s a two-episode day on xOG as we roll along with NWSL Season Preview Week and continue to enjoy our new partnership with American Soccer Analysis! Eric and Evan dig into two teams undergoing massive change. The Chicago Red Stars have new owners, a new GM, and a new head coach, as they begin their long but hopeful rebuild. The Current hired Vlatko Andonovski as their head coach, and want to make a splash in their new stadium. Will any of it work for these two midwest stalwarts?
Click here to check out ASA's written preview of today's teams!
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
Expected Own Goals - BAY-UTAH
/
This is a really exciting day. In addition to launching NWSL Season Preview Week--an entire week of content previewing all 14 teams--we are thrilled to announce that we've partnered with American Soccer Analysis to be their women's soccer content partner! If you've already subscribed to us on our feed, no need to do anything; episodes will show up every Tuesday morning as before. If you're coming to us from following ASA Show, welcome! Eric and Evan love talking about the NWSL, the USWNT, and global women's football through the same lens as Kieran and the gang: data, tactics, and the nitty-gritty of the beautiful game. Hope you enjoy the show, and kick back as Kieran joins us for our first two previews: the Utah Royals and Bay FC!
Click here to check out ASA's written preview of today's teams!
Art by Eli Elbogen
Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs
ASA Show - The Pod is Back, New Beginnings
/The pod returns for the 2024 season, with a new member! The gents debate the morality of good and bad developments for MLS, and draft a g+ competition.
ASA Show - MLS Cup and Team Stocking Stuffers
/It’s the end of the MLS seasons and the lads discuss MLS Cup, give Nancy his flowers, and go team by team with non denominational holiday gifts for every MLS team. As always, trivia.
ASA Show - This Format Sux and Reffing Is Hard
/The boys get in the weeds about the MLS playoff format, congratulate some ASA alum, and trivia returns.
ASA Show - MLS 2023 Best XI Discussion Gets HEATED
/Oh boy, cover your children’s ears, Kieran and Harrison get HEATED while a rugged Ian moderates the Best XI discussion.
ASA Show - Skyline Chili Wins the Shield and Playoff Probability Oddities
/Ian returns from the Wrexham Whooping Cough and the LADS talk about worthy Supporter’s Shield winners FC Cincinnati before diving into playoff probabilities and some of the difficulty in modelling MLS. Also, trivia.
ASA Show - Nikos Overheul, Former Vancouver Whitecaps Director of Recruitment
/Ian is out with Messi Fever and the boys called in backup. Former Vancouver Whitecaps Director of Recruitment Nikos Overheul opens our eyes into recruitment in MLS, the value of strategic thinking, how to build a team/organization. And also, trivia.
ASA Show - Apple TV and Playoff Thoughts
/A lil bit of MLS potpourri as it were, and trivia.
ASA Show - Harrison is LIT Right Now and Who Really Wants to Talk About Orlando?
/We tried our best, okay?
ASA Show - xG Lets Ian Down, Atlanta, Portland
/The boys try a cold open, Harrison enjoys Happy Hour, there really is nothing fun to say about Portland.
ASA Show - This Little Messi Went to Market
/Many technical difficulties made this very late. We hope you enjoy it anyway. We discuss Colorado, Montreal, Miami and of course there is trivia from the Kingmaker
THE ASA SHOW: MESSI, BENJAMIN BALL, NASHVILLE
/Some kind of big signing happened, and so the boys have to talk about that for a while, but hopefully in an interesting way and not the dumb breathless OMG MESSI kind of way. Also, Houston and Nashville. And Trivia.
THE ASA SHOW: AUSTIN & ST LOUIS
/It’s time for our deep dive on Austin and St Louis. Also, trivia.
THE ASA SHOW: SALARY DROP
/The lads take an entire episode to judge soccer players worth based on their salaries.
THE ASA NWSL SHOW - Small Sample Size Suppositions
/Arielle, Arianna, and Kieran sit down to discuss some early takeaways from the NWSL season.