The Rest Is Football

How exactly did Messi step up as a leader to drive Argentina to World Cup glory? What has Arne Slot done to take Liverpool to the next level? What makes Brighton such a successful club?

Gary is joined by World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister who also reveals the best manager he’s ever worked with and how Mo Salah has got him spending more time in the gym.

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Who is looking like the best option to be England captain after Harry Kane retires? What was the first big-money purchase the guys made after their first proper paycheck? What are the boys favourite TV shows of all time?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss their biggest annoyances about the modern game.

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Are Man City definitely out of the title race after being blown away at Anfield? How has Enzo Maresca turned chaos into brilliance at Chelsea? Is Amorim showing signs of creating a forward-thinking Manchester United?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on Justin Kluivert scoring an incredible hat-trick of penalties for Bournemouth at Molineux.

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With City sitting 17th in the Table, have they left it too late to make automatic promotion? More problems for Madrid and Mbappe as they take a beating at Anfield & More dubious VAR decisions after Aston Villa were robbed against Juventus

Gary, Alan & Micah review this week’s Champions League Fixtures

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What did Rodri make of Real Madrid’s boycott of the Ballon D’or? What are Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone really like? Why is Mo Salah the best Premier League player that the Man City man has ever faced?

Rodri answers all the questions and also discusses what the England players were saying when they realised he was not coming out for the second half of the Euros Final in this exclusive episode of The Rest Is Football.

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Did Gary give any Alan any advice when he joined him in the England set up? Mo Salah has recently stated that he’s more out than in when it comes to staying at Liverpool, will he stay or will he go?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss who is the cleanest striker of a football in The Premier League 

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Who does Gary think Leicester should get as their next manager? What did we learn from Ruben Amorim’s first game as Man United boss? Have teams finally started to ‘work out’ Man City?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how Liverpool have still got a number of levels to go to despite being 8 points clear at the top of the league.

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Guinness makes its own debut as the Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer of the Premier League.

18+ only, please drink responsibly and do not share with anyone under the legal drinking age.

Search https://www.guinness.com/en-gb/sport/premier-league today

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After a tough start to life at West Ham, how satisfying was it to be such an integral part of their first European trophy in 58 years? Who are the best players he’s ever played with and against? Who really came out on top when Micah and Michail faced each other on the pitch?

Gary and Micah are joined by West Ham and Jamaica forward Michail Antonio to discuss the highs and lows of his footballing journey and how he’s still the best table-tennis player around.

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If refs wore microphones so we could hear them throughout the game, would that help provide more clarity? Or would it open a can of worms and make things worse? Is Micah right in thinking that for 10% of Alan’s goal he didn’t know where he was aiming?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss exactly what sets Rodri apart as the best player in the world at the moment?

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What have England learnt from Lee Carsely’s six games in charge? Who has really stepped up and taken their chance after so many players pulled out of the squad this time round? What are the main priorities for Thomas Tuchel when he takes over?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the decline in the Republic of Ireland side over the decades and the challenges they now face.

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Why is now the right time for Gary to step away from Match of the Day after 25 years? Which England squad players impressed the most in Athens? Will we see Lee Carsley take a managerial role in club football next?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the fallout from the videos circulating online of David Coote that have led to his suspension by the PGMOL.

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Does Ange Postecoglou have what it takes to win Spurs’ first trophy in 24 years this season? Have Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté surpassed Gabriel and William Saliba as the best Centre Back pairing in the Premier League?

Gary, Micah & Alan also debate who was better in their prime: Mo Salah or Eden Hazard 

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What exactly is going wrong at Man City and how do they fix it? What has Eddie Howe done to find the right balance in this Newcastle team? Is Mo Salah actually underrated?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the key reason why Arsenal are struggling at the moment and how referees are now taking over all parts of the game.

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What a start for Arne Slot as Liverpool sit on top of both the Premier League and the Champions League - League Phase. Ex Coventry man Viktor Gyökeres bags a hat-trick against favourites Manchester City, & Arsenal struggle again away at Inter Milan.

Gary, Alan & Micah also discuss Celtic’s performance of the season beating RB Leipzig, plus what is going on with the holders Real Madrid.

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Why was it wrong of Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid to boycott the Ballon d’Or ceremony? Which players are the best at beating the offside trap and how do they do it? How good do footballers really have to be to make it at the top level?

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Have Liverpool cemented themselves as genuine Title Contenders? How much do Arsenal miss Martin Ødegaard after falling 7 points off the top? How do Manchester City recover with all their injury woes?

Gary, Alan & Micah also discuss the mammoth task Rúben Amorim has at Manchester United.

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Why could you not trust Ruud van Nistelrooy on the pitch? Was turning down Man United the right decision? How did Arsène Wenger make an immediate impact in his Arsenal revolution?

Gary and Alan are joined by Arsenal legend Martin Keown to discuss his hugely successful career and why he initially left Arsenal because of a dispute over £50.

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Buy Martin’s new book ‘On The Edge’ here: https://linktr.ee/martinkeownbook

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Would the guys rather win the Ballon d'Or or a World Cup Golden Boot? What was the best pre-match team talk they were ever given? Does Big Meeks think Liverpool would be a better side without Mo Salah?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss a night of crisps and karaoke with Lionel Ritchie as they answer the best of your listener questions.

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Who should be the next Manchester United manager? Was it a mistake keeping ten Hag this summer? Can Man Utd still attract the biggest managerial names?

Gary, Alan and Micah react to the news of Erik ten Hag’s sacking in our first ever live episode recording.

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Have Arsenal and Liverpool shown enough to suggest they’ll keep pace with Man City in the title race? How is Chelsea’s set-up really helping get the best out of Cole Palmer? Why were VAR even getting involved in the penalty incident at the end of the Man Utd game?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on Barcelona’s thumping win in El Clásico and discuss whether this signals a true resurgence for the Catalan club.

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What magic did Haaland summon for his incredible spinning backheel volley? Is Villa’s rotation up front the secret of their success, or is there room to experiment with both Duran and Watkins? Does Lamine Yamal’s recent form hint at a Messi-like future for the youngster?

Gary, Alan and Micah discuss all the key headlines from Matchday 3 of the Champions League as the English clubs make a fantastic start.

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Is Messi still the best player in the world? Are referees being unfair to Arsenal? Who are Micah and Alan's favourite bands?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the likelihood of England winning a major tournament under Thomas Tuchel as they answer the best of your questions.

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Guinness makes its own debut as the Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer of the Premier League.

18+ only, please drink responsibly and do not share with anyone under the legal drinking age.

Search https://www.guinness.com/en-gb/sport/premier-league today.

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Should Curtis Jones be a regular starter for Liverpool? Was it the correct call to allow John Stones’ late winner? How do Southampton pick themselves up mentally after throwing away a two-goal lead at home to one of the fellow promoted teams?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on Arsenal’s first loss of the season and whether they have a disciplinary problem or not.

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Guinness makes its own debut as the Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer of the Premier League.

18+ only, please drink responsibly and do not share with anyone under the legal drinking age.

Search https://www.guinness.com/en-gb/sport/premier-league today

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Eddie Howe always seems like such a lovely bloke, but what is his tougher side really like? How do you build the belief to truly compete with the biggest clubs? Do Newcastle need to win a trophy for this period to be seen as successful?

Gary and Alan are joined by Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff to discuss the dream of playing for your boyhood club and what makes Alexander Isak and Sven Botman world-class players.

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Are Thomas Tuchel and Pep Guardiola more similar than we think? Should we expect to see him drop some of England’s attacking stars? Is winning the World Cup the only way this appointment will be seen as a success?

Gary is joined by German football expert Raphael Honigstein to give us the details on exactly what we can expect from England’s latest managerial appointment.

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Thomas Tuchel has signed a deal with The FA to become the new England manager. The 51-year-old German has signed an 18-month contract, starting on January 1st.

Why have the FA opted for a foreign coach? Can Thomas Tuchel be the one to finally find the right balance in this England side? And does his style of play suit tournament football?

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How do England solve the current problem at left-back? Are we starting to see more defensive frailties creep in to the side as they look to be more progressive? Is that a problem?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss where things stand with Lee Carsley after the latest set of fixtures and whether he really wants the job full time.

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Is it impossible to get the best out of Foden, Bellingham, Palmer and Saka when they’re playing in the same team? Did England get the defensive balance wrong or do we want to see them take more risks? What will Ollie Watkins be thinking after not getting a start in this game?

Gary, Alan and Micah also pay tribute to George Baldock, who sadly died at his home in Athens earlier this week.

