Share

cover art for Manchester City On Course For The Treble & Could Postecoglou Rebuild Spurs?

The Game Football Podcast

Manchester City On Course For The Treble & Could Postecoglou Rebuild Spurs?

•
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Alyson Rudd to look back at the FA Cup final and discuss the week's biggest football stories.
Manchester City remain on course for the treble after beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final. The Times' Paul Hirst joins the show to reflect on the game, discuss how important Ilkay Gundogan is for Man City, and debate how United can compete with their neighbours in the future. (00:00)
The Times' Senior Sports Writer Matt Dickinson joins the show to discuss his book, and also reflect on his piece with the Manchester United legend Brian McClair, in which they look back at the United treble-winning side of 1999. (26:10)
Real Madrid announce that Karim Benzema will leave the club at the end of the season after 14 years in the Spanish capital, but should Spurs striker Harry Kane replace him at the club? We discuss Benzema's legacy, and also discuss what Kane should consider if he makes the move. (36:00)
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou is the favourite to take over as Spurs ahead of the new Premier League season. We'll discuss if the step up will be too much for him, and whether he can cope with managing in one of Europe's Top 5 leagues. (46:15)
Alyson reflects on her interviews with the Southampton owners Sport Republic, and the Brentford manager Thomas Frank, and looks back on her key findings from both conversations. (58:45)
Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 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  
Copyright The Times
Hosted with ❤️ by Acast