The Athletic FC Podcast

Arteta's Arsenal were furious with VAR following their defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, but with just one shot on target in match - should they be more concerned with their own misfiring attack?From his brilliant hat-trick at home to Sheffield United - to being subbed with his team in need of a goal in Newcastle - has Nketiah become the fall-guy for Arsenal’s need to evolve in attack? Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein and Arsenal writer James McNicholas to explore the Gunners' creative problems and their January transfer plans.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Make time to chill this holiday season and reach for the beer that’s Made to Chill. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal and co return to preview the weekend of Premier League fixtures. Headlining the weekend is Arsenal's trip to Newcastle, their first away game at a top-six team so far this season. Can Newcastle withstand the Gunners even without new signings Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali to call upon? Jacob Whitehead, the Athletic's Newcastle correspondent, is on hand to tell us. Then it's a return to Tottenham for Mauricio Pochettino for the first time with a new club. Can his Chelsea team break out of their slump to shock the league leaders? And finally, we discuss the race to the bottom, and whether Luton is the most likely to escape relegation this season. Adam Leventhal hosts Nick Miller, Jacob Whitehead and Luke Bosher***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following Australia's withdrawal to host the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has been left as the sole bidder to stage world football's showpiece event.Matt Slater and Adam Crafton join Ayo Akinwolere to analyse how Saudi Arabia became the only bidder for the tournament, what benefit the Gulf state hosting the tournament brings to FIFA and the impact it could have on the wider football world.Plus the panel debate the discussion around Human Rights, following the scrutiny the Qatar World Cup came under, before debating the impact it could have for the Saudi Pro League over the next 11 years before the tournament is played.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last season in the Premier League it felt like there was a manager being sacked every week. This season, it feels like the writing’s on the wall for a few struggling clubs already...So is it a surprise that no head coaches have paid the price. And will November once again prove to be the start of 'sacking season'?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by he Athletic’s Dom Fifiled, Duncan Alexander & Jay Harris to discuss.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Real Madrid about to leave Barcelona behind, both on and off the pitch?After losing Saturday’s El Clasico and then seeing Lionel Messi collect a record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or, you can bet there were a few people at Barcelona, hankering for the old days..Add to that, Jude Bellingham’s goals, and last night’s Kopa Trophy win — the award for the best under-21 player - it's clear Real Madrid are looking towards the future.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Barcelona writer Pol Ballus, Spanish football editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero & tactics writer Michael Cox…Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Old Trafford yesterday Manchester City proved once again they are levels above Manchester United.How much is Erik ten Hag to blame and is he right to say United are still moving in the right direction after being outclassed by City?Or with all the turmoil off pitch going on, at one of the worlds biggest clubs, does he simply have an impossible job?Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton and Dan Sheldon.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Spiers, in for Adam Leventhal, hosts Jon Mackenzie, Reuben Pinder, and Omar Garrick for our weekly preview of the Premier League.Matchday 10 welcomes the Manchester derby, with United welcoming their City rivals to Old Trafford. Can United repeat their 2-1 victory from last season or will City continue to expose some of their neighbour's flaws?Elsewhere there's a West London derby as Chelsea welcome Brentford to Stamford Bridge. The Blues once again impressed without winning last time out versus Arsenal, leaving our panel wondering if their results will ever catch up to their performances.And in the race to the bottom, Bournemouth take on Burnley - could a poor result either way spell the end of Andoni Iraola or Vincent Kompany's managerial reign at their respective clubs? Produced by John Rogers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two months on from his last appearance for Manchester United, Jadon Sancho seems no close to a first team return.The Athletic's Manchester United writers Laurie Whitwell and Carl Anka join Ayo Akinwolere to explain and analyse Sancho's ongoing exile with the 23-year-old currently banished from all first team involvement.As well as looking into the public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag the panel discuss where things had already been going wrong for the England international at Old Trafford before assessing what comes next ahead of the January transfer window opening.