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If Liverpool could only keep two of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, who would you let go? Who would the lads pick in their ultimate 5-a-side teams? How on earth did Alan end up on one of Kamala Harris’ official TikTok videos?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how Messi has perfected the art of the twilight years of your career.

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Are Tottenham their own worst enemy at times? Who will blink first in the title race out of Liverpool, Man City & Arsenal? What are the favourite treats and takeaways for the guys when they spend a full day working on Match of the Day?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Man United’s ongoing problems as Alan outlines their three main areas of weakness.

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Have Villa shown they’re here to stay at Champions League level after beating Bayern Munich? Is Kai Havertz showing he can be the No.9 that fires Arsenal to silverware? Are Real Madrid struggling to fit all their superstars into the team? 

Gary, Alan and Micah review the latest round of Champions League matches and also discuss the implications for VAR after Bruno Fernandes’ red card was overturned by an independent FA panel.

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Which stadium has the most hostile tunnel walk? Which players would like to dish it out in the tunnel before you even got on the pitch? Who would be in your dream 5-a-side team of current players?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the most mentally challenging moments of their careers as they answer the best of your listener questions.

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What is the identity of this Man United team? Is there a problem in the dressing room? Have the owners put Erik ten Hag in an impossible situation?

Gary, Alan and Micah discuss the troubles at Man United after a disappointing loss against Spurs. The trio also review the other key highlights from the weekend as Liverpool go top, Arsenal leave it late and Everton get their first win of the season.

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How have things changed for the England team after the disappointment at Euro 2024? Which new Man City summer signing embraced the ‘work hard, play hard’ lifestyle on a pre-season trip to LA? What really happened when he tweeted that picture of a car after a heavy defeat for Aston Villa?

Premier League winner and new England coach Joleon Lescott joins Gary, Alan and Micah to discus what it was really like being Micah’s team-mate and what the future looks like for the England team under Lee Carsley.

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How do Man City adapt to Rodri’s absence? Will this be Arsenal’s best chance to win the league? Will teams go after Man City a little bit more now?

Gary, Alan and Micah also pick their top three non-footballing sports stars of all time and finally answer the all important question - what are their favourite types of cheese?

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How do Arsenal recover from their last minute agony at the Etihad? Did Man City get lucky after a poor second half performance? Do Arsenal finally have the belief they can win the Premier League?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on an action packed clash at the top of the table and also discuss impressive wins for Liverpool and Chelsea as they round up the weekend’s action.

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Where does David Raya’s double save rank on the list of great saves? How far will Aston Villa go in the Champions League this season after an impressive start? Will the new format give Celtic a better chance of being more competitive in the tournament?

Gary and Micah review the return of the Champions League and we get all the gossip from David Beckham’s appearance on CBS.

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Leeds 03/04? West Ham 02/03? Newcastle 08/09? Who were the best side to ever get relegated from the Premier League and what went wrong to have such talented bunch of players and still go down?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether compensation for managers should be a lot higher and discuss the best and worst haircuts in football.

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How much of an impact will Arsenal’s win in the North London Derby have on next week’s clash with Man City? Why are Newcastle picking up points even though they’re not playing at their best? How far can Nottingham Forest go this season?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on this biggest headlines from this weekend and also explain how the Match Of The Day running order works and why it’s fairer than you think.

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What did Jose Mourinho do to make sure Cesc joined Chelsea in 2014 instead of Man City or Man Utd? How did bizarre team meetings in Pepe Reina’s room at midnight the night before every game inspire Spain to World Cup victory? Could we see a full-back win the Ballon d’Or this year?

The second part of Gary’s conversation with Cesc Fàbregas sees the pair discuss his time at Chelsea and the many successes of the Spanish national team. Cesc also picks the best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker he’s ever played with.

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What was it that set Arsène Wenger apart from other managers? Was Cesc really aiming for Fergie with that pepperoni pizza in the tunnel at Old Trafford? How did he end up spending hours in a police station after a night out at the 2006 World Cup in Germany?

Gary is joined by the brilliant Cesc Fàbregas to discuss the early days of his career with Barcelona & Arsenal and why he now wishes he’d waited longer to leave the Gunners.

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Who impressed the most in a new-look England side? Is the number ten role Jack Grealish’s best position? Will Nicko Sensoli ever buy a drink in San Marino again after his goal gave his side their first win in 20 years?

Gary, Alan and Micah discuss what differences we saw from England in Lee Carsley’s first game as boss and reflect on the other headlines from the international break so far.

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Why has Arne Slot had such a great start to life at Liverpool when so many others have struggled taking over from successful managers at big clubs? What’s the secret to success at a club like Liverpool?

Gary is joined by England, Liverpool and Watford legend John Barnes to discuss how his upbringing influenced his entire footballing career and who the greatest players he’s ever seen are.

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What do the boys think of the new Champions League system? Who deserves the Ballon d’Or this year? Why could Federico Chiesa be the signing of the transfer window?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how players spread transfer rumours about themselves to help negotiate better new contracts with their current clubs.

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Are Man Utd a group of individuals rather than a team? Should Declan Rice have been sent off against Brighton? Will this be Mo Salah’s final season as a Liverpool player?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how the Everton players pick themselves up after a stunning late turnaround from Bournemouth.

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What deals might we expect to see this Deadline Day? Where will Ivan Toney end up playing this season? Will there be a big move for Marc Guéhi? And what happened when David snuck onto a golf course with the England football team as a kid?

Gary is joined by football correspondent David Ornstein to discuss his route into journalism and how he ended up as a transfers expert. They also reflect on why it has been a fairly quiet transfer window so far and if that could lead to a busy Deadline Day.

You can read David’s work on The Athletic here and follow him on X @David_Ornstein

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Why are we so obsessed with Fantasy Football and just how good is Micah at it? Where does Goodison Park rank on the list of the UK’s best grounds? Who is responsible for all of Gary’s dad jokes on Match of the Day?

Gary, Alan and Micah answer the best of your questions and also pay tribute to Sven-Göran Eriksson, who sadly passed away earlier this week.

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Are Chelsea learning to embrace the chaos? Can anyone stop Erling Haaland from winning the Golden Boot for a third consecutive season? How worrying have Everton’s opening two performances been?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on the key points from the weekend and discuss who needs what in the final week of the transfer window.

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What are the secrets of being a brilliant centre forward? Who are the best strikers of all time? Will the traditional ‘Number 9’ come back into fashion?

Gary and Alan, two of England’s greatest ever strikers, discuss the art of scoring lots and lots of goals. They also offer some advice to young players trying to make their way in the game now.

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Where have all the maverick players gone from the game? Are tactical developments killing players’ spontaneity and freedom?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the idea of specific players being given holidays mid-season and we hear how Micah is getting on at Disneyland in the middle of the summer holidays.

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How do Chelsea manage the problem of player unrest with such an inflated squad size? Where did Arne Slot make his mark as Liverpool’s new boss? Have Brighton found another gem in Fabian Hurzeler?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season and discuss who has made an early impression.

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Who will be top four? Who’s heading for the drop? Which teams will surprise and which will disappoint? In this special episode, Gary, Alan, and Micah look ahead to the new Premier League Season. They evaluate every one of the twenty Premier League clubs, predicting where they will finish.

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What goes on the night before away fixtures? Micah takes us through his pre match Chinese meal, and has Fantasy Football changed the way we look at the game? 

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Manchester City edge Manchester United in the Community Shield, Micah give his report from the Parc de Princes as Spain beat France in thrilling Gold Medal Match…. And Is Pep Guardiola interested in the England job?

Gary, Alan and Micah are finally back together to get ready for the new Premier League Season!

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What have been Gary and Micah’s favourite Olympic moments so far? Is Conor Gallagher’s move to Atlético Madrid good for Chelsea? Why did Micah hate pre-season training and games so much?

Micah is back from holiday to tell us all about his time in Barbados and joins Gary to go through the best of your questions. The boys also discuss who would have come out on top if they had been part of the ‘Superstars’ TV programme.

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How did Thierry Henry utterly embarrass Micah the first time they played against each other? Who is the most difficult player van Dijk has ever played against? Why did Gazza turn down Man Utd?

In today’s episode we look back at the best moments from some of our special guest interviews over the last year.

We hear from Thierry Henry, Virgil van Dijk, Paul Gascoigne, Andriy Shevchenko, Peter Beardsley, Fabrizio Romano, Howard Webb and Sid Lowe. Don’t forget if you want to listen to any of these interviews in full you can find them all in our full episode list.

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What exactly was going on with the rush of big money transfers we saw at the end of June? Which clubs are in real danger of being punished for breaking PSR rules next season? Why is the multi-club ownership model such a problem?

Gary is joined by journalist Nick Harris to discuss the murky world of football and money and how that is affecting clubs in this summer’s transfer window.

Nick has been a journalist for 30 years and specialises in the business and finance of sport, especially football. You can find him on Twitter @sportingintel and read his work on his website at: https://sportingintelligence832.substack.com

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As we build up to a new domestic season starting in a few weeks we’re taking the chance to look back at the highlights from the first year of The Rest Is Football.

From stories of dressing room bust-ups to anecdotes of playing with the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Mario Balotelli.

Gary, Alan and Micah reveal what life is really like playing at the elite level of the game we all love.

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Trouble in Paris as Argentinians defend Enzo Fernández’s remarks after The Copa America, Football at The Olympics and how Hollywood and Wales became a football match made in heaven.

Gary is joined by Journalist and Author Ian Herbert to talk about his book, Tinseltown: Hollywood and the Beautiful Game - A Match Made in Wrexham

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We’re a week on now from the end of Euro 2024 and England falling at the very final hurdle against a brilliant Spanish side.

We had an incredible time on The Rest Is Football and loved trying to bring you inside the tournament with us.

On today’s episode we’re looking back at that amazing month or so with our ‘Best Moments From Euro 2024’.

Plenty of laughs, some cracking interviews and wonderful stories.

Alongside Gary, Alan and Micah we also hear from Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand, David Moyes & Alastair Campbell.

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Who should be the next England manager? Does it matter if they are English or not? What will Gareth Southgate’s legacy be?

Gary and Micah react to the news that Southgate is stepping down as England boss after 8 years and discuss what that means for the future.

This summer join EE the lead sponsor of the England teams and stand against hate. Find out more at bit.ly/EETRIFPodcast

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Will England be disappointed with their performance in the final? Did they get the tactics wrong? What next for England and Gareth Southgate?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on the Three Lions defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 and what the future holds for the national side.

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Does Gareth Southgate introduce Luke Shaw into the starting XI? How do England deal with Spain’s electric wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams? Can England make use of the the extra man in midfield?

Gary, Alan & Micah preview The Final of the European Championships between England and Spain 

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Gary Lineker is joined by Spanish football expert Sid Lowe to give us the inside track on players such as Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Rodri and Lamine Yamal.

In particular Sid tells us the extraordinary family story of Nico Williams, whose brother Iñaki plays for Ghana.

Plus how has national coach Luis de la Fuente changed Spain from a team obsessed with possession to a team with flying wingers?

Sid Lowe is co-host of The Spanish Football Podcast.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-spanish-football-podcast/id687671367

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Did club rivalries destroy England’s Golden Generation?

Rio Ferdinand joins Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer to explain why his England team of Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes and Rooney could never work together.

And if a teenager wins the Euros final for his country will it be Kobbie Mainoo or Lamine Yamal?

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Was the first half against The Netherlands the best England have played all tournament? How Kobbie Mainoo has turned himself into one of England’s key players? Plus that Ollie Watkins goal that will live long in the memory

Gary and Micah get Alan’s report on an unforgettable night for England.

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Are England now hitting form at just the right time? Have they finally had the lucky break they’ve been waiting for at a major tournament? Dare we dream?

Gary and Micah are in a jubilant mood as they react to England making it through to successive European Championship finals.

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Is Lamine Yamal even better than Wayne Rooney was at the age of 16? Has Dani Olmo been Spain’s surprise package at this tournament? Is that the end for Didier Deschamps as France’s manager?

Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on the first semi-final which saw Spain dump France out and march into the final.

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What starting XI should England pick for the match against the Netherlands? What are the big threats the Dutch can pose England? Is Lamine Yamal v Theo Hernández the key battle in the Spain v France game?

Gary, Alan and Micah make their predictions for the Euro 2024 semi-finals and Micah gives the boys all the gossip from the BBC v ITV ‘friendly’ match in Berlin.

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How do England improve again after a more encouraging performance against Switzerland? Do they bring Marc Guéhi back in or stick with Ezri Konsa for the semi-final? Are we still leaving substitutions too late to have a proactive impact on the game?

Gary, Alan and Micah discuss Big Al’s trip to Düsseldorf and Cologne and how England are shaping up for the business end of the tournament.

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How crucial is Bukayo Saka to England’s chances of success? Have they finally broken the mental pressures of a penalty shootout? Should England stick with the change in formation for the semi-final against the Netherlands?

Gary and Micah reflect on England’s performance that saw them beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

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What is the one key thing that will make England’s switch to a back three a success? How difficult is it to change formation and tactics mid-tournament? Are Spain now clear favourites to win the tournament?

Gary and Micah catch up to look at England’s tactical changes for their quarter-final against Switzerland and discuss Spain and France making it through to the semi-finals.

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How do England beat this strong Switzerland side? Will Mbappé or Ronaldo shine brightest in their quarter-final? Is Germany v Spain the most evenly matched game?

Gary, Alan and Micah look at all four upcoming quarter-finals and discuss where the key battles will be and who will come out victorious from each.

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What was going through Eric Cantona’s head when he jumped into the crowd at Selhurst Park? Why does he support England at international tournaments? What was the reason behind his iconic celebration against Sunderland?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by the legendary Eric Cantona to talk about his life growing up in Marseille and how he became one of the best players in the world.

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Is Ronaldo holding Portugal back? Was Mert Günok’s last minute save for Turkey against Austria the best ever at a Europeans Championships? Have the Netherlands finally started to show glimpses of what they’re capable of?

Gary, Alan and Micah look back at the Round of 16 matches and see who came out on top in their predictions for this round.

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How hard is it switching from playing for your club to playing for your country? Why is Jude Bellingham’s ego so integral to him being such a fantastic player? Who are the top three bald players of all-time?

Gary, Alan and Micah answer your questions on today’s episode, which also sees the boys discuss fighting off bugs in the BBC studio.

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Can you look past such a poor England performance because they did ultimately get through? What tactical changes would the boys like to see for England’s next game? Will the late, dramatic turnaround be the spark they need to finally find some form?

Gary, Alan and Micah discuss England’s performance against Slovakia, where they were 30 seconds away from one of the most miserable and humiliating defeats in English football history.

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Are the Swiss now favourites to reach the final from their half of the draw? Is the Germans ability to adapt one of their big strengths? If Kobbie Mainoo is the only change to the England starting XI, is that enough?

Gary, Alan & Micah also discuss the role VAR played in the Germany v Denmark game and why the handball law is so flawed.

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Would anything other than reaching the final be a failure for England? Where are we most likely to see a surprise in the Round of 16? Can Kevin De Bruyne produce a masterclass to upset the French?

Gary, Alan and Micah look through all 8 games to kick off the knockout rounds to see where they will be won or lost and give their predictions on who will make the quarter-finals.

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Is Ronaldo causing a problem for Portugal? Are France having similar difficulties to England? Who has been the most impressive team so far?

Gary, Alan and Micah go through all six groups to discuss how each team performed, the stand out players and what we should be looking out for as we head into the knockout rounds.

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How much do players talk about the tactics amongst themselves in an international camp? Why is the format with 24 teams at the Euros not working? What has Micah been wearing that has left Gary and Alan in stitches?

Gary, Alan and Micah are answering your questions on today’s episode as they also look at the dangers of live television, the role for Saka in the England team going forward and which type of bird they would each be.

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Is there a simple fix to England’s disappointing performances at Euro 2024? Why are they struggling to score goals? What positives can England take from the group stage?

Gary, Alan and Micah react to another underwhelming performance from England, as they draw 0-0 with Slovenia.

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Who should England start with for their final group game against Slovenia? How much do the ITV and BBC pundits mix at an international tournament?Who did Micah bump into at the end of an all-nighter in Berlin?

Alan and Micah answer your questions on all things Euro 2024.

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Should Scotland have had a late penalty against Hungary? Was there any more Steve Clarke and the team could have done to reach the knockout stages? What did Gary and Alan make of Harry Kane’s response to the media criticism of the England team after their first two games?

Gary and Alan reflect on the latest headlines from Euro 2024, as well as the seriously worrying situation developing at Southend United.

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What changes do England have to make for the Slovenia game? How exactly do you bounce back from a poor start to an international tournament? How did a fire alarm, a stag do and a gimp suit ensure Alan had a lively trip to Frankfurt?

Alan reports back about his time at the Waldstadion and his thoughts on England’s performance against Denmark.

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How concerning was the England performance against Denmark? Why are things not clicking with such a talented forward line? How has Marc Guéhi stepped up to be England’s most impressive player across the first two games?

Gary and Micah review England’s draw with Denmark with our first ever live audience. Sat on the sofas in the background after an enjoyable dinner are David Moyes and Thomas Frank, who aren’t shy to chip in with advice for the boys where needed.

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Will the Scots progress to the knockout stages after a hard fought point against Switzerland? Have Germany found Kai Havertz’s best position? What changes should Gareth Southgate make to get the best out of his England team against Denmark?

Gary and Micah reflect on Wednesday’s matches and also tell us what they’ve been getting up to in Berlin away from the football.

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How did David Moyes find out he was taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd? Does he regret taking over from Fergie?

What was it like managing Wayne Rooney as he burst into professional football? How did things end at West Ham and how does he reflect on his time there?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by David Moyes out in Berlin to discuss the ongoing tournament and the best stories from his time managing the likes of Everton, Manchester United and West Ham.

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Should Southgate change anything for England’s next game against Denmark? Were Erik ten Hag’s comments about the England performance fair? Why is co-commentary harder than being a studio pundit?

Gary and Micah welcome Alan back to Berlin to reflect on his experience at England’s opening game.

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Are England still struggling with the same old problems? Do they have a problem down the left-hand side of the team? Should Cole Palmer have been brought on from the bench?

Gary and Micah also discuss Erik Ten Hag’s comments on Dutch TV about his recent treatment by Manchester United.

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Should England be seen as underdogs at the Euros? How did a game of head tennis with Kevin Keegan leave its mark on UK politics? What's it like to play with Diego Armando Maradona?

On today's episode of The Rest Is Football, Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by The Rest Is Politics co-host Alastair Campbell to answer all these questions and more.

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What could Scotland have done differently in their dismal opening display? Are Germany now one of the favourites to lift the trophy? How do you recover from a poor start to a tournament?

Gary, Alan and Micah bring you our first show from Berlin as they review the opening game of Euro 2024 and how it sets the tone for the championships.

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Will Ronaldo help lead Portugal back to European glory? Is it better to play the big teams earlier on in the tournament? Can anyone beat France?

Gary, Alan and Micah are back for the second part of our full tournament preview as they go through all of the 24 nations competing in Germany to see what we can expect from each side and the star players to keep an eye out for.

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Who will be the biggest danger to England in Group C? How far will the hosts Germany go? Will the reigning champions Italy crash out at the group stage?

Gary, Alan and Micah begin our full tournament preview as they go through each of the 24 nations competing in Germany to see what we can expect from each side and the star players to keep an eye out for.

The second part of our tournament preview will be out on Friday.

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Who would our three hosts each pick to start for England in their opening game against Serbia on Sunday? Where is the best position for Phil Foden to play in the England side? Does Cole Palmer get into the starting team?

In our special England preview episode ahead of Euro 2024 Gary, Alan and Micah look back at the 2020 tournament and how the side have developed since then.

This summer join EE the lead sponsor of the England teams and stand against hate. Find out more at https://bit.ly/EETRIFPodcast

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Why did missing out on the 1998 World Cup squad have such a big impact on Gazza? How did he end up in a zoo in China with a tiger and a horse’s head? Who is Gazza’s favourite England player from the squad going to Germany this summer?

Paul Gascoigne is back for the second part of his wide-ranging interview with Gary, Alan and Micah.

Win a trip to watch the football in Germany this summer for free! goodlifeplus.co.uk/trif

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Why would Fergie definitely NOT have been able to tame Gazza? What did the Pope have to call Gazza about? How did a runaway tractor land him with his first fine as a footballer?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by the legendary Paul Gascoigne to talk about his incredible love for football and which club he was the happiest at.

Part 2 of this interview with Gazza will be out on Friday.

Win a trip to watch the football in Germany this summer for free! goodlifeplus.co.uk/trif

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How exactly do you develop the mentality that Real Madrid have that makes them so special? Will Jude Bellingham winning the Champions League be a benefit for England this summer? Where will Kylian Mbappé play in the Real Madrid team and who drops out to accommodate him?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Carlo Ancelotti’s management style and how he gets the best from his players.

Win a trip to watch the football in Germany this summer for free! goodlifeplus.co.uk/trif

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How did each Premier League team do this season? Top marks? Or must do better?

Gary, Alan and Micah sit in judgement on the season as they review the performance of all 20 clubs.

They also look back at their own pre-season predictions to see who really does know their football.

So who did the best, and who had a howler? Find out on this special episode of The Rest Is Football

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Is there a new offside rule coming and what do Gary and Alan make of Arsene Wenger’s proposals to improve the game?

Plus, what are the funniest nicknames in football?

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Manchester United beat rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, Gary and Alan respond to criticism they received over the interview with Erik Ten Hag and the guys review Southampton’s Playoff Final win against Leeds.

Gary, Micah and Alan also discuss Chelsea’s sacking of Mauricio Pochettino and Vincent Kompany’s move to Bayern Munich 

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Why was Kasper not at Jamie Vardy’s house to watch Leicester win the Premier League? What impact did being one of the first on the scene at the helicopter crash that killed Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha have on his life? How did growing up with the likes of Eric Cantona, Steve Bruce and his father Peter give him a burning desire to succeed that was unmatched by his peers?

Gary is joined by Premier League and FA Cup winner Kasper Schmeichel to discuss his incredible life in football so far and how Denmark are planning to stop England at the Euros.

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Who makes it into Gary and Alan’s team of the season? Who was the ‘Rookie of the Year’? Who was the surprise package of this season?

After the conclusion of the 2023/24 Premier League season, Gary and Alan pick the winners of the hugely prestigious The Rest Is Football awards.

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How much longer will Pep Guardiola stay at Man City? Will Phil Foden end his career as one of the all-time Premier League greats? What do Arsenal need to do to improve yet again next season?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Jurgen Klopp and the legacy he leaves at Liverpool.

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With clubs now set to vote on VAR for next year, should it be scrapped completely? What chance do Arsenal have of winning the league on the final day? Who will claim the final European places for next season?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the mentality of the players and fans at Spurs after a bizarre week for the club.

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Should we bring back the tradition of England squads releasing a song before the Euros and World Cup? How do national teams keep themselves amused when they’re away for five or six weeks at major tournaments? Why did Micah’s shower routine have Gary and Alan in fits of giggles?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how they would have got on playing in each other’s positions.

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Is this really the worst Man United team in Alan’s lifetime? Why have this season’s promoted teams been so poor? Would a 6th place finish be a good season for Chelsea?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how Pep Guardiola would do if he was the manager of a team at the bottom of the league.

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Was it a mistake to substitute Harry Kane in Bayern Munich’s Champions League defeat? Would you rather have Vinicius Junior or Kylian Mbappe in your side? Will a Premier League spending cap work better than the current Profitability and Sustainability Rules?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss David Moyes’ upcoming departure from West Ham and whether he has been harshly treated.

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Why do the co-commentators get to pick the Man of the Match and how do they judge it? How much do players worry about pundits giving them stick after matches? Where did Micah enjoy partying in his early twenties?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss where George Best ranks on the list of Britain’s best ever footballers.

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Will there be any more slip-ups in the title race or will Man City produce the perfect finish? Have teams now worked out Ange-Ball? How will Ipswich fare in the Premier League next season after back-to-back promotions?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reignite the debate around Rodri and Declan Rice and which one you would prefer to have in your team.

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Why did the first edition newspapers after Man United’s treble success agitate Sir Alex Ferguson? What was it like ghostwriting Steven Gerrard’s autobiography? How do we protect the football pyramid in England and ensure the game isn’t run in the interests of only a handful of clubs?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by leading journalist Henry Winter to talk about the importance of high-quality sports journalism and the privilege of being able to tell people’s stories.

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Would you rather have Paul Gascoigne or Wayne Rooney in your side? What was it like when you were on the receiving end of Duncan Ferguson’s wrath? Which question led Micah to plead the fifth to avoid incriminating himself?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate which players from England’s Euro ’96 team would get in the current England side.

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Can Arsenal go on and win all their remaining games? What exactly is happening between Jurgen Klopp and Mo Salah? How did Gary manage to compare himself to Lionel Messi?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Erik Ten Hag’s quotes about United being “one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment”.

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What made Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan’s managerial styles so different? What’s the secret to scoring lots of goals at the top level? Why does no-one want to play as a genuine Number 9 any more?

Gary and Alan are joined by Andrew Cole as he talks about the favourite goal he ever scored, the Treble celebrations in Barcelona and his partnerships with Peter Beardsley and Dwight Yorke.

