Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast
509 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 321 ratingsWelcome to Upfront, the dedicated women's football podcast brought to you by the Football Ramble! Join Chloe Morgan and Rachel O'Sullivan every week for reaction and analysis throughout the season.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Lions Watch: The final stretch, Southgate’s best formation, and why England can’t hold on to a lead
June 05, 2021 04:00 - 38 minutes - 53 MBWelcome 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 P...
On The Continent: As the dust settles on the Champions League final, what next for European football?
June 03, 2021 14:44 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBDotun 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 p...
Book Club: Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby
May 31, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MB'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 footb...
Lions Watch: Southgate’s squad convenes, lessons from Belgium, and Gary Lewin joins us
May 29, 2021 04:00 - 44 minutes - 60.8 MBWelcome 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!...
Europe’s managerial mix-up, Atlético get over the line, and Lille’s historic Ligue 1 title
May 27, 2021 14:39 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBAll 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 ...
Ramble Meets... Pat Nevin
May 24, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 59 MBOn 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 burgeo...
Lions Watch: The right-back conundrum, another penalty shoot-out win, and what to expect from Czech Republic
May 21, 2021 23:00 - 42 minutes - 58.6 MBWith 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 fina...
On The Continent: France's ace in the hole, Dortmund save their season, and the Süper Lig title finale
May 20, 2021 14:25 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBMiguel 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 ra...
On The Continent: France's ace in the hole, Dortmund save their season, and the Süper Lig title finale
May 20, 2021 14:25 - 46 minutes - 42.1 MBMiguel 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 ra...
Lions Watch: Harry Maguire sidelined, Jadon Sancho stakes his claim, and that night in Seville
May 15, 2021 04:00 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBIt’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 definin...
On The Continent: Madrid’s La Liga finale, Sporting secure the title, and what next for Andrea Pirlo & Juventus?
May 13, 2021 12:55 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBDotun, 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 otc@footba...
Lions Watch: The price of European success, more full-back puzzles, and World Cup 2018
May 08, 2021 04:00 - 42 minutes - 57.9 MBMarcus 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 ...
On The Continent: Positive PSG signs, José Mourinho vs Antonio Conte, and the La Liga title race reaches its climax
May 06, 2021 13:42 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBDotun, 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 t...
Book Club: Not For Me, Clive – Clive Tyldesley
May 03, 2021 04:00 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBThe 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 Fe...
Lions Watch: Expanded squads, the importance of Phil Foden, and passing on the pint of wine
May 01, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutes - 52.1 MBMarcus 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 s...
On The Continent: PSG run out of gas, the rise of Karim Benzema, and Bordeaux’s fall from grace
April 29, 2021 14:54 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBDotun 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...
Book Club: Whose Game Is It Anyway? – Michael Calvin
April 26, 2021 04:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBToday’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 a...
Lions Watch: How would England adapt without Harry Kane, John Stones’ form, and the Iceland nadir
April 24, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 46.9 MBWelcome back to Lions Watch, your one stop shop for all things England! This week, Marcus and Luke begin with Harry Kane’s injury, which might lead to only a brief hiatus, but raises all sorts of questions about England’s flexibility as well as that age old dilemma: do you play your star player when he’s not 100% fit? Elsewhere, we discuss John Stones’ familiar downturn in form after a season that has promised so much change and revisit Euro 2016, where the England shirt has perhaps never w...
On The Continent: With the Super League defeated, what next for European football?
April 22, 2021 14:23 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBDotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney look back on a truly seismic week, as the formation and startling failure of the European Super League represented the most significant story in the history of European football. With the project shelved (for now), we highlight the pivotal moments in the fight between the deluded, monied elite and everyone else. We also wonder what's next for Bayern Munich – whose manager Hansi Flick will be leaving at the end of the season – and we hear from Lars Sivertsen, N...
