Football Ramble Presents

Welcome to another edition of On The Continent! Dotun and Andy are joined by Lars to dive into the biggest stories from across European football. First, Andy gives us an update on PSG’s interest in Dele Alli, who looks ready to move across the Channel. Meanwhile in Germany, Dortmund and RB Leipzig’s capitulations have handed the initiative to a faltering Bayern Munich side. We take a look at what the future holds for Dortmund - as well as for their much-coveted star striker, Erling Haaland. We also spare a thought for Arkadiusz Milik, who has walked into a mess at Marseille - one not helped by their combustible coach. But happier times may await Papu Gómez, as Lars and Andy explain what he will bring to Sevilla. Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Not every football manager arrives at the training ground in an orange Ford Mustang with Guns N' Roses blasting from the stereo, but today’s guest wouldn't have it any other way. Mark Pougatch welcomes Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth to the Ramble Meets... hot seat! Gareth and Mark look back over a storied career that saw him involved in over 1000 matches from both sides of the dugout. They discuss everything from breaking through at Preston North End - after his dreams of a professional career seemed over - to leading Wycombe Wanderers from the bottom of the Football League all the way to the Championship for the first time in their history. Gareth also opens up about a love of music that has served as a source of inspiration and release - he even gives Mark a few lockdown listening recommendations! Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: show@footballramble.com. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dotun, Andy and Miguel bring your weekly European football fix with the biggest stories from across the continent! We begin in Turkey, where Mesut Özil has finally touched down: but what, exactly, awaits him there? We gauge expectations in Fenerbahçe after their massive financial gamble and explore exactly how Özil will fit into the country’s political landscape. We check in on Serie A, where it’s increasingly looking like a two-horse race between Milan’s giants after Inter put a torrid Juventus to the sword. We also look at what Mario Mandžukić will bring to AC Milan’s young squad, before turning to Portugal, where football’s self-interest during the pandemic has been writ particularly large. Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever wondered what it'd be like to live with Jürgen Klopp? Well, our guest on today's episode of the Book Club turned a Twitter thread on just such a thought into a book: it's Laura Lexx, comedian and author of Klopp Actually: (Imaginary) Life with Football's Most Sensible Heartthrob! What started as a few hundred characters on Twitter has grown into a heartfelt book about dealing with life's anxieties and wrestling with the relationships we treasure most. Laura's writing explores these themes through her imaginary life with Jürgen, all while cramming in plenty of filthy laughs - and even the odd football fans' quip - along the way. What book should we read next? Tweet us: @footballramble @kvlmason & @JimCampbellTFR ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have the icy conditions in Spain somehow given Diego Simeone even more power? First aCoach of the Decade award, and now he’s managing La Liga’s genuine title favourites! Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Nicky Bandini are here to assess their snow-covered title charge on today’s episode of On The Continent! Elsewhere, with both Lazio and Roma playing at home in this weekend’s Derby della Capitale, we assess the fortunes of the two sides, one buoyed by an ageless Ciro Immobile and the other by the Premier League’s Greatest Hits. We also look over the off-field squabbles at Stuttgart and Bayern’s DFB-Pokal loss to second-tier Holsten Keil! Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Andy was delighted to sit down with Rubin Kazan head coach and former Russia national team manager, Leonid Slutsky! Leonid reflects on his hugely successful period at CSKA Moscow, where he made history in Europe. He also opens up about his turbulent time at Hull City back in 2017, and why he still maintains such great fondness for the city and for English football. And after going viral with his rendition of Mariah Carey this Christmas, we also of course find out all about that very special music video! Leonid is so charismatic and full of great stories. We think you're going to absolutely love this one! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re back with your weekly European football fix! Dotun and Andy are joined by David Cartlidge to discuss some huge midweek fixtures. And where else to start but in Paris? We assess Mauricio Pochettino’s first game in charge and look at what can be realistically expected of him there, as well as what Pochettino could learn from Tuchel’s reign. We also go to Italy, where Juventus finally halted Milan’s incredible run. Andy and David run the rule over both sides’ title credentials, and take a closer look at Pirlo’s nascent regime. David also takes us through the instability at Athletic Bilbao and the very unique challenges faced by their new manager, Marcelino. Finally, we also revisit his first rodeo: a magnificent game against Barcelona on Wednesday night. Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, we welcome Nottingham Forest and England legend, Stuart Pearce! Stuart sits down with Mark Pougatch to reflect on the biggest and quirkiest moments of his storied career. He opens up about his relationship with Brian Clough and the legendary manager’s incredible attempt to tap him up midway through a game for Coventry City.  