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Scotland's World Cup hopes are looking more unlikely after defeat to Brazil, but is there still a way through?Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by Kasper Schmeichel to assess Scotland's position and discuss the mindset needed when a tournament doesn't go according to plan.The former Denmark goalkeeper explains how players recover from mistakes on the biggest stage, why the World Cup ball has become such a talking point among goalkeepers and what makes every goalkeeper different.Lloyd also reveals to Kasper that he collects goalkeeper gloves, including several worn by Kasper's father, Peter Schmeichel.Plus, Rick and Lloyd answer your questions on everything from Lloyd's singing and their gym sessions to their favourite game of the World Cup so far.
England were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Ghana, but is there any reason to panic?Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by Stephen Warnock to react to England's latest World Cup outing. Why did Thomas Tuchel's side struggle to break Ghana down, and what can they learn from facing a stubborn low block? The team also discuss a difficult night for Harry Kane and what the result means for England's hopes of topping the group.Scotland have a huge clash coming up with Brazil and Eilidh Barbour joined to give the latest from Scotland camp and asks... can Scotland make history?Plus, Rick and Lloyd are forced to eat their humble pie after Cristiano Ronaldo finally found his World Cup scoring touch with two goals for Portugal. And an innocent trip to the toilets takes an awkward turn when Lloyd's attempt at a prank goes badly wrong.
Messi, Mbappé and Haaland all scored twice on a day dominated by the World Cup's biggest stars.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith react to another record-breaking night for Lionel Messi, who became the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer, and discuss what it means for his place in football history.Julien Laurens joins to assess a huge day for the superstars, reflect on France's dramatic win over Iraq and a 130-minute weather delay.Kelly Somers brings the latest from England camp ahead of their meeting with Ghana in Boston.Plus, Rick and Lloyd take on table tennis and Lloyd does a questionable Jamie Foxx impression.
Spain produced one of the performances of the World Cup so far as they swept aside Saudi Arabia 4-0, while Cape Verde continued their remarkable tournament with a shock draw against Uruguay.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith react to another big day at the World Cup and are joined by Elizabeth Conway from Atlanta, where she watched Spain's impressive victory and a standout display from Lamine Yamal. Will this be his tournament?The team also discuss Cape Verde's latest giant-killing result and what it means for one of the World Cup's surprise packages.Plus, Rick and Lloyd went to Belgium's match against Iran in Los Angeles alongside Dion Dublin and Conor McNamara, before comparing notes on how they spent their day off.
Scotland suffered a narrow defeat to Morocco, but their World Cup hopes remain firmly alive.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by Pat Nevin, fresh from the stadium, to reflect on an encouraging performance from Steve Clarke's side. What does the result mean for Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages, and what can they take into a huge game against Brazil?South American football journalist Tim Vickery joins the pod to discuss the mood around Brazil after their win over Haiti and assess their chances of ending a 24-year wait for World Cup glory.Plus, the team react to the USA reaching the knockout stages, and Lloyd takes to the pitch for a football match of his own in Los Angeles.
Scotland face their biggest test of the World Cup so far as they prepare to take on Morocco.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by former Scotland international Charlie Adam to preview a huge match for Steve Clarke's side.German football journalist Raphael Honigstein joins Rick & Lloyd in Santa Monica to look back on the opening round of group games and separate the genuine contenders from the early overreactions. Are Spain already out of the running after their draw with Cape Verde? Should Portugal be worried? And will Cristiano Ronaldo ever score a World Cup goal?Raph also praises Thomas Tuchel's man management and reflects on the unique challenge of covering a tournament spread across three countries, before Rick and Lloyd discover that shopping in Beverly Hills can be a humbling experience.
England's World Cup campaign is up and running after a 4-2 victory over Croatia.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith react alongside Paul Robinson, who was at the stadium to witness England's opening win. The team discuss Jude Bellingham's standout display after admitting he had a chip on his shoulder heading into the tournament, while Harry Kane once again showed why he's England's talisman on the biggest stage.They are also joined by Royal Oak Sunday League manager Steve Bracknall, who made the trip to watch England at a World Cup for the very first time. Fresh from what he describes as the best day of his life, Steve shares his experiences of following the fans and soaking up the atmosphere around the match... from his bed.Plus, with Kane, Messi and Mbappé all on the scoresheet already, why is Cristiano Ronaldo still waiting for his first World Cup goal?