Ramble Meets... Jermaine Jenas
April 19, 2021 04:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBJoining Mark Pougatch on today's episode of Ramble Meets... is former Newcastle, Tottenham and England midfielder turned TV pundit, Jermaine Jenas! Jermaine talks Mark through his impressive career that began in the aftermath of Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and saw him experience some of the game's grandest occasions at both Spurs and Newcastle. He also reveals some of the regrets around his England career, where miscommunication with Fabio Capello halted what should've been a long and...
Lions Watch: The rise of Jesse Lingard, Jude Bellingham dazzles, and Roy on the Copacabana
April 17, 2021 04:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MBMarcus and Luke are back with a brand new edition of Lions Watch, the show dedicated to all things England! We are stumbling over ourselves with excitement for this one. Jesse Lingard is the form player in the Premier League – but should Gareth Southgate give him the keys to the kingdom? And where does all this leave poor old Jack Grealish? Elsewhere, if we needed any further evidence, Jude Bellingham was jaw-droppingly good this week: we drill down into his qualities. And the next stop on...
On The Continent: Erling Haaland’s fate, Bayern Munich’s dilemma, and the reality of sportswashing
April 15, 2021 15:36 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBDotun is joined by Lars Sivertsen and Miguel Delaney to look back over the week’s Champions League action! While Pep Guardiola finally overcame his Champions League hoodoo with Man City, Dortmund now desperately need to rescue their season with a top four finish. We look at the implications for Erling Haaland and why he may well be heading to Real Madrid rather than Man City. Elsewhere, PSG and Bayern served up another cracking tie, but one which threw up more questions than answers about ...
Ramble Meets... Jesse Marsch
April 12, 2021 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBWe're joined by one of Europe's most exciting young coaches on today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy sits down with RB Salzburg head coach, Jesse Marsch! Jesse's obsession with soccer was born in his native Wisconsin and has taken him across the United States and Canada, before he arrived in Leipzig in 2018 as Ralf Rangnick's assistant. Now at Champions League newcomers RB Salzburg, Jesse talks Andy through his untraditional journey as well as the misconceptions around American coaches...
Lions Watch: The Declan Rice dilemma, Trent Alexander-Arnold in the spotlight, and England’s dark ages
April 10, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MBWelcome to our brand new addition to Football Ramble Presents, Lions Watch, a show dedicated to all things England! Every Saturday, Marcus Speller and Luke Moore discuss the latest stories around Gareth Southgate’s squad in the build-up to the Euros. Who’s waiting by the phone? Who’s metatarsal is plastered on the front pages? And what does it all mean for that final 23-man squad? We will also be revisiting tournaments and matches gone by to trace the evolution that has shaped Southgate’s ...
On The Continent: A Champions League classic, Zidane’s masterclass, and a lifeline for Juventus
April 08, 2021 15:13 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBWelcome to a new edition of On The Continent, your one-stop shop for all things European football. Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini wrap up an eventful week in the Champions League and beyond! Bayern Munich fell to their first home defeat in all competitions since November 2019 – and it took a monumental effort from PSG to overcome the Bavarian giants. We reflect on the reasons behind Bayern’s rare lapse and what this means for Mauricio Pochettino’s side after a gutless defeat to Lille last we...
Book Club: Love of the Game, Ricky Hill
April 05, 2021 04:00 - 55 minutes - 50.4 MBJoining Kate and Jim on today's episode of the Book Club is Luton Town legend who played over 400 matches throughout the most successful stint in their history and earned an England call up under Sir Bobby Robson: it's Ricky Hill! Ricky joins us to reflect on an impressive career marred with frustration and disappointment. He rose through the ranks at Luton Town at just 17, and was an integral part of the side that won the League Cup in 1987/88 – however, obstacles entirely out of his contr...
On The Continent: How will Bayern cope without Lewandowski, Agüero’s next step, and stars of the U21 Euros
April 01, 2021 15:12 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBWelcome to another edition of On The Continent. Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge bring you all the biggest stories from across European football! We begin with the repercussions of Robert Lewandowski’s injury for Bayern – domestically and in Europe. History suggests the transition could be difficult. But if any team can adapt, surely the Bayern juggernaut can? Elsewhere, we discuss the options for Sergio Agüero on the continent – from a Serie A renaissance, to an Atlético homecoming. It was...
