The Athletic FC Podcast

The November international break is typically a moment in the Premier League season when clubs fire and hire managers. So, with pressure mounting on the likes of Michael Carrick, Pierre Sage and Regis Le Bris, how many managerial changes could we see over the next few weeks?

Plus we hear how Ruben Amorim is getting on at AC Milan after a huge Milan derby win at the weekend, West Ham's move for Scott Parker and David Ornstein's weekly Q&A section where he answers his favourite questions from The Athletic subscribers.

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's Football Correspondent David Ornstein and Senior Football Writer James Horncastle.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: David Ornstein, James Horncastle

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal made it 13 wins from their last 14 Premier League games, winning at Liverpool for the first time in 14 years in typically gritty style on Sunday.

So when neutral fans might have expected them to become more expansive this season, have they actually doubled down on what drove them to the title last campaign?

Plus, things get even worse for Michael Carrick and Manchester United at Chelsea, and have Spurs turned a corner?

Emma Paton is joined by former England international Rob Green and Man United correspondent Cerys Jones.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Rob Green, Cerys Jones

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Producer: Jay Beale

Executive producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes you’ve read that correctly, today we’re forgoing What If, and asking What is…

On today’s episode Emma Paton is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers and Colin Millar to dissect what people actually mean when they say club ‘DNA’, and if it even exists in the first place.

Plus, have you ever imagined a John Terry led Chelsea? Worry not, we discuss where each top-six club might go if they had to nominate a club legend to grace the touchline.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Tim Spiers, Colin Millar

Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a big one this weekend as Arsenal travel to Merseyside to take on Liverpool. This comes following an all time classic upset after they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by fourth tier side Fleetwood Town.

Kate Mason is joined in the studio by Rob Green and tactics writer Liam Tharme to preview all the action at Anfield - a game so good they cleared the whole day for it - as well as break down the trending tactics of the season so far.

Plus, we ask ourselves the question, can you actually fix Manchester United?

Host: Kate Mason

Panelists: Rob Green, Liam Tharme

Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou, Jay Beale

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since taking full control of Manchester United in 2005, the Glazers have pocketed over 1.3 billion pounds, all while racking up over 700 million in debt at the club.

So with Manchester United in crisis again, why are the Glazers nowhere to be seen?

Kate Mason is joined by former England international Rob Green and the The Athletic's Matt Slater and Adam Crafton to analyse the ownership structure at United.

Plus, the panel are joined by Tim Williams, Group Financial Controller at Manchester United from 2009 to 2014, to discuss where the blame lies for the club's decline.

Host: Kate Mason

Co-hosts: Matt Slater, Adam Crafton, Rob Green

Featuring: Tim Williams

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Producer: Jay Beale

Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth it looked as though time was up for Michael Carrick.

But with news he’ll stay in charge for Saturday’s game against Chelsea, is this really a show of faith or just a stay of execution?

Emma Paton is joined by Cerys Jones and Thom Harris to get into who would be the best candidate to replace Carrick, should United move him on.

The panel are joined by Jacob Whitehead, who makes a case for Eddie Howe and Jacob Tanswell, to talk whether Unai Emery could be prised away from Aston Villa.

Plus, we hear from Seb Stafford Bloor on Julian Nagelsmann and Liam Twomey on Antonio Conte.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Cerys Jones, Thom Harris, Jacob Whitehead, Jacob Tanswell

Featuring: Seb Stafford-Bloor & Liam Twomey

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Producer: Jay Beale

Exec producer: Max Curwen Bingley

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or on Monday night, pipping Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal to the award.

But with just two players in the top 20 in the rankings, how can the Premier League claim to be the best league in the world when so many of the sport's superstars play elsewhere?

Emma Paton is joined by JJ Bull, Seb Stafford-Bloor and James Horncastle, who was at the ceremony and takes us behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour (and rain) in London.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: James Horncastle, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody

Exec Producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Carrick's future is hanging by a thread at Man United after his side were embarrassed by Bournemouth at a mutinous Old Trafford on Sunday.

But with the club’s hierarchy in the spotlight, will sacking Carrick solve United’s problems?

Plus, how Spurs ended their Stamford Bridge curse and a south London themed edition of who's worrying Rob...

It's Emma Paton alongside England international Rob Green, Manchester United correspondent Cerys Jones and Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Cerys Jones, Liam Twomey, Rob Green

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Producer: Jay Beale

Exec producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the Ballon d'Or fast approaching, this week’s episode of ‘What If’, Emma is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers, Dan Kilpatrick and Jack Pitt-Brooke to pick apart the unfathomable… What if Messi and Ronaldo didn’t exist?

Who scores their goals? Who’s career skyrockets? And topically, who wins their Ballons d’Or?

Plus, we discuss who we think will be just the 5th player outside of the two main men to win the Ballon d’Or since 2008.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Dan Kilpatrick, Tim Spiers

Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a jam packed show this week as Kate Mason is joined in the studio by tacticos Liam Tharme and Rob Green to discuss all the weekend’s goings on, including a fierce London derby as Chelsea host rivals Spurs.

Plus, we’re joined by former Brighton defender Adam Webster to get an inside look at all things football on the south coast. What’s it like to play for Roberto de Zerbi? How do you stop Erling Haaland? And, the question on everyone’s lips - how are Brighton that good?