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Anfield in the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield required a full-scale re-build - with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai at the heart of it.The 23-year-old is the only Liverpool outfielder to have played in all 810 minutes of the Premier League campaign so far, and is already a fan-favourite on Merseyside.Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein, data writer Mark Carey and Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap, to assess the his 'transformative' impact, changing role in Klopp's team and whether comparisons to club legend Steven Gerrard are worthy.Produced by Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last night, Tottenham went two points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to goals from Maddison and captain, Son Heung-min.Michael Bailey is joined by Charlie Eccleshare and Adam Crafton to discuss whether Spurs are title contenders or if their incredible early season form is unsustainable?Plus, Liam Tharme shares his thoughts on how Son has adapted to the No.9 role and filled the goals void left by Kane, and the panel ask whether Ange Postecoglou deserves more respect?Produced by Jay Beale and Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the eve of his first anniversary as Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has Villa within striking distance of the top of the Premier League.Having returned to English football last season, following an ill-fated 18 month spell at Arsenal, Michael Bailey is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Gregg Evans to analyse the Spaniard's resurgence in the West Midlands.Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell shares his take on Villa's start to the season, their best season 1998/99, while Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas reviews his time in North London before assessing how he feels seeing Emery thrive at Villa Park.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides**• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal returns to preview Premier League matchday nine.The weekend starts with a Merseyside derby at Anfield. With only one win against Liverpool since 2010, can Sean Dyche’s team take advantage of Liverpool’s dodgy form in early kickoffs?Then we’re off to Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea host Arsenal. With Arsenal’s recent dominance we ask if the title of ‘biggest club in London’ has swung back to North London.And Man City host Brighton on the back of a blip, with three losses in the last four games. Will they right the ship, or can the Seagulls add to their misery?Adam Leventhal hosts Jay Harris, Tim Spiers and Luke Bosher.Producer - John Rogers***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contracted through to 2025, there's no immediate sign of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City.Yet with Roberto De Zerbi taking his Brighton & Hove Albion side to the Etihad this weekend, he could outlines his credentials to succeed the Spaniard at City with Guardiola a known admirer.Adam Levethal is joined by The Athletic's Italian and German football correspondents James Horncastle and Raphael Honigstein, with Man City writer Sam Lee also dropping in to assess Guardiola's impact on the Premier League and European Football before assessing the candidates who could be viewed as Guardiola successors.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead, Adonis Pratsides***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As England secured their place at Euro 2024, we watched on in awe at another Jude Bellingham masterclass - is there a better player in world football right now?And as England boss Gareth Southgate continues to bristle at questions over his team selection and along culture war lines - has the manager’s more 'combative' character, changed how you feel about him?Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic’s England correspondent Tim Spiers and reporter Adam Crafton to discuss...Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Adam Leventhal and a couple of The Athletic's resident gamers, Jay Harris & Art de Roché, reflect on the cultural impact, messy divorce and exciting future of FIF... EA SPORTS FC 24!Why Gianni Infantino will miss the PR cover the game inadvertently provided for FIFA and why EA were happy to go it alone. How the franchise pulled clear of rivals like Pro Evolution Soccer and their efforts to impact the sport in the real world.With interviews from David 'DJ' Jackson (VP of Brand at EA SPORTS) and Leah Revelle (leading female FC streamer in North America) on the decision to incorporate the biggest stars from the Women's game in 'Ultimate Team', gaming addiction and spending on 'packs'.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Manchester United’s board being set to vote on selling a minority stake in the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater, David Ornstein and Adam Crafton is debate the proposal.Following Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari group claiming to have withdrawn from the process the panel analyse Ratcliffe's offer to purchase a 25% minority stake in the club, in return for sporting control at Old Trafford.Plus there's debate around what impact it could have on the Glazers' tenure as well as which personnel could be at risk following INEOS involvement at Manchester United.