He also guides us through Euro ’96: his feelings towards the media, why taking that penalty against Spain was so important to him and - of course - how he and Gareth Southgate ended up introducing the Sex Pistols on stage the day after. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andy is joined on today’s Ramble Meets… by Ride founding member and diehard Oxford United fan, Mark Gardener! Mark’s love for Oxford United was cemented in his childhood, trying to clamber over the terraces to watch them with his Dad. He talks us through those early days, including the famous 1986 Milk Cup win, and how following his side became increasingly difficult as worldwide fame found the band. He often found himself talking to Oasis about their love for Man City and phoning home to hear the Oxford results while on tour!  Mark and Andy also discuss some of his fondest memories following his boyhood club - including the delirium in the stands after the 2010 Conference Final win - and some of the maddest moments from Firoz Kassam’s ownership of the club. Search ‘Football Ramble’ on social media to find us, and email us here: show@footballramble.com. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To help round off what has been a tumultuous 2020, Dotun Adebayo and Andy Brassell are joined today by all four of our On The Continent pundits! Together, we pick out some of European football's biggest stories from the past year.  Miguel Delaney joins us to discuss whether Bayern Munich will cement their European dominance in the next few years of the Champions League, while David Cartlidge wonders what might happen to Lionel Messi’s fractured relationship with Barcelona. We also look back on Serie A’s biggest stories, as Lars Sivertsen celebrates another miraculous year for Zlatan Ibrahimović and Nicky Bandini reflects on Napoli's development under Gennaro Gattuso, as well as the tragic loss of their most famous son: Diego Maradona. Thanks for listening to On The Continent this year, we’ll be back with new episodes in January! Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fantasy Five-a-Side is back with a cracker! Jim is joined by YouTuber, presenter of ‘Live From London Stadium’ and host of the JaackMaate’s Happy Hour podcast, JaackMaate! Jack lures a couple of West Ham legends to the Goals pitches of Norwich - including the man known as the Lardball and the player who once had to escape a fight at a party in his boxers. It’s obviously a side oozing with class, but let’s just say the sin bin is going to be busy and the post-match drinks pretty lary. JaackMaate's Happy Hour is a Spotify Original podcast - listen here! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It seemed a strained relationship from the beginning, but Lucien Favre has finally lost his job at Dortmund. Dotun Adebayo, Andy Brassell and Lars Sivertsen are here to unpick it all on this week’s episode of On The Continent. Join us! After his sacking, we look into the cultural differences between Favre and the fevered Westfalenstadion crowd and ask whether he was ever the right fit for the club. We also check in on a pivotal week for Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid, as they close the gap on Atlético, and look at the latest twist in the broadcasting saga threatening to cripple Ligue 1 clubs. Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're off to the Allsvenskan for today's 'Ramble Meets...' episode, as Andy is joined by former Milan, Feyenoord and Newcastle forward, Jon Dahl Tomasson! Andy catches up with Jon Dahl after training over in Malmö to discuss his storied playing career and impressive start to his time in management. From learning under the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Giovanni Trapattoni to perfecting his craft over nearly 700 senior appearances, Jon Dahl reminisces about his travels across Europe and how they have informed his coaching philosophy at his title-winning Malmö side. ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, Dotun and Andy are joined by Miguel Delaney to reflect on the biggest stories from around Europe. We begin with memories of the late great Paolo Rossi and his indelible impact on the 1982 World Cup. If Maradona made 1986 his, then '82 belongs to Rossi - who shaped his country’s destiny while also overcoming one of Brazil’s great teams. Everyone was talking about Ronaldo vs Messi this week: we take a look at this meeting of two old-timers and ask whose game is faring best in their twilight years. For all their individual brilliance, we also wonder whether they are inhibiting their clubs - tactically and in the formulation of any longer-term strategy.  There’s also time to take a look at RB Leipzig and its player development model. And as clubs across the continent that are not participating in European competition flourish, we ponder whether this was the best season ever to actually not qualify. Got a question for us? Email otc@footballramble.com! ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today, one of English football's most recognisable figures joins us to look back on where it all began. Kate and Jim are joined on the Book Club by former Liverpool, Spurs and England midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Redknapp! If there's one theme that persists throughout the stories from Jamie's young life, it's tenacity. Whether staying out in the Redknapps’ garden or at Liverpool's training ground longer than anyone else, pushing his body and talent to its limits has underpinned his whole career. Kate and Jim catch up with Jamie at his house to talk about growing up in one of English football's most recognisable football families, jostling for a seat on the Liverpool bus alongside his childhood heroes and dealing with injury setbacks. What book should we read next? Tweet us: @footballramble @kvlmason & @jimcampbellTFR ***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.