Amongst the chaos at Stamford Bridge yesterday there was a top draw performance from one of the usual suspects in Raheem Sterling. But despite being one of the best players on the pitch in Chelsea’s four four draw with Manchester City, Sterling has - once again - not made the latest England squad. So is Sterling being unfairly overlooked or has Gareth Southgate moved on with new faces, such as Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Man City writer Sam Lee, Chels...
Nov 13, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Adam Leventhal welcomes Jay Harris, Jon Mackenzie, and Omar Garrick to the studio to preview the weekend's fixtures. Chelsea vs Manchester City headlines the weekend's action as Pochettino's side look to claim another big scalp after taking down Spurs on Monday. Tottenham will look to regroup despite losing four key players to injury or suspension as they take a trip to Wolves. Elsewhere, Brighton are five games without a Premier League win; we ask Tifo tactics expert Jon Mackenzie whether other...
Nov 10, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Both Rasmus Hojlund and Nicolas Jackson have felt the weight of expectation following their respective summer moves to Man United and Chelsea. To analyse their starts to life in the Premier League Ayo Akinwolere is joined by former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor and ex-Brighton & Hove Albion forward Glenn Murray as well as The Athletic's Oliver Kay. The panel assess the impact of the environment both players are operating in, the options available within the transfer market for 'elite' clubs as w...
Nov 09, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's German football writers Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor as well as ex-Bundesliga striker Jan Aage Fjortoft to analyse Borussia Dortmund following their 2-0 Champions League win over Newcastle United. Having lost out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the 2022/23 season before selling Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid in the summer, the panel analyse what is possible for Edin Terzic's side both domestically and in Europe. With Bellingham ...
Nov 08, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Forget the famous ‘Battle of the Bridge’, Tottenham vs Chelsea was 'Monday night Madness' in North London. Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton, Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and Spurs writer Charlie Eccleshare to explore whether Postecoglou's side really emerged stronger in defeat? Plus, what can Chelsea take from a huge win that was arguably one of their worst performances of the season? Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay Beale Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead *** • Make ...
Nov 07, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Arteta's Arsenal were furious with VAR following their defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, but with just one shot on target in match - should they be more concerned with their own misfiring attack? From his brilliant hat-trick at home to Sheffield United - to being subbed with his team in need of a goal in Newcastle - has Nketiah become the fall-guy for Arsenal’s need to evolve in attack? Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein and Arsenal writer James McNicholas...
Nov 06, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Adam Leventhal and co return to preview the weekend of Premier League fixtures. Headlining the weekend is Arsenal's trip to Newcastle, their first away game at a top-six team so far this season. Can Newcastle withstand the Gunners even without new signings Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali to call upon? Jacob Whitehead, the Athletic's Newcastle correspondent, is on hand to tell us. Then it's a return to Tottenham for Mauricio Pochettino for the first time with a new club. Can his Chelsea team brea...
Nov 03, 2023•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Following Australia's withdrawal to host the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has been left as the sole bidder to stage world football's showpiece event. Matt Slater and Adam Crafton join Ayo Akinwolere to analyse how Saudi Arabia became the only bidder for the tournament, what benefit the Gulf state hosting the tournament brings to FIFA and the impact it could have on the wider football world. Plus the panel debate the discussion around Human Rights, following the scrutiny the Qatar Worl...
Nov 02, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last season in the Premier League it felt like there was a manager being sacked every week. This season, it feels like the writing’s on the wall for a few struggling clubs already... So is it a surprise that no head coaches have paid the price. And will November once again prove to be the start of 'sacking season'? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by he Athletic’s Dom Fifiled, Duncan Alexander & Jay Harris to discuss. Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay Beale Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead *** • Get C...
Nov 01, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Are Real Madrid about to leave Barcelona behind, both on and off the pitch? After losing Saturday’s El Clasico and then seeing Lionel Messi collect a record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or, you can bet there were a few people at Barcelona, hankering for the old days.. Add to that, Jude Bellingham’s goals, and last night’s Kopa Trophy win — the award for the best under-21 player - it's clear Real Madrid are looking towards the future. Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Barcelona writer Pol Ball...