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of the Weekend Preview we welcome another round of Euro 2024 qualifiers, with England potentially securing qualification if they can see off Italy on Tuesday.With the Three Lions in good shape ahead of Germany next summer, we ask the panel whether they’re comfortable with the ‘favourites’ tag and which countries fear them the most.Also, with the UK and Ireland having been confirmed as hosts of Euro 2028, our panelists get out their crystal balls to predict the starting lineups five years from now.Adam Leventhal hosts Nick Miller, Tim Spiers and Thom Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the release of the David Beckham documentary that everyone is talking about, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Carl Anka and Felipe Cardenas to discuss Beckham and how he became a global icon that broke America.We’ll also hear Adam in conversation with Paddy Harverson - former Manchester United Head of Communications, during the peak of Beckham’s celebrity.How much of the documentary is a true reflection of the player and the man? Or is it all part of the Brand Beckham plan?Produced by Guy Clarke & Jay BealeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and our tactics writer Michael Cox to reflect on the career of Eden Hazard following his retirement this week.Was he a player that didn't quite hit the heights expected or was his approach to the game - married with his undoubted ability - make his achievements all the more impressive?We detail why his dream move to Real Madrid didn't work out and hear from Premier League defenders who actually had to try and stop Eden Hazard at a time when he was one of the best players in the world.Produced by Mike StavrouAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead, Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Benji Lanyado & The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas to assess how quickly West Ham have rebuilt after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer...They discuss the work that manager David Moyes has done to integrate new summer signings and doubling-down on a style of play that has led to a surprisingly strong start in the Premier League.Roshane also shares details of Jarrod Bowen's new seven-year-contract and there is a closer look at how midfielder Lucas Paqueta has developed.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and reporter Adam Crafton following the Gunners' first Premier League win over Man City in almost eight years.The panel discuss the importance of the win over Pep Guardiola's side for Mikel Arteta before analysing Arsenal's summer transfer business and assessing whether or not it will be enough to help Arsenal leapfrog Man City in the Premier League.Plus, after five years in sole charge of the club, the role of the ownership group KSI is also debated in how Arsenal have become an aligned force on-and-off the pitch.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal returns as he does every Friday to preview the weekend's football. The showcase this week: a clash between last season's top two, as Arsenal host Manchester City.Can Arsenal snap their 12 (twelve!) game losing streak to the Citizens? Will Bukayo Saka be fit enough to play? And could the suspended Rodri be a game-changer? These are just some of the questions Adam and co will try to find answers to.Also on the docket, following Jurgen Klopp's replay wishes after an incorrect VAR call against his side, we're reviewing which games our panelists would like to do over again.And there's a tour of the other interesting fixtures on offer: Luton vs Spurs, Manchester United vs Brentford, Liverpool vs Brighton, and more!Guests: Tim Spiers, Nnamdi Onyeagwara, Jordan Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Danny Donachie former Head of Medical Services at Everton, ex-Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke & The Athletic’s Oli Kay to discuss how elite footballers are facing the threat of injury and burnout in the ever expanding football calendar The panel discuss the huge demands on stars like Bukayo Saka, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe playing much more than similar players of previous generations yet continue to deliver on the world stage…So what can be done to improve welfare and demands on players and will they really need to take action and stop playing to be listened to? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Manchester United writers Andy Mitten and Mark Critchley to explore Marcus Rashford's 'streaky' goalscoring form and the weight of expectation on him at Man United...How does Erik ten Hag get Rashford back to his best, and could the budding partnership with new striker Rasmus Hojlund be the key?And after one-time United winger Wilfried Zaha returned to haunt them in the Champions League on Tuesday - why didn't it work out for him at Old Trafford?Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s George Caulkin and French football writer Tom Williams to explore some intriguing parallels between the state-backed 'projects' at both Newcastle & PSG - ahead of their hotly anticipated clash in the Champions League...Have Newcastle actually learnt from PSG’s mistakes, and, after turning over a new leaf under Luis Enrique - are PSG actually trying to be a bit more like Newcastle?Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Pearce and Oli Kay are alongside Ayo Akinwolere to react to Liverpool's VAR-impacted defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.Both the PGMOL and Liverpool have issued statements following Luis Diaz's first half 'offside' effort not being overturned by VAR, with the panel dissecting events around the mistake made at Stockley Park.Plus, there's analysis of the Reds' start to the season who despite seeing their 17-game unbeaten run ended possess one of the league's most devastating attacking line-ups as well as remodelling their midfield during the summer transfer window.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal hosts Caoimhe O'Neill, Nick Miller, and Tim Spiers as they look ahead to match day seven of the Premier League.One game stands out among the rest: Tottenham vs Liverpool. With both teams unbeaten so far this season, we ask where the improvement in both squads has come from, and what kind of match it will produce.We also take a whistle-stop tour around some of the other fixtures, with Man United facing Crystal Palace for the second time this week, the champion’s Man City away to Wolves, and can Everton make it three wins in a row versus Luton?***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roberto Calenda, the agent of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, has threaten the club with legal action for mocking the striker on TikTok.James Horncastle and Carl Anka join Ayo Akinwolere to dissect and debate the fallout and analyse the impact the social gaff could have for one of Napoli's most prized assets.With his contract set to end it's final year in the summer, could this incident mark the beginning of the end for Osimhen's time in Naples?Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo is joined by The Athletic's Carl Anka and Simon Hughes, plus Chief football writer for Dutch newspaper AD Sjoerd Mossou, to explain how Ajax imploded - after the ugly scenes on Sunday that led to 'De Klassieker' being abandoned...The panel discuss the power vacuum left by Marc Overmars, Edwin van der Sar and former manager Erik ten Hag, and how far the club has fallen from that run to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.Also, what role the former Arsenal and Dortmund transfer chief Sven Mislintat has played in this summer's chaos, as Ajax, like so many of Europe's legacy clubs, have been plunged into an 'identity crisis' of their own.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Rodri's red card at the weekend, Pep's Manchester City will have to find a way to cope without the most reliable player in the Premier League... But is he more than that?With the trip to Arsenal looming, Ayo is joined by City writers Sam Lee and Mark Critchley, to talk about how the Spaniard became the lynchpin of Pep’s all-conquering champions, a sliding doors moment for Kalvin Phillips and how the best 'problem-solvers' in football might try to adapt to this temporary set-back.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Ornstein and Art De Roche are alongside Ayo Akinwolere following Arsenal's 2-2 draw in the North London Derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur.Within the game, Gabriel Jesus missed a presentable chance to put the Gunners 2-0 up in the first half while Eddie Nketiah also drew attention later in the game too, for Mikel Arteta's men, leading to debate around whether or not Arsenal possess the firepower needed to mount a Premier League title challenge.As well as the panel getting stuck into the debate, Mark Carey also drops in to dive into the data regarding Arsenal's attacking output.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal welcomes a packed studio to preview this weekend's biggest clash: Arsenal vs Spurs plus David Ornstein pops up to bring us exclusive details on Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's bumper new contract.In the red corner, Jay Harris and Jordan Campbell represent the Arsenal side of things, while in white we have Tim Spiers and Alex Kay-Jelski. Who will emerge victorious, both in the studio and on the pitch? And as a cherry on top of the cake.To finish the episode we also hear briefly from Spanish football expert Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero on the upcoming Madrid derby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the signing of David Raya on loan from Brentford, Mikel Arteta has maintained his view this season he can rotate between the Spaniard and last season's first-choice goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.With Raya having started each of the last two matches Ayo Akinwolere is joined by former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland and former Arsenal and Tottenham stopper, and now Women's Football Editor at The Athletic, Chloe Morgan to debate the possibility of rotating goalkeepers.Plus The Athletic's Arsenal writer Jordan Campbell drops by having been at Goodison Park as Arteta floated the idea of making in-game goalkeeper substitutions.