Drew VanderPloeg
@alvanderp.bsky.social
Soccer nerd. Sneaker addict. Army Veteran. Extremely amateur podcaster. Bulldog dad. Half of the Home and Away SKC Podcast
https://linktr.ee/homeandawaypod
https://linktr.ee/homeandawaypod
Very, very, VERY thankful for the folks at @americansocceranalysis.com today. As well as the folks that create wonderful platforms upon which to consume their data in meaningful ways like @catabush.com and @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc
January 21, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Very, very, VERY thankful for the folks at @americansocceranalysis.com today. As well as the folks that create wonderful platforms upon which to consume their data in meaningful ways like @catabush.com and @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc
Because the companies that compile it want maximum profits.
How is it possible that it's getting harder to find publicly available advanced soccer data in 2026, not easier?
Utterly disastrous news for public access to soccer data and statistics.
www.sports-reference.com/blog/2026/01...
www.sports-reference.com/blog/2026/01...
January 20, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Because the companies that compile it want maximum profits.
Do you realize how racist you have to be to have a group of cops band together to berate you for it?
Brooklyn Park police chief Mark Bruley: "We're hearing people being stopped with no cause & being demanded to show paperwork to determine if they're here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints. Every one of these individuals is a person of color... it has to stop"
January 20, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Do you realize how racist you have to be to have a group of cops band together to berate you for it?
Caleb Williams is 2018 Mahomes levels of absurd man.
January 19, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Caleb Williams is 2018 Mahomes levels of absurd man.
These are straight up pi calls but I still can’t stop laughing at the Bills getting the business from a Carl Cheffers crew.
January 18, 2026 at 1:12 AM
These are straight up pi calls but I still can’t stop laughing at the Bills getting the business from a Carl Cheffers crew.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
I think that every member of Tottenham Hotspur's front office and coaching staff should be sent to a prison camp in Mongolia, but what do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!
January 17, 2026 at 3:53 PM
I think that every member of Tottenham Hotspur's front office and coaching staff should be sent to a prison camp in Mongolia, but what do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!
I really can't watch this anymore. Let me know when Frank gets fired pls.
@cwelton.bsky.social tried to tell me things were due to turn around for Spurs playing West Ham this weekend and I was like...man you really do not understand Tottenham at all.
.....yep
.....yep
January 17, 2026 at 3:41 PM
I really can't watch this anymore. Let me know when Frank gets fired pls.
@cwelton.bsky.social tried to tell me things were due to turn around for Spurs playing West Ham this weekend and I was like...man you really do not understand Tottenham at all.
.....yep
.....yep
January 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
@cwelton.bsky.social tried to tell me things were due to turn around for Spurs playing West Ham this weekend and I was like...man you really do not understand Tottenham at all.
.....yep
.....yep
Peter Mallouk's money already paying dividends.
From the other place on a busy Friday night, looks like #SportingKC have a new outside back.
January 17, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Peter Mallouk's money already paying dividends.
Lots of change happening in the KC Soccer landscape. This is a good thing for the club long term and I’m sure we’ll get more into the details of why on the pod as more of the information becomes public.
SCOOP: Sporting KC is being sold for roughly $700 million, multiple league sources tell @forbes.com. An existing minority owner is said to be buying the club, but the Illig family is expected to remain in control—at least for the time being.
www.forbes.com/sites/justin...
www.forbes.com/sites/justin...
Sporting Kansas City Is Being Sold For Roughly $700 Million, An MLS Record
An existing minority owner is said to be buying the club, which Forbes valued at $650 million last year, but the Illig family is expected to remain in control—at least for the time being.
www.forbes.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Lots of change happening in the KC Soccer landscape. This is a good thing for the club long term and I’m sure we’ll get more into the details of why on the pod as more of the information becomes public.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
Democrat leaders looking for "creative ideas" to fight ICE, I've got a crazy one called "go outside to where the shit is actually happening."
January 16, 2026 at 5:33 PM
Democrat leaders looking for "creative ideas" to fight ICE, I've got a crazy one called "go outside to where the shit is actually happening."