England's World Cup campaign is about to begin.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by John Murray and Paul Robinson from Dallas, where Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane have been speaking to the media ahead of England's opening match against Croatia. We hear from both of them and assess England's chances before they get their tournament under way.Before that, the team react to another historic night for Lionel Messi. He became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick as he continues to rewrite the record books.Julien Laurens also joins the pod to look react to France's 3-1 win over Senegal and discuss whether the French have what it takes to challenge for the trophy once again.Plus, Rick and Lloyd head out for lunch in LA, where Lloyd's promise to share his nachos doesn't quite go to plan.
Cape Verde produce the shock of the World Cup so far after holding Spain to a goalless draw.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith react to a remarkable result and ask what went wrong for one of the tournament favourites. Guillem Balague joins the pod to assess Spain's performance, what needs to change and whether Cape Verde can build on a historic point.Guillem also discusses Egypt's Abdelkarim following his recent move to Barcelona and explains why he's one of the most exciting young talents at the tournament.BBC North America correspondent Shaimaa Khalil joins after attending Iran's World Cup match in Los Angeles. She reflects on the atmosphere around a highly anticipated fixture and what it was like to be there.Plus, Rick and Lloyd take on Santa Monica's bike paths on a tandem bike, but one of LA's rental bikes has some unexpected feedback for Lloyd.
Jordan Pickford joins Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith from England camp ahead of their opening game.Lloyd is reunited with his self-proclaimed mate, while New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe, also joins from his team's training camp to discuss life at the tournament and preparing for their highly anticipated opening game against Iran.Back in Santa Monica, former Netherlands defender Mario Melchiot joins Rick and Lloyd in Ye Olde King's Head. They reflect on the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan, discuss Germany's 7-1 win over Curaçao and Mario offers some local knowledge as the pair continue to find their feet in Los Angeles.
Scotland's first World Cup match in 28 years ends with a win.Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith react to a huge 1-0 victory over Haiti alongside former Scotland international Charlie Adam, who talks about what the result means and whether Steve Clarke's side can build on a dream start to the tournament.They also look back on Brazil's opening match against Morocco and ask whether Brazil still carry the same aura they once did. Who are the stars carrying this team and where do they sit among the tournament favourites?And Qatar pick up their first ever World Cup point, Switzerland benefit from a major offside controversy after the semi-automated system failed, and Rick and Lloyd report back from a trip to the legendary Gold's Gym in Los Angeles.
Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith have been to their first World Cup match.The pair were in Los Angeles to watch the USA's opening game, a chaotic 4-1 win over Paraguay that featured goals, drama and one of the most bizarre and confusing cases of a yellow card you'll ever see.Joined by ESPN's Mark Ogden, Rick and Lloyd compare notes on their first World Cup matchday experience in the States. From the chants and atmosphere to the food, drinks, sights and smells around the stadium, what is it really like to watch football at a World Cup in America?Plus, content creators Woody and Kleiny drop by to tell us about their remarkable journey following England across the tournament. Travelling thousands of miles together by bus, whilst live streaming 24/7, to raise awareness for prostate cancer, they explain why they're taking on the challenge and how they're going to manage living in such close quarters.
Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are finally in LA.Broadcasting from their Santa Monica base, they discuss their first few days living together, settling into life in California and discovering that, despite the World Cup being underway, there isn't quite the tournament buzz they expected.So how are American sports fans reacting? Is football fever about to arrive?Plus, John Murray joins from the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City after the hosts' opening match in one of the World Cup's most iconic settings.
Essendon heads to the MCG to face a Melbourne side that has transformed into one of the competition's most dangerous teams since the Bombers upset them during Gather Round. With Jono away in England, Ian is joined by long-time Don The Stat patron and tactical analyst Josh Wilson to break down Essendon's loss to Carlton, assess the early signs of the Dean Solomon era, and preview a massive challenge against the Demons.
