Football Today

Latest Episodes:

How 13 Minutes Started a Cultural Debate in Germany Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

Some fans chanted Dietmar Hopp, others called him a son of a bitch…was it a day of shame or finally the day where German ultras had their voice heard?

This weekend Bayern Munich thrashed Hoffenheim 6-0 to extend their Bundesliga lead to 3 points, but their emphatic win isn't what made headlines in Germany. Instead, it was the referee's decision to stop the game not once twice due to vulgar banners.

Today we ask, why are Germany's ultras protesting Dietmar Hopp and the German Football Assocation.

Guest:

Christoph Biermann (@chbiermann) covers German football for 11freunde and the Steilcast podcast.

@FT_podcast

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Are Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa headed for the Promised Land? Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

Back in December, Leeds United were playing Cardiff City at home in the Championship. A win would put them top of the table, 12 points clear of third place.

Going 3-0 up early in the second half, all seemed well. But then disaster struck.

This started a slump in form that saw Leeds fritter away points. Before long, they were caught up by the chasing pack.

Fast forward a month, and Leeds find themselves a point off the top of the table with a five-point buffer from Fulham in third place and with a much easier run of fixtures on paper.

In this episode, we ask: could this be the season where Leeds finally do it? And what will the next three months mean in the context of Marcelo Bielsa’s career?

Guests:

Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) covers Leeds United for the Athletic and appears weekly on the Phil Hay Show Podcast.

Twitter: @FT_podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Mario Balotelli, Sexual Assault and the Silent Media Mar 02, 2020

Show notes

According to reports in France and Italy, Mario Balotelli is under investigation for sexual assault stemming from an incident in July of 2017. Yet despite the severity of the incident, the only English speaking publications to run a story were The Sun and The Daily Mail.

Today we ask, what does the Mario Balotelli case tell us about football's relationship with sexual violence?

Guests:

Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) Writer, Activist and Co-host of the Burn It All Down podcast

Twitter: @FT_podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Real Madrid and Ronaldo: How to Replace a Superstar Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018, Real Madrid has struggled to score goals. Recently, Madrid has scored one goal or fewer in three their last five La Liga games.

As they prepare for Sunday's El Clasico with Barcelona, we break down their offensive woes and ask, how do you replace a modern superstar?

Guests:

Euan McTear (@emctear) Subeditor at Marca/Co-host La Liga Lowdown podcast

Twitter: @FT_podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

For supplemental information, listen to our episode, 'The Rise of Rodrygo and Juni Calafat'

Arsene Wenger, the Offside Rule and the Future of Football's Rule-Making Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

Last week, Arsene Wenger offered his own solution to the offside rule problem that has plagued the Premier League since the introduction of VAR.

But in so doing, he implied that FIFA have decided to rewrite the laws of the game to suit the age of technology.

In this episode, we ask: how do Wenger’s modifications of the offside rule fit in with the long history of the laws of the game?

Guest:

Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) covers Tottenham Hotspur and England for The Athletic and hosts their 'View from the Lane' podcast.

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

How Carlo Ancelotti is Leading Everton's Resurgence Feb 24, 2020

Show notes

On December 4th, Everton was in the relegation zone, watching their season evaporate in thin air. Now they sit in 11th place, just 5 points off 5th, with a chance at Champions League football.

You can trace much of that success back that to Carlo Ancelotti's appointment as manager. Since he took over, the club has the 3rd most points in the league.

Today we ask, how has Carlo Ancelotti rejuvenated Everton?

Guest:

David Hughes (@DAHughes_) Football Scouting and Analysis Writer/Reach PLC

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

A Week in the Life of Manchester City Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

Friday 14th of February - Valentine’s Day. Manchester City have just received notice of a ban from UEFA: two years out of the Champions League and 30 million euro fine.

The ban comes in the wake of UEFA’s claims that Manchester City “overstated its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016”. They also claim that the club “failed to cooperate in the investigation”.

It is now Friday the 21st of February and the dust has started to settle. In this episode, we trace the last seven days in the history of Manchester City Football Club and attempt to unpick the threads, looking at the impact of the Champions League ban on the fans, on the club, on the players, on the Premier League, on European football in general.

Guests:

David Mooney (@DavidMooney), creator of Blue Moon Podcast (@BlueMoonPodcast) and host of The Athletic’s Why Always Me? Podcast.

Matt Slater (@mjshrimper), football news and investigations reporter at The Athletic.

Jonathan Smith (@jonnysmiffy), Manchester City correspondent for Goal.com (@goal).

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Should We Jail Racist Football Fans? Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

This weekend racism in football was back in the news after FC Porto's Moussa Marega left the game saying he was racially abused.

But racism from fans isn't isolated to Portugal, it's prevalent here in England as well.

Earlier this month a Brighton fan, George Reynolds was convicted and sentenced to prison for racist comments he made at a game against Tottenham. Today we look at the 'landmark' case and examine what it means for football.

Guests:

Aidan Barlow (@ArgusAidan) Crime Reporter/The Argus

George Starkey-Midha (@GStarkeyMidha)Ex-Media Officer/Kick it Out

Paul Barber Chief Executive/Brighton and Hove Albion FC

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Jurgen Connsmann? Why Jurgen Klinsmann Quit Hertha Berlin Feb 17, 2020

Show notes

Jurgen Klinsmann lasted 76 days as manager of Hertha Berlin. Then he quit. Today we look at why Klinsmann really left Hertha Berlin and what the fallout of the decision will be for Klinsmann and the club.

Guest:

Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) Football Journalist/Goal

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Chelsea and the Importance of a Stadium in the Twenty-First Century Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

Three years ago, there was an air of expectancy around Chelsea Football Club.

Having fallen behind in the matchday revenue tables, they had just been granted approval to build a new stadium on the Fulham Road plot on which Stamford Bridge is situated.

Fast forward to the present and that planning agreement is set to expire imminently.

In this episode, we ask: how important is a stadium to a football club in the twenty-first century?

Guests:

Liam Twomey (@liam_twomey) covers Chelsea and more for The Athletic

Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) is a football finance expert working at Liverpool University and co-host of the Price of Football Podcast

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com