Jimbo and the Euro crew are back after a weekend of moving and manoeuvring across the continent. Joao Felix is on his way from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea. Have the Blues struck gold or is this the latest error in a case study in how not to help a manager? Barcelona go 3 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga but are we looking at a two horse race with weak horses? Didier Deschamps is staying as France manager but it’s the disrespecting of Zinedine Zidane by the head of the FFF that’s ...
Jan 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Adrian Clarke and Tim Spiers into the pod after a pulsating FA Cup 3rd round weekend. Chelsea are thrashed by Man City at the Etihad and we have that crazy conversation about Graham Potter’s future at the Bridge. Are the players playing for Potter? Do the fans need to accept some short-term pain for long-term gain? Wolves fall victim to some questionable offside decisions in their draw with Liverpool at Anfield as Lopetegui continues to improve the players. But Emer...
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Benji Lanyado reconvene to discuss a hectic midweek Premier League schedule and FA Cup 3rd round weekend. A turbulent week on Merseyside with Liverpool losing at Brentford and losing Virgil Van Dijk for the foreseeable future. How much do they need to make the top 4 during this transitional season? Everton are hammered 4-1 by Brighton as the pressure intensifies on Frank Lampard. And it may already be red hot in the hot-seat at St Mary’s after just...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast After nearly 2 months apart, the Euro crew of Jimbo, Raphael Honigstein, James Horncastle, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo are back and in full effect. Ligue 1 returns with Lens closing the gap on PSG to 4 points by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on the Parisians. Will Lionel Messi help or hinder PSG when he returns? La Liga is back with unfortunately another racism controversy and with referee Mateu Lahoz adding to his celebrity status. Serie A restarts on Wednesday with Napoli ...
Jan 03, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the first pod of 2023, Jimbo is joined by Tim Spiers, Nick Miller and Matt Davies-Adams in the middle of a bumper Premier League schedule. We keep expecting them to falter but Arsenal go 7 points clear at the top of the table. What exactly will be the thing that stops them going all the way? The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe tells us how chasing Man City slipped up against Everton. Up next for City, it’s Chelsea. It’s another disappointing weekend for Graham from Solihull as the Blues are pegged ...
Jan 02, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo is joined by Daniel Storey, Adrian Clarke and Lynsey Hooper to reflect on a feast of festive football in the Premier League. Arsenal kept their title-challenging form going by beating West Ham in front of a returning Arsène Wenger. Newcastle United also carried on their ominous pre-World Cup form by swatting aside Leicester City. Yorkshireman Erling Haaland returned to his place of birth. His two goals for Manchester City against Leeds United saw him become the fastest player to reach twen...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo is joined by Charlie Eccleshare, Carl Anka and Matt Davies-Adams for a revelatory refresher on the return of the Premier League on Boxing Day. With the World Cup now in the rear view mirror, can Arsenal hang on to top spot domestically without Gabriel Jesus? Can Miguel Almiron maintain his electrifying form? And can the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool force their way into the top 4? At the other end of the table, is there more mutiny around the corner at Everton? Plus we get an update on th...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Tim Spiers, Adrian Clarke and Daniel Storey react to an amazing day for football, as the game’s best player stars in the game’s best ever match to win the game’s biggest prize. Argentina dethrone France as world champions via penalty shoot-out after an enthralling 3-3 draw, as Lionel Messi cements his legacy on the grandest stage. With added reaction from Julien Laurens and Martin Mazur, we try and get to the bottom of what the hell happened in Doha. The Dir Maria selection, the Deschamps...
Dec 19, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s a crossover episode as Totally migrates to the Tifo studio, with Jimbo, Sasha Goryunov, JJ Bull and Jon Mackenzie discussing who will lift the World Cup - France or Argentina? Will Deschamps or Scaloni win the tactical battle? Will Mbappe or Messi steal the show? Or will it be all-rounder Julian Alvarez? And when was the last time we got a great World Cup final? Plus why Antoine Griezmann is worth his weight in gold, why we should tune in to Croatia v Morocco and why you should buy Azzedine...
Dec 15, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo discusses the second semi-final with Duncan Alexander and Tom Williams as France continue their defence of the World Cup. Les Bleus see off Morocco without dazzling but once again getting the job done. We discuss how Antoine Griezmann became the midfield dynamo that Didier Deschamps’ tactical approach depends upon. Their opponents on Sunday will be Argentina. Martin Mazur tells us how everyone is singing, everyone wants stickers and everyone wants to do it for Messi instead of Messi doing ...