On The Continent: PSG seize control, Cesare Prandelli departs, and Zlatan’s return
March 25, 2021 16:11 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBWelcome to another episode of On The Continent, your one-stop shop for all things European football! Dotun, Andy and Lars chew the fat over an eventful week across the continent. After Paris Saint-Germain put in their finest domestic performance of the season against Lyon to take top spot in Ligue 1, we look over the four contenders for the French title. To the surprise of many, Niko Kovač’s Monaco have emerged as the league’s entertainers, while Lille seem to be struggling with their top d...
Ramble Meets... Michael Essien and Johan Djourou
March 22, 2021 05:00 - 44 minutes - 41 MBWe return to Denmark for today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy sits down with two former Premier League stalwarts in Michael Essien and Johan Djourou! With over 100 international caps and almost forty years in the game between them, Michael and Johan are two of the most experienced members of the exciting project at FC Nordsjælland. They talk about their upbringing in Ghana and Switzerland respectively, playing for the likes of José Mourinho and Arsène Wenger and using their experience...
On The Continent: The Fall of Diego Simeone, Real Madrid lumber on, and a potential BeNeliga merger
March 18, 2021 16:05 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBAtlético crashing out of the Champions League represent the failings of Diego Simeone’s dated style, which now looks to be a relic from another time. Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney wonder what’s next for Los Rojiblancos and their fiery coach. Things look slightly rosier on the Galaticos’ side of the city, as Real Madrid unconvincingly brushed aside Atalanta and drew comparisons to Zinedine Zidane’s last trophy-winning stint. We also cast an eye over an interesting story developing in northe...
Ramble Meets... Tom Vernon
March 15, 2021 05:00 - 54 minutes - 50 MBOn today’s episode of Ramble Meets... Andy sits down with FC Nordsjælland chairman and Right To Dream founder, Tom Vernon! Tom founded Right To Dream, the Ghanaian football academy, in 1999 - he joins Andy to discuss its immense educational and footballing imprint in the region, with over twenty graduates since playing professionally in Europe. He also expands on the academy’s purchase of Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland, as they look to change the perception and expectations of foot...
On The Continent: Juventus reach a crossroads, relief in Paris, and Agnelli’s Champions League
March 11, 2021 16:50 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBDotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini catch their breath and bring you their reaction to a dramatic week on and off the pitch in the Champions League! After Juventus’ exit in the last 16 again on Tuesday, we ask whether the Cristiano Ronaldo experiment has been a failure. Nicky also addresses the question marks over Andrea Pirlo’s position and whether Max Allegri really could do any better with such an unbalanced squad. Elsewhere, there’s an audible sigh of relief in Paris, though Andy explains wh...
On The Continent: A generational Barcelona election, Jorge Sampaoli’s combustible return, and Schalke plumb new depths
March 04, 2021 16:06 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBSome promising performances on the pitch haven’t drawn too much attention away from the chaos unfolding behind the scenes at Barcelona. Join Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge for the latest on the club’s ongoing boardroom scandal, as we preview the runners and riders in Sunday’s momentous presidential election. Staying with clubs on the brink of collapse, we try to work out which (if any) staff weren’t sacked following Schalke’s 5-1 loss to Stuttgart and assess Marseille’s latest appointment...
Ramble Meets... René Meulensteen
March 01, 2021 05:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBToday's Ramble Meets... guest has spent nearly three decades coaching in elite football, including ten years under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Mark Pougatch is joined by Ferguson's former first-team coach and current Australia assistant coach, René Meulensteen! René has worked with some of football's most esteemed characters in a career that has taken him to England, Russia, the Middle East and beyond. He joins Mark to discuss growing up in the glory years of Dutch football, his...
On The Continent: Jamal Musiala decides, Real Madrid flatter to deceive, and a title scramble in France
February 25, 2021 16:07 - 41 minutes - 38 MBDotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen guide you through the second week of Champions League last 16 games and all of the biggest stories from across Europe! First off, we try and provide some answers to Atletico’s head-scratching performance against Chelsea. Their city rivals hardly pleased the eye either, though. But while Lars puts on his tin foil hat over some poor refereeing decisions in Real’s game on Wednesday night, we also look at how Zidane is riding out a difficult period at the Bernabéu...
