Footy On The Med

John and Alex sit on their favourite bench to give the definitive Footy On The Med Five-Minute Guide to AS Monaco. Turns out the bench has magical properties, and

Stan Bowles, arguably the greatest player ever to wear the blue and white hoops of Queens Park Rangers, died just over a month ago on 24 February 2024. It’s no secret that QPR, and Bowles, have a special place in the FOTM universe – hence not just Alex’s A Season on the Med but one of our special, not-really-on-the-Med editions in the form of QPR v West Brom. Alex was there for a match that as poignant as it was action-packed, but this week’s episode sees him in more reflective mode. Listen for musings on the Meaning of Stan, and whether 58 is ‘old’, as John puts the questions amid the tranquil 80 (or is it 400?) boats in the Port du Garavan, Menton.

Revisit the sparkling Serie D clash between Sanremese and Asti from March 2022.  Condensed down into just ten minutes, it becomes obvious that the game was all about the ref's bravery in sticking to his rather bizarre decisions. Recorded at the Stadio Communale, Sanremo.

What’s Hannibal got to do with it? Who is Uzbekistan Bowles? And how did the Red Brigade end up being marooned? John and Alex took themselves to the Annibale Riva Stadium in the coastal Ligurian town of Albenga, and got more than they bargained for when they watched a Serie D clash between Albenga and Sanremese. There were rowdy ultras, flares, a dog, some choice language, a fidelity to jazz and the revelation, thanks to the tale of Alex’s failure to sell sports rights in Central Asia, that John speaks Russian. Albenga 0 Sanremese 0 was recorded at the Annibale Riva Stadium on 17 March 2024.

Join us as we jump back in time to revisit the Mastermind Quiz John sprung on Alex during half-time of the Nice v PSG match. The game was a dull affair, but Alex was as sharp as ever. Enjoy! Recorded at the Allianz Riviera on Saturday on Saturday 5 March 2022.

The great Stan Bowles passed away on 24 February 2024, making QPR v West Brom a must for Alex. This was the first home game for the Rs since the death of the club’s talismanic, legendary number 10, and Loftus Road was duly packed to the rafters. QPR went into the game on the back of a run of good form but, relegation-threatened as they are, in need of a win, while victory would help the Baggies in their promotion challenge. It was all to play for in W12 as Alex and guests (including pod guest Ricardo, Film London Josh, C-Block Simon and Jack from The Upshot) watched a belter. QPR 2 West Brom 2 – a special edition of FOTM in tribute to Stan the Man – was recorded at Loftus Road on 7 March 2024.

John was a snake in the Grasse this week as he slithered along in the rain to watch RC Grasse take on Toulouse FC2, or TFC2 as John rebranded them. Would TFC2 Manager J.C. Debu see his Debu'tants upset the league topping RC Grasse? Would the RC Grasse fans "tomber dans les pommes"? Well, no and yes. This match, which ends in a 0-0 draw, surprised the locals who must have been certain that a win was on the cards. RC Grasse Vs Toulouse II was recorded at Stades de la Paoute on February 24th 2024.

Sampdoria v Brecisa – no (couldn’t get tickets). FC Frejus Etoile v FC Aubagne – no (huge traffic jam on the autoroute, had to abandon the drive). Genoa Women v Hellas Verona Women – no (ran out of time to drive to Arenzano from Menton). FC Antibes v Cagnes Le-Cros – yes! Alex was undefeated by what seemed like the impossibility of seeing any football. He made it to Antibes, nearly froze to death and, to his amazement, ran into something of the Hoops. FC Antibes 3, Cagnes Le-Cros 1 was recorded at the Stade Fort Carré on 18 February 2024.

HAC Attack! Yes, and there's no escaping a big fat true fact: John was tout seul for this trip to the Stade Louis II. Well, alone save for the Monaco faithful, his friend Hamid and some Haribo-devouring kids. Without Alex, the Big Fella's French came on leaps and bounds. C'est le futur? No one knows, not even FOTM. Monaco V Le Havre was recorded at Stade Louis II on Sunday 4th February 2024.