We're taking one of our bonus episodes out from behind the table to give you a little taste of what great content you can find on our Patreon ! For only $6/month, you get four episodes like these, each and every month. Plus, you get access to our Discord server, as well as our YouTube livestreams, which we're firing up again for the postseason. In this episode, we talked to Our Fútbol co-host Amelia Lopez about the Liga MX Femenil Apertura, and what fans should expect from team like Tigres and A...
Oct 24, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 109
Racing Louisville grabbed all three points against the Portland Thorns thanks to a late corner header from Taylor Flint. Their playoff hopes are still alive, but is it too little too late? The guys cap off the episode with this playoff six-pointer (41:20). Before that, they run through playoff scenarios for the top four (1:01), ruminate on the two dead rubber matches between Angel City and the Utah Royals (20:40), as well as the Seattle Reign and Houston Dash (27:48). Some quick lamentations for...
Oct 22, 2024•57 min•Ep. 107
The Chicago Red Stars own one of the worst xG differentials in league history. Only the Utah Royals have played worse in total this season. But Chicago just clinched a playoff berth, and look poised to finish the year in sixth place on a mere 1.3 points per game. No team since 2018 has finished sixth or higher with so few points. Can it really just be luck? Is their low-volume, high-efficiency attack and defense sustainable once they face better teams in the postseason? The guys dissect the Red ...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 104
We have got some things to cover, here! The guys get into the news of Angel City's fines and suspensions for salary cap violations, the firing of former Houston Dash head coach Fran Alonso, the absurdity of the Chicago Red Stars conceding at least three xG for the second time in three weeks, Bay FC's four-minute meltdown, and the Orlando Pride's historic Shield win. Then, it's on to the main events. Portland has been one of the worst teams in the NWSL since the end of the Olympics break. Racing ...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 103
A scrappy 1-0 victory on the road to the Seattle Reign may not look like much, but Bay FC are creeping closer and closer to a playoff berth, only a few months removed from looking like one of the worst teams in the NWSL. The guys dig into all of the ways the team has managed to improve since early June, from trusting new players to Albertin Montoya reimagining the team's tactical vision. It's wild. Still not a member of our Patreon ? Sign up today for only $6/month to get all of our exclusive bo...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 101
Oh, did you forget that the Current can gut your favorite team like a fish? After a few games of sputtering defensive performance, KC's new back line is locked in and Temwa Chawinga is, well, Temwa Chawinga. Their 3-0 battering of the Washington Spirit was a bit lucky, but was also a scary proposition for any team that will face Kansas City in the playoffs. The guys break it all down. Plus, xG shenanigans with the San Diego Wave! Officiating questions with Angel City and the Portland Thorns! The...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 100
We've got two games to cover this week! One was the matchup of the weekend on paper, but fizzled out to a 0-0 draw between the Pride and Current. The other ended up with significant playoff implications, as the Red Stars snatched a 1-0 road win against the Thorns and shored up their postseason odds, while Portland continued their freefall. What can they do to right the ship? Is Chicago's season-long overperformance about to pay off? Subscribe to our Patreon for only $6/month and get all of our e...
Sep 18, 2024•54 min•Ep. 99
Alex Morgan has retired. As yet another titan of the sport walks into the sunset, the guys reflect on what Morgan's career truly meant beyond the goals and trophies. Then, after rounding up NWSL results across the weekend, they dive into Bay's 1-0 defeat of Racing Louisville. Have Abby Dahlkemper and Penelope Hocking helped Bay find the answers? Is Albertin Montoya finally getting the team to play like he envisioned? How much does this result and performance portend for Louisville's playoff hope...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 98
The Orlando Pride continued their unbeaten streak on Sunday, taking down Gotham FC 2-0 after a monsoon nearly flooded Inter&Co Stadium. Gotham was unable to gain any separation from its peers in the top 4. But does it portend anything serious? Eric and Evan talk to Gotham reporter Jenna Tonelli about Gotham's performance, the magic of Ella Stevens, and how dangerous Gotham will be come playoff time. Sign up for our Patreon for only $6/month! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Da...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 97
Jonatan Giráldez has officially entered the NWSL chat. The Washington Spirit took down the Kansas City Current 4-1, and for a brief second, one had to wonder if the wheels were coming off of the most dominant squad in the league. This game had everything. Six defenders to handle Debinha and Chawinga! Otherworldly finishing from Trinity Rodman! A new center back pairing falling out of a clown car! Adrianna Franch living up to her new reputation! It's all here, and the guys break it all down. Welc...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 96
The NWSL Players Association has just signed a new collective bargaining agreement, which may be one of the most historically significant labor deals in American sports history. The elimination of the draft, universal guaranteed contracts and free agency, player consent for trades, and massive increases in minimum salaries without corresponding max salaries all give serious power to the players. What did that they have to give up to ownership, and what might that mean come 2028 when a new media ...
