The Optus Football Podcast

Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges, Melanie McLaughlin and David Squires join David Weiner off the back of the intriguing Liverpool v Bayern Munich and Lyon v Barcelona UEFA Champions League encounters. Schwarzer joins the GegenPod after his night out at Anfield and explains the unusual atmosphere and sums up a delicately poised tie. He also looks at Liverpool's prospects and the mounting pressure an...

Mark Schwarzer, Michael Bridges, Thomas Sorensen and Mel McLaughlin join David Weiner for a big edition of the GegenPod. Schwarzer, who was at Old Trafford for Manchester United v Paris Saint-Germain, joined us on the line from Manchester for a full review of the Champions League clash, while the Socceroos legend, and McLaughlin, weigh in on the ongoing Alen Stajcic saga that has engulfed the loca...

Former Socceroo Luke Wilkshire; Scotland international, Premier League and Scottish Premier League midfielder Gavin Rae and Ashley Westwood, a former Manchester United graduate with over 400 appearances in English league football, join David Weiner for another episode of Optus Sport's GegenPod. After Liverpool's draw with West Ham, the panel look at the latest twist and turns in the Premier League...

Join Richard Bayliss, David Weiner and Michelle Escobar for a thorough review of Deadline Day and the January Transfer Window. We run through all the headlines from the final 24 hours of the window - the winners, the losers and everything in between from the weird and wonderful world of transfer speculation. The Optus Sport football panel grade the work of the Premier League's top six, pick some o...

Top four or a Cup win? At the GegenPod, we're aiming for both, as former Socceroos Paul Okon and Luke Wilkshire join David Weiner and Richard Bayliss to chat about all the big football talking points, including Mauricio Pochettino's comments that 'trophies are good for the ego' but finishing in the top four is more important. The crew review Wednesday's Premier League action, headlined by Rafa Ben...

Paul Okon, Luke Wilkshire and Richard Bayliss join David Weiner to dissect a tumultuous week in Australian football dominated by the sacking of Matildas boss Alen Stajcic five months from the World Cup, and the Socceroos' penalty shootout escape in the Asian Cup to reach the quarter finals. But we kick-off with a feel-good story, and hear from Nate Patrick, whose Twitter thread went viral across t...

Dietmar Hamann, Michael Bridges and Max Rushden join David Weiner in a bumper edition of The GegenPod. Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Hamann gives his take on the thrilling Premier League title race between those two clubs, as the crew weigh in on David Wagner's departure from Huddersfield; Marcelo Bielsa-Frank Lampard and Spy-Gate after Leeds v Derby; Neil Warnock's Brexit tirade...

Michael Bridges, Luke Wilkshire and Shane Smeltz join Richard Bayliss to chat the week's happenings in the football world. The return of the Premier League is headlined by the "Pochettin-off" between Spurs and United at Wembley and there's plenty to dissect from a dramatic week of cup football. There are big money moves, the usual January madness, a footballing legend holidaying with pigs and the...

Michael Bridges, Luke Wilkshire and Alen Stajcic join David Weiner after Friday's Premier League cracker between Manchester City and Liverpool. The panel dissect how Pep Guardiola's side prevailed 2-1, discuss the match's big talking points and ask: what does this mean for Jurgen Klopp's side and the title race? The blockbuster clash headlines this week's episode, but the crew also get stuck into...

Liverpool go six points clear of Manchester City, as Spurs sit second: Michael Bridges, David Squires and Kate Cohen join David Weiner to wrap up a dramatic week in the world of football as the festive fixtures pile up thick and fast. As questions get asked of Pep Guardiola's side's credentials, and whether Liverpool have the ability to retain their lead, Bridgey also recalls the time he topped th...

Jose Mourinho, sacked. The Guardian's David Squires, Local FC's Chad Gibson and 2008 FA Cup finalist Gavin Rae join David Weiner for an in-depth reaction to the overnight breaking news out of Manchester United. Why now, who next, what is actually wrong with Manchester United and how will the football world remember Jose Mourinho's time in the Premier League? There's lots more to talk about too, in...

Thomas Sorensen and Michael Bridges join David Weiner and Richard Bayliss for episode four of The GegenPod. Discussion kicks off with the UEFA Champions League: Liverpool's epic climax with Napoli, Tottenham's miracle qualification and early tips for the title, and teams to fear. Bridgey and Thomas bring with them a stack of stories from their days in the game, including their experiences at Anfie...

Matildas special: A GegenPod extra, thanks to Alen Stajcic previewing the Women's World Cup draw, outlining the plans for his trip to Paris and the next six months, how he will manage expectations and challenges, runs through the squad's depth and what he has learnt from previous international tournament campaigns, while Matildas scout Kate Cohen explains what she's learnt since trading a role in...

Alen Stajcic joins David Weiner, David Squires and Kate Cohen for the third episode of The GegenPod, before the Matildas boss leaves for Paris for the Womens World Cup draw. On the menu this week, is: Premier League mid-week review: How Unai Emery seems to be succeeding at Arsenal after Arsene Wenger where Manchester United failed after Sir Alex Ferguson. Liverpool’s development and how long can t...

After the drama of the Copa Libertadores final, former Premier League striker Michael Bridges reveals what it is like to be on a bus under attack from over zealous fans from his playing days. He joins David Weiner, Mel McLaughlin, Chad Gibson and Richard Bayliss for the second edition of our new podcast, The GegenPod, for a mid-week chat about all things football - headlined by Jose Mourinho and M...

Mel McLaughlin, David Squires, Vince Rugari and former Premier League and Germany star Dietmar Hamann join David Weiner for episode one of Optus Sport's new podcast. The Socceroos, football in Australia, the Nations League's success and the return of the Premier League are up for discussion, plus the obvious question: what is a GegenPod? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stay tuned! The GegenPod, presented by Optus Sport, will debut on Wednesday November 21. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.