Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars for today's continental capers, as we realise that even Europe's best-run clubs have to endure moments of tension from time to time. Away from off the pitch shenanigans at the German champions, we wonder how Bayern will fare against Dortmund's free-scoring attack and free-pouring defence. We also recap a shameful day for Portuguese football and tip our hat to Atal...

Sarina Wiegman seems very aware of the need to manage the workload of her England side, only then to play the same team every qualifier. Why?! Flo, Rachel and Chloe try to answer that and recap a mixed international window for the Home Nations and Ireland. We also bid farewell to a Brazilian legend and look ahead to what should be an outrageously good FA Cup final this weekend! Artwork photo - Gir...

After Juventus’ schooling at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney wonder what on earth is going wrong for Max Allegri’s men. There’s no mercy for two other Champions League stalwarts either, as Borussia Dortmund crash out and Atlético Madrid teeter on the precipice. We find out why both clubs are facing similar problems.  And after fresh crowd trouble forced Lyon vs...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe kick off proceedings with a look at Birmingham City, who have just appointed their third manager in five months amidst a myriad of off-field issues. We also wonder what Man United need to do to reach the next level (keeping Ella Toone aside) and despair at the careless scheduling of this year's Ballon d'Or ceremony. Artwork photo - GirlsontheBall © ***Please take the time to...

There's a different flavour to today's episode of Ramble Meets as Andy gets to know not just a single subject, but one of La Liga's most beloved clubs. Celta Vigo has had a rich if turbulent history, from impressive spells in La Liga and the Europa League to almost falling out of professional football altogether. Andy is joined by Celta players Nolito and Joseph Aidoo, who tell us just how special...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge round up some of the biggest casualties from World Cup Qualifying on today's episode. It seems that Fernando Santos' Portugal have been trying the same thing repeatedly but expecting different results. We also ask if Roberto Mancini can solve the impossible Italian Job of finding a goalscoring centre-forward and wonder what's happened to Eden Hazard after some sober...

Flo, Rachel and Chloe look back over a packed weekend schedule, with Spurs finally proving stern opposition for their North London rivals and Chelsea piling more pressure on Man City boss Gareth Taylor. Despite these cracking matches, we also wonder whether more could have been done to promote the latest Women's Football Weekend and explore how future editions can continue to improve. Artwork phot...

Today on the Book Club, we're joined by a Liverpool legend and true football obsessive.  For the past 8 years, Jamie Carragher has been the face and voice of football punditry in the UK. His celebrated book sees him and a range of guests reevaluate some of football’s greatest matches - from Istanbul '05, to Munich '99. He lifts the lid on it all with Kate and Jim. You can purchase Jamie’s boo...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen remember there's another megastar stuffed down the back of PSG's sofa, so take a look at whether Sergio Ramos can get himself in the first team now he's back in training. Elsewhere, Serie A looks set to be the spiciest league in Europe as Milan and Napoli canter ahead, while Covid-enforced changes to Germany's squad have given their impressive crop of youngsters a ch...

Welcome back to Upfront, a weekly women's football show covering all corners of the women's game!  Flo Lloyd-Hughes, Chloe Morgan and Rachel O'Sullivan discuss Brighton's impressive start to the season under England legend Hope Powell and the problems arising from Arsenal's all-male advisory board. Chloe also pauses her post-match celebrations long enough to recap a great win for Crystal Pala...

We’re back with our second At The Match of the season, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe. Andy stops in at a raucous Estádio de Dragão for the first of two huge Champions League clashes and chats with Tiago Marques, presenter on Porto Canal, about an emotional return to football in Porto post-lockdown. He then catches up with Tom Kundert, an old friend and founder...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge first head to the warmer climes of Andalusia, asking why Sevilla haven't replicated their impressive La Liga form in the Champions League, despite some straightforward opponents. Elsewhere, we check in with Ajax after another win took them to the knockout rounds and celebrate Freiburg's unbeaten run - right before Bayern hand them a pasting on Saturday, no doubt.&nb...

