MatchDayReview Podcast

The fallen giant. AC Milan's fall from the top of European football has been as quick as it has been shocking. But just how has to got this bad?

 From Gullit to Kaka, Maldini and Baresi the names of Milan greats just roll off the tongue. We look back as far as the 80s in what was possibly the hardest Project Re- Build yet.  

Just how good was the Milan team of the late 80s and why are they not mentioned amongst some of footballs greatest sides? We go over possibly the most boring Champions League final ever in 2003, and of course, look back at Istanbul. 

How has ownership changes affected the club in recent years, and of course how can this once great club return to the heights of European football. 

All this and more, including the baffling nature of reversable kits, why football matches don't need helium decorations, can a sponsor make a kit more iconic, on this episode of Project Re-Build. 

Ligue 1 and 2 become the latest leagues to fall victim of the Lockdown. On this episode of the MatchDayReview podcast we take a look at the impact this will have on the teams involved in the league, their European aspirations, and whether or not it is the right call? Is it a sign of things to come across Europe. 

Also, with football league clubs struggling to make ends meet, will the current situation shed light on the poor running of football clubs lower down the pyramid? All this and more including, Alan Pardew's departure from Dutch football, Kevin Keegan's meltdown 24 years on, is cheese already gone off, and the virtues of eating scampi.

All this and more on the latest edition of the MDR Podcast. 

On this episode of the MatchDay Review Project Re-Build Series, we take an in-depth look at the French Champions PSG. The current runaway leaders of Ligue 1 have finally banished some of their demons, by progressing past the Last-16 of the UEFA Champions League. Beating Borussia Dortmund. However, it will take a lot more than that to finally complete their ultimate quest of lifting the European Cup. 

We analyse the history of the club since the Qatari takeover in 2012, their fruitless pursuit of the UCL, including those two devastating defeats against Barcelona and Manchester United, the destructive transfer history of the club and the footballing brand not team approach they current have. Plus, we discuss the current players and footballing structural changes that are needed at the Parc-Des-Princes. Highlighting the the players they need to sign to ascend to the mountain top of European Football. 

Also do PSG have followers not fans? Are they trying to Americanise European football? Does aligning with Instagram influencers and streamers affect their performance on the pitch? Plus, are Ron Burgundy and Neymar similar? Has PSG's burning desire to win the Champions League has damaged Ligue 1? Do they lack the heart, fight and grit to win tough big games in the UCL? Are PSG an oddity as a football club? Are PSG the most disliked club in Europe? 

Furthermore, we discuss how the Neymar transfer destroyed the football economy and the transfer market. The Mercenary transfer approach. The impact of Leonardo as the director of football, and the change in transfer strategy. 

As always we discuss possible signings and transfer targets for PSG, given that Neymar and Mbappe are looking to leave the French Capital. Eden Hazard as Willy Wonka and a 16 yard box gets mentioned. All this and more of the PSG edition of Project Re-Build. 

The day has nearly arrived for Newcastle fans, Mike Ashley is out. After a number of false dawns it finally looks like the day has come for Newcastle United owner to sell up and move on. We look at the damage that Ashley has done to the club and what he leaves behind, where it all went wrong, and where the club could be heading under new ownership. 

Plus, Liverpool and and Tottenham both go back on their decisions to furlough non-playing staff members, proving that they didn't need to in the first place. Mesut Ozil refuses a pay cut and Arsenal, and just for a little semblance of footballing normality we take a look at some transfer rumours flying around. You know, because that's about as close as it gets to football at the moment. 

On episode of the MatchDay Review Project Re-Build Series, we take an in-depth look at the 13 times Champions of Europe, Real Madrid. Currently, Los Blancos have had an up and down season under Zinedine Zidane, finding themselves 2nd in La Liga and in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League. We discuss the issues surrounding Real this season and the players they could look to sign to return to being the perennial Superpower in European Football. 

We take a deep dive into the recent past of Madrid, starting at their UEFA Champions League Win at Hampden Park in 2002. Did the pursuit and spectre of La Decima consume the club in the late 00's? Does Real Madrid's obsession with winning the European Cup diminish the achievement of winning La Liga? Also, we analyse their rise to finally winning La Decima in 2014 and the phenomenal achievement of winning 3 consecutive UEFA Champions League trophies.   

Plus, we talk about the importance of Florentino Perez to the club, His Galactico transfer policy, the array of managers they've had, and the under-appreciated man management skills of Zidane. 

Also we discuss the immortal Ronaldo vs Messi debate, how to solve a problem like Gareth Bale, and Eden Hazards love of Buns. All this, potential transfers and more on the latest edition of the MDR Project Re-Build.

There is still no return in sight for the Premier League, but over in Germany football may return to our screens in a couple of weeks time. We take a look at how German football may restart, and the financial impact that the Coronavirus crisis is having on other European leagues.
During these uncertain times there is only one certainty, and that is transfer rumours. Harry Kane has been talking up his exit from White Hart Lane as we analyse Tottenham's poor handling of the current situation, and how it could affect the clubs ambition going forward.
If your team could only sign one player in the transfer window (whenever that happens) who would it be? We take a look at all 20 Premier League clubs and go through where they need re-enforcing and what players fit into that club. All this and more, including the importance of commentary in football, is Gary Neville's 'goalgasm' the only piece of memorable co-commentary ever, and does the Champions League need ITV, on this weeks episode of the MatchDayReview Podcast.

