The Game

Is there something ‘off’ this season? Run away leaders Liverpool lost, but Arsenal had already dropped points, and relegation was sorted out weeks ago. Yet Villa could win the Champions League, Newcastle won a trophy for the first time in seventy years, and Forest could be back in Europe. So, a great season or just a poor one? Gregor thinks the regular fate of promoted sides going straight back do...

If ever a game highlighted the problems of VAR it was the Merseyside derby. There is universal agreement that James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexis Mac Allister was a red card and Liverpool’s winning goal had what ‘appeared’ to be a clear offside. So, what went wrong? Gregor Robertson – fresh from a referee’s course – tries to shed some light. Jose Mourinho is grabbing headlines again… but for a...

With Forest, Villa and Palace all through it’s a varied FA Cup semi final line up…but does the presence of Manchester City have an inevitable fell to it? Alyson Rudd thinks not. Had Bournemouth been more bold they may well have beaten City and Palace and Forest both have the swagger to do so. Can you name a cool right back that has played in the Premier League? Apart from Trent Alexander Arnold th...

All the very latest from an enthralling EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson. With eight games to go the EFL is far from over. In the Championship the top twelve teams still have an eye on the play offs. At the very top which of the top three will falter? At the bottom will Derby’s renaissance last? In League One Wrexham are grindingly resilient, but Wycombe and Richard Kone are going nowhere....

It looks like Trent Alexander Arnold is off to Real Madrid. Where does that leave Liverpool? Does it mean Salah and Van Dijk might now stay? Alexander Arnold’s numbers from right back are unique, can he be replaced and what is his best position? England will have two players playing at the Bernabeu, surely that is a good thing? Speaking of England…Martin Samuel thinks Thomas Tuchel may not have a...

Thomas Tuchel’s first game is out of the way…it wasn’t memorable. Did anyone learn anything from it? Did they lack leadership, is Lewis Skelly a left back for years to come? The team pose the important question; is a lot of international football crap? If it is, how does a manager prepare a team for bigger fixtures once you reach the knockout stages of a tournament? Hamzah watched the under 21’s a...

Is Thomas Tuchel’s England squad a step forward or a step back? The selection of Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker with the omission of younger talent has raised a few eyebrows. He doesn’t have much time to assess his squad either, with only twenty-four training sessions ahead of next years world cup. Who will play this Friday and what can the new manager learn. What of England’s last manager Garet...

Newcastle United won their first domestic trophy in 70 years. what does it mean to the club, the city and its fans? A well-deserved win on the pitch what happens now, is it a one of off or the first of many? And the awkward question, does the Saudi backing in any way tarnish the achievement? For Liverpool it was their worst week of the season, knocked out of the Champions League and losing a cup f...

Is this why VAR was brought in, for a ‘perfectly good penalty’ to be ruled out? It may be in the letter of the law, but what about the spirit? Real Madrid are through, again. Some are sick of it…shouldn’t they be winning in style instead of grinding it out? Villa await Liverpool conquerors PSG, will Emery work his European magic? After the break, the panel review Manchester United’s new stadium pl...

All the latest from the EFL as Gregor and Tom look at the top and bottom of the Championship and the best from Leagues One and Two. It was a very spikey set of fixtures in the Championship as Leeds finally ended their seventeen game unbeaten run. But Sheff Utd and Burnley didn’t fully capitalise despite “throwing everything at it” in their respective draws. The play offs are equally tight with Wes...

Arsenal stumbled – again. Manchester United were average – again. So, which teams do deserve the prime time 4pm Sunday slot? Spurs v Bournemouth put on a good show at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Bournemouth are a swash buckling side, will they be able to hold on to their star players? For Ange Postecoglou, the path to making something of this season is getting narrower, are the players still pl...

Paris Saint Germain were amazing…they just weren’t quite as good as Alisson Becker. Liverpool’s one nil win in the French capital was largely down to the outstanding performance of their goalkeeper – have the panel ever seen better? What did PSG do to test Liverpool more than any other side so far this season?   Arsenal are all but through, but would they rather play Real or Atletico Madrid n...

