This was one of the best football podcasts around. First Gabrielle Marcotti left then Natalie Sawyer did the same. All that’s left is sour journalists who mumble and grumble about how poor everything. It’s tragic. Added to that the show has totally lost all sense of balance. The anti United stuff has become parody, how they expect to be taken seriously as professional journalists is astounding.

Been a fan for years but have to give up. This week they didn’t consider England might need a change of formation during a match despite loads of discussion. Plus, advised the best way to deal with racism is to ignore it.

His discussion on racism and social media was fascinating. But the host sounded like one of those radio DJ who isn't listening and is trying to sound charismatic than a real person. Very hard to listen to.

Like a lot other reviewers, I did used to enjoy this podcast.

Like Gregor, as he one of the far more insightful pundits having played the game but balanced in his opinions.

The rest of the cast are just so far removed from the average fan - sadly like much of the London-based print media, they come across like the typical trust fund kids who’s parents could subsidise their internship entry into their journalism careers. Basically their on privilege rather than ability.

What you then get are writers that are ridiculously out of touch with your average football fan and they waffle on with some banal opinions

It needs a big shake up

Awful punditry and the usual trope. No real insights or humour. Maybe a new panel and host to freshen up.

Hadn’t listened for a couple of weeks. This week’s episode might as well have been called the Liverpool show. The bias is incredible and when talking about the offside proved it right.

Followed this for years but sorry, I’ve just hit the unsubscribe button. Too much other way better content out there to fill my time. The Man U fan has just gotten too much for me. May try again in future

FWIW quite enjoy Gregor

Can you turn Head Boy’s microphone down a bit please? It’s not just the opinion that should be balanced....

To much waffle from Tom Clarke.

On and On and On...

Recently tried this podcast again over the Xmas break, couldn’t get into it (previously was a fan in Nat and before then Gab days). Gregor is a good co-host and fair minded but I find most of the other contributors a bit bland with quite shallow insights and I often forgot who was talking. Waaay too much recycling of same VAR discussions almost every pod.

Maybe too much bias to Man Utd and Liverpool chat but I still really enjoy the discussions, review & insights. Would be better if Alyson Rudd and her obvious dislike of Leeds United wasn’t on as often

First off, not giving a 5* review because the host keeps asking for one, so a mark off for that.

It’s becoming increasingly obvious which contributor supports which club, the bias is now almost too much, but the better ones..... you just can’t tell. Hugh needs to stop banging on about Manchester United, or give the host job to someone with no club bias.

Sorry, but on the verge of losing me as a listener despite some of the best football journalists in the country.

This used to be a very good podcast but now all we hear is boring motormouth Hugh banging on about Man Utd. He needs to shut up and let the other contributors get a word in. He is not the person I want to hear and his opinion is worthless.

Hugh needs to take a back seat on this. And god forbid if there is an issue the previous weekend with taking the knee or booing it or anything in between. I am as tolerant as the next person but I want to hear about different things other than Man Utd and their poor team. If I wanted a political football show I would read or listen to what the Guardian pumps out.

After a break following the eerrrrr and ‘you know’ contributor last season I had another go at listening to this podcast. The contributors I think are all good to listen to with some reasonable thoughts and I know not the most popular but Alyson also makes the occasional very perceptive observations. However my main gripe is the obsession with Man Utd. They are discussed more than all the other premier league put together including Liverpool. Please please balance this out with more discussion on other teams. Maybe dedicate 4 different teams an episode at least otherwise another switch off looms.

Great pod - informed football chat with chilled out let’s get to know each other vibes. All sorts of chemistry between Tom Clarke and Gregor. Murdoch needs to give them a promotion. More Lofus-Cheek content please.

Used to have better hosts but now, with Hugh banging on non-stop, that’s gone. The guests were never very good and Alyson Rudd is on most of the time, surely there must be someone better than her.

This podcast used to be really good a few years ago.

Listened to this because I was interested to hear views on both the 6-1 and 7-2 of this weekend. Half way through and all they

have done is talk about Man United and now moved on to the Liverpool-Villa game. To listen to this you wouldn’t even know an away team had been there, let alone handed United their (joint) biggest home defeat ever.

Even more galling is that at one point they spent about four minutes discussing how United are held up on a pedestal by the media!

Maybe I misunderstood the remit but not sure I’ll bother again, better options out there.

I used to enjoy this podcast, but gave up because they just spent all their time talking about Man Utd.

I thought I’d give it another chance after such a fun weekend of football. And clearly the most important game was Liverpool’s 7-2 loss at Villa. The champions getting ripped apart, that’s where you start the show.

What did I experience - the first 35 minutes of 63 was them droning on about Man Utd.

Rename the show the Man Utd bore fest, I won’t be back

Been looking for a good podcast since Sunday Supplement changed format. Hugh Woozencroft needs to take a backseat. This could be a good podcast but Hugh drones on waffling nonsense. Had to stop listening.

Only ever focuses on “top” couple of clubs with no in depth analysis or interesting options or observations.

Any time a big team loses only talk about them not the team that won.

So far behind what else is out there now.

All too serious. Format of focusing on big clubs is dull. Individuals involved are great writers or presenters but not used in this way. Just read the Times, don’t bother with this. There are so many better football podcasts than this. Oh and why don’t you ever use Nick Szepanik, he’s great. This podcast lacks personality.

How can anyone take her serious she’s is absolutely pathetic the worse reporter ever her analogy are so stupid and so rehearsed that they make no sense

money for nothing if we don’t challenge this nonsense we will have this type of reporter for years to come well done Hugh first time for me on the pod great job

I really enjoyed the podcast with Natalie sawyer , she was calm and measured and asked thought provoking questions . Hugh W. Is just anoying and strictly from the school of radio where he thinks it’s all about him and hardly anyone else can get a word in , , I like the contributors like Gregor , but a podcast with an annoying host quickly becomes a turn off. I listen to BT sports writers and talk sport game day , much better

Contributors are good, the new host is not.

*Update* I have increased my star rating from 1 to 3 because they changed host. The new guy seems pretty good so far.

_______________

It's been awful ever since they brought in the astoundingly dreadful Natalie. Gab must have left to escape her.

Once upon a time this podcast was ok. These days High Woozencroft of TalkSport game presents with his cynical, sneering brand of commentary. He represents all that is wrong with modern football punditry. Short on insight and perspective. All about cheap lines and click bait. If care about intelligent and honest insight don’t bother with The Game

Gregeor's partnership with Natalie was very good last season despite still having the millstone of The Times's dreary reporters around their necks. Now Natalie has gone and Hugh W has arrived, plainly with the intent of livening up the pod. I have to give him full credit for achieving that, but I'm in agreement with many of the other reviewers (Sept.2020. Pointless hot takes and provocative one-liners will only annoy podcast listeners who want something more interesting than Sky Sport-ish content so shallow it makes Donald Trump look the intellectual giant he claims he is.

It doesn't seem a good idea for Hugh to demonstrate how little football history he knows. Still less that he thinks the listeners might find that amusing. First episode, he managed to alienate LUFC fans. