On today’s episode of Libero, Rory Smith, John Brewin and James Horncastle wonder whether anyone not named Carlo Ancelotti can make sense of the modern Real Madrid, and assess the prospects for Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu. In part two (33:36) James also takes great pleasure in decreeing that Ancelotti’s appointment as Brazil manager is proof of the ultimate triumph of Italy in determining the game’s dominant culture. Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in at liberopodcast0@gmail.com Follow us on X @po...
May 14, 2025•54 min•Ep. 16
There was nowhere else to start than San Siro after the Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barcelona. Was it the best of all? Why are semis over two legs usually miles more entertaining than finals? Jonathan Wilson, Miguel Delaney and John Brewin share their memories, and hail gambling man Hansi Flick as football’s greatest ringmaster. After that (16:55): a missive from Mexico triggers a conversation on the cult of the football hipster. Is that era over? Or did books like Wilson’s 'In...
May 09, 2025•49 min•Ep. 15
With the Europa League final looking likely to be an all-English affair, Jack Pitt-Brook, Rory Smith and Tariq Panja discuss why - given the Premier League's clear financial advantages - Europe's secondary competition has never really been a priority for the clubs of the 'Best League in the World™'. In part two (42:02), talk turns to Lamine Yamal and whether playing a starring role for Barcelona, or any club in a foreign land, will allow him to reach the levels of fame that his talent deserves. ...
May 07, 2025•56 min•Ep. 14
In the interest of debunking beauty, the first part of the latest episode of Libero starts with Jonathan Wilson, Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja discussing why Barcelona's thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan should never have happened, largely due to the Catalan club's dire financial circumstances and the problems caused by its presidential model, while also trying to identify what ideal football club ownership looks like. The second half (38:16) focuses on the role of the modern Europa League, t...
May 02, 2025•54 min•Ep. 13
Today’s episode starts with a look to the Arctic circle, where Bodø/Glimt have become one of the best stories in European football this decade. The small club from northern Norway have won four of the last five league titles and face Tottenham in the Europa League semi-final this week. So how did they do it, and what can the rest of Europe learn from their success? Then conversation moves on to Anfield (29:34), where Rory watched Liverpool seal the Premier League title on Sunday. He explains why...
Apr 30, 2025•46 min•Ep. 12
On today’s episode, Rory Smith, John Brewin and Jack Pitt-Brooke start off with a look at Paris Saint-Germain, who, for the first time, might well be the best team to watch in Europe. Have they finally moved on from their era of stars? Is a new focus on French talent a sign that they are finally putting football first? Or is it yet another cynical marketing ploy? Then discussion moves on to another team who play in red and blue: Crystal Palace. They are also from an area that produces plenty of ...
Apr 25, 2025•56 min•Ep. 11
What is it about the early 2000s that football finds so fascinating? Why is the game still so captivated by the career paths and podcast empires of the principal characters from an era that is now a generation past? On today’s Libero, Rory Smith, Tariq Panja and Jonathan Wilson try to answer that question, and also work out whether Pep Guardiola has the power to stop time. Produced by: Tom Bassam Email in at liberopodcast0@gmail.com Follow us on X @podcast_libero Follow us on Bluesky @liberopodc...
Apr 23, 2025•55 min•Ep. 10
On Libero today, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jonathan Wilson, John Brewin and Miguel Delaney consider the Tottenham Hotspur odyssey as Ange Postecoglou faces down his near-certain fate. Can any Spurs manager succeed under the current ownership structure? Has the “Glory Game” been sacrificed for the security of a profitable business? And later in the show, the gang consider English football’s north-south divide: how come the Premier League’s upwardly mobile middle class are from Greater London and the Home...
Apr 16, 2025•59 min•Ep. 9
On Libero today, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Rory Smith, John Brewin and Tariq Panja ask whatever happened to the lost generation of footballers born in the second half of the 1990s? They should be at their peak now, dominating the global game. And yet it feels as if football belonged to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for so long that they will ultimately be replaced by the Gen Z players, born in the 21st century. Later on the show they discuss the 'cult of the pundit' in English football, whereby Jam...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 8
On Libero today, Jonathan Wilson, James Horncastle, Miguel Delaney and Tariq Panja discuss the new Champions League format. Is it better than what came before? Were there really more surprises? And what tweaks would they like to see. Then they discuss whether a football club can have a DNA — something that for better or worse, often intangible, that makes the club what it is, and explains why Sunderland will not win the playoffs. Email us at: liberopodcast0@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Apr 09, 2025•50 min•Ep. 7
On Libero today, Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle, John Brewin and Jonathan Wilson discuss whether or not the 2024-25 season has been good or not. What do we mean when we talk about a good season? How do we find the right balance between quality, competitiveness and drama? Then they discuss why football journalists can never get as angry about referees and PGMOL as fans do, and hear why the cult of the celebrity referee actually started in Italy. Email us at: liberopodcast0@gmail.com Hosted on...
Apr 04, 2025•55 min•Ep. 6
On Libero today, Jonathan Liew, Miguel Delaney, Rory Smith and Jonathan Wilson discuss whether elite football is trying to do away with fans, whether it is OK that Chelsea sold their own women's team to themselves, and discover that Jonathan Wilson knows who Angry Ginge is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 02, 2025•52 min•Ep. 5
Libero 4 with Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Horncastle, Jonathan Wilson and John Brewin covers Trent's 'defection', some reflections on classic transfer market shenanigans and the FA Cup - has Wembley really lost it's mythological status? Trent AA (02:30) FA Cup (35:30) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 28, 2025•51 min•Ep. 4
How should journalists report Trump's World Cup? Are expectations for Slot's Liverpool unfair?.. and the weird world of the Sports Journalism awards. Today's Liberi are Tariq Panja, Miguel Delaney and Barney Ronay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 26, 2025•57 min•Ep. 3
Episode two of Libero discusses Thomas Tuchel's chances as the German England football manager (02:00) and the rise of the 'middle class' of well run Premier League clubs (18:42) The Liberi: Jonathan Wilson, Rory Smith, John Brewin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 20, 2025•50 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to Libero. The first episode includes a segment on the Geordie Nation and Saudi sportwashing (06:15) and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's grand vision (41:01) Today's Liberi are Miguel Delaney, Jonathan Liew, Barney Ronay and John Brewin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1