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How did Gazza show his ingenuity with a fishy prank during his time at Rangers? Why was Faustino Asprilla such a great character in the dressing room? Did Emmanuel Adebayor plan his notorious goal celebration against Arsenal at the Etihad?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether the Premier League is the best league in the world.

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Is there any way Erik Ten Hag will still be Manchester United manager next season? Were Nottingham Forest right to make their statement criticising the officials after losing to Everton? Where does Unai Emery sit in the race to be named manager of the season?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether the intensity of football matches is higher now than decades ago, as the argument around the football schedule continues.

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How do Man City and Arsenal bounce back from Champions League disappointment? Are the FA right to scrap Cup replays next season? Will Cole Palmer be starting for England at the Euros this summer?

Gary, Alan and Micah also predict who will make the Champions League final.

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Should clubs be allowed to pay agents directly? Would Rúben Amorim be a good fit if he took over at Liverpool next season? What advice would our trio give to parents of youngsters getting into the game?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the hardest role in sports broadcasting. Is it the presenter, pundit, commentator or co-commentator?

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Is the Premier League title now Man City’s to lose? Is Alexander Isak the second best striker in the league? Can Bayer Leverkusen go the whole season unbeaten in all competitions?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the Championship promotion race with all three sides at the top stumbling to the finish.

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Real Madrid hosted Manchester City in a 6 goal Champions League Classic, did the referee make the right calls in a controversial game at the Emirates and why scrapping away goals has benefited the Champions League Knockout Stage 

Gary, Alan & Micah look back at a thrilling couple days of Champions League Football

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How do you celebrate being given a Nando’s black card? What have Gary and Alan done with the hat-trick balls they picked up during their careers? Who gave Micah his notorious nickname and where did it come from?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the toll professional football takes on family life.

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How did Liverpool not come away from Old Trafford with all three points? After Ollie Watkins comments, what exactly is big-team mentality and how do you get it? Who will win the Scottish Premiership after a dramatic Old Firm Derby?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the impact European matches are going to have on the Premier League title race.

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The Liverpool captain joins Gary and Micah on The Rest Is Football.

He discusses the Klopp Factor, that Champions League Triumph & how Liverpool can win the league.

What makes Jurgen Klopp so special? And how did Virgil and his teammates celebrate winning the Champions League in 2019. Plus what do Liverpool need to do to win the Premier League this year?

Virgil Van Dijk was speaking exclusively to The Rest Is Football at the launch of this year’s McDonald’s Fun Football programme, which aims to encourage participation in the sport through free coaching sessions for children.

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What happened to Gary on the Tube last week? Kobbie Mainoo bursting on the scene & The Lads play Start, Bench and Sell with Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe

Gary, Alan & Micah also look back at what they miss most from playing football

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Arsenal hold Man City to a goalless draw at the Etihad and stay above them in the Premier League, Liverpool come back from behind to go 2 points clear at the top, and Newcastle beat West Ham in dramatic fashion in the game of the weekend.

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the rest of the Easter fixtures in a wild weekend of Premier League action.

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Why is Anfield such a fortress? Are European nights really that extra bit special? Will Jurgen Klopp get the perfect Premier League send-off in his final season with the club?

Gary and Micah are at Anfield recording a special episode of the podcast and take the chance to also reflect on their individual records at one of the countries most famous stadiums.

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Which is the best England shirt that’s ever been made? In light of Ben White turning down an England call up, is it ever right to pick club over country? What is the best starting midfield trio for England?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the potential role AI could play in football in the future.

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Do England need to be less pragmatic if they want to win a major trophy? Has Anthony Gordon played his way onto the plane this summer? Is it dangerous to write off Germany at the Euros?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Wales emphatic victory against Finland and their upcoming winner-takes-all match against Poland.

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What did Peter Beardsley do to impress George Best so much he got him a trial at Man United? How did Kenny Dalglish use shadows to make himself a better player? What was it like playing against the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Johan Cruyff?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by special guest Peter Beardsley to relive the best stories from his life in football and settle the big debate - who was the better strike partner, Alan or Gary?

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What happened when Paul Gascoigne took an ostrich to training at Spurs? Where does Dennis Bergkamp rate in the list of the Premier League’s greatest players? Who was the best right back - Gary Neville or Kyle Walker?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss players that would smoke on matchday and how that’s still going on today.

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Was that Man United’s best performance of the season? Can Pochettino silence his critics after getting booed at Stamford Bridge? Will Coventry fancy their chances of making the final after that semi-final draw?

Gary, Alan and Micah also review the four Premier League games from the weekend, as things got even tighter at the bottom.

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How many players are fighting for places in Gareth Southgate’s final Euros squad? Will Bournemouth’s comeback win be a hammer blow for Luton’s season? How far can Arsenal go in the Champions League?

Alan and Micah also review the Champions League Round of 16 and discuss whether it all felt a little too predictable.

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Who is the fittest pundit on the football circuit? Should Newcastle move from St James' Park or look to redevelop instead? What’s the single biggest reason for players being able to turn their form around?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss why we are seeing so many injuries in the Premier League this season.

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Will Liverpool regret not taking all three points against Man City at the end of the season? Are Spurs the best side to watch in the Premier League this season? Will Leicester get caught at the top of the Championship?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Arsenal’s scintillating form and look at which team has the best run-in for the title race.

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What were Tom Lockyer’s first thoughts after ‘coming back from the dead’? How are Luton Town managing to defy all the odds and be competitive this season? What is Rob Edwards best characteristic as a manager?

Gary, Alan & Micah are joined by Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer to discuss his life in football and how his perspective has changed following his cardiac arrest and the birth of his daughter.

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What really happened when Newcastle United made a bid for Wayne Rooney? Who were the most influential captains our lads ever played under? Alan has agreed to the bet, but what would it take for him to appear on MOTD in his pants?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss one of the best sporting arenas in the world.

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Is this going to be the best Title Race the Premier League has ever seen? Who are going to challenge England this summer in Germany and Phil Foden’s fantastic Man of the Match performance in the Manchester derby 

Gary, Micah and Alan look back over the weekend of Premier League Football 

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Who will come out on top in the FA Cup quarter-final between Man City and Newcastle? What does it take to become a truly great finisher? Does football have a bigger doping problem than people realise?

Gary, Alan and Micah look back at the FA Cup 5th Round action and pick their favourites to lift the trophy.

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Where does Cesc Fabregas sit in the list of greatest Premier League midfielders? What’s it like trying to pick up the language when playing abroad and why do you always learn the swear words first? What next for Everton and Nottingham Forest after the Toffee’s points deduction was reduced to six?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate just how much of a difference a manager makes to clubs at the top level.

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How does Jurgen Klopp continue to get the very best out of his players, even when their backs are against the wall? Could Chelsea have done more and been more committed in going for the win? Are managers going over the top with some of their celebrations after matches now?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss team-mates fighting after Sheffield United’s Vinicius Souza and Jack Robinson clashed at Molineux.

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How did Jude Bellingham leave the other players gobsmacked after his first England training session? Why is Gareth Southgate better placed to win a trophy with England now than he ever has been before? How did Nuno turn his vision of the future for Conor and Wolves into reality?

Gary, Alan and Micah are joined by Conor Coady to discuss life in the England camp at the last two major tournaments and playing club football in Europe.

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Why did Harry Kewell take Gary to court? Is Dan Ashworth worth £20m to Man United? What rousing words did Bobby Robson give his team before the penalty shootout in the World Cup semi-final?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate where this current Man City side rank amongst the greatest ever Premier League teams.

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Where does Roy Hodgson rank among the list of Premier League managers? What will the future hold for Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner? What does success look like for Crystal Palace?

Gary, Alan and Micah are also joined by Dan Cook, who runs the HLTCO podcast, to dive into the Crystal Palace fans perspective and what they want to see from their club.

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What has Rasmus Hojlund changed that’s led to his red-hot run of form? How long until Vincent Kompany is under real pressure for his job at Burnley? Who had a shocker with their ‘triple captain’ on Fantasy Football this week?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the title race in Scotland as Rangers leapfrog Celtic at the top.

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What exactly did Micah get up to in Las Vegas that made it a “trip of a lifetime”? Where would be best for Kylian Mbappé to move to in the summer? Are Manchester City the firm favourites to retain their Champions League title?

Gary and Micah also discuss the race for promotion in the Championship.

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Who was keeping Alan awake the night before his biggest game as Newcastle manager? What’s it like when the worlds of football and Hollywood movies collide? Which football moments made our hosts fall in love with the game?

