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Man City Are Champions Again; Forest Survive & Brighton Qualify For Europe!
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Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy to look back at the weekend's Premier League action and discuss the biggest stories of the week.
Nottingham Forest have secured their Premier League status for another season after beating Arsenal 1-0 at the City Ground. They discuss just how well Steve Cooper has done this season, and ask if the owner Evangelos Marinakis deserves credit for showing faith in him. (00:00)
Manchester City win the Premier League for a third consecutive season, how has Pep Guardiola been able to maintain the consistency at the club whilst also managing a number of world-class players? Will their dominance continue in the years to come? (14:55)
Pep Guardiola's side have now won 5 Premier League titles in the last 6 seasons, but why do fans still not consider them to be one of the greatest teams in history? We'll ask if the 115 alleged breaches of financial rules from the Premier League has tarnished their legacy in how they are viewed. (26:05)
Leeds United's Premier League status is hanging by a thread after losing 3-1 at home to West Ham. They have now lost 25 points from winning positions this season, so was it too late to make a change in the dugout? We'll also reflect on Everton's late equaliser at Wolves and why that makes them favourites to stay up heading into the final day. (45:35)
Brighton have qualified for Europe for the first time in their history, with it looking likely they'll play in next season's Europa League - but how do they cope with the step up? What's their plan to be able to deal with the Thursday-Sunday schedule next season? (54:30)
Roberto Firmino received an emotional send-off after his last home game as a Liverpool player - we discuss the legacy he has left behind and where he ranks amongst the greatest No.9s in Liverpool's history. (1:02:20)
Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
Nottingham Forest have secured their Premier League status for another season after beating Arsenal 1-0 at the City Ground. They discuss just how well Steve Cooper has done this season, and ask if the owner Evangelos Marinakis deserves credit for showing faith in him. (00:00)
Manchester City win the Premier League for a third consecutive season, how has Pep Guardiola been able to maintain the consistency at the club whilst also managing a number of world-class players? Will their dominance continue in the years to come? (14:55)
Pep Guardiola's side have now won 5 Premier League titles in the last 6 seasons, but why do fans still not consider them to be one of the greatest teams in history? We'll ask if the 115 alleged breaches of financial rules from the Premier League has tarnished their legacy in how they are viewed. (26:05)
Leeds United's Premier League status is hanging by a thread after losing 3-1 at home to West Ham. They have now lost 25 points from winning positions this season, so was it too late to make a change in the dugout? We'll also reflect on Everton's late equaliser at Wolves and why that makes them favourites to stay up heading into the final day. (45:35)
Brighton have qualified for Europe for the first time in their history, with it looking likely they'll play in next season's Europa League - but how do they cope with the step up? What's their plan to be able to deal with the Thursday-Sunday schedule next season? (54:30)
Roberto Firmino received an emotional send-off after his last home game as a Liverpool player - we discuss the legacy he has left behind and where he ranks amongst the greatest No.9s in Liverpool's history. (1:02:20)
Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
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EFL EXTRA: "Wolves and Southampton look scary"
46:18|Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two.Wolves and Southampton already look to have so much strength in depth for Championship level "it is scary.". But it's Charlton who are top on nine points, can they keep it up...Who is the beat striker in the division? In League One Blackpool are on the front foot and Stockport look good as they get back to winning ways.Plus the South Yorkshire derby in League Two, Salford still winless and Walsall are up there...again!Hull's hopes, Tottenham's troubles and Mainoo's magic
58:32|Hull sit proudly at the top of the table. Is it a freak or have the Tigers, and the other promoted clubs been misjudged?Ipswich were thumped at Old Trafford, but their performance had many positive signs. While Man Utd looked to have rediscovered some swagger. Who shone brightest, Fernandez, Rashford or Mainoo.After the break familiar horribly memories at Spurs as they lose again - but will it be different this time? A very positivity start on Tyneside for Matthias Jaissle. Will Bradley Barcola fix any of Liverpool's problems? Plus, what is the transfer you'd most like to see happen and are Chelsea really different under Xabi Alonso?What is 'value' in this crazy transfer market?
