The Game Football Podcast

Will England be the best prepared team at next year’s World Cup? Will it matter? As they head into a friendly with Andorra how many true tests of his team will Thomas Tuchel face before the World Cup? And what has happened to England's forward line from the 2022 Euros…only one remains first choice at his club. Domestically teams are making early moves in the transfer market. Could Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo be good signing for Manchester United? Does that mean Bruno Fernandez has to leave? And Manchester City are in the process of a re-build so, where does that leave Jack Grealish? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PSG finally have their European crown, and they look phenomenal in winning it. Did their demolition of Inter Milan set a new standard? Gone are gifted forwards who don’t work for the team, now talents such as Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia putting in performances with breath taking effort from start to finish. What st them apart as a team this year? But… is their triumph tainted by where the money comes from? Does the influence of Qatar also set a new standard? After the break, transfers you’d like to see, serious and not so serious, signings that haven’t worked this season and which might not work next year? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea triumph in Wrocław (which is in Poland) to bring home the first major trophy of the Boehly-Clearlake era. So are things looking up for next season? Meanwhile United's post season, pre season friendly tour of Asia turned to misery as they lost 1-0 to Asean All-Stars to boos from the initially adoring Malaysian fans. Amorim astutely pointed out: ‘We should win these kind of games’. Tom Clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel to discuss all that and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The play offs are done and dusted. For Sunderland their manager Regis Le Bris championed his team’s togetherness, it showed as they scored another last gasp winner. For Sheffield united, heart break as their woeful Wembley record continues. In League One Charlton went through the play offs without conceding a goal, that was enough to see off Leyton Orient. Manager Nathan Jones made no apology for his teams approach. A scrappy League Two final saw up and down Walsall face one last heart break losing to AFC Wimbledon. How do they come back from that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Champions League places decided it's time to evaluate who is happy with their season? Forest we're tipped for relegation but ended up in Europe. But after missing out on Champions League football will it still feel like a failure? Spurs finished 17th but won a trophy, did they have a better season than rivals Arsenal? And for Aston Villa, did their season come down to one officiating decision? Our end of season awards - manager of the year, team of the year, break through player of the year. Plus, lets look back at our pre season predictions...were we on the money or miles off? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Spurs first trophy in seventeen years vindication for their manager Ange Postecoglou? Despite finishing 17th in the league they’ll be playing Champions League football next season and Ange was true to his word, he won a trophy in his second season. Will he stay? For the losers Manchester United it will be their worst finish in Premier League history, no European football next season and squad in need of a re build. But is Ruben Amorim the man to do it? Plus, end of season awards… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's play off finals weekend. Is it something fans love or hate? For some it is hard to enjoy the stomach churning, nerve shredding matches with so much at stack. For others it is a free hit at glory, a day out at the national stadium and the tantalising hope of what if we actually win… In the Championship both Sunderland and Sheffield United have appalling Wembley records, one will at least be changing that. In League One Leyton Orient are the club on a charge Charlton have the irrepressible Nathan Jones in charge, in League Two Walsall have had a season or two very district halves, while AFC Wimbledon boast the best defence in the division. So, who wins…over to Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crystal Palace have won their first major trophy – the FA Cup! Oliver Glasner’s side beat Man City 1-0 giving Palace European football next season. How did they do it and will they be able to hold on to their best players and their manager? For runners up Manchester city where now? A star striker who didn’t want a penalty, a manager who may or may not stay and their first trophy less season since 2016/17. In the Premier League; qualification for the Champions League will go to the final day with Newcastle, Chelsea, Forest, City and Villa all fighting for three places. Everything is riding on the final of the Europa League with Spurs and Man Utd looking at win or bust seasons. Plus, fond farewells to Jamie Vardy and Goodison Park. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Taiwo Awoniyi recovers from a very serious injury, is it time to review VAR protocols. If it is a clear and obvious offside, why are officials told not to flag? Are the consequences more injuries for players? With Saudi Arabia and Spain starting to attract some of the world’s top footballing talent is the Premier League getting complacent in its ability to retain the world’s best? He FA Cup final could be a feast of attacking football. Will Crystal Palace play with the same attacking intent they did in the semi final, or will their manager Oliver Glasner be more cautious. For Pep Guardiola he thinks a cup in won’t rescue their season, but do the fans agree? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race for Europe is going down to the wire. After spending all season at the top are Forest on the brink of throwing it away, does a ‘passionate’ owner help or hinder? Newcastle look strong after a pivotal win over rivals Chelsea and with City faltering Aston Villa are still in contention for top five. Villa’s last two games are against Spurs and Man Utd. Any other season that would be tough, this year it looks a guaranteed six points. Why are both teams not in a relegation fight and is it fair that teams in 16th and 17th could end up in the Champions League? At Anfield some fans booed Trent Alexander Arnold. Is it a sign of the times or totally justified? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dream is over for Arsenal. How does Mikel Arteta turn his team from nearly men to winners? Is he even the man to do it? Arteta described Arsenal as the best team in Europe. None of the panel can understand how he justifies a statement like that. If he oversees the summer changes what is needed? Some even think that his team may have gone backwards this season. The other semi final was an all time classic. Seesawing from Inter to Barca and back again. Thirteen goals over two legs, has there been a better two legged semi-final? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final day of the regular season didn’t disappoint. Twenty four thousand turned out for Bradford v Fleetwood…in the fourth tier. Leeds and Burnley both reach one hundred points in the Championship and Leyton Orient storm into the League One playoffs on the back of five straight wins. ‘Producer Neil’ joins Gregor Robertson to review the final day and ponder who makes it to the play off finals at Wembley…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trent Alexander Arnold has finally confirmed what seemed inevitable – he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. His destination is not yet confirmed, but it is widely thought to be Real Madrid. What will be the Liverpool fan’s reaction be to a player won everything with his childhood club? ‘How could you’ or ‘all the best’? And how will he fit in at Real? In the league the race for Europe is very tight. Chelsea look to have strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot, while Brentford are making a late charge for the Conference league. Bournemouth are still in the race for Europe, thanks to beating Arsenal. It was far from ideal preparation for the Gunners ahead of a monumental week. Say it quietly, but could Arsenal end the season without a trophy while Spurs lift the Europa League…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a tough night for Arsenal at the Emirates as they were largely second best to PSG. What hope do they have for a second leg in Paris? Well, PSG don’t have a set piece coach, could that be Arsenal’s best bet? What if any weaknesses do PSG have? The other semi-final was a classic. Inter Milan showed all their guile and solidity to get a three three draw in Barcelona. But their performance was overshadowed by a seventeen year old. Is Barca’s Lamine Yama already the best player in the world? The panel are in awe of a remarkable, unplayable talent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up the penultimate round of fixtures in the EFL. Slowly but surely the key places are being decided. In the Championship Sunderland are limping into the play offs, while Blackburn and Millwall are on a charge. Game of the final weekend is a winner takes all between Coventry and Middlesborough At the bottom Preston have been pulled into a late relegation fight. In League One Gary Bowyer and Burton look to have pulled off a remarkable survival feat, while in League Two Walsall are in danger of a remarkable failure to get an automatic promotion spot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool have finally clinched their 20th league title. Arne Slot has landed the big one in his first season in charge. How did he do it, can he repeat it next year and is it unfair to look at the legacy left by Jurgen Klopp? In the FA Cup Alyson Rudd is Crystal Palace’s lucky charm – she interviewed Oliver Glasner ahead of the final and was impressed by his bold approach. What now for Aston Villa? Finally Gregor Robertson went to meet the owner of newly promoted Birmingham City – Tom Wagner. Ambitious doesn’t do him justice. He knows the financial figures inside out and he is preparing for the very top, a derby with rivals Villa in the Champions League. And he wants Birmingham to knock Manchester off its perch as a footballing city. Is it realistic? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool have won their 20th league title. In his first season in charge manager Arne Slot has led his side to the top of the English game. How big an achievement is it and how was it done? Times Northern Football Correspondent Paul Joyce has followed Liverpool, and Slot, since his appointment at the end of last season. Here he gives an inside track on how the feat was achieved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the talk is Ange Postecoglou could be on his way out of Tottenham. Not so fast says Martin Samuel…he might have done better than you think. Could a Europa League win - especially if its over Man Utd - change the narrative? Whoever is in charge next season Spurs are unlikely to be in 15th place again. But for the promoted clubs, what do they have to do to stay up? The gulf in wages, playing staff and finances is bigger than ever. Is it fair? What are the challenges on and off the pitch facing the teams coming up. And the conclusion of our top five all time premier league midfielders debate. Gregor and Jonny have a list… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the latest from the nail biting EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson. Congratulations to free scoring Leeds and rock solid Burnley who are both heading to the Premier League. How will they fare in the topflight? In the play offs many of the contenders are losing games. At the bottom of the Championship its wins all round for Luton Plymouth and Derby. Could it be a record total getting relegated? League One looks a little more settled. But League Two is remarkable, Carlisle are defying gravity and still have a chance of survival, at the top almost nine teams are still in it…two to go, all to play for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leicester are relegated, would they have fared better if they had stuck with Steve Cooper? Manchester United, fresh from a thrilling European come back crashed back to earth with a home defeat to Wolves. Would they have fared better if they had stuck with Ruud Van Nistelrooy? While Amorim lost momentum, Mikel Arteta maintained it at Arsenal but was the cost of a potential Bukayo Saka injury worth it? Hamzah takes a closer look at Brentford and in particular Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo. The two front men have made the loss of Ivan Tony barely noticeable. Lastly the start of the greatest ever Premier League midfielders debate…what is the right question to ask? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.