Football Ramble

Drama, intrigue, Stephane Guivarc’h; the 1998 World Cup final had it all, with the mystery surrounding Ronaldo’s omission and subsequent reinstatement to the team the defining factor. He wasn’t himself and it would prove to be a worrying low point for the world’s best striker, but don’t worry, he wouldn’t stay down for too long… Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us her...

We’re back to reflect on what is sure to become known as The Phil Jones final after Chelsea ran out winners against Man United in the FA Cup. It wasn’t the best day for Jose Mourinho. You lose a cup final and you’re labelled a prat… Alongside this is Marcus rapping, the trial of Petey D, and Quantum Leap’s Sam Beckett wreaking havoc throughout football yet again. Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social...

How we love Roberto Baggio. He was one of the biggest stars on the planet going into USA ’94, and so a memorable tournament was expected. But when looking back at his missed penalty in the final, we remember that was far more to his tournament than that…  Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: show@thefootballramble.com ***Please take the time to rate and revi...

England only need a standard sized jet after Gareth Southgate played it safe and named just 23 players in his World Cup squad but it’s still enough to get us excited for the summer, as are Jason Derulo, the Brazil squad and Sweden. They’ve been stocking up on Marcuses, you see.  Over at Wembley Man United and Chelsea prepare for a surprise FA Cup final visit from Prince William, while Sam All...

For the first of our HISTORY specials we take a look back at the opening game of Italia ’90, when an unheralded and unknown Cameroon shocked the world by beating the World Cup holders, the Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina… Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: show@thefootballramble.com ***Please take the time to rate and review us on iTunes or wherever you get y...

Another Premier League season comes to an end! We learn that Pep Guardiola can cut it in England, learn of Alan Shearer’s unorthodox stress relief methods and say our temporary goodbyes to Arsene Wenger, Michael Carrick and probably Antonio Conte. Elsewhere, absolute banter-volcano Marcus Speller makes a final push for Jonjo Shelvey to be on that plane, Jose Mourinho consolidates his power and Pet...

Huddersfield and Southampton have ruined our hopes for a dramatic final day relegation scrap but there’s plenty of fun to be had as the Saints finally get the credit they deserve and Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola dish out awards with mixed results, to the chagrin of a certain John Toshack.  Elsewhere, Big Weng is linked with a surprising move, Stevie Gers gets ready to halt Celtic’s charge...

We can confirm that BRIGHTON ARE SAFE! David “The Ferryman” Moyes has also turned West Ham’s season around and rowed it back to shore, and our beloved Roy Hodgson has kept Palace up but elsewhere the relegation scrapes continue.  We also learn about Pete’s adventures in Chinatown, have an innovative new idea for how to distribute cards, and get a timely reminder that a certain Sepp Blatter is...

As expected, a certain young man won big at Man United’s end of season awards (forever more known as The Scotties), Liverpool shun game management in favour of an absolute thrill ride and we try to keep some narrative going by tipping absolutely everyone for relegation.  Elsewhere there’s very serious analysis about expected take-ons, Mardy Andy Carroll gets the hump and the only thing that t...

Pete returns from his American adventure, unable to work the production buttons, and to find that despite recent events Arsenal’s scriptwriters are as lazy as ever, Mark Hughes is earning his handshakes and it could well be the End of Days for some British managers.  Luckily Mitro has come good for him and if that’s not enough there’s a weird Portsmouth diversion, Marcus goes bananas in pyjam...

Liverpool dazzled us all in the Champions League but what will happen when their unstoppable force meets the immovable object of Paul Lambert? We can but wait and see.  While we wait we chat more about Big Weng’s plans for the future, are surprised by a musical theatre revelation and hear from our beloved-yet-worst listener. There’s some stuff about Kevin Keegan though so it’s all good. ...

The day we thought would never arrive is finally here, as Arsene Wenger announces that he’s leaving Arsenal and we pay our respects through tears, in one case at least. Merci, Big Weng. Over at Wembley Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte schedule a meeting in the Narrative Cup final, there’s fun throughout The Championship, unless you support Sunderland, a rival to England’s big plane emerges and we g...

We focus our dustbin hearts on perceptions of Paul Pogba, Arsenal’s potential summer of chaos and this weekend’s forthcoming Mike Dean Festival, bizarrely billed as Stoke vs Burnley.  As well as all that we cast our minds back to Louis Van Gaal’s FA Cup clipboard, there’s mistaken identity in Ireland and Marcus ruins the World Cup.  This show is sponsored by bet365 Search ‘Football Rambl...

