Shirtless Plantain Show

David Raya don’t care! Join Gabby & Mitch in an all new SPS Arsenal Edition lineup for the review of an alternately assured & panicked performance from the Gunners.

Gabby gets the callup from the Arsenal pod to the Weekend Review to discuss Mauricio Pochettino’s potential hiring as the USMNT manager, then she joins Tosin & Coach in the customary SPS tour of the first week of league action from the top European leagues/the German Super Cup.

Arsenal opened their season with what was eventually a routine home win over Wolves. Join Coach, Gabby & Deen for thoughts on a rusty performance, three points & a Wolves defender that’s definitely ‘Not Like Us’.

Manchester United defeated Fulham in the Premier League’s curtain raiser, thanks to a late winner from Joshua Zirkzee, great defending from Harry Maguire, & what might be a changed culture. Join Tosin & Tomi for chatter on a fantastic start to the season for the Reds.

Join Tosin & Tomi for the SPS Manchester United Season Preview! The fellas dissect Erik ten Hag’s squad & tactics, along with answering listener questions & offering thoughts on the women’s team, this season’s kits & everything else at Old Trafford. Tap in!

New season, same ol’ crew. Join Tosin, Coach & Deen for the customary trip around the top 5 leagues in Europe (La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue Un & the Premier League), powered by YOUR questions. Tap in!

…and we’re back. Join the full SPS Arsenal Edition lineup for a freewheeling preview of the season ahead. Banter, debates, hot takes, tactics, allegations & more. It’s a fun pod and the first of what’s sure to be an interesting season for Gooners. Tap in!

Emily and Mitch revel in the USWNT's gold medal-winning performance against Brazil and a successful first tournament for Emma Hayes. Tap in!

Mitch and Emily are back to discuss the USWNT’s Olympic heroics with wins over Japan & Germany, and a gold medal game against Brazil waiting (sadly, we’d have preferred Italy… for “reasons”). No matter what happens, one thing will remain true: Naomi Girma is the best in the world. Tap in!

Mitch and Emily are in the Olympic spirit and both national teams have made it through the group stage in Paris. And of course, Canada’s drone spying program gets some burn too. Tap in!

Back in June, we went to Atlanta to learn about the soccer scene in the city. Tosin had the opportunity to speak to El Johnson (Forty One Mag), Gillian Williams, Bem Joiner, Nene Kisseih, and Kerri-Ann Worthen. The wide ranging conversation touched on Atlanta United, US Soccer's decision to move to Georgia, the talent that has always been involved in the sport, and ruminations on the relationship between Blackness and soccer in America. Join us for this special edition of the Shirtless Plantain Show. Tap in!

“Racismo! Delays! Danger! Duolingo! Shakira! Goat Ankles! Retirements!” That was a brief, yet inexhaustive list of topics Tosin and Deen discussed instead of the football that happened between the best national football team in the world and (sadly) Colombia. Tap in! Join us on Wednesday (7/24/24) at Legends Sports Bar in NYC (6 W. 33rd St, New York, NY 10001) for an SPS Live Show!

Emily readjusts her Olympic expectations, Mitch rants about throwback kits, and Matheus says “I told you so” in this week’s SPS Soccer Edition. Tap in! Join us on Wednesday (7/24/24) at Legends Sports Bar in NYC (6 W. 33rd St, New York, NY 10001) for an SPS Live Show!

So your new European Champions are Spain. Yay! But SPS doesn’t really care about that all that since England has the “stars”. That might make us just as bad as Southgate & the English media. That said, join Tosin, Coach & Deen for the SPS review the final, alongside more philosophical thoughts on what we learned from Euro 2024. Tap in!

The Copa America final is set: Argentina vs Colombia! One team’s semifinal was straightforward, while the other team had to brave the most intense (and arguably the best) football match anyone has watched anywhere this year. Join Tosin & Deen for thoughts on Argentina’s win over Red Bull Scarborough and Colombia’s tense clash with Uruguay. Tap in!

Coach and Tosin talk about England rescuing a comeback win. Ollie Watkins came off the bench to send England to ANOTHER Euro final. Gareth Southgate got his flowers, as did Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw. Netherlands, in particular Ronald Koeman disappointed. Tap in!

Mitch and Emily are joined by The Athletic's Jeff Rueter for a chat about Copa America, the USWNT, and USMNT's Olympic roster. The group also checks in on the NWSL and MLS as the leagues reach the halfway point of their respective seasons. It’s a fantastic episode, folks. Tap in!