Dec 15, 2022•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Raphael Honigstein and Charlie Eccleshare into the pod as Argentina book their ticket to the World Cup final. Croatia are overcome by La Albiceleste in the first semi-final on Tuesday, with Messi continuing to dazzle in Qatar. Does Argentina effectively playing with 10 men and luxury Lionel show the differences between elite club competition and the World Cup? France or Morocco await for Argentina in the final. Can the holders succeed where Spain and Portugal failed in finding a w...
Dec 14, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo’s got a stacked card of Carl Anka, Adrian Clarke, Dom Fifield, Daniel Storey, Maher Mezahi and Natalie Gedra as the World Cup semi-finals are set in stone. Holders France eliminate England but Gareth Southgate’s side show attacking intent and outplay the world champions so are there reasons to be cheerful? Plus hear why Saka needs more protection and why Griezmann is the player of the tournament. Not up for France - Morocco, a team dripping with tactical discipline, who become the first Af...
Dec 11, 2022•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Tim Spiers and Sasha Goryunov gather their thoughts after an incredible day of quarter-final action in Qatar. Argentina overcome the Netherlands on penalties after a game that features comebacks, late drama, the pass of the tournament and the free-kick of the tournament. Messi and co will face Croatia in the semi-finals after they defeat Brazil in a shootout. Slaven Bilic joins us in the studio to detail what makes his country so effective at team sports. Saturday’s quarter-finals see Mor...
Dec 10, 2022•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast After 17 days of non-stop action, Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Tim Spiers and Daniel Storey take stock after another huge day at the World Cup. Portugal smash the Swiss 6-1 to progress to the quarter-finals, on an evening where all of Fernando Santos’s decisions paid off. Including dropping Cristiano Ronaldo for hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos. Morocco become just the 4th African team ever to reach the last 8 of the World Cup. As Maher Mezahi explains, a star is born in manager Walid Regragui. But wher...
Dec 07, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo has Liam Tharme and Sasha Goryunov for company to reflect on a quite spectacular performance by Brazil who blew past South Korea. Natalie Gedra gives us her thoughts on the Seleção's dominating display at Stadium 974. Brazil will face Croatia in the quarter-finals after Luka Modric and co huffed and puffed their way past Japan in a game that featured perhaps the worst penalty shoot out of all time. Also in the podcast, we look ahead to Tuesday's last 16 ties, with Switzerland taking on Por...
Dec 06, 2022•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka, Lynsey Hooper, Julien Laurens and Jack Pitt-Brooke into the pod after a bumper day of last 16 World Cup action. England, inspired by Jude Bellingham, ease past Senegal in convincing fashion. Maybe Gareth Southgate is good at this managing at major tournaments malarkey. That said, the Three Lions face the French in the quarter-finals, after the holders pick off Poland. Olivier Giroud completes his remarkable career story by becoming his nation’s all time top scorer. And ...
Dec 05, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo’s joined by Michael Cox and Tim Spiers as the knockout stages of the World Cup get underway. Argentina make their way past a spirited Australia with Lionel Messi turning it on. But is it their defensive steel that could take them all the way? The Netherlands impress as they brush aside USA with the wing-backs flourishing and Memphis Depay opening the scoring from a 20 pass move. As for America, Paul Tenorio tells us the striker search starts now. England battle Senegal and the ITV curse on...
Dec 04, 2022•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Jimbo, Tom Williams and Sasha Goryunov on the pod after Day 13 of the World Cup. South Korea score an unbelievably late winner to progress from Group H leaving Uruguay to do some Seoul searching. Korean journalist Sungmo Lee gives us his reaction. Uruguay’s win over Ghana wasn’t enough for them and the Black Stars were awarded another penalty against the South Americans...which the they missed. Just a little bit of history repeating… In Group G, Serbia succumbed to Switzerland 3-2 despite t...
Dec 03, 2022•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Jimbo, Lynsey Hooper and Duncan Alexander on the pod after Day 12 of the World Cup. Japan and Morocco make surprise progressions and Belgium and Germany make surprise exits. The reigning runners up Croatia progress despite some uninspiring performances so far. Juraj Vrdoliak gives us the perspective from Croatia. Germany are one of two big teams to go out today and Rafa Honigstein gives us his reaction from the bowels of the Al Bayt Stadium. We look back to look ahead as Ghana and Uruguay p...
Dec 02, 2022•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Jimbo, Maram AlBaharna and Tim Spiers on the pod after Day 11 of the World Cup as Australia, Argentina and Poland advance to the knockout stages. Samantha Lewis joins us after Australia pulled off a shock knockout stage progression at Denmark’s expense. Argentina make early fears of a premature exit after their defeat to Saudi Arabia seem premature after a comfortable win over a Poland side who started counting yellow cards to avoid elimination. Mexico so nearly made it through but a conser...
Dec 01, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Jimbo, Adrian Clarke and Matt Davies-Adams in the pod after Day 10 of the World Cup as England and USA advance to the knockout stages. Alex Abnos joins us on the final whistle after USA win the tactical battle with Iran and show they have players for the big occasion. It’s a stroll for England against Wales with the recalled Rashford and Foden grabbing the goals. A good night for Southgate and for Rashford, unrecognisable from where he was a year ago Next up for the Three Lions, steely Sene...
Nov 30, 2022•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Sasha Goryunov and Duncan Alexander gather to summarise Day 9 of the World Cup. We had two contenders for game of the tournament on the same day! Cameroon took the lead against Serbia but the Serbs scored three in succession to lead 3-1 only for Cameroon to drag it back to 3-3. The result probably means both sides are out but Vincent Aboubakar did score a lovely lob. Ghana looked like they were sailing to victory with a 2-0 lead over South Korea heading into half time. Then two goals in t...
Nov 29, 2022•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Tim Spiers and Adrian Clarke gather to summarise Day 8 of the World Cup as Germany stay alive. It’s all about the supersubs for Spain and Germany as the spoils are shared in Qatar. Is Niclas Fullkrug the long awaited answer to Hansi Flick’s striking problems? Morocco upset underwhelming Belgium in Group F. Maher Mezahi joins us to celebrate manager Walid Regragui. Canada become the second team to exit the competition after defeat to Croatia. They’re creative but why were they naive? And a...
Nov 28, 2022•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo’s joined by Michael Cox and Dom Fifield to dissect a pivotal Day 7 of World Cup action. Argentina stay in the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Mexico in Doha. Is this the start of something special? Or are they too reliant on Messi magic? And elsewhere in Group C, it’s a big day for Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczesny. France are the first nation through to the last 16 with the irresistible Kylian Mbappe leading the holders to victory over Denmark. And it looks like Australia could ...
Nov 27, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Day 6 of the World Cup and Jimbo’s joined by Tom Williams, Liam Thame, Omid Djalili and more! England and USA battle to a goalless draw as The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio once again rues missed opportunities for the US. And why can’t Gareth Southgate find room for Phil Foden? The early game between Wales and Iran highlights the agony of sporting defeat, the ecstasy of sporting victory and as Omid outlines, the grief surrounding what’s happening back home in Iran. But can progress to the last 16 help...
Nov 26, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka and Adrian Clarke into the studio on Day 5 of the World Cup. Favourites Brazil opened their campaign by seeing off Serbia 2-0 courtesy of two goals from Richarlison. ESPN Brazil’s Natalie Gedra says aloha from Doha to give her reaction. Uruguay and South Korea brought us yet another 0-0 in this World Cup. Switzerland edged past Cameroon 1-0 as goalscorer Bree Embolo didn’t celebrate netting against the land of his birth. Plus Portugal beat Ghana in a thrilling 3-2 victor...
Nov 25, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander and Sasha Goryunov into the studio on Day 4 of the World Cup. The less said about Morocco versus Croatia the better but after that there were some amazing games. Japan pegged back 2014 world champions Germany to produce the biggest shock of the tournament… had Saudi Arabia not beaten Argentina. The German players showed that a protest is actually possible at this World Cup with hands over their mouths and rainbows on their laces. Spain smacked Costa Rica for seven...
Nov 24, 2022•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo is joined by Jay Harris, Liam Tharme, James Horncastle, Joshua Kloke and Wael Jabir after a historic day 3 in Qatar. Saudi Arabia shock the world by coming from behind to beat Argentina. How far can the Saudis go? How much did the lack of a plan B expose Lionel Scaloni? We look ahead to Wednesday’s action as The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke previews the biggest game in the history of the Canadian national team as they prepare to take on the number 2 ranked team in the world Belgium. Canada don’...
Nov 23, 2022•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo welcomes Carl Anka and Tom Williams into the studio on Day 2 of the World Cup, a day that generates as much conversation off the field as on it. England hammer Iran 6-2 with Gareth Southgate throwing caution to the wind with his high full-backs and Bellingham showing why he might be a player that shapes the next decade. But it’s a colossal missed opportunity as England and other European nations back down from their previous stance of wearing the One Love captain’s armband for fear of sanc...
Nov 22, 2022•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jimbo, Duncan Alexander and Matt Davies-Adams take in the opening day of the 2022 World Cup. Ecuador ease to a comfortable victory over the hosts. Are Qatar among the worst teams to compete at a World Cup or were they just overawed by the occasion? Monday sees England open their campaign against Iran as they look to score some goals for once, while pale horse the Netherlands take on Mane-less Senegal. Tom Williams sings Wales’ prospects ahead of their fixture with the USA while Sam Stejskal tell...
Nov 20, 2022•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
