The Game Football Podcast

First, they were embarrassed, then they were humiliated. It wasn’t the start Thomas Tuchel had in mind for his England team.How big are the problems he faces – a full rebuild or just cosmetic? To make matters worse Tuchel gave an interview in which he referred to his star player Jude Bellingham. He suggested his behaviour could be perceived as repulsive by some. Were the comments a distraction from a loss to Senegal, or a hint at deeper issues?The club World Cup starts next week – does football ever end? What effect will the work load have on the two English sides in attendance Chelsea and Man City? Both have signed players in time for the tournament so they must be taking it seriously…The women’s Euros is just around the corner…is Sarina Wiegman’s camp any happier than the men’s as they prepare to defend their title?

Seventeen days after ending Spurs’ seventeen year wait for a trophy Ange Postecoglou was out, sacked by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Was it the right decision? Was leading Spurs to their lowest finish in over forty years a sackable offence? Or are the club constantly asking their managers to overachieve, given their wage bill in comparison to other top six teams?Thomas Frank looks to be in line to replace Postecoglou, what will he bring?After the break a look at a lack lustre England. Will a demanding Thomas Tuchel be able to achieve his plans with so little time with the players? And where does this England team’s greatest weakness lie?

Will England be the best prepared team at next year’s World Cup? Will it matter?As they head into a friendly with Andorra how many true tests of his team will Thomas Tuchel face before the World Cup? And what has happened to England's forward line from the 2022 Euros…only one remains first choice at his club.Domestically teams are making early moves in the transfer market. Could Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo be good signing for Manchester United? Does that mean Bruno Fernandes has to leave? And Manchester City are in the process of a re-build so, where does that leave Jack Grealish? 

PSG finally have their European crown, and they look phenomenal in winning it. Did their demolition of Inter Milan set a new standard? Gone are gifted forwards who don’t work for the team, now talents such as Doue, Dembele and Kvaratskhelia putting in performances with breath taking effort from start to finish. What st them apart as a team this year? But… is their triumph tainted by where the money comes from? Does the influence of Qatar also set a new standard?After the break, transfers you’d like to see, serious and not so serious, signings that haven’t worked this season and which might not work next year?

Chelsea triumph in Wrocław (which is in Poland) to bring home the first major trophy of the Boehly-Clearlake era. So are things looking up for next season? Meanwhile United's post season, pre season friendly tour of Asia turned to misery as they lost 1-0 to Asean All-Stars to boos from the initially adoring Malaysian fans. Amorim astutely pointed out: ‘We should win these kind of games’. Tom Clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino and Martin Samuel to discuss all that and more.

The play offs are done and dusted. For Sunderland their manager Regis Le Bris championed his team’s togetherness, it showed as they scored another last gasp winner. For Sheffield united, heart break as their woeful Wembley record continues.In League One Charlton went through the play offs without conceding a goal, that was enough to see off Leyton Orient. Manager Nathan Jones made no apology for his teams approach.A scrappy League Two final saw up and down Walsall face one last heart break losing to AFC Wimbledon. How do they come back from that?

With the Champions League places decided it's time to evaluate who is happy with their season?Forest we're tipped for relegation but ended up in Europe. But after missing out on Champions League football will it still feel like a failure?Spurs finished 17th but won a trophy, did they have a better season than rivals Arsenal?And for Aston Villa, did their season come down to one officiating decision?Our end of season awards - manager of the year, team of the year, break through player of the year.Plus, lets look back at our pre season predictions...were we on the money or miles off?

Is Spurs first trophy in seventeen years vindication for their manager Ange Postecoglou?Despite finishing 17th in the league they’ll be playing Champions League football next season and Ange was true to his word, he won a trophy in his second season. Will he stay?For the losers Manchester United it will be their worst finish in Premier League history, no European football next season and squad in need of a re build. But is Ruben Amorim the man to do it?Plus, end of season awards…

It's play off finals weekend. Is it something fans love or hate? For some it is hard to enjoy the stomach churning, nerve shredding matches with so much at stack. For others it is a free hit at glory, a day out at the national stadium and the tantalising hope of what if we actually win…In the Championship both Sunderland and Sheffield United have appalling Wembley records, one will at least be changing that.In League One Leyton Orient are the club on a charge Charlton have the irrepressible Nathan Jones in charge, in League Two Walsall have had a season or two very district halves, while AFC Wimbledon boast the best defence in the division. So, who wins…over to Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson…