Mark takes a step back from the day-to-day footballing grind and provides a more holistic look on the dominance of certain clubs, and how such dominance is merely transitory. Ultimately, nothing is forever and we should enjoy the good times while they last. There may be an underlying moral to this episode, though we'll let you figure that out.

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Mark discusses the Premier League's backlash against the takeover of Newcastle United, and their attempt to curtail the spending power of Saudi Arabia's PIF. He also highlights some of the most shameless overreactions from footballing pundits, and why a modicum of moderation would go a long way when talking about the great game.

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Mark discusses the recent takeover of Newcastle United FC by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. As a supporter of Newcastle, Mark believes the club is hugely deserving of this investment; yet is troubled by the Premier League's long history of financial arrangements with disreputable individuals and sectors, that has left it bereft of any integrity. 

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Mark discusses the recent proposals made by Arséne Wenger for a new bi-annual FIFA World Cup. Mark found that after a careful and objective review of FIFA's report, that he was right all along, and the implications for both international and domestic football would be terrible.

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Mark talks about the legend that is Jimmy Greaves. He also speaks of how his passing highlights a discouraging trend of brushing over football's rich history and failing to appreciate the context of the current game.

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Mark expresses his concerns regarding the lopsided nature of European football, and how English clubs have come to dominate the Champions League in recent years. While he concedes such fears may be overstated, they're based on current trends that have likely been accelerated by the pandemic.

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Mark and Matthew discuss a smorgasbord of topics, including the European qualifiers, the much anticipated debut of Ronaldo at Man Utd (again) as well as Mark's engagement with Twitter.  

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Mark thought it would make for a suitable return of Football Unfocussed to talk about something he absolutely hates: the football transfer. While there may not be the same level of intrigue there was once as each deadline loomed, he still views the whole saga with contempt. So enjoy.

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Well, just when you probably thought there was nothing left to say, Mark and Matthew manage to ramble on for 45 minutes about the result from last Sunday night, when England lost to Italy on penalties. Mark also goes full circle on the fallout from the match, and concludes how certain aspects of the game, and society in general, remain unchanged; and are worse for it.

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Mark reflects on the unusual occurrence of England overcoming expectations and reaching the finals of a major international tournament. He also comments on the modern management style of Gareth Southgate; indicative of the forward-looking  team he represents. 

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