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
EFL EXTRA: West Ham are back as Swansea shine
49:03|A week is a long time in the football league, and West Ham used back-to-back matches to kickstart their season with two big wins.Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson as Nuno Espirito Santo's team finally get moving in The Championship and there's more impressive results for Swansea, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Bristol City. Elsewhere the guys wonder whether Jamie Vardy's arrival is really going to be enough to save Nicky Hayen at Burnley? And Tom is upset with Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto. In League One it goes from bad to worse for Russell Martin and Leicester and it's screamers galore in League Two.Arsenal supreme, United stutter, Spurs struggle
59:37|Arsenal put on a dominate display to beat potential title rivals Chelsea. Despite going one down after only a minute the Gunners looked calm, confident and positive throughout. Was it the benefits of having a title under their belts or a new approach from Mikel Arteta? Chelsea have arguably the best attack in the league, but have they left themselves short in defence and midfield?Alexander Isak is starting to prove his worth at Liverpool, but was their win just as much about Ipswich's poor performance?A great game at Fulham as Palace won 3-2. but are Fulham "just too much fun to watch?" Could it see therm in a relegation fight?Plus, is Josh King in line for an international call up and what do Tottenham and Manchester United make of their draws...progress or cause for concern?Tom Allnutt, Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd join Tom ClarkeWhich teams had the best and worst transfer window?
55:21|After a crazy summer transfer window in which 3.5 billion pounds was spent and multiple 100 million transfers between English clubs - has the transfer market gone mad? Inlafted prices, last minute deals... is the Premier League an outlier, or is it the new norm for football transfers. Which club had the best window and which was the best individual transfer?Arsenal have hit the ground running, but after a promising attacking start, is it going to be the same defensive focus as last season.Plus, a look ahead to the weekends action.Gregor Robertson, Tony Cascarino and Gary Jacob join Tom ClarkeEFL 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.