The Optus Football Podcast

With Schwarzie and Bridgey sunning themselves on a Spanish golf course, Phil and Juls pick up the slack to reflect on a momentous weekend of Premier League action. How Arne Slot has found the 'perfect blend' at Liverpool Why the title race isn't over yet Have Manchester City fallen off a cliff? Juls goes big on Guardiola: "He doesn't have a clue!" Do great managers lose this many games? Amorim's t...

Liverpool v Manchester City awaits - and the lads anoint it the game of the season ! The Premier League really heats up this week! Mark Schwarzer is joined by Phil Kitromilides and Michael Bridges to look ahead to a few key fixtures in this weekend's Premier League calendar. Schwarzie can't contain his excitement for Liverpool v Manchester City and the impact it could have on the title race Bridge...

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by Bridgey to reflect on another epic weekend of Premier League action: Initial thoughts on Ruben Amorim's Manchester United The 'incredible' job Kieran McKenna is doing at Ipswich Town Schwarzie's shock at Leicester City sacking Steve Cooper Why Graham Potter is 'the perfect man' to replace him Ange's 'historic' dismantling of Manchester City Is Dejan Kulusevski the...

The hopes of thousands are pinned on United's reaction to the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim! The Premier League returns! As Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens pick through this weekend of football action, their six plus millions of other eyeballs will be on Portman Road as Manchester United turn out against Ipwsich, under the guidance of new gaffer Ruben Amorim for the firs...

"I get why he said it.. but I think you need to keep it within the group". Between Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens this week, we cover allegiances for Australia, England, Germany, Greece, Spain AND France, as we give a big look across the international break and look ahead to the much-anticipated Premier League return. We discuss: England's massive win over Greece, and bravo t...

Can we REALLY expect England to fall AGAIN to Greece? It's international weekend in the world of football, and Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Michael Bridges lob in with their big picks ahead of a massive weekend of fixtures on Optus Sport, with Phil doubling down on his Greece-will-upset-England call from the last international break - and you won't believe the about-face Bridgey does to P...

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by Bridgey this week as they reflect on another weekend of Premier League chaos: Bridgey sings Pedro Neto's praises, but questions Kai Havertz as the No.9 for Arsenal Are Manchester City mentally fragile? Liverpool are flying high, but who is their No.1 goalkeeper? Schwarzie thinks it might be Kelleher soon! Why Spurs could win a trophy this season, but won't finish T...

Reckon you can guess who will be the next manager sacking in this season's Premier League? Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Thomas Sorensen are back with their big picks ahead of the weekend of football, including a tip that one manager will hit the chopping block after another loss for his side! Plus, the boys go studs up on Phil for his call for this weekend's action and Mark predicts furth...

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by former Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen this week to reflect on a dramatic weekend for the Premier League title race. They discuss: Whether Arsenal are now out of the title race following another defeat How Iraola masterminded Bournemouth's victory over Man City If this was a seismic moment in Liverpool's season Nottingham Forest's best start in 26 years Ange-bal...

Will Spurs REALLY not keep a clean sheet for the rest of 2024? Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens come off the long run this week with a few hot takes, including this outlandish one from one of the lads! As well, three struggling clubs are tipped to break their winless records this weekend too and the fellas discuss the Emirates FA Cup that lands on Optus Sport this weekend - and...

In a special bonus episode of the pod, Aussie stars Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess spoke withMark Schwarzer about their rise through the ranks of English football, culminating with promotion to the Premier League with Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys also address the job former 'Roos boss Ange Postecoglou is doing at Tottenham, the impression many have of Australians at the top level, their Socc...

It's finally happened: Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag! The news broke a few hours after the original podcast record, so Schwarzie and Phil jumped on for an emergency reaction to the news at the start of the pod! They're then joined by Julien Laurens for the rest of the podcast discussing all the weekend's Premier League action: Who will be the happier after Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool? Bukay...

Schwarzie, Phil and Bridgey are back to preview the weekend's Premier League action with their hot takes: Phil thinks Liverpool will 'wipe the floor with Arsenal'...2-1 Schwarzie reckons Dejan Kulusevski will be in the team of the season! Bridgey believes Man City will pile the misery on for Southampton and Russell Martin. The guys also tell you why you should get up in the middle of the night for...