Oct 31, 2023•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast At Old Trafford yesterday Manchester City proved once again they are levels above Manchester United. How much is Erik ten Hag to blame and is he right to say United are still moving in the right direction after being outclassed by City? Or with all the turmoil off pitch going on, at one of the worlds biggest clubs, does he simply have an impossible job? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton and Dan Sheldon. Produced by Guy Clarke Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead *** • Get Coor...
Oct 30, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Spiers, in for Adam Leventhal, hosts Jon Mackenzie, Reuben Pinder, and Omar Garrick for our weekly preview of the Premier League. Matchday 10 welcomes the Manchester derby, with United welcoming their City rivals to Old Trafford. Can United repeat their 2-1 victory from last season or will City continue to expose some of their neighbour's flaws? Elsewhere there's a West London derby as Chelsea welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge. The Blues once again impressed without winning last time out ...
Oct 27, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Two months on from his last appearance for Manchester United, Jadon Sancho seems no close to a first team return. The Athletic's Manchester United writers Laurie Whitwell and Carl Anka join Ayo Akinwolere to explain and analyse Sancho's ongoing exile with the 23-year-old currently banished from all first team involvement. As well as looking into the public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag the panel discuss where things had already been going wrong for the England international at Old Trafford b...
Oct 26, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast After Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Anfield in the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield required a full-scale re-build - with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at the heart of it. The 23-year-old is the only Liverpool outfielder to have played in all 810 minutes of the Premier League campaign so far, and is already a fan-favourite on Merseyside. Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein, data writer Mark Carey and Neil Atkinson fr...
Oct 25, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast Last night, Tottenham went two points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to goals from Maddison and captain, Son Heung-min. Michael Bailey is joined by Charlie Eccleshare and Adam Crafton to discuss whether Spurs are title contenders or if their incredible early season form is unsustainable? Plus, Liam Tharme shares his thoughts on how Son has adapted to the No.9 role and filled the goals void left by Kane, and the panel ask whether Ange Postecoglou deserves more respect? Produced by...
Oct 24, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the eve of his first anniversary as Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has Villa within striking distance of the top of the Premier League. Having returned to English football last season, following an ill-fated 18 month spell at Arsenal, Michael Bailey is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Gregg Evans to analyse the Spaniard's resurgence in the West Midlands. Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell shares his take on Villa's start to the season, their best season 1998/99, while Arsenal corresp...
Oct 23, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Adam Leventhal returns to preview Premier League matchday nine. The weekend starts with a Merseyside derby at Anfield. With only one win against Liverpool since 2010, can Sean Dyche’s team take advantage of Liverpool’s dodgy form in early kickoffs? Then we’re off to Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea host Arsenal. With Arsenal’s recent dominance we ask if the title of ‘biggest club in London’ has swung back to North London. And Man City host Brighton on the back of a blip, with three losses in the last...
Oct 20, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Contracted through to 2025, there's no immediate sign of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City. Yet with Roberto De Zerbi taking his Brighton & Hove Albion side to the Etihad this weekend, he could outlines his credentials to succeed the Spaniard at City with Guardiola a known admirer. Adam Levethal is joined by The Athletic's Italian and German football correspondents James Horncastle and Raphael Honigstein, with Man City writer Sam Lee also dropping in to assess Guardiola's impact on the Premi...
Oct 19, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast As England secured their place at Euro 2024, we watched on in awe at another Jude Bellingham masterclass - is there a better player in world football right now? And as England boss Gareth Southgate continues to bristle at questions over his team selection and along culture war lines - has the manager’s more 'combative' character, changed how you feel about him? Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic’s England correspondent Tim Spiers and reporter Adam Crafton to discuss... Produced by Adonis P...
Oct 18, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Host Adam Leventhal and a couple of The Athletic's resident gamers, Jay Harris & Art de Roché, reflect on the cultural impact, messy divorce and exciting future of FIF... EA SPORTS FC 24! Why Gianni Infantino will miss the PR cover the game inadvertently provided for FIFA and why EA were happy to go it alone. How the franchise pulled clear of rivals like Pro Evolution Soccer and their efforts to impact the sport in the real world. With interviews from David 'DJ' Jackson (VP of Brand at EA SPORTS...
