It's time for the way-too-early Conference League 2025-26 preview! Except it really isn't too early - the 1st qualifying rounds start THIS WEEK if you can believe it. But we're starting off with the 5 "big league" clubs who start their journey in the playoff qualifying round (aka the final step before the League Phase): Nottingham Forest, Rayo Vallecano, Mainz, Strasbourg, and of course, the Conference League house band - Fiorentina. We take a look at what each club has to offer on and off the p...
Jul 06, 2025•1 hr 5 min
With the 2024-25 season in the books and Spurs crowned Europa League champions, we're back to do a way-too-early preview of next season's competition! The upcoming campaign is much anticipated by us at Any Given Thursday thanks to a treasure trove of interesting contestants. There's a group of obvious contenders, including clubs with appearances in last year's Champions League - Aston Villa, Bologna, and Stuttgart (the latter two also lifted surprise trophies in the Coppa Italia and DFB Pokal, r...
Jun 29, 2025•1 hr 3 min
On the pod today, we take a look back at the joyous 2024-25 Conference League season, which ended in a Chelsea triumph, but featured many raucous, riveting, and memorable moments. It was a campaign for the UNDERDOG, and we revisit many of our favorites, including the incomparable NK Celje, the delicious Djurgårdens IF, and the fearless Jagiellonia Białystok, all of whom made deep tournament runs. We laud the newbies, too – FC Noah, The New Saints (TNS), and Larne FC – for their very competitive ...
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Today we take a look back at the brilliant 2024-25 Europa League campaign in full, in which Tottenham Hotspur hoisted their third UEL/UEFA Cup trophy. We begin by addressing the elephant in the room – the sacking of now-Spurs-legend Ange Postecoglou despite leading his side to the title. Is it a fair decision from Daniel Levy? What are the supporters feeling? And how do they move forward now without him? Then we turn to the matter at hand: a recap of all the best and worst moments from the UEL s...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr 23 min
Chelsea are your Conference League champions 2025! The heavy favorites from the very start of the campaign made good on that promise, beating Real Betis 4-1 in a wickedly impressive 2nd half display. We break down all the key elements of the game, including how Betis caused Chelsea problems in the 1st 45 minutes, how Chelsea responded after halftime, and how Maresca ended up winning the coaching duel over Pellegrini. We also talk Palmer and Isco's brilliance, Antony's quiet day, and why Betis fe...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 18 min
An epic Conference League final is upon us – easily the best we've had in the nascent tournament's 4-year existence – and we're bringing you everything you'd hope to know about both sides ahead of Wednesday's kickoff! Along the way, we address both streams strengths and weaknesses, what star players like Antony, Cole Palmer, and Moises Caicedo can bring to the match, who will round out the starting 11s, and who has more tactical advantages. We also debate the managerial matchup of Pellegrini and...
May 25, 2025•1 hr 22 min
Tottenham Hotspur has done it! The trophy drought is over for the Lillywhites as they hoist the 2024-25 Europa League trophy in Ange Postecoglou's 2nd season, as promised, and we're here to break it all down. First, David allows Maxwell the space to emote about the significance of his club finally getting one over the line, and to explain why his voice is shot to hell. Then we proceed with the game itself, discussing key lineup decisions from Postecoglou and Amorim, before moving on to the key m...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 44 min
One of the most bizarre and intriguing Europa League finals of all time kicks off on May 21, and we're here to preview this remarkable matchup between league rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. We begin with the question, "What makes a good Europa final?" What's an ideal matchup? Does United-Spurs meet the requirements? We also dive into what's made 24'-25' the season of underdogs and upsets across Europe. Then we move into the big game preview, discussing possible lineups, injury co...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 38 min
It's a 2-parter this week folks! That's right, we couldn't contain all our thoughts on the semifinals to just one episode, so we've separated the Europa and Conference Leagues. In this episode, we tackle tasty the Europa League matchups - Bodo and Spurs, Manchester United and Athletic Club - where the 15th and 16th-placed teams in the Premier League advanced to the final. We discuss Spurs getting the job done in Norway with another professional and composed display, including how they were able ...
May 11, 2025•37 min
It's a 2-parter this week folks! That's right, we couldn't contain all our thoughts on the semifinals to just one episode, so we've separated the Europa and Conference Leagues. On the Conference League episode, we take a deep dive into the Fiorentina-Betis thriller that sent Betis to their first ever European final after an extra time winner from Abde Ezzalzouli. We explore the tactical matchups, including Betis' strength in transition and Fiorentina's set-piece dominance, laud the game's star p...
