The Athletic FC Podcast

This week — The Athletic FC Tactics podcast dive into the world of weather.  How do the elements impact what happens on the pitch?  From the rainy, cold and windy nights at Stoke. To the scorching heat of the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. We’ll discuss it all. Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Conor O'Neill Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is Liverpool vs Manchester City. Mark Carey & Jay Harris join Matt Davies-Adams to preview Sunday’s clash, with City looking to keep the pressure on at the top, as Arsenal have the chance to go 9-points clear when they host Sunderland the day before. Elsewhere around the league, Spurs head Old Trafford, Brighton face Cry...

2026 hasn’t started well for Crystal Palace.  Their captain sold, 12 games without a win and sliding down the table. So, how much danger are Palace in? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Woosnam and Dom Fifield Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal are through to the Carabao Cup final after a 4-2 win on aggregate over Chelsea. So how significant would a first trophy in six years be for Mikel Arteta and his side? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: James McNicholas, JPB Executive Producers: Adey Moorhead, Guy Clarke Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The January transfer window has been relatively quiet by Premier League standards - with a combined spend of £397m between all 20 clubs. But does that mean we’re in for a big summer in both the transfer and managerial markets? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: David Ornstein, Tim Spiers, Jay Harris Executive Producers: Adey Moorhead, Guy Clarke Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburton Host...

Chelsea turned half-time boos to into full-time cheers, coming from behind to beat West Ham 3-2 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Liam Rosenior said post-match he hopes his appointment as Chelsea boss will be ‘the best decision' the club has made. With six wins from seven, could he be right? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey and Adam Crafton Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Guy Clar...

Exotic clauses, tapping up and how much agents really get paid. Your questions answered is the transfer special that you control. Adam Leventhal heads to Malaga and beyond to pose your enquiries to those operating in the transfer market right now. Contributions and insight comes from 15 representatives from multiple Premier League, European and global clubs — including takes from the U.S., Brazil,...

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City. Stu James & Tim Spiers join Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Sunday’s clash before turning their attention to the big fixtures elsewhere including Leeds vs Arsenal and Liverpool vs Newcastle. Plus, a relegation fight is well and truly on as West Ham travel to Chelsea and Notting...

The Champions League league phase is over - after a pulsating final night. Five of the top eight sides are Premier League teams. But what else did we learn from the league phase? We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26 . Three lucky entries will win $/£100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. So whether you’re a long-time listener...

Last summer was the year of the big-money strikers - from Isak to Gyokeres to Sesko to Woltemade and more! So is it fair to say they’ve struggled to live up to expectations? And if so... why? We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26 . Three lucky entries will win $/£100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. So whether you’re a long-...

Liverpool spent £450m last summer yet the squad still needs major surgery, after their unconvincing 13-game unbeaten run was ended at Bournemouth on Saturday. So how did they get their recruitment so wrong and can Arne Slot turn their fortunes around? We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to theathletic.com/survey26 . Three lucky entries will win $/...

Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League is now down to four points, after losing 3-2 at home to Manchester United. Mikel Arteta's side took a first half lead before going on to lose in front of their home fans for the first time this season. So, is the pressure getting to Arsenal? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Art De Roche and Adam Crafton Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Guy Clar...

This week, The Athletic FC Tactics podcast dive into the world of home and away - discussing the tactical differences between performing in front of your own fans, and taking to the road. What are the key elements to playing on home turf, and how does it impact what happens on the pitch? Host: Michael Bailey With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme Producer: Mike Stavrou We’re asking you to f...

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is the Arsenal vs Manchester United. Both sides will be going into this one full of confidence, Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford got off to the perfect start beating Manchester City, while Arsenal made it 7 wins from 7 games in the Champions League midweek, overpowering Inter at San Siro. Stu James & Art de Roché...

Marcus Rashford has been enjoying his football in Spain. Scoring goals and creating goals - as he did in Champions League on Wednesday night. So will Rashford be able to stay at Barcelona permanently? We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to  theathletic.com/survey26 . Three lucky entries will win $/£100 worth of Amazon vouchers too. So whether...

On Saturday Real Madrid players and president Florentino Perez were booed by the fans. Last night they put on a show in the Champions League that seemed to turn the stadium in their favour - but is Perez still under fire? We’re asking you to fill out a quick survey about you and your podcast habits by going to  theathletic.com/survey26 . Three lucky entries will win $/£100 worth of Amazon vou...

We’re already halfway through the January transfer window. So what moves should we be looking out for in the final weeks of the window? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: David Ornstein, Jack Pitt-Brooke Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead, Guy Clarke Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Michael Carrick era at Old Trafford started with a win. Carrick himself labelling it “a dream start” after beating Manchester City 2-0 in the Manchester derby. So, are Manchester United back already?! Plus we hear what difference Marc Guehi's signing could have for Man City as well as reflecting on an incredible night in Rabat as Senegal beat Morocco in an drama-filled AFCON Final. Host: Ayo A...

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where this week our main focus is the Manchester derby. Michael Carrick will take charge of his first game back at Manchester United as interim manager while the Manchester City will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League after three straight draws. Carl Anka and Alex Barker join Matt Davies-Adams to look ahead to Saturday's clash before t...

The AFCON 2025 final line-up is set: 2021 winners Senegal v hosts Morocco But what does defeat in the last four mean for both Nigeria and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jay Harris and Simon Hughes Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Guy Clarke and Paul Iliffe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tottenham are out of both domestic cups and are struggling in the league. So how much longer does Thomas Frank have to turn the ship around? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: Danny Kelly & Jack Pitt-Brooke Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, David Ornstein told us “the managerial market is about to explode”. Cue Real Madrid sacking Xabi Alonso. So what next for him and Madrid? And what reverberations will Alonso's sacking have on the managerial market as a whole? Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: David Ornstein, James Horncastle, Dermot Corrigan Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producers: Mike Stavrou, Nick Thomson, Liam Warburt...

Last season Crystal Palace were the kings of the cup beating Man City at Wembley. On Saturday they suffered the biggest of all giant killings losing to sixth tier Macclesfield. Following that defeat and with uncertainty over manager Oliver Glasner and captain Marc Guehi, is Palace's season at risk of being derailed? Aside from Palace, we're also joined by Macclesfield FC owner Rob Smethurst after...

On this week’s episode of The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast, the panel discuss the roles and responsibilities of caretaker and interim managers. Manchester United have been busy this week, with Ruben Amorim gone. So how do they go about replacing him — both in the short, and long term? And how does any club figure out its managerial appointments, from caretaker and interim bosses to those all-i...

After five league wins in a row Arsenal missed the chance to go 8 points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa after drawing 0-0 with Liverpool at the Emirates on Thursday night. Cerys Jones, Reuben Pinder and Andy Jones join Matt Davies-Adams to reflect on the match, and talk the best and worst of the midweek Premier League action including Thomas Frank's cupset, a thriller at St James' Park,...