In the final pod of 2023, Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers into The Athletic studio. The final set of Premier League fixtures before Christmas pits the top two against each other with Liverpool taking on Arsenal. Are the Gunners well equipped right now to end their Anfield hoodoo? Also on the calendar, Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest. Nick Miller laments the loss of Steve Cooper while Tim tells us how Nuno is more successful than we rem...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min
For the last time in 2023, Jimbo, James Horncastle, Julien Laurens, Raphael Honigstein and Alvaro Romeo discuss all the continental happenings in the world of football. The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League throws up some intriguing encounters - Simeone back at Inter, Bosz back at Dortmund, Kane versus Immobile. Harry continues to score but Bayer Leverkusen continue to win. Could AFCON be the thing that scuppers their incredible season? Speaking of incredible seasons, Girona stay top ...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Adrian Clarke and Matt Davies-Adams onto the pod after an eventful Premier League weekend. Luton’s Tom Lockyer collapses during their game with Bournemouth due to a cardiac arrest but thankfully is stable in hospital. Liverpool don’t score 7 against Man United this time, failing to find the back of the net at all against Erik ten Hag’s resolute side. A match that highlights how Liverpool are struggling in open play. Sunday’s football also sees Arsenal batter Brighto...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 4 min
It’s Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Raphael Honigstein and Charlie Eccleshare in The Athletic studio as the Champions League group stage comes to a close. A humbling midweek for English clubs sees Newcastle and Man United drop out of Europe altogether. Will the Magpies now go back to being the team they were last season? And will Man United avoid another drubbing at Anfield on Sunday? Other questions posed by this weekend’s football include can Liverpool juggle the Europa League with a title bid? Can ...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 2 min
It’s Jimbo and co, namely James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo, ahead of the last Champions League group stage games as we know them. Man United must beat Bayern to stay in the competition, a task which may have become harder after Thomas Tuchel’s side were humiliated by Eintracht Frankfurt and now have a point to prove. Group F promises an enthralling finale with a must-win game for both Newcastle and Milan, while PSG could also miss out on the last 16 in what c...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 17 min
Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Colin Millar and Jordan Campbell into the pod after a weekend of big results in the big league. Another Liverpool late show sends them top of the table. Is this a golden opportunity for them to win the league? Or is it Villa’s strength in depth that could see them go all the way? Hear why Unai Emery is loved like never before at Villa Park. It’s another weekend to forget for Man United and Chelsea, bested by the brilliance of Andoni Iraola and Sean Dyche respectivel...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, JJ Bull and Luis Miguel Echegaray into the studio in a week literally packed with Premier League football. It’s a performance that made Luis cry as Aston Villa batter Man City with 1-0 flattering the champions. Do City miss Gundogan and can the graduates of Unai-versity do the same to Arsenal on Saturday? Man United get back to winning ways against Chelsea in a game where neither side looks exactly like they know what they’re doing but McTominay overshadows the e...
Dec 07, 2023•58 min
Jimbo and the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo are back to assess another red hot weekend across the continent. Serie A leaders Inter score a huge win at champions Napoli as Calhanoglu and Thuram impress again. But don’t bank on Allegri’s Juventus dropping out of the title race any time soon. Barcelona see off Atletico with loanee Joao Felix scoring the winner. Can he perform consistently enough to secure a permanent move away from Atleti? It’s h...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 8 min
Jimbo is joined by Natalie Gedra, Daniel Storey and Tim Spiers on a goal-tastic Sunday in the Premier League. Goals, drama, some boredom and a refereeing howler at the Etihad but it’s a victory for Postecoglou’s principles while we ask what’s going on with City and what was up with Haaland? Liverpool leave it late at Anfield to beat Fulham 4-3. Pete Rutzler tells us about a brutal finish for the Cottagers. It’s a brutal watch for Man United fans as they’re overpowered by Newcastle. Should Gordon...
