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I mean, seriously. You’ve beaten Leeds 4-0, Aston Villa have lost at home to Brentford and Manchester City have somehow squandered a two goal lead at Spurs. This might just be your year… We’ve got news on everything across Europe including the surprise title race potential in Germany, Marcus Rashford hitting double figures for Barcelona and the 23rd time that the Pozzo Family have had to look for...

Leeds vs Arsenal is the big game this weekend, it will have as much of an impact on the relegation battle as it will the title race and almost no-one in the UK will be able to watch it. Legally… Is that right? Is the TV blackout working? Are you even that bothered when you have the tantalising prospect of Spurs vs Man City to look forward to? All of this and more in your oven fresh TRK FC.  Presen...

Tammy Abraham has returned to Aston Villa in an £18.25m deal that might just have an impact on the title race. And possibly the England squad too… Plus, what’s wrong with Brighton? They’ve only won one of their last ten games. Andy Naylor joins us from The Athletic.  And if you think that’s bad, what about Coventry? They looked dead certs for promotion a couple of months ago, but they’ve only won...

I know, I know, we’ve been here before. But that’s two games, two wins for Michael Carrick and they were against two opponents who are scrapping it out for the title. Is it time to re-consider the whole caretaker manager idea and just give him the job properly? We talk to Daniel Storey.  And what’s going on in Germany? Hoffenheim appear to be third. We check in with Seb Stafford Bloor to find out...

I mean, come on. How many times have you fallen for it? How many times have to seen Manchester United suddenly play well and you’ve thought, “Hey, maybe this time they’ve really turned a corner?” FA Cup Final 2024? You are with friends, sir or madam, we all fell for that one. But what about now?  Plus, we have the usual full preview of the weekend’s action and the weirdest feeling that City might...

Thomas Frank said that he’d allow himself two glasses of red wine last night and I hope they were large ones because, on a human level, he deserves it. But can Spurs build on that result? Can they beat Burnley? Can they beat Manchester City? Can he turn this around?  And what’s going on at Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola is in the final year of his contract, but he can’t hold onto a lead. The Cherries...

Okay, fine, so Arsenal didn’t lose to Nottingham Forest, but they didn’t win either. And that’s fine because Manchester City lost and Aston Villa lost and Liverpool still can’t be trusted to do the simple things correctly. Tim Stillman gives his verdict.  Plus, what happened everywhere else? We’ve got the full round-up for you.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Ti...

No, no, stick with me. They’re fresher, they’re smarting after Wrexham, they’ll be at home, it will be raining. It all makes sense, right?  Not according to Forest fan Matt Davis Adams, no. He thinks they’ll get thrashed. Find out more about that game and all the others right here on your brand new TRK (track) FC.   Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Matt Davis-Adam...

Xabi Alonso has fallen, vanquished by the monster-egos in the Real Madrid dressing room. But where will he go next? We speak to three different experts about three different destinations…and we rule a couple out along the way.  Plus, how do you solve a problem like VAR? By destroying it. Problem solved.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Chris I’Anson-Miller, Lola...

Crystal Palace had their pants pulled down in front of everyone on Saturday by a heroic Macclesfield Town, but what does it really mean? Will it have any effect on Oliver Glasner and the big decision he has to make this summer? Comedian and podcast host Jim Daly joins us to discuss the matter further.  And what on earth happened to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend? They were one of the best teams i...

Seriously. They were on the fringes of the relegation battle five minutes ago, but an astonishing run of form has left them to the brink of the Champions League. And have you seen their next four fixtures? How long can this last? We’ve got Sammy James in from the Fulhamish podcast.  And speaking of small clubs doing outlandish things in big leagues, look at Villarreal in Spain. They’re third with...

That’s it now, isn’t it? West Ham haven’t won in ten, they’re seven adrift, they’ve only won three all season and they’ve shipped nearly as many goals from set pieces alone as Arsenal have conceded all season. But who’s to blame? We sift through the wreckage.  And speaking of blame, wreckage and teams beginning with the word ‘west’, we’re also chatting about West Bromwich Albion, who sacked their...

Well, we did have a big West Ham show for you today. We’d recorded it and everything. But Ruben Amorim just had to shout his mouth off, didn’t he? Sigh. Sorry West Ham fans…. But there’s still time after United to bravely ask Jim Burke of the RGC podcast how he’s feeling after the weekend. From a safe distance… Plus, we’ve got loads of interesting bits and bobs from around Europe, included Lens an...

