The Road to Nowhere European Football Podcast

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. In presenting their alternative end-of-season awards, the boys look at Siniša Mihajlović's legendary legacy, Habib Diarra's emergence as one of Ligue 1's most coveted teenagers, the Basque country’s disproportionate impact on Spanish football, Schalke's fruitless Rückrunde resurgence, and more. Why is Union Berlin manager, Urs Fischer fully deserving of Road to Nowhere cult hero status?What silver linings are there for Sampdoria following a season to forget for i Blucerchiati? Which LaLiga duo would be well-suited to a stint in the Love Island villa? In what regard is Nantes' prolongation of their top-flight status a positive for Ligue 1 as a whole?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Samuel Umtiti’s redemption arc, LaLiga’s moment of self-reckoning, Stuttgart’s (potential) stay of execution, PSG’s empty title and more. Following another weekend dominated by headlines of the racist abuse to which Vinicius has consistently been subjected, what steps must Spanish football take next to address what is a persisting problem? What signs have we seen, if any, to suggest that Lazio can challenge for the Serie A title next season? In what sense does Alban Lafont’s disastrous end-of-season form represent relegation-threatened Nantes' final few months of the campaign in microcosm? In a narrative-laced final matchday of the Bundesliga campaign, which storyline is perhaps the most magical?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at 22-year-old Muhammed Cham’s fresh-faced spark, Roma's untimely domestic slump, Osasuna's unique journey from near-disappearance to near-glory, Bayern Munich's fallibility and more. 1:40 - To what extent have Clermont defied pre-season expectations, and how, exactly, have they done so? / 14:27 - In what regard is LaLiga's Lord of the Dark Arts an apt moniker for the reappointed Getafe manager, José Bordalás? / 27:52 - Why has 20-year-old Josh Doig received limited minutes recently at Hellas Verona, and, more generally, what does Doig's reduced gametime tell us on a wider note about the club's evolving playing style under Marco Zaffaroni as they look to maintain their top-flight status? / 45:32 - Where will the Bundesliga title race be won and lost over the final three matchdays?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Sevilla’s Europa League love affair, Italian football’s apparent renaissance, Florian Wirtz's transformational post-ACL return to the Bayer Leverkusen squad, Lyon’s homegrown frontline, and more. 1:35 - What signs have we seen, if any, from Xabi Alonso's fledgling career in the dugout to suggest that he can fulfil his seemingly presupposed managerial destiny? / 12:41 - What is the wider significance of the decision taken by the Italian Olympic Committee’s Board of Guarantors to overturn the sizeable points deduction previously imposed on Juventus? / 29:11 - Where might Osasuna be able to have some joy against Real Madrid in the upcoming Copa del Rey final? / 43:39 - How have academy graduates Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola in particular benefitted from Lyon's decision to appoint Laurent Blanc as the club's new manager back in October?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Alex Collings and Ninad Barbidikar (of Everybody's Eats Ligue 1 podcast fame) to discuss and analyse the latest Europe football news. The boys look at Fiorentina's recent resurgence, Eduardo Camavinga’s increasingly secure place in Real Madrid’s strongest starting eleven, the 18-year-old heir to Malo Gusto’s Lyonnais throne, the thinking behind Bayern Munich’s decision to part company with Julian Nagelsmann, and more. 1:49 - Why would Julian Nagelsmann and Real Madrid perhaps not be the best fit for each other? / 15:57 - What factors have enabled and characterised Samu Chukwueze’s recent efflorescence? / 32:36 - Why is Mike Maignan arguably the best goalkeeper in the world right now? / 52:53 - Which qualities makes Desiré Doué one of the most promising teenage talents in Ligue 1, and arguably all of Europe, right now?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Albert and Barney (of Long Ball Futebol podcast fame) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Alasdair's recent Derby della Capitale matchday experience in Rome, Sevilla's short-, medium-, and long-term concerns, Nicolás Otamendi's role in 19-year-old Antonio Silva’s development at Benfica, Pedro Gonçalves' most effective position and more. 3:01 - In what sense has Joselu taken the scenic route to international football, and why, despite his antics, should we have a soft spot for the veteran Espanyol forward? / 18:00 - Where was the recent Derby della Capitale won and lost, and what was the wider significance of the final result? / 32:20 - To what extent does Joao Mario’s rejuvenation reflect more generally Benfica’s positive direction of travel?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Luke Entwistle (of Get French Football News and the official Ligue 1 podcast fame) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Villarreal's post-Emery struggles, Ivan Jurić's impressive managerial résumé, Monaco’s hopes and expectations for Eliesse Ben Seghir, Schalke’s first-rate fanbase and more. 1:29 - What factors have contributed to Schalke's apparent post-winter break turnaround, and, with that turnaround in mind, how might we now rate the club's chances of avoiding the drop? / 14:12 - What impact has Gian Piero Gasperini had on Italian football's coaching and tactical landscape? / 27:37 - How might we evaluate Monaco’s progress to date under Philippe Clement, and, looking ahead, how might we assess the club’s current direction of travel on and off the field of play? / 42:46 - Why might Ronald Araujo be regarded as one of the best defenders in the world right now?  

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Malick Thiaw's emergence as a key figure in AC Milan's back three, Frédéric Antonetti's managerial credentials, Borussia Dortmund's post-World Cup resurgence, Real Sociedad's Europa League date with Roma and more. 1:39 - How have Scottish prospects Lewis Ferguson and Josh Doig acclimatised to life at Bologna and Hellas Verona respectively? / 18:21 - What factors are fuelling Union Berlin's quite astonishing title push, and, on a wider note, what would winning the Bundesliga or even securing Champions League football mean for the club as a whole? / 35:24 - What were the key takeaways from the most recent edition of the Madrid derby? / 52:29 - Why have Strasbourg struggled to emulate last season's success this time around, and, looking ahead, how might we rate their chances of survival following the appointment of Frédéric Antonetti as the club's new manager? 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Barcelona's home comforts, Wolfsburg's system-enabling tenacity, Cremonese's contrasting league and cup fortunes, Nice's newfound optimism, and more. 1:56 - In a Wolfsburg squad laced with young talent and a sprinkling of more experienced, sage heads, who can we expect to see play a key role for Die Wölfe in the remaining fourteen league games as they look to secure a European spot? / 14:53 - Why didn't Andoni Iraola's move to Leeds United ultimately materialise? / 32:32 - Where and how does Didier Digard’s spell in charge of Nice sit within the wider picture of the club's Jim Ratcliffe era? / 49:20 - Despite Simone Inzaghi's hitherto trophyless spell in charge of Inter Milan, how has the 46-year-old kept his side's spirits high? 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the Bundesliga's decidedly on-brand Matchday 16 goal rush, Empoli's flourishing youth academy, the wider significance of the most recent edition of the Madrid derby, Salis Abdul Samed's promising start to life at high-flying Lens and more. 1:40 - Which Lens players in particular can we expect to see play a key role as Franck Haise's side look to secure a place in Europe and perhaps even push for the title? / 14:38 - Why, in layman's terms, have Juventus been deducted fifteen points by the Italian Football Federation? / 32:18 - How have the dynamics of the Madrid derby evolved over the last decade or so? / 50:18 - What factors suggest that Thomas Letsch's Bochum side can avoid the drop and secure a third successive season in German football's top flight?