Share
The Game
Tick tock Ten Hag. And the Saudi influence grows
The regular Thursday club of Martin Samuel, Tony Cascarino and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke.
Déjà vu as Man Utd are once again the main talking point. Is Erik ten Hag now under pressure, a team with no identity, players under performing and a poor attitude. When does the spot light fall on the manager.
Saudi were given the 2034 world cup with little fan fare and no celebration. What does it mean for football…a battle between UEFA and FIFA? Will the Saudi’s be threatening
Man Utd
2’ Ten Hag surely now he is under pressure? Fate depends on when Jim Ratcliffe arrives.
6’ no players performing, as proven by the fact no one wants to buy any Man Utd players.
8’ can’t keep mentioning the club, at some point its about what the manager does
10’ has he improved any players?
13’ no team identity
16’ it’s a massive mess. But at some point the manager should do the basics, but they weren’t there last night.
19’ manager stays until new owners come in.
23’ Will good players get sucked down the same path.
24’ Rashford going out after the City defeat
26’ Tony worked with Don howe, who helped keep him on the straight and narrow. Less going out, better focus.
31’ perception is everything
Saudi world cup
36’ it was always going to happen. It is now sad acceptance. Money talks.
38’ No federations have complained. There is a difference between world cup and Saudi owners. One is governing body, public property and one is private business.
41’ FIFA is no structured in such a way that UEFA is irrelevant. Infantino has the other votes locked down…very hard to change. It is a battle between UEFA and FIFA.
43’ The only way to challenge it would be to boycott. I high price…would any federation pay it?
46’ Isn’t it just about showcasing football in new countries, building the brand, growing the sport?
50’ Its taken the Saudi’s 18mnths to get a world cup. They are/will come for club football…what happen next, is the premier league under threat?
52’ the wind has changed and no longer China but Saudi, and UK gov seems happy
Chelsea v Spurs
58’ Chelsea face same problem…can’t score goals. Jackson didn’t actually have a great record at Villa reale…4 in 28 before a streaky run. Not surprising he can’t score regularly at Chelsea.
1;01’ Chelsea erratic. Done well against some teams, but inconsistent and lacking any edge. Tony thinks they’re a long way off.
More episodes
View all episodes
Alonso and Carrick in; will Slot or Pep be leaving?
01:04:58|Xabi Alonso is in the Premier League, but not where many expected.As the Liverpool old boy joins Chelsea what can he expect and is it a huge positive for the Chelsea project? Where does the appointment leave Liverpool, the owners are wedded to Arne Slot but the fans don't seem to be.Man Utd look set to announce Michael Carrick on a permanent basis, what will his targets be next season? Pep Guardiola has a cup double to his name, but if it misses out on the league will he still be at Man City next season to try again?After the break the craziest final day in the SPL; who is the most underrated Premier League player and the enigma that is Neymar.Joining Tom Clarke are Gregor Robertson, Pete Rutzler and Jame GheerbrantIs Carrick right for Man Utd? And Celtic v Hearts
56:41|It is the best Scottish title race in years and it got even spicier last night.Celtic were awarded a penalty for literally the last kick of the match - they scored at took it to the final day as Hearts need only a draw at Celtic Park.What is the feeling in Scotland, was it ever a penalty and how will Derek McInnes' Hearts approach the game on Saturday?Man City took the title race to another weekend as they beat Palace...but can anyone see Arsenal dropping points? Why do Chelsea hate Spurs so much? Michael Carrick looks set to make his role permanent at Man Utd, is he the right man for the job?At Chelsea is Xabi alonso in pole position?Plus 'Spygate' and best moments of the season. Gregor Robertson joins Alyson Rudd, Martin Samuel and Tony CascarinoHas VAR decided the title and relegation?
59:54|Was it or wasn't it? Could one decision of foul or no foul have decided the title race AND relegation? It was the biggest moment yet for VAR, was the final outcome correct...or is it more complicated than that?Will john McGinn get a statue at Villa Park if he leads them to a european trophy?Who is ion a worse position - Liverpool or Chelsea ?After the break an update on the SPL as Hearts go for their first title in 66 yrs; the chaos at real Madrid and who has had the better season - Bournemouth, Bretford or Brighton? Tom clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Allnutt.This is how Arsenal can beat PSG?
