Share
The Game
Are Spurs and Liverpool title contenders? And who is the most exciting young English player...
Ally Rudd, Gregor Robertson and James Restall join Tom Clarke on Mondays edition of The Game.
After reflecting on another one-sided Manchester derby they move on to who can win the title. Spurs fans are dreaming, and Ange is happy they are…but can it last. And what of Liverpool, three off the top, getting better and with players returning to form.
After the break a quick look at Calvert Lewin’s form and finally who is the most exciting ever young English player? Gazza, Rooney, Owen, Bellingham?
Timeline:
Manchester derby
2’ Man Utd had average plan A, no plan B.
6’ Mason Mount only had 14 touches. No balance in midfield.
9’ Who is at fault, poor signings, signings not performing, or a club with a poor culture.
12’ no identity, and doesn’t have the players to create the identity Ten Hag wants.
17’ Will Haaland win the Ballon’ D’or. Or is it Mesi all the way
Can they win the league…
20’ Can Spurs win the title? They’re adaptable, tough, confident and no longer flakey. Big strong team. In short, it’s not impossible.
24’ They believe they can win it. That’s half the battle. Son been amazing.
28’ outstanding centre halves, decent squad depth.
32’ The coaching improvement is impressive.
Liverpool Forest
36’ City’s biggest challengers. Very creative midfield, not as reliant on fullbacks.
38’ very good signings. Dominik Szoboszlai could be a special player. Firs the club very well.
44’ Forest had a tough start, individual mistakes, but Cooper probably happy…for now.
44’ Got a good structure, hard to breakdown. A platform to build from.
Everton and Calvert Lewin
46’ Is he in the fight to be Kane’s understudy?
48’ great goal, good for Dyche.
49’ Ally met Kenwright.
Best ever young English young player
55’ Gregor played against Rooney, a shuddering experience. Bellingham will have impact but not the same shocking impact. Others…Owen, Walcott, Gazza.
59’ With Kane and Bellingham, can England win the euro’s…
More episodes
View all episodes
Pep’s last season? And will Palmer make the World Cup?
50:33|Artificial pitch and injuries aside Man City lost to Bode Glimt, a team who haven’t won in the Champions League all season. After the match Pep Guardiola said, ‘everything was wrong.’ Could this be his final season in charge? Is he tired or ready for a rebuild?Chelsea won, but Cole Palmer was missing again…is his England place no in doubt? Elsewhere another memorable goal for Dominic Szoboszlai…is he a captain in the making, relief for Thomas Frank and unrest at Crystal Palace.Tom Clarke joins Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor RobertsonManagerial magic at Old Trafford but misery for Frank and Glasner
58:08|Michael Carrick brought back a touch of the glory days for Manchester United fans on Saturday. his team were on the front foot as they beat a lack lustre Manchester City. Was it a one off or is he finally the man to bring back some cheer to Old Trafford?With City losing it was time for other to capitalise. no one did. Arsenal eeked out an extra point, but the top four look a little tame. Is it a poor season or is the rest of the league just getting better?At the AFCON bizarre scenes saw Sengal leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision. Can that ever be justified...?and shoudl anyone be feeling sorry for Thomas Frank or Oliver glasner? Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor robertson, alyson rudd, Paul Hirst and Ian HawkeyVAR and Chelsea drop the ball
56:08|It was VAR and goalkeeping errors that made the headlines across the two League Cup semi-finals. Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez gifted two goals to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and at St James Park a bizarre decision from VAR denied Man City a goal. New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior picked the goalkeeper but he didn’t pick Palmer, Gusto or James seemingly at the prompting of his medical department. Is this a worrying early sign for the new man? If you had the choice, would you get rid of VAR? Is it worth the trouble it causes?After the break, where can Carrick take Man Utd and favourite rivalries ahead of the Manchester derby. Tom Clarke joins Martin Samuel, Tony Cascarino and Gregor RobertsonShocks, goals and managers under pressure
55:44|Upsets, late drama, near misses and lots of goals. The FA Cup third round had it all.It may have lost some of its shine in recent years but at the weekend the FA Cup showed why it is still the greatest cup competition in the world. Macclesfield pulled off what was on paper the biggest shock in the history of the competition…but it didn’t look like that on the pitch. There was misery at Spurs and Manchester United what next for the managers at both clubs? Michael Carrick looks set to be appointed interim manager of Manchester United but what is expected from him? And for Thomas Frank is it ‘the end of days’ ?Tom Clarke, Tom Allnutt, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor Robertson review a frantic weekend of football.Who is next for Man Utd? Plus mid week match reviews
54:35|“If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the answer, what the hell is the question!?”Man Utd look like going back to the future, is that the right answer for one of the biggest clubs in the world?Is the problem in the mangers seat, or is it the executives at the club?Elsewhere coffee cups are the least of Thomas Franks problems at Spurs, West Ham are doomed and with injuries to Man City defenders and Villa drawing - has it been Arsenal’s best week of the season? Will they capitalise against Liverpool...?EFL Extra: The winners and losers from the festive period
41:15|Coventry did not have a good Christmas – is it a slip or the rot setting in?Ipswich and Watford by contrast had a bumper Christmas. With the squad at their disposal Ipswich look ominous and despite a slow start Wrexham are now only a point below the play offs in ninth.In League One, much to Tom’s delight it's hard to look past Lincoln City who beat Cardiff, Stockport, Huddersfield and Peterborough over Christmas…can they really stay the course? At the bottom Rotherham are on an awful slide – is there any way back for the Millers?Hats off to Bromley in League Two, but Walsall…not again surely!?Ruben Amorim Sacked!
57:55|Never a club to be upstaged Manchester United sack their manager Ruben Amorim just four days after Chelsea sacked their manager Enzo Maresca.Are both decisions a reflection of failing managers or failing hierarchy’s?Who is in line for both jobs at two of the biggest clubs in England? And whoever gets them, who will have the tougher job – at Chelsea or Manchester United?After the break Arsenal look like title winners, West Ham look doomed and everything at Spurs looks unhappy.Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Pete Rutzler and Alyson Rudd give their verdicts on Ruben Amorim’s sacking.New Year, same old chaotic Chelsea
55:18|It's the new year, Enzo Maresca is out, but what does the future hold for both the manager and the club? And is Liam Rosenoir the right choice to replace Maresca? On the latest episode of The Game, the team also discuss Arsenal's statement win against Aston Villa, Liverpool's draw with Leeds and another big performance from Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. And finally with the increased use of set pieces we continue the debate about entertainment in the modern game. Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat.Which teams had a Happy Christmas and which didn't?
58:33|Reaction to all the Christmas fixtures as Villa keep winning, Arsenal look nervous and City look ominous. If Villa win at Arsenal can they go all the way?Are Liverpool's signings starting to click and hats of to Keith Andrews and Regis Le Bris.Elsewhere, Palace look knackered, Ruben Amorim finally plays a back four, West Ham need to buy a defender or they are down and will Iraola change his system?Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson.We'll be back on Friday to review the new year fixtures and predict the rest of 2026. Happy New Year and we'll see you then.