Route One

Crystal Palace had their pants pulled down in front of everyone on Saturday by a heroic Macclesfield Town, but what does it really mean? Will it have any effect on Oliver Glasner and the big decision he has to make this summer? Comedian and podcast host Jim Daly joins us to discuss the matter further. And what on earth happened to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend? They were one of the best teams in Europe not so long ago and now they’re getting thrashed by Stuttgart at home.Plus we’ve a round-up of the weekend’s big stories and a bit of a chat about that Fulham tweet and what it all means…Presenter: Iain MacintoshAudio Producer: Helena FremantleGuests: Jim Daly, Seb Stafford BloorCheck out Jim on @JimDalyComedy on all social media outlets and listen to his podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fyp-podcast/id373306875Check out Seb Stafford Bloor’s work at theathletic.com

Seriously. They were on the fringes of the relegation battle five minutes ago, but an astonishing run of form has left them to the brink of the Champions League. And have you seen their next four fixtures? How long can this last? We’ve got Sammy James in from the Fulhamish podcast. And speaking of small clubs doing outlandish things in big leagues, look at Villarreal in Spain. They’re third with two games in hand and they could conceivably beat Real Madrid to second place. Feargal Brennan joins us to tell us more. And what’s on this weekend? Find a full preview here. Presenter: Iain MacintoshAudio Producer: Helena FremantleGuests: Sammy James, Feargal BrennanCheck out Feargal on Twitter: https://x.com/FeargalBrenCheck out Fulhamish: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/red-head-reedemption/id1152978569?i=1000743844315

That’s it now, isn’t it? West Ham haven’t won in ten, they’re seven adrift, they’ve only won three all season and they’ve shipped nearly as many goals from set pieces alone as Arsenal have conceded all season. But who’s to blame? We sift through the wreckage. And speaking of blame, wreckage and teams beginning with the word ‘west’, we’re also chatting about West Bromwich Albion, who sacked their manager Ryan Mason on Tuesday. Chris Lepkowski joins us for that. Presenter: Iain MacintoshAudio Producer: Helena FremantleGuests: Benji Lanyado, Chris LepkowskiCheck out our website: trackrecordmedia.orgCheck out Slum Sport: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-slum-sport/chris-lepkowski//9781068570780Check out WBA podcast The Liquidator: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-liquidator/id1506558908Check out Picfair here: https://www.picfair.com/

Well, we did have a big West Ham show for you today. We’d recorded it and everything. But Ruben Amorim just had to shout his mouth off, didn’t he? Sigh. Sorry West Ham fans….But there’s still time after United to bravely ask Jim Burke of the RGC podcast how he’s feeling after the weekend. From a safe distance…Plus, we’ve got loads of interesting bits and bobs from around Europe, included Lens and their continued leadership of Ligue Ungh! Presenter: Iain MacintoshAudio Producer: Helena FremantleCheck out our website: trackrecordmedia.orgCheck out RGC here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rgc-a-celtic-podcast/id1781046320

Welcome to the last episode of Route One in 2025 and the last in our current format. We’re returning to three episodes a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we’ve got all sorts of exciting plans lined up for audio, video and written content, we really can’t wait to tell you about them.  But we’re going to have to because we also need to tell you about all the games coming up this weekend, we need to tell you about terrible Celtic are all of a sudden and we need to let you know about Slow Football too. So let’s get started. One last time, footbal, fast, no faff. See you in 2026.   Presenter: Iain Macintosh Producer: Helena Fremantle Links: Check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org Check out Slow Football: https://slowfootball.club/ Check out RGC Celtic Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rgc-a-celtic-podcast/id1781046320

Yes, we have ourselves a threeway title race, it appears. Aston Villa fought back three times to beat West Ham away and that is a thing that title challengers do. Manchester City have dropped careless points, but it’s a careless season and they’re still better than most other teams. And Arsenal, as we learned, are not unstoppable.  Also, what’s going on in Spain, in Germany, in Italy, in France and, go on then, Scotland too. Find out in this episode of Route One, the most concise yet comprehensive football podcast in town.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

