Football Ramble

What a weekend! Liverpool and Crystal Palace give us another classic, Wolves and Leicester serve up a ding dong and Arsenal keep a clean sheet. Away from the Premier League Spygate rolls on and we learn of the intriguing Whyteleafe Curse. If that’s not enough there’s Frank Lampard getting the band back together at Derby County, free range footballers, Mike Dean upping the stakes, a fascinating new...

We knew that it was only a matter of time before Marcelo Bielsa brought us something interesting and boy has he delivered. We also bring you the intriguing matter of Arsenal vs Chelsea, with a mention of a Sven that isn’t Goran-Eriksson, Abdoulaye Doucoure’s unsubtle negotiating tactics, and the potential return of one Gary Medel. On top of all this gas we’ve got a welcome reference to Wayne’s Wor...

Conspiracies, spies, David Gandy… this show has it all. We look back over David de Gea’s magnificent performance in goal for Man United, marvel at one of (one of) the silliest things Richard Keys has ever said and enjoy Shane Long ending his goal drought as Ralph Hasenhüttl continues to show that he’s The Governor at Southampton.  Elsewhere there are buckets of pace, hot dog accidents an...

Man City gubbing Burton Albion; respectful or not? We debate this hot topic because we’re not afraid of tackling the big issues. While we’re at it we give Mousa Dembele a speculative MOT and discuss another one of your frankly mad suggestions to change the FA Cup.  As well as this we worry about the atmosphere at Fulham fans’ relaxation days, reflect on the nature of Andy Carroll and rub our...

What a wonderful weekend of FA Cup action, with Premier League teams slouching to defeat across the land. We look back on Newport’s heroics, a furious Claudio Ranieri, a raging Neil Warnock and some most unFulhamish behaviour in the form of some projectile gloves. There’s also some suggested rule changes from you, our dear listeners, an update on the Cardiff banner man, sartorial confusion courtes...

It’s the FA Cup Third Round! One of our favourite weekends of the season, featuring potential Mellon slices for Spurs, players with normal jobs being patronised and, surely, some FA Cup magic from Neil Warlock himself.  We also look back at a fine example of the homemade banner, learn of Man United’s sunshine break and hear some pleasing names from yesteryear, like John O’Shea and Rod Wallace...

At 28 years old, Neil Etheridge has established himself as an important part of Neil Warnock’s Cardiff side, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing. After all, the current Cardiff City and Philippines goalkeeper’s story is not one that we’ve come to expect from a Premier League player. Speaking to Marcus in this latest episode of Ramble Meets..., Neil talks about being released from Chelsea’s aca...

Happy New Year! What a way to close out the year as Liverpool look the real deal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Pogba bring the fun back to Old Trafford, and Neil Warlock gets three points and a big grin.  We also hear about Pete’s new year plans, some not unreasonably pedantic correspondence and our highlights of 2018. Have a good one! Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and...

We’re back, full of Christmas cheer, mountains of food and opinions on the lashings upon lashings of festive football that have happened since we last recorded a show.  Can Jurgen Klopp be measured enough to sustain a title challenge? Can Spurs keep up their form and push for the title? Does Pep Guardiola develop unsightly blemishes if Man City drop points? All this and more, inside! We also...

It’s chriiiiiiiiistmas! What better way to celebrate than to celebrate the celebration itself! Be it the pure unbridled joy of someone who can’t handle what’s happening, to a well executed, choreographed routine, there’s a lot to enjoy throughout this wonderful game, and enjoy it we do.  Thanks for lending us your ears throughout 2018 and have a merry Christmas! This show is sponsored by bet3...

Ah, the club stalwart. From one club men to might-as-well-be-one-club-men, football is all the better for having those who dedicate their best years to the clubs they adore. We’ve got your Class of ’92, your Italian legends, your mercurial Southampton legend and so much more. We’re podcast stalwarts ourselves, after all, so come on in.  This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Ramble...

Football isn’t a high scoring game, except when it is, on those brilliant occasions when one team give another an absolute pasting, a panelling… a hammering.  We look back over some of the most notable shellackings we’ve witnessed as football fans, from big teams dishing it out to each other, from the little guys bringing down a giant, we love it all. Even Heskey scored.  This show is sp...

