Share
The Game Football Podcast
Gunners fire, Liverpool stall. United hope, Chelsea despair
Arsenal are back in the title race, but are Liverpool suffering the delayed effects of Jurgen Klopp’s announcement last week? Tom, Alyson, Gregor, and Tony discuss the result at the Emirates and where it leaves both teams. It was a positive weekend for Manchester United, two wins on the bounce and Erik Ten Hag more upbeat than ever, have they finally turned a corner?
Chelsea by contrast go from bad to worse. The team see no light at the end of the tunnel for a team over budget, with no identity, no character and facing FFP restrictions. No such trouble at Wolves who are a showcase for the ability of Gary O’Neil…will Crystal Palace come calling if he isn’t given a new contract by Wolves soon. And a quick tip of the hat for Luton.
Timeline:
Arsenal v Liverpool
2’ Keepers at fault, Alisson and Reya, should have stayed on their line.
4’ the let down after Klopp’s announcement
6’ Nunez should start if fit.
7’ poor as a team, off the pace, Trent AA nose out of joint.
10’ Arsenal were fantastic. Structured, first goal was great.
11’ Brave on the ball at the back, resisting Liverpool’s press
13’ What do Liverpool do now?
18’ It’s a reset moment for Liverpool…will they or not?
Manchester united
20’ Positive signs, two wins on the trot.
21’ there is balance in the team with Shaw and Martinez back. Mainoo offers legs alongside Casimero.
22’ Ten Hag suddenly has a predictable eleven.
25’ The Kobbie Mainoo goal could have been the springboard.
26’ There are lights and reasons for optimism, can they sustain it.
West Ham
29’ Tough start for Kalvin Philips at West ham. He looks short on confidence and a little unfit.
32’ missing pre season is key. Philips playing catch up from not playing at City.
Chelsea and Wolves
35’ Fans berating players, some berating manager, joined with the Wolves fans who sang you’re f**ing sh*t.
36’ Wolves were a joy to watch. Everything Chelsea are not. Pace, bravery and positivity.
37’ Gary O’Neil not getting credit because it’s about the Chelsea crisis.
38’ Chelsea sold all their personality.
41’ Chelsea could be in freefall, they need to move players on.
41’ Chelsea If you take Tiago out it looks like a team of little boys.
43’ Is Poch the problem?
46’ They can’t afford to sack him, even if they want to.
48’ Will O’Neil stay at Wolves? He’ll be in demand. Are Palace looking?
Crystal Palace
51’ no depth in squad, can’t afford it, results reflect that. Bit of bad luck with injuries to key players.
54’ Getting rid of Hodgson would be a political decision.
55’ It’ll end badly, because the club shouldn’t have reemployed him in the summer.
57’ bigger issues at Palace, Steve Parish owns 10% but his a bigger say on pitch,,,why?
58’ There is conflict in the board room.
Luton
58’ Of course they can stay up!!
60’ They’re brave, they play with positivity and ross Barkley has found a home.
More episodes
View all episodes
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…EFL EXTRA: Form teams and where to sign great players at great prices.
39:05|Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke return to cast an eye over a busy week of EFL action.Leeds are starting to look like a team who were preseason favourites. The underlying data on their performances marks them out as the best in the Championship, by some distance. A standout player for Leeds is midfielder Ao Tanaka; Gregor looks at the impressive list of recent signings from Japanese and South Korean leagues.At the other end of the spectrum, Hull City are struggling. Bottom three, manager booed and free scoring Middlesborough next.Wycombe are on fire, mixing the ‘grit’ of Gareth Ainsworth’s team with the pace and quality Matt Bloomfield has brought.Lastly, a quick look at Huddersfield, a player too good for League One and Ian Holloway is back but does his style need to change?