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Soccer · The Times

The Game

by The Times

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.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

EFL EXTRA: Dockers and Black Country derbies

EFL EXTRA: Dockers and Black Country Derbies All the latest news from the EFL. This week Gregor Robertson is joined by Joe Harston. Two big derby's as West Ham staged a

Sep 22
49 min

Brighton and Brentford upstage the 'big boys'

Brighton and Brentford put in master class performances to humble Arsenal and Chelsea. Both teams looked organised, robust and hugely impressive. By contrast despite the

Sep 21
57 min

What is the problem with Manchester United?

Two defeats in a week, including the Manchester derby, losing a two goal lead at home for the first time in fifty years and then a young star asks to leave - the problems

Sep 17
55 min

Who are the contenders to win the Championship?

All the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson.  Another big win for West Ham sends them top, Southampton are climb

Sep 15
49 min

Who can stop Arsenal, Man city and VAR?

Man City and Arsenal are joint top. Huil impress at Chelsea, Spurs can't score and centre halves sometimes score absolute screamers. But sadly, the headlines are all abo

Sep 14
58 min

"Harry Kane deserves the Ballon d'Or"

Solid home wins for Liverpool and Man City, a strong away wins for Arsenal and Villa mean the English teams have started well in Europe.  Martin Samuel thinks there is n

Sep 10
47 min

EFL EXTRA: West Ham are back as Swansea shine

A week is a long time in the football league, and West Ham used back-to-back matches to kickstart their season with two big wins. Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertso

Sep 8
49 min

Arsenal supreme, United stutter, Spurs struggle

Arsenal put on a dominate display to beat potential title rivals Chelsea. Despite going one down after only a minute the Gunners looked calm, confident and positive throu

Sep 7
59 min

Which teams had the best and worst transfer window?

After a crazy summer transfer window in which 3.5 billion pounds was spent and multiple 100 million transfers between English clubs - has the transfer market gone mad? In

Sep 3
55 min

EFL EXTRA: "Wolves and Southampton look scary"

Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson with all the latest from the Championship, League One and League Two. Wolves and Southampton already look to have so much strength in dep

Sep 1
46 min

Hull's hopes, Tottenham's troubles and Mainoo's magic

Hull sit proudly at the top of the table. Is it a freak or have the Tigers, and the other promoted clubs been misjudged? Ipswich were thumped at Old Trafford, but their

Aug 31
58 min

What is 'value' in this crazy transfer market?

Forest pay fifty million for Liam Delap; City buy a teenager for eighty five million and Spurs sign second stringer Savio also for eighty five million. Has the Premier Le

Aug 27
51 min

EFL EXTRA: West Ham worries and the goal of the season

Our weekly look at all the latest from the EFL with Tom Clarke and Gregor Robertson. Plenty of surprises in week two of the Championship. West Ham lost at home in front

Aug 25
34 min

Premier League is Back with a Bang!

The Premier League is back and if the opening weekend is anything to go by it could be an unpredictable season.  Hull shocked Man United, Brentford reminded Roberto De Z

Aug 24
56 min

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: PART TWO

The 2026/27 Premier League season is here. So, it is prediction time. Who is going to win it, who is in the top four? Who's getting relegated, who could be looking over

Aug 20
55 min

EFL EXTRA: Lankshear shines and surprises galore

The Football League is back and as unpredictable as ever.  Gregor Robertson joins Tom Clarke to discuss the opening weekend in The Championship, League One and League Tw

Aug 18
38 min

PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW: PART ONE

Are Arsenal clear favourites to retain the title? Do Man City really need more players and are Chelsea dark horses? Just some of the questions we answer in the first of o

Aug 17
55 min

The BIG Football League season preview

Tom Clarke is joined by the Times Joe Harston and Kit Shepard and EFL stalwart Gregor Robertson to preview the start of the EFL season which kicks off this weekend! Can

Aug 13
1 h 02 min

Who can challenge Arsenal this season? Rejuvenated Spurs, and Glasner's Forest

Tom Clarke is joined by Alyson Rudd, Gary Jacob and Tony Cascarino to continue the build up to the new Premier League season which is less than two weeks away! Bruno Gui

Aug 10
56 min

Infantino clings on and a big fortnight on Merseyside

Tom Clarke check's in with the Times Chief Sports reporter Martyn Ziegler who brings us right up to speed with all the latest surrounding under pressure FIFA President Gi

Aug 6
42 min

Chart trend

Position in the Soccer chart (US), last 90 days.

#15
all-time peak
281
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Game ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 23, 2026).

#49 ▼ 2 Soccer US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

So much self-satisfied nonsense out there in the world of football podcasts, but this one just delivers exactly what those of us who need a weekly fix require. What I would say is: - It’s a Liverpool love-in - It’s a Spurs mock-fest As a Spurs fan, I grin and bear the mockery (years of experience!), its still worth it for the rest of the content.

UKNYC1 · Jul 2024

I’m done with this podcast. Hugh Woozencroft is nasty and negative, often combative with his fellow hosts and speaks as though he — a podcast host! — has more insight and knowledge about playing football than the professionals. I’m done. And if anyone is looking for a more intelligent, less petulant football podcast, The Guardian’s Football Weekly is terrific as is the BBC’s. Woozencroft out, please!

Bennyboldodns · Dec 2022

I consider this “must listening” every week. Insightful & witty, with its heart in the right place.

Alex&D · Jan 2022

I usually rate the podcast as 5 star but Alyson Rudd’s obvious Liverpool bias is unprofessional & annoying. I subscribe to The Times because it is known for factual & objective journalism but her reporting is anything but and is damaging the reputation of The Times. It’s a shame because she is clearly an excellent journalist but she is putting her love for Liverpool first.

SJCB1957 · Aug 2022

I started listening again after the blowhard Hugh Woozencroft moved on. Unfortunately now we have blowhard Martin Samuel. A man who rambles interminably, while simultaneously being inaudible half the time as he growls under his breath for some attempt at dramatic effect. A man who thinks nothing of interrupting others. A man completely at peace jumping in and answering questions directed at other panelists. Robertson is great, as are Clarke and Roddy. Unfortunately, Samuel has made this pod unlistenable. So again I unsubscribe.

cjhermanns · Apr 2024

If you’re a fan of MUFC or Liverpool you’ll like this podcast. They spend a lot of time discussing the two and the host never lets you forget he’s a United fan. Alyson Rudd should not be on a general football podcast, she can’t help herself when it comes to discussing LFC and is so biased it’s embarrassing. The others enable her by chuckling along at her more blatant fawning. Other than that the other contributors are generally very good. It’s just a shame about Rudd.

pgcayman · Dec 2021

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About The Game on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Game, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

Contact

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