The Game Football Podcast

If ever a game highlighted the problems of VAR it was the Merseyside derby. There is universal agreement that James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexis Mac Allister was a red card and Liverpool’s winning goal had what ‘appeared’ to be a clear offside. So, what went wrong? Gregor Robertson – fresh from a referee’s course – tries to shed some light. Jose Mourinho is grabbing headlines again… but for all the wrong reasons. On the pitch, Forest are not faltering, far from it, they have their eye on Arsenal in second. Ipswich get a rare win, and is Marcus Rashford back to his best? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Forest, Villa and Palace all through it’s a varied FA Cup semi final line up…but does the presence of Manchester City have an inevitable fell to it? Alyson Rudd thinks not. Had Bournemouth been more bold they may well have beaten City and Palace and Forest both have the swagger to do so. Can you name a cool right back that has played in the Premier League? Apart from Trent Alexander Arnold the team are struggling. But there are plenty cool left backs. And finally, it’s prediction time, who will finish from 2nd to 7th in the Premier League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the very latest from an enthralling EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson. With eight games to go the EFL is far from over. In the Championship the top twelve teams still have an eye on the play offs. At the very top which of the top three will falter? At the bottom will Derby’s renaissance last? In League One Wrexham are grindingly resilient, but Wycombe and Richard Kone are going nowhere. The play off’s look sewn up bar one spot, but with four or five teams fighting for it. League Two Walsall who have been strong all season have stalled badly. At the bottom…Carlisle are in dire straits… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It looks like Trent Alexander Arnold is off to Real Madrid. Where does that leave Liverpool? Does it mean Salah and Van Dyke might now stay? Alexander Arnold’s numbers from right back are unique, can he be replaced and what is his best position? England will have two players playing at the Bernabeu, surely that is a good thing? Speaking of England…Martin Samuel thinks Thomas Tuchel may not have a competitive game until July 9th 2026! What can he learn in the meantime? And it’s FA cup weekend, who do the panel want to win it and who do they think will win it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas Tuchel’s first game is out of the way…it wasn’t memorable. Did anyone learn anything from it? Did they lack leadership, is Lewis Skelly a left back for years to come? The team pose the important question; is a lot of international football crap? If it is, how does a manager prepare a team for bigger fixtures once you reach the knockout stages of a tournament? Hamzah watched the under 21’s and saw much promise for the future; Gregor watched Scotland and saw none. Gregor has also been following former players on a referee training course. It was eye opening, the rules are not always as they may appear… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Thomas Tuchel’s England squad a step forward or a step back? The selection of Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker with the omission of younger talent has raised a few eyebrows. He doesn’t have much time to assess his squad either, with only twenty-four training sessions ahead of next years world cup. Who will play this Friday and what can the new manager learn. What of England’s last manager Gareth Southgate, following his high profile Dimbleby lecture, what is next…a job in football or outside of football? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle United won their first domestic trophy in 70 years. what does it mean to the club, the city and its fans? A well-deserved win on the pitch what happens now, is it a one of off or the first of many? And the awkward question, does the Saudi backing in any way tarnish the achievement? For Liverpool it was their worst week of the season, knocked out of the Champions League and losing a cup final. Could it derail their season? Surely not…? Elsewhere Fulham are still chasing Europe; Arsenal vs Chelsea failed to inspire…what on earth is wrong at Chelsea? And what a week for Dan Burn, scores for his home town team in a winning cup final and gets an England call up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this why VAR was brought in, for a ‘perfectly good penalty’ to be ruled out? It may be in the letter of the law, but what about the spirit? Real Madrid are through, again. Some are sick of it…shouldn’t they be winning in style instead of grinding it out? Villa await Liverpool conquerors PSG, will Emery work his European magic? After the break, the panel review Manchester United’s new stadium plans. A two billion pound Eiffel tower of the north, or a two billion pound circus? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the latest from the EFL as Gregor and Tom look at the top and bottom of the Championship and the best from Leagues One and Two. It was a very spikey set of fixtures in the Championship as Leeds finally ended their seventeen game unbeaten run. But Sheff Utd and Burnley didn’t fully capitalise despite “throwing everything at it” in their respective draws. The play offs are equally tight with West Brom, Coventry and Bristol all falling over themselves trying to cement their place. At the bottom, Derby and Luton refuse to give up…are seven or eight teams still in the relegation fight? After the break a look at Grimsby and Barrow in League Two and a managerial change in League One Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal stumbled – again. Manchester United were average – again. So, which teams do deserve the prime time 4pm Sunday slot? Spurs v Bournemouth put on a good show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Bournemouth are a swash buckling side, will they be able to hold on to their star players? For Ange Postecoglou, the path to making something of this season is getting narrower, are the players still playing for him? Nottingham Forest notched a “seismic” win against top four rivals Man City. Has anyone done better transfer business and might they have three players in the next England squad. Talking of Champions League…what’s the point of getting into it if you don’t’ do anything in it…? Alyson met up with David Brookes who has recovered from stage two Hodgkin's lymphoma. And, is it time to feel sorry for Erling Haaland..? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris Saint Germain were amazing…they just weren’t quite as good as Alisson Becker. Liverpool’s one nil win in the French capital was largely down to the outstanding performance of their goalkeeper – have the panel ever seen better? What did PSG do to test Liverpool more than any other side so far this season? Arsenal are all but through, but would they rather play Real or Atletico Madrid next? Villa could well face Liverpool next, if they do, could Emery work his European magic? Gregor has been to Naples to see ‘the other Scotsman’ Billy Gilmour – he was very impressed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shoot outs, red cards and moments of madness – the FA Cup delivers. At old Trafford cup holders Man Utd were dumped out by Fulham and the fans made their feelings clear - the focus of their ire was Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Is his efficiency drive having an adverse effect on the club? On the pitch Amorim persists with a 3:4:3 formation. Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts will get a three game ban for a horrendous challenge on Crystal Palace striker Jena-Phillippe Mateta…is that enough? Anthony Gordon saw red and will miss the cup final, is that too harsh? And Matheus Cunha snapped against Bournemouth, does incidents like that put off big clubs from signing him? Finally, as Danny Welbeck scored the winner for Brighton, who is the most universally loved player? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The title race is done, so time to recognise the job Arne Slot is doing at Anfield. It is much more than ‘tweaks’ according to Gregor and Martin. With Arsenal dropping more points are they under pressure to get second, and the race for the top four/five is wide open…but who is best placed to capitalise. After the break, as Mo Salah is putting in a phenomenal season, leading both goals and assists charts which player has had the greatest individual season; Cole, Ronaldo, Terry, Kante… ? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson for all the latest news from the Championship, League One and League Two. Is it time to give Frank Lampard credit? His Coventry side are one point off the play offs and he is winning over the sky blues fans. Meanwhile another former international midfielder Michael Carrick is struggling at Middlesborough, what’s gone wrong at the Riverside? As Tom watches a bore fest at Sincil Bank is now the time in the season when fatigue – mental and physical – starts to kick in? In League Two, AFC Wimbledon have the best defence in the league and are on a twelve game unbeaten run. And a few big teams are struggling. Plus a late surprise appearance from the next generation of footballing/journalistic talent… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal fluffed their lines at home to West Ham. Liverpool capitalised with their first win at Manchester City in ten years. It puts Liverpool eleven points clear. So, is the title race over? Where are Arsenal going wrong and just how good are this Liverpool team? Elsewhere, with the top and bottom of the table seemingly sorted out, is mid table the place to be – full of ambitious, forward-thinking clubs. Newcastle thumped Forest, for a half at least. Are Forest on the slide, or were Newcastle lucky? And who is the Premier League’s most under rated player...? Gregor knows - he has been to meet him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League by a dominant Real Madrid. At what point do we start to feel sorry for Pep and his team? Now, according to Gregor Robertson, Peter Rutzler and James Gheerbrant. They join Tom Clarke to discuss that, Darwin Núñez's future, Rashford's return and a poetic red card for Atalanta's captain (essential viewing). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tottenham back to their best? Or did they just play against an EVEN worse team in Manchester United? Tony Cascarino, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss. Plus, Liverpool look leggy, a new young star striker emerges at Arsenal (28 year-old Mikel Merino) and what does expected even mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a fitting finale for Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby. A thrilling roller coaster of a game, four goals, three red cards, VAR and a last minute winner. What a night. Were the decisions correct, does the result affect the title race but most importantly can an atmosphere like that be re created in a new ground? Away from the Merseyside could it be over for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City? Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft wonder if he will stay to see out the rebuild of his fragile team. Chelsea and Arsenal are both facing a striker crisis; should they have seen it coming and acted in the transfer window? Finally, will Newcastle take the chance to enter the top four at Manchester city this weekend? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great escapes, standout signings and a managerial merry go round in this week's EFL Extra. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson discuss whether Sunderland have the staying power to make automatic promotion a 4 horse race, they react to a familiar face in the dugout at Carlisle and watch as Walsall keep their title contenders interested. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was it an FA Cup shock for the ages, bottom of the Championship Plymouth beating European and Premier League leaders Liverpool? Or did Liverpool’s line up detract from the Pilgrim’s achievement? The fans at Home Park didn’t think so! Leyton Orient nearly went one better by beating Man City, but a wonder goal wasn’t enough to overcome the Blues, but Pep Guardiola is in love with the FA Cup. Defeat at Villa park piled the pressure on Ange Postecoglou. After the matched he launched passionate defence of his players. Will it be enough to keep him in a job? Finally, a Man Utd win but they looked awful – again. And a look ahead to the European ‘classico’ Man City v Real Madrid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.