PMTPMT DB

Takes

Void
Take Slip·Nov 10, 2021
#PMT-2021-1110-19910
Paddy the BaddyPaddy the Baddy

Lionel Messi has more God-given talent than Cristiano Ronaldo

Messi... Ronaldo's man-made, where Messi's God-given talent... Like Ronaldo's work for everything himself, where Messi was just given that talent, where when he's got that ball at his feet, it's like it's super glued to it.

Classic subjective sports debate.
Void
Take Slip·Oct 29, 2021
#PMT-2021-1029-19033
Usain BoltUsain Bolt

Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest soccer player of all time

Who is your goat in soccer? [Bolt]: Cristiano Ronaldo... from my experience from very far... Madrid, plus I know Manchester... Tom Brady proved to the world he's the one. Ronaldo proved he's the one.

Inherently subjective debate.
Win
Take Slip·Sep 7, 2021
#PMT-2021-0907-15745
Big CatBig Cat

It would be a shame if the US soccer team misses the World Cup again

I just wanted to say it's a shame. Just so that I'm on the record. I feel like some people think I'm trolling. I'm saying it's a shame if we don't make the World Cup again.

The USMNT did eventually qualify for the 2022 World Cup, so the 'shame' was avoided.
Win
Take Slip·Sep 3, 2021
#PMT-2021-0903-9360
Big CatBig Cat

US Soccer will make the World Cup this year

I'm not down with the negativity from Big Cat. I'm not negative. Wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa. When was I negative? I said it would be a shame if we didn't make the World Cup. I think that this is the year. This is a year for US Soccer to... make the World Cup.

The USMNT successfully qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Win
Take Slip·Aug 16, 2021
#PMT-2021-0816-2380
Big CatBig Cat

I don't want the Waterdogs to win the championship if it is played on an NFL Sunday

If the Waterdogs want to be the best dogs possible, they would lose in the semifinals. So we don't have to watch them in the finals... I don't want to have to be burdened with them on an NFL Sunday.

OpinionSoccerHotSarcastic
The Waterdogs lost in the semifinals in 2021, meaning Big Cat's 'wish' to not have to watch them in the final on an NFL Sunday was granted.
Void
Take Slip·Aug 13, 2021
#PMT-2021-0813-18864
Big CatBig Cat

Nick Saban could make Alabama the number one soccer team in the world immediately

I know we joke, but if Nick Saban and the Alabama football team decided they wanted to be number one soccer team in the world, they would. Immediately. Zero training. Yes, they just would.

Inherently untestable, but objectively false given the technical skill gaps between American football players and world-class soccer players.
Push
Take Slip·Aug 13, 2021
#PMT-2021-0813-18865
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

US vs Mexico is no longer a soccer rivalry because the US wins every time

I would actually go as far as to say that it's not even a rivalry. A rivalry implies that both teams win occasionally. And if you look back at the history of our last two League of Nations Golden Cups, it's just basically us showing up out there.

While the US did have a great run (the 'Dos a Cero' era continued), Mexico won matches later, and rivalries are based on more than just a 1-2 year window. In 2021, the US definitely had the upper hand.
Void
#PMT-2021-0804-12982
Big CatBig Cat

The U.S. women's soccer team sucks at soccer now

My hot seat is the U.S. women's soccer team because they lost and we stink... I tweeted about like, oh, we suck at soccer now.

This is a subjective emotional reaction to a loss; the team remains one of the top-ranked in the world, though they did fail to win gold.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 28, 2021
#PMT-2021-0728-8583
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The European Super League would have been sick and a great idea

I honestly kind of missed the idea of the super league. I, again, it's bad. We understand football's a sport. Everything else is a business, but super league would have been sick and low key. Imagine Man City against Barcelona on a Wednesday, like twice a year on a Wednesday that you would have. That's just a great idea. Great idea.

The Super League collapsed within days of its announcement in April 2021. This is a subjective opinion on its potential quality.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 12, 2021
#PMT-2021-0712-14251
TroopzTroopz

Gareth Southgate is to blame for England's Euro loss due to delayed substitutions

I think south gate [Southgate], I think you took too long to meet the changes because when you brought on stack off [Saka] is when they equalized... Sack [Saka] was 19. How'd you make it a 19 year old, 10 [take] the final penny [penalty]? How can you make a 19 year old?