Support Rick at his Patreon here - https://www.patreon.com/cw/RickEdwards With Essendon's 2026 season spiralling and the AFL Draft becoming the major source of optimism for Bombers fans, we welcome back one of the most respected talent watchers in the Essendon community — Rick Edwards. In this special Don The Stat episode, Rick reveals his exclusive Mid-Season Top 20 AFL Draft Rankings and breaks down the players every Essendon supporter should be watching ahead of the National Championships. We discuss:
The last time the World Cup was on North American soil in 1994, many football fans were sceptical. But it planted the seed of America's soccer culture today, and it has lived long in the memory of two nations in particular. Rick Edwards is joined by Brazil fan Edson and two Ireland fans - Rodney and Phelim - who all travelled to the United States. They describe a sometimes underwhelming atmosphere gripped by the stifling heat, but punctuated with unforgettable moments for their teams.02:20 - Expectations of the US 1994 World Cup 05:00 - The lack of a ‘soccer culture' 8:10 - Edson growing up watching Brazil 10:07 - Ireland coming up against Roberto Baggio's Italy 16:35 - The excruciating heat 18:40 - John Aldridge's famous outburst 20:40 - Why things ended in disappointment for the Irish 22:50 - An unconventional Brazil team 25:20 - Brazil vs Netherlands 27:10 - Phelim and Rodney causing chaos in Fort Lauderdale 29:15 - Brazil and Ireland welcomed home 32:30 - The significance of the 1994 World Cup for both nations
Russia 2018 was the World Cup that changed everything for England. In one summer alone, the mood changed, the pressure lifted, and arguably for the first time since Euro 1996, the fans fell in love with the England men's national team once more. To look back on that time, Rick Edwards is joined by Ceylon, Seb and Dan, who were swept along by it – so much so, that two of them ended up in Moscow for that fateful semi-final. They share their stories and emotions from a truly special summer.01:46 - Pre-tournament expectations for the 2018 World Cup 06:30 - A new relationship with the England team 12:08 - England hitting Panama for six 15:20 - The Colombia game and England's first shootout victory at a World Cup 17:55 - What Gareth Southgate got so right in those early years 22:36 - Seb and Dan's journey to the semi-final 27:30 - How the semi-final vs Croatia unfolded 30:40 - The feeling after England's defeat 33:53 - A new relationship with Englishness 39:40 - The legacy of this World Cup
When England flew to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, expectations were at fever pitch for a star-studded team led by David Beckham. The so-called Golden Generation was ready to deliver. But it never happened – instead came a series of heartbreaks and disappointments that left the fanbase in despair. Rick Edwards is joined by Sharon, Billy and Gary, three fans who probably suffered through more games than anyone else during the Golden Generation. They reflect on their incredible experiences at different tournaments, but also the growing sense of a team that felt further away from the fans than ever before.02:24 - How optimistic were England fans going into the 2006 World Cup? 04:31 - Sharon, Billy and Gary's experiences on the ground in Germany 11:10 - England meet Portugal in the quarter-finals again 13:12 - Owen Hargreaves & underappreciated members of the Golden Generation 17:30 - England at South Africa World Cup 2010 19:15 - Wayne Rooney hitting back at the fans & disconnection with the team 25:03 - The end of the Golden Generation 27:30 - Disaster at Brazil World Cup 2014 29:52 - Reflecting on this era 32:55 - The beauty of following England on the road
In June 1998, Scotland kicked off the World Cup in Paris against the defending champions, Brazil. For the fans that were there, it was a day that they would never forget - and one that's become Scottish football folklore after years of heartbreak. Rick Edwards is joined by Gordon, Paul and Iain to hear about that halcyon summer following their team across France and what marked the end of an era.You can find the whole series here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p02nrsln
