MatchDayReview Podcast

After their 2-0 defeat at Anfield, we discuss the problems currently at Manchester United, including zonal marking, Ed Woodward, and the Glazers. Also, are City suffering from burn out? Is Frank Lampard a good or bad manager, at what point will Haaland sign for Bayern Munich, and is Top Knot Ronaldo the latest iteration to be feared? 

Barcelona were the massive news in football this week, as they finally pulled the trigger on sacking manager Ernesto Valverde, despite being top of La Liga and in the Last-16 of the Champions League. What more can a manager do? Replacing him with former Real Betis Manager Quique Setien, seeking a return to their identity of Tika-Taka Total Football with a Johan Cruyff disciple. We discuss how he will impact Barcelona.

We review the fallout from the 3rd round replays in the FA Cup, focusing on Man Utd's win at Old Trafford against Wolves and Joelinton finally scoring for Newcastle. Madness! Plus a look at the Premier League fixtures, the relegation battle for Bournemouth, and the inevitable January Transfer Talk, including: Bruno Fernandes, Olivier Giroud, Christian Eriksen and Ashely Young's move to Inter Milan. Clearly highlighting that Italy is the clear destination of choice for ageing Premier League players as they look for extra success in Serie A.

We'd like to go ahead and apologise in advance for the subject in this podcast. We felt it was best to get it all out in one rather than talk about it consistently in every episode. So yes, this is pretty much a half hour chat about VAR and how no one really likes it, can it be fixed, and is it even worth being fixed. Hint, it's probably not. 

It was the Carabao Cup Semi Finals this past week. We discuss Man City demolishing Man Utd at Old Trafford and Aston Villa's impressive draw against Leicester at the King Power. Strangely, the Spanish Super Cup Final will feature neither the Copa Del Rey or La Liga winners for the first time ever in Saudi Arabia. Will moving football games to Saudi Arabia become a normal occurrence because of the massive financial rewards on offer? Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde is under increasing pressure at the Camp Nou. We analyse the rumours of Xavi returning and how the team will look when Lionel Messi retires.

Plus, the MLS 2020 Superdraft happened, David Beckham had the first pick, its silly season with transfer rumours as we are transported back to the 2019 summer window as the Bruno Fernandes links to Man Utd return and, Premier League clubs are struggling with huge injury lists, is the hectic Christmas period to blame? 

As usual we have our usual Transfer Talk including; Wolves exodus picks up buzz, Zlatan, Christian Eriksen, Lautaro Martinez, Krzysztof Piatek, Pepe Reina, and Cenk Tosun. 

Roberto Firmino's first half strike gives Liverpool victory over Tottenham at White Hart Lane, and continues the reds winning run of 13 games. Where does this leave Tottenham in the race for fourth, and can Liverpool now go on and match the Invincibles?

The FA Cup was back over the weekend, and so we had the annual discussion about how to save it. We review the other cup being played this week. According to the papers Wolves won't have a team left come February, and Ronaldo is better at football than picking hairstyles. 

We've been away for a while, but we're back for 2020 to discuss all things football. This episode is just a little bit of housekeeping to catch up on all the things that happened over the festive period whilst we were away, including Arteta's start as Arsenal boss, Bournemouth's  relegation worries, Amazon's bumper Boxing Day, and can football exist without so called 'super agents'?

We predicted the Champions League draw, Man Utd play well for 45 minutes, whilst Arsenal only manage 10. How would Carlo Anchelotti fit in at Everton, and where could Erling Braut Haland end up?

Big Dunc gets his Everton revolution off to the best possible start. Why is no one mentioning Liverpool anymore? Is big lad football the best when to win football matches, and Watford and Palace are so boring even the mics give up working.

United beat City in a thrilling derby at the Etihad. Goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial give the reds a 2-1 win, sending them up to 5th, and possibly ending City's already diminishing hopes of a 3rd title in a row.