Is Arsenal’s mounting injury list going to derail their title bid? Not according to Martin Samuel or Hamzah Khalique-Loonat who both think teams that win titles win regardless of injuries – think Alisson, Haaland, De Bruyne or Van Dijk.Liverpool may not be the swashbuckling side from the Klopp era but are they even more effective under the controlled Slot?Does Erling Haaland get the credit he deserves? Who cares about link up play when you’ve scored 44 goals in 42 champions league games! Gregor Robertson oversees proceedings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool passed their first serious test of the season and Chelsea looked good even in defeat.Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Tom Allnutt as they ask; can Liverpool win the title and are Chelsea a top four team?Are Arsenal’s chances of the title being undermined by their poor disciplinary record? Do referees favour the top teams? And it wasn’t just a bad day for Julen Lopetegui at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it was a forgettable day for James Maddison too.Plus, Brighton, Man Utd, Southampton and VAR.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England have appointed one of the world’s best coaches. What does he bring, how does he manage, and will it be enough to win the big one?Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and James Gheerbrant are joined from German football journalist Constantin Eckner.What do we know about Tuchel’s number two, young English coach Anthony Barry? Gregor did his coaching badges with him; he can enlighten us.After the break a look ahead to the weekends premier league fixtures and the big clash at Anfield as Chelsea take on Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson as they assess the Championship, League One and League Two. Leeds, Norwich, Plymouth. Wycombe, Exeter, Port Vale and AFC Wimbledon all feature – as well as many in between. Plus a look at the many ex players taking to lower league management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where now for England? A failed experiment; Carsley might not want it full time and is Pep waiting in the side-lines? Gregor Robertson thinks his selections were indulgent, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat thinks they should be applauded.  Tom Clarke still misses Southgate.After the break a brilliant discussion about the affects of fantasy football on real football.Tom Allnutt says clubs are now banning players and staff from taking part. But why?And do fans now spend more time discussing fantasy football than ‘real’ football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was it Man City 1-0 Premier League? Jonathan Northcroft has reappraised and thinks it could be a score draw. Martin is sticking to his guns and Gregor sees echoes of the European super league. After the break, what happened to tough players, should Bellingham play up front and Gregor once played against Andres Iniesta…it was spellbinding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City have won the first of their legal cases against the Premier League.What does it mean for City and for the rest of the Premier League? Tom Clarke, Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Tony Cascarino explain and offer immediate reaction… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This could have also been called: “Why are Spurs so Spursy?” as Ange Postecoglou’s team blew a two-goal lead at Brighton. Was it the Seagulls brilliance or a Spurs implosion?Manchester United got a creditable if boring draw at Villa Park, will it be enough to turn the tide for Erik Ten Hag?Gregor Robertson is a convert to Chelsea, Alyson Rudd thinks they might even win something. Hamzah Khalique-Loonat waxes lyrical about Bukayo Saka, is he the best in the league? Tom Clarke steers the ship.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A great week for English clubs in the Champions League with four wins from four.European master Unai Emery steered Villa to a famous win over Bayern Munich – is there a better match in club football than Emery and Villa? Controlled wins for City and Liverpool and a statement win for Arsenal against PSG.Oh, and what happens to Cole Palmer when he rolls up to England camp?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our fortnightly look at the EFL. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson look at a flying Sheffield United, managerial changes at Stoke and the form of the promoted clubs – Oxford, Portsmouth and Derby. After the break in League One Steve Bruce has taken Blackpool from relegation zone to play offs in less than a month, what’s his secret?In League Two MK Dons and Carlisle have rolled the dice and changed manager, highlighting once again just how many teams have lofty ambition with backing to match it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Manchester United look like a relic!” That is the blunt assessment of Gregor Robertson.Their rivals Liverpool are top, but it's not enough for Alyson Rudd or Hamzah Khalique Loonat who think they haven’t played anyone any good yet.Tom Clarke has a hangover but talk of Cole Palmer and Ethan Nwaneri are like a caffeine shot! Plus, is kick off a set piece? Brentford think so. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Rodri is ruled out could injuries decide the title? Will players go on strike this season? And will there ever be another summer without football?Plus, after yet another lacklustre display nothing seems to have changed at Manchester United. Its troubled times at West Ham and all is not well at Newcastle.Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who’ll be happier after an enthralling draw at the Etihad?  Arsenal are nasty and its impressive! Tough, gritty and hard to beat. Could City have done any more? Tom Clarke is back as Gregor Robertson lauds the defending, Alyson Rudd wonders if Arsenal were defeatist and Tom Allnut agrees with the referee. Plus looks at Brighton, Forest, Palace, Man Utd and the three clubs in the relegation zone – Wolves, Southampton and Everton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Champions League, striking players, dodgy kits and card happy refs. It’s a busy episode. Martin Samuel and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat agree on the Champions League but definitely do not agree on refs or football finance. Gregor Robertson steps in to referee. In amongst that Hamzah went to Milan to see Liverpool ease past the Rossoneri. Martin barely recognised Villa and City in their ‘new’ shirts.Lastly, City v Arsenal this weekend, could a City win be ominous for the season?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s EFL extra Gregor Robertson quizzes Hamzah Khalique-Loonat on his visit to St Andrews. Hamzah saw big names Tom Brady, Rob McElhenney and David Beckham pitch side as a fluent Birmingham beat Wrexham. After the break they look at three rising stars of the EFL: Sunderland’s Chris Rigg, Ollie Arblaster from Sheffield United and Louie Barry on loan at Stockport County  And for a final bit of glamour, Hamzah is recording the show from Milan airport.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is D day for Manchester City as the hearing into the 115 charges against them begins. Matt Lawton Joins Gregor Robertson to explain what could happen.  Tom Allnutt reflects on a big win for Arsenal and asks if Spurs are ‘fun but not serious.’? Tony Cascarino watched Liverpool struggle and a masterclass from Nuno Espirito Santo.And Hamzah Khalique-Loonat thinks the new Champions League format is rubbish.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The England job is Carsley’s to lose, but are Finland and Ireland really a test?Gregor Robertson is joined by Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino as they assess England, Kane the looming civil war in the Chelsea boardroom.Plus, a look ahead to the North London derby, pressure on Ten Hag and what is ‘a legend’ in football?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee Carsley shocked England fans by playing a left footer on the left, and it worked, for the first half at least. Charlotte Duncker, Tom Allnutt and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke to assess the performance against Ireland. What does Tyrick Mitchell have to do to get a call up and has Angel Gomes ever driven a bus?Plus, a look at Craig Bellamy’s Wales and is it time for Ronaldo to retire?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who would you keep – Casimiro or Ten Hag? Trent, Salah or Van Dijk?Tony Cascarino, James Gheerbrant and Jonathan Northcroft join Tom Clarke to decide who stays and who goes. Plus a look at the finances at Leicester and Newcastle.After the break as Lee Carsley takes charge of England, will it be Carls-ball or Carsey-ball ? And the team pick their all-time combined England Ireland teams, which must include at least five Irish players – Irwin or Pearce, Sheedy or Waddle…it’s an easy job for Tony Cascarino.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4 games down, how are things shaping up away from the Premier League? Gregor and Tom's EFL tour takes in Sunderland's near perfect start (again), Wrexham's Hollywood script (reluctantly) and a £15million League One striker(!). Plus are Morecambe showing why you should never get back with an ex? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool, good? United, bad? Or is there more to it? Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor Robertson to dissect an embarrassing Old Trafford outing for Ten Hag and his players. Meanwhile Everton try to outdo United in the shame stakes. Salah has Liverpool “squealing” for more than one reason. And are Chelsea actually alright?The rest of the weekend’s action too.Did you know, you can watch us now, too. Search for The Game Football Podcast on The Times Youtube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea have about 20 players to sell and are still looking to buy. Liverpool have finally entered the market. What could Friday's transfer deadline bring? "Anything could happen", says Paul Hirst. He joins Tom Clarke, Charlotte Duncker and Gregor Robertson to dissect the week's transfer news, look back on the life and career of Sven-Göran Eriksson and preview the weekend's big clash: Nottingham Forest vs Wolves.Oh and a few words on United vs Liverpool, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea served up a humble pie for Gregor Robertson in the form of a 6-2 away win. It's on the table, but will he tuck in? He joins Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino in the studio to discuss a shocker of a VAR decision at Bournemouth... Where does a sleeve begin and where does it end? And what do the resident Liverpool fans make of Slot's start? Is Alyson *coughs* "squealing"? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the agenda today, the crazy club, not Wimbledon circa 1980’s but Chelsea circa 2020’s.What does the future hold for their out of favour stars Sterling and Chilwell?Also, a look back at the Monday night game and as Martin Samuel and Jonathan Northcroft make their season debuts alongside Gregor and Tom we hear their thoughts on the first weekend.Finally, Premier League cult heroes…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first of our fortnightly EFL shows reflecting the best of the Football League. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson dive straight in looking at the teams who have made very strong starts to the season. But with the transfer window still wide open, will they manage to retain their best players..? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imperious, confused, blunt. Just some of Gregor Robertson’s first impressions of Premier League teams after the opening weekend of fixtures.Gregor is joined by Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat as Chelsea put in a disjointed performance despite their spending; City won without playing well and Manchester United still lacked a cutting edge. Plus much more, of course... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke for the second part of the big Premier League season preview. What is ‘mid table’ and who’ll be avoiding it, which owner does Gregor dislike and why can’t the richest club in football spend any money? More questions, more predictions and a reveal from Hamzah.And at the risk of ruining their professional credibility the team put together their final league table for the 24/25 season…it’s just a bit of fun, don’t hold them to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke for the big Premier League season preview.Who’ll be fighting it out at the top, will the new managers succeed, can the promoted teams survive and who are the signings to watch out for? The panel call on all their insider knowledge to muster some bold predictions and offer some surprising insights.Hopes, fears, excitement, anticipation – it’s all here and its only part one, there is more to come! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The football season is back. As the EFL kicks off this weekend Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke run the rule over the Championship, League One and League Two.  Gregor looks at the ‘distorting effects’ of parachute payments. Do the crumbs from the Premier League table unduly effect the championship? Who else can compete alongside the relegated teams? After the break Tom speaks to author and sports data analyst Ian Graham. Following his experience working as Liverpool’s head of research during their most successful period in the Premier League era; Ian has written a book: How to win the Premier League – The Inside Story of Football’s Data Revolution. The book is packed with stories and examples of the way data affects the modern game.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the EFL starting this week and the Premier League hot on its heels The Game is taking a look at VAR. This episode is a chance to listen again to a discussion the panel had during the season. Is VAR here to stay, and if it is, how on earth can it be improved…Tom Clarke speaks to Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant about the dreaded VAR…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bonus edition of The Game as Tom Clarke catches up with Paul Hirst who is in America following all the pre season action. Paul is based in LA where he has been covering Manchester United’s tour, including the latest on new signing Leny Yoro. He is also keeping a close eye on Arsenal and as The Times Manchester reporter is across all the latest from neighbours Manchester City, including Pep Guardiola’s contract situation… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You thought we were done, didn't you? No chance. Martin Samuel has returned to the office just to say hello (but mostly to get his laptop fixed). Tom Clarke takes the opportunity to get his views on the final and who comes after Southgate, if Southgate leaves. And now we're fully over England's loss (we are, promise), Tom Clarke, Tom Allnutt and Gregor Robertson look back over the tournament in full to pick their favourite moments and pick The Game's Euros XI. We really are done now, for a couple of weeks at least. Stay tuned for the new season... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So near and yet so far…for the second Euros in a row England are runners up. A team and a nation left bereft.Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat try to make sense of where it went wrong for England. Was the captain fit, why couldn’t they retain the ball and were they always a safety-first team?  What on earth do England need to get over that final hurdle!? Spain are the first team to win every game at a Euros, so can England really complain, the best team won didn’t they? Where now for a team of world stars and a manager loved by his players but perhaps now doubted by many fans. Was getting to the final enough, or did performance and silverware matter? Many questions, but for now, few answers… just disappointment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's finally here: England v Spain. One more for European glory. All eyes on Berlin. Still, there's plenty of time to debate who should start at left back. Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft, who's very excited, or in his words has a 'frisson of interest'. If England win, IF, could Southgate stay? If he doesn't, who is there to replace him? How do England stop this high flying Spain side? And don't worry, we'll be there for you after the game, no matter what.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If it really is coming home, England will need to beat Spain. Tom Clarke is joined by Ian Hawkey, Tom Allnutt and Gregor Robertson for a Spanish deep dive in the first of two final preview shows. How much credit does Spain's manager, Luis de la Fuente, deserve for their success? Why has it seemingly clicked for Spain more than any other team in the tournament? And what are their weaknesses (good news for England fans, there are a few)?¡Está volviendo a casa! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chief sports writer Owen Slot is England’s lucky charm. He has covered the whole tournament but until the semi-final he hadn’t covered England. He turned up and they put in their best performance and won. He’s booked for the final.Tom Clarke joins Owen to discuss the atmosphere around the England team, the depth and togetherness of the squad and England manager Gareth Southgate.  Owen then gives a behind the scenes look at life on the road covering a tournament, from the sheer joy of a football festival in Europe, with thousands of fans and without covid; to the Romanian soul generation and terrible eggs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’ve done it, and what a way to do it! Another last minute, last gasp winner, this time from Ollie Watkins. Weston-Super-Mare to the Euros final, yes!Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to react to a fantastic win and – say it quietly – a good performance.Does this vindicate the approach of Gareth Southgate; another final, the first on foreign soil, surely, he gets the credit? Not so fast…Gregor doesn’t want to re write history just yet.We’ll worry about Spain tomorrow, first, let’s look at how England won and put in a performance to be proud of…dodgy penalty aside.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One semi down, one to go. Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to marvel at a very impressive Spanish 16 year old(!). Whoever Spain face in the final, surely they've got to be favourites? And are we actually looking forward to a penalty shootout tonight? No, not really. But it could be England's best route to another Euros final.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is semi-final day, dare we even consider who England would prefer to play out of France and Spain? Let’s indulge ourselves; Tom Allnutt and Gregor Robertson look at the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. IF England were to beat the Netherlands, how would they fair against the irresistible force of the Spanish team, or the immovable object that are the French?Paul Joyce joins Tom Clarke and offers a glimpse inside England press conferences and the mindset that Gareth Southgate is projecting, to the press at least. As the Times reporter who covers Merseyside, he also looks at the Dutch’s main weapons – Virgil Van Dyke and Cody Gakpo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A second look at England’s win over Switzerland. Some would call it resilient, a friend of Martin’s called it a ‘filthy’ win, but that’s football. Gregor Robertson, Martin Samuel and Tom Clarke take a detailed look at the performance and the changing narrative around Gareth Southgate. If you win, does it matter how you play? Is resilience more valuable than cohesion...? Captain Kane has drawn some criticism in the press, is that fair or a reflection of the system he is playing in? Finally, is Declan Rice the forgotten man of England? Getting better with every game, filling the gaps and front foot aggression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Penalties... no problem. In his press conference, Gareth Southgate was asked if his side were the 'new Germany': the team that doesn't play well but is very good from 12 yards. Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss. Was the 3 at the back experiment a success? Who do you now pick between Guéhi and Konsa? Do England still need to sort out their left hand side? Yes, yes they do. And a quick mention of Turkey v Netherlands. Another classic? 'Get your rave on!' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Here we go again…do England have a ‘performance’ in them? If so, will it materialise today? Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Hamzah Khalique Loonat join Tom Clarke to discuss if a back three from Gareth Southgate will be the magic formula. Gregor is fearful of playing Luke Shaw, Hamzah thinks England could be Sheffield United in disguise and Ian knows how good Switzerland are. But… they also offer some hope.Elsewhere, was Spain’s win over Germany the ‘final’ many wanted? And France, well they’re sparing England’s blushes by playing dreadfully and still winning… Oh and would you still pick Ronaldo? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rumours abound of England switching to a back three for their quarter final against Switzerland. Could this finally be the way to get the best out of an underperforming squad? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at the pros and cons of changing the system at this stage in the tournament. If Southgate does change, who would play in that line up; is there a place for Trent, does Shaw have to play for the first time since February…and who plays up front?In today’s games, arguably the best two teams meet as the hosts take on Spain. Will the Spanish attack be able to unlock a very strong German defence? In the other quarter final France play Portugal, like England two teams who have so far underperformed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another pause between rounds allows for some reflection, this time with Matt Lawton, the chief sports correspondent of The Times. Having covered 15 major tournaments, he's in a pretty good spot to assess how good Euro 2024 has been. He offers his take on England's tournament so far and what Gareth Southgate's future might look like.Plus, he tells Tom Clarke about his recent eye-opening trip to Ukraine with the President of World Athletics, Seb Coe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an England free zone today. But that might just mean it's more joyous than ever. Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke for a round of 16 stocktake. Did we just watch the game of the tournament in Austria v Turkey? Or at the very least, the save of the tournament? And the Netherlands have finally joined the party! Are they now in with a chance? Well, technically, yes.  Plus, some honourable mentions now that 16 teams have been sent home.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The England inquest continues; if they pick the same team, will they beat Switzerland? The resounding response is no. But is Southgate, a pragmatic manager willing to change the script? Gregor Robertson, Martin Samuel, and Tom Allnutt join Tom Clarke to ask; can England rely on having one or two players capable of the exceptional to drag them through? As Cristiano Ronaldo wore his heart on his sleeve it turns out tournament football is quite tough. A star studded Portugal team struggling to get past Slovenia and France scrapping past Belgium. Gregor casts an admiring eye on the French defence, never mind that they haven’t scored from open play yet…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One moment of brilliance saved England from humiliation. Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick helped secure England’s unlikely win, but it doesn’t paper over the chasm in England’s performance; lacklustre, disjointed, blunt, pedestrian. Where does Gareth Southgate go now? Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to dissect a performance which was so disappointing and left so many questions. Left being the operative word…”Just put someone on the left!!” In the other game, Spain…they look rather good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England's path to the final looks clearer than ever, what could possibly go wrong? Tom Clarke is joined by Ian Hawkey, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson to discuss exactly what could go wrong... they could do an Italy. Is there anything more infuriating than VAR? Gregor Robertson doesn't think so. But does Germany's under par performance give other teams hope?And will Georgia upset Spain? Probably not, but here's to hoping.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two days without football felt like a lifetime. But it's back! Martin Samuel, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to preview the last 16: Which game are we most looking forward to? Will there be any shocks on the cards? And how does Alyson decide which decorative flags on her house stay up and which go down?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the group stage finished its time to step back, take a breath and have a considered look at Euro 2024. Which teams have impressed, which have disappointed? Who are the players who’ve stood out and who are the surprise packages? One man perfectly placed to answer most of those questions is Times writer Paul Hirst. He has seen ten teams, travelled across Germany and watched England with England fans in a fan park. Tom Clarke catches up with Paul to get his tips for who to look out for in the knockout stages, the best players he’s seen so far and is German rail really as bad as it is in the UK? Oh, and England, what does he make of them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are England the luckiest team in football? They have somehow contrived to avoid France, Germany, Portugal and Spain; only playing them if they reach the final. Or is that to disrespect the teams who have made it through in their half of the draw  – Austria, Switzerland and their next opponents – Slovakia? Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke to round up a brilliant night for Turkey and Georgia; and to plot England’s unlikely route to the final. Surely, they will beat Slovakia…surely?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ok, so a 0-0 draw against a country smaller than Manchester doesn't sound great... but there are positives. Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Alyson Rudd are intent on finding them. The big question remains, though: who starts in the next round? Plus, Austria are showing the rest of Europe how to win AND entertain. And Alyson thinks the Netherlands will come good eventually. Perhaps in the last 16 against England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will it be a convincing win, a team that clicks and all doubt banished…? Or another edgy one one draw followed by a three-day inquest? The speculation is that Gareth Southgate will swap Trent Alexander Arnold for Conor Gallagher. Will that be enough, will it change the dynamic of a team slow to press and lacking a cutting edge?A thrilling conclusion to group B as football once again proved so much can change in a minute. On ninety-eight minutes Italy were likely heading out, Croatia were going through. But by ninety-nine Italy were through, Croatia as good as out. And England, well even if they were to lose tonight, they’re also through as one of the best third placed teams. But surely, they won’t lose… will they?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dream is over for Scotland. It was Hungary who got the late winner, leaving Scotland bottom of group A. Did the Scots go out with a whimper or with a bang? Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to dissect Scotland’s performance.Gregor thinks they have been the worst team at the tournament, even though they’re not the worst team. Martin and Alyson lament a complete lack of cutting edge. In the other group game Germany nearly suffered a shock defeat to Switzerland, trailing one nil going into injury time. Did their very late equaliser paper over the cracks or are the home fans now wondering if their team are as good as they thought?After the break, a look ahead to England. What is Gareth Southgate’s next move? Double down, change the system or change the personnel? It all feels a bit like closing your eyes and hoping for the best…same old England then…      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's all still to play for, with only 3 teams qualified after 2 rounds of matches. Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss Belgium's arrival, Portugal's improvement and Georgia's last second heartbreak. Martin weighs in on England... What is the question? And is Adam Wharton the answer? Oh, and of course we talk more about Trent Alexander-Arnold. And Gregor is getting ready for his '90 minute panic attack' this evening... Scotland win and they're through. How do they go about that, then?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no sign of the debate around England's form cooling down. Square pegs in round holes, or is everyone just a bit tired? Gregor Robertson is joined by Alyson Rudd, Charlotte Duncker and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to attempt to answer those questions and more. Finally, 21 games in, we've had our first 0-0 draw. But the Netherlands and France still provided plenty of talking points. One being VAR (yawn). Ukraine brought the emotion in an impressive comeback win against Slovakia. And it turns out Ralf Rangnick is a genius, who knew?! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've seen it all before, England playing out a drab, uninspiring 1-1 draw at a major tournament. But how bad was it, really? Well... quite bad. Jonathan Northcroft, James Gheerbrant and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to talk through the problems Gareth Southgate has to tackle. One of those problems will be Slovenia, England's final opponents, who look like they'll be another tricky side to break down. And are Spain quietly making themselves the favourites to win the Euros? All that and more...  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland finally turned up and gave their thousands of fans something to shout about in a spirited draw with Switzerland. Lose to Germany, draw with Switzerland, best Hungary…its all going to plan! But Gregor Robertson is still terrified, especially by the defending.Germany were a picture of ‘contained superiority’ so says Alyson Rudd who is tipping them to win it. For England will it be stick or twist? Tom Allnutt thinks they need a performance, or the pressure will mount. Who will Southgate pick, will he get the best out of Foden…get the first reaction and analysis with Tom Clarke and the team tomorrow.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have we just watched the game of the tournament... so far? Georgia and Turkey served up a thriller that had just about everything. But Martin Samuel had some gripes about Georgia's late tactics. He joins Gregor Robertson, Hamza Khalique-Loonat and Tom Clarke to discuss, plus Ronaldo's importance to Portugal and a look forward to Scotland's second game and Switzerland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It turns out its not only England that can win one nil and be disappointed. Tom Clarke joins Charlotte Duncker, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson to look at tournament favourites France. Kante rolled back the years, Mbappe shone, but by the end were the French hanging on to beat a resilient Austria?Having seen all the best teams apart from Portugal, who has stood out and who isn’t living up to expectations? Belgium certainly fell into the later camp. Their ‘golden generation’ once again struggled, albeit with some questionable officiating.  Quick look and Romania and Georgia and that is day 5. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England beat Serbia, but it wasn’t convincing. Does it matter? Who played well, who didn’t; and will there be changes for the next match?  Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft join Tom Clarke to dissect England’s tournament opener. The midfield is the main focus, is Trent the right man to partner Declan Rice? Further forward, is Foden best suited to the left side and if not there, where?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Italy all made their presence known with wins (some more impressive than others) in their first games of the Euros. But how important is it to lay down a marker early? Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss.And England's campaign starts tonight! Will Trent Alexander-Arnold take the third midfield spot, how hard will Serbia be to break down, and what matters more: experience or youth?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke to reflect on a sorry night for Scotland, but a perfect start for the hosts. Were Scotland bad, or were Germany very good? Could the approach of Nagelsmann offer England a way to harness more of their creative players? Hamzah breaks down England’s first opponents, Serbia. Finally, who are the players to watch out for and where is Martin off to today? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The excitement builds for tonight's mammoth opener: Germany v Scotland. Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson to make their predictions, plus they discuss the merits and flaws of tournament camps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke for the first episode of ‘The Game: Euro pods.’ Martin is in Berlin ahead of the first match, James is packing his bags ready to join him.   They run the rule over who starts along side Declan Rice in midfield…someone makes a surprisingly strong case Adam Wharton. Martin pulls on a Wham analogy, “sometimes someone just needs to play the tambourine!”Before assessing if Scotland have a chance against the hosts, a quick look at domestic matters as Ten Hag stays at Manchester United. Is he there on merit, or through lack of alternatives…?Finally, Scotland can they, will they…?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke to select England's starting line up. After some surprising squad selections and a disappointing final performance…should fans be worried? The team look at potential partnerships, at the back, in midfield and out wide.Gregor thinks there are question marks against all bar four of England’s starting line-up, Alyson sees a right foot heavy squad, Tony wonders if they could take a gamble on a different formation…?After the break a look at Scotland; where will the goals come from and does Steve Clarke need to re build some confidence.Finally, have Manchester City sparked a civil war within the premier league? What are the ramifications of their legal challenge to the premier league…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special edition of ‘The Game’ former player and Premier League manager David Moyes joins The Times team to discuss all things Scotland. David is alongside two other die-hard Scotland fans Jonathan Northcroft and Scotland correspondent Michael Grant.Englishman Tom Clarke is the awkward one asking the questions.David has followed Scotland all over the world for more than 40 years, he’s been through the coaching system and worked with many Scotland greats. He even lays claim to having part of the famous Wembley posts on his bus back north in 1977.Between them the team discuss great Scottish players and coaches, famous games and even a bet with Kevin Kegan at Wembley.Finally, they look at the current Scotland team as they head to Germany…oh and a quick chat about David’s time managing England linchpin Declan Rice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this Madrid team the greatest ever in club football? After winning their fifteenth European cup could you argue they have three of the best five players in the world. With them also set to sign Kylian Mbappe can any team get close to them?Jose Mourinho is back, this time at Turkish side Fenerbahçe…will it be a marriage made in heaven or a tempestuous affair?  Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Tony Cascarino discuss who goes to Germany and who goes home from the initial England squad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a long season…but it’s not over just yet.Some very big clubs are looking for new managers and some big managers are available. So, who goes where?Jonny Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to take a closer look at potential appointments.With Maresca looking likely to leave Leicester, where does that leave the football league champions? Wayne Rooney has been given a chance at Plymouth…is it warranted?Ahead of this weekend, Martin Samuel has been to meet Carlo Ancelotti, a great coach and a true gentleman. With the Euros only two weeks away a quick look at England’s road to being joint favourites for the tournament.Finally, Martin and Jonny are off to Germany. From there they’ll be part of daily episodes of ‘The Game’ where you can get the inside track on the tournament from all the regular panellists. Please follow to make sure you don’t miss an episode. PS – what is a resting bitch face…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday Erik Ten Hag was supposedly out of a job. By Saturday evening the jury was out again. After a gripping FA Cup final, with a performance and result which surprised almost everyone could Ten Hag still be the man for the job?A very busy Manchester reporter Paul Hirst joins James Gheerbrant, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to look at what happens next at Old Trafford? There seems to be a four-man shortlist, but none of the candidates convince the panel…Gregor was at the richest game in football as Southampton beat Leeds in a tight play off final. Will Russell Martin be in contention for any of the managerial vacancies? Finally, who is on Chelsea’s shortlist? McKenna was, now he isn’t; but would any ambitious young manager want to step into the chaotic situations at Manchester United, Chelsea or Bayern Munich? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two minutes in and player of the season Phil Foden puts City one up. Title race over. Great player, great team. Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson consider why City are so good, how other teams can compete and if Foden and Bellingham can play together for England.After a very good season, where do Arsenal go next, a striker, a left back…? Gregor is off to watch the championship play off final, often a cagey affair; will Leeds Southampton buck the trend? After the break a thorough look at some big impending managerial changes. De Zerbi leaves Brighton, could he end up at Man Utd or will Ten Hag be given more time. Poch appears very unsure of his future at Chelsea and how will Slot compare to Klopp…? We’re having a break on Thursday. We’ll be back on Monday to review the FA cup final and play off final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When is a fan not a fan? Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino, Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson discuss the bizarre atmosphere at the Tottenham stadium on Monday night as some Spurs fans struggled to cheer on their team against Man City.After Spurs didn’t do Arsenal a favour, could West Ham in the final game? In a word the universal opinion is… no.Premier League clubs meet next week to discuss the future of VAR…Martin has a simple solution; we need better humans. The discussion gets heated, proving the point that it is a very subjective business.Finally, Tony belatedly offers his alternative team of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal have taken the title race to the final week of the season. But as Man City find their form on the run in, will it matter…? Aside from the title race Manchester United kept the score respectable at Old Trafford, but it was yet another lamentable performance from a club in the doldrums. What now for Casemiero et al?Tom Allnutt is confident that most Spurs fans will not want them to beat City, so handing Arsenal the title…Alyson Rudd isn’t so sure.Gregor Robertson witnessed the discontent at the City ground as Forest stay up but almost because of three worse teams then because of their own efforts.After the break it is ‘Tom Clarke's fun time’ as he makes everyone pick an alternate team of the season with a player from eleven different teams…which one player will make it from City and Arsenal and where will the other nine come from…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Madrid do it again. Do they have better players, a better coach? Is it the ground, their history or all of it rolled together? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at just how special Real Madrid are.Mbappe ends his time with PSG with a whimper, where now for the French star? Domestically Crystal Palace are reborn under Oliver Glazner. Which of their team have a chance of the euros, Olise, Eze, Wharton..? On the receiving end of the Palace trio were a sorry Manchester United. With a cup final on the horizon, is there any hope for Ten Hag and his tenure at Old Trafford?Lastly, a reflection on David Moyes parting of the ways with West Ham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd took a road trip to see Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate home game in charge. Whatever happened in the car stays in the car. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson quiz them on Spurs’ alarming dip in form, and the performance of Harvey Elliot. Tony finally got to ask Klopp a question…In the title race Haaland and Rice are purring, Gregor is very impressed with the all round contribution of Declan Rice on and off the pitch. Tony thinks Haaland leaps like a salmon!Elsewhere Chelsea are starting to look like a real team…will it last? And West Ham have agreed personal terms with Julen Lopetegui…Is relegation now all done and dusted…? And what does it take to survive in the Premier League for promoted teams?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 English players star in Europe, but not the ones you might think. Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss the fluctuating careers of Eric Dier and Jaden Sancho. Will either make the England squad? And why couldn’t Man Utd get the best out of a gifted player?Hindsight is twenty twenty but Kai Havertz now looks like a bargain at sixty million…Martin thinks he saw it coming. Ipswich are on the verge of back to back promotions, where does the achievement of Kieran McKenna rank? With plenty of big clubs looking for new managers will he be near the top of their lists?A big manager leaving is Jurgen Klopp, what do the panel feel about his final season?And from a manager whose team amassed 97 points and were runners up, who were some of the greatest teams to finish second…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And then there were two… It’s no longer a three-horse race, much to Alyson Rudd’s regret. Alyson joins Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to pick over the bones of good wins for City and Arsenal, and touchline altercations for Liverpool and Mo Salah. Could this be the end of the ‘Egyptian King’ at Anfield?The race for fourth continues to ebb and flow, Villa threw away a two goal lead, but still gained on Spurs. Chelsea and their midfield in particular, confound the panel…again.Andoni Iraola has taken Bournemouth to their highest ever points total, does he deserve manager of the season? To finish, its two from three at the bottom. Forest showed form in defeat against City, do Luton have one last push in them? And Burnley, too little to late, or in with a shout…?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel and Tom Allnutt join Gregor Robertson to console Tony Cascarino as Liverpool’s title challenge hits the buffers. What can Liverpool’s bad form be put down to, fitness, desire, off field issues? Tony has a hunch… And is Arne Slot the man to right the ship…?Arsenal have the wind in their sails again can they now go unbeaten for the rest of season…? Chelsea, are a mystery to the entire panel. What will happen to Poch and his erratic team come the summer?Erik Ten Hag may not be embarrassed but is his tenure coming to an end? Martin can understand his response to the media, Tom isn’t so sure…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonatto look back on a remarkable FA cup semi final.Did the last gasp VAR decision deny us an iconic FA cup memory? Gregor and Alyson think yes, ever the realist Hamzah is not so sure. Where does the result leave beleaguered Man Utd fans and their manager? Is an FA cup final enough or was this the final straw for Eric Ten Hag? The deduction derby at Goodison Park lifted Everton clear of the drop zone, but the real drama came from Nottingham Forest’s ‘X’ account. Has a line been crossed by Forest, casting aspersions on the neutrality of officials?  On the pitch hope for Burnley, but is time up for Luton? In the title race, good starts to a big week for Arsenal and Liverpool.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to perform the post-mortem on Man City and Arsenal’s exit from the champions league. Did they just meet better teams or was there any mental fragility or fatigue on show?Will last nights results have a bearing on the title race, if so, who could benefit?For Manchester City is the form of Erling Haaland a worry? 21 touches in the whole game and 37 minutes before he completed a pass… Martin has had his head turned by Cole Palmer and it’s given him a bold plan for England.Finally, a look at the FA cup semi-finals - Chelsea managed to find a negative in a 6-0 win, will they offer any threat to City? For Manchester United is it win or bust for Ten Hag…?    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool to finish fourth. Arsenal stumbling. Villa masterclass and City…back on top.  Liverpool and Arsenal lose at home - is that the final twist in the title race, or just the first?Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and a despondent Tony Cascarino who thinks Liverpool looked so bad they could even finish fourth behind Villa. Arsenal looked edgy but was that down to a masterclass from Unai Emery and his team? City sail on serenely, are there any potential slips in their run in.Was Spurs’ result a freak or a sign of things to come? How good is Alexander Isak and can Newcastle keep hold of him?After an appreciation of some mid table sides in Wolves, Fulham, Chelsea and Bournemouth  it’s time to consider the chaos at Manchester United… again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh off the Eurostar having watched PSG v Barca Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke and Martin Samuel to review a thrilling set of Champions League quarter finals. Are Arsenal and Man City now favourites to meet in the semis? And is City v Madrid really the final everybody wanted? In the other half of the draw do any of the four have a chance, Gregor thinks Barca might…In the Premier League Everton face another points deduction, what does that do to the relegation battle? Is it fair for teams to go into the final day not knowing what they need to survive?We take another look at the title race, Alyson Rudd offers her belated thoughts on Liverpool’s ‘failure’ at Old Trafford and Gregor and Martin almost pin their colours to one particular mast…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Pep ruined football? Arsenal’s proper squad, the leagues most adaptable players and ‘treadmill to oblivion’. Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Henry Winter join Tom Clarke to reflect on a show of squad strength from Arsenal and City. Are the Gunners now at the same level as Man City and Liverpool in terms of squad depth? Who took their chance to shine and who didn’t? As Ben White stars, are traditional full backs now a thing of the past and who are the most adaptable players in the premier league…? Answers on a postcard…Referee Andy Madley decided to ignore VAR at the Brentford v Brighton game last night; could this finally be a turning of the tide?Finally, Brighton post record profits, thumbs up. Daniel Levy is the best plaid club chief ever, thumbs down. Martin over to you…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep gave up, Thomas Frank is special, and goals galore…despite VAR. Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino contrast the snooze fest at the Etihad with the and to end fest at Anfield.Arsenal proved a point to get a point, but City could be happy with the easier run in to come. Liverpool put in their best performance against Brighton, but with Alonso not available who replaces Klopp at Anfield…Alyson Rudd loves Thomas Frank.Goals galore at Newcastle, Stamford Bridge and Bramall Lane but oh VAR, why why why…?A whistle stop tour of all the other weekends games, plus Kalvin Philips’ woes continue and the relegation scrap is far from over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel pick their England starting 11’s for the opening game of the Euros. There are some surprising omissions, Jonny has a left field suggestion and Martin has been swayed by recent performances.Kobbie Mainoo may have written his name on the team sheet, but will Henderson, Rashford or Grealish even make the squad? Following on from the focus on Mainoo the team recall the most impressive debuts they’ve seen, from Gascoigne and Rooney to Charlton and Shearer from the archive.Which is the toughest managers job in football? And finally, a look ahead to the weekend and the language used towards officials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England disappointed, but does it matter? Gareth Southgate and his team conspired to lower expectations after a lacklustre display at Wembley; Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Matt Dickinson discuss who played well, who didn’t and why England looked so blunt. After the break a look at the production line of new footballers – academies. Young players are now given a holistic programme which creates well rounded young men, not just footballers. Is the new battle ground of the elite at academy level, creating the stars of tomorrow?Finally, are footballers ‘thick’? Gregor responds.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are points deductions fair, what's the point of a football regulator, and should Kobbie Mainoo start for England?Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to ask if you’d rather have a good centre forward or a good lawyer? As Nottingham Forest fall foul of the regulator are points deductions the best way to tackle the problem? Should more money go to the wider football pyramid and what happens if it doesn’t?Back on the pitch have England found their midfield answer, will Kobbie Mainoo be the late edition that balances the team? If he makes the squad, then who misses out – Maddison, Henderson, Bowen…? Finally, best Brazilians to ever play in the Premier League…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pulsating game won in the 120th minute with a raucous atmosphere and ending their arch-rivals fairy tale in the process - has Eric Ten Hag suddenly seen what is possible at Old Trafford?Will the result be a turning point in Man Utd’s season or just another glimpse of potential? For Liverpool did tiredness catch up with them? Gregor Robertson thinks Mark Robins is doing some of the best coaching work in the country at Coventry and it’s paying off. They’ll fancy their chances against Utd in the semis. Tom Allnutt has been to meet Gerad Pique; he has some fascinating ideas on the future of football – will clubs soon be paying fans to attend games?Finally, Alyson Rudd is impressed with Fulham and Tom Clarke wants to hear your favourite own goals… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are footballers stupid? Why do footballers cut holes in their socks? And how to write a match report in 2 minutes.Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke discuss the dark arts of football and sports writing.On the pitch they were exemplified by Porto on Tuesday night. But what are the dark arts of the press box? How do writers produce a piece when the result turns around in the final minutes?  Martin recounts the Nou Camp in 99’ – from “Poor old Fergie gets his tactics wrapped around his neck..." to "Arise Sir Alex!…” And facing a deadline, Jonny McNorthcroft found himself hoping Scotland didn’t score.Gregor had a surprising response to his article on ‘Why do footballers cut holes in their socks?’ Which led to another question - are footballers stupid?Finally – its FA cup weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a three-horse title race, the first in years, so who did the result at the weekend benefit the most?Tom Allnutt, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to predict who will win the league. Was a point at Anfield good for City, was Liverpool’s momentum stalled and will Arsenal handle the pressure of going top?Who has the tougher run in and who is each team’s most important player?Spurs love playing the top teams, but Villa seemed to lack belief. Either way, does the race for fourth even matter, if you qualify for the champions league and your team’s not ready?Plus, a rattle through the weekends other results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson mediates as Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino discuss sabbaticals, John Peel and Yu-Gi-Oh!Oh, and some of the week's biggest football talking points: Are Sheffield United the worst team to ever play in the Premier League? Has the Champions League become too predictable? And who will win Sunday's era ending game between Liverpool and Man City? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke reviews a bumper weekend of Premier League talking points with Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Paul Hirst...... What level are Manchester United at? Who is currently the best player in the League (Guardiola thinks it's Phil Foden)? And why on earth have Nottingham Forest hired Mark Clattenburg?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Genes count as three sons of former players star for Liverpool. As academy players are in the spotlight the team discuss the modern player, private education and clubs more holistic approach to their assets. Had Stan Bowles been a player now he may have had more help with gambling problems that beset his life, Martin and Tony share their memories of a great player with a crazy life. With Wolves one game away from Wembley, is Gary O’Neil in line for manager of the season?On to FFP and points deductions, Finally, its Paul Pogba, Eric Ten Hag and martin makes a bold prediction about Brighton. Timeline: FA Cup2’ Klopps trust in the kids3’ This is Klopp’s chance to play the kids, they won’t be playing against City in two weeks. Great for the Dads. Three kids there all whose dads got them playing.5’ How have Liverpool not conceded in last two games?7’ all seem well rounded young men. Moulding good young people not just players.8’ Players with pros as parents know how to stay the course.11’ Lots of young players sent to private school by clubs.14’ They’ve done brilliant but a long way to go.17’ At Wolves, Gary O’Neil, took over five days before season started. He could get them to a Wembley semi/final.20’ He has walked in and not asked for too much change. Everton points deduction23’ six is better then ten. But its still too much.24’ Not good to have lawyers deciding league placings.25’ guidelines are better than nothing. But still no structure.26’ we need clear rules.27’ Everton will now be fine, little danger of relegation. Stan Bowles32’ A maverick, a gambler, and an entertainer.33’ Many stories about the colourful life, playing snakes and ladders for £50 a corner…34’ The stories obscure how good he was as a player. In 74’ QPR were 14 mins from winning the league.37’ Don shanks compared him to Aguero, he was a continental footballer in Britain. Tony thinks Zola.38’ there was a sad side to stan. He had a testimonial and gambled all the money away within a few weeks. Brighton42’ Martin thinks Brighton are too good…they will keep losing good staff and good players. You can’t sustain that.44’ No matter the data team, at some point you can’t pull another rabbit out the hat.45’ Bloom is a genius; he is possibly the best owner of a club in the world. Pogba53’ Pogba banned for four years for doping. effectively ending his career54’ Very sad, Sad way for a player of his talent to end his career. It won’t end with this, there is more to come out. Manchester derby56’ who knows, Martin can’t predict.57’ I can’t see how he [Ten Hag] can be there man for next season. Because if he was, they’d have come out and said it.60’ fabulous team, but you just can’t get the ball off them. Be amazed if Man City don’t win Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was it Captain Colossus, Klopp’s charisma or just really good academy players that got Liverpool over the line? Alyson Rudd was Nostradamus, highlighting last week the huge impact Virgil Van Dyke has on his Liverpool team. What now for Pochettino and Chelsea, wilting in extra time and still no trophy.At Old Trafford the shoots of hope were trampled by a very good Fulham performance. It left some wondering, what the club have to show for the second most expensive signing ever…Anthony. For Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner has hit the ground running with signs of a blueprint after only two games.Finally, its Arsenal looking strong and good luck to George Elokobi and Maidstone. Timeline: Cup final2’ Liverpool, well deserved win. Chelsea created better chances, but Liverpool had the fight, hunger and drive.4’ Tom A felt Chelsea were in the ascendancy, until extra time. Poch’s disappointment was how they played extra time.8’ Alyson the prophet, saw the impact VVD has on Liverpool.13’ It is precious to have academy players in big games. It strengthens the bond between team and supporters.14’ Chelsea had that and they burnt it.15’ Liverpool testament to a long term structure and plan.“Its not a coincidence that you get a 19yr old at a club like Liverpool who can step in and look like he’s been there for years.”19’ Chelsea have wasted their money. Who is not buying into Poch’s culture.21’ Too many mistakes and get too introverted to easily.22’ a collective malaise, where is it coming from? Pricky Pep24’ doesn’t like journalists, looked bored26’ seems to hate doing press.28’ The pressure and demands on managers are enormous. Manchester United31’ Ten Hag back under pressure. Result indicative of what’s going on at the club.32’ Tom’s visit to Ajax, no one thought Anthony was worth what Man U paid for him.33’ Are they going to build off field first then the team? Or on pitch first.36’ Hot managerial market this summer. Liverpool, Barca and Bayern all looking.37’ Fulham were excellent, they wanted it and were without Paulinha, Jimenez and Willian.38’ Muniz stepping up, looked good. Iwobi, really good, cool finish. Palace40’ already there is a blueprint. 3-4-2-141’ Matheaus Franca, looked good, suddenly can see why they signed him.43’ great start for Glasner, good record of signings from championship, Wharton another of them. They have good young players.44’ free roll of the dice for a mid table club. Arsenal46’ Playing fantastic, front foot football. They’re flying.48’ Goals from 19 set pieces and best defence…50’ Should Eddie howe be worried, they’re tailing away. Look poor first half.51’ Arsenal suffocated them, pressed them to death. Good luck George!!Maidstone take on Coventry City in the FA cup tonight. They’re the lowest ranked team to reach round five in over 40 years.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of a huge FA Cup tie for Maidstone United, a special edition of The Game.Ever wondered how a part time team prepares for a big cup game against a team four leagues above them? Or what it’s like to score your first premier league goal, or get ‘tortured’ by a winger in front of Sir Alex at Old Trafford..? In a bonus edition of The Game Alyson Rudd and producer Neil went to meet Maidstone manager George Elokobi…. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quick look at the mid-week fixtures and a bold claim, Arsenal have the best defence, and defences win leagues… City won again and Klopp likened his teams win against Luton to their famous win against Barcelona.James Gheerbrandt went to see Tuchel lose out to Xabi Alonso against Leverkusen. A week later he ‘agreed’ to leave Munich, where next and what are the knock-on effects in the managerial merry go round?  Tom, Martin, James and Gregor discuss the bold new vision presented by Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United, is three years optimistic and why no backing for Ten Hag…? Timeline:2’ Arsenal sucker punched by Porto3’ Different feel to European games, lots of fouls, grappling.5’ Good for the champions league to have such a different feel. Made it tough for Arsenal.8’ arsenal looking at not getting to quarters again, do they need to change mindset. 11’ Arsenal have the bets defence in the league, and titles are won by defences…13’ Klopp has created, built character at Liverpool, that will get you a long way. Tuchel leaves Munich20’ Will Tuchel leaving mean Alonso goes to Munich?21’ Tuchel was out manoeuvred by Alonso, he won the tactical battle.22’ Weird move by Munich, not good for dressing room.24’ If Liverpool want him, they need to get in now and tell him, before Munich do. Sir Jim Ratcliffe33’ He wants Man Utd ‘turned around’ in three years. Three years isn’t very long…can he do it?35’ He has a helping hand with Klopp leaving, and city facing FFP investigations37’ he was bullish, might regret that. Came close to slagging the glazers off.38’ No mention or backing for Ten Hag42’ slates being cleared. They’ve had good managers, it’s the system they work in that needs fixing.45’ We’re Manchester United and we’re coming to get you.  49’ extraordinary that it has taken 11 years for this to happen for Man Utd to have a modern set up.51’ everything is about money. Why is it surprising that Newcastle want money for Dan Ashworth…54’ On the pitch looks better, but still a long way to go. Gregor still thinks they are miles off.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

City dropped points, Liverpool picked up more injuries and Arsenal are eleven nil up from their last two games. So where does that leave the title race?Which players are irreplaceable on a title run in?Crystal Palace look set to make a managerial change, but how have they handled it, with Roy Hodgson still unwell and Oliver Glasner seemingly lined up to replace him.Who is best placed to be Harry Kane’s understudy? Gregor Robertson thinks Ollie Watkins is the complete striker. Alyson Rudd thinks Ivan Tony has international class.Rasmus Hojlund has turned a corner and is now the youngster player to score in six consecutive premier league games, will it be enough to drag Man Utd into the top four… Timeline: Title race2’ Across two games Chelsea were really good. Chilwell handled Foden well.3’ Best game Disasi has had in a Chelsea shirt.4’ Haaland wont’ have many games like that.5’ Can’t believe how nice you’re being to Chelsea. They were defensive smart performance from Chelsea8’ city’s record against top 6 is a concern. They’re third, behind Arsenal and Chelsea.Liverpool9’ Virgil Van Dyke, a man with presence. Key to being clam is enjoying the football.11’ having an amazing season Arsenal15’ Forward line has grown in confidence as the goals have come.16’ Liverpool victory was key.18’ Burnley and West Ham abysmal. So 11-0 for arsenal has context.19’ all done without Zinchenko and Jesus. Injuries21’ could have a key part in title race. Each of the big three have key players- Van Dyke, Stones, Rodri, Saliba…will injuries affect the outcome.22’ Liverpool have youngster on the side lines already bedded in who can step in.Roy Hodgson23’ Awful position to have a manager facing the sack whilst also ill in hospital.25’ when Hodgson collapsed he still hadn’t been told, but it is an open secret that Glasner is going to get the job.28’ Roy shouldn’t be in a position of being angry with the club going behind his back. 29’ they way they are handling this is terrible. And it isn’t the first time.Watkins or Tony31’ Masterclass from Watkins at the weekend32’ His importance to Villa is immense, their top four challenge rests on his shoulders.33’ He is profile similar to Kane.36’ His stats put him in elite company.37’ Watkins is always involved, even if he isn’t flashy. His skill set is very broad.40’ Ivan Tony is very unselfish. He has improved Maupay enormously. Makes unselfish runs and links up others players. Very good intuition. He has international class.43’ Kane’s understudy…Watkins for Gregor. Wide skill set. But Alyson thinks Tony, he has more arrogance and would step up to international football. Watkins is developing that arrogance.Man Utd and Rasmus Hojlund  47’ Youngest player to score in 6 premier league games on the spin.48’ Led the line brilliantly, looked confident, strong and with a strikers nose.51’ Without his goals they had no chance of top four. Now…it looks possible, but not yet likely.Bad tackles53’ This was Sheff United’s chance to create hope of safety. Holgate blew it inside 20 minutes.56’ Tough times for Chris Wilder. He had a big win at Luton and they haven’t backed it up. So momentum has been lost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could Harry Kane really have another trophy-less season? If he does it won’t be for the lack of effort. The England captain has had a brilliant season, is endearing himself to the German fans, but it could still be not quite enough. Man City strolled to another win in the Champions league, are they now at their best?How would you feel if your club was part of a multi ownership model, with sister clubs in other countries…it is becoming more and more common, what are the pros and cons?Finally the new era at Manchester United looks set to start with the signing of…sporting director Dan Ashworth from Newcastle. Tom, Martin, Jonny and Gregor all agree, its good business.  Timeline: Harry Kane2’ Looking like he may not win anything in Germany. 3’ if he’d stayed at Spurs he’d be unlikely to win anything either.6’ Highly likely Munich will win something, if not this season then next. 7’ we don’t seem to celebrate success in the same way in this country. He couldn’t do anymore, he’s been great.11’ Kane endears himself to the supporters.18’ He could stay for two or three years, especially if his family are happy. City22’ They look back to their best, so easy.23’ John Stones looked accomplished in pivot role. Is he taken for granted?26’ Pep had a pop at Grealish.28’ Guardiola has earned the right to criticise, he is subtle with it though.Multi club ownership33’ Girona in Spain, the smallest ground in La Liga, a budget 700million euros less than Madrid, yet they are in a title race. Astonishing.36’ If they’re good owners, what does it matter.39’ Girona are the exception, many multi ownership models favour the ‘big fish.’40’ 8 of top 18 teams in Belgium part of multi club models.42’ it depends on the club, some push back and do wish to be part of a large organisation – Strasbourg declined Chelsea.48’ It’s a growth industry, 180 clubs world wide now part of multi ownership groups, it was 40 a decade ago. Man United52’ Looks like Dan Ashworth is going to be poached from Newcastle. 54’ Looks a good positive move from Jim Ratcliffe.55’ Ashworth is one of the best in that particular role.54’ Ashworth has ushered in a far greater degree of intelligence in the way clubs are run, he did it at West Brom, FA and Brighton.56’ Man Utd are the last of the old style football clubs.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For fifteen minutes it seemed Arsenal were the complete team, but was that down to West Ham’s passivity? What does the result from the London Stadium mean for both teams - are Arsenal now back in the title race, if they were ever out of it; and for West Ham is a contract for David Moyes more or less likely?The result at Spurs was not reflective of an end to end encounter. Brighton refuse to take a backward step and Spurs now have all their players available again.After the break, what/who is Scot McTominay? A six, an eight, a ten or a throwback. The team try to figure it out. He helped Utd to a key win. Villa lost, but played well.Finally, Gregor went to meet Luton forward Elijah Adebayo but he was an unlucky omen for a great lad. Oh and Alyson is getting excited about Xabi Alonso…Timeline:West Ham v Arsenal4’ Hard for arsenal to win a title with some many London derbies to negotiate. West Ham have a good record against Arsenal.6’ Trossard was superb. 15 min spell with four goals. They had everything for that spell. Pace, power, grace, intelligence.9’ Arsenal were in control, they made it a technical contest. Last season it felt like it got tense and emotional.10’ the asterix is West Ham are all at sea.11’ Gregor thought West Ham were passive.13’ easy to extrapolate too much from games like this. Just one win.16’ West Ham fans might have seen this performance coming. Team set up on the back foot.17’ West Ham have some good players, could do something under a more progressive coach. Tottenham v Brighton20’ to teams better at pressing than playing out from the back. Repeatedly stealing the ball off each other in the final third.21’ It came down to both teams not quite having the quality in the final third, Son made the difference. The quality makes the difference in those fine margins.23’ it was all about Son, it felt like he had been away for a year.24’ Spurs are looking good, they’ve got all their options back for the first time under Postecoglou26’ Spurs need more out wide if they are going to progress to the next level.27’ Brighton missing the cutting edge up front. But still doing remarkably well with the resources they have and the type of football they play.28’ Brighton - Playing above themselves, brilliant to watch and a clear style of play.Scott McTominay and Villa v Utd31’ Jack of all trades or will he be a 8 or a 10? Always looked like he would be a destroyer rather than a goal scorer.32’ for all his appearances and goals he still won’t be a starter.34’ Its not definitive that he can’t start. 35’ Any parallels with John McGinn at Villa, not quite a centre mid or a ten?36’ Are their good players being phased out who can’t do what the modern creative/pressing era requires.38’ This is Utd from last season, grabbing wins they shouldn’t whilst not playing very well. But still amassing the points.40’ Villa have had a dip, but yesterday they played well and felt they were unlucky not to win.41’ Utd now seem better placed to finish top four than Villa…But spurs look good.Luton v Sheff Utd43’ Spent a long time at Fulham without playing for the first team. Appreciates where he is now.44’ The energy at Luton comes from players who have had to fight to play top level football.47’ Sheff Utd were fearless. Didn’t come for a draw. Bundesliga 48’ Leverkusen deserved their great win against Munich. Poor Harry Kane looks like he might not win a title.50’ some of Leverkusen’s patterns of play were amazing. 52’ Alonso is nothing like Klopp, that could be a really good thing. IF he goes to Liverpool.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are sin bins a good idea? It looks increasingly likely that they will be trialled in specific games/competitions next season. Tom, Martin, Gregor and Tony discuss the pros and cons of sinbins and other IFAB proposed rule changes. Chelsea confounded the critics with a five star display at Villa park, but can they reproduce it?While Chelsea celebrate the team move on to discusshow, where and when one should celebrate. FYI, its not in front of the Millwallfans when you’ve just scored against them. Finally, Jesse Lingard is off the South Korea… Timeline: Chelsea and Villa5’ how do you predict football. Convincing performance, but off the back of Wolves and Liverpool performances.7’ young players will have good nights, but its about consistency.9’ Jackson’s confidence will rise from playing wide and contributing.10’ A drop in standards from Villa.11’ Early goals made all the difference.Celebrations14’ I’m not the celebration police, but keep your trousers on. Play nice.16’ Tony and his limo. Jibes about players wages on the pitch.18’ Carful how you mock…what goes around…22’ Its part of the game. Gregor would love to have someone like Maupay in his team, winding up the opposition is part of the celebration.27’ The dentists chair was a classic orchestrated celebration29’ the plans that go into each game. High fiving defenders for a clearance.32’ We’ve turned into the celebration police.38’ Tony celebrated against his former clubs…Cooling off38’ the self pass is a good rule, one used in rugby and hockey. That would cut out decent.38’ The cooling off period wouldn’t achieve that. 40’ there are easier things to do which don’t alter the structure of the game.41’ The laws need to be simplified, not complicated.43’ All seem in favour of a Sin bin46’ Are we setting unrealistic targets for perfection in the running and ruling of football.50’ the penalty spot is the perfect example of the madness at IFAB…by trying to improve it they make it worse. Jesse Lingard 53’ Korean culture doesn’t need Lingard. He might need it though.55’ It’s a shame, he’s a better player than south Korean league.56’ He might regret not taking the offers on the table58’ did he choose money over a good football choice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal are back in the title race, but are Liverpool suffering the delayed effects of Jurgen Klopp’s announcement last week? Tom, Alyson, Gregor, and Tony discuss the result at the Emirates and where it leaves both teams. It was a positive weekend for Manchester United, two wins on the bounce and Erik Ten Hag more upbeat than ever, have they finally turned a corner?Chelsea by contrast go from bad to worse. The team see no light at the end of the tunnel for a team over budget, with no identity, no character and facing FFP restrictions. No such trouble at Wolves who are a showcase for the ability of Gary O’Neil…will Crystal Palace come calling if he isn’t given a new contract by Wolves soon. And a quick tip of the hat for Luton.  Timeline:Arsenal v Liverpool2’ Keepers at fault, Alisson and Reya,  should have stayed on their line.4’ the let down after Klopp’s announcement6’ Nunez should start if fit. 7’ poor as a team, off the pace, Trent AA nose out of joint.10’ Arsenal were fantastic. Structured, first goal was great.11’ Brave on the ball at the back, resisting Liverpool’s press13’ What do Liverpool do now?18’ It’s a reset moment for Liverpool…will they or not? Manchester united20’ Positive signs, two wins on the trot.21’ there is balance in the team with Shaw and Martinez back. Mainoo offers legs alongside Casimero.22’ Ten Hag suddenly has a predictable eleven.25’ The Kobbie Mainoo goal could have been the springboard.26’ There are lights and reasons for optimism, can they sustain it. West Ham29’ Tough start for Kalvin Philips at West ham. He looks short on confidence and a little unfit.32’ missing pre season is key. Philips playing catch up from not playing at City. Chelsea and Wolves   35’ Fans berating players, some berating manager, joined with the Wolves fans who sang you’re f**ing sh*t.36’ Wolves were a joy to watch. Everything Chelsea are not. Pace, bravery and positivity.37’ Gary O’Neil not getting credit because it’s about the Chelsea crisis.38’ Chelsea sold all their personality. 41’ Chelsea could be in freefall, they need to move players on.41’ Chelsea If you take Tiago out it looks like a team of little boys.43’ Is Poch the problem? 46’ They can’t afford to sack him, even if they want to.48’ Will O’Neil stay at Wolves? He’ll be in demand. Are Palace looking?Crystal Palace51’ no depth in squad, can’t afford it, results reflect that. Bit of bad luck with injuries to key players. 54’ Getting rid of Hodgson would be a political decision.55’ It’ll end badly, because the club shouldn’t have reemployed him in the summer. 57’ bigger issues at Palace, Steve Parish owns 10% but his a bigger say on pitch,,,why? 58’ There is conflict in the board room.Luton58’ Of course they can stay up!!60’ They’re brave, they play with positivity and ross Barkley has found a home.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Luton stay up is Rob Edwards the manager of the season? Tom, Martin, Gregor and Jonny discuss. Kenilworth Road has become the awkward advantage that many pundits thought it would be, and Ross Barkley is providing flashes of inspiration. At Selhurst park it is the Eze and Olise show, just how good are they? Sticking with attacking flair Ange-ball is back in full flow at Spurs, will Postecoglou take Tottenham into the Champions league?After the break its Liverpool and their title chances and life after Jurgen Klopp, plus a remarkable tail of a very unlikely manager…Carlos Tevez. Timeline:Luton2’ If Luton stay up, Rob Edwards is manager of the season.3’ they playing good football, they’ve revitalised ross Barkley and lost their captain to a cardiac arrest.5’ Rob Edwards has got the best out of his players. Played positive football and recovered from a poor start.7’ They have harnessed community spirit and togetherness.8’ Kenilworth road is a completely different environment to any other premier league ground.10’ Still ow down on XG but Carlton Morris and Adebayo have stepped up.11’ Don’t underestimate Ross Barkley’s influence.13’ A dip for Brighton, have they sold too many players? Palace; the Eze and Olise show17’ Eze creates goals out of nothing.18’ They do the unorthodox and show there is still a value in the game for that.19’ both were rejected by other clubs…21’ Eze is an X factor player, he’s in the England squad, he’s doing better than Grealish this season. Spurs25’ Ange does not take backwards step, there will be problems, but he seems to have come through it.26’ Still only 8 points off the top. In the top four.27’ Martin on Postecoglou “If he gets them in the champions league he’s done a fabulous job.”28’ This man has added to the gayety of nations, no doubt about it. Tevez – worlds least likely manager31’ crazy character, very open, loved his family and Argentina.34’ Tevez unlikely rise to management. Got Independiente winning and playing high press football.36’ will he, could he come the Premier League…?37’ Always the players you don’t suspect who become good managers.39’ He has brought in neuroscience and a school teacher. A kind calm man.Liverpool v Chelsea42’ Connor Bradley, the player that puts alexander Arnold into midfield.43’ Liverpool a squad refreshed, Klopp is leaving a gift.45’ Lets wait and see on Alonso.46’ Postecoglou is the ideal replacement for Klopp49’ Hardest job is replacing Klopp’s relationship with the fans.51’ Liverpool could steamroller Arsenal…Gregor thinks otherwise, Liverpool could be tested going the other way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom gets the tissues out to console Alyson and Tony before they discuss who will replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Alonso is the favourite, but as Gregor points out he’s only had 18 months first team management experience.As Klopp departs has the scrutiny of referees added to the increase in football disorder and referee attacks?Alyson met George Elokobi and his mentor Mick McCarthy ahead of Maidstone's FA Cup win. It was such a good omen, they want to do it again before round six.Finally what’s eating Marcus Rashford…? Is Joao Pedro worth 100million and is Vincent Kompany listening to Alyson…?Timeline:Klopp 2’ three words to sum up Jurgen Klopp4’ who is next to replace Klopp.5’ Does Alonso have the experience?6’ Alonso has earned his stripes, his father was a coach, he has turned down other big jobs.7’ Other options…10’ only 18 months experience.14’ all coaching staff leaving too.15’ Van Dyke also showing signs of coming to end..?17’ He should stay, careful about too much change too quickly. Disorder and football 21’ violence at the Hawthorns after Wolves scored their second and a referee chased at Port Vale.22’ A sign of increasing disorder, or just the odd idiot?24’ should we be grateful it isn’t as regular as it used to be.26’ you can’t legislate for idiots28’ VAR, there is more anger, we’re seeing this across Europe. It isn’t surprising that referee’s are getting targeted. Maidstone and George Elokobi 31’ Mich McCarthy and George Elokobi love in.34’ George Elokobi modelled much of his management on Mick McCarthy. Much of what he did as a player was on Mick’s recommendation.36’ he’s built a team where they are all a little bit like a Mick McCarthy team38’ all about effort, never give up, energy, spirit, give it all. Rashford 42’ There is something behind the scenes, we don’t know what yet. Ten Hagg, clearly not happy about something.44’ If he has done things wrong he has to own it and then change it.47’ Is he unhappy, distracted or uncomfortable?48’ don’t rush to judge Joao Pedro 49’ Is he going to be the next big signing to leave Brighton. De Zerbi thinks so.51’ Hard to place the type of player he is. He is Brighton’s record signing.52’ He is improving under De Zerbi. Burnley… 53’ Alyson’s biggest fear at the start of the season has proved true – commitment to nice style of play. Is that changing ?54’ are we finally seeing some pragmatism.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No signings in the window but Beyonce makes Spurs rich Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel for more football discussion and a crash course in Beyonce lyrics.First off, the team look back at a very positive performance for Chelsea in the league cup. Do they now have a cutting edge and are some of their big signings starting to gel? Liverpool are progressing without Mo Salah, but opinion is still split on Darwin Nunez.The transfer window has been a damp squib, Martin has a theory as to why.After the break Tom goes Beyonce crazy as he looks at the role the megastar played in making Spurs London’s richest club. What does the Spurs model mean for teams like Chelsea and Newcastle and how they monetize their football clubs?We finish with a long FA cup weekend, are there shocks anymore…?Timesline:Chelsea triumph2’ there is a good team at Chelsea trying to get out. Now they’re in a final.3’ Chelsea are more organised, and have plenty of confidence players. Its growing now. Pace in the team.4’ but they lack a centre forward and Tiago at 39 is thill their best defender.6’ Too reliant on full backs – Chilwell and James. Should Poch have a better plan b7’ Winning the final could be a springboard. Only two players left from the Chelsea Champions league team.Liverpool and Salah8’ Salah’s loss is big but can be absorbed.10’ Liverpool’s youngsters all doing well. Entering a winning team helps.12’ Great collection of forward players15’ Nunez, Gregor still not convinced. Transfer window21’ the ten point deductions have scared clubs into not signing anyone.23’ Why do we have a transfer window. The restriction doesn’t apply in any other business.27’ Should you be able to buy your way out of trouble? Is that why the window exists…28’ Profit and sustainability rules are pushing teams to do much of their business in the summer. Richest clubs and finance models32’ They’ve done so without winning anything. Proof of modern football thinking.33’ Financial success not built on sporting success. Built on good business planning.33’ All done by monetizing the stadium.34’ Very modern success story. Comparison to Chelsea who fall behind every match day.All returns to profit and sustainability rules. Newcastle now busy tryign to maximise every aspect of the club.36’ Spurs stadium cost 1 billion, not everyone can do that. It should be good!38’ This affects on pitch. Because higher revenues allow clubs to spend more on players.38’ Newcastle a long way off, not built a following outside on Newcastle.39’ Should Newcastle consider naming rights on their stadium?39’ Newcastle ideal owner was mike Ashley, he ran it as an accountant.. Ashley was great re P and S rules. But awful for football. FA Cup46’ All the fixtures spread out. Best two games on Friday night.Chelsea Villa the stand out.47’ Only four games on Saturday. 52’ lamenting of teams outside the top division not featuring in finals  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke for Monday’s edition of The Game.Four games and four talking points from the weekend’s fixtures. A statement win from Liverpool against in form Bournemouth and two strikers hit form in Jota and Nunez. Are the reds capable of winning the title?At Bramall Lane the tail of two penalties, one that was and one that wasn’t but which way round was it? And do we need an orange card?Arsenal returned with a bang, they’re the set piece kings but will they need more than that to stay in the title race.Finally, Ivan Toney returned amid great fan fare but more than lived up to his billing.  Timeline:Bournemouth v Liverpool4’ Liverpool were clinical. Young players stepped up.5’ still not convinced on Nunez. Will he do it consistently? 6’ Liverpool have a character and mentality of scoring, wildness, 7’ not much control but swashbuckling, front foot attacking. Unstable but gets results.8’ Klopp’s half time changes and in game changes are very effective and exciting.10’ Klopp seems happy and creative again. Generating excitement after 8yrs at a club, not easy.11’ Klopp likes to promote younger academy players; he seems to trust them.15’ improvement from Bournemouth but just not the cutting edge.17’ Title chances… Sheff Utd v West Ham18’ Brewsters red card…was it or wasn’t it?20’ Does ‘getting in the refs ear’ make any difference?24’  The mystery penalty…where was the foul?26’ Hard to see a foul from Ariola, similarly at the other end, not obvious, Bowen was six of one half a dozen of the other.29’ looking grim for Sheff Utd. Wilder has had an effect but not quite managing to turn draws into wins. 31’ Sheff Utd don’t play with fatalism, they play with fearlessness, energy and camaraderie.33’ Tight at the bottom. Forest look like a team who could take a points deduction and survive. Sheff Utd will get better. Arsenal v Palace35’ Arsenal have best record from set pieces in Premier League.36’ level of detail in set piece coaching, almost like a dance routine. Almost a different coach for set pieces.37’ a lot of the time it is about blocking. 38’ are the blocks technically fouls? Fouls and counter fouls going back and forth.41’ But is it enough to keep arsenal in the title race. If they are starved of set pieces will they be bale to score?43’ Lacking creativity, especially centrally. Not hectic but more structured and as a result predictable…?44’ Is it still a three-team title race?45’ Arsenal not hit their stride, yet they are still right in the title race.  Brentford v Nottingham Forest46’ Ivan Toney has great self-confidence.47’ Gregor played with Toney as a 17 year old. Mentality, confidence and belief.50’ to cope with all the noise around his return and still play well. Shows and elite mindset. 51’ He visualised it all happening.53’ The power of the mind. He said all the things  he would do and he is doing them.54’ Thomas Frank deserves credit for the way he has handled Toney.59’ how many mangers would have sanctioned an enormous bill board and gardy promo? But they trusted Toney and knew he was ready.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft to discuss Premier League punishments, Ivan Toney's return and Jose Mourinho's Roma sacking. With Everton and Nottingham Forest facing potential points deductions (Everton for the second time this season), the panel assess the rules and debate whether the possible punishments are justified. Ivan Toney could make his footballing return on Saturday. So, what's he been up to for the last 10 months? Plus, José Mourinho's made a teary-eyed exit after being sacked as Roma's manager. What comes next, only José knows. Points deductions for Everton and Forest?3' Are profit and sustainability rules fit for purpose? 6' Are the punishments too harsh? 12' Have Nottingham Forest been careless in their spending?15' Should we have sympathy for the clubs who have complied with the rules?18' Is it a problem for football that very rich men chase a dream in football?19' How do we keep competitive balance without such rules? 21' Why haven't clubs outside the big six voted to get rid of the rules? 26' What about how long these investigations are taking? 28' Solutions? An independent regulator? More power for the Football League/Premier League? Ivan Toney:41' What has Ivan Toney been up to since his ban came in? 45' Is Toney the second best striker in the Premier League?46' What do Brentford do? Keep, sell or something else? 48' Is he in good contention for the England Euros squad?Jose Mourinho:52' Where are we at with Jose Mourinho now?55' Has modern football passed Mourinho by?59' Does he need to rebrand?61' What about an international job? Or Saudi Arabia? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Dickinson, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plan of action, why Reading fan's invaded the pitch and what spooked Alyson over the weekend. Matt Dickinson gives an in-depth insight into what Manchester United's new 25% owner should be prioritising once he's got his feet under the table. Now Kevin De Bruyne has returned (and immediately delivered), will City run away with the Premier League title? There were chaotic scenes at The Madejski Stadium at the weekend. Gregor gives his take on events. And what 'unnerving' event did Alyson experience in the Stamford Bridge Press box? Timeline: Man United2' Did we learn more about Tottenham or United from Sunday's draw at Old Trafford? 4' How impressive have Spurs been this season? 6' Does the club stop any personality from doing what Ange Postecoglou has done at Spurs, at United? 10' What is Sir Jim Ratcliffe like as a person? 13' Is there a sense of fandom for Ratcliffe? Or strictly business? 15' Is 25% ownership enough for Ratcliffe? 17' For the Glazers, Man United became a commercial operation with a football club attached19' How much money will Man United be spending? 20' Will Sir Dave Brailsford be involved in footballing decisions? 22' Where are Man United currently at? Is a total reset needed? 24' What will Sir Jim Ratcliffe's approach to managers be? Clinical, or romantic? 26' What is the priority for Ten Hag after the takeover?28' Will there be any transfer activity in January? Man City v Newcastle 32' Five beautiful goals, but which was the best? 36' Do defenders pay De Bruyne too much respect? And what position will he play?42' Will City now run away with the league now De Bruyne is back?43' Does Newcastle's downturn in form signal the end for Eddie Howe? England job for Howe?Reading46' What's the background to the protests we saw over the weekend? 49' Do the panel condone the protests?Chelsea v Fulham53' A nonevent derby, with a poor atmosphere and poor performances?55' What's Pochettino's mood like? Any fear about his position?57' Alyson's 'Unnerving' encounter at Stamford Bridge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke for the Thurs edition of The Game. Is Mauricio Pochettino under pressure at Chelsea? After a loss to championship side Middlesborough in the first leg of the league cup semi final and indifferent league form, will the owner demand more after spending a billion pounds? Liverpool won again, with two youngster shining in Curtis jones and Conor Bradley. Could Jones make the England squad. After the break, how much does FFP affect January transfers; where will Mbappe end up an will Werner and Sancho be good signings?Timeline:2’ BeckenbauerChelsea4’ Poch under pressure. After a loss to Middlesborough, where next?5’ Lots of quality, not much spirit. Not clinical, they’re an easy team to play against.7’ look soft, no edge but they’ll probably still beat Middlesborough.8’ They’d be mad to get rid of Poch. Who is out there that is guaranteed to do better?11’ You can’t keep sacking managers every six months.12’ This is a big month for Poch. Both cups, and key league games. How January goes could affect the mood music, rightly or wrongly.16’ If not Poch then who. Owners must have one eye on that. Review at the end of the season seems likely.17’ They had a good manager, and they sacked him – Thomas Tuchel.20’ Owners are erratic and at times irrational.22’ Are any of the strikers they have bought good enough?24’ Top eight team at best, don’t look like they’ll go on a run.Liverpool27’ Conor Bradly and Curtis Jones shone. Jones now looks a really good midfielder.30’ Brady has bundles of energy.31’ Curtis Jones looks like a very live England chance. Gregor not so sure.Transfers…Mbappe, FFP and Timo Werner34’ Why aren’t more teams looking at Mbappe? FFP restricts what teams can do.36’ Gregor wants Mbappe, but not unfettered spending.37’ Premier league already getting less competitive, if rich teams are allowed to spend unfettered, it will make it worse.43’ Rules in place are currently inhibiting teams from getting the best players. But some would prefer the premier league slip a little at the benefit of the wider football pyramid.46’ Werner will get chances at Spurs, and Postecoglou might get the best out of him.50’ He’s only 27, it could be a redemption story.51’ His numbers are not that bad, he is involved, he assists and contributes.52’ Sancho likely to return to Dortmund. What went wrong?55’ Sancho still not off the wage bill. Could a new manager pull him back to Old Trafford?57’ He’s already made some brave decisions in his career. Is this another one?59’ does he have the potential to be truly world class?61’ lots of players at United are underperforming, is it related to style of play?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Martin Hardy join Tom Clarke to discuss why Arsenal are stumbling, who paid for the Newcastle beers and if we should re-record the whole podcast.First up Arsenal’s blunt strike force, do they have the answer or do they need to buy. A character building win for Liverpool, but do either team have enough to trouble Man City in the league. Martin Hardy reflects on an important result for Newcastle and Eddie Howe, and the difference a weeks rest made. For Sunderland it was a week to forget.Finally, to replay or not to replay? It depends on who you ask, Gregor has little sympathy for elite teams setting the agenda for all of the football pyramid. Timeline:Arsenal v Liverpool2’ Are wheels coming off Arsenal. Arteta has referenced a mental block around scoring.4’ Arsenal should have bought a top class forward. Their current strikers are not top class.5’ Are there as many top class forwards in the premier league now?6’ Havertz a box crasher.8’ Should Arteta be speaking out? Where will goals come from?9’ Liverpool looked good. Still lacked a clinical edge though, but more resilience.11’ Liverpool are a different side second half in most games. So many goals after 75mins.13’ Both teams good, but are either good enough to finish above Man City?14’ Nunez a handful but will he win you a title?Wear Tyne derby16’ crazy derby stories, ghosts, Di Canio, horses and graffiti. 19’ Sunderland were not ready for the occasion.21’ Odd tactical choice by Michael Beale.22’ Newcastle looked like they had had a weeks rest 24’ Why play out from the back against a team who love to press.25’ Tripper looked back. Springboard for the rest of the season, injuries returning.27’ Very important win for Eddie howe and Newcastle. Weekend highlights31’ Maidstone, penalty saves, away followings and Patrick Bamford’s worldie.Replays35’ Good idea of not? 36’ Removal of a replay might create teams who play for penalties. It used to be three replay’s37’ Replay’s look likely to be dropped.40’ We shouldn’t be changing the calendar for 16 elite teams.42’ Replays are great for teams seeking revenue and hope. They’re not for big teams seeking a break.43’ The problem highlights the vast financial differences between all the levels of football.48’ Given the money on offer for one extra point in the premier league, do cups matter anymore?50’ “Domestic football should not be shaped in the image of 6 to 8 rich elite owners.”Transfers53’ Where should Henderson or Mbappe go?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a Happy New Year from Jonathan Northcroft, Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson as they join Tom Clarke for the first 2024 edition of The Game.It was a new year to forget for Wayne Rooney, another example of the golden generation failing in the managerial world. What is the difference between a manager and a coach and is it the same game in the Champions League or League One?   A look back at a thrilling Christmas and New Year, which young manager topped the table of festive fixtures? Finally, it’s not FA cup weekend, its FA cup week and there are some top ties to look forward to. Timeline:Rooney2’ Rooney sacked at Birmingham, shocked and a reality check?5’ took over a club doing well, a manager well liked by fans and players. 6’ he was appointed to change a culture and direction of club…can you do that in 15 matches? Gary Cook, odd decision.8’ he was employed to take them to prem league11’ Was Rooney set up to fail. After two games the crowd turned, but tat was because of the loss of John Eustace.13’ Calling out players after only 3 games, not a good idea.17’ he admires Guardiola. But he thrived with Liam Rosenior19’ Rooney could be a manager as much as a coach. He is good with people. 21’ Vale park on a Tuesday night isn’t the Nou Camp on a champions league night. 25’ surrounded himself by young ambitious but not very experienced coaching staff. 27’ Rooney doesn’t want special treatment, he will try to reinvent himself.31’ difference between playing and managing.33’ He’ll be back. Title race36’ Great festive period for Wolves and Gary O’Neil37’ Man City return only two adrift and with the fire back. And unaffected by AFCON.38’ Liverpool in great shape but about to lose salah.40’ What’s gone wrong at Arsenal? Hard to win your first title.43’ Villa have bounced back, but are they starting to look tired?45’ all the top teams have flaws this year. Open title race. West Ham, Wolves and Luton45’ Looks like Moye will get a new contract. Is peace breaking out at the London stadium?47’ Wrong that one fixture has moved beyond the AFCON cut off date.48’ Great back to back wins for Hatters. Ross Barkley pulling strings, adjusting to the league.  FA Cup 53’ Sunderland v Newcastle tie of the round. Newcastle look on the knees with no energy. Sunderland with new manager bounce. Could be a big game. 56’ Is Eddie Howe under pressure?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well as Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Molly Hudson dial in from all parts of the country to join Tom Clarke for an assessment of the festive fixture list. An amazing turn around at Old Trafford but seasonal struggles for Villa and Newcastle. Nuno has made a good start at Forest and Luton have racked up back to back wins. Who’ll be top on Jan 1st, is Alyson Dom Solanke's lucky charm? Finally, some end of season awards.See you in the new year.Timeline:5’ Christmas quiz questionsMan Utd v Villa7’ Villa gifted it to Utd.10’ Man Utd looked good and played well, despite going two down. Garnacho very threatening.11’ return of Eriksen important. Important for Hojlund to score. All with Ratcliffe watching on.13’ At west Ham Man Utd had been lifeless. They summoned their reserves for Villa.14’ huge relief for Ten Hag. Important result, but will it be enough and is it a turning point.15’ Jim Ratcliffe announcement odd. Naff to own only 25%. Can’t do too much because of FFPNewcastle v Forest22’ Bad run and some shock results for Newcastle. Is it a reality check, a reflection of where they are or just injuries and fatigue?23’ Does Eddie Howe have a target on his back?26’ buoyance lacking, atmosphere suffering, Eddie Howe looks tired.28’ players benefited for a managerial change. Shame for Cooper, but Nuno has had two good performances.30’ Elanga was fabulous and will be important in the future. Should he have stayed at Utd?32’ Nuno really pleased to take the job, lots of potential. Clean slate for players like Joe Worrel35’ Niuno’s Wolves team were good to watch.Bournemouth38’ Dom Solanke pulling up tress, Ally is his good luck charm.42’ Iraola has proved his worth. Topic of the year seems to be managers with strong philosophies.43’ Dom Solanke now knocking on the door of Harry Kane back up, along side Tony, Watkins and Wilson.Luton46’ Great team to watch. Involved in some thrilling matches, played well, even in games they have lost.47’ signings have added quality. Discipline, shape and great work ethic.Liverpool49’ top of the league. But injuries mounting and Salah and endo about to depart for international competition.50’ Klopp good at integrating fringe players. No need for signings.51’ do Liverpool have deepest squad in the league? Elliot, Quensah, Jones all very much part of first team squad. End of year awardsMatch of the year, goal of the year, player of the year.See you in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke for the final pre-Christmas edition of The Game.First on the agenda is the super league…its back, but will it actually happen? Perhaps the fans will have more power than they realise.Away from a potential super league why were West Ham so lacklustre, is Keiron Trippier fatigued and all change at Nottingham Forest. Who will be top at Christmas, Villa are in with a shout after an exceptional 2023. And finally a Christmas wish for 2024...Merry Christmas one and all, we’ll see you for a Christmas pod on Wed 27rh Dec..Timeline:Super League3’ the super league…so depressing. Making football less competitive. Enriching the richer clubs.5’ can’t exist unless people want it to exist.7’ danger of the rich getting richer at the expense of all football.8’ the model doesn’t offer meritocracy.12’ the revamped champions league looks to be a testing of the water15’ ”to what extent have fans lost control of their clubs to the global market place.”18’ “eternal lust for growth….football doesn’t need more money.”West Ham24’ odd team selection25’ weak semi final line up, three steps from a trophy.26’ Competent, pragmatic manager but a romantic fan base. Tough mix.Newcastle and Trippier30’ Fatigue, confidence, even the best are affected.32’ has he been the same since the confrontation with the fans and Bournemouth?Nottingham Forest39’ Hurling pieces at a board, no plan, no structure. He got lucky with Cooper.41’ Cooper earned the right to see out the season. Instead he’s got more players and out before Christmas.45’ Nuno not a good fit. He likes, small simple. Forest is not that.Villa49’ Will they be top at Christmas. It would underline an extraordinary year for Villa.51’ Villa won’t fall away. They’ve sustained this from for a year. 15 wins at home.52’ Jonny on Emery “You can see when a coach has a club in the palm of his hand.”54’ Martin on Emery “I’m gonna ask for what I want and I’m gonna get what I want.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat.They look at a lamentable game at Anfield, a good result for Utd, a reality check for Liverpool?Arsenal seems to be the only team playing with control, Odegaard is on form and Rice remains imperious. Will it be enough to get them to the title?Aston Villa ground out a win at a tough place to go, but is their keeper the dogs bo**ocks or a sh**house?Lower down the table Everton are on a fantastic run as Dych once again shows his quality - identity, endeavour effectiveness. Forest by contrast look a little lost. **Few technical issues today, sorry. They'll be fixed for Thurs. Timeline:Liverpool v Man Utd2’ a game to forget4’ Consistent with where United are at, stutter, lack of creativity but a valuable well earned point. Reflective of a changed midfield that is energetic and hard working. Better defensive organisation.5’ Kobbie Mainoo, looks exciting, promising but will the expectations mount?6’ lack of creativity and width from Liverpool. 34 shots, but no real danger. Some poor decisions.7’ was this a surprise for Liverpool. They have been lucky in recent games and looked listless at home against Man Utd. Is this the reality dawning?8’ No goals for Nunez in 9 games. Diaz not the same since the incident with his father.9’ But all teams have looked patchy and inconsistent. The only team looking to have control are Arsenal. Arsenal, City and Villa11’ The team look to have control. Their stats are on the up while City and Liverpool are dropping.13’ Jorginho off the pitch providing unity.14’ Martin Odegaard has come into form. Past 6 matches,15’ Declan Rice covering cast areas for Arsenal, gave Odegaard freedom to create. Rice absolutely key to that.17’ Arsenal very good front to back, After a rough spell now well oiled, in defence and attack. Defences wins titles.20’ Arsenal seem to have tunnel vision and appear ready to be champions. Predictable, not exciting, but regular, winning controlled.22’ Ben Mee’s sending off changed the game. But thereafter Villa went for the win, not the draw.23’ A gritty win at a place no one likes to go to. Despite chaos Villa got the three points.24’ VAR inconsistent again. Ben ?Mee should have had a penalty.25’ Why are Villa doing well, the players of the manager? Both.27’ Emery has improved Watkins, Kamara is back from injury. Emery has brought intensity and focus.30’ Nice family man outside of football. But on the pitch stretches ever opportunity to his advantage. Believes he is the best in the world and wants to live up to that.31’ His antics got his own player sent off. West Ham v Wolves35’ Paqueta, Alvarez Bowen and Kudos. Fabulous four. Their creativity won West Ham the game.36’ Free flowing forward line could be the future, but Moyes prefers stable reliable, Antonio. Can he squeeze both in?37’ Conflict still at heart of West Ham. How are they laying, are they committed to Moyes?41’ Will Moyes still be manager next season? Everton, Forest and Burnley46’ What a run for Everton. Classic Sean Dyche, getting best out of players. Finding a system that suits the players and drilling them.47’ Maximising everything at his disposal.48’ Burnley, endeavour, quality but soft centre. Everton ruthless.49’ Kompany not changing his methods, sticking to his principles.50’ Everton play effective football. Its refreshing as it is different to others.53’ Forest are on a bad run, but look a little lost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by regulars Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson and special guest Wally Downes. They look back on the weeks champions league fixtures and the exit of Manchester and Newcastle United from Europe. Were Newcastle naïve to not kill off a game they led in? Did Manchester United even put up a fight? After the break a reflection on Wally’s career in football, from being one of the founders of the crazy gang at Wimbledon through to his time in coaching throughout the leagues. Timeline:Newcastle2’ Newcastle, yes they were good, yes they have progressed. But they still lost.5’ Injuries and fatigue affected them. 7’ May well dip into transfer market.8’ Limitations because of FFP11’ Newcastle are not well known outside of the UK. That creates problems with income.15’ It was nip and tuck, they were unfortunate. They are still ahead of schedule.Man Utd16’ Lost their identity. Buying the wrong players with the wrong attitude.17’ Delusions on grandeur. Needs a sea change a policy change.19’ Anthony given chance after chance. Dan James wasn’t20’ look at the subs, not good enough.22’ Man Utd did well to stay in the game, no chance of winning it.24’ There is desperation now. 26’ Modern football doesn’t suit Man Utd – not as much up and at em’28’ Red flag over Sancho. Arsenal and Man City30’ Both look good. Could draw each other.31’ Final year of the current champions league format Life and Career of Wally Downes35’ Debut for Wimbledon at leatherhead – balled out by his keeper wrestling players and punched the keepers  brother in law.38’ Style of play40’ shuttle runs, fitness and 3 mile runs.42’ not a cake walk to the top. Played on the crazy gang tag.45’ they had very good players and developed good players.47’ “can’t afford to show respect, we’d have got our arses kicked.” Never got cocky.48’ Alan Cork took his boots off…”they’re not crossing to me.”52’ Vinnie Jones story.55’ Coaching style59’ Nothing new under the sun, most tactical analysis is the same as it always was, just a different name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke has crawled off his sick bed to join Monday regulars Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson and special guest Jeff Stelling.After a quick hello to Jeff its on to a brilliant set of matches this weekend. Spurs and Bournemouth are committed to attacking football, no compromise, at the expense of a tired Newcastle and a disjointed Manchester United. Villa are the real deal. Emery has re-ignited Villa park, has strength in depth and has the fans and team united. The same can’t be said of Chelsea and Pochettino.And a great week for Fulham.  Timeline:2’ A big hello to Jeff Stelling. Whistle stop tour of all things Jeff, career, Hartlepool and more Hartlepool.9’ Modern football, access to players, how things have changed.11’ City players in the 70’s used to do a panto for the fas!Spurs v Newcastle12’  Postecoglou stuck to his principles and went for it, all guns blazing. It paid off. Newcastle looked tired, running on fumes.13’ Eddie Howe is already picking youngsters, hard to see what else he can do. Pantomime of a game.14’ Post playing the sort of game expected and welcomed at Spurs. The fans love it, it’s a thrown back to glory glory Tottenham Hotspurs. Newcastle out on their feet. Fans left after the game with no trains – again.17’ As tired as Newcastle are, there is an element of poor form. Can form stem from fatigue. Howe not claiming tiredness as an excuse.Man Utd v Bournemouth19’ Bournemouth turned the corner. Iraola was on the edge now looks genius to appoint and stick with him. 20’ nit many sackings this year.22’ Iraola believes in attacking football. Players now buying into that and starting to gel. Results and confidence are coming.25’ Where do Man Utd stand. Limited plan or vision. Hard to know what the team will produce. 26’ Are players short of confidence or not trying…hard to tell.27’ playing players out of position, lack of clarity. Martial…would he rather be Christmas shopping…Villa v Arsenal29’ Its not hype, Villa are very good. How is Emery doing it?30’ Emery always hard a better than average home record at his clubs. 31’ he is linking fans and the team igniting Villa park and its atmosphere, which is historically a hostile place to go. 32’ Villa were amazing against City, a bit lucky against Arsenal.34’ They play an incredibly high line. The manager improves players.36’ top four more realistic than title winners.37’ Arsenal a bit below par, but unlucky not to have a goal or a penalty in last minute.38’ Club built around Emery and to support.39’ Arsenal not playing as well as last season, but right up there. Bodes well for a serious title tilt, winning when not playing well.41’ could go to the final weekend. Fulham43’ Suddenly found some goals and the results are following.47’ Good players finding confidence.48‘ Palhinha top of the stats each week.ChelseaHow do you spend a billion and look so poor…Too many signings on potential. Rumour has it Poch wants to sign more.Poch was brought ot build a team, gel them together. Doesn’t look like he is doing that yet.Behind the scenes the club is still messy. Poch is hinting at that.Gap between perception and reality.Will Poch be given time?They need results, fast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Thursday club of Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to discuss a fantastic title race and a pressure mounting in midtable.Villa park was rocking as they extended their unbeaten home run, playing front foot football and bullying the reigning European and Premier league champions. Man City look to be in a mini crisis. Meanwhile Arsenal are a reflection of their big summer signing, Declan Rice – powerful, accomplished and never give up. Rice looks a bargain at 100 million.Forest and Palace are currently mid table, but the fans are not happy. Steve Cooper and Roy Hodgson are feeling the pressure as modern football is showing its about entertainment, not just survival. TimelineVilla2’ Villa, not just top four but serious contenders. Christmas will be key.3’ Emery is a very good manager. Does it reflect more on Arsenal that he didn’t succeed there…?5’ Villa played a high line and battered City7’ Well drilled, pace at full back, front foot full of confidence. Silk and steel.9’ When Villa park is up it is a fabulous place. The feeling around the club is very positive.10’ McGinn outstanding.City12’ Why isn’t Kalvin Philips in the team, is he worse than Akanji in midfield?13’ midfield mismatch – McGinn, Luiz over ran City – Stone and Akanji.15’ Is there something wrogn at City? MArhez, Gundogan both left and very hard to replace.19’ very hard to do it three seasons running.  20’ Very dependant on Rodri and De Bryne.Arsenal23’ Declan Rice. Mentality as much as physical ability. A bargain at 100m 25’ As with Bellingham Rice impacts a game.27’ consummate professional, skilled, improves those around him.Nottingham Forest30’ Things don’t look good for Steve cooper. Chairman left at four nil and his pass was found flung into a nearby garden.31’ But the Forest fans chanted his name in the second half.33’ post match Cooper referenced the unsettled nature of his team.Crystal Palace35’ Hodgson under pressure. Fans want to see better football. Hodgson says the fans are spoilt. 37’ He was lucky last season with the fixtures. This season its proving much harder.39’ Fans not happy with just surviving, they want better football.40’ Not that long ago the conversation around palace was a lot different. Players from the local area, young exciting. Now its gone backwards. 42’ what’s the point of playing to finish 16th. Have a go, have fun.Excitement 50’ Survival isn’t enough. Fans look down the road and think “why aren’t we playing like that?”Moyes may see out his contract, but look at Bournemouth, Spurs, Wolves all playing exciting football.Man Utd v Chelsea54’ Good win, but it was the worst Chelsea team in a long time. Kept giving the ball to Utd.55’ Chelsea haven’t put in one 90min performance.57’ they’ve shipped out experience and bought potential, but not established.59’ they won’t be a top six team. Look at their bench last night.61’ Utd created lots of chances and things looked better. Only three of top four. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This podcast was recorded in the expectation that Paul Heckingbottom will be sacked by Sheffield United and Chris Wilder will be announced as his replacement. Our sources, and those of many other news outlets are all pre-empting the same development. However, as of 5am on Tuesday Dec 5th the news had still not been announced. Tom Clarke is back fresh as a daisy from his holidays, and he is joined by Charlotte Duncker, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson to review the weekend’s goal fest.Are standards slipping at City or were Spurs brilliant. Trent Alexander Arnold was outstanding, and he was everywhere, does it matter what his starting position is. All change at Sheffield United as Paul Heckingbottom bows out after a five nil defeat at Burnley. Chris Wilder is back, but with the current owners is the Bramall Lane job a poisoned chalice.Plus big wins for Burnley and Everton and some boos for Steve Cooper. City v Spurs2’ Problems for City or brilliant spurs5’ drop off in defending, standards not the same. Injuries are key – Stones, De Bryne.9’ three games back to back with things to worry about and lack of control. Very un-City like.11’ Spur were brave, clever and relentless. But could they have even won if they had tailored their approach just a bit?13’ all or nothing under Postecoglou. Arsenal 15’ Rice adds resilience and stability. More pragmatic.17’ Learning from previous seasons. Have a stronger squad this season. Liverpool and Fulham19’ Trent AA outstanding. Should he just play in midfield. Teams exploiting the space he leaves though.21’ Down to bones defensively, Matip and Robertson out for some time.22’ TAA is a generational talent. How many players can do what he can do. But what is his role?25’ Does it matter if he has a position. Do Liverpool have an alternate right back?27’ Fulham lacking a bit of edge but played well. Similar to last season, need to strengthen. Still nearly men. Villa29’ Over achieving, but now with champions league aspirations.30’ Emery doing it with effectively the same squad Gerrard had. It is now Emry’s club, his staff, his set up. Involved in everything and working very well. But will they make top four.  Sheffield United 34’ Paul Heckingbottom out, Chris Wilder back in.35’ coming into a a club up for sale, in need of players and a team dispirited.36’ owners are a real problem. 37’ Why would wilder go back to such a mess? 15 fit players before the season started.40’ Owner admitted to being in touch with wilder all season, unfair on Heckingbottom.44’ no chance of staying up. Owners fault, not Paul Heckingbottom. Burnley 45’ Finally some relief for Kompany. Will this be the spark?46’ Confidence yes, but turnaround, not sure. Look at who they beat…48’ They have been the better team in many of their games, but to open to hang on. Does Kompany need to temper his principles a bit? Forest51’ first boos for Steve Cooper at the City ground. Are fans starting to doubt him?53’ leading striker out till new year. Replacements not up to same level. No shot on goal until 31st minute.55’ next two games make or break for Cooper. Results need to improve.57’ Everton created lots of chances. Chris Wood right up the street of Everton centre halves. Needed a different approach.59’ Everton comfortable. But game lacked quality. Everton good enough to pull away, even with a ten point deduction.60’ But Calvert Lewin injured again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, James Gheerbrant and Jonathan Northcroft join Gregor Robertson for the Thursday edition of The Game.Manchester United once again take centre stage. Free scoring, but also conceding freely too and dropping a two goal lead twice in Türkiye.  Arsenal in contrast are less expansive than last year but more defensively solid, they’re also top of their group and top of the Premier League…can they possibly be under the radar?Newcastle suffered at the hands of VAR and the team finish by discussing the attempts being made to attract more ex-players into helping VAR officiating.  A bonus section includes Martin Samuel giving his fascinating memories of Terry Venables TimelineMan Utd2’ Scoring freely away from home, but conceding just as easily.6’ Bruno Fernandes and Onana8’ A poorly set up team, too stretched. Everton game was a warning sign. Everton had tons of shots.10’ United have gone backwards this season, if you look at performance not result. Emotionally unstable as a team.14’ players have to manage games, less flash and volatility. More steel sense and game management.Newcastle21’ ludicrous decision. But Eddie Howe’s reaction has been fantastic. 23’ Group still wide open, anything could happen.24’ Eddie Howe has done a remarkable job25’ the differing interpretation of the handball law between UEFA and all domestic league. Not a sustainable position.28’ how can there be ‘a version’ of the rules…? Arsenal 31’ what happened to boring boring Arsenal? 33’ are Arsenal under the radar. Top of the league and through as top of their Champions league group. Very effective.35’ Rice outstanding, allows others to play. Used to be very exciting, second most goals per game last season. This season much further down, but seemingly more managed, secure.38’ Declan Rice is rhythm guitar, and he is essential and really good.41’ Arsenal have bounced back two season running after disappoint/frustrating ends to the previous season. Refereeing 44’ How to overcome the accusation of bias if you’re seeking ex pros to be referees.47’ more trust required. Ex pros have a lot to offer.53’ something needs to change and probably will. It is now to regular.55’ economically not viable to be a referee, takes a long time to qualify and doesn’t pay a lot. For ex players that will be problematic.59’ can we ever foresee a top player officiating and not being called biased.1hr it works in cricket. Terry VenablesWhy did he leave England… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Tom Allnutt join Gregor Robertson on the Monday edition of The Game. The team pay tribute to Terry Venables and reflect on his eclectic range of interests outside the game and his tactical ability as a coach.Reflecting on the weekends fixtures they look at the tactical battle at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, Man Utd have won five in six and are two off the top four. At the bottom, Everton’s belief and frustration couldn’t get a result, whereas Luton showed they never give up.What will be the difference in making the top four or avoiding relegation? TimelineVenables memories2’ A remarkable man who did so many things outside of football. Busi9ness, singing, tailor, bought a club…sold Maradona and bought Archibald.4’ edit neil and tony.5’ shrewd, negotiator, charismatic, loved football. Tactically ahead of his time.7’ Loved in Spain, tactically respected. A Penalty shootout away from winning the European cup with Barca.9’ Embodied Tottenham.Tottenham v Villa10’ Spurs opened very well. Unlucky not to be further ahead. Fair result could have been a draw.12’ the offside derby, two teams playing a high line.14’ Villa applied the break more often, spurs remained gung ho and paid for it.15’ intriguing game. No compromise by either team. Good decisions by Emry, taking cash off, getting Teilemons on. Demonstrates the level of management in the premier league.19’ Villa right in shake up for top four. But spurs heavily hit by injuries and suspensions.Everton v Man Utd21’ Not in the script for Everton to be hit by a wonder goal.23’ where did Garnacho’s goal rank? Great goal, how important was it?27’ Bergkamp, Adam, Crouch, Bergkamp again…29’ Utd, fifth win in six games. Only two off top four.32’ Everton now have a BIG job to avoid relegation. Luton v Palace36’ Lift off at Luton. Performances starting to get results.38’ Fit team, heads don’t drop. Not capitulated in any game. Great self belief.39’ Place facing injury problems to key players. Could they get sucked in?40’ Injuries came at key time in the game. Hodgson has defensive know how. Newcastle v Chelsea48’ Is Tiago Silva starting to show his age? At 39 are the years catching up?50’ Backward step for Chelsea and Poch. First time he has called out his players.52’ Anthony Gordon gave Reece James a torrid time. City v Liverpool55’ there for city to win, they missed the chance.56’ Good result for Liverpool, a point at City, how can you grumble? ArsenalTop and under the radar.Brentford not at their best.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel for heated discussion on the murky world of football finance and governance. As Everton face a ten point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules, the team ask, does the punishment fit the crime? The answer is a resounding no! But why is that, is it a level playing field and what are the wider implications for clubs such as Manchester City and Chelsea. After a quick look at the vote on multi club ownership models finally some actual football and a look ahead to the big game at the weekend, as Manchester City take on Liverpool.Timeline2’ internationals. Learnt nothing from England. But Italy Ukraine…a shocking decision and Martin thinks something stinks.4’ Head of UEFA said Italy not qualifying would be a disaster. Why are officials saying who they want to progress.Everton points deduction8’ The facts, what were Everton penalised for?10’ FFP is a construct of the riches clubs to keep the status quo. 12’ no such thing as organic growth because the best teams cherry pick the best players from smaller clubs. Inward investment to beat that system should not be punished.15’ Everton have had a go and have been punished.18’ why are the rules there, are they doing what they are supposed to do?20’ the commission agreed it wasn’t an attempt to cheat, just poor management, but without danger to the club. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. 21’ the commission portrayed Everton as ‘continually reckless.’22’ Premier league stopped working with Everton, why?24’ will there be, or should there be an independent regulator.27’ What is the alternative? Unfettered spending, so long as it isn’t based on debt.29’ is this punishment going to kill the under dog story? An arbitrary construct. 33’ We want two things in football, clubs not going into debt and going bust and healthy competition.35’ Man City charges…being bogged down by expensive lawyers.  38’ pick a team of lawyers because they’ll decide who wins what, but they’ll do it in five years time.41’ City charges.Vote to NOT ban signing players from associated clubs49’ similar issue and touches on self regulation. 52’ need a robust set of loan regulations.Historic agent issues58’ The FA are looking into a breach from 2008 when Jermaine Defoe left Portsmouth to go to Spurs.City v Liverpool 1’02’ Every player who has come in to the midfield has been an upgrade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special episode of The Game Tom Clarke is joined by regulars Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft as they speak to special guest Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu about his life and career.Pelly is the first player to play for the same club from the national league through to the Premier league. Following ten years at the club, he is now mentioned alongside Luton legend Mick Hartford and has a mural, song and type of honey all created in his honour.On the pitch he has played under an England manager and in a Wembley final. This is a chance to hear more from one club man Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. Timeline:2’ start of career. Belmont and Boreham Wood.6’ West Ham and playing for Allardyce.8’ Dec 2013…on loan to Luton. Shock compared to Luton and Boreham Wood.10’ John Still 100 goals and hundred points.11’ Debut at Staines in the cup. Playing out of position at centre half.18’ injuries and adjusting to the demands of regular league football.21’ Nathan Jones. Great guy spoke a really good game, good tactically. Great use of data.22’ Near misses and promotion to league one.28’ Tough first season in the championship. Manager coming and going. The return of Nathan Jones.30’ Footballers during covid.33’ Nathan Jones leaves again. Pelly stays…why?38’ loyalty to Luton and the opportunities they have given him. 40’ fairy tales…getting to the premier league.41’ What’s the difference in the premier league.45’ difference between levels. League one, championship, premiership. In the prem ever chance is taken.48’ the fans don’t change50’ I think I’m a good player actually.Reflection on promotion season and the arrival of Rob Edwards.55’ Wembley and nerves who do you celebrate with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Gheerbrant, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join tom Clarke to give VAR a grilling.Does the mic’d up programme help or hinder the case for VAR in games? The team look at issues around how subjective football is, how effective current VAR is and are there other, better options to use the technology? After an inconclusive but heated debate it’s on to England’s midfield.Bellingham and Rice seem certain starters, but who plays alongside them? Do England have a defensive midfielder, and if not, who plays instead?Finally, Jonny recently voted in a poll asking who are currently the world’s best players…he names his top five. TimelineVAR2’ VAR, are the audio releases helping or hindering 4’ Pain is not worth the gain. It is a really difficult job, but it has become farcical.8’ Running VAR can be exhausting, in the spotlight, no clear right and wrong, walking a tightropePossible clips 11’ the number and detail of incidents can’t be assessed in the time allowed. 15’ modern mania to achieve perfection…in a subjective sport.17’ timing is an issue; it takes too long the flow of the game has been affected.20’ Has the mic’d up programme improved things or further mudded the waters. 22’ sin bins. Good idea or not?  Keeping refs mics on would stop player dissent quickly. 26’ do players influence VAR by appealing and asking refs to check things.  England midfield 31’ who plays alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.33’ the chemistry of the three is important. Southgate prizes control over everything else. Gregor thinks still Philips.35’ can’t pick Philips or Henderson because of lack of top flight football.37’ Trent Alexander is the answer according to Jonny.40’ James, consider Connor Gallagher.45’ stones, Rico Lewis, Foden Maddison. Jonny think whoever Jude wants Keep Bellingham happy. Best players in the world 49’ Jonny voted for worlds best players. Hard to over look Premier league and England players. Haland, Rodri, Kane, Bellingham.55’ Kane now getting the coverage he deserves. 57’ Messi still the man. What about defenders??  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss the weekend’s games. And what a weekend of fixtures, 37 goals, the top five separated by three points and last minute winners.Stamford Bridge saw one of the games of the season so far. What stood out, team performance or individual brilliance? At Molineux Wolves mounted a stoppage time come back to stun spurs, who have now lost twice in a week and dropped to fourth. Hot on their heels and only three off the top at Villa after yet another convincing home win, led by a very impressive John McGinn. Plus West Ham, Liverpool and Everton.  TimelineChelsea and City3’ great game at the bridge.4’ Raheem Sterling, fantastic performance. How can he not be in the England squad.7’ Is it turning for Poch, all the signings and stars starting to come good?9’ Chelsea were very good, but can they replicate it.12’ what is to come from Chelsea, very exciting, to play that well and still be a work in progress. Chelsea fans are excited.15’ Poch says team should be in top four, that’s is the expectation. Young players now coming good.18’ Are City at their best? Probably not but they still scored 4 away from home. And with no De Bryne.20’ if City don’t win the title, who could? Liverpool seems to be the consensus. 23’ City still have best squad and know how to win. When its crunch time they get better.West Ham25’ Moyes development and blending old with new. Ward-Prowse on song. Lots of flare and creativity in the West Ham team now.28’ Gregor a little less convinced. Team reliant on moments of brilliance from players not team identity or playing patterns. But still achieving and deserve credit. Is there a next step to take…Newcastle and Bournemouth32’ Poor result for Newcastle, and a tough day for Trippier.33’ Alyson thinks the fans have become a bit entitled.38’ Team are ravaged by injury, they tried very hard. Fans should see that. Look how far they have come.40’ Well played Bournemouth.Wolves Spurs44’ Wolves a well drilled, well coached, well organised team. With key players playing well. When they win the ball, they know what to do with it. For spells they outplayed Spurs.46’ Spurs need certain type of player in key positions, with both centre halves out it makes a big difference.47’ Fantastic coaching from the sideline by Gary Oneil. Spurs wiped out by injuries and suspension.Top four…50’ Who‘ll make it? Seems there is confidence in Villa making it…Villa53’ Villa Park is a great place to watch football. Tactically intelligent, versatile. They have control, pace and interchange. Gregor VERY impressed with Villa.John McGinn is the poster boy for a fantastic team. Gregor loves his bum, its big and he uses it as a weapon.Everton58’ Dyche working magic. Team have momentum, getting goals and have the third best away record in the league.1;00” Goals coming from places other than Calvert Lewin.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Thurs team of Martin Samuel, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss one thing…VAR. With two thrilling games and twelve goals between them the Man Utd v Copenhagen and Spurs v Chelsea games were dominated by VAR. Is it inevitable, will it change or will football adapt to a brave new world? Discuss… TimelineVAR and Man Utd10’ is football and footballers now going to change.12’ how do you police a subjective game played in milliseconds.16’ the difference in officiating and the interpretation of rules.22’ Positives for Man United despite losing the game. 26’ Copenhagen not a good team, don’t get carried away.34’ All to random at Man U. Performances are fracturedVAR and Chelsea Spurs38’ Romero red card…41’ Intent or not intent. How to define it.47’ Offside, Jackson had a yard start, but it was phase two. Is that fair? Martin thinks the rules are nonsense. Active or inactive.51’ We’re talking about VAR, not about football.58’ Ange and his brave…or crazy tactics. High line with nine men. Amazing spectacle, but not sure if it was the best approach. 