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
The government is engaged in ethnic cleansing right now, and that is the only phrase for it
January 16, 2026 at 1:32 PM
The government is engaged in ethnic cleansing right now, and that is the only phrase for it
This week’s pod is live:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0TAY...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0TAY...
Episode 167 - Player rumors, Current announcements, and MLS news
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 01/15/2026 · 1h 34m
podcasts.apple.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:13 AM
This week’s pod is live:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0TAY...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0TAY...
This was quite the ride on the H&A discord this morning.
Statement from #SportingKC:
"Sporting Kansas City explored a transfer for Rogers Mato but he has elected to sign a pre-contract with Hearts and we wish him all the best in the future.”
"Sporting Kansas City explored a transfer for Rogers Mato but he has elected to sign a pre-contract with Hearts and we wish him all the best in the future.”
January 14, 2026 at 4:11 PM
This was quite the ride on the H&A discord this morning.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
There’s a couple bold claims that have been implied by soccer analytics research that seem to have the hardest time being accepted at scale. With a little extra time during the American soccer offseason, I tried to dive into why these claims meet so much resistance but why they still matter.
Analytics Philosophy: Low Ceilings and Bottomless Floors
What to make of counterintuitive findings in the world of soccer analytics
open.substack.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:47 PM
There’s a couple bold claims that have been implied by soccer analytics research that seem to have the hardest time being accepted at scale. With a little extra time during the American soccer offseason, I tried to dive into why these claims meet so much resistance but why they still matter.
They have the most valuable player assets in the world and are treating them like it’s some shit they brought from the basement onto Antiques Roadshow.
central to the uswnt midfield, nwsl champion, nwsl mvp finalist, gold medalist, 27-years-old, two years remaining on her contract. truly can’t tell whether nwsl clubs are genuinely unprepared for doing business in a global market or if they’re devaluing their own talent to stall its growth.
Multiple sources tell me and @emilyskeogh.bsky.social that the final *base* transfer fee for Coffey from Manchester City to the Portland Thorns is $875,000, plus potential performance add-ons in the future. #NWSL #USWNT
January 13, 2026 at 12:14 AM
They have the most valuable player assets in the world and are treating them like it’s some shit they brought from the basement onto Antiques Roadshow.
I really do’t know why the Globes did this other than to give another award to a traditional actor. There are podcast awards that exist already and mange the genre effectively. Just admit you want to show off and give another award to one of your own.
ok I didn’t know there was a podcast category but
1) why aren’t there separate genres for pod awards?
2) how do they choose among the literal MILLIONS of podcasts? like they nominated NPR alongside call her daddy? BFFR
1) why aren’t there separate genres for pod awards?
2) how do they choose among the literal MILLIONS of podcasts? like they nominated NPR alongside call her daddy? BFFR
January 12, 2026 at 2:41 AM
I really do’t know why the Globes did this other than to give another award to a traditional actor. There are podcast awards that exist already and mange the genre effectively. Just admit you want to show off and give another award to one of your own.
DAAAAAAAA BEARS!
January 11, 2026 at 4:35 AM
DAAAAAAAA BEARS!
Following the lead from Rob and getting a momentary escape the timeline(and my mind) with some music. Starting with a record he turned me onto. Rocky Votolato and Chuck Ragan.
January 11, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Following the lead from Rob and getting a momentary escape the timeline(and my mind) with some music. Starting with a record he turned me onto. Rocky Votolato and Chuck Ragan.
It’s kind of wild to think that MLS academies are potentially producing the best youth talent with a Mexican passport rn.
It's really something to see Chivas start four players who came through #MLS academies tonight.
Even more to see #LAGalaxy products Efrain Alvarez and Daniel Aguirre - both of whom started off with #LosDos in the #USL-C - team up for their second goal.
#LigaMXEng
Even more to see #LAGalaxy products Efrain Alvarez and Daniel Aguirre - both of whom started off with #LosDos in the #USL-C - team up for their second goal.
#LigaMXEng
January 11, 2026 at 2:11 AM
It’s kind of wild to think that MLS academies are potentially producing the best youth talent with a Mexican passport rn.
Couple tasty throws for TD’s at the end of this game.
January 11, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Couple tasty throws for TD’s at the end of this game.