What a sparkling end to a vintage title race! We look back over West Brom winning the title at Old Trafford (for Man City), Southampton’s latest indignity and Thierry Henry’s sparkling beard oil.  Elsewhere there’s Mike Dean at the World Cup, a glittering future for Brendy Rodgers and, would you believe it, talk of Jonjo Shelvey getting an England call up. It just won’t go away.  Search...

We delight in a seismic week of football where Gigi Buffon lets his emotions get the better of him, agent of chaos Sergio Ramos excels himself and Pep Guardiola resorts to using doubles in a bid to save Man City’s season. Alongside this there’s a surprising change of direction from Rafa Benitez, an absolutely textbook impression of Arsene Wenger and liberal use of the word ‘chubbies’. This show is...

We’re back from Naples and though pieces of us will remain there forever we’ve raced into the studio to bring you our wares. There are mentions for Big Sam’s pyjamas, Hatem Ben Arfa’s year in the cupboard and, of course, dogs. As if that isn’t enough there’s positivity for Newcastle, Southampton (sort of, by which we mean ‘negativity’) and once again we simply cannot ignore good old Neil Warnock....

Liverpool get us all giddy after their scintillating display against a rattled Man City, Mick McCarthy weighs up whether he can be bothered with the West Brom job and there’s something about Aleksandar Mitrovic stealing time.  As well as all this Marcus gets understandably irked by a pitch for Ramble Airlines, Charlie Adam throws a strop and Hatem Ben Arfa has a pizza-based dilemma. This show...

Happy Easter you lot! We drag ourselves to the studio even on a Bank Holiday to bring you news of Alan Pardew’s departure from West Brom, David Wagner’s relaxed attitude towards the relegation battle and Man City preparing their championship champagne.  Elsewhere there’s some ‘instinctual’ reactions from Marko Arnautovic, some unsurprising contractual stipulations from Ronaldinho and, of cour...

England’s 1-1 draw was so promising that known misog Pete Donaldson is getting excited, even if he does also treble down on a pre-existing gripe. To temper this excitement Aleksandar Mitrovic remains aflame, Carlos Tevez continues his exemplary professionalism and Arsene Wenger pipes up about some new isms.  On top of this we welcome the Premier League back into the fold, we hear from some tr...

England took on the Netherlands and gave us reasons to make noises, get excited about the World Cup and talk about Bas Dost, three things that are frankly long overdue. Discover our joy as we use phrases like “distribution”, “versatile” and “got a big Lampard.” Meanwhile, in the rest of the sport, Scotland got back underway with Big Eckos of the past and dispatches from the Hamburger queue, Cristi...

100 years ago this weekend, Walter Tull was killed in action in the First World War. While not a name that immediately springs to mind when we think of the people that influenced our game the most over the years, Tull was a pioneer. We first profiled him back in November 2009, and with increasing calls for him to be recognised posthumously for his services both to football and the military, we tho...

Richard E Grant, Starbucks, “adult“ Froobs… it’s international week so things get weird quickly! We discuss England’s goalkeeping situation and nutrition plans, there's a birthday wished for a Ramble (Speller) favourite and musings on Spain’s twin defensive totem poles.  On top of all that we learn of Ronaldinho’s political misunderstandings, Gareth Bale breaks records and we hear your sugges...

Sadly the FA Cup delivered no cupsets but we still enjoyed it, certainly more than Luke Shaw will have after another dressing down from Jose Mourinho, Mo Salah excites us into thinking he may be the greatest human in history and Newcastle get in a glorious bonus dig at Sunderland.  On top of this the England squad musters enthusiasm, in a way, Neil Warnock spies a conspiracy, and Romario abso...

Man United are out of Europe but according to Jose Mourinho it’s happened before and it’ll happen again so it’s fine, Lionel Messi gives Chelsea the run around in Spain and down the road Leicester watch on with interest ahead of their FA Cup quarter final.  Alongside this we learn about the logistical requirements of Marcus’ plan for England’s massive World Cup squad, he also predicts a round...

Another chaotic week at West Ham as they took on both Burnley and themselves, Man United did some very interesting things to Jurgen Klopp’s face and Marcus continues to fill the England plane to the point where aviation laws are surely being recklessly disregarded.  On top of that there’s a long time mystery solved for Steve Cotterill, some dear listeners receive a warm welcome to Villa Park...