The Game

In this special podcast from The Game, we're joined by Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper - David Stockdale. The Yorkshireman talks us through his rollercoaster route into football and the ups and downs of his first few years as a young professional. We also hear how he came to learn he was moving to the capital to play for Fulham and how prioritising his family saw him potentially miss out on a longer stint in the top flight.Wycombe play MK Dons in the League One playoff semi-finals on Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th May 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Matt Lawton and Tony Cascarino.Everton have given themselves a huge chance of survival with a win over Chelsea. Can they still stay up? (00:00)Chelsea has been less than impressive in recent weeks - if Roman Abramovich was still running things, would Thomas Tuchel be in danger of the sack? (11:05)Roy Hodgson is highly unlikely to save Watford as they’re all but down. Did the former England manager ever stand a chance and is this his last job? (16:40)Nottingham Forest could jump ahead of Bournemouth with a win tonight in their penultimate game in the Championship. Can they do it and return to the top flight and how will Champions Fulham get on this time? (22:34)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton joins us with an update on the sale of Chelsea and how things are potentially more complicated than they seem (28:40)Following the passing of Mino Raola, we explore the situation around ‘super agents’ and their impact on football (33:51)After Gillingham manager Neil Harris’ brutally honest interview following their relegation, we discuss the most brutal moments in football (48:52)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Manchester City vs Real Madrid will go down as a memorable Champions League semi-final - but how will it finish back in Spain? Were Real flattered by the scoreline given City gifting them two of their goals? (00:00)Liverpool looked unbeatable in their first leg against Villarreal. Are Jurgen Klopp’s side actually unstoppable this season? (18:36)Sadio Mane has been Liverpool’s standout player in recent times. Where does he fit into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or? (25:38)PSG have secured the French title, but what does the future hold for manager Mauricio Pochettino? (35:22)Changes are being proposed to the semi-final stages of the Champions League. With other changes already incoming in the Champions League - is there any need to mix things up? (46:44)The Europa League semi-finals begin tonight, so we end with Hugh’s favourite feature - The Game predictions (51:14)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Liverpool got the win they needed over Everton but it didn’t come without some controversial moments. Divock Origi scored his annual Liverpool goal - but do we actually know how good he is? (00:00)Burnley have got themselves out of the relegation zone since Sean Dyche departed - but what’s changed? (12:51)Arsenal beat Manchester United as many predicted, but were either team any good? Should Ralf Rangnick still move upstairs at United? (22:04)The Times’ Paul HIrst joins us to discuss his trip to Amsterdam to find out more about Erik ten Hag. You can read his conclusion on The Times website (39:57)Oldham became the first former Premier League team to drop out of the EFL - we speak to The Times’ Adam Millington about the disruptive scenes at the weekend (48:46)After Joaquín lifted the Copa Del Rey for Real Betis aged 40, we have a think about our favourite veterans in the game (56:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Manchester United have a new manager as Erik ten Hag will take over in the summer until at least 2025. What kind of job does he have on his hands and what does he need to turn things around? (00:00)Arsenal showed they’re up for a fight for fourth place with a 4-2 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night. After two goals, is Eddie Nketiah finally showing he’s the man to lead the Arsenal attack? (12:25)The Times’ Northern Football Correspondent Paul Joyce joins us to pick apart Liverpool’s demolition of Manchester United (28:12)Following on from what Paul had to say - how important have certain members of the Liverpool squad been and has Sadio Mane ended Roberto Firmino’s Liverpool career? (35:18)Everton managed to snatch a point from a game they should have won against Leicester. Is Frank Lampard likely to stay at Goodison past the end of the season? (42:20)Fulham will be a Premier League side again next season, but Derby will play in League One. We look at both ends of the Championship table (48:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Liverpool are into the FA Cup Final at the expense of Manchester City. Did Pep Guardiola overthink it again? (00:00)Jurgen Klopp’s side are still on for the quadruple - but will they actually win it? (12:15)Chelsea are Liverpool’s opponents at Wembley for the second time this season. Did Crystal Palace play into Thomas Tuchel’s hands in the semi-final? (23:09)Sean Dyche left Burnley after a decade in charge - but were they right to make a change without a plan in place (35:48)Spurs and Arsenal both slipped up over Easter - does anyone actually want fourth place? (47:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Chelsea started well but came up short against Real in their Champions League second leg. What changed to swing things back into Real’s favour? (00:00)Villarreal will take on Liverpool after they knocked Bayern Munich out. Why is Unai Emery so good in Europe and Constantin Eckner joins us to discuss where next for Bayern (14:02)Manchester City are Real’s opponents in the semi-finals after they ground out a result against a fiery Atletico side. Did Pep’s team finally show they know how to finish the job in Europe? (27:08)Dutch football expert