Pundits

Jose Mourinho sure knows how to shape the agenda. Nobody is talking about Manchester United's poor Boxing Day draw at home to Burnely. Instead, the headlines have been dominated by his comments over spending. But is he right? Do Man Utd need to spend more if they are to stand any chance of catching Manchester City in seasons to come? If they do need to spend, where should they spend? Are we seeing Mourinho's decline as a world class manager before our very eyes? What happened to the 'Mourinho glaze'? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over and ask - does Pep v Jose end with the loser taking the PSG job?

With defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, Spurs have now won just two of their last six games. They sit in seventh place in the Premier League. So what has gone wrong? Not so long ago Mauricio Pochettino's side looked set to challenge near the top of the table. Now, they might be lucky merely to finish in the top four. What are the reasons behind their dramatic collapse in recent weeks? Do they need to make some additions to their squad in January? If so, who should they sign? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over.

So Manchester City are now 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. Is that it all over, then? Did Sunday's Manchester derby result effectively hand Pep Guardiola and his team the trophy for the 2017/18 season? In December? How does this Guardiola team differ to the ones he put together at Barcelona and Bayern Munich? Was is it that Man City do so well? Do they have any weaknesses? Any at all? They must have one? Surely? Is there any way that Manchester United can stop them? What about injuries? What about the Champions League? Might that prove to be a distraction? We're clutching at straws here. Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over. Stefan mentioned the Bundesliga. Because he always does.

Five games, five wins. 24 goals, just one conceded. It's fair to say that Paris Saint-Germain have lit up the Champions League group stages. In fact, the French side are the favourites to win the whole competition for many. So are PSG nailed-on Champions League winners in-waiting? Who can stop Unai Emery's side? What about Manchester City? Are we destined for a final between PSG and Barcelona, a showdown between Neymar and Lionel Messi? What is it they do so well? Where are there weaknesses? Is Dani Alves the best full back in football or the worst? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over.

First, Roy Hodgson got the Crystal Palace job. Then David Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic at West ham. Now, it appears that Alan Pardew is destined to take over at West Brom, with Sam Allardyce strongly linked with the current vacancy at Everton. The Premier League continually looks to the same old names to fill the same old jobs. But why? Is there a reason for this? Is this the result of a safety first culture in the English top flight? Why are clubs so reluctant to look outside the box when looking for managers? After all, we're all obsessed with managers. It's a little peculiar that so little imagination is applied to hiring them. Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over. And disagree over Moyes.

Paul Pogba is back, and so, it would seem, are Manchester United. Indeed, Jose Mourinho's side were back at their free-flowing best against Newcastle on Saturday, putting on the kind of performance they have struggled to produce of late. So does Man Utd's season depend on Pogba and whether he can stay fit? Just how important is he to Mourinho's team and their chances of winning the Premier League title this season? What kind of player is the Frenchman, anyway? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over. And ponder... was £89 million actually a bargain?

It's the North London derby this weekend, with Spurs travelling to the Emirates to face Arsenal. It could be the most symbolic clash between the two sides in a generation. While Spurs are on an upward trajectory, Arsenal continue to slump. So is this finally the moment when the former bypasses the latter for good? Is it purely down to coaching or is there more at play here? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to determine just to what extent Arsene Wenger is to blame for the world's ills.

Tales of Chelsea's demise were greatly exaggerated, with Antonio Conte's side claiming a deserved 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday. This was followed by the resignation of Michael Emenalo as the club's technical director. So given the turnover of managers, players and now directors at Chelsea, how do they remain so successful? They go against the grain, proving that stability isn't always the way to go. So how do they do it? Is Conte now in complete control at Stamford Bridge? Should be worried that he no longer has a buffer between himself and the board? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to discuss what this all means for Chelsea and how they keep winning games and lifting trophies.

Manchester United claimed a big win over Spurs at the weekend, getting their title challenge back on track after a difficult week. Yet Jose Mourinho somehow managed to turn the headlines negative, aiming a barb at his own fans. So what is the Portuguese playing at? This isn't the first time he's done that this season, so what's the game plan? Is the pressure of a title race against Pep Guardiola and a rampant Manchester City side getting to him? Is it wise to provoke your own supporters in such a way? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. And yes, the famous 'Mourinho glaze' was mentioned. Avoid that donut at Krispy Kreme.

