The 40 Yard Switch

After a five-month hiatus we have returned!

Life sometimes can get in the way of things like a sports podcast, especially when the two hosts are not paid to produce it. However, with Jasper now settled in London, a new era of The 40 Yard Switch can begin! For this return episode, Woody is joined by Yannick Hansen, in person for the first time, as we conduct a review of the 2023/24 English Premier League season. We go through all 20 sides, assessing how their season transpired, for better or worse. Then to mark a triumphant reemergence, we put up the fourth iteration of our End of Season Awards, with some picks that may shock you...

Chelsea have struggled for results and consistency of performance all season so far, and their woes continued when they lost 1-0 to Middlesborough in their EFL Cup semi-final first leg. After a decent start to the campaign, Arsenal now have just one win in their last seven and we knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool at the weekend. We dissect the issues facing the two clubs and how much worry is justified for both sets of fans, before finishing by discussing the future of the pod as we prepare to be living on opposite sides of the world. 

Happy New Year! We're back for our first episode of 2024 as the congested festive fixture list comes to a close. With the small break in play, it's a good time to present our Mid-Season awards! From best player to break out star, surprising team to biggest flop: we've got it covered.

Nottingham Forrest have sacked Steve Cooper and since replaced him with Nuno Espirito Santo. We discuss why we don't think this was the best decision from their ownership, before going through the newly released fixtures for the Champions League Round of 16. Finally to round out the show we have a general chat about the state of play in the Premier League as we approach the festive period.

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.