59’ Glorious failure. They lost but they lost player to their philosophy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday regulars Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom Allnutt and Tom Clarke for The Game.The team look at good wins for Sheffield Utd and Forest and a point for Luton. But what about the performances, was it luck or are there positives to build on? Erik Ten Hag got a win to take the pressure off, but again, what of the performance.Disappointing weekends for Villa and Liverpool, but it was the post match reaction of Mikel Arteta that took most of the headlines. Is the pressure telling so soon into the season?Finally a look at the end of an era as Emma Hayes announces her departure from Chelsea. Where next for the most well known of the WSL managers…?Timeline:Sheff Utd2’ Great win for Sheff Utd. Will it stop the rumours of Chris Wilder waiting in the wings to replace Paul Heckingbottom.5’ Soft pen, and truth be told Sheff Utd are still not a great team.7’ how do Sheff Utd play from here on out?10’ Does this win turn around the narrative of the bottom being the three promoted clubs plus Bournemouth being in a relegation scrap.14’ Wolves still struggling in front of goal and heavily reliant on Neto. But they played well, just a little unlucky,Forest 16’ Impressive from Forest, demonstrates togetherness, mental strength and work rate.17’ Cloud still hanging over Steve Cooper as the owners put pressure on. Forest did a great job of exploiting Villa’s high line.20’ Forest under Cooper have a really solid structure. Play as a unit, fight for each other. According to opta, not a settled side though.23’ Gregor still worried for Steve Cooper. Thinks the owners still want change. Not a good environment for cooper, hard to stabilise.24’ Villa looked flat, never looked threatening. Didn’t take chances.Man Utd29’ Alyson thinks Ten Hag is too passive, in press and on touch line. Unimpressive. Fulham the better side. But a win is a win, after the goal and players and fans showed unity.32’ Why did he start Anthony? BREAKLuton36’ Kenilworth Road finally showed its worth. Luton played brilliantly, organised, waited then went for it.39’ Luton showed composure. Doughty, Barkley great. Nunez, active but missing sitters.42’ Stuck to their principles, showed how they want to play.Liverpool44’ Nunez, a handful works hard, but lacks composure, missed the key chances.45’ No sign of complacency. Luis Diaz moving. Well handled by Klopp.Arsenal47’ Havertz should have been red, or orange carded.48’ The best teams take the sting out of these kind of games. Arteta didn’t. Tried to battle it out with Newcastle. Poor choice. Areta’s emotional state didn’t help.51’ VAR decisions a mess. Pressure on officials, lack of suitable technology and lag from past bad decisions.54’ no need to do it, sign of weakness from Areta, unnecessary stress. Arsenal missed Odeguaard badly.58’ Has the goal keeping decision backfired.Newcastle1hr Were fantastic. Deserved the win. Played superbly. Better still the reflection on Eddie howe. Playing with a team full of players signed by others but he has improved them all.Emma Hayes1;01 End of an era. What next, could she, would she take the USA job? Why not England? Possesses a huge desire to grown and learn. Said many years ago she didn’t want the England job….have the FA missed out? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 The regular Thursday club of Martin Samuel, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke.Déjà vu as Man Utd are once again the main talking point. Is Erik ten Hag now under pressure, a team with no identity, players under performing and a poor attitude. When does the spot light fall on the manager.Saudi were given the 2034 world cup with little fan fare and no celebration.  What does it mean for football…a battle between UEFA and FIFA? Will the Saudi’s be threatening    Man Utd2’ Ten Hag surely now he is under pressure? Fate depends on when Jim Ratcliffe arrives.6’ no players performing, as proven by the fact no one wants to buy any Man Utd players.8’ can’t keep mentioning the club, at some point its about what the manager does10’ has he improved any players?13’ no team identity16’ it’s a massive mess. But at some point the manager should do the basics, but they weren’t there last night.19’ manager stays until new owners come in. 23’ Will good players get sucked down the same path.24’ Rashford going out after the City defeat 26’ Tony worked with Don howe, who helped keep him on the straight and narrow. Less going out, better focus.31’ perception is everythingSaudi world cup36’ it was always going to happen. It is now sad acceptance. Money talks.38’ No federations have complained. There is a difference between world cup and Saudi owners. One is governing body, public property and one is private business.41’ FIFA is no structured in such a way that UEFA is irrelevant. Infantino has the other votes locked down…very hard to change. It is a battle between UEFA and FIFA.43’ The only way to challenge it would be to boycott. I high price…would any federation pay it?46’ Isn’t it just about showcasing football in new countries, building the brand, growing the sport?50’ Its taken the Saudi’s 18mnths to get a world cup. They are/will come for club football…what happen next, is the premier league under threat? 52’ the wind has changed and no longer China but Saudi, and UK gov seems happyChelsea v Spurs58’ Chelsea face same problem…can’t score goals. Jackson didn’t actually have a great record at Villa reale…4 in 28 before a streaky run. Not surprising he can’t score regularly at Chelsea.1;01’ Chelsea erratic. Done well against some teams, but inconsistent and lacking any edge. Tony thinks they’re a long way off. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ally Rudd, Gregor Robertson and James Restall join Tom Clarke on Mondays edition of The Game.After reflecting on another one-sided Manchester derby they move on to who can win the title. Spurs fans are dreaming, and Ange is happy they are…but can it last. And what of Liverpool, three off the top, getting better and with players returning to form. After the break a quick look at Calvert Lewin’s form and finally who is the most exciting ever young English player? Gazza, Rooney, Owen, Bellingham? Timeline:Manchester derby2’ Man Utd had average plan A, no plan B.6’ Mason Mount only had 14 touches. No balance in midfield. 9’ Who is at fault, poor signings, signings not performing, or a club with a poor culture.12’ no identity, and doesn’t have the players to create the identity Ten Hag wants.17’ Will Haaland win the Ballon’ D’or. Or is it Mesi all the wayCan they win the league…20’ Can Spurs win the title? They’re adaptable, tough, confident and no longer flakey. Big strong team.  In short, it’s not impossible. 24’ They believe they can win it. That’s half the battle. Son been amazing.28’ outstanding centre halves, decent squad depth. 32’ The coaching improvement is impressive. Liverpool Forest36’ City’s biggest challengers. Very creative midfield, not as reliant on fullbacks.38’ very good signings. Dominik Szoboszlai could be a special player. Firs the club very well.44’ Forest had a tough start, individual mistakes, but Cooper probably happy…for now.44’ Got a good structure, hard to breakdown. A platform to build from.Everton and Calvert Lewin46’ Is he in the fight to be Kane’s understudy?48’ great goal, good for Dyche.49’ Ally met Kenwright.Best ever young English young player55’ Gregor played against Rooney, a shuddering experience. Bellingham will have impact but not the same shocking impact. Others…Owen, Walcott, Gazza.59’ With Kane and Bellingham, can England win the euro’s…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke. They look back at the weeks European fixtures, have things turned around for Manchester United and two of their players in particular Onana and Maguire? Was it a reality check for Newcastle and is Jesus the main man for Arsenal?Gregor went to watch Birmingham, and reflects on Wayne Rooney’s start at St Andrews. The team look at new owners setting unrealistic targets, getting rid of unfashionable managers and how Rooney might react. Finally Martin and Jonny remember Bill Kenwright a toffee through and through.  Timeline:Man Utd – a win but has anything changed.2’ Onana the hero…is he coming good? Does one good game change things?5’ needs to be proved over a period of games. overall performance still not great.7’ what is United’s identity. 10’ These were once assumed wins, now they are celebrated. Relying on players who they were trying to sell a month ago.12’ Parts don’t fit. Sweeper keeper but with slow centre backs. Creativity or industry, not both.19’ character and self-belief in players. Perspective, they’re doing the very basics. Lets see how they do against better teams.Newcastle25’ not quite a reality check, Dortmund are a good side. Hard to play two games a week of such high intensity.27’ Perhaps lacking a little in player experience. Slightly affected by injuries, at that level. There is a reason it took Man City so long to succeed at that level.30’ need to play differently in Europe.31’ Now looking thin – Tonali long ban, Isak, Botman, Murphy and Barnes all injured.  Will they be able to sign anyone given FFP??34’ Jesus injury. Is he the main man for Arsenal, or do they need another striker?Rooney and Birmingham.44’ Rooney’s tough start at St Andrews. Fans not happy, previous manager sacked too early and the team not played well in either of his first two games.46’ the players are not comfortable playing the kind of football he wants to play. Too much too soon. Rooney thinks that might be the case.52’ Rooney not bothered by criticism. But will the fans turn round.54’ far to soon to be turning on him.55’ Are the owners – DC – well equipped to bring success to Birmingham or are they half hearted? They have done a lot of good things, but are they running before they can walk on the football side?58’ Carrying the weight of being a player from ‘the golden generation.’ He has to prove himself.  Bill Kenwright1;03 a fan who ended up at the top of the club. Tried really hard to find a credible buyer. Had a rough time but loved Everton wanted the best for them and tried his hardest.1;05 Nice guy, and true fan. But became a lightening conductor for a fan base who had been let down. But Kenwright didn’t have the money himself, tried to find it with other investors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is back and joined by Monday regulars Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy and Gregor Robertson. After paying tribute to the late great Sir Bobby Charlton they look back on a fantastic weekend of football.Villa are flying high and don’t look like stopping. City and arsenal are up there without really playing well. Someone who is playing well is Harry Maguire, a man of the match performance against Sheffield united, but a test awaits next week against City and Haaland.Finally revenge for Gary O’Neil and is Ivan Tony set to leave Brentford.Timeline:1’ Sir Bobby tributesVilla4’ Villa, title contenders? Amazing home record.10’ Emery getting the best out of players already at the club. Ollie Watkins the best example.14’ Villa playing style. Big physical side, with pace.City and United21’ back on track, flying? Not so much according to Gregor. Still time to adjust to losing key players.24’ Has Guardiola lost some control over in’s and out’s26’ Maguire back to his best?27’ United winning but look at who is scoring.32’ Pace of the game has increased, that has affected Maguire.Arsenal Chelsea35’ Positivity for Chelsea. But are they getting an easy ride, should fans be more frustrated at results.38’ Chelsea missing four starters, played good football, the tide is turning.40’ Formation unusual, Poch optimistic.45’ Arsenal, gifted a route back into the game. But they found a way.Wolves Bournemouth48’ Iraola running out of time. Lots of individual mistakes but he needs a win.50’ Need to re asses their style. High press needs to be backed up.52’ Wolves looking great. O’Neil deserves huge credit. Neto and Cunha keyBrentford56’ Were struggling but first home win of the season58’ Faith in Thomas Frank, despite the rough start. Henry injury, Toney out…they’ll get better.60’ Looks like Tony will leave Brentford in Jan, possibly Arsenal.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sancho alone with his lunchbox and can England win the Euros?Gregor Robertson is joined by Martin Samuel, Tony Cascarino and James Gheerbrant.Should England dare to dream…? Martin Samuel thinks they should embrace the expectation that they are one of the favourites to win the European Championships in Germany next year. They look at England’s strength in depth, and particularly the rise of Jude Bellingham, now one of the world’s best players.From one former Borussia Dortmund player to another and the plight of Jadon Sancho. Training with the youngsters, getting changed alone, given his lunch in a club lunchbox. How did it come to this…?Finally, a look at the once sacrosanct Saturday afternoon 3pm kick off. Once upon a time never televised, that looks like changing. Does it matter?Timeline:England1’ England – they really could win the euros. They’re a very good team. Embrace the expectation.6’ Could England go back to back?> Where is the weak link…centre half?8’ Evolution in Southgate’s approach. Has he found a balance.10’ If not England who?15’ Kalvin Philips and Harry Maguire22’ Bellingham…brilliant.Sancho33’ From seventy million pound player to pariah. What happened to Jadon Sancho.35’ massive breakdown between Ten Hag and Sancho.37’ Sancho was amazing at Dortmund.42’ The agent should be the intermediary and her their money.44’ Ghost of Fergie…3pm kick offs54’ Will it impact smaller teams.55’ wall to wall football. Similar to America.58’ all designed by the premier league to stop the bigger clubs breaking away to strike their own TV deals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In todays edition of The Game Gregor Robertson is joined by Tony Cascarino, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd. No surprise that Gregor starts with a look back at Scotland’s qualification for next years Euros, their second in succession. While there were cheers in Scotland, there were boos at Wembley for  Jordan Henderson. Were they justified? No boos in Cardiff as Wales reignited their qualification hopes.After the break Matt Lawton joins to discuss the story unfolding at Manchester Utd as Sir Jim Ratcliffe now looks set to buy the club, in stages, after the Qatar bidders withdrew. Will it change things at Man Utd?Finally, after Alyson Rudd met her footballing hero, Jari Litmanen,  should you ever meet you heroes?  Timeline:ScotlandMichael Grant reviews Scotland’s qualification for the EurosSteve Clarke achievement. Fans going to the finalNew culture at Hampden and Scotland now.EnglandHenderson was booed at Wembley. Southgate disappointing to say he didn’t understand.Henderson coming to the end of his career, or one more tournament.Confused at being booed.Little sympathy.    WalesQualification back in their hands Harry Wilson coming good.Rob page is safe, for nowFirst big result post Gareth Bale.Man UtdMatt Lawton joins to discuss the moves taking place in the race to own Man Utd. Qatar’s pull out, which leaves the way clear for Jim Ratcliffe to take a sizable percentage ownership in the club. This is the first stage of a full takeover, it will not be part measure. Jim Ratcliffe will be the full owner, this is just the way the deal has to be structured.The mechanics of how Man Utd were put up for sale, what/who they wanted and how it panned out.Is the gloom around old Trafford to lift?What do we know about Ineos. What is their track record in cycling and at French ligue 1 side Nice.Lot of things to fix at Man Utd. Injury recurrence, recruitment, contracts…general decision making HeroesAlyson Rudd has final met and interviewed her hero, Jari Litmanen. Seems she is in love with him.Should you meet your heroes? Was it worth meeting him?He was a nice man, humble, he has heroes to.Sidcup high street and Tony met Steve Harley…oh dear.Ton has no heroes. Gregor …Dani Alves and Jon Collins.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chief sports correspondent for The Times Matt Lawton and Chief sports writer for the Sunday Times David Walsh join Tom Clarke for a unique look at England manager Gareth Southgate.David Walsh helped write Southgate’s award winning book in 2004 and broke the news in 2022 that Southgate would be staying on as England manager. Matt Lawton has covered England throughout Southgate’s tenure. Both give rare insight into how he operates and what the man is really like. If you missed part one yesterday they discussed his playing career. In part two it is management…Managerial career2’ Destined to be manager. Many thought he effectively managed Middlesborough from the changing room in his final season. 4’ Southgate happy to express his frustration and disapproval of managers, or situations. 6’ Worked under a wide variety of England managers. David Beckham.7’Middlesborough a great opportunity, but at a tough time with money running out. Southgate blooded the young players. Devastate to get the sack at Middlesborough. Steve Gibson now acknowledges he should never have sacked him. Was he too nice.England 15’ England under 21’s opportunity. A chance to change English football. How to produce technically better footballers.18’ Not a candidate for England after Hodgson left. Nor did he think he’d get the job. He was put forward as a shop gap, a second rater for three games. Southgate objected and wished to be a contender or not at all. FA relented and gave him the chance. He took it. 24’turbulence and distraction with Eriksen and Capello. Then the farce of Allardyce. Southgate proved to be the antidote.27’ a natural in the arena. Became what he wanted to be. Changed how England play, how they are perceived and turn England into a place where players want to be.  His three tournaments as manager32’ was 2018 his bets achievement. With the team he had and the system he played? He changed the culture. Brings good people around him. 36’ How he handled Wayne Rooney’s exit. Losing on penalties to Italy and losing to a very good French team in Qatar.  Tactical awareness…40’ he has always been tactically aware, as player and manager. He never respected managers who he thought had no idea. 46’ Not really close to leaving. “We talked about the game…”52’ Jude Bellingham age.Does he need to win something. Not really he has already been a success.  Is he still the best man for the job. From losing to Iceland a euro final and world cup semi. England in a much better place than when he took the job. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chief sports correspondent for The Times Matt Lawton and Chief sports writer for the Sunday Times David Walsh join Tom Clarke for a unique look at England manager Gareth Southgate.David Walsh helped write Southgate’s award winning book in 2004 and broke the news in 2022 that Southgate would be staying on as England manager. Matt Lawton has covered England throughout Southgate’s tenure. Both give rare insight into how he operates and what the man is really like. If you think the England manager is a bit boring, listen to this first.Timeline:Boring ?2’ Are fans getting a bit tired of Southgate? Nice guy, bit boring…might be a misconception.4’ one of the most interesting people I have ever met.6’ Gareth wrote a chapter of his book in four hours overnight. The subject was Alen Boksic.Playing career12’ Southgate’s playing career. Never got the big move he wanted.14’ loved by Venables.18’ unfulfilled as a player.21’ Middlesborough, leader in the dressing room.23’ Euro 96 Gareth Southgate played every game. Arguably England’s best player. Took a penalty, but others didn’t step up in front of a young player. The press were kind. What does that say for how they viewed Southgate.29’ Southgate learnt and changed. He implemented practicing penalties.  34’ captain everywhere he went. But to start with quite nice. Managers worked to bring out his toughness. He had has an inner steel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Most teams get a mention as Tony Cascarino, Tom Roddy and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke for Mondays’ edition of The Game.Who are city missing most and is the result Arsenal’s spring board.West Ham are playing good football and getting good results, will David Moyes get the credit. At the other end of the table Luton and Burnley are good to watch, but they’re getting no results, will that start to effect morale and belief. For Bournemouth they’re still winless, despite a new manager who arrived with much expectation.Following the injury to Sheffield United’s Chris Basham, Gregor Robertson talks with painful honesty about his time recovering from a severe leg break, the immediate shock, the monotonous daily routine and the thoughts of how it might affect the rest of your life/career.Timeline:Arsenal v City1’ Arsenal, champions after beating City..? Declan Rice was immense. 3’ City weakness or Arsenal strength. What’s happened to Kalvin Philips?4’ Poor quality games. City playing with four centre backs. Both teams more defensive then one might imagine. Do City have a new approach to breaking the press? Overload midfield.8’ Is Rodri their most important player? Tony thinks it is still De Bruyne.10’ Keepers asked to do very risky things. Raya a wreck but then improved. Tottenham top15’ Ange ball, gritty ball. Impressive spirit and character. Van de Venn impressive.16’ Does expectation need to rise, are they the real deal. Spurs still don’t have enough to go the whole season.19’ will the style get figured out. No cover for Maddison and Bissouma.  Top four only.Luton and Burnley20’ Luton played well can’t take chances. What happens if belief starts to wain.  Rob Edwards job could be to keep a team motivated if defeats mount.  24’ Kompany’s style is risky and will often concede goals, but if it works…26’ Burnley will grow into the league.Chelsea28’ turning the corner…had some luck, but results turning. Injured players coming back. Key players scoring, building confidence.31’ Cole Palmer took the penalty…a young player brought in to cover two kep injuries in the Chelsea squad.West Ham v Newcastle37’ Hammers impressive playing good football. Signings all working, Alvarez, Kudos, Ward Browse all playing very well. 39’ Newcastle come down after Europe, Isak best player, looks very good.41’ West Ham players who were off it last year are back on it. 42’ Is Moyes the chucky monster. Cas thinks he’s tough, resilient and deserves huge credit. Now has his best West Ham team.Fulham v Sheff Utd46’ Willian stole the show. 35 signed from a trial at Fulham, set up chance after chance all game. Despite that the team lack goal scorers. Can’t convert their chances. 51’ still good to watch but no edge. 53’ Gregor had the same injury as Basham, severe lower leg injury. He talks graphically about his recovery and the long road ahead for Sheff Utd. How will his absence affect the team? 58’ even with the injury, Sheff Utd weren’t good. Bournemouth59’ No wins under Iraola. They play Wolves and Gary O’Neil after the international break. Will he be under pressure if they lose. Noise is he could be starting to panic.1;00 Club are invested in Iraola, he won’t go. Belief is an issue though.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tom Allnutt for a jam packed show. They look back at a memorable night on Tyneside, Martin Samuel thinks Newcastle will win the Champions League before PSG ever will. Then its on to a miserable night at Old Trafford and a look at how Mikel Arteta manages Bukayo Saka.Then its VAR, Gregor thinks the rules are an ass, Martin thinks it’s the rules and the officials.Finally, it’s the awarding of the 2030 world cup to just the three continents…all agree it is a precursor to where 2034 goes…clue; its got a lot of sand and a lot of oil. Timeline:Newcastle1’ Martin Hardy reflects on a special night at St James park.3’ This is not a one off for Newcaste, it is a sign of things to come.7’ the prestige of European competition. Goals scored by locals, people playing for the team.How has Eddie howe done it. And what went wrong with PSG.10’ what’s the problem at PSG. Mbappe is the star but how long will he stay. Does Enrique have a long term vision. This result will not be acceptable in Paris. Gregor thought the tactics were at fault. PSG invite pressure, but they couldn’t cope with it.14’ Its not just teams that win the champs league, its clubs. Newcastle will win it before PSG will.16’ running an elite club is not easy, as Man Utd are demonstrating. Newcastle is well run, good plan, good recruitment and plenty of money to back it up.18’ this was a statement victory, announcing yourself on the European stage. But Tom Allnutt thinks beating a weary club in the group is not winning a two leg semi.20’ Does the result gloss over who owns the club and the issues surrounding Saudi ownership?23’ The French Eddie Howe is not getting the PSG job. They are not connected to the feeding ground of the Paris suburbs. Not enough attention taken to off field appointments. Man Utd25’ It started so well. Goals for Hojlund then it imploded. 26’ Its about a well run club, Utd isn’t. They’ve tried new coaches, experienced, but the club is badly run. No vision.  How are good players turned bad…is it them or the club? Gregor says good players but played out of position and no clear vision and structure.28’ Club culture and off field appointments.  Ten Hag has had to fire fight but is there a consistency to his coaching. How does he want to play.32’ Off field division breeds lack of confidence.  Ten hag is under pressure, he shouldn’t be but he is. as the signings are his. Martin not convinced by Onana.  City v Arsenal35’ Arteta’s management of Saka. Playing him through injury, has that now caught up with them? He is vital for Arsenal, that’s why he keeps playing him.38’ Saka getting kicked a lot. Does Arteta need to protect him. Should they have bought cover? No longer acceptable to jab players up to play.VAR44’ VAR debacle. Gregor has sympathy for Darren England. Made a huge error, for the world to see. The clip humanises45’ Martin looks at the rules that says the game can’t be stopped. 46’ They were incapable of thinking for themselves. The rules are an ass.55’ Bravery needed to go against the rules in a pressure situation being watched by millions. 1;00’ who should serve on ifab1;02’ No replay, despite it being wrong.World cup 1;04’ awarding the world cup to three continents clears the way for Saudi world cup in 2030. What about planet earth. FIFA do many strange things. Martin says Infantino is an appalling figure at the head of football.  Many of the things said about the Qatar world cup proved, after the fact to be true – carbon footprint, workers rights, player welfare - but none of it mattered, FIFA didn’t really care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Tom Clarke on this episode of The Game are Alyson Rudd, Molly Hudson and Gregor Robertson. VAR is given a thorough grilling, but will anything change. Should it be referees operating VAR.City without Rodri.Gregor optimistic on the chances of Luton Town and impressed by the potential of Ollie Watkins.Finally the panel discuss the economics of the WSL and how feasible it is to see regular WSL fixtures at the main stadiums.Timeline:VAR at Spurs v Liverpool1’ Alyson has a analogy… is the VAR an old boys club, people who all know each other, not paying close enough attention.3’ Gregor points out the need for the best professionals, not necessarily former refs.7’ why can’t we consider the same skilled professionals that deliver TV, do VAR, are they not as skilled as referees?9’ there has been a development in what a referee is asked to do. Communicate, relay decisions in English.14’ Should ex players be referees? Molly Hudson gives the example of a former Chelsea player who received the most red cards wanting to be a ref once she retires.18’ Liverpool looked good, even with nine men. Spurs win again, they find a way. 21’ Spurs lucky, or finding a way to win. Gregor thinks a bit of both.Wolves v Man City25’ Are City the same team with Rodri missing? Gregor really likes Gary O’Neil he thinks he is going to be a big success somewhere. Neto and his pace is a huge threat.    27’ Wolves finally got a result for their good performances so far this season.29’ Molly also a Gary O’Neil fan. She thinks it is because he isn’t fashionable that he has struggled, particularly why he lost his job at Bournemouth.Man Utd v Palace33’ A classic Hodgson result. Alyson points out Roy is undefeated in his visits to Old Trafford.36’ Not at all surprising result, Man Utd are in flux and struggling for consistency. For Palace is the old result like this enough for Hodgson, does he need to change the brand of football and the consistency?38’ Gregor thinks truth be told, they’ll be happy to survive each year, and by appointing Hodgson survival is the aim.Luton’s first win40’ Big moment for Luton, finally getting their first win, two in two for Carlton Morris.41’ Gregor believes it will give a huge boost. He thinks they have played well, created chances and lost games through individual errors. He thinks they can turn it around.42’ Everton, after a big win against Brentford and Villa in the cup…now losing at home against Luton. Alyson thinks it is really worrying. There is more to be read into this defeat, something is wrong.Aston Villa46’ Villa an attacking team with variety and pace. Gregor likes their style, likes Watkins but also felt Brighton gifted Villa two goals. Watkins has strength, explosive pace and can finish…how far can he go?50’ Brighton fell foul of tinkering and rotation. Alyson thinks they are either very good, or horrid. They’ll come good and play good football, but there will be ups and downs as they negotiate losing players and playing in Europe.52’ Brighton need to maintain the feeling of strength, it can easily slip away. Is DeZerbi too reckless?WSL53’ Surprise of the weekend as Liverpool won at the Emirates against Arsenal, all in front of 50, 000 fans. Big worries and pressure at Arsenal, Chelsea only dropped 8 points last year, Arsenal have already dropped 3.57’ Gregor heard Emma Hayes thoughts on growing the game and the sustainability of the women’s game. The issues around pricing, and timing of games The match was loss making as it costs 300,000 to open the stadium.59’ economics of opening main stadiums for WSL fixtures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, Jonny Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke on Thursday’s edition of The Game.Manchester City lost for the first time at Newcastle, but did Pep Guardiola give his players an excuse for the loss before the game even started. Plus some confidence boosting wins for some big teams.In the second part of the show a fascinating insight into what it takes to be an elite coach – the methods, dedication and psyche needed to succeed. Jonny Northcroft met Anthony Barry, once a lower league English footballer now coaching Ronaldo.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Allnut join Tom Clarke to discuss the Ange, Chelsea and thrashings. The team pick through the aftermath of the north London derby, Ange’s influence, Raya v Ramsdale and the impact of James Maddison. Chelsea have had their worst start in forty five years, will they even make the top half. Their run of fixtures in the next two months mean it could be tough to turn it around. In contrast Villa are playing good football, climbing the table and looking every inch an Emery team. Does eight nil mean anything anymore?  Are the three promoted trams already doomed? Timeline:Arsenal / Spurs2’ Alyson Rudd was underwhelmed by the north London derby. Error strewn, chaos and mistakes for the goals. Tom Allnut was very impressed with Spurs. They went to the emirates, played the gam they wanted to play and didn’t lose, could even have won. Bigger picture spurs going in the right direction 7’ Gregor says it isn’t a surprise, ‘Ange ball’ has an identity, which Gregor has seen at Celtic, and he is sue he’ll continue in the same vein at Spurs.12’ Rice’s injury.  Not serious, but what effect did it have on Arsenal? 14’ Playing the Raya way. Alyson believes his selection sets the tone for the whole team. While his distribution wasn’t the best this weekend, she thinks he’ll remains Arteta’s first choice, with no rotation. ‘Raya is like having a coach on the pitch.’ Cleve, quick, vocal and good distribution.19’ Tom Allnut discusses how and why Arsenal signed Raya, and other historic examples of two ‘first choice’ goalkeepers at the same club. In the end…Raya is number one.23’ James Maddison…what a great performance in a big game for a new club. They look a good fit. Gregor still baffled no other club tried to sign him. He represents the new sense of joy at spurs. Maddison and son bromance has smoothed the loss of Harry Kane. His value is not just in possession, he is also working hard.28’ Tottenham predictionsChelsea29’ Chelsea…dear oh dear. Worst start in 20 years.30’ Chelsea a billion pounds and still go backwards. Chelsea are a really bad team. Results go a long way back.32’ Tom Allnut can’t believe Pochettino went to Chelsea. Dysfunctional club. Poor signings. Lots of ‘punts’ on players who may or may not come good.35’ two hundred million pound plus players in Caicedo and Fernandez outshone by Villa. Chelsea didn’t just struggle in front of goal. Villa had more shots.38’ Chelsea’s poor disciplinary record, Jackson in particular. 39’ Chelsea predictions…. Villa41’ Villa doing well. Looked strong, organised, hard to beat, but with a cutting edge. Gregor worried about their high line though.Promoted clubs under pressure44’ Eddie Howe steal, Sheffield united woe.50’ Gregor said Sheff Utd were the worst placed of the promoted teams, he fears that is proving to be true.52’ All three promoted teams are in the relegation zone. Why and will it change. 55’ The three clubs have different problems. Luton ambition, or lack of… Burnley style of play.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke for a debrief of this weeks Champions league matches. A good week for Arsenal and City, an ok week for Newcastle but another forgettable week for Manchester United.Can you really sub a goalkeeper for tactical reasons?Given the strength in depth and the money in the Premier league, is it now almost a super league in its own right?And Gregor has a new celebrity mate…iTimeline:Man Utd 1’ Another bad night for Man Utd. The score was 4-3 but the game was nothing like that. Another defeat, another 6’ Onana Gregor analysis the start to Onana’s Old Trafford career. “Another new player is wobbling.”  10’ Martin recalls the different approaches from various managers he has dealt with towards goalkeepers. He goes on to give an interesting take on pessimists and optimists on the football field. Mourinho didn’t want optimists as defenders. 13’ Is Onana a good enough footballer, is his defence in front of him good enough. Jonny Northcroft, thinks it could be a mix of the two. Wider concern is the recruitment policy.15’ Gregor thinks it isn’t the players but players in a dysfunctional set up look worse than they are. 19’ Winter of discontent. Man Utd have a generous run of fixtures in the next few weeks if they want to get back on track. But Marti Samuel has written about how this team may still struggle.22’ where to start to fix it. Jonny thinks the midfield is the place to begin. He thinks they lack legs, creativity and strength. There is too much pressure on Casimero but he is too old to cover the space in the midfield. Dito Eriksen.23’ Players get better when they’re not in the team, says Martin. Mason Mount didn’t start well but is now touted as the answer. Could Amrabat be the answer, he’ll need time to adjust.Arsenal25’ Arsenal returned to the Champions league as if they had never been away. Gregor thinks it shows the gulf between the Premier league and the rest of Europe. PSV sold their best player this summer…to Nottingham Forest. The development in the Premier League is such that an English team are automatically going to compete well in the Champions league.27’ Arsenal are no longer a prospect, they are ‘there.’ Jonny is beguiled by the ‘vibe’ from Arsenal, the interplay of players like Odegaard, Trossard, Saka and Jesus was a joy to watch.29’ Raya retained his place in goal for Arsenal. Is this going to be the new approach to goalkeepers33’ North London derby. Ange revolution v Arsenal on a high.Newcastle38’ Do Newcastle need to evolve, will they be able to? What does the result say about the premier league. Newcastle were average but they got a result, in the San Siro. 44’ Premier League strength, demonstrated by the players brought to the league and also players sold to other major European clubs. 48’ IS the premier league a de-facto super league?Man City50’ Jeremy Doku gives Man City a new dimension. Beating men, creating space, staying wide. Are they already favourites. 55’ Favourite Champions League moments from the week.58’ Gregor is star struck after interviewing Norman Cook - Fat Boy slim Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke for the Monday edition of ‘The Game.’The postmortem on Man Utd v Brighton takes centre stage. Brighton were brilliant, a well run well managed club playing great football. Manchester United were the polar opposite in almost every sense. Will matters improve?Are Liverpool title contenders. Gregor and Tony are far from convinced but Alyson is a convert.Chelsea have stalled, no identity, injury prone and yet they have spent a billion pounds. Where next…?Tinkering from Arteta, resilience from Spurs and what are Everton? Finally Alyson caught up with Roy Hodgson to ask if he is becoming a national treasure. Man Utd v Brighton1’ Mystic Tony. Tony Cascarino predicted the result and the score of the Man Utd game. No one was surprised by the result. Was it brilliant Brighton or woeful Utd. Or both. Are the problems on the pitch or off…or both. 7’ Gregor Alyson and Tony all agree Man Utd are a club in chaos. In stark contrast to Brighton. “Man Utd are paying people to attend their party, Brighton just throw a good party.” 12’ off field trouble leaking on to the pitch? Tony thinks there could also be an issue around the type of football that Ten Hag wants to play.Liverpool…title contenders?17’ Gregor is so sure. He was at Molineux for Wolves v Liverpool. They are erratic, very poor first half, low in energy. But they have a wealth of riches on the bench and a manager willing to take risks. He thought second half they effectively played 4-2-4, throwing caution to the wind. But is that sustainable? What is their midfield balance. Can Trent defend and is Robertson being shackled? Alyson is convinced. On a bad day Liverpool still got the job done and she sees enormous potential. 25’ Tony doesn’t think they will challenge.  27’ Gary O’Neil gets a bit tick. Sleepy Sunday29’ A slow day on Sunday. Alyson was at Bournemouth v Chelsea. A dull nil nil. The two managers cancelled each other out. One creating ordered chaos, the other well-structured and a bit negative.  Chelsea didn’t have an identity.32’ lots of injuries at Chelsea, 12 well known players out. But are those players all important, Gregor isn’t so sure.AI and injuries33’ Injuries are not just bad luck. In an interesting take Alyson quotes the use of AI to predict potential injuries. She isn’t sure the injury list at Chelsea is just bad luck.34’ Tony, as an ex blue says the club is in transition. Lots of new players and staff. Everton38’ “Everton are a poor version of Dyche’s Burnley” Tony is worried by Everton, a team unsure which way they need to play t get a result.Arsenal - Ramsdale or Raya?Is Arteta tinkering too much? Gregor thinks modern football has changed and perhaps interchanging a goalkeeper isn’t that unusual. Interesting all three prefer Raya to Ramsdale. West Ham – diving headers46’ Tony loves a diving header. Scored a few, but also talks about the technical benefits of a diving header, not giving the keeper time to get set. Spurs v Sheff Utd49’ Heart break for Sheff Utd. But is there a quiet Ange revolution going on at Spurs? 51’ Has Paul Heckingbottom been harshly treated by the media? Villa comeback56’ “Villa now look so dynamic.” “Diaby is a real player.” Roy Hodgson1’00” Alyson recently chatted to Roy again, before he fell ill. He talked about taking a surprise job on, gaining new fans and giving his players freedom.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke for this episode of The Game.The team address the criticism surrounding Harry Maguire. Tony Cascarino says the situation reminds him of one of his former international colleagues. They go on to discuss the fans response, Maguires reaction and how the player rebuilds his confidence.Looking at England and Judge Bellingham in particular, have England ever had greater strength in depth in the middle of the park? Paul Pogba’s situation is briefly discussed.As Brighton head to Old Trafford, with many expecting them to win, Martin secured a rare interview with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. Brighton are doing more than challenging on the pitch, off it, they are now a set up admired throughout Europe.Finally – lies, damned lies and football stats. Are they worth the paper they are written on?Times:Harry Maguire1’-14’ Is the treatment Harry Maguire has had from fans fair?4’ – comparisons with Mick McCarthy and his contrasting club and international career6’. Managers trust certain players and stick with them until they let them down.14’ Do the media have a case to answer. Are they making Maguire’s situation worse.Maguires mum has commented on social media.15’ Gregor on Harrys mum.England strength and Jude Bellingham18’ Jude Bellingham shone for England at Hampden park. But Gregor says it isn’t just physical ability, it is his mentality and mindset which sets him apart.20’ Bellingham’s positioning for Real and for England. Might England still not be getting the best out of him.22’ England’s strength in depth, especially in the creative positions.27’ Kalvin Philips. Not playing for city but still getting picked for England. Another case of a player Southgate trusts and continues to use.30’ Paul Pogba. Is his career heading down the ‘lost talent’ route? With a provisional suspension what happens next. Brighton v Man utd32’ Big week for Brighton who play Manchester Utd and then head to Athens in Europe. Martin has been speaking with Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. On the pitch they have beaten Utd the last four times they have played, they have a coveted centre forward and an international centre half. They go into the game – at Old Trafford – as favourites. A sign of how far they have come.38’ How far can Brighton go? How to make the step up from being viewed as a ‘smaller club’ dealing with Europe and the squad strength following the loss of their two main midfielders.48’ And what about Man Utd. If they lose is Ten Hag under pressure?“Nice kit, but doesn’t look like Man Utd, but neither do the team.”49’ Lies, damned lies and football stats.Are football stats worth the paper they’re written on Martin wrote a piece addressing possession stats in particular.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi's football giants - How the signings work and will the spending continue? Tom Clarke is joined by regular Monday panellist Alyson Rudd and debutant Tom Kershaw. Messrs Martin Hardy and Michael Grant drop in to give reaction and updates from England and Scotland perspectives. Alyson Rudd gives her reaction to the resignation of Luis Rubiales. Tom Kershaw gives a fascinating and unmissable insight into Saudi sport, how it operates, its fans, culture and the plans in place for the future. 02’.00 – An emotional night as Ukraine fans travelled to see their team play England in Poland. On the pitch - disjointed England. Reaction to England’s less than inspiring performance against Ukraine. How to make the most of the talent on offer, why did the two form players – Bellingham and Maddison appear restricted? 12’00– Are England about to poach a player from the Scottish ranks? Newcastle’s Eliot Anderson could be about to cross the border…Martin Hardy wrote the story. 18’30 - England have the chance to spoil Scotland’s party yet again…” Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant is optimistic this time could be different. Michael updates on the Scotland camp. Are the tartan army booking their tickets to Germany next summer? And what does Michael make of the potential switch of two players from Scotland to England.25’00 - England Scotland predictions. Will it be a match to remember or a bore draw. Alyson Rudd predicts an underwhelming nil nil.30’10 – Discussion and reaction to Luis Rubiales resignation. Is it a case of sorry not sorry? Has the Spanish world cup victory become a post script, with the Rubiales incident being the focal point?33- Tom Kershaw gives a fascinating insight in to Saudi sport. Tom has been to the country on a number of occasions in recent times. he discusses Saudi fans, the atmosphere they create at games and how there are attempts to use football to generate a sports culture, energise the young male population in a country with high rates of diabetes. 36’ atmosphere at matches in the Saudi pro league. Fan culture and behaviour. 41’ the heat and humidity and the effects it has on foreign players.43’ what are the training facilities like in the pro league?47’ is this a flash in the pan, will the money dry up. Or do the league and the financial backers have a long term plan…?49’ What is the financial structure, how is a player signed to play in the pro league. It is different the transfer deadline day type bidding wars we are used to seeing in European leagues.52’ will the bubble burst. Alyson thinks it might. Tom is sure it won’t. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Game Tom Clarke is joined by Matt Dickinson, Matt Lawton and Martin Samuel to discuss the weeks footballing news, this weekend’s international fixtures and a few very funny stories of runs ins with former England managers and captains. 1.10: Roy Keane incident/sports pundits.  Was the Roy Keane incident an accident waiting to happen. Martin Samuel discusses the loss of impartiality in sports broadcasting. Wider comments on ex-players as pundits. Is their perceived fan loyalty detracting from their in-depth knowledge.15.30: Anthony/Greenwood/Man Utd. Tough times at Manchester United off the pitch. In light of the Anthony allegations have the club set a precedent in the way they have handled the Mason Greenwood situation.20.00: Jordan Henderson. Was the former Liverpool players interview a good idea? Were his responses to his critics believable? The discussion broadens out to Saudi influence on sport. Matt Lawton highlights the vast amounts of money involved. All agree that Saudi Arabian influence, across all sport, not just football is an unstoppable force. 35.50: England. Do managers or journalists learn anything from friendlies? What areas of the England team need to be looked at.39.00 – Gareth Southgate. Is he still under pressure? Is he tactically astute enough? What does the future hold for Southgate. Matt Lawton is adamant that the FA can not let him leave the FA. With his knowledge he must be retained in some way. Should he be the most important and influential person in English football? 50.00: The writers discuss their best stories of run ins they’ve had with England managers of the past. Should journalist be told the team ahead of time? Tales of Roy Hodgson, Fabio Capello, Sven Eriksen and Glen Hoddle follow. 1’.08: Which England captains have the writers worked with, who have been engaging, who have been reluctant to work closely with the journalists. The press pack take on David Beckham. The Spice Girls and Beckhams Mohican.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Tony Cascarino, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd to look back at the weekend's Premier League action.They start by reviewing Arsenal's 3-1 win over Manchester United at the Emirates and ask just how significant it was for the Gunners. They also reflect on Jadon Sancho's statement released on social media and how damaging it could be for his career. (00:00)Chelsea's woes continued with a 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, what can Mauricio Pochettino do to solve their problems in attack? They also debate how important that win was for Nottingham Forest, and discuss their hopes for the season. (17:35)Spurs continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 5-2 victory at Burnley. Just how important is James Maddison if they are to achieve any success season? How influential has Ange Postecoglou been in their start to the campaign? (28:45)Brighton rounded off Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 win at home to Newcastle, with Evan Ferguson starring with a hat-trick. How far can he go in his career, and how exciting is Brighton's season with Europa League football to come? They also debate if Newcastle fans should start to worry after 3 defeats in their first 4 games? (41:46)Mohamed Salah stars for Liverpool as they thrash Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield - but will he still be at the club by the end of the Saudi Pro League transfer window? They also hail the performance of Dominik Szoboszlai. (55:54)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, James Restall and Martin Samuel in The Times office.Chelsea are close to signing Cole Palmer from Manchester City for a fee of around £45m. Should City have found a way for him to fit into their side and is a move to Stamford Bridge the best option for someone who wants minutes? (00:00)Ansu Fati looks like he’s on his way from Barcelona to Brighton on loan. Is this a sign that Brighton are about to step up their spending? (11:00)Harry Maguire looks like he’ll be staying at Old Trafford after a move to West Ham failed to materialise. Given his projected lack of minutes, should he still be in the England team? The same question could be asked of Jordan Henderson after his move to Saudi Arabia (16:52)Luis Rubiales is still in a job as the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, despite calls from all corners to resign over his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final. How will this situation conclude and how damaging has this saga been for women's football? (34:26)We’ve seen some Premier League teams slip up in the League Cup second round. Sheffield United went out against Lincoln City and Tottenham dropped out thanks to Fulham. We round up the latest results and ponder whether pundits should work on games where the team they support are playing (45:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tony Cascarino and Martin Hardy in The Times office in London.Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez came off the bench to score twice late on for ten-man Liverpool against Newcastle United in a modern classic at St James’s Park. The Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ranked the victory among the most special of his career, but just how big a missed opportunity was this for Newcastle?Manchester United also produced a stirring comeback, after going 2-0 down in the opening four minutes against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. But has Old Trafford lost its fear factor?Following a series of high-profile stories involving the mistreatment of women by men working in football, including the recent suspension by Fifa of the Spanish Football Federation’s President Luis Rubiales, we ask: is football, as an industry, failing women?There was more late drama at the Emirates as Arsenal conceded an 87th minute equaliser against ten-man Fulham. The Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, is trying to evolve last season’s title challengers, but does he need to? And Manchester City took advantage to go top of the table with a late winner at Sheffield United, much to the relief of Erling Haaland — and Kyle Walker.Following impressive wins for West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur, inspired by two new recruits familiar to the Premier League, could the relatively unheralded signings of James Ward-Prowse and James Maddison respectively be the summer’s most inspired transfers?Finally, after Joachim Andersen equalised for Crystal Palace with what can only be described as a slide tackle through the legs of the Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Tony Cascarino talks us through a goal he scored for Aston Villa that was so bad it won an award.Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: themes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Martin Samuel in The Times office.Mason Greenwood will leave Manchester United imminently, but how easily will he find a new club and where in the world could that club be? (00:00)Manchester City are being forced back into the transfer window later than they usually would. Are they starting to panic or just simply reacting to the injury to Kevin De Bruyne? (06:38)Aston Villa are practically through to the group stages of the Europa Conference League after a 5-0 first leg win at Hibernian. How much does this European involvement mean to the club and why do Scottish clubs struggle to compete at this level? (18:22)Everton have started the season badly and look like they’ll struggle for goals. Is this the season they finally go down and how important is moving to their new stadium in the search for fresh investment? (27:15)Martin Samuel has written in The Times about Bruno Fernandes’ captaincy at Manchester United and why managers choose certain players to lead the team. As a former pro, Gregor has some thoughts on his favourite skippers he’s played under (38:31)A mention of Ben Foster’s second retirement leads to a conversation about the difficulty players have getting into elite sides and how the quality of the football pyramid is improving as a result (49:31)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy in The Times office in London, with Molly Hudson in Australia.The Lionesses came up just short in the World Cup final on Sunday - Molly Hudson joins us from Sydney to look back on a close game against Spain and look ahead to a future with or without Sarina Wiegman in charge. (00:00)In the Premier League, it was a disastrous weekend for Everton who won’t forget their visit to Villa Park in a hurry and Chelsea won’t be overly keen on the London Stadium after a 3-1 defeat to West Ham. How long will it take Mauricio Pochettino’s side to fully gel and what can realistically be expected of them this season? (11:40)Tom Roddy gives us an insight into his exclusive conversation with former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who left the club for AC Milan in the summer. You can read the full conversation on The Times website (25:24)Tottenham began life after Harry Kane with a 2-0 win over Manchester United. Have the club finally found the right manager to give them a clear identity and vision? As for United, are they still quite a way off where they need to be or was it just one of those days? (29:44)Manchester City overcame Newcastle without Kevin De Bruyne, who is out for several months through injury. Phil Foden stepped up to fill in, but did he impress? (46:00)We round up the rest of the weekend results as Fulham and Brentford share a similar problem in attack, while Brighton end the weekend top of the table despite their summer outgoings (52:05)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is in The Times office in London and he's joined by Molly Hudson and Owen Slot in Australia at the Women's World Cup.The Lionesses are now just one win away from lifting the World Cup trophy. Molly and Owen share the latest from the England camp down under as Sarina Wiegman prepares her squad for the biggest game of their careers.Lauren James is available to play after serving her two match ban - but should she come straight back into the starting line up? We debate this huge decision with a little help from former Lioness and Times columnist, Casey Stoney.Spain are tough opponents with a lot of quality, but behind the scenes they're a team in turmoil. Molly shares tales of striking players, a coach that doesn't connect with the squad and how the team are looking to write their own history on Sunday.Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Jonny Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel. In today’s pod Manchester United beat Wolves but how did they look? Wolves lost, but how did they look.Manchester United have more than on field issues to worry about as they are poised to make a decision about the future of Mason Greenwood.A London derby as West Ham face Chelsea, which team has a plan and which one doesn’t?Jonny Northcroft has been to meet the premier leagues first black official in fifteen years, Akil Howson.Could there really be a title decider this early in the season? And some funny stories about scary managers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson. On the agenda is a scintillating start for Newcastle and a tough start for the three promoted clubs Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley. The team hear from Molly Hudson who is following England as they prepare for a semi-final against the Matilda’s at the Women’s World Cup. They then move on to address Spurs without Kane and Gregor finishes the pod with a fascinating take on the other impending one hundred million pound transfer, that of Moises Caicedo. Gregor recently visited Caicedo’s first club in the mountains of Ecuador, he describes what life is like for many young footballers in a country deeply affected by poverty.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League season is back and The Game podcast previews the new season with a special two-part show. In Part 2 Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy discuss the rest of the teams in the Premier League. They are joined by Paul Hirst to discuss the Community Shield, debating the title hopes for Manchester City and Arsenal as well as discussing Manchester United's pre-season preparations. They assess whether Brighton and Brentford can hit the same heights and share some concerns over Everton, Fulham, Bournemouth, Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Aston Villa, Newcastle and Liverpool are the big clubs with big talking points to conclude the show.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Game: Season preview - part one The Premier League season is back and The Game podcast previews the new season with a special two-part show. In Part 1 Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy to talk Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley and their hopes of survival as the League's new arrivals. The team also tackle some London clubs going through change this summer: West Ham, Chelsea and Tottenham. Finally they react to England's penalty shootout victory against Nigeria in the Women's World Cup.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by James Restall in London and Molly Hudson in Australia to discuss the latest from the Women's World Cup.Sarina Wiegman has shown she's not afraid to make changes in this tournament - is this key to England's success? Lauren James has been the standout player for the Lionesses so far, but which other players deserve praise? (00:00)England take on Nigeria next - what kind of challenge do they pose? Former England defender and Times columnist Casey Stoney has her say on which Lionesses will play a huge part in how the rest of the tournament will play out for England. (22:45)In the second half of the show, Gregor Robertson and Willis Bennett join Tom Clarke to look ahead to the brand new EFL season. The Championship begins on Friday, but which teams are predicted to have a positive season in the 'toughest league' to progress from? (35:25)Leagues One and Two also get started this weekend - and you might be surprised to find out which team in the latter are expected to shine this season! (55:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to look back at the week's Euro 2024 qualifying action, and discuss the week's biggest stories.The Times' Deputy Sports Editor James Restall joins the show to look back at England's 7-0 win over North Macedonia in their Euro 2024 qualifying group. They discuss what we may have learned from the game, and ask if England are now ready to win a major tournament. (00:00)The Times' Scotland Reporter Martin Grant joins the show to reflect on Scotland's 2-1 win over Norway which sees them top of their Euro 2024 qualifying group, and they also preview tonight's game with Georgia. (16:10)Wales suffered back-to-back defeats this week, but should the pressure now be on their manager Rob Page? Did they make a mistake at the World Cup by still playing the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen? (24:30)Bournemouth have sacked manager Gary O'Neil and replaced him with the former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola, but was it the right decision? Are the owners showing ambition by having a plan in place for next season, or will Iraola's lack of experience in the Premier League cost them next season? (34:25)The panel reflect on Darren Moore's sacking as Sheffield Wednesday manager and what next for him? Hugh Woozencroft also says his goodbye as the presenter of The Game Podcast. (44:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to discuss the week's biggest stories, and look ahead to the weekend's International football.The Times' Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins the show to look ahead to England's Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta on Friday, and discuss some of the selection headaches for Gareth Southgate. He also discusses Harry Kane's future and whether he will leave Spurs this summer. (00:00)Jude Bellingham has been unveiled as a Real Madrid player following his move from Borussia Dortmund. How significant is this transfer for English future, and what can we expect to see from him in Spain in the coming seasons? (14:30)The Times' Scotland reporter Michael Grant joins the show to preview Scotland's trip to Norway in a huge game in Euro 2024 qualifying. He also discusses Ange Postecoglou going to Spurs, and a possible return to Celtic for Brendan Rodgers. (31:15)The transfer window has officially opened, the guys discuss their dream transfers this summer! (42:15)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd to look back at the Champions League final, as Manchester City complete the treble with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul.The Times' Manchester Correspondent Paul Hirst joins the show to reflect on the game, and discuss how Inter Milan made it so difficult for Manchester City. We also discuss the off-the-field issues in getting to the stadium on the day, and look at how Pep Guardiola has transformed the careers of some of his players. (00:00)What does Manchester City's treble victory mean going forward? How big of an achievement is it for Pep Guardiola's side to do this, or should they have won the Champions League sooner? (22:30)The Times' Chief Sports Writer Owen Slot joins the show to reflect on his recent visit to Abu Dhabi. He discussed what it was like there to watch Man City win the Champions League, and whether Abu Dhabi have embraced Manchester City and if the locals now support the club. (44:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd to look back at the FA Cup final and discuss the week's biggest football stories.West Ham have won their first cup competition since 1980 after winning the Europa Conference League following a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the final - can the club push on from here, and will David Moyes be at the helm to do so? (00:00)The West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has confirmed that captain Declan Rice will leave the club in the summer, but where will he end up? And despite this, is the future bright for West Ham with a season in the Europa League to come? (17:16)Manchester City are 90 minutes away from completing the treble this season - but do we give Inter Milan any chance of an upset? What will they need to do to defy the odds to win in Istanbul? (27:20)Real Madrid are set to sign the Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham after the two clubs agreed a fee for the England international. How good will it be for him to go to La Liga, or is this the right move for him? Lionel Messi is set to go to Major League Soccer to play for Inter Miami, and we also react to Liverpool signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton. (37:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd to look back at the FA Cup final and discuss the week's biggest football stories.Manchester City remain on course for the treble after beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final. The Times' Paul Hirst joins the show to reflect on the game, discuss how important Ilkay Gundogan is for Man City, and debate how United can compete with their neighbours in the future. (00:00)The Times' Senior Sports Writer Matt Dickinson joins the show to discuss his book, and also reflect on his piece with the Manchester United legend Brian McClair, in which they look back at the United treble-winning side of 1999. (26:10)Real Madrid announce that Karim Benzema will leave the club at the end of the season after 14 years in the Spanish capital, but should Spurs striker Harry Kane replace him at the club? We discuss Benzema's legacy, and also discuss what Kane should consider if he makes the move. (36:00)Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is the favourite to take over as Spurs ahead of the new Premier League season. We'll discuss if the step up will be too much for him, and whether he can cope with managing in one of Europe's Top 5 leagues. (46:15)Alyson reflects on her interviews with the Southampton owners Sport Republic, and the Brentford manager Thomas Frank, and looks back on her key findings from both conversations. (58:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Molly Hudson to discuss the week's biggest football stories.Jose Mourinho misses the chance to win the Europa League after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Sevilla in Budapest, but will he stay in Serie A next season, or will he make the perfect International manager? (00:00)The Times' Manchester Correspondent Paul Hirst joins the show to preview the weekend's FA Cup final as Man United face Man City at Wembley, how motivated will United be to stop City winning the treble? How important a day is it for Manchester United? (09:25)Gregor, Tom and Molly continue building up to the FA Cup final. What type of game will we expect to see? Will City's complacency cost them with their eyes on the Champions League final? What do United need to do in the summer to strengthen? (24:30)Manchester United have reportedly agreed terms with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount - how disappointed should Chelsea be to lose another homegrown player? What can Mount add to the Manchester United midfield? Will Declan Rice be a good signing for Bayern Munich? (34:45)Molly looks ahead to the start of the Women's World Cup, as Sarina Weigman names England's squad for the tournament this summer. Will their injuries catch up with them? When will the off-the-field problems such as broadcasting rights etc be solved? (46:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Tony Cascarino, Tom Allnutt and Alyson RuddThe curtain comes down on another Premier League season and the final day saw Leeds & Leicester drop down to the Championship.Despite survival is Sean Dyche the right man to keep Everton out of trouble and push them up the table?Where did it all go wrong for Leicester? Premier League and FA Cup winners drop down to the Championship after 9 years in the top flight.After going from Bielsa to Allardyce where do Leeds go from here? Spurs won't be playing any form of European football for the first time in 14 years despite victory on the final day. We discuss whether Ryan Mason should get the job permanently and of course what happens with Harry Kane.Aston Villa will be playing European football next season after Unai Emery's transformed them post Steven Gerrard. Why couldn't Gerrard get out the best from this squad?And we review the season as a whole which has seen the Premier League season break mid way through for the World Cup and and a record number of managers losing their jobs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft & Gregor RobertsonAfter Leicester parked the bus against Newcastle to pick up an all important point we ask the question is it too little too late for The Foxes?How important will the fans be at Elland Road, King Power & Goodison Park as all three have must win home games on the final day.The panel predict who they think will drop out of the Premier League.Newcastle United will be playing Champions League football next season. What does that mean for their summer transfer plans?What is going on at Spurs as yet another manager turns down the club. Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has revealed that he plans to stay in the Netherlands.And we look ahead to the Championship play-off final between Luton Town & Coventry City. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy to look back at the weekend's Premier League action and discuss the biggest stories of the week.Nottingham Forest have secured their Premier League status for another season after beating Arsenal 1-0 at the City Ground. They discuss just how well Steve Cooper has done this season, and ask if the owner Evangelos Marinakis deserves credit for showing faith in him. (00:00)Manchester City win the Premier League for a third consecutive season, how has Pep Guardiola been able to maintain the consistency at the club whilst also managing a number of world-class players? Will their dominance continue in the years to come? (14:55)Pep Guardiola's side have now won 5 Premier League titles in the last 6 seasons, but why do fans still not consider them to be one of the greatest teams in history? We'll ask if the 115 alleged breaches of financial rules from the Premier League has tarnished their legacy in how they are viewed. (26:05)Leeds United's Premier League status is hanging by a thread after losing 3-1 at home to West Ham. They have now lost 25 points from winning positions this season, so was it too late to make a change in the dugout? We'll also reflect on Everton's late equaliser at Wolves and why that makes them favourites to stay up heading into the final day. (45:35)Brighton have qualified for Europe for the first time in their history, with it looking likely they'll play in next season's Europa League - but how do they cope with the step up? What's their plan to be able to deal with the Thursday-Sunday schedule next season? (54:30)Roberto Firmino received an emotional send-off after his last home game as a Liverpool player - we discuss the legacy he has left behind and where he ranks amongst the greatest No.9s in Liverpool's history. (1:02:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Harkey & Tom Allnutt.Man City produce a masterclass against Real Madrid to book their place in the Champions League final with some billing it as the best performance by any English side in European historyWe compare Pep Guardiola's Barcelona with his Man City side and ask why his current team lacks the romanticism of his previous success.England and Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been hit with an eight month ban after he was found guilty of betting charges.Is the ban harsh and does football and gambling have an unhealthy relationship?And we discuss the latest in the Championship as Luton and Coventry prepare to face each other in the play-off final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy & Gregor Robertson.Arsenal's title bid finally comes to an end as they lose at home to Brighton by three goals.Are Brighton the best team to watch in the Premier League and are they the story of the season?How long can Brighton hold on to their star players and their manager Roberto De Zerbi with sharks already circling.We discuss Leeds and the impact that Sam Allardyce has made since joining on a short term deal until the end of the season.With Champions League qualification now mathematically impossible do Spurs even want to play in the Europa Conference league?Frank Lampard tells the Chelsea players they need to take a look at themselves after they dropped more points, this time at home to Nottingham Forest.And with Southampton's relegation finally confirmed we pick a part where it's gone so wrong this season for The Saints. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson & Ian Hawkey.Following the 1-1 draw at The Bernabeu are Man City now heavy favourites or just favourites to reach the Champions League final.Kevin de Bruyne scored the goal for Man City as he continued his fine form but does he need to win the Champions League to go down as one of the all-time greats?In the other semi-final Inter Milan took the bragging rights and one foot in the final after a 2 nil win over AC Milan.Is Edin Dzeko the most underrated striker in Europe following his exploits at the San Siro?Inter Milan had the opportunity to make it 3 nil after they awarded a penalty in the first-half however the referee decided to overturn his own decision after consulting VAR. Was that the correct decision?As we head into the Championship play-offs who are favourites to make it to the promised land of the Premier League?In-form Sunderland's injury issues continue and take on Luton, who aim to become the first team to go from the National League to the Premier League.After all the issues Coventry have had in recent years would Mark Robins guiding the Sky Blues to promotion be the story of the season? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson & Charlotte DunckerWas Everton's win the most bizarre result this season? A team that played more like champions elect as opposed to relegation threatened.Is Brighton's season tailing off and now in danger of missing out on European football next season? Following Nottingham Forest's thrilling win over Southampton does that put them in pole position to stay up this season? Are Leicester "too good to go down"? A 5-3 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage leaves the foxes in the bottom 3 and in real danger of losing their Premier League status.Arsenal playing Newcastle at their own game. A frustrated Eddie Howe complained about the time wasting from Arsenal although the stats show that it is Newcastle who have been the worst culprits of the dark arts this season.And finally what is going wrong at Manchester United with just 4 wins from the previous 10 games. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Allnutt to look back at the week's Premier League action and discuss the biggest stories of the week.The Times' Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Lawton joins us to reflect on the news that Sam Allardyce has been appointed the new Leeds manager until the end of the season. He discusses what he can bring to the side, and explains why his long-standing assistant Sammy Lee won't be with him this time around. (00:00)The panel continue to discuss Sam Allardyce's appoint at Leeds and try make sense of it all. Gregor Robertson believes the appointment has no logic to it, whilst Tom Allnutt says Leeds no have identity, so he could understand why they have made the decision to bring him in. (08:10)Leicester drew 2-2 with Everton in a huge game at the bottom of the table on Monday night, they reflect on this result, and explain why a point may not be the worst result in the world for both teams as they look to stay in the Premier League. (18:00)Arsenal keep their slim hopes of winning the Premier League title alive with a 3-1 win at home to Chelsea in midweek, but just how bad have things got at Chelsea, and how much of a job does Mauricio Pochettino have on his hands if he were to be appointed the club's new manager? (24:00)Erling Haaland breaks the record for the most Premier League goals in a single season as his 35th helped Man City brush aside West Ham - they discuss that result and also reflect on Liverpool's 1-0 win at home to Fulham on Wednesday night. (34:20)Molly Hudson joins the show to reflect on Arsenal's defeat to Wolfsburg in their Champions League semi-final second leg at a sold-out Emirates Stadium, and also reflect on the news of a 4th Arsenal player picking up an ACL injury in just 6 months (47:15)We end the show by discussing Lionel Messi's future after he took some unauthorised leave from PSG, and we preview the final day of the Championship season, with so many teams still in contention for a possible play-off place. (55:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Spurs once again started very poorly, but this time managed to almost salvage a point against Liverpool. How do they even begin to fix their shortcomings? (00:00)Possible red cards and Jurgen Klopp’s actions on the touchline also came up in our thorough analysis (14:18)Bournemouth are surely secure now, but Leeds are deep in trouble. Where can they get the points they’ll need to survive? (33:39)Forest could have given themselves a huge chance of staying up, but let Brentford snatch all the points in West London. Did Steve Cooper get his tactics spot on, though? (45:30)Southampton are sure to be playing in the Championship next season - but are they the next club to free fall down the leagues? (50:55)Crystal Palace have been a joy to watch since Roy Hodgson came back - but where do they look after the season is over? (60:54)Brighton are within touching distance of Europe - what have they got so right that other clubs have struggled so much with? (70:02)Erling Haaland is on the verge of breaking the Premier League scoring record, but is there another gem starting to shine at the Etihad? (74:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi all, The latest episode of The Game podcast was released earlier:Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt & Jonathan Northcroft.Title decided? Following Man City's comprehensive 4-1 win against leaders Arsenal does that mean the title is once again heading to Manchester.What is wrong at Chelsea? Has Frank Lampard's reputation been damaged during this so far unsuccessful interim spell. With Mauricio Pochettino looking likely to return to the Premier League is this the right job for him and is he the right man to turn around the clubs fortunes.Leeds & Leicester battle it out in a relegation 6 pointer but should Leicester be disappointed not to take all 3 points and is Dean Smith the man going forward?"Spurs are a mess of a club" but who really is to blame for the seasons shortcomings? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Tom Clarke to look back at the weekend's Premier League and FA Cup football.Arsenal drop 2 more points after drawing 3-3 at home to Southampton on Friday night, but can they recover from this blip and regain control of the title race? Manchester City sweep aside Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, can they now go on and win the treble this season? (00:00)Spurs are thrashed 6-1 away at Newcastle, but does the culture need to change if they are to become successful, and who would join the club as their new manager if results continue like this? What additions should Eddie Howe make to his squad with Newcastle set to qualify for next season's Champions League? (25:30)The Premier League relegation battle takes another twist, as Leicester move out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at home to Wolves, and Leeds lose at Fulham. Bournemouth are thrashed 4-0 away at West Ham, and Nottingham Forest lose 3-2 against Liverpool at Anfield, but who will go down this season? (47:00)Manchester United book their place in the FA Cup final after beating Brighton on penalties, and both Wrexham and Leyton Orient secure promotion from their prospective divisions. (1:02:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey to look back at the midweek Champions League action, and look ahead to the weekend's football.Manchester City book their place in the semi-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, but is this the year they finally go all the way in Europe? They dissect the performance at the Allianz Arena and also discuss a potential new contract for Erling Haaland (00:00)Chelsea's season is all-but over after losing 4-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final tie, can things get any worse for Frank Lampard? What do they make of the owner Todd Boehly going into the dressing room to speak to the players? (12:00)Can history repeat itself with Real Madrid knocking out Manchester City in a Champions League semi-final? They discuss the threat posed by the Spanish club, and also discuss the other semi-final, with sees AC Milan face Inter in a Milan Derby. (28:15)Molly Hudson joins the show to look back at a crucial game in the WSL, as Manchester United beat title rivals Arsenal to go top of the table. They also discuss the injury to the England captain Leah Williamson, and how it may impact both Arsenal and England. (38:15)The FA Cup semi-finals take place this weekend! Can Sheffield United cause an almighty upset and beat Manchester City? Is this also Brighton's best chance to reach the final? Do they have enough to beat Manchester United? (47:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Arsenal dropped more points in the title race at the weekend. Are they struggling under the pressure and will the title come down to the result of the game against Manchester City? (00:00)Ollie Watkins continued to impress for Aston Villa as they put Newcastle in their place. Could Unai Emery’s team make Europe? (17:28)Brighton have a knack of finding exciting young players with Julio Enciso the latest to impress - scoring the winner at Stamford Bridge. Tom Roddy has more about his exclusive story on the likely identity of Chelsea’s new manager (26:20)Dean Smith’s 600th game in management didn’t go to plan - with Leicester losing to Manchester City. Do the Foxes have a better chance of survival under him, though? (39:02)Bournemouth showed they’re up for the fight with a stunning victory against Spurs. Are the Tottenham fans losing focus on the action on the pitch? (49:22)We round up the rest of the games across the weekend - with several teams fighting for their lives in the Premier League (65:59)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tony Cascarino and Tom Clarke in London - and Gregor Robertson in Ghent.Chelsea have it all to do in their Champions League second leg against Real Madrid. Was Frank Lampard the best choice and did the club wait too long to part company with Graham Potter? (00:00)Manchester City have a lot less to worry about against Bayern Munich. Have they found form at the right time and will they finally achieve European glory? (22:07)Dean Smith is in at Leicester City. Is he a good choice and did the club miss a trick in keeping the faith with Brendan Rodgers for so long? (40:30)Liverpool are said to have cooled their interest in Jude Bellingham and Gregor tells us about his trip to Wrexham as we round up the other big stories of the week (52:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd to look back at the weekend's Premier League football and discuss the biggest stories.Arsenal draw 2-2 away at Liverpool in a thrilling game to round off the weekend's football, but with the gap now just 6 points between them and Manchester City, are they still favourites to lift the title? What did the panel also make on Trent Alexander-Arnold's new position and his performance in general? (00:00)Aaron Ramsdale pulled off a string of fantastic saves in the draw at Anfield, but should the Arsenal goalkeeper now be considered England's Number 1? (18:30)What punishment should Assistant Referee Constantine Hatzidakis receive for his altercation with Andy Robertson? We discuss that and also how behaviour towards officials need to change, and what punishment will allow those changes to happen? (24:10)VAR was again the talking point at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Brighton lose 2-1 to Spurs in an incident packed game. The PGMOL have since apologised to Brighton for their error in not awarding them a penalty, but how can we stop the constant scrutiny on VAR decisions? (46:45)Bournemouth moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at Leicester City, they discuss the job Gary O'Neill is doing on the South Coast and ask how worried fans should be about Leicester's bid to stay in the top flight? They also look back at a huge win for Crystal Palace against relegation rivals Leeds United. (54:50)Frank Lampard began his second stint in charge of Chelsea with a 1-0 defeat at Wolves, but what is the point of re-appointing him if they don't beat Real Madrid in the Champions League? (1:06:15)Ian Hawkey joins the show to look ahead to the week's Champions League action, and discuss how Bayern are faring ahead of meeting Manchester City, and how important it is to have the likes of Napoli and AC Milan in the latter stages. (1:10:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy to look back at the midweek Premier League football and discuss the biggest stories.Frank Lampard has return to Chelsea as their interim manager until the end of the season, but was it a right decision? Will that galvanize the players ahead of the Champions League, or should they have stuck with Potter if there permanent replacement will be appointed in the summer? (00:00)West Ham were thrashed 5-1 at home to Newcastle on Wednesday night, as the pressure ramps up on David Moyes. Should the club stick with him, or do they make a change to try and keep them in the league? (28:20)Are Newcastle now favourites to finish in the Top 4? How much credit does Eddie Howe deserve for recovering from a mini-blip last month to lead them to third in the Premier League table? (34:40)Nottingham Forest show their support to under-fire manager Steve Cooper, but if their eight-match winless run continues, should the club make a change, or is peer pressure from the supporters stopping the owners from sacking him? (38:00)Leicester City are still without a manager as they lost at home to in-form Aston Villa - do we consider Aston Villa to be a threat next season under Unai Emery? Who should replace Rodgers at Leicester, Martin O'Neill or Rafael Benitez? (44:56)Fulham's Aleksandr Mitrovic has been banned for 8 games for a push on referee Chris Kavanagh in their defeat to Manchester United last month, but is that the right amount of time, or does he deserve stronger punishment? (53:23)We end the show by looking ahead to huge games in the EFL and National League, as Burnley can be promoted back to the Premier League this weekend, and Wrexham face Notts County in a huge game at the top of England's fifth tier. (1:00:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd to look back at the weekend's Premier League football.Graham Potter has been sacked as Chelsea manager after just 7 months in charge, we discuss where it went wrong for him, whether the ownership were at fault for hiring him in the first place, and who could potentially replace him at Stamford Bridge. (00:00)Aston Villa go to Stamford Bridge and win 2-0, and with the points tally since Unai Emery was appointed only bettered by 3 of the Top 4 in the Premier League, can they make a late charge for Europe? (25:25)Manchester City maintain their pressure on the league leaders Arsenal after dismantling Liverpool at the Etihad, but how poor were Liverpool, and should they start to conceding selling players such as Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold? (28:50)Manchester United hold a dressing room inquest following their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, but is Erik ten Hag already ahead when it comes to his long-term project at the club? Was this defeat a gentle reminder of how much work needs to be done before they're challenging at the top again? (45:40)Brendan Rodgers leaves Leicester City by mutual consent - what can we do to ensure Premier League clubs are not just firing managers so frequently? Who do Leicester appoint in the interim? (59:48)We end the show by discussing the weekend's other Premier League football, as West Ham beat Southampton, Bournemouth beat Fulham and Brighton and Brentford share the spoils in a six-goal thriller. (1:11:09)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft to look back at the weekend's International football, and look ahead to the return of the Premier League.Scotland stun Spain with a 2-0 win at Hampden Park to top their Group after the first 2 games of Euro 2024 qualifying, how much credit should we give Steve Clarke for the job he has done with the national side, and what did we make of Rodri's comments about Scotland's style of play? (00:00)Wales begin life without Gareth Bale with 4 points from their first 2 games - but has the team now been allowed to express themselves without having to fit around his style of play? (16:30)What's going on at Spurs, and what's next for the club? They discuss the news that their Managing Director of Football Fabio Paratici's ban from football has been extended to worldwide. They also assess the job Daniel Levy has done at the club in the light of this story. (20:00)Roy Hodgson returns to the Premier League as Crystal Palace manager at the age of 75 when they host Leicester on Saturday, but have the club made a step back with his appointment, and what would the ramifications be if they were to be relegated? (39:20)The guys end the show by previewing the other big games and the bottom, and look ahead to a huge game at the top between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. (48:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino to look back at the weekend's International football.Spurs have parted company with Antonio Conte, was it always a marriage in hell? Does Daniel Levy deserve the criticism that has come his way? Is it more than just recruitment that's to blame? (00:00)The former Bayern Munich manager Julien Nagelsmann has been linked with the role, but will he be a good appointment, or shall they appoint someone left-field such as Vincent Kompany (19:55)Harry Kane surpasses Wayne Rooney to become England's all-time record goalscorer - is he the greatest England striker of all-time? (32:20)England begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with two wins from two - they reflect on a 2-0 win for England against Ukraine, and praise the performances of Bukayo Saka and James Maddison. (42:26)The guys reflect on the weekend's other International football, as Wales leave it late to secure a point against Croatia in Split, Scotland start their campaign off with a 3-0 thrashing of Cyprus, and the Republic of Ireland beat Latvia. (59:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Michael Grant & Matt LawtonMatt Lawton joins the show from Naples ahead of England's European Championship qualifier plus he gives an update on the protracted takeover of Manchester United.Is Gareth Southgate under pressure despite qualification for Euro 2024 not even underway?Michael Grant discusses Scotland as they play their first competitive fixture since September.And after Mesut Ozil announcing his retirement how should he be remembered? A Premier League legend or a wasted talent? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke & Tom Allnutt Antonio Conte lets rip at his players after throwing away a 3-1 lead at Southampton. Should Conte keep his job? And was his rant directed at the board or the players?Following the sacking of Patrick Vieira we discussed if that was the right decision. Still in 12th and after a tough run of fixtures should Vieira have been given more time?Leeds picked up a huge three points as they won at fellow relegation rivals Wolves.With Alexander Mitrovic losing his cool and being shown red for his actions at Old Trafford what should Mitrovic's punishment be?Paul Heckingbottom continued to work wonders at Sheffield United with promotion back to the Premier League on the cards and now an FA Cup semi final.Have Brighton unearthed another gem in Evan Ferguson? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Jonathan Northcroft.Erling Haaland scored five goals in little over an hour for Manchester City in their 7-0 win over Leipzig. Can we finally put to bed the theory that he’s made their side worse? (00:00)Liverpool are out of the Champions League after a comprehensive defeat over two legs against Real Madrid. How much of a rebuild do they need to be back challenging in Europe? (21:50)Trent Alexander-Arnold is in the spotlight again after comments from Jamie Carragher. Is he reaching a crossroads in his career? (30:46)Hugh gets his random Champions League quarter finals generator out to see how the teams left in the competition could get matched up and could we see a new name from Italy on the trophy this season? (39:12)We share our favourite individual performances in the history of the Champions League, with a couple of surprise suggestions in the mix (45:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Gary Lineker will return to MOTD this weekend after everything that transpired over the last few days. Have you ever seen football presented in such a miserable way as they did on Saturday night? (00:00)Liverpool followed their thrashing of Manchester United with a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth. Can the south coast side stay up and will Liverpool bounce back to shock Real Madrid? (08:42)Everton got a much-needed win over Brentford. How can they stay in the Premier League and how important will Goodison Park be to them? (27:04)It’s been suggested that Ivan Toney is in line for another England call up - but should he be involved with the possibility of a lengthy ban on the horizon? (35:42)Leeds battled to get a point against Brighton - was Roberto De Zerbi’s disappointment a sign of how far Brighton have come? (39:36)How important was West Ham’s point against Aston Villa in their survival hopes under David Moyes? (46:17)We round up the rest of the weekend’s games with big wins for Chelsea and Spurs (53:13)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson & Tom Allnutt Is Graham Potter beginning to turn things around at Chelsea following back to back wins and Champions League progression?Another disappointing evening for Spurs as they crashed out of the Champions League against AC Milan.Is it time for Antonio Conte to leave and for the emotional return of Pochettino?Another year passes without Harry Kane winning a trophy. He is now approaching the final 12 months of is deal at Spurs so what of his future?Premier League preview as sides chasing Europe come up against sides at the other end of the table fighting relegation.After hitting Man United for 7 last week can Liverpool back it up with a big win over Bournemouth? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd & Matt DickinsonHistory is made at Anfield as Liverpool hit Man United for seven as the race for the top four hots up.Arsenal hitting back like champions? Reiss Nelson scoring late to seal a 3-2 comeback at The Emirates.Would missing out on the top 4 be an opportunity missed for Newcastle? Defeat to Man City sees them drop down to 6th.In how big trouble are Crystal Palace? Without a win since December!Despite a 4 nil defeat at Brighton why is David Moyes still safe at West Ham?Stay of execution for Graham Potter at Chelsea after a narrow 1 nil win at Stamford Bridge against Leeds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Molly Hudson and Jonathan Northcroft.Grimsby triumph as Southampton reach and even lower low. Gregor’s former side are celebrating a famous cup win - but are the Saints doomed? (00:00)Sheffield United shine to knock Spurs out of the FA Cup. Despite better results, are Spurs actually playing any better at the moment? (15:58)Manchester United continued their good form to brush West Ham aside. Can they add a second domestic cup to their haul this season? (24:10)Liverpool made slight improvements to beat Wolves - but are they going to be shown up by United at the weekend? (30:57)Everton were blown away by Arsenal in the league. Will Sean Dyche be able to turn things around and if so, how? (36:12)Leeds United go to Chelsea looking for points against a side who can’t find form. Would a loss at the weekend be the final straw for Graham Potter? (42:14)The Continental Cup final takes place this weekend with Arsenal facing Chelsea. Molly tells us why Lauren James could be the key to a Chelsea win (50:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy to review the footballing weekend.Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey & Tom AllnuttWhat is wrong with Liverpool at the moment? A heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League first leg leaves their season in tatters.Is Erling Haaland the problem for Man City? Struggling for goals and drawing away to RB Leipzig in the Champions LeagueJavi Gracia returns to the Premier League. The former Watford manager has signed a 'flexible contract' with Leeds.And we look ahead to the Carabao Cup final as Manchester United take on Newcastle United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke & Tony Cascarino.The title race continues to hot up as Arsenal score two late goals to secure the points against Aston Villa, whilst Man City can only draw at Nottingham ForestIt's another defeat for Chelsea and Graham Potter..how many more can he oversee before the dreaded axe is dropped?Wins for Bournemouth, Everton & Southampton made things even tighter towards the bottom as West Ham dropped back into the bottom 3. Should David Moyes keep his job? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy, Ian Hawkey - with Tom Clarke.The master beat the apprentice as Manchester City took the Premier League lead from Arsenal. Are the wheels starting to come off for Mikel Arteta’s side? (00:00)Chelsea will have to win at Stamford Bridge to progress in the Champions League after a 1-0 loss away at Borussia Dortmund. Is the lack of a striker going to continue to haunt them until the end of the season? (20:38)Tom Roddy joins us from Dortmund fresh from his sit-down interview with Dortmund striker Sébastien Haller, as he continues his comeback from testicular cancer (33:28)Tottenham also need to win at home to make the last 8 of the Champions League, but should they be quietly confident against AC Milan? (37:46)Bayern got the better of PSG and Ian Hawkey casts his expert eye over where both European giants find themselves at present (43:54)Southampton and Leeds are still on the lookout for new managers ahead of their meeting on Saturday. Just how important is the Premier League match at Elland Road? (49:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.Southampton have parted company with Nathan Jones after a whirlwind 95 days in charge. Does this actually go down as the worst Premier League appointment ever? (00:00)City cut Arsenal’s lead to 3 points with a 3-1 win against Aston Villa. Do they have the momentum to overtake the Gunners and leave them in the dust? (18:15)VAR was once again a huge talking point over the weekend, with changes for the next couple of games already made by the PGMOL (38:24)Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham - did another mistake in that game hold them back? (45:48)Spurs lost 4-1 at Leicester City. Are their inconsistency problems ever going to be solved and where will they realistically finish this season? (53:16)We round up the rest of the games with Alyson giving special praise to a Fulham defender (60:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Tom Clarke and Gregor RobertsonLeeds sacked Jesse Marsch this week and are now on the hunt for a new manager but is there a long term plan strategy in place? Why didn't it work out for Marsch and should the owners take more of the blame for Leeds' current position in the table? (00:00)Manchester United came back from 2-0 down to draw with Leeds last night, was this a missed opportunity for them to put pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race and how pleased will Erik Ten Haag be to see Jadon Sancho back amongst the goals? (10.30)It was reported that the investigation into Manchester City's alleged financial breaches could take 2-4 years to be resolved, should more focus be put on the timing of this announcement by the Premier League this week with increased reports of a proposed independent regulator for the Premier League? (21:40)Pressure is on Southampton and manager Nathan Jones with uncertainty over his future, can they get a result against Wolves this weekend? If they don't, should Nathan Jones stay or go? (37:14)Are questions now starting to be asked of Arsenal ahead of their game vs Brentford this weekend? Should we be expecting more from Chelsea and Graham Potter now? Can Sean Dyche add to Liverpool's woes in the Merseyside Derby? (47:54)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When two actors decided to buy non-league football club Wrexham AFC, they brought the cameras with them to document every moment. With the Hollywood lights came a large injection of cash and mass media interest, but what has it meant for the club, the community - and for football more widely?Guest: Gregor Robertson, former professional footballer and columnist, The Times.Host: Manveen Rana.Clips: Welcome to Wrexham/FX, Sky News, Wrexham AFC, Beanyman Sports2, The Emirates FA Cup, BBC Sport, Times Radio, Deadpool/20th Century Fox/Marvel Entertainment, CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC Good Morning America, talkSPORT, ESPN. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino - with Martyn Ziegler.Sean Dyche started his Everton career with a 1-0 win over leaders, Arsenal. Can he continue to make progress as the season continues? (00:00)Arsenal were let off by City’s loss at Tottenham but how will Mikel Arteta and the team react to this bump in the road? (13:40)Manchester City’s form continues to show signs of cracking - what can we take from Pep’s comments and recent team decisions? (19:25)Harry Kane becomes Spurs’ all-time top goalscorer - but is he better than Alan Shearer? (33:26)Liverpool lose again and this time it wasn’t even close. Are Jurgen Klopp and his players suffering from both physical and mental exhaustion? (39:19)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter, Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the breaking news about Manchester City’s alleged rule breaking (52:21)We round up the rest of the weekend’s games with Forest and Brentford feeling positive while pressure mounts on Leeds and Southampton (56:38)Chelsea and Leicester did business at the end of the transfer window and it seems like they’ve made some wise purchases (70:08)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Tom Allnutt - with Tom Roddy.Newcastle are through to their first final since 1999 - how significant is this moment in the club’s history? (00:00)Chelsea signed eight players in January. Does Graham Potter have a problem on his hands and how did they get around FFP whilst spending so much? (13:20)Everton failed to sign any players in the January transfer window - does Sean Dyche have any hope of keeping them in the Premier League? (42:07)Plenty of other deadline day deals went though - we take a look at the winners and losers in the window (55:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.The master beat the apprentice in the FA Cup fourth round - what did we learn from Manchester City vs Arsenal on Saturday? (00:00)Brighton beat Liverpool for the second time this season - but was it actually unexpected given their league position? (15:28)Wrexham nearly caused a huge upset against Sheffield United. Is it hard to deny the positive impact the Hollywood investment has had on the club? (33:52)Everton have appointed Sean Dyche as their new manager. Is he the man to save them from relegation and what does he need to do as soon as he takes charge? (48:31)Anthony Gordon has finally moved to Newcastle - is he worth the reported £45m transfer fee? (55:34)Chelsea have added another player in the last few days and they’re not stopping there as Tom Roddy brings us some behind-the-scenes information on another potential incoming at Stamford Bridge (60:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Tom Clarke and Gregor RobertsonNewcastle get closer to a domestic cup final date at Wembley after beating Southampton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup Semi-Final but is their attack struggling? What does the future look like for Southampton with their Premier League status up in the air? (00:00)Manchester United breeze past Nottingham Forest in the other Carabao Cup Semi-Final first leg but were Forest actually that bad despite losing 3-0? Is Weghorst going to be an important player for Erik Ten Haag after scoring his first goal for the club? (07:48)Everton sacked manager Frank Lampard this week and now the focus is on who his replacement could be. Is Marcelo Bielsa or Sean Dyche the answer and what are the expectations of Everton fans currently? (19:57)Manchester City face Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend, can we expect a classic? Will Guardiola overthink his team selection too much? (33:58)After Chelsea vs Liverpool in the WSL was abandoned after six minutes at the weekend, what can be done about frozen pitches at this time of year and why does the WSL deserve better? (45:45)With the Premier League Player of the Month nominees being announced, the team offer their opinions on their alternative Player of the Month candidates. (53:27)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Clarke and Tony Cascarino.Manchester United were beaten by a late minute goal at Arsenal - but did their performance show how far they’ve come under Erik ten Hag? In this extended conversation about the club, we look at which players are stepping up, what they did wrong against the Gunners and how ten Hag’s signings are fitting in (00:00)Everton have fired Frank Lampard. At the time of recording, the news wasn’t confirmed - but heavily rumoured. Was Lampard ever going to succeed and was he actually given longer than other managers would have been? (33:26)West Ham got the win they needed to ease some of the pressure on their manager, David Moyes. Will they turn the corner and will the Scotsman still be in charge at the London Stadium in the summer? (49:51)Manchester City showed they have no intention of giving up the title challenge - but despite another hat trick, are they still hampered by Haaland? (54:07)Liverpool vs Chelsea really wasn’t the game we all hoped it would be. Is it any surprise the fixture was a mid-table encounter? (63:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Molly Hudson and Tom Allnutt - with Matt Lawton.Manchester United were denied second place in the Premier League table by a stunner at Selhurst Park and how much of an impact will this weekend’s game against Arsenal have on the title race? (00:00)Matt Lawton joins us to discuss The Times exclusive that David Moyes is set to be sacked by West Ham if they lose to Everton on Saturday (20:56)We also get the latest on the sale of Manchester United as Sir Jim Ratcliffe shows his hand early in negotiations (25:19)A landmark case saw former Lyon footballer Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir win a maternity case against the club. What does this mean for future cases? (32:23)John Yems received a 15-month ban for breaching discrimination rules. The FA are considering an appeal - so was his punishment too lenient? (42:44)A new VAR trial is planned for the Club World Cup - but are high profile tournaments the place to test new ideas? (54:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd to look back at the weekend's Premier League action,Are Manchester United now in a title race? What did you make of their performance at Old Trafford - has Erik ten Hag turned them back into an elite football club again? How do Manchester City adapt to playing with Erling Haaland? (00:00)Should Bruno Fernandes' controversial equaliser stood? We discuss whether the officials, or the law was to blame for that incident? (13:15)Are Arsenal now the genuine favourites for the Premier League title after their 2-0 win over Spurs? Is Conte partly to blame for Spurs' recent woes so far this season? Were you surprised at how easy Arsenal made this victory look? (20:43)What now for Everton and Frank Lampard after yet another home defeat? How important was this week in Southampton's season - can they now stay up? Reflecting on James Ward-Prowse's new role in the Southampton midfield. Everton face a relegation six-pointer against West Ham this weekend (36:38)A huge win for Graham Potter and Chelsea? Are Crystal Palace starting to look over their shoulders? (56:20)Liverpool are thrashed 3-0 at Brighton in what Jurgen Klopp describes as the worst performance he's seen - how big are the club's issues? Do we need to start praising Brighton more for their recent run of form under Roberto De Zerbi? (1:00:00) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft to look back at the Carabao Cup action, and preview the weekend's Premier League fixtures.Newcastle reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals as they move one step closer to ending their long run without winning a trophy - how important would it be for the club to win silverware this season? (00:00)Nathan Jones eases the pressure on his job as Southampton beat Manchester City in their quarter-final last night, how crucial is their trip to Everton at the weekend - has he changed the opinions of the Saints supporters? (06:15)Will Everton manager Frank Lampard lose his job if he loses against Southampton on Saturday? How much pressure is on him to get a result (13:45)How important was it for Nottingham Forest to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals? Praising the job Steve Cooper is doing at the football club (20:00)Previewing the Manchester Derby - is this the time where Erik ten Hag's side can finally compete against their local rivals? Are City showing signs of decline under Pep Guardiola? What is this crazy idea he has spoken about? (21:15)Will Arsenal show their continued title credentials and beat Spurs in the North London Derby? How will the game pan out, do Spurs have to be the more physical side? (35:55)Discussing the legacy of Gareth Bale - how will he be remembered following his retirement from the game last week? (45:55) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Chelsea were humbled by Manchester City in the FA Cup, hours after they lost to the same opponents in the Premier League. Is Graham Potter already doomed? (00:00)Stevenage and Wrexham both caused upsets, but it was Hugh that was most upset when a debate over club ownership took over (24:58)Newcastle lost to Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest didn’t enjoy their trip to the seaside and Burnley showed Bournemouth why they’re top of the Championship (47:56)Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Wolves provided a handful of talking points - including Hugh’s favourite subject.. VAR (58:14)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson.Southampton are still rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after a 1-0 loss at home to Nottingham Forest. The fans are already turning on Nathan Jones, but was his appointment a mistake? (00:00)Nottingham Forest are out of the relegation zone with that win - has Steve Cooper turned a corner as his almost entirely new squad seems to finally gel? (13:24)West Ham let a lead slip to only take a point home from Leeds. Can David Moyes turn it around if he’s given time? (17:34)Everton continue their slide towards the bottom three after an embarrassing 4-0 loss at home to Brighton. What’s going so wrong at Goodison? (26:55)Spurs made up for their New Year’s Day loss to Aston Villa with a 4-0 win away at Crystal Palace. Are Antonio Conte’s concerns realistic? (35:46)Arsenal and Newcastle drew at the Emirates. Did we actually learn anything from the game? (46:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd.Tottenham lost at home to Aston Villa and Antonio Conte with some classic deflection - but are Spurs fans expecting too much of the team? (00:00)Aston Villa were impressive once again under Unai Emery. How far can he take them? (19:30)Chelsea were eventually lucky to get a point, away at Nottingham Forest. Is Graham Potter too different to what the club are used to? (23:17)Arsenal continue to impress and Martin Ødegaard is at the centre of it all. Can this form continue until the end of the season? (46:15)Everton showed you can get into Erling Haaland’s head as they held Manchester City to a draw. How can they escape the relegation battle they’re in? (55:50)West Ham are also in trouble, but David Moyes is remaining upbeat. Fulham continue to impress as Marco Silva finds the right balance and are Southampton doomed? (62:49)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd, with Paul Joyce and Martin Hardy.Erling Haaland picked up where he left off for Manchester City, but are they still the team to beat - despite Arsenal’s lead? (00:00)Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League after the first games after the World Cup - can they continue this form and what did we make of Arsene Wenger’s return to the Emirates? (09:15)West Ham are 16th and a point from the relegation zone. What’s gone wrong at the London Stadium and how long can David Moyes last if results don’t change? (18:28)Liverpool have added Cody Gakpo to their squad. Paul Joyce broke the story in The Times and he joins us to discuss their ‘stealth’ approach to transfers (26:08)Newcastle were briefly in second place earlier in the week - but can they actually maintain a title challenge or should they focus on the top four? (39:09)Wolves have made a managerial change and it’s already showing signs of working - should Everton do the same? (48:55)Dean Smith has left Norwich after 13 months in charge - who do they go with to replace him? (58:08)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Molly Hudson and Tom Allnutt.The EFL Cup is back and already we’ve seen some excellent football. Were people wrong about players feeling fatigue after the World Cup? (00:00)As 2022 comes to an end, we make some bold predictions for the second half of the season (17:32)We take a look back at the predictions we made at the end of 2021 and some are actually quite accurate! (35:41)It’s time to pick our alternative player of the year as Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and James Restall join the conversation (41:56)We reflect on a huge year in women’s football that has seen female players become household names (57:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd in London, with David Walsh in Qatar.Argentina have won their third World Cup in one of the most entertaining World Cup Finals ever - what impressed us most? (00:00)With the World Cup in Qatar over - what did we make of the action on the pitch throughout the tournament? (17:00)Lionel Messi finally gets his hands on the World Cup - but does it make him the greatest ever? (26:45)Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick in the final but still didn’t take home the trophy. Will he be the player we consider the best in the world for the next decade? (38:13)The Times’ David Walsh joins us from inside the Lusail Stadium after the trophy ceremony and brings us the latest on Gareth Southgate’s decision to stay in charge of England (49:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd in London, with Jonathan Northcroft in Qatar.We look ahead to the World Cup Final. Jonathan Northcroft joins us from Doha to share his thoughts and reflect on his time in Qatar (00:00)What can we expect from France? Do they have a better supporting cast around their leading man, Kylian Mbappé than Argentina do, to Messi? (12:01)Are Argentina too emotional and will that be their undoing in the final? (27:07)What would it mean for France to become the first team since 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups? (49:34)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Alyson Rudd.Morocco fell short of making the World Cup final as France won 2-0 in the second semi-final - but who were the better side? (00:00)Where was the game won and lost? Could Morocco have played it differently? (16:58)Does France’s performance make Argentina the clear favourites in the final on Sunday? (25:33)Gregor gives his thoughts on the officiating in the semi-final and what he hopes for in the final (34:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd to review Argentina's 3-0 win over Croatia in the first 2022 World Cup semi-final.Were Argentina fortunate to have been awarded a penalty for their opening goal? Would the outcome of the game have been different in that wasn't given? How unlucky were Croatia? (01:35)Lionel Messi proves why he's considered the greatest of all-time by stepping up and performing when it mattered to send his side through to a World Cup final - but is he playing in a good Argentina side? (09:25)Will Argentina have to adopt a different game plan depending on whether they'll play France or Morocco in the final? Would it actually be more difficult for them if they were to face Morocco? (19:45)Luka Modric bows out of the World Cup after a brilliant international career for Croatia, we pay tribute to his career and also ask if he can still go until the 2024 European Championships. (26:27)Who wins the second semi-final, France or Morocco? (31:33)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Molly Hudson and James Restall.We continue to look at where England go next following their World Cup exit and James and Molly add their thoughts to the questions over Gareth Southgate’s future (00:00)Do you want Gareth Southgate to stay or go? The Times polled 20,000 readers and there’s an overwhelming majority for one outcome (19:40)Argentina take on Croatia today in the first World Cup semi-final - which great player will fall short in their search for a golden end to their international career? (32:48)Morocco face France on Wednesday. Are the French too strong or are they capable of complacency against the Moroccans? (49:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar and Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd are in London.England are out of the World Cup. What have we learned from their time in Qatar, did they get it wrong against France and where do they go from here? (00:00)Gareth Southgate has a contract until the Euros in 2024. Should he stay in the job or is it time for a change? (24:05)Morocco have quickly become the feel-good story of this World Cup. Can they actually go all the way to the final? (34:10)We’ve likely seen the last of Cristiano Ronaldo in an elite football match. How much has the last 6 months tainted his legacy? (45:34)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar and Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd are in London.Argentina lost a 2-0 lead but eventually triumphed on penalties against the Netherlands. Does this further back up Hugh’s idea that they’re really not very good? (00:00)The game was quite feisty, the Netherlands comeback was a bit confusing and are we a bit sick of the Messi love-in? (23:30)The dream semi-final between Brazil and Argentina is still a dream after the Brazilians lost on penalties to Croatia. Do we actually give the Croatians the respect they deserve given their recent major tournament record? (27:17)It’s Morocco’s big day as they take on Portugal for a place in the semi finals. Alyson’s found herself a Moroccan friend to tell us what it means to people from the country (44:42)It’s a big day for England too. Are France too good for Gareth Southgate’s side or should they get the better of Mbappé and co? (52:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Matt Lawton and Owen Slot in Qatar.From last minute u-turns to questions over the authenticity of some fans - what are our experiences of the World Cup in Qatar so far? (00:00)How will Qatar 2022 be seen in the future? Will football ever be the same again? (19:22)England are a day away from their quarter final against France - has Raheem Sterling’s situation been a distraction and how do England deal with Mbappé? (33:13)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Dickinson in Qatar.What has Qatar 2022 been like for our journalists so far? Has the lack of alcohol and location made the event feel safer? (00:00)We discuss our best moments on the pitch as two teams stand out (09:52)Morocco take on Portugal after beating Spain. Do they have what it takes to make the World Cup semi finals? (20:05)Croatia are tournament specialists, so can you really write them off against Brazil? (29:20)Should England change anything going into the France game and what would winning mean for Gareth Southgate’s legacy? (33:03)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar - with Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd in London.Morocco have provided us with the latest World Cup shock - beating Spain on penalties to become the first Arabic-speaking country to make the quarter finals. Was it a case of Spain missing their chances or Morocco being too good for their opponents? (00:00)Some are saying this Morocco win is a victory for Africa. We discuss the added importance to a lot of Moroccan fans (14:21)Portugal thrashed Switzerland 6-1 but didn’t need Cristiano Ronaldo, dropping him in a tournament for the first time in 31 games. Does he return from this latest setback? (22:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar - with Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke in London.Brazil danced their way to a 4-1 victory over South Korea. Can anyone realistically stop them? (00:00)Speaking of dancing - did their goal celebrations go too far? (13:12)Japan came up short against Croatia as 2018’s World Cup finalists progressed. Do the Croatians have any hope of getting past Brazil? (16:44)Hugh has been in the England camp and spoke to James Maddison about his involvement in the squad and Raheem Sterling’s return home (26:36)The final Round of 16 games take place today - which teams are most likely to progress and what part will Cristiano Ronaldo play? (33:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Tom Roddy are in Qatar - with Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd in London.England are through to the quarter finals of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Senegal - but as some fans were suggesting, was it a boring performance? (00:00)Tom Roddy was at the Al Bayt Stadium and gives us his thoughts before we look ahead to Saturday’s quarter final against France (17:28)The French proved too much for Poland, beating them 3-1 and showing everyone they have every intention of defending their crown. How will England handle Kylian Mbappé? (29:21)Hugh ends with a theory that scoring the first goal is more important than ever if you’re the underdog - but does anyone agree with him? (44:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar - with Gregor Robertson and Tom Allnutt in London.Messi impressed as Argentina avoided a late shock to beat Australia - but are the rest of the team offering enough? (00:00)The Netherlands ended the USA’s tournament - but is the future bright for the Americans? (11:31)Argentina will play The Netherlands next - are the South Americans good enough or do they rely on Messi too much? (19:42)England play their Last 16 game against Senegal today - but who should Gareth Southgate name in his starting XI? (30:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar, whilst Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson are both in London to look back at an eventful final day of World Cup Group action, with late drama as South Korea secured a place in the last 16 at Uruguay's expense. There was also a famous win for Cameroon against Brazil and Serbia and Switzerland played out a fiery game as the Swiss also head through to the last 16. Hugh discusses being at South Korea vs Portugal and witnessing the incredible scenes as South Korea qualified for the last 16 (01:58)Alyson discusses Andre Ayew's penalty miss for Ghana and how it completely changed the game (09:30)Despite Cameroon beating Brazil, Alyson isn't impressed with Aboubakar's actions in taking off his shirt to celebrate the winner and receiving a second yellow card in the process. (31:22)Gregor was really impressed with the quality shown in Switzerland vs Serbia and believes the Swiss deserved to win (34:37)The panel discusses which team's could spring a surprise in the Round of 16 with Alyson predicting the USA and Australia to be victorious (41:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar, while Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson are both in London to look back at an eventful day of World Cup action, with both Germany and Belgium being knocked out of the competition in the group stages.The panel debate whether some of the teams are now only starting to find their feet after their third matches. Are they finally adjusting to conditions in Qatar given their lack of preparation ahead of the tournament? (00:30)Did the ball cross the line in the build-up to Japan's second goal against Spain? Gregor and Tom have their say (09:30)Where did it all go wrong for Germany after their elimination from the tournament, and just how catastrophic is their early exit? Can they rebuild ahead of the next European Championships? (11:43)Belgium's Golden Generation are knocked out of the group stages just 4 years after finishing third in Russia - what now for the national side with several of the key figures set to be absent from the next World Cup? (24:30)How much credit do Morocco need after qualifying for the Round of 16 as Group winners? How significant is this for African football? (35:17) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Allnutt to review all the World Cup action from Day 11 of the 2022 World Cup whilst Matt Dickinson discusses England's Group Stage Campaign!Tom Allnut on the incredible moment Tunisia beat France but still didn't manage to qualify for the last 16 and how despite being disappointed in not moving forward, they would be proud of their achievement (02:19)Tom Allnut on Australia being a joy to watch in the group stage and how they have a real team spirit under Graham Arnold (07:40)The panel discuss what on earth went wrong for Denmark in this tournament? Gregor feels they have been a shadow of the team they were at the Euros (11:50)Hugh believes the penalty awarded to Argentina was one of the worst VAR decisions he has seen. The panel discuss how VAR could make such a decision which left Gregor astonished. (14:13)Matt Dickinson joins Hugh to discuss England's group stage campaign and what to expect from Senegal on Sunday evening (28.26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar and Tom Allnutt, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson are all in London to review England's 3-0 win over Wales and the other action from Day 10 of the 2022 World Cup.Tom Roddy joins us to give his on-the-whistle report from Qatar, as England ease to a 3-0 win over Wales, who have been eliminated from the World Cup as a result. (00:00)The panel discuss whether England's performance was good, or Wales were particularly bad. They also discuss the performance of Marcus Rashford, and look ahead to what changes could be made for the Round of 16 tie with Senegal. (02:07)Can the USA cause the Netherlands problems in their Round of 16 tie after beating Iran to qualify for the next round of the tournament? (26:14)Paul Hirst joins us live from Qatar to look back at Senegal's win over Ecuador and how tough a test they'd be for England on Sunday. (29:25)Did Rob Page make a mistake by persisting with an unfit and out of form Gareth Bale? What message does it send to the younger players in the Wales squad that he'll play no matter what happens? (34:43) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson are all in London to review the day's World Cup action, with goals galore on Day 9 in Qatar.Was Cameroon 3-3 Serbia the game of the tournament? And was Vincent Aboubakar's chip the goal of the World Cup so far? They look back at a six-goal thriller to start off the day's football. (00:00)South Korea and Ghana put on a show, with the latter winning a 3-2 thriller! How good is the Ghana goalscorer Kudus, and what does this result mean for the final match in this group? (10:07)Does Cristiano Ronaldo help or hinder Portugal? Tom Clarke believes that his presence may be holding back some of the younger players, but Alyson believes he still has a role to play for his national side. And are Uruguay too afraid to drop Luis Suarez? Why do they keep persisting with an aging side? (18:42)Did Brazil miss Neymar, or do the side look better without him? They review their 1-0 win over Switzerland (27:05)Jack the England fan and George the Wales fan join us live from Qatar to look ahead to the game, discuss their teams' performances so far, and talk about what it's been like being in the country during this World Cup (31:26) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant to review the day's World Cup action whilst Matt Lawton joins from Qatar to discuss his exclusive in the Times on Lionel Messi looking likely to move to Inter Miami. James Gheerbrant on both Germany and Spain lacking a real quality number nine which could hold both team's back in the World Cup (5.30)Why did Japan make 5 changes for the Costa Rica game? Has this cost them a place in the last 16? (13.14)With Belgium's defeat to Morocco leaving them on the cusp of a group stage exit, the guys discuss what's gone wrong and will they even make it out of the group? (21.19)Hugh discusses Canada's performance vs Croatia and believes their performance was naive and the occasion got to them (26.35) Matt Lawton discusses his exclusive story of Lionel Messi edging closer to a move to the MLS with Inter Miami and why he would be interested in going there (32.56) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Hardy joins us live from Qatar after attending Argentina vs Mexico to explain what it was like seeing Messi produce more World Cup Magic (02:35)What are Argentina lacking and why aren't they reaching the high expectations people had for them so far? (04:19)Poland beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 as Robert Lewandowski breaks his World Cup goal duck with Martin Handy in attendance for the game (10.20)France beat Denmark 2-1 and Kylian Mbappe continues to impress in the tournament. Jonathan Northcroft joins us live from Qatar and believes he has the wow factor when watching Mbappe live (16.10) How will Group D end? They discuss whether Australia can make it out of the group and Jonathan gives his thoughts on England and Wales' showings so far (21.15) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Molly Hudson are all in London to review the day's World Cup action.Tom Roddy joins us live from Qatar to explain what it was like being in the stadium as England were held to a goalless draw against the USA, and discusses what questions he'll pose to Gareth Southgate. (00:16)Where did it go wrong for England? How could a team that brushed aside Iran look so lacklustre and lethargic just days later? How did they assess Gareth Southgate's in-game management and substitutions? (01:28)Wales' hopes of reaching the Round of 16 are all but over following a 2-0 defeat against Iran - Hugh Woozencroft joins us live from Qatar and believes Rob Page's management was 'inept' while he also calls for both Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey to be dropped for Tuesday's game with England (28:40)How will Group A end? They discuss a tournament to remember for Ecaudor's Enner Valencia and also ask why the Netherlands are so inconsistent in their opening 2 group games. (47:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Paul Hirst are in Qatar - with Gregor Robertson and Tom Allnutt in London.Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in five World Cups as Portugal (just about) beat Ghana. How far can they go? (00:00)Uruguay vs South Korea was goalless and it was no surprise when you saw how off the pace Luis Suárez was - should they lean more on youth? (16:15)Group G got underway and Brazil got off to a good start with victory over Serbia. Did they live up to our expectations and what caught our eye? (21:43)England and Wales are back in action today. Have the Three Lions got enough to cruise past the USA and should Rob Page take a risk on Joe Allen? (30:52)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft, Tony Cascarino and Matt Dickinson are in Qatar - with Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd in London.Japan shocked Germany with a 2-1 win. Some clever substitutes played a huge part - but did anyone see it coming? (00:00)Germany’s players staged a silent protest during their team photo - will we see continued protests throughout the finals? (14:09)Spain put seven goals past Costa Rica - but did their opponents make them look better than they actually are? (24:31)Canada came up short against Belgium, but the Belgians hardly impressed. Is their team over the hill? (33:44)Matt Dickinson has been trying to do something a lot of fans in Qatar have been dreaming of - but did he make it to four World Cup games in a day? (43:11)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar - with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson in London.Saudi Arabia provided one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history as they beat Argentina 2-1 in their opening game. Was it a tactical masterclass from Hervé Renard? (00:00)Robert Lewandowski is still looking for his first World Cup goal after having a penalty saved against Mexico - but was it actually the right decision? (15:02)France came from behind to beat Australia 4-1 and Olivier Giroud achieved a huge personal milestone in the game - but are they the real deal? (23:18)Christian Eriksen had an emotional day as he played in a major tournament for the first time since the events of Euro 2020. There were also some pretty big political statements surrounding the match (31:40)Hugh was at Wales’ game against the USA and as he was missing from last night’s podcast, he gave us his thoughts on what Wales need to do to make it through (38:30)Away from the World Cup - two huge stories at Manchester United as the club part ways with Cristiano Ronaldo and the owners could be open to selling up (42:56)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined in London by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd - with Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft in Qatar.England proved that going into a World Cup in poor form doesn’t matter with a 6-2 win over Iran. What did we learn and did Gareth Southgate get everything right? (00:00)At the last moment, the ‘One Love’ captain’s armbands were scrapped. What does this say about the nations involved standing up for human rights? (22:45)What’s it actually like in Qatar at the moment? With Tom and Jonathan joining us from Doha, they’re pretty well placed to give us their experience so far! (27:35)Wales managed to snatch a draw against the USA. A poor first half led to an impressive second - but have they shown enough to give us faith they’ll make it through? (32:50)The Netherlands also got their tournament started against Ecuador - but something wasn’t right (45:17)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is in Qatar and is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd in London.Qatar lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening game - but only two thirds of the stadium were there to see the final whistle. Will this be a problem going forward? (00:00)Gianni Infantino gave one of the most bizarre speeches the day before the World Cup started - did any of it make sense? (21:10)England and Wales being their campaign today - what will the England team look like and how can Wales get past the USA? (34:07)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft sits down with England’s all-time record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney. They discuss the three World Cups he played in, what was going on behind the scenes in each England camp and how he looks back on his time with the national team.2006 - A broken metatarsal, THAT red card against Portugal and a World Cup debut for a 20 year old Rooney in Germany (00:00)2010 - Fabio Capello lead England and Rooney into the next World Cup in South Africa, but another disappointing showing ended with Rooney ranting at the fans after elimination against Germany (17:30)2014 - Wayne’s first World Cup goal came in his third finals in Brazil, but a dismal performance from England left them bottom of the group and on the plane home (32:36)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Tony Cascarino shares his favourite stories from representing the Republic of Ireland in two World Cups (00:00)Which South American teams are in the running to lift the trophy? Are Brazil favourites or could Argentina cause them a problem or two? (07:41)What about the European teams? Can France become the third nation ever to win back-to-back World Cups? (16:12)Which players are likely to stand out and create World Cup memories? (33:38)Several players are possibly playing in their final World Cups - and it’s not just Messi and Ronaldo (38:32)There’ve been some iconic World Cup goals, but which are our favourites? (51:30)Tony picks his favourite World Cup moment from his time playing at the finals in 1990 and 1994 (60:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.The World Cup is days away - but how far can England actually go? (00:00) What is England’s best XI and is there any chance Harry Maguire starts against Iran? (19:46)Regardless of how England get on in Qatar - what does the future hold for Gareth Southgate? (24:01)Wales play in their first World Cup finals for 64 years - but is their ageing squad capable of performing at the highest level? (28:32)Just days from the start of the tournament, how is everyone feeling about the tournament being held in Qatar? (40:19)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd.Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United with few getting away without comment. Why has he chosen to do this television interview right now and is there any way back? (00:00)There’s a new kid on the block - but could Alejandro Garnacho replace Ronaldo in the United starting lineup? (24:25)Ivan Toney showed Gareth Southgate what he’s missing by not picking him for England. Will the England manager live to regret his choice? (32:05)Bournemouth have been linked with Marcela Bielsa - but would a move for the former Leeds boss be a good idea? (43:13)Everton’s poor form continues. Just how long does Frank Lampard get to turn things around? (47:16)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy - with Martyn Ziegler.Liverpool’s owners have suggested they’re open to new investment in the club, sparking talk of a sale of the club. The Times Football Writer Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss what this means to the club in the short term future (00:00)England's “big six” clubs have failed to halt a move by the Premier League to start discussions with the FA and EFL over a radical overhaul - Martyn also has the details on what this means for the English game (9:31)Harry Kane goes into the World Cup fatigued, with his manager at Tottenham - Antonio Conte confirming he had to stop training to deal with it. What does this mean for the Three Lions chances and what are the biggest concerns over player safety (17:48)West Ham have had a tough time of late - with their penalty shootout loss to Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup the latest failure. Is David Moyes in trouble? (30:00)Nathan Jones is the new Southampton manager - but will his time there be more like his time at Luton Town or Stoke City? (41:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy for a special episode of The Game podcast with their initial thoughts on the 26-man England squad that Gareth Southgate named today.We'll bring you an extensive two-part World Cup preview next week - and an exclusive conversation with one of England's greatest ever players, ahead of the start of Qatar 2022.Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Liverpool came away from North London with three points from Spurs. What’s going on at Tottenham and why do they fall behind so often? (00:00)Arsenal returned to the top of the table with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Can we finally call Arsenal credible title contenders? (17:17)Unai Emery started well at Aston Villa, beating Manchester United 3-1. Was he ever given a fair chance at Arsenal? (36:56)Southampton have parted company with Ralph Hasenhüttl with the club in the bottom three - but was it a surprise? (50:20)Leeds and Bournemouth played in the game of the weekend in the top flight. Has Jesse bought himself more time? (64:18)The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League took place as we were recording. We react live! (70:24)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Ian Hawkey - with Charlotte Duncker.Tottenham are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners after their comeback in Marseille - but how far can they go? (00:00)Liverpool finished second in their group - but they did beat the in-form Napoli. Is Darwin Nunez starting to find his feet? (11:05)Chelsea won their group too, but their final group game was overshadowed by an injury to Ben Chillwell. Despite that, how far can they go?(19:01)Manchester City came from behind in their final group game against Sevilla. Charlotte Duncker was there for The Times and joins us to discuss Rico Lewis, who made history in the game (31:50)Rangers became the worst Champions League side ever -but Celtic weren’t much better. Can the Old Firm realistically ever compete in the Champions League? (36:36)There’s only one Spanish side through to the Champions League knockout stage. Why are clubs other than Real Madrid struggling at the moment? (42:41)Burnley came from behind against Rotherham to extend their lead at the top of the Championship. Just how impressive is Vincent Company and the job he’s doing at the club? (48:56)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd, with Tom Roddy.Brighton gave Graham Potter a hostile welcome on his return with Chelsea. Was his in-game management affected by the boos? (00:00)Leeds got the better of Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side continued to struggle. How do they turn the corner? (19:31)Unlike Liverpool, Arsenal didn’t fall foul of Nottingham Forest. In fact, they embarrassed them - but what could derail the Gunners’ charge towards an unexpected title fight? (31:32)Alyson tells us all about her enlightening conversation with Fulham’s Bobby Decordova-Reid and his Labour MP sister, Marsha (40:11)Hugh has a big statement to make about Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne - but will everyone else agree? (45:06)Marcus Rashford continues to impress - but can he break into the England World Cup squad? (51:39)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Antonio Conte was sent off as Spurs had a winner ruled out against Sporting on Wednesday night - but was it the right decision? (00:00)Liverpool cruised into the knockout stages with a 3-0 win at Ajax - are we starting to see them find their form again? (10:24)Chelsea are already looking like a Graham Potter side, but how far can they go in the tournament? (16:22)Three of the original Super League clubs are already out of the Champions League. Ian Hawkey joins us from Barcelona to discuss the fate of Xavi’s side as well as Juventus and Atletico Madrid (30:09)Unai Emery is back to have another crack at the Premier League. Why is he a good fit for Aston Villa? (40:17)It’s the end of the month, so we pick our alternative players of the month for October (49:08)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Aston Villa looked like a different team this past weekend as they put 4 past Brentford. Were the players not backing Steven Gerrard? (00:00)Leicester also scored four goals, thrashing Wolves without reply. Is the pressure off Brendan Rodgers now? (18:08)Wolves are still looking for a new manager - are they right to keep Steve Davis in place until the near year? (21:35)Leeds are sliding further into the bottom three. Does Jesse Marsch have much time to turn things around? (25:38)Fulham are seventh in the Premier League - but how!? (33:14)Steve Cooper was awarded a new contract when Forest were on a huge winless run - they’ve now beaten Liverpool, so is this the start of the turnaround? (36:38)Everton backed Frank Lampard and that looks to have paid off too. What can we expect from Frank Lampard’s side next? (43:18)Newcastle are fourth after a 2-1 win at Tottenham. Eddie Howe is happy, Antonio Conte isn’t - but what did we learn from the game? (51:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Martyn Ziegler.Manchester United looked vastly improved in their 2-0 win over Spurs - is Erik ten Hag’s vision for the club starting to show? (00:00)Ronaldo marched off down the tunnel before the final whistle - but who is to blame for his situation at the club? (09:18)Chelsea are Spurs haven’t had the ‘wow’ factor recently - but why? (12:42)Southampton have finally got a win, much to the delight of their manager Ralph Hasenhüttl. Where do they go from here and is he the right man to lead them forward? (24:42)Is Crystal Palace’s south London identity the secret to them consistently punching above their weight? (34:17)West Ham missed another penalty, this time against Liverpool. Why can’t they find the back of the net? (45:30)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the reemergence of the European Super League and how it differs from the 2021 proposition (55:56)With Gareth Southgate set to name a provisional 55 man England squad for the World Cup - we attempt to choose 5 players who have an outside chance of being included (58:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Molly Hudson and Tony Cascarino.Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0, but at what cost for their next few matches? (00:00)David Moyes wasn't happy with some of the decisions in their draw against Southampton. Does he have a point? (20:35)Arsenal are still top after another win, this time over Leeds United. Are we getting used to them being a title contender? (24:12)Ivan Toney once again looked impressive for Brentford. He’s got to be on the plane to Qatar, surely? (37:14)Bournemouth continue their unbeaten run since Scott Parker was sacked. One player in particular has caught our eye (48:53)There were plenty of red cards over the weekend - including in the women’s game, as Molly Hudson explains (59:59)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke - with Ian Hawkey and Owen Slot.Barcelona are on the brink of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the second year running. Ian Hawkey was at the game last night and tells us just how problematic this is for the club (00:00)Rangers were embarrassed 7-1 at home to Liverpool in the Champions League. What does that result mean for both teams? (17:44)Following their 7-1 win over Rangers, Liverpool take on Manchester City at the weekend. Are they back in with a chance of a result? (21:01)Is Ralph Hasenhüttl most likely to be the next Premier League manager to be fired? (29:22)Kylian Mbappé is said to be desperate to leave PSG once again. The Times’ Owen Slot was in Paris earlier in the week and joins us to discuss why the Frenchman is unhappy (37:58)After a long campaign, the first black player to be selected for England - Jack Leslie - has been awarded a posthumous honorary cap by the Football Association. But why was he not recognised for so long? (50:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino - with Martyn Ziegler and Molly Hudson.Arsenal continue to impress - this time with a win over Liverpool. How have both clubs suddenly started moving in different directions? (00:00)Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Manchester United beat Everton - but what’s the latest with their relationship? (17:47)Bournemouth won again too - surely Gary O'Neil’s case for taking over full time is getting stronger by the week? (30:48)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss Barcelona President Joan Laporta’s latest comments on the European Super League (33:41)Iker Casillas was ‘hacked’ on Sunday, with a tweet supposedly coming out posted on his account. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the potential damage this could have caused in terms of footballers being open about their sexualities (50:42) Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft, Ian Hawkey and Molly Hudson.Chelsea made short work of the Italian champions, last night. What does their win over AC Milan tell us about where they’re going under Graham Potter? (00:00)Liverpool and Manchester City both won too. What did we learn from their latest games in the Champions League? (5:22)Spurs drew in Frankfurt - what are they lacking and will Antonio Conte be forced to spend more money in January? (17:06) Napoli are on fire in both Serie A and in Europe - are they the real deal or will their season fall away as it has done in the past? (23:55)Julen Lopetegui looks set to take over as Wolves manager - but what went wrong for him at Sevilla? (29:10)England’s women play friendlies against the USA and Czech Republic in the next week. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the games and the players who miss out (34:10)Leicester City got the better of Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands derby. Is this the start of their turnaround and what’s next for Steve Cooper’s side? (43:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Charlotte Duncker and Tom Roddy.There were nine goals at the Etihad, but twice as many of those goals went City’s way. What did we learn from the Manchester derby? (00:00)Arsenal also got one over their local rivals - are there some big questions for Antonio Conte following the 3-1 defeat? (13:00)Wolves are on the lookout for a new manager after Bruno Lage departed on Sunday. Charlotte Duncker joins us with the latest (26:55)After Liverpool drew 3-3 with Brighton at the weekend, Hugh wants to know - is this the end of this era of success at the club? (37:16)Brighton were impressive and with Leandro Trossard scoring a hattrick, the conversation turned to the most underrated players in the Premier League (47:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Michael Grant.The Nations League games are over - England haven’t won for 6 matches, they’ve been relegated too - but did we see positive signs against Germany (00:00)Scotland have had a much better Nations League campaign with promotion to the top group. Michael Grant was at their most recent matches and joins to discuss the positive trajectory in Scottish football (17:51)The Premier League returns this weekend with the North London derby at the Emirates - but is it the biggest meeting between the two sides in a long time? (28:22)Manchester United visit Manchester City for another derby match at the weekend. If United win - does it mean the ‘new’ United are here? (38:00)We finish with our Alternative Player of the Month - listen an cast your vote in The Times app (47:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson.England have been relegated from the top Nations League group - but is that the least of their worries going into the World Cup? (00:00)Wales have also dropped down a level, but Rob Page has his eyes on the World Cup. What kind of shape will Gareth Bale be in for the finals, though? (27:35)Arsenal set a new WSL attendance record at the weekend. Molly Hudson joins us to discuss what we learned from the last round of games (33:55)This section is called ‘Ruddy Angry’ and you’ll have to listen to find out why Alyson has lost her cool with Deadpool (43:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Jonathan Northcroft and Martyn Ziegler.England have two more games before the World Cup begins - but has Gareth Southgate got too many problems on his hands? (00:00)Ivan Toney is in the squad for this weekend’s Nations League matches - what chance does he have of becoming Harry Kane’s number two? (16:39)Is the game up for Trent Alexander-Arnold as an England player? (21:25)Harry Kane and other captains will wear ‘One Love’ armbands during these games and at the World Cup - but does it actually mean anything? (25:54)What will happen now Liz Truss has put the plan for an independent football regulator on hold? (45:14)A chat with former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini ends up creating the most surreal games Hugh Woozencroft has ever come up with (52:07)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Arsenal continue to surprise many and will be league leaders going into October - how did they turn things around? (00:00)West Ham are having a disastrous season so far, but what can they do to turn things around - and is David Moyes the man to do it? (15:57)Spurs are third in the Premier League, only a point off the lead - but are they any good? (33:37)Leicester City are bottom going into the international break - but will they make a change in the dugout before their next game? (41:45)Fulham are impressing so far, but Nottingham Forest are struggling with all their new signings - which are most likely to stay up? (46:36)Hugh claims Aston Villa vs Southampton was the worst game he’s ever seen - but what about everyone else? (57:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former England cricketer and national selector Ed Smith joins us to discuss his new book 'Making Decisions: Putting the Human Back in the Machine'.Tom Clarke sits down with Ed to discuss the analysis of data in sport and why it doesn't mean we'll simply rely on algorithms to pick squads and tactics in the future. We also hear his thoughts on the different mentalities of football managers and his love for Arsenal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Ed Smith.Erling Haaland scored (again) as Manchester City came from behind to beat his former side Borussia Dortmund. How can he be stopped? (00:00)Graham Potter took charge of Chelsea for the first time - what did we learn from their draw in the Champions League? (13:22)Liverpool left it late to beat Ajax - why aren’t they the team of previous years this season? (32:55)Tottenham let it slip late on in their match against Sporting. How does Antonio Conte improve their mentality? (45:49)Ian Hawkey gives us his opinions on the other results in the Champions League - including mixed fortunes for Real and Barcelona (51:52)News of a special episode of The Game out on Friday (60:18)Gregor and Tom discuss how Rangers and Celtic got on in the Champions League and we touch upon the EFL results from the week (62:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Molly Hudson, Tom Roddy and Tony Cascarino.***This episode was recorded on the morning of Graham Potter’s appointment as new Chelsea manager***Thomas Tuchel has been fired - did he see it coming? (00:00)Tom Roddy broke the story in The Times and he tells us his understanding of what happened behind the scenes? (9:50)At the time of recording, Graham Potter was heavily rumoured to be taking over at Chelsea. How suitable will he be at Stamford Bridge? (19:55)Liverpool had a night to forget in the Champions League on Wednesday. What’s going wrong for Jurgen Klopp’s side at the moment? (35:08)Celtic and Rangers both had disappointing evenings in Europe - our resident Scotsman and former Celtic striker give their thoughts (46:41)The WSL season gets underway this weekend and Molly Hudson brings us up to date with some last minute transfers (51:43)Spurs take on Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend - can Antonio Conte get one over Pep Guardiola? (60:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.Manchester United vs Arsenal was as eventful as ever. Did Anthony live up to expectation? (00:00)This game featured one of many VAR talking points over the weekend, but was the decision to rule out Arsenal’s goal actually correct? (13:46)Brighton have quietly continued their excellent run - should Graham Potter be offered the England job and would he actually accept? What next for Brendan Rodgers at Leicester? (25:08)Ivan Toney has impressed for Brentford, scoring a hat trick this past weekend. Is it the right time for an England call-up? (37:40)Along with Toney, we pick our suggestions for curveballs call-ups to Gareth Southgate’s next squad (44:06)A discussion on VAR turns into a debate, and then a full blown argument! (46:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Molly Hudson.We take a look back at the transfer window for a selection of Premier League clubs - starting with Chelsea and Manchester United (00:00)Nottingham Forest and Arsenal (11:28)Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton (19:19)Manchester City and Leicester City (27:08)Fulham and Liverpool (38:39)Hugh has also picked a selection of other clubs who deserve a mention for some solid business ahead of the window shutting (45:08)Molly Hudson joins us from Austria to discuss the Lionesses first competitive games since their Euros success (48:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.Liverpool hit Bournemouth for nine goals at the weekend - but why do teams struggle to make double figures? (00:00)Scott Parker made it well known he wants more players at Bournemouth, but will his frustration be resolved? (13:25)Manchester City and Erling Haaland look impressive in front of goal - but are they looking shaky at the back? (22:50)Steven Gerrard is struggling at Aston Villa after yet another loss. Will he be given time to turn things around? (32:42)Forest put up a notable fight against Tottenham, but Richarlison got a lot of attention for his showboating - was it rudeness or flair? (45:46)Hugh doesn’t like VAR much, as you’ll hear with his weekly rant (51:12)Who was our Player of the Month? Listen and vote now on The Times website (54:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft - with Molly Hudson and Henry Winter.Manchester United surprised a few with their 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Monday. What does that win over Liverpool mean for their progression after a rocky start under ten Hag? (00:00)Liverpool are having a nightmare start to the season - what does Jurgen Klopp need to do and could another signing be necessary before the window shuts? (18:31)Rangers are in the Champions League group stages for the first time in 13 years - we discuss their progression and what this means for the club going forward (30:00)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the two big retirements from the successful Lionesses squad this week (40:01)The Times’ Chief Football Reporter Henry Winter has been to Kyiv for the symbolic start of the Ukrainian Premier League. He tells us about his experience in the capital (49:03)We end with our Games of the Weekend - which fixtures are catching our eye across the Premier League and EFL? (53:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Newcastle gave Manchester City a scare on Sunday - what does this result tell us about their progression since the takeover? (00:00)Hugh is not impressed with VAR again and one incident in that game was largely to blame (16:53)Leeds blew Chelsea away at Elland Road. How desperately do Chelsea need a number 9 and are modern goalkeepers taught to play with their feet too much? (27:16)Brighton came away from the London Stadium with three points as West Ham’s goalless start to the season continues - is it time to panic for David Moyes? (41:00)Arsenal end the weekend on top, but how seriously should we take them this season? (54:47)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Matt Dickinson and Martin Hardy.Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to explore the possibilities of buying Manchester United. Matt Dickinson broke the story in The Times and joins us to explain how likely this deal is (00:00)What numbers are involved in any potential deal for Manchester United? Football finance expert Kieran Maguire breaks down the figures The Glazers are likely to be keen to do business at (10:21)The Times’ Martin Hardy joins us to discuss how things are going at Newcastle United ahead of their game against Manchester City on Sunday (17:54)Leeds United have had a positive start to the season, but after losing important players - how will they get on in their ‘tricky’ third season? (35:40)Manchester United take on Liverpool on Monday as the bottom side in the Premier League. Will Erik ten Hag change his footballing philosophy or stick to the plan? (48:39)Who is the unluckiest manager? Gregor spoke to Graham Alexander, who could be a pretty good candidate (62:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Spurs showed a different side to their game on Sunday in a fiery encounter against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. We unpack the most eventful game of the season so far (00:00)Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte got into a couple of heated debates on the touchline - is this kind of behaviour acceptable and is it beneath them? (16:45)Brentford thrashed a sorry Manchester United - but was it a shock? (27:20)The Times’ Senior Sports Writer Matt Dickinson joins us to discuss his new book about Sir Alex Ferguson’s resignation on the eve of the 1998-99 season and what transpired (44:32)Nottingham Forest won their first home game in the Premier League for 23 years - but are they actually buying too many players? (50:08)We end with a discussion on our favourite ever assists (57:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Roddy.Antonio Conte has been praised for his work at Spurs so far - but have they actually stepped up yet? Is Sunday’s game against Chelsea their opportunity to show everyone what they can do? (00:00)Arsenal have also made improvements with Gabriel Jesus the standout addition at the Emirates. What can they expect to achieve this season? Leicester have brought no players in and have seen Kaspar Schmeichel leave in this window - are they destined for a disappointing season? (22:06)It’s Steven Gerrard against Frank Lampard at the weekend as Aston Villa host Everton. Which of the former England teammates will come out on top? (35:30)Jonathan spent some time with Brighton boss, Graham Potter. You can read the full conversation in The Times - but does Jonny think he’s a future England manager? (42:55)Every club has made a desperate transfer deadline day signing or two - we recall our favourites (51:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Erling Haaland has arrived and already has two goals to his name. Are Manchester City going to be more dominant than ever or will Liverpool find their feet after their opening performance? (00:00)Aleksandar Mitrović caused Liverpool problems - but can the Fulham striker have a better season in the Premier League this time around? (15:24)Brighton won at Old Trafford for the first time in the league - what’s the secret to Graham Potter’s success? Manchester United are back with a new manager - but has anything really changed? (23:00)Steven Gerrard caused a bit of a stir with his comments about Tyrone Mings following their loss against Bournemouth. Was he right to replace his captain? (42:31)Tottenham were impressive against Southampton - are they actually in the conversation for a title challenge? (50:02)Ismaïla Sarr scored from his own half for Watford on Monday night, so we end with our favourite goals from the ‘wrong’ half of the pitch (55:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke.We’re back for the new season with an extended episode of The Game Podcast from The Times.We start by looking at the big striker signings - which club has got the best deal for their new frontman and which one will hit the ground running? (00:00)Chelsea have lost a number of key players and they’ve not yet replaced all of them. Despite signing Raheem Sterling, is their squad weaker than last season? (23:11)It’ll be a big season for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag. Do they have any chance of breaking back in to the top four? (33:53)Which team is the team to watch out for this season? Who’ll surprise us in 2022/23? (42:30)Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest are back in the top flight, some have been away longer than others. What does the season have in store for the newly-promoted clubs and which is the best bet to stay up? (55:32)We’re a week in to the EFL season and already Burnley have impressed a lot of people. Which sides have stood out to us so far? (68:27)We end with our predictions for the upcoming season. Which will come true? You’ll have to check back at the end of May! (75:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson, Owen Slot and Casey Stoney.The Lionesses have done it - football is home and an emotional former England captain Casey Stoney joins us for the final time to look back at the game and look ahead to what this result will do for the women’s game in the UK and beyond (00:00)The Times Chief Sports Reporter Owen Slot joins us having been at the game at Wembley last night (21:42)Molly Hudson has been in Trafalgar Square soaking up the atmosphere as the Lionesses lifted the trophy again for the fans (28:43)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.Casey Stoney joins us from the US to give her thoughts on the Lionesses semi-final win and what they’ll need to do on Sunday (00:00)What worked for England against Sweden and do they need to make any changes to combat Germany at Wembley? (11:32)Do England need to lift the trophy to maximise the legacy of the competition - or have they already done enough to inspire a generation? (35:30)How do our journalists think the game will play out? Are England the favourites? (44:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson and Gregor Robertson.England take on Sweden for a place in the final of Euro 2022 on Tuesday night - how will they be feeling and what will the mood be in the camp? (00:00)Should Sarina Wiegman stick with the same side or should the England manager make changes to combat the Swedes? (06:40)What chance do Sweden have of sending the hosts home? (22:56)Germany take on France in the other semi-final - which side is most likely to book their place in the final at Wembley? (28:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England are through to the semi finals of Euro 2022 after an extra time winner from Georgia Stanway. Casey gives us her review of the nerve-wracking quarter final with Spain (00:00)Do we have any sympathy for Spain after their loss? Did their injury problems ultimately end their chances of success? (21:12)There are two more quarter finals - who will England want to face the most? (32:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England face Spain in the first Quarter Final of the tournament on Wednesday. Some had Spain down as the team to beat, but are England now the clear favourites? (00:00)We’ve seen a number of ACL injuries in the women’s game recently. Why is this happening more frequently than in the men’s game? (26:00)Germany take on Austria in Thursday’s quarter final. Can Austria beat the free-scoring Germans or will Alexandra Popp’s side continue their impressive run? (36:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England shocked many with an 8-0 thrashing of Norway on Monday night. Was it a case of England playing well and Norway having an off day? (00:00)Beth Mead scored a hat-trick (11:53) and there were also goals for Ellen White (14:50). Casey gives us her opinion on them both. Northern Ireland are out after a 2-0 loss to Austria. Should they be disappointed and what does the future look like for the team? (26:25)Casey and the team look ahead to the other games coming up, ahead of England vs Northern Ireland on Friday (33:05)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.England got their Euros campaign started with a 1-0 win over Austria - but after the convincing nature of the warm up matches, should fans be a little disappointed? (00:00)Northern Ireland play their first match tonight against Norway and we take a look at the fixtures over the weekend (17:53)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Molly Hudson, Gregor Robertson and Casey Stoney.Former England captain Casey Stoney joins us for Euro 2022, but what’s it like to be a player preparing for a major tournament? (00:00)Ahead of the start of the tournament, how has Sarina Wiegman been received so far? Is she under pressure to win back-to-back championships? (13:38)England go into this tournament with a lot of hope, but which players are most likely to impress and which players should make the starting line up? (19:35)Northern Ireland are in England’s group and Gregor has been looking at their squad in detail. What will they be aiming for this summer? (35:35)With England’s eyes firmly on the prize, which other teams will pose them problems and who are the favourites? (40:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy.England’s disastrous Nations League games ended with the most disappointing result of the break - but does Gareth Southgate really deserve the abuse he’s getting? (00:00)Premier League clubs are already doing business with some big strikers on the move - but who got the better deal? Also, what’s going on with Romelu Lukaku? (22:00)We take a look back some of our good, bad and hilarious predictions from earlier in the season. Gregor’s team to watch is a particular favourite (38:00)Who doesn’t like to end the season with a quiz? Hugh and Tom both came prepared! (45:15)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegamei Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gary Jacob and Michael Grant.The Nations League games continue and England once again failed to impress against Italy. Are the squad tired and is the manager in need of a rest too? (00:00)Gareth Southgate changed things around for the game against the European Champions - which players showed they deserve more of a chance in the starting line up? (09:45)Scotland have had a disastrous start to their Nations League campaign. Michael Grant joins us to discuss their current slump after watching them lose 3-0 in Dublin (23:16)Wales showed more promise, holding Belgium to a 1-1 draw in Cardiff. Gareth Bale edges closer to becoming a free agent, but is there any indication of where he’ll end up? (32:52)Everton have signed a record shirt sponsorship deal with a betting company - but with these kinds of sponsorships looking like they’ll be banned, was that a foolish decision on several levels? (43:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Lawton.England did a lot better against Germany than they did previously in Hungary - but what questions have been left to be resolved? Will Jack Grealish ever be in the first XI or should he embrace being a super sub? (00:00)Scotland bounced back from their World Cup disappointment against Armenia. What’s next for Steve Clarke’s side and has a new phase begun for the national team? (23:10)Matt Lawton joins us fresh from Munich, where he’s been looking into policing on the continent and how it differs from our own in the UK (32:20)We take a look at the latest transfer rumours with Liverpool’s attack potentially getting an overhaul and what Arsenal need to get done before the start of the season (51:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino.Wales are going to the World Cup after they went one better than Scotland by beating Ukraine. How much credit do their stars deserve and where does the job Rob Page has done rank in terms of managerial achievements? (00:00)With ageing stars, how will Wales get on in Qatar and how likely are we to see both them and England progress to the knock-out stages? (18:53)England lost in Hungary - but what are the bigger things to come from a game that saw James Justin and Jarod Bowen make their debuts? (22:17)We bring you our long-awaited End of Season Awards. Which players, managers and teams have done well (or not so well) this season? (36:17)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Michael Grant, Gary Jacob and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero.Scotland came up short against Ukraine, who go on to face Wales on Sunday for a place in the World Cup. Michael Grant joins us to discuss what went wrong and where Steve Clarke’s side go from here (00:00Wales will have had a good look at Ukraine ahead of that game. Gary Jacob weights up what could be Gareth Bale’s last match for his country, should they lose and miss out on the finals (18:21)Paul Pogba is leaving Manchester United. Not a huge surprise, but was his time at the club a success or was he not given what he needed to thrive? (28:32)Gareth Bale is also on the move with his deal at Real Madrid ending next month. Is the Welshman the best British export ever? Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero joins us to weight it up (36:55)..and with Tom Clarke on holiday on Monday when we’ll hold our end of year awards, we let him pick some of his winners a few days early (45:49)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy and Charlotte Duncker.Liverpool lost out on the treble, days after the quadruple slipped through their hands. Did they deserve to lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid? (00:00)Sadio Mane looks likely to leave Liverpool - can they continue in the same way going forward? (25:20)There were huge issues getting into the stadium with reports and video of police tear-gassing supporters, despite them appearing to have legitimate tickets. Alyson was there and tell us her story of the night (29:17)Nottingham Forest will play in the Premier League next season. Charlotte Duncker was watching at Wembley Stadium as Steve Cooper finally got promotion through the playoffs (50:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Paul Hirst, Charlotte Duncker and Ian Hawkey.There’s good news for Liverpool ahead of the Champions League final with Mo Salah saying he’s staying for at least another season (00:00)Will they get revenge on Real Madrid after what happened in 2018 and will Gareth Bale have an unlikely role to play in his final game for Madrid? (14:20)Alyson is lucky enough to be going to the final as a fan. She tells us what it means to be able to watch Liverpool in Europe after growing up listening under the covers (18:49)Roma have won their first European trophy after victory in the Europa Conference League Final. How important is this trophy for Jose Mourinho? (27:14)Kylian Mbappe’s new deal blows many out of the water - but it’s not the money that’s the most concerning detail (36:07) Paul Hirst met new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on Monday. What did he make of the man tasked with turning things around for the Red Devils? (44:10)Nottingham Forest could return to the Premier League for the first time in over two decades on Sunday. Charlotte Duncker joins us to preview the Championship playoff final (52:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom Roddy, Paul Hirst and Tony Cascarino.Manchester City are champions, but didn’t make it easy for themselves on the final day. Should Pep Guardiola be applauded for his game-changing substitutions or criticised for his starting line up? (00:00)With the title race going right down to the wire - are we watching two of the greatest teams the Premier League has ever seen/ (20:38)Both Chelsea and Manchester United are already looking ahead to the summer and beyond with different outlooks on the horizon. Will they be challengers next season? (27:04)Leeds managed to pull a win out of nowhere while Burnley fell apart. Is Jesse Marsch the right person to take Leeds forward and are Burnley doomed? (33:09)Spurs took the final Champions League spot despite Arsenal being favourites as recently as March. What does this mean for the future of Antonio Conte and Harry Kane? (53:26)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.Pitch invasions have been seen in games every night this week. One man has been jailed, Patrick Vieira kicked a supporter after he was goaded. How can this be stopped as quickly as possible? (00:00)Everton managed to escape the drop with a 3-2 win at home to Crystal Palace. How much was down to Frank Lampard and how much was thanks to the fans? (27:02)Either Burnley or Leeds will exit the top flight this season. Burnley hold the upper hand with a much better goal difference, but can Leeds surprise everyone and find some form when it matters? (37:16)We know all of the teams involved in the EFL playoffs. Do Nottingham Forest have what it takes to make it back to the Premier League after so long away? Will friend of the show, David Stockade be celebrating with Wycombe or will Newcastle’s new wealth spur Sunderland on to close the gulf between them both? (45:40)The final day of the Premier League season is almost upon us - we give our predictions on what might happen at the top and the bottom (56:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis joins Hugh Woozencroft and Matt Lawton for a special podcast from The Times.While talking some time away from the game following his departure from Sheffield Wednesday in 2020, he's been tracking the progress of his grandson; a talented eight-year-old enjoying the benefits of a category one academy at a Premier League club; a product of the Elite Player Performance Programme (EPPP) that was launched 10 years ago to produce more home grown players for the country’s top clubs. It is, however, a system that Pulis believes is in need of a complete overhaul. Pulis also gives us his thoughts on the best young managers in the UK and whether negative comments about his style of management ever get to him.Read the full article here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tony-pulis-most-academy-kids-are-never-going-to-play-football-not-enough-is-done-for-them-rjz2n3z6t Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Molly Hudson and Tony Cascarino.Lots to discuss after a goalless FA Cup Final that was decided on penalties. Who stood out for each team and who wasn’t up to it? (00:00)Chelsea have now lost two cup finals to Liverpool this season - what does the future hold for Romalu Lukaku and why is Andreas Christensen not available? (19:44)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss some Chelsea success after their women’s side did what the men couldn’t and lifted the trophy a day later (30:19)The Premier League title race took another turn as Manchester City could only manage a 2-2 draw with West Ham. Did City pick the wrong penalty-taker? (37:44)Lots more to discuss in the Premier League including questionable handballs, red cards and a lifeline for Leeds? (55:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Kevin De Bruyne made it very clear he knows where the back of the net is in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Wolves. Will he continue to flourish with the new arrival this summer? (00:00)..but how will Erling Haaland fit into Pep Guardiola’s side? (13:54)Leeds are in real trouble and following last night’s result, they’ll have to play the rest of the season without Dan James. Are they doomed? (21:!5)Celtic have won their 10th Premiership title in 11 years. The gamble on Ange Postecoglou has paid off, so what next for both the club and the manager? (31:16)Ahead of previewing the FA Cup final this weekend, we’re joined by Richard Whitehead to discuss his book: ‘The Cup: A Pictorial Celebration of the World's Greatest Football Tournament’ (41:25)Chelsea have an opportunity to get their own back on Liverpool in the FA Cup final this weekend, but what will they need to do differently if they’re not to suffer a repeat of the Carabao Cup final? (48:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of this special podcast from The Game, we're joined by Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper - David Stockdale. Now he's through to the League One playoff final with Wycombe Wanderers, David talks about the excitement of playing at the national stadium and shares his thoughts on interacting with fans, calling out abuse from the stands and who his favourite teammates have been throughout the years.Wycombe play Sunderland in the League One playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 21st May 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Molly Hudson and Tom Roddy.Manchester City have the advantage in the Premier League title race after Liverpool dropped points against Spurs. Will they really drop any points themselves? (00:00)Hugh is banned from mentioning M*nchester Un*ted, but somehow we end up discussing them after probably their most disappointing loss of the season at Brighton (15:23)Leeds dropped into the relegation zone after a self-destructive performance against Arsenal, while Everton got three valuable points away at Leicester. Has Frank Lampard finally got them playing to their potential? (20:50)Leicester have been off the boil completely in the second half of the season. Are the players to blame or should Brendan Rodgers be getting more out of his squad? (28:33)Brighton beat the team that Hugh can’t mention - should they be worried their manager Graham Potter could be tempted to move elsewhere? (35:38)Molly Hudson joins us to talk about an exciting final day of the WSL season that saw Chelsea win their third title in a row. What’s next for some of the other teams in the league? (43:48)The Championship and League Two finished over the weekend and there’s one result that really stands out to everyone (56:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey, Martyn Ziegler and Owen Slot.Manchester City. What on earth happened last night!? (00:00)Were Pep Guardiola’s substitutions to blame? Do you take Kevin De Bruyne off in that situation? (15:23)Liverpool are through to the final, but they survived a scare against Villarreal. Did Liverpool’s squad depth rescue them? (28:40)Looking ahead to the final - what chance do Liverpool have against Real Madrid in Paris? (38:09)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler joins us with an update on the sale of Chelsea and how the latest developments could affect which bid ends up being successful (48:15)The League One playoffs get started this evening. Could it be Sunderland’s moment to return to the Championship? (55:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special podcast from The Game, we're joined by Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper - David Stockdale. The Yorkshireman talks us through his rollercoaster route into football and the ups and downs of his first few years as a young professional. We also hear how he came to learn he was moving to the capital to play for Fulham and how prioritising his family saw him potentially miss out on a longer stint in the top flight.Wycombe play MK Dons in the League One playoff semi-finals on Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th May 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Matt Lawton and Tony Cascarino.Everton have given themselves a huge chance of survival with a win over Chelsea. Can they still stay up? (00:00)Chelsea has been less than impressive in recent weeks - if Roman Abramovich was still running things, would Thomas Tuchel be in danger of the sack? (11:05)Roy Hodgson is highly unlikely to save Watford as they’re all but down. Did the former England manager ever stand a chance and is this his last job? (16:40)Nottingham Forest could jump ahead of Bournemouth with a win tonight in their penultimate game in the Championship. Can they do it and return to the top flight and how will Champions Fulham get on this time? (22:34)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton joins us with an update on the sale of Chelsea and how things are potentially more complicated than they seem (28:40)Following the passing of Mino Raola, we explore the situation around ‘super agents’ and their impact on football (33:51)After Gillingham manager Neil Harris’ brutally honest interview following their relegation, we discuss the most brutal moments in football (48:52)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Manchester City vs Real Madrid will go down as a memorable Champions League semi-final - but how will it finish back in Spain? Were Real flattered by the scoreline given City gifting them two of their goals? (00:00)Liverpool looked unbeatable in their first leg against Villarreal. Are Jurgen Klopp’s side actually unstoppable this season? (18:36)Sadio Mane has been Liverpool’s standout player in recent times. Where does he fit into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or? (25:38)PSG have secured the French title, but what does the future hold for manager Mauricio Pochettino? (35:22)Changes are being proposed to the semi-final stages of the Champions League. With other changes already incoming in the Champions League - is there any need to mix things up? (46:44)The Europa League semi-finals begin tonight, so we end with Hugh’s favourite feature - The Game predictions (51:14)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Liverpool got the win they needed over Everton but it didn’t come without some controversial moments. Divock Origi scored his annual Liverpool goal - but do we actually know how good he is? (00:00)Burnley have got themselves out of the relegation zone since Sean Dyche departed - but what’s changed? (12:51)Arsenal beat Manchester United as many predicted, but were either team any good? Should Ralf Rangnick still move upstairs at United? (22:04)The Times’ Paul HIrst joins us to discuss his trip to Amsterdam to find out more about Erik ten Hag. You can read his conclusion on The Times website (39:57)Oldham became the first former Premier League team to drop out of the EFL - we speak to The Times’ Adam Millington about the disruptive scenes at the weekend (48:46)After Joaquín lifted the Copa Del Rey for Real Betis aged 40, we have a think about our favourite veterans in the game (56:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Manchester United have a new manager as Erik ten Hag will take over in the summer until at least 2025. What kind of job does he have on his hands and what does he need to turn things around? (00:00)Arsenal showed they’re up for a fight for fourth place with a 4-2 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night. After two goals, is Eddie Nketiah finally showing he’s the man to lead the Arsenal attack? (12:25)The Times’ Northern Football Correspondent Paul Joyce joins us to pick apart Liverpool’s demolition of Manchester United (28:12)Following on from what Paul had to say - how important have certain members of the Liverpool squad been and has Sadio Mane ended Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool career? (35:18)Everton managed to snatch a point from a game they should have won against Leicester. Is Frank Lampard likely to stay at Goodison past the end of the season? (42:20)Fulham will be a Premier League side again next season, but Derby will play in League One. We look at both ends of the Championship table (48:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Liverpool are into the FA Cup Final at the expense of Manchester City. Did Pep Guardiola overthink it again? (00:00)Jurgen Klopp’s side are still on for the quadruple - but will they actually win it? (12:15)Chelsea are Liverpool’s opponents at Wembley for the second time this season. Did Crystal Palace play into Thomas Tuchel’s hands in the semi-final? (23:09)Sean Dyche left Burnley after a decade in charge - but were they right to make a change without a plan in place (35:48)Spurs and Arsenal both slipped up over Easter - does anyone actually want fourth place? (47:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Chelsea started well but came up short against Real in their Champions League second leg. What changed to swing things back into Real’s favour? (00:00)Villarreal will take on Liverpool after they knocked Bayern Munich out. Why is Unai Emery so good in Europe and Constantin Eckner joins us to discuss where next for Bayern (14:02)Manchester City are Real’s opponents in the semi-finals after they ground out a result against a fiery Atletico side. Did Pep’s team finally show they know how to finish the job in Europe? (27:08)Dutch football expert Arthur Renard has written about Erik ten Hag in The Times and joins us to discuss the Ajax manager who’ll soon take over at Manchester United (40:20)European semis are put aside this weekend when the FA Cup semi-finals take place. But who will go through and will Liverpool make a raft of changes? (49:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Paul Hirst and Alyson Rudd.The battle of the top two teams in the Premier League really was a battle - did Liverpool play it right by being more aggressive and who does the 2-2 draw favour most? (00:30)Aston Villa are struggling for form with four losses in their last 5 matches. What’s up with Steven Gerrard’s side? (26:14)Arsenal came unstuck at home to Brighton making it back-to-back defeats. Why aren’t they putting up a fight for fourth? (38:16)Are Manchester United a former great team? Should they even be featured on Super Sunday? (46:40)Burnley missed an opportunity to put the pressure on Everton even more as they lost to Norwich. Does that result mean Everton are now safe? (59:29)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Chelsea came unstuck against Real Madrid as Karim Benzema scored back-to-back Champions League hat tricks. Is there any way back for Thomas Tuchel’s side? (00:00)Villerreal stunned Bayern Munich in the other game on Wednesday night. Is Unai Emery a tactical genius? (15:10)Atletico didn’t impress in their loss at Manchester City. Should Diego Simeone be considered a world class manager given his tactics? (19:55)If Manchester City fail to win the Champions League this year, should their season be seen as a failure? (28:30)In the run-in for the Premier League title - who are the favourites and who are most likely to slip up? (36:24)Burnley are now just a point from safety after their victory over Everton on Wednesday. Can they rely on their experience to drag themselves out of danger? (45:50)Hugh is excited to attend West Ham’s Europa League quarter final against Lyon this evening. Could they realistically lift the trophy? (55:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Brentford stunned Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel was stunned by Alyson’s question about Christian Eriksen after the final whistle (00:30)Tottenham have made it back to fourth place with a comprehensive thrashing of Newcastle. How much of their recent good form is down to the January signings? (15:55)Do Everton realise how much trouble they’re in at the bottom of the Premier League? Is Frank Lampard saying the right things to make his team fight for survival? (27:36)Molly Hudson joins us for an update from the Women’s Champions League and the WSL, which will feature Liverpool next season after they clinched promotion on Sunday (42:52)Following a fiery Old Firm derby, The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent Michael Grant joins us to discuss the run in for the Premiership (50:10)Now we know the World Cup draw, Hugh is adamant it’s a poor draw for England. Does he have a point? (57:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Gareth Southgate changed things around and gave us a chance to see more of players including Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling against the Ivory Coast. Does that game affect who might make the World Cup starting XI? (00:30)Jude Bellingham has been widely praised for his impact on the side. Is he in line for a starting place or has he been overhyped? (11:53)Ollie Watkins says he can’t do much more to claim an England place - but does our panel agree? (21:23)The Premier League is set to make a u-turn and agree to five substitutions per team from next season. Is this decision good for the future of the game? (35:10)Ask Alyson - this time, Alyson gives us the behind the scenes story on her interview with aspiring Premier League manager Yaya Toure and players who’ve only touched the ball once in their top flight careers (44:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy and Tony Cascarino.England won their first friendly of the international break - but what did we learn from the 2-1 win over Switzerland? (00:30)Conor Gallagher looked good in midfield, but will he get a fair chance with the other players England have in the middle? (15:04)Wales will have to wait until the summer to find out if they’ll play in the World Cup. Does this play into their hands and is Gareth Bale the best British export ever? (20:17)The Times’ Matthew Syed has been causing a stir with the idea of a combined British football team. Could it ever happen? (36:12)There are thought to be four preferred bidders on Chelsea’s shortlist for the sale of the group. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton joins us with the latest state of affairs (44:25)Roberto Mancini has failed to take Italy to the World Cup, so could he be a shock candidate to take over at Manchester United? (56:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft and Molly Hudson.England are preparing for their friendlies during this international break - but how many players are already untouchable in the starting XI? Will Harry Maguire’s place be in doubt given his bad form? (00:30)One of the first names on the England team sheet is Declan Rice and it’s been reported this week that West Ham would want £150m for any move this summer. At 23, is he worth that figure? (17:54)The sale of Chelsea continues to rumble on, but are one of the prospective buyers already fighting a losing battle? (26:43)The first legs of the Women’s Champions League quarter finals have taken place. Arsenal scored a late equaliser to go back to Wolfsburg at 1-1. The Times’ Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the results in more details (37:40)The Times’ Northern Football Correspondent joins us for the latest on the managerial situation at Manchester United with Erik Ten Hag the first prospective manager to be interviewed (46:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Crystal Palace blew Everton away to set up an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. What’s the secret to their success and how much of an influence has Patrick Vieira been on their development? (00:00)Everton’s fortunes haven’t exactly turned around since Frank Lampard took over. Does the former Chelsea boss already regret accepting the job given how messy things are off the field? (10:56)Alyson watched Southampton host Manchester City and ended up getting some grief for her comments in The Sunday Times. Do fans really care about their owners or are they just happy for success? (29:47)Nottingham Forest gave Liverpool a good run for their money at the City Ground. Should Jürgen Klopp’s side count themselves lucky? (38:30)Tottenham beat West Ham 3-1 as both sides fortunes have flipped. What can Spurs realistically hope for this season? (51:43)Following a strange Steven Gerrard interview, we end with our favourite cringe moments when players or managers are grilled by the media (59:34)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Martyn Ziegler.Chelsea joined Liverpool and Manchester City in the quarter finals of the Champions League after victory in Lille. Ian Hawkey reflects on the win fresh from the Eurostar while Hugh continues to be frustrated by Manchester United (00:00)Juventus are also out of the Champions League. Was it another Unai Emery masterclass or did the Old Lady come up short? (10:45)We’re still waiting to find out who the next owners of Chelsea will be. The deadline for bids is Friday, so things could start to move quickly in the next few days. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler joins us with the latest off the pitch at Stamford Bridge (20:16)Liverpool have closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to a single point. Do they have the momentum to keep their form going or will there be another blip in their title challenge? (35:36)Rumours suggest Erling Haaland could have settled on Manchester City as his next destination. How likely is this deal and would he actually fit into the existing setup? (46:10)The FA Cup quarter finals take place over the weekend, so we end with our predictions. Can Nottingham Forest knock out another Premier League side? (54:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Matt Dickinson and Matt Lawton.Elland Road erupted when Leeds scored an added-time winner against Norwich. With Patrick Bamford back - are Leeds about to ‘do a Newcastle’ and accelerate away from the bottom three? (00:00)Watford got a much-needed win at Southampton over the weekend. Does Roy Hodgson’s team have what it takes to stay up? (08:36)Alyson is adamant Brentford shouldn’t be included in our relegation-threatened teams list, however Everton are a different matter. Does Frank Lampard have what it takes to turn things around? (13:14)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton has been looking into the ongoing situation at Chelsea and joins us to discuss the sale and longer-term impact on the club (19:46)On the pitch, Chelsea scored a late winner against Newcastle. Alyson was at Stamford Bridge and was interested by the atmosphere (41:12)Their opponents - Newcastle - have had lots of questions about their ownership recently - but is it right to keep asking them to Eddie Howe? (45:20)Cristiano Ronaldo is now the (unofficial) top professional goalscorer with 807 goals. Does this settle the argument that he’s the best player ever? (53:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Tom Roddy.Real Madrid showed their European experience as they overcame the challenge of PSG in the Spanish capital - but as much as they were impressive - how badly did PSG blow it this time? (00:00)Have the events of last night lost Mauricio Pochettino the chance to manage Manchester United? Will he survive the season with PSG? (14:38)Liverpool suffered a rare defeat at Anfield but still progressed over Inter Milan. Did Alexis Sanchez’s red card save them any embarrassment? (22:35)The news that Roman Abramovich’s assets have been frozen will have massive knock-on effects on Chelsea. As the story develops, our (newly three-time) award winning journalist Martyn Ziegler joins us with the latest (25:3)Marcus Rashford could be on the move - but is leaving Old Trafford the best option for him? (38:02)With some older gentleman still performing at the top level in the Champions League, we discuss our favourite footballing veterans (51:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Arsenal beat Watford 3-2 which didn’t impress manager Mikel Arteta. Is this a good thing for the supporters? Tony gives his thoughts on Bukayo Saka’s future as his contract renewal gets closer (00:00)Crystal Palace are tenth after taking seven points in their last three matches. How much further can they make their way up the table and what’s the secret to their good form? (18:10)Christian Eriksen is in the starting lineup and Ivan Toney is finding the back of the net. Are Brentford about to pull away from the relegation battle? (22:50)Newcastle notched up another win at the weekend - have the improvements been the difference? Brighton were the team they beat - do they need a new striker? (27:38)Manchester City came out of the Manchester derby with every positive. A win, four goals and 69% of possession. Was anyone actually surprised, though? (38:42)Chelsea fans have been criticised for singing Roman Abramovich’s name during a minute’s applause for Ukraine. Has it been blown out of all proportion? (50:24)The first ever Ask Tony - where the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland strikers gives us his thoughts on a range of topics (53:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Lawton.Roman Abramovich is selling Chelsea but how easy will this be and how quickly does he want it done? The Times’ Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Lawton joins us after his detailed look into the situation in The Times (00:00)How did the Russian change the way English football is run and how will he be viewed once he leaves the sport completely?(18:10)Manchester United are still on the lookout for a new manager and with reports of a new name on the shortlist, The Times’ North East Correspondent Paul Hirst joins us (35:02)Bill Edgar looks into the history of scoreline in English football in The Times this week. We share our favourites, with one team in particular featuring in a lot of them! (54:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Liverpool have won the first domestic trophy after one of the most exciting goalless draws you’ll ever see at Wembley. Was Thomas Tuchel to blame for their loss after putting too much pressure on Kepa and can Liverpool add to the silverware this season? (00:00)FIFA have been criticised for the action they’ve taken against Russia so far. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter, Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the likely repercussions and what could happen next (26:44)Leeds have said an emotional goodbye to the man who got them back into the Premier League, Marcelo Bielsa. Was it the right decision or had he earned the right to leave when he chose to? (43:42)Handballs are the topic of conversation in the Premier League this weekend. Do we even know what the rules mean these days? Also, Christian Eriksen finally makes Brenford debut - but did Alyson cry? (1:02:37)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Jonathan Northcroft.Burnley are showing some fight - but can they avoid the drop and who is most likely to replace them in the bottom three? (00:00)After beating Manchester City at the weekend, how did Spurs end up losing the next game to Burnley? Following Antonio Conte’s comments after the match - what’s next for him and the club? (05:50)Leeds continue to drop down the table after a 6-0 loss at Liverpool. Do they need to go down to keep Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout? (21:18)Manchester United were once again dysfunctional. Is Anthony Elanga the one shining light of the Rangnick tenure? (31:00)Chelsea got the result they wanted against Lille without having to put Romelu Lukaku in the spotlight - does he start the League Cup final? (41:00)Aleksandar Mitrović has broken the Championship scoring record and it’s not even March - but is he good enough for the Premier League this time? (45:58)Two Manchester United legends are back in management with Paul Ince at Reading and Mark Hughes at League Two side, Bradford. Is the desire still there for them? (49:36)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Henry Winter.Tottenham grabbed an unexpected win at Manchester City on Saturday. Does the 3-2 victory mean the title race is back on, or is this just a minor bump in the road for City? (00:00)Henry Winter joins us after watching Manchester United beat Leeds at Elland Road with thoughts on whether Leeds can avoid being dragged into the bottom three and whether Manchester United are making progress (22:45)Some of the teams at the bottom of the table got good results this weekend, so how does the relegation battle look to be shaping up? (34:02)After Liverpool women’s player Meikayla Moore scored a perfect hat trick of own-goals for New Zealand on Sunday, we share our favourite unfortunate accolades in football (53:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Liverpool struck late to gain a healthy 2-0 lead over Inter Milan going into the second leg of their Champions League tie. Surely that’s them through? (00:00)Manchester City are all but through too - so does this make them the favourites again? (7:11)Kylian Mbappé settled the first leg of PSG vs Real Madrid - but has he progressed from the title of ‘wonderkid’ yet and if not, what does he need to do to become world class? (15:29)The Times’ Constantin Eckner joins us from Munich to discuss Bayern’s shortcomings against RB Salzburg last night (19:22)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler has been looking into the mothballing of the Owner’s Charter. What’s next and could we see talk of the Super League returning? (26:22) The new-look Barcelona play in Europe tonight. How will their success in this tournament affect their summer plans? (30:35)Is the Europa League a better competition than the Champions League? Hugh tells us why he thinks it is! (36:59)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.It’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re showing some love to some of the clubs who don’t get a mention as often on the podcast.Wolves find themselves in the hunt for a European place in a season where many wrote them off. After a 2-0 win at Spurs on Sunday, what’s the secret to their success? (00:00)You can’t say Southampton don’t throw up entertaining performances - but can they change the way they play to tighten up some of the areas that let them down? (13:26)Brighton are ninth in the Premier League and while everyone jokes that they love a draw, they’ve been quietly getting results - the latest being a 2-0 win at Watford. How far can they go with Graham Potter in charge? (25:57)Newcastle look more likely to avoid the drop after a smart January transfer window - how have they pulled away from the bottom three and how much of a blow will Kieron Trippier’s injury be? (37:21)Chelsea are the Club World Champions - The Times’ Tom Roddy was there and joins us to discuss whether it’s actually much of an achievement when the European team wins (43:28)Kai Havertz is a Chelsea legend thanks to his winning goals in both the Club World Cup and the Champions League finals - but who are your club legends for individual moments when it mattered? (49:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Matt Lawton and Jonathan Northcroft.The Times have investigated the rise in violence at football in the UK and the link to drug usage. Matt Lawton led the investigation and joins us to discuss his weekend with police in Nottingham (00:00)There’ve been some classic and exciting matches in the Premier League this week - The Times’ Chief Football Reporter, Henry Winter was at two of them and joins us to discuss Everton’s relegation worries and the six goal thriller between Aston Villa and Leeds (21:00)The fallout from the Kurt Zouma video continues as people question West Ham for including him in their starting line up on Tuesday evening. Did they play it right or should they have suspended the player while it’s looked into? (31:45)Norwich and Burnley both added to their relegation escape effort with a point - but have they left things too late? Manchester United still aren’t performing under Ralf Rangnick - have the players decided who they want instead of the German? (45:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.There were some shocks and some near-shocks in the FA Cup this weekend. Non-league Boreham Wood pulled off the biggest surprise with a win over Bournemouth and will face Everton. Could they keep the run going? (00:00)Plymouth took Chelsea to extra time and things could have been very different had Ryan Hardie scored his penalty. Kidderminster also came close against West Ham (9:21)Nottingham Forest took Leicester City apart at the City Ground. The Times’ Chief Football Reporter Henry Winter joins us to discuss what went wrong for Brendan Rodgers and why Forest are such a strong side under Steve Cooper (21:57)Middlesbrough’s win over Manchester United throws up a discussion over handballs and the quality of Chris Wilder teams (29:17)Harvey Elliott made his return for Liverpool in their 3-1 win over Cardiff and Hugh makes some big predictions over the rest of his 2022 (44:24)Mo Salah didn’t get to take a penalty in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations - which leads to the debate of ‘should your best player take your final penalty?’ (47:53)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has finally left Arsenal to sign for Barcelona. How well was his situation resolved at the Emirates? (00:00)Spurs have seen a number of incomings and outgoing - but was their January window enough for Antonio Conte to be satisfied? Which other clubs will be pleased with their dealings? (10:50)West Brom are looking for a new manager after Valerien Ismael’s departure. Steve Bruce has been linked with the job - but is he the best choice for the club? (22:35)Celtic have overtaken Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a 3-0 win on Wednesday night. The Times’ Scottish Reporter Michael Grant joins us to discuss the title race (36:14)Alyson Rudd joins us to discuss her exclusive interview with Brentford manager, Thomas Frank. Amongst other things, discussed the arrival of Christian Eriksen and his return to football (46:25)The FA Cup is back this weekend - which games standout to us and are there still potential upsets likely? (55:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Clark and Tom Roddy.Frank Lampard is the new Everton manager, but who is the appointment better for? Him or the club? (00:00)We’re seeing a fair amount of transfer activity on Deadline Day. Spurs look to be one of the busiest teams - will Antonio Conte be happy? Have Liverpool done well in hijacking their deal for Luis Díaz? (15:08)The Times’ North-Eastern Reporter Martin Hardy joins us to discuss how successful Newcastle’s much-anticipated transfer window has gone (22:52)Sunderland have fired their manager Lee Johnson whilst sitting second in the League One table. Was this harsh on him? (35:48)While the Premier League had a break - there was still a lot of football over the weekend. We look at the big results and our favourite matches (43:12)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.Roy Hodgson has returned to management with Watford. Should he have been given the job instead of Claudio Ranieri in the first place? (00:00)Vitor Pereira did a television interview in the middle of having talks to become the new Everton manager - simply put, why? (15:02)We take a look at the current crop of young managers in the Championship with the likes of Nottingham Forest impressing under Steve Cooper and Wayne Rooney doing a remarkable job under tough circumstances at Derby County (21:36)We take a look at League One and James thinks he witnessed the worst game he’s ever seen - but which game was it? (37:44)With terrible games in the back of our minds (thanks to James) we end with the most boring games we’ve ever been unlucky enough to witness (48:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd sit down with Matt Lawton to discuss his article in The Times on Derby County's future.What's actually going on behind the scenes?How much money do they owe?Who is to blame for their demise?How realistic are their chances of survival?Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Norwich have surprised many recently - not just our journalists - and are out of the relegation zone. Can they keep up the great escape? (00:00)Watford are one of the bottom three and it isn’t look good for them. What are their chances and will Everton get dragged into a relegation battle? (10:29)Martin Hardy joins us to discuss the latest at Newcastle. The team have flown to Saudi Arabia for warm-weather training - but what’s going on behind the scenes and will we see more incomings (14:45)Chelsea got one over on Spurs again - but is the race for fourth place any clearer? (27:35)VAR has once again thrown up some interesting talking points over the weekend - should there be a referee at Stockley Park? (48:52)Derby County’s situation isn’t a pretty one. Matt Lawton joins us to look at just how serious their financial situation is and what’s likely to happen next (54:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Tom Roddy.Spurs showed some fight as they shocked Leicester City at the King Power on Wednesday night. Is this the biggest sign so far that Antonio Conte’s side are most likely to take fourth place (00:00)Cristiano Ronaldo was less than impressed with being substituted against Brentford. Does that show passion and desire or is it a sign that he views Manchester United as Ronaldo FC? (11:26)The Premier League have announced they’ll review how games are postponed going forward - the Times’ Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the latest (24:48)Graham Potter is continuously linked with other Premier League jobs, but is the Brighton manager likely to jump ship any time soon? (32:32)Fabrice Muamba joins us to discuss Christian Eriksen’s impending return to football and whether he thinks it’s a wise choice to play on (42:08)Ian Hawkey brings us the latest from Spain with the big three clubs linked with a range of transfers during this window (50:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.Manchester City are 11 points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. Is there any way they can lose the title from here? (00:00)Romalu Lukaku might be back in the Chelsea starting line-up, but how must his re-inclusion have gone down with his teammates? (10:16)Rafa Benitez didn’t last the season at Everton. As the Spaniard departs, did he ever stand a chance of succeeding? (15:08)The North London derby was called off over a lack of players with reportedly few Covid cases in either squad. Is it time to change the rules on postponements to stop teams abusing the system? (31:30)Matt Dickinson has been absent from The Game for a while - he explains his new direction and his favourite stories he’s been across since we last heard from him (42:40)Dickinson’s Diaries. Needs no introduction! (52:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Jonathan Northcroft.Spurs put out another ‘cup side’ in their second leg Carabao Cup loss to Chelsea last night. Is Antonio Conte trying to send a message to the club and how long will he stick around if they don’t back him with signings? (00:00)Aston Villa have added Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho in the last few days - but what can we expect from Steven Gerrard’s side in the second half of the season? (15:23)Cristiano Ronaldo has come out with some strong words about Manchester United and Ralf Rangnick. Has he hit the nail on the head or are his comments wide of the mark? (27:12)The Africa Cup of Nations has faced criticism already over the quality of football being played. Is a lack of preparation to blame? (32:30)Chris Maguire scored a hat trick for Lincoln against his former side Sunderland. His celebration involved going up to Lee Johnson and giving him some choice words. Which other players have come back to show up their former sides? (41:26)Chelsea play Manchester City this weekend in the Premier League. Does a win for City mean the title race is over already? (48:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.The FA Cup third round has given us some great entertainment this weekend, unless of course you’re a Newcastle fan. Which games stood out as proper cup ties? (00:00)Kidderminster were one of the non-league giantkillers as they beat Reading and set up a fourth round tie with West Ham. Are the rest of the next round ties that exciting, though? (16:41)Nottingham Forest knocked a very subdued Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the City Ground. Why didn’t Mikel Arteta’s side offer more? (23.46)There were minor scares for Spurs and Liverpool - who both went behind against lower league opposition before coming from behind to win. Should Spurs really have to bring players like Harry Kane off the bench to beat Morecambe? (42:04)Should players signed after postponed fixtures be allowed to play in those rearranged games? Would this concept get too complicated and do some teams benefit more than others (55:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy, Martyn Ziegler and James Restall.Following their week of controversy, there was nothing controversial about Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Spurs in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. How did Romelu Lukaku get on following his apology and how did Antonio Conte enjoy his return to West London? (00:00)Liverpool’s semi-final with Arsenal has been postponed due to a Covid outbreak. How do the latest changes to the Covid testing protocol affect football going forward and are smaller teams likely to be more affected? (13:26)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss Britain and Ireland’s chances of hosting a major tournament in the next 20 years - as the Euros look more likely than a World Cup (18:50)Manchester United have announced their new Chief Executive. Paul Hirst joins us straight from the announcement as we find out more about Richard Arnold (26:44)James Restall joins us as we look ahead to the third round weekend in this season’s FA Cup (38:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Chelsea vs Liverpool was end-to-end, but the 2-2 result wasn’t really helpful for either club. Should Sadio Mane have been sent off after 12 seconds? Which was the best goal of the game? (00:00)Romalu Lukaku was missing for Chelsea after his Italian television interview - how is the situation most likely to play out and has it been blown out of proportion? (14:06)Despite losing, Arsenal came away from the Manchester City game with a lot of positives. Is their ability to see games out a lingering problem, though? (27:07)Leeds United enjoyed a much-needed victory over Burnley. Were they back to their best or did the visitors do their best to help Marcelo Bielsa’s side? (39:18)The project at Everton just doesn’t seem to be working. How much longer can they persist with Rafa Benitez?? (50:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea dropped points with a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton. Is everyone sick of Thomas Tuchel’s excuses and did Brighton deserve a point? (00:00)There were more contentious VAR decisions over the weekend - which ones should have stood and which could we have done without? (11:43)Leicester City did well to bounce back and beat Liverpool in the week - is that the end of Liverpool’s title challenge already? (16:44)Manchester United were abysmal against Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s side deserving of at least a point. Does Ralf Rangnick now understand the size of the job he’s undertaken? (23:53)As we head into 2022, we make out halfway point predictions for how the Premier League and a few other situations will play out before the end of the season (36:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Leicester lose again - but is it right to blame Brendan Rodgers? (00:00)Manchester City have a six point gap at the top of the Premier League - are they already out of sight? (07:59)Chelsea must be thankful that Romelu Lukaku is back, but what does the future hold for Christian Pulisic? (12:29)How much did Steven Gerrard’s absence affect Aston Villa’s Boxing Day performance? (22:19)Will we see a return to games behind closed doors? Should the schedule be changed to give more breathing space between games? (28:32)Spurs are doing the basics well under Antonio Conte, but how far can they go in the Italian’s first season? (35:56)Arsenal continue their resurgence - was dropping Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang the key to them finishing in the top 4 at the end of the season? (45:06)Are Norwich the worst ever Premier League side given they seem to have learned nothing from the last time they went down? (47:18)What do West Ham need to do in order to stop their blip in form becoming a big problem? (49:49)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Did we witness the game of the season between Spurs and Liverpool or was it more of a fair match due to Covid cases? (00:00)With Liverpool and Chelsea both dropping points - is the title race already starting to tip into Manchester City’s favour? (21:42)Newcastle are still looking leaky at the back - has Eddie Howe actually had much of a positive influence on the team yet? (24:25)Roughly halfway through the season, we pick our half-time awards. Which manager has impressed us the most? Who has been the smartest signing and which teams will go down? (33:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy and Matt Lawton.Arsenal are up into the European places after their rocky start to the season. Who should they go with as their new captain and can they keep up their good form? (00:00)West Ham have started to drift from the top four. What’s the reason for this and what might help? (11:55)Leeds got thrashed 7-0 by Manchester City in the Premier League. Has Marcelo Bielsa been found out and will he last the season? (15:00)We’ve seen a handful of games in the top two leagues cancelled because of Covid outbreaks at clubs. Should football be put on hold for a short time to allow things to settle? (26:22)The African Cup of Nations could be cancelled due to Covid and political unrest in the host country of Cameroon. Should the tournament be cancelled completely or held elsewhere? (40:22)Sergio Agüero has retired at the age of 33 on advice from his doctors. Where does the Argentine sit in the best ever Premier League strikers? (48:!4)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Arsenal’s win over Southampton after a disciplinary break - should he continue as their captain? (00:00)That loss keeps Southampton close to the bottom three - should Ralph Hasenhüttl be worried about his job? (10:12)Manchester United weren’t exactly convincing against the bottom side - is Ralf Rangnick’s philosophy going to take a while to settle in? Would it be a mistake to change the manager again in the summer? (15:18)Conor Gallagher is the latest Chelsea loan player to impress in the top flight - but does he or Billy Gilmour have a future at the parent club? (23:08)There were ten penalty shouts in the Premier League over the weekend - which ones should have actually been given? (29:22)The African Cup of Nations is due to take place in Cameroon, but with civil war and a huge problem with cholera in the country - should the tournament be moved? (42:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Rick Broadbent.Chelsea are still in a rut - but there were positives in their Champions League match at Zenit this week, namely Timo Werner looking sharp. How do they get back to their best? (00:00)The Champions League draw takes place on Monday - but what would be a good draw for Manchester City? Could they come unstuck in the next round? (08:20)Ralf Rangnick has taken charge of his first two Manchester United matches - what can we tell from his first week at the club? (14:00)Barcelona are out of the Champions League - failing to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in 17 years. How long will it take for the club to bounce back? (23:56)Rick Broadbent joins us to discuss the state Leeds United find themselves in. With a worrying league position and a scary fixture list - what do they need to do? (29:30)Tottenham and Leicester have both suffered with Covid outbreaks in the last few days - with the new variant of Covid-19, could we see the return of games with no fans? (39:15)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Aston Villa made up for the midweek loss with a win over Leicester. Is Steven Gerrard the reason their form has improved and what’s happened to the Foxes? (00:00)West Ham got one over on Chelsea - but did they deserve three points? What are Chelsea missing that’s seen them lose the Premier League lead? (7:20)Divock Origi popped up for his annual goal to save Liverpool in stoppage time. How well are they playing and do they need to invest further? (16:11)Manchester City look unstoppable. Is Bernardo Silva the best player in the league at the moment and would a new striker actually hinder their mystique? (24:19)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup win on Sunday, which saw them complete last season’s treble (31:20)Newcastle and Burnley had differing fortunes at the weekend, but will either avoid the drop? (36:52)Tom Roddy catches up with Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in an interview you can read more of on The Times online (46:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Liverpool outclassed Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Fans showed their frustration to the board after the game - is that where the club’s problems lie? (00:00)The two teams ahead of them won last night - with Bernardo Silva scoring a goal of the season contender. Can we really predict which of the three sides will take the title this early on? (12:03)Leicester City and Brighton both had to settle for a point in their games - what can their fans realistically expect this season? (19:03)Wolves and Burnley was goalless - is Wolves’ distinct lack of firepower going to live to haunt them? (26:18)The Times’ Constantin Eckner joins us to give us more insight into Ralf Rangnick, as his German countryman prepares to take charge of Manchester United at the weekend (37:24)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Chelsea were held by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge - did Michael Carrick get his tactics spot on and what are we expecting to see change as Ralf Rangnick comes in? (00:00)Timo Werner was less than impressive in front of goal, once again - how many more chances does he have at Chelsea? (14:09)Everton are winless in seven games after Sunday’s loss to Brentford - how much time does Rafa Benitez have to improve results and could fans turn on him after the Liverpool derby? (21:!5)Brighton fans booed Graham Potter after their draw with Leeds - were they justified? Marcelo Bielsa has taken a dig at the schedule being ‘overcharged’ - does he have a point? (30:44)Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has finally commented on the Saudi Arabian influence at Newcastle United - but has he actually addressed anything? (40:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Mauricio Pochettino had a night to forget in Manchester as PSG were shown up at the Etihad. Has he got one hand tied behind his back with his ‘undroppable’ front three? (00:00)Chelsea made short work of Juventus, beating them 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Can Thomas Tuchel’s side defend their Champions League crown? (13:45)Michael Carrick has a 100% win record in interim charge of Manchester United. Could he stick around until the end of the season and who is most likely to be the long-term solution? (26:29)The government has ‘endorsed in principal’ the creation of an independent regulator for English football - but what will actually end up happening? (41:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and David Walsh.Ole has finally departed Old Trafford - but has he done so with his head held high? Where do they go next with their interim manager and who’s the best fit to take over longer term in the summer? (00:00)The Times’ David Walsh joins us to discuss one of Ole’s fiercest critics - his former United teammate, Roy Keane (30:32)Three Premier League clubs had new managers in the dugouts* over the weekend - but which hit the ground running best (41:26)Liverpool brought Arsenal back down to earth at Anfield on Saturday - could we see the start of another worrying blip for Mikel Areta (53:01)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame(*one via Zoom) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson.Stockport are the latest team to pull off an FA Cup upset after they beat Bolton 5-3 on Wednesday night. How are non-league clubs being regulated and are they being protected from potential financial problems going forward? (00:00)Reading have been deducted 6 points and Derby County another 9 points for breaching EFL financial rules - how did both clubs differ in their offences and why have Derby been punished more harshly? Have the salary caps actually helped clubs in the football league? (12:19)The WSL has seen a big increase in viewers thanks to the new television deal, however crowds in stadiums have dropped slightly. Does the increase in the wider appeal make up for the short-term dip in people through the turnstiles? (19:52)The Premier League is back this weekend - we look into Arsenal’s return to form and how the next few months of their season could pan out (27:55)The three new Premier League managers have home ties this weekend - but who out of Norwich, Newcastle and Aston Villa got the best deal with their new boss? (37:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.England qualified for the 2022 World Cup with a 10-0 win in San Marino - but what have we learned from the game, if anything!? (00:00)Fifty players have been given their England debuts under Gareth Southgate - but which have been the most important? (17:10)Scotland secured a home World Cup playoff with their win over Denmark - regardless of whether they make the tournament, is this the best Scotland team ever? (29:48)Dean Smith has taken over at Norwich - does he give them a chance of staying up and what are the struggles he’s likely to face in changing the team’s mindset? (37:58)Gareth Bale now has 100 caps for Wales - but where does he sit in the list of ‘Greatest British Players’? (45:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Aston Villa have been heavily linked to Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. Is it the right move for him and how would the move be seen north of the border? (00:00)Eddie Howe has spoken to the media and taken training already at Newcastle. Now he’s got his feet under the table at St James’ Park - is he the right man to lead them away from relegation and how long-term is he? (16:46)Scotland are looking for a result against Moldova in Friday night’s World Cup qualifier. What are their chances without Lyndon Dykes and who will lead the line? (36:05)England need four points to qualify automatically. They take on Albania and San Marino, so that isn’t expected to be hard. Who will take Mason Mount’s place in the side and are the side still suffering from the Italy trauma? (40:31)Hugh caught up with England defender John Stones ahead of the latest World Cup qualifiers. Why didn’t he get much of a game at Manchester City at the start of the season and are England over their Euro 2020 final loss? (52:39)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.They’re up to fifth in the table having been bottom at the start of the season - but are Arsenal back? (00:00)West Ham are in the top four after an impressive, but not surprising 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday. How far can they actually go this season? (11:08)Manchester United are sixth after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City and Brendan Rodgers is being linked to the job should United part company with Ole - is he the right man for the job? (23:18)Dean Smith has been relieved of his duties at Villa Park after five straight losses in the Premier League. Has he been treated poorly by the club he supports? (32:46)Norwich are also on the hunt for a new manager after Daniel Farke was dismissed on Saturday. Does this move make more sense than Villa’s given their lack of ambition this season? (44:19)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Liverpool have progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over Atletico Madrid. They are one side who were subject to an ‘interesting’ dismissal this week - but do the panel agree with any of them? (00:00)Manchester United are perhaps looking stronger in Europe than their performances have been - but given that Ole needed three strong results this week - how have they done and what’s the most likely outcome in the Manchester derby at the weekend? (16:50)Antonio Conte is the new Spurs boss (at the second time of asking) - will he be a success and what will it take from the club’s bank account? (27:00)Has reality started to sink in at Newcastle United after Unai Emery turned them down? Who can realistically do the job at St James’ Park? (36:27)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Nuno Espírito Santo has left Tottenham after just ten Premier League matches in charge. What went wrong, was it the right time for him to go and were the players equally to blame? (00:00)Manchester United beat Spurs 3-0 on Saturday - but does that result actually lessen the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjær? (30:28)Crystal Palace pulled off the most impressive result of the weekend as they beat Manchester City at the Etihad. Is it crazy to say they could finish in the top 6? (34:38)Aston Villa became West Ham’s latest victim - is Dean Smith under pressure at Villa Park considering their latest results? (46:27)Leeds United got a much-needed win, albeit against the worst side in the league. Will their victory over Norwich be the start of a turnaround in form? (56:40)Alyson recounts her Hollywood encounter in Wrexham to end today’s podcast.. (59:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Walter Smith sadly passed away this week aged 73. We remember the former Rangers, Everton and Scotland manager (00:00)West Ham have become the first team to beat Manchester City in the Carabao Cup for over 1800 days - can David Moyes’ side win the trophy? (10:28)Manchester United travel to Tottenham this weekend for a match some (possibly only Hugh) are calling El Sackico. Does a loss signal the end for Ole and is Nuno worried a result against a poor United side could affect his future at the club? (19:46)Barcelona have sacked Ronald Koeman after a run of poor form that sees them sitting in ninth place in La Liga. The Times’ European Football Writer Ian Hawkey joins us to ponder who could take over at a tricky time in the club’s history (34:10)As the five substitutes rule is set to become permanent - we ask whether it’s good for the game or if it benefits club’s with bigger squads (43:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Paul Hirst and Alyson Rudd.Manchester United have suffered the most embarrassing loss in their Premier League history - but is Ole Gunnar Solskjær fully to blame? Did Liverpool even play to their full potential in their 5-0 victory? (00:00)Spurs have lost every London derby this season - what’s the issue with Nuno’s side and why are they creating so few chances? It can’t ALL be down to Harry Kane's lack of form? (30:22)Watford silenced Goodison Park by putting five past Everton on Saturday. Is Rafa Benitez the right man for the job after all and did we get it wrong about Claudio Ranieri? (38:33)Norwich were on the end of a 7-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. Do their fans deserve more and is Derby’s record low points total in danger? (48:27)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Manchester United looked to be heading to a Champions League defeat before a remarkable comeback win - but are the cracks just being papered-over at Old Trafford? (00:00)Liverpool were also on the right side of an eventful 3-2 Champions League tie. Did Jurgen Klopp’s side deserve to win at Atletico? (15:43)Daniel Meuren is the co-author of ‘Thomas Tuchel: Rulebreaker’ - a new biography on the Chelsea manager. He joins us to tell us more about the rise of his countryman from Mainz to winning the Champion (32:55)Chelsea brushed Malmö aside on Wednesday, while Phil Foden starred again as Manchester City made short work of Club Brugge. Is the England youngster on course to become the best the country has produced? (39:16)Steve Bruce has finally been relieved of his duties at Newcastle. How was his departure handled and who is the sensible choice to take over at St James’ Park? (45:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.Newcastle’s new chapter on the pitch has started, but things need some serious work to match the owners’ ambition. The Times’ Martin Hardy joins us, fresh from an eventful day at St James’ Park (00:00)Away from the North East, what was the reaction elsewhere? Does it seem strange that Steve Bruce was in the dugout considering fans wanting him out? (10:27)Liverpool look back to their best - what’s the key to their success and do they have the best player in the world in their squad? Given the nature of the defeat, how long will Claudio Ranieri last at Watford? (24:06)Have the wheels finally come off for Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Manchester United? Are the Red Devils just a group of individuals rather than a team? (37:56)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.England ended the International break in lacklustre fashion at Wembley. Was it a mistake for Gareth Southgate to experiment with Mount and Foden playing? What did we learn from the two games? (00:00)FIFA are looking into the crowd trouble which lead to one arrest for an alleged racially aggravated public order offence. Should fans of a team with outstanding punishments for racism have been allowed to buy tickets? (17:04)Newcastle are preparing to play the first game of their new chapter as they host Spurs on Sunday. The Times’ Martin Hardy joins us to discuss what we can expect to happen at St James’ Park on Sunday (30:32)Claudio Ranieri takes charge of his first Watford game on Saturday as Liverpool make a trip south. Will the Italian be able to create the same magic he did at Leicester City? (40:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.We’re lucky to have Hugh after his comical trip to Andorra for the England game. Thankfully, he’s back to tell the tale and discuss the game (00:00)France are the new Nations League champions, but their winning goal has caused some debate. Gregor gives us a player’s perspective of Kylian Mbappé’s goal (10:42)Thibaut Courtois has spoken out about the number of games players are expected to play and how their welfare isn’t given as much thought as perhaps it should. Do we need tournaments like the Nations League and if so - does it require a third place playoff? (17:34)We continue the discussion on the Newcastle takeover and how the complex situation should be reported (29:22)Every other Premier League club has reportedly complained about the takeover - should other teams have any say over a club’s ownership? There are suggestions Steve Bruce won’t be in charge of Newcastle by the time they play Tottenham at the weekend - but is that the right decision for the short term? (41:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke.Newcastle United could very soon be the richest club in the world as the Saudi-backed takeover appears to be close to completion. The Times’ Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss what’s changed since the deal stalled, last year (00:00)While the Saudi deal may be good for Newcastle fans who want Mike Ashley out of their club - is the deal good for English football and is it right to turn a blind eye to some of the wider issues it brings up? (09:35)There’s been a lower-than-average uptake in Covid vaccinations in the Premier League and the EFL. What’s the reason behind players being hesitant to get the jab and could clubs be punished for low vaccination rates? (31:55)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss an exciting week in the Women’s Champions League (49:16)We end with a quiz based on Bill Edgar’s article in The Times on red cards. Can you name the player with the most dismissals in EFL history? (54:31)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst.Liverpool and Manchester City played a cagey first half, followed by a wild second at Anfield. Would City have taken all three points had they bought a Premier League quality striker in the summer? (00:00)Everton took a point from Manchester United, Andros Townsend mimicked Ronaldo’s celebration (but ended up with his shirt) and Demarai Gray once again looked impressive. Has Rafa finally got them playing as a team? (25:24)Since winning the FA Cup in May, Leicester City have been less than impressive - again dropping points at the weekend. What’s gone wrong at the King Power and is their success to blame? (35:33)Crystal Palace have a new lease of life under Patrick Vieira. How far can they go with their new, fearless style of play? (42:23)Watford have parted company with yet another manager as Xisco departs - but is their hire and fire method actually working? (47:41)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Ian Hawkey.Chelsea left Turin disappointed after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Juventus. Did they miss Mason Mount and why couldn’t Romelu Lukaku get into the game? (00:00)Should Villarreal have had the game wrapped-up way before Cristiano Ronaldo scored Manchester United’s winner? Hugh thinks so and Gregor isn’t far behind him (5:30)PSG beat Manchester City 2-0, but with over twice as many shots and other stats in their favour - were City just unlucky on the night? What positives can Pep Guardiola take from the game? (15:00)Liverpool did by far the best of any British sides in Europe this week with a 5-1 win away at Porto. Bobby Firmino scored twice, but is he set for an upcoming battle for his starting position? (22:27)Real Madrid lost to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol on Tuesday evening - was this a one-off or are there bigger issues at the Bernabéu? (29:34)Barcelona have bigger problems on their hands after a 3-0 loss at Benfica. Will the club ever be a European great again? (34:24)It’s been suggested this week that there’ll be an upcoming initiative encouraging former players to become referees. We grill our own ex-player on whether he thinks he’s be a better referee having played the game professionally (43:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Arsenal and Spurs are going in opposite directions after Mikel Arteta’s side came out of the North London derby 3-1 winners. Have Arsenal turned the corner now and is Nuno really the right man for Spurs? (00:00)Manchester City got the result they wanted at Stamford Bridge as they ended the weekend level on points with Chelsea. Did Thomas Tuchel get it wrong or were Pep Guardiola’s side just too good? (14:39)Aston Villa became the latest team to get a result at Old Trafford. Do teams fear going to ’the Theatre of Dreams’ anymore and should Ronaldo have taken that penalty? (25:29)Brentford didn’t give up and earned a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in what was possibly the best game of the season so far. Is their mentality the key to their success and where can they finish this season? (32:25)Fans haven’t been allowed to drink alcohol in sight of a professional football pitch since 1985, but that could soon change. It’s worked well in the lower leagues and in other sports - but can it work again in the Premier League and EFL? (41:01)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft.Nuno returned to Molineux and left with a Carabao Cup victory over his former side. Pep Guardiola can’t make his mind up if he likes the competition or not and Manchester United crash out (00:00)Reading are set to be deducted points due to breaching EFL financial rules. In the same week Derby County were hit with a 12 point penalty - is the desperation to get into the top flight going too far? (18:26)Arsenal and Spurs have been off the pace in recent matches and with the first North London derby of the season on Sunday - is this the most irrelevant Premier League match-up ever between the two sides? (30:32)Spennymoor Town will play a game on Sunday with heading only allowed in the box in the first half and no heading whatsoever allowed after the break. Head for Change are the charity behind the research - but would the lack of heading ruin the beautiful game? (50:03)Hendon FC beat Hammersmith FC 36-0 in a league match, so we end on memorable maulings and everyone fails to believe Gregor has only played in a side that lost 5-0 (54:46)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.We begin by celebrating the life and career of Jimmy Greaves, who sadly passed away on Sunday aged 81. From 1966 World Cup heartbreak and a struggle with alcohol addiction - Greaves’ achievements on the pitch and reinvention as a television star made him a favourite with generations of fans (00:00)Two of Greavsie’s former teams played each other on the same day of his passing as Spurs hosted Chelsea. After a touching tribute to a man who means so much to both clubs - it wasn’t much of a contest as Chelsea blew Tottenham away. Were Chelsea as good as the scoreline suggests and what’s wrong at Spurs after another 3-0 loss? (10:32)Jonathan Northcroft joins us following his conversations with Derby County manager, Wayne Rooney for The Times. As the club stares down a points deduction or potential worse - where’s it all gone wrong at Pride Park? (27:04)The final five minutes of West Ham vs Manchester United was a rollercoaster with Jesse Lingard scoring against the side he took into Europe last season, Ronaldo not being given multiple penalties and Mark Noble’s questionable first kick off the game losing his side at least a point - we break down what happened at the London Stadium (44:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times' North East Reporter Martin Hardy joins Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson to look into the current situation at Newcastle United. At the time of publishing, they sit second bottom of the Premier League table with just one point from four matches. Fans have been unhappy for many years under Mike Ashley - but will the club ever be sold without some reinvestment first?(This conversation was taken from 'Henderson Saves The Day At Anfield', which was originally released on 16/09/21)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Paul Joyce.Liverpool nearly started their European campaign off poorly, but Jordan Henderson saved the day at Anfield. How important is he to Jurgen Klopp’s side? (00:00)Manchester City looked impressive going forward but also let in three goals last night. Have they shifted tactics or was it just a sloppy night for their defenders against RB Leipzig? (11:23)Manchester United were somewhat embarrassed on Cristiano Ronaldo’s European return, losing 2-1 to Young Boys. Was the artificial pitch party to blame and did Ole Gunnar Solskjær get his tactics all wrong? (20:30)Romalu Lukaku scored again at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea got started with a win - how can he look so settled into their side so quickly? (30:15)There were some other incredible matches in this week’s Champions League. Jude Bellingham looked the real deal, Lionel Messi had a quiet European debut for PSG and a former West Ham striker had quite the night (36:57)The Times’ North East Reporter Martin Hardy joins us following his article in The Times about the current situation at Newcastle (42:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd.Cristiano scored twice on his return to Old Trafford. Has he silenced the doubters and does he have special powers at the club? (00:00)Were the club right to welcome Ryan Giggs back for the game - especially given the allegations against Ronaldo? (09:35)Sunday Times Reporter David Walsh joined us to describe the atmosphere at Old Trafford after watching Ronaldo’s return (15:30)It was a mixed weekend for Liverpool. Mo Salah scored his 100th Premier League goal, but the injury to Harvey Elliott overshadowed everything. Gregor gives his opinion on the tackle and red card as a former professional (26:38)Arsenal finally got their much-needed win, but does this mean they’re on an upward trajectory from here on? (47:54)After a weekend of debuts - we pick our favourite and not-so-favourite debuts of the past (55:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.England ended the international break with seven points from nine, something Gareth Southgate sees as a success - but did the performances match up? The England manager didn’t make any substitutes - was that the right decision? (00:00)Is a World Cup every two years a good idea? UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin has reiterated his opposition - but could it be a good thing for the game? (24:22)With fans set to miss watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to the Premier League due to the 3pm blackout rule - should it still be in force or have we just been treated to watching every match during the pandemic? (32:57)Ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United - we take a look at some other successful and unsuccessful returns by former players (43:27)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Lawton and Henry Winter.England have recorded back-to-back wins in World Cup qualifiers. The last game saw Jesse Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold return - but what does the future hold for both? (00:00)The Times’ Chief Football Writer, Henry Winter joins us with his thoughts on the England qualifier and whether Gareth Southgate has been grilled enough after the Euro 2020 final loss (16:18)We get the latest from the Wales camp with Gary Jacob, after Gareth Bale proved a few people wrong with a hat trick against Belarus. Scotland also did well, beating Moldova 1-0 (42:30)We unpack the madness after the game between Brazil and Argentina was abandoned after four players allegedly tricked their way into the country by saying they hadn’t been the UK in the past fortnight. This lead to Government officials storming the pitch early in the game (50:18)The new WSL season got underway over the weekend and with increased media coverage this season, The Times’ Molly Hudson joins us to discuss how this could be a pivotal year for the women’s game in the UK (53:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Premier League clubs spent £1.1bn in the summer transfer window. Is this responsible given the current state or the world, or is this the norm? (00:00)We saw a late flurry of deals on deadline day - but who did the best business? Does Ronaldo make Manchester United challengers? (12:14)England play their first match since *that final we don’t speak about* tonight. Will they suffer a Euros hangover or can they move on to bigger things? What does our panel make of the attacking options in Gareth Southgate’s squad? (40:55)Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the top goalscorer in men’s international football - does this mean he’ll focus on his club career now? (58:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, Tom Clarke and Henry Winter.Ronaldo is back! Was CR7 actually ever close to signing for Manchester City? His arrival means some of the younger attackers could miss out - are United taking a backwards step with this signing? (00:00)A fierce debate erupts on the topic of the use of VAR over the weekend after Paul Pogba wasn’t sent off for what looked like a dangerous challenge on Ruben Neves (20:38)The Times’ Chief Football Writer, Henry Winter joins us to give his take on the latest round of Premier League fixtures (28:50)Spurs top the Premier League, Arsenal are bottom. After another loss - is the trust for the process at the Emirates being lost? (42:40)Chelsea managed a draw against Liverpool, despite having 10 men for half of the game. Were these dropped points for Jurgen Klopp’s side? Are they poorly using the one player that could unlock most other sides? (53:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke.Harry Kane is staying at Spurs. Will his reputation be tarnished? Will the Tottenham fans forget about this? Will he leave next summer? So many questions! (00:00)Reports today suggest Cristiano Ronaldo has been offered to Manchester City for around £25m. Would he fit into Pep’s side and could he light up Manchester once again? (18:30)We’ve seen some big scoreline in the Carabao Cup second round - should Premier League teams be involved or could it become the EFL Cup instead? (23:45)West Ham have shown that last season wasn’t a fluke and their early performances this season have been just as impressive. Does David Moyes need a deeper squad and what can they achieve this season? (32:15)Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend - are the visitors to Anfield the favourites? (38:04)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Henry Winter.Chelsea beat Arsenal in one of the most predicted results of the season so far. Did Romalu Lukaku have the perfect second debut and how does Mikel Arteta win back the fans after a disastrous start to the season? (00:00)Manchester United dropped their first points at the weekend against Southampton. What’s Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s biggest problem area in the squad and despite many outgoings - can Ralf Hasenhuttl do a good job at the Saints this season? (17:21)The Times’ Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins us to give his take on the weekend’s games - including the view from the fans at Arsenal (26:35)Jurgen Klopp has encouraged us to watch wrestling - but is he actually angry or have the mind-games already begun? (38:43)We round up the rest of the weekend’s games as Danny Ings wows for Villa, Crystal Palace fail to score again and City pummel Norwich (44:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Harry Kane remains a Tottenham player - he’s even posted a photo from the Spurs training ground. Will the Manchester City move happen and do they need to sell before they can complete the deal? (00:00)Romalu Lukaku is edging closer to his second Chelsea debut. He is the key to Thomas Tuchel’s side challenging this season? (18:00)Arsenal have added Martin Ødegaard and Aaron Ramsdale, but are they the answer to Mikel Arteta’s woes? (24:32)Are clubs struggling to sell their fringe players? Is there anything that can be done to stop talent being wasted on the bench or loaned out abroad? (35:19)You’ve probably seen the new Puma range of kits - they need discussing! (47:42)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Henry Winter.Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft, Tom Roddy and Paul Hirst.The new Premier League season is almost upon us - but which teams will do well and which teams face another rocky road ahead? (00:00)We’ve got several new managers in the league this season. Some are well known but some we know very little about. Which teams have made the smartest appointments? Will Rafa Benitez win over the Everton fans? (22:01)Chelsea have already won one trophy after their UEFA Super Cup victory last night. Tom Roddy joins us from Belfast to reflect on a game which saw Kepa exorcise from demons from penalty shootouts gone by (37:48)Paul Hirst gives us his thoughts on how both red and blue sides of Manchester will be feeling going in to the new season and whether the addition of Harry Kane would make City dead certs for the title (43:48)We predict the big stories of the coming season, with some less-than-impressive headlines we expect to see before May (50:48)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.We’re back and there’s a lot we need to catch up on before the Premier League season starts..Harry Kane is having ‘showdown talks’ with Nuno Espirito Santo as he continues his bid to leave the club. Will Kane get his way and has he acted professionally? (00:00)Jack Grealish is the most expensive British player after his £100m move to Manchester City. Do the club actually need him and can he step up to an even higher level? (25:05)Lionel Messi finds himself in an unexpected and emotional situation as he move on from Barcelona. The Times’ Ian Hawkey joins us with more on Barcelona’s financial worries (34:02)Do we fully buy into Messi’s press conference tears, just a year on from him trying to leave the club? Where would we really like to see him playing, instead of PSG? (45:55)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke.The EFL returns this weekend, and with fans! Despite this positive, how will the pandemic continue to affect clubs negatively and are players putting financial security above professional aspirations? (00:00)It wouldn’t be a preview show without our predictions, so we pick which teams should be challenging in all three leagues this season (18:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.Football didn’t come home and a penalty shootout once again thwarted England. We begin our round up with the positives from the tournament for Gareth Southgate’s young team (00:00)Was Gareth Southgate out-managed by Roberto Mancini? Which areas of the field were key for Italy to grab control after going behind early on? (20:43)While the players did everyone proud, the fans showed themselves in the worst possibly light. The FA have UEFA have released statements on abuse players have since received, fans misbehaved across London and some even stormed Wembley Stadium - how much has this tarnished England’s efforts on the field? (48:50)We round off the tournament with our favourite goals, players, teams and moments (01:13:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Lawton.Nerves are at an all time high ahead of the final - even the Scots among us are getting for the final. We discuss the mood in the England camp and how the country is bracing itself for the events of Sunday night (00:00)David Walsh joins us to discuss Gareth Southgate, the person. He’s the only man to have written a book about the England manager, with his input and blessing (30:18)The Times’ European football reporter Ian Hawkey has the latest from the Italian side of the fence. Do they see England as a threat or are they confident of making it 34 in a row? (46:08)It’s time for our final predictions - is football coming home? (56:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.England are through to their first ever European Championships Final with an extra time win over Denmark. Does the dubious penalty decision and poor spot kick from Harry Kane take any of the shine off the achievement? (00:00)Gareth Southgate brought Jack Grealish on in the second half - then controversially substituted him off during extra time. Was this disrespectful to the player, or great management of the game? (24:48)England will take on Italy who are unbeaten in 33 straight games - what will England take from this match, back to Wembley on Sunday and are these the two best teams of the tournament? (34:00)Tonight’s result:England 2-1 Denmark (AET)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Lawton and Henry Winter.Italy are into the final after one of the best matches of the tournament against a revitalised Spain. Is Spain’s problem the lack of someone to put the ball in the net? Can Italy be beaten or are they destined for glory? (00:00)Denmark stand in England’s way if they want to join the Italians in the final on Sunday at Wembley. Is this arguably a bigger moment than the same stage at Euro 96? (21:50)What’s different about this England team? Is the change in culture down to Gareth Southgate alone? We make out final predictions ahead of tonight’s semi-final (39:10)Tonight’s result:Italy 1-1 Spain (Italy win 4-2 on penalties)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy, Paul Hirst and Paul Joyce.The first semi-final is here as a free-flowing Italy take on a slow-off-the-mark Spain at Wembley. We look at how the teams have made it this far and how the managers match up (00:00)Spanish manager Luis Enrique spoke before the game and The Times’ Paul Hirst joins us with the latest - including the important role the team’s psychologist will play throughout the day (13:00)We break down the key areas and players in each area of the pitch ahead of the first semi-final. Will Spain’s attack be able to break down the ageing Italian defence? (17:44)Ahead of England’s semi-final against Denmark tomorrow night - The Times’ Paul Joyce joins us with the latest from Gareth Southgate’s squad (34:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Gheerbrant.England have made the Euro 2020 semi-finals with a simple win over Ukraine. Did Gareth Southgate get his tactics spot on again? Which players shone and were any of the opposition worthy of praise? (00:00)Gareth Southgate’s side will take on Denmark in the semi-finals after their impressive tournament continued with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in a baking hot Baku. The Times’ European Football writer Ian Hawkey joins us to weigh-up whether they are a threat to England (26:32)All attention turns to that semi-final next Wednesday - the stage in major competitions England struggle with. Can they go one better this time around? Gregor offers his.. diplomatic.. opinion on whether football is indeed, coming home (32:35)Today’s results:Czech Republic 1-2 DenmarkUkraine 0-4 EnglandGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson, Matt Lawton, Jonathan Northcroft in Rome and our special guest, Jose Mourinho.Italy are through to the semi-finals, where they’ll take on Spain. They managed to overcome the top-rated team in the world in Belgium, but with Leonardo Spinazzola seemingly suffering a serious injury - at what cost? (00:00)Spain scraped through on penalties against a spirited Switzerland who’ll count themselves unlucky. Can they go any further and was Remo Freuler right to be sent off for the Swiss?