Left Field

Should we be surprised that Chelsea are playing with such swagger? Given their status as reigning European champions, probably not. All the same, the Blues' impressive early season form, which continued at the weekend with an easy 3-0 win over London rivals Spurs, suggests they are the team to beat as the title race kicks up a gear.

For Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, there's much work to do. A win in next weekend's north London derby would be timely although it's the Gunners, courtesy of two scrappy wins in a row, that come into the game as the form side. If the stats are anything to go by, it'll end goalless at the Emirates.

Perhaps it's just as well. With referees booking players for taking their shirts off and Jesse Lingard too polite to celebrate against West Ham, football is full of killjoys at the moment. What's up with that? We discuss.

We also mull over Lionel Messi's PSG goal drought - the little man looked less than impressed when he was subbed off against Lyon on Sunday - and discuss bad rabonas after Raul Jimenez's laughably terrible effort.

After the break, we indulge in the most half-arsed Ryder Cup preview you'll ever listen to, chat the introduction of new rules and stats in rugby and get grouchy about the NFL's crackdown on 'taunting.'

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
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And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

After a three week break, Ronaldo-mania finally catches up with Left Field. There's been no escaping the Portuguese striker since he returned to England. First he broke the all-time international scoring record against Wogan's Ireland, then he helped Manchester United demolish Newcastle. Is he the missing ingredient at Old Trafford or have Pep Guardiola and City pulled a fast one by luring their neighbours into a mad deal?

On the other side of the Pennines, Elland Road witnessed a horror injury to Liverpool's Harvey Elliott. The 18-year-old midfielder suffered a dislocated ankle following a tackle from behind by Pascal Struijk and will spend much of the season on the sidelines. Was this a horrible accident or the result of referees  turning a blind eye to bad tackles with a view to keeping games flowing?

Elsewhere in football, we discuss FIFA's plans to play the World Cup every two years. High-level tournament football every summer looks good at first sight but what are the knock-on effects for players and other sports?

In a packed part one, we also cast an eye over our Fantasy Football fortunes and predict the winners of this season's Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

There's only one place to start after the break and that's Emma Raducanu's remarkable win at the US Open. The 18-year-old qualifier blitzed her way to stardom at Flushing Meadows to steal hearts and minds on both sides of the Pond. What does she do next after a dream week?

To conclude the show, we talk good doggos, enthusiastic cyclists, bad eyesight and *that* crash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. There's also a quality 'And Finally...'

Enjoy the show.

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

After 18 months of watching matches on TV, what was it like watching football in a full stadium? Having visited the Emirates and the Valley respectively, we compare and contrast our experiences as both Arsenal and Charlton lost 2-0 at home.

We don't want to labour the point in the episode notes, but the clock seems to be ticking on Mikel Arteta time in charge of the Gunners. Can he put together a good run before Christmas? Nobody seems to think so right now.

Elsewhere, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Brighton and West Ham have set the pace with a brace of wins each. Something has to give when the Reds face the Blues at Anfield on Saturday. The prospect of Virgil 'immoveable mountain' Van Dijk versus Romelu 'unstoppable force' Lukaku has us licking our lips.

Talking of big units, we also can't resist talking about Michail Antonio's eye-catching form. Is there a player in world football who is as fun to watch right now?

We close part one with a run through Barnet's bad week for the ages, check-in on Tammy Abraham's debut in Italy and attempt to figure out what happened in Nice as irate locals attacked Marseille players on the pitch.

After the break, we try to make sense of cricket legend Ian Botham's appointment as a UK trade envoy to Australia, praise the snack-related marketing that stole The Hundred's thunder, head to Ireland for a bit of hurling and revisit last week's huge grudge match at the snooker.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

The opening weekend of the Premier League was full of thrills, spills, fans and not a single draw.

Brentford got things off to a flyer with the most expected giant-killing of all time as they brushed past Arsenal 2-0. With games against Chelsea and Manchester City to come, Mikel Arteta is already feeling the heat. We assess how long he has to turn things around before Gunners fans reach for the pitchforks.

