Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

There's a different flavour to today's episode of Ramble Meets as Andy gets to know not just a single subject, but one of La Liga's most beloved clubs.Celta Vigo has had a rich if turbulent history, from impressive spells in La Liga and the Europa League to almost falling out of professional football altogether. Andy is joined by Celta players Nolito and Joseph Aidoo, who tell us just how special the city and their fanbase is. We also speak to Vigo residents including renowned Swedish journalist Alexandra Jonson and Mexican-born fan Paula Anton, who explain just how this unique city and club became home.Got a question? Tweet us @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge round up some of the biggest casualties from World Cup Qualifying on today's episode. It seems that Fernando Santos' Portugal have been trying the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results.We also ask if Roberto Mancini can solve the impossible Italian Job of finding a goalscoring centre-forward and wonder what's happened to Eden Hazard after some sobering comments from the Belgium camp.Got a question? Tweet us @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flo, Rachel and Chloe look back over a packed weekend schedule, with Spurs finally proving stern opposition for their North London rivals and Chelsea piling more pressure on Man City boss Gareth Taylor.Despite these cracking matches, we also wonder whether more could have been done to promote the latest Women's Football Weekend and explore how future editions can continue to improve.Artwork photo - GirlsontheBall ©***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the Book Club, we're joined by a Liverpool legend and true football obsessive. For the past 8 years, Jamie Carragher has been the face and voice of football punditry in the UK. His celebrated book sees him and a range of guests reevaluate some of football’s greatest matches - from Istanbul '05, to Munich '99. He lifts the lid on it all with Kate and Jim.You can purchase Jamie’s book, The Greatest Games, here! Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen remember there's another megastar stuffed down the back of PSG's sofa, so take a look at whether Sergio Ramos can get himself in the first team now he's back in training.Elsewhere, Serie A looks set to be the spiciest league in Europe as Milan and Napoli canter ahead, while Covid-enforced changes to Germany's squad have given their impressive crop of youngsters a chance to impress new boss Hansi Flick.Got a question? Tweet us @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Upfront, a weekly women's football show covering all corners of the women's game! Flo Lloyd-Hughes, Chloe Morgan and Rachel O'Sullivan discuss Brighton's impressive start to the season under England legend Hope Powell and the problems arising from Arsenal's all-male advisory board. Chloe also pauses her post-match celebrations long enough to recap a great win for Crystal Palace and all the other action from a frenetic few weeks of Championship action!Artwork photo - GirlsontheBall ©***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with our second At The Match of the season, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe.Andy stops in at a raucous Estádio de Dragão for the first of two huge Champions League clashes and chats with Tiago Marques, presenter on Porto Canal, about an emotional return to football in Porto post-lockdown.He then catches up with Tom Kundert, an old friend and founder of PortuGOAL, for a wonderfully chaotic match at one of the great theatres of European football.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge first head to the warmer climes of Andalusia, asking why Sevilla haven't replicated their impressive La Liga form in the Champions League, despite some straightforward opponents.Elsewhere, we check in with Ajax after another win took them to the knockout rounds and celebrate Freiburg's unbeaten run - right before Bayern hand them a pasting on Saturday, no doubt. Got a question? Tweet us @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Upfront, a brand new women's football podcast available every Tuesday on Football Ramble Presents! Each week we'll bring you the biggest stories from the WSL and beyond, and take you to the cultural heartbeat of the women's game.Today, we look back over the weekend's FA Cup semi-finals which saw a Beth Mead-inspired Arsenal sweep aside Brighton and Chelsea prove too much for a stuttering Manchester City. Elsewhere, we also discuss England's group and potential captain ahead of Euro 2022 next summer! Welcome along!Flo Lloyd-Hughes is a journalist and broadcaster who covers the women's game for some of the UK's biggest outlets.Rachel O'Sullivan is the Irish half of GirlsontheBall and has been covering women's football for almost a decade.Chloe Morgan is a professional goalkeeper at Crystal Palace and a member of the Women In Football board. Artwork photo - GirlsontheBall ©***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini are here to conduct the postmortem on Ronald Koeman's doomed tenure at Barcelona. We wonder whether the blame should be laid solely at his feet after weeks of dour pessimism and how Xavi might fare should he take the job.We also try to save some of Roma's squad from the bus José Mourinho has thrown them under and cast an admiring glance at the Jorge Sampaoli's work at Marseille.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest on Book Club has lifted the World Cup, won numerous domestic trophies across a fifteen-year career and scored a remarkable collection of goals. It's AC Milan and France striker, Olivier Giroud!We chat to the former Arsenal and Chelsea marksman about his time in England, becoming a crucial part of the world's best international team and enjoying some of the finer things in life.You can purchase Olivier's new book, 'Always Believe' here! Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whisper it, but are Atlético Madrid better suited to attack rather than defend? Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen wrestle with their puzzling form on today's episode of On The Continent!We then check in with the European runners and riders at the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, as Bayern destroy everyone and PSG stumble on. We also wonder where it's all going wrong for Claude Puel at the historic Saint-Étienne.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with a brand new episode of At The Match, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe.Kate joins Andy for today's episode, as they wander up a more sedate Wembley Way to see England take on Hungary in a World Cup Qualifier. They reminisce about the Euros and examine this team's relationship with the nation, as Kate explains where her fevered support of the national team came from. Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney kick off today's episode by exploring how the recent takeover of Newcastle United relates to Europe. As agents look to sell their unwanted players to the new kids on the block, we wonder how this will be received in light of the PSG takeover a decade previously.We also look at Germany's turnaround under Hansi Flick as they qualified for Qatar 2022 this week and discuss Neymar's recent comments about the immense pressure he faces every time he steps onto the field - particular in the yellow and green.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge revel in another classic tussle between Italy and Spain, with the European champions’ unbeaten record halted by Luis Enrique’s youngsters.We also try and work out who will emerge with PSG’s #1 shirt as Gianluigi Donnarumma impresses again, while Kylian Mbappé has been respectfully sticking the boot into his current employers ahead of another #saga next summer.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini check in with the biggest stories after another chaotic Champions League week, as various teams do their best to recapture - or redefine - their identity.Juventus show glimpses of their wily former selves under Max Allegri, while Milan’s young swagger has somehow left them on zero points. We also try to come to terms with Barcelona being distinctly ordinary - Benfica made that obvious enough - and wonder if the recent French crowd trouble is indicative of wider issues across Europe.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Premier League royalty on today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy catches up with former PSG, Bolton and Super Eagles midfielder, Jay-Jay Okocha!Jay-Jay's storied career saw him become part of both Bundesliga and Premier League folklore. They talk about his incredible journey, some of his most famous moments and what it was really like working under Big Sam Allardyce at Bolton. Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun and Andy are joined by Miguel Delaney for today's star-studded episode, as some of European football's elite struggle to settle into their new homes.Mauricio Pochettino's famed man-management skills are being put to the test in Paris, as Lionel Messi wants more game time and Kylian Mbappé reminds everyone he's still the main man. Antoine Griezmann's found similar troubles in Madrid, but Mario Balotelli's blowing the doors off in Turkey - might there be one last Italian Job for him?Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to On The Continent! This week, Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars Sivertsen to for a deep dive on Bayern Munich. They could’ve run out 8-2 winners again against Barcelona this week, but just how good are they? We also check in with Real Madrid, who battled past perennial Champions League fall-guys Inter, and wonder how Carlo Ancelotti can mould this unusually young team after Eduardo Camavinga made the difference again.We also bring a difficult but vital discussion to the table about Jérôme Boateng, who was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend last week, and the response of his new employers, Lyon.