Share
The Game Football Podcast
Fathers, sons, money and mavericks
Genes count as three sons of former players star for Liverpool. As academy players are in the spotlight the team discuss the modern player, private education and clubs more holistic approach to their assets. Had Stan Bowles been a player now he may have had more help with gambling problems that beset his life, Martin and Tony share their memories of a great player with a crazy life.
With Wolves one game away from Wembley, is Gary O’Neil in line for manager of the season?
On to FFP and points deductions,
Finally, its Paul Pogba, Eric Ten Hag and martin makes a bold prediction about Brighton.
Timeline:
FA Cup
2’ Klopps trust in the kids
3’ This is Klopp’s chance to play the kids, they won’t be playing against City in two weeks. Great for the Dads. Three kids there all whose dads got them playing.
5’ How have Liverpool not conceded in last two games?
7’ all seem well rounded young men. Moulding good young people not just players.
8’ Players with pros as parents know how to stay the course.
11’ Lots of young players sent to private school by clubs.
14’ They’ve done brilliant but a long way to go.
17’ At Wolves, Gary O’Neil, took over five days before season started. He could get them to a Wembley semi/final.
20’ He has walked in and not asked for too much change.
Everton points deduction
23’ six is better then ten. But its still too much.
24’ Not good to have lawyers deciding league placings.
25’ guidelines are better than nothing. But still no structure.
26’ we need clear rules.
27’ Everton will now be fine, little danger of relegation.
Stan Bowles
32’ A maverick, a gambler, and an entertainer.
33’ Many stories about the colourful life, playing snakes and ladders for £50 a corner…
34’ The stories obscure how good he was as a player. In 74’ QPR were 14 mins from winning the league.
37’ Don shanks compared him to Aguero, he was a continental footballer in Britain. Tony thinks Zola.
38’ there was a sad side to stan. He had a testimonial and gambled all the money away within a few weeks.
Brighton
42’ Martin thinks Brighton are too good…they will keep losing good staff and good players. You can’t sustain that.
44’ No matter the data team, at some point you can’t pull another rabbit out the hat.
45’ Bloom is a genius; he is possibly the best owner of a club in the world.
Pogba
53’ Pogba banned for four years for doping. effectively ending his career
54’ Very sad, Sad way for a player of his talent to end his career. It won’t end with this, there is more to come out.
Manchester derby
56’ who knows, Martin can’t predict.
57’ I can’t see how he [Ten Hag] can be there man for next season. Because if he was, they’d have come out and said it.
60’ fabulous team, but you just can’t get the ball off them. Be amazed if Man City don’t win
More episodes
View all episodes
A Happy Christmas for Liverpool; Bah Humbug for Spurs, United and City
01:02:51|Another pulsating game at the Tottenham stadium, another win for Liverpool another six conceded for Spurs. Is the title Liverpool’s to lose? For Ange Postecoglou is it injuries or game management?Rubin Amorim was left scratching his head as Manchester United were beaten at home - again - by Bournemouth.Across Manchester, City continue to struggle…could Pep even walk?Plus, when did Burnley beat Manchester united 6-1?Tom Clarke, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Hamzah Khalique Loonat look back at all the weekends action.What next for Marcus Rashford? And a great League Cup line up
01:00:01|Marcus Rashford looks to be on his way out of Manchester United.A tail of a talent lost or stalled? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Tony Cascarino join Tom Clarke to discuss how he ended up here and what happens next for him and the club.Everton have finally secured a take over deal. Where is their true place in the pecking order - big club or a midtable club?After the break a thorough look at the League Cup and is the Community Shield a trophy – Mikel Arteta thinks so…City keep losing; Chelsea keep winning. Plus sackings and the greatest saves
