Share
The Game
Rooney blues and the winners and losers of Christmas
It's a Happy New Year from Jonathan Northcroft, Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson as they join Tom Clarke for the first 2024 edition of The Game.
It was a new year to forget for Wayne Rooney, another example of the golden generation failing in the managerial world. What is the difference between a manager and a coach and is it the same game in the Champions League or League One?
A look back at a thrilling Christmas and New Year, which young manager topped the table of festive fixtures? Finally, it’s not FA cup weekend, its FA cup week and there are some top ties to look forward to.
Timeline:
Rooney
2’ Rooney sacked at Birmingham, shocked and a reality check?
5’ took over a club doing well, a manager well liked by fans and players.
6’ he was appointed to change a culture and direction of club…can you do that in 15 matches? Gary Cook, odd decision.
8’ he was employed to take them to prem league
11’ Was Rooney set up to fail. After two games the crowd turned, but tat was because of the loss of John Eustace.
13’ Calling out players after only 3 games, not a good idea.
17’ he admires Guardiola. But he thrived with Liam Rosenior
19’ Rooney could be a manager as much as a coach. He is good with people.
21’ Vale park on a Tuesday night isn’t the Nou Camp on a champions league night.
25’ surrounded himself by young ambitious but not very experienced coaching staff.
27’ Rooney doesn’t want special treatment, he will try to reinvent himself.
31’ difference between playing and managing.
33’ He’ll be back.
Title race
36’ Great festive period for Wolves and Gary O’Neil
37’ Man City return only two adrift and with the fire back. And unaffected by AFCON.
38’ Liverpool in great shape but about to lose salah.
40’ What’s gone wrong at Arsenal? Hard to win your first title.
43’ Villa have bounced back, but are they starting to look tired?
45’ all the top teams have flaws this year. Open title race.
West Ham, Wolves and Luton
45’ Looks like Moye will get a new contract. Is peace breaking out at the London stadium?
47’ Wrong that one fixture has moved beyond the AFCON cut off date.
48’ Great back to back wins for Hatters. Ross Barkley pulling strings, adjusting to the league.
FA Cup
53’ Sunderland v Newcastle tie of the round. Newcastle look on the knees with no energy. Sunderland with new manager bounce. Could be a big game.
56’ Is Eddie Howe under pressure?
More episodes
View all episodes
Nervy Nervy Arsenal - Is it happening again?
50:24|"Arsenal are blowing it? Their best chance of a title in over twenty years and they are looking nervy, again."Or..."Winning a title isn't easy! this season isn't like those of recent years you won't need 98 pts."Are either true?If they are to hold it together, what does it take psychologically to get over the line in a title race?Wolves manager Rob Edwards has the fans on side and is seeing encouraging signs from his side. It has all come a little late but will it help ahead of a season in the Championship?After the break Newcastle and Anthony Gordon are having a streaky season - is the England shirt Gordon's to lose?And finally the troubling racism allegations surrounding Vinicius Junior.tom clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Kit shepardEFL Extra: What is the best league in England?
46:15|Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with the latest from the English Football League.Is the Championship the best league in England, Gregor Robertson thinks so. Coventry's win over rivals Middlesbrough sends them top again but six points separate 6th to 16th. Who is best placed to come from the pack? At the bottom some huge clubs look in severe danger of relegation in West Brom and Leicester.Lincoln fan Tom Clarke makes his pitch for the excitement of League One. It's tight at the bottom and around the play offs, but at the top are Cardiff and Lincoln away and clear?In League Two wins for teams at the bottom who were written off and... a mystery called Walsall, any fans listening please get in touch.Spurs or Forest to go down? And what will Arsenal win?
01:00:30|Spurs and Forest have rolled the dice again...but will Igor Tudor or Vítor Pereira have the desired effect? Is either appointment on merit, or a reflect of clubs who don't know who they really want? Will the instability mean a player exodus at either club come the summer? Which club should be more worried, Forest or Spurs?Was VAR so bad after all...well yes says Gregor robertson but many think the mistakes at the weekend - without VAR - are the bets advert for its continued use.Arsenal are still in four competitions...what, if anything, will they win?Gary Jacob, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom ClarkeSpurs and Forest sack the boss - will it work?
