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The Athletic FC Podcast

Author: The Athletic

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The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening - and why it matters.

1015 Episodes
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On Friday night Chelsea suffered a fourth defeat in eight Premier League games, going down 3-0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion. Having slipped from fourth to sixth, frustrations have come to the fore including from star player Cole Palmer. So, has Maresca ball gone flat? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and senior football writer Oli Kay to analyse Chelsea's recent shortcomings, discuss the form and contributions of Palmer as well as assess whether or not Chelsea are improving under Maresca. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey and Oli Kay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The self destruction derby? The banter bout? El Calamitico?  The Athletic’s Manchester United writer Carl Anka and Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke join football writer Tim Spiers and host Adam Leventhal to preview Tottenham vs Manchester United.  With the sides sitting 13th and 14th respectively, who will be holding the crisis baton come Sunday evening?  Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the big fixtures elsewhere.  Host: Adam Leventhal With: Carl Anka, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Tim Spiers Featuring: James McNicholas, James Pearce Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby delivered with James Tarkowski popping up with the stoppage time equaliser for Everton in their 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders, Liverpool. Despite the draw sending Arne Slot's side seven points clear at the top of the Premier League could the draw at Goodson disrupt their title charge? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Stu James and Andy Jones to pick the bones out of the Merseyside derby, the context of the wider title race as well as the run of games to come for Slot's side. Arsenal writer James McNicholas also joins to discuss the impact of Kai Havertz's hamstring injury for Arsenal, given Mikel Arteta's side are the closest challengers to land the Premier League title. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Andy Jones, Stu James and James McNicholas Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tonight’s Merseyside derby will be the last ever at Goodison Park - and there have been some absolute belters in the past. So what are Everton losing in moving from Goodison? And what are the benefits of football clubs switching to a new home?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Paddy Boyland, Rory Smith and Adrian Clarke Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last week, Santos fans welcomed back club legend Neymar after 12 years away. So why is he back in Brazil, why did it go so wrong in Saudi Arabia? And how hard is it for players to live up to exorbitant price tags? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Natalie Gedra and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the space of just four days, Tottenham Hotspur have been knocked out of both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup at the hands of Liverpool and Aston Villa. It means their hopes of ending their 17-year trophy drought now rest solely on the Europa League. So where do Spurs and Ange Postecoglou go from here?  Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke and lead writer for The Athletic FC newsletter, Phil Hay, while Jay Harris also drops by to react to Ange Postecoglou's post-match press conference having been at Sunday's defeat to Aston Villa. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jack Pitt-Brooke and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The first piece of silverware in 2025 will be contested between Newcastle and Liverpool, when they meet in the Carabao Cup final.  The Athletic's senior writer George Caulkin joins Tim Spiers and host Adam Leventhal to discuss whether Eddie Howe's side can finally end their 70 year trophy drought.   Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the FA Cup fourth round.  Host: Adam Leventhal With: George Caulkin, Tim Spiers Featuring: James McNicholas, James Pearce, Andy Mitten, Simon Johnson Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're joined by UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy to discuss the introduction of an independent football regulator within English football. Whether it’s financial mismanagement, questionable ownership, or lack of accountability - football in England has faced some huge challenges in recent years which is why the British government, wants to appoint an independent regulator. So why are the Premier League and its member clubs unhappy with the plan and are the concerns of fans really at the heart of all this, as all sides claim? Ayo Akinwolere is also joined by The Athletic's senior football news reporter Matt Slater and Phil Hay, lead writer of The Athletic FC newsletter. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Lisa Nandy MP, Matt Slater and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After Bayer Leverkusen’s miraculous title-win last season, this season it seems to be business as usual, with Bayern Munich six points clear of Leverkusen at the top of the table. So, can anyone stop Bayern reestablishing themselves as the dominant force in the Bundesliga?  And is Vincent Kompany creating a side that are serious contenders for Champions League glory?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jan Åge Fjørtoft & Seb Stafford-Bloor Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The January transfer window has officially shut. We saw Marcus Rashford move to Aston Villa on loan, while Manchester City brought in a much-needed midfielder in Nico Gonzalez. So… which teams were the winners and losers in the window? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein, Rory Smith and Jacob Tanswell Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liverpool legend Alan Hansen who famously said "you can't win anything with kids" Yet on Sunday Arsenal’s teenagers took centre stage as they dismantled the champions with both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri getting on the scoresheet. So can Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal win anything with kids? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Phil Hay to discuss the 5-1 win over Man City. Art De Roche also drops by to discuss the emergence of the likes of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri. Meanwhile, The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein also gives his thoughts on the impact the youngsters have had on the club's recruitment plans along with the pressure of their pursuit for a striker. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James McNicholas, Phil Hay, Art De Roche and David Ornstein Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anatomy of a Transfer

