The Game

Latest Episodes:

20 Years Of Daniel Levy Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. There’ll be no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League quarter finals this season - will either ever win another European trophy? Manchester United have restructured their positions above Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s head - what impact will this have on their performances? It’s 20 years since Daniel Levy took over at Tottenham, but what will his legacy be? Barnsley are in the Championship playoff places, they’ve just been held to a draw after 7 straight wins - what’s the secret at Oakwell? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Just How Tall Is Luke Shaw? Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Matt Dickinson. The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent joins us from the off to discuss Rangers’ title win after a long journey back from the fourth tier of Scottish football. Steven Gerrard has impressed massively north of the border, but could he soon make his way to the north west? Fulham became the latest team to topple Liverpool at Anfield as the defending champions’ home form stretches to six losses in a row. How far is Scott Parker’s stock rising with this return to form? It seems like every episode this season has included a conversation on VAR and this is no different with the latest handball change. Manchester United won the derby, but was Luke Shaw the real winner after his MOTM performance? Is he now England’s best choice in that position for the Euros? We look at what your team’s best or worst run of form, given Manchester City’s 21 games unbeaten and Liverpool’s current plight at Anfield. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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The Top Four Will Be... Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. Leicester City and Manchester United both dropped points last night, so we start by taking a look at the race for the top 4. Which teams have run out of steam? Who has more to get out of their squad in the run-in? How will it finish? The international break is coming up - will it be a well-needed break for some teams and a selection headache for others? Could we be heading for a club vs country row? The surprise bid for the 2030 World Cup is up for discussion - but is it just a distraction from the Government? Newcastle are looking like the most likely team to drop into the bottom three, especially with Fulham unbeaten in 5 games. Can Steve Bruce turn things around and with reports of a training ground bust-up, has he got the support of the players? Alyson Rudd joins us to pay tribute to the late Ian St John. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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More Costume Changes Than Madonna Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. We delve into the world of football conspiracy theories, which seem to be increasing while we’re all sitting at home! Surely the transparency of VAR discredits some of the more believable theories? Ole Gunnar Solskjær referred to an article on the Chelsea website potentially influencing the referee - is this one of the most baffling claims we’ve heard!? After another weekend with more baffling confusion between VAR and referees - are the officials losing control? Brighton are slowly drifting down the table - are they sleepwalking towards relegation? One of the teams to have taken 3 points home from the AMEX are Crystal Palace - should Roy Hodgson get another contract? You can read Tom Roddy’s article on football analyst Jack Lyons and his route into the game thanks to Brendan Rodgers - he gives us more around the piece and we ask our resident former pro, Gregor Robertson what part these roles play in modern teams. After Dean Smith banned his players from playing Fantasy Football, Alyson Rudd enlightens us with her thoughts on the matter and why she thinks it should be banned all together! Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Did Neil Lennon Jump, Or Was He Pushed? Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Tom Roddy. Neil Lennon has finally parted company with Celtic after a disastrous season in the Scottish Premiership - but was it his decision? The Times’ Scottish Football Correspondent, Michael Grant joins us to give us the inside view from north of the border as we debate who could be the best fit to replace him. It’s an age-old discussion, but do Scottish teams need to join the English league system to compete going forward? We take a look at the knockout stages of the Champions League as Chelsea and Manchester City both got wins in the past couple of days - but can anyone match Bayern Munich this season? After Pep Guardiola’s ‘brave’ Manchester City-emblazoned jacket made an appearance, we recount the worst fashion faux-pas in football history. Remember the Manchester United ‘lads on the town’ look? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Is It Wrong To Substitute the Substitute? Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. Things are looking good for Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, but after the Callum Hudson-Odoi incident at the weekend - is he too abrasive for the club? On that note, is there anything more humiliating on the pitch than being substituted as a substitute? Our resident ex-pro gives us his insight on the matter. Things are going less well for Jose Mourinho at Spurs following another loss, this time to West Ham. Is it time for him to change his approach and go all out? Alyson still thinks Gareth Bale is a myth, despite his sudden return to form. West Ham are currently in the Champions League places, but are they entertaining and is anyone taking their silent quest for Europe seriously? Fulham are on the charge and look more likely to stay up - but will they? Sheffield United look all but down, Gregor sets out his argument for keeping his former boss, Chris Wilder in charge at Bramall Lane no matter what. Bournemouth and Bristol City have new short-term managers - are they the right choices for each club’s needs? Following the Merseyside derby, we pick which style of manager we’d prefer out of ’stubborn’ Jurgen Klopp or ‘practical’ Carlo Ancelotti. Have a guess who Alyson chooses.. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Move Over, Messi.. Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. The Champions League is back - Kylian Mbappé turned it on in Messi’s back yard and Erling Braut Haaland blew Sevilla away - is this the moment the next generation take over? Are Mbappé and Haaland the new Messi and Ronaldo? The Times’ European Football Correspondent, Ian Hawkey joins the conversation to give his insight into current situations at Barcelona and PSG. We play fantasy football to place world-beating players into curveball sides - Mbappé to Leicester City anyone? Referee Darren Drysdale has been charged with improper conduct by the FA after appearing to square up to Ipswich’s Alan Judge in their game against Northampton this week. Gregor gives us his unique insight as a former player and questions whether it’s any surprise an official has finally reacted to player pressure. The Merseyside derby comes around again this weekend with both sides in need of a win - could we see a classic at Anfield? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Does Jürgen Klopp Need A Break? Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Tom Roddy. While people focus on the Manchester clubs and City’s lead at the top of the table, Leicester City have quietly gone about their business with some impressive results. How much will they miss James Justin after his injury and will they finish in the top 4? Liverpool have seen their season drift and after three losses in a row, remarkably some fans have been suggesting it’s time up for Jurgen Klopp. He’s dealt with personal grief this past week with the loss of his mother, could the German take some time off while lockdown restrictions allow him to be with his family back home? VAR, one again causes some debate between the panel - do we need to see the lines and should something similar to ‘umpire’s call’ in cricket be tested? Fulham pulled off an impressive win over Everton on Sunday - is there any hope of survival for Scott Parker’s side? We discuss the worst pieces of club merchandise after Spurs’ less-than-inspiring range of Carabao Cup final tat and end with our favourite misquotes, after we mis-quoted our very own Jonathan Northcroft on the last episode! Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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What's Up With The Cup? Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Jonathan Northcroft and Tom Clarke. There have been some weird football matches in the FA Cup this week. Some beyond dull, some 9-goal thrillers (see Everton vs Tottenham) and some featuring youth players who may never play for the first team again. Today, we ask - what’s up with the Cup? Are the players tired and not up for the games and should the competition have just been rested for this extraordinary season? What’s up with Donny Van Der Beek? He’s not shown any signs of being the player he was touted as - does he just not fit at Manchester United or does he just need time? Mike Dean and Lee Mason won’t be involved in the Premier League this weekend, but the bigger issue is the abuse that lead to this decision. How do football authorities and social media companies tackle this problem and have referees lost control? The bottom three of the Premier League hasn’t changed for a long time - are those teams doomed? We end with our favourite impact substitutions in honour of Daniel Amokachi’s heroics in the FA Cup back in 1995. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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Are Liverpool Bad Champions? Feb 08, 2021

Show notes

Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Tom Clarke. Liverpool’s title hopes look all but over following the defeat to Manchester City - but what’s gone wrong? Are they bad Champions and should some blame be put on manager, Jurgen Klopp? On the other hand, Manchester City have been in scintillating form - are they nailed on to win the Premier League this season? Has Pep Guardiola’s precise and patient development of Phil Foden created a generational talent and could his club form continue for England at the Euros? Harry Kane is back and instantly Tottenham’s fortunes improve - but could he be about to face the biggest decision of his career in order to win a trophy? If Kane was to leave - who would be the buyer? As the Culture Secretary promises new laws to make social media companies have more responsibility to tackle online abuse - we discuss the recent racial abuse aimed at footballers. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame

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