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The Transfer Flow Podcast
Episode 25 - Chelsea's Ownership Crisis and Arsenal's Injured Midfield
Ted and Ravi start by discussing a controversial analytics take from someone that's a part of the community. Next, they talk about Chelsea's owner rift and the leaks that suggest a potential buyout may happen. They then get into discussion about Arsenal's injury situation with Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino set to miss time. And finally, they wrap up with the MLS transfer window and all of the things that you need to know about that, including biggest additions and misses of the window.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro
01:48 - Is analytics for player recruitment solved?
03:18 - every action in football has 3 parts
04:40 - You don't have data for everything
06:15 - Difficulty at scale
07:30 - Different level of information impacting decision makers
09:48 - Evaluating players from lower leagues
11:53 - Player factors impact on transfer success
13:55 - Chelsea's ownership rift
16:13 - Boehly joined and isntantly became Interim Sporting Director
16:58 - Where this confidence comes from
17:43 - 2 captains driving the boat
19:52 - Football clubs run like investment funds
21:46 - Blitzer and Harris make co-ownership work
22:31 - Arsenal's injury situation
23:59 - Small point loses feel insurmountable
25:04 - What would a long-term Odegaard injury mean?
26:06 - Champions League format changes help
26:29 - September International break
29:18 - MLS window rules and time period
30:21 - MLS is paying real money
32:22 - Their offset window creates mismatches
33:45 - Josh Sargent example
35:17 - How MLS can fix this issue
35:58 - Extra problems that come with overseas transfers
37:48 - The profile of MLS Winter signings
38:28 - NWSL eliminating the draft
39:45 - MLS academies draining talent out of the draft
41:12 - Balancing International roster spots
42:13 - Big free agent signings - Giroud and Reus
42:50 - Discovery Lists
44:16 - Griezmann rumours
47:15 - MLS connection with South/Latin America
48:15 - Spurs weird deal for Johnny Cardoso
49:20 - More additions to the MLS this year
51:10 - Players the U.S. and Canada excel at creating
52:26 - Deals that fell through because of the deadline mismatches
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Episode 42 - Man City Are Old and Slow, The INSANE Serie A Title Race, and Arsenal vs. Chelsea Breakdown
43:47|On this episode, Ted and Patrick discuss Man City losing their fourth game in a row — is it all down to injuries, or do they have bigger issues in the squad? Next, they break down Arsenal vs. Chelsea, who played to a 1-1 draw over the weekend. They dive into Arsenal’s struggles in attack, Maresca’s impact at Chelsea, and Martin Ødegaard’s return from injury. Finally, they analyze the chaos of the Serie A title race, where just two points separate the top six teams. Who are the title favorites, and who should you be rooting for? Enjoy!Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:04 - Man City lose AGAIN02:04 - A different Man City vs. years past02:21 - Man City injuries + squad age03:01 - Brighton’s adjustments won them the game04:45 - City’s old midfield05:56 - Brighton’s next 9-figure player?07:19 - City have young players, but not centrally07:46 - Can City fix this in January? Or will it cost them the title09:22 - Liverpool’s youth players are playing well10:28 - City can’t let their stars play the whole time11:10 - Creating chances despite losing11:38 - Nobody has full control this season + Villa vs. Liverpool12:57 - Teams will drop lots of points this season15:33 - Man City/Liverpool title odds18:32 - English teams in the Champions League19:24 - Arsenal vs. Chelsea19:39 - Odegaard minutes + called up for Norway again20:23 - Game breakdown22:36 - How do Arsenal start attacking again23:51 - Maresca’s influence + Chelsea in a tight table position26:07 - Caicedo + a shaky defense27:21 - Chelsea are bad at set piece execution28:46 - The crazy Serie A title race29:37 - The most entertaining league in the world (except for Juve)?30:03 - Conte and Napoli + Other good coaches in Serie A31:21 - 8 teams with a positive xG difference32:03 - Fiorentina are coming from nowhere + Napoli/Juve bad attacking numbers33:22- Atalanta are the best attacking team + Sarri/Lazio34:56 - Napoli are not taking enough shots in big games35:31 - We liked Juve’s transfer window37:30 - Which teams should you root for? + Zlatan overseeing things at AC Milan38:45 - Lampard or Mancini to manage Roma?39:51 - Newcastle dominate Forest#manchestercity #seriea #premierleague #arsenal #chelsea #liverpool #manchesterunited #newcastle #napoli #juventus #intermilan #acmilan #football #soccerEpisode 41 - Why are Real Madrid and Man City STRUGGLING + Who Replaces Edu Gaspar at Arsenal?
