Share
The Game
Liverpool’s next manager, Maidstone’s current manager and the Rashford mystery
Tom gets the tissues out to console Alyson and Tony before they discuss who will replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Alonso is the favourite, but as Gregor points out he’s only had 18 months first team management experience.
As Klopp departs has the scrutiny of referees added to the increase in football disorder and referee attacks?
Alyson met George Elokobi and his mentor Mick McCarthy ahead of Maidstone's FA Cup win. It was such a good omen, they want to do it again before round six.
Finally what’s eating Marcus Rashford…? Is Joao Pedro worth 100million and is Vincent Kompany listening to Alyson…?
Timeline:
Klopp
2’ three words to sum up Jurgen Klopp
4’ who is next to replace Klopp.
5’ Does Alonso have the experience?
6’ Alonso has earned his stripes, his father was a coach, he has turned down other big jobs.
7’ Other options…
10’ only 18 months experience.
14’ all coaching staff leaving too.
15’ Van Dyke also showing signs of coming to end..?
17’ He should stay, careful about too much change too quickly.
Disorder and football
21’ violence at the Hawthorns after Wolves scored their second and a referee chased at Port Vale.
22’ A sign of increasing disorder, or just the odd idiot?
24’ should we be grateful it isn’t as regular as it used to be.
26’ you can’t legislate for idiots
28’ VAR, there is more anger, we’re seeing this across Europe. It isn’t surprising that referee’s are getting targeted.
Maidstone and George Elokobi
31’ Mich McCarthy and George Elokobi love in.
34’ George Elokobi modelled much of his management on Mick McCarthy. Much of what he did as a player was on Mick’s recommendation.
36’ he’s built a team where they are all a little bit like a Mick McCarthy team
38’ all about effort, never give up, energy, spirit, give it all.
Rashford
42’ There is something behind the scenes, we don’t know what yet. Ten Hagg, clearly not happy about something.
44’ If he has done things wrong he has to own it and then change it.
47’ Is he unhappy, distracted or uncomfortable?
48’ don’t rush to judge
Joao Pedro
49’ Is he going to be the next big signing to leave Brighton. De Zerbi thinks so.
51’ Hard to place the type of player he is. He is Brighton’s record signing.
52’ He is improving under De Zerbi.
Burnley…
53’ Alyson’s biggest fear at the start of the season has proved true – commitment to nice style of play. Is that changing ?
54’ are we finally seeing some pragmatism.
More episodes
View all episodes
Your England XI if the World Cup was tomorrow?
48:44|Have England gone backwards under Thomas Tuchel, does he know his best starting XI?The team pick their best teams if the World Cup was starting tomorrow…is there a case for no Kane or no Bellingham…?After the break could football be facing a doping problem. In a special report The Times Chief Sports correspondent Matt Lawton joins the pod to discuss if football’s drug testing systems are fit for purpose. He calls football's current commitment to anti-doping pathetic.Who did the best transfer business?
57:31|With the window shut what difference will it all make? Who has done the best business, who has done panicked business. Martin doesn’t think Arsenal can win it from the back this season, they’ll need to score more goals. But with Isak still to come who can outscore Liverpool? Did Villa panic on deadline day? Have Chelsea had a lucky or a good start?With player power in the spot light Gregor has sympathy as players turn the tables on clubs. After the break - as Ederson leaves who have been the Premier Leagues best keepers?EFL Extra: Championship clubs splash the cash
38:19|It was a high spending end to the transfer window in the Championship with Southampton, Ipswich, Birmingham and Middlesborough all spending big. Wrexham finally flexed their financial muscle with a net outlay at nearly thirty million pounds. On the pitch Rob Edwards has his new Middlesborough side top and looking very strong, Frank Lampard has a free scoring Coventry team with a home to call their own and what’s going wrong at Sheffield United?In League One who saw did Cardiff being this good and tough times at Plymouth.And hats off to and Truro City fans making the long trip to Carlisle this weekend.Liverpool beat Arsenal at Anfield, as Isak arrives in record deal
01:01:14|Liverpool edged past Arsenal in a top-of-the-table clash, thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick - but will Mikel Arteta ever win at Anfield? Plus, we break down the biggest transfer news as Liverpool finally land Alexander Isak in a British-record £125m deal - can Arne Slot’s team be stopped now? Elsewhere, we analyse Manchester City’s defeat to a fearless Brighton, as 39-year-old James Milner scored a record-setting penalty before a late winner sealed the upset.Gregor Robertson is joined by Alyson Rudd, James Gheerbrant and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat to round up a dramatic weekend in the Premier League.Manchester United humiliated - what now for Amorim?
57:31|Manchester United suffer one of their most humiliating defeats in years, crashing out of the Carabao Cup on penalties to League Two Grimsby Town - but what does it mean for Ruben Amorim’s future? We also head to St James’ Park with The Times’ Northern sports correspondent Martin Hardy, to unpack Liverpool’s dramatic 3–2 win at Newcastle, and the latest on the Isak saga. Plus, we analyse West Ham’s miserable start under Graham Potter, and what’s going wrong at the London Stadium. Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel break down a chaotic week in English football.North London on top: Can Spurs keep pace, and is this finally Arsenal’s year?
59:47|North London’s on top - but can Tottenham’s fast start under Thomas Frank last? Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds showcased their squad depth and a 15-year-old wonderkid, but with this firepower, surely there can be no excuses for Mikel Arteta this season... We also look at Jack Grealish’s dazzling debut in Everton's new home, Chelsea’s mauling of West Ham, and Gregor takes us inside one of the Premier League's newest rivalries dubbed the “El Casico." Alyson Rudd and Peter Rutzler join Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.Arsenal hijack Eze deal; Newcastle’s Isak saga deepens
58:28|As Arsenal swoop in to hijack the Eze deal from Spurs - we break down how Mikel Arteta’s side sealed a £67.5m move for the Crystal Palace star. Plus, the latest on the Alexander Isak saga at Newcastle: will the striker force a move before the transfer window closes? We also bring you reaction to Leeds’ 1–0 win over Everton on Monday night, and take a closer look at the brazen ownership style of Nottingham Forest boss Evangelos Marinakis. Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel join Gregor Robertson and Tom Clarke.EFL Extra! It’s early days in the Championship, but…
40:08|Only two weeks into the EFL season - but that’s time enough for Tom and Gregor to start reading the runes. Could this finally be the year Stoke City turns things around under Mark Robins? Winger, Million Manhoef and forward, Divin Mubama have both put in star performances, putting the team at the top of the Championship. But they’re not alone: Middlesbrough and West Brom also boast perfect starts, while Birmingham follow close behind. Down in League One, what’s going on with Plymouth? Pre-season, they were showing plenty of promise, but things have not gone to plan so far. Former football league defender Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke to assess the first weeks of the EFL.First weekend: Sunderland staying up; City for the title and Liverpool don't need Isak
59:08|Maybe the Premier League isn’t a closed shop after all. Before the season started the talk was could any of the promoted teams buck the trend and stay up. Well straight away Sunderland thumped West Ham. Could it be the year the promoted clubs have a chance? Man City looked reinvigorated; Manchester United looked better, Brentford looked worse and are there areas for concern at Arsenal and Liverpool?