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by a bullish Bridgey this week as he clashes with them on more than one of weekend's VAR decisions.  The guys discuss: How Arne Slot has perfect adapted Klopp's Liverpool Kelleher 'is ready' to put pressure on Alisson The rise and rise of Virgil van Dijk Should the Man City winner have been chalked off? Are Man City struggling without Rodri? Whether ill disciplin...

Mark, Phil and Juls are back with their hot takes ahead of the return of the Premier League this weekend: Phil reckons two Premier League managers will be sacked after this weekend! Schwarzie believes there will be FIVE goals in Liverpool v Chelsea Juls leaves everyone gobsmacked with his opinion that Manchester United will win a game of football We also hear from Ange Postecoglou after he chatted...

This week, Schwarzie is back in the host's chair with Phil and Juls as they reflect on the international break so far: Phil is basking in the glory of predicting a Greece win over Lee Carsley’s 'pathetic' England - which Juls labels: 'a circus'! What's next for England? Could Pep Guardiola or Thomas Tuchel be in the mix to replace Carsley? Is this Greece’s best team in a generation? Schwarzie give...

The panel are drawn into national bias during this week's Optus Sport Hot Takes as Phil Kitromilides and Thomas Sorensen back their homelands to cause an upset during the international break. Meanwhile, Julien Laurens doesn't even believe his own opinion as Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo come head-to-head at the weekend. The guys also discuss the Socceroos' chances under new manager Tony...

Schwarzie has taken the international break a little too literally, as this week Phil is in the host's chair joined by Thomas Sorensen and Julien Laurens. The three of them reflect on the Premier League heading into the international break: A post-mortem on Ange's 'worst result' as Spurs manager Will Ten Hag manage another Premier League match for Manchester United? Liverpool flying high Alisson's...

'Hot Takes' is back this week with Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Michael Bridges previewing the weekend's Premier League action. We also get some more Hot Takes from Michelle and Ash ahead of matchweek two of the Barclays Women's Super League. This week:  Can Everton make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League!? Jadon Sancho hasn't scored a Premier League goal for 18 months. Will...

Schwarzie, Phil and Bridgey reflect on another tough day at the office for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, discussing: Where it went wrong for Manchester United against Spurs How Ange has been vindicated by this result at Old Trafford Bruno Fernandes' red card controversy The rise and rise of Micky van de Ven Phil literally sings Dejan Kulusevski's praises The Premier League title race How wil...

'Hot Takes' is back this week with Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Thomas Sorensen and we get some more Hot Takes from Michelle and Ash ahead of matchweek two of the Barclays Women's Super League. This week:  Can Ange rattle the Red Devils' cage when Spurs travel to Old Trafford? One of our guys thinks so! Southampton's dismal start to their campaign is due to turn around - but to what...

Schwarzie and Phil are joined by former Premier League goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to pick the bones out of a dramatic match at the Etihad, as Manchester City leave it late against 10-man Arsenal, including: Why this 'monstrous' performance shows a changed Arsenal Should Leandro Trossard have been sent off? A deep-dive into Ederson's goalkeeping for Arsenal's second goal What this result means for...

'Hot Takes' is back this week with Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens PLUS the addition of some from Ash Sykes and Michelle Escobar as the Barclays Women's Super League returns for another season! This week:  Phil comes in sizzling with his 'Hot Take' suggesting Erling Haaland will remain scoreless against Arsenal. Speaking of scoreless, Schwarzie riles up the other lads as...

It's all North London Derby as Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens record this week's episode from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium straight after Arsenal's win in this season's first iteration of the famous rivalry. Plenty to discuss from this one, including: The problem with Ange Ball Phil's cousin Dave likes Chocolate cake Arne Slot getting it all wrong against Forest Sean Dyche's sid...

'Hot Takes' is back this week with Mark Schwarzer, Phil Kitromilides and Julien Laurens and after a big international break, the return of the Premier League is headlined by the North London Derby! This week:  Could we see the highest-scoring North London Derby ever? That will need stacks of goals! If Erik ten Hag cops a loss against unfancied Southampton, could that be it for him at Old Traf...