Upfront - A Women's Football Podcast

All aboard this summer’s managerial merry-go-round, coming soon to a European powerhouse near you! Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge break down the big coaching moves across the continent as Antonio Conte might well grab Zinedine Zidane’s vacant seat in Madrid and Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo makes way for his former boss, Max Allegri.  We also celebrate two title victories that were confirmed over t...

On today’s episode of Ramble Meets… we welcome a man who, by his own admission, tried really hard not to be a footballer - and failed. It’s former Chelsea, Everton and Scotland winger, Pat Nevin! Pat joins Mark Pougatch to discuss an enriching career that was fuelled by a sheer enjoyment of football, with the trappings of fame and fortune never a remote consideration. He talks about his journey fr...

With Gareth Southgate's squad announcement just days away, Marcus and Luke tackle perhaps the most significant selection dilemma: who's going to play right-back?! We also look back to the culmination of England's Nations League efforts back in 2019, with the usual boxes of 'lose to a top-level team' and 'win a penalty shoot-out' ticked off in Portugal. Finally, Czech journalist Ondřej Zlámal gives...

Miguel Delaney joins Dotun and Andy for another continental crusade, with Europe's various title races wrapping up and the Euros honing into view! Karim Benzema links up with the French squad for the first time in six years, as Didier Deschamps weighs up his fractious past against his goalscoring pedigree. We also praise Edin Terzić after Dortmund turn their season around with moments to spare and...

It’s less than a month until England’s opening group stage game and Marcus is struggling to contain his anticipation. A season-ending injury for Harry Maguire though, you say? That will do it. Marcus and Luke discuss the latest on Maguire and assess how he has come to be so important to this England team. Elsewhere, Jadon Sancho puts in a stunning performance to clinch Dortmund’s first silverware...

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are looking ahead to a photo finish in the La Liga title race, as Real Madrid’s weathered old souls chase down Atléti in top spot. We also check in on the fallout from the end of the Portuguese and Italian title races. Sporting win their first in nearly two decades under wonderkid coach Rúben Amorim, while Andrea Pirlo and Juventus must be wondering whether their mar...

Marcus and Luke are back with Lions Watch, your one-stop shop for all things England! This week, we hail Arsenal for doing the right thing and ask how much England’s Champions League and Europa League absences really matter for a team so… completely and utterly well-drilled. Obvs. We also try (and fail) to pick a starter between Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell and celebrate the year of the waistcoat. T...

Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini are here to assess the merits of the PSG project and wonder if things aren't as bad as first thought after Manchester City knocked them out of the Champions League. Elsewhere, with Antonio Conte wrapping up the title, we ask Nicky if José Mourinho can rise Roma from the ruins and put the breaks on another Inter title tilt. Speaking of title races, La Liga's top four a...

The subject of today's episode of the Book Club will likely have voiced some of your most significant football memories. From Solskjaer's volley at the back post to the shoots of an Istanbul comeback, he's called them all – it's commentary extraordinaire, Clive Tyldesley! Clive joins Kate and Jim to discuss some of the most significant figures, moments and themes that make up his new book 'Not For...

Marcus and Luke reconvene to discuss the latest developments surrounding the England squad!  UEFA announced this week that countries will be able to take 26 players to the Euros: which is a good thing until you realise it doesn’t just apply to England. We examine which fringe players stand to benefit for the Three Lions. Elsewhere, Luke explains why Phil Foden can be the player of the tournam...

Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to reflect on two intriguing Champions League semi-finals. Despite one of their finest first half displays of the season, Mauricio Pochettino was left lamenting his side’s fatigue as Man City muscled their way back into the tie. We look at PSG’s midfield and why Kylian Mbappé seemingly vanished from the pitch. Elsewhere, after Karim Benzema carried Real...

Today’s episode of the Book Club takes you to the heart of what it means to be a football fan. Kate and Jim are joined by journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author Michael Calvin to discuss ‘Whose Game Is It Anyway?’, his deeply personal account of the role football – and sport – plays in everyday life. Mike tells us how he came to fall out of love with the sport he covered for 40 years – an...