51:13|Forest pay fifty million for Liam Delap; City buy a teenager for eighty five million and Spurs sign second stringer Savio also for eighty five million. Has the Premier League transfer market gone mad?Xabi Alonso's Chelsea looked good in their first run out of the season, if they sign a keeper could they be challengers to Arsenal? As teams struggle to compete financially is it a level playing field or stacked in favour of 'the old guard'?And have UEFA lost their nerve in their battle with Gianni Infantino?Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Jonathan Northcroft and Martin SamuelEFL EXTRA: West Ham worries and the goal of the season
34:41|Our weekly look at all the latest from the EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.Plenty of surprises in week two of the Championship. West Ham lost at home in front of sixty two thousand fans, are their players ready for a tough season in the second tier?No wins for fancied Norwich, Birmingham or Burnley. At the top Millwall may have a new star up front in Taryk Arconte and West Brom have started where they left off last season with two impressive wins. And special mention to Blackburn Rovers after a big win over Middlesbrough, League One Bradford win a Yorkshire derby, a miserable start for Leicester and goals galore for Luton.In League Two favourites Salford tough start continues, But what was the game of the weekend? Plus have we already seen the goal of the season - Dom Ballard's 18yd back heel could be it.Did you see Gregor play football, do you have anything nice to say? Get in touch.Premier League is Back with a Bang!
56:21|The Premier League is back and if the opening weekend is anything to go by it could be an unpredictable season. Hull shocked Man United, Brentford reminded Roberto De Zerbi of the tough job he faces at Spurs and Brighton thumped Villa. Promoted Ipswich got a big win, Man City got a late winner and Liverpool levelled with the last kick against an impressive Newcastle. Champions Arsenal made it look easy against Coventry plus wins for Leeds and Everton. Gregor Robertson is joined by Gary Jacob, Alyson Rudd and James GheerbrantPREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: PART TWO
55:40|The 2026/27 Premier League season is here. So, it is prediction time.Who is going to win it, who is in the top four? Who's getting relegated, who could be looking over their shoulders? Plus who will be the surprise packages, who are we most excited to see and which manager will come under pressure first? Tom Clarke is joined Chief football correspondent for The Times and Sunday Times and football journalist of the year Jonathan Northcroft, the former Chelsea, Villa and Celtic player Tony Cascarino and journalist and former footballer Gregor Robertson.EFL EXTRA: Lankshear shines and surprises galore
38:50|The Football League is back and as unpredictable as ever. Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke to discuss the opening weekend in The Championship, League One and League Two after plenty of reminders of why these divisions are so hard to call. Will Lankshear scored twice to get promotion chasing Middlesbrough off to a winning star but West Ham, Burnley and Wolves all draw. There was controversy as West Brom surprise Norwich and Southampton endured a difficult weekend as they sold their best player and lost at Watford. Gregor has a new hero in a gold mask in League One and Tom apologises to Salford fans for jinxing their start in League Two. Tom also has a new charity pledge to try and appease the fans who want VAR in the football league...PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: PART ONE
55:27|Are Arsenal clear favourites to retain the title? Do Man City really need more players and are Chelsea dark horses? Just some of the questions we answer in the first of our Premier League Preview shows.Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Pete Rutzler also look at which teams need more signings before the season starts and could some big players still be on the move. Plus, which teams might be taking a worried look over their shoulders at the promoted clubs - Fulham, Everton, Palace, Sunderland?The BIG Football League season preview
01:02:48|Tom Clarke is joined by the Times Joe Harston and Kit Shepard and EFL stalwart Gregor Robertson to preview the start of the EFL season which kicks off this weekend!Can anyone stop West Ham? And is Jarrod Bowen going to run away with the Golden boot? We discuss how the Hammers will cope with the pressure of having to win every week having just dropped into the ChampionshipElsewhere we look at how well equipped the other two relegated sides, Burnley and Wolves are to have an immediate return to the Premier League.How much of an impact will spygate have on Southampton's season? It may be last season's story but the scandal is still set to have a prominent role in the terraces and the media throughout the season.And Tom tells us why his beloved Lincoln will silence their doubters and remain in The Championship following their promotion from League One.Elsewhere we look at how Leicester will cope in League One and is this finally the year that Salford City get their coveted promotion from League Two?