S8 Ep22: How the January transfer window has changed the 2021/22 season
Feb 03, 2022
Show notesHow has the winter window changed the 2021/22 season? William Hill sponsors this episode of the Squawka Talker podcast as the team look at the impact of the 2021/22 January transfer window on the final stretch of the season. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Football London's Kaya Kaynak to look back at the key moves and assess how it impacts the race for Europe and the relegation battle in the Premier League and the Champions League last 16. Big spending Newcastle topped the charts with £93m splashed on new faces, Liverpool snapped u p Colombian star Luis Diaz and Spurs boss Antonio Conte raided former club Juventus for Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur. If you're 18+ and Gamble Aware, you can find out more about William Hill's Champions League market here.
S8 Ep21: How to solve Manchester United's issues in 2022
Jan 20, 2022
Show notes
The latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the picture at Manchester United in 2022 and the key questions facing Ralf Rangnick in the coming months. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and The Independent's Northern Football Correspondent Mark Critchley to assess the changes needed for United. The team look at United's long term plan to replace Nemanja Matic with the Serbian's aging limbs struggling with the demands of regular Premier League football and a long list of potential heirs to his No.6 role. Alongside Matic's future, Marcus Rashford's position at Old Trafford is on the agenda, after an injury plagued 12 months for the England star, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka's starting place also under threat, as the rise of the Premier League full back leaves him in the shade in 2022.
S8 Ep20: The Most Awards 2021
Jan 04, 2022
Show notes
As 2021 turns into 2022, the latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the calendar year stat leaders from Europe's top five leagues. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Squawka's social media editor Jake Entwistle to analyse the numbers behind the top performers in 2021. The Most goals, The Most assists, The Most chances created, The Most tackles are all covered, as well as some requests from listeners that joined the live Twitter Space. Among the metrics, the Squawka Talker team also look at rising stars Dusan Vlahovic and Aurélien Tchouaméni who will both be attracting plenty of interest in 2022 and beyond.
S8 Ep19: 21/22 Champions League Last 16 reactions and predictions
Dec 14, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast gives an instant reaction to the draw for the 2021/22 Champions League last 16 with some heavyweight clashes penciled in for February 2022. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and freelance football broadcaster Tom Gayle to offer insight and analysis on the draw and predict the big stories to come in the knockout stages next year. The team look at the challenges facing last 16 novices RB Salzburg up against 2020 winners Bayern Munich, red hot favourites Manchester City v Sporting Lisbon, defending champions Chelsea against Lille and group stage headline grabbers Ajax clashing with Benfica. In part the gang turn their attention to the final four games of the last 16 with Manchester United looking for more Cristiano Ronaldo inspiration as they face Atletico Madrid, Villarreal take on Juventus, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool showdown with Serie A holders Inter Milan and Sergio Ramos heads 'home' as PSG face Real Madrid. There is also a quickfire predictions round with Feargal, Mo and Tom all giving their picking for who makes it through to the last eight.
S8 Ep18: Who is the best Portuguese player in the Premier League?
Dec 09, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at the sensational crop of Portuguese talent currently dominating English football and asks the question - who is the best Portuguese star in the Premier League in 2021? Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Portuguese football expert Tom Kundert to run the rule over the wave of Portuguese superstars making a decisive impact on the Premier League title race. The guys assess the pros and cons of Cristiano Ronaldo's first few months back at Manchester United, as the goals continue to fly in for the 36-year-old, but so do the questions of how he fits into Ralf Rangnick's emerging tactical system. There is also the battle of the diminutive schemers, as Diogo Jota and Bernardo Silva grab the headlines at opposite ends of the M62 for Liverpool and Manchester City, plus the phenomenal transformation of Joao Cancelo under Pep Guardiola. Alongside their eye-catching performances in English football, the team also review the latest position of the Portugal national side as Fernando Santos struggles to strike a balance in his all star side, ahead of their crunch 2022 World Cup play off in March 2022.