In June 1998, Scotland kicked off the World Cup in Paris against the defending champions, Brazil. For the fans that were there, it was a day that they would never forget - and one that's become Scottish football folklore after years of heartbreak. Rick Edwards is joined by Gordon, Paul and Iain to hear about that halcyon summer following their team across France and what marked the end of an era.02:18 - Remembering the Scotland squad that qualified for the 1998 World Cup 05:10 - Being in the Tartan Army throughout the 70s, 80s & 90s 10:00 - Tartan Armies in other countries 13:37 - Scotland face Brazil in the opening game 17:30 - Iain “borrowing” the flag at Bannockburn 20:00 - Kick-off in the Stade de France 22:20 - That Tom Boyd own goal 25:08 - Taking on Norway in Bordeaux 27:45 - Disaster in the final game against Morocco 30:05 - The end of an era for Scotland 34:03 - Fond memories of France in 1998 37:04 - Looking ahead to World Cup 2026 for Scotland
Meet your Football Daily World Cup team. Rick Edwards and comedian Lloyd Griffith will be with you every day throughout the tournament from their base in Los Angeles, taking you along for the journey and bringing you closer to the biggest stories from this year's World Cup.Before they head off, the pair are joined by commentator Ian Dennis to find out what tournament life is really like. How do you live and work together for six weeks? How do you cope with the heat, time zones and changing routines? And what do they need to know about each other before they board the plane?With advice from a man who's covered major tournaments around the world, plus some revealing voice notes from their partners, Rick and Lloyd get ready for six weeks in the US together.
No World Cup has left us with more iconic images than Italia ‘90. For England fans, it remains the tournament that truly got away, encapsulated by Paul Gascoigne's tears in the semi-final against West Germany.Rick Edwards is joined by Mark and Andy - two England fans who went to 1990 and never looked back, attending hundreds of England games ever since - and Neal, a Welshman who was swept up with the Tartan Army after arriving in Italy with no money and no plan. Together, they look back on the myths and the realities of the 1990 World Cup.TIMECODES 01:50 - The mythical quality of Italia ‘90 04:00 - Anticipation around England 08:50 - Why this was a unique World Cup on the ground for fans 15:22 - England's terrible group stage 19:20 - England fans on Sardinia 21:40 - Taking on Belgium and Cameroon 27:10 - England's famous night in Turin vs West Germany 31:10 - Andy's journey to the World Cup final 34:02 - The enduring legacy of Italia 90 40:50 - What changed from USA ‘94
Was it a case of too little too late for West Ham? Can Tottenham break the cycle of consecutive 17th place finishes next season under Roberto De Zerbi? And are we set for a period of Arsenal dominance at the top of the Premier League?The Telegraph's Luke Edwards joins Rick Edwards to discuss all of that and Sunderland's remarkable return to the topflight, securing Europa League football next season. Matt Jarvis joins us to talk about West Ham's relegation to the Championship and we hear from the club's captain Jarrod Bowen. Plus, we'll hear from Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's title celebrations at Selhurst Park and Trey Hume after Sunderland's seventh place finish. TIMECODES: 03:13 – West Ham relegated 06:20 – Jarrod Bowen interview 11:37 – Matt Jarvis joins the pod 16:47 – Tottenham survive 22:32 – Is it time for a period of Arsenal dominance? 22:57 – Mikel Arteta interview 30:42 – Sunderland for Europe 31:30 - Trey Hume interview 35:47 – European football for Bournemouth and Brighton 43:01 – Morgan Gibbs-White unlucky to miss out on the World Cup 44:43 – Premier League Review end of season awards
Rapper and author Guvna B, football presenter Natalie Pike, and comedians Bob Mills and Danny Mcloughlin join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment in the end of season Champion of Champions show. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. Tune in to hear who will be crowned the 2026 Fighting Talk Champion.Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Chief Rick Edwards of RPD joins Jeff as we continue to honor local law enforcement for National Police Week.
Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and the Telegraph's Northern football writer Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to analyse and debate the key talking points from the weekend.How good has Jeremy Doku been in the final stages of the season? Can Arne Slot survive the summer at Liverpool after boos at Anfield?Can one of Bournemouth and Brighton sneak into the Champions League spots after Aston Villa's woeful league form continued?Timecodes: 01:00 Was that the biggest VAR call ever? 01:30 Was it really a foul on David Raya? 05:20 Reaction from West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen 07:30 How decisive was David Raya's save vs Fernandes? 09:30 What went wrong with Arsenal's performance and could it happen against Burnley or Crystal Palace? 11:15 How good was Odegaard off the bench amidst the tension? 11:45 Reaction from Leandro Trossard on his goal 14:20 Jeremy Doku steps up for Manchester City 15:13 Hear from Erling Halaand and Pep Guardiola on Doku's impact 16:00 Pep finds out what it means to be a West Ham fan! 16:30 Liverpool fans boo Arne Slot's decisions — what is going on? 26:20 Half-time teaser — answers 29:45 Concerns for Carrick's United? 34:30 The race for European football — who are you backing? 39:15 Credit to Forest for staying up
Sports presenter David Alorka, sports broadcaster and boxing commentator Steve Bunce, and comedians Chloe Petts and Andrew White join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Nigel Reo-Coker and The Telegraph's northern football writer Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to discuss a big weekend at both ends of the Premier League. Bukayo Saka returned to the starting lineup and inspired Arsenal to extend their lead at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Tottenham jump out of the relegation zone with a win over Aston Villa. Plus Manchester United secure Champions League football and will Ipswich stay in the Premier League this time? TIME CODES: 2:40 Saka gave the whole Arsenal team a boost 4:50 Is Gyokeres a world class striker? 13:40 Huge win for Tottenham 20:10 3-0 loss for West Ham, but were they unlucky? 28:27 Game of two halves at Old Trafford 31:10 Was Sesko's goal handball? 34:43 Is it time to make Michael Carrick the permanent Manchester United manager? 37:56 Has Florian Wirtz been a flop? 38:50 Will Ipswich stay up this time?
Former GB badminton player Gail Emms, football journalist John Cross, The Big Issue editor Paul McNamee and comedian Nish Kumar join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Tickets, merch and loads more available on our website! https://haveawordpod.comHAW x Stars In Their Eyes Tickets: https://www.skiddle.com/e/42247092Tickets for Have A Word Live shows as well as Adam and Dan's tours and previews:Adam's Tickets: https://www.adamrowe.comDan's Tickets: https://dannightingale.comCarl's Stream || https://twitch.tv/senseicarl_Finn's Music & Tickets: https://finnlayk.co.ukFilm Club Tickets: https://plazacinemaliverpool.savoysystems.co.uk/PlazaCinemaLiverpool.dll/TSelectItems.waSelectItemsPrompt.TcsWebMenuItem_976.TcsWebTab_977.TcsPerformance_23863058.TcsSection_1791Finnlay K - Beautiful Morning: https://finnlayk.lnk.to/BeautfiulMorningAs Adam and Dan said, don't miss out on all of our extra content, we've got one of the best value Patreons in the game. An extra 90+ minute episode every week plus loads of bonus content such as the now infamous Lockdown Lock-ins, the Nashville & Amsterdam specials and our Ghost Hunts! What are you waiting for? Sign up now at https://patreon.com/haveawordpodGet subscribed to Have A Word Highlights: https://youtube.com/haveawordhighlightsListen to Finn's new EP: https://finnlayk.lnk.to/AllInYourMindThanks to this week's sponsors:Heights | https://heights.com/haveawordEnter code HAVEAWORD20 at checkout for 20% off your first month!Manscaped | https://manscaped.com20% off with promo code: WORD20NordVPN | https://nordvpn.com/haveawordEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/haveaword Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guaranteeLovehoney | https://lovehoney.co/word_podcastLove how you love and take 20% off sitewide to unlock sexual happiness and discover a happier you with promo code: AFF-WORD20Saily | https://saily.com/haveawordDownload SAILY in your app store and use our code HAVEAWORD at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase or go to https://saily.com/haveaword
