The Sound of Football

Club football takes a time-out for some internationals and maybe it's not a moment too soon. This weekend saw Palace sack Patrick Vieira, Fulham get three red cards in a minute, and Antonio Conte call out the elephant in room at Spurs. Everyone clearly just needs to calm down. On this week's podcast, we discuss the incident at Old Trafford that saw Willian, Marco Silva and Aleksandar Mitrovic all see red, and the type of punishment that should be handed out in this current climate where referee abuse is almost seen as part and parcel of the game. We also hear Terry's thought on the departure of Vieira and the prospect of Roy Hodgson coming out of retirement again to save his club from relegation. We also discover who the German equivalent of Keith Hackett is. For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_530.mp3

This weekend, following a mass walkout of talent over the mistreatment of Gary Lineker, BBC Sport's flagship product Match of the Day went out as just a series of unintroduced, voiceless highlights that were over and done with in just 20 minutes. For a few (mostly Tory MPs who never watch football), this was seen as an improvement but for the majority it showed the value of the context that commentators and pundits bring to our enjoyment of the game. Writer and broadcaster Jon Driscoll returns to the podcast to discuss the modern role of football commentary. An experienced commentator himself, who better to tell us all about what world feeds really are, and what happens when you have to go "off-tube". For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_529.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? With apologies made, the BBC have two FA Cup quarter finals to show this weekend, with commentary: City host Vincent Kompany's Burnley while Grimsby are hoping for a bit of magic when they visit Brighton. There's also the spectacle that is El Clasico. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney faces 262 FA charges relating to betting on football matches. Is it any wonder when he wears a betting sponsor on his shirt and plays at a club that has based its recruitment on data models for gamblers? Charging a player for gambling in a sport that appears to welcome the practice so readily seems to many to be hypocritical, but are they two separate matters? From in-game betting to live analytics, gambling has become integral to many people's enjoyment of the game. So, how many more Ivan Toney's are out there? For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_528.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? It's the Revierderby on Saturday with the two Ruhr giants in fine form. There's also the spectacle of Nigel Pearson v Mick McCarthy facing each other in the Championship. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

The Government's White Paper on football governance is finally here. While it sets out plans to introduce an independent regulator for the five highest divisions in English football, many of the recommendations from the fan-led review aren't included. The introduction of a regulator to a sport that has let its fans down so much in recent years should be welcomed, but what are the potential pitfalls that lie ahead? The Premier League chief Richard Masters has already warned that, without the right direction, the new legislation could have “unintended consequences”. Has the Premier League or its main stakeholders already thought up a few consequences of their own? For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_527.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? After enjoying their day out Wembley last weekend, the League Cup finalists face tough Premier League tests with Newcastle heading to the Etihad while Manchester United face Liverpool. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

Last week, the body that controls refereeing in the Premier League, the PGMOL, parted company with Lee Mason, one of only three permananet VARs. His dismissal followed an incident where he incorrectly allowed a goal to stand in a potentially title affecting result involving Arsenal. It wasn't his first howler of the season (even just against Arsenal) but what precedent has been set by firing him? As more technology is introduced, like the semi-automated VAR for offside used in the World Cup, how far are we from the point where AI can take over from human referees? With the advances currently being made in AI, are we closer to that point than we think? ChatGPT joins us to discuss. For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_526.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? Talk of a potential Qatari takeover of Manchester United will dominate this Sunday's EFL Cup final against Saudi-owned Newcastle. Graham Potter faces another stern test as his Chelsea side visit Tottenham. Meanwhile on the continent, there's the Madrid derby, and Marseille have the chance to close the gap at the top to two points when they host PSG. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

It's been a week since the Premier League announced that Manchester City are to face over 100 charges of financial rule breaking. The club's owners have settled in for a long seige, with their loyal supporters taking to the battlements. Beyond the booing of the Premier League anthem and the baffling banners in support of the club's lawyer on the case, is there substance to arguments put out by City fans that this whole thing is a fit-up by the other clubs in the Premier League because they're either jealous, greedy, bigoted or mix of all the above? For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_525.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? Can Arsenal get their title chase back on track against their former head coach Unai Emery at Villa Park. Elsewhere, the Lionesses are in action in the Arnold Clark Cup, there's a derby in Melbourne and in Italy there's the exciting prospect of Silvio Berlusconi's Monza hosting his beloved AC Milan. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_525.mp3

The Premier League has charged Manchester City with over 100 breaches of its financial rules. Will the charges stick or will City walk away with nothing more than a slapped wrist as they did before when UEFA tried to take them on? What are the possible long-term ramifications of this action? Will the generous owners of the club stick around if their team are sanctioned heavily by points deductions, transfer embargoes, relegation or even the removal of their titles and honours? Who among the 19 other clubs in the English top flight are driving this on? Could this also be a pre-emptive action to warn clubs like Chelsea and Newcastle against excessive spending in the future? For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_524.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? Expect the City faithful to make their feelings felt when they take on Villa at the Etihad on Sunday. There's also the second part of a double-header between Manchester United and now managerless Leeds. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

For those taking part in Dry January, the end of the first month of the year offers an opportunity to indulge their worrying cravings, but for football teams this is when they have to go cold turkey from their addiction to spending money. Time is fast running out for clubs to hijack deals, shift players they don't need, or to overpay Brighton for their next big thing- or in Chelsea's case attempt to do all three. Beyond the vulgarity of the January money storm, this time of year also has the far more wholesome drama of the 4th round of the FA Cup. We have a bit of chat about that, as well give our thoughts on Sean Dyche's appointment as Everton manager. For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_523.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? After the dust settles from the closing of the transfer window it could be a very different Chelsea side that takes to the field against local rivals Fulham on Friday night. Meanwhile Sean Dyche has a tough return to the Premier League as his Everton side host Premier League leaders Arsenal. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

Frank Lampard has been shown the door at Everton after a dismal 38 games in charge. While he has failed to impress at what should be seen as one of the biggest jobs in English football, his profile in the game is huge and he has many allies in the media - which for many means that he's likely to land on his feet again and be high on the list for any upcoming vacancies. Does he need to go back to school or set his sights a little lower for a while to gain the experience for a long and successful career in management? We also discuss some of the key points from the weekend: Arsenal showing their title credentials, the Bundesliga returning with all the goals and the embarrassing spectacle of Sunday's WSL game between Chelsea and Liverpool being called off because of a frozen pitch after six minutes of play. For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_522.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? This weekend we're packing out the Boxset with the FA Cup 4th round that starts on Friday night with the top two in the Premier League Man City v Arsenal. Liverpool meanwhile have to face their bogey team, Brighton. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.

This weekend, Graham was one of 46,000 attending the Emirates to watch Arsenal take on Chelsea in the Women's Super League. As numbers like this start to become common place, how long will it be before the ground is made available to be their permanent home? In the game itself, it took a late Sam Kerr equaliser to prevent Arsenal from finishing the weekend on top of both the WSL and the Premier League. Things are going smoothly for a club that in recent years has been more known for chaos, but will it last? For more information on the podcast and links related to the subjects discussed, check out the Show Notes on our blog. pods.sofpodcast.com/sofpodcast_521.mp3 What's in the Weekend Boxset? As newly made favourites for the Premier League title, Arsenal face the only side to beat them in the league this season, Manchester United, who themselves are emerging as contenders for the crown. There's also the return of the Bundesliga as Leipzig host Bayern. Get our FREE weekly newsletter in your email by signing up to the Weekend Boxset today.