Arthur Renard has written about Erik ten Hag in The Times and joins us to discuss the Ajax manager who’ll soon take over at Manchester United (40:20)European semis are put aside this weekend when the FA Cup semi-finals take place. But who will go through and will Liverpool make a raft of changes? (49:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Paul Hirst and Alyson Rudd.The battle of the top two teams in the Premier League really was a battle - did Liverpool play it right by being more aggressive and who does the 2-2 draw favour most? (00:30)Aston Villa are struggling for form with four losses in their last 5 matches. What’s up with Steven Gerrard’s side? (26:14)Arsenal came unstuck at home to Brighton making it back-to-back defeats. Why aren’t they putting up a fight for fourth? (38:16)Are Manchester United a former great team? Should they even be featured on Super Sunday? (46:40)Burnley missed an opportunity to put the pressure on Everton even more as they lost to Norwich. Does that result mean Everton are now safe? (59:29)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Chelsea came unstuck against Real Madrid as Karim Benzema scored back-to-back Champions League hat tricks. Is there any way back for Thomas Tuchel’s side? (00:00)Villerreal stunned Bayern Munich in the other game on Wednesday night. Is Unai Emery a tactical genius? (15:10)Atletico didn’t impress in their loss at Manchester City. Should Diego Simeone be considered a world class manager given his tactics? (19:55)If Manchester City fail to win the Champions League this year, should their season be seen as a failure? (28:30)In the run-in for the Premier League title - who are the favourites and who are most likely to slip up? (36:24)Burnley are now just a point from safety after their victory over Everton on Wednesday. Can they rely on their experience to drag themselves out of danger? (45:50)Hugh is excited to attend West Ham’s Europa League quarter final against Lyon this evening. Could they realistically lift the trophy? (55:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Brentford stunned Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel was stunned by Alyson’s question about Christian Eriksen after the final whistle (00:30)Tottenham have made it back to fourth place with a comprehensive thrashing of Newcastle. How much of their recent good form is down to the January signings? (15:55)Do Everton realise how much trouble they’re in at the bottom of the Premier League? Is Frank Lampard saying the right things to make his team fight for survival? (27:36)Molly Hudson joins us for an update from the Women’s Champions League and the WSL, which will feature Liverpool next season after they clinched promotion on Sunday (42:52)Following a fiery Old Firm derby, The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent Michael Grant joins us to discuss the run in for the Premiership (50:10)Now we know the World Cup draw, Hugh is adamant it’s a poor draw for England. Does he have a point? (57:20)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Gareth Southgate changed things around and gave us a chance to see more of players including Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling against the Ivory Coast. Does that game affect who might make the World Cup starting XI? (00:30)Jude Bellingham has been widely praised for his impact on the side. Is he in line for a starting place or has he been overhyped? (11:53)Ollie Watkins says he can’t do much more to claim an England place - but does our panel agree? (21:23)The Premier League is set to make a u-turn and agree to five substitutions per team from next season. Is this decision good for the future of the game? (35:10)Ask Alyson - this time, Alyson gives us the behind the scenes story on her interview with aspiring Premier League manager Yaya Toure and players who’ve only touched the ball once in their top flight careers (44:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy and Tony Cascarino.England won their first friendly of the international break - but what did we learn from the 2-1 win over Switzerland? (00:30)Conor Gallagher looked good in midfield, but will he get a fair chance with the other players England have in the middle? (15:04)Wales will have to wait until the summer to find out if they’ll play in the World Cup. Does this play into their hands and is Gareth Bale the best British export ever? (20:17)The Times’ Matthew Syed has been causing a stir with the idea of a combined British football team. Could it ever happen? (36:12)There are thought to be four preferred bidders on Chelsea’s shortlist for the sale of the group. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton joins us with the latest state of affairs (44:25)Roberto Mancini has failed to take Italy to the World Cup, so could he be a shock candidate to take over at Manchester United? (56:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Jonathan Northcroft and Molly Hudson.England are preparing for their friendlies during this international break - but how many players are already untouchable in the starting XI? Will Harry Maguire’s place be in doubt given his bad form? (00:30)One of the first names on the England team sheet is Declan Rice and it’s been reported this week that West Ham would want £150m for any move this summer. At 23, is he worth that figure? (17:54)The sale of Chelsea continues to rumble on, but are one of the prospective buyers already fighting a losing battle? (26:43)The first legs of the Women’s Champions League quarter finals have taken place. Arsenal scored a late equaliser to go back to Wolfsburg at 1-1. The Times’ Molly Hudson joins us to discuss the results in more details (37:40)The Times’ Northern Football Correspondent joins us for the latest on the managerial situation at Manchester United with Erik Ten Hag the first prospective manager to be interviewed (46:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Crystal Palace blew Everton away to set up an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. What’s the secret to their success and how much of an influence has Patrick Vieira been on their development? (00:00)Everton’s fortunes haven’t exactly turned around since Frank Lampard took over. Does the former Chelsea boss already regret accepting the job given how messy things are off the field? (10:56)Alyson watched Southampton host Manchester City and ended up getting some grief for her comments in The Sunday Times. Do fans really care about their owners or are they just happy for success? (29:47)Nottingham Forest gave Liverpool a good run for their money at the City Ground. Should Jürgen Klopp’s side count themselves lucky? (38:30)Tottenham beat West Ham 3-1 as both sides fortunes have flipped. What can Spurs realistically hope for this season? (51:43)Following a strange Steven Gerrard interview, we end with our favourite cringe moments when players or managers are grilled by the media (59:34)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Martyn Ziegler.Chelsea joined Liverpool and Manchester City in the quarter finals of the Champions League after victory in Lille. Ian Hawkey reflects on the win fresh from the Eurostar while Hugh continues to be frustrated by Manchester United (00:00)Juventus are also out of the Champions League. Was it another Unai Emery masterclass or did the Old Lady come up short? (10:45)We’re still waiting to find out who the next owners of Chelsea will be. The deadline for bids is Friday, so things could start to move quickly in the next few days. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler joins us with the latest off the pitch at Stamford Bridge (20:16)Liverpool have closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to a single point. Do they have the momentum to keep their form going or will there be another blip in their title challenge? (35:36)Rumours suggest Erling Haaland could have settled on Manchester City as his next destination. How likely is this deal and would he actually fit into the existing setup? (46:10)The FA Cup quarter finals take place over the weekend, so we end with our predictions. Can Nottingham Forest knock out another Premier League side? (54:58)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd, Matt Dickinson and Matt Lawton.Elland Road erupted when Leeds scored an added-time winner against Norwich. With Patrick Bamford back - are Leeds about to ‘do a Newcastle’ and accelerate away from the bottom three? (00:00)Watford got a much-needed win at Southampton over the weekend. Does Roy Hodgson’s team have what it takes to stay up? (08:36)Alyson is adamant Brentford shouldn’t be included in our relegation-threatened teams list, however Everton are a different matter. Does Frank Lampard have what it takes to turn things around? (13:14)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton has been looking into the ongoing situation at Chelsea and joins us to discuss the sale and longer-term impact on the club (19:46)On the pitch, Chelsea scored a late winner against Newcastle. Alyson was at Stamford Bridge and was interested by the atmosphere (41:12)Their opponents - Newcastle - have had lots of questions about their ownership recently - but is it right to keep asking them to Eddie Howe? (45:20)Cristiano Ronaldo is now the (unofficial) top professional goalscorer with 807 goals. Does this settle the argument that he’s the best player ever? (53:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Tom Roddy.Real Madrid showed their European experience as they overcame the challenge of PSG in the Spanish capital - but as much as they were impressive - how badly did PSG blow it this time? (00:00)Have the events of last night lost Mauricio Pochettino the chance to manage Manchester United? Will he survive the season with PSG? (14:38)Liverpool suffered a rare defeat at Anfield but still progressed over Inter Milan. Did Alexis Sanchez’s red card save them any embarrassment? (22:35)The news that Roman Abramovich’s assets have been frozen will have massive knock-on effects on Chelsea. As the story develops, our (newly three-time) award winning journalist Martyn Ziegler joins us with the latest (25:3)Marcus Rashford could be on the move - but is leaving Old Trafford the best option for him? (38:02)With some older gentleman still performing at the top level in the Champions League, we discuss our favourite footballing veterans (51:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tony Cascarino.Arsenal beat Watford 3-2 which didn’t impress manager Mikel Arteta. Is this a good thing for the supporters? Tony gives his thoughts on Bukayo Saka’s future as his contract renewal gets closer (00:00)Crystal Palace are tenth after taking seven points in their last three matches. How much further can they make their way up the table and what’s the secret to their good form? (18:10)Christian Eriksen is in the starting lineup and Ivan Toney is finding the back of the net. Are Brentford about to pull away from the relegation battle? (22:50)Newcastle notched up another win at the weekend - have the improvements been the difference? Brighton were the team they beat - do they need a new striker? (27:38)Manchester City came out of the Manchester derby with every positive. A win, four goals and 69% of possession. Was anyone actually surprised, though? (38:42)Chelsea fans have been criticised for singing Roman Abramovich’s name during a minute’s applause for Ukraine. Has it been blown out of all proportion? (50:24)The first ever Ask Tony - where the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland strikers gives us his thoughts on a range of topics (53:44)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Roddy, Jonathan Northcroft and Matt Lawton.Roman Abramovich is selling Chelsea but how easy will this be and how quickly does he want it done? The Times’ Chief Sports Correspondent Matt Lawton joins us after his detailed look into the situation in The Times (00:00)How did the Russian change the way English football is run and how will he be viewed once he leaves the sport completely?(18:10)Manchester United are still on the lookout for a new manager and with reports of a new name on the shortlist, The Times’ North East Correspondent Paul Hirst joins us (35:02)Bill Edgar looks into the history of scoreline in English football in The Times this week. We share our favourites, with one team in particular featuring in a lot of them! (54:50)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Liverpool have won the first domestic trophy after one of the most exciting goalless draws you’ll ever see at Wembley. Was Thomas Tuchel to blame for their loss after putting too much pressure on Kepa and can Liverpool add to the silverware this season? (00:00)FIFA have been criticised for the action they’ve taken against Russia so far. The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter, Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the likely repercussions and what could happen next (26:44)Leeds have said an emotional goodbye to the man who got them back into the Premier League, Marcelo Bielsa. Was it the right decision or had he earned the right to leave when he chose to? (43:42)Handballs are the topic of conversation in the Premier League this weekend. Do we even know what the rules mean these days? Also, Christian Eriksen finally makes Brenford debut - but did Alyson cry? (1:02:37)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Jonathan Northcroft.Burnley are showing some fight - but can they avoid the drop and who is most likely to replace them in the bottom three? (00:00)After beating Manchester City at the weekend, how did Spurs end up losing the next game to Burnley? Following Antonio Conte’s comments after the match - what’s next for him and the club? (05:50)Leeds continue to drop down the table after a 6-0 loss at Liverpool. Do they need to go down to keep Marcelo Bielsa in the dugout? (21:18)Manchester United were once again dysfunctional. Is Anthony Elanga the one shining light of the Rangnick tenure? (31:00)Chelsea got the result they wanted against Lille without having to put Romelu Lukaku in the spotlight - does he start the League Cup final? (41:00)Aleksandar Mitrović has broken the Championship scoring record and it’s not even March - but is he good enough for the Premier League this time? (45:58)Two Manchester United legends are back in management with Paul Ince at Reading and Mark Hughes at League Two side, Bradford. Is the desire still there for them? (49:36)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Henry Winter.Tottenham grabbed an unexpected win at Manchester City on Saturday. Does the 3-2 victory mean the title race is back on, or is this just a minor bump in the road for City? (00:00)Henry Winter joins us after watching Manchester United beat Leeds at Elland Road with thoughts on whether Leeds can avoid being dragged into the bottom three and whether Manchester United are making progress (22:45)Some of the teams at the bottom of the table got good results this weekend, so how does the relegation battle look to be shaping up? (34:02)After Liverpool women’s player Meikayla Moore scored a perfect hat trick of own-goals for New Zealand on Sunday, we share our favourite unfortunate accolades in football (53:32)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Ian Hawkey.Liverpool struck late to gain a healthy 2-0 lead over Inter Milan going into the second leg of their Champions League tie. Surely that’s them through? (00:00)Manchester City are all but through too - so does this make them the favourites again? (7:11)Kylian Mbappé settled the first leg of PSG vs Real Madrid - but has he progressed from the title of ‘wonderkid’ yet and if not, what does he need to do to become world class? (15:29)The Times’ Constantin Eckner joins us from Munich to discuss Bayern’s shortcomings against RB Salzburg last night (19:22)The Times’ Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler has been looking into the mothballing of the Owner’s Charter. What’s next and could we see talk of the Super League returning? (26:22) The new-look Barcelona play in Europe tonight. How will their success in this tournament affect their summer plans? (30:35)Is the Europa League a better competition than the Champions League? Hugh tells us why he thinks it is! (36:59)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.It’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re showing some love to some of the clubs who don’t get a mention as often on the podcast.Wolves find themselves in the hunt for a European place in a season where many wrote them off. After a 2-0 win at Spurs on Sunday, what’s the secret to their success? (00:00)You can’t say Southampton don’t throw up entertaining performances - but can they change the way they play to tighten up some of the areas that let them down? (13:26)Brighton are ninth in the Premier League and while everyone jokes that they love a draw, they’ve been quietly getting results - the latest being a 2-0 win at Watford. How far can they go with Graham Potter in charge? (25:57)Newcastle look more likely to avoid the drop after a smart January transfer window - how have they pulled away from the bottom three and how much of a blow will Kieron Trippier’s injury be? (37:21)Chelsea are the Club World Champions - The Times’ Tom Roddy was there and joins us to discuss whether it’s actually much of an achievement when the European team wins (43:28)Kai Havertz is a Chelsea legend thanks to his winning goals in both the Club World Cup and the Champions League finals - but who are your club legends for individual moments when it mattered? (49:02)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Matt Lawton and Jonathan Northcroft.The Times