59:29|Arsenal are finding form at the right time. Four points clear in the title race and through to the Champions League final the double is still on. What has brought about the turn around in form and who have been the key players? PSG are on the verge of defending their European title, which for some would mark them out as one of the modern day great european teams...so, how good are they and can Arsenal beat them? Does Man City's slip at Everton show that many of the team have not won multiple titles are are feeling the nerves?Chelsea lost for the fifth time in a row where does the responsibility lie?EFL Extra: Round up and Play Off Predictions
35:28|Ipswich did it on the last day...but with that squad were they always going to?Wrexham missed out to Hull City. That is Hull who stayed up on the final day of last season and faced a transfer embargo in the summer - quite an achievement.So, who makes it through the play-off's - is the smart money on the winner of Middlesbrough Southampton?In League One Stevenage defy the odds, Challinor does it again and Leyton Orient's Richie Wellens goes in two footed on his players.Lastly, in League Two final day heartbreak again for Salford and a step too far for Harrogate.All change...again
01:05:00|Have Spurs turned a corner with De Zerbi? Two wins and a draw in his first three games, took them out of the relegation zone after West Ham lost heavily at Brentford. Was Aston Villa's performance cause for concern ahead of their semi final second leg against Forest. Unai Emery's team have lost three on the spin and look out of form. If the award doesn't go to Arteta or Pepe who else could be in line for manager of the season?And for player of the season could the Man City and Arsenal votes being split lead to one clear candidate from the third placed team - Bruno Fernandez.Arsenal have put the pressure back on Man City with two wins, and they have a striker with twenty goals for the first time in years. Does that make Gyokores a success? Alyson Rudd, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat join Tom Clarke.Best game you've ever seen?
01:01:46|PSG v Bayern served up nine goals, but it was so much more than just goals. There were hardly any defensive errors and few shots outside of the goals actually scored. Was it really one of the greatest ever games and if so, why?Were Arsenal unlucky to leave Madrid with only a draw? Regardless of who wins the second leg how will they go about stopping PSG or Bayern. If you had a combined team from the four semi finalists, how many Arsenal players make it in?After the break is it time Michale Carrick was givne the Man Utd job and which midfielders will they be targeting in the summer?Last, a look ahead to the relegation battle and reaction to Scott Parker leaving Burnley.Tom Clarke is joined by Tony Cascarino, Gregor Robertson and Hamzah Khalique-LoonatEFL Final Day - It's Massive!
35:45|Join tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson to preview the final regular weekend of a fantastic EFL season.What a weekend we have in store, there are so many permutations and so much riding on some many games.Who is heading for the Premier League - Ipswich, Millwall or Southampton?Will Wrexham keep the fairy tale alive at the expense of Hull and Derby?In League One can Luton and Plymouth gate crash the play offs on the final day? At the bottom Exeter have it all to do and Leyton Orient are hanging on.And in League Two the tightest battle of all one of Crawly, Harrogate, Newport and Tranmere are leaving the football league...as Gregor Robertson says; "...on the final day sometimes as a player you're just s******g yourself."Who's staying up - West Ham or Spurs?
58:17|It is relegation central as we look at the fixtures and decide who stays and who drops?Spurs finally win but with two big injuries and other teams winning will it be enough? West Ham look 'happy in their own skin' but their fixtures are the tougher ones. Perhaps hardest of all are Leeds fixtures, could they still be dragged back into the fight? The FA Cup saw Chelsea show more fight after the sacking of Liam Rosenior, is that ever acceptable, or is it just a sign of the chaos at the club?Arsenal are back on top, will that level of performance take them all the way to the title?Plus an exclusive interview with Roy Hodgson - the grand old man of football still gaining results and admirers at the age of seventy nine.Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Tom allnutt and gregor Robertson. All in a brand new studio, check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetimessport