MatchDayReview Podcast

Good Ebening! On this episode of Project Re-Build we take an in depth look at Arsenal. Its been a tricky couple of years for the club from North London. Since leaving Highbury in 2006, and moving to the Emirates, Arsenal have had an indifference in fortune. 

We try to pin point the moment/season where things took a turn for the worse. Was it the sale of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United? Was it Stan Kronke taking majority control? Or is it all Jens Lehmans fault for getting sent off in the 2006 Champions League final?

We go over Arsenals poor recruitment over the years, and their habit for buying players that are injured. From the good, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, to the baffling with Kim Källström. There's also the question of out goings, with Robin Van Persie not the only player to make the move the Manchester. 

We assess Arsenal's leadership problems, and why having 5 captains won't fix that, and of course there's the Mesut Özil debate. All this and more, including Champions League humiliation, Unai Emery losing a one team league, shoots of recovery under Arteta, and Kolo Toure's career path. And of course we give our suggestions on how to rebuild the 13 times FA Cup and League winners.

We are back with another episode of the MatchDay Review Podcast. This week the world has been plunged into a crisis caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Resulting in many people being in quarantine. There has been no football played in the major leagues of Europe. So we discuss the fallout from the suspension of sport and its impact on the Euro's. Plus, we bring you some transfer talk, and the combined MDR Team of the Season So Far. 

Also, when will Football return? Will Gary Neville's Festival of Football work? Will Euro 2021 be held across Europe as was planned for Euro 2020? Is there a Chance the 2020-21 Premier League will be cancelled? Is James Maddison overrated? We question Arsenal's transfer policy! What clubs could sign Gareth Bale? Is the MLS Bale's last resort? Will the expanded FIFA Club World Cup happen? When will the Women's Euros take place? 

Plus we discuss the financial implications of dropping the league cup, a possible change in Premier League transfer policies because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, options for the return of the Premier League, and the importance of sport in society. 

As always we induct two more legends into the Official MatchDay Review Premier League Hall of Fame. Plus, Alan Shakira and Rugby Union get mentioned. 

Stay safe, look after yourselves and your loved ones during this uncertain and difficult time. 

With there being no Premier League or Major European Football this weekend due to the chaos and upheaval caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, we've decided to do something a little different for this midweek show. We don't know when the football season will resume. So we've been a little creative. 

We have both picked our Premier League Team of the Season so far (Aiden in the previous MDR Podcast) and mine (Lewis) in this show. It's a smaller show, but it still packs all the flavour in that you'd expect from the MatchDay Review Podcast. 

Don't worry, we will be back as usual on Sunday with a fully loaded show! Plus, we'll be doing the Atletico Madrid Project Rebuild. 

With the football season on hold in definitely, this week we've got something a little different. We don't know when the season will return, or even if. So we've gone early and named our Premier League team of the season (so far) in 2 separate podcasts. In this Episode, I (Aiden) have named mine, and in the next episode Lewis will name his. We'll just see how it goes. Its a short one, but fear not there will be other content coming.

The world has experienced a surreal week, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Resulting in the suspension of English and European Football. We discuss the rapid escalation of events this week and the uncertain future ahead.

Despite this we did have some UEFA Champions League and Europa League games this week to talk about on this episode of the MatchDayReview Podcast. We discuss the Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid, PSG and Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Leipzig vs Tottenham and Valencia vs Atalanta games. Plus, all the fallout from these 2nd legs and Manchester United and Wolves adventures in the Europa League. 

Also, was Atleti's win a Diego Simeone masterclass or did they ride their luck? 
Even though Jurgen Klopp doesn't like it, teams can’t all play the same way to suit Liverpool!
Is Simeone the best manager in the world? 
Jurgen klopp does make a lot of excuses! 
What is Michael Owen playing at? 
Neymar is undoubtably a world class player! 
Do PSG have a lack of class?
Should Neymar have been sent off?
Did the lack of atmosphere at the Parc-des-Princes help PSG?
Is this season Jose Mourinho's encore of outbursts? 
Is Jose Mourinho cracking up?
Has Mourinho got it completely wrong at Spurs 
Manchester United vs LASK talk.
Igahlo is becoming a great signing!
What are Igahlo's best attributes?
Should the Wolves Olympiacos game have taken place?

Plus, we discuss the suspension of the Premier League and European football due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. We discuss the options for restarting the league, the impact of moving the league, cancelling the League Cup permanently, dropping the FA Cup, moving the euros, making the season null and void and when do we think the sports world will get back to normal. 

As always we induct two more Legends in to the Official MatchDayReview Podcast Premier League Hall of Fame. 

Furthermore, Jar-Jar Binx gets a mention, as does Captain Jack Sparrow!

All this and more of the latest edition of the MDR Podcast!

The dramatic escalation of the virus' impact has overshadowed the football world. However, despite the indefinite suspension of games the MatchDay Review Podcast will continue to provide original content focused on the game we love! Hopefully this situation caused by the Coronavirus all works itself out soon and we can all get back to enjoying the beautiful game.

