The Game Football Podcast

Another pulsating game at the Tottenham stadium, another win for Liverpool another six conceded for Spurs. Is the title Liverpool’s to lose? For Ange Postecoglou is it injuries or game management? Rubin Amorim was left scratching his head as Manchester United were beaten at home - again - by Bournemouth. Across Manchester, City continue to struggle…could Pep even walk? Plus, when did Burnley beat Manchester united 6-1? Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique Loonat look back at all the weekends action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus Rashford looks to be on his way out of Manchester United. A tail of a talent lost or stalled? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss how he ended up here and what happens next for him and the club. Everton have finally secured a take over deal. Where is their true place in the pecking order - big club or a midtable club? After the break a thorough look at the League Cup and is the Community Shield a trophy – Mikel Arteta thinks so… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Pep Guardiola is the greatest manager of the modern era, its time for him to prove his worth. Manchester City are a “crumbling dynasty” losing again in a derby where they looked nervous throughout. While a Chelsea team with four ex City players in it and a manager honed under Guardiola are now two off the top and “having a lot of fun, playing with palpable joy.” Rubin Amorim has again showed who is in charge by dropping Marcus Rashford from the squad and has his tram playing in his patterns. Elsewhere, time to give Nottingham Forest due credit; managerial sackings and great saves. Paul hirst, Tom Allnutt, Alyson Rudd and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to analyse a very busy weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

World Cup 2034 is heading to Saudi Arabia and WC 2030 to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Martin Samuel was revolted by proceedings… “FIFA conducted two one horse races yesterday.” Is it a decision to grow the game, or a demonstration of 'money talks' ? Martin joins Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino and Jonathan Northcroft who offer their thoughts on the decision, the process and Gianni Infantino. Elsewhere, more problems in Manchester. Who is to blame for the mess at United? Is Dan Ashworth a patsy? With one win in ten for Manchester City is it now a crisis? And Tony takes a closer look at Haaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The top of the Championship is dominated by teams from the north – Sheffield United, Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Middlesborough and Blackburn. Martin Hardy joins Tom Clarke to look at who is best placed to kick on. A Leeds squad with great depth, a rejuvenated Sheffield United or a Burnley team with a very tight defence? Sunderland had a rough November but got a win last time out. Is their success based on two teenage midfielders? Middlesborough play a style of progressive football which reflects their manager, Michael Carrick. And Blackburn Rovers are a “neat, tidy and controlled team.” Will it be enough for the play offs? A quick look at League One and League Two and Martin’s wonderful story about Andy Carroll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Chelsea win the title? Some think it is a silly question, but why? Were Spurs trying to perpetuate the ‘Spursy’ cliché? Two up at home but ending in defeat. Where now for a beleaguered Ange Postecoglou? Fulham are no longer just pretty, they’re gritty and they might have just solved how to defend an Arsenal corner. For Arsenal are they creating enough chances from open play when they are level or behind in a game…? More upheaval at Manchester United a loss on the pitch and a departure off it. None of it reflects well on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Peter Rutzler, Hamzah Khaliqe Loonat and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A six-goal thriller at St James Park allowed Arsenal, Chelsea and City to pick up points on Liverpool. Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel wax lyrical about Trent Alexander Arnold – “I’ve never seen anyone kick a football like that!” Tom Clarke asks the team – how do you stop Arsenal at corners? Chelsea are no longer Cole Palmer plus ten others, they’re now a serious team. A touching and funny tribute from Tony Cascarino to his and Millwall’s former manager John Docherty And the managerial merry-go-round could be due a spin with Gary O’Neil and Julen Lopetegui under pressure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City are out of the title race…right? Some think they might even have a fight on for top four. Liverpool by contrast looked in control throughout and playing in a variety of ways too. Could Arsenal and Chelsea be Liverpool’s biggest challengers for the title? With Odegaard back Arsenal look at their free scoring best. Chelsea, with a young squad, finally look to be repaying the billion pounds spent on them. Tom Allnutt even thinks there is a chance for Manchester United to creep into the top four. That could be at the expense of Aston Villa who haven’t won a Premier League game since October. What’s gone wrong? Tom Clarke is joined by Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under Arne Slot Liverpool are top of the Premier League and the new Champions League format. They’ve beaten Real Madrid for the first time in fifteen years; lost once in nineteen games and all with little fuss. It begs the question: just how good is Arne Slot. After the break Pep Guardiola’s woes continue. Be it confidence, injuries or tactics this is no longer a blip for Manchester City. What happens next? Arsenal by contrast seem to have turned a corner are they Liverpool’s main challengers now. Finally, Lampard in at Coventry and Van Nistelrooy at Leicester… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke return to cast an eye over a busy week of EFL action. Leeds are starting to look like a team who were