The Game

Was Thomas Tuchel's experiment of playing Phil Foden as a 'false nine' a waste of time? Tony Cascarino thinks it was. Either way the attempt seems to have signaled the end to Foden's World Cup hopes. Did he learn anything else from the two disappointing friendlies? Gregor robertson, Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino pick their own World Cup squads, and have a guess at who Tuchel will pick.A quick look at the plight of Italian football, the new reign of Roberto De Zerbi; and is the Chelsea project about to stall?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke and and former EFL player Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the football League. Easter is always pivotal. With two rounds of matches in the space for four days the promotion and relegation picture will be a lot clearer come next Tuesday.Which teams have the biggest fixtures over Easter? In the Championship Middlesborough home to Millwall on Friday lunchtime is huge, it's a big week for Southampton with Arsenal in the cup followed by the two teams below them Wrexham and Derby. At the bottom Portsmouth have a very tough run of games, starting with two relegation rivals.In League One do the teams on bad runs have a big enough cushion...Bolton, Bradford and Stockport are looking over their shoulders at Plymouth and Stevenage.Almost the entire top eight in League Two still have to play each other...it is far from sorted.We'll be back next week for a bonus episode to review a busy Easter weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All change at Spurs again. After only 44 days in change and one point from five Premier League matches Igor Tudor left the club on Sunday...but who on earth comes next? The clubs top candidate doesn't want it until next season and presumably only if they're still in the Premier League and the rest, well its not a strong list.With England did Thomas Tuchel learn anything from England's limp display against Uruguay? As far as his squad is concerned who played their way in, or out of it?Plus a quick look at a fans VAR survey.Gregor Robertson is joined by Tottenham reporter Tom Allnut and from the England camp by Hamazah Khalique-Loonat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mo salah is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. What is the Egyptians legacy - to Liverpool and to the Premier League ? does he make it into your top five all time Premier League forwards, there is mixed opinion in the studio.Will his departure have a big effect on the future of Arne Slot?Is Trent Alexander Arnold really England's seventh choice right back? Why isn't he in a 35 man squad? Is it tactical or personal with Thomas Tuchel?  Gregor Robertson is joined by Jonathan Northcroft, Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What was the most significant result of the weekend?Could Arsenal losing in the cup final affect the rest of their season?Spurs losing to Nottingham Forest puts them one point clear of relegation and looking unbelievably fragile. could a club this big go down? Liverpool slipped up again, is Arne Slot now under serious pressure with Xabi Alonso waiting in the wings? Chelsea were thumped at Everton, are big players losing interest? And Sunderland can't lose against Newcastle, where does the result leave the Newcastle project?Gregor Robertson is joined by Gary Jacob, Paul Hirst and Alyson Rudd  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With eight games to go time is running out for teams who want to climb out of relegation or into automatic or play off contention. So who is best placed?Southampton are on an incredible run and followed up wins over Fulham and Coventry by beating norwich to break into the play offs, Middlesbrough stalled again at home and West Brom turned a corner with an eye catching win over play off hopefuls Hull City..In League One Lincoln and Cardiff are all but up, whereas the playoffs are wide open, as far down as Barnsley in 12th place. At the bottom a vital win for Blackpool and managerial changes elsewhere. League Two sees Oldham on a charge a fifth manager for Barrow...but it's not Gregor Robertson. Producer Neil Cartmell joins Gregor Robertson for all the latest from the football League.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And then there were two... six English teams qualified for the knock out stages but only two progressed. Newcastle, Spurs, Man City and Chelsea conceded 28 goals between them, so what went wrong?Chelsea's troubles are not just on the pitch they are off it to, with a hefty fine from the Premier League, but will fans of teams like Everton and Nottingham Forest wonder why it wasn't a points deduction?Spurs found reasons to be cheerful in defeat as did Liverpool putting in one of their best displays of the season.Martin Samuel can't see many teams better than Arsenal and could see them winning all four, with a bit of luck along the way.Gregor Robertson is joined by Martin Samuel and Pete Rutzler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a gritty win for Arsenal, but one lit up by the talent of 16 year old Max Dowman. Just how good is he? The stats say there is a simple way to get points off Liverpool - go long. Spurs proved the point on Sunday. Can Slot fix it? And is Richarlison Tudor's man for the run in?Man City again dropped points, is a team built around Haaland faltering now the striker is struggling to find the goals?What was going on at Chelsea with a bizarre pre match huddle, and would anyone care if they had won instead of lost to Newcastle?Lastly, a pitch to give Bruno Fernandes player of the season, as he chases Henry and De Bruyne's assist record.Gregor Robertson is joined by Tom Allnutt, Hamzah Khalique Loonat and Gary Jacobs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a torrid week for the English clubs in the Champions League. Liverpool Arsenal and Newcastle are in the balance, but Chelsea, City and Spurs look all but out. Did they under perform or did some of the giants of europe like PSG and Madrid just find their form?What do the results say about the Premier League, very physical but technically inferior? For Spurs the defeat came with yet more questions for interim coach Igor Tudor - was he right to substitute his keeper after 17 minutes?How will europe affect Spurs and Nottingham Forest's relegation fight?Lastly, how good was Kyle Walker as the England stalwart announces his international retirement? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FA Cup reaction and the future of Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and Man Utd.Port Vale provided a much needed FA Cup shock and Wrexham showed their enormous progress going very close against Chelsea.Of the big six left in the cup - Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City, who is best placed to challenge Arsenal in the future?Where are the strengths and weaknesses of each team? Bringing in Man Utd which of those managers - Slot, Carrick, Pep and Rosenior will still be in place next season?A quick look back at a terrible night for Spurs as they lost at home to Crystal Palace, where now for Tottenham...could Igor Tudor even be gone before the international break? Who on earth would replace him?Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson rudd and James Gheerbrant  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal went seven points clear beating Brighton one nil but Brighton manager Fabien Hurzeler said 'only one team wanted to play football' and 'he would not want to win like that.' What was he talking about, is it fair comment and how many others feel the same way?Has football across the board changed, are Arsenal just the best at the new physical style?Man City stumbled again but forest's impressive point still leaves them level on points with a resurgent West Ham.A round up of all the mid week games, the end of Michael Carrick's unbeaten run; great win for West Ham; who is going to stay up and Chelsea look very good...but just not every week? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Leicester or West Brom really heading to League One? It doesn't look good for at least one of the midlands giants who are stuck in a battle for survival at the bottom of the Championship.At the top it is four on the spin for Coventry and their Christmas wobble seems a long time ago. They look well set for promotion to the top flight. Ipswich are chasing Middlesborough in second...is the rest of the top six how it will finish? Or are Hull and Wrexham still ripe to be picked off by the likes of Watford or Southampton?In League One Lincoln City are a point off the top but perhaps just as significantly they're ten point clear of third place Bolton. from fourth place down it is any one's guess with seven teams fighting for the three remaining play off places. Title, play off's and relegation are all still up for grabs in League Two...who has the momentum?Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up all the latest from the EFL.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's as you were at the top of the table as City and Arsenal both win. Are Arsenal too reliant on set pieces or do fans and team alike not care so long as they get over the line?Across north London Spurs have a new boss, but instead of a bounce man do they have an 'arsonist?'Who is in contention for player of the season?What does Gtregor make of proposed rule changes...?Did VAR rob Burnley and who is going to win the race for the Champions League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giants Real Madrid and PSG just managed to qualify in the Champions League last 16 but who is the best we've seen in the competition so far? Bode Glimt may not win it, but what a team - a town of 54,000, a wage bill a fraction the size of most Premier League teams and a playing style which is hugely adaptable.Domestically, Man Utd are on a charge, led by one of their unsung summer signings - Senne Lammens. What difference has the goalkeeper made?Lastly, how would two former pros fair in todays game, which team would they be best suited to and how has their position changed? Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson and Tony Cascarino Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there were any questions ahead of the North London derby Arsenal answered them, emphatically. Spurs by contrast looked like relegation candidates. could they really go down? The panel think with West Ham, Forest, Leeds and even Wolves looking like more cohesive teams Spurs are in searious trouble. Is Tudor the man to save them?Where does Viktor Gyokeres rank alongside the other big summer strikers - Pedro, Ekitike and Sesko? Liverpool got away with it at Forest but Mo salah looks a shadow of his former self, will he be at Anfield next season?Why can't Chelsea beat the lower placed teams and hats off to Jiminez and Milner. tom clarke joins Gregor Robertson, Pete Rutzler and Alyson Rudd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Arsenal are blowing it? Their best chance of a title in over twenty years and they are looking nervy, again."Or..."Winning a title isn't easy! this season isn't like those of recent years you won't need 98 pts."Are either true?If they are to hold it together, what does it take psychologically to get over the line in a title race?Wolves manager Rob Edwards has the fans on side and is seeing encouraging signs from his side. It has all come a little late but will it help ahead of a season in the Championship?After the break Newcastle and Anthony Gordon are having a streaky season - is the England shirt Gordon's to lose?And finally the troubling racism allegations surrounding Vinicius Junior.tom clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Kit shepard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with the latest from the English Football League.Is the Championship the best league in England, Gregor Robertson thinks so. Coventry's win over rivals Middlesbrough sends them top again but six points separate 6th to 16th. Who is best placed to come from the pack? At the bottom some huge clubs look in severe danger of relegation in West Brom and Leicester.Lincoln fan Tom Clarke makes his pitch for the excitement of League One. It's tight at the bottom and around the play offs, but at the top are Cardiff and Lincoln away and clear?In League Two wins for teams at the bottom who were written off and... a mystery called Walsall, any fans listening please get in touch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spurs and Forest have rolled the dice again...but will Igor Tudor or Vítor Pereira have the desired effect? Is either appointment on merit, or a reflect of clubs who don't know who they really want? Will the instability mean a player exodus at either club come the summer? Which club should be more worried, Forest or Spurs?Was VAR so bad after all...well yes says Gregor robertson but many think the mistakes at the weekend - without VAR - are the bets advert for its continued use.Arsenal are still in four competitions...what, if anything, will they win?Gary Jacob, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spurs won the sack race! They got rid of Thomas Frank 24 hours before Nottingham Forest said goodbye to Sean Dyche. Why did they go, was it the right call and who could be next?In contrast England manager Thomas Tuchel has signed an extension to his contract, what has he done to earn it and why now?On the pitch do the managerial change give West Ham a better chance of staying up?and the fight for fourth and fifth place.Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Tom Allnutt and Martin Samuel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's all about VAR again, and Gregor is sick of it. But Tom Allnutt thinks the officials at Anfield got it right - so, time to do away with it or accept nothing is perfect?On the pitch City's fighting win keeps them in the title race, but Arsenal don't look they're feeling any pressure.Man Utd won again, is it the biggest mid season turn around ever? Does that mean Mainoo makes it to the World Cup?Eddie howe and Fabian Hurzeler were both booed by their own fans, fair?Thomas Frank is in the orange zone, his captain hasn't helped and forest are in serious trouble now, could Nuno even send them down...? Tom Clarke joins Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.