Rooster and the Villain: An American Soccer Podcast

Bonus Episode! The NBA Sucks Now.

Noah Perkins and I have been internet friends for a long time. We don't want to brag or anything, but we're kind of big deals in Japan. We co-wrote a column called "Mike and Perk" for the (now defunct) #2 NBA magazine in all of Japan (HOOP Japan).

Noah has watched from a distance as I have abandoned the sport I once loved and ran away with my new mistress; soccer. He explains why he continues to love the game of basketball with the exception of the NBA. He also tells a great story about how a former Patriots linebacker (Tully Banta Cain) broke his back in a pick-up game of basketball. 

We then get into which NFL players would make excellent soccer players and decided that Calvin Johnson would have been an incredible goalkeeper.

Man City Nico Brings us Old Men the Truth

Oh to be 24. Our guy @nicodegallo (I love his handle) is just a delightful man to converse with. He tells us all about his experience with a press pass at the International Champions Cup games. He regales us with stories about how cool the Arsenal players are in person. Yuck.

Then we talk about his beloved Man City and their amazing depth. The odd losses early in the season. What it's like to play down an early goal. Then a dive into the USMNT dungeon. And of course; delightful champions league banter. Eventually we talk about his favorite local squad and his experience at their playoff game (Philadelphia Union). It was wonderful. 

Brad, the main Rooster, also tacked on ten minutes at the end here. I won't listen to it until I hear it on the air so not sure what he ranted about. He did end with Harry Kane rant, which I heard while recording the song, and he sounded angry. We'll see. 

The Devil's Inner Monologue

Have you ever wanted to jump inside the devil's mind for a full hour? Here's your chance. 

This man didn't stop talking for 56 straight minutes. It was organized, thorough, and fun. He wrote an outline and switched up the topics to keep it fun.

The episode covers USMNT, Manchester United, the Devil's favorite movies, the Devil's top 5 games ever attended (any sport), a thoughtful monologue on referees, VAR, and the way we treat them. Just so much more. It honestly might be my favorite rooster and the devil episode. I hope you like it.

10 Questions with Bryan Helder (Liverpool guy)

We tasked our #1 fan, Bryan Helder, to come up with 10 questions for us to answer about the Premier League. During this process, you find out which of the boys is left in the stone age in terms of the boxer/brief conversation. Then the episode dips and dives with delightful conversation that touches all parts of the soccersphere, even "Major League" Soccer.

Idaho, You Da Ho, Pochettino, Bayern Oh No!

This episode came immediately following the absolute slaughter of Tottenham Hotspur at the hands of the Bundesliga giant, Bayern Munich. Gnabry, an ex-Arse player, had 4 goals and claimed that "North London is Red". Tottenham has to remember all of this nonsense for when they march in to Munich and kick their asses in the rematch.

But anyway; that's over. We talk about Manchester United in general, their game against Arsenal, Europa League briefing (prior to the tie today), Brad tells us all about his trip to Idaho (#treenerd), his brother comes on, and the final week of Premier League before another USMNT break.

This Seesaw Ride is Out of Control

Wow. Losing to Colchester United in the Carabao Cup is pathetic. No doubt. But it's so early in the season and let's all just enjoy the ride.

We start off sad about Tottenham and Manchester United for the first 20 minutes but then loosen up enough to dive into Rooster and the Devil after dark with a little role play.

A lot of topics are covered. Champions League. South Coast Derby. Wayne Rooney. Troy Deeney. Leicester and West Ham. Arguments over our hatred of Liverpool (except Brad) and Man City. Even Brett Favre comes up. Don't ask us more.

A Proper South Coast Derby - Southampton-Portsmouth

Emi Buendia, from Argentina. He came to City from sunny Spain. He's 5 foot 7, he's football heaven. Please don't take my Emi away. Awwww! That's what Norwich City fans sing to that little South American football guru. What about that win over Man City, eh? 

We cover a lot of the EPL, UCL, but the meat of this podcast sandwich is talking about the Southampton and the South Coast Derby coming up in the Carabao Cup! We talk about the history, expectation, and choose whether we're Scummers or Skates for the upcoming match-up. 

I love soccer! It's fully back.

Racism is Bad mmmkay? USMNT, Lukaku, Eto'o, and More!

Racist chants in Italy? Double U, Tee, Eff. Let's stop it children.

We dive into Lukaku, Eto'o, our war against Taylor Twellman, an apology to Alexi Llalas, and look forward to the Premier League coming back this weekend!

A fun meandering episode that gets a tad off topic but I think that's part of the fun.

Shout out Art, Helder, and our other three listeners.

Neck Tattoos, Flannery's, and the International Break

Breathe. The season has just begun. We take some time to reflect on the Premier League season thus far and lament would could have been and dream about what could be.

We cover the North London Derby and Brad's experience at Flannery's (Spurs bar in NYC) in depth, have Mike's daughter Abby make her first appearance, and talk about our early season overreactions and predictions. Then some Champions League fodder. Then some USMNT chatter because we're back to it and excited about the future.

Not sure why but our numbers have been way down and that's a bummer. Not sure how much longer we'll keep this up but #35 is in the books. Let us know if you listen.

I'd Like to See Poch Smile Again / 2 Penalties from the Top

It was a somber week for Rooster and the Devil. Two losses from squads they ain't have no business losing to. Are Man City and Liverpool already pulling away? Is Arsenal actually good? Nahhhh. We're going to kick their ass in the North London Derby. Jimmy thinks we'll tie 3-3. But let's fucking go!!!

North London Derby's are the best. You can take El Traffico and stick it so far up your ass. This summary is digressing. Which we do, in fun ways, on the podcast all of the time.

But we talk about Caribou Cup. Champions League qualifying (Ajax just punch their ticket and the group teams are set (groups to be determined). And other crap! Jimmy's daughter Logan also makes her second consecutive appearance. She's now beating Helder.