Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

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...

Dotun Adebayo, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini are back with more tales of penny-pinching European super clubs on today's episode of On The Continent! We wonder how Barcelona can dig themselves out from their ever-expanding hole and discuss whether Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo experiment proved successful. And as the Deadline Day dust settles, we identify a few diamonds in the continental rough wh...

Welcome back to another edition of On The Continent! Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy to discuss the latest on Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo. We wonder how the Frenchman’s arrival could revitalise Real, while there are mixed opinions about Ronaldo’s possible uneasy marriage with Pep Guardiola’s Man City. After a very weird window with spending confined to the very top, we also discuss the...

Welcome back to another edition of On The Continent! This week, Dotun and Andy are joined by our resident Italian football oracle Nicky Bandini for a bumper Serie A preview! We discuss what’s next for the title-holders, Inter, stripped of some of their best assets, while it’s back to the future for José Mourinho and Luciano Spalletti at Roma and Napoli, with Nicky particularly backing the Neapolit...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here with a thorough look at the biggest story in world football: Lionel Messi's Barça departure. We try to fathom how Barcelona allowed the rot to spread this badly, wonder if we should sympathise with Lionel Messi and discuss Mauricio Pochettino’s chances of getting that front three to do any pressing at all. We also look at La Liga more broadly as it kicks off...

With the European football season looming, Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to get stuck into some of the continent’s biggest stories - join us! As Julian Nagelsmann’s first game as Bayern manager creeps closer, we look into how he’ll need to be granted some patience during what might be a tough start in the Big Time. We also ask who might challenge PSG in Ligue 1 as the likes of Monac...

We're back with the first On The Continent episode of the new season! Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here to get you up to speed with Europe's movers and shakers ahead of the new season. We start the season with a tale of two superclubs, with PSG finding established superstars down the back of the sofa and Barcelona still struggling for cash. We also recap the latest Champions League qualifier...

Have you ever wondered where substantial amounts of the money behind football's ridiculous transfer fees end up? Because the answer may surprise, confuse and alarm you! Kate and Jim are joined by author and journalist, Tariq Panja to discuss the murky world of football transfers and just how influential nondescript entities and figures looming in the shadows can be. Tariq, alongside co-writer Alex...

For the final OTC episode of the season, Dotun and Andy could only be joined by one familiar face ahead of the Euro 2020 final: it's Nicky Bandini! We assess the two semi-finals and wonder how the final between the tournament's best two sides will play out. There's also a chance to look back on what's been a tournament for the ages; fans returned to stadiums, shock results came thick and fast – an...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen pick through the latest Euro 2020 casualties, as a back trois couldn't save France and Germany's lack of cohesion cost them.  We wonder where it went wrong for the French, with Didier Deschamps' bizarre selection choices a significant factor, and reflect on the Joachim Löw era after the curtains came down at Wembley. We also assess those still standing and who w...

Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge on today's episode, as we uncork a bottle of Cava and toast to the group stages' final blaze of glory. Portugal, France and Germany emerge from the flames of Group F, so we see who needs to settle on their best XI ahead of the knockout rounds. We also get an update on Spain who, despite a 5-0 win over Slovakia, still don't look all that convincing....

Looking for the latest on some of Euro 2020's biggest contenders? Well, you've come to the right place! Dotun and Andy are joined by various OTC contributors to discuss some of the biggest stories from the first week of the Euros. Nicky Bandini praises those impressive Italians, Lars Sivertsen looks over France's chances of going the distance and David Cartlidge reveals why Spain's opening perform...

We’ve waited a year, but the Euros have finally arrived! Join Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen for our giant OTC preview! We cast an eye over the Group of Fun ™️, where Germany look under threat, and check in with the usual contenders including Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands. We also wonder if a Turkish delight might upset the much-fancied Italians on opening night! Got a question for us? Email&...

We’ll cut straight to it: today’s Ramble Meets... guest is one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game. It’s only Germany's European Championship and World Cup-winning midfielder, Lothar Matthäus! Lothar joins Andy to look ahead to Germany’s chances at Euro 2020, with the public‘s expectations of Die Mannschaft as high as ever. They also chat about his storied playing career, spotti...

Welcome to our final episode of Lions Watch! With the Euros just six sleeps away, Marcus and Luke bring you their reflections on England’s opening friendly and sort through Gareth Southgate’s alarmingly large pile of unanswered questions. Besides Trent Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, we run the rule over England’s possible formations without Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire and look back at the...

Dotun is joined by Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini as the Champions League final brought the weirdest domestic season ever to a close. We take a look back at that entertaining affair, with Chelsea using their ‘break glass for pragmatic coach’ approach to great effect once again. We then wonder what’s next for European football; the pandemic has forced many clubs to turn the old guard and accept t...

'Fever Pitch' is widely regarded to be the best football book ever written. It's been made into two films, won the 1992 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award and inspired countless football fans around the UK to think more deeply about their football fandom. Its author, Nick Hornby, joins us in the studio for today's episode of the Book Club! Nick sits down with Kate and Jim to remember the s...

Welcome back to Lions Watch, your one-stop shop for all things England! Vithushan Ehantharajah joins Marcus to reflect on Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad and look ahead to a hugely important week in the Three Lions’ preparations. We also dial up former England Head of Physiotherapy Gary Lewin to learn more about fitness preparations for the tournament. Plus, Marcus and Vish cast their eyes ov...