The Game

By The TimesSports News Entertainment News Soccer

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51 min
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The Game episodes

April 12, 2021 Bread Is Bread, Cheese Is Cheese
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Matt Dickinson and Alyson Rudd.

Which teams are out of the Champions League running following the weekend? Could Jesse Lingard be in the running for player of the season? Why do Manchester United need to go behind to pull out performances like the second half against Spurs? (00:00)

It’s not VAR under the microscope, but the actual human decisions using the technology. James Tarkowski’s challenge against Newcastle causes a difference of opinions between our panel and how does that go unpunished while Spurs had a goal chalked off against Manchester United? (17:32)

Leeds provided the big Premier League shock of the weekend with a win at Manchester City - but where do the club go from here? How do they avoid the same fate as Sheffield United as teams work out how to play against them? What do they do if Marcelo Bielsa leaves? (33:53)

The race for the Championship playoff places is hotting up, with Barnsley in the mix after a remarkable season at Oakwell. Brentford missed out on promotion last season - is this season their time? Can Bournemouth or Reading afford not to go up this season, given their massive wage bills? (41:16)

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57 min
April 08, 2021 Don't Write Liverpool Off Completely
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, James Restall and Jonathan Northcroft.

Chelsea came away from their Champions League quarter final first leg with a two goal lead, but there are still questions over their German summer recruits. Are Kai Havertz and Timo Werner running out of time? Liverpool have it all to do in their second leg back at Anfield after a lacklustre performance at Real Madrid - but are people wrong to write them off? (00:00)

Manchester City also go into their second leg tie against Borussia Dortmund with an advantage. Eyes were on Erling Haaland, but was another young star the pick of the talent on show? (18:09)

The Times’ Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins the conversation to discuss the young English talent we’ve seen in the Champions League this week and get his opinion on whether Gareth Southgate is any closer knowing how to include them in his England squad for the Euros (32:35)

Rebecca Welch made history by taking charge of a men’s league match on Monday. Sunny and Bhupinder Gill will become the first Asian brothers to officiate in the same game the coming weekend. We discuss how these role models can help improve the diversity of match officials (43:54)

After Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting replaced the injured Robert Lewandowski in PSG’s tie against Bayern Munich, we end with our favourite questionable stand-ins (49:47)

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58 min
April 05, 2021 You Can’t Put A Price On A Good Moustache
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd.

The Premier League returned after the international break and so did the surprise results.. or were they a surprise? Are West Brom hard to play against because they have nothing to lose? Did Chelsea show signs of the Chelsea of old? What on earth happened to Spurs? (00:00)

Liverpool have now won three games in a row - will their Premier League form lead to them saving their season by winning the Champions League? Are Real Madrid as fearsome as they used to be in Europe? (22:07)

Manchester City and Chelsea are England’s other hopes of European glory - we rate their chances and contemplate whether Pep Guardiola might be telling us the truth when it comes to their transfer budget this summer (31:21)

We end with our favourite passionate press conferences after Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil gave his vocal chords a workout following their Copa del Rey triumph (47:54)

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1 hr
April 01, 2021 Farewell Sergio Agüero
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft.

As Sergio Aguero announces he’s leaving Manchester City in the summer after a decade at the Etihad - where does he rank in the table of greatest Premier League strikers and who could replace him? (00:00)

Scotland had a positive international break - our Scottish duo break down the progress they’re making under Steve Clarke ahead of the Euros (13:45)

England won all three qualifiers in this international break - but are the performances worth celebrating? Which players have played themselves into Gareth Southgate’s Euro squad and who could miss out? (27:23)

After calling the England U21’s job ‘impossible’ - is it impossible to see a way back for manager Aidy Boothroyd? Are games at this level preparing the players for the senior team or are they being set up for failure? (39:05)

After Germany’s embarrassing loss to North Macedonia, we recall our favourite World Cup shocks (58:48)

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57 min
March 29, 2021 Which System, Gareth?
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Alyson Rudd. Gareth Southgate’s formation against Albania gets the England conversation started, particularly in defence. The stats are strongly in James Ward-Prowse’s favour for a surprise role in the side, but will it happen? Has Jordan Henderson’s makeshift defensive role for Liverpool affected his England chances of starting for his country? The Times’ Irish Football Reporter Paul Rowan joins us to discuss Ireland’s disappointing loss to Luxembourg over the weekend and where they go from here. After Thierry Henry quit social media in protest over how the platforms deal with abuse, we discuss whether other high profile names doing the same would cause change. We end recalling some of our favourite footballing tantrums after Cristiano Ronaldo’s minor meltdown for Portugal. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
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1 hr 17 min
March 25, 2021 Should We Be Going To Qatar?
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft. Norway’s players protested against the human rights record in Qatar before their first World Cup qualifier last night, so we look at whether footballers should feel the burden is on them to speak out or whether bigger gestures are needed. This week, the BBC documentary ‘Football's Darkest Secret’ aired, looking into the child abuse scandal in football. We discuss the bravery shown by those who came forward and what needs to happen next to ensure this never happens again. Gareth Southgate says his England squad are discussing whether they wish to take the knee going forward and will make a unified decision. Could we see a player kneel during the national anthem and how would that be received? Cesare Prandelli left his job at Fiorentina this week citing his mental health in a remarkable open letter to fans. We look at the positive impact this could have on other people involved in the game. We end by looking at players who perform better for their country than their club. Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
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57 min
March 22, 2021 Should Steve Bruce Walk Away?
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Alyson Rudd and Matt Dickinson. After the defeat at Brighton, Steve Bruce remains defiant at Newcastle but have things become too personal? Do the Magpies stand a better chance of survival with a different person in charge? Leicester City impressed in the FA Cup - are they proper contenders and no longer living the ‘fairytale’? Spurs bounced back from their Europa League disappointment with a win at Villa - but is it the beginning of the end for Jose? Women’s football is set for a huge boost with a landmark TV deal - will this take the women’s game to the next level in the UK? With the World Cup qualifiers coming up and some interesting squad selections from Gareth Southgate, we look at which players need to impress the England manager in the coming days. To celebrate the beginning of spring, save fifty percent on full digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times for six months and stay well informed on the latest stories: thetimes.co.uk/sale/thegame
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54 min
March 18, 2021 What's Up With The Champions League?
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Molly Hudson. With eight teams left in the Champions League draw, we work out our dream draw and which teams are most likely to go all the way this season. The Times’ European Football Correspondent Ian Hawkey joins us to talk all things Real Madrid which leads to a sharing of our favourite Los Blancos memories. Molly brings us the latest from the women’s game with the Champions League last eight draw decided and Fran Kirby back on form for Chelsea. This episode was recorded before Gareth Southgate announced his England squad for the World Cup qualifiers. We weight up the potential inclusions and what level of success he needs to achieve at the Euros to be deemed a success. Scotland are also preparing for the delayed tournament and Gregor has some thoughts on who he’d like to see in the squad. The conversation turns to switching allegiance and whether the current rules protect the smaller nations. We end the episode picking that one player from another nation that we would have loved to sneak into our national team. To celebrate the beginning of spring, save fifty percent on full digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times for six months and stay well informed on the latest stories: thetimes.co.uk/sale/thegame
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59 min
March 15, 2021 Sorry I'm Late, Mik!
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Roddy and Alyson Rudd. False nines are becoming more and more common, so are they here to stay? Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped for their win against Spurs on Sunday - is there a leadership problem at the club? On the pitch, should Arsenal’s winning penalty have been awarded? As Chris Wilder departs - what are the problems off the pitch at Sheffield United? Sunderland have finally broken their Wembley jinx - is the future bright at the Stadium of Light? Kelechi Iheanacho scored his first hat trick against Sheffield United - is this the start of him achieving his full potential? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
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59 min
March 11, 2021 20 Years Of Daniel Levy
Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Clarke and Jonathan Northcroft. There’ll be no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League quarter finals this season - will either ever win another European trophy? Manchester United have restructured their positions above Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s head - what impact will this have on their performances? It’s 20 years since Daniel Levy took over at Tottenham, but what will his legacy be? Barnsley are in the Championship playoff places, they’ve just been held to a draw after 7 straight wins - what’s the secret at Oakwell? Get your digital subscription to The Times and get a month free: thetimes.co.uk/thegame
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51 min