Welcome to Upfront, a brand new women's football podcast available every Tuesday on Football Ramble Presents! Each week we'll bring you the biggest stories from the WSL and beyond, and take you to the cultural heartbeat of the women's game. Today, we look back over the weekend's FA Cup semi-finals which saw a Beth Mead-inspired Arsenal sweep aside Brighton and Chelsea prove too much for a stutteri...

Dotun, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini are here to conduct the postmortem on Ronald Koeman's doomed tenure at Barcelona. We wonder whether the blame should be laid solely at his feet after weeks of dour pessimism and how Xavi might fare should he take the job. We also try to save some of Roma's squad from the bus José Mourinho has thrown them under and cast an admiring glance at the Jorge Sampaol...

Today's guest on Book Club has lifted the World Cup, won numerous domestic trophies across a fifteen-year career and scored a remarkable collection of goals. It's AC Milan and France striker, Olivier Giroud! We chat to the former Arsenal and Chelsea marksman about his time in England, becoming a crucial part of the world's best international team and enjoying some of the finer things in life. You...

Whisper it, but are Atlético Madrid better suited to attack rather than defend? Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen wrestle with their puzzling form on today's episode of On The Continent! We then check in with the European runners and riders at the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, as Bayern destroy everyone and PSG stumble on. We also wonder where it's all going wrong for Claude Pue...

We're back with a brand new episode of At The Match, the series that takes you to the heart of football across the globe. Kate joins Andy for today's episode, as they wander up a more sedate Wembley Way to see England take on Hungary in a World Cup Qualifier. They reminisce about the Euros and examine this team's relationship with the nation, as Kate explains where her fevered support of the natio...

Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney kick off today's episode by exploring how the recent takeover of Newcastle United relates to Europe. As agents look to sell their unwanted players to the new kids on the block, we wonder how this will be received in light of the PSG takeover a decade previously. We also look at Germany's turnaround under Hansi Flick as they qualified for Qatar 2022 this week and disc...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge revel in another classic tussle between Italy and Spain, with the European champions’ unbeaten record halted by Luis Enrique’s youngsters. We also try and work out who will emerge with PSG’s #1 shirt as Gianluigi Donnarumma impresses again, while Kylian Mbappé has been respectfully sticking the boot into his current employers ahead of another #saga next summer. Got...

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini check in with the biggest stories after another chaotic Champions League week, as various teams do their best to recapture - or redefine - their identity. Juventus show glimpses of their wily former selves under Max Allegri, while Milan’s young swagger has somehow left them on zero points. We also try to come to terms with Barcelona being distinctly ordinary - Benfica...

We're joined by Premier League royalty on today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy catches up with former PSG, Bolton and Super Eagles midfielder, Jay-Jay Okocha! Jay-Jay's storied career saw him become part of both Bundesliga and Premier League folklore. They talk about his incredible journey, some of his most famous moments and what it was really like working under Big Sam Allardyce at Bolton....

Dotun and Andy are joined by Miguel Delaney for today's star-studded episode, as some of European football's elite struggle to settle into their new homes. Mauricio Pochettino's famed man-management skills are being put to the test in Paris, as Lionel Messi wants more game time and Kylian Mbappé reminds everyone he's still the main man. Antoine Griezmann's found similar troubles in Madrid, but Mar...

Welcome back to On The Continent! This week, Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars Sivertsen to for a deep dive on Bayern Munich. They could’ve run out 8-2 winners again against Barcelona this week, but just how good are they? We also check in with Real Madrid, who battled past perennial Champions League fall-guys Inter, and wonder how Carlo Ancelotti can mould this unusually young team after Eduardo...

If one club encapsulates both the sublime and the ridiculous in modern football, it's FC Barcelona. Kate and Jim chart this duality on today's episode of the Book Club, as renowned author Simon Kuper joins them to discuss his new book, 'Barça'! Simon charts their rise from a friendly regional club to a global behemoth, all on the back of an almost naive friendliness and goodwill within the Catalan...

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge look back over an international window that has seen its fair share of winners and losers - Memphis Depay perhaps more than most! Ol' Memphis gets his fair dues on today's show as we discuss how his recent performances might help him contend with Barca's impossible post-Messi task. We also wonder where it's gone wrong for France in recent weeks - can they shake thei...