The Road to Nowhere European Football Podcast

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Joe Donnohue (the voice of Scouted Football) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. In spotlighting several young prospects and developing storylines to follow over the second half of the season, the boys look at Freiburg's sensible recruitment, Villarreal’s dexterous starlet, Will Still’s managerial odyssey, Giorgio Scalvini’s aggressive style of play and more. 1:58 - After a heartbreaking conclusion to Freiburg’s previous Bundesliga campaign, how would we rate their chances of securing a place in the Champions League this time around? / 20:41 - How might we successfully argue that Real Sociedad are the best-run club in Spanish football? / 35:38 - Which young Italian defender has played in a key role in Atalanta’s uncharacteristic defensive resilience this season? / 50:13 - What signs have we seen to suggest that Monaco’s 17-year-old Eliesse Ben Seghir can build on his dream Ligue 1 debut against Auxerre at the end of 2022?

Alasdair and Michael discuss and analyse the latest action on and off the pitch so far in Qatar. The boys look at Lionel Messi’s swan song, Morocco’s endearing collectivism, Kylian Mbappé’s palpable winning mentality, Croatia’s inevitable exhaustion, and more. Notwithstanding the fact that Antoine Griezmann has not scored any goals in Qatar, how might we argue that the 31-year-old has been the best player of the 2022 World Cup? Where will Sunday's final between France and Argentina be won and lost? Where does Morocco's Qatari odyssey rank amongst the all-time great World Cup underdog stories? What apparently fatal mistake did Croatia make in their 3-0 loss against Argetina? 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest action on and off the pitch so far in Qatar. The boys look at the evolution of Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side over the course of the tournament, Antoine Griezmann's integral role as the orchestrator of the French attack, Fernando Santos’ bold but vindicated decision to hand a start to Gonçalo Ramos, and more. After scraping through against Australia, how well-equipped are Argentina for their quarter-final showdown with The Netherlands? Which Croatian trait might prove decisive against high-flying Brazil? To what extent might France's apparent defensive frailties hinder their bid to become only the third country in history to retain the World Cup title? Having conceded just once in over 400 minutes of football in Qatar, could Morocco become the first ever African nation to secure a place in a World Cup semi-final?

Barlow and Michael are joined by long-time friend of the podcast, Alan Feehely for a look at the action on and off the pitch so far in Qatar. The boys discuss Lionel Messi’s mixed fortunes during the group stage, the case for Australia to be the tournament's most compelling country, the USA’s consistency, and more. After cruising through their group, how many more layers are there to England in the knockouts? Which underlying statistic showed that Germany have improved over the last four years despite another group stage exit? Are Spain serious contenders to France’s throne? Did Denmark's Euro 2020 run overshadow their tactical and technical deficiencies?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. In spotlighting several intriguing storylines to follow at the 2022 World Cup, the boys look at Luka Modrić's poetic apprentice, Theo Hernandez’s advanced role in France’s possible 3-4-1-2 formation, Hirving Lozano’s cult hero status, Jude Bellingham's career trajectory and more. How has Napoli's Hirving Lozano evolved as a player since his scintillating performance for Mexico against Germany at the 2018 World Cup? Which two Bundesliga teenagers look well-equipped to dominate world football over the next decade or so? Notwithstanding the fact that Jonathan Clauss has since been left out of Didier Deschamps's French squad heading to Qatar, why would the 30-year-old's inclusion in said squad have represented the perfect World Cup story? What parallels can be drawn between 25-year-old Dutch international, Frenkie de Jong and 24-year-old Uruguayan international, Fede Valverde?

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael are joined by Alex Collings (of Scouted Football, Football Per 90, and Pot Shot Podcast fame) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Fiorentina's contrasting fortunes domestically and in Europe, Lyon's existentialism, the apparent decline of Schalke's erstwhile prestigious youth academy, Real Valladolid's purple patch, and more. Now in his fourth season at Atlético de Madrid, what does the future hold for 22-year-old João Félix? What have been the main factors behind Schalke's failure to reacclimatise to the Bundesliga? How would we assess Juninho's two-and-a-half-year tenure as Lyon's Sporting Director, and what was the wider significance of his departure from that role at the end of 2021? Which underlying statistic illustrates the extent to which Lazio have evolved tactically under Maurizio Sarri? 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the wider significance of Florian Wirtz's long-term absence for Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna's post-Siniša Mihajlović regression, the main factors behind the alarming drop-off in Barcelona's attacking output, FC Lorient's narrative-laced start to life under Régis Le Bris and more. 1:38 - Where did it all go wrong for Swiss coach, Gerardo Seoane after such an impressive first season in charge at Bayer Leverkusen? / 20:26 - Stylistically and emotionally speaking, what are the main differences between the new Sevilla coach, Jorge Sampaoli and his predecessor, Julen Lopetegui? / 38:10 - How has Lorient gaffer, Régis Le Bris's coaching background facilitated his seemingly effortless summer move into first team management? / 48:30 - Which statistic best illustrates Inter's defensive woes this season, and to what extent do those woes suggest a wider emerging trend for Simone Inzaghi's side? 

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Destiny Udogie's development at high-flying Udinese, Athletic Club's European aspirations under the guidance of Ernesto Valverde, Sheraldo Becker's xG-defying exploits, Toulouse's Scottish connection and more. 2:07 - Which factors have enabled Toulouse's post-nadir rebirth? / 19:21 - How might we explain the comparisons that have been drawn between Antonio Conte and Udinese manager, Andrea Sottil? / 35:30 - What is it that makes Girona such a simultaneously unpopular, curious, and entertaining LaLiga side? / 50:06 - Can Union Berlin 'do a Leicester'?

Alasdair and Barlow are joined by Richard David Pike (Breaking the Lines) to discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at Seville's evolving footballing landscape, Heart of Midlothian's rude Europa Conference League awakening, the heir apparent to Darwin Núñez's Benfica throne, Union Saint-Gilloise's defiance of post-Felice Mazzù expectations, Pascal Janssen’s managerial credentials and more. 1:47 - Following Benfica's intriguing summer transfer window, how well-equipped are Roger Schmidt's side to end their recent domestic silverware drought? / 13:34 - What can we expect in the short and long term from Union Saint-Gilloise following their successful return to Belgian football's top flight? / 22:43 - Taking into account Real Betis' supposed lack of squad depth, should Manuel Pellegrini prioritise Europa League glory or a top four finish in LaLiga? / 32:27 - What was the wider significance of Hearts' sobering 4-0 loss at home to Istanbul Basaksehir? / 43:58 - How far can Pascal Janssen’s AZ Alkmaar side progress in the Europa Conference League?  

Alasdair, Barlow and Michael discuss and analyse the latest European football news. The boys look at the roles of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga in Real Madrid's post-Casemiro midfield, Dortmund's rather enduring incompetency, Sampdoria's early season misery, and Angel Gomes' promising partnership with Benjamin André in Lille's double pivot. 1:47 - Just how central could 21-year-old Georgian international, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia be to Napoli's exciting new dawn, and why might Luciano Spalletti be the perfect coach to help Tanguy Ndombelé rediscover his 2017 form? / 19:42 - Why should we perhaps have foreseen that Lille's wh ite-knuckled Fonseca-ball would be brutally exposed by PSG's scintillating front three on Matchday 3? / 34:42 - What should be our main takeaways from Oli Burke’s early-season heroics at Werder Bremen, and, looking ahead, what can we realistically expect from the Kirkcaldy-born forward as the season develops? / 49:20 - Notwithstanding Valencia's ostensibly underwhelming start to the new campaign, how might we explain the growing sense of optimism at Mestalla?