Aug 22, 2024•39 min•Ep. 94
The NWSL is back, baby!!! After six agonizing weeks away, the stretch run kicks off on Friday. A massive amount of transfer activity has gone down in that time. Eric and Evan highlight some of their faves and not-so-faves. Could Delphine Cascarino help push the San Diego Wave into playoff contention? How does Carson Pickett fit into the Orlando Pride lineup? Are the Chicago Red Stars playoff locks thanks to Ludmila and Julia Grosso? Can Jess Carter adapt to the league's pace? Will Alana Cook kee...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 93
369 days after the USWNT crashed out of the World Cup Round of 16, they put those demons to bed, winning the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The team managed to weather the worst half of football they had played all tournament to wear down Brazil until Mallory Swanson took Korbin Albert's through ball and ripped the Brazilian defense to pieces. Some heroics from Alyssa Naeher and the usual shutdown defense from Naomi Girma helped the US grab their first gold medal in 12 years. Now, the r...
Aug 12, 2024•45 min•Ep. 92
The players were dead on their feet. Lindsey Horan could barely ping a pass toward the German goal. But Naomi Girma led the defense to another sterling performance, Sophia Smith threaded a wonder goal past Ann-Katrin Berger, and the USWNT will face Brazil for the gold medal on Saturday. Was there anything besides heat and fatigue that slowed the US attack down? Can they avoid Spain's fate against Brazil in the semifinal? Is Girma the undisputed best center back in the world? Eric and Evan ponder...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 91
It was brutal, but perhaps it was necessary. The USWNT scraped past Japan in the Olympics quarterfinals thanks to an extra-time wonder strike from Trinity Rodman, setting up a semifinal rematch with Germany. Were the players just too tired? Is Emma Hayes's focus on chemistry over fresh legs about to blow up in her face? Was the Japanese defense just too good for the US? Thankfully, the US's defense was even better. Eric and Evan get into all of it and preview the semifinal via Germany's penalty-...
Aug 04, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 90
The USWNT beat Australia 2-1 in the final round of the Olympics group stage, topping the group and heading to the quarterfinals to play Japan on Saturday. Despite all the hand-wringing about the US heading into the tournament, they finished group play with the best goal differential the best non-penalty xG differential, the most shots taken in the box, and the most touches in the box. (There's also the small matter of Spain as the only other team to win all three of their group games.) How did t...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 89
Bang! The USWNT rained goals on Germany in a 4-1 victory, their biggest result against a FIFA top-10 side in six years. A Sophia Smith brace, a Mallory Swanson tap-in, and a Lynn Williams dagger made Germany look far worse than their world ranking would indicate. But was it all bread and circuses for Emma Hayes's side? Eric and Evan examine the tactical imbalance that allowed the Germans to find seams on the counter--and the ways the US exploited their opponent's resulting gaps in the other dire...
Jul 29, 2024•45 min•Ep. 88
There were a couple of emphatic 3-0 wins in Group B as the Olympics tournament kicked off on Thursday. The USWNT contained Barbra Banda and put Zambia to the sword with some dazzling goals from Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. What did the US do right? What can they carry over to their match against Germany on Sunday, a team that looked stout and strong against a naïve Australia? Eric and Evan leave no stone unturned. Subscribe to our Patreon if you haven't already, and sign up for our tourna...
Jul 26, 2024•32 min•Ep. 87
Here we go again! One year to the week that xOG launched, we find ourselves on the precipice of yet another major international tournament. The USWNT are in the Olympics Group of Death; how will they manage opposition as varied as Zambia, Germany, and Australia? Eric and Evan plunge into the US lineup, head coach Emma Hayes's tactical plans, and what tests each of their group B opponents offer. You can now subscribe to our Patreon for all of our exclusive content, including our bonus episodes! B...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 86
Yes, the USWNT couldn't score against Costa Rica in their final pre-Olympics friendly. No, none of their boundless chances were especially high-quality. But so what? The heat, the field, and the desire to keep everyone healthy explain the result a lot more than alleged poor play can. Eric and Evan tease out why this result doesn't augur doom for the U.S. in France this summer. This is our final public bonus episode before we move them to Patreon on July 25th! E-mail xpectedowngoals@gmail.com to ...
