Infinite Football
96 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 140 ratingsThe true beauty of the beautiful game is that no one really knows that much about it. Ryan O'Hanlon attempts to demystify the world's most popular sport through conversations with various experts and novices alike.
nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 46: The Premier League Confidence Rankings
October 08, 2020 18:56 - 1 hourIt’s the return of Fufi. On the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom go through all 20 Premier League teams and decide who they trust and who they don’t. Protect Gunnersaurus at all costs. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 45: We Just Don't Want Anything Bad to Happen to Anyone
September 30, 2020 20:25 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan and Tom discuss the wild start to the European soccer season: More chaos to come or will things eventually settle down? Then they talk about Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s rapid rise from mid-tier prospect to genuine star before ending with a look at Sergino Dest’s move to Barcelona and Ruben Dias’s deal with Manchester City. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nog...
Episode 44: Is the USMNT Just Gonna Win Every World Cup From Now Until Forever?
September 24, 2020 00:45 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan and Tom talk about how their minds have changed through the first two weeks of the Premier League season, then they discuss Dele Alli’s career trajectory. (Note: This episode was recorded before Jose Mourinho said that Tottenham were likely going to keep Dele.) They end by running through the rest of the headlines, most notably Weston McKennie’s and Gio Reyna’s nascent Ballon d’Or campaigns. This is a public episode. If you would like to disc...
Episode 43: Oh You Bet It's Time to Overreact to 1/38th of the Premier League Season
September 16, 2020 21:45 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom discuss Week 1 of the Premier League season: Will Arsenal go undefeated again? When will Liverpool get relegated? And why is Tariq Lamptey already better than Dani Alves? Then they talk about Kai Havertz’s disappointing Chelsea debut before previewing the Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A seasons. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssin...
Episode 42: Yes, Your Favorite Team Could Actually Sign Messi This Time
August 27, 2020 01:48 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom discuss the fallout from Lionel Messi telling Barcelona that he wants to leave the club. Will it be anyone other than Manchester City? Would he get along with Antonio Conte at Inter Milan? And oh god, could he really end up at PSG? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 41: Your Champions League Final Preview
August 21, 2020 02:37 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom discuss Sunday’s upcoming Champions League final. Can PSG stop Bayern Munich? Can Bayern Munich stop … anyone? And, well, who’s gonna win? They also dig into the Europa League final, the steady decay at Barcelona, and Pep Guardiola’s latest European disaster. Apologies for the sometimes-wonky sound quality throughout the episode. We’re working on it! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subsc...
Episode 40: Who Isn't Gonna Win the Champions League?
August 12, 2020 01:25 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom rank the eight Champions League quarterfinalists in reverse order. Will Messi be able to carry Barcelona for three more games? PSG or Atalanta? And can anyone other than Bayern Munich or Manchester City actually win this thing? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 39: What If Chelsea Just Signed Every Attacking Player on Planet Earth?
July 29, 2020 16:15 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, it’s a mailbag! Ryan, Franco, and Tom answer listener questions about the best players on the recently relegated trio of teams, how to rebuild Arsenal, and whether or not Chelsea can just keep spending money forever and ever, amen. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 38: Where Will Barcelona and Real Madrid Be in Four Years?
July 22, 2020 17:23 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom attempt to predict the future for Spain’s two powerhouse clubs: Will they re-establish their European dominance? Will someone else in Spain win a league title? Then they discuss Nathan Ake’s potential transfer to Manchester City and conclude with their theoretical Ballon d’Or picks. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.sub...
Episode 37: Why Chelsea Need to Sign Jan Koller (to Be Their Keeper)
July 15, 2020 17:09 - 1 hourIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan, Franco, and Tom discuss the suddenly intense top-four race in the Premier League: What individual player will have the biggest impact on who finishes third and fourth? Then they talk about Michail Antonio’s era-defining dominance, Todd Cantwell’s braids, and the fallout from Manchester City’s win over UEFA. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssinthecl...
Episode 36: Is Domestic European Soccer Broken?
July 08, 2020 19:53 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Franco Bacigalupo and Tom Van Grinsven to discuss the dire state of the title races across Europe’s Big Five leagues. Can anything be done? They also discuss Nemanja Matic’s contract extension with Manchester United and a few other bits of Premier League news. Quick note: The audio levels are slightly off on this one. Thanks for bearing with! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscrib...
