The Game Football Podcast

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.

Fresh off the Eurostar having watched PSG v Barca Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke and Martin Samuel to review a thrilling set of Champions League quarter finals. Are Arsenal and Man City now favourites to meet in the semis? And is City v Madrid really the final everybody wanted? In the other half of the draw do any of the four have a chance, Gregor thinks Barca might…In the Premier League Everton face another points deduction, what does that do to the relegation battle? Is it fair for teams to go into the final day not knowing what they need to survive?We take another look at the title race, Alyson Rudd offers her belated thoughts on Liverpool’s ‘failure’ at Old Trafford and Gregor and Martin almost pin their colours to one particular mast…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Pep ruined football? Arsenal’s proper squad, the leagues most adaptable players and ‘treadmill to oblivion’. Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Henry Winter join Tom Clarke to reflect on a show of squad strength from Arsenal and City. Are the Gunners now at the same level as Man City and Liverpool in terms of squad depth? Who took their chance to shine and who didn’t? As Ben White stars, are traditional full backs now a thing of the past and who are the most adaptable players in the premier league…? Answers on a postcard…Referee Andy Madley decided to ignore VAR at the Brentford v Brighton game last night; could this finally be a turning of the tide?Finally, Brighton post record profits, thumbs up. Daniel Levy is the best plaid club chief ever, thumbs down. Martin over to you…  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep gave up, Thomas Frank is special, and goals galore…despite VAR. Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino contrast the snooze fest at the Etihad with the and to end fest at Anfield.Arsenal proved a point to get a point, but City could be happy with the easier run in to come. Liverpool put in their best performance against Brighton, but with Alonso not available who replaces Klopp at Anfield…Alyson Rudd loves Thomas Frank.Goals galore at Newcastle, Stamford Bridge and Bramall Lane but oh VAR, why why why…?A whistle stop tour of all the other weekends games, plus Kalvin Philips’ woes continue and the relegation scrap is far from over. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Jonny Northcroft and Martin Samuel pick their England starting 11’s for the opening game of the Euros. There are some surprising omissions, Jonny has a left field suggestion and Martin has been swayed by recent performances.Kobbie Mainoo may have written his name on the team sheet, but will Henderson, Rashford or Grealish even make the squad? Following on from the focus on Mainoo the team recall the most impressive debuts they’ve seen, from Gascoigne and Rooney to Charlton and Shearer from the archive.Which is the toughest managers job in football? And finally, a look ahead to the weekend and the language used towards officials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England disappointed, but does it matter? Gareth Southgate and his team conspired to lower expectations after a lacklustre display at Wembley; Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Matt Dickinson discuss who played well, who didn’t and why England looked so blunt. After the break a look at the production line of new footballers – academies. Young players are now given a holistic programme which creates well rounded young men, not just footballers. Is the new battle ground of the elite at academy level, creating the stars of tomorrow?Finally, are footballers ‘thick’? Gregor responds.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are points deductions fair, what's the point of a football regulator, and should Kobbie Mainoo start for England?Martin Samuel, Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to ask if you’d rather have a good centre forward or a good lawyer? As Nottingham Forest fall foul of the regulator are points deductions the best way to tackle the problem? Should more money go to the wider football pyramid and what happens if it doesn’t?Back on the pitch have England found their midfield answer, will Kobbie Mainoo be the late edition that balances the team? If he makes the squad, then who misses out – Maddison, Henderson, Bowen…? Finally, best Brazilians to ever play in the Premier League…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pulsating game won in the 120th minute with a raucous atmosphere and ending their arch-rivals fairy tale in the process - has Eric Ten Hag suddenly seen what is possible at Old Trafford?Will the result be a turning point in Man Utd’s season or just another glimpse of potential? For Liverpool did tiredness catch up with them? Gregor Robertson thinks Mark Robins is doing some of the best coaching work in the country at Coventry and it’s paying off. They’ll fancy their chances against Utd in the semis. Tom Allnutt has been to meet Gerad Pique; he has some fascinating ideas on the future of football – will clubs soon be paying fans to attend games?Finally, Alyson Rudd is impressed with Fulham and Tom Clarke wants to hear your favourite own goals… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are footballers stupid? Why do footballers cut holes in their socks? And how to write a match report in 2 minutes.Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke discuss the dark arts of football and sports writing.On the pitch they were exemplified by Porto on Tuesday night. But what are the dark arts of the press box? How do writers produce a piece when the result turns around in the final minutes?  Martin recounts the Nou Camp in 99’ – from “Poor old Fergie gets his tactics wrapped around his neck..." to "Arise Sir Alex!…” And facing a deadline, Jonny McNorthcroft found himself hoping Scotland didn’t score.Gregor had a surprising response to his article on ‘Why do footballers cut holes in their socks?’ Which led to another question - are footballers stupid?Finally – its FA cup weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a three-horse title race, the first in years, so who did the result at the weekend benefit the most?Tom Allnutt, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to predict who will win the league. Was a point at Anfield good for City, was Liverpool’s momentum stalled and will Arsenal handle the pressure of going top?Who has the tougher run in and who is each team’s most important player?Spurs love playing the top teams, but Villa seemed to lack belief. Either way, does the race for fourth even matter, if you qualify for the champions league and your team’s not ready?Plus, a rattle through the weekends other results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.