B/R Football Ranks

There's a lot of pressure on the managers at some of Europe's top clubs right now - some justified, and some less so. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at the coaches in the firing line and whether their clubs should stick or twist with Unai Emery (21:25), Mauricio Pochettino (27:39), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (32:21), Ernesto Valverde (36:17), and Zinedine Zidane (41:22).

Hot Takes this week involve a discussion of whether Arsenal fans or Granit Xhaka find themselves more in the wrong after Sunday's bust up at the Emirates (03:34); thoughts on Sergino Dest's decision to pick the USMNT over the Netherlands national team (08:14); and a look at Leicester City after their demolition job on Southampton last week (12:38). Talking of Southampton, Dean hands out this week's Melon of the Week award... (17:46)

Roulette asks if football was more entertaining ten years ago (45:35); whether we'd keep all or no technology in the game if it was a black and white decision (47:28) and who the best player we've ever played with was (49:14); before Sam rounds things off by ranking players who remind him of kitchen appliances, in honour of Jurgen Klopp nicknaming Fabinho as 'Dyson' (52:43).

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The Ballon d'Or shortlist is live and France Football have announced their 30 nominees for 2019. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe), Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) and host Jack Collins (@jjwc) are joined by Marc Geschwind (@MarcGeschwind) to take a look at five players that should have been nominated for the list but aren't, and the five players that should drop out of the shortlist in their place (18:53).

Hot Takes this week involve a chat about La Liga's proposed fixture taking place in Miami, and who it ultimately benefits (02:11), a discussion of whether Jordan Henderson's time in the Liverpool first team is coming to an end (07:40); and a deep dive into Juventus' unsung hero in midfield, Miralem Pjanic (11:42). This week's Melon of the Week is off to Madrid, to rest one the shoulders of a man at fault for their defeat to Mallorca at the weekend... (16:20)

Roulette asks about our earliest football memories (41:57); which club we think will triumph in the MLS this season (44:39) and if we could swap shirts with a player, but never watch them again, who they would be (47:07); before Sam rounds things off by ranking Wayne Rooney's funniest tweets in this week's nonsense rankings (49:23).

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Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) steps in to present this week, as Jack Collins gets a well deserved break. Current day football is throwing up scenarios that were simply unimaginable ten years ago, so Rank God Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) breaks down the duos that define the game as we know it today, while B/R Football's Joanna Kamenou (@joannakamenou) also joins the lads in the studio.

In Hot Takes Dean discusses how Liverpool have never endured a Premier League season quite as bad as the one Man United are about to go through (02:38), Sam tells us why Borussia Monchengladbach are the best counter attacking team in Europe (07:48), and Jo tells the world why Romelu Lukaku needs to be considered one of the best strikers of a generation (12:20).

From the Bleacher Roulette wheel this week, the Rank Squad discuss who will last longer in their job: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Zinedine Zidane (42:13), which flavour potato chips would suit superstar footballers (44:02), and which football villains they have a soft spot for (46.09).

Sam rounds things off as usual with a nonsense ranking, this time on Reading's new manager Mark Bowen (48:20).

You can get in touch on Twitter and Instagram by following @brfootball and using the hashtag #BRFootballRanksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Some teams start well, and others start badly; but few start completely at odds with where they will end up. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at three teams who are over-performing in their respective leagues this season, and three teams who are well below where we expect them to finish.

Hot Takes this week involve a chat about how Maurizio Sarri's Juventus are already showing signs they might become the best ever version of Sarriball after their win over Conte's Inter in the Derby d'Italia (05:20), a prediction that Chelsea will become the lifeblood of the England squad by World Cup 2020 (09:10); and a look at Manchester City's loss to Wolves at the weekend (13:54). This week's Melon of the Week is given to a striker who missed an absolute sitter when his team needed him most to score... (19:08)

Roulette asks which is the best stadium food we've had (47:56); whether Barcelona should retire the No.10 shirt when Leo Messi retires (49:37) and which Premier League club the Rank Squad think each other best represent (52:08); before Sam rounds things off by ranking the best things about building a fort to watch football in, in this week's nonsense rankings (53:31).

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We're back on the road in Munich to talk Bayern with two men at differing ends of the scale: Club legend, World Cup winner and original raumdeuter, Thomas Muller sits down to discuss his teammates, horses, Oktoberfest and musical exploits; before Canadian wonderkid Alphonso Davies told us about moving to Germany, why all footballers love Drake so much, and the reason that he puts one side of his kit on first!

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Forwards get a lot of the praise, but it's the midfield maestros who make the beautiful game what it is. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at the players who have been running things in the middle so far this season, including Real Sociedad's Martin Odegaard (22:12), PSG's Idrissa Gana Gueye (25:12), Liverpool's Fabinho (28:10); Inter Milan's Stefano Sensi (32:02) and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne (34:44).