The take is an opinion on coaching tactics that cannot be definitively proven right or wrong, but it reflects the consensus criticism of Southgate's management in that final.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 9, 2021
#PMT-2021-0709-8852
Big CatBig Cat

Soccer should change the rules to prohibit scoring on a penalty kick rebound

I don't think you should be able to rebound a penalty in soccer... I just feel like you should get it if you miss it you miss it... If you miss it, you miss it. It's a fucking free throw.

This is a subjective opinion about how a sport should be governed.
Loss
Take Slip·Jul 7, 2021
#PMT-2021-0707-10773
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Federico Chiesa is the next GOAT of soccer

That dude Chiesa, my guy Chiesa, he's the next GOAT. Like, we might be seeing a torch event happen in the next year, two years, where Messi passes that torch.

While a great player, Chiesa suffered significant injuries and never reached the GOAT or Messi-tier status predicted.
Loss
Take Slip·Jul 7, 2021
#PMT-2021-0707-10775
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

England will dominate Denmark and win Euro 2020

I think England's going to win. I think they're going to dominate Denmark. And I think that Italy versus England on [Sunday]... that's up in the air.

England beat Denmark but lost to Italy in the final on penalties.
Loss
Take Slip·Jun 30, 2021
#PMT-2021-0630-17267
Big CatBig Cat

Harry Kane will miss a penalty kick for England in the Euro semi-finals

I like England. The problem with England is right now they, they looked convincing and they're winning against Germany... that is prime like Harry Kane's gonna miss a penalty kick in the semi-finals he's going to sky it. Like Baggio hit the moon with it.

Kane actually scored a penalty (on a rebound) in the semi-final against Denmark. However, he famously missed a crucial penalty against France in the 2022 World Cup.
Void
Take Slip·Jun 30, 2021
#PMT-2021-0630-17272
Roger BennettRoger Bennett

American sports owners like Stan Kroenke and the Glazers tried to turn European football into WrestleMania

And in came the American sports owners... Stan Kroenke, who it's not clear to me actually knows he owns Arsenal... you've got the Glazers... and they've got ideas... it was a bit like that old sci-fi show V where we welcomed in the aliens who seem nice... to try and turn what is precious, what has grown over a century, just that evolution, the history, the traditions, and to try and turn that into WrestleMania was a bit dark.

The European Super League's attempt to create a closed, American-style league was widely condemned for ignoring traditional meritocracy (promotion/relegation).
Open
Take Slip·Jun 30, 2021
#PMT-2021-0630-17275
Big CatBig Cat

The United States will win the World Cup in Roger Bennett's children's lifetime

The America will be world champions... in your children's lifetime.

The USMNT has never won a World Cup; the furthest they've gone in the modern era is the Quarterfinals (2002).
Void
#PMT-2021-0628-4276
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Cristiano Ronaldo is not a top three Ronaldo

It's time that we have an honest conversation about Ronaldo. I don't even think he's a top three Ronaldo. You've got Ronaldo, you've got Ronaldinho, who is named Ronaldo... Fat Ronaldo. He's number six overall Ronaldo.

The ranking of players by name is subjective, though most soccer experts would place Cristiano Ronaldo in the top three players of all time, regardless of name.
Win
#PMT-2021-0628-4277
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Federico Chiesa is going to be one of the best players in the entire world

Chiesa is going to be one of the best players in the entire world. I'm just putting an eyeball stamp on it. I said that last week. Then he had that awesome goal. Chiesa, Chiesa, Chiesa.

Chiesa was one of the breakout stars of Euro 2020 (won by Italy) and became a highly-valued player at Juventus, though injuries slowed his ascent somewhat.
Win
#PMT-2021-0614-7118
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Football is 'coming home' for England in the Euros

All I'm saying about the Euros, it's coming home. Yeah, it's coming home. Something just very special about pasty white English fans ripping off their shirts... Football's coming home. And then they're going to lose in tragic fashion.

England reached the final but lost to Italy on penalties—exactly the 'tragic fashion' PFT noted.
Loss
#PMT-2021-0601-902
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USA is officially the best soccer country in the world because Christian Pulisic won the Champions League

The best player in the world played on the best team in the world... the best player on the best club team is American. Therefore, the USA is the best soccer country in the entire world.