So Ronald Koeman's days as Everton manager are numbered following his sacking earlier in the week. So what next for the Goodison Park club? Was the decision to dismiss Koeman too hasty? Who should be hired as the Dutchman's replacement on Merseyside? Is Sean Dyche the man for the job? Are there bigger problems to be solved at Goodison Park? Are Everton forever destined to be, err, Everton? Graham Ruthven was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. Of course, Stefan found a way to make a comparison to the Bundesliga. He's nothing but predictable.

Kevin de Bruyne is in the form of his life, driving Manchester City to the top of the Premier League. The Belgian has become the face of Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad Stadium, so is he the best in England right now? To what extent has he changed as a player under Guardiola? Is there anyone as important to their respective team as de Bruyne is to Man City? What might happen if he were to get injured? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. We're all just a little bit frightened of Man City right now. 29 goals in eight games. Astonishing, and much of that has been down to de Bruyne. Like, subscribe, follow... you know the drill!

Liverpool face Manchester United at Anfield this weekend as they attempt to reverse what has been an atrocious run of form over the early part of the season. The grin has been wiped from the face of Jurgen Klopp, with the German appearing a more frustrated figure by the week. So is he in trouble? Does he have the ability to turn things around at Liverpool? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk things over. There was a German football question in there for Stefan, too. We need to keep him happy.

Defeat to PSG marked the end for Carlo Ancelotti at Bayern Munich, with the Italian sacked as the Bavarians' manager the very next day. It illustrated what has been a difficult start to the season at the Allianz Arena. So what the hell is going on at Bayern Munich? How have they worked themselves into this mess? Are their poor transfers to blame? Was Ancelotti doomed from the very beginning? Who should replace Ancelotti? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski (the German football enthusiast who has waited his whole life for this episode) and Graham Ruthven. Honestly, we had to calm Stefan down before recording.

Finally, the defining duel we expected between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho is materialising. Six games into the new Premier League season and Manchester City and Manchester United sit atop the table. So is this season shaping up to be a joust between the two men? Can anyone become a third force to break up the duopoly of the Manchester clubs? Who has the better squad - Jose or Pep? What might stop either of them from winning the Premier League title this season? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk all things Guardiola and Mourinho, also discussing donuts and asking the question you all want answered - what do horses drink?

This summer marked a turning point in the transfer market. Over £1.4 billion was spent in the Premier League, with Neymar going to Paris Saint-Germain for £200 million. How PSG are able to pay £200 million for one player, nobody is quite sure. So is it time to ditch Financial Fair Play, the regulations that are supposed to prevent reckless spending? Is this in any way sustainable? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. Has football once and for all lost it's damn mind?

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he turned down the chance to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson back when the Scot first planned on retiring in 2002. So would the Frenchman have made a good Manchester United boss? Would it have prevented the decline he has suffered over the past few years? Would United have sacked him years ago? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk over the hypothetical prospect of Wenger as Man Utd manager. What a strange world that would have been.

The transfer window is shut and Philippe Coutinho is still a Liverpool player. Jurgen Klopp's side can now plan for the season ahead, so are they prepared to mount a challenge for the Premier League title? Manchester City host Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, so is this a chance for the Reds to put down a marker? Do they have the defence to sustain a challenge? Should they have sold Coutinho? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. Stefan talks about the Bundesliga, for a change.

Scotland face Lithuania and Malta in a World Cup qualification double-header as their hopes of making it to Russia next year start to fade. Gordon Strachan's contract as national team manager is up at the end of the campaign, so is this his final hurrah in the job? Or is there a way in which his contract is extended once again? If Strachan is to be on his way, who should come in to replace him? Is Michael O'Neill, the Northern Ireland boss who lives in Edinburgh, the obvious candidate? It's time to go foreign again, right? Graham Ruthven was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Scott McClymont to talk it over. You might be able to tell that Stefan isn't the biggest Strachan fan.