Hot Takes this week involve a discussion of whether Leicester are actually the third best team in the Premier League this season (01:30); some insight from Dean on Jadon Sancho's transfer situation and where we think he should end up (08:59); and a look at just why everything is going wrong at AC Milan (12:58). This week's Melon of the Week is given for a ridiculous Cruyff turn on someone's own goal line... (18:35)

Roulette asks who would be in our FIFA 20 Volta three-a-side team (40:35); whose playing career we'd rather have had out of Lampard, Solskjaer and Zidane (41:45) and if we'd rather win a Puskas Award or a Super Cup (43:29); before Sam rounds things off by ranking the things he hates most about autumn in this week's nonsense rankings (45:58).

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What are the football-related things you have to achieve before you die? Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe), Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) and Jack Collins (@jjwc) are joined by new B/R Football presenter Aaron West (@ayyy_west) to talk about the experiences that we most want to tick off across the footballing landscape.

We talk Clasicos, Superclasicos, Clasico de las Americas (any other Classics you like?!), as well as derbies across Europe, special stadiums and atmospheres like Anfield and the Westfalenstadion, living in Spain and much, much more as we hunt our way across the best this game has to offer - with some choice input from the #RankSquad across the world.

Roulette asks which is the more intimidating atmosphere for an away team, Napoli's San Paolo Stadium or Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park (37:33), and what the worst pre-game rituals we've ever come across were (39:21); before we flip the script to interview Craig and Adam Malamut, the brains behind B/R Football's hit animation show 'The Champions' ahead of their Season 3 launch next week (42:59).

Before we get into that though, Jack tees things up with a poem lamenting how bad the FIFA Best XI was (00:22), before Hot Takes sees Sam talk about how Barcelona are finally good on FIFA 20 (04:18); Dean urges Spurs fans to remain calm and not call for Mauricio Pochettino's head (07:11); and we break down Chelsea vs. Liverpool (09:45), before Dean gives Melon of the Week to Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde (12:42).

To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!Superclásico de las AméricasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The season is in full swing and it's time to look at some of the names set to be the new Frenkie de Jong, Joao Felix or Jadon Sancho. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at the players under 20 who are set to have a breakout season in 2019/20 (19:22), including Chelsea's Reece James (20:37), Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai (25:09), Ajax's Sergino Dest (29:33); Stade Rennais' Eduardo Camavinga (33:52) and Barcelona's Ansu Fati (37:35).

Hot Takes this week involve a deep discussion on whether Arsenal fans are overreacting and if they're going to be alright under Emery after all (04:20); some insight from Dean on Real Madrid's transfer targets next season (12:10); and a look at why Wolves are underperforming in the Premier League so far this campaign (15:02). This week's Melon of the Week is a certain Manchester City defender... (02:10)

Roulette asks whether we'd rather have a cup of tea with Raheem Sterling or a cup of coffee with Christian Pulisic (49:35); and whether we'd value wages or playing time more as a professional footballer (48:13); before Sam rounds things off by ranking the most pointless things you learned at school in this week's nonsense rankings (51:08).

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The Rank Squad has a new No.1! Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe), Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) and Jack Collins (@jjwc) are joined by Premier League winner and famously safe pair of hands, Mr. Asmir Begovic, to talk all things goalkeeping. We kick off with Asmir letting us know his pet peeve myths about goalkeeping - not getting credit for penalty saves (18:52), the stigma of being beaten at the near post (26:14), and having 'nothing to do' (30:27) - before moving on to ranking who he believes to be the best goalkeepers in the world right now (33:27).

Roulette returns, asking which ways you'd want to be unveiled as a new signing (44:15), and whether Huddersfield Town would have survived in the Premier League if they had been allowed to field two goalkeepers last season (46:33); before Asmir ranks his favourite sports outside of football (48:12) and talks about what it was like to score as a goalkeeper (50:02).

Before we get into that though, Hot Takes sees Sam furious with the continual disrespect towards Roberto Firmino, fuelled by his FIFA 20 rating (02:37); Dean discussing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future and how his job is already under threat (06:16); and Jack gets emotional about the fact that the international break doesn't get the love it deserves (09:50). Then, finally, Dean gives out the second ever Melon of the Week award (13:51).

To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The transfer window has finally slammed shut in Europe, and squads across the continent are locked in, until January at least! Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at what the big takeaways are from this summer's transfer chaos. We discuss a madness in Serie A (19:23), Ajax (22:22), Manchester United (25:10), PSG (31:02) and Liverpool (37:01) as we look at the big movers and shakers across the window.

Before we get going, Dean hands out the inaugural Melon of the Week award (04:16). Hot Takes sees the boys talk about where the real problems lie at Real Madrid (07:17); how Sadio Mane's tantrum at the weekend was uncalled for given he's arguably the more selfish of Liverpool's strike force (11:06); and discuss the transfer of Ante Rebic to AC Milan in the deadline day deal picked by the poll. (16:08).

Roulette returns, asking who is better at football: Lionel Messi after four pints, or Lee Cattermole (43:28), if it is ever acceptable to leave live games before the final whistle (45:28), and which was our favourite transfer of the window (47:38); before Sam ranks the colours of the rainbow (52:21).

To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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