Episode 35: Who Is Liverpool's Real MVP?
July 01, 2020 22:20 - 1 hourIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined again by Tom Van Grinsven and Franco Bacigalupo to discuss Liverpool’s first league title in 30 years. Who deserves the most credit? Jurgen Klopp? John Henry? Sergio … Ramos? They also chat about the resurgence of Danny Ings and a flurry of activity in the transfer market. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 34: Oh, Arsenal
June 24, 2020 20:24 - 58 minutesOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by two of his college teammates, Franco Bacigalupo and Tom Van Grinsven, to discuss the return of the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga. They chat about Arsenal’s rough start and even rougher squad management, Jack Grealish’s future prospects, the possibility of soccer coming home in 2026, and plenty more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...
Episode 33: The Premier League Re-Draft
June 17, 2020 16:15 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Statsbomb’s James Yorke for everyone’s favorite podcast gimmick: a draft! They alternate picks to select the two best-possible starting elevens from the Premier League’s entire player pool. Will anyone who doesn’t play for Liverpool or Manchester City get picked? Will Harry Kane make the cut? Listen to find out, and then tell us whose team you like better. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ...
Episode 32: The Future of the Transfer Market
May 22, 2020 20:27 - 46 minutesOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Omar Chaudhuri, chief intelligence officer at the consultancy 21st Club. They discuss the remarkably consistent spending patterns in the European transfer market, the inefficiencies of player trading, and the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic. As mentioned on the show, here is Omar’s latest piece on the subject. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...
Episode 31: Your Bundesliga Re-Preview
May 14, 2020 15:33 - 45 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by ESPN’s Bill Connelly to discuss the return of the Bundesliga. Are Bayern Munich the best team in the world? Can either Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzig catch them? And what the hell is this all gonna look like? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 30: Peak Mourinho
May 07, 2020 21:41 - 1 hourIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by his college roommate and teammate Franco Bacigalupo to discuss Inter Milan’s 3-1 victory over Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League semifinals. Why did Barcelona swap Samuel Eto’o and $65 million for Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Why doesn’t Diego Milito get the respect he deserves? And was Jose Mourinho’s side that greatest win-now success in modern soccer history? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...
Episode 29: South Korea Beats* Italy
April 23, 2020 21:11 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Complex GM Donnie Kwak to discuss the South Korea–Italy match from the Round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup. Was the controversy surrounding the match overblown? Is this the greatest moment in South Korea’s soccer history? And did he eat the cleat? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 28: The Best Match Brazil and France Ever Played
April 17, 2020 19:07 - 51 minutesRyan O’Hanlon is joined by StatsBomb’s James Yorke to discuss the 1986 World Cup quarterfinal between Brazil and France. This game had it all: back-and-forth action, blown calls, legendary players, multiple missed penalties by legendary players, mass hysteria, constant evocations of a higher power, and Jimmy Hill. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 27: This Is Not a Podcast About Soccer
April 16, 2020 15:58 - 1 hourIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln to answer your non-soccer questions. Kevin will try to convince you to listen not to classical music, but to a podcast about classical music. Ryan will give you a bunch of TV-show recommendations that are movies, not TV shows. Enjoy! And please send feedback! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 26: No, No USA
April 09, 2020 16:32 - 1 hourOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Andrew Helms to discuss the USMNT’s 2-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup. Should this performance be remembered fondly? Why was the Jurgen Klinsmann Era such a disaster? And will US Soccer ever learn the right lessons? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 25: Go, Go USA
April 02, 2020 16:17 - 47 minutesOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Noah Davis to discuss the USMNT’s 1-0 win over Algeria at the 2010 World Cup. Was this the peak of the men’s program? Has the team ever had a better coach than Bob Bradley? And Landon Donovan was pretty good, huh? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 24: Remember When Arjen Robben Had Hair and Played on the Left?
March 27, 2020 18:46 - 1 hourIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by his former college teammate Tom Van Grinsven to discuss the game between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic from the groups stages of Euro 2004. (Watch here.) Is Jan Koller better than Olivier Giroud? What was Dick Advocaat doing? And Edgar Davids was pretty good, huh? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 23: Zinedine Zidane Vs. Brazil, Time, and the World
March 18, 2020 16:19 - 48 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Shaker Samman to discuss the France–Brazil quarterfinal match from the 2006 World Cup. While this video certainly suggests as much, are we sure this was a Zinedine Zidane masterclass? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 22: The Global Pandemic and the Global Game
March 12, 2020 15:22 - 41 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon and Kevin Lincoln discuss the effects that coronavirus is having on the soccer world and beyond. Please stay safe out there, everyone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
After the Break, I'll Tell You What Alphonso Davies Has in Common with Universal Basic Income
February 27, 2020 18:41 - 43 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by … himself (and producer Jack Dawson). It’s a solo, listener-mailbag episode of Champions League-only questions. Our apologies for the brief technical difficulties around the 35-minute mark. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 20: Can We Fix European Soccer in 45 Minutes?
February 20, 2020 17:19 - 47 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln. They discuss Manchester City’s expulsion from the Champions League, the effectiveness of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, the skewed power dynamics atop the sport, and what to do now that the so-called genie is out of the so-called bottle. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Did We Just Pick PSG to Win the Champions League?
February 13, 2020 20:57 - 47 minutesOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is re-united with his long-lost pal, Micah Peters of The Ringer. They cover all things Manchester United — it’s basically a therapy session — before, somehow, talking themselves into Paris Saint-Germain’s chances of lifting a European trophy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Why Manchester United Should Hire Bill Belichick
February 06, 2020 16:47 - 55 minutesIn the latest episode fo Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln for a mailbag episode. What would it take to get Americans to care about the USMNT? Parity: is it good or is it bad? Liverpool: are they … too good? Would the head coach of the New England Patriots be an effective director of football? All that, and lots more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack...
Episode 17: Can Occam's Razor Cut Through the Transfer Market?
January 30, 2020 15:53 - 37 minutesOn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by AJ Swoboda, managing director for the Americas at the consultancy 21st Club. They discuss AJ’s work at 21st Club and then get into all of the simpler ways teams can be better about identifying and acquiring players. They end by discussing a recent ESPN piece they collaborated on: What were the five “best” and “worst'“ transfers in the Premier League? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other ...
Episode 16: Does the Premier League Realize the Transfer Window Is Open?
January 23, 2020 15:46 - 36 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Statsbomb’s head of analysis, James Yorke. They discuss the surprisingly quiet January transfer window: How much would Kylian Mbappe cost? Why are Real Madrid signing every Brazilian teenager? And why aren’t more English clubs trying to improve their squads? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 15: How 'The Two Popes' Explains the World
January 16, 2020 17:59 - 50 minutesIn the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln to discuss the soccer themes from the new film The Two Popes. From there, they go on to talk about the concept of a national team in a globalized world, Sergino Dest’s decision to leave Ajax’s training camp in Qatar, and the conflict between club and country. Shoutout Terry Eagleton and Noam Chomsky. This episode was produced by Jack Dawson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...
How to, Uh, Achieve Transcendence Through Fantasy Soccer
December 19, 2019 20:33 - 49 minutesRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln to discuss … well, a lot of things. First, they talk about why the world’s greatest chess player, Magnus Carlsen, is also one of the world’s greatest fantasy soccer players. Then, they delve into how fantasy sports explain current-day fandom. They conclude by deciding that, despite their initial skepticism, fantasy soccer is actually a pretty good representation of real life. Happy holidays! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...
How to Fix Everton
December 12, 2019 17:09 - 57 minutesRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss the fallout from Everton firing manager Marco Silva. First, they try to figure out what realistic expectations for the club should be, and then they look into how one of the richest clubs in the world got itself to the edge of a relegation fight. They end by offering up a plan for Everton’s future. Just a heads up: there are some minor audio issues throughout the episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...
Episode 12: Did the USMNT Make Any Progress in 2019?
December 02, 2019 18:11 - 50 minutesWe’re back! In the latest episode of Infinite Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Noah Davis to try to find the positives in another disappointing year for the United States Men’s National Team. What is the team’s identity under Gregg Berhalter? Will Tyler Adams save us? And why can’t we all just have some fun? (One quick fact note: Cameron Carter-Vickers, currently of Stoke City, is still technically owned by Tottenham. Our most-profuse apologies to anyone who wants one. ) This episode was...
