On episode 144 we are entirely in the hands of our listeners as we’ll deal with three great questions on the nature of football club ownership, if too much focus on club rivalries caused the Sterling Gomez fallout to be as toxic as it appeared? and weather international fixtures could be the victims of the fixture congestion caused by the club game?

In episode 143 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall we look back at East German football and how the game changed for its clubs and players after reunification. Join us for tales of huge aggregate scores, defections and drama as we explore the History of East German Football.

Reading List of Sources

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50289343

https://www.dw.com/en/stasi-club-bfc-dynamo-what-happened-to-the-record-east-german-champions/a-51084561

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50225455

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50363141

https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/03/30/the-east-german-curse-how-footballing-reunification-failed/

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/oct/22/ddr-oberliga-football-east-germany

In Episode 142 we are asking where the line is for fans when it comes to defending their clubs and players? We discuss what behavior, if any is beyond the pale in modern football.

We combine over 50 years experience watching football to come up with a, worst players we’ve ever seen XI. If you’re in the market for some mean-spirited nostalgia we feel very guilty about, we have you covered here!

In episode 140 we look back to football 100 years ago and find intrigue, controversy, clubs expelled and players auctioned off.

On episode 139 we discuss the three football bodies that runs the game in England; the FA, The Premier League and the EFL.

In the pod we talk about how their interests converge and where they come into conflict as well as how their successes and failings shape what can seem an increasingly dystopian football landscape.

And by way of contrast we also have the first round of feedback on our potential new intro music.

Please note the episode was almost called the Three Body Problem but it was decided that would be too obscure.

On episode 138 we discuss what makes a player a hero? How do styles of play, special and temporal as well as individual moment’s effect fans perceptions. We ask are there actually five types of cult hero? Wonder how you can lose your hero status and ask if the heroes of your youth effect how you view the game in the future and ask what that means for the future of football?

In Episode 137 we are joined by our newest contributor Rob Day who talks to us about his impressions of Soccer in the USA after three years watching and playing the game in New York.

We discuss access to playing football, fan culture, how the game is covered by broadcasters and more. And for the first time ever there is even a bit of romance.

Join us for Episode 136 to look back again on the cup competitions that either never quite made the grade or just faded from memory.

Episode 135 is the second part in our series on youth football in which we look at what can happen to kids who don’t make it in the academy system and ask; what clubs responsibility are and is the approach to coaching sufficient to ensure that kids are given a comprehensive education in the game? We also touch on football club’s engagement with wider social issues including knife crime and even find time to answer a couple of listeners questions.