The group stages of all three UEFA club competitions have drawn to a close, and will return in the new year. We go through the Champions League groups and discuss how the Premier League teams have faired, as it has been a mixed bag for Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Manchester United. Jasper then has a question for Wilbur about how the astronomical spending in the Premier League may be starting to create a more competitive league overall.

After a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of fellow cellar dwellers Burnley, Sheffield United have responded to their poor start to the campaign by sacking manager Paul Heckingbottom. We discuss whether the call was warranted and rate the decision to replace him with Chris Wilder. We then move on to discuss the developing title race between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal and how serious their championship credentials are. 

As the picture of the Premier League table becomes more clear as the rounds progress, a third of the way into the season it appears that a three-way title race is brewing between Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. That leaves one, potentially two, Champions League spots left for for the chasing pack of Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Newcastle United to fight over. We go through each team and discuss how they have started the campaign, and evaluate where we think they will end up by season's end. Then we have some fun playing around with the players from the four clubs in the back end of the episode. 

After a month away, Wilbur has returned! Back home from his travels, he gets back behind the mic in a week where his beloved Everton have been part of part of a piece of Premier League history. The Toffees have been handed a 10 point deduction for breaching the leagues profit and sustainability rules. We break down this unprecedented ruling and what it means the rest of the league and Everton, before looking ahead to four huge fixtures this week.  

This week we welcome back another friend of the show to make his third appearance on The 40 Yard Switch, Josh Ring.
After discussing some of the pressing talking points from the weekend's EPL action we then talk at length about the sanctity of game, and how we have become a little jaded with the direction top level football is heading. From foreign investment in teams, to World Cup hosting rights being awarded unfairly, and finally to examples of how football can be enjoyed without exorbitant injections of money.

Timestamps:
02:50 - Tottenham vs Chelsea
14:57 - Newcastle vs Arsenal
22:40 - Luton vs Liverpool
28:56 - The sanctity of the game
52:00 - Examples of leagues and teams operated more sustainably

Woody is joined this week by fan favourite Max Resic, who returns to discuss all things Manchester Derby and if Erik ten Hag might not be the guy for Manchester United. We also discuss the success so far of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal and where both sides will end up come seasons end, before finally breaking down the Balon d'Or and answering whether or not Messi was a deserved winner.

In the first week of a month of episodes without Wilbur, Yannick Hansen returns to guest host alongside Woody. On our minds this week: discussing how Liverpool have looked so far with their rejuvenated midfield, the Arsenal goalkeeper situation, and if Aston Villa are the real deal this season as their impressive home record continues.

In what will be the last episode with Wilbur for a month, we took a look at the qualifying groups for Euro 2024 as it starts to get to the pointy end of the process to secure a spot. We then recap whats gone on in the Women's Super League in the opening few rounds before looking ahead to some enticing fixtures this weekend as the Premier League returns. 

Arsenal defeated Manchester City in the Premier League for the first time since 2015, and Woody is over the moon with it. Elsewhere, Everton looked the best they have so far this season against Bournemouth and Chelsea look like they're starting to cook as well. West Ham United seem to be back to their best too, but players from Chelsea and West Ham who are excelling can't seem to get an England call up. We go through all of that and more this week including a recap of some notable moments in the Champions League from last week.

In a bonkers week of Premier League drama, the controversy around VAR reached boiling point as a result of the incident during the Tottenham vs Liverpool match. We spend a little too much time talking about that, as well as some other glaring missed VAR calls, before moving on to discuss plenty of other notable news from the weekend. Did Brighton get found out by Aston Villa? Is Rodri the most important player for Man City? Have Wolves backed the wrong manager? Listen and find out!