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The Game Football Podcast

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The Game Football Podcast is the thinking fan's podcast for the debate, the tactics, the personalities, injuries, goals and analysis. From The Times and Sunday Times, it's the place for nuanced discussion around all the action throughout the 2024/25 season. Presented by Tom Clarke with contributors including Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Charlotte Duncker, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, Tom Allnutt and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

The Game Football Podcast is the thinking fan's podcast for the debate, the tactics, the personalities, injuries, goals and analysis. From The Times and Sunday Times, it's the place for nuanced discussion around all the action throughout the 2024/25 season. Presented by Tom Clarke with contributors including Martin Samuel, Jonathan Northcroft, Charlotte Duncker, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat, Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd, Tom Allnutt and others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language:

English


Episodes
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EFL Extra: Championship snakes and ladders and EFL fatigue

2/25/2025
Join Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson for all the latest news from the Championship, League One and League Two. Is it time to give Frank Lampard credit? His Coventry side are one point off the play offs and he is winning over the sky blues fans. Meanwhile another former international midfielder Michael Carrick is struggling at Middlesborough, what’s gone wrong at the Riverside? As Tom watches a bore fest at Sincil Bank is now the time in the season when fatigue – mental and physical – starts to kick in? In League Two, AFC Wimbledon have the best defence in the league and are on a twelve game unbeaten run. And a few big teams are struggling. Plus a late surprise appearance from the next generation of footballing/journalistic talent… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:35:11

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Liverpool bossed it; have Arsenal blown it?

2/24/2025
Arsenal fluffed their lines at home to West Ham. Liverpool capitalised with their first win at Manchester City in ten years. It puts Liverpool eleven points clear. So, is the title race over? Where are Arsenal going wrong and just how good are this Liverpool team? Elsewhere, with the top and bottom of the table seemingly sorted out, is mid table the place to be – full of ambitious, forward-thinking clubs. Newcastle thumped Forest, for a half at least. Are Forest on the slide, or were Newcastle lucky? And who is the Premier League’s most under rated player...? Gregor knows - he has been to meet him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:59

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Do you pity Manchester City? And is Darwin done?

2/20/2025
Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League by a dominant Real Madrid. At what point do we start to feel sorry for Pep and his team? Now, according to Gregor Robertson, Peter Rutzler and James Gheerbrant. They join Tom Clarke to discuss that, Darwin Núñez's future, Rashford's return and a poetic red card for Atalanta's captain (essential viewing). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:49

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Spurs win the dysfunction derby & 'never go full press'

2/17/2025
Tottenham back to their best? Or did they just play against an EVEN worse team in Manchester United? Tony Cascarino, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss. Plus, Liverpool look leggy, a new young star striker emerges at Arsenal (28 year-old Mikel Merino) and what does expected even mean? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:10

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Fitting finale at Goodison and the end for Pep?

2/13/2025
What a fitting finale for Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby. A thrilling roller coaster of a game, four goals, three red cards, VAR and a last minute winner. What a night. Were the decisions correct, does the result affect the title race but most importantly can an atmosphere like that be re created in a new ground? Away from the Merseyside could it be over for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City? Gregor Robertson and Jonathan Northcroft wonder if he will stay to see out the rebuild of his fragile team. Chelsea and Arsenal are both facing a striker crisis; should they have seen it coming and acted in the transfer window? Finally, will Newcastle take the chance to enter the top four at Manchester city this weekend? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:56:49

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EFL Extra: Make changes, make 'em at the right time...

2/11/2025
Great escapes, standout signings and a managerial merry go round in this week's EFL Extra. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson discuss whether Sunderland have the staying power to make automatic promotion a 4 horse race, they react to a familiar face in the dugout at Carlisle and watch as Walsall keep their title contenders interested. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:39:05

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Brilliant Plymouth but what is a cup shock?

2/10/2025
Was it an FA Cup shock for the ages, bottom of the Championship Plymouth beating European and Premier League leaders Liverpool? Or did Liverpool’s line up detract from the Pilgrim’s achievement? The fans at Home Park didn’t think so! Leyton Orient nearly went one better by beating Man City, but a wonder goal wasn’t enough to overcome the Blues, but Pep Guardiola is in love with the FA Cup. Defeat at Villa park piled the pressure on Ange Postecoglou. After the matched he launched passionate defence of his players. Will it be enough to keep him in a job? Finally, a Man Utd win but they looked awful – again. And a look ahead to the European ‘classico’ Man City v Real Madrid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:00:58

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Newcastle bully Arsenal and Manchester United’s ‘Mission Impossible’?

2/6/2025
St James’ Park was a cauldron, Arsenal were cowed, and Newcastle are off to Wembley. Is Newcastle’s forward line the best around at the moment? And did Arsenal get a taste of their own medicine last night, bullied out of their biggest game of the season? Gregor Robertson is joined by Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino to discuss last night’s game and what it could mean for each club’s season. After the break, is it ‘Mission 21’or Mission Impossible? As Manchester United launch another grand plan, are there more important things they should be doing? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:43

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Arsenal humble City and did Liverpool get lucky?

2/3/2025
Arsenal stayed humble and thrashed Man City. Did the result say more about a dominant Arsenal performance or a fragile aging Manchester City team? Myles Lewis-Skelly shone as a left back which made Gregor Robertson wonder if old fashioned left backs exist anymore? Spurs put in a defensively solid performance to win at Brentford so, has Ange finally changed his tactics? Liverpool showed their title credentials again by beating in form Bournemouth; would it be unfair to call them lucky? Lastly, Moyes works his magic at Everton, Amorim in a mess and Rashford to Villa - mad or a master stroke? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:01:35

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TRANSFER SPECIAL

1/31/2025
Tom Clarke is joined by Gary Jacob and Martin Hardy to look at all the latest transfer news. Will Ollie Watkins be an Arsenal player in the next 48 hours? Newcastle have sold Miguel Almiron will they have to sell more players to meet PSR rules? Which other clubs are planning last minute deals; Tottenham, West Ham, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Brighton. How are deals done; the inside track on continuing to pay wages even if you sell a player and why are deals always done so late in the window? Lastly, how do reporters deal with agents, club presidents and managers and the half-truths, spin and outright lies that do the rounds…? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:38:25

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“Pep is losing it!” And is Ollie Watkins worth 60 million?