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barcelona had failed to win by a five-goal margin in any game since Lionel Messi left for PSG back in 2021... So after back-to-back 5-0 wins in La Liga and last night in the Champions League, are Xavi's side finally ready to entertain again? Ayo is joined by The Athletic's Spanish football writers Pol Ballus and Dermot Corrigan to find out who 16 year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is, if Joao Felix has finally found the perfect home and why a first La Liga title in five years wasn't enough for Xavi.Plus, how AI is helping the team cope with their rigorous fixture schedule and whether any more financial 'levers' will be required in the coming transfer windows.Produced by Adonis PratsidesExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea were booed by their own fans away at Bournemouth on Sunday but are they actually playing better than results would suggest?Ayo is joined by Adam Crafton, Dom Fifield and Chelsea writer Liam Twomey, to talk about footballing 'projects' - What they really mean and if Chelsea are really built for one?Plus, why the fanbase still bear the scars of the Roman Abramovich era and the external pressure for 'Project Chelsea' to fail, because of all the excessive spending.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is alongside The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Carl Anka to reflect on Manchester United's 3-1 humbling defeat at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday at Old Trafford.The panel not only analyse where things went wrong on the pitch for United, but also the difference in infrastructure and preparation behind the scenes at both clubs with Brighton set for the start of their first-ever European campaign this week.How both clubs are set up for, and approach the transfer window, football identities within their squads as well as the respective roles of Erik Ten Hag and Roberto De Zerbi are also debated.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Miller, Tim Spiers and Luke Bosher join Adam Leventhal to preview round five of the Premier League.They attempt to answer the weekend's big questions, such as: can Liverpool avenge the 3-0 defeat to Wolves from last season? Will Harry Maguire get the nod for an injury-hit Manchester United vs Brighton? And can Arsenal break their Goodison Park hoodoo after five consecutive winless trips?There’s also a review of the Athletic's Agent Survey which the panel discusses, as well as a quick preview from Seb Stafford-Bloor as the top two clash in Germany. ***• This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following his public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag, Jadon Sancho's Manchester United future looks uncertain.Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Adam Crafton and Dan Sheldon to explore and debate Sancho's spell at Old Trafford from the promise he showed in Germany prior to making the move through to the present day after being criticised for his performance in training by Ten Hag after Man Utd's 3-1 defeat to Arsenal prior to the international break.Raphael Honigstein also offers up the view from Germany on how things have panned out for the England international since leaving Dortmund for £73m back in 2021.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Spurs actually better without Harry Kane? ... Of course not, but new manager Ange Postecoglu's personality and James Maddison's 'swagger' are certainly helping the club move on.Today, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Tottenham writer Charlie Eccleshare and data writer Thom Harris, to discuss their fast start to the season - as well as - to urge a little caution after just four Premier League matches.How James Maddison became the new 'technical leader', why Big Ange is the perfect manager for Richarlison right now, why Bissouma and Romero feel like new signings, the stark contrast to last season under Antonio Conte and why it's so difficult to replace a talismanic figure like Kane.Produced by Adonis PratsidesExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Italian writer James Horncastle to discuss a chaotic 12 months at Juventus including the news that Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended after failing an anti-doping test & club legend Leonardo Bonucci is taking legal action against his former club.So what next for Paul Pogba, who has also had a difficult year both on and off the pitch? And, despite it all, can Juve bounce back this year?***• This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor to debate Germany's decision to sack Hansi Flick ahead of hosting Euro 2024.The decision came following Germany's 4-1 defeat to Japan on Saturday evening with the panel assessing the merits of the decision before looking ahead to who could replace Flick and the state of the DFB ahead of hosting next summer's European Championships.Produced by Guy ClarkeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/COOLIGANS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal welcomes Nick Miller, Thom Harris, and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero onto our weekend preview show, this time with an international twist. That's right, it's the first international break of the season! Will England maintain a 100% winning record in European Championship qualifying as they take on Ukraine this Saturday? Which other fixtures are appealing? And, looking further down the line, what is the succession plan post-Gareth Southgate?We also bring you the up-to-date on the Luis Rubiales scandal, with Spain's World Cup-winning manager Jorge Vilda getting the axe this week. And finally, we