01:04:48|On this episode, Patrick and Ravi start by discussing Edu Gaspar leaving Arsenal. What should Arsenal look for in their next sporting director, what names are on the list, and how does Arteta factor into the equation? Next they move to Manchester City’s 4-1 loss to Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP, Victor Gyokeres’ performance, and City’s dependence on Erling Haaland to score goals. Lastly, they cover Real Madrid losing another game at home, this time a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan. Do Madrid have a politics problem with their lineups, should Endrick and Arda Guler get more minutes, and will Carlo Ancelotti be the manager next season? Enjoy!Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:01:11 - Edu Gaspar Leaves Arsenal00:01:47 - How big a change is a move like this behind the scenes?00:04:37 - Jason Ayto to become Interim Sporting Director00:06:28 - Difficulty finding a Sporting Director at a top team + Edu’s transfer record00:10:46 - How do Arsenal go about finding a replacement?00:12:57 - You need someone who is comfortable with disagreements00:15:59 - Who are the candidates on the shortlist?00:17:12 - Julian Ward + Txiki Begiristain00:18:49 - Monchi00:19:58 - Paul Mitchell00:20:21 - Arsene Wenger??00:21:29 - Roberto Olabe00:24:03 - Personality might be the biggest part of this hire (to stand up to/mesh with Arteta)00:25:31 - Phil Giles00:26:14 - How long will Arteta stay at Arsenal?00:29:11 - Ruben Amorim and Sporting defeat Man City00:30:33 - Viktor Gyökeres performance + will he be in the Premier League soon?00:32:22 - Sporting did not play their usual style00:33:45 - City had problems trying to breakdown Sporting’s defense00:35:24 - Injuries hurting City + KDB returning00:38:19 - Overreliance on Haaland + lack of attacking creativity00:42:37 - How can Brighton take advantage of City’s bad form?00:45:59 - Weird Medical remedies over the years00:47:49 - Real Madrid lose at home to Milan00:48:56 - Did the Ballon d’or debacle hurt Madrid?00:53:57 - Lucas Vasquez vs Rafael Leao + lack of balance in attack00:54:44 - No Endrick or Guler used as subs00:56:14 - Madrid have a problem with “sacred cows”00:57:28 - Will Ancelotti be Madrid’s manager next season? + Camavinga must start01:00:57 - Endrick and Guler lacking minutes01:02:23 - Will Madrid look to buy Joshua Kimmich?01:03:35 - Ravi = Neo?Episode 40 - Are Liverpool New Title Favorites, Manchester United Got LUCKY vs. Chelsea, and Tottenham vs. Aston Villa Reactions
45:29|In this episode, Patrick and Ted break down the games from this past weekend. They start at the top of the table, with Arsenal and Manchester City faltering, leaving Liverpool 2 points in the lead. They discuss whether Liverpool can maintain their lead with a tough upcoming schedule, if City can rebound despite their injuries, and whether Arsenal are already out of the title race. Next, they talk about Manchester United's lucky 1-1 draw with Chelsea and how they managed to escape two possible red cards. Finally, they finish with Tottenham's 4-1 victory over Aston Villa and the difficulty of separating the top 13 teams in the Premier League. Enjoy!Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00 - Intro00:55 - Arsenal,City, and Liverpool over the weekend01:23 - How Brighton setup against Liverpool02:34 - How stressful the Premier League is03:15 - Liverpool weathered the storm then attacked04:37 - How long Liverpool’s squad has been in rotation05:43 - Tough schedule ahead for Liverpool06:21 - Are liverpool favorites or should it still be city?07:41 - City have a ton of injuries and an old squad10:16 - Arsenal’ lack of attacking threat vs. Newcastle11:47 - A bad game for Arsenal and Arteta13:00 - Are managers too conservative with substitutions14:07 - Edu Gaspar leaving Arsenal16:39 - What is the best approach to substitutions?20:25 - Is Arteta taking more power at Arsenal?22:31 - Are Arsenal out of the title race?24:26 - Phil Foden’s added threat for City26:16 - Manchester United vs. Chelsea26:40 - United were lucky to not get red cards (Ugarte/Martinez)30:00 - Defensive breakdowns leading to chances + Why is Robert Sanchez in goal31:24 - The game from a United Perspective32:54 - The game from a Chelsea Perspective + Cole Palmer34:05 - Concern for Chelsea’s defense?36:10 - Tottenham vs. Aston Villa37:21 - How managers give their players breaks during the season38:30 - Villa were unable to contain the match39:16 - Spurs are GOOD?39:24 - Hard to separate teams the top 7 and top 13 teams in the table42:26 - What makes every week exciting in the Premier League44:00 - Serie A is also BANANAS#premierleague #liverpool #manchesterunited #manchestercity #manutd #arsenal #tottenham #chelsea #astonvilla #arteta #colepalmer #philfodenVariance Betting Episode 7 | Why You MUST Wait for Lineups to Bet This Week - EPL Matchday 10 Picks
13:47|Ted Knutson shares his insights for EVERY EPL Matchday 10 game and discusses why you MUST wait for the lineups before betting certain games.Join Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeSubscribe to our FREE newsletter:https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:05 - Liverpool vs. Brighton01:48 - Why you must check the lineup before betting this match02:22 - Ipswich vs. Leicester City02:41 - Forest vs. West Ham03:48 - Bournemouth vs. Man City04:44 - Newcastle vs. Arsenal06:13 - Southampton vs. Everton06:36 - Wolves vs. Crystal Palace07:03 - Tottenham vs. Aston Villa09:29 - Manchester United vs. Chelsea11:31 - Fulham vs. BrentfordEpisode 39 - How To Get a Job in Sports Analytics
01:09:05|On this episode, Ted and Ravi answer frequently asked questions about getting started in sports analytics using their extensive knowledge and experience in the industry. They get into how to look for a job, the skills you need, and what to expect once you land a job. If you have more questions you want answered, leave them in the comments down below!Details for Ravi's conference in Houston:https://americansoccerinsights.com/Data Contest/Call for Proposals:https://americansoccerinsights.com/call-for-proposalsSubscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:01 - How do I get started?00:04:46 - What skills do I need?00:21:25 - Where to look for football jobs?00:23:17 - Apart from football clubs, where are some other places I can find data jobs in football?00:26:25 - I want to go into football, but I don't have the data skills - where can I learn them fast?00:35:24 - How can I set myself apart from the crowd?00:46:00 - The pay seems very low - what can I do about it?00:51:10 - What's it look to work for these teams?01:04:52 - What are your biggest takeaways from working in sports?#dataanalytics #analytics #data #football #soccer #sports #sportsanalytics #premierleague #mls #statsEpisode 38 - Manchester United SACK Erik ten Hag, Potential Replacements, and Barcelona THRASH Real Madrid