Host: Kate Mason

Panelists: Rob Green, Liam Tharme, Adam Webster

Executive producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United’s ownership is in the firing line again, with players accusing leadership of negligence and just two wins so far all season.

So with United in their latest doom cycle and growing unrest across their other clubs and investments, is Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS sports empire crumbling?

Kate Mason is joined by Matt Slater, Adam Crafton and former England international Rob Green to examine the impact of United's constant failings on the INEOS landscape.

Host: Kate Mason

Co-hosts: Matt Slater, Adam Crafton, Rob Green

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Producer: Jay Beale

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday saw PSG and Barcelona lock horns at the Parc des Princes as Luis Enrique’s side came out victors despite injuries to key players Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Emma is joined in the studio by Manchester United writer Cerys Jones and Senior Editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to break down all the action.

Plus, Laurie Whitwell dials in to tell all about his two days spent with former United boss, Erik ten Hag, and we discuss the future of El Clasico, and if it remains the biggest fixture in football.

Host: Emma Payton

Panelists: Cerys Jones, Tomas Hill Lopez Menchero

Featuring: Laurie Whitwell, James Horncastle

Executive producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a bumper week in the Champions League with arguably the best four teams in Europe — PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal — all facing each other. But who is actually the best side in Europe right now?

We dissect the star power, team identity, weaknesses and managers across all four teams and pick some Combined XIs.

Plus, was Spurs' first victory of the season a launchpad for their season? Or was it just Coventry at home?

Jon Mackenzie, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor joined Emma Paton today for a bit of a Tifo takeover.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Jon Mackenzie, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor

Producers: Mike Stavrour, Grayson Moody

Exex producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brighton thumped nearest rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday, taking their tally to an astonishing 34 goals in all competitions already this season.

So what is taking them to the next level? And is their form sustainable enough to mount an actual title challenge?

Plus, was Michael Carrick right to describe Man United's draw at Leeds as a 'fresh start'? And who is worrying Rob this week?

Emma Paton is joined by Rob Green, The Athletic's Spurs and England correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke and Tactics writer Liam Tharme.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Rob Green, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Liam Tharme

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Producer: Jay Beale

Exec producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of ‘What If’, Emma is joined by long-suffering Spurs fans Dan Kilpatrick and Kate Mason, alongside Tim Spiers to deduce, what if... Spurs weren’t ‘Spursy’?

Lasagne-gate, Conte’s outburst, beefing with the Dulux dog, the choices are endless, but what do we vote the ‘Spurs-iest’ moment in the club’s history?

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Kate Mason, Dan Kilpatrick, Tim Spiers

Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the biggest fight Jack Wilshere has seen in football? And Does he regret not being able to fulfil his full potential? Welcome to Truth or Padel Extra, the show where David Ornstein takes on footballers to ask questions he wouldn't be able to in a normal interview.

This week David is joined by former Arsenal player and current Luton Town manager, Jack Wilshere, to discuss the importance of family, his coaching career and looking back on regrets.

Watch the Truth Or Padel game on The Athletic FC: https://youtu.be/68SC7UCqLKA

Host: David Ornstein

Guest: Jack Wilshere

Executive Producer: Joe Devine

Editors: Don Ma, Tom Pryce

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve got a big weekend of Premier League action ahead of us, so we’re back in the studio for another episode of The Tactical Preview.

This week we’re honing in on Spurs vs Coventry, and if Roberto De Zerbi’s team are starting to find their rhythm.

Kate Mason is joined by Rob Green and tactics writer Liam Tharme to preview this weekend’s biggest games, including ‘The Roses Rivalry’, as pressure mounts on United boss Michael Carrick.

Plus, we breakdown the details on playing versus 10, and how some teams are better set up to do that than others.

Host: Kate Mason

Panelists: Rob Green, Liam Tharme

Executive producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Mike Stavrou

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City and PSG put on a show in the Champions League last night, but their situations off the pitch are very different.

City are now public enemy number one after being ruled to have systematically broken Premier League rules. So why are PSG, who have their own historic financial breaches, not legally viewed the same way?

Kate Mason is joined by Adam Crafton, Jacob Whitehead and former England international Rob Green to explain. Plus, Matt Slater joins down the line from Zurich where Gianni Infantino is making his first public FIFA appearance since the World Cup.

Host: Kate Mason

Panelists: Adam Crafton, Jacob Whitehead, Rob Green, Matt Slater

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Executive producer: Adam Jones

Producer: Jay Beale

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United continued their poor run of form with a 2-0 loss to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, but it was Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post match interview that grabbed the headlines.

Emma is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Manchester United writer Cerys Jones and Senior Editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to dig into all the action, plus, Senior sports news reporter Matt Slater explains the IFR’s State of Football report.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: Cerys Jones, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero, Matt Slater

Featuring: Laurie Whitwell

Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cole Palmer signed a contract extension with Chelsea over the weekend to signify his commitment to the club. So are the Blues entering a long overdue era of stability under Xabi Alonso, and has new signing Morgan Rogers become the glue at the club already?

Plus, are Everton’s American owners looking to sell the club already?

Emma Paton is joined by David Ornstein and special guest James Allcott in studio to discuss two big stories that emerged over the weekend.

Host: Emma Paton

Panelists: David Ornstein, James Allcott

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.