There is a dark corner in the psyche of every Arsenal fan where all of their fears and anxieties lurk and it is here where you will find the thought, “Oh God, we’re not going to somehow lose to Wolves, are we?” Listener, I am certain they will not. Indeed, it could be a bit messy. It’s not the game of the week though, that’s West Ham vs Aston Villa, we just put Arsenal in the headline because the last time we put Villa in the headline we lost 20% of the audience. Seriously. Don’t hate the player, hate the game etc etc Anyway, a full and comprehensive preview of the weekend awaits, so get stuck in and have a very lovely weekend.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Producer: Helena Fremantle Links: Check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Liverpool were in enough trouble already having thrown away two points at Elland Road. Mo Salah decided to make everything much, much worse. That story is so big that it’s obscured Aston Villa entering the title race with an late win over Arsenal. But was anything as big this weekend as Thierno Barry’s smile? Route One is here with everything you need to know from another massive weekend of football.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

It’s a big, but curiously low key weekend in the Premier League. Aston Villa’s clash with Arsenal will, we suspect, be more intruiging than exciting, but after three games in a week, the same could be said for most of the division.  Listen now for the most concise, but comprehensive round-up of the biggest games in Europe.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Producer: Helena Fremantle Links: And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Chelsea fans must have feared the worst when they were reduced to ten men early in their clash with Arsenal, but their players were equal to the task. This was an excellent point for the Blues.  Elsewhere, it was a good day for struggling giants as Liverpool and Manchester United both won, Barcelona won in La Liga, but Hansi Flick didn’t seem to happy at the end. And Paris St Germain lost in France, but Marseille fluffed the chance to go top. Find out more here.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Liverpool have lost again. It’s getting weird now. That’s nine in 12, that’s worse than any run since 1953. Lola Katz Roberts join us to weep quietly while rocking backwards and forwards. Adrian Clarke is much happier though and why not? Arsenal look impregnable right now, not even Bayern Munich can get through their armour.  This is a fifteen minute podcast, but we’ve packed absolutely everything you need to know inside it. Don’t thank us. It’s just what we do.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Lola Katz Roberts, Adrian Clarke Links: Check out Lola’s podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/goal-difference/id1813885413 Check out Picfair here: https://www.picfair.com/ Check out Adrian’s YouTube page here: https://youtu.be/jWpWK9v4VBo?si=8TjKhJZzHTrGtCA- Check out Joe Cole’s book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/joe-cole-luxury-player/joe-cole/jason-flemyng/9781399638203 And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Welcome to the first Great Big Round Up episode of Route One’s new look as we shift to a twice weekly schedule. Neil Atkinson of the Anfield Wrap joins us to discuss Liverpool’s sixth league defeat of the season and, call me crazy, but I think that’s it for their title ambitions.  Plus, we’ve got everything you need to know about the weekend, it’s the perfect podcast for anyone who went out and enjoyed their weekend and vaguely knows the results, but could really do with a quick briefing of all the major storylines so that they can join in with all the conversation at work. We’ve made this show for a very specific group of people… Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Neil Atkinson Links: Check out Neil’s column here: https://mailchi.mp/theanfieldwrap/liverpool-v-nottingham-forest-match-review And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Who’s coming out on top in the North London derby then? We speak to Tim Stillman (Arsenal) and Chris I’Anson Miller (Spurs) as the big one approaches.  And why is Route One changing? Nobody likes change, do they? Except this sort of change. Because this sort of change is good. Find out more by listening.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Chris I’Anson Miller, Tim Stillman Links: Check out Chris’s Spurs podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-extra-inch-spurs-podcast/id1337670733 And check out Tim Stillman’s work here: https://arseblog.news/2025/11/renee-slegers-reacts-to-2-1-victory-over-real-madrid/ And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