Welcome to the last episode of Route One in 2025 and the last in our current format. We’re returning to three episodes a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we’ve got all sorts of exciting plans lined up for audio, video and written content, we really can’t wait to tell you about them.  But we’re going to have to because we also need to tell you about all the games coming up this weekend, we need...

Yes, we have ourselves a threeway title race, it appears. Aston Villa fought back three times to beat West Ham away and that is a thing that title challengers do. Manchester City have dropped careless points, but it’s a careless season and they’re still better than most other teams. And Arsenal, as we learned, are not unstoppable.  Also, what’s going on in Spain, in Germany, in Italy, in France an...

There is a dark corner in the psyche of every Arsenal fan where all of their fears and anxieties lurk and it is here where you will find the thought, “Oh God, we’re not going to somehow lose to Wolves, are we?” Listener, I am certain they will not. Indeed, it could be a bit messy. It’s not the game of the week though, that’s West Ham vs Aston Villa, we just put Arsenal in the headline because the...

Liverpool were in enough trouble already having thrown away two points at Elland Road. Mo Salah decided to make everything much, much worse. That story is so big that it’s obscured Aston Villa entering the title race with an late win over Arsenal. But was anything as big this weekend as Thierno Barry’s smile? Route One is here with everything you need to know from another massive weekend of footba...

It’s a big, but curiously low key weekend in the Premier League. Aston Villa’s clash with Arsenal will, we suspect, be more intruiging than exciting, but after three games in a week, the same could be said for most of the division.  Listen now for the most concise, but comprehensive round-up of the biggest games in Europe.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Producer: Helena Fremantle Links: And check out...

Chelsea fans must have feared the worst when they were reduced to ten men early in their clash with Arsenal, but their players were equal to the task. This was an excellent point for the Blues.  Elsewhere, it was a good day for struggling giants as Liverpool and Manchester United both won, Barcelona won in La Liga, but Hansi Flick didn’t seem to happy at the end. And Paris St Germain lost in Franc...

Liverpool have lost again. It’s getting weird now. That’s nine in 12, that’s worse than any run since 1953. Lola Katz Roberts join us to weep quietly while rocking backwards and forwards. Adrian Clarke is much happier though and why not? Arsenal look impregnable right now, not even Bayern Munich can get through their armour.  This is a fifteen minute podcast, but we’ve packed absolutely everything...

Welcome to the first Great Big Round Up episode of Route One’s new look as we shift to a twice weekly schedule. Neil Atkinson of the Anfield Wrap joins us to discuss Liverpool’s sixth league defeat of the season and, call me crazy, but I think that’s it for their title ambitions.  Plus, we’ve got everything you need to know about the weekend, it’s the perfect podcast for anyone who went out and en...

Who’s coming out on top in the North London derby then? We speak to Tim Stillman (Arsenal) and Chris I’Anson Miller (Spurs) as the big one approaches.  And why is Route One changing? Nobody likes change, do they? Except this sort of change. Because this sort of change is good. Find out more by listening.  Presenter: Iain Macintosh Audio Producer: Helena Fremantle Guests: Chris I’Anson Miller, Tim...

They did it. I don’t know how they did it, but they did it. Scotland are through to the World Cup courtesy of the most bizarre selection of goals I can recall in a single game. JJ Bull reflects on a night of high drama.  Wales did it too, though it wasn’t quite so tight over there. Tom Williams gives us his best, ‘never in doubt’ vibes.  And we’ve got all the results from elsewhere, plus some more...

Scotland could make history tonight, they could reach their first World Cup since 1998. How is JJ Bull? We check in with our man north of the wall and we’ve got a bit of his new single too.  Wales have got a job on as well, Tom Williams is here to discuss that. And who’s the new Bryan Robson, currently tearing it up as Serie A’s most complete midfielder? Heavy Metal Football Statistics has the ans...

Italy’s plunge into the play-offs was confirmed last night when they lost to Norway, but could Germany be about to join them? We speak to Seb Stafford Bloor about tonight’s crunch game with Slovakia.  We’ve got a full round up of all the football you may have missed at the weekend and another big slice of Heavy Metal Football…statistics, including the revelation that Middlesbrough, currently secon...