In this week's episode of 'football has gone absolutely crazy' - we discuss Barcelona's pursuit of Philippe Coutinho, the Brazilian playmaker who has been identified as Neymar's replacement at Camp Nou. Liverpool reportedly rejected a £119 million bid for Coutinho last week, holding firm in their stance that the player isn't for sale. But are the Reds being stupid in their refusal to sell him for such an extortionate fee? Graham Ruthven was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt to talk it through. Would Liverpool be better off cashing in on their most valuable asset?

The new Premier League season is up and running and this weekend marks the first heavyweight class, with Spurs hosting the defending champions Chelsea at Wembley. Mauricio Pochettino's side finished second last season and are looking to make the next step in their development as Chelsea aim to keep their crown. So is this the Premier League's new power couple? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven. Stefan is still talking about spinning plates.

Arsene Wenger remains, but things are supposed to be different for Arsenal this season. They simply can't deliver more of the same. But how much has changed at the Emirates Stadium this summer? How much of an impact will Alexandre Lacazette? Should Wenger still be concerned by the soft centre at the club? What happens if they miss out on the top four for a second successive season? Would that be the end for Wenger at the club? Niall Murray was joined by Graham Ruthven and Stefan Bienkowski... who just wouldn't stop talking about spinning plates.

Pep Guardiola is a project manager, but this summer, he is required to overhaul Manchester City's entire team in the space of just a few weeks. Is it possible? Indeed, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich has completely dismantled City's defence, signing three full backs at a cost of £140 million. Elsewhere, there are questions to be answered at centre back, in central midfield and up front. Is it realistic to expect that Man City will challenge for the Premier League title this season? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over.

We're used to this by now. Every so often, Neymar is linked with an exit from Barcelona. Normally, such speculation is purely a tactic to earn a new contract. This time, however, there seems to be genuine weight in the suggestions. Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to activate the Brazilian's release clause, which would make him the most expensive player in the history football. But by moving to France would Neymar be jeopardising his career? He is, after all, the next best player in the world in-waiting. Can he really achieve his full potential at PSG, in Ligue 1? What would his exit mean for Barcelona? And for Lionel Messi? Niall Murray is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. We're just surprised AC Milan aren't in for him.

Over £600 million has been spent by Premier League clubs in the transfer market so far this summer, and that total will only rise and rise before the window closes. But which club has made the most progress this summer? Arsenal have added Alexandre Lacazette to their attacking options - how much of an impact will he have? Is Romelu Lukaku an upgrade on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Manchester United? Has Pep Guardiola given himself too much work to do ahead of the new season? Should Liverpool fans be concerned by an apparent lack of activity at Anfield? And what about Chelsea? Will they find the striker they so desperately need? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt. Worth watching purely for Stefan calling AC Milan "the Everton of Italy."

And so the end of an era was reached. Wayne Rooney is no longer a Manchester United player, joining Everton 13 years after he last left Goodison Park. He's back home. But for all his records and achievements, Rooney's exit from United was met with little more than muted applause. Did the striker outstay his welcome at Old Trafford? Does he deserve the criticism he gets? Why didn't Man Utd fans warm to Rooney? What could he have done to prolong his career at the very top level? Did Coleen's deal with Asda prevent him from making the move to China? Niall Murray is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. Unsurprisingly, it's another topic on which Stefan and Graham disagree on.

We're into July now and Mesut Ozil still hasn't signed a new contract at Arsenal. But while there is plenty interest in his teammate Alexis Sanchez, who also has just one year left on his contract, very little has been rumoured about Ozil. So does that mean the German will stay at the Emirates Stadium for next season? Are Arsenal in a strange position in strength over the playmaker's future? Is he worth the fuss? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt to talk about the Premier League's great lightning rod.

The Confederations Cup hasn't yet caught the imagination, but the debate over the use of VAR in the competition has caught light. Technology in football is finally coming, but is the sport ready for it? A number of controversial decisions have made using the VAR system, with a lack of clarity contributing to the confusion, but are these just teething problems or more fundamental issues? Does video technology belong in football in the first place? Does it spoil the euphoria of scoring a goal? Could it end the careers of Luis Suarez and Neymar (honestly, there's an argument there). Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it over on this week's show.

There's only one talking point in football at the moment - is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid? Do we believe him? Is he for real or is this just a ploy related to his tax fraud charge? For argument's sake, what if Ronaldo were to leave Spain? Is Manchester United the only club that could afford the Portuguese forward? What about China or MLS? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt to talk things over. And came to the same conclusion...

This season saw Francesco Totti, John Terry and Philipp Lahm all leave the clubs of their legend. So is the one-club man becoming a thing of the past? A relic of a bygone age? Is loyalty no longer as important to players of the modern game? Will we ever see the likes of Totti, Terry and Lahm again? Did Totti suffer for being a one-club man? Should he have joined Real Madrid all those years ago? Graham Ruthven is joined by Grant Russell and Scott McClymont to talk it through... and baulk at Grant's suggestion of where Totti should go next.

Celtic have just completed an unbeaten domestic season, winning the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup without losing a single game. It's fair to say Brendan Rodgers has had a profound impact at the club. Now the Hoops are targeting a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Is that a realistic aim for the Scottish champions considering their resources in comparison to the rest of Europe? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Grant Russell to discuss where Celtic go from here.

It's the Champions League final this weekend, with Real Madrid up against Juventus in Cardiff as they look to claim a third European title in four years. No team has retained the European Cup since the great AC Milan side of the late 1980s, so is that the kind of company this Real Madrid team will keep in the context of history? Should they be considered one of the best sides the game has ever produced? On the other side, is this Juventus side equipped to get the better of the Spanish giants? Is it the Italians that are actually the best team in football right now? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Gran Russell to look at the Champions League final in Wales this Saturday.

David Moyes resigned as manager of Sunderland after relegating the club from the Premier League. Four years ago, he had just been named Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Man Utd - where has it all gone so badly wrong for the Scot? Is it a case that he has simply failed to adapt over time? Is his public persona and the things he says in the media a problem? Where on earth can he possibly go next to rescue his reputation? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it over. What next for Moyes?

After beating Manchester United on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur will this season finish in the top two of the top flight for the first time since the 1960s. So are they on the brink of becoming Premier League giants? Are English football’s most renowned nearly men about to make it? What would happen if Mauricio Pochettino was to leave the club? Or Dele Alli? Or Harry Kane? Does Spurs' move to a new stadium come at the best or worst possible time? What will happen when they play all their home games at Wembley next season? Graham Ruthven was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it all over, including the construction of a cheese room at Spurs' new ground. That's right... a cheese room.

Is Jurgen Klopp doing a good job at Liverpool? Has he been fortunate in the Premier League this season? Can he overcome the problems that ultimately forced Brendan Rodgers out of the job? All this and more is answered on this week's show as Stefan Bienkowski, Thom Watt and Scott McClymont talk through the Kop's Klopp.

It's that time of the year again! Who should be awarded with the prestigious award of English Premier League player of the year? On this week's show Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Thom Watt to run through their own choices for the award. Like, subscribe, follow... you know the drill! Twitter: twitter.com/ThisIsPundits Facebook: facebook.com/ThisIsPundits YouTube: youtube.com/ThisIsPundits With thanks to The Strathmore: https://www.strathmoreglasgow.co.uk/

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, but how big a blow will that really be to Manchester United? Are Jose Mourinho's team better off without him? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Thom Watt to talk over the Swede's future and the impact he has made in the Premier League.

This week will make or break Barcelona's season - first they face Juventus then Real Madrid in El Clasico. But just how fundamental are the issues at the club? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Scott McClymont to look at the Catalans and the issues they face. Are they a one man team?

Will the Champions League ever be the same again? Have UEFA spoiled the greatest club competition in football? Is there any way to save it? Graham Ruthven, Stefan Bienkowski (who apparently hates Dynamo Kiev, by the way) and Grant Russell talk it through.

Brendan Rodgers was damaged goods when he arrived at Celtic, so has he rescued his reputation in Scotland? How long will he stay in Glasgow for? Why is he a figure of fun in England? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it through on this week's episode.

After a week which saw both England and Scotland draw less then impressive crowds to their 2018 World Cup qualifiers, we ponder… what’s the point of international football? Does anyone really care anymore? Graham Ruthven was joined by Grant Russell and Thom Watt to examine the international game, looking at what can be done to generate excitement and suppress an apathy that seems to be growing with every passing international break.

Graham Ruthven, Grant Russell and Stefan Bienkowski discuss Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho's respective seasons so far. Who has done the better job? In association with BetBright.