Welcome back to Lions Watch, your one stop shop for all things England! This week, Marcus and Luke begin with Harry Kane’s injury, which might lead to only a brief hiatus, but raises all sorts of questions about England’s flexibility as well as that age old dilemma: do you play your star player when he’s not 100% fit? Elsewhere, we discuss John Stones’ familiar downturn in form after a season that...

Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney look back on a truly seismic week, as the formation and startling failure of the European Super League represented the most significant story in the history of European football. With the project shelved (for now), we highlight the pivotal moments in the fight between the deluded, monied elite and everyone else. We also wonder what's next for Bayern Munich – whose ma...

Joining Mark Pougatch on today's episode of Ramble Meets... is former Newcastle, Tottenham and England midfielder turned TV pundit, Jermaine Jenas! Jermaine talks Mark through his impressive career that began in the aftermath of Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and saw him experience some of the game's grandest occasions at both Spurs and Newcastle. He also reveals some of the regrets around his...

Marcus and Luke are back with a brand new edition of Lions Watch, the show dedicated to all things England! We are stumbling over ourselves with excitement for this one. Jesse Lingard is the form player in the Premier League – but should Gareth Southgate give him the keys to the kingdom? And where does all this leave poor old Jack Grealish? Elsewhere, if we needed any further evidence, Jude Bellin...

Dotun is joined by Lars Sivertsen and Miguel Delaney to look back over the week’s Champions League action! While Pep Guardiola finally overcame his Champions League hoodoo with Man City, Dortmund now desperately need to rescue their season with a top four finish. We look at the implications for Erling Haaland and why he may well be heading to Real Madrid rather than Man City. Elsewhere, PSG and Ba...

We're joined by one of Europe's most exciting young coaches on today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy sits down with RB Salzburg head coach, Jesse Marsch! Jesse's obsession with soccer was born in his native Wisconsin and has taken him across the United States and Canada, before he arrived in Leipzig in 2018 as Ralf Rangnick's assistant. Now at Champions League newcomers RB Salzburg, Jesse tal...

Welcome to our brand new addition to Football Ramble Presents, Lions Watch, a show dedicated to all things England!  Every Saturday, Marcus Speller and Luke Moore discuss the latest stories around Gareth Southgate’s squad in the build-up to the Euros. Who’s waiting by the phone? Who’s metatarsal is plastered on the front pages? And what does it all mean for that final 23-man squad? We will al...

Welcome to a new edition of On The Continent, your one-stop shop for all things European football. Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini wrap up an eventful week in the Champions League and beyond! Bayern Munich fell to their first home defeat in all competitions since November 2019 – and it took a monumental effort from PSG to overcome the Bavarian giants. We reflect on the reasons behind Bayern’s rare l...

Joining Kate and Jim on today's episode of the Book Club is Luton Town legend who played over 400 matches throughout the most successful stint in their history and earned an England call up under Sir Bobby Robson: it's Ricky Hill! Ricky joins us to reflect on an impressive career marred with frustration and disappointment. He rose through the ranks at Luton Town at just 17, and was an integral par...

Welcome to another edition of On The Continent. Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge bring you all the biggest stories from across European football! We begin with the repercussions of Robert Lewandowski’s injury for Bayern – domestically and in Europe. History suggests the transition could be difficult. But if any team can adapt, surely the Bayern juggernaut can? Elsewhere, we discuss the options for...

Welcome to another episode of On The Continent, your one-stop shop for all things European football! Dotun, Andy and Lars chew the fat over an eventful week across the continent. After Paris Saint-Germain put in their finest domestic performance of the season against Lyon to take top spot in Ligue 1, we look over the four contenders for the French title. To the surprise of many, Niko Kovač’s Monac...

We return to Denmark for today's episode of Ramble Meets... as Andy sits down with two former Premier League stalwarts in Michael Essien and Johan Djourou! With over 100 international caps and almost forty years in the game between them, Michael and Johan are two of the most experienced members of the exciting project at FC Nordsjælland. They talk about their upbringing in Ghana and Switzerland re...

Atlético crashing out of the Champions League represent the failings of Diego Simeone’s dated style, which now looks to be a relic from another time. Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney wonder what’s next for Los Rojiblancos and their fiery coach. Things look slightly rosier on the Galaticos’ side of the city, as Real Madrid unconvincingly brushed aside Atalanta and drew comparisons to Zinedine Zidane’...