Hands Off Those Balls Mike McGlinchey and Jared Berg

As the show hits its 50th episode, the guys reflect on the last several weeks with another installment of "Now What Did We F#*% Up?" to clean up some recent on-air errors.  Mike tips the hat to the various clubs that have closed their seasons by winning trophies while Jared gives a preview of the three teams getting promoted to the Premier League next season.  Finally, with another season in the books, it's time to recognize the PL's great (or not) performances with the 2nd Annual Hands Off Those Balls Awards (a.k.a. "The Handsies")!

On the final day of the 2020-2021 Premier League season, all of the drama was about qualifying for European play next year.  Now that the dust has settled, Mike gives a rundown of who punched their tickets to Europe and examines the new Europa Conference League.  Jared summarizes the Sunday matches and the guys discuss the performance of their fantasy team, which came up juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust short of winning its league.

The past week saw Manchester City clinch its fifth Premier League title in ten years and Leicester City win its first FA Cup title in the club's 137 year history.  Mike compares the total points accumulated by various teams at this point last season to see whose form has improved (West Ham) and whose has worsened  (Liverpool, obviously).  Jared takes us through some of the past week's games as we prepare for an exciting final stretch in which two matchweeks are compressed into five days.

The tension continues between Manchester United ownership and the club's fans as an open letter from owner Joel Glazer addressing the supporters's concerns appears to have satisfied no one.  As for some good news, the UK government has ordered that up to 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend outdoor sporting events beginning on May 17 -- meaning fans in the stands for the last two matchweeks of the PL season.  Mike and Jared discuss these developments and recap the past week's games as the relegation picture comes into focus.

Peaceful protests calling for an ownership change outside Old Trafford on Sunday got out of hand when a vocal minority got violent, throwing bottles, smashing a gate into the stadium and injuring two police officers.  Mike and Jared discuss whether the fans truly have the power to engineer a transfer of ownership and the events over the past few years that led to where Manchester United and its supporters find themselves.  Mike takes several opportunities during Jared's match recaps to complain about Premier League managers not doing enough to help the Hands Off Those Balls fantasy team.

That pain in your neck is whiplash from the Big Six's sudden reversal of plans regarding the ill-conceived (and now defunct) European Super League. Mike discusses the chain of events leading to the change of heart and associated apology tour the club owners have had to endure after swift and pronounced fan outcry. A quick note on the EFL Carabao Cup, Jared's game recaps and a shout out to the newly-inducted inaugural class of the Premier League Hall of Fame round out the show.