have investigated the rise in violence at football in the UK and the link to drug usage. Matt Lawton led the investigation and joins us to discuss his weekend with police in Nottingham (00:00)There’ve been some classic and exciting matches in the Premier League this week - The Times’ Chief Football Reporter, Henry Winter was at two of them and joins us to discuss Everton’s relegation worries and the six goal thriller between Aston Villa and Leeds (21:00)The fallout from the Kurt Zouma video continues as people question West Ham for including him in their starting line up on Tuesday evening. Did they play it right or should they have suspended the player while it’s looked into? (31:45)Norwich and Burnley both added to their relegation escape effort with a point - but have they left things too late? Manchester United still aren’t performing under Ralf Rangnick - have the players decided who they want instead of the German? (45:38)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.There were some shocks and some near-shocks in the FA Cup this weekend. Non-league Boreham Wood pulled off the biggest surprise with a win over Bournemouth and will face Everton. Could they keep the run going? (00:00)Plymouth took Chelsea to extra time and things could have been very different had Ryan Hardie scored his penalty. Kidderminster also came close against West Ham (9:21)Nottingham Forest took Leicester City apart at the City Ground. The Times’ Chief Football Reporter Henry Winter joins us to discuss what went wrong for Brendan Rodgers and why Forest are such a strong side under Steve Cooper (21:57)Middlesbrough’s win over Manchester United throws up a discussion over handballs and the quality of Chris Wilder teams (29:17)Harvey Elliott made his return for Liverpool in their 3-1 win over Cardiff and Hugh makes some big predictions over the rest of his 2022 (44:24)Mo Salah didn’t get to take a penalty in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations - which leads to the debate of ‘should your best player take your final penalty?’ (47:53)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has finally left Arsenal to sign for Barcelona. How well was his situation resolved at the Emirates? (00:00)Spurs have seen a number of incomings and outgoing - but was their January window enough for Antonio Conte to be satisfied? Which other clubs will be pleased with their dealings? (10:50)West Brom are looking for a new manager after Valerien Ismael’s departure. Steve Bruce has been linked with the job - but is he the best choice for the club? (22:35)Celtic have overtaken Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership after a 3-0 win on Wednesday night. The Times’ Scottish Reporter Michael Grant joins us to discuss the title race (36:14)Alyson Rudd joins us to discuss her exclusive interview with Brentford manager, Thomas Frank. Amongst other things, discussed the arrival of Christian Eriksen and his return to football (46:25)The FA Cup is back this weekend - which games standout to us and are there still potential upsets likely? (55:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Clark and Tom Roddy.Frank Lampard is the new Everton manager, but who is the appointment better for? Him or the club? (00:00)We’re seeing a fair amount of transfer activity on Deadline Day. Spurs look to be one of the busiest teams - will Antonio Conte be happy? Have Liverpool done well in hijacking their deal for Luis Díaz? (15:08)The Times’ North-Eastern Reporter Martin Hardy joins us to discuss how successful Newcastle’s much-anticipated transfer window has gone (22:52)Sunderland have fired their manager Lee Johnson whilst sitting second in the League One table. Was this harsh on him? (35:48)While the Premier League had a break - there was still a lot of football over the weekend. We look at the big results and our favourite matches (43:12)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.Roy Hodgson has returned to management with Watford. Should he have been given the job instead of Claudio Ranieri in the first place? (00:00)Vitor Pereira did a television interview in the middle of having talks to become the new Everton manager - simply put, why? (15:02)We take a look at the current crop of young managers in the Championship with the likes of Nottingham Forest impressing under Steve Cooper and Wayne Rooney doing a remarkable job under tough circumstances at Derby County (21:36)We take a look at League One and James thinks he witnessed the worst game he’s ever seen - but which game was it? (37:44)With terrible games in the back of our minds (thanks to James) we end with the most boring games we’ve ever been unlucky enough to witness (48:35)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd sit down with Matt Lawton to discuss his article in The Times on Derby County's future.What's actually going on behind the scenes?How much money do they owe?Who is to blame for their demise?How realistic are their chances of survival?Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.Norwich have surprised many recently - not just our journalists - and are out of the relegation zone. Can they keep up the great escape? (00:00)Watford are one of the bottom three and it isn’t look good for them. What are their chances and will Everton get dragged into a relegation battle? (10:29)Martin Hardy joins us to discuss the latest at Newcastle. The team have flown to Saudi Arabia for warm-weather training - but what’s going on behind the scenes and will we see more incomings (14:45)Chelsea got one over on Spurs again - but is the race for fourth place any clearer? (27:35)VAR has once again thrown up some interesting talking points over the weekend - should there be a referee at Stockley Park? (48:52)Derby County’s situation isn’t a pretty one. Matt Lawton joins us to look at just how serious their financial situation is and what’s likely to happen next (54:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Tom Roddy.Spurs showed some fight as they shocked Leicester City at the King Power on Wednesday night. Is this the biggest sign so far that Antonio Conte’s side are most likely to take fourth place (00:00)Cristiano Ronaldo was less than impressed with being substituted against Brentford. Does that show passion and desire or is it a sign that he views Manchester United as Ronaldo FC? (11:26)The Premier League have announced they’ll review how games are postponed going forward - the Times’ Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss the latest (24:48)Graham Potter is continuously linked with other Premier League jobs, but is the Brighton manager likely to jump ship any time soon? (32:32)Fabrice Muamba joins us to discuss Christian Eriksen’s impending return to football and whether he thinks it’s a wise choice to play on (42:08)Ian Hawkey brings us the latest from Spain with the big three clubs linked with a range of transfers during this window (50:22)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson.Manchester City are 11 points clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. Is there any way they can lose the title from here? (00:00)Romalu Lukaku might be back in the Chelsea starting line-up, but how must his re-inclusion have gone down with his teammates? (10:16)Rafa Benitez didn’t last the season at Everton. As the Spaniard departs, did he ever stand a chance of succeeding? (15:08)The North London derby was called off over a lack of players with reportedly few Covid cases in either squad. Is it time to change the rules on postponements to stop teams abusing the system? (31:30)Matt Dickinson has been absent from The Game for a while - he explains his new direction and his favourite stories he’s been across since we last heard from him (42:40)Dickinson’s Diaries. Needs no introduction! (52:30)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Jonathan Northcroft.Spurs put out another ‘cup side’ in their second leg Carabao Cup loss to Chelsea last night. Is Antonio Conte trying to send a message to the club and how long will he stick around if they don’t back him with signings? (00:00)Aston Villa have added Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho in the last few days - but what can we expect from Steven Gerrard’s side in the second half of the season? (15:23)Cristiano Ronaldo has come out with some strong words about Manchester United and Ralf Rangnick. Has he hit the nail on the head or are his comments wide of the mark? (27:12)The Africa Cup of Nations has faced criticism already over the quality of football being played. Is a lack of preparation to blame? (32:30)Chris Maguire scored a hat trick for Lincoln against his former side Sunderland. His celebration involved going up to Lee Johnson and giving him some choice words. Which other players have come back to show up their former sides? (41:26)Chelsea play Manchester City this weekend in the Premier League. Does a win for City mean the title race is over already? (48:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.The FA Cup third round has given us some great entertainment this weekend, unless of course you’re a Newcastle fan. Which games stood out as proper cup ties? (00:00)Kidderminster were one of the non-league giantkillers as they beat Reading and set up a fourth round tie with West Ham. Are the rest of the next round ties that exciting, though? (16:41)Nottingham Forest knocked a very subdued Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the City Ground. Why didn’t Mikel Arteta’s side offer more? (23.46)There were minor scares for Spurs and Liverpool - who both went behind against lower league opposition before coming from behind to win. Should Spurs really have to bring players like Harry Kane off the bench to beat Morecambe? (42:04)Should players signed after postponed fixtures be allowed to play in those rearranged games? Would this concept get too complicated and do some teams benefit more than others (55:06)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy, Martyn Ziegler and James Restall.Following their week of controversy, there was nothing controversial about Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Spurs in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. How did Romelu Lukaku get on following his apology and how did Antonio Conte enjoy his return to West London? (00:00)Liverpool’s semi-final with Arsenal has been postponed due to a Covid outbreak. How do the latest changes to the Covid testing protocol affect football going forward and are smaller teams likely to be more affected? (13:26)Martyn Ziegler joins us to discuss Britain and Ireland’s chances of hosting a major tournament in the next 20 years - as the Euros look more likely than a World Cup (18:50)Manchester United have announced their new Chief Executive. Paul Hirst joins us straight from the announcement as we find out more about Richard Arnold (26:44)James Restall joins us as we look ahead to the third round weekend in this season’s FA Cup (38:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Chelsea vs Liverpool was end-to-end, but the 2-2 result wasn’t really helpful for either club. Should Sadio Mane have been sent off after 12 seconds? Which was the best goal of the game? (00:00)Romalu Lukaku was missing for Chelsea after his Italian television interview - how is the situation most likely to play out and has it been blown out of proportion? (14:06)Despite losing, Arsenal came away from the Manchester City game with a lot of positives. Is their ability to see games out a lingering problem, though? (27:07)Leeds United enjoyed a much-needed victory over Burnley. Were they back to their best or did the visitors do their best to help Marcelo Bielsa’s side? (39:18)The project at Everton just doesn’t seem to be working. How much longer can they persist with Rafa