1/30/2025
What do you think of the new Champions League format? It gets mixed reaction in the studio – full of excitement but was there any real jeopardy? Manchester City got through, but the sight of Pep Guardiola clutching at straws was something to behold. Villa were in a thriller with Celtic and one man stood out – Morgan Rogers. A hattrick in the Champions League at 22 with the England manager watching on. Another young talent on show was 17yr old Ethan Nwaneri where is his best position? A quick look at transfers – is Ollie Watkins worth 60 million and a look ahead to some key games this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:21

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Groundhog Day for Spurs and what makes Bournemouth so good?

1/27/2025
Can it get any worse for Spurs? Losses to Everton and at home to Leicester have piled the pressure on Ange Postecoglou, but the fans are turning on chairman Daniel Levy. How long before something breaks? Tom Allnutt makes an impassioned defence of Ange…Alyson Rudd isn’t buying it! Bournemouth in contrast play a similar pressing game, have lots of injures but are on fire. What is the difference, how is Andoni Iraola doing it? Man City against Chelsea was a show case in how not to defend – Gregor Robertson felt for debutant Khunsanov. Yellow card, Red card…orange Card. What did Lewis Skelly deserve? Is the reaction of the Arsenal players and coaching staff make things worse? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:03:43

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How do City rebuild? And the problem with Havertz

1/23/2025
Manchester City threw away a two goal lead again. As they sign three players in a week, will Pep Guardiola be around for the re build? The result proved one thing, this new Champions League format is great, isn’t it? Is the criticism levelled at Kai Havertz unfair? His stats suggest he is an effective forward so what’s is the problem? After the break, clever footballers, the hipster derby and a new definition of ‘the big six.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:57:22

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EFL Extra: Clash of the cash and managers old and new

1/22/2025
All the latest from the Football League with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson. Tony Mowbray is back, and he is back at West Brom. After recovering from cancer one of the most well-liked managers in football has returned to the Hawthorns. What could he achieve there? Burnley and Sunderland made headlines with a nil nil draw. Who will be happier and which is better placed for a promotion push? The bottom of the championship is a managerial merry-go-round will the changes pay off? In League One it’s the clash of the cash as Wrexham play Birmingham at the Racecourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:50:52

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Who are the ‘Big Six’? And how long will Ange last?

1/20/2025
What is the future of Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou? With his Spurs team sitting in their worst league position at this stage since 2009, injuries galore and the pressure mounting, what happens next? For Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest life couldn’t be better. Andoni Iraola is drawing rave reviews for his style of football as his team are one point of the Champions League places. Forest are in the title race, let alone the race for Europe. After the break, a tribute to Denis Law, is it time we drop the term ‘Big Six’ and did Villa play well or did Arsenal mess up? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:59:08

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How many teams are in the title race?

1/16/2025
A tough win in the north London derby has but Arsenal well and truly back in the title race. But who else is in the picture? Liverpool and Forest; Chelsea have stumbled but are Newcastle – on a nine game winning run - now live contenders? Is Gabriel Arsenal’s best defender? What is good football and do Tottenham play it? Forest don’t press, what a refreshing change. Liverpool didn’t win but they still looked good. And how can Everton score a goal? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:00:43

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Arsenal v Man Utd and why play extra time?

1/13/2025
Did Manchester United display fantastic spirit, organisation and grit or were they lucky and should have lost by three if Arsenal could finish? For Mikel Arteta has his Arsenal team stagnated? Is extra time a good thing or a bad thing for smaller teams? On Tuesday Nottingham Forest play Liverpool. Will it be blood and thunder or a cagey stalemate? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:56:32

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Will Newcastle or Spurs win the cup? And is Potter the answer for West Ham?

1/9/2025
How many Newcastle players would get in a Premier League team of the season - two, three…five?! Would any manager other than Ange Postecoglou buy a twenty-one-year-old goalkeeper on Monday and play him in a cup semi-final on Wednesday? After big results for both teams what’s next. For Arsenal, have they progressed this season or was their best chance last year? After the break how will a rejuvenated Graham Potter fare at West Ham and Martin Samuel thinks Forest could win the title…why not!? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:03:07

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EFL Extra – Managers on the move, promotion places and the FA Cup

1/7/2025
A must listen for fans of teams in the football league. With Stoke, Millwall, West Brom, Oxford, Hull just some of the clubs who’ve changed manager. But, will it change the table? It’s a two from five for automatic promotion in the Championship. Sheffield United are in it but they’ve had a bumpy Christmas. Across the City Could Sheffield Wednesday make a push for the play offs The Times’ Paul Hirst thinks they might… In League One is it already a three horse race at the top. Who are the lower league strikers in demand and will their be an FA Cup shock? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:46:33

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Have Amorim's Manchester United turned a corner?

1/6/2025
Manchester United were more than worthy of their draw at Anfield. Should they have won? Was this an exception or a sign of things to come? Plus, Arsenal concede a penalty for a header, Bournemouth fans are getting excited and Ange Postecoglou is still Ange Postecoglou. Join Tom Clarke, Paul Hirst, Gregor Robertson and Peter Rutzler for a dissection of the weekend's action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:00:09