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If one club encapsulates both the sublime and the ridiculous in modern football, it's FC Barcelona. Kate and Jim chart this duality on today's episode of the Book Club, as renowned author Simon Kuper joins them to discuss his new book, 'Barça'!Simon charts their rise from a friendly regional club to a global behemoth, all on the back of an almost naive friendliness and goodwill within the Catalan community. They also discuss Simon's interviews with the likes of Johan Cruyff and Kylian Mbappé, assess Lionel Messi's legacy and wonder where the club goes next.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @FootballRambleYou can purchase a copy of Simon's new book here!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge look back over an international window that has seen its fair share of winners and losers - Memphis Depay perhaps more than most!Ol' Memphis gets his fair dues on today's show as we discuss how his recent performances might help him contend with Barca's impossible post-Messi task. We also wonder where it's gone wrong for France in recent weeks - can they shake their post-Euros blues? And, over in the Bundesliga, Julian Nagelsmann faces his first stern test since turning to the Dark Side with a trip to his former stomping ground.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun Adebayo, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini are back with more tales of penny-pinching European super clubs on today's episode of On The Continent!We wonder how Barcelona can dig themselves out from their ever-expanding hole and discuss whether Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo experiment proved successful. And as the Deadline Day dust settles, we identify a few diamonds in the continental rough who may shine brightly for their new clubs.Got a question for us? Find us on socials @FootballRamble***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another edition of On The Continent! Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the latest on Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.We wonder how the Frenchman’s arrival could revitalise Real, while there are mixed opinions about Ronaldo’s possible uneasy marriage with Pep Guardiola’s Man City. After a very weird window with spending confined to the very top, we also discuss the broader transfer market across Europe this summer.Elsewhere, José Mourinho’s seducing another fanbase as his Roma side get off to a flyer with Tammy Abraham particularly impressing. Plus, we check in with the Champions League qualifiers, which featured a wonderful – but revealing – blast from the past as Benfica and PSV fought for a group stage spot.Got a question for us? Find us on socials@footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to another edition of On The Continent! This week, Dotun and Andy are joined by our resident Italian football oracle Nicky Bandini for a bumper Serie A preview!We discuss what’s next for the title-holders, Inter, stripped of some of their best assets, while it’s back to the future for José Mourinho and Luciano Spalletti at Roma and Napoli, with Nicky particularly backing the Neapolitans to cause a stir.Plus, Andy explains the truth behind the Robert Lewandowski rumours as Bayern pick up silverware already and we explain what on earth is going on at Lyon!Got a question for us? Find us on socials @footballramble.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here with a thorough look at the biggest story in world football: Lionel Messi's Barça departure. We try to fathom how Barcelona allowed the rot to spread this badly, wonder if we should sympathise with Lionel Messi and discuss Mauricio Pochettino’s chances of getting that front three to do any pressing at all.We also look at La Liga more broadly as it kicks off this weekend, with Atlético fending off a chasing pack filled with some interesting title challengers. The Bundesliga also gets a due preview, as Dortmund and the best of the rest clamber over each other, snapping at Bayern’s heels.We're back with weekly episodes of On The Continent every Thursday – subscribe to Football Ramble Presents so you never miss an episode!Got a question for us? Tweet us! @FootballRamble @dotunadebayo & @andybrassell***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the European football season looming, Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to get stuck into some of the continent’s biggest stories - join us!As Julian Nagelsmann’s first game as Bayern manager creeps closer, we look into how he’ll need to be granted some patience during what might be a tough start in the Big Time. We also ask who might challenge PSG in Ligue 1 as the likes of Monaco and Marseille make some interesting transfer moves, and worry about the likes of Pedri and Dani Olmo ahead of a draining season for Spain’s youngsters - even if a mysterious money tree has sprouted in the Catalan sunshine!We're back with weekly episodes of On The Continent every Thursday – subscribe to Football Ramble Presents so you never miss an episode!Got a question for us? Tweet us! @FootballRamble @dotunadebayo & @andybrassell***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back with the first On The Continent episode of the new season! Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here to get you up to speed with Europe's movers and shakers ahead of the new season.We start the season with a tale of two superclubs, with PSG finding established superstars down the back of the sofa and Barcelona still struggling for cash. We also recap the latest Champions League qualifiers and answer some of your questions!We're back with weekly episodes of On The Continent every Thursday – subscribe to Football Ramble Presents so you never miss an episode!Got a question for us? Tweet us! @FootballRamble @dotunadebayo & @andybrassell***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered where substantial amounts of the money behind football's ridiculous transfer fees end up? Because the answer may surprise, confuse and alarm you!Kate and Jim are joined by author and journalist, Tariq Panja to discuss the murky world of football transfers and just how influential nondescript entities and figures looming in the shadows can be. Tariq, alongside co-writer Alex Duff, dug into the balance sheets and followed the money across Europe and South America over multiple years for their bestselling book, 'Football's Secret Trade. He talks us through who some of these individuals are and explains how they have earned hundreds of millions of euros from their financial and often political influence on the game.You can purchase Football's Secret Trade here!Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected]***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final OTC episode of the season, Dotun and Andy could only be joined by one familiar face ahead of the Euro 2020 final: it's Nicky Bandini!We assess the two semi-finals and wonder how the final between the tournament's best two sides will play out. There's also a chance to look back on what's been a tournament for the ages; fans returned to stadiums, shock results came thick and fast – and Patrick Schick scored from 50 yards out. Thanks for all your support this season. We'll see you in a few weeks for the start of another European football adventure!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen pick through the latest Euro 2020 casualties, as a back trois couldn't save France and Germany's lack of cohesion cost them. We wonder where it went wrong for the French, with Didier Deschamps' bizarre selection choices a significant factor, and reflect on the Joachim Löw era after the curtains came down at Wembley. We also assess those still standing and who we think have the best chance of success!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge on today's episode, as we uncork a bottle of Cava and toast to the group stages' final blaze of glory.Portugal, France and Germany emerge from the flames of Group F, so we see who needs to settle on their best XI ahead of the knockout rounds. We also get an update on Spain who, despite a 5-0 win over Slovakia, still don't look all that convincing.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for the latest on some of Euro 2020's biggest contenders? Well, you've come to the right place!Dotun and Andy are joined by various OTC contributors to discuss some of the biggest stories from the first week of the Euros. Nicky Bandini praises those impressive Italians, Lars Sivertsen looks over France's chances of going the distance and David Cartlidge reveals why Spain's opening performance might not prove as disastrous as some are suggesting.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve waited a year, but the Euros have finally arrived! Join Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen for our giant OTC preview!We cast an eye over the Group of Fun ™️, where Germany look under threat, and check in with the usual contenders including Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. We also wonder if a Turkish delight might upset the much-fancied Italians on opening night!Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ll cut straight to it: today’s Ramble Meets... guest is one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game. It’s only Germany's European Championship and World Cup-winning midfielder, Lothar Matthäus!Lothar joins Andy to look ahead to Germany’s chances at Euro 2020, with the public‘s expectations of Die Mannschaft as high as ever. They also chat about his storied playing career, spotting Jadon Sancho’s potential years ago and how impressive Hansi Flick’s football has been at his beloved Bayern. Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our final episode of Lions Watch! With the Euros just six sleeps away, Marcus and Luke bring you their reflections on England’s opening friendly and sort through Gareth Southgate’s alarmingly large pile of unanswered questions.Besides Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, we run the rule over England’s possible formations without Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire and look back at the most recent international break, where the Three Lions were reminded of a harsh truth against Poland. Join us!Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun is joined by Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini as the Champions League final brought the weirdest domestic season ever to a close. We take a look back at that entertaining affair, with Chelsea using their ‘break glass for pragmatic coach’ approach to great effect once again.We then wonder what’s next for European football; the pandemic has forced many clubs to turn the old guard and accept there may be some excess baggage amongst their squad, with Max Allegri and Carlo Ancelotti two particular points of focus. There are so many questions to look into; how will the Euros affect next season’s domestic leagues? Who will challenge the traditional elite for various honours? And why have so many Italian clubs already changed their bloody managers?!Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'Fever Pitch' is widely regarded to be the best football book ever written. It's been made into two films, won the 1992 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and inspired countless football fans around the UK to think more deeply about their football fandom. Its author, Nick Hornby, joins us in the studio for today's episode of the Book Club!Nick sits down with Kate and Jim to remember the seismic impact of 'Fever Pitch', nearly thirty years after its initial publication. Nick's footballing obsession embedding itself within every aspect of his life and the book encapsulates the joy, frustration, hopelessness and deliriousness felt by a generation of football fans on the terraces every Saturday. From his deep love for Arsène Wenger to the state of the modern game, it's a fascinating chat with one of the forefathers of modern football writing!You can purchase the latest edition of 'Fever Pitch' here.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Lions Watch, your one-stop shop for all things England! Vithushan Ehantharajah joins Marcus to reflect on Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad and look ahead to a hugely important week in the Three Lions’ preparations.We also dial up former England Head of Physiotherapy Gary Lewin to learn more about fitness preparations for the tournament. Plus, Marcus and Vish cast their eyes over those two reunions with Belgium last year and why we need to steal Youri Tielemans. Join us! Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All aboard this summer’s managerial merry-go-round, coming soon to a European powerhouse near you!Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge break down the big coaching moves across the continent as Antonio Conte might well grab Zinedine Zidane’s vacant seat in Madrid and Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo makes way for his former boss, Max Allegri. We also celebrate two title victories that were confirmed over the weekend, as a smiling Diego Simeone wins his second La Liga title and Lille snatch Ligue 1 from PSG, just before their players and manager all leave.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of Ramble Meets… we welcome a man who, by his own admission, tried really hard not to be a footballer - and failed. It’s former Chelsea, Everton and Scotland winger, Pat Nevin!Pat joins Mark Pougatch to discuss an enriching career that was fuelled by a sheer enjoyment of football, with the trappings of fame and fortune never a remote consideration. He talks about his journey from the politically charged streets of the east end of Glasgow to Chelsea FC and London’s burgeoning music scene, all with a vigour that shows Pat’s love for the game will never truly dwindle.You can purchase Pat's new book, The Accidental Footballer, here!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Gareth Southgate's squad announcement just days away, Marcus and Luke tackle perhaps the most significant selection dilemma: who's going to play right-back?!We also look back to the culmination of England's Nations League efforts back in 2019, with the usual boxes of 'lose to a top-level team' and 'win a penalty shoot-out' ticked off in Portugal. Finally, Czech journalist Ondřej Zlámal gives us the lowdown on the latest iteration of their side and what England can expect in their final group game. Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected].***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy for another continental crusade, with Europe's various title races wrapping up and the Euros honing into view!Karim Benzema links up with the French squad for the first time in six years, as Didier Deschamps weighs up his fractious past against his goalscoring pedigree. We also praise Edin Terzić after Dortmund turn their season around with moments to spare and wonder where it's all gone wrong for Mesut Özil and Fenerbahçe.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s less than a month until England’s opening group stage game and Marcus is struggling to contain his anticipation. A season-ending injury for Harry Maguire though, you say? That will do it.Marcus and Luke discuss the latest on Maguire and assess how he has come to be so important to this England team. Elsewhere, Jadon Sancho puts in a stunning performance to clinch Dortmund’s first silverware in four years: can Raheem Sterling really start ahead of him?We also look back on two defining matches for England in 2018 and dial in Croatian football writer Aleksandar Holiga for the inside track on England’s old enemy. Join us!Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are looking ahead to a photo finish in the La Liga title race, as Real Madrid’s weathered old souls chase down Atléti in top spot.We also check in on the fallout from the end of the Portuguese and Italian title races. Sporting win their first in nearly two decades under wonderkid coach Rúben Amorim, while Andrea Pirlo and Juventus must be wondering whether their marriage of convenience has run its underwhelming course.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus and Luke are back with Lions Watch, your one-stop shop for all things England! This week, we hail Arsenal for doing the right thing and ask how much England’s Champions League and Europa League absences really matter for a team so… completely and utterly well-drilled. Obvs.We also try (and fail) to pick a starter between Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell and celebrate the year of the waistcoat. That’s right, it’s 2018: Kieran Trippier’s whipping in free-kicks, an Englishman is winning the golden boot, and press relations are actually all right. We speak to Sunday Times chief football writer Jonathan Northcroft to learn more about the charm offensive that was so important to England’s success that summer.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini are here to assess the merits of the PSG project and wonder if things aren't as bad as first thought after Manchester City knocked them out of the Champions League.Elsewhere, with Antonio Conte wrapping up the title, we ask Nicky if José Mourinho can rise Roma from the ruins and put the breaks on another Inter title tilt. Speaking of title races, La Liga's top four all play each other this weekend and Sevilla might well be Spain's kingmakers!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The subject of today's episode of the Book Club will likely have voiced some of your most significant football memories. From Solskjaer's volley at the back post to the shoots of an Istanbul comeback, he's called them all – it's commentary extraordinaire, Clive Tyldesley!Clive joins Kate and Jim to discuss some of the most significant figures, moments and themes that make up his new book 'Not For Me, Clive'. From honing his commentary craft to surviving multiple encounters with Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer, it's clear that a passionate love for the game is at the heart of his magnificent forty-year career.You can pre-order Clive's book here, ahead of its release on 13th May 2021.Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcus and Luke reconvene to discuss the latest developments surrounding the England squad! UEFA announced this week that countries will be able to take 26 players to the Euros: which is a good thing until you realise it doesn’t just apply to England. We examine which fringe players stand to benefit for the Three Lions.Elsewhere, Luke explains why Phil Foden can be the player of the tournament this summer and we turn the clock back to those halcyon 67 days under Big Sam – ultimately so swiftly followed by a bright new dawn under Mr Reluctant himself, Gareth Southgate.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!**Featured image courtesy of Anton Zaitsev.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to reflect on two intriguing Champions League semi-finals.Despite one of their finest first half displays of the season, Mauricio Pochettino was left lamenting his side’s fatigue as Man City muscled their way back into the tie. We look at PSG’s midfield and why Kylian Mbappé seemingly vanished from the pitch.Elsewhere, after Karim Benzema carried Real Madrid to a draw with Chelsea, David explains how he is thought of in Madrid and how his role in the side has evolved since escaping Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow. And following Bordeaux’s fall into administration, we look at what has gone wrong at this storied club – and whether they can escape disaster.Got a question for us? Email [email protected]!***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode of the Book Club takes you to the heart of what it means to be a football fan. Kate and Jim are joined by journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author Michael Calvin to discuss ‘Whose Game Is It Anyway?’, his deeply personal account of the role football – and sport – plays in everyday life.Mike tells us how he came to fall out of love with the sport he covered for 40 years – and how he eventually rediscovered what football truly means to people at clubs like Accrington and Bury’s phoenix club, Bury AFC. After a week where the value of community, loyalty and history has never felt so threatened, he also offers his reflections on the Super League and what it tells us about the state of our game. And after decades on the journalism scene, Mike of course shares plenty of tales from his career along the way: from shouting copy down the phone in remote corners of the Eastern Bloc, to dodging punches from Mike Tyson.You can find Mike’s book, ‘Whose Game Is It Anyway?’, here!What book should we read next? Tweet us: @footballramble, @kvlmason and @JimCampbellTFR.***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.