May 11, 2025•1 hr 8 min
A brilliant round of 1st leg fixtures takes us just one step from the Europa and Conference League finals! The story of the day was the shocking 3-0 United decimation of Athletic club at the San Mamés. We discuss Ugarte and Bruno's big days and Athletic's uncharacteristic defensive lapses, plus we have a hard conversation about the use of VAR in the massive penalty/red card decision that may have decided the tie. Then we move on to Spurs, who confidently dismissed Bødo/Glimt, but still have much...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 35 min
This is Part 2 of our preview of the Europa and Conference League semifinals! Here, we get into the bread and butter, detailing everything you need to know about tactics, matchups, players, and storylines heading into the 1st legs. We touch on Athletic Club's exceptional consistency at both ends of the pitch, Oihan Sancet's rise to stardom, problem areas for Spurs and United against more stable opponents, the reasons behind Betis' midseason turnaround, whether Djurgårdens has any shot to hang wi...
Apr 28, 2025•53 min
We've got a two-parter today folks! That's right, we have so much Europa and Conference League semifinal content, we couldn't contain it in just one episode. In Part 1, we play a game of Start, Bench, Loan, or Sell with starters at each position of the semifinal contestant starting 11s. We debate the player's strengths and weaknesses, the roles within their squads, and their value in the transfer market. Then we take stock of what our choices say about each club. And don't forget to tune in to P...
Apr 28, 2025•56 min
We officially have our 8 semifinalists across our two tournaments, and we had some doozies. In the Europa, both Manchester United and Tottenham saved their seasons with victories - United dramatically so, scoring 3 late extra time goals to stun Lyon. Athletic Club moved one step closer to hosting the final in their own building, and the little club that could, Bodø/Glimt, survived a penalty shootout in Rome to advance further than any Norwegian side before them. The historic Scandinavian suprema...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 27 min
The quarterfinal 1st legs are complete! The Europa League exhilarated with a dramatic Lyon-United affair (on AND off the pitch), while Rangers dug deep for a clean sheet despite playing 80 minutes with ten men. Elsewhere, Bodo kicked the day off with a masterful beatdown of visiting Lazio, and Spurs showed some promise in a 1-1 final with Frankfurt. Goalkeepers were the stars of the show - including one for all the wrong reasons... In the Conference, the big boys all got wins, though Fiorentina ...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Our spring break is over, and the Quarterfinals upon us! That's right, we're down to 8 teams apiece in our favorite competitions, and we're doing a check-in on each club ahead of Thursday's 1st legs. Who's hot? Who's ice cold? Who do we feel good about (Betis)? Who do we feel bad about (Spurs)? We talk form, players to watch, tactics to watch for, and more - plus some predictions for good measure. Cheers Manuel Pellegrini!
Apr 07, 2025•58 min
Our Europa and Conference Quarterfinals are set after the Round of 16 came to a close with a bang. We had multiple extra times, some sensational performances from tournament big boys, and of course, one of the games of the year, Lugano v Celje. The Slovenian side became the first to represent their country in a UEFA quarterfinal after a madcap game in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Athletic Club, Frankfurt and Lyon all staked their claim as Europa favorites, United and Spurs continue to advance with th...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 42 min
An awesome slate of Round of 16 fixtures is halfway done, and we've got all the juicy gossip for you. Well, the juicy match recaps, anyway. Join us as we break down all of last week's games and storylines, including late winners for both Rome and Lazio, Rangers' shock in Istanbul, AZ's continued mastery, and Bodo's main character energy in Europa. And over in the Conference, Vitoria and Jagiellonia impress, Celje Cinderellas, and Fiorentina frustrates once again. All that and much more. Cheers B...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Our spinoff show Any Given Bracket is back, and with an all new formula. Join Maxwell in welcoming Jacob Hill back to the pod, not to talk college, but NBA! We're taking a page out of the Podfather himself Bill Simmons' book and redrafting the class of 2011. It's a strong group highlighted by a number of Hall of Famers, All-Stars, and NBA champions, but also not lacking in the downright bizarre. Jacob and Maxwell first discuss the draft order, Fran Fraschilla's expert analysis, and Jan Vesely's ...
