The Game

Manchester United latest in part two. Part One Fleetwood, Dowman and Kane In front of a raucous five thousand fans at Highbury Fleetwood Town beat Arsenal on penalties - did the cold rainy night cliche play a part? Fleetwood managed to get under the skin of young star Max Dowman, was his red card a valuable lesson or unfair? England captain Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or - and it couldn't...

Middlesbrough look set for another charge at promotion this season as Kim Hellberg's side put on a masterclass away at Bolton. They might have competition from Southampton who would be in second but for their points deduction and their defender James Bree thinks they can win the league. Burnley looked woeful in Nicky Hayen's last game in change, could they follow Leicester and Luton with a...

Another weekend, another disastrous result for Manchester United who slumped to a 3-0 defeat against an impressive Bournemouth side. At the final whistle, Old Trafford delivered its verdict – support for Michael Carrick, resounding boos for his players. But is this the end for United’s beleaguered manager? Could Eddie Howe be next in line to take on this most poisoned of managerial chalices? More...

It goes from bad to worse for Manchester United. A humiliating loss to Como followed by captain Bruno Fernandes turning on the manager. Is this now a power struggle between player and manager...if so, who wins? Aside from the chaos off the pitch what is the problem on it, is it about players not trying, poor coaching or just a simple lack of ability? Will Michael Carrick still be manager in a week...

Tom Clarke and Times journalist and former football league player Gregor Robertson cover all the latest from The Championship, League One and League Two. Are Birmingham City's ambitious plans finally coming to fruition? The big time American owners have long talked about reaching the top flight, they are now fourth in the table and looking very strong. what chance they are in the promotion spo...

Brighton can't stop scoring. twenty three goals in the opening seven games is the fourth best in Premier League history. Are Fabian Hurzeler's team serious top four contenders? In beating local rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 they have piled the pressure on manager Pierre Sage, could he be the first managerial casualty of the season? Diego Gomez scored a stunning fifty metre goal for Brighton&#3...

Lisandro Martinez chucked a hand grenade into the Man Utd dressing room when he questioned the quality of the clubs signings and the man responsible - technical director Jason Wilcox - Why is Britain's 'biggest' club incapable of stability? Did PSG produce the best football played since Pep Guardiola's all conquering Barca side? in the second half Man City then showed their quality...

Ahead of a full set of midweek fixtures a quick catch up on the EFL with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson run the rule over the weekend results, Tonda Eckert, Robbie Savage and an 'absolute exocet' of a goal in League Two. A suspended ban and a small fine puts spygate behind Tonda Eckert and Southampton, the decision celebrate...

Man City looked worth every penny of the money spent on them as they beat Liverpool at Anfield. But the result left a strange taste as many wondered what it meant. Is the integrity of the league at stake as all results involving Man City have an asterix until the punishment is announced. Could city 'win' the league only to then be relegated? Liverpool had a front line including two hundred...

The Premier League returns, Man City punishment needs carful thought and where do Bellingham and Kane rank? Are Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in your top five England greats? Martin Samuel picks the best England players he's seen and Tony Cascarino picks the best five he's played against. Manchester City plan to appeal, but if they are not successful could their punishment sink them as a...

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson return with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two. There are some big games in the Championship with third against fourth as Middlesbrough play Wolves and derbies at West Ham who take on QPR and West Brom at home to Birmingham. Perhaps the most interesting story of the international break was Graham Alexander leaving Bradford City to return...

As expected MAnchester City are to appeal against the guilty verdicts handed down to them by the independent commision. But what does that mean...will the whole affair drag on for another eight years? Matt Lawton brings us the latest - how long will the appeal take and what chance does it have of succeeding? If City lose and the punishment relegates them - will their big stars stick around? After...

The Premier League have released their statement regarding the findings against Manchester City and it is a scathing assessment. The independent commision referenced 'sham contracts' to reduce costs and inflate revenues disguising over nine hundred million pounds worth of 'secret funding' in the process. The findings also make claims of false evidence and agreements or contracts de...

Manchester City have been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges against them - what happens next? Relegation, points deduction, transfer embargo, financial fines...? What are the potential sanctions on offer? What does it mean for City and for the teams most affected by City's breaches? The Times Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler has covered this story for near eight years an...

International football returns for the first time since the World Cup and England manager Thomas Tuchel isn't sure he can coach his players to play possession football - and some of his players seem to agree. Is that what the FA get for five million a year, a manager who can't coach? Or is it more complicated than that? While England go through their usual bout of soul searching German foo...

EFL EXTRA: Dockers and Black Country Derbies All the latest news from the EFL. This week Gregor Robertson is joined by Joe Harston. Two big derby's as West Ham staged an impressive comeback at Millwall in the dockers derby and Wolves got the bragging rights over West Brom in the Black country derby.   Swansea came from behind to beat Lincoln and stay top, Preston couldn't quite...

Brighton and Brentford put in master class performances to humble Arsenal and Chelsea. Both teams looked organised, robust and hugely impressive. By contrast despite the money spent Chelsea lacked cutting edge and were shakey at the back. For Arsenal was it a timely warning that the defence of their title won't be as easy as some thought? So, can Brighton and Brentford make it into the top four......

Two defeats in a week, including the Manchester derby, losing a two goal lead at home for the first time in fifty years and then a young star asks to leave - the problems are mounting for Manchester United and Michael Carrick.  Is it all football related or have the 'biggest club in England' still not solved their off pitch issues? Another wonderkid, Max Dowman goes from strength to strength...

All the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.  Another big win for West Ham sends them top, Southampton are climbing, Swansea and West Brom are surprise packages with Wolves and Middlesbrough looking good - could they all win the Championship? Is it down to just two or three or are there outsiders who are yet to show their best? At the b...

Man City and Arsenal are joint top. Huil impress at Chelsea, Spurs can't score and centre halves sometimes score absolute screamers. But sadly, the headlines are all about VAR...again. This time an 'error of judgment' is the reason Haaland's fine finish was not disallowed at Old Trafford. A quick assessment of where we're at with VAR before a look at a new attacking approach from Enzo Maresca and...

Solid home wins for Liverpool and Man City, a strong away wins for Arsenal and Villa mean the English teams have started well in Europe.  Martin Samuel thinks there is no reason why all the English teams should not be qualifying for the last 16. While there are some potent front three's around, no team compares to Arsenal's defensive strength -  how would Arsenal reserve team do in the P...

A week is a long time in the football league, and West Ham used back-to-back matches to kickstart their season with two big wins. Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson as Nuno Espirito Santo's team finally get moving in The Championship and there's more impressive results for Swansea, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Bristol City.  Elsewhere the guys wonder whether Jamie Vardy's arrival is rea...

Arsenal put on a dominate display to beat potential title rivals Chelsea. Despite going one down after only a minute the Gunners looked calm, confident and positive throughout. Was it the benefits of having a title under their belts or a new approach from Mikel Arteta? Chelsea have arguably the best attack in the league, but have they left themselves short in defence and midfield? Alexander Isak i...

After a crazy summer transfer window in which 3.5 billion pounds was spent and multiple 100 million transfers between English clubs - has the transfer market gone mad? Inlafted prices, last minute deals... is the Premier League an outlier, or is it the new norm for football transfers.  Which club had the best window and which was the best individual transfer? Arsenal have hit the ground runni...

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two. Wolves and Southampton already look to have so much strength in depth for Championship level "it is scary.". But it's Charlton who are top on nine points, can they keep it up... Who is the beat striker in the division?   In League One Blackpool are on the front foot and Stockport look go...