Ramble Meets... Iain Dowie
February 22, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBToday's episode of 'Ramble Meets...' features a man well versed in professional football's intense and various demands, from playing as an international striker to managing across the leagues. Mark Pougatch sits down with former Northern Ireland, Southampton and West Ham striker, Iain Dowie! Iain regales us with tales from his storied career, from surviving non-league football's school of hard knocks and becoming Northern Ireland's record goalscorer, to the infamous tale of teammate Paulo F...
On The Continent: The changing of the European guard, Porto punk Juventus, and Dortmund get their man
February 18, 2021 16:22 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBIt’s a Champions League extravaganza on this week’s episode of On The Continent! Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Miguel Delaney are here to pore over the biggest stories from another round of continental crusades. As the reigns of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dwindle, we wonder how significant Kylian Mbappé’s cracking hat-trick at Camp Nou might prove to be and ask whether he will move on from the Parisians. We also praise Porto’s impressive win over an underwhelming Juventus and ass...
Book Club: Follow F***ing Orders, Ann Törnkvist
February 15, 2021 05:00 - 56 minutes - 51.3 MBToday’s episode of the Book Club takes you deep into the heart of the Swedish underworld, as the gangland execution of a promising footballer made national news in 2010. Kate and Jim are joined by Ann Törnkvist to discuss her best-selling book, Follow Fucking Orders. Ann spent five years looking into the story of Eddie Moussa, the promising Assyrian footballer whose performances captured almost as much attention as his brutal death among the townspeople of Södertälje. Ann joins us from Swed...
On The Continent: Serie A’s three horse race, Dortmund struggle to evolve, and venue gymnastics
February 11, 2021 16:08 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBJoin Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Nicky Bandini for a brand new episode of On The Continent, your one-stop shop for all things European football! We begin by assessing the main contenders for the Serie A title, with Juventus' great run of form putting pressure on their Milanese opponents. We also ask what’s happening over at Borussia Dortmund and wonder whether they may be forced to sell their young superstars if they miss out on European qualification. Stick those alongside two crackin...
Ramble Meets... Rachel Brown-Finnis
February 08, 2021 05:00 - 52 minutes - 47.9 MBOur Ramble Meets... guest this week went from watching her hometown club Burnley on the terraces at Turf Moor to earning 82 international caps and even becoming an Olympian: it's former England goalkeeper turned pundit, Rachel Brown-Finnis! Rachel sits down with Mark Pougatch to talk about a fascinating career that straddles two vastly different eras of women's football in England. As the only girl who attended Bob Wilson's goalkeeper coaching camps as a child, before earning her Liverpool ...
On The Continent: Messi’s contract, Ligue 1 is left reeling, and Sporting are on the cusp
February 04, 2021 16:12 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBDotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to pick through the smouldering wreckage of another week in European football! After El Mundo revealed the staggering details of Messi’s contract, we study the fallout since as Messi looks to the courts and Barcelona’s presidential candidates scramble to back up their star player. We ask David whether Messi is the cause of Barcelona’s financial woes, or in fact a symptom of their profligacy. There’s no contract on the table over in France, as th...
On The Continent: Bayern are handed the reins, party’s over at Marseille, and Sevilla’s landmark signing
January 28, 2021 16:41 - 52 minutes - 47.7 MBWelcome to another edition of On The Continent! Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars to dive into the biggest stories from across European football. First, Andy gives us an update on PSG’s interest in Dele Alli, who looks ready to move across the Channel. Meanwhile in Germany, Dortmund and RB Leipzig’s capitulations have handed the initiative to a faltering Bayern Munich side. We take a look at what the future holds for Dortmund - as well as for their much-coveted star striker, Erling Haaland....