The two Manchester clubs experienced mixed fortunes. United, inspired by four Paul Pogba assists blew away Leeds United, while Pep's reigning champions struggled in the final third on the way to a 1-0 defeat at Spurs. Do 90 minutes of football suggest the tide is turning in England's second city or should we just calm down a bit?

Elsewhere in football, Fulham went top courtesy of the luckiest goal you'll ever see. The Championship is already looking ridiculously tight with no team able to win both of their opening games. It's shaping up to be as intriguing as Neil Warnock's bumbag.

We end part one, chewing over Gerd Muller's legacy. Der Bomber passed away at the age of 75 with a goal scoring record that could rival any of the best players in the world.

After the break, we turn our attention to snooker's British Open where warring ex-lovers Mark Allen and Reanne Evans have been paired in the first round. Rarely has a showdown drawn so much attention.

There's also some chat about Roger Federer's latest injury woe and we head Stateside to check in on baseball's Field Of Dreams which, after 18 months of delays, finally wowed a small crowd in Iowa and millions of people around the world.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

Lionel Messi, the world's greatest footballer, will play for Paris Saint Germain this season after a remarkable roller-coaster week that started with him on the verge of renewing his contract at Barcelona before someone pointed out the Nou Camp outfit were completely broke.

Messi, after a tearful exit, will take a pay cut at the Parc des Princes as the Qatari owners pull off an incredible transfer coup just when it looked like the Argentine might be out of reach. As if that wasn't enough drama, there are court cases brewing in Spain as a cabal of clubs, behind the back of Barca and Real Madrid, look to secure their short-term future with a deal with an American venture capitalist fund. It's all getting very ugly.

It's not just Spain with the juicy transfer stories. Manchester City have made Jack Grealish the most expensive footballer in English history, Romelu Lukaku is returning to Chelsea and Harry Kane is trying to force an exit from Spurs. It's hard to imagine how the action on the pitch will compare.

We cast an eye over the Premier League's opening weekend fixtures and hazard a guess at who'll be going down and if anyone can catch Pep Guardiola's champions.

Part one ends with our favourite topic; new kits. There are some dreadful efforts this year which we give a right good roasting.

After the break, we review the final days of the Tokyo Olympics, including gold for Ireland in the boxing, poop-needing speed walkers and careless marathon runners. It's been a blast Japan, the countdown to Paris 2024 begins.

We end the show with some half-hearted chat about the Lions' boring tour of South Africa and the decision of certain NFL players not to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

After a short break, we're celebrating our 100th episode with an Olympics Special.

Sure, we can barely remember the names of any of the athletes, our knowledge of most of the sports is sketchy and the time difference is an issue but it's fair to say, we've both enjoyed Japan's Not Football extravaganza.

So much has happened inside the first 10 days that we can barely scratch the surface but that doesn't stop us from trying. Weightlifting vs swimming, 13-year-olds on the podium, high jumpers sharing gold, the politicisation of sport and batshit crazy BMXing all make the cut as we deliver our mild to medium-hot takes.

We didn't feel we could ignore the beautiful game altogether, so football kicks off part two. What's going on at Arsenal? Are City about to smash their transfer record twice over? And are we excited about the return of the Premier League? It's up for debate.

Cricket's The Hundred has been garnering lots of headlines, good and bad since it got going a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't look that different to 'normal' cricket in our eyes but it's entertaining enough. Naturally, we focus on the snack brands emblazoned on the shirt of each franchise...that's where the big debate is.

The Lions tour of South Africa has proved to be a feisty affair on the pitch. Delicately balanced at 1-1, we're expecting even more fireworks in the series decider. The big question is whether Rassie Erasmus will continue to stoke the fires using his burner account.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

In the end, Euro 2020 came down to penalties. Somehow, we knew it would.

For the victors Italy; unbridled joy at a first major title in 15 years. For England, especially the three players who failed from 12-yards, utter despair. 

