Football Ramble

After Rodri and Spain got tangled in the long grass at Hampden, Dotun, Andy and David are here to ask what’s going on with Spain. A one-off slip-up, or are they just short of talent right now? Next, we answer your questions about Thomas Tuchel’s move to Bayern Munich! It’s a challenging time there: David argues that Bayern’s players drove the bus over Julian Nagelsmann, while Andy explains why the...

He’s become one of the best pundits in football. Today, Jobi McAnuff joins us for an honest conversation beyond the TV studio about football’s insane highs and despairing lows, and what it really means to be a captain. Plus, what it’s really like to do punditry alongside Roy Keane and Jobi reveals the best full-back he ever faced in over 750 career appearances as a winger! Who would you like Kate...

Hampden Park delivered, so we couldn't resist a Ramble Reacts! Marcus, Jim and Lars discuss the last of the Euros qualifiers and fill up Marcus' old bacon bucket in celebration. Elsewhere in international football land, Lars needs comforting after Norway have a little slippy slippy on a Georgian banana peel, there’s an impromptu Kieffer Moore quiz, and one of the most bizarre stadiums in world foo...

At last! Marcus, Luke, Jim and Andy put the reign of the balding smoothie himself under the unforgiving Ramble microscope. Well, one of us is perhaps a little less critical than the rest. A Sven-egg-in-a-nest haircut is the prize for guessing who that is… They discuss the reception of England’s first foreign manager, Sven’s unprecedented charm offensive to win the public’s hearts, and what was rea...

Marcus, Vish, Jim and Andy discuss another memorable weekend in international football as Mr Luxembourg bags another brace. There’s love for James Maddison and Bukayo Saka as England pick up another win – but Vish wants to clarify that he’s a better bloke than Bukayo. Plus, ding dong Conte’s gone! The whole sorry affair leaves us wondering whether the days of ‘firefighter’ managers are over as the...

The keys are in the lock, the gate is open, but oh yes we’re here with a weekend Ramble! Marcus and Andy react to news that one of Spurs’ targets has replaced, erm, another of Spurs’ targets at Bayern Munich. And it was a terrible day in more ways than one for poor old Julian Nagelsmann… We recap an even worse day for Karim Benzema as Kylian Mbappé and co run wild against the Dutch, while Marcus m...

Are England rusty? Are England confident? Is it rusty confidence? Marcus, Jim, Pete and Luke react to a splendid night in Naples for Harry Kane! And definitely a splendid one for Kalvin Phillips, who was just happy to be involved. Elsewhere, a sensational list of puns from a listener (it’s been a while), Roy Hodgson gets his talons on the perch at Crystal Palace, and we get to the bottom of Jonjo...

The Euros qualifiers are back! And ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 re-run, Dotun, Andy and David talk all things Azzurri and explore why Roberto Mancini is bemoaning a lack of Italian players after a season of brilliant success in Europe for Serie A clubs.  Elsewhere, we bid farewell to Mesut Özil, who tellingly didn’t bid farewell to Germany in his retirement announcement. And David and Andy as...

Andy heads to one of Europe’s most intimidating stadiums: the Estádio do Dragão. It’s a huge Champions League night and Porto have the chance to make it two Portuguese teams in the quarter-finals for the first time ever.  Unsurprisingly, the atmosphere lived up to the occasion. Andy finds out how Sérgio Conceição has quietly (well, no, pretty loudly in his case actually) become one of Europe’...

“Sacked in the morning? Don’t think so.” Ian Holloway has so many famous one-liners that there are two entire books just of his quotes. But there’s more to him than those soundbites. Kate sits down with the former Crystal Palace, QPR and Blackpool manager to discuss how he’s brought up three deaf children, how that’s informed his management in incredible ways, and his view of the chaotic relegatio...

“Don’t back down, double down”. Aleksandar Mitrović appears to have been following the advice of Limmy this weekend. Was the incident even that bad? Chris Sutton thinks it was, so we probably have to disagree. Today Marcus, Vish, Jim and Pete relive a weekend in which football seemed to malfunction and the end result was glorious chaos. Vish questions whether an Arsenal-supporting AI bot has taken...

Welcome to our brand new Patreon bonus episode, The Five Hive! Every Sunday,   your favourite Ramblers will be debating their favourite fives. From the best football club quirks, to our top five foods at football grounds - we'll have the lot. Today, Pete reveals all about his truly bizarre matchday experience in Japan... If you enjoyed this teaser you can hear the full episode by signing up t...

