The Game
The thinking fan's football podcast, providing previews and reviews of all the action - every Monday and Thursday.
Listen to the best of The Times and The Sunday Times journalists as they cover the biggest sport on the planet; from winners to losers, who's in and out on the transfer roundabout, tactical developments, data analysis and the dreaded VAR.
Hosted by Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson alongside special guest appearances, the team bring you the latest on the Premier League and the EFL, as well as a front-row seat to international tournaments including the Champions League, European Championships and World Cups.
We know football isn't life and death. It's much more serious than that.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 48 minutes
- Episodes
- 1226
- Years Active
- 2010 - 2025
Black Lives Matter. So can football do more?
The Times Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins Nat & Gregor to explore the need for football to lead from the front in the battle against racism across the globe.
More vocal players, fearless prot…
Why it's ok to refuse to play, and spot kicks go under the spotlight...
Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor with news that The Championship will be back on the 20th June, but how many players out of contract at the end of the month will want to play?
The panel discuss this, po…
Premier League football is back! June 17th here we come...
Jonathan Northcroft joins Nat & Gregor with news that Premier League football will return on the 17th June. But are we ready?
The panel debate this and ask....who is the Premier League's greatest impo…
Reasons to be cheerful?
Martyn Ziegler joins Nat & Gregor in what is a crucial week for the return of football in England, and why we could be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
More on this, why the EFL could turn t…
Back to work? Or back to the drawing board?
Nat & Gregor are joined by Henry Winter to discuss problems at Watford as Troy Deeney stays away from training over safety concerns.
The panel discuss this, whether personality traits of footballers m…
Football is back! But at what cost?
Alyson Rudd joins Nat & Gregor to look at the likes and dislikes from the return of the Bundesliga. Is this what we want English football to be when it returns?
More on this, the evolution of refereei…
Project Restart.... meet Player Revolt
Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss the future of Leagues 1 and 2, and whether footballers should be back at work at the same time as everyone else.
And with two Scots on the pan…
Football and mental health. Can we do more?
Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss the mental health issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic, and whether football can do more to help tackle this.
They also give their verdict on …
Football's waiting game, and is Wembley worth it?
The Times' Chief Football Writer Henry Winter joins Natalie Sawyer on The Game Podcast to tell us why football should not be returning anytime soon, and why he hates Wembley Stadium!
Tom Roddy also ha…
Could it be goodbye De Bruyne? And who was the last great English manager?
Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to discuss Kevin De Bruyne's possible exit from Man City, the latest on project restart, and yet more unpopular football opinions.
Have England really overach…
Introducing Stories of our times - Hold your horses: should Cheltenham Festival have gone ahead?
Introducing our new free daily news podcast, Stories of our times. It takes you to the heart of the stories that matter, with exclusive access and reporting. Published for the start of your day, it i…
Pochettino, Project Restart and unpopular football opinions...
Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss bad news for Newcastle fans as Mauricio Pochettino declares his "dream" to manage Spurs again one day!
Plus the panel have a game of unpopular…
Time to rethink Project Restart?
Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Lawton to discuss "Project Restart" which aims to get the Premier League back up and running. But is it a restart or a non-starter?
More on this, where Phil Neville cou…
If the Premier League campaign is over - who should be in Europe next season?
Nat & Gregor are joined by The Times' Chief Sports Reporter Martyn Ziegler for an in depth look at UEFA's executive committee meeting and what it means for next season's Champions League.`
Martyn also…
It's football, but not as we know it...
Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to cast their expert eyes across inventive ways to make football behind closed doors work. Virtual season tickets, fake crowd noises and even drive through f…
Mike Ashley - the pantomime villain
Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd to look back on the rocky road of Mike Ashley at Newcastle as his time nears an end.
They also discuss 'invisible geniuses' in football, and Alyson pays a touchi…
A Peter Bonetti tribute...and have we changed our minds on sanitised football?
Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to pay tribute to Chelsea goalkeeping legend Peter Bonetti who passed away on Easter Sunday. They discuss the impact he had on English football as he pi…
Do we give footballers a hard time? And the incredible tale of Sadio Mane...
Nat & Gregor are joined by Alyson Rudd following the news of the Premier League players initiative to help the NHS, so are we too quick to judge high earning footballers?
More on this, whether Sadio M…
Oh Liverpool, what have you done...
Nat & Gregor are joined by Matt Dickinson to discuss Liverpool's much publicised decision to furlough some of their staff! So should the club reconsider?
More on this, Wayne Rooney's must read column …
Football and morality, a very unhappy marriage
Nat & Gregor are joined by Jonathan Northcroft to discuss whether there really is a "moral vacuum"in football, as billionaire owned Premier League clubs weigh up using government money to ease their …