Ranks FC - A Football Podcast

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Ranking the Internet's Interesting Football Takes Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!
We're into the festive spirit here at Ranks FC and we thought we'd do something a little bit different for a laugh today. Dean has been trawling the four corners of the internet to find some of the most interesting and potentially controversial takes that he could discover - that were still worthy of discussion.
We talk about whether Evan Ferguson could truly reach levels similar to that of Erling Haaland; why some people consider Jurgen Klopp a better manager than Pep Guardiola; if footballers genuinely care less about their clubs than they did 20 years ago; whether the Champions League this season will be won once again by an underdog - and who might qualify for that tag; and if Jude Bellingham is on a course to have a better career than the likes of Kylian Mbappé; before ranking each of those takes in terms of how valid they could be.
Before that, there's Things We Love, where Dean applauds the teams who have forced their way into title race conversations out of seemingly nowhere - Girona, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen and OGC Nice; and Jack gets excited about a few disruptors a little further down their respective tables - Bologna in Serie A, and Athletic Club in La Liga.
Finally, Dean gives us some Christmas Guru Wisdom, with his tips for the festive season; and youngest Ranks FC heir Dylan Jones sings us all out on a jolly festive tune. It's Ranks!

And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon?

Bonus Episode: Reacting to the Champions League Last 16 Draw Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

We're here on a Monday to drop you a bonus podcast, looking back at the Last 16 draw in the Champions League and examining how we see each of the eight ties at this point in the campaign.

We pick some early favourites, make some predictions, and answer some questions from our brilliant community regarding the teams involved; whilst looking at the matchups from a draw that is perhaps more exciting than it originally looked on paper.

It's Ranks!

(This show is a taster of our offering over on Patreon - where our Ranks FC Ultras dwell. There's two extra shows a week (at least), as well as a thriving football community on our Discord server, the chance to ask questions on our weekly Postbox episode, and help shape the direction of the podcast as a whole. With January coming up, Dean will be breaking all the latest transfer news across the month, and so there's never been a better time to give our free trial a go and decide if you'd like to get involved permanently!)

Champions League Takeaway: Last 16 Set, Group F Finishes in Style, United Crash Out, Real Hate Losing, Is The PL's Power Overstated and Everything Else! Dec 14, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

It’s time for the last Champions League Takeaway of 2023, and the last ever one discussing the group stages as we know them, with the format set to change next year. And there's plenty to get through!

We start with Wednesday’s action, with three big takeaways on whether Newcastle were right to throw caution to the wind, why PSG are struggling to score goals right now, and how Barcelona's crisis meter is growing dangerously close to explosion, before rounding up the rest of the action.

Then in Part Two, we take a look at Tuesday – talking Manchester United's exit and whether the 'true power' of the Premier League is overstated, why Real Madrid's desire not to lose is so impressive, and how a Benfica castoff helped them find a backbone, and then run through everything else that happened too.

It’s Ranks!

Ranking the European Golden Boot Leaders & Contenders Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

Just ahead of some of the winter breaks kicking in across Europe, and at the end of a few of the 'summer leagues', we thought it would be a good time to take stock of who is leading the way in the scoring charts.

We discuss the fun history of the European Golden Boot (or European Golden Shoe if you prefer), why it was cancelled for a few years, and explain the slightly complicated co-efficient system, before diving into the top ten.

There's some familiar names - Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez, and Harry Kane to name a few - but there's also a few surprise packages. We discuss them all, and look at a few players outside the Top 10 who we think will make their way in by the end of the seaosn.

In Things We Love, Dean discusses Cristiano Ronaldo's 50 goals in a calendar year, whilst Jack looks at a touching tribute to a fan in the game between Granada and Athletic Club in La Liga; whilst Part 3 sees us continue down the theme of Dean's Guru Wisdom with some new drinks he's tried this year.

It's Ranks!

Ranking January Transfer Fixes in the Premier League Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

It's Dean's birthday, so we're doing his favourite thing - talking about transfers. Today, the Transfer Guru looks at five Premier League clubs who need to address glaring needs in January, and looks at some viable and rumoured options for each of them. We take a peek at Newcastle's goalkeeper situation, Arsenal and Fulham's No. 9 hunt, as well as Tottenham's and Liverpool's search for centre-backs.

