Dan Bardell is joined by Tim Spiers, George Elek and bet365's Steve Freeth as Liverpool look to push on from their 7-0 thrashing of Man Utd, while Erik Ten Hag's side look for a response. In the title race, Man City once again play ahead of Arsenal with Pep Guardiola's side taking on Crystal Palace followed by Arsenal travelling to Fulham on Sunday. Down at the bottom Bournemouth welcome Liverpool, having already conceded nine to the Reds this season, Man Utd welcome Southampton and West Ham tak...
Mar 10, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joining Mark Chapman to talk through yet another Paris Saint-Germain Champions League exit is The Athletic's Peter Rutzler and french football expert Tom Williams. After the French giants limped out of Europe's top club competition there will be plenty of sneering and sniggering towards them, but why is that? And is it fair to do so? It's a result that forms more questions now than answers - what does the future of Mbappe, Messi, and Neymar look like now? Will their coach Christophe Galtier see ...
Mar 09, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ian Irving is joined by two writers from The Athletic’s who were at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea knock Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League - Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson. Is this the start of something for Graham Potter at Chelsea ? Or is it merely a stay of execution with the next defeat pushing him back to the brink of the sack with question marks over where the club is heading? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 08, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Enzo Fernandez, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, the list goes on... Boasting an academy record which is the envy of most clubs in world football, The Athletic's Stuart James was granted special access behind-the-scenes at Benfica's famed academy to find out what makes it so special... Alongside host Mark Chapman and Portuguese football expert Jack Lang, the panel examine Benfica's unique approach to talent ID, academy ethos, managing the expectations of so many aspiring young footballers...
Mar 07, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined from The Athletic by Adam Crafton also two of our writers who were at Anfield yesterday Oli Kay & our Liverpool writer James Pearce.. Does it show United are still playing catch up with Liverpool or was it a freak result? What were the reasons behind Liverpool's performance and how should Man United manager Erik ten Hag respond? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 06, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ever wondered what really happens in a Premier League changing room? What triggers fallings out between footballers and managers? Fascinated by the nomadic lifestyle of modern players and what the constant relocating means for family members? This is The Real Footballer Show - and you are literally the first people to ever hear it. Joining host and broadcaster Jaydee Dyer and former West Ham, Wolves and Ipswich player Frank Nouble is special guest Anton Ferdinand to lift the lid on the cliques, ...
Mar 04, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as Manchester City look to respond to Arsenal opening up a five-point lead in the Premier League. Chelsea welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge with the pressure ramping up on Graham Potter while Manchester United look for a first win at Anfield since 2016, while the Reds head into the game unbeaten in four without conceding. Produced by Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 03, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's r Rafa Honigstein & also Seb Stafford-Bloor to discuss the German Bundelsiga - perhaps the most exciting league in Europe this season. 11 years since a team other than Bayern Munich were champions, this year the top four teams are separated by four points & four German teams in the last 16 of The Champions League.. So why is the Bundesliga so strong at the moment & will it last? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 02, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joining Mark Chapman is Jack Pitt Brooke and Tim Spiers to cover the past month at Tottenham Hotspur and what the future could yield for the club. In this episode the panel discuss the managerial situation, whether Antonio Conte will be there next season, and what exactly Cristian Stellini's role has been with the assistant filling in on the touchline - and overseeing excellent results. Plus with the announcement of another external partnership for the club, this time with Formula 1, we ask what...
Mar 01, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Does Bukayo Saka need better protection from Premier League referees? Do Arsenal themselves rely too heavily on the 21-year-old, and, with the world at his feet, how seismic a moment is it in Arteta's 'process' that he has decided to commit his future to his boyhood club? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Arsenal correspondent Amy Lawrence to discuss... How do you stop 'rotational fouling', where does he rank in terms of most-fouled PL players, do top players even wa...
Feb 28, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Laurie Whitwell to discuss whether this is the start of something big for Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford or another false dawn as seen under the likes of Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho & Ole Gunnar Solskjaer The Athletic's Newcastle writer Chris Waugh shares his thoughts from Wembley, outlining where improvement is needed despite the giant step forward under Eddie Howe at the club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, bet365's Steve Freeth and Tim Spiers ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup Final at Wembley with both Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes returning for Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively. The title race is hotting up too with Arsenal heading to Leicester and Man City off to Bournemouth. Can Graham Potter hold on at Chelsea - and who will hold onto their Premier League status as four of those in trouble go head-to-head on Saturday. Produced by Guy Clarke Le...
Feb 24, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by former Manchester United keeper Peter Schmeichel, former Liverpool & England goalkeeper Chris Kirkland & England & Southampton Goalkeeper coach Dave Watson who played also in the Premier League with Barnsley. Does the risk of ball playing keepers outweigh the reward? How do keepers recover when things go wrong with millions watching? They discuss the huge challenge ahead for Loris Karius Newcastle United in Sunday’s League cup final against Manchester United five years ...
Feb 23, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by Dermot Corrigan and James Pearce to look back on a classic night of Champions League action as Liverpool were dealt a sucker punch by Real Madrid at Anfield. From gift-wrapped goals, to Gomez, to Galacticos there is a gulf between these two sides now, and it looks like it's only going to get bigger. Listen to hear about how Madrid have got their recruitment so right in recent years. The panel also cover, as they must when Liverpool are mentioned, the Bellingham Prism - ...
Feb 22, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast With two takeover bids on the table, will the Glazer family's 18-year reign at Manchester United finally come to an end? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater and Laurie Whitwell to discuss the bids, the people behind them and all the issues in-between... What is the true scale of the damage inflicted on the club by the Glazers and are they even serious about selling this time? Do Manchester United actually need a sovereign wealth fund to compete with Chelsea & Manchester Cit...