Is a Man City-Chelsea FA Cup final boring? Should the attitude of Chelsea's players be questioned as they won at Wembley after Liam Rosenior's mid-week sacking?Interim boss Callum McFarlane answers that question as former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and the Telegraph's Northern football writer Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to analyse and debate the key talking points from the weekend.Does this prepare Southampton well for the Championship play-offs and did Leeds show enough? As well as analysis of the FA Cup semi-finals, there's discussion on the thrilling Premier League relegation battle as Tottenham FINALLY won a game in 2026 to briefly jump out of the relegation zone… but only for four minutes. West Ham also won late on to set up a fascinating final four games of the season. Are Leeds and Nottingham Forest safe, and could even Newcastle be dragged into the conversation?Plus, Arsenal get back to winning ways, and Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool, but were they lucky to beat Crystal Palace?Timecodes: 01:56 How can Chelsea play so differently within a single week? Should the players' character be questioned? 03:50 Is there any excuse for getting a manager sacked? 06:15 reaction from Callum McFarlane 07:36 An amazing day for McFarlane himself 08:50 Who should be the next Chelsea manager? 11:20 Were Leeds overawed by Wembley? 13:00 Is this a boring FA Cup final? 16:45 Analysis of City's win over Southampton — will it help Saints going into the Championship play-offs? 19:00 Reaction to Coventry's promotion to the Premier League 20:15 Tottenham finally win! How fun is this relegation battle for the neutral? 23:40 Antonin Kinsy's redemption 25:10 West Ham's late winner — how good is Callum Wilson's finish? 27:20 Could Newcastle be dragged into the relegation battle?! 31:10 The half-time teaser 35:30 Fulham for a European spot? 36:30 Did Arsenal show enough against Newcastle? 41:02 Alexander Isak scores for Liverpool! But were they lucky against Palace?
Actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith, Series 4 Traitors finalist Faraaz Noor, British former heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, and comedian Ivo Graham join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Former Spurs and Forest midfielder Andy Reid joins Rick Edwards and Luke Edwards to analyse a season-defining weekend of Premier League action.Manchester City wrestled control of the title race with a 2-1 home win over leaders Arsenal and relegation candidates Leeds and Nottingham Forest both won while Spurs conceded in the 95th minute to draw.Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa all went closer to securing a Champions League spot – will that be enough for Michael Carrick and Arne Slot to keep their jobs?And on the subject of uncertain futures for managers… Do Newcastle need to make a decision on Eddie Howe right now?Timecodes: 01:10 Who will win the league now? 01:45 Are Arsenal lacking in quality or mentality? 07:30 Should Arteta's future be up for debate? 08:20 Would Arsenal ever be able to move on from losing the title from here? 09:30 Should Gabriel have been sent off? 12:05 Reaction from Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola 13:25 Can Arsenal wrestle back control psychologically? 16:20 The relegation battle — what a week for Nottingham Forest! 18:05 How have Forest moved from ‘banter club' to a potentially historic season? 19:42 How has Vitor Pereira surprised people as Forest manager? 21:50 How many points needed to stay up? 23:20 Leeds' best win of the season? 25:50 Do Spurs look better under Roberto de Zerbi already? 27:50 How much of a mental blow is it to concede late on? 31:10 Half-time teaser 34:20 Is Bruno Fernandes the Player of the Year? 35:50 Has Carrick done enough to keep the United job? 39:27 Chelsea's failed season 42:20 Has Slot done enough to keep the Liverpool job? 47:20 Newcastle are in worse form than Spurs — do they need to make a decision on Eddie Howe right now?!