The heavyweight clash between the best defense & best offense in the competition happened & Spain came out on top, thanks to a comeback starter by the youngest goal scorer in Euros history. Join the crew for ruminations on France, Spain, and the future. Tap in!

Copa America’s quarterfinals wrapped up over the weekend with Canada, Argentina & Uruguay surviving penalties to advance, while Colombia took advantage of their mismatch to stroll into the semis. Join Tosin, Deen & Gabi for insights & fiery takes from the most brutal of all the summer tournaments. Tap in!

Bukayo Saka. Quite good at this football lark, maybe even the best of the bunch, and maybe saving England’s bacon against the Swiss will finally make it obvious to the masses. Meanwhile, Cody Gakpo inspired the Dutch to a comeback win over Turkey in a barnstormer. Arda Guler might be finished in Euro 2024, but he’s just getting started. Join Tosin & Deen for more quarterfinal action from the Euros. Tap in!

The first semifinal of Euro 2024 is set. Spain vs France. Join Coach and Tosin as they walk you through Spain and Germany’s “final before the final” in which we said goodbye to a legend. There was also Portugal vs France, a match that featured two hamstrung managers: one by Homelando and the other by stubbornness. Tap in!

Turkey & Austria played out an instant classic, while the Dutch went some way to reasserting themselves as a Football ‘Eritage™️ team against Romania to complete the final 8 at the Euros. Join Tosin, Coach & Deen for thoughts on yet another fantastic day of tournament footy. Tap in!

The USMNT crashed out of Copa America 2024. Join Tosin, Mitch, Matheus, Tomi and Gabi for a therapy session on the state of soccer in America. It is a wicked world, if you're a fan of this team. Tap in!

Homelando cried. SPS cried. We crode together. Oh and France & Belgium did what they always do; the only new bit was William Saliba introducing himself to an even larger audience. Join Tosin & Deen for thoughts (and tears) as we got two more quarterfinalists at the Euros. Tap in!

That boy ain’t right, but Gareth Southgate worships at his altar anyway. In more explainable events, Spain systemically dismantled Georgia’s Cinderella story to advance to the quarters. Join the crew for the latest from the round of 16. Tap in!

It’s a vaguely Arsenal-centric episode of the Euros Edition with Ser Granit Xhaka catching yet another body as he led Switzerland past Italy & Kai Havertz proved that Julian Nagelsmann was right to keep the faith. Join the full squad for thoughts on a fine pair of fixtures from the round of 16. Tap in!

Round 2 of the group fixtures at Copa America is complete & the favorites are all rounding into form… if you don’t consider the USMNT one of the favorites. Join Tosin & Deen (with a welcome cameo from the SPS Soccer Edition’s Mitch & Matheus) for insights from all the matches. Tap in!

Groups E & F wrapped up with Georgia’s historic victory over Portugal as the highlight of the final group stage match day. Join Tosin, Deen, and appearing off the bench for the first time this summer, Tomi, for a review of the games and a look ahead at the round of 16 pairings. Tap in!

Groups C & D of the Euros wrapped up today with France simmering, Poland spoiling, Austria shocking, and an insipid one between Denmark & Serbia. However, Coach & Tosin offer you the Full English™️, via a deep dive on the 3 Lions & their legacy of constant disappointment, despite their wealth of talent. Tap in! P.S.: The Dutch need more Vans.

You didn’t think we’d ignore Copa America, did you? Each of the favorites have shown us what to expect, so it’s only right that SPS finally reviewed all the action from the first round of fixtures. Join Tosin, Deen & Mitch for thoughts on the games, the teams & the organization of the tournament itself. It’s the SPS Copa America Edition. Tap in!

Mitch, Matheus, and Emily talk the big NWSL news: Casey Stoney’s shock firing. Gotham’s loss to Washington and Orlando’s demolition of Utah also make the docket. The battle at the top of the Western Conference and the Colorado Rapids’ ‘nine point’ week headlines the MLS chatter. Tap in!

Join Tosin & Deen for the finest of gababool as Italy stole a spot in the last sixteen at the death & Spain wrapped up maximum points despite heavily rotating against Albania. Day 10. Group B. The Euros. Tap in!