Oct 17, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ahead of Manchester United’s board being set to vote on selling a minority stake in the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater, David Ornstein and Adam Crafton is debate the proposal. Following Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari group claiming to have withdrawn from the process the panel analyse Ratcliffe's offer to purchase a 25% minority stake in the club, in return for sporting control at Old Trafford. Plus there's debate around what impact it could have on ...
Oct 16, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this edition of the Weekend Preview we welcome another round of Euro 2024 qualifiers, with England potentially securing qualification if they can see off Italy on Tuesday. With the Three Lions in good shape ahead of Germany next summer, we ask the panel whether they’re comfortable with the ‘favourites’ tag and which countries fear them the most. Also, with the UK and Ireland having been confirmed as hosts of Euro 2028, our panelists get out their crystal balls to predict the starting lineups ...
Oct 13, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Following the release of the David Beckham documentary that everyone is talking about, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Carl Anka and Felipe Cardenas to discuss Beckham and how he became a global icon that broke America. We’ll also hear Adam in conversation with Paddy Harverson - former Manchester United Head of Communications, during the peak of Beckham’s celebrity. How much of the documentary is a true reflection of the player and the man? Or is it all part of the Brand...
Oct 12, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and our tactics writer Michael Cox to reflect on the career of Eden Hazard following his retirement this week. Was he a player that didn't quite hit the heights expected or was his approach to the game - married with his undoubted ability - make his achievements all the more impressive? We detail why his dream move to Real Madrid didn't work out and hear from Premier League defenders who actually had to try and stop Eden Hazar...
Oct 11, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Benji Lanyado & The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas to assess how quickly West Ham have rebuilt after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer... They discuss the work that manager David Moyes has done to integrate new summer signings and doubling-down on a style of play that has led to a surprisingly strong start in the Premier League. Roshane also shares details of Jarrod Bowen's new seven-year-contract and there is a closer look at how midfielder Lucas Paqueta has de...
Oct 10, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and reporter Adam Crafton following the Gunners' first Premier League win over Man City in almost eight years. The panel discuss the importance of the win over Pep Guardiola's side for Mikel Arteta before analysing Arsenal's summer transfer business and assessing whether or not it will be enough to help Arsenal leapfrog Man City in the Premier League. Plus, after five years in sole charge of the club, the role of the owne...
Oct 09, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Adam Leventhal returns as he does every Friday to preview the weekend's football. The showcase this week: a clash between last season's top two, as Arsenal host Manchester City. Can Arsenal snap their 12 (twelve!) game losing streak to the Citizens? Will Bukayo Saka be fit enough to play? And could the suspended Rodri be a game-changer? These are just some of the questions Adam and co will try to find answers to. Also on the docket, following Jurgen Klopp's replay wishes after an incorrect VAR c...
Oct 06, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Danny Donachie former Head of Medical Services at Everton, ex-Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke & The Athletic’s Oli Kay to discuss how elite footballers are facing the threat of injury and burnout in the ever expanding football calendar The panel discuss the huge demands on stars like Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe playing much more than similar players of previous generations yet continue to deliver on the world stage… So what can be ...
Oct 05, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Manchester United writers Andy Mitten and Mark Critchley to explore Marcus Rashford's 'streaky' goalscoring form and the weight of expectation on him at Man United... How does Erik ten Hag get Rashford back to his best, and could the budding partnership with new striker Rasmus Hojlund be the key? And after one-time United winger Wilfried Zaha returned to haunt them in the Champions League on Tuesday - why didn't it work out for him at Old Trafford? Produced by Adonis ...
Oct 04, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s George Caulkin and French football writer Tom Williams to explore some intriguing parallels between the state-backed 'projects' at both Newcastle & PSG - ahead of their hotly anticipated clash in the Champions League... Have Newcastle actually learnt from PSG’s mistakes, and, after turning over a new leaf under Luis Enrique - are PSG actually trying to be a bit more like Newcastle? Produced by Adonis Pratsides Additional Production: Mike Stavrou Executi...
Oct 03, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