On this episode of Project Re-Build we take an in depth look at the reigning Spanish Champions, Barcelona. They currently sit atop of La Liga, two points ahead of bitter rivals Real Madrid, and are in the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. However the board deemed this season as problematic, and sacked former manager Ernesto Valverde earlier in the campaign. Replacing him with former Real Betis boss Quique Setien. La Blaugrana have still not looked like the free flowing teams of old since his appointment, which will not go down well with the board. They have struggled for managerial continuity since Luis Enrique departed. Are they heading for another new manager in the summer?

The Catalan giants are a very unique club. Given that they are often seen to be in crisis but are perennial Spanish Champions and are always challenging for major honours in Europe. As well as being major players in the transfer market. Despite wasting upwards of £500m in the last few years on the likes of Coutinho and Dembele. 

Has Barcelona's desire to outdo Real Madrid at every turn, caused them to panic and be rash in the transfer market? Thus making mistakes? Has the infatuation with the Champions League reduced the importance of La Liga? Or have the Spanish clubs reached the end of a cycle. Resulting in an era of change?

La Masia has been a model of how to run a football club for years, but lately the club hasn't been adding homegrown academy prospects into the first team. Resorting to splashing huge amounts of cash on household names that don't fit the team. Effectively buying players that are square pegs for round holes. We talk about the reasons for this. Plus is Xavi returning as manager the answer?

Lionel Messi is the icon of Barcelona, but his is influence becoming a problem? Particularly in the clubs public pursuit of former star Neymar and the increasing turmoil in the boardroom. 

Also we discuss the club's presidential elections, the lack of a transfer strategy, a lack of a succession plan for ageing stars and Barca's loss of identity. Plus we talk about the players they could sign to become the dominant force in European football again.

All this and more on the latest edition of the MatchDay Review Project Re-Build series. 


 

As Arrigo Sacchi once said "Football is the most important of the least important things in life". 

This week on the MatchDayReview Podcast we discuss the Premier League's poor handling of the Corona virus crisis. Players have come under increasing pressure to take a pay cut to help out in these worrying times, but is it right for the Government to target footballers as a group? Plus, we talk about the good that Premier League footballers have already done, and their own plan to help. 

In other Corona virus news, Mike Ashley and Daniel Levy make themselves public enemy number one by putting their non playing staff on Furlough. And things could get even worse for Tottenham as Harry Kane signifies he could leave White Hart Lane sooner rather than later. 

There's all this and more on this week's podcast including; Zlatan's career path, the pros and cons of a play off system in football and other sports, has changing stadiums ever actually helped a club break into the 'elite', and the art of re selling puzzles. 

On this episode of Project Re-Build we, Finally, take an in-depth look at Atletico Madrid. Its been an up and down season so far for Los Colchoneros. They currently languish in 6th place in La Liga, but are in the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Champions League. We review their 2019/20 season so far, providing reasons for their current position in the league and what has caused them to struggle this season. 

We also analyse the recent history of Diego Simeone's team. Discussing the evolution and change of the squad since they won La Liga in 2014. Plus, the heartbreaking UEFA Champions League final losses to Real Madrid.

Assessing their partial rebuild in last summers window. Did they sign the players that suit Simeone's 100% effort, Blood and Thunder style? 

Furthermore, we discuss their possible evolution of playing style and formations in future seasons. Whilst comparing their transfer strategy to that of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Manchester United.

And conduct the rebuild of the squad and reveal the players we think they should sign to get back to the top table of European Football and win La Liga again.

We talk about all of this plus much more including;

Is Diego Simeone the best manager in the world? 

We talk about the massive impact Diego Simeone has on the club. 

Given their less than ideal financial situation do Atleti have assets to sell? 

Do Atleti need to sign a specific type of player to fit their culture? 

Will Atletico forever be in Real Madrid's shadow?

Do the English press not give Atletico Madrid the credit they deserve?

Are the Spanish press/media more supportive of their clubs than the equivalent dynamic in the UK with English clubs?  

We are still without football, we are struggling without our weekly dose of Premier League action. So we've resorted to building LEGO sets. Don't despair we still have a full feature length MDR podcast for you!

On this episode we discuss, analyse and pick the best all-time XI from the greatest players to have ever played in the Premier League. Plus, we talk about Barcelona and Atletico's Coronavirus related financial troubles, the latest news from the football world, the difficulties in restarting the season after the current suspension, and the glaring issues with playing games behind closed doors. 

When picking the greatest ever XI of Premier League players we discuss and analyse all the players that were good enough to make the team at each position, before picking our full final Premier League xI starting line-up.

Also: 
Is it feasible to null and void Elite level European league seasons? 
Will UEFA Allow this? 
Will the Atletico Madrid Project Re-Build Podcast ever be finished?
A discussion about Paul Gascoigne's football career.

We conduct an episode of time travelling would you rather, involving swapping Geoff hurst’s 3rd goal in the ’66 World Cup final, Diego Maradona's  Hand of God goal, and Chris Waddles Penalty. 

How good was the World Cup summer of 2018?
Would England still be partying now if we’d won the World Cup in 2018?
Did Thierry Henry Torture Fabian Barthez?

Does being a Premier League Right-Back automatically mean are you a good pundit?

Furthermore we talk about the demise of the Traditional box to box midfielder.

There is some significant analysis of the magnificent instrument that is the Dube, and finally Big Sam gets a mention as does Ivan Campo, Pedro, Ricardo Carvalho and Dion Dublin.

All this and more on episode 31 of the MatchDay Review Podcast.