Musician Felix White, presenter Holly Hamilton, BBC Radio Manchester host Joe McGrath, and comedian Danny Mcloughlin join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Are Arsenal ‘bottling' the league title? Do they have what it takes to win at the Etihad next week? What are Manchester City showing on the pitch that Arsenal aren't?Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and Luke Edwards, the Telegraph's Northern football writer, join Rick Edwards to dissect a significant weekend of action.The panel analyst the title race, consider the strength of Bournemouth's display in victory at Arsenal, and whether there is any hope for the Gunners' North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are now two points adrift from safety.Roberto de Zerbi lost his first game in charge but were there any positives and is he approaching the challenge in the right way?Plus, is Eddie Howe nearing the end of his time at Newcastle?Timecodes:01:30 City's emphatic win over Chelsea — will they win every game now on? 04:24 How good is Rayan Cherki? 05:35 Reaction from Pep Guardiola at Stamford Bridge 07:00 What mentality do Arsenal need to find this week? 08:15 Will Arteta leave if they can't win the title? 10:35 Are Arsenal lacking creativity, or is it bravery? 11:35 Bournemouth's resilience in 2025/26 14:00 Gyokeres proves Rick wrong — is he the only big Arsenal positive? 15:17 Is there any hope for Tottenham? 18:20 Roberto de Zerbi's reaction to defeat in his first game as Spurs manager 19:30 Were Spurs unlucky to lose again? How do they get confidence back and how many games do they need to win to stay up? 21:14 West Ham get the confidence Spurs are lacking 22:44 Did De Zerbi try anything different to Igor Tudor? 25:00 Half-time teaser answers 27:45 Is Eddie Howe on borrowed time? 35:00 Crystal Palace buoyant again after a long winter 38:00 Liverpool win ahead of PSG second-leg challenge at Anfield — do they have the same problem as Chelsea and will Arne Slot stay? 41:45 Does Slot HAVE to start Rio Ngumoha against PSG? 44:15 Should Salah come back into the starting XI after scoring against Fulham? 44:45 Clinton and Rick sing Happy Birthday to Luke
Broadcaster Eleanor Oldroyd, journalist and broadcaster Gavin Ramjaun, Olympic and world champion gymnast Max Whitlock, and comedian Tez Ilyas join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Your football calls with Rick Edwards and Chris Sutton. Phone 08085 909693 free from mobiles and landlines. Text 85058 at your standard message rate.
Presenter and former GB athlete Jeanette Kwakye, journalist Luke Moore and comedians Alfie Brown and Mark Watson join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Sports reporter Anita Nneka Jones, Strictly professional dancer and choreographer Kai Widdrington, journalist and presenter Martin Kelner, and comedian Bob Mills join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
BBC Gladiator Apollo, rapper and author Guvna B, sports journalist Thom Gibbs and comedian Jo Caulfield join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Manchester City are behind them in second after a hard-fought win over Newcastle which has earned City's players cocktails, according to Pep Guardiola!There was plenty more drama elsewhere, and records broken, as former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and Luke Edwards, the Telegraph's Northern Football Writer, join host Rick Edwards to review all the action.Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction and Haaland's stand-out excellence 02:55 Arsenal's Eze-inspired win — is it great man management? 06:00 Has Gyokeres proved people wrong, or is he a flat-track bully? 09:20 Are Arsenal making too many mistakes? 11:10 Are Tottenham really too big to go down? 16:35 Why City smell blood after Newcastle win 20:50 Newcastle's VAR drama 22:30 Nico O'Reilly's versatile brilliance 24:55 Half-time teaser 26:00 Half-time teaser — answers 27:45 James Milner's record-breaking appearance, and why he'll go into coaching 31:35 Has Milner's backing helped Huerzler stay at Brighton? 33:31 Liverpool win despite dire first half at Forest 35:00 VAR drama at the City Ground 37:00 Can Liverpool get Champions League? 38:00 Are Chelsea 'setting fire' to points with the same problems every week? 41:15 So, were Burnley right to rest players in their FA Cup defeat? 42:10 The rest of the action — can Tammy Abraham play his way into the England squad? Commentaries coming up: Tuesday 24th February — Newcastle v Qarabag (20:00) Wednesday 25th February — Around the Grounds (19:00) Saturday 28th February — Liverpool v West Ham (15:00) Saturday 28th February — Newcastle v Everton (15:00) — Sports Extra Saturday 28th February — Leeds v Manchester City (17:30) Sunday 1st March — Celtic v Rangers (12:00) Sunday 1st March — Manchester United v Crystal Palace (14:00) Sunday 1st March — Arsenal v Chelsea (16:00)
Journalist, author and podcaster Adam Hurrey, comedian and author Ian Moore, sports broadcaster Lynsey Hooper, and comedian Thomas Green join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
David James and Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards as Mansfield Town take down Burnley and the lack of VAR puts referees under the spotlight.League One Mansfield were the big winners and VAR was the main talking point at Villa Park as Newcastle beat Aston Villa. Plus protests for West Ham, Leeds win on penalties and Wolves tackle a mudbath in Cleethorpes. TIME CODES: 3:53 Louis Reed's freekick to win it for Mansfield 9:05 Will Scott Parker be the next Premier League manager to get the sack? 11:25 The financial windfall for Mansfield 14:10 Three refereeing errors at the Villa V Newcastle match 24:31 Eddie Howe's thoughts on the decisions that went against his team 28:34 West Ham survive a scare against Burton Albion 31:01 Protests against the West Ham ownership 33:14 Leeds win on penalties
Former GB badminton player Gail Emms, presenter Holly Hamilton, EastEnders actor Jake Wood, and comedian Henning Wehn join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Sports presenter David Alorka, American Football defensive Efe Obada, former GB athlete Kath Merry and comedian Ray Bradshaw join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Have Arsenal put worries over their mentality to bed? Have Manchester City lost their ruthless edge? Their 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur means Arsenal end the weekend with a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.Rick Edwards is joined by Nigel Reo-Coker and Luke Edwards to discuss that and the rest of the weekend's big talking points. Manchester United made it 3 wins in a row with a 3-2 win against Fulham, is that the real marker of their progress under Michael Carrick? And what does Chelsea's half-time turnaround against West Ham tell us about Liam Rosenior's managerial pedigree? TIMECODES: 01:10 – Manchester City drop points again 05:20 – Tottenham's second half comeback 13:25 – Arsenal move six points clear 19:40 – Three wins in a row for Carrick's Manchester United 31:02 – Half time teaser 32:02 – Chelsea's comeback against West Ham 39:55 – A good point for Forest against Crystal Palace? 42:04 – Excellent Ekitike 45:51 – David Moyes' celebrations
Fighting Talk is off this week for the Australian Open tennis finals, and we didn't want to leave you without your weekly dose of FT. Here's some of our favourite moments from last year as Rick Edwards presents highlights of our sporting punditry and pundits from Fighting Talk across 2025.We'll be back next Saturday with our next live show and podcast.
Man Utd beat leaders Arsenal to blow the title race wide open. Hear from Michael Carrick and Mikel Arteta as Rick Edwards is joined by former Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James and BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel. Also hear from Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot after Liverpool's last-gasp defeat, and catch up with under-pressure Spurs boss Thomas Frank.04:25 Michael Carrick interview 11:55 Mikel Arteta interview 18:10 Aston Villa & Man City close in 22:55 Iraola & Slot interviews 31:50 What's the latest with Andy Robertson? 33:20 Half-time teaser 34:50 Is Thomas Frank's time running out? 42:10 Burnley mountain gets higher 46:05 West Ham win three on the bounce 47:00 Could Crystal Palace get dragged in? 50:00 Goal of the weekend?5 Live / BBC Sounds UEFA Champions League commentaries: Wed 2000 PSG v Newcastle, Wed 2000 Man City v Galatasaray on Sports Extra, Wed 2000 Napoli v Chelsea on Sports Extra 2.
Broadcaster Dougie Anderson, football presenter Natalie Pike, football manager Phil Brown, and comedian Josh James join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds
Former Rugby union player James Haskell, former GB athlete Kath Merry, journalist and presenter Martin Kelner, and comedian Susie McCabe join Rick Edwards for an hour of sporting punditry, humour and entertainment. Points are awarded for informed comment, wit and passion, but taken away for nonsense and answers lacking in conviction.In the final round, the top two points scorers go head-to-head in 'Defend the Indefensible' where they must both defend a statement however ludicrous or distasteful for twenty seconds. There can only be one winner!Listen to the podcast on BBC Sounds