As the dust settles on another painful night for the Three Lions, we talk through the match, the penalties and the fact that after a month-long fling with football, much to Wogan's relief, it is not coming home.

The talking points aren't reserved for the on-pitch action. There were unsavoury scenes at Wembley in the build-up to kick-off as hundreds stormed the stadium without tickets. How on earth did that happen? And we also discuss the onslaught of racist abuse directed at England's unsuccessful penalty takers.

In South America, Leo Messi's wait for a first international honour is over. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 at the Maracana thanks to Angel Di Maria's first half winner. We didn't watch (it was late!) but there are still hot takes to be had.

In a whistle-stop part two, we run the rule over Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon win - the Serb is now level on 20 Grand Slam wins with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - and wince at the horrific leg break suffered by Conor McGregor in his latest UFC showdown with Dustin Poirier.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

So... it'll be England and Italy in Sunday evening's Euro 2020 final, a match set-up by a dodgy penalty award for the Three Lions and a decisive shootout win for the Azzurri. While Spain might argue otherwise and France will shake their head in disgust, it definitely feels like the tournament - and what a tournament it has been - will climax with the final it deserves. We review this week's semi-finals and look ahead to a potentially momentous moment for English football. Will Cathal be able to watch? 

In South America, the Copa America will pitch the continent's two heavyweights against each other in its final. Argentina, thanks to penalty heroics from Aston Villa's Emi Martinez, will face Brazil, who beat Peru 1-0. Will the winner be bigger favourites for next year's World Cup than their European counterparts?

Elsewhere in football, we try and make sense of Barcelona's finances with speculation mounting they're so broke, they have to make €200 million worth of savings before they can register some of the new players they've bought. How on earth do they keep Messi? 

After the break, we cast a discerning eye over Wimbledon where Britain's
Emma Raducanu stole the nation's hearts before having to retire with breathing difficulties. Her exit was greeted by some odd comments from John McEnroe who earned the ire of fans on social media. 

We end the show discussing the 10-game ban handed out to rugby league player Kenny Edwards. His crime? Fingering another player's bum. And if you're not put off by that, there's also time for some chat about competitive eating.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan

Goals, drama, penalties, shocks...the last week of the European Championships has had it all. Was Monday's action the greatest ever day of tournament football? Quite possibly.

Spain's swashbuckling 5-3 extra-time win over Croatia proved to be a delicious appetiser before Switzerland came from 3-1 down to defeat mega-favourites France on penalties in Bucharest.

It remains to be seen whether Didier Deschamps survives as coach of Les Bleus - there was plenty of finger-pointing in the French camp afterwards, most of which came from one player's mother!

On the other side of the draw, Gareth Southgate's methodical England beat Germany at Wembley to set up a clash with Ukraine in Rome. Things are opening up for the Three Lions - much to Wogan's despair - but with Belgium and Italy potential finalists, there are stiff challenges ahead.

On the domestic front, managerial vacancies are being filled. We discuss Rafa Benitez's appointment at Everton - does he really love being booed? - before running the rule over Nuno Espirito Santo's move to Spurs and Patrick Vieira's selection as Roy Hodgson's successor.

Other sports might be living in the shadow of the Euros, but they're still making headlines. Wimbledon's low-key start was given a jolt by Serena Williams premature exit due to injury. The slippery courts have claimed several casualties as fans return to the All England Club.

Harlequins' unexpected Premiership triumph, a huge spectator-caused crash at the Tour de France and disc golf - yes, disc golf - round things off.

Enjoy the show!

Every week on Left Field, Wogan and Allen dissect the latest in Football and Not Football. Subscribe to make sure you don't miss out, because that would be a real shame, wouldn't it?

Subscribe: il.ink/leftfield_pod
Twitter: twitter.com/leftfield_pod
Instagram: instagram.com/leftfield_pod/
Facebook: facebook.com/leftfieldpod/

And your co-hosts...

Allen: twitter.com/AAllenSport
Wogan: twitter.com/CathalWogan