They did it. I don’t know how they did it, but they did it. Scotland are through to the World Cup courtesy of the most bizarre selection of goals I can recall in a single game. JJ Bull reflects on a night of high drama.  Wales did it too, though it wasn’t quite so tight over there. Tom Williams gives us his best, ‘never in doubt’ vibes.  And we’ve got all the results from elsewhere, plus some more Heavy Metal Football Statistics. Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: JJ Bull, Tom Williams Links: Check out JJ Bull’s new single ‘Willie Miller Is God’ here:  https://open.spotify.com/track/1p8BzqM52QKbbpZJJ67jm2?si=83645bcf114344ad Check out Tom William’s book Va Va Voom: https://www.waterstones.com/author/tom-williams/13887 And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Scotland could make history tonight, they could reach their first World Cup since 1998. How is JJ Bull? We check in with our man north of the wall and we’ve got a bit of his new single too.  Wales have got a job on as well, Tom Williams is here to discuss that. And who’s the new Bryan Robson, currently tearing it up as Serie A’s most complete midfielder? Heavy Metal Football Statistics has the answer.   Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: JJ Bull, Tom Williams Links: Check out JJ Bull’s new single ‘Willie Miller Is God’ here:  https://open.spotify.com/track/1p8BzqM52QKbbpZJJ67jm2?si=83645bcf114344ad Check out Tom William’s book Va Va Voom: https://www.waterstones.com/author/tom-williams/13887 And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Italy’s plunge into the play-offs was confirmed last night when they lost to Norway, but could Germany be about to join them? We speak to Seb Stafford Bloor about tonight’s crunch game with Slovakia.  We’ve got a full round up of all the football you may have missed at the weekend and another big slice of Heavy Metal Football…statistics, including the revelation that Middlesbrough, currently second in the Championship, are actually 21st for xG. Something for Kim Hellbeg to consider…  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Seb Stafford Bloor Links:  Check out Seb’s work on The Athletic here: theathletic.com And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

After Cristiano Ronaldo foolishly got himself for the first time for Portugal, we ask Daniel Storey how much of the World Cup 2026 he’s likely to miss. Patrik Syk is on hand to assess Sweden’s seemingly slim chances ahead of a huge double-header that will decide their World Cup fate. We turn the focus of Heavy Metal Football Statistics onto goalkeepers with some surprising findings, and some not so surprising, particularly in the case of Robin Roefs.  We have news from Spain where Luis Rubiales was egged by his uncle, news from Norway where Erling Haaland ordered 70 cheeseburgers to celebrate a win, and a gentle nudge in the direction of the games we’ll be watching this weekend. Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Writer’s Room: Chris Smith Guests: Daniel Storey, Patrik Syk Links:  Follow Daniel on Twitter here: https://x.com/danielstorey85. And follow Patrik on Twitter here: https://x.com/PatrikSyk And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

As Thomas Tuchel lays down the law regarding England’s surplus of number 10s, Adrian Clarke assesses the tactical implications of Tuchel’s words. We’re joined by JJ Bull as we ask the question: Can Scotland possibly be as bad again and still get away with it?  Heavy Metal Football Statistics is back and today we take a look at midfielders, digging deep in particular on PSG’s Vitinha. We have news of an academy graduate suing his former club, a possible contract extension for a legendary goalkeeper, and we’ll give you a nudge in the direction of tonight’s best fixtures to watch as World Cup qualifying returns. Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Writer’s Room: Chris Smith Guests: Adrian Clarke, JJ Bull Links:  Listen to JJ Bull’s new album here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3yJzx7oi49xVKd8lo1BvJl?si=iSQ8S7qfQ_6N3TAIvsfatA Listen to the ‘What the EFL?!’ podcast here https://podfollow.com/what-the-efl and check out Adrian’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@AdrianClarke-29 And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Elizabeth Barnard from the Fulhamish pod is with us today to discuss the Cottagers’ short-term, and potential long-term, slump. Tom Williams is back to bring us up to speed with Emanuel Emegha, the Strasbourg star who may find himself in Chelsea’s first team squad next year. We have news of a potential high-profile loan move, an update from Turkish football’s gambling investigation, and the Xabi Alonso equivalent of banning ketchup. Presenter: Lola Katz Roberts Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Writer’s Room: Chris Smith Guests: Elizabeth Barnard, Tom Williams Links:  Find and listen to Fulhamish here: https://podfollow.com/fulhamish You can purchase Tom’s book, Va Va Voom, here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/va-va-voom/tom-williams/9781399403955 And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org

Rob Conlon joins us to analyse Leeds’ doomed outlook with an incredible tough set of fixtures ahead. Feargal Brennan is back on the pod to discuss Valencia’s similarly bleak plight as Carlos Corberán comes under pressure at the Mestalla.  Heavy Metal Football Statistics returns! We take a look at who’s overperforming and underperforming their xG. And we will, as ever, highlight some standout fixtures from tonight’s football. Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Writer’s Room: Chris Smith Guests: Rob Conlon, Feargal Brennan Links:  Check out Rob’s Leeds article: https://thesquareball.net/leeds-united/nottingham-forest-3-1-leeds-united-route-zero/ Check out The Square Ball: https://podfollow.com/thesquareball Follow Feargal on Twitter: https://x.com/FeargalBren And check out our website: trackrecordmedia.org