Anatomy of a Transfer

2025-02-0259:023

Football fans are desperate for transfer news - and it's often bigger than the sport itself. Open twice a year - in January and the summer - the transfer window changes the game. But what actually goes on when deals are made? Join Adam Leventhal as he goes behind the scenes at training grounds, stadiums and offices to explain the anatomy of a transfer and to breakdown the complex process of what a player goes through when they move from club to club. Host: Adam Leventhal Exec Prod: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday in what some are called the 'stay humble' derby. The last time these sides met was back in September's thrilling 2-2 draw, where things boiled over at full time. The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and Manchester City writer Sam Lee join Tim Spiers and Adam Leventhal to preview Sunday's clash. Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and set you up for the key games elsewhere. Host: Adam Leventhal With: James McNicholas, Sam Lee, Tim Spiers Featuring: Simon Hughes, James Maw Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On an evening of mayhem across Europe, Man City got the job done and avoided Champions League elimination, beating Club Brugge 3-1 to progress into the knockout phase. But is the prospect of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off something Pep Guardiola's side will relish? Elsewhere, with Jhon Duran set to leave for Saudi Arabia and Arsenal interested in Ollie Watkins, could Aston Villa’s front line look a little different in the knockout stages? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James Horncastle and Phil Hay to reflect on an action-packed final night of the league phase of the revamped Champions League, while Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell joins to discuss the latest around both Duran and Watkins. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James Horncastle, Phil Hay and Jacob Tanswell Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are languishing in the bottom half of the table - they sit in 12th and 15th place respectively.  Tough times have fallen on two of the ‘Big Six’ - the traditional heavyweights of English football. So in terms of both on-pitch and off-pitch matters, does the idea of those aforementioned powerhouse clubs dominating the Premier League still ring true?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Rory Smith, Tim Spiers, Matt Slater Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As revealed by David Ornstein on today’s Transfer DealSheet, Aston Villa could be tempted to sell Jhon Duran for around 80 million pounds. That valuation of the Villa striker got us thinking - what makes a top No.9 in 2025? And with many teams wanting an elite striker - why is it so hard to find them? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Mark Carey, Phil Hay & David Ornstein Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A smashed TV, a lack of cash, and more box office quotes from Ruben Amorim who told the media after his side's 1-0 win at Fulham he would prefer to name his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench ahead of Marcus Rashford. Having made it four wins from five, are Man United showing signs of improvement under Amorim? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell and Mark Critchley with Charlotte Harpur also dropping by to discuss Amorim's handling of the media and his man-management. Plus, with a week left of the January transfer window there's a focus on United's finances and whether they will be able to spend their way back up the Premier League table. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laurie Whitwell, Mark Critchley and Charlotte Harpur Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday and with just two points separating the sides this could be a key battle in the race for the top four. Pep Guardiola will be looking to get back on track after seeing his side throw away a two goal lead in the Champions League midweek, losing 4-2 to PSG at the Parc des Princes, with issues in midfield an ongoing problem. After already spending more than €140m in the January transfer window, do Manchester City need further additions? Following five Premier League games without a victory, Chelsea got back to winning ways on Monday beating Wolves 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, but how does Enzo Maresca get his forwards firing again? Plus we check in with the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and look ahead to a fixture that nobody would've predicted being quite so exciting when the season kicked off; Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest. Host: Michael Bailey With: Tim Spiers, Thom Harris Featuring: Sam Lee, Simon Johnson, Andy Mitten, Laurie Whitwell, James Pearce, James McNicholas Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Among the tech billionaires, cabinet nominees and former leaders as Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president was the most powerful man in football - FIFA president Gianni Infantino…. So, with both the Club World Cup and World Cup taking place in the USA in the next 18 months.  What impact will Trump and his policies have on football over the next four years? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton in New York, Felipe Cardenas in Atlanta and Women's Sports Lead, in Burlington, Vermont, Meg Linehan to analyse and debate Trump's role in football, relationship with Infantino as well as assess what his legacy on the sport could be at the end of his time in office. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Adam Crafton, Felipe Cardenas and Meg Linehan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth produced one of the performances of the season as they demolished Newcastle at the weekend. They are now seventh in the Premier League and eyeing up European football for next season. So how much of their success is down to Iraola - and will they be able to keep hold of him for much longer? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jon Mackenzie, Phil Hay, Dermot Corrigan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Comments (31)

Larry Healy

qq gRx

Jan 8th
Reply

Anthony Laud

arsenal have harder teams to play than city ( based on all teams position and liverpool. what a clown.

Nov 22nd
Reply

David Cains

arsenal won against "top 6".... you mean the big 6"... as Villa beat Arsenal twice lads

Sep 20th
Reply

Phill

fans wanted Jose??! nope

Jun 13th
Reply

S/V HAPPY MONDAYS

zzzzzz

May 21st
Reply

S/V HAPPY MONDAYS

More anti City tripe .....surprising

Apr 21st
Reply

S/V HAPPY MONDAYS

is this a rags channel? I've subscribed for football and got a Salford luv inn.

Mar 5th
Reply

Jack Dormer

o. kiuiilk8iui7u7777kiui777uu7iuuumuii 3jř2ŕ

Feb 16th
Reply

Jack Dormer

o. kiuiilk8iui7u7777kiui777uu7iuuumuii 3jř2ŕ

Feb 16th
Reply (1)

Ian Morris

Thanks guys for filling 99.9% of the time alloted to your 'analysis' of the Wolves v Spurs game to all things Spurs. Wolves goals may have come at the end of the game but it was a game they dominated. This bias towards 'bigger teams' is embarrassing and always forgets that there are two professional teams competing.

Nov 12th
Reply

john okoroigwe

Very funny....the mere fact of asking the question gives you the answer. Can you take a comedian seriously?

Oct 27th
Reply

S/V HAPPY MONDAYS

an own goal in a s*** match and Arsenal are the new treble winner's God these pods are so predictable

Oct 10th
Reply

S/V HAPPY MONDAYS

Aways been bobbins scores a couple of goals and he's the new messiah, so gave him a new contract when they could have got rid.

Oct 5th
Reply

Madridista_MouCarloDelBosque

Gghhhc, v0 bcb Queen Victoria Station

Sep 3rd
Reply

Benedict Ivor Royston Webb

Not even close.

Jun 12th
Reply

Mark Bentley

The absolute irony of this podcast debating the morals and ethics of football teams and then playing their sponsor Bet365 and trying to tempt the listener with betting 'offers'! As if one team having better chances of signing a player more than others, is anyway as bad as wrecking people's lives with gambling addiction!

May 23rd
Reply

Phil

excellent show

Dec 9th
Reply

Sepehr

Thanks a lot for talking about Iranian women, and Iran's protests. #MahsaAmini

Dec 4th
Reply

Linganus Roberd

The world cup in this year will be the biggest event https://worldofmario.com

Nov 21st
Reply

Linganus Roberd

The world cup in this year will be great ever https://worldofmario.com

Nov 21st
Reply