The Game

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Is Mourinho erratically engineering an early exit? Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back to review more misery for Mourinho at Manchester United. After defeat at West Ham confirms their worst start in 29 years, has he taken United back to square one? And in the wake of in-fighting and increasingly random team selections, we ask if Mourinho is trying to orchestrate his own dismissal so he can leave Old Trafford with some credit in the bank. And what should the succession plan be towards the next manager?

Oliver Kay has been to Barcelona and tells us why a bid for Pogba in January is unlikely. And after his sensational equaliser at Stamford Bridge for Liverpool against Chelsea, is Daniel Sturridge now first reserve up front for England? Plus Bill Edgar tells us how much time Cardiff fans are spending watching Sean Morrison hold the ball in his hands.

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Pogba and Mourinho enter end game Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

It’s the story that keeps on giving. The bad blood between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho continues to boil at Manchester United. Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer discuss with James Gheerbrant and the man at the heart of the story, Paul Hirst.

Was Mourinho’s training ground spat with Pogba pre-meditated to underline his authority not just to the squad but to the watching world? How embarrassing is this for the club to have this internal squabble played out in front of the cameras? Can Pogba ever mesh with Mourinho’s style of football? And who will leave United first?

With Chelsea meeting Liverpool in the headline fixture in England this weekend, and with Eden Hazard knocking the Reds out of the Carabao Cup in midweek, we ask whether the Belgian really is the best player in the Premier League.

Plus with the news that the FA are set to reward Gareth Southgate with an extended contract and a pay rise, the panel assess his value to England. And if he were on the market, which Premier League club would take him?

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball

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Wizardry from Wolves as Keegan gets candid on cowboy Newcastle Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar after another eyebrow-raising Premier League weekend.

With Liverpool maintaining their 100% record and Chelsea dropping points for the first time this season, we cast our eye to the top of the table showdown at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Is Sarri-ball getting the best out of N’Golo Kante? And is there a place up for grabs in that Chelsea midfield for Ross Barkley?

Wolves continue to impress as they prise a point from Manchester United at Old Trafford. Gab admires their tactical flexibility but still has problems with their business model. Plus is Ruben Neves the best player outside the top 6? And why has Alexis Sanchez been so ineffective since signing for United in January?

And Matt Dickinson joins us to discuss the explosive extracts from Kevin Keegan’s autobiography which you can read in The Game in The Times on Monday, as he lifts the lid on Newcastle under Mike Ashley’s ownership.

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Poundings for Pochettino and PSG Sep 20, 2018

Show notes

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer react to an eventful midweek in the Champions League as Tottenham taste their third defeat in a row. Are we right to question Mauricio Pochettino’s decisions or does he have too much credit in the bank?

Manchester City suffer shock defeat at home to Lyon. Oliver Kay argues they are failing to hit the heights of this time last year. Should Bernardo Silva take centre stage?

Liverpool dispose of PSG as Klopp overcomes Tuchel. But as James Gheerbrant suggests, are we predisposed to wanting PSG to fail due to a lack of goodwill towards them?

Elsewhere, it’s a pain in the AARs for Cristiano Ronaldo. And Gazidis is a goner, in a high-profile exit from the Emirates. Has he let Stan Kroenke down?

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball

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Wounded Wilfried and Everton's unsavoury Silva situation Sep 17, 2018

Show notes

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer break down some major talking points after another big Premier League weekend, in the company of Alyson Rudd and Paul Joyce.

Liverpool are flying with 5 wins out of 5 after beating Spurs but are they suffering from a lack of selflessness from their strikers? And what does Mauricio Pochettino do about his Kane conundrum?

Everton lose to West Ham but have troubles off the pitch as an independent enquiry examines their approach to Marco Silva last season. Is the alleged tapping up a sign of a more aggressive owner in Farhad Moshiri?

The panel looks ahead to the Champions League week and reacts to Wilfried Zaha’s pleas for protection from referees. Only Eden Hazard has been fouled more than Zaha in the Premier League in the last 5 years – what can Palace’s star man learn from the Belgian?

