Football Ramble

We're back with another Classic Combinations episode! Today, Marcus, Vish and Jim discuss the two meetings between the World Cup's greatest sides: Brazil and Germany. After they both hoovered up trophies and records throughout the 20th century, they finally met in the 2002 final, where Ronaldo's redemption wrapped up a Brazilian dream. Then, in 2014, came the horrifying nightmare - perhaps the mos...

It doesn’t matter if it's your birthday. It doesn’t matter if you’ve won the league days previously. It doesn’t matter if you’ve survived 100 uneventful days at Watford. If you’re a football manager, one day you will most probably be sacked. But how best to go about it?  Marcus, Vish and Jim are here with a truly educational Guide for all you football club owners out there. From not sacking y...

How did we get here? Kate travels back to 2010 and finds out how Qatar’s migrant worker crisis unfolded – and continues to endure to this day.  She speaks to three workers about their experiences in the country, including one man who helped build some of the World’s Cup most prestigious venues. Their stories paint a stark, bleak picture of the abusive conditions suffered by those on which thi...

A crackers weekend of Premier League football can only mean one thing: fire up the managerial merry-go-round! Marcus, Vish, Jim and Lars chew over it all as Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton reign ends and Julen Lopetegui lines up the Wolves gig. Elsewhere, Bournemouth and Jesse Marsch battle to be crowned the league’s chaos merchants and Liverpool register their first away win! Spurs with yet anothe...

Today, Luke sits down for an open conversation about men's mental health with a Premier League icon. Rio Ferdinand once said he was the last person who would speak openly about mental health, but he's since become a huge advocate for the cause. He joins Luke for a chat about how he's changed since retiring from the game, ways men can better approach conversations around their own mental health and...

It's the day we hoped would never come, as Sam Allardyce and Sammy Lee infiltrate Lions Watch! On today's episode, Marcus and Luke pick apart a disappointingly poor take from Big Sam and his little Werther’s Originals unwrapping pal. Elsewhere, Jordan Pickford's performances are giving us hope, and we're joined by the brilliant Alexis Guerreros from US Soccer podcast The Cooligans, who explains wh...

Marcus, Jim, Vish and Andy look ahead to Scotland’s inevitable takeover of the Premier League, as their valiant soldiers fly into tackles with all the reckless abandon of a nation not at the World Cup.  There are some tasty ties to take a look at, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hosts his beloved Arsenal and Harry Kane marches to provincial war with Jurgen Klopp. Plus, moose pitch invasions and...

Andy heads to East London’s blend of hipsters and Hammers to check in with West Ham’s latest continental capers. He’s joined by broadcaster and lifelong fan Nat Coombs to discuss the club’s transition to their new stadium, how European football has renewed the fans’ relationship with the club and what to expect from the Moyes Revolution. Tweet us @ FootballRamble and email us here:  show...

Andy's joined by Nicky Bandini and French football expert Jonathan Johnson for today's continental capers, as we tie up all those Champions League loose ends. Milan continue to impress with Olivier Giroud leading the charge, while a collection of French teams struggle to make any discernible Europa League impact. And, with the World Cup a few weeks away, we look into the dressing room dynamics at...

On today's bonus episode, Marcus, Jim and Andy look back at a classic combo from World Cups past. We return to 2006, where England's hopes of glory hinged on one stamp - and a wink. Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo had established themselves as two of Europe's brightest young stars when they met in the World Cup quarter-finals in 2006. We look back over that tempestuous game that riled up Englis...

Marcus, Vish and Pete jump on the mic straight after Tottenham’s chaotic stumble into the next round, thanks to Charlie Kane revving his motorbike around the streets of Marseille. Elsewhere, two late Liverpool goals saw off Napoli and Atlético followed up on bottling the Champions League by bottling the Europa League. Somehow, we also stumble on England’s 55-man long list for the World Cup which a...

Kate heads to Brentford to talk to one of the Premier League’s most eloquent characters.  Ben Mee has a fascinating story: from starting out at Man City in the midst of the takeover in 2008, to becoming a lynchpin of Sean Dyche’s Burnley, and a spokesperson for parents dealing with miscarriages and childbirth after the premature birth of his and his wife’s daughter. He puts us in the shoes of...

The wheels are officially falling off at Liverpool as Jesse G’s Leeds #playliketheworldiswatching. But what’s going on at Anfield!? Marcus, Jim and Vish are joined by OTC’s finest, David Cartlidge! They discuss two big old upsets as Graham Potter is left seeking Thomas Tuchel’s Indian health retreat, while Mount Vesuvius in Tottenham remains dormant for now. We do hear about one Italian manager wh...