(12:07)Jose Mourinho joins us once again to give his thoughts on England’s chances tonight against Ukraine. Does he expect Harry Kane to find his form now he’s got a Euros goal? (24:05)The rest of the team take a deeper look into tonights fixtures and Matt Lawton argues his case for papers leaking team news ahead of matches (29:52)Today’s results:Switzerland 1-1 Spain (Spain win 3-1 on penalties) Belgium 1-2 ItalyGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and our special guest, Jose Mourinho.We reflect on the knockout stages so far. Can the quarter finals top the goals and shocks of the Round of 16? How will teams deal with missing players and could they be the difference between going through and going home? (00:00)Jose Mourinho is our special guest throughout the tournament and he joins us to give his thoughts on the knockout stages so far and how he thinks the first two quarter finals will go down (24:10)We predict which teams could cause the shock of the knockout stages - could Ukraine down Gareth Southgate’s men? (35:06)Tonight’s matches:Switzerland vs SpainBelgium vs ItalyGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.England have broken the curse of playing Germany in tournaments with a 2-0 win at Wembley. Did Gareth Southgate get his tactics spot on and which players stood out? (00:00)Did Harry Kane find his form again or is there still a long way to go before he’s back to his best - and if so, why? (13:26)While England celebrate, Germany lick their wounds. What went wrong for them in what was Joachim Löw’s final match in charge? (22:24)Today’s results:England 2-0 GermanySweden 1-2 UkraineGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson, Henry Winter and Matt Lawton.France were sensationally knocked out of the tournament last night - but what went wrong for Didier Deschamps’ side and can Switzerland go much further? (00:00)Spain let in one of the most embarrassing own-goals in history but went on to progress after an impressive turnaround. Are they building momentum at exactly the right time? (14:18)England take on Germany tonight and Henry Winter joins us with the latest from the pre-game press conference. Who could be a surprise penalty-taker, should it go the distance? (21:30)With all of the history between the two sides on everyone’s mind - will what happened in 1996 weigh on the players’ minds or are they too young to worry? (34:50)Today’s results:Croatia 3-5 SpainFrance 3-3 Switzerland (4-5 on penalties)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Constantin Eckner.Belgium march on at the expense of Portugal. Did Roberto Martinez’s side deserve to progress and why didn’t Ronaldo get much luck in the game? (00:00)The Netherlands crashed out at the hands of the Czech Republic in what some are calling the shock of the tournament. What went wrong and should Frank de Boer look for a new job? (16:08)The Times’ German football reporter Constantin Eckner joins us to give us the German perspective on the Round of 16 match against England on Tuesday (27:30)Croatia take on Spain and France are up against Switzerland tonight - we preview both matches (35:40)Today’s results:Netherlands 0-2 Czech RepublicBelgium 1-0 PortugalGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Ian Hawkey and Tom Clarke.Wales are out after a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Denmark. What went wrong after so much promise and why didn’t Rob Page react to what was happening time and time again on the pitch? (00:00)Gareth Bale’s big secret was promised after the tournament - so what has he got up his sleeve that he’s kept us waiting to hear? (16:32)Denmark didn’t just keep their momentum going, but looked impressive in victory - could Alyson’s pre-tournament prediction of a Danish triumph actually happen? (17:46)Italy are through, but did the second half against Austria show some worrying signs for their chances of tournament victory? (23:08)Who will progress from Sunday’s ties in the Round of 16? Will Cristiano Ronaldo continue his impressive (penalty) scoring record or will Romelu Lukaku have the last laugh? (32:14)Today’s results:Wales 0-4 DenmarkItaly 2-1 AustriaGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.We take a look at the tournament so far as it heads into the knockout stages. Did the ‘Group of Death’ live up to the hype? Which teams have impressed and which have left us feeling deflated? (00:00)The panel select their ‘Best XI of the tournament so far’. Will Alyson pick Olivier Giroud despite him barely playing so far? Wales play the first of the last 16 matches against Denmark in Amsterdam. Will they be able to overcome ‘everyone’s second team’ and will the lack of fans affect them at all? (24:03)We end with predictions for the next round. Gregor was thrilled.. (35:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft, James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst.The refereeing in the tournament is under the spotlight after a night of big decisions. Has VAR been implemented more efficiently at Euro 2020 than in the Premier League? (00:00)The ‘Group of Death’ threw up an exciting end to the group stage - with Germany sneaking through with a late goal to set up at tie against England at Wembley (12:58)Spain have finally shown they mean business in the tournament with a 5-0 win over Slovakia. Paul Hirst joins us live from Seville to weigh up their chances in the tournament (28:08)There was another thriller in Group E as Sweden scored a late winner against Poland. Could they go far into the tournament and are Poland one of the biggest disappointments of Euro 2020 (32:55)Today’s results:Sweden 3-2 PolandSlovakia 0-5 SpainPortugal 2-2 FranceGermany 2-2 HungaryGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.England are through as group winners - but did their performance against the Czech Republic do much to reassure they can challenge for the tournament? Do Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka start the next game? (00:00)Scotland are out after a 3-1 loss to Croatia at Hampden Park. What can Steve Clarke’s side take away from their first tournament in 23 years and what do they need to improve on to qualify for the World Cup? (18:36)It’s the final day of the group stages. We look ahead to the conclusion of Groups E and F. Is Portugal vs France likely to be the standout game or will we be surprised? (29:34)Today’s results:Croatia 3-1 ScotlandEngland 1-0 Czech RepublicGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Lawton, Henry Winter and Michael Grant.Denmark booked their place in the knock-out stages with an impressive 4-1 win over Russia. They’ll take on Wales on Saturday in Amsterdam - but can they topple Rob Page’s side? (00:00)Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19, ruling him out of their match tonight against Croatia and also forcing Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell into isolation. What really happened at Wembley to cause this precautionary exclusion from the squad? (13:38)Scotland need to beat Croatia to keep their hopes alive - but without Billy Gilmour, can Steve Clarke rouse the troops to put in the performance they need? (18:30)England take on the Czech Republic tonight, looking to win the group with victory. Who will Gareth Southgate bring into the side if Mason Mount can’t play and what other chances should he consider? (23:57)Today’s results:Ukraine 0-1 AustriaNorth Macedonia 0-3 NetherlandsRussia 1-4 DenmarkFinland 0-2 BelgiumGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson.Wales are through to the knockout stages of the Euros after a 1-0 loss to Italy in Rome. Did Rob Page’s players show they can go deep into this competition and should Ethan Ampadu have seen red? (00:00)Switzerland got the result they needed against Turkey - but why didn’t Turkey show up to this tournament? Has there ever been a more disappointing ‘dark horse’ before? (13:10)The Times reporter Paul Hirst joins us live from Seville to discuss just what’s wrong with Spain at this tournament. It seems the grass could be against them.. (16:56)Groups B and C play their final games on Monday. Are Denmark most people’s second team after what happened in their opener and can they do enough to qualify? (21:02)Today’s results:Italy 1-0 WalesSwitzerland 3-1 TurkeyGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, James Gheerbrant and Ian Hawkey.Germany have turned up - but did Portugal make it way too easy for them? Is Kai Havertz finally showing why he’s a £71m player? (00:00)France didn’t show why a lot of people have them as favourites for the tournament as they stumbled to a draw against Hungary. Do they need to give Olivier Giroud a chance up front? What do Spain need to do to turn their fortunes around after a disappointing performance against Poland? (11:28)Wales face Italy in Rome later - but will Rob Page rest players or, given they’ll get a game at Wembley if they win the group - could they go for it? (26:38)Today’s results:Hungary 1-1 FrancePortugal 2-4 GermanySpain 1-1 PolandGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy.Scotland will go away from Wembley the happier side after holding England to a goalless draw. Who were the standout players for Steve Clarke’s side and did they make the changes Gregor longed for? (00:00)England registered one shot on target and Harry Kane was taken off in the second half. What problems does Gareth Southgate face after this lacklustre performance? (15:54)Is Harry Kane’s club future weighing on his mind? What do England need to do in their next game to get back on track? (24:47)Today’s results:Sweden 1-0 SlovakiaCroatia 1-1 Czech RepublicEngland 0-0 ScotlandGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft, Alyson Rudd and Henry Winter.Belgium have secured their place in the knockout stage after an emotional match against Denmark. The entire stadium stopped and applauded on 10 minutes in support of Christian Eriksen. Are the Belgians in with a chance of winning the tournament after that performance? (00:00)England take on Scotland in a match that’s been anticipated for months - but can Scotland actually cause Gareth Southgate’s side some problems? (17:08)Today’s results:Ukraine 2-1 North MacedoniaDenmark 1-2 BelgiumNetherlands 2-0 AustriaGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Gary Jacob.Wales have given themselves every chance of qualifying for the knockout stages with an impressive 2-0 win over Turkey. Why were Turkey so lacklustre - especially with their president in the stadium? (00:00)Gary Jacob was with Hugh in Baku and added his thoughts on a Wales performance that saw Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey at their very best (04:54)Italy have won both of their opening games 3-0 and with the latest win over Switzerland, look like they could trouble most sides as the tournament go on (21:42)Denmark play their next game tomorrow but how will the events of their opener affect the squad mentally and do they have any chance in recovering from that trauma to turn things around? (26:25)Today’s results:Finland 0-1 RussiaTurkey 0-2 WalesItaly 3-0 SwitzerlandGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Two of the favourites entered the tournament, but after an own-goal was all that separated France and Germany - which side looks most likely to go all the way? (00:00)Cristiano Ronaldo broke the record for goals at European Championships on the same day he became the first player to make an appearance at five Euros. Could CR7 inspire Portugal to a repeat of 2016? (17:04)We’ve made it til the last day of the first round of group games and VAR get it’s first mention - with the group divided on how the technology has been used so far (23:29)Wales play a must-win game against Turkey, later. Hugh brings us the latest from a very positive Welsh camp in Baku (28:40)Today’s results:Hungary 0-3 PortugalFrance 1-0 GermanyGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Michael Grant.Scotland didn’t get the start they were hoping for after 23 years of waiting - but what positives can be taken from their 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic? Where does this leave Steve Clarke’s side heading into the England game? (00:00)Are Slovakia this tournament’s surprise package after their win over Poland? What are Spain missing after they failed to break down Sweden (18:43)The ‘Group of Death’ gets underway later with Portugal, France and Germany all in with a shout. Is this where the eventual winner comes from and how do they cope with the pressure? (25:57)Today’s results:Scotland 0-2 Czech RepublicPoland 1-2 SlovakiaSpain 0-0 SwedenGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Lawton and Henry Winter.England win their opening game of the European Championships for the first time ever as Southgate surprises with his choice at left back. Has Raheem Sterling made himself undroppable? (00:00)Scotland play their first tournament game in 23 years later - can they be the team to surprise many with a run into the knockout stages? (24:30)Today’s results:England 1-0 CroatiaAustria 3-1 North MacedoniaNetherlands 3-2 UkraineGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Molly Hudson and Ian Hawkey.Football took a backseat as everything was put into perspective by Christian Eriksen’s horrific collapse on the pitch. Thankfully, he’s stable in hospital - but should the game have been restarted later in the day? (00:00)Did Wales show they have what it takes to replicate their impressive run in 2016 - or are they up against it after a lacklustre start against Switzerland? (11:20)England start their Euros campaign against Croatia on Sunday. The evening before kick off, they’ve released a statement and video encouraging fans to get behind the team - but will pre-match booing again be the talking point come full time? (23:00)Today’s results:Wales 1-1 SwitzerlandDenmark 0-1 FinlandBelgium 3-0 RussiaGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke, Matt Dickinson and Alyson Rudd.Euro 2020 is finally here and so is the first of our special daily episodes of The Game!We react to the first game of the tournament as Italy show they mean business, Andrea Bocelli takes us back to Italia ’90 and a miniature remote-controlled car gets way more attention than perhaps it should have (00:00)Alyson, Matt and Tom make their pre-tournament predictions and we find out who Tom met in a petrol station while 'scouting' on behalf of England (25:25)Today’s result:Turkey 0 - 3 ItalyGet more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Harry Maguire remains a huge doubt for England’s opening match of the Euros against Croatia on Sunday, so how will Gareth Southgate line up? Is there any chance we’ll see four wing-backs on the pitch at the same time as rumours suggest? (00:00)Scotland are playing their first tournament for 23 years but do they have what it takes to be the surprise package of Euro 2020? (21:11)Hugh is in Baku where Wales play their opening two matches of the tournament. After their impressive performances at Euro 2016 - will Rob Page’s side surprise people again? (29:08)Jose Mourinho joins The Times to share his unique insight throughout the finals, both on the podcast and in his exclusive column. ‘The Special One’ picks his players to watch at Euro 2020 (39:43)With the first kickoff of the tournament just over a day away, we make our final predictions and there’s a clear favourite.. (44:16)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Matt Dickinson and Henry Winter.England have played their final warm up game ahead of the start of the Euros. What have we learned from those results and was Ben White the right person to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold? (00:00)A minority of fans at both warm up matches booed players taking the knee, despite Gareth Southgate’s request that people respect their right to protest. How will this affect the players at the tournament and why does it keep happening? (18:53)England play Croatia on Sunday at Wembley in their first match of Euro 2020. We discuss potential lineups, players who can make a difference and the hopes the fans have for success (32:40)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.England have named their 26 man squad and played their first of two warm up games - so how are they shaping up ahead of Euro 2020 and will they really need four right backs? (00:00)Wales had a tough night in Nice - playing most of their 3-0 friendly loss to France with 10-men after Neco Williams was dismissed. Despite that, Gary Jacob joins us to discuss the positives for Rob Page’s side (25:56)Scotland were denied a surprise victory in their warm up match against the Netherlands, despite having a number of key players missing. Could they be the surprise package in the tournament? Michael Grant joins us to discuss the positives for Steve Clarke’s side (36:47)Aside from the Euros, it’s already an interesting summer in the world of Premier League managers. Who will Everton and Spurs appoint and will it bring them the success they need after disappointing seasons? (40:59)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Matt Dickinson and Matt Lawton.Chelsea won their second Champions League title at the expense of a shell shocked Manchester City. Was N’Golo Kanté the difference? How much of their run should be credited to Frank Lampard or has Thomas Tuchel shown him up with this success? (00:00)Why did Pep Guardiola choose to try something completely new in the final of the most important game he’s managed for City? How will the club bounce back from this disappointment? (14:44)The final England squad will be announced for EURO 2020 tomorrow - are we any closer to working out which right back is likely to start? The two Matt’s give us the inside story on how they themselves, get the inside story from the England camp (28:14)After heartbreak last season, Brentford were finally promoted to the top flight - does this prove the changes to the club’s structure were a success? (52:14)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Roddy.Manchester United came up short against Villarreal in the Europa League final - are they further away from challenging for trophies than people think? Paul Hirst joins us live from Gdansk (00:00)Will Manchester City go one step further than United and win a European final this week? We look ahead to the Champions League final against Chelsea (23:24)Rumours that Mauricio Pochettino could be coming back to Spurs hit during the podcast - but surely that’s not a good move for the former Tottenham boss.. or is it? (40:21)The EFL playoff finals are coming up this weekend - Tom Clarke attempts to remain calm as we give our predictions for the three season-ending matches (48:46)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Matt Dickinson and Alyson Rudd.The Premier League season is over and its one we’ll never forget. We look back on the wider impact of football during the pandemic and what’s changed without fans in stadiums (00:00)Harry Kane might have won the golden boot - but which players secure the prestigious end of season awards from The Game? (13:31)Manchester United are favourites for the Europa League final against Villarreal - but does Ole need this trophy to silence the doubters? (41:46)How well did we predict the season ahead, back in September? We take a look back at the things we got right and also the things that surprised us! (49:12)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Harry Kane is finally looking for his move - but what are the chances he’ll be allowed to move and where could he realistically end up? Will Kane have to force a move or will his supposed gentleman’s agreement be honoured? (00:00)Roy Hodgson will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season - how will he be remembered and does he have any more to give the game? Who could replace him at Selhurst Park? (21:53)Steve Clarke has named his Scottish Euros squad - with uncapped Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour included. Can the young team make an impression on their first major tournament since 1998? (34:37)The end of the Premier League season is in sight and the battle for the top four is still fierce. Are Leicester fading and could they miss out on the Champions League? Have Liverpool timed their run to the final day perfectly? (40:32)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Leicester got the better of Chelsea in the FA Cup final - did Thomas Tuchel shoot himself in the foot with his tactics? Who woke up with the trophy and how much expectation is on Brendan Rodgers going forward?Allison moved people to tears with his emotional winning goal and post-match interview - is it written in the stars that Liverpool will sneak a top four place? Chelsea’s women were shellshocked by Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League final - Molly Hudson joins us from Gothenburg to discuss what went wrong Why has Wolves’ season been so disappointing and do they run the risk of losing Nuno Espirito Santo to Spurs?Everton have ended the season poorly, after a bright start to the season under Carlo Ancelotti. What’s gone wrong at Goodison and could selling Richarlison solve all their problems?Inspired by Allison’s goal against West Brom, we end with our favourite goals by goalkeepers - Mart Poom’s header against Derby, anyone?Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy.Chelsea have a big weekend ahead of them with the FA Cup final - but by losing to Arsenal, have they blown the race for the top four in the Premier League wide open? (00:00)Managers have been backing Ole Gunnar Solskjær - but should Manchester United see any punishment for making 10 changes for their loss to Leicester? (19:32)Manchester City are Champions - but how long will the era of City dominance continue? Pol Ballús wrote about Pep Guardiola’s latest triumph exclusively for The Times and joins us to add his thoughts (26:54)As Fulham’s return to the Championship was confirmed - Will Scott Parker be back next season and which of the three sides going down is most likely to make a swift return? (41:23)The EFL playoffs get underway at the weekend - can Tom Clarke’s beloved Lincoln City make the final? Gregor Robertson gives us the ex-pro’s perspective on winning (and losing) at Wembley (46:48)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.We saw a preview of the Champions League final and Manchester City and Chelsea met in the Premier League over the weekend - but was it anything like the game we’ll see on May 29th? (00:00)Leeds United had a good weekend with a strong win over a struggling Tottenham. What’s next for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and how have Spurs come to have a 29 year old, inexperienced manager in charge? (12:31)Arsenal’s season is over - but is Mikel Arteta’s time at the club heading the same way? Will he still be in charge at the Emirates at the end of 2021? (36:52)Big Sam hasn’t quite come to the rescue for West Brom. Will they stick with the former England manager in the Championship and can they keep their squad together? (48:49)After Ed Sheeran announced he’s sponsoring Ipswich Town’s shirts next season, we end with our favourite musical collaborations with the game (53:20)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.We’ve got one all-English European final with Chelsea and Manchester City facing-off in the Champions League - how did Guardiola and Tuchel get their sides there and should the game be moved to England? (00:00)We’ve seen a huge fallout in Spain, not so much over Real Madrid’s loss to Chelsea - but Eden Hazard’s post-match laughing and joking with his former teammates. Was he out of line at Stamford Bridge? (27:48)Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday go into a big weekend with both sides sweating over their Championship status for next season. Which side would suffer the most from a trip into League One and what’s next for Wayne Rooney? (33:44)Home fans will return for the last two Premier League matches of the season. Is it fair on away sides to let 10,000 people or 25% of the stadium’s capacity, suddenly return? (50:19)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.The Times’ Paul Hirst joins us to discuss the reasons behind the Manchester United fans protest that saw their Premier League game at home to Liverpool postponed on Sunday. What will happen next at the club and is there any likely response from the Glazers? (00:00)The discussion continues with the wider impact of owners running clubs as businesses first and do fans’ morals change when it comes to having spending power? (12:30)After a thrilling Women’s Champions League semi final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich, The Times’ Molly Hudson joins us with lots to say about Emma Hayes’ side (38:02)Following Peterborough’s unlikely comeback to win promotion against Lincoln, we end with our favourite last-minute heartbreaks - including a calamitous night in Atletico Madrid’s history (48:48)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.There’s a big possibility we could see an all-English Champions League final. Which players stood out in the semi-final first legs and which stars could be showing signs of fading? Did Pep Guardiola overthink the game against PSG and were the French side too reliant on Neymar? (00:00)After a tough season for Liverpool - will we see any drastic changes at the club? Does Jurgen Klopp still have the owners’ trust? (29:21)With rumours Marcelo could miss out on Real Madrid’s trip to Stamford Bridge because he’s been called up to monitor a polling station during local elections - we finish with the best reasons players (or teams) have missed a game! (40:55)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd.Manchester City secured their first trophy of the season on Sunday - but did Spurs make it easy for them at Wembley? Does that performance make Ryan Mason’s appointment even more puzzling? Is this the deciding moment in Harry Kane’s future? (00:00)We saw more protests at club owners over the weekend, largely following the failed Super League plan - but what do fans want from the ideal owner? What do the clubs owners need to do to reconnect with the fans? Will Arsenal have a new owner in the short term after Spotify founder, Daniel Ek threw his name into the takeover mix? (21:15)English football has announced a 3-day social media blackout to highlight the abuse and discrimination online. What will this achieve and does this kind of response give the trolls a sense of victory? What other methods could be used to eradicate this more effectively? (41:13)Chelsea and Manchester City have Champions League semi-finals coming up this week - but who has a better chance of making the final? What are the chances of an all-English final and will Olivier Giroud have the last laugh once again? (47:13)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Restall.Did the owners of proposed Super League clubs actually think their plan would work? Has the power shifted as a result of this failed breakaway league? Does Boris Johnson actually care or did he get involved for his own benefit? (00:00)The Times’ Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins us to add his thoughts on the last few days in the game. Now The Super League is seemingly dead, does the threat of the big owners looking to line their own pockets go away? Will the six Premier League clubs involved ever have full trust of their fans again? (22:43)We discuss the latest Champions League reforms - with more teams, a new format and a lot of critics (34:26)Looking ahead to the League Cup Final on Sunday - did Jose Mourinho at least deserve to lead Spurs out for the final he got them to? Was Ryan Mason the first choice to lead Tottenham until the end of the season? And West Ham host Chelsea at the weekend in a game that could be massive for the race for the final Champions League place - but can the Hammers keep up their good form? (48:14)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.As football makes all the headlines with the proposed Super League causing massive controversy, the man who broke the story - The Times’ Chief Sports Writer Martyn Ziegler - joins us to discuss how it came about and what the clubs who’ve signed up are hoping to get from it (00:00)We look at the wider implications of the proposal and how fans have reacted - with leagues, players and even Governments having their say on whether it’s the future of the sport or yet another greedy move by rich club owners (13:16)As the show was recorded, we got news that the manager of one of the clubs involved in the Super League - Jose Mourinho had been removed from his position at Tottenham. Was this a result of the proposal or a case of smart timing by Daniel Levy? (38:15)We end with the good work a potential candidate to replace Jose - Brendan Rodgers - has been doing as Leicester set up a League Cup Final against Chelsea. Also - how will the rest of Manchester City’s season go now they’re not playing for the quadruple? (48:41)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea and Manchester City will represent the Premier League in the semi finals of the Champions League. Can City finally win the trophy they’ve been missing and will their season be seen as a failure if they only win the Premier League? (00:00)Gary Neville has encouraged players to run their own social media after Phil Foden’s social team posted a taunt aimed at Kylian Mbappé that was quickly deleted. Should players look to be more authentic online and which players are making a positive impact on social pages? (21:13)Chelsea will have to topple Spanish giants Real Madrid if they’re to make the Champions League final. What are their chances given Real’s history in the competition? Does Chelsea’s record in reaching the semi-finals of the competition give them the upper hand? (28:32)Slavia Prague’s Ondřej Kúdela has been handed a 10 match ban for racially abusing Rangers’ Glen Kamara in a Europa League match in March. Kamara was handed a 3 match ban for assaulting Kúdela in the tunnel. Does this punishment actually change anything going forward and should the club see more of a comeback from this? (37:40)We end with our favourite red cards following Ukraine’s Natiya Pantsulaya somewhat cynical dismissal against Northern Ireland in their Euro 2022 qualification playoff (50:16)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Alyson Rudd.Which teams are out of the Champions League running following the weekend? Could Jesse Lingard be in the running for player of the season? Why do Manchester United need to go behind to pull out performances like the second half against Spurs? (00:00)It’s not VAR under the microscope, but the actual human decisions using the technology. James Tarkowski’s challenge against Newcastle causes a difference of opinions between our panel and how does that go unpunished while Spurs had a goal chalked off against Manchester United? (17:32)Leeds provided the big Premier League shock of the weekend with a win at Manchester City - but where do the club go from here? How do they avoid the same fate as Sheffield United as teams work out how to play against them? What do they do if Marcelo Bielsa leaves? (33:53)The race for the Championship playoff places is hotting up, with Barnsley in the mix after a remarkable season at Oakwell. Brentford missed out on promotion last season - is this season their time? Can Bournemouth or Reading afford not to go up this season, given their massive wage bills? (41:16)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea came away from their Champions League quarter final first leg with a two goal lead, but there are still questions over their German summer recruits. Are Kai Havertz and Timo Werner running out of time? Liverpool have it all to do in their second leg back at Anfield after a lacklustre performance at Real Madrid - but are people wrong to write them off? (00:00)Manchester City also go into their second leg tie against Borussia Dortmund with an advantage. Eyes were on Erling Haaland, but was another young star the pick of the talent on show? (18:09)The Times’ Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins the conversation to discuss the young English talent we’ve seen in the Champions League this week and get his opinion on whether Gareth Southgate is any closer knowing how to include them in his England squad for the Euros (32:35)Rebecca Welch made history by taking charge of a men’s league match on Monday. Sunny and Bhupinder Gill will become the first Asian brothers to officiate in the same game the coming weekend. We discuss how these role models can help improve the diversity of match officials (43:54)After Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replaced the injured Robert Lewandowski in PSG’s tie against Bayern Munich, we end with our favourite questionable stand-ins (49:47)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. The Premier League returned after the international break and so did the surprise results.. or were they a surprise? Are West Brom hard to play against because they have nothing to lose? Did Chelsea show signs of the Chelsea of old? What on earth happened to Spurs? (00:00)Liverpool have now won three games in a row - will their Premier League form lead to them saving their season by winning the Champions League? Are Real Madrid as fearsome as they used to be in Europe? (22:07)Manchester City and Chelsea are England’s other hopes of European glory - we rate their chances and contemplate whether Pep Guardiola might be telling us the truth when it comes to their transfer budget this summer (31:21)We end with our favourite passionate press conferences after Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil gave his vocal chords a workout following their Copa del Rey triumph (47:54)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. As Sergio Aguero announces he’s leaving Manchester City in the summer after a decade at the Etihad - where does he rank in the table of greatest Premier League strikers and who could replace him? (00:00)Scotland had a positive international break - our Scottish duo break down the progress they’re making under Steve Clarke ahead of the Euros (13:45)England won all three qualifiers in this international break - but are the performances worth celebrating? Which players have played themselves into Gareth Southgate’s Euro squad and who could miss out? (27:23)After calling the England U21’s job ‘impossible’ - is it impossible to see a way back for manager Aidy Boothroyd? Are games at this level preparing the players for the senior team or are they being set up for failure? (39:05)After Germany’s embarrassing loss to North Macedonia, we recall our favourite World Cup shocks (58:48)Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Gareth Southgate’s formation against Albania gets the England conversation started, particularly in defence. The stats are strongly in James Ward-Prowse’s favour for a surprise role in the side, but will it happen? Has Jordan Henderson’s makeshift defensive role for Liverpool affected his England chances of starting for his country? The Times’ Irish Football Reporter Paul Rowan joins us to discuss Ireland’s disappointing loss to Luxembourg over the weekend and where they go from here. After Thierry Henry quit social media in protest over how the platforms deal with abuse, we discuss whether other high profile names doing the same would cause change. We end recalling some of our favourite footballing tantrums after Cristiano Ronaldo’s minor meltdown for Portugal. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. Norway’s players protested against the human rights record in Qatar before their first World Cup qualifier last night, so we look at whether footballers should feel the burden is on them to speak out or whether bigger gestures are needed. This week, the BBC documentary ‘Football's Darkest Secret’ aired, looking into the child abuse scandal in football. We discuss the bravery shown by those who came forward and what needs to happen next to ensure this never happens again. Gareth Southgate says his England squad are discussing whether they wish to take the knee going forward and will make a unified decision. Could we see a player kneel during the national anthem and how would that be received? Cesare Prandelli left his job at Fiorentina this week citing his mental health in a remarkable open letter to fans. We look at the positive impact this could have on other people involved in the game. We end by looking at players who perform better for their country than their club. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. After the defeat at Brighton, Steve Bruce remains defiant at Newcastle but have things become too personal? Do the Magpies stand a better chance of survival with a different person in charge? Leicester City impressed in the FA Cup - are they proper contenders and no longer living the ‘fairytale’? Spurs bounced back from their Europa League disappointment with a win at Villa - but is it the beginning of the end for Jose? Women’s football is set for a huge boost with a landmark TV deal - will this take the women’s game to the next level in the UK? With the World Cup qualifiers coming up and some interesting squad selections from Gareth Southgate, we look at which players need to impress the England manager in the coming days. To celebrate the beginning of spring, save fifty percent on full digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times for six months and stay well informed on the latest stories: thetimes.co.uk/sale/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson. With eight teams left in the Champions League draw, we work out our dream draw and which teams are most likely to go all the way this season. The Times’ European Football Correspondent Ian Hawkey joins us to talk all things Real Madrid which leads to a sharing of our favourite Los Blancos memories. Molly brings us the latest from the women’s game with the Champions League last eight draw decided and Fran Kirby back on form for Chelsea. This episode was recorded before Gareth Southgate announced his England squad for the World Cup qualifiers. We weight up the potential inclusions and what level of success he needs to achieve at the Euros to be deemed a success. Scotland are also preparing for the delayed tournament and Gregor has some thoughts on who he’d like to see in the squad. The conversation turns to switching allegiance and whether the current rules protect the smaller nations. We end the episode picking that one player from another nation that we would have loved to sneak into our national team. To celebrate the beginning of spring, save fifty percent on full digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times for six months and stay well informed on the latest stories: thetimes.co.uk/sale/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd. False nines are becoming more and more common, so are they here to stay? Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped for their win against Spurs on Sunday - is there a leadership problem at the club? On the pitch, should Arsenal’s winning penalty have been awarded? As Chris Wilder departs - what are the problems off the pitch at Sheffield United? Sunderland have finally broken their Wembley jinx - is the future bright at the Stadium of Light? Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first hat trick against Sheffield United - is this the start of him achieving his full potential? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. There’ll be no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League quarter finals this season - will either ever win another European trophy? Manchester United have restructured their positions above Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s head - what impact will this have on their performances? It’s 20 years since Daniel Levy took over at Tottenham, but what will his legacy be? Barnsley are in the Championship playoff places, they’ve just been held to a draw after 7 straight wins - what’s the secret at Oakwell? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent joins us from the off to discuss Rangers’ title win after a long journey back from the fourth tier of Scottish football. Steven Gerrard has impressed massively north of the border, but could he soon make his way to the north west? Fulham became the latest team to topple Liverpool at Anfield as the defending champions’ home form stretches to six losses in a row. How far is Scott Parker’s stock rising with this return to form? It seems like every episode this season has included a conversation on VAR and this is no different with the latest handball change. Manchester United won the derby, but was Luke Shaw the real winner after his MOTM performance? Is he now England’s best choice in that position for the Euros? We look at what your team’s best or worst run of form, given Manchester City’s 21 games unbeaten and Liverpool’s current plight at Anfield. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester City and Manchester United both dropped points last night, so we start by taking a look at the race for the top 4. Which teams have run out of steam? Who has more to get out of their squad in the run-in? How will it finish? The international break is coming up - will it be a well-needed break for some teams and a selection headache for others? Could we be heading for a club vs country row? The surprise bid for the 2030 World Cup is up for discussion - but is it just a distraction from the Government? Newcastle are looking like the most likely team to drop into the bottom three, especially with Fulham unbeaten in 5 games. Can Steve Bruce turn things around and with reports of a training ground bust-up, has he got the support of the players? Alyson Rudd joins us to pay tribute to the late Ian St John. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. We delve into the world of football conspiracy theories, which seem to be increasing while we’re all sitting at home! Surely the transparency of VAR discredits some of the more believable theories? Ole Gunnar Solskjær referred to an article on the Chelsea website potentially influencing the referee - is this one of the most baffling claims we’ve heard!? After another weekend with more baffling confusion between VAR and referees - are the officials losing control? Brighton are slowly drifting down the table - are they sleepwalking towards relegation? One of the teams to have taken 3 points home from the AMEX are Crystal Palace - should Roy Hodgson get another contract? You can read Tom Roddy’s article on football analyst Jack Lyons and his route into the game thanks to Brendan Rodgers - he gives us more around the piece and we ask our resident former pro, Gregor Robertson what part these roles play in modern teams. After Dean Smith banned his players from playing Fantasy Football, Alyson Rudd enlightens us with her thoughts on the matter and why she thinks it should be banned all together! Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. Neil Lennon has finally parted company with Celtic after a disastrous season in the Scottish Premiership - but was it his decision? The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent, Michael Grant joins us to give us the inside view from north of the border as we debate who could be the best fit to replace him. It’s an age-old discussion, but do Scottish teams need to join the English league system to compete going forward? We take a look at the knockout stages of the Champions League as Chelsea and Manchester City both got wins in the past couple of days - but can anyone match Bayern Munich this season? After Pep Guardiola’s ‘brave’ Manchester City-emblazoned jacket made an appearance, we recount the worst fashion faux-pas in football history. Remember the Manchester United ‘lads on the town’ look? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Things are looking good for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, but after the Callum Hudson-Odoi incident at the weekend - is he too abrasive for the club? On that note, is there anything more humiliating on the pitch than being substituted as a substitute? Our resident ex-pro gives us his insight on the matter. Things are going less well for Jose Mourinho at Spurs following another loss, this time to West Ham. Is it time for him to change his approach and go all out? Alyson still thinks Gareth Bale is a myth, despite his sudden return to form. West Ham are currently in the Champions League places, but are they entertaining and is anyone taking their silent quest for Europe seriously? Fulham are on the charge and look more likely to stay up - but will they? Sheffield United look all but down, Gregor sets out his argument for keeping his former boss, Chris Wilder in charge at Bramall Lane no matter what. Bournemouth and Bristol City have new short-term managers - are they the right choices for each club’s needs? Following the Merseyside derby, we pick which style of manager we’d prefer out of ’stubborn’ Jurgen Klopp or ‘practical’ Carlo Ancelotti. Have a guess who Alyson chooses.. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. The Champions League is back - Kylian Mbappé turned it on in Messi’s back yard and Erling Braut Haaland blew Sevilla away - is this the moment the next generation take over? Are Mbappé and Haaland the new Messi and Ronaldo? The Times’ European Football Correspondent, Ian Hawkey joins the conversation to give his insight into current situations at Barcelona and PSG. We play fantasy football to place world-beating players into curveball sides - Mbappé to Leicester City anyone? Referee Darren Drysdale has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after appearing to square up to Ipswich’s Alan Judge in their game against Northampton this week. Gregor gives us his unique insight as a former player and questions whether it’s any surprise an official has finally reacted to player pressure. The Merseyside derby comes around again this weekend with both sides in need of a win - could we see a classic at Anfield? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. While people focus on the Manchester clubs and City’s lead at the top of the table, Leicester City have quietly gone about their business with some impressive results. How much will they miss James Justin after his injury and will they finish in the top 4? Liverpool have seen their season drift and after three losses in a row, remarkably some fans have been suggesting it’s time up for Jurgen Klopp. He’s dealt with personal grief this past week with the loss of his mother, could the German take some time off while lockdown restrictions allow him to be with his family back home? VAR, one again causes some debate between the panel - do we need to see the lines and should something similar to ‘umpire’s call’ in cricket be tested? Fulham pulled off an impressive win over Everton on Sunday - is there any hope of survival for Scott Parker’s side? We discuss the worst pieces of club merchandise after Spurs’ less-than-inspiring range of Carabao Cup final tat and end with our favourite misquotes, after we mis-quoted our very own Jonathan Northcroft on the last episode! Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Clarke. There have been some weird football matches in the FA Cup this week. Some beyond dull, some 9-goal thrillers (see Everton vs Tottenham) and some featuring youth players who may never play for the first team again. Today, we ask - what’s up with the Cup? Are the players tired and not up for the games and should the competition have just been rested for this extraordinary season? What’s up with Donny Van Der Beek? He’s not shown any signs of being the player he was touted as - does he just not fit at Manchester United or does he just need time? Mike Dean and Lee Mason won’t be involved in the Premier League this weekend, but the bigger issue is the abuse that lead to this decision. How do football authorities and social media companies tackle this problem and have referees lost control? The bottom three of the Premier League hasn’t changed for a long time - are those teams doomed? We end with our favourite impact substitutions in honour of Daniel Amokachi’s heroics in the FA Cup back in 1995. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke. Liverpool’s title hopes look all but over following the defeat to Manchester City - but what’s gone wrong? Are they bad Champions and should some blame be put on manager, Jurgen Klopp? On the other hand, Manchester City have been in scintillating form - are they nailed on to win the Premier League this season? Has Pep Guardiola’s precise and patient development of Phil Foden created a generational talent and could his club form continue for England at the Euros? Harry Kane is back and instantly Tottenham’s fortunes improve - but could he be about to face the biggest decision of his career in order to win a trophy? If Kane was to leave - who would be the buyer? As the Culture Secretary promises new laws to make social media companies have more responsibility to tackle online abuse - we discuss the recent racial abuse aimed at footballers. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Restall. Southampton were reacquainted with an old friend - the 9-0 loss . What did we learn about Ralf Hasenhuttl’s side and what does this tell us about Manchester United’s title aspirations? Another week in the Premier League gives us more questionable VAR decisions to discuss. Were Jan Bednarek and David Luiz unfairly dismissed and is there a good argument for another rule change? Leeds United have been entertaining so far this season, but are they showing too many signs of recklessness? The Time’s Paul Joyce joins us to give us a behind-the-scenes look at Liverpool’s deadline day dealings as Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies were added to their squad. Manchester City have won their last 13 games in all competitions - how will the defending champions get on against them on Sunday? Brighton have beaten Spurs and Liverpool in the space of a few days - is Graham Potter the most unflustered Premier League manager ever? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Liverpool’s ‘crisis’ doesn’t seem too serious if this past weekend’s result is anything to go by - are they back to their best? Has Jurgen Klopp’s positivity been the key to the turnaround in their fortunes? Tottenham’s form is going in the opposite direction - do Jose Mourinho’s tactics make sense? Is the loss of Harry Kane to blame? Gareth Bale still hasn’t shown signs of being a worthwhile signing for Spurs - will he ever get up to speed? Former Marseille striker and Times columnist, Tony Cascarino joins us to talk about his experiences of the extreme fans at the Ligue 1 side amid recent tension. Patrick Bamford and Eberechi Eze continue to impress in the Premier League, leading to a discussion around the best players to make that step up from the EFL. On transfer deadline day, we finish with those players we’d love to see announced for our clubs and players who could be on the move in the Premier League. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. United won at Old Trafford last night, but not the United anyone really expected. Is this the start of a miraculous escape for Sheffield United and what went wrong for Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s side? Arsenal are next for Manchester United on Saturday and with the momentum behind them, will Mikel Arteta’s team get a result at the Emirates? Thomas Tuchel has already taken his first game for Chelsea - are the squad in for a culture shock under the German manager? What does the future hold for the young players at the club? Burnley came from behind to win against Aston Villa in possibly the best Premier League game this week - do they deserve more credit for their stubbornness? Sean Dyche loves to compare the cost of their squad with their opponents - does he deserve more backing in the transfer market? Martin Ødegaard has come into the Arsenal squad still looking to fulfil his potential - can Mikel Arteta unlock his talent? We end looking at other young players who were hyped in their teenage years and how their careers have gone since. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Liverpool are out of the FA Cup and off the pace in the Premier League - are the wheels starting to wobble for Jurgen Klopp’s side? After consistently playing midfielders in defence - are the defending champions in dire need of defensive reinforcements or can they ride it out? Phil Foden continues to impress for Manchester City while at Leicester, James Maddison is back to his best. Can England become a creative force with the two exciting, young players? Frank Lampard’s departure from Chelsea was announced while this episode was being recorded. Is this another example of Chelsea being impatient or did the club have to make the change to get more out of their summer signings? What next for Frank Lampard - will we see him managing in the Premier League again? We end with the Final Word, which takes a look at the possibility of a European Super League. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. Chelsea have won two out of the last eight Premier League matches - is their form finally leading to serious questions over Frank Lampard’s future? Should the club legend leave Stamford Bridge, who could be in line to replace him? Across London, West Ham are seeing somewhat of a resurgence under David Moyes. After losing Sébastien Haller without replacement, is under-investment going to hamper their further development? Robert Snodgrass didn’t play in the Hammers’ match against West Brom this week due to a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the clubs - were rules broken and should anyone be punished? Paul Pogba was the hero for Manchester United in their win over Fulham - is he finally showing his potential in a United shirt and will he still be there next season? Aston Villa were left feeling frustrated by Manchester City’s questionable goal on Wednesday night - is this another ludicrous rule in football that should be changed? Phil Neville has moved Stateside to take over at Inter Miami. Has his decision damaged the women’s game and was he a success with the Lionesses? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Liverpool vs Manchester United was the predictable goalless draw a lot envisaged but was it a missed opportunity for Ole Gunnar Solskjær? Liverpool haven’t scored in their last three Premier League matches - are the players tiring at the same time? Leicester and Southampton entertained, but what does the rest of the season look like for two of the best-coached sides in the league? Chelsea are the next visitors to the King Power on Tuesday evening - did we learn anything from their slender victory over Fulham at the weekend? As Mesut Özil looks to be finally on his way out of Arsenal - is it a fond farewell or good riddance? Tanguy Ndombele scored a goal that should be filed under ‘Screamer’ at the weekend, so we share our favourite stunning goals from outside the box. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Tottenham have once again dropped points from a winning position - is Jose’s cautious style at fault? Would Spurs winning the League Cup buy Mourinho more time to win the fans over? Has Gareth Bale been worth the money they’re paying him when he’s just sitting on the bench every week? The Times’ North-east writer Martin Hardy joins us to talk about the problems at Newcastle after their loss to bottom side, Sheffield United. Is Steve Bruce the man to try and pick them up or has the job ground him down too much? The Premier League have written to clubs reminding them about Covid protocols after recent breaches - should players avoid celebrating goals? If players have tested negative, surely everything on the field should be left unchanged? Manchester United are top of the league, but can they go all the way? We preview their next game against a well-rested Liverpool and round things off by discussing who the best English manager is - following Pep Guardiola’s praise of Graham Potter. There’s a slight curveball brought to the table..Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. The FA Cup third round threw up some shocks, but was the third round as special without fans packed into grounds? Gregor was at the game as Leeds were humbled by Crawley Town, so no one was better placed to explain what went wrong for Marcelo Bielsa’s side. Positive Covid test results have given us a chance to see a lot more of a number of younger players - but how many of them will we see again? Marine didn’t get the result they dreamed of, but with their virtual tickets they did secure a huge financial boost for the club’s future. Dele Alli was given a rare start against the non-league side, but will he remain at Spurs past the end of January? Could Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival at PSG add fuel to the fire that he could move to the French capital? Recent flouting of the guidelines has again called into question whether football should continue during the lockdown. Are further rules going to ruin the game? We end by discussing - how far would you go for your football club?Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Manchester United fall short at the semi-finals again, but what stopped them making the final this time? Manchester City are looking everything United wish they were at the back - are John Stones and Rúben Dias the best centre back pairing in the Premier League? Now the teams are decided, how will Guardiola vs Mourinho go down in the Carabao Cup final? The PFA have announced they’ll start testing EFL clubs twice a week from Monday - but why only now? Should the criteria for postponing games remain the same and is there a real risk the FA Cup could be cancelled completely? As John Stones is back in form and starting for Manchester City, the team end this episode by picking their favourite footballing comebacks.Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Tom Roddy. Happy New Year! Hopefully football gets back to it’s best in 2021 - and it looks like Manchester City are finding form again. Is this the turning point for Manchester City? On the receiving end of Pep Guardiola’s masterclass were Chelsea - with their poor form, should Frank Lampard be starting to get worried? After several Premier League players broke social distancing rules over the festive period - how should we react as fans and should the FA get involved? Things fail to improve for Sheffield United after another pointless weekend - are Sheffield United one of the most unique clubs in Premier League history? Hugh thinks Mauricio Pochettino joining PSG is a pointless appointment and he’s not afraid to tell you why and the team remember the best football failures after Timo Werner’s impressive corner flag routine at the weekend!Get your digital subscription to The Times half price for 6 months: thetimes.co.uk/thegame (ends 05/01/21) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. Liverpool once again end the calendar year on top of the Premier League, but not with the final two results they’d have hoped for. What’s causing the stutter to their season? After another cancellation in the Premier League - are we heading towards a fixture nightmare thanks to the new variant of Covid-19 and are teams being treated equally when it comes to postponements? After one of the strangest years ever, we bring you the end of year awards including a heated debate about ‘Manager of the Year’ and The Times’ stat-man Bill Edgar asks the questions with his special end-of-year quiz of 2020!Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Chelsea haven’t had a great festive period - are they complacent or are there other issues that need resolving? Why does Frank Lampard keep playing Timo Werner out of position when it’s clear it’s not working for the German striker? Arsenal benefitted from Chelsea’s problems but how do they build on this win? After the initial promise, Spurs’ title challenge has faltered with their style of play coming in for a lot of criticism - are the Tottenham fans right to be frustrated with Jose Mourinho’s approach? Spurs weren’t the only side to drop points this past weekend - Big Sam worked his magic at Anfield once again as West Brom took a point against Liverpool. Is this the start of their survival bid? After yet another weekend of VAR decisions, where are we at with the technology at this stage in the season and are the people operating it good enough? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester upset Jose on Sunday and everything is starting to click - but how long can their good form last? While people over-indulge - do footballers actually enjoy Christmas? Our resident former pro gives his take on what it’s like to be a player during the festival period. A year on from Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival at Goodison Park - have Everton got what it takes to be a top four side? Leeds lost 6-2 to Manchester United yet both teams were praised - is it acceptable to love something in sport unconditionally, especially in the case of Marcelo Bielsa’s side? Nuno Espirito Santo came out and made some strong claims about the quality of refereeing in their loss to Burnley - was he just deflecting his disappointment at the result? The last episode before Christmas ends on a positive note with our reasons to be cheerful - including how close the top half of the Premier League table is this year and how having sport while we’re all in this situation can’t be taken for granted.Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Did the best team win as Liverpool and Tottenham swapped places after last night's match at Anfield? Slaven Bilić is out and Sam Allardyce is in - but was this the right decision for West Brom? The Times’ Chief Sports Correspondent, Matt Lawton drops in to tell us how the story broke before their game at Manchester City. Leeds United continue to be involved in thrilling matches - are they the most entertaining team promoted to the Premier League? Norwich have won their last four Championship games 2-1, so we end with the panel’s most predictable things to happen in football.Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Fans continue to trickle back into stadiums, but has the 12th man shown any advantage to teams in Tier 2? Arsenal’s poor run continued with a loss at home to Burnley - is Mikel Arteta starting to show the signs of a manager under pressure? Fabinho’s non-penalty gets The Game VAR treatment with mixed opinions and it leads to a bigger discussion on whether this season is actually any good!? The Final Word takes a look at footballers hugging after matches - should opponents be interacting like this on the pitch!?During the recording of this podcast, we heard the sad news that former Liverpool and Aston Villa manager, Gérard Houllier had passed away. Alyson Rudd shares her favourite memory of the man she worked with, while she reported on Liverpool during his time at the club.Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bonus episode, originally appearing in the Stories of our times feed.All this week, rainbow coloured bootlaces and armbands are being worn by football players nationwide. This is to mark the Premier League's annual 'rainbow laces' campaign in support of the LGBT+ community. As well as being a celebration of inclusion, the campaign serves as a reminder of the absence of openly gay professional male footballers in the sport. Why is this still the case?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.Guest: Rebecca is a sports reporter and feature writer for the Times and Sunday Times.Host: Manveen Rana. Clips used: Football Daily, Kick It Out, BBC Three, ITV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. Manchester United have crashed out of the Champions League after a poor showing in Leipzig - is time finally up for Ole Gunnar Solskjær or should United fans have lower expectations? On the subject of United - is Paul Pogba worth the hassle? Sticking in Manchester and with the derby coming up - how are City getting on so far and how important is Sergio Agüero fitness to their success? With Millwall and QPR coming together in solidarity and the events in the Champions League in the week, the discussion on racism continues and Matt Dickinson joins to share his memories of Paolo Rossi after his sad passing at the age of 64. The team pick their favourite ever World Cup golden boot winners since Italy’s World Cup 1982 hero.Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Mikel Arteta going back to Arsenal as manager was meant to be the romantic appointment in North London, but it’s Jose Mourinho that’s falling in love with his club. Why are Spurs players buying into his methods and are they happy in the process? How do Millwall deal with the section of fans who chose to boo players taking the knee at the weekend? And with VAR studying fouls in the box more than ever - are players encouraged to go down on contact and is that unsportsmanlike?Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. The day after limited numbers of fans returned to select games in the EFL, Hugh and Tom share their experience of Wycombe vs Stoke. Oliver Giroud scored the perfect hattrick, then won and scored a penalty for Chelsea against Sevilla - but is he more than a good substitute? Aside from that, should a World Cup winner be happy playing a bit-part rule at Chelsea? The new rules applying to football clubs after Brexit are out - what impact will it have on the clubs? And a year on from Unai Emery’s sacking - are Arsenal in a better place heading into this weekend’s North London derby?Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and James Restall. Edinson Cavani came off the bench to turn Manchester United’s day around, but now faces potential FA action over and ill-judged social media post - do clubs have a duty of care to educate their players on cultural differences? As Raul Jimenez suffers a fractured skull in Wolves’ win at Arsenal - why is football lagging behind other sports when it comes to head injury protocol? Sheffield United are breaking all of the wrong records in a disastrous start to the season - should they stick with Chris Wilder? Was Jurgen Klopp bringing the game into disrepute with his outburst following Liverpool’s game at Brighton, or was he just using his profile to highlight the frustration with fixture scheduling? Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Dickinson to pay tribute to Diego Maradona, who died on Wednesday at the age of 60. An infamous World Cup winner in 1986, who inspired Napoli to become a double title-winners against all the odds before publicly struggling with his demons off the pitch - we celebrate The Golden Kid.We also get the mood in South America with The Times’ Latin America Correspondent, Stephen Gibbs and in Naples, with the Times’ Italy Correspondent, Tom Kington.Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. Spurs are top of the Premier League table - are things coming together for Jose? Manchester City are way off the pace in the title race already - what’s going wrong for Pep? Did Arsenal make an expensive mistake with Nicolas Pepe? Liverpool look impressive despite the injuries and what constitutes a handball these days!?Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. The Scottish celebrations continue despite missing out on Nations League promotion and what did we learn from England’s dead rubber against Iceland? John Terry and Wayne Rooney are strong contenders for the Derby County job - but could they do the job at Pride Park? Today marks a decade since Venky’s took charge of Blackburn - have they learned from their initial mistakes ten years on? The team end by discussing the most loved club owners in the top four leagues.Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. England’s defeat to Belgium seems a lot more of a positive thing than the scoreline suggests - but why? Does Gareth Southgate know his best line up with only a handful of games left until Euro 2020? The team share their memories and pay tribute to the late Ray Clemence, who passed away on Sunday aged 72. The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent, Michael Grant joins the conversation to discuss Scotland’s EURO2020 qualification and the panel pick their favourite penalty save in honour of David Marshall!Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft. The big changes at the FA are under the spotlight as Greg Clarke leaves following his comments earlier this week. Who does the FA look to next? Liverpool’s defensive woes continue with Joe Gomez’s injury - will they be forced into the transfer market in January? Should international friendlies be taking place during lockdown and Scotland are one game away from Euro 2020 - but without Ryan Fraser, can they make it past Serbia?Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. The weekend’s games get dissected, but are Liverpool and Manchester City already showing signs they may not be the top 2 at the end of the season? Aston Villa put in another impressive performance - but does the result tell us more about Arsenal’s problems? Do clubs have any right to complain about short turnarounds when they agree the television deals? Just when you think you’ve seen everything VAR has to offer, Patrick Bamford’s sleeve is ruled offside - how long can this go on? The Last Word centres around the curious use of the Panenka penalty (Sorry Ademola!)Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and James Restall. As we head back into lockdown, the pause on grassroots sport returns - but why is women’s football not considered elite when the men’s professional game continues? Brendan Rodgers is under the spotlight - is he underrated and what would prove his quality if so? As AFC Wimbledon play their first game back at Plough Lane, the team discuss their remarkable rise as a phoenix club. Diogo Jota’s impact at Liverpool has been remarkable, but which other players have had such an instant impact on a team?Subscribe to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. As Ole Gunnar Solskjær takes his 100th game at Manchester United - will he be there for 100 more? Brighton and Sheffield United both look good, but need results - why aren’t they coming? There’s been no yellow cards for diving since the season started - are the lack of fans the reason? Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still scoring at 39, the team pick their favourite ‘older’ footballers who can still cut it!Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Tom Roddy and the Times Chief Football Writer - Henry Winter. With Marcus Rashford impressing both on and off the pitch, the team discuss his impact on both the game against Leipzig and on the Government. Frank Lampard thanks he’s being treated unfairly because he’s English - does he actually get an easy ride? And do EFL clubs deserve a Government bail out as chief executive Rick Parry suggests?Flash Sale: Get The Times half price for 6 months: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. With unexpected early leaders - is this the most open Premier League season ever? After losing to Leicester on Sunday - is the party already over for Arsenal or are they looking at the bigger picture? It’s been a year since Southampton lost 9-0 at home to Leicester - how far have they come in those 12 months? We’ve seen an EFL manager speak out about a player, telling him to ‘man up’ - what impact do these public humiliations have on the dressing room?Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. The Mesut Özil situation has got even messier in the last few days - but is Mikel Arteta really a failure for not getting the best out of him? Footballers are using their positions for activism more than ever - does anyone have the right to tell them to ‘just get back to football’? The English success in Europe this week also falls under the spotlight. Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and James Restall. West Ham’s comeback against Spurs is under the spotlight, did Gareth Bale show signs of positivity during his 18-minute cameo? Virgin Van Dijk is potentially out for the rest of the season - should Jordan Pickford have been sent off? A debate breaks out over the latest VAR controversy and the Champions League is back this week - which British sides will go the furthest? Ian Hawkey joins in the conversation..Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. England are once again in focus after defeat to Denmark, with no sign of Jack Grealish and no Harry Maguire for the majority of the game. Does the Manchester United defender need a break or should he continue to play on? Does the demise of the short-lived 'Project Big Picture' mean the discussion about protecting the football pyramid is over and which Premier League games have got our attention this weekend? Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke. The big talking point is the proposal to overhaul English football as set out in ‘Project Big Picture’. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter, Henry Winter joins us to give his thoughts on the proposed changes and look back on England’s win over Belgium. Molly Hudson brings us the latest from the women’s game and which Premier League matches would you actually pay £14.95 for? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. As the dust settles on the European transfer deadline day, the Chief Sports Correspondent for The Times - Matt Lawton - gives his insight into how the window works as a journalist, with the team adding their thoughts on which teams had the best transfer window. England are in the spotlight, in particular the goalkeeping situation and Gregor gives his opinion on Scotland’s hopes of Euro 2020 qualification.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a podcast takeover with the Stories of our Times podcast. The decision by the government to prevent fans from attending football matches in the UK has left many lower league clubs facing an uncertain future. What's it like to play for a National League and just how important are local clubs to their towns?Guest: Gregor Robertson, Times Sport columnist and co-host of The Game podcast. Host: David AaronovitchClips used: GTFC OfficialMusic: 'Blue Lobster' by Daniel Birch is licensed under CC BY 4.0 (looped from original).More Stories of Our Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/podcasts/stories-of-our-times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft and Gregor Robertson are joined by Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. After a weekend of surprising results, the debate gets heated when it comes to the problems at Manchester United, Aston Villa's impressive start to the season isn’t all that surprising and Arsene Wenger’s departure from the Emirates is in focus as The Times features an extract from My Life in Red and White: My Autobiography.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. They share their comfort break mishaps in solidarity with Eric Dier after his mid-game dash to the changing rooms, discuss Dominic Calvert-Lewin's thrilling start to the season and impending England call-up and look at the fascinating numbers behind first 200,000 league fixtures.Check out Bill Edgar's Numbers behind first 200,000 league fixtures: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/peter-shilton-preston-and-playing-without-nets-numbers-behind-first-200-000-league-fixtures-hcnvpbwk3Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Manchester City's humbling by Leicester City is dissected as praise is thrown in the direction of Jamie Vardy from all angles and is the controversial handball rule the end of football as we know it? Oh, and find out who Rodney Cucumber is..Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. After this week's Government announcement that limited numbers of fans won't be allowed into stadiums from October 1st as hoped, the team debate what needs to happen to protect the future of the EFL. The big question of 'what on Earth is going on at West Ham?' gets answered and famous faces are matched with football clubs as Ryan Reynolds looks set to invest in Wrexham AFC.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. After they lost to Crystal Palace over the weekend, the team discuss just who is to blame at Manchester United and whether Ole Gunnar Solskjær is the man to lead them forward, what does the future hold for Dele Alli after he was left out of the Spurs squad again as they thrashed Southampton and why are we seeing such high-scoring games this season? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Jonathan Northcroft. In a big week for both North London sides, they debate whether Gareth Bale's impending move back to Tottenham suits both parties and whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang re-signing with Arsenal shows a lack of ambition. They also discuss the situation surrounding Macclesfield and wider financial troubles in the EFL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and James Restall to take a look back on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. They debate whether Leeds were great or if Liverpool were awful, how the player Spurs need was playing for the opposition and have The Last Word on Andy Carroll's elbows.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The football season is back and The Times has a new lineup for The Game podcast. Hugh Woozencroft is the new host of the show and makes his debut alongside Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke. On the show they debate whether Chelsea can take on Manchester City and Liverpool, why Arsenal are top-four contenders and how Fulham have learned from their bad planning.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor is back alongside Nat as they chat to Tom Roddy about more woes for West Ham, why Chelsea are like a bodybuilder skipping leg day, and the full story from Reykjavik as Foden and Greenwood land themselves in hot water with Gareth Southgate! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie is joined by Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke for a trip back to Euro 2016 and England's humiliating exit at the hands of Iceland. Four years on they face them again with a point to prove ahead of next year's European Championships.More on this, why Harry Kane's place in the team could be under threat, and should Everton fans be excited for the new season? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke join Natalie Sawyer for more on yet another scalp and yet another trophy for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal! But is the Spaniard building something resembling Klopp's Liverpool at The Emirates?The panel discuss this, a Millie Bright stunner, yet more accolades for Lucy Bronze, and more on the transfer window's newest rebel... Lionel Messi! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Roddy to reflect on an incredible week that has seen Lionel Messi hand in a transfer request at Barcelona! The panel dissect the events and look at how Manchester City and Pep Guardiola will look to bring him to The Premier League!They also ask if Manchester United would be better off without De Gea, and how good is Ben Chilwell? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke to relive this season's Champions League final. Thiago Alcantara was one of the stars of the show - but could he be swapping Munich for Liverpool?More on this, and what to expect from next year's bumper season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke to discuss Joe Hart's move to Tottenham, but will he get one more chance to show the Premier League the goalkeeper they've been missing?More on this, Sunday's Champions League final and the incredible story of Glasgow City FC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor to look at Man City's inferiority complex in the Champions League after yet another quarter-final exitMore on this, why even Van Dijk couldn't turn Man United into title contenders. And could Lionel Messi really be leaving Barcelona? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke on a week where Scottish football has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons! But are we expecting too much of footballers to lock themselves away for our entertainment?The panel discuss this, the plight of Macclesfield Town, and ask why some Man United fans are still not happy with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Dickinson joins Nat & Gregor to ask who can stop Man City from finally winning the Champions League, whether Chelsea have actually had a good season, and why doesn't Robert Lewandowski get the credit he deserves? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to reflect on Scott Parker's managerial masterclass in the play-off final, a controversial week for Arsenal and a look at what makes us football nerds! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Roddy joins Natalie Sawyer with all the fallout from Eddie Howe's departure at Bournemouth and some fighting talk out of the Brentford camp ahead of their play-off final with West London rivals Fulham! Plus Tom tells the story of our oldest FA Cup winner, 97 year old Reg Harrison! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie and Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke to discuss Brentford booking their place in the Championship playoff final in the final game at Griffin Park, the battle of the up-and-coming managers as Arteta takes on Lampard in the FA Cup Final on Saturday and the huge match at the same venue just 24 hours later, as Harrogate Town and Notts County play for a place in the Football League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie and Gregor are joined by Tom Roddy to take a look at one of the most remarkable Premier League seasons in history. Gregor's cat makes a cameo as the panel look at the winners and losers in 2019/20 and which sides could challenge Liverpool for their crown in 2020/21. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Roddy joins Nat & Gregor after the most dramatic of finishes to the Championship season! Gregor tells us which club has "bottled it" this season and should have a song named after them, and the panel ask which team are you on? Team Hendo....or team KDB. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Ben Machell after his beloved Leeds United secured their promotion to the Premier League, but can Leeds cut it back in the big time?The panel discuss this, a weekend of managerial casualties and the 8 billion possible permutations at the bottom of The Championship! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by James Restall for an EFL special looking at the race for promotion to the Premier League, an inquest into what has happened at Hull following their 8-0 humbling at Wigan, and the panel discuss what makes Adebayo Akinfenwa so special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor for an in-depth look at how Manchester City successfully appealed their 2-year European Ban. So where next for Financial Fair Play?More on this, the sorry state of the North London sides and the latest on what promises to be a thriller of a relegation battle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Roddy to discuss one of the final David Silva masterclasses at The Etihad, and how he should be honoured when he departs Man City at the end of the season.The panel discuss this, some exciting news for Chelsea fans, and ask if it's ever ok to switch club allegiances? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson after contrasting weekends for either side of Manchester. So should City fans be worried? And how soon will United be back challenging for titles?More on this, the incredible story of Jamie Vardy and Gregor tells us what it was like to play against a 16-year-old Wayne Rooney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor fresh from her trip to see Bournemouth humbled at home to Newcastle. So has time run out on Eddie Howe? More on this, the happy hammers, and whether there is a road back for Wigan after going into administration this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson following the weekend's FA Cup action. Was Newcastle's defeat to Man City the end of the road for Steve Bruce? And do managers like him and Neil Warnock get enough credit?Gregor has been watching Warnock's new team Middlesbrough in the flesh to deliver his verdict, and the panel discuss where it's gone wrong for Leicester and oh so right for Liverpool. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss Anthony Martial becoming the first Man United player to score a Premier League hat-trick in over 7 years! So is he finally the real deal?The panel discuss this, an action packed weekend of FA Cup action and ask how long until we see a high profile footballer come out as gay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to look back on the first weekend of the Premier League's restart.Arsenal are in the firing line after another abject performance, so how much further can they fall? And with all 4 bottom sides losing this weekend, have the panel seen anything to change their mind on who is going down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to try and work out exactly what happened for the "ghost goal" at Villa Park in the restart's first big talking point. David Luiz also goes under the microscope after a night to forget at The Etihad.Plus special reports from Henry Winter & Matt Dickinson on what football without fans is really like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to welcome back Premier League football!Hear why they're backing Norwich to perform a great escape, which 'dysfunctional' Premier League team is in the middle of another player contract dispute, and is one title good enough for this Liverpool side? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor to discuss The Cherries sticky situation as Ryan Fraser looks set to depart Bournemouth, but is it ever ok to refuse to play?More on this, a crazy week for the EFL, and the case for Norwich to stay up this season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Dickinson joins Nat & Gregor to look back on a good weekend for Chelsea football club. Timo Werner agrees to join Frank Lampard's side, whilst Emma Hayes is handed the WSL title. So is it time Hayes was given a job in the men's game?The panel discuss this and the ever changing role of the captain, has British football become too obsessed with it's lion-hearted leaders? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins Nat & Gregor to explore the need for football to lead from the front in the battle against racism across the globe.More vocal players, fearless protests and stronger sanctions are all up for debate as they ask whether football needs to be more proactive rather than reactive.All this plus more from Mark Noble and Jack Grealish, who Henry has been speaking to this week as we countdown the days to the return of The Premier League. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor with news that The Championship will be back on the 20th June, but how many players out of contract at the end of the month will want to play?The panel discuss this, potential problems for the return of live action, and nominate their all time spot kick kings! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor with news that Premier League football will return on the 17th June. But are we ready?The panel debate this and ask....who is the Premier League's greatest import? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martyn Ziegler joins Nat & Gregor in what is a crucial week for the return of football in England, and why we could be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.More on this, why the EFL could turn to the government for help, and the panel mark 15 years to the day since the miracle of Istanbul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Henry Winter to discuss problems at Watford as Troy Deeney stays away from training over safety concerns.The panel discuss this, whether personality traits of footballers make them more likely to struggle with mental health, and a look back at one of England's finest performances as they thrash Holland at Euro 96. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to look at the likes and dislikes from the return of the Bundesliga. Is this what we want English football to be when it returns?More on this, the evolution of refereeing, and Paul Gascoigne. Was he really as good as everyone says he was? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss the future of Leagues 1 and 2, and whether footballers should be back at work at the same time as everyone else.And with two Scots on the panel it's time for Euro 96 revisited! Does the pain of England's victory over Scotland still hurt 24 years on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss the mental health issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic, and whether football can do more to help tackle this.They also give their verdict on the latest developments on Project Restart, and look back on the bizarre reign of Louis van Gaal at Manchester United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Times' Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins Natalie Sawyer on The Game Podcast to tell us why football should not be returning anytime soon, and why he hates Wembley Stadium!Tom Roddy also has a trip down memory lane to mark 4 years since Leicester lifted the title, and the panel tackle one of football's great debates...half and half scarves! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to discuss Kevin De Bruyne's possible exit from Man City, the latest on project restart, and yet more unpopular football opinions.Have England really overachieved as a football team? And has the country ever produced a decent manage? More on this and much much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing our new free daily news podcast, Stories of our times. It takes you to the heart of the stories that matter, with exclusive access and reporting. Published for the start of your day, it is hosted by Manveen Rana and David Aaronovitch.Cheltenham Festival was the last major sporting event to take place prior to the national lockdown in the UK. But should it ever have happened? The four-day fixture took place in March and has since become a lightning rod for criticism around perceived government inaction on the coronavirus crisis. We talk to people who were there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss bad news for Newcastle fans as Mauricio Pochettino declares his "dream" to manage Spurs again one day!Plus the panel have a game of unpopular football opinions....should England really have achieved more as a football team? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Lawton to discuss "Project Restart" which aims to get the Premier League back up and running. But is it a restart or a non-starter?More on this, where Phil Neville could be heading next and a look back to a tweak in the laws of the game that revolutionised modern football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by The Times' Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler for an in depth look at UEFA's executive committee meeting and what it means for next season's Champions League.`Martyn also does a deep dive into Newcastle's potential new owners, and whether Steve Bruce should be a worried man. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to cast their expert eyes across inventive ways to make football behind closed doors work. Virtual season tickets, fake crowd noises and even drive through football!All that plus more on Wayne Rooney insisting he's not a natural goalscorer, and Gregor tells us what it's like to face Andres Iniesta on the pitch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd to look back on the rocky road of Mike Ashley at Newcastle as his time nears an end.They also discuss 'invisible geniuses' in football, and Alyson pays a touching tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster on the week of the 31st anniversary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to pay tribute to Chelsea goalkeeping legend Peter Bonetti who passed away on Easter Sunday. They discuss the impact he had on English football as he pioneered the game in his position.And with a new proposal to finish the Premier League season at Wembley and St George's Park, Gregor tells us why top players may have changed their minds on leaving their families to get back to football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd following the news of the Premier League players initiative to help the NHS, so are we too quick to judge high earning footballers?More on this, whether Sadio Mane should be in the running for the Ballon d'Or, and anyone for a game of football scrabble? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to discuss Liverpool's much publicised decision to furlough some of their staff! So should the club reconsider?More on this, Wayne Rooney's must read column in the Sunday Times, and a look back on the 2006 World Cup in Germany from Matt and his 'moles in the camp!' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss whether there really is a "moral vacuum"in football, as billionaire owned Premier League clubs weigh up using government money to ease their financial worries.The panel also take on some football brainteasers to get you thinking, and choose their top 3 Premier League classic clashes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to discuss Harry Kane's proposal of the end of June being the moment that enough is enough and it's goodbye to this season!The panel discuss this, proposed 'World Cup style' camps for an accelerated end to the season, and discuss the greatest moments they've ever seen live in the flesh. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss where the money should come from to fill the current financial void in football, and how the National League plans to scrap it's current season altogether!And you've been having your say on what the nation's favourite football film is, as the panel cast their decisive votes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to debate who the greatest manager of all time is! Sir Alex Ferguson, Bob Paisley and Jose Mourinho all get a mention but Matt & Gregor believe that none of them deserve the accolade! Find out why as it's left to Natalie to cast the decisive vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are back as the beautiful game comes to terms with the most ugly of times.They're joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss what no Premier League football before the 30th April means for the future of the game in England and beyond.Plus Gregor has been catching up with some Premier League footballers about how they're getting on in isolation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie and Gregor are joined by the Times very own Alyson Rudd to look back on an awful week in the Champions League for Liverpool and Tottenham.Rebeccas Myers also joined them following a tough SheBelieves campaign for Phil Neville and his Lionesses.And, is football really football without the fans? As coronovirus takes it's toll on sport, we discuss whether anybody really wants football behind closed doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by James Restall to discuss Man United's derby win at Old Trafford! But are the good times back under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?Henry Winter brings a special report from Old Trafford on Bruno Fernandes watch, plus the panel discuss Newcastle's odd season, ask whether Mo Salah is Liverpool's greatest ever attacker - and Gregor talks pre-match rituals after Carlos Tevez and Diego Maradonna shared a pre-match smooch in Argentina for good luck! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor have Tom Roddy and Tom Clarke in to discuss Eric Dier hurdling seats to get involved in an altercation at Tottenham!And after the Giroud and Gilmour show at Stamford Bridge, should Billy the kid be on his way to the Euros? Plus we tell you which of the panel thinks Oliver Giroud would be a Championship striker in another life! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson to discuss Phil Foden's masterclass at Wembley! But has he got enough time to make Gareth Southgate's Euro 2020 squad?They also look at where Liverpool rank in the Premier League's greatest ever teams after their unbeaten run came to an end, and ask whether we should feel sorry for Wilfried Zaha. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Molly Hudson & James Restall to look back on Man City's incredible win at The Bernabeu, and discuss whether Kevin de Bruyne is now the best midfielder in Europe.They also ask whether Villa fans would be happy to win the League Cup and get relegated, and Natalie recalls her most bizarre interviews....including a chat with George Clooney! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Natalie this week so Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor and Alyson Rudd for more on whether Arsenal's win over Everton proves they are well and truly back under Mikel Arteta.They also discuss whether Sean Dyche is getting enough credit and talk treasured sporting possessions after new Barcelona signing Martin Braithwaite admitted he'll never wash his shirt again after being hugged by Lionel Messi! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd fresh from her trip to Madrid to see Liverpool's superstars humbled by a dogged Atletico Madrid.They also look at some of football's best strops after Dele Alli's antics against RB Leipzig, and with Erling Haaland taking the world by storm Gregor reminisces about playing against a 15-year-old boy wonder by the name of Wayne Rooney. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of The Game podcast Natalie and Gregor are joined by James Restall and Tom Roddy!They'll be chatting Sean Dyche, changing room talk, Inter Miami and are there big changes on the horizon for Manchester City? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor is back! As he and Natalie discuss who was 'having one' on Sunday in the high profile bust up between Bournemouth's Dan Gosling and referee Jon Moss.They're joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke for more on this, Ben Gibson forcing his way out of Burnley, and whether Arsenal should be more worried about relegation than making the top 4! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is back alongside Natalie Sawyer this week for the latest episode of The Game. They are joined by The Times very own, Matt Dickinson, and James Restall.They took an in depth look at the Championship and how Marcelo Bielsa can turn things around at Leeds.They also discussed where the problems are at Palace and the difficulties of coming to terms with ageing in football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No Gregor this week, but Natalie is joined by Alyson Rudd, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Clarke to discuss John Stones' troubles under Guardiola at Man City.They also discuss West Ham's problems on and off the pitch, and pay tribute to the 23 brave souls who followed Barrow AFC on their 740-mile round trip to Dover! With an incredible tale along the way! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Molly Hudson and James Restall to discuss whether we can truly call Tottenham's win over Man City a Mourinho masterclass, and ask if Gareth Bale has done anything wrong by staying put at Real Madrid.All that plus a touching piece on Accrington Stanley striker Billy Kee, who announced he is retiring from football at the age of 29 due to ongoing mental health issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep Guardiola has picked a fight with the Man City faithful over not selling out The Etihad - but has he got a point?Nat & Gregor are joined by Molly Hudson for more on this, Christian Eriksen bidding farewell to the Premier League by joining Antonio Conte in Milan, and whether West Ham are doomed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jurgen Klopp says none of his Liverpool stars will play their FA Cup 4th round replay against Shrewsbury. Fair enough or out of order?Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Restall for more on this, Newcastle's proposed takeover and David Moyes' unhappy Hammers.Plus they mark 25 years since Eric Cantona's infamous kung-fu kick! But does it get their vote for the most shocking football moment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft to discuss whether it's the end of the road for Ole at the wheel, and whether Edinson Cavani is nothing more than a flat track bully.All that plus Jonathan tells us why all is not well between Carlo Ancelotti and Jordan Pickford, and Gregor explains why Celtic and Rangers would beat the current Manchester United side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nat & Gregor are joined in the studio by James Gheerbrant & James Restall to discuss Liverpool's win against Man United at Anfield.But would this Liverpool side beat Man United's Champions League winners of 2008?The group discuss that, whether Adama Traore is now the best player outside the top 2, and whether we love or hate Mike Dean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie & Gregor are joined by James Restall and Tom Roddy to discuss England's sticky striker situation with injuries to both Kane and Rashford.They rope in the help of Matt Dickinson to solve the VAR crisis sweeping the country, and James tells us why an Englishman should be considered the greatest footballer of all time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sergio Aguero has now scored more Premier League goals than any other foreign player. But is he really better than Thierry Henry?Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke for more on this, whether football needs orange cards, and discuss if Eddie Howe is the Premier League's first "unsackable" manager. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was only one winner in the Grealish v Maddison battle this week, but will the maverick midfielder be another talent ignored by England?Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Clarke for more on this, a turbulent week for Carlo Ancelotti, and settle the debate on whether Pep Guardiola has given more to English football than Sir Alex Ferguson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd for a look back on an FA Cup weekend that threw up plenty of talking points!A pitchside monitor in use at Selhurst Park, a 40 year old hero for Rochdale, and Liverpool's youngsters heaping more misery on Everton at Anfield. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was lift off for Arsenal at The Emirates as Mikel Arteta secured his first win as Gunners boss against old rivals Manchester United.Natalie & Gregor are joined by Molly Hudson for more on this and the new manager bounce in action for Watford and West Ham.Plus Alyson Rudd with a special report on yet more Mourinho antics, and whether VAR had a good festive period. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson bring you your final instalment of The Game podcast for 2019! Joining them we have The Times' very own Molly Hudson to look ahead to an exciting weekend of matches. We give our take on the best stand out players and managers from the year and The Sunday Times' Jonathan Northcroft is down the line from Doha giving us his take the Liverpool side! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Kevin de Bruyne masterclass saw Manchester City sweep aside a hapless Arsenal at The Emirates as their search for a full time boss continues. But what can a new manager really change at the club?Tom Roddy joins Nat and Gregor for more on this, and an in depth look at Chelsea's slump under Frank Lampard.Plus we'll tell you why the omens look good for Liverpool in the Champions League after a mouthwatering round of 16 draw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are back, and they are joined by The Times very own, Alyson Rudd to discuss who needs who on the managerial merry-go-round.With Ancelotti on the market, could we see him make a move back to the Premier League?Jonathan Northcroft also joined the podcast as Manchester City look to overcome their 'crisis' against Arsenal this Sunday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 8 in 8 for Jamie Vardy as Brendan Rodgers' rampant Leicester City refuse to lie down in their pursuit of the most unlikely of titles. Heard this one before?Natalie and Gregor are joined by The Times' Molly Hudson for more on Vardy, why Man City need an overhaul in defence, and Gregor's warning to Liverpool ahead of the hottest prospect in Europe being unleashed on them this week in The Champions League.All that plus The Times' man on Merseyside Paul Joyce reveals why Duncan Ferguson's inspired win for Everton over Chelsea was all thanks to a sweatband and a broken watch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No fairytale return for Jose Mourinho as his Tottenham side were beaten at Manchester United. So could this be a turning point for Solskjaer? Natalie & Gregor are joined by Paul Hirst for a special report from Old Trafford.And how do Everton get themselves out of this mess? The Sunday Times' Jonathan Northcroft takes an in-depth look into their problems on and off the pitch.Plus Molly Hudson discusses a record breaking era for women's football with her team of the decade. Standby for some surprises... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddie Ljunberg's first game in interim charge of Arsenal ended in an entertaining draw at Norwich - but should he get the job full time?Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Restall for more on this and a busy weekend which saw Liverpool extend their lead over Man City to 11 points in the title race.Plus Gary Jacob discusses who's next up on the managerial merry-go-round. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer, and Gregor Robertson are joined by The Times very own, Tom Roddy to look back on a week of Champions League action, and they ask whether Mourinho could carry his new Spurs side to silverware in the competition.North East writer, Martin Hardy also joins them as Newcastle's expensive front-line falter.And, what next for Arsenal? Could they tempt Nuno Espirito Santo away from Wolves? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League sack race really hotted up this weekend as Unai Emery, Manuel Pellergrini and Marco Silva all lost to heap more pressure on themselves.Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Restall for more on this and why there's more to come from Mourinho's Tottenham.Plus Paul Joyce tells us whether there's any truth in rumours linking David Moyes with a shock return to Everton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are back... And so is Jose Mourinho.We hear from Jose Mourinho speaking for the very first time as the new Head Coach of Tottenham. The Times very own, Alyson Rudd joins them as they discuss 'The Humble One's' first press conference.They also look ahead to Manchester City's huge clash with Chelsea this Saturday, and Bale's bother as he heads back to Madrid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are here once again for The Game Podcast! This episode they are joined by the Times very own Deputy Sports Editor, James Restall.Molly Hudson discusses all things WSL as we celebrate yet another record breaking day for women's football.Also, Henry Winter joins us as we take a look back at what was a very comfortable 2020 qualifying campaign for England.Remember for more award winning journalism visit: https://www.thetimes.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by the Times very own, Tom Roddy to look back at what's been a rocky week for England and Raheem Sterling.England also turned 1000... in games this week. Natalie quizzed the team as they looked back on some iconic kits.Also, Molly Hudson discussed a roller coaster 12 months for Phil Neville's Lionesses, and Gregor remembered some of the harsher penalty fines from his time in the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an action packed top of the table clash, Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Restall for all the fallout from Anfield including Paul Hirst's take on Guardiola's touchline antics.Plus the panel ask if Leicester are Liverpool's closest title contenders? And whether Bramall Lane could be hosting Champions League football next season! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer, Gregor Robertson and Tom Roddy preview the big one at Anfield as champions Manchester City take on leaders Liverpool.They're joined by The Sunday Times' Jonathan Northcroft to discuss whether this is now the biggest rivalry in English football, whether Watford's luck has finally run out and a look at the worrying findings from a government report into the demise of Bury.All that plus Molly Hudson joins the show to look ahead to a historic day for England's Lionesses as they take on Germany at a sold out Wembley Stadium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by the Times very own, Alyson Rudd to look back on an action packed weekend of football.Gregor describes what it's like to go through a horrific leg break as Andre Gomes begins his long road to recovery.Also, we discuss how Liverpool have become so good at leaving it late, and, why the Emirates is so toxic?All this plus, just how good is Alex Neil doing at Preston... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by the Times very own, Molly Hudson to take a look back at an incredible week in the EFL Cup.Paul Hirst joins us to look at a very interesting debut for the teenage Man City star with a famous name.Plus Henry Winter has his say on UEFA's pitiful punishment.All this, plus, how far can Brendan Rodgers' Leicester side go? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A tough weekend for both halves of North London with incredible scenes at The Emirates as captain Xhaka goes to war with The Gunners faithful!Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by Matt Dickinson and Gary Jacob for more on this, Sean Dyche's call for red cards for diving and whether Tottenham's problems really are all Dele Alli's fault.Plus we hear how Gregor got on when he went to visit Sol Campbell at Southend United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by The Times very own, Henry Winter and James Gheerbrant to look back on a great week of Champions League action for the English sides.They debate where Kane is most at home on the pitch, and whether he's the best at it.Also, Lampard really made his mark as a manager as Chelsea grabbed a good grasp on their group.And, who could be following closely in the footsteps of Chris Wilder? Gregor talks EFL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Jurgen Klopp got a point about VAR? Or is he trying to cover up Liverpool's shortcomings?Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Gheerbrant for more on this, including Matt Dickinson's verdict from Old Trafford and his considered take on VAR in the Premier League.Plus Tom Roddy reports on the racism scandal that shocked the English game this weekend less than a week on from that night in Bulgaria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by the Times very own, Henry Winter, and Tom Roddy who were both in Sofia to witness the shocking racism aimed at England stars on Monday.They also discussed to of England's young stars lighting up the under 21 stage that, as Callum Hudson-Odoi - another of Chelsea's 'class of 19' - along with Leeds Eddie Nketiah shine.And we take a look at a mouthwatering return to the Premier League as Liverpool head to Old Trafford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Maddison has hit the headlines before his England career has even started, but has he really done anything wrong?Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by Molly Hudson for more on this, plus Paul Joyce tells us why he's not happy with Gareth Southgate and Gregor assesses whether the gap between Scotland and England has ever been bigger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Townsend are joined by The Times very own Bill Edgar, and Henry Winter as England head on the road to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.Henry joins the podcast from Prague to give us some inside knowledge from the Three Lions camp.We also discussed those comments from Jamie Carragher, suggesting Trent Alexander-Arnold could one day step in to midfield. Plus, What's next for Sunderland after they part company with Jack Ross. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a weekend where Liverpool's lead at the top of the table stretched to 8 points from 8 games - can they really blow it from here?Matt Dickinson joins Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson for more on this including Paul Hirst's damning report on Man City from The Etihad. Plus The Times' man in the north east Martin Hardy on Newcastle's new hero Matty Longstaff after his winner on debut against Manchester United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Gheerbrant to take a look back at a bad night for Tottenham as they are broken by Bayern. The question has to be whether the end is near for Pochettino.Also, The Times Martyn Ziegler introduces the Premier League's new Chief Executive to the podcast.And, Gareth Southgate joins Frank Lampard in turning to Chelsea's production line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle's horror show at Leicester has left many questioning Steve Bruce's methods already - but is it too early to judge the new Toon boss?Molly Hudson and Bill Edgar join Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson for more on this, whether Chris Wilder was right to hang his goalkeeper Dean Henderson out to dry, and ask whether anyone actually wants to win The Championship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by the Times very own, Tom Roddy and Henry Winter to look back at an interesting week in the EFL Cup which saw a number of top tier teams dumped out to lower league opposition.Natalie and Gregor also looked ahead to Monday's massive clash in the Premier League as Arsenal head to Old Trafford.And, what's happening at Stoke City? Gregor previews this weekend's EFL action as time looks like it's running out for Nathan Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United are under the microscope again after a humbling defeat at West Ham. But why Solskjaer may not be the problem - is he the answer they need?Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar join Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson for more on this, what Chelsea need to solve their issues at home, and why it might take us 10 years to perfect VAR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a bad week for English side in the Champions League after such a fantastic season last time around, so is there cause for concern?Alyson Rudd joins Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson on this week's episode as they look back at midweek defeats for Liverpool and Chelsea, while Tottenham blow a comfortable half time lead.Also, has Guardiola found the answer to his defensive crisis? It looks that way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a weekend of Premier League action including THAT defeat for Man City at Norwich and a weird and wonderful game at Watford.Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Gheerbrant and Bill Edgar for more including why England must not let Tammy Abraham slip through the net, and why Leeds might be even better than last season.Plus we look ahead to the return of the Champions League - but is there really a better team out there than Liverpool? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a strange night it was for England as they took the show on the road to Southampton. The Times very own James Gheerbrant and Alyson Rudd joined Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson to look back on another win for the Three Lions as they took a huge stride towards Euro 2020 qualification against Kosovo.Gregor also discusses what exactly is going on with the Scottish National team as it looks like their only chance of reaching next summers major tournament will be through the Nations League Playoffs.Plus, we look ahead to the return of domestic football, as Alyson explains who the 'Alpha Males' are in the dressing room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson look back on an impressive win for England against Bulgaria, and a night to forget for Gregor's beloved Scotland against Russia.They are joined by Molly Hudson and Matt Dickinson to discuss Roy Keane's rant at Sir Alex Ferguson, another managerial change at Watford and where the new look super league can take the women's game in England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Gregor Robertson as they dissect Gareth Southgate's England squad, ask whether Tyrone Mings is the real deal and what the plan is if Harry Kane gets injured.They're joined by The Times' James Gheerbrant and Henry Winter who also discuss whether the modern young player is too arrogant, and who came out on top in the twitter storm between Michael Owen and Alan Shearer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a weekend full of football Gregor Robertson is here to analyse all the ups, downs and that 'disruptive' VAR.Alongside Gregor we have The Times' very own Gary Jacob and Martin Hardy. Could this be the season that will cause major trouble for the usual top six?Our Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant also stops by to chat all things Rangers, Celtic and how much longer Steven Gerrard will be able to keep fans on side, following that 2-0 defeat! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a week when Bury went to the wall while Manchester United paid almost £6 million for Alexis Sanchez to play for someone else, Gregor Robertson analyses the state of the modern game.Matt Dickinson, Rebecca Myers and Bill Edgar join Gregor to debate how EFL clubs can escape this existential crisis, whether the Premier League should share more of the blame and whether there is even still room more 92 clubs.Our writers also debate Sanchez's legacy in England and preview the North London Derby this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson is joined by Alyson Rudd, James Gheerbrant and Paul Joyce to look back on an action packed weekend including Liverpool dismantling a below par Arsenal, Steve Bruce's Newcastle stunning Spurs and David Silva shining brighter than ever on the south coast.They also cast their eye over yet more VAR controversy, and ask whether Norwich might be thinking bigger than just survival despite their loss to Chelsea.All that plus a special mention to Leicester's Harvey Barnes after his wonder strike gave Leicester all three points at Sheffield United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are joined by James Gheerbrant, and Bill Edgar to look ahead to a mouthwatering weekend in the Premier League. Early front runners, Arsenal and Liverpool go head to head, so could Arsenal come through their first real test and prove they are serious title contenders?They also discuss the horrible social media scenes, and disgusting racial abuse aimed at Paul Pogba following his penalty miss on Monday.And, after a big week of EFL action, Gregor discusses Bolton and Bury's worrying battle to survive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer & Gregor Robertson are joined by Matt Dickinson & Alyson Rudd to look back on a busy weekend of Premier League action dominated by THAT decision at Man City.They also discuss whether Arsenal are worthy early pace setters, why Frank Lampard has reasons to be cheerful and Gregor recalls his trip to beleaguered Bury as their supporters battle to keep the League Two club afloat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Winter Joins Gregor Robertson and Natalie Sawyer to look back at the all-English Super Cup in Istanbul, with the Premier League continuing to dominate Europe. Things are not so promising north of the border though as Celtic crash out of the Champions League before it really starts.Natalie and Gregor are also joined by James Gheebrant to take a look this weekend's Premier League action, as it throws up another early treat with Manchester City welcoming Tottneham to the Etihad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gregor Robertson are back with The Game brought to you by the Times. On this episode, they are joined by The Times' Molly Hudson & Oliver Kay.They discuss whether Manchester United really are back following a 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea, how VAR fared in its first weekend in The Premier League, and whether Billy Sharp can cut it in the top flight.More award winning journalism head to www.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and her new co-host Gregor Robertson are back with The Game brought to you by the Times. On this episode, they are joined by The Times very own, Alyson Rudd, and James Gheerbrant.In episode two of our season preview, they focus on the ins and outs of the transfer window, and what VAR will mean for the Premier League. They also discuss whether English clubs will be Kings of Europe again.More award winning journalism head to www.thetimes.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and her new co-host Gregor Robertson are back with The Game, brought to you by The Times. On this episode, they are joined by The Times very own, Alyson Rudd and James Gheerbrant.Over the next two episodes they will take a look at the season ahead as the EFL returns and the Premier League gets closer. They also discuss who could be the King's of Europe and what managers will start the season with and eye already on their job security. All this and more over this two-part season preview.More award winning journalism head to www.thetimes.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer, Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and former England star Claire Rafferty are back one last time to review a summer where it was no longer women’s football, it was just football. The USA take home the tour de four as Megan Rapinoe makes the front pages once again. The panel are loving Lavelle but has this World Cup been a let-down for England after their 4th place finish? Plus there’s news of the WSL potentially in turmoil. Is the momentum generated by this tournament for the women’s game about to be squandered? And we look back at our favourite memories from this World Cup. From great goalkeepers to iconic Italians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Molly Hudson and Tottenham goalkeeper Chloe Morgan as the 2019 Women’s World Cup prepares for its final weekend. The dream may be over for England after semi-final elimination by the USA but as the panel discuss, we enter a crucial period for women’s football in this country. Will attendances rise? Will clubs outside the WSL feel the benefits? Can women’s football capitalise on the success of the Lionesses? And will Phil Neville stick around long enough to see it? It is the Netherlands who will face the Americans in their first ever World Cup final on Saturday. Can the Dutch deny the USA their 4th title and shock the world? Plus Alex Morgan’s tea celebration – do we just need to calm down? Possibly with a cuppa? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of perhaps the biggest England game ever in women’s football, Natalie Sawyer is joined by Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and Tottenham goalkeeper Chloe Morgan as excitement continues to build.The Lionesses take on the best team in the world, the USA, in the semi-final of the World Cup. For manager Phil Neville, 18 months comes down to one game. Will the World Cup be a failure for Neville if England suffer semi-final defeat? Are England’s backline set for their biggest test yet? And will White strike again?The woman making all the headlines on and off the pitch in France is American co-captain Megan Rapinoe. Activist and athlete, what has the publicity she’s garnered done for the tournament and the women’s game? And will the fitness of the Americans pay dividends in the extreme heat of Lyon?There’s another semi-final to be played as well. Can Sweden upset the odds again and reach the final? Or will the Netherlands get the chance to add the World Cup to their European Championship?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Neville said post-match that Lucy Bronze "has got to win the Ballon d'Or" after her man-of-the-match performance against Norway to send England into the semi-finals. Bronze set up England's first goal and sealed the 3-0 victory with a stunning strike from range, but does she deserve to be recognised as the best women's player in the world?Natalie Sawyer is joined on the podcast by the West Ham United and former England defender Claire Rafferty, plus The Times and Sunday Times journalists Molly Hudson and Rebecca Myers from Le Havre to discuss Bronze's standing in the game and England's best performance of the tournament so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the face of flying elbows, spitting, violent tackles and two threats to walk off the pitch, England defeated Cameroon to reach the knockout stages. Natalie Saywer is joined by former England, Chelsea and West Ham defender Claire Rafferty and Times chief sports writer Matt Dickinson to analyse one of the most remarkable matches of any World Cup. Should we feel sympathy for Cameroon? Should the referee have taken a stronger stand? And has it really damaged the image of the women’s game? Plus The Times and Sunday Times journalists Molly Hudson and Rebecca Myers join us from France to analyse England’s performance, quarter-final opponents Norway and Marta’s legacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With three wins from three England have qualified for the knockout stages in style – but who will Phil Neville pick next?Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England, Chelsea and West Ham defender Claire Rafferty and from The Times and Sunday Times journalists Molly Hudson and Rebecca Myers to analyse England’s best XI. Neville has made 12 changes since the opening win over Scotland and says he will continue to rotate – but who should he be picking and does chopping and changing help or hinder motivation? Elsewhere, Scotland crashed out after throwing away a three-goal lead and suffering one of the cruellest refereeing decisions of the tournament – we debate whether VAR has gone too far? And as interest in the World Cup increases, why are so few people buy tickets for matches? Our guests explain what the atmosphere is really like in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the age of 14, Fran Kirby had to deal with the sudden and devastating death of her mother. The next day she went back to school, carrying on her life as normal until grief and depression hit her hard, leading her to give up football, the game she loved.This summer Kirby, now 25, is England’s leading creative force at a World Cup they hope to win and has earned the nickname “Mini Messi”.In this episode of the new in-depth podcast, LifeTimes, England’s leading women’s footballer tells Matt Dickinson how she overcame a shattering loss to rebuild her life and her career. Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss an episode, including the opening show with Paul Pogba.  This episode is hosted by The Times Chief Sports Writer Matt Dickinson and produced by Lucy Lavery, it is a Times Sport production, to discover more of our award winning journalism visit www.thetimes.co.uk/sport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are into the final round of group games in France and England have already qualified for the knockout stages. Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England, Chelsea and West Ham defender Claire Rafferty and Sunday Times journalist Rebecca Myers to analyse a crucial round of games. England may be through but we explain why it will make a big difference if they avoid defeat against Japan. Plus, should Jodie Taylor retain her place in attack and what made the win over Argentina such an emotional moment for Fran Kirby and Carly Telford? The US overcame one of the best goalkeeping performances in recent times from Chile’s Christiane Endler and Claire gives us the inside line on her former Chelsea team-mate, while we celebrate one of the most heartwarming consolation goals ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a memorable few days at the Women’s World Cup in France. Natalie Sawyer digests it in the company of Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and Tottenham goalkeeper Chloe Morgan. The fall-out from the USA’s 13-0 victory over Thailand continues. Were the Americans disrespectful in their failure to ease off? Did they celebrate too much? And with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes writing in The Times about the plight of Thailand’s 5ft 5in goalkeeper, should the goals be smaller in women’s football? The hosts continue to win, seeing off Norway 2-1 thanks to a controversial penalty awarded by VAR. Will the debate over technology rumble on throughout the tournament? And with Phil Neville perhaps set to rotate for England’s second group game, is there a danger that the Lionesses are about to underestimate Argentina? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The biggest World Cup in the history of women’s football is well underway, with the action in France already having a significant impact back in the UK. Natalie Sawyer is joined by two people who have been integral to the development of the women’s game in this country. Former England captain with 90 caps for her country, Faye White. And the FA director for the women’s professional game Kelly Simmons. We discuss the potential influence France 2019 can have, how the sport has progressed to a more professional model and the training schemes and initiatives that are encouraging young girls to pursue football as a profession. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this new podcast series, LifeTimes, our leading writers have stepped away from the heat of the action to speak in-depth to some of the most famous athletes on the planet - starting in episode one with footballer Paul Pogba. The France World Cup-winner and £89 million Manchester United midfielder sits down at the Bulgari Hotel in Milan to discuss everything from his on-pitch achievements and the importance of his faith to the criticism he receives over his body language and choice of haircuts. Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss an episode.This episode is hosted by The Times Chief Sports Writer Matt Dickinson and produced by Lucy Lavery, it is a Times Sport production, to discover more of our award winning journalism visit www.thetimes.co.uk/sportSearch LifeTimes on your favourite podcast app and make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out on the next five episodes with sports biggest stars coming soon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France 2019 is in full swing and Natalie Sawyer is joined by Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and former Lioness Claire Rafferty to pore over the opening weekend’s action.England edge past Scotland in front of a record TV audience. How significant is that for the women’s game? Phil Neville’s team are given a helping hand by VAR. What repercussions will the new handball rule have on training? Plus why Neville’s unhappiness is a good thing and the story behind that waistcoat.The tournament’s proving to be big in the UK but how big is it in France? The hosts are in imperious form thanks to the competition’s tallest player. Will Norway stand in their way?Also, can the Germans be got at and are the Brazilians just too old? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the World Cup kicking off on Friday, Natalie Sawyer is joined by former England star Claire Rafferty, as well as Molly Hudson, Rebecca Myers and Matt Dickinson from the Times to preview arguably the most high-profile tournament in the history of women’s football. It almost came home last summer but will it finally be coming home for England? Can Phil Neville lead the Lionesses to glory? And what impact will the World Cup have on future generations? Will the harshest critics of the women’s game take the tournament to their heart? If it’s not to be England, who are the teams and players to watch? Can six-time World Player of the Year Marta finally lift the game’s richest prize? Will it be a World Cup double for the French? The Game will bring you podcasts twice a week throughout the tournament, featuring some of The Times’ finest writers out in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For those suffering Gab Marcotti withdrawal symptoms, we have a treat for you. And indeed a treat for Gab, as he sits down for a chat with one of his favourite writers, the northern sports correspondent for The Times – George Caulkin. Gab and George discuss how press coverage of football has changed, the significance of football in the North East and of course, the current disconnect between fans and club at Newcastle United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the last ever Game podcast for one Gabriele Marcotti. And there are plenty lining up to pay tribute to the man who has made this podcast his own. On the agenda this week, the Champions League final as Liverpool lift their 6th European Cup after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham. They showed nous and it may have been Alisson’s 27th clean sheet of the season but did the Reds even defend that well? From the Spurs side of things, it was a case of what might have been. Was Mauricio Pochettino right to start Harry Kane? Did Poch have enough up his sleeve tactically? And where next for Tottenham’s in-demand manager? The Europa League trophy was lifted by Chelsea in Baku last week. But will it prove to be Maurizio Sarri’s last act as manager at Stamford Bridge? And with the Nations League finals just around the corner, we ask just how seriously should Gareth Southgate and England be taking this trophy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer bring you a special bumper look ahead to the Champions League final and Europa League final, in the company of Oli Kay, Paul Joyce, Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant.Liverpool and Tottenham get ready to do battle in the biggest club game in European football on Saturday night. Will Firmino and Kane make it for Madrid? How can Tottenham stop the Reds’ rampaging full-backs? And would Mauricio Pochettino leave Spurs on the highest of highs if he was victorious on Saturday?The first final featuring all-English clubs is on Wednesday night. Oli is among those boarding several flights to Baku, as controversy continues to reign around the Europa League final venue. We discuss the absence of Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the future of Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.Plus we debate whether Petr Cech’s reported summer move to a directorial role at Chelsea represents such a conflict of interests that he should not be picked in goal for the Gunners. And what will be Mesut Ozil’s legacy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer introduces a special one hour documentary from talkSPORT looking back at Manchester United's amazing treble winning season. You'll hear how;- The United board wondered if Fergie had taken his eye off the ball- Martin Edwards asked Fergie to cut short his holiday and return for talks- the players placed demands on their coaches.Featuring Teddy Sheringham, Andy Cole, Steve McClaren and Martin Edwards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and Alan Smith after a historic weekend in English football. Manchester City equal the biggest FA Cup final win ever with a 6-0 victory over Watford at Wembley, becoming the first English men’s team to complete the domestic treble. But Pep Guardiola is forced to answer some difficult questions about finances while certain fans feel City aren’t getting the credit they deserve. Will City ever truly be embraced, even with the wonderful football they play? On the pitch, we discuss Vincent Kompany’s legacy at City after his decision to become player-manager at Anderlecht and the role of City assistant Mikel Arteta, a pivotal figure as revealed by Paul Hirst’s behind the scenes story of the season in The Times.Gareth Bale appears to have played his last game for Real Madrid after failing to acknowledge the fans after the final match of the season. Who could possibly afford him? Is the narrative of Bale being mistreated a bit wide of the mark? Does Bale need to act like Arjen Robben? And there are managerial movers in the form of Allegri, Potter and Pulis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Less football but no fewer football talking points for Gab Marcotti, Natalie Sawyer, Oli Kay and Bill Edgar to pore over. Manchester City look to complete the domestic treble with an FA Cup final win as we examine the historical significance of that feat. Are they the greatest team we’ve ever seen. Or are Watford, and manager Javi Gracia, better equipped to upset City than many think? Both Guardiola and Gracia will be joined in the Premier League by another up and coming English manager in the form of Dean Smith or Frank Lampard. Aston Villa play Derby in the Championship play-off final. What do the panel make of Lampard’s first season in management? And with Antoine Griezmann announcing he is leaving Atletico Madrid this summer, possibly for the Nou Camp, what are the knock-on effects for Premier League clubs in terms of players Barcelona would have to let go? Does it accelerate Eden Hazard’s departure from Stamford Bridge? Or Wilfried Zaha from Selhurst Park? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most relentless title race in Premier League history is over. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Paul Hirst and James Gheerbrant to determine where the trophy was won. Manchester City become the first team in a decade to retain the Premier League title, sealing the championship on the final day. Have Liverpool done well to keep the gap to just a point? Do Liverpool have a more limited squad than City? Do City create more chances? And for Jurgen Klopp, how do you possibly improve on a 97-point season?We discuss the sacking of Chris Hughton as Brighton manager, where James proves himself to be as merciless as Tony Bloom. Will a more progressive manager get the best out of Brighton’s buys? There’s a bumper quick hits on every other Premier League club. We’re expecting big things for Bournemouth and Wolves if they have a good summer. Plus there’s seagulls and grasshoppers in their underwear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are lucky to be joined in the studio by Alan Smith, and down the line Henry Winter gives his take on past performances and the big challenges to come with the final day of the premier league season approaching.A night to remember for Spurs with the comeback of all comebacks, making an all English Champions League final! What a weekend it promises to be: the final chapter in a title race that has driven Manchester City and Liverpool on to an extraordinary test of their abilities and nerve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big weekend in the Premier League and a big week to come in the Champions League. Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Oli Kay to discuss it all. Arsenal’s top 4 hopes are over after drawing at home to Brighton. How big a rebuild do Unai Emery and the Arsenal hierarchy have on their hands? The Gunners do have the second chance of a potential Europa League final on their hands. But Manchester United definitely won’t be in the Champions League next season after drawing at Huddersfield. Who needs to be held accountable? Solskjaer or the players? We look ahead to the Champions League semi-finals. Do Liverpool have any chance of overturning a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona, especially without Salah and Firmino? And can Tottenham grab their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reach the final or will they implode as they did at Bournemouth on Saturday? Plus George Elek from the Not The Top 20 podcast joins us to discuss the impending play-offs in the Championship. It’s Bielsa versus Lampard but can Grealish lead Villa to the promised land of the Premier League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After an enthralling midweek of Champions League semi-finals, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter, George Caulkin and Bill Edgar to break it all down.Liverpool play well and lose 3-0 at the Nou Camp, as Barcelona are inspired by Messi magic, inspiring Bill to get lost in Messi stats. How will we judge this Liverpool season if they end up without a trophy?Standing in their way in the Premier League title race this Saturday is their old manager Rafa Benitez. To what extent will he feel conflicted? And will this be Benitez’s last home game in charge of Newcastle?The other Champions League semi-final saw Spurs undone by Ajax in North London. But the major talking point surrounded the treatment of Jan Vertonghen’s concussion. With Mauricio Pochettino insisting they followed the protocol, is the protocol right and how should it be changed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst after a weekend of unique talking points in the world of football. Manchester City clear another hurdle in the title race. With Pep Guardiola’s men now having taken 192 points in almost 2 seasons in the Premier League, can we expect this trend to continue. And is Burnley’s style of play inhibiting Sean Dyche’s chances of employment at a bigger club? Natalie was at Leeds to witness extraordinary scenes at Elland Road in the Championship. Leeds score with Villa having stopped playing, then allow Villa to score an equaliser. What happened? Why did it happen? Did Marcelo Bielsa do the right thing? And would he have done it if it wasn’t for Spygate? Plus we look ahead to the Champions League semi-finals? Can Tottenham patch together a team capable of beating Ajax? And are we underestimating the chances of Barcelona’s defence up against Liverpool’s attack? Elsewhere there are meltdowns for PSG and Dortmund, as we try to get Wilder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.