The Game Football Podcast
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© The Times
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The Game Football Podcast is the thinking fan's podcast for the debate, the tactics, the personalities, injuries, goals and analysis. From The Times and Sunday Times, it's the place for nuanced discussion around all the action throughout the 2024/25 season.
Presented by Tom Clarke with contributors including Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Charlotte Duncker, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, Tom Allnutt and others.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1118 Episodes
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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.
1Liverpool 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.
The big talking point from the weekend was Arsenal's draw at home to Liverpool, until it wasn't. Midway through today's episode, news broke that Erik ten Hag had been sacked by Manchester United. Join Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat & Gregor Robertson as they react to the news in the moment. And much, much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
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only one English team made it to European semi final and zero minutes on it. whereas spend 20 mins on a washed up manchetser united and Chelsea in mid table
Absolute horseshit episode, presenters barely spoke about Liverpool, this boy has tunnel vision
What a prat of a presenter! Says things just to sound controversial
Very incite full apart from Hugh. So much hatred out of one biased individual. Had to unsubscribe
Gregor is fantastic, full of facts to support opinions. The complete opposite to the host
Hugh gets more irritating and unnecessarily argumentative by the week. Thinks he's on Sky Sports.....
Alison Rudd talking the most sense. She's right about the identity - under Southgate we haven't got one. Opponent teams are not afraid of England, though they are wary of individual players. Our attack is world class, our defence is anything but. Southgate, unfortunately, is too soft and listened to the media too much. A top manager that actually wins things, has to be bloody minded and tactically brilliant. Southgate has never won a thing, apart from relegations!
Rudd made the most sense, overall, with stone very insightful points. One of the blokes (not the host) was right about Southgate deflecting criticism or potentially negative discussion, by referring to the last two tournaments, where England did well on paper (they had fortunate run-ins). Southgate reminds me of a middle-aged trendy teacher who tries to please everyone, but ultimately does not deliver the goods. He has made a huge mistake with tl insisting the team does the BLM knee as a way he and the team can "educate the world". Well it pisses the world off and it pisses most England fans off. Black players are, of anything based on demographics, overrepresented in football, because of their talent etc - racism has not held back development. If you're good enough you'll get a chance. Football is a business where sporting/hiring choices are based on meritocracy. Southgate has lost a lot of goodwill earned from the Euros, because of his insistence this particular political view of his
you forgetting benrahma Bowen antonio ?
A cathartic result for the nation - we *needed* sometime to get beyond the semis of the Euros or the WC. Absolutely nothing wrong with being nationalistic and patriotic, even jingoistic! You can still love football, still be respectful to openents. As much as I've loved football all my life, love of country is stronger. Football is a part of England, not the other way round!
Is this the Matthew and Mark comments show? Please stop inviting Vs you know you know you know
Todays Matt Dickinson "You Know" count... 236
WTF is wrong with Matt Dickinson??? I can barely get through an episode every time he is on... The man cannot say a sentence without saying "you know" at least 10 times... It's ridiculous. The man is on a platform "communicating" with an audience. Would this man write the same way he speaks? Why doesn't anyone pull him up on it? Is it some form of tourette's? Either sort it out or get shot of him and get someone in that can actually speak. You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know, You know, you know, you know,
I don't know who Tom Clarke is, but after listening to this edition of the podcast I know he's a moron.
You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.You know. You kno
Jesus Christ!!!! I could not get through this episode due to Matt Dickinson's inability to complete a sentence with the phrase "you know". It's as if he has some bizarre form of tourette's. If you have some time on your hands listen to this & count how many times you hear Matt say "you know". I got to 30 and then lost the will to live. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know. You know.
Molly Hudson sounds about 15 years old.
they are less accurate in their predictions than Robbie savaged mum or my dead cat
Please please PLEASE stop inviting the pompous Matthew Syed on to this podcast
Please don't bring Matthew Syed on again.