Football Ramble

After Al-Hilal made a world-record transfer bid for Kylian Mbappé, Dotun is joined by Nicky Bandini and David Cartlidge to dissect what this means for Mbappé and the potential consequences for European football. One player trying his best not to move to Saudi Arabia is Romelu Lukaku - but, now Inter have lost interest, does he have a choice? Plus, we asses the Shakespearian love triangle that is e...

In an absolutely seismic pre-season friendly, Man United beat up Arsenal on the pitch - while Arsenal fans in the stands beat up each other. Ahh, soccer. Marcus, Jim and Pete thoroughly cover that, try to smuggle some Lionel Messi shirts out of Miami, book trials at JLingz FC and buy a hearse. Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive live events, ad-free Rambles, full video episodes and loads more: p...

The Upfront team bring you all the reaction to England’s very first game at the Women’s World Cup! England got off to a winning start, but a pretty unconvincing one. So, what next? Join Chloe and Rachel for chat throughout the tournament here and follow Upfront on Twitter , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube ! Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive live events, ad-free Rambles, full video episodes and...

Marcus and Andy are back with big news! Everyone wants to leave Fulham. They discuss what playmaker-keeper André Onana will bring to Erik Ten Hag’s ranks and there’s some heated debate about King of the Cottage, Marco Silva! Follow us on  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  YouTube , and email us here:  show@footballramble.com . Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive...

Kylian Mbappé’s deadline to extend his PSG contract is approaching. Today, Jonathan Johnson joins Dotun and Andy to explain why Harry Kane to PSG would never have made sense and Andy explains why Dušan Vlahović is a much better fit. It’s fair to say the PSG ultras don’t agree… Elsewhere, we celebrate the romance of Ángel Di María’s return to Benfica before Andy and Jonathan talk about the transfer...

Today, we’re back with another of our Patreon mini-series: GOAT farm! In this series, we picked our favourite XI for a chosen team or subject and today's episode really is THE big one. It's England since 1990! Mr England himself, Marcus Speller, is joined by Jim Campbell for this one and beware… Jim has a midfield curveball. This is an episode you don't want to miss! Follow us on&nb...

It’s FINALLY HERE! The World Cup starts on Thursday, and Upfront has all the info you need ahead of the biggest women’s football tournament in history. In Part One, Chloe and Rachel look at England’s chances and whether they can find their attacking rhythm in time. We also check in on Ireland’s hopes, wonder if Sam Kerr can fire the Aussies to glory and assess the reigning Olympic champions Canada...

For our final Guide To… of the summer, we could only end on football’s headline act making hay in Hollywood. Nope, it’s not Lionel Messi moving to Inter Miami - it’s David Beckham’s move to LA Galaxy back in 2007! From his box office debut - when he was properly injured - through to controversial loan moves back to Europe and eventual success, it remains one of world football’s most culturally sig...

It was another HUGE weekend in the football calendar… It’s always great to see the Scottish League Cup start again. It was a shame Bonnyrigg Rose couldn’t get a result, though. Lionel Messi did also sign for Inter Miami this weekend, so Marcus, Luke and Jim debate whether Messi winning MLS would be comparable to Maradona at Napoli. We also thank Ian Wright for the signing of Declan Rice and “my gi...

With Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal FINALLY confirmed, Luke goes back into the archives to bring you his Ramble Meets interview episode with the man himself back in 2019. Rice gives a great insight into his personality, as he talks about being a professional footballer, how he interprets his own position, and some of the many sacrifices he made when he was growing up to not only succeed, but now be...

Marcus and Luke return with fresh, breakfast-based developments around Harry Kane to Bayern Munich! Petty squabbling between Speller and Moore incoming, so be ready to pick your side... We also don’t hold back on our thoughts over Jordan Henderson’s rumoured agreement to join Al-Ettifaq and we reflect on Dele’s hugely affecting interview with Gary Neville. Follow us on  Twitter ,  Instag...

The World Cup is still brilliant, but it’s got its problems. And yet the issues we face today aren’t as confusing and downright obscene as those faced by the thirteen teams who competed in the first ever World Cup. There was - we stress - some truly outrageous moments. Teams and fans missed their steamboats there, brawls erupted on the pitches and in the stands, kings picked some of the teams and...

Chloe and Rachel bring you a very special episode of Upfront ahead of the World Cup next Thursday! Our guest today - Carly Telford - has been to not one, not two, but THREE World Cups! So who better to tell us about how to prepare for a major tournament? Chloe and Rachel sit down with Carly for a fascinating pod, where Carly reveals her formative conversation with the Lionesses No.1 Mary Earps, ho...

