The hottest Soccer Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Sports Topics

Weekly Recap: MJ's NASCAR Dominance, F1's Global Schedule, Inter Miami's Naming Rights Deal

Huddle Up • 178 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Michael Jordan is making a big impact in NASCAR with dominant performances that show his competitiveness translates to motorsports.
  2. Formula 1’s global schedule is expanding, with a busier calendar and new markets increasing the sport’s international reach.
  3. Inter Miami reached a stadium naming rights deal that boosts the club’s commercial revenue and highlights growing business interest in MLS.

Weekly Recap: UFC Spends $60 Million At The White House, MLS' Hot Start, Paramount's Sports Portfolio Grows

Huddle Up • 185 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. A new weekly Sunday recap is being added and will be sent to everyone as a short, informal update.
  2. Paid subscribers will still receive three weekly deep dives, and the new recap is meant to complement those with quicker highlights.
  3. Key topics highlighted include the UFC spending $60 million at the White House, MLS’s hot start, and Paramount’s growing sports portfolio.

Uh, Guys: Brentford Might've Just Solved Soccer

No Grass in the Clouds • 139 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Brentford has been scoring quickly, netting goals in the first 90 seconds of their games. This gives them a strong advantage over the other teams.
  2. Teams that score first tend to win more often, making early scoring really important in soccer.
  3. Brentford's strategy could be a smart playbook for other teams to follow to boost their chances of winning games.

Liverpool Without Jurgen Klopp: Still Pretty Good!

No Grass in the Clouds • 119 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Liverpool is performing well even without their former coach Jurgen Klopp. They have adapted their game style to focus on quality shots rather than long-range attempts.
  2. The team has been effective in creating high-quality chances during matches, especially when leading. This shows a strategic approach to controlling the game.
  3. Defensively, they have given up fewer chances this season, indicating improved defensive strategies. However, they tend to concede more when holding a big lead, which may suggest a tactical choice.

Is ESPN Actually Ditching MLB For The WNBA And NWSL?

Huddle Up • 143 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. ESPN is replacing its long-running Sunday Night Baseball broadcasts during the spring and summer with WNBA and NWSL games in that time slot.
  2. The network is launching “Women’s Sports Sundays,” which will pair primetime WNBA and NWSL matchups with several hours of dedicated studio programming.
  3. The move has sparked significant controversy and confusion, and there’s a lot of disinformation circulating about what the change actually entails.
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Rodri Vs. Pep Guardiola: Who Ya' Got?

No Grass in the Clouds • 99 implied HN points • 04 Oct 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Rodri is a key player for Manchester City, showing impressive skills in tackles, passes, and goals. He's unique in the modern game.
  2. There are rankings for the best American and Premier League soccer players, showcasing talent from different leagues.
  3. There's buzz around players like Erling Haaland potentially reaching high goal tallies in a season, while other players are gaining attention for their performances.

Premier League Money: The Economics of Winning, Relegation and Promotion

Original Football • 459 implied HN points • 14 May 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Winning the Premier League not only brings glory but also substantial financial rewards through broadcasting revenue and merit payments.
  2. Relegation from the Premier League can have severe financial consequences for clubs, leading to reduced revenue and parachute payments to soften the impact.
  3. Clubs in the Championship strive for promotion to the Premier League due to the financial windfall it brings, especially through the lucrative Championship Playoff Final.

How on earth do you replace Jürgen Klopp?

Grace on Football • 648 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Liverpool's journey to find structural stability after Klopp's era began with a turbulent start due to a mistaken committee approach.
  2. The success of Liverpool's recent transfers is attributed to a clear structure under Klopp's direction with Edwards as a key figure.
  3. As Liverpool faces the departure of key personnel like Edwards and Schmadtke, the focus is now on finding a new sporting director to seamlessly fit into the existing system.

Can Arsenal really compete at the top?

Grace on Football • 805 implied HN points • 07 Oct 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Arsenal has shown significant improvement under manager Mikel Arteta, achieving better results and attracting better players.
  2. The team's young core and strong defensive foundation provide hope for future success, even if immediate goals are not met.
  3. Key players like Gabriel Jesus and Declan Rice play crucial roles in the team's tactics and overall performance.

How bad is it at Man Utd?

Grace on Football • 766 implied HN points • 23 Sep 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Manchester United's managerial structure needs clarity and definition for success
  2. Erik ten Hag emphasizes coaching and player training in the Dutch football manager tradition
  3. United's performance needs improvement for a chance at a successful season

Tottenham Hotspur Finances 2021/22

The Swiss Ramble • 530 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Tottenham Hotspur finished 4th in the Premier League in 2021/22 and secured qualification to the Champions League.
  2. They reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup but were eliminated in the group stage of the Europa Conference League.
  3. To read more about Tottenham Hotspur's finances, you may need to subscribe to The Swiss Ramble for a 7-day free trial.

As star players depart, what's next for Charlotte FC?

