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The Game Football Podcast
Is Pep Starting To Panic?
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Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Martin Samuel in The Times office.
Mason Greenwood will leave Manchester United imminently, but how easily will he find a new club and where in the world could that club be? (00:00)
Manchester City are being forced back into the transfer window later than they usually would. Are they starting to panic or just simply reacting to the injury to Kevin De Bruyne? (06:38)
Aston Villa are practically through to the group stages of the Europa Conference League after a 5-0 first leg win at Hibernian. How much does this European involvement mean to the club and why do Scottish clubs struggle to compete at this level? (18:22)
Everton have started the season badly and look like they’ll struggle for goals. Is this the season they finally go down and how important is moving to their new stadium in the search for fresh investment? (27:15)
Martin Samuel has written in The Times about Bruno Fernandes’ captaincy at Manchester United and why managers choose certain players to lead the team. As a former pro, Gregor has some thoughts on his favourite skippers he’s played under (38:31)
A mention of Ben Foster’s second retirement leads to a conversation about the difficulty players have getting into elite sides and how the quality of the football pyramid is improving as a result (49:31)
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What on earth is wrong at Man City and Man Utd? Plus, Newcastle, Fulham and Forest are flying.
01:03:43|Could Manchester United be in a relegation fight? Could Manchester City finish mid table and could Fulham or Forest make the top four? It might have sounded fanciful at the start of the season, but not now.Paul Hirst, Martin Hardy and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at a resurgent Newcastle, the two floundering Manchester clubs and predict the top four come May.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-Loonat