Episode 146 - Why Barca Can’t Be Fixed + We STILL Can’t Trust Man City
Description
Patrick and Neel open with Barcelona’s win over Atletico Madrid and dig into why Atleti started well, why they collapsed after scoring, and how Raphinha and Pedri change Barça’s ceiling. They also break down what Simeone’s team is missing and whether they can stay competitive with Spain’s top two.
Then it’s onto the Premier League, starting with Sunderland’s brave performance at Anfield and why their approach is working in a season full of chaos. Leeds’ shift in structure, Daniel Farke’s reputation, and their big win over Chelsea come next, followed by a deeper look at Manchester City’s issues out of possession and why their current squad build leaves them stuck between pressing and blocking deep.
The episode closes in Scotland with Celtic’s appointment of Wilfried Nancy. Patrick and Neel walk through his coaching journey, his style of play, and what it might take to implement his system quickly in a tight title race.
Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheTransferFlow
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter: https://www.thetransferflow.com/subscribe
Join Variance Betting: https://www.thetransferflow.com/upgrade
Follow us on our Socials:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe1WTKOt7byrELQcGRSzu1Q
X: https://x.com/TheTransferFlow
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetransferflow.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetransferflow/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transferflowpodcast
Timestamps:
00:00 – Barcelona beat Atleti — what actually happened
01:46 – Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
03:04 – How Atleti break Barça’s high line (secondary runners + curved runs)
04:51 – Why Atleti collapsed after scoring
06:36 – The Rafinha goal and whether Atleti are stuck between two styles
07:41 – Why Atleti aren’t as defensively solid anymore
08:50 – Can Atleti still be Spain’s third-best team?
09:30 – Barça’s ceiling and what Raphinha + Pedri change
11:12 – Is this sustainable and what happens in Europe?
12:55 – Premier League Round Up
13:26 – Sunderland’s positive approach at Anfield
14:21 – Sunderland looked dangerous and brave
15:19 – Sunderland’s attacking plan and transition work
16:32 – How Sunderland saved themselves
18:50 – Promoted teams: stick to your style or change?
21:00 – Leeds’ tactical shift and changes vs Chelsea
23:07 – The Premier League’s wild parity
24:34 – Leeds’ smart changes (midfield profiles, less 4-2-3-1)
26:10 – How Leeds should shape up in upcoming fixtures
27:34 – Leeds’ plan is working
28:29 – Daniel Farke’s reputation vs the reality
29:06 – Leeds’ quality vs the teams around them
30:01 – Man City vs Fulham: chaos game
31:36 – What’s wrong with City’s pressing
33:35 – City’s personnel issues
35:10 – Elite sides have to be good defensively
36:11 – Foden’s role and where he fits best
36:57 – City’s front three dynamics
38:33 – Aston Villa’s best performance of the season
39:15 – Villa haven’t played well this season despite results
40:50 – Moving on: Celtic hire Wilfried Nancy
41:14 – Nancy’s coaching path: France → Canada → MLS
43:31 – Nancy’s playing style and tactical profile
46:26 – How long will it take to implement this at Celtic?
47:33 – Celtic’s squad + whether the attackers can execute this style
48:54 – Why MLS → Celtic is a logical step
50:21 – Celtic’s messy process leading to the hire
51:25 – Why Nancy is still likely to succeed in Scotland
52:28 – Closing chat & where to find Neel






