54:02|Spurs won the sack race! They got rid of Thomas Frank 24 hours before Nottingham Forest said goodbye to Sean Dyche. Why did they go, was it the right call and who could be next?In contrast England manager Thomas Tuchel has signed an extension to his contract, what has he done to earn it and why now?On the pitch do the managerial change give West Ham a better chance of staying up?and the fight for fourth and fifth place.Gregor Robertson joins Tony Cascarino, Tom Allnutt and Martin Samuel.VAR is finished but City aren't
01:00:00|It's all about VAR again, and Gregor is sick of it. But Tom Allnutt thinks the officials at Anfield got it right - so, time to do away with it or accept nothing is perfect?On the pitch City's fighting win keeps them in the title race, but Arsenal don't look they're feeling any pressure.Man Utd won again, is it the biggest mid season turn around ever? Does that mean Mainoo makes it to the World Cup?Eddie howe and Fabian Hurzeler were both booed by their own fans, fair?Thomas Frank is in the orange zone, his captain hasn't helped and forest are in serious trouble now, could Nuno even send them down...? Tom Clarke joins Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd"Player Power...give me a break!"
45:09|Who has the power in modern football - clubs or players? In the summer Alexander Isak was called morally bankrupt, where would he be now had he not forced through his move? As the transfer window closed Dwight McNeil was left stranded as Crystal Palace chose not to pursue his transfer and Harvey Elliot remains at Villa with a £35 million price tag which no one wants to pay - both powerless to affect their respective situations. So where does the power lie?It was a quiet transfer window did anyone club come out of it happy? Sheffield Wednesday look like being a key test case for the football regulatorAnd finally, a look ahead to the big match of the weekend Liverpool v City, which club is in the stringer position...Tom Clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino, Martin Samuel and Gregor Robertson.Coventry are wobbling, who can take advantage?
31:04|It is not a blip anymore, Coventry are now in full wobble, Middlesborough have joined them at the top but there are other, unfancied teams waiting in the wings - who if any can come from the pack - Millwall, Hull, Wrexham or Derby?Hull have done some impressive transfer business with with so many players over performing their XG is it sustainable?At the bottom, is there any light at the end of the tunnel for disgruntled Blackburn fans?And who is in most danger of being sucked into the relegation zone?In League One Tom is panicking, are Lincoln City really going to do it? Gregor thinks so.In League Two Cambridge United are on one of the best runs in their history and Ian Holloway is absolutely furious!Wastes of money, most versatile player and who's lost their swagger?
58:34|It was a weekend of two halves - Chelsea, Spurs and Fulham all came back from two goals down at half time...only Fulham didn't hang on. As Man City wobbled they looked to have lost their swagger - Gregor Robertson thinks it is clear why. Chelsea came back to win, but why did they make so many changes in the first place? There was plenty of moaning about VAR but if it was taken away would fans be accepting or would the referee abuse just get worse? Alyson Rudd thinks Alexander Isak could be a waste of money, as Wirtz and Ekitike shine, can they really play all three?Lastly who is the Premier League's most versatile player?Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Pete RutzlerThe real Roy Keane and should heading be banned
57:23|Tony Cascarino was a team mate of Roy Keane, he's been to see the film about Keane and his Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, he gives his version of their relationship.Is heading in football about to be banned? Following recent headlines around ex players suffering from dementia, what are the risks that footballers take? Tony Cascarino - known for his heading ability is worried at the prospect of a brain scan.And Jose Mourinho wound back the clock as his Benfica goalkeeper scored the goal that took them into the next round of the Champions League. He'll join Newcastle in the play offs with the four other english teams already through. Is the Premier League now tougher than the Champions League? Tony Cascarino, gregor robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke