The Game Football Podcast

It has already been a busy summer of transfer activity. Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool have all brought big signings in to their teams.

In this episode we hear the latest from Manchester City’s camp as they welcome new signing Rayan Cherki to their Club World Cup campaign and from our Liverpool reporter Paul Joyce as they prepare to break the British record transfer fee for Florian Wirtz.

Plus, a low ...

First, they were embarrassed, then they were humiliated. It wasn’t the start Thomas Tuchel had in mind for his England team.

How big are the problems he faces – a full rebuild or just cosmetic? To make matters worse Tuchel gave an interview in which he referred to his star player Jude Bellingham. He suggested his behaviour could be perceived as repulsive by some. Were the comments a distraction from a loss to Senegal, or a hint at d...

Seventeen days after ending Spurs’ seventeen year wait for a trophy Ange Postecoglou was out, sacked by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Was it the right decision? Was leading Spurs to their lowest finish in over forty years a sackable offence? Or are the club constantly asking their managers to overachieve, given their wage bill in comparison to other top six teams?

Thomas Frank looks to be in line to replace Postecoglou, what will ...

Will England be the best prepared team at next year’s World Cup? Will it matter?

As they head into a friendly with Andorra how many true tests of his team will Thomas Tuchel face before the World Cup? And what has happened to England's forward line from the 2022 Euros…only one remains first choice at his club.

Domestically teams are making early moves in the transfer market. Could Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo be good signing for Ma...

PSG finally have their European crown, and they look phenomenal in winning it. Did their demolition of Inter Milan set a new standard? Gone are gifted forwards who don’t work for the team, now talents such as Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia putting in performances with breath taking effort from start to finish. What st them apart as a team this year?

But… is their triumph tainted by where the money comes from? Does the influence of...

The play offs are done and dusted. 

For Sunderland their manager Regis Le Bris championed his team’s togetherness, it showed as they scored another last gasp winner. For Sheffield united, heart break as their woeful Wembley record continues.

In League One Charlton went through the play offs without conceding a goal, that was enough to see off Leyton Orient. Manager Nathan Jones made no apology for his teams approach.

A scrappy Le...

With the Champions League places decided it's time to evaluate who is happy with their season?

Forest we're tipped for relegation but ended up in Europe. But after missing out on Champions League football will it still feel like a failure?

Spurs finished 17th but won a trophy, did they have a better season than rivals Arsenal?

And for Aston Villa, did their season come down to one officiating decision?

Our end of season awards - manage...

Is Spurs first trophy in seventeen years vindication for their manager Ange Postecoglou?

Despite finishing 17th in the league they’ll be playing Champions League football next season and Ange was true to his word, he won a trophy in his second season. Will he stay?

For the losers Manchester United it will be their worst finish in Premier League history, no European football next season and squad in need of a re build. But is Ruben Am...

It's play off finals weekend. Is it something fans love or hate? For some it is hard to enjoy the stomach churning, nerve shredding matches with so much at stack. For others it is a free hit at glory, a day out at the national stadium and the tantalising hope of what if we actually win…

In the Championship both Sunderland and Sheffield United have appalling Wembley records, one will at least be changing that.

In League One Leyton Ori...

Crystal Palace have won their first major trophy – the FA Cup! Oliver Glasner’s side beat Man City 1-0 giving Palace European football next season. How did they do it and will they be able to hold on to their best players and their manager?

For runners up Manchester city where now? A star striker who didn’t want a penalty, a manager who may or may not stay and their first trophy less season since 2016/17.

In the Premier League; q...

As Taiwo Awoniyi recovers from a very serious injury, is it time to review VAR protocols. If it is a clear and obvious offside, why are officials told not to flag? Are the consequences more injuries for players?

With Saudi Arabia and Spain starting to attract some of the world’s top footballing talent is the Premier League getting complacent in its ability to retain the world’s best?

He FA Cup final could be a feast of attacking foo...

The race for Europe is going down to the wire. After spending all season at the top are Forest on the brink of throwing it away, does a ‘passionate’ owner help or hinder? Newcastle look strong after a pivotal win over rivals Chelsea and with City faltering Aston Villa are still in contention for top five. Villa’s last two games are against Spurs and Man Utd. Any other season that would be tough, this year it looks a guaranteed six ...

The dream is over for Arsenal. How does Mikel Arteta turn his team from nearly men to winners? Is he even the man to do it?

Arteta described Arsenal as the best team in Europe. None of the panel can understand how he justifies a statement like that. If he oversees the summer changes what is needed? Some even think that his team may have gone backwards this season.

The other semi final was an all time classic. Seesawing from Inter to ...

The final day of the regular season didn’t disappoint. Twenty four thousand turned out for Bradford v Fleetwood…in the fourth tier. Leeds and Burnley both reach one hundred points in the Championship and Leyton Orient storm into the League One playoffs on the back of five straight wins.

‘Producer Neil’ joins Gregor Robertson to review the final day and ponder who makes it to the play off finals at Wembley…? 

Trent Alexander Arnold has finally confirmed what seemed inevitable – he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. His destination is not yet confirmed, but it is widely thought to be Real Madrid. What will be the Liverpool fan’s reaction be to a player won everything with his childhood club? ‘How could you’ or ‘all the best’? And how will he fit in at Real?

In the league the race for Europe is very tight. Chelsea look to have ...

It was a tough night for Arsenal at the Emirates as they were largely second best to PSG. What hope do they have for a second leg in Paris? Well, PSG don’t have a set piece coach, could that be Arsenal’s best bet? What if any weaknesses do PSG have?

The other semi-final was a classic. Inter Milan showed all their guile and solidity to get a three three draw in Barcelona. But their performance was overshadowed by a seventeen year ol...

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson round up the penultimate round of fixtures in the EFL. Slowly but surely the key places are being decided. In the Championship Sunderland are limping into the play offs, while Blackburn and Millwall are on a charge. Game of the final weekend is a winner takes all between Coventry and Middlesborough At the bottom Preston have been pulled into a late relegation fight.

In League One Gary ...

Liverpool have finally clinched their 20th league title. Arne Slot has landed the big one in his first season in charge. How did he do it, can he repeat it next year and is it unfair to look at the legacy left by Jurgen Klopp?

In the FA Cup Alyson Rudd is Crystal Palace’s lucky charm – she interviewed Oliver Glasner ahead of the final and was impressed by his bold approach. What now for Aston Villa?

Finally Gregor Robertson went to ...