Benitez?? (50:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Chelsea dropped points with a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton. Is everyone sick of Thomas Tuchel’s excuses and did Brighton deserve a point? (00:00)There were more contentious VAR decisions over the weekend - which ones should have stood and which could we have done without? (11:43)Leicester City did well to bounce back and beat Liverpool in the week - is that the end of Liverpool’s title challenge already? (16:44)Manchester United were abysmal against Newcastle, with Eddie Howe’s side deserving of at least a point. Does Ralf Rangnick now understand the size of the job he’s undertaken? (23:53)As we head into 2022, we make out halfway point predictions for how the Premier League and a few other situations will play out before the end of the season (36:18)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Leicester lose again - but is it right to blame Brendan Rodgers? (00:00)Manchester City have a six point gap at the top of the Premier League - are they already out of sight? (07:59)Chelsea must be thankful that Romelu Lukaku is back, but what does the future hold for Christian Pulisic? (12:29)How much did Steven Gerrard’s absence affect Aston Villa’s Boxing Day performance? (22:19)Will we see a return to games behind closed doors? Should the schedule be changed to give more breathing space between games? (28:32)Spurs are doing the basics well under Antonio Conte, but how far can they go in the Italian’s first season? (35:56)Arsenal continue their resurgence - was dropping Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang the key to them finishing in the top 4 at the end of the season? (45:06)Are Norwich the worst ever Premier League side given they seem to have learned nothing from the last time they went down? (47:18)What do West Ham need to do in order to stop their blip in form becoming a big problem? (49:49)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Did we witness the game of the season between Spurs and Liverpool or was it more of a fair match due to Covid cases? (00:00)With Liverpool and Chelsea both dropping points - is the title race already starting to tip into Manchester City’s favour? (21:42)Newcastle are still looking leaky at the back - has Eddie Howe actually had much of a positive influence on the team yet? (24:25)Roughly halfway through the season, we pick our half-time awards. Which manager has impressed us the most? Who has been the smartest signing and which teams will go down? (33:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Tom Roddy and Matt Lawton.Arsenal are up into the European places after their rocky start to the season. Who should they go with as their new captain and can they keep up their good form? (00:00)West Ham have started to drift from the top four. What’s the reason for this and what might help? (11:55)Leeds got thrashed 7-0 by Manchester City in the Premier League. Has Marcelo Bielsa been found out and will he last the season? (15:00)We’ve seen a handful of games in the top two leagues cancelled because of Covid outbreaks at clubs. Should football be put on hold for a short time to allow things to settle? (26:22)The African Cup of Nations could be cancelled due to Covid and political unrest in the host country of Cameroon. Should the tournament be cancelled completely or held elsewhere? (40:22)Sergio Agüero has retired at the age of 33 on advice from his doctors. Where does the Argentine sit in the best ever Premier League strikers? (48:!4)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and James Restall.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Arsenal’s win over Southampton after a disciplinary break - should he continue as their captain? (00:00)That loss keeps Southampton close to the bottom three - should Ralph Hasenhüttl be worried about his job? (10:12)Manchester United weren’t exactly convincing against the bottom side - is Ralf Rangnick’s philosophy going to take a while to settle in? Would it be a mistake to change the manager again in the summer? (15:18)Conor Gallagher is the latest Chelsea loan player to impress in the top flight - but does he or Billy Gilmour have a future at the parent club? (23:08)There were ten penalty shouts in the Premier League over the weekend - which ones should have actually been given? (29:22)The African Cup of Nations is due to take place in Cameroon, but with civil war and a huge problem with cholera in the country - should the tournament be moved? (42:28)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Ian Hawkey and Rick Broadbent.Chelsea are still in a rut - but there were positives in their Champions League match at Zenit this week, namely Timo Werner looking sharp. How do they get back to their best? (00:00)The Champions League draw takes place on Monday - but what would be a good draw for Manchester City? Could they come unstuck in the next round? (08:20)Ralf Rangnick has taken charge of his first two Manchester United matches - what can we tell from his first week at the club? (14:00)Barcelona are out of the Champions League - failing to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in 17 years. How long will it take for the club to bounce back? (23:56)Rick Broadbent joins us to discuss the state Leeds United find themselves in. With a worrying league position and a scary fixture list - what do they need to do? (29:30)Tottenham and Leicester have both suffered with Covid outbreaks in the last few days - with the new variant of Covid-19, could we see the return of games with no fans? (39:15)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Aston Villa made up for the midweek loss with a win over Leicester. Is Steven Gerrard the reason their form has improved and what’s happened to the Foxes? (00:00)West Ham got one over on Chelsea - but did they deserve three points? What are Chelsea missing that’s seen them lose the Premier League lead? (7:20)Divock