The Charlotte Ledger • 117 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Charlotte FC faces roster changes as star players depart for European teams, creating opportunities for new players to join.
  2. The departure of key players like Swiderski impacts the team's dynamic and strategy, leaving space for new talents to step up.
  3. Despite the changes, Charlotte FC aims to adapt and strengthen its roster by targeting specific positions like a left-footed center back and right winger.

The check-in: The Aces are riding high

Power Plays • 176 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. The Las Vegas Aces won the WNBA Championship, showing strength in depth
  2. The NWSL semifinals are set with OL Reign and Gotham FC proceeding
  3. International break in women's soccer saw actions in Jamaica and Spain, with updates and celebrations

The Premier League, Ranked, Vol. 3

No Grass in the Clouds • 179 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Spurs in the Premier League are outperforming their expected goals both offensively and defensively.
  2. The aggressive playing style of Tottenham might not lead to sustainable over-performance in defense.
  3. The analysis featured by Ryan O'Hanlon highlights the potential future performance of the team.

The Greatest World Cup Ever

Pen>Sword • 259 implied HN points • 28 Dec 22
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. The World Cup in Qatar showcased cultural fusion, breaking stereotypes and promoting inclusivity.
  2. The event emphasized the importance of true cultural exchange and challenged biases from Western perspectives.
  3. The tournament highlighted subaltern solidarity, resilience against Western supremacy, and represented a significant moment in history.

It’s Getting Hard to Take the FIFA Peace Prize Seriously

I Might Be Wrong • 10 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Awarding the FIFA Peace Prize to a leader who later orders military action and issues threats makes the prize look hollow and undermines its claim to honor real peacemakers.
  2. FIFA’s reputation for fairness and probity is at risk, raising doubts that the prize process could involve cynical deal‑making or corruption.
  3. If high-profile awards come to be seen as vanity or puffery, people may stop trusting prizes and the institutions that hand them out, eroding their cultural value.

What Happens When Moneyball Works Too Well?

No Grass in the Clouds • 139 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. The Billy Beane-led ownership group at Toulouse had to relinquish control of the club because they won too many games last season.
  2. Toulouse's alternative, analytical team-building approach led to unexpected success, including winning the French Cup.
  3. Success in sports, particularly when driven by data and analytics, can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences.

Ancelotti Leads Real Madrid to 36th La Liga Title and Surpasses Zidane's Record

Original Football • 19 implied HN points • 05 May 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Carlo Ancelotti led Real Madrid to their 36th La Liga title, surpassing Zinedine Zidane's record, showcasing his coaching prowess and team motivation skills.
  2. Real Madrid's comfortable win over Cádiz and Girona's victory over Barcelona secured Real's top spot in La Liga with 13 and 14 points lead respectively, demonstrating their dominant performance this season.
  3. Girona's victory not only shook up the title race but also earned them a place in next season's Champions League, with exciting moments from players like Portu adding unpredictability to the season.

Morocco Makes World Cup History, Again

Pen>Sword • 79 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Moroccan women's football team made World Cup history by advancing to knockout stages despite odds
  2. Nouhaila Benzina became the first footballer to wear a hijab in the World Cup, breaking a significant barrier
  3. Moroccan women's team defied expectations and beat Columbia, continuing to make history with their football prowess

Graham Potter's problem with blocked shots

Evidently • 78 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Graham Potter's teams consistently scored fewer goals than expected, facing issues with blocked shots.
  2. Blocked shots have been a persistent issue for Potter's teams, leading to underperformance in expected goals.
  3. Potter's attacking style may make it easier for opponents to block shots, affecting goal-scoring performance.

MLS Finally Released Viewership Data...But It Raises More Questions Than It Answers

Huddle Up • 29 implied HN points • 28 Jul 25
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. MLS has reported that it averages 120,000 viewers per game this season, which is a 50% increase from last year. This increase is partly due to new deals that make games more accessible.
  2. The viewership numbers have mostly been kept secret until now, which makes this disclosure significant. It raises questions about how Apple and MLS calculated these figures.
  3. While the growth sounds impressive, it can also be misleading and confusing. More information is needed to fully understand what this means for the league's future.

You Won. TAA Is a Midfielder Now.

No Grass in the Clouds • 119 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. Trent Alexander-Arnold is now playing as a midfielder for Liverpool.
  2. There is a discussion about Jude Bellingham and his future in soccer.
  3. Various topics in soccer are being covered in the post, including potential job matches between coaches and clubs.

MLS Needs More Than Lionel Messi

Huddle Up • 217 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. MLS needs more than just Lionel Messi to thrive.
  2. Inter Miami's preseason schedule covers 23,000 miles over three weeks.
  3. A peek into the future of major US sports leagues is being discussed in the newsletter.

No soccer match? Time to run!

Side Maker • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jul 23
🎾 Sports Soccer
  1. If your soccer game is canceled, consider going for a run instead.
  2. Make use of unexpected free time to try new activities.
  3. Combining running with fasting can be a fulfilling experience.