Hungary & Scotland brought back memories of ‘Golden Goals’, while Granit Xhaka added another name to his long list of ‘great midfielders I’ve dominated’ as Switzerland made everyone wonder just how good ze Germans actually are. Join Tosin, Coach & Deen for meaty thoughts on the conclusion to Group A of the Euros. Tap in!

SPS Euros Edition - Ridiculous - Episode 455 Own Goal is leading the scoring charts & raising the silly stakes, thanks to Türkiye’s mess in their loss to a smooth Portugal. Meanwhile, Belgium and Czechia put in dominant performances that were either not rewarded with enough goals, or in one case, enough points. Join Deen & Tosin for a review of the final 3 game matchday of the Euros. Tap in! Join Deen & Tosin for thoughts on

We have our first 0-0 draw in Euro 2024, France still only have an own goal to their name and the Dutch are polite. Austria are buying exactly what Ralf Rangnick is selling and Ukraine got a much needed wake-up call against Slovakia, despite Stanislav Lobotka showing out. Coach and Tosin walk through another day of Euro 2024 action. Tap in!

“What is Gareth Southgate? Who is Gareth Southgate? Where is Gareth Southgate? How is Gareth Southgate?” Coach & Deen won’t answer any of those rhetorical questions during their roundup of day 7 of the Euros, but they’ll offer plenty of insight on Spain’s demolition of Italy & the latest Balkan contest at the tournament. Yes, there’s plenty on England v Denmark too. Tap in!

Xherdan Shaqiri gets older but him marking tournaments with a banger doesn’t, Albania made Croatia look their age, & the hosts are the first team to qualify for the next round of the tournament. Join Coach & Deen for day 6 chatter. Tap in!

The SPS Soccer Edition crew breaks down USMNT’s optimism-generating draw with Brazil, the parallels between refs and cops, and all the top games in MLS and NWSL this week, including some cheeky Croix Bethune for MVP chatter. Tap in!

The Portuguese made hard work of Czechia, thanks to a few too many fullbacks & one old dude, while Turkey and Georgia played out the best game of the tournament so far. Join Coach and Deen for ramblings on day 5 of the Euros. Tap in!

Day 3 of the Euros is in the books. Romania put on a show, Belgium’s golden generation is making necks turn green, and the French sort of maybe perhaps kinda performed well? Join Tosin & Coach for thoughts on day 4 and find out what sort of mask they recommend for Kylian. Tap in!

Day 2 of the Euros did not disappoint! Memphis wore a headband but Wout saved the day. Christian Eriksen brought joy and England… went full Southgate. Join Tosin and Coach for thoughts on the second day of Euro 2024. Tap in!

Euro 2024 is here! Join us for a rundown of the opening games of the tournament. Germany, Spain and Italy look very serious, and a generational shift is in progress - led a SIXTEEN (16) year old child! Tap in!

Summertime means tournament time and Euro 2024 is here. So is the SPS Crew. Join us for a freewheeling preview of the tournament; groups, favorites, dark horses and predictions. We also plan to cover every matchday of the tournament. Tap in!

This one’s a touch dated after the USMNT put up a creditable performance against Brazil, but the SPS Soccer Edition crew broke down the implosion against Colombia, discussed Gregg Berhalter’s job security, Copa America expectations, and all the fun and silly events in NWSL last weekend. Tap

The Euros & Copa America are around the corner, but Tosin is still at the club & he brought the esteemed Carl Anka along to the discuss the bad trip that was Manchester United’s 23/24 season. We answered your questions & predicted the future. Chin up, Utd fans… it does get better. Tap in!

Emma Hayes finally made her proper debut as the USWNT manager, and naturally, the Soccer Edition crew have lots of thoughts. Join Mitch, Emily & Matheus for said thoughts, as well as a review of the most thrilling MLS action from the weekend. Tap in!

Another season, another Champions League trophy for Real Madrid. Join Tosin, Coach & Deen for a rambling wrap up of the most unsurprising end to what was an objectively entertaining edition of the alleged greatest competition in club football. Tap in!

Friend of the pod & all round gent, Elliot Ross, joins the SPS crew to preview this year’s Champions League final. There’s lots of love for Marco Reus & Carlo Ancelotti, along with superlatives from elsewhere in what was a relatively entertaining edition of the tournament. Tap in!

Mitch, Matheus & Emily talk about all the great goals and memorable blunders around US soccer this week, with an emphasis on the Orlando Pride & NWSL’s newest sensation: Barbra Banda. Tap in!