The Game

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar on a week that has everyone in the world of football talking.Arsenal take on Chelsea in a pivotal clash in the Champions League chase but it’s been a turbulent week off the pitch for the Gunners. It appears Ivan Gazidis has left Arsenal in a huge mess, as head of recruitment Sven Mislintat looks set to be the next man out the door.Did Arsenal gamble too much on Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil a year ago? And will we see Ozil in action this weekend? Does the World Cup winner respect Unai Emery’s credentials? Plus will Sarri get his way with the addition of Gonzalo Higuain at Stamford Bridge?Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa admits that he has sent representatives undercover to watch every Championship team train this season. Is he to be admired or punished? And did the masses and the media get manipulated by Bielsa into discussing how meticulous he is instead of the morality of spying?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back with Alyson Rudd and Paul Hirst in tow to talk the major issues of the weekendOle Gunnar Solskjaer’s perfect start as Manchester United manager continues, with victory over Tottenham, as he becomes the first United manager to win his first 6 games in charge. Is Solskjaer more than a just a man who puts smiles on faces and did Wembley showcase his tactical acumen as a coach? From a Tottenham standpoint, with no Son and potentially no Kane, where does Mauricio Pochettino go from here?With Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa admitting to sending a staff member to the Derby training ground undercover, we ask if spying is an accepted part of elite sport.Off the back of Warnock’s words on Brexit and Rio’s rant on Newcastle, what do the panel make of the amount of attention that these opinions attracted?Also on a packed podcast, Martin O’Neill returns to Nottingham Forest, plus the hilarious and embarrassing position that Unai Emery finds himself in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by James Gheerbrant and Oli Kay ahead of a big Premier League weekend and following a footballing week that provided plenty of talking points on and off the pitch.Tottenham host Manchester United on Sunday. With the Red Devils rampant under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the panel discuss how the Norwegian has built his team around Paul Pogba. And with a further delay on their new stadium, should Spurs be allowed to stay at Wembley for the rest of the season?A couple of Welshmen are on the move – Nathan Jones has left Luton to become the new Stoke manager. Is he the real deal and are we seeing a trend in clubs steering clear of the tried and tested names?Plus Aaron Ramsey moves closer to a summer move to Juventus, which the panel deem a gamble for the Old Lady. Are Arsenal counting the cost of their decision to spend big on Mesut Ozil’s new contract a year ago?Also up for discussion, the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Did VAR get it right at Wembley and was Manchester City’s 9-0 win over Burton an act of disrespect?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are reunited in the studio and are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant after FA Cup 3rd round weekend. Newport knock out Leicester in the most magical moment of the weekend but why do Premier League clubs, particularly those in mid-table, insist on resting star players when there’s a trophy up for grabs? Should we respect a coach’s right to manage their squad? Should these clubs be more honest with the supporters about what their ambitions actually are and whether league position is more important? We look ahead to the Carabao Cup semi-finals as Tottenham take on Chelsea. How much longer will Callum Hudson-Odoi be a Blue? And there’s the curious case of Alvaro Morata. Scoring but seemingly unhappy. Also on the agenda, Chesterfield’s crooked spire. And Roy Hodgson’s aversion to Netflix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer brings you The Game podcast slightly later than usual – to take in the biggest game of the season so far with Henry Winter, Alyson Rudd and Alan Smith. Champions Manchester City inflict a first Premier League defeat of the season on league leaders Liverpool at the Etihad, closing the gap at the top to 4 points. Does Jurgen Klopp take encouragement from the level of performance it took from City to beat them? Pep Guardiola’s men show their guts and intensity, a performance typified by the ‘dog of war’ Bernardo Silva. Will City’s experience prove crucial in this title race? Speaking of Silva, Marco is struggling across Merseyside right now as Everton have won just 1 of their last 8. Does the Portuguese coach remain a mystery to us in English football? And Maurizio Sarri has suggested he would like a new striker at Chelsea in January. Meanwhile Christian Pulisic has been signed from Borussia Dortmund, apparently without too much input from the Chelsea manager. Are there cynical reasons behind the signing? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final podcast of 2018, Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer bring you a one-off special, as the great writers at The Times give us their ideas for changing the game of football forever. What measures and rule changes would we bring in to improve the sport we love? Full-time buzzers? Physios in play? The ball never out of play? Hear from Henry Winter, Alyson Rudd, Oli Kay and many more. Also on the agenda, VAR, the Super League…and mascots. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a Boxing Day full of goals and surprises, Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Alyson Rudd, Alan Smith and Paul Hirst to digest it all. Manchester City had lost 2 out of 61 Premier League games and have now lost 3 of their last 4 after defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Are they simply missing the fatherly Fernandinho? And with Liverpool now 7 points clear of the champions, are the Reds only set to improve under Jurgen Klopp? As for the Foxes, it’s been an incredible Christmas but does Claude Puel’s persona count against him? And does he have the power or is it the players? Burnley are battered on Boxing Day 5-1 by Everton. Have they lost sense of who they are and how do they turn things around? And is Sean Dyche’s job safe no matter what? Plus with Tottenham making it 11 goals in 2 games and with this season on course to be the highest scoring season in Premier League history, we ask whether the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is the contributing factor. And outside of Liverpool, is any team actually defending well? Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Christmas Eve but Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are hard at work bringing you The Game podcast from The Times with Henry Winter and Gary Jacob.It’s time to critique an incredible Crystal Palace performance at the Etihad as they beat the champions Manchester City. It’s a result that sends Liverpool 4 points clear at the top of the table but Henry Winter is quick to highlight the humility of Jurgen Klopp’s squad. Including perhaps the most important player in the league, Virgil Van Dijk.Tottenham thrash Everton 6-2 but how big will the January transfer window be in terms of providing a clue as to Mauricio Pochettino’s future? And how big is the window for the top 4 hopes of Chelsea and Arsenal?Manchester United put 5 past Cardiff in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game in charge. Can United be accused of cheating Jose Mourinho or are they just a group of very good players? And has Solskjaer been given the remit to show off some of the lesser seen stars?Plus we look at Mike Dean’s flamboyant behaviour, Neil Warnock’s hair and Ralph Hasenhüttl in Rocky II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special episode, Alyson Rudd sits down at Sky Sports with the voice of football - Martin Tyler.We talk about Martin's days as a non-league striker at Wealdstone, his beginnings in broadcasting and the mechanics and workings of his commentary career. Whether he's stressed in Seville or lauding Rickie Lambert, this is the story of an iconic figure within the game we love as we discuss what makes Tyler tick. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd, Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant to discuss the biggest football story of the season, that being the sacking of Jose Mourinho as Manchester United manager.In the eyes of the panel, there’s no conspiracy theory here. Mourinho was given money and support and didn’t deliver the major silverware the club expected. How much damage has been done to his reputation? Where now for one of the game’s most decorated managers? Has the modern manager and modern player left him behind?Former Fulham defender Brede Hangeland speaks to us about the man who will be caretaker at Old Trafford until the end of the season, his former Norway team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Hangeland tells us he’s never seen one man so influenced by one person as Solskjaer is by Sir Alex Ferguson.As Tottenham win 2-0 at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, we look at this from the Spurs perspective. Is Mauricio Pochettino to Old Trafford really a no-brainer of a decision? And could Daniel Levy bleed United dry?Paddy von Behr provides advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are in the company of Oliver Kay and Matt Hughes, the morning after Liverpool sweep aside Manchester United at Anfield. Even if United persist with Jose Mourinho until the end of the season, the panel agree that United need to be putting the groundwork in right now to secure his summer replacement. As for Liverpool, they remain unbeaten and top of the league. Does Klopp get enough credit for the work he’s done with the squad?Southampton feel the Hasenhüttl effect to win at St Mary’s for the first time this season and end the Gunners 22-game unbeaten run. Find out why Arsenal’s Bernd Leno is indicative of German goalkeepers. Plus we have live Champions League draw reaction in the studio as the last 16 match-ups are revealed. Klopp renews an old rivalry, it gets worse for United and Tottenham’s tie is an architect’s dream. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by George Caulkin, Paul Joyce and Bill Edgar ahead of another seismic Saturday and Sunday in the Premier League.League leaders Liverpool host Manchester United at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s men embracing control over chaos this season. Klopp appears to have cracked it when it comes to the goalkeeper, defence and attack. But will the rotation in midfield be what costs the Reds this season. And as Mourinho renews old rivalries on Merseyside, would Liverpool fans actually want him to leave Old Trafford?All four English clubs progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League but were we impressed by how they performed? And does their patchy form show what a struggle it is to juggle European football with chasing Manchester City this season?And as Newcastle head to Huddersfield in a relegation six-pointer on Saturday, George Caulkin talks to us about proposed takeovers, fan boycotts and why January will be so crucial to Rafa Benitez’s future.Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Alyson Rudd, Henry Winter and Matthew Syed to discuss a weighty issue in the world of football.Raheem Sterling was allegedly the victim of racist abuse during Manchester City’s defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.On Sunday, Sterling took to social media and said that newspapers fuel racism when it comes to young black players. The panel discuss whether incidents like the one at Stamford Bridge stem from sub-consciously negative coverage of young black players. And does that create a climate from which a more extreme form of racism can flourish in grounds around the country?On the field, with Liverpool overtaking City into top spot, do we have a proper title race on our hands? Has hat-trick hero Mo Salah just put the fear of God into Premier League defences? And how will the Reds fare against Napoli in their Champions League decider?Plus with Cardiff making 4 home wins out of 5 and climbing to 14th, were we all too quick to write the Bluebirds and Neil Warnock off? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Paul Hirst and Bill Edgar to discuss the headlines in the world of football.Arsenal make it 20 games unbeaten as they draw 2-2 at Old Trafford. We discuss Manchester United’s tactical approach. They lump it and the panel don’t like it. Plus with the fourth most expensive signing in United ‘s history – Fred – yet again not even making the bench, does this demonstrate Mourinho’s lack of faith in their transfer policy?The big game of the Premier League weekend sees Chelsea host league leaders Manchester City. With Sergio Aguero injured and Gabriel Jesus having not scored a league goal for 4 months, will Pep Guardiola decide not to field a recognised striker at Stamford Bridge?And we examine the latest managerial addition to the Premier League – the new Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhüttl. Does he have the right group of players to carry out his intense pressing strategy? And will man-management issues from the past rear their head at St Mary’s?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a weekend in the Premier League and with a full set of midweek fixtures to come, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Oliver Kay and Bill Edgar to digest all the action.The panel praise Unai Emery for his role in Arsenal’s North London derby win over Tottenham and the improvement in the players he has inherited. But was Pochettino too passive? And is something brewing between Emery and the absent Mesut Ozil?Liverpool managed to stay 2 points behind Manchester City in the title race, courtesy of a 96th minute winner from Divock Origi in bizarre circumstances. But does the league table lie? Have Liverpool been lucky this season? And what has happened to Wednesday’s opponents Burnley?After reports that Jose Mourinho branded Paul Pogba a ‘virus’ in a furious dressing room bust-up. Oliver Kay concludes the pair are incompatible and have both handled the situation dreadfully. Is Mourinho more of a virus than Pogba?And the manager’s chair at St Mary’s is available after Southampton sack Mark Hughes. Find out why that chair isn’t the launching pad it used to be for ambitious coaches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter and Gary Jacob ahead of a huge weekend of Premier League action.Tottenham have beaten Chelsea and Inter Milan this week and the panel praise Pochettino for not playing the percentages. Next up is the North London derby. The battle between Ozil and Eriksen could be crucial but how much longer will those players be at their respective clubs?Looking ahead to the Merseyside derby, and with Liverpool losing away in the Champions League again, do they lack a dominant figure in midfield? And can Sigurdsson seize control on Sunday for Everton? Plus it’s another week of Mourinho behaving erratically. No Pogba, Lukaku or Sanchez selected for the Champions League clash with Young Boys. Should United have done their research before signing Sanchez? Should Mourinho have been more careful in his reaction to Rashford? And is he fuelling the negativity around the club?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a big weekend in the Premier League, it’s an even bigger week to come in the Champions League. Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Tottenham’s dismantling of Chelsea leads to another chapter in the Kante/Jorginho debate. Gab sticks up for Sarri as the panel heap praise on Spurs and their manager, ahead of the make or break clash with the Spursiest team in Serie A – Inter Milan. Meanwhile Alyson sticks up for Salah as Liverpool warm up for what could be a classic with Paris Saint Germain. But just how good are PSG? That proves to be quite the debate in itself. Southampton lose again, not helped by the hands-off approach of Hughes. Has a chopping and changing of profiles caused the Saints to lose their pattern as a football club? Plus there’s Bradford, Boca and the reason why Jose Mourinho might be happier managing a pub team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League is back and so are Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti, aided admirably by Bill Edgar and George Caulkin.It’s a big weekend at the bottom with Ranieri taking charge of Fulham for the first time against fellow strugglers Southampton. Can Claudio cook up some chemistry? What will he do with Seri and Sessegnon? And are we about to witness the end of Mark Hughes’s managerial career in the Premier League?We have witnessed the end of Martin O’Neill’s tenure as Republic of Ireland manager. Is it all about results for the Irish, or should they be looking to evolve in the world of football? Possibly with Stephen Kenny at the helm?Plus Paul Joyce joins us to discuss his article for The Times on the injury epidemic in the Premier League, specifically those suffered by players at top 6 clubs who featured heavily at the World Cup. In the hectic schedule, are managers and players short-sighted in their approach to rest and recuperation?