The Game Football Podcast

Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Italy all made their presence known with wins (some more impressive than others) in their first games of the Euros. But how important is it to lay down a marker early? Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss.And England's campaign starts tonight! Will Trent Alexander-Arnold take the third midfield spot, how hard will Serbia be to break down, and what matters more: experience or youth?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke to reflect on a sorry night for Scotland, but a perfect start for the hosts. Were Scotland bad, or were Germany very good? Could the approach of Nagelsmann offer England a way to harness more of their creative players? Hamzah breaks down England’s first opponents, Serbia. Finally, who are the players to watch out for and where is Martin off to today? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The excitement builds for tonight's mammoth opener: Germany v Scotland. Tom Clarke is joined by Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson to make their predictions, plus they discuss the merits and flaws of tournament camps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke for the first episode of ‘The Game: Euro pods.’ Martin is in Berlin ahead of the first match, James is packing his bags ready to join him.   They run the rule over who starts along side Declan Rice in midfield…someone makes a surprisingly strong case Adam Wharton. Martin pulls on a Wham analogy, “sometimes someone just needs to play the tambourine!”Before assessing if Scotland have a chance against the hosts, a quick look at domestic matters as Ten Hag stays at Manchester United. Is he there on merit, or through lack of alternatives…?Finally, Scotland can they, will they…?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke to select England's starting line up. After some surprising squad selections and a disappointing final performance…should fans be worried? The team look at potential partnerships, at the back, in midfield and out wide.Gregor thinks there are question marks against all bar four of England’s starting line-up, Alyson sees a right foot heavy squad, Tony wonders if they could take a gamble on a different formation…?After the break a look at Scotland; where will the goals come from and does Steve Clarke need to re build some confidence.Finally, have Manchester City sparked a civil war within the premier league? What are the ramifications of their legal challenge to the premier league…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special edition of ‘The Game’ former player and Premier League manager David Moyes joins The Times team to discuss all things Scotland. David is alongside two other die-hard Scotland fans Jonathan Northcroft and Scotland correspondent Michael Grant.Englishman Tom Clarke is the awkward one asking the questions.David has followed Scotland all over the world for more than 40 years, he’s been through the coaching system and worked with many Scotland greats. He even lays claim to having part of the famous Wembley posts on his bus back north in 1977.Between them the team discuss great Scottish players and coaches, famous games and even a bet with Kevin Kegan at Wembley.Finally, they look at the current Scotland team as they head to Germany…oh and a quick chat about David’s time managing England linchpin Declan Rice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is this Madrid team the greatest ever in club football? After winning their fifteenth European cup could you argue they have three of the best five players in the world. With them also set to sign Kylian Mbappe can any team get close to them?Jose Mourinho is back, this time at Turkish side Fenerbahçe…will it be a marriage made in heaven or a tempestuous affair?  Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Tony Cascarino discuss who goes to Germany and who goes home from the initial England squad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a long season…but it’s not over just yet.Some very big clubs are looking for new managers and some big managers are available. So, who goes where?Jonny Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to take a closer look at potential appointments.With Maresca looking likely to leave Leicester, where does that leave the football league champions? Wayne Rooney has been given a chance at Plymouth…is it warranted?Ahead of this weekend, Martin Samuel has been to meet Carlo Ancelotti, a great coach and a true gentleman. With the Euros only two weeks away a quick look at England’s road to being joint favourites for the tournament.Finally, Martin and Jonny are off to Germany. From there they’ll be part of daily episodes of ‘The Game’ where you can get the inside track on the tournament from all the regular panellists. Please follow to make sure you don’t miss an episode. PS – what is a resting bitch face…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Friday Erik Ten Hag was supposedly out of a job. By Saturday evening the jury was out again. After a gripping FA Cup final, with a performance and result which surprised almost everyone could Ten Hag still be the man for the job?A very busy Manchester reporter Paul Hirst joins James Gheerbrant, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to look at what happens next at Old Trafford? There seems to be a four-man shortlist, but none of the candidates convince the panel…Gregor was at the richest game in football as Southampton beat Leeds in a tight play off final. Will Russell Martin be in contention for any of the managerial vacancies? Finally, who is on Chelsea’s shortlist? McKenna was, now he isn’t; but would any ambitious young manager want to step into the chaotic situations at Manchester United, Chelsea or Bayern Munich? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two minutes in and player of the season Phil Foden puts City one up. Title race over. Great player, great team. Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson consider why City are so good, how other teams can compete and if Foden and Bellingham can play together for England.After a very good season, where do Arsenal go next, a striker, a left back…? Gregor is off to watch the championship play off final, often a cagey affair; will Leeds Southampton buck the trend? After the break a thorough look at some big impending managerial changes. De Zerbi leaves Brighton, could he end up at Man Utd or will Ten Hag be given more time. Poch appears very unsure of his future at Chelsea and how will Slot compare to Klopp…? We’re having a break on Thursday. We’ll be back on Monday to review the FA cup final and play off final. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When is a fan not a fan? Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino, Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson discuss the bizarre atmosphere at the Tottenham stadium on Monday night as some Spurs fans struggled to cheer on their team against Man City.After Spurs didn’t do Arsenal a favour, could West Ham in the final game? In a word the universal opinion is… no.Premier League clubs meet next week to discuss the future of VAR…Martin has a simple solution; we need better humans. The discussion gets heated, proving the point that it is a very subjective business.Finally, Tony belatedly offers his alternative team of the season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal have taken the title race to the final week of the season. But as Man City find their form on the run in, will it matter…? Aside from the title race Manchester United kept the score respectable at Old Trafford, but it was yet another lamentable performance from a club in the doldrums. What now for Casemiero et al?Tom Allnutt is confident that most Spurs fans will not want them to beat City, so handing Arsenal the title…Alyson Rudd isn’t so sure.Gregor Robertson witnessed the discontent at the City ground as Forest stay up but almost because of three worse teams then because of their own efforts.After the break it is ‘Tom Clarke's fun time’ as he makes everyone pick an alternate team of the season with a player from eleven different teams…which one player will make it from City and Arsenal and where will the other nine come from…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Madrid do it again. Do they have better players, a better coach? Is it the ground, their history or all of it rolled together? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at just how special Real Madrid are.Mbappe ends his time with PSG with a whimper, where now for the French star? Domestically Crystal Palace are reborn under Oliver Glazner. Which of their team have a chance of the euros, Olise, Eze, Wharton..? On the receiving end of the Palace trio were a sorry Manchester United. With a cup final on the horizon, is there any hope for Ten Hag and his tenure at Old Trafford?Lastly, a reflection on David Moyes parting of the ways with West Ham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd took a road trip to see Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate home game in charge. Whatever happened in the car stays in the car. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson quiz them on Spurs’ alarming dip in form, and the performance of Harvey Elliot. Tony finally got to ask Klopp a question…In the title race Haaland and Rice are purring, Gregor is very impressed with the all round contribution of Declan Rice on and off the pitch. Tony thinks Haaland leaps like a salmon!Elsewhere Chelsea are starting to look like a real team…will it last? And West Ham have agreed personal terms with Julen Lopetegui…Is relegation now all done and dusted…? And what does it take to survive in the Premier League for promoted teams?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 English players star in Europe, but not the ones you might think. Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss the fluctuating careers of Eric Dier and Jaden Sancho. Will either make the England squad? And why couldn’t Man Utd get the best out of a gifted player?Hindsight is twenty twenty but Kai Havertz now looks like a bargain at sixty million…Martin thinks he saw it coming. Ipswich are on the verge of back to back promotions, where does the achievement of Kieran McKenna rank? With plenty of big clubs looking for new managers will he be near the top of their lists?A big manager leaving is Jurgen Klopp, what do the panel feel about his final season?And from a manager whose team amassed 97 points and were runners up, who were some of the greatest teams to finish second…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And then there were two… It’s no longer a three-horse race, much to Alyson Rudd’s regret. Alyson joins Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke to pick over the bones of good wins for City and Arsenal, and touchline altercations for Liverpool and Mo Salah. Could this be the end of the ‘Egyptian King’ at Anfield?The race for fourth continues to ebb and flow, Villa threw away a two goal lead, but still gained on Spurs. Chelsea and their midfield in particular, confound the panel…again.Andoni Iraola has taken Bournemouth to their highest ever points total, does he deserve manager of the season? To finish, its two from three at the bottom. Forest showed form in defeat against City, do Luton have one last push in them? And Burnley, too little to late, or in with a shout…?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Samuel and Tom Allnutt join Gregor Robertson to console Tony Cascarino as Liverpool’s title challenge hits the buffers. What can Liverpool’s bad form be put down to, fitness, desire, off field issues? Tony has a hunch… And is Arne Slot the man to right the ship…?Arsenal have the wind in their sails again can they now go unbeaten for the rest of season…? Chelsea, are a mystery to the entire panel. What will happen to Poch and his erratic team come the summer?Erik Ten Hag may not be embarrassed but is his tenure coming to an end? Martin can understand his response to the media, Tom isn’t so sure…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique-Loonatto look back on a remarkable FA cup semi final.Did the last gasp VAR decision deny us an iconic FA cup memory? Gregor and Alyson think yes, ever the realist Hamzah is not so sure. Where does the result leave beleaguered Man Utd fans and their manager? Is an FA cup final enough or was this the final straw for Eric Ten Hag? The deduction derby at Goodison Park lifted Everton clear of the drop zone, but the real drama came from Nottingham Forest’s ‘X’ account. Has a line been crossed by Forest, casting aspersions on the neutrality of officials?  On the pitch hope for Burnley, but is time up for Luton? In the title race, good starts to a big week for Arsenal and Liverpool.     Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke to perform the post-mortem on Man City and Arsenal’s exit from the champions league. Did they just meet better teams or was there any mental fragility or fatigue on show?Will last nights results have a bearing on the title race, if so, who could benefit?For Manchester City is the form of Erling Haaland a worry? 21 touches in the whole game and 37 minutes before he completed a pass… Martin has had his head turned by Cole Palmer and it’s given him a bold plan for England.Finally, a look at the FA cup semi-finals - Chelsea managed to find a negative in a 6-0 win, will they offer any threat to City? For Manchester United is it win or bust for Ten Hag…?    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Liverpool to finish fourth. Arsenal stumbling. Villa masterclass and City…back on top.  Liverpool and Arsenal lose at home - is that the final twist in the title race, or just the first?Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and a despondent Tony Cascarino who thinks Liverpool looked so bad they could even finish fourth behind Villa. Arsenal looked edgy but was that down to a masterclass from Unai Emery and his team? City sail on serenely, are there any potential slips in their run in.Was Spurs’ result a freak or a sign of things to come? How good is Alexander Isak and can Newcastle keep hold of him?After an appreciation of some mid table sides in Wolves, Fulham, Chelsea and Bournemouth  it’s time to consider the chaos at Manchester United… again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.