Gary & Alan also debate the best Irish player they ever played against.

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Is Bukayo Saka now a guaranteed starter for England? Should West Ham stick with David Moyes and give him a new contract? Was Ivory Coast’s AFCON success the biggest ever turnaround at an international tournament?

Gary & Alan also discuss the crazy situation of loan players scoring against their parent clubs.

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Who are the best up and coming players in world football right now? Who has made it into EA SPORTS FC 24’s Future Stars? Did Micah make the most of the early years of his career after bursting onto the scene? As three players that made it to the very top of the game, what advice would our hosts give to these players that are drawing so much attention at a young age?

Future Stars are available in FC 24’s Ultimate Team now! Campaign live in-game until Feb 23rd.

www.ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-24/ultimate-team/future-stars

This episode is brought to you in partnership with EA SPORTS FC 24

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What really happened when Joleon Lescott tweeted a photo of a flashy car after a 6-0 defeat? Why is the Olympic Village the “party of all parties”? Which player used to lie about his use of Nando’s?

Gary, Alan and Micah also explain exactly what a typical day in the life of a Premier League footballer is like.

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Are we set for one of the best title races for years? Have Man United finally started to turn the corner? Why has an English manager never won the Premier League?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the unrest at Crystal Palace and whether Roy Hodgson will survive the season.

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Do referees subconsciously favour big clubs, particularly when they’re at home? How do we feel about players mocking each other’s celebrations? Why does Gary think things will definitely come good for Darwin Núñez?

Gary, Alan and Micah also sing the praises of Michael Olise and discuss whether Gareth Southgate should be looking to try and snap him up before he makes a senior international appearance for France.

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Why did Alan have his head in a crocodile’s mouth in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office? What were the most ridiculous things they ever spent their football wages on? Who are the most famous people the boys have ever met?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reveal the unexpected perks of being a football pundit.

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How do Man United get Marcus Rashford back to the highs he was hitting last season? What prompted Alan to watch a game amongst the Newcastle away fans for the first time in decades? Has a dangerous precedent been set after the Anderlecht v Genk match was ordered to be replayed in full after a VAR error?

Gary, Alan and Micah also celebrate Maidstone United’s terrific victory against Ipswich, which saw them go through to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

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Why is Klopp leaving Anfield? Will Xabi Alonso replace him? Should he be remembered as one of the greatest Premier League managers of all time?

Join Alan and Gary for an emergency episode of The Rest Is Football, where they react to the news that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season.

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If Gary and Alan were in Victor Osimhen’s shoes, which Premier League club would they join? If Chelsea win the League Cup would that be a successful season for them, regardless of league position?

Gary, Alan and Micah also review all the action from AFCON and the Asian Cup as the group stages come to an end.

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Why did Micah’s first ever football shirt make Alan so happy? Which football-related incidents keep the boys awake at night? How did Gary end up playing golf with two American superstars?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Omar Berrada’s move from Man City to Man Utd and whether he will be able to turn the tide at United.

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How should players, fans and governing bodies deal with the ongoing issues with racism in football?

Also, should Diogo Jota be in Liverpool’s starting XI when everyone is fit? Will Crystal Palace stick with Roy Hodgson amid growing unrest amongst their fans?

Gary, Alan and Micah also look at the battle at the top of the Championship and debate whether parachute payments should continue.

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Why did Micah turn down joining Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in 2007? Who would come out on top if Alan and Micah faced each other in their prime? Do the Premier League’s FFP rules need updating?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the worst dressing room dressing-downs they saw in their careers.

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How did Ronaldo end up signing for Man Utd in Gary’s garden? Why was Ian Wright so frustrating to play against? Why was managing Newcastle the most pressure Alan has ever been under?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the favourite partnerships they had during their playing careers.

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Is Kevin De Bruyne the greatest ever Premier League midfielder? How do you bring a player back into the fold after they’ve fallen out with the manager? Will the fans protest at Reading that saw their game abandoned be enough to save their club?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate whether Man United still have the power to attract the world’s very best players.

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What made José turn a little cold towards Gary? Can Alan and Micah name the Top 10 most valuable players in the world right now? And who gets into a Salad XI of footballers?

The boys also discuss whether Antoine Griezmann is one of the most underrated footballers of this generation after he broke the Atletico goal scoring record.

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What would be the boys dream transfers during this month’s window? Who had to have 100ml of fluid removed from their knee before every training session? Why did Alan turn down an extra £600k from Adidas to wear their boots?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss players who have gone on to work outside of football after their careers and made it big.

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Why did we see so few big Cup upsets at the weekend? Are the big teams taking the FA Cup more seriously? Do we prefer watching games without VAR?

Gary, Alan and Micah review the best of the action from the FA Cup 3rd Round and suggest a solution for the use of VAR going forward.

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Who was the best Premier League player of 2023? Which club were the biggest underachievers of the last year? Who “burst onto the scene” like our very own Micah Richards?

Gary, Alan and Micah run through The Rest Is Football’s very prestigious end of year awards and have a lot of fun along the way.

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What was it like playing against Sam Allardyce’s Bolton in the early 2000’s? Why do we put ourselves through the highs and lows of playing fantasy football? How do you define what a ‘world class’ player is?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the emotions of taking a high pressure penalty.

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What next for Wayne Rooney and his managerial career? Why do some ‘star’ players find the transition to management so difficult? How do you get players to buy into your vision as a manager?

Gary and Micah react to the news that Wayne Rooney has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City after just 15 games in charge.

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How do Arsenal recover from a poor run of form over the festive period? With players returning from injury, what is Pep Guardiola’s best XI? Who had a surprise meeting with David Beckham over the Christmas holidays?

Gary and Micah also discuss whether VAR is now actually encouraging diving, rather than preventing it.

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Are Man City finally getting the best out of Phil Foden in his new role? What are the immediate things that Sir Jim Ratcliffe needs to do at Man Utd? How hard is the transition from player to manager and what do the coaching badges not prepare you for?

Gary, Alan and Micah also marvel at Bournemouth’s recent form and the job Andoni Iraola is doing.

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A short message from Gary to say thank you to all our listeners for their support so far this season and give an update on what we’ve got planned for 2024.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

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How do we take some of the power away from agents in the world of football? Why are there so many American takeovers of English clubs? What were Brian Clough’s secret negotiating techniques?

Gary, Alan and Micah speak to Jon Holmes, Gary’s agent of 45 years, to have an in-depth look at the life of a football agent.

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What’s the most outrageous thing our hosts ever saw at a club’s Christmas party? Do any players really intentionally get suspended over the festive period? Which players would be all smiles off the pitch, but wouldn’t hesitate to give you a good kick if they got the chance?

Gary, Alan and Micah also debate which pair of Man Utd greats from the last couple of decades would be best suited to go and fix the current mess at the club.

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Can you be a bargain at £100m? Why are Man City struggling defensively at the moment? How does it feel to come up trumps after getting hammered by the opposition fans?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on a desperately disappointing game at Anfield and where that leaves both clubs.

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Should Newcastle have been less gung-ho in their attempt to reach the CL knockouts, which ultimately cost them a place in Europe altogether? Which club would Ivan Toney be best suited for if he was to leave Brentford? Can anyone stop Liverpool winning the Europa League?

Gary, Alan and Micah also make their predictions on who will ultimately win this year’s Champions League.

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Who should Aston Villa be looking to sign in January? What happens in the dressing room when another player wants your shirt number? Will Ant & Dec ever be successful in their attempts to tap Alan up to go into the jungle?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss what dangers the Premier League could face if 14 or more of the club’s owners are American.

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Is Pochettino the man to fix the problems at Chelsea? Are we focussing too much on the idea that players are fatigued? Why are we seeing sides really having a go at the traditional ‘top teams’ this season?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the results of a poll about the use of VAR, after more than 100,000 fans voted.

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Why exactly are certain managers being particularly prickly at the moment? How big a statement was Aston Villa’s performance against Man City? Alan and Micah clash over whether they would want Declan Rice or Rodri in their side.

Plus, the boys discuss the troubles at Nottingham Forest and whether Steve Cooper deserves more time in charge.

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What’s the best way to deal with player power building in the dressing room? Which of our hosts saw team-mates actively celebrating when they found out their manager had been sacked? And how on earth did Micah Richards end up in a chart-topping music video?

Also, after the sex noises prank during the group stage draw for the Euros, Gary reflects on exactly what was going through his mind when it happened to him live on the BBC last season.

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Did Spurs deserve a point against Man City? Is there any way back from the lack of desire some Man Utd players are showing on the pitch? Why on earth were Barcelona players asking for Nutella sandwiches after their matches?

The boys also discuss Liverpool having their own goal of the month competition at Anfield and a crucial win for Burnley.

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Would the introduction of sin-bins be a good thing for football? Why was Sergio Agüero so different on a matchday compared to the rest of the time? Who were the most annoying players that Gary and Micah ever played against?

Alan also tell us what he would have done if he’d been playing for Newcastle in the Mike Ashley era.

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In their new podcast TV maestro and hugely successful author Richard Osman, along with The Guardian's razor-sharp columnist Marina Hyde unravel the mysteries and unveil the hidden gems within the vast landscape of entertainment. Blending knowledge, humour, and insight as industry insiders they'll talk television, films, books, music and celebrity gossip as well as offering an enticing peek behind the curtain.

Listen to the full episode now by searching The Rest Is Entertainment wherever you get your podcasts.

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Did Micah’s pre-match chat with Alisson play a few mind games before his performance against Man City? Will Aston Villa be able to sustain their Top 4 push? Was Alejandro Garnacho’s overhead kick the best goal ever scored in the Premier League?

Gary, Alan and Micah also reflect on a big weekend at the bottom of the table.

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After the sad news that Terry Venables passed away at the weekend, Gary, Alan and Micah reflect on the incredible person that he was and his tremendous impact on the game of football.

He was Gary’s manager at Barcelona and Tottenham, Alan’s manager with England for Euro 96 and was part of the national set-up as assistant manager for Micah.

We hear stories of his genius footballing brain and the innovations he would try in training, his brilliant man-management skills in handling strong personalties like Paul Gascoigne and how he loved a good sing-song.

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Who thinks Man City won’t win the league this year? Who has got the best chance of gatecrashing the Top 4? Will Everton survive after their points deduction?

Gary, Alan and Micah look back at the predictions they made at the start of the season, to see what they’ve got right and where they’ve been going wrong. 

They go through all 20 Premier League teams to look at the challenges they face and any surprises we might see between now and the end of the season.

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Why did Roy Keane threaten to knock Alan out on the pitch? What do Gary, Alan and Micah think is England’s best starting XI? And what was it really like having to go to battle against Tony Pulis’ Stoke City?

We also hear the story of when Gazza brought his new Winnebago to training and ended up giving one fan a journey he would never forget.

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With Everton having been docked ten points for breaching Premier League financial rules, Gary and Alan are joined by journalist Nick Harris of Sporting Intelligence to discuss the reasoning behind the dramatic decision. 

Also discussed are the implications for Manchester City, currently facing 115 charges for alleged breaches of the League’s financial rules. Charges Manchester City deny.

Anyone wanting to read the full reasons for the Everton judgement can do so here: https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2023/11/17/49989e4e-01a2-44f9-a012-c3a31ae5536b/2023-11-17-Premier-League-v-Everton-FC-Decision-for-Publication.pdf

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What is the biggest threat to the growth, or even survival, of domestic football? Would salary caps help level the playing field? Is it ok for football clubs to continually lose money?

Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish joins Gary and Alan on today’s episode to discuss what it’s really like running a professional football club.

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What actually happens when a senior player turns against the manager? Why did one of Bobby Robson’s phone calls have Gary and the team in fits of laughter? Who thinks the World Cup SHOULD be every two years?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss which British football team they would each have loved to have played for.

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Should Man City have sold Cole Palmer to Chelsea? Are Liverpool the biggest threat to Man City retaining their title? Will Aston Villa crash the top four this season?

The boys also discuss what will be going through Rasmus Højlund’s mind, as his Premier League goal drought continues after a big money move.

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Which specific moment from that Champions League final against Liverpool kept Andriy awake at night for three months? How did he end up getting married on the 14th green of a golf course? And which Brazilian genius did Andriy think was better - Ronaldinho or Kaká?

In the second part of our special with the Ukrainian Ballon d’Or winner, Gary also finds out what went wrong during his spell at Chelsea.

You can buy Andriy’s new book My Life, My Football here: https://backpagepress.co.uk/books/my-life-my-football

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Has Micah found a new calling in Latin America? How upset do players get with poor FIFA ratings? Who was sneaking off for a cheeky cigarette minutes before kick off?

The boys also debate who the second best striker in the Premier League is, after Erling Haaland.

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Was Mikel Arteta right to have a rant about VAR after Arsenal’s defeat? Should Marcus Rashford have been out celebrating his birthday after Manchester United were embarrassed in the derby? How did Gary’s search for Maradona end up with him playing golf with the President? 

Plus, the boys reflect on a very emotional day for Luis Diaz as he rescues a point for Liverpool and dedicates his goal to his father, who is still missing.

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Why did the AC Milan players end up celebrating on a golf course at 5am after their Champions League win? What did Andriy think was the key reason why he won the Ballon d’Or? And how exactly did he end up assisting in a heart transplant operation?

On today’s episode, Gary Lineker is joined by Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko.

You can buy Andriy’s new book My Life, My Football here: https://backpagepress.co.uk/books/my-life-my-football

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What happened when Paul Gascoigne brought an air rifle to training? How did Mario Balotelli almost end up repeating his fireworks fiasco? And what’s the least enjoyable thing about being a professional footballer?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the best goal they scored during their careers.

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Micah hot foots it back from Old Trafford to reflect on a humiliating defeat for United in the Manchester derby.

Alan Shearer is forced to choose between Erling Haaland and Harry Kane.

And Gary marvels at the match winning performance of Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid in El Classico.

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What’s it like when your own fans turn against you? Was Man City’s dress code for their Champions League match the worst we’ve ever seen? And after a wardrobe malfunction of his own on live TV, Micah is left asking ‘Why always Meeks?’. 

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss whether Spurs are now a better team without Harry Kane and how the England captain will be feeling watching on from Munich.

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Who got catfished for a pair of tickets to the Players’ Lounge for the biggest game of the season? Why is Ezri Konsa not getting a look in for the England squad? And who got caught out because they had their own name plastered all over the side of a sponsored car?

Plus, Gary, Alan and Micah discuss who they would start, bench or sack out of Kieran Trippier, Gary Neville and Terry Butcher.

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Gary reveals the impact that Sir Bobby Charlton had on him and his career, as Alan and Micah debate whether he was England’s greatest ever player. 

Plus, the lads discuss where Kieran Trippier sits on the list of the world’s best full backs and Micah tells us about the time he got a little too excited with the hotel minibar.

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What got Micah hot under the collar at Kidderminster Harriers? Who is the best English player never to get an international call up? And who called for the subs’ bench after a torrid time against Bayern Munich?

Plus, Gary tells Alan and Micah how Terry Venables helped him through one of his darkest times after his son George was diagnosed with leukaemia.

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Gary, Alan and Micah discuss a Jude Bellingham masterclass as England come from behind to beat Italy at Wembley. Two goals from Harry Kane, including his 21st penalty for England, plus a rocket from Marcus Rashford give the boys great hope that England could go all the way next summer.

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Was Glenn Hoddle right to blame David Beckham for England going out of the World Cup?

How did Paul Gascoigne entertain Gary and co on his first international call up?

And what made Frank Lampard blank Micah Richards at Stamford Bridge?

Gary Lineker is joined by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards to talk all things football.

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Which Premier League player is the only one to come close to Lionel Messi? What happened during that infamous Pires-Henry penalty against Man City? Does Arteta have what it takes to go all the way at Arsenal?

For the second of two episodes, Alan, Micah and Gary are joined by Premier League great, Thierry Henry.

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What was the worst a manager let rip in the dressing room? How do serious injuries affect the whole team? And who had to do the most ridiculous TV advert?

Gary, Alan and Micah also compare their favourite shirt swaps and debate who got the best one.

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Micah races back from the Emirates to join Alan and Gary as the boys reflect on a dramatic weekend of football.Have Arsenal taken a psychological advantage over title rivals Manchester City? Has Scott McTominay saved Manchester United from another week of soul searching? And are Raheem Sterling, Nick Pope and James Ward-Prowse all unlucky not to be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad? Spurs title chances, Jude Bellingham’s latest superstar performance for Real Madrid and Olivier Giroud’s remarkable goalkeeping feat also feature.

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Who does Thierry Henry think was better: Wenger of Guardiola? Why did Arsenal fans shout abuse at him in his early days? Why did he have to hide his fear of failure from Martin Keown and Tony Adams?

On today's episode of The Rest Is Football, the boys are joined by France and Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry.