In Things We Love, DJ looks at the first managerial sacking of the PL season not taking place until December, whilst Jack discusses a new contract at Athletic Club for Nico Williams; and in Part 3, we get some life lessons from the wise Guru of Ranks FC.

It's Ranks!

Champions League Takeaway: Penalty Pain in Paris, Bellingham Again, Arsenal Click into Gear, Dangerous Dortmund, and Everything Else! Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

It's time for another Champions League Takeaway - a midweek bonus chow down on all the week's UCL action. The biggest competition in Europe returned for Matchday 5, and we’re amongst it to take a look at the action from both Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

We start with Tuesday's action, with three big takeaways on Newcastle's penalty pain against PSG (and Lewis Miley's brilliance), Borussia Dortmund emerging as a competitive force in knockout competition, and Manchester City needing a kickstart to find world class levels, before rounding up the rest of the action.

Then in Part Two, we take a look at Wednesday - talking the very enjoyable chaos of Galatasaray 3-3 Manchester United, Jude Bellingham stepping up to the mark yet again for Real Madrid, and Arsenal's attack firmly clicking into full gear against Lens, and then run through everything else that happened too.

It’s Ranks!

If you want to take advantage of our free trial going on on Patreon right now, why not join us at patreon.com/ranksfc?

Ranking the World's Best Centre Backs Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

It's a very special episode today - the 200th Ranks FC Podcast on this feed. Three years on from the inception of Ranks as an independent brand, we've reached the big milestone - so an opportunity to say thank you so much to everyone who's listened and supported us down the years.

For a special occasion, we thought we'd pull the stops out and bring back the Rank God to give you the original trio back at full force. Sam Tighe joins us to give a main ranking on the best centre-backs in world football right now, and it's as debate-inducing as you might imagine.

We started off with Things We Love, which saw Dean discussing the madness of the Premier League this season so far, Sam chatting about his experiences as a Ranks FC listener for the last few months, and Jack talking Sergio Ramos' return to full goblin mode this weekend as he was sent off twice in the same game.

And there was one more throwback at the end, with Gibberish returning to Ranks under Dean's stewardship, where the Transfer Guru ranked some interesting things about the one constant across these 200 episodes.

It's Ranks!

Quick Ranks: Biggest Failures of 2023 Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

Here's another new idea we're trialling here on Ranks FC - following on from our Deep Dive episode last week, this week we're turning our hand back to an old favourite - Quick Ranks.

We're looking at the players and teams who have disappointed us across the course of 20233 - from Brenden Aaronson to Richarlison and Jordan Henderson; and from Norway's National Team to Ajax and Chelsea.

We hope you enjoy this new format, which we'll be looking to bake into the rotation.

It's Ranks!

Ranking the Early Euro 2024 and Copa América Front-Runners Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

We're coming to the end of the last international break of 2023, so we thought it was time to sit down and explore the early favourites for the two tournaments running simultaneously next summer on either side of the Atlantic Ocean - Euro 2024 in Germany, and the Copa América in the United States.

First we explore the European side of things, with Dean picking his top five - we talk through the hosts Germany, a Spain side with lots to offer, whether England can break the duck, how Portugal's depth is staggering, and if anyone can stop France.

Then it's off to the Americas, with Jack leading the charge and discussing the USMNT, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina - and why each are in with a shot.

We finish with some targeted Hot Takes on this very topic - looking at Ecuador, Hungary and the future of Gregg Berhalter.

It's Ranks!

If you'd like to get involved with our Patreon free trial for an extra two episodes a week from Jack & Dean, why not click here?

The Deep Dive: Manchester United - What Does the Future Hold? Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Hello Rank Squad!

Welcome to the first of a new series here on Ranks FC - the Deep Dive. Every few weeks we're going to take a look into a specific club that interests us right now, for good, bad or indifferent.

First off - Manchester United, who dominate the back pages with on and off-field actions right now. Dean ranks five things that are going to change once Sir Jim Ratcliffe is confirmed to have taken his 25% stake in the club, and control of the sporting wing.

We discuss the power he will have, the potential appointment of Jean-Claude Blanc as new CEO, who will come in to be Director of Football, the security of Erik ten Hag's job, and the ins and outs that we can expect on this pitch in January and beyond.

It's Ranks!

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