Shoot outs, red cards and moments of madness – the FA Cup delivers. At old Trafford cup holders Man Utd were dumped out by Fulham and the fans made their feelings clear - the focus of their ire was Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Is his efficiency drive having an adverse effect on the club? On the pitch Amorim persists with a 3:4:3 formation. Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts will get a three game ban for a hor...

The title race is done, so time to recognise the job Arne Slot is doing at Anfield. It is much more than ‘tweaks’ according to Gregor and Martin. With Arsenal dropping more points are they under pressure to get second, and the race for the top four/five is wide open…but who is best placed to capitalise. After the break, as Mo Salah is putting in a phenomenal season, leading both goals and assists...

Join Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson for all the latest news from the Championship, League One and League Two. Is it time to give Frank Lampard credit? His Coventry side are one point off the play offs and he is winning over the sky blues fans. Meanwhile another former international midfielder Michael Carrick is struggling at Middlesborough, what’s gone wrong at the Riverside? As Tom watches a bor...

Arsenal fluffed their lines at home to West Ham. Liverpool capitalised with their first win at Manchester City in ten years. It puts Liverpool eleven points clear. So, is the title race over? Where are Arsenal going wrong and just how good are this Liverpool team?   Elsewhere, with the top and bottom of the table seemingly sorted out, is mid table the place to be – full of ambitious, forward-...

Manchester City were dumped out of the Champions League by a dominant Real Madrid. At what point do we start to feel sorry for Pep and his team? Now, according to Gregor Robertson, Peter Rutzler and James Gheerbrant. They join Tom Clarke to discuss that, Darwin Núñez's future, Rashford's return and a poetic red card for Atalanta's captain (essential viewing). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

Tottenham back to their best? Or did they just play against an EVEN worse team in Manchester United? Tony Cascarino, Hamzah Khalique-Loonat and Gregor Robertson join Tom Clarke to discuss. Plus, Liverpool look leggy, a new young star striker emerges at Arsenal (28 year-old Mikel Merino) and what does expected even mean?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a fitting finale for Goodison Park’s final Merseyside derby. A thrilling roller coaster of a game, four goals, three red cards, VAR and a last minute equaliser. What a night. Were the decisions correct, does the result affect the title race but most importantly can an atmosphere like that be re created in a new ground? Away from the Merseyside could it be over for Pep Guardiola at Manchester...

Great escapes, standout signings and a managerial merry go round in this week's EFL Extra. Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson discuss whether Sunderland have the staying power to make automatic promotion a 4 horse race, they react to a familiar face in the dugout at Carlisle and watch as Walsall keep their title contenders interested. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Was it an FA Cup shock for the ages, bottom of the Championship Plymouth beating European and Premier League leaders Liverpool? Or did Liverpool’s line up detract from the Pilgrim’s achievement? The fans at Home Park didn’t think so! Leyton Orient nearly went one better by beating Man City with a wonder goal, City survived and Pep Guardiola is in love with the FA Cup. Defeat at Villa park piled th...

St James’ Park was a cauldron, Arsenal were cowed, and Newcastle are off to Wembley. Is Newcastle’s forward line the best around at the moment? And did Arsenal get a taste of their own medicine last night, bullied out of their biggest game of the season? Gregor Robertson is joined by Martin Samuel and Tony Cascarino to discuss last night’s game and what it could mean for each club’s season. After...

  Arsenal stayed humble and thrashed Man City. Did the result say more about a dominant Arsenal performance or a fragile aging Manchester City team? Myles Lewis-Skelly shone as a left back which made Gregor Robertson wonder if old fashioned left backs exist anymore?    Spurs put in a defensively solid performance to win at Brentford so, has Ange finally changed his tactics? Liverpoo...

Tom Clarke is joined by Gary Jacob and Martin Hardy to look at all the latest transfer news. Will Ollie Watkins be an Arsenal player in the next 48 hours? Newcastle have sold Miguel Almiron will they have to sell more players to meet PSR rules? Which other clubs are planning last minute deals; Tottenham, West Ham, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Brighton. How are deals done; the inside track on cont...

What do you think of the new Champions League format? It gets mixed reaction in the studio – full of excitement but was there any real jeopardy? Manchester City got through, but the sight of Pep Guardiola clutching at straws was something to behold. Villa were in a thriller with Celtic and one man stood out – Morgan Rogers. A hattrick in the Champions League at 22 with the England manager watching...