01:03:05|On this episode, Ted and Patrick discuss Manchester United firing manager Erik ten Hag. They run down why he had to be fired, Ruud van Nistelrooy as interim manager, and potential names for the job. Then, Ravi joins Patrick to discuss Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid over the weekend. They talk about Barcelona's high line causing problems for Madrid, Madrid lacking a holding striker, and if Barcelona can maintain this form for the rest of the season. Enjoy!Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00:00 - Intro00:00:47 - United sack Erik ten Hag00:01:31 - Ruud van Nistelrooy interim manager00:01:45 - Manchester United’s recent form00:04:14 - Trends for United00:04:39 - Could they be better with a better coach?00:05:39 - What a good and bad manager change process looks like00:07:24 - The U Curve of coaches00:10:18 - Could ten Hag’s hurt United?00:10:56 - Dan Ashworth’s limited early influence00:11:53 - Who should United hire?00:12:39 - Pochettino and Tuchel already have jobs00:13:28 - Could van Nistelrooy stay on?00:14:29 - Gareth Southgate00:15:27 - Ruben Amorim00:15:54 - How do budgets play into the new hire decision?00:17:51 - Xavi as next United manager?00:20:05 - Luis Enrique00:21:12 - Graham Potter00:23:09 - Eddie Howe00:24:24 - Mourinho was the most pragmatic of recent United coaches00:25:05 - Michael Carrick00:28:44 - Adi Hutter00:30:57 - Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola?00:31:47 - Thomas Frank00:34:08 - The ability of a manager to get player buy-in00:35:41 - Roger Schmidt and his pressing style00:37:44 - Julian Nagelsmann00:39:44 - Should United settle for the least costly option?00:40:53 - The stress of managing/working for a team00:41:38 - Ravi joins to talk El Clasico00:42:46 - The game was closer than the score and Barca’s impressive workload00:44:33 - Madrid’s gameplan was to be direct00:45:19 - Was Fermin Lopez the correct choice?00:46:06 - The technical ability on display00:46:46 - Substitutions settled the game for Barca00:47:55 - Casado’s line-breaking pass for Goal #100:48:52 - The high line was very impressive00:50:11 - Lucas Vazquez struggled00:53:14 - Who should be blamed for Madrid?00:54:46 - Madrid struggle with a pivot and where was Endrick?00:56:52 - Bellingham’s lack of forward threat00:58:52 - Can Barcelona sustain this performance?01:02:06 - Mbappe moving to the right side?#manchesterunited #realmadrid #barcelona #manutd #eriktenhag #elclassico #football #soccer #podcastVariance Betting Episode 6 | Backing Liverpool.. and FULHAM? EPL Matchday 9 Picks
19:40|On this episode, Ted shares his picks for EPL matchday 9. He starts by explaining why he flat bets and when to use accumulators. He gives insights on the matches he's betting on, including Arsenal vs. Liverpool, and explains why he's staying away from certain matchups (both City and United). Enjoy!More information on fractional Kelly betting: https://www.pinnacle.com/betting-resources/en/betting-strategy/revisiting-the-kelly-criterion-part-2-fractional-kelly/gbd27z9nljvgflggJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeSubscribe to our FREE newsletter:https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:18 - Why do you bet flat amounts?03:44 - Why don't you bet accumulators?06:23 - Leicester City vs. Forest07:16 - Aston Villa vs. Bournemouth08:03 - Brentford vs. Ipswich09:02 - Manchester City vs. Southampton09:51 - Brighton vs. Wolves11:33 - Everton vs. Fulham13:10 - Chelsea vs. Newcastle14:15 - Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham15:33 - West Ham vs. Manchester United17:02 - Arsenal vs. Liverpool#premierleague #epl #betting #liverpool #arsenal #chelsea #tottenham #soccer #football #manchesterunitedEpisode 37 - El Clasico Preview, Real Madrid vs. Dortmund, and Xabi Alonso to City?