Manchester is red! United do the league double over City for the first time since 2010. Is it about time Solskjaer got some credit for the work he is doing at Old Trafford, and is there signs of things starting to turn around for the red side of Manchester?

After getting back to winning ways against Bournemouth, Liverpool are just 6 points away from their first league title for 30 years, and they could yet win it at Goodison Park. But, with the Coronavirus forcing games in Europe to be played behind close doors, is there a possibility that they are presented the trophy in front of an empty Anfield.

Elsewhere, Chelsea put 4 past Everton, as Billy Gilmour continues to impress. Tottenham are slowly running out of players, and Jose is running out of patience. Newcastle blow their first penalty in 37 games, but get the win anyway, David Moyes doesn't think VAR should be used against his West Ham team, and we tackle basic mathematics. All this and more, including potential takeover talk back at Newcastle, on this edition of the MatchDayReview Podcast.

In a week which saw Eric Dier scale the terraces at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the rumoured sacking of Milan's greatest son, Paolo Maldini, and Ronaldinho being detained after traveling on a fake passport, we ask has the football world gone mad?

On this episode of the MatchDay Review Podcast we analyse the results from the 5th round of the FA Cup, which for the first time was held as a full midweek slate of games, proving that the "Big 6" Premier League teams do in fact take the Cup seriously! Plus, Eric Dier becoming a gymnast, Tottenham are struggling badly, Jose is lining up his excuses and is Tim Krul the best Penalty Shootout goalie in the World? 

With the Manchester Derby on the horizon at Old Trafford this weekend Manchester City and United both progressed into the 6th Round. With United routinely beating Derby despite the efforts of Wayne Rooney and City beating Sheffield Wednesday. Big Odion Igahlo is making a impact, is he playing his way into a permanent transfer and do premier league squads lack variety? Particularly upfront?

After losing 3 out of 4 games and a woeful performance against Chelsea, has the Liverpool Collapse begun? 

Furthermore, we round up the rest of the 5th round action. Plus, we preview the Manchester Derby, this weekends Premier League Fixtures and give our predictions on who will be relegated from the Premier League this season.

Also we discuss, England's midfield options for Euro 2020, Harry Kane's chances of being fit for the tournament and, would Big Sam's Bolton Wanderers win the Premier League today?

As always we induct 2 more legends into the Official MDR Premier League Hall of Fame, despite having a comedic disagreement on who should have been taking notes on the previous inductees. 

All this and more on Episode 24 of the MDR Podcast.

It's part 2 of our look at our ideas to re build Manchester United. In part 1 we looked back to the Glazer take over, all the way to Mourinho's final season. In this episode we look at more recent events, starting from the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

We look at how Ole has started to change the mentality and attitude at Old Trafford, we assess his recruitment in his short tenure, and how he learnt from the teams poor finish to the last season. 

Who do Manchester United need to bring in, to elevate them back to the top, and who's weighing them down and needs to be let go. All this, and the customary Pogba/Raiola chat in part 2 of the Project Re-Build. 

*Apologies in advance for the sub standard audio quality on Lewis' microphone

Arsenal fans rejoice! Liverpools march towards the Invincibles is over. We praise Watford for their dominant display against the runaway leaders, as football twitter revels in their victory at Vicarage Road. We also compare Liverpool to Anthony Joshua, and Troy Deeney's "titties' get a mention. 
Elsewhere, Man City win the Carabao Cup, with a man of the match performance from Phil Foden. Will getting so close to a trophy force Jack Grealish to pursue new challenges in the summer? Tottenham falter again in the race for 4th as Wolves come from behind twice. VAR rears it's ugly head at Goodison Park, as Ancelotti of all people gets a red card, and "It's getting tight at the bottom" as the saying goes.
There was also a pretty big game in Spain over the weekend with the Clasico. Marcelo gets compared to a country song that I have never heard of, and there is also time for a debate about cushions. All this and more on the latest episode of the MDR Podcast.

It was a hectic week in both the Champions League and Europa League, with the 2nd set of UCL last-16 1st legs and the 2nd legs of the UEL round of 32. On this edition of the MatchDay Review Podcast we discuss all things from the UEFA Champions League games including; Manchester City's historic win in the Bernabeu, Sergio Ramos' 26 career red card, Bayern Munich's routine dismantling of Chelsea, Cristiano Ronaldo's inability to drag Juventus to a win at Lyon, and Napoli's draw with Barcelona. Plus much more analysis of the Champions League.

Also we talk El Clasico, the UEFA Europa League results, Manchester United's Win, Arsenal's collapse, Wolves being dark-horses for the competition, and our predictions for the eventual winners of the Europa League. 

Furthermore, the Premier League stole our idea for a Hall of Fame! We discuss this news and induct two more legends into the Official MDR Premier League Hall of Fame.

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