Ramble Meets... Gareth Ainsworth
January 25, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBNot every football manager arrives at the training ground in an orange Ford Mustang with Guns N' Roses blasting from the stereo, but today’s guest wouldn't have it any other way. Mark Pougatch welcomes Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth to the Ramble Meets... hot seat! Gareth and Mark look back over a storied career that saw him involved in over 1000 matches from both sides of the dugout. They discuss everything from breaking through at Preston North End - after his dreams of a prof...
On The Continent: What awaits Özil in Istanbul, a Milanese title race, and Portugal wrestles with Covid
January 21, 2021 05:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBDotun, Andy and Miguel bring your weekly European football fix with the biggest stories from across the continent! We begin in Turkey, where Mesut Özil has finally touched down: but what, exactly, awaits him there? We gauge expectations in Fenerbahçe after their massive financial gamble and explore exactly how Özil will fit into the country’s political landscape. We check in on Serie A, where it’s increasingly looking like a two-horse race between Milan’s giants after Inter put a torrid Ju...
Book Club: Klopp Actually, Laura Lexx
January 18, 2021 05:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBEver wondered what it'd be like to live with Jürgen Klopp? Well, our guest on today's episode of the Book Club turned a Twitter thread on just such a thought into a book: it's Laura Lexx, comedian and author of Klopp Actually: (Imaginary) Life with Football's Most Sensible Heartthrob! What started as a few hundred characters on Twitter has grown into a heartfelt book about dealing with life's anxieties and wrestling with the relationships we treasure most. Laura's writing explores these the...
On The Continent: Atlético’s title challenge, doing as the Romans do, and Stuttgart’s off-field squabbles
January 14, 2021 16:21 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MBHave the icy conditions in Spain somehow given Diego Simeone even more power? First aCoach of the Decade award, and now he’s managing La Liga’s genuine title favourites! Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Nicky Bandini are here to assess their snow-covered title charge on today’s episode of On The Continent! Elsewhere, with both Lazio and Roma playing at home in this weekend’s Derby della Capitale, we assess the fortunes of the two sides, one buoyed by an ageless Ciro Immobile and the other b...
Ramble Meets… Leonid Slutsky
January 11, 2021 05:00 - 42 minutes - 39 MBThis week Andy was delighted to sit down with Rubin Kazan head coach and former Russia national team manager, Leonid Slutsky! Leonid reflects on his hugely successful period at CSKA Moscow, where he made history in Europe. He also opens up about his turbulent time at Hull City back in 2017, and why he still maintains such great fondness for the city and for English football. And after going viral with his rendition of Mariah Carey this Christmas, we also of course find out all about that ve...
On The Continent: What to expect of Pochettino at PSG, Juventus defeat Milan, and the Athletic Bilbao puzzle
January 07, 2021 17:46 - 53 minutes - 48.5 MBWe’re back with your weekly European football fix! Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to discuss some huge midweek fixtures. And where else to start but in Paris? We assess Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge and look at what can be realistically expected of him there, as well as what Pochettino could learn from Tuchel’s reign. We also go to Italy, where Juventus finally halted Milan’s incredible run. Andy and David run the rule over both sides’ title credentials, and take ...
Ramble Meets… Stuart Pearce
January 04, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBToday, we welcome Nottingham Forest and England legend, Stuart Pearce! Stuart sits down with Mark Pougatch to reflect on the biggest and quirkiest moments of his storied career. He opens up about his relationship with Brian Clough and the legendary manager’s incredible attempt to tap him up midway through a game for Coventry City. He also guides us through Euro ’96: his feelings towards the media, why taking that penalty against Spain was so important to him and - of course - how he and G...
Ramble Meets... Mark Gardener
December 28, 2020 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBAndy is joined on today’s Ramble Meets… by Ride founding member and diehard Oxford United fan, Mark Gardener! Mark’s love for Oxford United was cemented in his childhood, trying to clamber over the terraces to watch them with his Dad. He talks us through those early days, including the famous 1986 Milk Cup win, and how following his side became increasingly difficult as worldwide fame found the band. He often found himself talking to Oasis about their love for Man City and phoning home to h...