The Game

Are Leicester or West Brom really heading to League One? It doesn't look good for at least one of the midlands giants who are stuck in a battle for survival at the bottom of the Championship. At the top it is four on the spin for Coventry and their Christmas wobble seems a long time ago. They look well set for promotion to the top flight. Ipswich are chasing Middlesborough in second...is the...

It's as you were at the top of the table as City and Arsenal both win.  Are Arsenal too reliant on set pieces or do fans and team alike not care so long as they get over the line? Across north London Spurs have a new boss, but instead of a bounce man do they have an 'arsonist?' Who is in contention for player of the season? What does Gtregor make of proposed rule changes...? Did VAR rob Burnl...

Giants Real Madrid and PSG just managed to qualify in the Champions League last 16 but who is the best we've seen in the competition so far? Bode Glimt may not win it, but what a team - a town of 54,000, a wage bill a fraction the size of most Premier League teams and a playing style which is hugely adaptable. Domestically, Man Utd are on a charge, led by one of their unsung summer signi...

If there were any questions ahead of the North London derby Arsenal answered them, emphatically.  Spurs by contrast looked like relegation candidates. could they really go down? The panel think with West Ham, Forest, Leeds and even Wolves looking like more cohesive teams Spurs are in searious trouble. Is Tudor the man to save them? Where does Viktor Gyokeres rank alongside the other big summe...

"Arsenal are blowing it? Their best chance of a title in over twenty years and they are looking nervy, again." Or... "Winning a title isn't easy! this season isn't like those of recent years you won't need 98 pts." Are either true? If they are to hold it together, what does it take psychologically to get over the line in a title race? Wolves manager Rob Edwards has the fans on side and is seeing e...

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with the latest from the English Football League. Is the Championship the best league in England, Gregor Robertson thinks so.  Coventry's win over rivals Middlesbrough sends them top again but six points separate 6th to 16th. Who is best placed to come from the pack? At the bottom some huge clubs look in severe danger of relegation in West Brom and Leicester. L...

Spurs and Forest have rolled the dice again...but will Igor Tudor or Vítor Pereira have the desired effect?  Is either appointment on merit, or a reflect of clubs who don't know who they really want? Will the instability mean a player exodus at either club come the summer?  Which club should be more worried, Forest or Spurs? Was VAR so bad after all...well yes says Gregor rober...

Spurs won the sack race! They got rid of Thomas Frank 24 hours before Nottingham Forest said goodbye to Sean Dyche. Why did they go, was it the right call and who could be next? In contrast England manager Thomas Tuchel has signed an extension to his contract, what has he done to earn it and why now? On the pitch do the managerial change give West Ham a better chance of staying up?and the fight fo...

It's all about VAR again, and Gregor is sick of it. But Tom Allnutt thinks the officials at Anfield got it right - so, time to do away with it or accept nothing is perfect? On the pitch City's fighting win keeps them in the title race, but Arsenal don't look they're feeling any pressure. Man Utd won again, is it the biggest mid season turn around ever? Does that mean Mainoo makes it to the World C...

Who has the power in modern football - clubs or players? In the summer Alexander Isak was called morally bankrupt, where would he be now had he not forced through his move? As the transfer window closed Dwight McNeil was left stranded as Crystal Palace chose not to pursue his transfer and Harvey Elliot remains at Villa with a £35 million price tag which no one wants to pay - both powerless to...

It is not a blip anymore, Coventry are now in full wobble, Middlesborough have joined them at the top but there are other, unfancied teams waiting in the wings - who if any can come from the pack - Millwall, Hull, Wrexham or Derby? Hull have done some impressive transfer business with with so many players over performing their XG is it sustainable? At the bottom, is there any light at the end of t...

It was a weekend of two halves - Chelsea, Spurs and Fulham all came back from two goals down at half time...only Fulham didn't hang on. As Man City wobbled they looked to have lost their swagger - Gregor Robertson thinks it is clear why. Chelsea came back to win, but why did they make so many changes in the first place?  There was plenty of moaning about VAR but if it was taken away would fan...

Tony Cascarino was a team mate of Roy Keane, he's been to see the film about Keane and his Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, he gives his version of their relationship. Is heading in football about to be banned? Following recent headlines around ex players suffering from dementia, what are the risks that footballers take? Tony Cascarino - known for his heading ability is worried at the pr...