Episode 11: The Awfulness of Being Diego Maradona
October 09, 2019 15:28 - 50 minutesRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Kevin Lincoln to discuss Asif Kapadia’s new documentary, Diego Maradona. They talk about Maradona’s wild career, the film’s suffocating picture of fame, El Diego’s American analogs, and lots more. This episode was produced by James Parkinson, and the intro and outro music comes from Parquet Courts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Everyone in the Premier League Is Getting Relegated
October 07, 2019 15:00 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss the various crises across the Premier League, which prompts the following: Who’s gonna get sacked? They also chat about Liverpool becoming title favorites and Manchester City continuing their defensive troubles, and then they touch on the rest of the weekend’s action across Europe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 9: Does Anyone Want to Win La Liga?
October 01, 2019 14:23 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss the chaos in Spain, the banality of watching Manchester United and Arsenal, and the latest missed opportunity for Everton. They also chat about Chelsea’s ascendance, Juventus’s new video-game lineup, and—among other things—the efficacy of blood magic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 8: What Happens if Messi Gets Relegated?
September 23, 2019 15:14 - 57 minutesRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss this week’s Big Question: Who’s the third-best team in the Premier League? Then they dive into Manchester City’s renewed dominance before choosing their new relegation candidate. (See: title.) Thanks to James Parkinson for producing this week’s episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 7: Let's Mention "Norwich City" and "Champions League" in the Same Sentence
September 17, 2019 17:49 - 54 minutesOn the latest episode, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss the implications of Norwich City’s shocking win over Manchester City. They also chat about the Leipzig-Bayern clash and Ansu Fati’s rise to divinity, while debuting a couple new segments, including “Who’s Getting Relegated?” (Hint: It’s Arsenal.) Then they end with predictions for this year’s Champions League. -Ryan’s piece on Europe’s new Big Three: https://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/story/3943193/c...
Episode 6: Is Pep Guardiola More Valuable Than Mohamed Salah?
September 10, 2019 16:48 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos for a listener-mailbag show. Among the questions answered: How high would you take Pep Guardiola in a league-wide fantasy draft? Why don’t managers use their subs earlier? What historical soccer team would be best suited for a death match against a squad of extraterrestrials? What would it take for a new club to break into the Top Six? And more! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...
Episode 5: A Premier League Draft and a Transfer Roundup
September 03, 2019 15:50 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to draft their top eight teams in the Premier League. Then, they discuss Barcelona’s Messi-less struggles, Atletico Madrid’s layups-only offense, and the transfer window’s loan-deal obsession. Also, an announcement: For next week’s episode, we’re doing a mailbag. Please send in your questions! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 4: Arsenal Are Getting Relegated, Arsenal Are Finishing Top 4
August 26, 2019 16:19 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss now-retired Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s soccer bonafides (and his USMNT prospects?), before dissecting all of the upheaval from a wild Matchday 3 in the Premier League. They end with a conversation about Serie A: How badly does Italy need a title race? Some pieces referenced in the show: -Ryan on Manchester City for ESPN: https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/3926191/should-we-be-worried-about-man-cit...
Episode 3: This Podcast Will Not Discuss VAR or Paul Pogba's Penalty
August 21, 2019 17:28 - 1 hourIn this week’s episode of Infiinte Football, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos to discuss Matchday 2 of the Premier League season, along with the starts of La Liga, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. -Ryan’s piece on Kevin De Bruyne: https://nograssintheclouds.substack.com/p/i-watched-all-nine-of-the-chances This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nograssintheclouds.substack.com
Episode 2: Your Comprehensive Premier League Preview, One Week In
August 13, 2019 22:32 - 1 hourRyan O’Hanlon is joined by Brett Koremenos (@BKoremenos) to discuss the most important questions ahead of the 2019-20 Premier League season — and how the answers changed after Matchday 1. -Will there be another title race between Manchester City and Liverpool?-Who’s the best of Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United?-Will anyone else break into the top six?-Which promoted teams can avoid relegation? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscrib...
Episode 1: Are All National Teams Bad? And Do Tactics Matter?
July 30, 2019 17:42 - 50 minutesIn the inaugural episode of Infinite Football, a podcast from No Grass in the Clouds, Ryan O’Hanlon is joined by writer Noah Davis to discuss the lack of progress made by the US Men’s National Team, the proper expectations for the team, and the right way to think about tactics. After you listen, check out Noah’s profile of Bob Bradley for ESPN. Please send feedback! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nogr...