Series 2, Episode 8 - Earned Connection (with Elliot Smith & Rob Vera)

FANS

It's the final episode of the series and Sachin is well and truly going out with a bang given he is joined by two brilliant podcasters to talk US football fandom; host of the Arsenal Vision podcast, Elliot Smith, and contributor - and host - of the Blue Room podcast, Rob Vera.

Elliot and Rob are in typically fascinating, forthright and funny form as they discuss what it's like to be a fans of English football from the other side of the Atlantic. The discussion starts in regards to the European Super League and the idea that most Americans backed the breakaway because of its likeness to the NFL - as Elliot and Rob make clear, that was certainly not the case for them, and mainly because they love football because it's different to American sports.

The chat then moves onto why Elliot and Rob support the teams they do (which in Rob's case involves a remarkable twist of fate) and how they go about following them from so far away. What are the best and worst kick-off times? And does watching Arsenal and Everton ever involve drinking beer at an absurd time in the morning?

This leads to an interesting and important debate about the demographics of US football fandom before Elliot and Rob wrap things up by stepping back in time in order to change one moment from their time supporting their respective clubs up to now. Elliot's is pretty obvious; Rob's much less so.

So - for the final time this series - download, listen and love. And after you have, please Rate and Review. It would mean a lot.

Cheers!