Football Today

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MLS: Owners vs Players Jan 20, 2020

Show notes

In the last 5 years, MLS has rapidly changed. There are six new teams, franchises are being bought for hundreds of millions of dollars and attendance is at an all-time high.

Yet, if you ask the players more changes are necessary. With the MLS season set to get underway on February 29th, the clock is counting down for the league and the players to thrash out a new collective bargaining agreement.

Today we break down the negotiations and ask, what do they tell us about the league entering its 25th season?

Guest:

Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) Staff writer/The Athletic

Twitter: @FT_Podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Facial Recognition: Football in the Age of Surveillance Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

Last weekend South Wales police used facial recognition during the Cardiff vs Swansea derby, sparking protests at the stadium. Today, we examine facial recognition and what it could mean for the future of football fans.

Guests:

Tom Coleman (@tomEcoleman) Sports Writer/Wales Online

Felix Tamsut (@ftamsut) Journalist covering German fan culture

Twitter: @FT_podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

On the Road to Cabinda: The Togo Bus Attack 10 Years On Jan 15, 2020

Show notes

On January the 8th 2010, a group of armed militiamen attacked the Togolese national team bus as they travelled to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. That day, two team members died.

Ten years later and the attack has largely fallen out of the public consciousness. In this episode, we look back at what happened in a bid to find out why.

We're joined by Matthew Kenyon (@MK_BBC), who covers sport for the BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice), as we retell the tale of the attack on the Togolese national team and trace the history up to the present day.

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Ciro Immobile: Europe's Most Underrated Striker? Jan 13, 2020

Show notes

On Saturday Ciro Immobile scored the lone goal in Lazio's 1-0 win against Napoli taking the club to within six points of first place Juventus- with a game in hand. The win was their 10th straight, a club record.

Immobile's goal was the 20th of the season, the highest total in all of Europe's top leagues.

But despite his prolific form and Lazio's success, he isn't thought of as an elite striker. Today we ask, why is Italy's most prolific striker so underrated?

Guest:

Nima Tavallaey (@NimaTavRood), Football Writer at SempreInter.com and Goal

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

The Decline and Fall of Loans in Football Jan 10, 2020

Show notes

The loan system has grown steadily over the last few decades in England and Europe leading to record highs. Yet, that doesn't mean it's being used more efficiently and for the correct purposes.

Today we chart the evolution of loans and examine if they're damaging football in 2020.

Guest:

Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85), Football Writer & Broadcaster/i Paper, BBC, Totally Football Show

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

What Went Wrong for Monaco? Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

At the beginning of the last decade, AS Monaco found themselves dropping down into Ligue 2, a once-great French club now beleaguered in the second division.

By the end of the decade, though, they had made their way back - winning the top division title and taking an exciting team packed with starlets to the Champions League semi-final in 2017.

But once again, the wheels of time have turned against them. Monaco is back in decline.

In this episode, we ask: what has gone wrong for Monaco?

Joining us to discuss the topic is Adam White (@_Adam_White_), Chief Features Writer at Get French Football News (@GFFN), Football Radar's (@FootballRadar) Senior Ligue 1 Analyst and French football writer for the Guardian (@guardian).

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

How Have 10,000 Free Tickets Divided Newcastle Fans? Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

For many Newcastle United fans losing Rafael Benitez this summer was the final straw. Thousands of supporters decided to boycott St.James Park to protest Mike Ashley's ownership.

In response, the club chose to give away 10,000 free half-season tickets to rebuild their relationship with the fanbase. Yet it has only further angered some of those boycotting.

Today we ask, why are Newcastle fans divided on these free tickets and what does the ticket giveaway tell us about the power of fans in 2020?

Guests:

- Chris Waugh (@ChrisDHWaugh), Reporter/The Athletic

- Alex Hurst (@tfalex1892), Chairman/Newcastle United Supporters Trust

Twitter: @FT_Podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Why Has China Cancelled Mesut Ozil? Dec 20, 2019

Show notes

With one Instagram post, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil simultaneously sent off alarm bells from Arsenal headquarters in London to the Chinese government in Beijing, leading the latter to erase him from the internet in the country.

Today we look at his post with Lily Kuo (Beijing Bureau Chief of Guardian/@lilkuo) and Simon Chadwick (Professor of Sports Enterprise at University of Salford/@Prof_Chadwick) and ask 'what will the fallout be for Arsenal, the Premier League and football fans in China?'

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

How did Magnus Carlsen Conquer Chess and Fantasy Premier League? Dec 18, 2019

Show notes

Magnus Carlsen is now the highest-ranked chess player and Fantasy Premier League player in the world…

In this episode, we ask: how did it happen that a chess genius made his way to the top in fantasy football? What, in other words, does chess have to do with fantasy football?

Helping us answer these questions, we have front editor of Scandinavia Online (@soldotno) and journalist for Matt & Patt (@MattOgPatt), Tarjei J. Svensen (@TarjeiJS), and editor of FFScout (@FFScout), David Munday (@DavidMunday815).

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Is Minamino Japan's Next Superstar? Dec 16, 2019

Show notes

According to multiple reports, Japanese international Takumi Minamino will be transferred from Red Bull Salzburg to Liverpool FC in the January transfer window.

In doing so, he is moving to one of the most high profile leagues and clubs in the world, making him an overnight celebrity to millions of Liverpool fans.

We look at how the deal will impact Liverpool's presence in Japan and ask, will Minamino become Japan's next superstar?

Our guest is Dave Phillips (@lovefutebol), who works in marketing and communications at sports streaming service, MyCujoo.

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com