Football Ramble

After 315 days on the sidelines, Paul Pogba is back on the pitch for Juventus. And from the reception he got last night, he’s back in his spiritual home. Can he change the mood in Turin? Dotun, Andy and David discuss that after putting Barcelona under the microscope. How have they struggled so much in Europe while dominating in La Liga? And why are some Barcelona fans calling for Xavi’s dismissal?...

WARNING: Southampton fans, look away now. Luke’s rolling his sleeves up for this one. Marcus and Luke convene for a full Prem and FA Cup round-up after a packed night of football, where Roy Keane chose violence, Ally McCoist had the best time of his life, and Marcus exposes himself as a fickle b*****d.  Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show@footballramble.com . Sign up for o...

Jules and Andy are joined by Jim Campbell! Freshly back from Brazil and freshly stung by a jellyfish. Because it’s Jim. We discuss Leicester’s FA Cup exit last night as Brother Brendy’s house of cards continues to topple, while there’s love for Fulham’s tackling machine and Emi Martinez for once doesn’t do something obscene to an award. Plus, can Arsenal and Liverpool overcome their demons tonight...

This is the story of one of the Premier League’s most iconic images – and the madcap footballer at the centre of it. So turn up your collar on your football shirt and remind yourself that Gareth Southgate didn’t always wear a waistcoat, because Marcus, Pete and David are off to Selhurst Park in the 90s… Let us know what you thought of today’s episode on Twitter @ FootballRamble and email us here:&...

Hello darkness, my old friend. But at least Pete made it into Wembley! He tells Marcus and David all about his pilgrimage and just how he got a ticket. It was pretty risky… Elsewhere, Spurs vs Chelsea leaves David wishing for more clenched fists and Graham Potter pining for more episodes of All or Nothing. STOP TALKING GRAHAM! Plus, why the Premier League table is basically a Baby Guinness. Join u...

Marcus, Luke and Andy react to an electric night at Old Trafford! And that was just because of Erik ten Hag’s roll neck. We also contemplate buying a dog that might excrete Carabao Cup final tickets and begin to engineer Jose Mourinho’s return to Chelsea via Andy’s mates at The One Show. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show@footballramble.com . Sign up for our Patreon for exclus...

Andy travels to the City Ground for a truly incredible atmosphere as Nottingham Forest fought back against Manchester City on Saturday. He’s joined by lifelong Forest fan and Ramble producer Tom Whalley to find out more about what being back at the top table means to a city and a club still pining for the glory years under Brian Clough. Plus, we get a valuable education in the local Notts chants!...

The Galactic Empire flexed their imperial muscles at Anfield this week! Today Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini explain why it feels so inevitable that Real will go far again in this season's Champions League – and why Vinicius Jr and Carlo Ancelotti are the perfect duo to do it... From the Empire to the Rebel Alliance, we discuss whether Napoli can also be considered serious contenders in this season...

Marcus and Luke check in with prickly Pep after his Man City side played quite well… for a bit? To be fair, they did concede to a fishmonger’s son. We also have to ask the dreaded question after Liverpool were hammered by Real Madrid on Tuesday: is Jürgen Klopp’s time on Merseyside finally up? Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here :  Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive live events, ad...

Today, Shakhtar Dontsk’s most capped player and stalwart of the Croatian national team Darijo Srna joins us from leafy west London. But his life and that of his football club have been anything but peaceful. Almost a year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk’s sporting director talk to Kate bout escaping Kyiv, why FIFA are destroying the Ukrainian league, and what football can me...

Join Marcus, Luke and Pete for a look back at modern football’s definitive double act and a doomed journey neither of them were suited to in any shape or form. It’s Gary and Phil Neville’s time in the dugout! Gary’s since confessed he had no right to get that ill-fated Valencia gig - managing his brother directly - while Phil only got the Inter Miami job after spying Becks’ text in the lads’ Whats...

Haven’t you heard? Pete is Jules’ new makeup artist for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. Or he’s going to climb through a sewer - one or the other. Jules, Pete, Andy and Luke digest a dramatic turning point in the title race courtesy of Emi Martinez’s unlucky bit really quite deserving bonce. We discuss what Arsenal could have done to the MOTM award in celebration – plus, Nick Pope’s own calamitie...

Marcus, Pete and Andy have stumbled their way to the weekend once more! And what a treat we have waiting for us: the return of Neil Warnock, baby! The lads also discuss a humdinger at Camp Nou, give our official backing for Elon Musk’s takeover of Manchester United, and try to settle on Sam Allardyce or Harry Redknapp for the Leeds United job. Yeah, we’re not convinced either. Tweet us @ FootballR...

Three defeats on the spin have got the vultures circling in Paris. But who’s under threat? Dotun and Andy are joined by Jonathan Johnson to answer that question, as PSG suffer yet another disappointing night in the Champions League and look increasingly dependent on a striker who could leave at any moment. But the club that could pinch him don’t look ready to part with their striker either - we di...

A humdinger at the Emirates between Arsenal and Man City! Marcus, Pete and Andy relive it all. We also recast the title race as Star Wars characters, Pete humbly addresses the Arsenal fans who gave him stick on Monday, and Andy sides with Richard Keys. Just another day at the office. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show@footballramble.com . Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive...

As Arsenal prepare for a decisive title tussle with the blue side of Manchester, we look back at the golden era of the Gunners’ title rivalry with the red side.  And there was plenty of red mist as well: it’s the Ramble’s Guide To Keane vs Vieira! See you out there. Let us know what you thought of today’s episode on Twitter @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show@footballramble.com . S...

Marcus, Luke and David convened straight after full time to discuss a Merseyside derby with a hella lot riding on it. But just remember it’s the anniversary of a Darius Vassell goal for England, yeah? We talk Jordan Pickford’s lack of qualifications to be a pilot, the return of Sean Dyche’s s**t coat, and young Stefan Bajčetić winning the battle in midfield – as well as Mo Salah’s heart, appa...

Pete’s got his Premier League sacking trousers on! Jules, Pete and Luke react to Nathan Jones’ departure, despite his outstanding xG at Luton Town. Disgraceful, really. We explore how Southampton can choose his successor with a new reality TV show where a load of managers get in speedos, obviously. Plus, Jules wages war on Scotland and Pep’s upset because Riyad Mahrez has been doing Man City’s acc...

It’s been a week of crisis for Manchester City after their Premier league charges. Marcus, Jim and Andy ask the question that needs to be asked: is it Kevin Keegan’s fault? From the retired managerial legend to one of our new ‘favourites’, we then check in on Nathan Jones’ latest bizarre press conference. Elsewhere, Penaldo’s stat-padding is more legitimate than ever and we also hear why Patrick V...

The impact of Manchester City’s alleged financial breaches are being felt across Europe. Today, Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to explain how Europe’s top clubs have reacted to the charges against Man City and react to the new European Super League proposals - which Miguel believes could leave UEFA no more influential than the EFL. Elsewhere, we question Antonio Conte’s future - even if Spurs...

Remember the name: Wayne Rooney. Marcus and Luke look back over the international career of one of England’s greatest ever footballers, twenty years on from his bizarre debut as one of eleven substitutes (thank Sven for that one). We track his iconic rise to the very top at Euro 2004 and the erratic mix of injuries, ill-tempered spats and undeniable magic that followed - as well as that time he ca...

Today’s guest is perhaps the voice of football. Peter Drury has commentated on some of the sport’s greatest moments in recent years. Kate sits down with him to ask about his favourite, which player has the most shoutable name, his relationship with Messi, and what - exactly - is the point of a commentator at all. Plus, how a mistake led to Peter’s most legendary commentary one night in Rome… Who w...

What’s that saying? You can take the man out of Burnley, but you can’t take aggressively upsetting the big boys out of Sean Dyche. Told ya! Marcus, Pete, Jim and David get stuck into that and loads of other big results, as Spurs did Arsenal a favour and Liverpool slip further into trouble. On more familiar ground, Pete’s glad that Newcastle dropped some points - some things never change. Tweet us...

Pete’s back! He brings tales of alligator-infested trips to the Flamingo Land Stadium alongside ten other Brackley Town fans. They didn’t know who he was, either. Marcus, Vish and Jim are also here to look ahead to a bumper weekend of Barclays, as Sean Dyche bans sombreros from the Everton training ground and Todd Boehly finds Kenedy down the back of the Stamford Bridge sofa. Plus, can Jesse Marsc...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge provide the European perspective to a record-breaking Premier League transfer window and worry how savvy European operators might soon be squeezed out of the market. Elsewhere, we wonder if Bayern have the patience for their Julian Nagelsmann project and assses Barcelona’s recent defensive performances - both on the pitch and in court. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and...