The USMNT was nowhere near the top of the FIFA rankings or international performance compared to powers like France or Brazil at this time, though the take is clearly comedic.
Void
#PMT-2021-0423-6303
Big CatBig Cat

The European Super League would actually have been sweet because of the high-level matchups.

The Super League kind of would have been sweet. ... Imagine if there was just a Wednesday, like every Wednesday afternoon, just the best teams in the world playing each other. ... would you watch because it's going to be sweet. They'd be like, yeah, I'd watch. ... It would have been fucking sweet.

Subjective opinion on sports entertainment value.
Push
#PMT-2021-0423-6301
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The European Super League was a trial balloon that will eventually lead to it actually happening.

It's going to happen. The Super League's going to happen. This was a trial balloon that they sent out there.

While the specific breakaway league failed, UEFA changed the Champions League format to a 'Swiss Model' that guarantees more games between top clubs, often called a 'compromise Super League'.
Loss
Take Slip·Apr 21, 2021
#PMT-2021-0421-8325
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Premier League should rebrand as the English Super League to prevent future breakaways

If the Premier League is smart, they'll just rebrand as the English Super League. And then nobody can ever cuck them out of that again.

The Premier League did not rebrand, though they did implement new rules to prevent similar breakaway attempts.
Void
Take Slip·Apr 21, 2021
#PMT-2021-0421-8328
Big CatBig Cat

America deserves all the credit for killing the European Super League

In order to kill something so evil as the Super League, you have to create it. So shouldn't Americans get credit for creating something that the world can get behind and [kill]? We did this. We created and killed it, so we deserve all the credit. Specifically this show and generally America.

While American owners (Glazers, FSG, Kroenke) were central to the Super League creation, the 'credit' for killing it is subjective and satirical here.
Loss
Take Slip·Apr 21, 2021
#PMT-2021-0421-8331
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

European billionaires will try to create a Super League again in two years

When this was all put to bed so quickly, they're going to try this again in two years. They're going to learn from what happened this time, and they're going to do it in the dead of night.

The Super League project remained in legal limbo with Real Madrid and Juventus continuing the push, but a full league relaunch did not occur within two years.
Win
#PMT-2021-0419-9692
Big CatBig Cat

The European Super League will destroy every club soccer team below the elite level

The richest teams in Italy, Spain, and England... are going to create a league where they're basically doing away with the Champions League. Why would we share money with everyone when we can make a super league and we get to keep all the money... it will therefore basically destroy every club soccer team below them in all of these countries. It's going to ruin the game of soccer.

The Super League proposal faced immediate, massive backlash and collapsed within days of this episode, confirming the widely held sentiment that it was damaging to the sport.
Loss
Take Slip·Apr 19, 2021
#PMT-2021-0419-9703
TroopzTroopz

The European Super League will happen because money makes the world go round

I think this could happen, blood, because when you check the levels, Arsenal are owned by an American, Stan Kroenke... Liverpool, John Henry, American... the Glazers... JP Morgan saying he's going to put $6 billion into this team... And money makes the world go round, bro. You understand? Money. If you have money, you have the power.

The Super League proposal collapsed within 48 hours of its announcement due to fan and political pressure, making Troopz's 'it will happen' prediction incorrect in the short term.
Loss
Take Slip·Mar 1, 2021
#PMT-2021-0301-11508
TroopzTroopz

Mikel Arteta should be fired as Arsenal manager

I am Arteta out... He needs to fuck off. If [Kroenke] doesn't spend enough money, then he needs to fuck off... This is the lowest we've ever been [as a club].

Arteta survived this period and eventually led Arsenal to multiple title races in 2023 and 2024, proving Troopz wrong in the long term.
Void
Take Slip·Mar 1, 2021
#PMT-2021-0301-11509
TroopzTroopz

The US soccer team needs European coaches to reach the next level

I think you need better coaching. So European coaches coming over here will help you... You have to spend money on grassroots... Because, like it or not, we're the ones that understand the best football. We've got the philosophies.

The USMNT has continued to fluctuate between domestic and foreign-influenced coaching, but the 2026 World Cup remains the ultimate test of their development.
Win
#PMT-2020-1214-4215
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

US Soccer is 'back' and will be a threat in Qatar 2022

US soccer's back big time... Gio Reyna scored an amazing goal... him and Pulisic are tearing up European soccer. So I'm confident in the U.S.'s chances in 2022 in Qatar.

