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The Game Football Podcast
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.
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Euros Daily #23: England: Is a back three the answer?
47:11Here we go again…do England have a ‘performance’ in them? If so, will it materialise today? Gregor Robertson, Ian Hawkey and Hamzah Khalique Loonat join Tom Clarke to discuss if a back three from Gareth Southgate will be the magic formula. Gregor is fearful of playing Luke Shaw, Hamzah thinks England could be Sheffield United in disguise and Ian knows how good Switzerland are. But… they also offer some hope.Elsewhere, was Spain’s win over Germany the ‘final’ many wanted? And France, well they’re sparing England’s blushes by playing dreadfully and still winning… Oh and would you still pick Ronaldo?Euros Daily #22: Are England about to change system?
46:52Rumours abound of England switching to a back three for their quarter final against Switzerland. Could this finally be the way to get the best out of an underperforming squad? Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to look at the pros and cons of changing the system at this stage in the tournament. If Southgate does change, who would play in that line up; is there a place for Trent, does Shaw have to play for the first time since February…and who plays up front?In today’s games, arguably the best two teams meet as the hosts take on Spain. Will the Spanish attack be able to unlock a very strong German defence? In the other quarter final France play Portugal, like England two teams who have so far underperformed.Euros Daily #21: Is Bellingham 2024 the Rooney of 2004?
38:15Another pause between rounds allows for some reflection, this time with Matt Lawton, the chief sports correspondent of The Times. Having covered 15 major tournaments, he's in a pretty good spot to assess how good Euro 2024 has been. He offers his take on England's tournament so far and what Gareth Southgate's future might look like.Plus, he tells Tom Clarke about his recent eye-opening trip to Ukraine with the President of World Athletics, Seb Coe.Euros Daily #20: Stick in the mixer & get the big man on the end of it, dude!
37:30It's an England free zone today. But that might just mean it's more joyous than ever. Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke for a round of 16 stocktake. Did we just watch the game of the tournament in Austria v Turkey? Or at the very least, the save of the tournament? And the Netherlands have finally joined the party! Are they now in with a chance? Well, technically, yes. Plus, some honourable mentions now that 16 teams have been sent home.Euros Daily #19: England; “…don't cry, we’re still in it.”
33:39The England inquest continues; if they pick the same team, will they beat Switzerland? The resounding response is no. But is Southgate, a pragmatic manager willing to change the script? Gregor Robertson, Martin Samuel, and Tom Allnutt join Tom Clarke to ask; can England rely on having one or two players capable of the exceptional to drag them through? As Cristiano Ronaldo wore his heart on his sleeve it turns out tournament football is quite tough. A star studded Portugal team struggling to get past Slovenia and France scrapping past Belgium. Gregor casts an admiring eye on the French defence, never mind that they haven’t scored from open play yet…Euros Daily #18: England – The Debrief (put someone on the left!!)
41:40One moment of brilliance saved England from humiliation. Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick helped secure England’s unlikely win, but it doesn’t paper over the chasm in England’s performance; lacklustre, disjointed, blunt, pedestrian. Where does Gareth Southgate go now? Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant join Tom Clarke to dissect a performance which was so disappointing and left so many questions. Left being the operative word…”Just put someone on the left!!” In the other game, Spain…they look rather good.Euros Daily #17: England, don't do what the Italians did...
46:59England's path to the final looks clearer than ever, what could possibly go wrong? Tom Clarke is joined by Ian Hawkey, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson to discuss exactly what could go wrong... they could do an Italy. Is there anything more infuriating than VAR? Gregor Robertson doesn't think so. But does Germany's under par performance give other teams hope?And will Georgia upset Spain? Probably not, but here's to hoping.Euros Daily #16: 'There is no life without football'
41:35Two days without football felt like a lifetime. But it's back! Martin Samuel, Alyson Rudd and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to preview the last 16: Which game are we most looking forward to? Will there be any shocks on the cards? And how does Alyson decide which decorative flags on her house stay up and which go down?Euros Daily #15: Play the kids and eat kebabs
28:17With the group stage finished its time to step back, take a breath and have a considered look at Euro 2024. Which teams have impressed, which have disappointed? Who are the players who’ve stood out and who are the surprise packages? One man perfectly placed to answer most of those questions is Times writer Paul Hirst. He has seen ten teams, travelled across Germany and watched England with England fans in a fan park. Tom Clarke catches up with Paul to get his tips for who to look out for in the knockout stages, the best players he’s seen so far and is German rail really as bad as it is in the UK? Oh, and England, what does he make of them?