Jul 18, 2024•34 min•Ep. 85
The USWNT offered a lot in their 1-0 victory over Mexico on a hot and muggy day in New Jersey. Was their lack of finishing something to be concerned over? Can Rose Lavelle be counted on in the absence of an injured Catarina Macario? Will Korbin Albert ever do what it takes to stop being booed? Plus, we have a big announcement about something we can't wait to debut when the Olympics starts! Stay tuned for more info! Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your...
Jul 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 84
It's our last NWSL-centric episode for a month, friends! We decided to chat about some of our favorite players who slipped under the radar, and whose names we haven't discussed nearly enough. (13:56) Before that, Evan and Eric unpack all the latest transfer news, including Julia Grosso to the Chicago Red Stars, Mackenzie Arnold to the Portland Thorns, Rosemonde Kouassi to the Washington Spirit, and Mina Tanaka to the Utah Royals. (00:26) Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Song...
Jul 11, 2024•56 min•Ep. 83
The two best teams in the NWSL had to wait until the final matchweek before the Olympics break to square off, and dear lord was it worth the wait. Brain-busting goals from Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga, a game-changing second yellow card for Carrie Lawrence, and a feisty, physical encounter all made this fixture an instant classic. Eric and Evan analyze what Seb Hines and Orlando did right, and maybe what Vlatko Andonovski and Kansas City did wrong. Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's B...
Jul 09, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 82
We didn't think a U.S. holiday weekend would toss so much news at us. First up, Eric and Evan chat about the announced Olympics rosters for Brazil, Spain, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Nigeria. (01:00) Then it's on to the developing news that USC Journalism School dean Willow Bay and husband, Disney CEO Bob Iger, will be buying a majority stake in Angel City FC. What does this mean for the team, and for the league as a whole? (10:26) Finally, Eric and Evan unpack the horrendous allegations from mu...
Jul 05, 2024•42 min•Ep. 81
Eric and Evan debate another notable NWSL head coach sacking, hand out some Midseason Awards and go deep on Chicago's 3-0 "rout" of San Diego... was it a rout? What even is a rout? Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 02, 2024•42 min•Ep. 80
Quiet week, how's everyone doing? LOL JK First up, on the heels of Casey Stoney's firing, Eric and Evan puzzle over the unexpected resignation of Bay FC GM Lucy Rushton. (00:33) Then, the moment has arrived! Emma Hayes announced her first USWNT major tournament roster, and it's a doozy. No Alex Morgan! Lots of Korbin Albert! Croix Bethune and Hal Hershfelt as alternates! What does this lineup tell us about Hayes's vision for the side? (11:10) And what do her and Trinity Rodman's comments about A...
Jun 27, 2024•46 min•Ep. 79
We're now (just over) halfway through the 2024 NWSL regular season, and trends are emerging! Eric and Evan uncover a host of interesting nuggets about how teams are playing this year compared to past seasons. Why on earth did the San Diego Wave "part ways" with Casey Stoney? (00:16) Where did parity go? Is it simply a byproduct of expansion? (08:37) Does the increase in goalscoring come down to Barbra Banda, Temwa Chawinga, et al.? (18:00) The league still loves transition tactics, but how have ...
Jun 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 78
It's time to pause and reflect on how much history the NWSL really possesses--something no professional club league in America has been able to accomplish. Using Evan's g+raft Score method, we tapped into ASA's g+ above replacement database to determine the best players in the league's history. We induct several players from the Dead Stats Era (2013 - 2015), before advanced stats were available, including a legendary and complicated goalkeeper (11:55), a pioneering defender on and off the field ...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 76
Gotham FC's 2-0 victory on the road against Racing Louisville was about as ugly as 2-0 victories get, but dig under the hood and you see that the preseason Shield favorites are finally coming into their own. The galacticos of Dunn, Lavelle, Davidson and Sonnett started their second game in a row together. Ella Stevens can't stop scoring. Ann-Katrin Berger might be the best keeper in the whole league right now. Is it all finally coming together for Juan Carlos Amorós's squad? Eric and Evan debate...
Jun 18, 2024•54 min•Ep. 77
The Seattle Reign got smoked by the Kansas City Current over the weekend. That such a result would be par for the course shows what kind of season Laura Harvey's crew have had. Sylvs of Shea Butter FC hopped on to talk about Reign history, the struggles of the team in the void of the team sale yet to close, and what glimmers of hope Jordyn Huitema's two goals could represent. Art by Eli Elbogen Music by Devin Drobka's Bell Dance Songs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Jun 11, 2024•58 min•Ep. 75