The USMNT did reach the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup, performing better than they had in years.
Void
Take Slip·Sep 2, 2020
#PMT-2020-0902-7739
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Chris Paul would easily be a top three or four US men's soccer player

Chris Paul's personality makes you forget how good a basketball he is because he's the worst anytime. Yeah. Well in the nuts anytime the guy shit, but he's awesome... I still think he would be Top three top for US men's soccer player. Yes easily.

While CP3 is an elite athlete, the claim that he could play for the national soccer team with zero training is purely satirical.
Void
#PMT-2020-0826-6162
Big CatBig Cat

Messi is better than Ronaldo because he is better at cheating on his taxes

Messi is probably got like a billion... He's better at shooting us, he got away with cheating on taxes for longer than Ronaldo did. Rinaldo you bitch. Messy has one, two, three, four, five, six golden boots. Count the booties.

While messy did have a high-profile tax case, using it as the metric for football greatness is entirely satirical.
Win
#PMT-2020-0817-4394
Big CatBig Cat

Lionel Messi will eventually play in Major League Soccer

Why doesn't Messi go to MLS? ... He's like 33. Oh, you're right about that time. He would fucking wreck the MLS. They should just give Messi an MLS team. ... I hope he does eventually come to the MLS. I'm sure that he will in like seven years once he's totally washed up.

Lionel Messi signed with Inter Miami CF in MLS in 2023.
Loss
Take Slip·Jul 24, 2020
#PMT-2020-0724-8736
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The MLS is a Ponzi scheme

I don't understand how they can keep adding teams. It is a Ponzi scheme. Because you just pay the existing owners and the talent isn't there to keep up.

While it operates on expansion fees, it's a legal business structure for a sports league, making 'Ponzi scheme' a satirical exaggeration.
Loss
Take Slip·Jul 24, 2020
#PMT-2020-0724-8737
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Christian Pulisic is wasting his talent overseas and should play in the MLS to grow the game

I'm squatting on a take right now and that is getting mad at Christian Pulisic for not playing in the MLS. If he truly cared about American soccer, he would be over here... more people are becoming Chelsea fans than they are Charlotte FC.

Hot TakeSoccerScorchingSarcastic
Pulisic continued to play in Europe (Chelsea, then AC Milan) to maintain a high level of competition, which is widely considered the better path for his development.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 10, 2020
#PMT-2020-0710-17409
Big CatBig Cat

Calcio Storico makes all other sports look lame

I went into this being like 'this might make rugby look bad' and then I went out of it being like it makes every sport look bad because every sport is just lame compared to this. It's just Fight Club with a scoring element. It really does make all other sports just like... hockey guys are going to watch this and be like, 'whoops, we thought we were the tough sport.'

A subjective ranking of 'toughness' between sports.
Void
#PMT-2020-0504-9390
HankHank

Soccer is boring because you cannot use your hands

Soccer... simple, just because any sport that you can't use your hands, that's like 50% of your body and the stuff that are much more important and you can't even use it. You're just running around, at most you're scoring one goal. It's boring as fuck.

This is a matter of personal taste and opinion.
Void
Take Slip·Oct 28, 2019
#PMT-2019-1028-4381
Big CatBig Cat

I would take over and coach US Soccer

I will take over US Soccer. I would be the coach of US Soccer... You automatically get to drive an Audi. That's part of the deal... I would like that.

This is a comedic hypothetical.
Void
#PMT-2019-1016-745
Big CatBig Cat

I am done with U.S. Men's Soccer after the loss to Canada

Just when you think it couldn't get worse, we lose to Canada. ... I'm done with the U.S. soccer until they start fucking just doing anything. ... I'm done being embarrassed. I want them to be good.

This is a statement of personal fandom resignation, which he eventually retracted in subsequent years (as is tradition).
Loss
#PMT-2019-0821-6487
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Freddy Adu was going to save American soccer

I'm going to have to go with the goat Freddy Adu and we still don't know. He still could be great true... he was the first one I went to his very first game. DC United. I was there he got in after like I don't know 70 minutes. I was like if he's really good. He's probably be starting. That was my first clue. Yeah, but maybe he wouldn't be great.

