Thomas Tuchel is sacked in Paris on Christmas Eve, to be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. Was he hard done by? Or is he destined to always fall out with the hierarchy? And can Pochettino impose his pressing style on PSG? He’s not the only managerial mover. Schalke have hired Christian Gross of tube ticket fame. And after 27 years out of club management, Nantes have appointed former France coach and star sign enthusiast Raymond Domenech. In Italy, Milan are still unbeaten and Andrea Pirlo’s Juven...
Dec 28, 2020•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bayern go top of the Bundesliga but the headlines surround Leroy Sane the subbed sub. And are Dortmund already on the verge of crisis under their caretaker? Lille are top of Ligue 1 but both organisations could be in dire financial straits. Meanwhile Karim Benzema – the greatest French striker ever? Speaking of Benzema, are we veering towards a two-horse title race in Spain between Atletico and Real. And in Serie A, we saw the fastest goal ever and Napoli returning to retiro. RUNNING ORDER: • PA...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast We have both sides of the divide on Saturday at Selhurst Park – Liverpool run riot over Crystal Palace winning 7-0. Can anyone keep pace or are the champions about to disappear into the distance? Man United hammer Leeds 6-2 at Old Trafford, in a game that almost has pundits waxing lyrical about the losers more than the winners. But given United’s squad depth, are they viable title contenders? Are Arsenal in a relegation fight? What makes them so painful to watch and so easy to ply against? Plus ...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Liverpool win it late against Tottenham in a game that Jose Mourinho thought Spurs deserved to win. And a game where Curtis Jones turns in an Iniesta-ish performance. Next up for Spurs, it’s Leicester, undone by Everton’s cupboard approach. The Toffees now host Arteta’s struggling Arsenal. We ask if Aubameyang is a suitable skipper? It’s all change at the Hawthorns as West Brom sack Slaven Bilic and appoint Sam Allardyce. Does Big Sam offer a guarantee of survival? Plus our favourite types of go...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast PSG will play Barcelona in a rematch of the 2017 remontada, it’s Nagelsmann v Klopp, plus Lewandowski v Immobile in the Champions League in 2021. Dortmund bid farewell to Lucien Favre after a 5-1 thrashing by Stuttgart – Rafa explains why he was always a cultural misfit at the club. Real Madrid beat Atletico in the derby. The first Liga defeat of the season for Simeone’s side, but does he have problems brewing with Felix and Suarez? Plus Papu wants out at Atalanta, Deportivo’s ultimate indignity...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Arsenal suffer their 4th successive home defeat as Burnley win at the Emirates for the first time ever. Are we approaching the end for Mikel Arteta? Has staff upheaval off the field affected morale on it? Next up for the Gunners, it’s high-flying Southampton, with the Van Dijk-esque Vestergaard and the soon to be in demand Hasenhuttl. Liverpool and Tottenham both drop points in London on Sunday, ahead of their meeting at Anfield on Wednesday. Will Mourinho go for the jugular against the depleted...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast United crash out of the Champions League after another slow start in Leipzig. So we’re fully expecting a Manchester derby win for Solskjaer and co on Saturday. Despite all the Paul Pogba drama. There’s positive action from a very negative situation as PSG & Basaksehir walk off after the 4th official is accused of using a racist term towards Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo. Bielsa names his Leeds team in advance which Natalie explains isn’t that big a deal outside of England. While Duncan ...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Leipzig host Manchester United in a pivotal final fixture, with the Germans fresh from an exhilarating draw with Bayern Munich. It’s been a bad week for Barcelona. They’re not getting points and they’re not getting paid. So what are the chances of Messi and Neymar ending up back together in Paris? James Horncastle is worried about Juventus under Pirlo. Will there be kicks between Real Madrid and Monchengladbach to knock out Inter? Plus the French A-Team. And Balotelli, Boateng & Berlusconi – tog...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Spurs stay top after another North London derby win. The panel hail Harry Kane, Son and of course Tottenham, channelling Inter 2010. But how worried should Arsenal fans be about Aubameyang, Willian and Arteta’s gameplan? Man United once again turn up after half-time in their victory at West Ham. Is Solskjaer like Zidane or Deschamps in that he has too much talent at his disposal to go too far wrong? Or is the super-sub now a super subber? Rafa Honigstein gives us the latest on Leipzig after thei...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Man United’s Champions League destiny hangs in the balance after defeat at home to PSG. Did Solskjaer make one of the strangest managerial decisions ever? And looking at the negatives for PSG, is Kylian Mbappe regressing? David Moyes’ high-flying West Ham host United next. Benji Lanyado wonders if fans being back in the London Stadium could be a bad thing. Speaking of the Moyesiah, has he left his imprint on Arteta, whose Arsenal side face table-toppers Tottenham in the North London derby. We re...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, James Horncastle, Rafa Honigstein Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo look ahead to the crucial Matchday 5 in the Champions League. Can Real avoid another slip up? Are Inter going to embarrass themselves again? How uncomfortable will Ajax make things for Liverpool? Plus, is there really a title race in Ligue 1 - and just why was a game called off in the Maltese Premier League? RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Euro headlines, Diego tributes and other Moments of the Weekend (02m 00s) • PART 2a: Shakhta...
