Alasdair Madden

The Road to Nowhere European Football Podcast

Sports EN ↓ 101 episodes

S5 E20 (our last ever episode) is out now! Fortnightly European football podcast with Alasdair Madden, Ruaridh Barlow and Michael Jones. Follow us on Twitter @RTNFootball and check out @FFOpps for paid freelance work in football.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: podcasters.spotify.com

Author

Alasdair Madden

Episodes

S5 E20 - Bayer Leverkusen’s touch of class, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s surprise redemption arc, and Mallorca’s smartest man in the room 17.05.2024 49:57

For the last time ever, Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. In handing out their alternative end-of-season awards, the boys look at Atalanta’s new groove, Strasbourg’s underwhelming campaign, Union Berlin’s imperilled fairytale, Udinese’s artful longevity, Iker Muniain’s emotional farewell and more. 2:20 - Which Ligue 1 manager is a worthy recipient...

S5 E19 - The imminent end of an era 03.05.2024 42:58

To mark the 100th (and penultimate) episode of the podcast, Alasdair, Barlow and Michael reflect on five memorable seasons covering European football’s most intriguing storylines. 2:28 - Why have we decided to draw the podcast to a close at the end of the current season? / 16:40 - Which developments and themes have we most enjoyed covering over the last four and a half years? / 36:38 - What does t...

S5 E18 - Lyon’s post-nadir joie de vivre, Atlético Madrid’s away day blues, and Bologna’s unsung defensive solidity 19.04.2024 55:08

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Baptiste Reynaud (of Le Beau Jeu and Le Classique fame) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Frosinone’s cause for optimism in the face of their extensive winless run, the shades of Cholismo laced through Real Madrid’s recent Champions League displays against Manchester City, Lyon’s timely resurgence and more. 2:00 -...

S5 E17 - Athletic Club’s last dance, Dortmund’s succession planning, and Joe Barone’s footballing legacy 05.04.2024 57:00

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Ninad Barbidikar to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Bayer Leverkusen’s era-defining spring, Jagoba Arrasate’s emotional Osasuna farewell, Igor Tudor’s inevitable Serie A return and more. 1:45 - How might we explain Juventus’s spectacular drop-off in form since the end of January? / 20:00 - Could Jonathan Burkardt be...

S5 E16 - PSG’s existentialism revisited, Daniele De Rossi’s Roman momentum, and Rafael Benítez’s Galician nightmare 22.03.2024 1:07:01

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Luke Entwistle to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at AC Monza’s uncut gems, Almería’s unlikely hero, PSG’s post-takeover melodrama and more. 1:40 - Where did it all go wrong for Rafael Benítez at Celta Vigo, and what’s next for both parties? / 25:20 - What might the post-Kylian Mbappé era look like for PSG and Ligue 1?...

S5 E15 - Napoli’s new hope, Sporting’s Scandinavian superstars, and Valencia’s Goldilocks appointment 08.03.2024 1:13:22

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Albert from the Long Ball Futebol podcast to discuss and analyse the latest European football news, with a particular focus on the ever-evolving landscape of Portuguese football. The boys look at Arouca’s resurgent Spanish Armada, the curious case of Vizela, Bologna’s rewarded patience, Valencia’s redemption arc and more. 1:40 - How has Daniel Sousa insti...

S5 E14 - Spanish football’s long-awaited Fernando Torres heir, Dean Huijsen’s teenage swagger, and Bayern Munich’s imperilled Bundesliga hegemony 23.02.2024 44:30

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Salernitana’s hopeless Serie A predicament, Rayo Vallecano’s post-Iraola struggles, Bayern Munich’s silent stagnation and more. 1:37 - Which Atlético Madrid starlet looks destined become Spain's future number nine? 13:49 - To what extent should we be probing Tuchel’s reputation as one of the be...

S5 E13 - Atalanta’s ubiquitous goal rush, Stade Brestois’s northwesternmost fortress, and Xavi’s unfulfilled destiny 09.02.2024 53:51

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Diego Simeone’s Madrilenian masterclasses, Stade Brestois’s spirit of the collective, Inter Milan’s increasingly convincing title credentials and more. 1:40 - How has the enigmatic Éric Roy moulded Stade Brestois into one of the greatest Ligue 1 underdog stories in recent memory? / 15:50 - Does hav...