Origi popped up for his annual goal to save Liverpool in stoppage time. How well are they playing and do they need to invest further? (16:11)Manchester City look unstoppable. Is Bernardo Silva the best player in the league at the moment and would a new striker actually hinder their mystique? (24:19)Molly Hudson joins us to discuss Chelsea’s Women’s FA Cup win on Sunday, which saw them complete last season’s treble (31:20)Newcastle and Burnley had differing fortunes at the weekend, but will either avoid the drop? (36:52)Tom Roddy catches up with Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in an interview you can read more of on The Times online (46:40)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft.Liverpool outclassed Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Fans showed their frustration to the board after the game - is that where the club’s problems lie? (00:00)The two teams ahead of them won last night - with Bernardo Silva scoring a goal of the season contender. Can we really predict which of the three sides will take the title this early on? (12:03)Leicester City and Brighton both had to settle for a point in their games - what can their fans realistically expect this season? (19:03)Wolves and Burnley was goalless - is Wolves’ distinct lack of firepower going to live to haunt them? (26:18)The Times’ Constantin Eckner joins us to give us more insight into Ralf Rangnick, as his German countryman prepares to take charge of Manchester United at the weekend (37:24)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy.Chelsea were held by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge - did Michael Carrick get his tactics spot on and what are we expecting to see change as Ralf Rangnick comes in? (00:00)Timo Werner was less than impressive in front of goal, once again - how many more chances does he have at Chelsea? (14:09)Everton are winless in seven games after Sunday’s loss to Brentford - how much time does Rafa Benitez have to improve results and could fans turn on him after the Liverpool derby? (21:!5)Brighton fans booed Graham Potter after their draw with Leeds - were they justified? Marcelo Bielsa has taken a dig at the schedule being ‘overcharged’ - does he have a point? (30:44)Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has finally commented on the Saudi Arabian influence at Newcastle United - but has he actually addressed anything? (40:10)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey.Mauricio Pochettino had a night to forget in Manchester as PSG were shown up at the Etihad. Has he got one hand tied behind his back with his ‘undroppable’ front three? (00:00)Chelsea made short work of Juventus, beating them 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. Can Thomas Tuchel’s side defend their Champions League crown? (13:45)Michael Carrick has a 100% win record in interim charge of Manchester United. Could he stick around until the end of the season and who is most likely to be the long-term solution? (26:29)The government has ‘endorsed in principal’ the creation of an independent regulator for English football - but what will actually end up happening? (41:00)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and David Walsh.Ole has finally departed Old Trafford - but has he done so with his head held high? Where do they go next with their interim manager and who’s the best fit to take over longer term in the summer? (00:00)The Times’ David Walsh joins us to discuss one of Ole’s fiercest critics - his former United teammate, Roy Keane (30:32)Three Premier League clubs had new managers in the dugouts* over the weekend - but which hit the ground running best (41:26)Liverpool brought Arsenal back down to earth at Anfield on Saturday - could we see the start of another worrying blip for Mikel Areta (53:01)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame(*one via Zoom) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson.Stockport are the latest team to pull off an FA Cup upset after they beat Bolton 5-3 on Wednesday night. How are non-league clubs being regulated and are they being protected from potential financial problems going forward? (00:00)Reading have been deducted 6 points and Derby County another 9 points for breaching EFL financial rules - how did both clubs differ in their offences and why have Derby been punished more harshly? Have the salary caps actually helped clubs in the football league? (12:19)The WSL has seen a big increase in viewers thanks to the new television deal, however crowds in stadiums have dropped slightly. Does the increase in the wider appeal make up for the short-term dip in people through the turnstiles? (19:52)The Premier League is back this weekend - we look into Arsenal’s return to form and how the next few months of their season could pan out (27:55)The three new Premier League managers have home ties this weekend - but who out of Norwich, Newcastle and Aston Villa got the best deal with their new boss? (37:25)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Clarke.England qualified for the 2022 World Cup with a 10-0 win in San Marino - but what have we learned from the game, if anything!? (00:00)Fifty players have been given their England debuts under Gareth Southgate - but which have been the most important? (17:10)Scotland secured a home World Cup playoff with their win over Denmark - regardless of whether they make the tournament, is this the best Scotland team ever? (29:48)Dean Smith has taken over at Norwich - does he give them a chance of staying up and what are the struggles he’s likely to face in changing the team’s mindset? (37:58)Gareth Bale now has 100 caps for Wales - but where does he sit in the list of ‘Greatest British Players’? (45:45)Get more of The Times and The Sunday Times for less than £1 a day. Start your free trial: thetimes.co.uk/thegame Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.