S8 Ep17: The biggest Ballon d'Or robberies this century
Dec 02, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at a controversial Ballon d'Or Award in 2021 and some of the biggest 'Ballon d'Or robberies since 2000'. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and freelance football journalist and broadcaster Mo Stewart to run the rule over Lionel Messi's seventh Ballon d'Or, ahead of Robert Lewandowski, amid a social media storm over the vote. The guys ask what comes next for the award after the most controversial decision in recent years? Is there a need for change and more consistency over the voting criteria for it to survive? Alongside the 2021 award, and what it means for the future, the team also look back at some of the biggest 'Ballon d'Or steals' in recent seasons. Thierry Henry coming second to Pavel Nedved in 2003, treble winning Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder losing out to Messi in 2010 and plenty more close calls from the most prestigious individual honour in football.
S8 Ep16: Xavi's School for Gifted Youngsters? How Barcelona could look in 2022
Nov 25, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at Xavi's plans for Barcelona in 2022 as the La Masia production line whirrs back into action Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and Barcelona-based La Liga writer and broadcaster Rik Sharma, to discuss the role of La Masia in Xavi's new-look Barcelona side and how he intends to remodel the Catalan giants. The former Spanish international is blessed with the strongest crop of young talent at the club in over a decade with Ansu Fati and Pedri joined by Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, Abde Ezzalzouli and others since the start of 2021/22. Despite the positivity of youth, Xavi faces a conundrum over his experienced stars - and former teammates - in the coming months with big decisions to be made on Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique. The guys also look at Xavi transfer plans in 2022, with departures expected in January, as he aims to reignite the fire of excellence at the Camp Nou.
S8 Ep15: Can West Ham qualify for the Champions League?
Nov 18, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at West Ham's chances of securing a top-four finish in the Premier League in 2022.
Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's chief football writer Muhammad Butt and West Ham correspondent for Football London Tom Clark, to assess the Hammers chances of crashing the Champions League party this season. David Moyes has looked to build on the Hammers sixth place finish in 2020/21 with an impressive start to the current campaign placing West Ham at third in the table ahead of the international break. The team dive into the key factors behind West Ham's excellent start to the season and Moyes' thinking on tactical stability in recent months. Declan Rice's development, alongside the goal scoring exploits of Michail Antonio, are examined as part of West Ham's push to secure a first ever Champions League place in 2022.
S8 Ep14: The future of England's midfield
Nov 13, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at how Gareth Southgate's England midfield could line up at Qatar 2022 and beyond. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Chief Football Writer Muhammad Butt and Football London journalist Kaya Kaynak to take a deep dive into Southgate's midfield options moving into the World Cup next year and future tournaments. Southgate opted for the safety at Euro 2020 with a double pivot of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips but will he move with the times and opt for a single deep-lying midfielder? Is Marcelo Bielsa's lynchpin the man for the job or can Rice shoulder the weight alone? And what about the Lions Cubs? England are blessed with a slew of young midfield, can any of them can force their way into Southgate's thinking. Conor Gallagher is the poster boy for Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace and Emile Smith-Rowe is the reason for Arsenal's upturn in form. Finally, Phil Foden is scaling new heights at Manchester City in a left-wing role - but will his home be at the heart of Southgate's midfield?
S8 Ep13: How to rebuild Newcastle United
Nov 04, 2021
Show notesThe latest episode of the Squawka Talker podcast looks at how to rebuild Newcastle United in 2022. Host Feargal Brennan is joined by Squawka's Chief Football Writer Muhammad Butt and Newcastle United fan and BBC Sport journalist Harry De Cosemo to asses the current picture at St. James' Park following their Saudi Arabia-backed buyout. The team analyse what the Magpies transfer policy will be in the coming months with growing pressure on the club to spend big in January to force their way out of the Premier League relegation battle. Will they look to bring in Premier League stalwarts like James Tarkowski and John McGinn or will they roll the dice on 'European mercenaries' such as Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid? Or will the new regime on Tyneside invest in young British talent on the continent with Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and Jude Bellingham all stamping their mark on the game?
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