Adu failed to live up to the 'next Pele' hype and his career fizzled out.
Loss
#PMT-2019-0812-11723
Big CatBig Cat

Christian Pulisic stunk in his Chelsea debut and might not be ready for the bright lights

I watched the whole game. He stunk. Is he not ready for the bright lights?... I'm just going to say, as someone who was ready to declare this the biggest moment in USA soccer history, yeesh, maybe we have to start getting the narrative that he's not from America.

Pulisic's Chelsea career was a mix of brilliant stretches (Champions League win) and inconsistent/injury-prone periods. Declaring him a bust after one game was a classic overreaction.
Push
#PMT-2019-0731-11028
HankHank

US Soccer audited finances prove the women players earn more than the men

My hot seat is people who think U.S. soccer is sexist and doesn't pay the women enough. Because our good friend DR came out with a tweet today where he showed that the women – U.S. soccer responded for the first time ever with what shows that their independently audited finances that show that their women players actually earn more than the men.

The USSF did release an open letter claiming women earned $34M compared to men's $26M from 2010-2018, but the USWNT disputed this by noting the men have more games and the payment structures (guaranteed vs. bonus-heavy) make a direct comparison difficult. The lawsuit eventually settled in 2022 with a massive payment to the women.
Win
#PMT-2019-0708-5073
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Rose Lavelle will be the next USWNT superstar for the next eight years

Here's my hot take about Rose [Lavelle]. She's going to be the next superstar for the women's national team for the next, like, eight years... I'm saying that she's the next Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe.

Rose Lavelle remained a key starter and face of the USWNT through the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics.
Void
Take Slip·Jul 3, 2019
#PMT-2019-0703-6652
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Tim Howard is the greatest male U.S. soccer player of all time

I would say the greatest, the greatest male U.S. soccer player. Landon Donovan, Kobe Jones, Alexi Lalas, [Dempsey], [Dempsey], Freddie Adu. That's it. That's the list.

Subjective ranking of soccer legends.
Win
#PMT-2019-0626-13579
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The USWNT vs France matchup is essentially the World Cup Final

But this is, I'm going to call it, this is the World Cup on Friday [France versus U.S.]. Whoever wins this match [wins it all].

The US beat France 2-1 and then went on to win the World Cup, confirming that the winner of this match was the tournament's favorite.
Void
#PMT-2019-0621-1002
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

VAR is ruining soccer and we should go back to just complaining about refs

My other fire fest... is robots. Especially VAR robots in the World Cup, in the Women's World Cup. It's ruining soccer. It is absolutely ruining it. I'm actually the mindset that I'm out on instant replay across the board. I think we've gone too far. Fuck the robots. We need to complain about refs.

This is an ongoing subjective debate in the soccer world. VAR remains highly controversial years later.
Win
#PMT-2019-0619-12009
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The awarding of the World Cup to Qatar was definitely not above board

The former president of FIFA was arrested because it turns out the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar or Qatar may not have been above board. Oh, you think? No doy.

OpinionSoccerMildSarcastic
Widespread corruption in the Qatar 2022 bid was confirmed by numerous investigations and the US Department of Justice.
Win
Take Slip·Jun 14, 2019
#PMT-2019-0614-8744
Rose LavelleRose Lavelle

Sweden will be the toughest opponent in the USWNT World Cup group

Sweden, they actually usually... that's who knocked us out when we were in the Olympics. So I would say that they're gonna be they're probably gonna be the toughest one.

The US played Sweden on June 20, 2019, and won 2-0. Sweden was the toughest test in the group stage.
Void
#PMT-2019-0612-18696
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Alexi Lalas has the most smug face in national sports media

Alexi Lalas looking like a smug prick on national television. It's Alexi Lalas season, and that means that he gets to stare into the camera after every single game looking smugly like he kidnapped your dog... He's back in a bit. He's got the most smug face, I think, on national sports media these days.

Purely subjective opinion on a broadcaster's facial expressions.
Loss
Take Slip·Feb 11, 2019
#PMT-2019-0211-19616
JJ WattJJ Watt

I honestly thought I could be a Premier League goalie with one year of training

I swore I could be a Premier League goalie. And she's [my girlfriend, Kealia Ohai] a soccer player. So I was like, give me one year to train. I think I can do it. So she goes, okay, come to the field... She smoked a ball past my face so fucking fast. And I was like, no chance. You can give me five years to train. No chance.

He literally tested this theory and immediately realized he was wrong, admitting 'no chance'.