49:29|On this episode, Patrick and Ravi discuss Real Madrid's 5-2 win over Dortmund and the injuries to Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo. Next, they preview the Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich Champions League match today and how the game might be insightful for El Clasico on Saturday. They then dive into the best lineups for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, how much injured (Dani Olmo and Gavi) and older (Luka Modric) might play, and give their predictions for the final score. They end the conversation with Xabi Alonso's rumoured exit from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, potential landing spots, and if he will actually leave. Enjoy!Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcastTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:02 - Real Madrid vs. Dortmund04:32 - Real Madrid’s defense was shocking05:32 - Different Midfield lineups Madrid has used06:50 - Ravi’s pre-game prediction07:48 - Bellingham last season vs. this season09:43 - Modric, Valverde, and Madrid’s Galactico mindset11:02 - How do they fix their midfield issues?11:41 - How much will Modric play?14:08 - Will Rodrygo be the odd man out?15:12 - Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich Preview16:20 - A good test for Bayern17:39 - Barcelona players returning from injury18:50 - How much can Gavi give them?21:02 - What front 3 will Barcelona play?22:35 - Giving minutes to returning players against Bayern23:33 - What lineup will Madrid use against Barcelona?24:10 - Courtois injury for Madrid25:19 - An offensive vs. defensive lineup26:37 - Stylistic matchups28:21 - Should Barcelona play more conservatively?30:11 - Both teams are weak at fullback31:13 - Lewandowski should play as a pivot31:57 - Ideal lineup for Barcelona33:21 - Ravi’s predictions for El Clasico35:38 - Patrick’s prediction for El Clasico36:45 - Flick’s first Clasico37:12 - A La Liga game vs. a Champions League game39:19 - Leverkusen rumoured to be looking for a Xavi Alonso replacement40:14 - The timing with Txiki’s departure and Pep’s contract expiring40:52 - Real Madrid also make sense41:34 - Hugo Viana and Ruben Amorim42:21 - The obvious spot for Xabi Alonso44:25 - What happens if Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t want to leave?47:18 - Alonso’s contract ends in 2026Episode 36 - Red Cards and VAR got Arsenal AGAIN, Liverpool Survive Chelsea, and Southampton Need a New Manager
45:13|On this episode, Ted and Patrick discuss the eventful Liverpool vs. Chelsea match and Liverpool's defense looking vulnerable. They also discuss the impact VAR had over the weekend, and get into Saliba's red card in Arsenal's 2-0 loss to Bournemouth. Next comes Southampton's loss to Leicester and Russell Martin's comments after the game. They finish with Fulham vs. Aston Villa, Brighton vs. Newcastle and the resurgence of Raul Jimenez, Manchester United looking competent, and the trend of teams playing safer.Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribeJoin Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgradeFollow us on our Socials:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1QX: https://x.com/TheTransferFlowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcast00:00 - Intro01:06 - Liverpool vs. Chelsea03:23 - Trent Alexander-Arnold is a double-edged sword04:22 - How cautious can you be in the modern Premier League?05:07 - Concern for Andrew Robertson?07:44 - Did Chelsea deserve an early penalty?08:00 - VAR and red cards this weekend08:44 - Caicedo as a playmaker09:58 - This was Liverpool’s first real test10:41 - Arsenal vs. Bournemouth11:47 - Saliba’s red card13:03 - Marginal calls in football14:55 - How coaches game plan in the Premier League16:24 - Manchester City look fragile17:35 - Taking a red card vs. allowing a chance19:16 - Southampton vs. Leicester City20:36 - Russell Martin’s comments after the game22:02 - How coaches start to talk when they want to be fired25:29 - Mourinho’s ability to deflect from a bad performance26:17 - Southampton’s poor performance under Martin28:38 - 8 point gap to Leicester now28:59 - Facundo Buonanotte and Brighton’s future30:35 - Fulham vs. Aston Villa33:03 - Neutral’s will love Fulham games33:15 - Raul Jimenez is in insane form35:10 - The resurgence of Old and Tall strikers36:32 - Newcastle vs. Brighton38:52 - Manchester looked competent40:53 - Garnacho’s tendency to take wide-angle shots42:45 - Is the trend of teams playing safer a problem?