Dec 01, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Does the turnaround win at Southampton represent a turning point for Manchester United? Did Chelsea’s 0-0 with Spurs show the maturity of both sides? We dive into the issues raised by Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool’s draw with Brighton. Namely TV deals and the need for 5 substitutes. Are there certain clubs in the Premier League out of sync with the rest of Europe? Is there a crisis of confidence amongst all the strikers at the bottom end of the table? Plus the panel are loving Wolves and Leeds. A...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast On a momentous week, Jimbo is joined by Karen Carney, Rory Smith and Adrian Clarke after the passing of Diego Maradona. The football world mourns the loss of a player who inspired more devotion than any other in the game’s history. We discuss Maradona’s legacy. And we hear about Adrian’s encounter with Diego in his pyjamas. The Premier League weekend is headlined by Chelsea v Spurs – Lampard v Mourinho. A top of the table clash which could be a coin toss? Elsewhere has Pep lost his spark at Man ...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Leipzig are looking to do the double over Paris Saint-Germain. Along with defeat at Monaco on Friday, are PSG set for Thursday night football? Erling Haaland scores 4 – is he going to another level? Was his performance against Hertha Berlin striking perfection? And who’s the 16-year-old challenging him for the headlines? A Zlatan inspired Milan stay top but their star man could be out for a while. It’s a make or break week for Real Madrid and Inter in the Champions League. Is it Atletico’s year ...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Liverpool dismantle Leicester, despite some very big name absentees. Is Klopp’s system king? Tottenham are top of the table after a statement victory over Man City? Does Mourinho have his mojo back? And is De Bruyne trying to run the show solo for City? Elsewhere the bottom 4 is fully formed. Plus we revisit Ali Dia’s dalliance with Southampton. And an epic Orlando shootout. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Liverpool 3-0 Leicester (02m 30s) • PART 1b: Tottenham 2-0 Man City (09m 00s) • PART 2a: Newcast...
Nov 23, 2020•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast The international week was headlined by Spain’s shocking 6-0 win over Germany in the Nations League. Is it time for Germany to pull the trigger and replace Joachim Low. Rafael Honigstein shares his thoughts. In the Premier League, are Leicester destined to end Liverpool’s long unbeaten home run? Will we see an attacking Mourinho up against a defensive Guardiola as Spurs face Man City? And which Premier League side is the unluckiest team in world football? Plus why exactly have Ryan Reynolds & Ro...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Finding Jack Charlton chronicles the life and extraordinary career of the World Cup winner and the former Republic of Ireland manager. The film details the most successful period in Irish football history, as well as exploring Charlton’s relationship with the press, his brother and players like Paul McGrath. Plus was Charlton tactically ahead of his time? And to what extent did this Englishman restore pride and self-esteem to people in Ireland? SIGN UP TO THE ATHLETIC FOR £1 A WEEK: • theathleti...
Nov 16, 2020•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Belgium beat England 2-0 to end their hopes of winning the Nations League. Is the tide turning on Gareth Southgate or is he just a victim of his own success? They’re still celebrating in Scotland as Steve Clarke’s side qualify for the Euros. And elsewhere, it was a great weekend for San Marino, Malta and Goran Pandev. Plus Sergio Ramos’s penalty predicament, Casey Stoney and overrated goals. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Belgium 2-0 England (03m 00s) • PART 2: Thursday night’s Euro play-offs – Scotla...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thursday night is huge for Northern Ireland against Slovakia and for Scotland in Serbia, who have gone MacGyver. Could qualification for a first major tournament in 22 years mean redemption for Steve Clarke? The panel are gagging for Grealish for England. Will we see him as a first-pick for England or is he destined to go the way of Hoddle and Le Tissier? And there's the whole sorry Greg Clarke affair. We also discuss a big WSL weekend and the most surprising transfers ever. From Robert Jarni to...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bayern win Der Klassiker but did Dortmund give the rest of the Bundesliga hope? And who took part in El Trashico? Lionel Messi finally scores from open play while Real Madrid are thrashed 4-1 by Valencia. Just how far are they behind the European elite? Milan stay top of Serie A while Lazio are embroiled in a Covid controversy. But can Mkhitaryan and Smalling lead Roma to an unlikely title challenge? In France, Marseille win but AVB is still angry. And how do we get fans interested in this inter...