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti is joined by Matt Dickinson and Matt Hughes in the aftermath of England’s progression to the Nations League finals after victory over Croatia. Iceland feels like a long time ago. In the best Wembley atmosphere since Springsteen, Gareth Southgate continues to find answers to questions as England manager, including proving his tactical flexibility and showing the squad does have strength in depth. We show some love to Southgate and to Fabian Delph. Following the backlash to the news that Premier League clubs have been asked to contribute to a £5million bonus for outgoing chairman Richard Scudamore, we ask whether he has been hard done by. Do people truly understand the nature of the payment or misunderstand it as a present? And does his work at one of the UK’s biggest brands of all time merit that reward? Matt Hughes also has the inside track on proposed plans for top Championship clubs to break away and form a Premier League 2. Could they be overplaying their hand and overestimating their value? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not quite awards season but with a third of the Premier League season gone, Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Gregor Robertson and Matt Furniss from Opta to review the best and worst performers of the campaign so far.There’s plenty of love for Wolves while we also try to determine what went wrong for Jokanovic at Fulham.It’s been a better season than you think for Hugo Lloris as we look back at the best goalkeepers.Howe and Pochettino are up there with the best managers. But were we expecting more from Lukaku, Keita and Walcott?Plus we welcome the best newcomers and the fact that Isaac Success has been steering clear of the Baileys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and Oliver Kay after a massive Manchester derby. Events at the Etihad throw up a number of questions. Is Jose Mourinho getting the best out of this United squad? How have they spent so much to look so average? And despite a slender lead at the top of the table, is it inevitable that City will retain the title? After another virtuoso display from David Silva, we ask is he the player of this Premier League season so far? Or are Virgil Van Dijk and Eden Hazard more valuable to their clubs and therefore more deserving? Plus there’s some love shown to David Brooks of Bournemouth. And with international duty around the corner, Jadon Sancho produces another super showing as Dortmund defeat Bayern in the Bundesliga. Just how excited should England fans be about this young talent? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by James Gheerbrant and Paul Hirst ahead of the Manchester derby. While United were securing a famous win in Turin, City were smashing Shakhtar but with the help of a bizarre penalty awarded to Raheem Sterling. With no foul committed, should Sterling have owned up to the referee?And with revelations about City allegedly circumventing financial fair play, what damage is being done to the club’s reputation?Martyn Ziegler calls in after speaking to FIFA president Gianni Infantino about proposed European Super League plans and his insistence that any players to compete in such a league would be banned from international football.Plus after their shock defeat in Belgrade and with some challenging fixtures to come, can Liverpool get through the next few weeks, in their pursuit of domestic and European glory? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Alan Smith in the studio to tackle some thorny issues in the football world. England’s friendly with the USA will now be a farewell appearance for record goal scorer Wayne Rooney. The match will be called The Wayne Rooney Foundation International, with proceeds going to charity. But does Rooney deserve such a tribute and does Rooney’s appearance deprive other players of vital England experience? James McClean and Nemanja Matic made headlines over the weekend due to the lack of a remembrance poppy on their shirt. What’s the significance and why do players continue to be vilified and abused for that choice? As Manchester City make a mockery of Southampton at the Etihad, can Chelsea and Liverpool keep up with what looks to be a relentless title pace from the champions? And with Raheem Sterling starring again, is he worth his reportedly record-breaking contract offer? Plus find out which Premier League manager is like a 16th century doctor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant ahead of another huge weekend of football.How will Liverpool, arguably with their most solid defensive structure since the days of Rafa Benitez, fare against Emery’s speedier, more dynamic Arsenal? And can these teams help us fall in love with the team goal again as opposed to the long-range screamer?Across North London, Mauricio Pochettino has spoken about his worst feeling at Tottenham since becoming manager. With the Real Madrid and Manchester United jobs potentially available in the summer, are we witnessing the end of Pochettino’s love affair with Daniel Levy?Plus with the pitch and the NFL branding playing a prominent role in the Spurs v Man City fixture, did the visuals at Wembley on Monday night damage the Premier League brand?Also on the agenda, the 48 team World Cup could be less than 4 years away. Does increasing the number of teams dilute the quality of the tournament? Or should football be a festival for all?Charlie Scott provides advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a weekend where shocking events off the field have overshadowed football. On Saturday night, after Leicester City’s game with West Ham, Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among those to lose his life when a helicopter carrying him and 4 others crashed outside the King Power Stadium. Under his stewardship, Leicester despite odds of 5,000 to 1, won the Premier League title in 2016, perhaps the most incredible title victory in the history of English football.Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter, Alyson Rudd and Oliver Kay for their reaction. In an age where fans feel disenfranchised from their club, Srivaddhanaprabha was an owner who tried to reverse that trend and connected with the community. The panel reflect on an owner that made good decisions on the pitch too, from hiring the ridiculed Ranieri to investing in unknown gems.In the Premier League, Ross Barkley continues to thrive under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea. Did people forget how good he is? And can Ruben Loftus-Cheek thrive in the same way or is he still at the wrong club this season? And after another impressive display for Bournemouth, the stock of Eddie Howe and Callum Wilson continues to rise. How much longer can Gareth Southgate ignore Wilson before calling him up to the England squad? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are privileged to be joined by Henry Winter and Matthew Syed after a Champions League week that’s thrown up a number of broader talker points.It’s another howler from Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal away in Eindhoven. The panel examine the mindset of a modern-day goalkeeper and to what extent they are under-appreciated and over-analysed.Manchester United meekly slip to defeat at home to Juventus. Find out why a line-up full of attacking players doesn’t necessarily mean an attacking line-up with Jose Mourinho at the moment.Plus FIFA have proposals in a place for a Club World Cup featuring 24 teams. Is this another example of owners trying to maximise the club’s assets and another take on the European Super League?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti is joined by Paul Hirst, Gary Jacob and Bill Edgar after a big weekend of football and ahead of a big week to come. With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford with Juventus, Lucy Holden has been to Turin and his birthplace Madeira to study the devotion to a football icon, in the midst of rape allegations that Ronaldo has denied. After a fiery conclusion to Chelsea’s draw with Manchester United, does Jose Mourinho deserve respect from Blues fans just because he was successful at Stamford Bridge? Newcastle lose their 5th home game in a row and are still winless this season. Does Benitez deserve more blame? Or do Newcastle’s problems as a football club pre-date Mike Ashley? Fulham were the 5th biggest net spenders in Europe in the summer. Yet they lost to Cardiff. Did they really need to go out and buy a whole new squad in the summer? And how much longer will Slavisa Jokanovic be at Craven Cottage? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League returns from the international break with a vengeance. Unbeaten Chelsea host Manchester United as Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge. Are Sarri’s side title contenders? Does Paul Pogba need a less rigid attacking system? Plus Gab has serious sympathy for Mourinho when it comes to his latest punishment from the FA. It was a stunning week for England but will Ross Barkley and Harry Winks continue to get enough minutes at club level? And exactly how many minutes do they even need to be in the England squad? And with Tottenham facing a tough set of fixtures without Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen – and with Mousa Dembele’s form seemingly nosediving – can Mauricio Pochettino add to his growing reputation in the next couple of months? Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Martyn Ziegler and Alan Smith to discuss the biggest story in international football – the sudden regression of the German national team.Germany have now gone three competitive games without scoring for the first time in their history. After group stage elimination from the World Cup, is it Joachim Low’s fault or is there a systemic failing in German football?After Maurizio Sarri admitted to a friendly exchange on the touchline with Jurgen Klopp during a tight and tense top of the table clash between Chelsea and Liverpool, do managers have to be serious and stern all the time in order to achieve success? And if you smile while you’re losing, does that make you a loser?Plus we discuss Eleven Sports’ decision to ignore the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off blackout on live televised football in the UK and the possible ramifications for the game. And we bring you localised tales of where Roy Keane grew up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and George Caulkin. And it’s a very difficult podcast for Natalie as Brentford have lost their beloved boss. Dean Smith and John Terry are the new team at the helm at Aston Villa. But given Terry was in the frame for the manager’s job, can he settle for a reduced role at Villa Park? A role that as Matt reveals, might not even be as number 2. The Nations League is back as England prepare to face Croatia on Friday night. How excited should England fans be about Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho? And elsewhere, George talks to us about whether the legacy of Roy Keane’s post-playing career is misunderstood.We also turn our attention to the battle to stay in the Premier League. Are Cardiff and Huddersfield lost causes as many suggest? And is staying up good enough for Newcastle? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back with Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League tightens up at the top.The two title favourites draw 0-0 at Anfield with Riyad Mahrez missing a late penalty. Did Manchester City show a solidity in midfield that will serve them well in big games? Or are Liverpool’s front 3 of Salah, Mane and Firmino running out of steam?In Jose Mourinho’s words, he’s been the victim of a manhunting, with reports suggesting he was set to be sacked last weekend. Has the board at Old Trafford prioritised the brand over the football? And what damage is being done to that brand by the chaos on and off the pitch?Arsenal are the form team in the country right now after thrashing Fulham at Craven Cottage. Aaron Ramsey scores a contender for goal of the season but is he worth the franchise player money that the Gunners are apparently unwilling to pay him?Plus Neil Warnock's very high threshold for a red card offence. And it’s a bad week for Bayern but a happy one for Hurst at Ipswich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss a big week in the Champions League, and a bigger weekend to come in the Premier League. Liverpool face Manchester City at Anfield as the Premier League’s top two title favourites go head to head. With the Reds losing in Naples, is it the wake-up call Jurgen Klopp needs for a reset on a midfield lacking in creativity? Henry Winter witnesses a Messi masterclass at Wembley, as Barcelona dismantle Tottenham. Messi may be one of the greatest of all time but does he benefit from a better supporting cast than legends of the past? And we ask what has happened to Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris? Is he still among the Premier League’s best shot stoppers? And is it right that he’s been out of the spotlight for so long after his drink-driving charges? Plus Natalie doesn’t want to talk about it – but there’s a managerial vacancy at Villa Park, brought about by bad results and cabbages.Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back to review more misery for Mourinho at Manchester United. After defeat at West Ham confirms their worst start in 29 years, has he taken United back to square one? And in the wake of in-fighting and increasingly random team selections, we ask if Mourinho is trying to orchestrate his own dismissal so he can leave Old Trafford with some credit in the bank. And what should the succession plan be towards the next manager? Oliver Kay has been to Barcelona and tells us why a bid for Pogba in January is unlikely. And after his sensational equaliser at Stamford Bridge for Liverpool against Chelsea, is Daniel Sturridge now first reserve up front for England? Plus Bill Edgar tells us how much time Cardiff fans are spending watching Sean Morrison hold the ball in his hands. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s the story that keeps on giving. The bad blood between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho continues to boil at Manchester United. Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer discuss with James Gheerbrant and the man at the heart of the story, Paul Hirst.Was Mourinho’s training ground spat with Pogba pre-meditated to underline his authority not just to the squad but to the watching world? How embarrassing is this for the club to have this internal squabble played out in front of the cameras? Can Pogba ever mesh with Mourinho’s style of football? And who will leave United first?With Chelsea meeting Liverpool in the headline fixture in England this weekend, and with Eden Hazard knocking the Reds out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, we ask whether the Belgian really is the best player in the Premier League.Plus with the news that the FA are set to reward Gareth Southgate with an extended contract and a pay rise, the panel assess his value to England. And if he were on the market, which Premier League club would take him?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar after another eyebrow-raising Premier League weekend.With Liverpool maintaining their 100% record and Chelsea dropping points for the first time this season, we cast our eye to the top of the table showdown at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Is Sarri-ball getting the best out of N’Golo Kante? And is there a place up for grabs in that Chelsea midfield for Ross Barkley?Wolves continue to impress as they prise a point from Manchester United at Old Trafford. Gab admires their tactical flexibility but still has problems with their business model. Plus is Ruben Neves the best player outside the top 6? And why has Alexis Sanchez been so ineffective since signing for United in January?And Matt Dickinson joins us to discuss the explosive extracts from Kevin Keegan’s autobiography which you can read in The Game in The Times on Monday, as he lifts the lid on Newcastle under Mike Ashley’s ownership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer react to an eventful midweek in the Champions League as Tottenham taste their third defeat in a row. Are we right to question Mauricio Pochettino’s decisions or does he have too much credit in the bank? Manchester City suffer shock defeat at home to Lyon. Oliver Kay argues they are failing to hit the heights of this time last year. Should Bernardo Silva take centre stage? Liverpool dispose of PSG as Klopp overcomes Tuchel. But as James Gheerbrant suggests, are we predisposed to wanting PSG to fail due to a lack of goodwill towards them? Elsewhere, it’s a pain in the AARs for Cristiano Ronaldo. And Gazidis is a goner, in a high-profile exit from the Emirates. Has he let Stan Kroenke down?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer break down some major talking points after another big Premier League weekend, in the company of Alyson Rudd and Paul Joyce.Liverpool are flying with 5 wins out of 5 after beating Spurs but are they suffering from a lack of selflessness from their strikers? And what does Mauricio Pochettino do about his Kane conundrum?Everton lose to West Ham but have troubles off the pitch as an independent enquiry examines their approach to Marco Silva last season. Is the alleged tapping up a sign of a more aggressive owner in Farhad Moshiri?The panel looks ahead to the Champions League week and reacts to Wilfried Zaha’s pleas for protection from referees. Only Eden Hazard has been fouled more than Zaha in the Premier League in the last 5 years – what can Palace’s star man learn from the Belgian? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Premier League returns, as do Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer in the company of Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst, to look ahead to what promises to be an intriguing weekend. Gary Neville has spoken exclusively to Matt Dickinson for The Times about his former club Manchester United, the need to back Jose Mourinho and a warning for Paul Pogba not to lose the dressing room over his future. The panel debate whether or not Pogba’s intentions are misunderstood.League leaders Liverpool prepare for Poch and a visit to Wembley to take on Tottenham. But as Neville suggests, would Klopp be better off ditching the Champions League in search of Premier League glory? We analyse (pointless) West Ham’s woes. Did they start with the summer transfer window? And where is their next win coming from? Plus the Roy Keane Republic of Ireland saga and Gab and Nat debunk some myths about the new St Mirren manager.Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar to discuss the fall-out from England’s Nations League defeat to Spain at Wembley. With Joe Gomez preferred to Kyle Walker in a back 3, and Kieran Trippier continuing to excel at wing-back, is there a place in the England team for the title-winning Walker?Plus as Southgate looks to solve the midfield conundrum, after a historical English emphasis on physicality, is there a shift in ambition for young players in this country in terms of the type of player they want to be?On the subject of England and Spain, Peter Crouch spoke to Ben Machell and Hector Bellerin was in conversation with Matthew Syed, two interviews which you can read at thetimes.co.uk. We discuss with the panel the concept of footballers expressing themselves as unique individuals and whether there is too much pressure to conform in football.And as the Women’s Super League kicks off, Rebecca Myers from The Sunday Times joins us to discuss a top tier made up entirely of professional clubs and the ramifications for women’s football in this country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and George Caulkin to discuss the inaugural UEFA Nations League weekend. But if you’re still unsure about what exactly it is, allow us to answer the questions you were maybe afraid to ask. Is England’s game with Spain in danger of being treated like a World Cup parade where fans pay tribute to the players? And we examine numbers that might point to a decline in Harry Kane’s form but is he just being cautious due to injuries? Plus the panel debate the dilemma facing Declan Rice who may switch allegiances from the Republic if Ireland to England. And the issue of clarification of the handball rule, which began with Willy Boly’s goal for Wolves against Manchester City, continues to enrage.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back together in the studio after another Premier League weekend full of surprises. Oliver Kay witnesses the Woodward banner at Turf Moor as we examine the criticism thrown at Manchester United’s chief executive. And with Burnley and West Ham struggling, we look at two sides suffering from the (claret and) blues. After errors from the experienced Cech and the handsome Alisson, the panel debate the merits of goalkeepers playing out from the back with their feet. And does Unai Emery really have faith in Bernd Leno? James Gheerbrant watched Watford terrorize Tottenham at Vicarage Road. Are Watford benefitting from squad depth? And did Pochettino try and be too clever? Is Liverpool hiring a throw-in coach the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard? Or does weaponizing the throw-in make perfect sense? Plus find out why Gab has a hotline to Grant McCann and Natalie is channelling her inner Sepp Blatter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a special bonus bite of The Game podcast, Gab Marcotti is in Monaco to give his reaction to the group stage draw of the Champions League. In Group B, Tottenham face not just the might of Messi, but also Coutinho, Dembele and Chucky. Is Group C the group of death? Last year’s finalists Liverpool must overcome PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. Will it be an easy ride for Manchester City in Group F as they face Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim? And of course all eyes will be on Old Trafford in the group stage when Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his old club with Juventus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer is back in the studio, alongside Alyson Rudd and Bill Edgar on The Game podcast.With The Times reporting that Anthony Martial has been offered a 5 year contract by Manchester United, is this a power-play from Ed Woodward to indicate he and Martial will outlast Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford? And does Mourinho deserve more respect or has he crafted the dullest side in the top 6? Plus hear why Alyson Rudd thinks Zinedine Zidane might not be the right man for United.The panel look ahead to Watford v Spurs on Sunday, two teams with 100% records, two teams who had very quiet summer transfer windows. Does stability breed champions in the Premier League era? Bill Edgar digs into the record books to find out.And The Times’ Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant joins us to look ahead to the first Old Firm match of the season as Celtic host Rangers on Sunday. What effect could this game have on the managerial careers of Brendan Rodgers and Steven Gerrard?