Feb 21, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein to discuss the problems at Chelsea for manager Graham Potter. Another poor result after that huge spending spree in the January window. A second game in a week without a goal & a proven Premier League goalscorer can’t even make the bench. So, almost a year since Roman Abramovich announced his intentions to sell the club, what’s going wrong at Chelsea & where is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Feb 20, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sir Bobby Robson would have turned 90 today, so it's fitting that St James' Park will be rocking later when Newcastle host Liverpool. To mark the occasion The Athletic, with the kind permission of his family, have released Bobby '90 - a special podcast series featuring previous unheard interview tapes with one of football's greatest characters in the months and years before he died. This is the second episode from the four-part series which features Sir Bobby in conversation with The Athletic's ...
Feb 18, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, bet365's Steve Freeth and Tim Spiers as they react to Man City's win over Arsenal in midweek, ahead of this weekend's action. Can Arsenal put things right at Villa Park? Who will win the relegation six-pointer between Everton and Leeds Utd? Plus, can Liverpool spark a run of form and back-up their Merseyside derby win as they travel to Newcastle? Produced by Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Andy Mitten, Carl Anka, Pol Ballús to discuss Manchester United's interest in Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong . How close did United get last season? Could they go for him again? Is he still a player they actually need? Would he be allowed to leave? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by Art de Roché and Sam Lee to talk about the Premier League's two most exhausting managers to watch on the touchline and to get you ready for the big match between the sides. Is it time to stop talking about Arteta as Pep's apprentice? Why do we not see more assistants become managers? And how do you expect the teams to line up tactically on Wednesday night at the Emirates? Those questions and more on the show today. Produced by Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choic...
Feb 15, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's been 100 days since Liverpool Football Club was put up for sale. Manchester United expect a takeover bid from Qatar, Tottenham want ENIC out and Newcastle are Top 4 contenders again - So, what makes a good Premier League club owner? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater, Oli Kay and George Caulkin to explore... Are FSG the epitome of sensible ownership, should a State be able to buy a PL club in the first place and is an owners legacy actually more important than how muc...
Feb 14, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater & Adam Crafton to discuss The return of The Super League with promises of a new-look structure based on “sporting performance”, with no permanent members. Is it too good to be true or could this be a positive reset for the game? Coming up you’ll hear exactly what is being proposed, how football has responded & what happens next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, bet365's Steve Freeth and The Athletic's Tim Spiers to look ahead to the weekend's Premier League action, including Monday night's Merseyside derby. Chelsea's trip to West Ham United is also on the menu along with Leeds United v Manchester United four days on from their 2-2 draw at Old Trafford as well as Manchester City looking to respond to defeat at Tottenham as Aston Villa travel to the Etihad. Produced by Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Feb 10, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan & Mario Cortegana to discuss the rise of Real Madrid's Brazilian superstar Vinicius Jr and the recent spate of racist incidents he has had to endure. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Spanish football has a racism problem — is he right ? and if so what are La Liga and Real Madrid doing about it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 09, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Mark Chapman, Matt Slater and Phil Hay as they explore Leeds United's decision to sack Jesse Marsch - as well as the ongoing power struggle at Elland Road. The panel explore the ownership structure at Leeds with 49ers Enterprises holding a significant minority share in the club, with an option to complete a full buy-out in January 2024, who is making the big calls: them or Andrea Radrizzani? The consortium's role in the January transfer window is also analysed as well as assessing who could...
Feb 08, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast So the Premier League has waged a war with its serial Champions, Manchester City - but what is rule W51, could City suffer a points deduction this season or even be stripped of past titles? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Sam Lee and Matt Slater to explain... What have Man City allegedly done wrong, how long is this all going to take, why there is an Arsenal fan on the independent panel and the significance of a postponed government White Paper on football's ability to govern itsel...
Feb 07, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's James Pearce & Raphael Honigstein to discuss the problems facing Liverpool in biggest crisis of Jurgen Klopp’s time as manager. What’s gone wrong & what can be done to turn things around? And if things don't improve how might it effect their chances of recruiting elite players such as Jude Bellingham? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 06, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, bet365's Steve Freeth and The Athletic's Rich Amofa as the Premier League returns following the closure of the transfer window. As well as looking ahead to an Antonio-Conte-less-Tottenham hosting Man City, the panel cast their eyes over an equally tasty Friday night fixture between the two West London clubs of big spending Chelsea and Fulham. Arsenal are the Saturday lunchtime entertainment but they face an intriguing proposition in Sean Dyche's Everton at G...
Feb 03, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Chapman is joined by David Ornstein & Adam Crafton to discuss Arsenals signing of Jorginho from Chelsea. Meanwhile Manchester United were also forced to react and make another loan signing - in Marcel Sabitzer - following injury to Cristian Eriksen Are these shrewd moves to help both clubs win trophies this season? Will this lead to bigger from both clubs signings in the summer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 02, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast David Ornstein and Liam Twomey join Mark Chapman to analyse Chelsea's British Transfer Record deal to sign World Cup winning Enzo Fernandez. The panel discuss how Chelsea managed to pull off the deal to sign the Argentine, the level of finance involved as well as taking a deeper look at the Blues' approach in the transfer market. Also, having spent over £600m since Todd Boehly's takeover what pressure is there on Graham Potter to deliver immediate results? Produced by Guy Clarke Learn more about...
Feb 01, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
