The Totally Football Show with James Richardson

Latest Episodes:

Lifeless Bayern and red-hot Real Madrid get set for the Champions League Feb 13, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo and the Euro crew of James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Alvaro Romeo and Julien Laurens look ahead to the return of the Champions League.

Bayern warm up for their game with Lazio by losing the top of the table clash at Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Why did Rapha describe them as embarrassing? Should they give Xabi Alonso a call?

Playtime’s over for Girona as Real Madrid win the other top two clash in Spain. It’s Leipzig next in the Champions League. Hear why Los Blancos could dominate Spanish football for the next decade.

PSG prepare for Real Sociedad by extending their lead and their unbeaten run in Ligue 1. And Inter make another statement with a big win at resurgent Roma.

Plus Daniel Storey joins us to discuss the incredible finale at AFCON where hosts Ivory Coast secure one of the great tournament wins.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Moment of the weekend (01.30)

• PART 2: Crisis at Bayern after Leverkusen defeat - next up Lazio (07.30)

• PART 3a: Real Madrid thrash Girona - next up Leipzig (25.00)

• PART 3b: Shock defeats for Real Sociedad & Atletico (31.00)

• PART 4a: PSG prepare for Real Sociedad (36.00)

• PART 4b: A great week for the Milan clubs (42.00)

• PART 5: Ivory Coast win AFCON, with Daniel Storey (53.00)

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Supreme Arsenal stick six past Moyes’s Hammers Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo is joined in the studio by Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Adrian Clarke after another thrilling weekend of Premier League football.

Arsenal embarrass David Moyes and West Ham with a 6-0 win at the London Stadium. Have the Gunners been revitalised by the winter break? And just how concerned should West Ham be?

It’s Scott McTominay to the rescue at Villa Park but the panel still aren’t convinced by Man United’s Champions League hopes.

There’s credit due to Sheffield United and Caoimhin Kelleher but does Roberto De Zerbi need to be a bit less dogmatic and more adaptable?

Plus blue cards, magic tricks, the fastest players in the Premier League and goals we could have scored.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Saints stunners and weekend conclusions (01.00)

• PART 2a: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal (07.30)

• PART 2b: Liverpool and City victorious too (16.00)

• PART 3a: Great weekends for Qatar and Leverkusen (22.00)

• PART 3b: Aston Villa 1-2 Man United (29.30)

• PART 3c: Tottenham 2-1 Brighton (34.00)

• PART 4a: Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle (38.00)

• PART 4b: The rest of the Premier League weekend (41.00)

• PART 4c: The blue card furore (50.00)

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Arsenal test title credentials at West Ham, plus a fitting final at AFCON Feb 08, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo welcomes Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Benji Lanyado into The Athletic studio to analyse a big weekend across multiple competitions.

Arsenal head to West Ham in the Premier League with the Hammers looking for a 3rd win over the Gunners this season. Do we have Arteta’s team right in terms of what kind of team they are? And why do some West Ham fans continue to be unhappy with David Moyes?

Aston Villa take on red-hot Man United at Villa Park. Now that United are taking their chances, is Bruno Fernandes’s hard work about to be rewarded?

It was a bad midweek for Villa as they were well beaten by Chelsea in the FA Cup. But can we really trust Pochettino’s side to keep this going?

Our AFCON final is set for Sunday - Daniel Storey joins us to preview the best team in the competition Nigeria, up against the miracle-working hosts Ivory Coast.

Plus the Southampton way, and the Britpop Kevin De Bruyne.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Chelsea outclass Villa to headline FA Cup replays (02.00)

• PART 2a: Man City v Everton preview (11.45)

• PART 2b: West Ham v Arsenal preview (18.00)

• PART 3a: Aston Villa v Man United preview (33.00)

• PART 3b: Tottenham v Brighton preview (36.00)

• PART 3c: The rest of the Premier League weekend (42.00)

• PART 4: AFCON final preview with Daniel Storey (53.00)

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Inter seize control of Serie A, with the top two set to clash in Spain and Germany Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo, James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Alvaro Romeo and Julien Laurens take in some monumental match-ups across the continent.

Inter beat Juventus to take the title initiative, thanks to the fluidity of Pavard and an Alonso-esque performance from Calhanoglu.

