The Rest Is Football

Why is Anfield such a fortress? Are European nights really that extra bit special? Will Jurgen Klopp get the perfect Premier League send-off in his final season with the club? Gary and Micah are at Anfield recording a special episode of the podcast and take the chance to also reflect on their individual records at one of the countries most famous stadiums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Which is the best England shirt that’s ever been made? In light of Ben White turning down an England call up, is it ever right to pick club over country? What is the best starting midfield trio for England? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the potential role AI could play in football in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do England need to be less pragmatic if they want to win a major trophy? Has Anthony Gordon played his way onto the plane this summer? Is it dangerous to write off Germany at the Euros? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Wales emphatic victory against Finland and their upcoming winner-takes-all match against Poland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What did Peter Beardsley do to impress George Best so much he got him a trial at Man United? How did Kenny Dalglish use shadows to make himself a better player? What was it like playing against the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff? Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by special guest Peter Beardsley to relive the best stories from his life in football and settle the big debate - who was the better strike partner, Alan or Gary? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened when Paul Gascoigne took an ostrich to training at Spurs? Where does Dennis Bergkamp rate in the list of the Premier League’s greatest players? Who was the best right back - Gary Neville or Kyle Walker? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss players that would smoke on matchday and how that’s still going on today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was that Man United’s best performance of the season? Can Pochettino silence his critics after getting booed at Stamford Bridge? Will Coventry fancy their chances of making the final after that semi-final draw? Gary, Alan and Micah also review the four Premier League games from the weekend, as things got even tighter at the bottom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How many players are fighting for places in Gareth Southgate’s final Euros squad? Will Bournemouth’s comeback win be a hammer blow for Luton’s season? How far can Arsenal go in the Champions League? Alan and Micah also review the Champions League Round of 16 and discuss whether it all felt a little too predictable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who is the fittest pundit on the football circuit? Should Newcastle move from St James' Park or look to redevelop instead? What’s the single biggest reason for players being able to turn their form around? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss why we are seeing so many injuries in the Premier League this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Liverpool regret not taking all three points against Man City at the end of the season? Are Spurs the best side to watch in the Premier League this season? Will Leicester get caught at the top of the Championship? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Arsenal’s scintillating form and look at which team has the best run-in for the title race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What were Tom Lockyer’s first thoughts after ‘coming back from the dead’? How are Luton Town managing to defy all the odds and be competitive this season? What is Rob Edwards best characteristic as a manager? Gary, Alan & Micah are joined by Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer to discuss his life in football and how his perspective has changed following his cardiac arrest and the birth of his daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What really happened when Newcastle United made a bid for Wayne Rooney? Who were the most influential captains our lads ever played under? Alan has agreed to the bet, but what would it take for him to appear on MOTD in his pants? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss one of the best sporting arenas in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is this going to be the best Title Race the Premier League has ever seen? Who are going to challenge England this summer in Germany and Phil Foden’s fantastic Man of the Match performance in the Manchester derby Gary, Micah and Alan look back over the weekend of Premier League Football Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who will come out on top in the FA Cup quarter-final between Man City and Newcastle? What does it take to become a truly great finisher? Does football have a bigger doping problem than people realise? Gary, Alan and Micah look back at the FA Cup 5th Round action and pick their favourites to lift the trophy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where does Cesc Fabregas sit in the list of greatest Premier League midfielders? What’s it like trying to pick up the language when playing abroad and why do you always learn the swear words first? What next for Everton and Nottingham Forest after the Toffee’s points deduction was reduced to six? Gary, Alan and Micah also debate just how much of a difference a manager makes to clubs at the top level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does Jurgen Klopp continue to get the very best out of his players, even when their backs are against the wall? Could Chelsea have done more and been more committed in going for the win? Are managers going over the top with some of their celebrations after matches now? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss team-mates fighting after Sheffield United’s Vinicius Souza and Jack Robinson clashed at Molineux. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Jude Bellingham leave the other players gobsmacked after his first England training session? Why is Gareth Southgate better placed to win a trophy with England now than he ever has been before? How did Nuno turn his vision of the future for Conor and Wolves into reality? Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by Conor Coady to discuss life in the England camp at the last two major tournaments and playing club football in Europe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Harry Kewell take Gary to court? Is Dan Ashworth worth £20m to Man United? What rousing words did Bobby Robson give his team before the penalty shootout in the World Cup semi-final? Gary, Alan and Micah also debate where this current Man City side rank amongst the greatest ever Premier League teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where does Roy Hodgson rank among the list of Premier League managers? What will the future hold for Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner? What does success look like for Crystal Palace? Gary, Alan and Micah are also joined by Dan Cook, who runs the HLTCO podcast, to dive into the Crystal Palace fans perspective and what they want to see from their club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What has Rasmus Hojlund changed that’s led to his red-hot run of form? How long until Vincent Kompany is under real pressure for his job at Burnley? Who had a shocker with their ‘triple captain’ on Fantasy Football this week? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the title race in Scotland as Rangers leapfrog Celtic at the top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What exactly did Micah get up to in Las Vegas that made it a “trip of a lifetime”? Where would be best for Kylian Mbappé to move to in the summer? Are Manchester City the firm favourites to retain their Champions League title? Gary and Micah also discuss the race for promotion in the Championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who was keeping Alan awake the night before his biggest game as Newcastle manager? What’s it like when the worlds of football and Hollywood movies collide? Which football moments made our hosts fall in love with the game? Gary & Alan also debate the best Irish player they ever played against. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Bukayo Saka now a guaranteed starter for England? Should West Ham stick with David Moyes and give him a new contract? Was Ivory Coast’s AFCON success the biggest ever turnaround at an international tournament? Gary & Alan also discuss the crazy situation of loan players scoring against their parent clubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the best up and coming players in world football right now? Who has made it into EA SPORTS FC 24’s Future Stars? Did Micah make the most of the early years of his career after bursting onto the scene? As three players that made it to the very top of the game, what advice would our hosts give to these players that are drawing so much attention at a young age? Future Stars are available in FC 24’s Ultimate Team now! Campaign live in-game until Feb 23rd. www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-24/ultimate-team/future-stars This episode is brought to you in partnership with EA SPORTS FC 24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What really happened when Joleon Lescott tweeted a photo of a flashy car after a 6-0 defeat? Why is the Olympic Village the “party of all parties”? Which player used to lie about his use of Nando’s? Gary, Alan and Micah also explain exactly what a typical day in the life of a Premier League footballer is like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are we set for one of the best title races for years? Have Man United finally started to turn the corner? Why has an English manager never won the Premier League? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the unrest at Crystal Palace and whether Roy Hodgson will survive the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do referees subconsciously favour big clubs, particularly when they’re at home? How do we feel about players mocking each other’s celebrations? Why does Gary think things will definitely come good for Darwin Núñez? Gary, Alan and Micah also sing the praises of Michael Olise and discuss whether Gareth Southgate should be looking to try and snap him up before he makes a senior international appearance for France. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Alan have his head in a crocodile’s mouth in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office? What were the most ridiculous things they ever spent their football wages on? Who are the most famous people the boys have ever met? Gary, Alan and Micah also reveal the unexpected perks of being a football pundit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do Man United get Marcus Rashford back to the highs he was hitting last season? What prompted Alan to watch a game amongst the Newcastle away fans for the first time in decades? Has a dangerous precedent been set after the Anderlecht v Genk match was ordered to be replayed in full after a VAR error? Gary, Alan and Micah also celebrate Maidstone United’s terrific victory against Ipswich, which saw them go through to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is Klopp leaving Anfield? Will Xabi Alonso replace him? Should he be remembered as one of the greatest Premier League managers of all time? Join Alan and Gary for an emergency episode of The Rest Is Football, where they react to the news that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If Gary and Alan were in Victor Osimhen’s shoes, which Premier League club would they join? If Chelsea win the League Cup would that be a successful season for them, regardless of league position? Gary, Alan and Micah also review all the action from AFCON and the Asian Cup as the group stages come to an end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Micah’s first ever football shirt make Alan so happy? Which football-related incidents keep the boys awake at night? How did Gary end up playing golf with two American superstars? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Omar Berrada’s move from Man City to Man Utd and whether he will be able to turn the tide at United. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How should players, fans and governing bodies deal with the ongoing issues with racism in football? Also, should Diogo Jota be in Liverpool’s starting XI when everyone is fit? Will Crystal Palace stick with Roy Hodgson amid growing unrest amongst their fans? Gary, Alan and Micah also look at the battle at the top of the Championship and debate whether parachute payments should continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Micah turn down joining Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in 2007? Who would come out on top if Alan and Micah faced each other in their prime? Do the Premier League’s FFP rules need updating? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the worst dressing room dressing-downs they saw in their careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Ronaldo end up signing for Man Utd in Gary’s garden? Why was Ian Wright so frustrating to play against? Why was managing Newcastle the most pressure Alan has ever been under? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the favourite partnerships they had during their playing careers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Kevin De Bruyne the greatest ever Premier League midfielder? How do you bring a player back into the fold after they’ve fallen out with the manager? Will the fans protest at Reading that saw their game abandoned be enough to save their club? Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether Man United still have the power to attract the world’s very best players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What made José turn a little cold towards Gary? Can Alan and Micah name the Top 10 most valuable players in the world right now? And who gets into a Salad XI of footballers? The boys also discuss whether Antoine Griezmann is one of the most underrated footballers of this generation after he broke the Atletico goal scoring record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What would be the boys dream transfers during this month’s window? Who had to have 100ml of fluid removed from their knee before every training session? Why did Alan turn down an extra £600k from Adidas to wear their boots? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss players who have gone on to work outside of football after their careers and made it big. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did we see so few big Cup upsets at the weekend? Are the big teams taking the FA Cup more seriously? Do we prefer watching games without VAR? Gary, Alan and Micah review the best of the action from the FA Cup 3rd Round and suggest a solution for the use of VAR going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who was the best Premier League player of 2023? Which club were the biggest underachievers of the last year? Who “burst onto the scene” like our very own Micah Richards? Gary, Alan and Micah run through The Rest Is Football’s very prestigious end of year awards and have a lot of fun along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was it like playing against Sam Allardyce’s Bolton in the early 2000’s? Why do we put ourselves through the highs and lows of playing fantasy football? How do you define what a ‘world class’ player is? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the emotions of taking a high pressure penalty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What next for Wayne Rooney and his managerial career? Why do some ‘star’ players find the transition to management so difficult? How do you get players to buy into your vision as a manager? Gary and Micah react to the news that Wayne Rooney has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City after just 15 games in charge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do Arsenal recover from a poor run of form over the festive period? With players returning from injury, what is Pep Guardiola’s best XI? Who had a surprise meeting with David Beckham over the Christmas holidays? Gary and Micah also discuss whether VAR is now actually encouraging diving, rather than preventing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are Man City finally getting the best out of Phil Foden in his new role? What are the immediate things that Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to do at Man Utd? How hard is the transition from player to manager and what do the coaching badges not prepare you for? Gary, Alan and Micah also marvel at Bournemouth’s recent form and the job Andoni Iraola is doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A short message from Gary to say thank you to all our listeners for their support so far this season and give an update on what we’ve got planned for 2024. Have a wonderful Christmas! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do we take some of the power away from agents in the world of football? Why are there so many American takeovers of English clubs? What were Brian Clough’s secret negotiating techniques? Gary, Alan and Micah speak to Jon Holmes, Gary’s agent of 45 years, to have an in-depth look at the life of a football agent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s the most outrageous thing our hosts ever saw at a club’s Christmas party? Do any players really intentionally get suspended over the festive period? Which players would be all smiles off the pitch, but wouldn’t hesitate to give you a good kick if they got the chance? Gary, Alan and Micah also debate which pair of Man Utd greats from the last couple of decades would be best suited to go and fix the current mess at the club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can you be a bargain at £100m? Why are Man City struggling defensively at the moment? How does it feel to come up trumps after getting hammered by the opposition fans? Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on a desperately disappointing game at Anfield and where that leaves both clubs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should Newcastle have been less gung-ho in their attempt to reach the CL knockouts, which ultimately cost them a place in Europe altogether? Which club would Ivan Toney be best suited for if he was to leave Brentford? Can anyone stop Liverpool winning the Europa League? Gary, Alan and Micah also make their predictions on who will ultimately win this year’s Champions League. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who should Aston Villa be looking to sign in January? What happens in the dressing room when another player wants your shirt number? Will Ant & Dec ever be successful in their attempts to tap Alan up to go into the jungle? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss what dangers the Premier League could face if 14 or more of the club’s owners are American. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Pochettino the man to fix the problems at Chelsea? Are we focussing too much on the idea that players are fatigued? Why are we seeing sides really having a go at the traditional ‘top teams’ this season? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the results of a poll about the use of VAR, after more than 100,000 fans voted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices