Really fun stuff in here. It also highlights why the US's group is way tougher than it seems: no great teams but no bad teams, either.

I wrote about the team that won the Premier League: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Arsenal deserved *at least* one title from this run. Once we saw Hincapie's butt, you knew it was over.

Based on some betting odds, the implied probabilities for the Champions League final are: -PSG: 57% -Arsenal: 43% There's a favorite, but not a big one. That's the closest the odds have been since Madrid–Liverpool in 2018.

It's a shame to see a cagey, low-energy, low-event game in the Champions League semifinals. Have to wonder if the lack of competitiveness in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga is preventing PSG and Bayern from peaking at the right time.

6-4 is the most dangerous lead in sports.

"You in England are playing the style we continentals used so many years ago. With much physical strength, but no method, no technique." A quote from last week? Or something someone said 70 years ago? I wrote about making meaning from Champions League randomness: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Look I know no 40-year-old man should be learning to do video shorts but that's how much I want people to know about @futi.live We're going to do some videos on the data models behind the app, so follow us if you want to learn about modern soccer analytics and/or make fun of me in the comments

One of the stupid things about always attacking is you can score four goals and still be losing. One of the cool things about always attacking is you can concede five goals and only be losing by one.

Amateur move by Alphonso Davies to not have his hands either bound by a zip-tie or handcuffed behind his back before the game.

I wrote about what the soccer world might look like if Mohamed Salah never joined Liverpool: -Tottenham win the Champions League? -MLS never signs the Apple deal? -Manchester City get relegated? www.espn.com/soccer/story...

@support.bsky.team hi! my account got hacked. can you help me figure out next steps?

For as boring as most of this season has been, that was a really fun game. Probably the best Arsenal have played in a big game vs City, too.

How Alvaro Arbeloa OUTCLASSED* Vincent Kopmany (*had kylian mbappe run in a straight line while all of bayern munich's defenders forgot that the goal is located in the middle of the field)

I don't think anyone has really grappled with the fact that a guy who wears Skechers really might win the Ballon d'Or.

I wrote about how Spurs used new some numbers terribly and ended up with a super-expensive team of players who can't pass: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Not sure there's anyone else who's been there for the entire modern history of soccer analytics

In college, we came up with a thing where our coach was supposed to yell out different cities and colors to call set pieces. The trick: any city represented play A, and any color represented play B. Then, the first time we tried to use it in a game, he just yelled the word "COLOR", and it was dead.

"Sweden are celebrating a spot in the World Cup. They didn't win a single game in qualifying."

If you're into reading the things I've written, I'm planning on sending out links trough my not-dead-yet newsletter: nograssintheclouds.substack.com

I wrote about this earlier in the week: Arsenal have just kind of stopped playing out of the back/being able to play out of the back. Maybe The Odegaard Effect, but it definitely showed up today. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

"About 85 percent of losing teams were 'winning' at some point, according to win expectancy."

What a great Mo Salah game looks like in 2026: -goes like 1/10 in take-ons -trips over the ball on two breakaways -misses four huge chances -scores once, assists once, leads all players in touches inside the box, xG, and expected assists

column on arne slot, meat sacrifice www.theguardian.com/football/202...

The two Liverpool-Wolves games — same teams, same locations, three days apart — were a nice little experiment to show just how volatile soccer is from a game to game basis, even when nothing fundamental changes at all.

ICYMI: The USL emailed every Championship player an FAQ doc that included guidance on “crossing a picket line” and “Union membership resignation.” An active player said teammates couldn’t find it until they checked spam. “I just think it’s a bunch of bullshit.” Full report at @us.theguardian.com.

If both teams have more fouls than shots, the game should be canceled at halftime. No one gets any points.

The Premier League has been terrible to watch this season, and the league is stuck in a tactical stalemate that can seemingly only be broken by corner kicks and throw-ins. I wrote about how one brave coach might be able to break free: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Liverpool scored a bunch of goals from set pieces recently, so you know what that means: Arsenal fans are back, posting “kill yourself” on Instagram pictures of my fiancée.

Every time you see a team from the Turkish Lig play, there's: -a guy with the widest mohawk you've ever seen -Ryan Babel -someone the announcer keeps calling Marvin but whose shirt says "Ataturk Bocuckglu" -Fatih Terim -at least one backup striker who had a sex scandal in Serie A

The new Moneyball is diving facefirst into the bottom of another guy's foot.

I have one (1) rule in life: respect, honor, and embrace the spirit of the Ronaldo haircut. I will give money to anyone who does the same.

Igor Tudor has been screaming and gesticulating on the sideline for 75 straight minutes, as Tottenham continue to be exactly as bad as they were under the previous manager.

Liverpool in the first 85 minutes without their best playmaker: 0.5 xG Liverpool in the final 10 minutes after they brought on the guy who can throw the ball far: 1.2 xG

I wrote about why the Premier League is harder than the Champions League: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

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Fifteen years ago, I got my dream job writing for MLSsoccer. Last week, that came to an end. I'm off on my own, and it's time to build something new – with a little help from all of you. tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-end-to-my...

A fun little fact that tells you everything you need to know: Per the passing grades from @gradientsports.bsky.social for the Premier League, there are zero Tottenham players in the top 50, and there is one Tottenham player in the top 100.

“This game is terrible”, I think to myself, for the 25th straight week, while watching the richest soccer teams in the world play soccer against each other.

From the "records no one other than me and maybe, like, 14 other people care about" department: Liverpool's win over Qarabag was the most lopsided Champions League match (by xG differential) since 2010.

Not just this, but Benfica didn’t know they needed another goal! They were wasting time! Mourinho subbed on an extra center back in injury time! And they still scored!

Is there a “mute the people who are eating during the Golazo Show” button?

I wrote about how nobody wants a manager anymore -- even if they don't really have a plan for what to do instead: www.espn.com/soccer/story...

My halftime team talk: KICK THE BALL AS HARD AS YOU CAN AND MAKE IT GO INTO THE CORNER OF THE GOAL.