preseason favourites. The underlying data on their performances marks them out as the best in the Championship, by some distance. A standout player for Leeds is midfielder Ao Tanaka; Gregor looks at the impressive list of recent signings from Japanese and South Korean leagues. At the other end of the spectrum, Hull City are struggling. Bottom three, manager booed and free scoring Middlesborough next. Wycombe are on fire, mixing the ‘grit’ of Gareth Ainsworth’s team with the pace and quality Matt Bloomfield has brought. Lastly, a quick look at Huddersfield, a player too good for League One and Ian Holloway is back but does his style need to change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a weekend! Are Manchester City in crisis? Has Martin Odegaard put Arsenal back in the title race, or are Liverpool going to run away with it? It was another Ange Postecoglou masterclass and Southampton self-destructed…again. Ruben Amorim has seen the size of the task at Manchester United; Ipswich showed how 3-4-3 should be played and Gary O’Neil took Wolves to their first away win since February. Oh, and Leicester sacked Steve Cooper – who’s next at the King Power? Tom Clarke is joined by James Gheerbrant, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Pep Guardiola’s contract extension end Manchester City’s poor run? Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to look at what Guardiola signing means for City and for the Premier League – another unbeaten run or a stop gap till the end of the season? Across Manchester Rubin Amorim begins his tenure at United, what can we expect? Finally, a run through the weekend’s fixtures, who needs a win and who is looking strong? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee Carsley has left England with a veritable spring in their step – a five-nil defeat of Republic of Ireland, four first time scorers and the joy of scoring seems to be back. So... who impressed most in Carsley’s brief reign? Will Tuchel continue the young blood approach and could captain Kane be under pressure? Scotland have a new star; Ben Doak is giving full backs nightmares…how good is he? If you had to take a selfie with a player, who would it be? And finally, as we head back to the Premier League next weekend, how is the teams predicted table looking? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Coote’s career as a referee looks to be over; but do we have unrealistic expectations of referees? If referees are berated by players, fans and coaches are they not allowed to react? Tom Clarke, Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino look at football’s relationship with its officials. Could or should the football culture around referee’s change? Harry Kane has questioned the number of dropouts from the England squad. Does it reflect injuries, a caretaker manager who leaves next week or the nations league group B? Plus, Martin’s ire is raised by the House of Lords… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After slow starts Millwall and Middlesbrough sit seventh and eighth in the Championship. Millwall haven’t looked back since they went back to the future and appointed club legend Neil Harris earlier this year. Gregor Robertson played with Harris and describes his strengths. Michael Carrick has been playing good football at the Riverside, but without the results to reflect it…that’s now changing. Tom Clarke joins Gregor to also look at Mark Robbins surprise departure from Coventry City; high flying Wycombe Wonders and Shrewsbury, and in League Two Walsall and Colchester. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool are top, why aren’t more people talking about them? Alyson Rudd and Tom Allnut think they know why. Ipswich won in the topflight for the first time in 22 years, how did they do it? And has it put Ange Postecoglou’s swashbuckling style under pressure? Pep Guardiola has a look about him and Tom and Gregor Robertson have seen it before. Elsewhere Brighton, Brentford and Caicedo impress; West Ham don’t. Tom Clarke is the chair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City lost for the third time in a week. That hasn’t happened since 2018. Is it more serious than a blip? Martin Samuel thinks it could be. He joins Gregor Robertson, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Tony Cascarino to look at City’s dip, Arsenal’s worries and Tyrone Mings mental aberration. Liverpool are top in Europe and top in the Premier League, what more could Liverpool fans want…? And Manchester United have a four year plan…another one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What’s going wrong at Arsenal? Was this a freak result for City? After both lose again is it down to better opposition, poor performance, lacklustre management or plain old exhaustion? No such problems for Nottingham Forest who are now third in the table or Liverpool who roared back to go top against Brighton. Gregor Robertson dissects the weekends results with Martin Hardy, Alyson Rudd and James Gheerbrant. Plus, hats off to Bournemouth, Newcastle and Spurs and a quick look at dapper Van Nistelrooy and woeful West Ham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Ruben Amorim the man to bring the good times back to Manchester United? As the current Portuguese coach is set to be named the new man in charge at Old Trafford what will he bring and more importantly what kind of squad will he inherit? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to assess his credentials to take over “…the biggest club in the land.” Can Ange-ball win a trophy at Spurs; Chelsea’s B team looked light against Newcastle and what makes a good leader? Oh, and a quick mention of rampant Aberdeen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest whistle-stop tour of the EFL, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke discuss Sunderland's surprise surge (which is starting to look less surprising), Coventry's potentially season changing win against Luton, Ian Holloway's latest adventure in Swindon and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.