Jonathan Northcroft, Gregor Robertson and Martin Samuel join Tom Clarke for the final pre-Christmas edition of The Game.

First on the agenda is the super league…its back, but will it actually happen? Perhaps the fans will have more power than they realise.

Away from a potential super league why were West Ham so lacklustre, is Keiron Trippier fatigued and all change at Nottingham Forest. Who will be top at Christmas, Villa are in with a shout after an exceptional 2023. And finally a Christmas wish for 2024...

Merry Christmas one and all, we’ll see you for a Christmas pod on Wed 27rh Dec.

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Timeline:

Super League

3’ the super league…so depressing. Making football less competitive. Enriching the richer clubs.

5’ can’t exist unless people want it to exist.

7’ danger of the rich getting richer at the expense of all football.

8’ the model doesn’t offer meritocracy.

12’ the revamped champions league looks to be a testing of the water

15’ ”to what extent have fans lost control of their clubs to the global market place.”

18’ “eternal lust for growth….football doesn’t need more money.”

West Ham

24’ odd team selection

25’ weak semi final line up, three steps from a trophy.

26’ Competent, pragmatic manager but a romantic fan base. Tough mix.

Newcastle and Trippier

30’ Fatigue, confidence, even the best are affected.

32’ has he been the same since the confrontation with the fans and Bournemouth?

Nottingham Forest

39’ Hurling pieces at a board, no plan, no structure. He got lucky with Cooper.

41’ Cooper earned the right to see out the season. Instead he’s got more players and out before Christmas.

45’ Nuno not a good fit. He likes, small simple. Forest is not that.

Villa

49’ Will they be top at Christmas. It would underline an extraordinary year for Villa.

51’ Villa won’t fall away. They’ve sustained this from for a year. 15 wins at home.

52’ Jonny on Emery “You can see when a coach has a club in the palm of his hand.”

54’ Martin on Emery “I’m gonna ask for what I want and I’m gonna get what I want.”

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