Dec 04, 2023•54 min
Jimbo welcomes Raphael Honigstein, Jack Lang and Colin Millar back into the studio during another enthralling week of football. Man United games continue to provide goals and drama in the Champions League but remain bottom of their group after drawing 3-3 with Galatasaray. We relive one of the games of the season and ask questions of ten Hag and Onana. Elsewhere, it’s an infuriating week for Newcastle after PSG’s controversial 98th minute equaliser from the penalty spot. What is handball and wha...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Jimbo, James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo look ahead to Matchday 5 in the Champions League with destinies set to be decided. The Magpies head to Paris looking to replicate their 4-1 win earlier in the campaign. But can Milan stop wasting chances and beat Dortmund, even without their new 15-year-old prodigy? It’s a big week for Barcelona, starting with a clash with Porto in Catalunya. What has happened to Robert Lewandowski? Bayern’s new number 9 keeps scoring b...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min
Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Charlie Eccleshare and Sasha Goryunov into the studio after a blockbuster Premier League weekend. Arsenal go top after Man City and Liverpool share the spoils at the Etihad as Liverpool’s squad depth comes into play. If only Darwin Nuñez was calmer in front of goal. But it’s Man United who are top of the form table and win against Everton with Alejandro Garnacho scoring one of the greatest Premier League goals of all time. Elsewhere, Chelsea are ripped apart by Newc...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 7 min
It’s a packed pod with Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Tom Williams and Jay Harris previewing a blockbuster Premier League weekend. The top two meet at the Etihad and while Jurgen Klopp might not like the kick-off time, are we set for a classic between Man City and Liverpool? Elsewhere Spurs host Villa, Brentford take on Aaron Ramsdale’s Arsenal and an Everton side who have lost 10 points face Man United on Sunday at Goodison Park. In World Cup qualifying, world champions Argentina win in Rio. Jack Lan...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Jimbo welcomes Charlie Eccleshare, Daniel Storey and more into the pod as Euro qualifying draws to a conclusion. Wales surrender their advantage over Croatia which could be catastrophic for Robert Page as they take on Turkey. Elsewhere, Jorginho missing penalties, Lukaku scoring goals and France beating Gibraltar 14-0. Huge news in the Premier League as Everton are deducted 10 points for breaching profit and sustainability rules. Matt Jones from The Blue Room tells us why he’s not too worried ab...
Nov 20, 2023•1 hr
Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Colin Millar and Adrian Clarke into The Athletic studio as we lead you into the international break. It’s make or break for Italy in Euro qualifying as they take on North Macedonia and then Ukraine. James Horncastle joins us as the Azzurri look to avoid the dreaded play-offs. Wales have their fate in their own hands as they look to pip Croatia to qualification. Meanwhile Republic of Ireland can boost their chances by losing to the Netherlands. Urs Fischer leaves ...
Nov 16, 2023•57 min
Jimbo is back in the Athletic studios with the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo. Rudi Garcia is sacked by the champions Napoli after a 1-0 loss to Empoli leaves them 10 points behind league leaders Inter. Álex Grimaldo is in the form of his life for Xabi Alonso's high flying Leverkusen side who beat a struggling Union Berlin 4-0. Mbappe scores a hat-trick but is still in Luis Enrique's bad books as PSG go top of Ligue 1. Girona are still top of L...
Nov 14, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Jimbo is joined by Daniel Storey, Matt Davies Adam and James Maw to wax lyrical about the stunning 4-4 draw between Chelsea and Man City. Plus, we ask: how damaging a week has this been for Spurs? Have Newcastle hit their ceiling? And how can Man United simultaneously be the most underwhelming but most in-form team in the league? Produced by Charlie Jones and Ben Green RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Fire walk with Matt (02.00) • PART 1b: Chelsea 4 - 4 City (04.50) • PART 2a: West Ham 3 - 2 Nottingham...
Nov 13, 2023•59 min
Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Raphael Honigstein and Tom Williams try and wrap their heads around some of the most remarkable games we’ve seen in years. Man United’s Champions League status hangs by a thread after a 4-3 defeat in Copenhagen, a game that turned on a first-half red for Rashford. Crazier still was the first defeat of the season for Spurs, whose 9-man high line was eventually exploited by a Chelsea side doing lots of stupid things themselves. But are the Blues getting to grips with what ...
Nov 09, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Jimbo is back with the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo. It’s a third hat-trick in 6 league matches for Harry Kane as Bayern dismantle Dortmund. Is Kane better than Robert Lewandowski? It’s make or break for Milan in the Champions League as they host PSG while domestically, could Inter be the best Italian team since 2015 Juventus? Girona are top of La Liga - would they even be allowed into the Champions League next season? And Nice are top in Fra...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Jimbo is joined by Carl Anka, Sasha Goryunov and Matt Davies-Adams after another Premier League weekend packed full of talking points. Luton so nearly beat Liverpool but it’s Luis Diaz of all people who finds the equaliser for the Reds. Are they in this season’s title race? It’s a big blow for last season’s challengers Arsenal who are beaten in a feisty clash with Newcastle, with Mikel Arteta and the club branding the officiating embarrassing. It’s a last-gasp win for Man United but there are pl...
Nov 06, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Benji Lanyado and Luis Miguel Echegaray onto the pod during a week of multi-competition action. It’s a humbling night in the Carabao Cup for Arsenal and Man United, with Erik ten Hag’s holders in particular suffering another damaging defeat at home to Newcastle. Just when you thought the banter years were over. In the Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino gets ready to return to league leaders Tottenham with Chelsea. But is Poch an elite-level manager? It’s one yea...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 10 min
It’s Jimbo and the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo. Jude Bellingham wins El Clasico with two late goals in Barcelona. Can he be stopped and does Xavi shoulder the blame for his substitutions? Harry Kane scores a hat-trick, including a goal from inside his own half as Bayern win 8-0. But it’s still Leverkusen, inspired by Florian Wirtz, who lead a goal-filled Bundesliga. Marseille v Lyon is postponed after fan violence which sees Lyon manager Fab...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Tim Spiers, Adrian Clarke and Seb Stafford-Bloor into the pod after another seismic Premier League weekend. Man City show their class at Old Trafford, winning the Manchester derby 3-0. An afternoon and a performance that are an awful reflection on Erik ten Hag in the eyes of the panel. It’s another embarrassing weekend for Chelsea as Brentford win yet again at Stamford Bridge. Just how much pressure is on Pochettino to perform given the vast sums spent? There are bi...
Oct 30, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Jimbo, Michael Cox, Raphael Honigstein and Duncan Alexander are back to review the Champions League and Premier League action. Newcastle are downed by a determined Dortmund while Warren Zaire-Emery continues to dazzle for PSG. And Celtic and Atletico have another ding-dong in Glasgow. Man United prepare for the Manchester derby with a dramatic win over Copenhagen. And while Arsenal are also victorious in Seville, hear why David Raya needs his own Onana moment. Matt Slater joins us to dig into th...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Jimbo welcomes the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Alvaro Romeo and Julien Laurens into The Athletic studio. Another big week in the Champions League with Group F again the star attraction. Hear why Newcastle’s opponents Dortmund are one of the best teams in Europe. And can Milan finally produce a big away performance at PSG? The top 3 in Spain are separated by just a point with Girona continuing to surprise all. But even with another Barca youngster emerging, shouldn’t Xavi h...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 10 min
Jimbo is joined by Daniel Storey, Jon Mackenzie and Matt Davies-Adams after a Premier League weekend packed with red cards and 2-0 leads. Chelsea throw away said advantage against Arsenal but was this a performance that can launch the Blues onto bigger and better things? And is it time for Mikel Arteta to bring Ramsdale back in for Raya? Another home win for Villa sees them thrash West Ham on Sunday. The Emery effect has seen Villa move from 2 points off the bottom to 2 points off the top in the...
Oct 22, 2023•1 hr 2 min
The Premier League is back and so too are Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Benji Lanyado. England qualify for Euro 2024 after dismantling Italy. With Jude Bellingham in this form, should England be going all the way? Italy’s issues go beyond defeat at Wembley with Sandro Tonali among many investigated for gambling on illegal platforms. The Merseyside derby kicks off the Premier League weekend, plus we’ve got the first ever meeting of Pochettino and Arteta and footballing purists c...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Jimbo welcomes Jack Lang, Tom Williams and Tim Spiers into the studio in a stacked week of international football. Scotland qualify for the Euros after Spain eliminate DJ Otzi-loving Norway on Sunday. And Wales produce their best performance in years to stun Croatia and put themselves right back in the mix for a place in Germany. England host Italy on Tuesday with a betting scandal enveloping the squad ahead of kick-off. James Horncastle tells us what to expect from Spalletti’s Italy. Domestical...
Oct 16, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Dom Fifield and Adrian Clarke are back to cast their collective eye over all football happenings. With the likes of Scotland, France, Austria and Belgium on the verge of qualification for Euro 2024, England prepare to host Australia as we revisit memories of friendly encounters with the Socceroos gone by. And can we please see Lewis Dunk as the new lynchpin of the Three Lions defence? Eden Hazard announces his retirement from football. One of the greatest players of his ...
Oct 12, 2023•59 min
Jimbo is joined by James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein and Alvaro Romeo as continental club football signs off for the international break. Jude Bellingham is matching and perhaps surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo with every week in a Real Madrid shirt. Elsewhere in Spain, Sevilla have just sacked their Europa League winning manager. Stuttgart continue to surprise in the Bundesliga with Serhou Guirassy having a record-breaking campaign in front of goal. Bayern keep winning on the pitch as their supp...
Oct 09, 2023•1 hr 1 min