Mar 09, 2025•1 hr 48 min
The Playoff Knockout Round closed with a bang. In the Europa, Bodo wins an instant classic in a win over Twente, a game which featured 3 goals in a span of 5 minutes of added time, Ajax survive a magnificent Saint Gilloise in extra time, a brilliant Dybala sees of Porto, and AZ stake their claim as a proper contender. In the Conference, Heidenheim experiences heartbreak at the hands of Copenhagen, Shamrock and Vikingur exit cruelly in the tightest of margins, Pafos settles the Cyprus derby, and ...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 43 min
The knockout stages are finally here, and we had a doozy of a 1st leg slate. In Europa, AZ pummeled Galatasaray, as part of a perfect day for the Dutch sides. Meanwhile in the Conference, Vikingur stunned Panathinaikos, while Shamrock took down Molde in Norway on the backs of a 16-year old debutant. We'll give you all the insight on those major upsets, as well as the big clubs which rebounded from subpar periods, plus discuss the plethora of game-altering golazos and red cards. Finally, we look ...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 36 min
The Knockout Phase Playoff round is upon us in the Europa and Conference Leagues. 32 clubs enter, but only half will advance to their respective Round of 16s, and we're here to break it all down for you. We discuss each matchup in both competitions, from the star-studded Porto-Roma to the no-less-sexy TSC-Jagiellonia, and everything in between, including an in-form Ajax, a Cyprus on Cyprus matchup, the struggling Spanish sides, and so much more. We've also got updates on January transfers, star ...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 33 min
We were treated to our first Europa League Phase conclusion, and it certainly did not disappoint. Almost every club had something to play for, with both the knockout qualification spots and many of the Top 8 byes still in play. We cover each match, its effect on the table, and take you through the drama of the final moments which decided who made the knockout rounds and who was left out in the cold. Then we take a look ahead to the bracket, take a dip in David's coefficient corner, and speculate...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Our first Europa League match-day of the year! The week kicked off in dramatic fashion around Istanbul - Kyiv stunning Galatasaray on Tuesday with a comeback draw for their first point of the campaign, then Besiktas taking it to Athletic Club on Wednesday in Ole Gunnar Solskjær's first game in charge. Thursday featured a slate of big clubs going head-to-head, where Sociedad, Roma, Fenerbahce failed to show up, pushing them dangerously close to missing out on qualification. Elsewhere, Tottenham a...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 30 min
Our winter break is over, and that means we're diving head first back into the Europa League. We cover the upcoming Matchday 7 fixtures and qualification scenarios, plus share updates on each of the 36 participants since we last encountered them in December. A surprise cheers to Oleksandr Shovkovskiy!
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 35 min
Well, well, well. The final day of Conference League League play was a dramatic one. Almost every team had something to play for, and almost every game had real stakes for the final table, and thus we were rewarded with thrilling football, dramatic late results, and lots of goals! Chelsea and Vitoria sealed their top 2 spots, Cercle Brugge snuck in with the last Round of 16 bye, while Celje, Molde, and Backa Topola all claimed thrilling come-from-behind wins to qualify for the knockouts. Elsewhe...
Dec 22, 2024•1 hr 31 min
It's official - Lazio, Athletic Club, and Chelsea are the class of the Europa and Conference Leagues. They may be through as Top 8 finishers in their respective competitions, but so much else is still to be decided! In the UEL, Roma and Porto get much-needed wins, Lyon looks dangerous, and Nice is finished in our last Europa matchday roundup until January. Elsewhere, the UECL comes to a head, with just one slate of games left to determine who advances to the knockouts. The Cypriots laid their cl...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Club Spotlight is back, and this time we're turning our attention to Slovenia's own NK Celje! Celje have surprised and delighted us through the Conference League campaign, standing out with their entertaining brand of football despite their relatively small standing within the continental game. We talk about the club's history, its recent ascendancy into one of the nation's most competitive clubs, and the tactics that have helped them show out in the Conference League League Phase. Cheers once a...
Dec 10, 2024•48 min
The table hierarchy is taking shape in the Conference League, and surprises abound! Shamrock continues its unprecedented unbeaten run, Celje and Vikingur notch another point apiece, and Jagiellonia sits third. Meanwhile, it's a mixed bag for the big boys, with Chelsea flying, Betis struggling, and Fiorentina being very much themselves. All the games, some table topics, and a look ahead to our second-to-last matchday! Cheers to Albert Riera and especially Danilo Cataldi!...
Dec 04, 2024•40 min
The table is finally starting to take shape after an awesome fixture list in match-week 5! Spurs and Roma played to a thrilling draw, Manchester United bounced back, Frankfurt keeps on dominating, big trouble for Nice, and so much more. Join us in match breakdowns, analysis, and a look ahead to upcoming fixures. Cheers Elias Charalambous!
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 1 min