S5 E12 - Antoine Griezmann’s often unsung brilliance, Jadon Sancho’s bittersweet Bundesliga return, and José Mourinho’s Roman farewell 26.01.2024 54:13

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Almería’s controversial Bernabéu heartbreak, Szymon Żurkowski’s incredible start to 2024, the context behind Saša Kalajdžić’s underwhelming spell at Wolves and more. 1:38 - How has Toni Kroos’s game continued to evolve as he nears the final stages of his stellar playing career? / 21:28 - What have...

S5 E11 - The unwavering magic of the Coupe de France, Real Sociedad’s winter wobble, and Genoa’s Spurs-bound Romanian stalwart 12.01.2024 50:38

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the Copa del Rey’s divisive format, the wider significance of the abolition of the Descreto Crescita for Italian football, Calais’s remarkable run to the Coupe de France final at the turn of the century and more. 1:34 - Why is the Coupe de France widely regarded as one of the most romantic domestic...

S5 E10 - Bayer Leverkusen’s title credentials, Thiago Motta’s blossoming managerial career, and Ernesto Valverde’s Basque masterpiece 29.12.2023 49:01

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Italian football’s imminent changing of the guard, the Bundesliga’s hectic Hinrunde, Luís Campos’s ill-fated dual Galician-Parisian project, Fiorentina’s crescendo, Real Madrid’s resilience in the face of winter fog, Patrik Schick’s golden opportunity and more. 1:35 - How might we make the argument...

S5 E9 - The curious case of Lille’s Jonathan David, Bologna’s Flying Dutchman, and Girona’s genuine title bid 15.12.2023 59:22

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the nuances of Girona’s miraculous LaLiga campaign, Lucas Chevalier’s box office goalkeeping, the main takeaways from Atalanta’s Lombardy derby win over AC Milan, Lille’s quietly impressive progress under Paulo Fonseca and more. 1:28 - Which 18-year-old Ligue 1 wonderkid looks destined to become Fr...

S5 E8 - Will Still’s post-meme stability, Frosinone’s precocious 20-year-old Argentinian loanee, Barcelona’s loveless labour 01.12.2023 1:11:29

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Fabio Grosso’s healthy Frosinone legacy, Eintracht Frankfurt’s positive troublemakers, Jose Bordalás's indisputable track record, Reims’s multinational playing squad, the context behind Granada’s recent decision to part company with Paco López, Hellas Verona’s over-reliance on Cyril Ngonge and...

S5 E7 - Las Palmas’s Canary Islands paradise, Le Havre’s prestigious youth academy, and Napoli’s gradual self-implosion 17.11.2023 1:08:32

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Luka Elsner’s managerial pilgrimage, Juve’s humble efficiency, the main takeaways from the most recent edition of Der Klassiker, Diego Simeone’s definitive shift in style and more. Which 18-year-old French youth international forward could go on to become the next superstar to have graduated from L...

S5 E6 - Ligue 1's 'next Mbappé', Claudio Ranieri's latest footballing miracle, and Girona's artful orchestator 03.11.2023 1:01:53

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Köln's passionate footballing landscape, Jude Bellingham’s relentless headline crafting, Lorient's towering derby day conqueror, Romelu Lukaku’s Roman sojourn and more. 01:27 - Following a difficult start to Köln's Bundesliga campaign, how might we assess the North Rhine-Westphalian clu...

S5 E5 - Monaco's shades of Red Bull, Brajan Gruda's timely emergence, and Andalusia's sacking season 20.10.2023 1:08:26

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Milan's post-derby resurgence, Mainz's youthful rays of hope, Almeria's lavish summer spending, Takumi Minamino's merry Monégasque moment and more. 1:45 - What sets Monza’s Andrea Colpani apart as a truly unique footballer in 2023? / 21:00 - Where did it go wrong for Philippe Clemen...