Speaking of Xabi, Leverkusen and Bayern both win ahead of their clash in the Bundesliga this Saturday, where Thomas Muller will look for his 501st win at club level.

The top two will also meet in Spain this weekend. Girona and Real Madrid both drew, as Atletico missed their chance to keep their title hopes alive.

Will Kylian Mbappe be lining up at the Bernabeu next season? His mind is reportedly made up. Who could replace him at PSG?

Plus El Bilbao, crisis meetings in Marseille and tennis balls in Berlin.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Moment of the weekend (02.00)

• PART 2a: Inter 1-0 Juventus (07.45)

• PART 2b: Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid (16.45)

• PART 3: Leverkusen and Bayern ready for battle (26.00)

• PART 4a: Henderson debuts for Ajax (33.00)

• PART 4b: The race for the top 4 in Italy (36.00)

• PART 4c: The race for the top 4 in Spain (43.00)

• PART 5: Mbappe set for Real Madrid? (53.00)

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Liverpool lose their heads at Arsenal while Chelsea fans finally lose patience Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo is joined by Daniel Storey, Tim Spiers and Matt Davies-Adams after a weekend packed full of goals and drama in the Premier League.

A howler from Van Dijk and Alisson sees Liverpool suffer just their second league defeat of the season. Did the Reds lose their heads? And were Man City the real winners on Sunday?

It was another 4 goals shipped by Chelsea as Wolves heaped more pressure on Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. The panel give Gary O’Neil some love and list the many reasons for Blues fans to be upset.

Palace fans are also upset after a dreadful day at Brighton while Luton again show they can play in an 8-goal thriller at Newcastle.

We have our AFCON semi-finalists with hosts Ivory Coast earning the moniker of ‘zombie elephants.’

Plus sandwiches at Sheffield United and green shoots at Old Trafford.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool (04.00)

• PART 2a: Chelsea 2-4 Wolves (13.00)

• PART 2b: Man United 3-0 West Ham & Bournemouth 1-1 Forest (24.00)

• PART 3a: Newcastle 4-4 Luton (30.00)

• PART 3b: The rest of the Premier League weekend (34.00)

• PART 3c: AFCON semi-finals ahoy (48.00)

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Brand new Liverpool head to Arsenal and why smart Luton battered Brighton Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo, Duncan Alexander, Tom Williams and Seb Stafford-Bloor pack themselves into a studio surrounded by football stories.

Leaders Liverpool hammer Chelsea, led by the irrepressible Conor Bradley and the woodwork-loving Darwin Nunez. Next up - Arsenal at the Emirates.

Spurs overcome Maupay’s Brentford in a game dictated by darts celebrations. Villa lose at home for the first time in almost a year in the Premier League and Luton move out of the relegation zone after smashing the Seagulls.

Maher Mezahi brings us the latest from AFCON where none of the quarter-finalists were in the last 8 at the last tournament.

Plus Mancini storms off, All Played Out andLightning Strikes ’95.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Quiet transfer deadline day (02.30)

• PART 2a: Tottenham 3-2 Brentford (08.00)

• PART 2b: Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea (17.00)

• PART 2c: Man City 3-1 Burnley (24.30)

• PART 3a: Luton 4-0 Brighton (30.00)

• PART 3b: Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle (36.00)

• PART 3c: The rest of the Premier League midweek & weekend (39.00)

• PART 4a: Asian Cup update (45.00)

• PART 4b: AFCON update with Maher Mezahi (47.00)

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Why Xavi reached breaking point at Barcelona, plus Inter Juve looms large Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo is back with the colossal continental crew of James Horncastle, Julien Laurens, Alvaro Romeo and Raphael Honigstein.

Xavi announces he will be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season, just 4 months after signing a contract extension as manager. What led to the Barca legend calling it quits and where do the Catalan club go from here?

Where does Jurgen Klopp go from here? Is it straight to the German national job? His heir apparent Xabi Alonso saw his Leverkusen side lose ground in the title race this weekend.

The top two meet on Sunday with Inter going into their clash with Juventus back on top of the table. Elsewhere in Serie A, is Ruben Loftus-Cheek making a strong bid for the Euros?