Manchester United make it two statement wins under Michael Carrick — but are they really back? Arsenal’s lead at the top is down to four points after a 3–2 defeat at the Emirates… so why were fans booing a team still top of the table? Elsewhere, Liverpool’s unbeaten run ends in chaos at Bournemouth, Chelsea and the chasing pack keep the race for Europe wide open, and pressure grows on Tottenham an...

Nothing stays the same for long in the Championship. Coventry were having a wobble but two wins a signing some injury returns have put that to bed.  Likewise, Middlesborough have got back to winning ways after a Christmas stumble. Hull are on fire and Norwich have turned things around at the bottom. West Brom though are in freefall.   Five points separate sixth and fourteenth…so who will...

  Artificial pitch and injuries aside Man City lost to Bode Glimt, a team who haven’t won in the Champions League all season. After the match Pep Guardiola said, ‘everything was wrong.’ Could this be his final season in charge? Is he tired or ready for a rebuild? Chelsea won, but Cole Palmer was missing  again…is his England place no in doubt? Elsewhere another memorable goal for Dominic...

Michael Carrick brought back a touch of the glory days for Manchester United fans on Saturday. his team were on the front foot as they beat a lack lustre Manchester City. Was it a one off or is he finally the man to bring back some cheer to Old Trafford? With City losing it was time for other to capitalise. no one did. Arsenal eeked out an extra point, but the top four look a little tame. Is it a...

It was VAR and goalkeeping errors that made the headlines across the two League Cup semi-finals. Chelsea’s Robert Sanchez gifted two goals to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge and at St James Park a bizarre decision from VAR denied Man City a goal. New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior picked the goalkeeper but he didn’t pick Palmer, Gusto or James seemingly at the prompting of his medical department. Is thi...

Upsets, late drama, near misses and lots of goals. The FA Cup third round had it all . It may have lost some of its shine in recent years but at the weekend the FA Cup showed why it is still the greatest cup competition in the world. Macclesfield pulled off what was on paper the biggest shock in the history of the competition…but it didn’t look like that on the pitch. There was misery at Spurs and...

“If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the answer, what the hell is the question!?” Man Utd look like going back to the future, is that the right answer for one of the biggest clubs in the world? Is the problem in the mangers seat, or is it the executives at the club? Elsewhere coffee cups are the least of Thomas Franks problems at Spurs, West Ham are doomed and with injuries to Man City defenders and Villa...

Coventry did not have a good Christmas – is it a slip or the rot setting in? Ipswich and Watford by contrast had a bumper Christmas. With the squad at their disposal Ipswich look ominous and despite a slow start Wrexham are now only a point below the play offs in ninth. In League One, much to Tom’s delight it's hard to look past Lincoln City who beat Cardiff, Stockport, Huddersfield and Peterborou...

Never a club to be upstaged Manchester United sack their manager Ruben Amorim just four days after Chelsea sacked their manager Enzo Maresca. Are both decisions a reflection of failing managers or failing hierarchy’s? Who is in line for both jobs at two of the biggest clubs in England? And whoever gets them, who will have the tougher job – at Chelsea or Manchester United? After the break Arsenal l...

It's the new year, Enzo Maresca is out, but what does the future hold for both the manager and the club? And is Liam Rosenoir the right choice to replace Maresca?  On the latest episode of The Game, the team also discuss Arsenal's statement win against Aston Villa, Liverpool's draw with Leeds and another big performance from Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.  And finally with the incre...

Reaction to all the Christmas fixtures as Villa keep winning, Arsenal look nervous and City look ominous. If Villa win at Arsenal can they go all the way? Are Liverpool's signings starting to click and hats of to Keith Andrews and Regis Le Bris. Elsewhere, Palace look knackered, Ruben Amorim finally plays a back four, West Ham need to buy a defender or they are down and will Iraola change his...

It’s Christmas but the EFL doesn’t stop and neither do Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson – here with a bonus Christmas edition of EFL Extra. They’re doing their end of year awards – teams, players and managers of the year for each of the divisions…and many more. If you need a break from the festivities, go for a walk or find a quiet corner and join Tom and Gregor for all the latest from the EFL. Fro...