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.
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- Update frequency
- every 2 days
- Average duration
- 48 minutes
- Episodes
- 1226
- Years Active
- 2010 - 2025
Is Pochettino in play this summer?
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Jonathan Northcroft and James Gheerbrant ahead of another huge weekend of football.
How will Liverpool, arguably with their most solid defensive structure…
Vichai got it right on and off the pitch
It’s been a weekend where shocking events off the field have overshadowed football.
On Saturday night, after Leicester City’s game with West Ham, Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among th…
Mourinho’s handbrake and the psychology of goalkeeping
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are privileged to be joined by Henry Winter and Matthew Syed after a Champions League week that’s thrown up a number of broader talker points.
It’s another howler from …
The Ronaldo dilemma and is Joka’s job in jeopardy?
Gab Marcotti is joined by Paul Hirst, Gary Jacob and Bill Edgar after a big weekend of football and ahead of a big week to come.
With Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford with Juventus, Lucy H…
Pochettino’s toughest test and a big time for Barkley
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Dickinson and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League returns from the international break with a vengeance.
Unbeaten Chelsea host Manchester United …
German decline and managers behaving nicely
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Martyn Ziegler and Alan Smith to discuss the biggest story in international football – the sudden regression of the German national team.
Germany have now…
Can Terry avoid being Aston Villa’s alpha male?
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Matt Hughes and George Caulkin. And it’s a very difficult podcast for Natalie as Brentford have lost their beloved boss.
Dean Smith and John Terry are th…
Rating Ramsey and the damage done to the United brand
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back with Oliver Kay and James Gheerbrant as the Premier League tightens up at the top.
The two title favourites draw 0-0 at Anfield with Riyad Mahrez missing a lat…
Liverpool limping and Lloris in the limelight
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd to discuss a big week in the Champions League, and a bigger weekend to come in the Premier League.
Liverpool face Manchester City at Anfield …
Is Mourinho erratically engineering an early exit?
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are back to review more misery for Mourinho at Manchester United. After defeat at West Ham confirms their worst start in 29 years, has he taken United back to square o…
Pogba and Mourinho enter end game
It’s the story that keeps on giving. The bad blood between Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho continues to boil at Manchester United. Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer discuss with James Gheerbrant and the m…
Wizardry from Wolves as Keegan gets candid on cowboy Newcastle
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are joined by Henry Winter and Bill Edgar after another eyebrow-raising Premier League weekend.
With Liverpool maintaining their 100% record and Chelsea dropping points…
Poundings for Pochettino and PSG
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer react to an eventful midweek in the Champions League as Tottenham taste their third defeat in a row. Are we right to question Mauricio Pochettino’s decisions or does h…
Wounded Wilfried and Everton's unsavoury Silva situation
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer break down some major talking points after another big Premier League weekend, in the company of Alyson Rudd and Paul Joyce.
Liverpool are flying with 5 wins out of 5 a…
Is Pogba miscast as a mercenary?
The Premier League returns, as do Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer in the company of Matt Hughes and Paul Hirst, to look ahead to what promises to be an intriguing weekend.
Gary Neville has spoken exc…
Walker left wondering and the pressure to conform in football
Natalie Sawyer is joined by Matt Dickinson and Bill Edgar to discuss the fall-out from England’s Nations League defeat to Spain at Wembley. With Joe Gomez preferred to Kyle Walker in a back 3, and Ki…
The Nations League – how, what and why?
Gab Marcotti and Natalie Sawyer are joined by Alyson Rudd and George Caulkin to discuss the inaugural UEFA Nations League weekend. But if you’re still unsure about what exactly it is, allow us to ans…
Playing out from the back and Pellegrini under pressure
Natalie Sawyer and Gab Marcotti are back together in the studio after another Premier League weekend full of surprises.
Oliver Kay witnesses the Woodward banner at Turf Moor as we examine the critici…
Champions League group stage draw 18/19
In a special bonus bite of The Game podcast, Gab Marcotti is in Monaco to give his reaction to the group stage draw of the Champions League.
In Group B, Tottenham face not just the might of Messi, bu…
Spurs strong and stable as chaos reigns at Old Trafford
Natalie Sawyer is back in the studio, alongside Alyson Rudd and Bill Edgar on The Game podcast.
With The Times reporting that Anthony Martial has been offered a 5 year contract by Manchester United, i…