Patrick Vieira’s out! On St Patrick’s Day of all days. Marcus, Andy and Luke ask whether David Moyes has ever been sacked on St David’s Day and (of course) make the case for Roy Hodgson’s return. Elsewhere, there’s news that Arsenal man Nuno Tavares has accidentally signed a petition to get rid of one of his own teammates and unconfirmed news that Charlie Kane has made the same mistake on a new Sp...

It’s an Italian job in the Champions League! Dotun and Andy are joined by Jonathan Johnson to ask whether three Serie A clubs in the last eight indicates a proper revival. But there’s a crisis facing France and Portugal - why? The European Conference League, baby! We explain how it’s swinging coefficients like nobody’s business. Plus, everyone apart from Dotun has it in for the Slovenian league an...

Inverted fullbacks, Nathan Redmond, and Julia Roberts. Pep Guardiola’s loves of his life, in reverse order. Marcus and Andy wrap up the Champions League last 16 and discuss just how Liverpool are going to swim through the rivers of Germany to fetch Jude Bellingham. Plus, Mystic Marcus makes a huge call on who will win the whole bloody thing. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show@...

Today, we’re joined by one of the women who is shaking up football’s elite. 12 months ago, President of Norway’s Football Association Lise Klaveness delivered a devastating speech at the annual FIFA Congress criticising the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar and all the repercussions that followed. We drop in with Lise a year on and she lifts the lid for us on how football is really run. Who would...

Imagine a manager who avoided the sack by telling the chairman to eff off and sack himself. Allow us to introduce you to one Brian Clough… Marcus, Jim and Vish discuss how he not only carried Nottingham Forest to two consecutive European Cup triumphs – and, more impressively, once got away with punching Roy Keane – but did it with a staggering amount of self-assuredness. We explore his managerial...

Gary Lineker’s back, unlike Liverpool! Marcus, Jim, Vish and David are back to discuss a fascinating weekend of football only ruined by Mick Jagger’s hat. Definitely, definitely not a DILF. Elsewhere we discuss why this season is shaping up to have the most insane relegation scrap in years, Eddie Company Man Howe strikes again, and a keeper in League Two started playing rugby. Tweet us @ FootballR...

Vish is back! Man United are back! Bums are back! Marcus, Vish, Jim and Pete discuss Wout Weghorst’s caress of some important Liverpool signage and the FA finally taking a stand on Arsenal’s celebrations and investigating just what it’s all about. Plus, Vish exposes his true title race allegiances and Pete unloads on Two Door Cinema Club, for some reason. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us her...

After 11 years, Milan are back in the last eight of the Champions League. Dotun and Andy are joined by Nicky Bandini who explains just how it clicked for this young, inexperienced team last night. Maybe Spurs gave a helping hand. But guess who it didn’t click for? After another early exit, we ask whether it’s finally - finally - time for PSG to rip up their Galactique model and start again, while...

Marcus and Luke struggle to stay awake through some Champions League drudgery, as Spurs went out with a whimper against Milan. At least the score improved from the first leg! We wonder if Antonio Conte’s heading for departures and what Spurs fans can reasonably expect from this team. There’s also some mocking reserved for another early PSG exit and we bid a fond farewell to Scott Parker’s brief st...

All aboard HMS Potter! That yellow smoke around Stamford Bridge had us thinking we were watching Spongebob Squarepants’ gender reveal, but actually we were watching a hugely important Champions League win for Chelsea! Pete, David and Vish discuss what it all means for Potter and his boys, whether Kai Havertz will ever escape Joelinton jail, and Vish explains why Scott Parker’s wardrobe is making h...

Joseph Kevin Keegan OBE. A man who needs no introduction. Serial winner, chiselled adonis and universally adored legend. So why has so much bad luck befallen such a nice man? Marcus, Luke, Jim and Pete assemble for a joyous look at one of our favourite football sons. For every Ballon d’Or win, a bag of smashed Bulgarian pottery. For every UEFA Cup victory, a severe bicycle crash on national TV. Fo...

Marcus thinks the Man United players should drive their Shame Cars™ to training this morning. He’s on hand with Luke, Jim and Pete to pore over Liverpool’s demolition job, as Bruno Fernandes lost his head on the pitch and Gary Neville lost his head in the studio. Elsewhere, wild celebrations at the Emirates get interrupted by a lost child - at least Richard Keys approved of them this time. Luke al...

Marcus, Luke, Jim and Pete turn the spotlight back on Newcastle’s owners, as news emerges that they *might* have some association with Saudi Arabia. Who’d have thought? We also wonder if Brother Brendy can lead Leicester to salvation (14th) and shrug off Gary Neville’s spooky premonitions hanging over Liverpool. Plus, José Mourinho reaches peak José Mourinho at an Under-14s game. Tweet us @ Footba...