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Alyson Rudd break down some complex issues on this Bank Holiday Monday edition of The Game. Arsenal secure their first win under Unai Emery but Mesut Ozil is missing from the squad against West Ham through illness. With rumours of a training ground bust-up denied, are people too quick to rush to judgment on Ozil? With Michael Owen’s revealing interview on BT Sport highlighting the impact that injuries had on his mindset, the panel debate how the clubs and physios working with Owen failed to notice his change in approach. Jonathan Northcroft joins us to try and determine whether Roman Abramovich is ready to sell Chelsea. Plus did Willy Bolly have a moral obligation to admit to handling the ball into the net against Manchester City? And have Wolves offered up the blueprint for how to play against the champions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti, Alan Smith and George Caulkin tackle some of the tough issues in football this week, starting with the never-ending dispute between Newcastle fans and their owner, following some Wise words on Mike Ashley. What are fan expectations at football clubs and are they realistic? Matthew Syed is in the studio to discuss his article on Unai Emery and the challenge in inheriting an Arsenal infrastructure dominated by Arsene Wenger. And with several of England’s World Cup stars struggling for game time, we examine the ruthless nature of the Premier League, and ask why aren’t more young English players playing abroad? Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti is joined by Gary Jacob and Paul Hirst after a Premier League weekend that asks a lot of questions. Manchester United’s defeat at Brighton raises issues over United’s defence. The panel discuss how Ed Woodward and Jose Mourinho can’t agree on certain players in the squad and the effect that has on their relationship.We saw 25 minutes of Sarri-ball during a bonkers victory for Chelsea over Arsenal. Will Sarri stick with a system that forces N’Golo Kante to neglect his defensive responsibilities? And on the Arsenal side of things, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a big-name player but is he a big-game player? Plus what does Unai Emery do with the turgid Mesut Ozil?Martyn Ziegler speaks to us about how far we are from VAR in the Premier League and reveals why the 39th game might not be as far away as we think.And even though Natalie Sawyer is on holiday, there are still bragging rights up for grabs. Who was victorious in the first week of match predictions? Gab or Natalie? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Natalie Sawyer and James Gheerbrant take a look at the issues dominating the headlines in football ahead of another big Premier League weekend.Paul Joyce joins us to discuss how Manchester City can adapt to losing player of the year Kevin De Bruyne, side-lined for 3 months through injury. Could Phil Foden fill in?Should Emery lean on Leno for Arsenal in search of a better distributor than Petr Cech? They face Chelsea and superstitious Sarri at Stamford Bridge.Son of an architect Henry Winter discusses the delay in Tottenham’s move to their new stadium. How well set are Spurs for this season as a whole?Plus we'll find out who knows more about Barnsley – Natalie Sawyer or Gab Marcotti?Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and Oliver Kay after the opening weekend of the Premier League season. And it’s clear the rest of the division should be very worried by Manchester City after their comprehensive victory at the Emirates. There’s no new broom at Arsenal who don’t look any different under Unai Emery. Paul Pogba’s cryptic comments about his manager open up a can of worms at Old Trafford. Are Manchester United and Mourinho acting a bit rich over their most expensive signing? And who’s more important to the club? Also on the agenda – have English clubs backed themselves into a corner with the early closure of the transfer window? Plus Kante, Keita and a chronic lack of VAR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Game is back for the new Premier League season and it's double trouble. Gab Marcotti is joined by new co-host Natalie Sawyer. We’ll be bringing you a half-hour show every Monday and from next week a new preview show every Thursday.Alyson Rudd and Matt Hughes join us in the studio to discuss the major talking points ahead of the big kick-off. Are Liverpool the team to provide a title challenge to Manchester City? Are Manchester United bored of Mourinho? And which new signing is a poor man’s Neymar?Elsewhere, Gab is looking forward to seeing some Sarri-ball while Natalie is fearing Fulham as a force this season. And is it a case of Cardiff and Huddersfield PLUS ONE in the battle to beat the drop? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 32 days and 64 games, it is France who take home the World Cup after a pulsating 4-2 win over Croatia in Moscow. For our final episode, Natalie Sawyer is joined by Oliver Kay and Matt Hughes to analyse the final. What next for Kylian Mbappe, a player with the world at his feet? And will Paul Pogba be allowed to replicate that level of performance under Mourinho at Manchester United? With Croatia feeling hard done by with VAR after Perisic was penalised for handball, are slow motion replays misleading to match referees? And have we seen the advent of the VAR handball? Plus The Times chief sports writer Matt Dickinson helps us review the best bits of a sensational World Cup in Russia. Can anything top Michy Batshuayi smashing the ball into his own face? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.