Football wouldn’t be the same without some of the more robust players we’ve seen over the years. From Graeme Souness’ full blooded approach to the game, to the modern player’s evolution into a discreet saboteur, we’re on top of it all. Features high tackles, red mist and many chinnings.  This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: s...

Jose Mourinho, sacked after things have gone awry in his third season in charge. Who could possibly have seen such a seismic event coming? It’s such a monumental occurrence that even Jim’s having a sing.  Away from Ole Trafford we (Pete) ask(s) “Do wolves live in burrows?” as we assess the chances of Wolverhampton’s finest before they welcome Liverpool into their den, look at Spurs’ potential...

The world of football gaming is a massive one and we’ve been reminiscing about some of our favourites from the past and the present.  Is Pete in his element? Oh yes. Could you punch people on early versions of FIFA? Sort of. Was Kevin Keegan mugged off in the German version of his own game? Of course he was.  This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to fi...

Need we say more? One of the most enjoyable occurrences in football. So many things have to go awry for this to happen and we’re here to celebrate the mad occasions when they have.  Sometimes it’s a calamitous nightmare, sometimes it leads to unexpected heroics and we’re here to gush about the lot.  This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and...

You probably don’t enjoy this one if your team is involved in one, unless you escape it, but what a consistently entertaining thing the relegation battle is.  From great escapes by Portsmouth, West Brom and Leicester, we look back over some of the most memorable relegation battles we’ve witnessed, and have a little look at how they work in foreign climes.  This show is sponsored by bet36...

It’s not getting any better for Man United, is it? After Liverpool beat them handily at Anfield we yet again wonder what the hell is going on there, ponder how Arsenal will respond to their first defeat in ages, and sit in shock as Marcus says some very rude things about Everton.  Elsewhere we ponder the magical qualities of good old Neil Warnock, have a surprising update regarding the Bart-W...

Pele flogging viagra, Lionel Messi selling Japanese face cream, Pat Jennings as an oil filter… the worlds of football and advertising often combine in spectacular fashion and we’re here to look at some of our favourites.  Kevin Keegan and Henry Cooper in the shower, Emmanuel Adebayor selling something called Power Horse, Wayne Rooney acting. There’s so much to enjoy. Merry Pringles.   Th...

Does a football match ever matter more than when it’s against your biggest rivals? Around the world passions flare and it leads us to some of the most enjoyable, intense and frankly mad spectacles that the game ever serves up.  There’s your Boca and your River, your hotly contested yet geographically confusing battles, your small town rivalries. We’ve got the lot. Join in. This show is sponso...

Ah, footballers and the internet, what an endlessly brilliant combination. We celebrate the more bizarre, early examples of the form - Andy Carroll on Bebo, for example - while basking in the glory of some more recent accidental gems, like Phil Neville’s early morning beach excursions. It’s here to stay and it seems like it’s here to pump out and endless supply of Patrice Evra licking chickens, fo...

We all love a football-based spat, be it between teammates, rival managers, or a Knight of the Realm and a slice of pizza. It may be neither big nor clever, but let’s be honest it’s brilliant and we love it.  From classic Dutch bust ups, long running feuds between managers, or even between managers and institutions, to those momentary explosions of emotion that live on forever, we have a good...

The giants of Manchester and Merseyside meet this weekend. Can Everton get something at Man City? Will Jose Mourinho try to destroy the spectacle at Anfield? We have no idea because none of it has happened yet, but we’re going to have a damn good chat about it all the same.  In things that have already happened there were some excellent games in the Champions League, we learn of a football bu...

The 12 Rambles of Christmas are back! This year we’re bringing you the 12 things we love most about football, starting with… The Maverick.  We love those players who think differently, play differently and are… differently. From the big names who’ve changed the fabric of football itself, to the stars that shone brightly but briefly, to Adel Taarabt. We enthuse about those characters that make...

Well, aren’t Chelsea an enigma? No sooner than we thought their flush might be busted they go and beat Man City, allowing a Mo Salah-inspired Liverpool to stay on top. We have a title race! Glancing around the rest of the sport we meet a piece of the puzzle we didn’t know Bournemouth were missing, learn of Karren Brady’s mind games and how eeeeeeeasy things are for Portsmouth right now.  Also...