Dotun and Andy are joined by Miguel Delaney to discuss why Inter could be Serie A’s early favourites – even as they look set to lose their No.1, André Onana! Plus, we explore why the Saudi Pro League’s huge spending is not actually causing problems for Premier League clubs, but giving them a helping hand. We'll be back with another OTC Transfer Special next week. Got a question for us? Ask away! F...

What’s that, England silverware I see?! Marcus, Jim and Luke discuss yet more signs of England’s imminent domination of international football after the U21s win the Euros. But who will be the new Mark Hateley? And will Ashley Cole finally put that rifle down… Plus, David de Gea leaves Manchester United, another classic Neil Warnock tale, and Kevin Keegan RETURNS for his hottest hosting gig yet! J...

Marcus and Andy discuss a distinctly un-Arsenal last 24 hours at Arsenal, as the world and Dean Saunders await Declan Rice’s imminent announcement! We discuss whether he’s a game-changer for the Gunners, the departure of two Premier League stalwarts on Friday, and whether Kylian Mbappé is really coming to the Emirates. Spoiler: he isn’t. Follow us on  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  TikTok...

Today, we welcome you to another of our Patreon mini-series: The Five Hive! Every Sunday,   we debated our favourite fives - from football's best villains, to stadiums we want to visit. Today, Marcus is joined by Pete and Andy to discuss the top five football games they've ever attended. Admittedly, we did end up focusing on a more pressing concern: has Andy ever been involved in football hoo...

Pete’s Film Club made its long awaited return on the Football Ramble Patreon during the World Cup! The Club is the only place where you’ll hear us review the most bang average football films out there. So today, we bring you episode one of our Patreon mini-series, where Pete and Luke review United Passions! It’s the film about FIFA made by FIFA. We’ll say no more because you simply HAVE TO hear it...

Is Andy Brassell a football journalist or a top pharmaceutical manager? You can tell it’s a summer Ramble… Marcus, Luke, Pete and Andy react to Mason Mount’s goodbye video and Jonjo Shelvey’s nighttime activities. Plus, Marcus has some difficulties with Italian desserts and Pete has his say on Crystal Palace’s decision to keep Big Hodgson. Come join us! Catch Vish, Pete and Jim's Team of the Seaso...

One of the worst exoduses in European football continues at RB Leipzig. So, what is Dominik Szoboszlai bringing to Liverpool – but also what kind of gap are he and others like him leaving in the Bundesliga? Dotun, Andy and David pick the bones out of that and check in with the top three in La Liga, where Barcelona’s wishlist includes a former Southampton player and surely THE bargain of the window...

Zinedine Zidane. One of the all time greats. A gyroscopic magician. A picture of serene perfection. But also a picture of serene perfection that might stamp on you at any moment. Or in the case of 2006, headbutt you in the chest. And very hard. Marcus, Luke, Pete and Jim take you back to one of most mental moments in football history, when one of the legends of the game - on the biggest stage of a...

ALL ABOARD! Marcus, Luke, Pete and Jim discuss Englishmen on the move: from Declan Rice, to Madders, to… Gary Neville on Dragons Den? Pete makes a pitch for his new invention to G Nev, Marcus makes his bid to oust Fabrizio Romano as Official Transfer Source, and we wonder whether it’s polite to announce your new club at a teammate’s wedding. Follow us on  Twitter ,  Instagram ,  Tik...

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini discuss the question on everyone’s lips: could Bayern Munich and Harry Kane really be a match made in heaven?  We break the move down for both sides and ponder on the future of the other striker being courted by clubs across Europe, Victor Osimhen. Is he a better option that Kane after all? Plus, has Max Allegri scared everyone off at Juventus and we explain whic...

You know him as the footballer and the social media eccentric. But today, you’re going to meet the many, many sides of Patrice Evra. From his activism work, to his true thoughts on Manchester City’s treble winners, this conversation might well break your heart and have you crying with laughter in equal measure. Please be aware that today’s episode features conversation about child sexual abuse. Wh...

It all started with Roy and Ray’s trip down the Seine… Seven years since it happened, we return to the most significant moment in the England men’s national team’s recent history: crippling humiliation at the hands of Iceland! Marcus, Luke, Pete and Jim reflect on the Three Lions’ lowest ebb, just how much it paved the way for Gareth Southgate’s success, and how many Freddos Wayne Rooney could hav...