The Game

Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Alyson Rudd and Alan Smith in the studio to tackle some thorny issues in the football world.

England’s friendly with the USA will now be a farewell appearance for record goal scorer Wayne Rooney. The match will be called The Wayne Rooney Foundation International, with proceeds going to charity. But does Rooney deserve such a tribute and does Rooney’s appearance deprive other players of vital England experience?

James McClean and Nemanja Matic made headlines over the weekend due to the lack of a remembrance poppy on their shirt. What’s the significance and why do players continue to be vilified and abused for that choice?

As Manchester City make a mockery of Southampton at the Etihad, can Chelsea and Liverpool keep up with what looks to be a relentless title pace from the champions? And with Raheem Sterling starring again, is he worth his reportedly record-breaking contract offer?

Plus find out which Premier League manager is like a 16th century doctor.

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant ahead of another huge weekend of football.

How will Liverpool, arguably with their most solid defensive structure since the days of Rafa Benitez, fare against Emery’s speedier, more dynamic Arsenal? And can these teams help us fall in love with the team goal again as opposed to the long-range screamer?

Across North London, Mauricio Pochettino has spoken about his worst feeling at Tottenham since becoming manager. With the Real Madrid and Manchester United jobs potentially available in the summer, are we witnessing the end of Pochettino’s love affair with Daniel Levy?

Plus with the pitch and the NFL branding playing a prominent role in the Spurs v Man City fixture, did the visuals at Wembley on Monday night damage the Premier League brand?

Also on the agenda, the 48 team World Cup could be less than 4 years away. Does increasing the number of teams dilute the quality of the tournament? Or should football be a festival for all?

Charlie Scott provides advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball 

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It’s been a weekend where shocking events off the field have overshadowed football.

On Saturday night, after Leicester City’s game with West Ham, Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among those to lose his life when a helicopter carrying him and 4 others crashed outside the King Power Stadium.

Under his stewardship, Leicester despite odds of 5,000 to 1, won the Premier League title in 2016, perhaps the most incredible title victory in the history of English football.

Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Henry Winter, Alyson Rudd and Oliver Kay for their reaction.

In an age where fans feel disenfranchised from their club, Srivaddhanaprabha was an owner who tried to reverse that trend and connected with the community.

The panel reflect on an owner that made good decisions on the pitch too, from hiring the ridiculed Ranieri to investing in unknown gems.

In the Premier League, Ross Barkley continues to thrive under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea. Did people forget how good he is? And can Ruben Loftus-Cheek thrive in the same way or is he still at the wrong club this season?

And after another impressive display for Bournemouth, the stock of Eddie Howe and Callum Wilson continues to rise. How much longer can Gareth Southgate ignore Wilson before calling him up to the England squad?

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Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are privileged to be joined by Henry Winter and Matthew Syed after a Champions League week that’s thrown up a number of broader talker points.

It’s another howler from Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal away in Eindhoven. The panel examine the mindset of a modern-day goalkeeper and to what extent they are under-appreciated and over-analysed.

Manchester United meekly slip to defeat at home to Juventus. Find out why a line-up full of attacking players doesn’t necessarily mean an attacking line-up with Jose Mourinho at the moment.

Plus FIFA have proposals in a place for a Club World Cup featuring 24 teams. Is this another example of owners trying to maximise the club’s assets and another take on the European Super League?

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball 

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Gab Marcotti is joined by Paul Hirst, Gary Jacob and Bill Edgar after a big weekend of football and ahead of a big week to come.

With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford with Juventus, Lucy Holden has been to Turin and his birthplace Madeira to study the devotion to a football icon, in the midst of rape allegations that Ronaldo has denied.

After a fiery conclusion to Chelsea’s draw with Manchester United, does Jose Mourinho deserve respect from Blues fans just because he was successful at Stamford Bridge?

Newcastle lose their 5th home game in a row and are still winless this season. Does Benitez deserve more blame? Or do Newcastle’s problems as a football club pre-date Mike Ashley?

Fulham were the 5th biggest net spenders in Europe in the summer. Yet they lost to Cardiff. Did they really need to go out and buy a whole new squad in the summer? And how much longer will Slavisa Jokanovic be at Craven Cottage?

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League returns from the international break with a vengeance.

Unbeaten Chelsea host Manchester United as Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge. Are Sarri’s side title contenders? Does Paul Pogba need a less rigid attacking system? Plus Gab has serious sympathy for Mourinho when it comes to his latest punishment from the FA.

It was a stunning week for England but will Ross Barkley and Harry Winks continue to get enough minutes at club level? And exactly how many minutes do they even need to be in the England squad?

And with Tottenham facing a tough set of fixtures without Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen – and with Mousa Dembele’s form seemingly nosediving – can Mauricio Pochettino add to his growing reputation in the next couple of months?

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball 

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Martyn Ziegler and Alan Smith to discuss the biggest story in international football – the sudden regression of the German national team.

Germany have now gone three competitive games without scoring for the first time in their history. After group stage elimination from the World Cup, is it Joachim Low’s fault or is there a systemic failing in German football?

After Maurizio Sarri admitted to a friendly exchange on the touchline with Jurgen Klopp during a tight and tense top of the table clash between Chelsea and Liverpool, do managers have to be serious and stern all the time in order to achieve success? And if you smile while you’re losing, does that make you a loser?

Plus we discuss Eleven Sports’ decision to ignore the traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off blackout on live televised football in the UK and the possible ramifications for the game. And we bring you localised tales of where Roy Keane grew up.

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and George Caulkin. And it’s a very difficult podcast for Natalie as Brentford have lost their beloved boss.

Dean Smith and John Terry are the new team at the helm at Aston Villa. But given Terry was in the frame for the manager’s job, can he settle for a reduced role at Villa Park? A role that as Matt reveals, might not even be as number 2.

The Nations League is back as England prepare to face Croatia on Friday night. How excited should England fans be about Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho? And elsewhere, George talks to us about whether the legacy of Roy Keane’s post-playing career is misunderstood.

We also turn our attention to the battle to stay in the Premier League. Are Cardiff and Huddersfield lost causes as many suggest? And is staying up good enough for Newcastle?

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back with Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League tightens up at the top.

The two title favourites draw 0-0 at Anfield with Riyad Mahrez missing a late penalty. Did Manchester City show a solidity in midfield that will serve them well in big games? Or are Liverpool’s front 3 of Salah, Mane and Firmino running out of steam?

In Jose Mourinho’s words, he’s been the victim of a manhunting, with reports suggesting he was set to be sacked last weekend. Has the board at Old Trafford prioritised the brand over the football? And what damage is being done to that brand by the chaos on and off the pitch?

Arsenal are the form team in the country right now after thrashing Fulham at Craven Cottage. Aaron Ramsey scores a contender for goal of the season but is he worth the franchise player money that the Gunners are apparently unwilling to pay him?

Plus Neil Warnock's very high threshold for a red card offence. And it’s a bad week for Bayern but a happy one for Hurst at Ipswich.

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Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss a big week in the Champions League, and a bigger weekend to come in the Premier League.

Liverpool face Manchester City at Anfield as the Premier League’s top two title favourites go head to head. With the Reds losing in Naples, is it the wake-up call Jurgen Klopp needs for a reset on a midfield lacking in creativity?

Henry Winter witnesses a Messi masterclass at Wembley, as Barcelona dismantle Tottenham. Messi may be one of the greatest of all time but does he benefit from a better supporting cast than legends of the past?

And we ask what has happened to Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris? Is he still among the Premier League’s best shot stoppers? And is it right that he’s been out of the spotlight for so long after his drink-driving charges?

Plus Natalie doesn’t want to talk about it – but there’s a managerial vacancy at Villa Park, brought about by bad results and cabbages.

Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball 

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