Marcus is joined by two very special guests on today's episode. Andy Brassell is here to give us an update on how our continental Lions are getting on and to reassure us that Jude Bellingham is just as good as we want him to be.  After that, Iwan Roberts gives Marcus an update on England's Group B rivals Wales and explains why England shouldn't write off Gareth Bale just yet. And just when yo...

Marcus, Jim and Andy up the shithousing stakes on today’s jam-packed Preview Show! We’re delighted to see Unai Emery back in the Prem, even if it seems like he’s been taking tactical tips from Joey Barton. His Aston Villa side take on Newcastle - Callum Wilson shithousing aplenty - while Antony reminded us that football should actually be fun ahead of Man Utd's clash with West Ham. Plus, the Graha...

Andy's joined by resident Fulham fanatic and Ramble legend Marcus Speller for another episode of At The Match, the series that takes you to the very heart of football matches across the world! After a lovely stroll down the Thames, the boys settle in at the Putney End for a Fulham masterclass - and incidentally see the end of Steven Gerrard's reign at Villa. Sorry about that, Stevie... Got a quest...

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini rule over some more Europa Mopers after the Champions League claimed its biggest victims so far. Barcelona, Juventus and Atlético Madrid are now officially out, so we assess the states of play at three wobbling giants. Elsewhere, as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting makes his mark at Bayern, we discuss how Europe’s top clubs are looking to frontmen of all shapes and sizes to s...

Here's an episode from our friends at Crowd Network that we think you'll love! Join English rugby legend Joe Marler and Tom Fordyce for a show that's not about rugby at all, really. It's a show about amazing people, who do amazing things for a living.  How do you defuse a bomb? Chris Hunter has been doing it for 25 years, so he's as good a person to ask. He’s worked all over the world, saving...

Pete, Luke and Jim dig behind the headlines for the Champions League’s most important stories, as Chelsea’s worldies disguise an otherwise dull night for both them and Manchester City. Could Ruben Loftus-Cheek eat a foot-long hot dog served by Andy Murray? Will Jack Grealish grow a sufficient crop of vegetables for the impending apocalypse? Why did Juventus vs Benfica end up with jumpers for goalp...

If you think hair is merely something to protect your bonce from sunburn, you'd be wrong. Dead wrong. Especially if you're a brand-building footballer! Marcus, Jim, Pete and Vish are here to talk about our beloved game's beloved barnets and how they've more culturally significant than you might think. From that kid shaving himself a Sven-Göran Eriksson to Ronaldo's weird wedge; from mad mullets to...

Another win for The Miguel Almirón Experience puts Newcastle in fourth. Once again, big thanks to Mike Ashley for his support.  Marcus, Vish, Pete and Jim are here to sing the Toon's praises and look over a cracking weekend of football. Aston Villa’s '12-year-old on FIFA' approach proved hugely effective against Brentford, while Brother Brendy’s got his swagger back and Everton's training gro...

There are few footballers that treat the ball with such intimate respect as Ivan Toney. Marcus and Luke discuss his sparkling form and Tammy Abraham’s struggles to we determine if we're 'Team Toney' or 'Team Tammy' ahead of the World Cup! In the second half, José Mourinho steps up for examination on this week’s Take Thermometer - as do you! Because we’re finally rating your most honest takes on th...

Marcus, Luke, Pete and Andy pick through some post-Craven Cottage chaos, with Villa showing Stevie G the door after a turgid performance. At least they gave him a lift home!  Also eyeing up the managerial buffet are Leeds and Southampton, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s insistent petulance threatens to overshadow his achievements. We also celebrate the return of two footballing icons: fans wearing...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen don their tuxedos for another episode of your one-stop shop for all things European football. Karim Benzema secures yet another bit of glitzy jewellery with a deserved Ballon d’Or win, so we celebrate his amazing year. We also assess Xabi Alonso’s tough start to managerial life and wonder what various German and French welterweights can do to challenge the heavy hitt...

We’re back with a bonus Ramble! Marcus, Luke and Jim are here to do forty minutes on Inter Miami’s playoff loss. Poor Fizzer.  We just about get to some midweek Premier League too, as Adama Traoré reminds us he’s at Wolves and Brighton can’t buy a goal. Tonight, Eddie Howe’s hoping to avoid a dizzy stick headbutt from Duncan Ferguson and Steven Gerrard’s feeling the pressure ahead of a trip t...