Plus PSG throw away a 2-0 lead to an increasingly impressive Brest, while we also witness the youngest player to be sent off in Ligue 1 history.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: Moment of the weekend (02.30)

• PART 2: Xavi leaving Barcelona at the end of the season (09.00)

• PART 3: Inter and Juve get ready for the Derby d’Italia (30.00)

• PART 4: PSG pegged back by Brest (44.00)

• PART 5: Leverkusen drop points and what next for Klopp? (53.00)

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Klopp leaving Liverpool and the miracle of Maidstone Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo welcomes Daniel Storey, Tim Spiers and Luis Miguel Echegaray into the pod after a surprising weekend in the world of football.

Jurgen Klopp announces he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Along with James Pearce, we discuss what Klopp means to the club, whether Xabi Alonso will be replacing him and whether he might actually stay after all.

The FA Cup 5th round sees shocking scenes in the stands at the Hawthorns and on the pitch at Portman Road as 6th tier Maidstone reach the last 16.

There’s a full Premier League fixture list to look ahead to with Forest looking to beat Arsenal at the City Ground again.

Plus more underdog upsets at AFCON and what is going on with Marcus Rashford?

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1: West Brom Wolves fan violence (01.30)

• PART 2a: Ipswich 1-2 Maidstone (05.00)

• PART 2b: Newport 2-4 Man United (12.30)

• PART 3: Klopp to leave Liverpool, with James Pearce (19.00)

• PART 4a: The rest of the FA Cup weekend (39.00)

• PART 4b: AFCON and Asian Cup last 16 happenings (43.00)

• PART 4c: The Premier League midweek to come (48.00)

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Man City confront Spurs hoodoo in the FA Cup while Chelsea romp to League Cup final with Liverpool Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo is joined by Duncan Alexander, Charlie Eccleshare and Adrian Clarke in the middle of another week of red hot cup action.

Chelsea and Liverpool will contest yet another cup final at Wembley after navigating their way through their Carabao Cup semi-finals. Just why did Man City sell Cole Palmer again?

It’s FA Cup 4th round weekend with Spurs looking to maintain their perfect record against Man City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Plus there’s a big Black Country derby in the morning and a big banana skin for Man United at Newport.

Plus Sinclair, Armstrong and Macken - our favourite 4th round memories.

And Maher Mezahi joins us again after another week of shocks and sackings at AFCON.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1a: Trevor Sinclair and the worst game ever (01.30)

• PART 1b: Liverpool and Chelsea set up League Cup final (05.30)

• PART 1c: Spurs v Man City headlines the FA Cup 4th round (12.30)

• PART 2: The rest of the FA Cup weekend (26.00)

• PART 3: The AFCON group stage concludes (42.00)

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Leverkusen extend their lead and Juventus go top of Serie A Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Jimbo, James Horncastle, Raphael Honigstein, Julien Laurens and Alvaro Romeo are together in the same studio after another seismic weekend across the continent.

Bayern are beaten as Leverkusen win late again at Leipzig to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga. Have Thomas Tuchel’s side underestimated the threat of Leverkusen? And is Kieran Trippier on his way to Munich?

With Inter off winning the Super Cup, the rejuvenated Juventus go top of the table. Hear how the Old Lady got younger and about the sad events that saw Udinese Milan suspended.

Controversy reigns in Spain with Real Madrid benefitting from big VAR calls in their comeback win over Almeria.

Michiel Jongsma joins us to discuss how PSV finally dropped points and why Henderson has been so heralded by Ajax fans.

We’ve got more Coupe De France action and whether or not Karim Benzema will be returning to Lyon.

And a reminder of just how good the late Gigi Riva was after his passing this weekend.

Produced by Charlie Jones.

RUNNING ORDER:

• PART 1a: Moment of the weekend (02.30)

• PART 1b: Paying tribute to Gigi Riva (07.30)

• PART 2: Bayern lose as Leverkusen win again (14.30)

• PART 3: PSV drop points, with Michiel Jongsma (28.00)

• PART 4: Real VARdrid and another big win for Girona (37.00)

• PART 5: Juventus go top as racism mars Udinese-Milan (50.00)