go on a whistlestop tour of the transfer window - who were the winners, who were the losers, and which transfers left us scratching our heads? -The latest episode of the Athletic's Go Deeper podcast series charts Bukayo Saka's rise to two-time English player of the year and Ballon d'Or candidate. Follow the link here to listen now: https://theathletic.com/podcast/220-beyond-the-headline/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Ayo Akinwolere is alongside The Athletic’s Liam Twomey and Adam Crafton to dive deeper into the struggles of Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea.The Ukraine international was signed in January 2023, and has had three managers since then at Stamford Bridge; Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and now, Mauricio Pochettino.He’s yet to live up to expectations - failing to score a goal for the Blues since moving from Shakhtar Donetsk. But to what extent can his struggles can be attributed to the constant change at Chelsea, and how much responsibility does he need to take himself?Produced by Mike Stavrou.Additional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bayern are a club known for getting their transfer business done early but have they been left short - despite landing number one target Harry Kane?... And how did Thomas Tuchel react? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's German football writers Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor, to reflect on Harry Kane's move to Germany and the impact of a long-drawn-out transfer saga on the rest of their transfer plans.Will they go back in for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha - who was taking pictures in a Bayern Munich kit before his move collapsed - this January. And did Kyle Walker use the German giants in order to negotiate a better deal at Manchester City?Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordan Henderson sat down with The Athletic's David Ornstein and Adam Crafton this week in an attempt to set some of the records straight about his controversial summer move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.On the podcast today, David and Adam joined Ayo Akinwolere to discuss the main talking points from the interview; from his denial that the move was financially motivated to the backlash he's received from LGBTQ+ groups. He also discusses his departure from Liverpool.Also joining the pod is Joe White, co-chair of LGBT supporters group 3 Lions Pride.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production by: Adam Jones & Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Manchester United writers Laurie Whitwell & Mark Critchley, as well as, senior writer Oli Kay, to reflect on Ten Hag's comments following their defeat at Arsenal...After more than a year in the post, does anyone really know what Ten Hag's Man United is supposed to look like - and on Sunday's evidence - is it good enough?Plus, what's going on with Jadon Sancho?Produced by Adonis Pratsides***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a special Deadline Day episode of the Daily Football Briefing; all the football news you need to know to start your day.Today, David Ornstein tells us:Can Salah still move to Saudi?Has Manchester United found their midfield linchpin?Did Spurs do enough in the window?Host: Mike ZimmermannProducer: Mike ZimmermannExecutive Producer: Iain Macintosh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal is joined by Caoimhe O'Neill, Thom Harris, and Joey D'Urso to look ahead to this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures.Do Arsenal and Manchester United have more questions than answers right now? Who is favourite between Liverpool and Aston Villa?Are we already in relegation six pointer territory for Everton and Sheffield United?And should Eddie Howe be feeling the heat?All that and much more on this episode of the Weekend Preview Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transfer Deadline Day is here and clubs, as ever, are still busy doing deals.To give you the lowdown on what to expect, David Ornstein and Adam Leventhal joined host Ayo Akinwolere to provide the latest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and more.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Guy Clarke***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain won their first Women's World Cup last week, but the fallout has instead been dominated by one man; president of the Spanish Football Federation Luis Rubiales.Rubiales planted a kiss on Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso's lips during the medal ceremony, a kiss she said was non-consensual. Since then, Rubiales has been suspended but ignored calls to step down as Spanish football descends into chaos... even leading to his own mother going on hunger strike over accusations against him earlier this week.To discuss a fast moving story and what it says for women in sport, The Athletic's Laura Williamson, Laia Cervello and Adam Crafton joined host Ayo Akinwolere.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production by: Abi Paterson, Guy Clarke, Mike Stavrou and Jay Beale***• Grab your EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal by going to https://nordvpn.com/theathletic to get a Huge Discount off your NordVPN Plan + 4 months for free! It’s completely risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.