Nov 09, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Man City and Liverpool share the spoils in a match-up that reignites both debates on the handball rule and the introduction of 5 substitutes. Leicester go into this international break top of the table. Why do they get their recruitment so right? And what’s to stop this being 2016 all over again? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets a much-needed win for Man United at Goodison Park, with the panel impressed by Bruno Fernandes and that sweeping camera. Arsenal are outplayed by a Villa side full of magicians...
Nov 09, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is defeat to Basaksehir a step too far for Solskjaer in the eyes of Man United fans? Nooruddean Choudry aka Bearded Genius tells us. Man City v Liverpool headlines the Premier League weekend. Are Liverpool closer to what Klopp wants than City are to what Pep wants? And is Diogo Jota the new Ronnie Rosenthal? Plus: Reece James is the best crosser in the Premier League, Tuchel’s future at PSG, the fixture computer and backing into players across the globe. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Champions Leagu...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Real Madrid versus Inter and Atalanta v Liverpool are the headline acts of this European midweek, with Leipzig also facing PSG in a rematch of last season’s semi-final. We look at Lionel Messi’s rapidly declining numbers and ask if he needs to adapt his game at Barcelona. He could take a page out of Zlatan’s book, who has led the Mighty Ducks of Milan to the top of Serie A. Elsewhere, Sociedad and Sassuolo stay flying high. And AVB goes back to Porto with Marseille – will he refer to himself in ...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Arsenal fans feel like dancing after a long-awaited win at Old Trafford. A great performance from Arteta. And Mike Dean. But was this classic Solskjaer? And should he be judged harshly for not leading a title challenge? Also how are Liverpool top of the table? James Horncastle gives us the latest from Serie A and their Champions League opponents Atalanta. Plus broken Burnley, Mourinho’s Instagram and the best scorelines in football. RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1a: Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (03m 00s) • PART ...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a diamond display from Man United who hammer Bundesliga leaders Leipzig 5-0. Next up at Old Trafford, an Arsenal side that have maybe become too structured. Time for some spontaneity? We pay tribute to Marcus Rashford – the greatest man England has ever produced – and Harry Kane – the one-man Mourinho machine. Plus disallowed hat-tricks, PPDA and what ice cream does Pep Guardiola go for? Champions Liverpool are missing defenders and host in-form West Ham. Is it finally time for a David Moye...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Barca lose El Clasico and now travel to Turin to take on a Juventus side struggling for Serie A wins. Is Pirlo under pressure or does he get a free pass? Man United host Bundesliga leaders Leipzig. Will Julian Nagelsmann show his tactical superiority over Solskjaer? And as Marseille face Man City, will AVB show us how much he’s grown? Plus Michiel Jongsma is back to tell us the remarkable story of Ajax’s 13-0 win at VVV-Venlo – Atalanta beware. And the panel’s favourite ever goals seen live. RUN...
Oct 27, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Leeds’ breakout performance of the season came at Villa Park on Friday night, with Patrick Bamford appearing Bergkamp-esque. And he played the violin. What other players have secret skills? Chelsea finally tighten up at Old Trafford while leaders Everton suffer their first defeat. Has this Man City stagnation been coming? How worrying is Arsenal’s lack of creativity? Plus is football pure televisual spectacle right now? Do the fans demand more quality as a result? And this week it’s the turn of ...
Oct 26, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast How did Manchester United do it again in Paris? Was it down to the emergence of Axel Tuanzabe? Or was it down to PSG’s lack of identity and lack of teamwork? Can Gomez and Fabinho form a formidable defensive partnership for Liverpool? Is West Ham’s next trick to upset Man City at the London Stadium? The Premier League squad announcements provided many headlines - including that baffling Ozil omission. Alvaro Romeo helps break down the Real Madrid breakdown after two shock home defeats this week....
Oct 22, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast PSG host Manchester United with memories of March 2019 still fresh. Can the Parisians exact revenge? And how close is Mbappe to becoming Ronaldo? Can Ajax overcome Liverpool? Or are the Dutch champions on a gap year? It’s not a bad time to be playing Juventus or Barcelona who are both struggling to impress under their new managers. Plus with Ibra firing Milan top of the table, how many more years of Zlatan do we have left? RUNNING ORDER: • PART 1: Headlines around Europe (01m 00s) • PART 2a: PSG...
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast West Ham come from 3-0 down with 8 minutes to go to rescue a point away at Tottenham. Do we credit Moyes for sticking to his guns? Everton stay top as they draw 2-2 in the Merseyside Derby. But the real story is the possible season-ending injury suffered by Virgil Van Dijk after a challenge from Jordan Pickford. Is Pickford a player without composure? And which player on the pitch has been the best in the Premier League this season? Chelsea continue to ship goals as they draw 3-3 with Southampto...
Oct 19, 2020•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
