Share
The Game Football Podcast
Boxing Day Bonanza
•
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.
Leicester lose again - but is it right to blame Brendan Rodgers? (00:00)
Manchester City have a six point gap at the top of the Premier League - are they already out of sight? (07:59)
Chelsea must be thankful that Romelu Lukaku is back, but what does the future hold for Christian Pulisic? (12:29)
How much did Steven Gerrard’s absence affect Aston Villa’s Boxing Day performance? (22:19)
Will we see a return to games behind closed doors? Should the schedule be changed to give more breathing space between games? (28:32)
Spurs are doing the basics well under Antonio Conte, but how far can they go in the Italian’s first season? (35:56)
Arsenal continue their resurgence - was dropping Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang the key to them finishing in the top 4 at the end of the season? (45:06)
Are Norwich the worst ever Premier League side given they seem to have learned nothing from the last time they went down? (47:18)
What do West Ham need to do in order to stop their blip in form becoming a big problem? (49:49)
Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
More episodes
View all episodes
Champions League places, Trent booed and Man Utd Spurs misery
01:01:06|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 points. Why are both teams not in a relegation fight and is it fair that teams in 16th and 17th could end up in the Champions League?At Anfield some fans booed Trent Alexander Arnold. Is it a sign of the times or totally justified?Another trophyless season for Arsenal. Is the pressure on Arteta?
56:20|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 Barca and back again. Thirteen goals over two legs, has there been a better two legged semi-final?EFL Extra: Last day drama and play off predictions
35:31|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…?The race for Europe and Trent leaves Liverpool
58:44|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 strengthened their grip on a Champions League spot, while Brentford are making a late charge for the Conference league. Bournemouth are still in the race for Europe, thanks to beating Arsenal. It was far from ideal preparation for the Gunners ahead of a monumental week. Say it quietly, but could Arsenal end the season without a trophy while Spurs lift the Europa League…?Will Arsenal come back? And is Lamine Yamal the best in the world?
49:26|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 old. Is Barca’s Lamine Yama already the best player in the world? The panel are in awe of a remarkable, unplayable talent.EFL Extra: Who makes the play offs? Who is in a late relegation scrap?
39:12|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 Bowyer and Burton look to have pulled off a remarkable survival feat, while in League Two Walsall are in danger of a remarkable failure to get an automatic promotion spot.What’s so special about Arne Slot? And Birmingham City in Europe..?
58:44|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 meet the owner of newly promoted Birmingham City – Tom Wagner. Ambitious doesn’t do him justice. He knows the financial figures inside out and he is preparing for the very top, a derby with rivals Villa in the Champions League. And he wants Birmingham to knock Manchester off its perch as a footballing city. Is it realistic?How Liverpool won the title – inside story of Slot’s triumph
32:04|Liverpool have won their 20th league title. In his first season in charge manager Arne Slot has led his side to the top of the English game.How big an achievement is it and how was it done?Times Northern Football Correspondent Paul Joyce has followed Liverpool, and Slot, since his appointment at the end of last season.Here he gives an inside track on how the feat was achieved.How to stay in the Premier League and top five midfielders?
50:53|All the talk is Ange Postecoglou could be on his way out of Tottenham. Not so fast says Martin Samuel…he might have done better than you think. Could a Europa League win - especially if its over Man Utd - change the narrative?Whoever is in charge next season Spurs are unlikely to be in 15th place again. But for the promoted clubs, what do they have to do to stay up? The gulf in wages, playing staff and finances is bigger than ever. Is it fair? What are the challenges on and off the pitch facing the teams coming up.And the conclusion of our top five all time premier league midfielders debate. Gregor and Jonny have a list…