S5 E4 - Takefusa Kubo's Arjen Robben-esque inevitability, Marseille's never-ending soap opera, and Napoli's social media debacle 06.10.2023 1:03:46

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the unwavering loyalty and enthusiasm of Union Berlin's inimitable fanbase, Real Sociedad's Japanese star boy, the context behind Marcelino's decision to leave Marseille after just three months in charge, Fiorentina's progression under Vincenzo Italiano and more. 2:15 - What should...

S5 E3 - Bologna's Scottish heartbeat, Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy-inspired goal rush, and Villarreal's volcanic post-Emery atmosphere 22.09.2023 1:03:10

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Laurent Blanc's fatal dogmatism, Marcus Thuram's rediscovered drive, 20-year-old Xavi Simons' youthful blend of technical ability and tenacity, and the context behind Villarreal's decision to sack Quique Setién. 1:35 - Taking into account RB Leipzig's summer signings of Xavi Sim...

S5 E2 - Ligue 1's De Zerbi disciple, Lamine Yamal's prodigious potential, and Victor Boniface's sumptuous striker play 08.09.2023 1:01:56

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Girona's total football, Rudi Garcia's Neapolitan chapter, Francesco Farioli's fascinating managerial pilgrimage, Granit Xhaka's integral role at Xabi Alonso's high-flying Bayer Leverkusen, and more. 2:32: Where will the upcoming Derby della Madonnina be won and lost? / 27:47 -...

S5 E1 - Strasbourg's new blue dawn, Atalanta's post-Højlund attack, and Jude Bellingham's era-launching debut antics 25.08.2023 1:07:11

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at 21-year-old Nicolò Rovella's shades of Gattuso, Toulouse's disruptive summer, Heidenheim’s genuine fairytale, Rafael Benítez's LaLiga rebrand and more. 1:52 - Why might Villarreal's signing of the promising 22-year-old midfielder, Ramon Terrats represent one of the biggest bargains...

S4 E19 - Hamburg's affliction, LaLiga's unlikely couple, and Sampdoria's calamitous campaign 09.06.2023 1:05:08

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. In presenting their alternative end-of-season awards, the boys look at Siniša Mihajlović's legendary legacy, Habib Diarra's emergence as one of Ligue 1's most coveted teenagers, the Basque country’s disproportionate impact on Spanish football, Schalke's fruitless Rückrunde resurgence, and more. Why...

S4 E18 - Spanish football’s racism problem, Lecce’s unorthodox Great Dane, and Nantes’ chaotic era 26.05.2023 56:49

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Samuel Umtiti’s redemption arc, LaLiga’s moment of self-reckoning, Stuttgart’s (potential) stay of execution, PSG’s empty title and more. Following another weekend dominated by headlines of the racist abuse to which Vinicius has consistently been subjected, what steps must Spanish football take nex...

S4 E17 - Jude Bellingham's last Bundesliga dance, the curious case of Carlo Ancelotti's future, and Clermont Foot's resplendent moment 12.05.2023 56:48

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at 22-year-old Muhammed Cham’s fresh-faced spark, Roma's untimely domestic slump, Osasuna's unique journey from near-disappearance to near-glory, Bayern Munich's fallibility and more. 1:40 - To what extent have Clermont defied pre-season expectations, and how, exactly, have they done so? /...

S4 E16 - Xabi Alonso’s presupposed managerial destiny, Rayan Cherki's frustrating brilliance, and Atalanta’s new generation 28.04.2023 57:04

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Sevilla’s Europa League love affair, Italian football’s apparent renaissance, Florian Wirtz's transformational post-ACL return to the Bayer Leverkusen squad, Lyon’s homegrown frontline, and more. 1:35 - What signs have we seen, if any, from Xabi Alonso's fledgling career in the dugout to su...

S4 E15 - Nagelsmann's managerial paradox, Ligue 1’s precocious teenage talents, and Espanyol's sense of melancholy 14.04.2023 1:23:33

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Alex Collings and Ninad Barbidikar (of Everybody's Eats Ligue 1 podcast fame) to discuss and analyse the latest Europe football news. The boys look at Fiorentina's recent resurgence, Eduardo Camavinga’s increasingly secure place in Real Madrid’s strongest starting eleven, the 18-year-old heir to Malo Gusto’s Lyonnais throne, the thinking behind Ba...