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Is Pogba miscast as a mercenary? Sep 13, 2018

Show notes

The Premier League returns, as do Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer in the company of Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst, to look ahead to what promises to be an intriguing weekend.

Gary Neville has spoken exclusively to Matt Dickinson for The Times about his former club Manchester United, the need to back Jose Mourinho and a warning for Paul Pogba not to lose the dressing room over his future. The panel debate whether or not Pogba’s intentions are misunderstood.

League leaders Liverpool prepare for Poch and a visit to Wembley to take on Tottenham. But as Neville suggests, would Klopp be better off ditching the Champions League in search of Premier League glory?

We analyse (pointless) West Ham’s woes. Did they start with the summer transfer window? And where is their next win coming from?

Plus the Roy Keane Republic of Ireland saga and Gab and Nat debunk some myths about the new St Mirren manager.

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball

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Walker left wondering and the pressure to conform in football Sep 10, 2018

Show notes

Natalie Sawyer is joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar to discuss the fall-out from England’s Nations League defeat to Spain at Wembley. With Joe Gomez preferred to Kyle Walker in a back 3, and Kieran Trippier continuing to excel at wing-back, is there a place in the England team for the title-winning Walker?

Plus as Southgate looks to solve the midfield conundrum, after a historical English emphasis on physicality, is there a shift in ambition for young players in this country in terms of the type of player they want to be?

On the subject of England and Spain, Peter Crouch spoke to Ben Machell and Hector Bellerin was in conversation with Matthew Syed, two interviews which you can read at thetimes.co.uk. We discuss with the panel the concept of footballers expressing themselves as unique individuals and whether there is too much pressure to conform in football.

And as the Women’s Super League kicks off, Rebecca Myers from The Sunday Times joins us to discuss a top tier made up entirely of professional clubs and the ramifications for women’s football in this country.

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The Nations League – how, what and why? Sep 06, 2018

Show notes

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and George Caulkin to discuss the inaugural UEFA Nations League weekend. But if you’re still unsure about what exactly it is, allow us to answer the questions you were maybe afraid to ask.

Is England’s game with Spain in danger of being treated like a World Cup parade where fans pay tribute to the players? And we examine numbers that might point to a decline in Harry Kane’s form but is he just being cautious due to injuries?

Plus the panel debate the dilemma facing Declan Rice who may switch allegiances from the Republic if Ireland to England. And the issue of clarification of the handball rule, which began with Willy Boly’s goal for Wolves against Manchester City, continues to enrage.

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Playing out from the back and Pellegrini under pressure Sep 03, 2018

Show notes

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back together in the studio after another Premier League weekend full of surprises.

Oliver Kay witnesses the Woodward banner at Turf Moor as we examine the criticism thrown at Manchester United’s chief executive. And with Burnley and West Ham struggling, we look at two sides suffering from the (claret and) blues.

After errors from the experienced Cech and the handsome Alisson, the panel debate the merits of goalkeepers playing out from the back with their feet. And does Unai Emery really have faith in Bernd Leno?

James Gheerbrant watched Watford terrorize Tottenham at Vicarage Road. Are Watford benefitting from squad depth? And did Pochettino try and be too clever?

Is Liverpool hiring a throw-in coach the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard? Or does weaponizing the throw-in make perfect sense?

Plus find out why Gab has a hotline to Grant McCann and Natalie is channelling her inner Sepp Blatter.

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Champions League group stage draw 18/19 Aug 30, 2018

Show notes

In a special bonus bite of The Game podcast, Gab Marcotti is in Monaco to give his reaction to the group stage draw of the Champions League.

In Group B, Tottenham face not just the might of Messi, but also Coutinho, Dembele and Chucky.

Is Group C the group of death? Last year’s finalists Liverpool must overcome PSG, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.

Will it be an easy ride for Manchester City in Group F as they face Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon and Hoffenheim?

And of course all eyes will be on Old Trafford in the group stage when Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his old club with Juventus.

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