Soccer 101 The Athletic

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!

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 the future of the series with FIFA (the governing body) going their own way.

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 recently?

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 pitch? Graham has thoughts!

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.