56:42|If Pep Guardiola is the greatest manager of the modern era, its time for him to prove his worth.Manchester City are a “crumbling dynasty” losing again in a derby where they looked nervous throughout. While a Chelsea team with four ex City players in it and a manager honed under Guardiola are now two off the top and “having a lot of fun, playing with palpable joy.”Rubin Amorim has again showed who is in charge by dropping Marcus Rashford from the squad and has his tram playing in his patterns.Elsewhere, time to give Nottingham Forest due credit; managerial sackings and great saves.Paul hirst, Tom Allnutt, Alyson Rudd and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to analyse a very busy weekend.Saudi saga and more trouble in Manchester
01:02:52|World Cup 2034 is heading to Saudi Arabia and WC 2030 to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Martin Samuel was revolted by proceedings… “FIFA conducted two one horse races yesterday.”Is it a decision to grow the game, or a demonstration of 'money talks' ?Martin joins Tom Clarke, Tony Cascarino and Jonathan Northcroft who offer their thoughts on the decision, the process and Gianni Infantino.Elsewhere, more problems in Manchester. Who is to blame for the mess at United? Is Dan Ashworth a patsy? With one win in ten for Manchester City is it now a crisis? And Tony takes a closer look at Haaland.EFL EXTRA: Our Friends in the North
40:34|The top of the Championship is dominated by teams from the north – Sheffield United, Leeds, Burnley, Sunderland, Middlesborough and Blackburn.Martin Hardy joins Tom Clarke to look at who is best placed to kick on. A Leeds squad with great depth, a rejuvenated Sheffield United or a Burnley team with a very tight defence?Sunderland had a rough November but got a win last time out. Is their success based on two teenage midfielders? Middlesborough play a style of progressive football which reflects their manager, Michael Carrick. And Blackburn Rovers are a “neat, tidy and controlled team.” Will it be enough for the play offs? A quick look at League One and League Two and Martin’s wonderful story about Andy Carroll.Chelsea shine; Tottenham capitulate; INEOS embarrass
01:05:48|Can Chelsea win the title? Some think it is a silly question, but why?Were Spurs trying to perpetuate the ‘Spursy’ cliché? Two up at home but ending in defeat. Where now for a beleaguered Ange Postecoglou?Fulham are no longer just pretty, they’re gritty and they might have just solved how to defend an Arsenal corner. For Arsenal are they creating enough chances from open play when they are level or behind in a game…?More upheaval at Manchester United a loss on the pitch and a departure off it. None of it reflects well on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.Peter Rutzler, Hamzah Khaliqe Loonat and Alyson Rudd join Tom Clarke.Unstoppable corners and managers under pressure…
01:00:50|A six-goal thriller at St James Park allowed Arsenal, Chelsea and City to pick up points on Liverpool. Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel wax lyrical about Trent Alexander Arnold – “I’ve never seen anyone kick a football like that!”Tom Clarke asks the team – how do you stop Arsenal at corners?Chelsea are no longer Cole Palmer plus ten others, they’re now a serious team.A touching and funny tribute from Tony Cascarino to his and Millwall’s former manager John DochertyAnd the managerial merry-go-round could be due a spin with Gary O’Neil and Julen Lopetegui under pressure.Who is in the title race?
01:00:04|Manchester City are out of the title race…right? Some think they might even have a fight on for top four. Liverpool by contrast looked in control throughout and playing in a variety of ways too. Could Arsenal and Chelsea be Liverpool’s biggest challengers for the title? With Odegaard back Arsenal look at their free scoring best. Chelsea, with a young squad, finally look to be repaying the billion pounds spent on them. Tom Allnutt even thinks there is a chance for Manchester United to creep into the top four. That could be at the expense of Aston Villa who haven’t won a Premier League game since October. What’s gone wrong?Tom Clarke is joined by Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-LoonatHow good is Arne Slot? What’s too old in football?
01:02:58|Under Arne Slot Liverpool are top of the Premier League and the new Champions League format. They’ve beaten Real Madrid for the first time in fifteen years; lost once in nineteen games and all with little fuss. It begs the question: just how good is Arne Slot. After the break Pep Guardiola’s woes continue. Be it confidence, injuries or tactics this is no longer a blip for Manchester City. What happens next? Arsenal by contrast seem to have turned a corner are they Liverpool’s main challengers now. Finally, Lampard in at Coventry and Van Nistelrooy at Leicester…