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What did each of Gary, Alan and Micah do with their England bonuses and who forced Micah to give his away? How good was the Brazilian Ronaldo? And who stopped Diego Maradona falling off a balcony at the Bombonera? Plus Gary recounts the night he thought his career was over.

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After another horrendous weekend for VAR, Gary, Alan and Micah wonder if the time has come to scrap football’s video refereeing experiment. And if it does stay, how can it be improved?

Plus, what’s it like in a toxic dressing room? And is Ollie Watkins England’s second best striker?

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Micah, Gary and Alan reflect on the shocking treatment of Victor Osimhen by his own club Napoli.

Plus, have Liverpool uncovered the next Steven Gerrard? Alan enjoys Newcastle’s victory over Manchester City and the boys recall their experiences playing with the world’s best golfers.

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Micah describes the day he knew he was going to make it as a footballer. Gary tells the story of the day he tried to mark Bryan Robson. And Alan explains why he’d play for Manchester City given half a chance.

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What did we learn from the North London Derby? Have Newcastle kick started their season? And is the gap between the Premier League and the Championship growing?

Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss how the handball law has become so ludicrous.

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Who is the greatest striker of recent years? As Robert Lewandowski reaches the milestone of 100 goals in European football Gary, Alan and Micah debate the best number nines in the game.

After a busy week of European competition the boys look back on all the key action as well as discussing the competition between English goalkeepers to be Gareth Southgate’s number one at next summer’s European Championship.

Plus they imagine life at Manchester City when Pep Guardiola eventually decides to move on.

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Micah Richards recalls his bizarre bedroom-based injury, Gary reveals the Match of the Day running order league table, and the boys wonder if Liverpool should cash in on Mo Salah in January. Plus, who are the best managers outside the Premier League and which current players would make top future pundits?

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Have Manchester United got a culture problem and if so can Erik ten Hag sort it out? Gary, Micah and Alan examine the problems at a club with so many players under public scrutiny. Alan describes the challenges of enforcing good timekeeping on a difficult dressing room and Micah wonders whether the players are enjoying the longer playing time this season quite as much as the fans are.

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Is Jude Bellingham destined to be one of the world’s greatest? How exactly did Barcelona lose the world’s best footballer? Has anyone had a bigger impact on English football than Pep Guardiola in the last decade?

Spanish football expert Sid Lowe joins Gary to look into what’s going on at Real Madrid and Barcelona and discuss the impact Spain has had on the Premier League and English football as a whole.

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Recorded immediately after England’s victory over Scotland, Gary, Alan and Micah debate the quality of the current England team and enjoy a brilliant performance from Real Madrid’s newest star Jude Bellingham.

Plus the boys evaluate the standing of Kyle Walker in the pantheon of England right backs.

Also up for discussion are doping in football, the potential take-over at Everton, and the time Micah turned up for England duty with four left boots.

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Should the next England manager be English? Gary, Alan and Micah discuss Gareth Southgate’s potential successor should he walk away post-Euros.

Why are Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire starting for England while not playing regularly for a top tier team?

And which Premier League club offered Gary the manager’s job.

Plus the boys look ahead to Scotland v England and reflect on the great rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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In our international football special Gareth Southgate’s England selection comes under scrutiny from Gary, Alan and Micah.

Do England really have the best front six in world football?

Plus why does Micah love David Beckham so much?

And how did Terry Butcher’s caged tigers help England win away in Yugoslavia?

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How Mario Balotelli ruined Micah’s first day at his new club.

Was Alan really worth £200 million in his pomp?

And why did Gary find himself talking bollocks abroad.

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Should managers ever publicly criticise players? Has Evan Ferguson got a bit of Erling Haaland about him? And is it possible that Spurs could become a better all-round team without Harry Kane?

Gary also explains how the Match of the Day running order is chosen and why your team isn’t always last on!

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On Deadline Day the transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano explains what goes on behind-the-scenes of this mysterious part of the football world.

How exactly does he find out about deals? Why do players contact him directly? And how did Bruno Fernandes change his life?

Gary, Alan and Micah also find out which transfer scoop was Fabrizio’s favourite and which team he actually supports.

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Micah Richards describes the goal that lost him a million pounds and names the player who made his life hell at Manchester City. Alan Shearer reveals the truth about his stolen trainers and Gary Lineker describes the utter devastation of losing the World Cup semi-final to West Germany and recounts the sing-song that brought the squad back together.

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Drama and controversy again in the Premier League as Gary, Alan and Micah debate red cards, red comebacks and penalty misses.

Was the Virgil van Dijk challenge a red card? Is this Darwin Nunez’s break out season?

The usually faultless Erling Haaland’s penalty miss reminds Alan and Gary of their own spot kick embarrassments.

Plus the lads discuss the latest brilliant Barca teenage phenomenon.

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In a week of stark contrasts, Gary, Alan and Micah discuss the ongoing crisis at Manchester United as the Mason Greenwood situation continues to unravel.

They also reflect on the career of the great Lionel Messi after he adds yet another trophy to his collection. Plus Jude Bellingham’s remarkable impact in La Liga, how has his career risen so smoothly?

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Should the captain be the only player allowed to speak to the referee? What if your captain is the biggest moaner of the lot?

Which referees had the best banter and weren’t afraid to give you stick back? Which two teammates would the lads pick to go to Amsterdam on holiday with?

Gary, Alan and Micah answer these and more of your listener questions.

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Manchester United baffled Micah in their first two games of the season, so what’s wrong with ten Hag’s men? And where exactly should Marcus Rashford play?

Plus league leaders Brighton won comfortably at Wolves with a Mitoma wonder goal, as Everton sank into early season gloom.

We’re also joined by Karen Carney to reflect on the Lionesses performance at the Women’s World Cup and the future of the women’s game in the UK.

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Will the fans ever get to hear what’s going on with VAR decisions? Should ex-players be helping referees? And is there really a ‘big club’ bias?

The boys are joined by Howard Webb to discuss all matters referees and VAR. Howard also finally apologises to Alan for his decision that helped relegate Newcastle back in 2009.

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How did Gary Lineker get Paul Gascoigne into hot water and which current Premier League player reminds Alan Shearer of himself? Gary, Alan and Micah Richards answer listener questions.

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Gary, Micah and Alan reflect on the first weekend of the Premier League season. They ask why strikers go off at the deep end and how a defensive midfielder can really be worth £115m. Plus, after some decent debuts, the boys look back on their own first games at the top level.

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In this emergency podcast, Gary and Micah get Alan on the phone for his reaction as Kane’s move to Bayern is finally sealed. Will he be able to contain his glee with the Premier League goalscoring record being safe for the foreseeable future? They discuss what it means for Kane’s career and how Spurs move forward without him. They also reflect on Man City’s victory over Burnley and consider another transfer saga: the future of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo.

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Who will be top four? Who’s heading for the drop? Which teams will surprise and which will disappoint? In this special episode, Gary, Alan, and Micah look ahead to the new Premier League Season. They evaluate every one of the twenty Premier League clubs, predicting where they will finish.

A Goalhanger Podcasts Production

Produced by Harry Lineker

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport

Socials: @RestIsFootball

Email: [email protected]

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In the second episode of their new podcast, Gary, Alan and Micah answer your questions. The guys discuss who they would most liked to have played with, who they’ve been starstruck by and which opponents they feared the most. They also look back on England’s victory over Nigeria in the Women’s World Cup and ask whether the Lionesses can go all the way.

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Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards celebrate the start of the season by launching The Rest Is Football. In the first full-length episode, Gary makes a surprising Premier League prediction, Micah worries about where Declan Rice will play at Arsenal and Alan continues to keep his fingers crossed for a Harry Kane move abroad. 

Plus, with the window still open, the guys tell the inside stories of their big transfers; how close Alan was to joining Manchester United twice and what happened when Micah met a manager in secret…

A Goalhanger Podcasts Production

Produced by Paul King & Harry Lineker

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport

Socials: @RestIsFootball

Email: [email protected]

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Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards reveal a new podcast launching on Monday 7th of August ahead of the new football season. In this trailer episode, Gary talks about hiding behind a bush to escape a pre-season fitness test, Micah tells all about a disastrous summer holiday in Ayia Napa and why Alan is putting his chauffeur’s hat on to drive Harry Kane to the airport.

Follow now so you don't miss our first full length episode on Monday.

A Goalhanger Podcasts Production

Produced by Paul King & Harry Lineker

Exec Producer: Tony Pastor & Jack Davenport

Socials: @RestIsFootball

Email: [email protected]

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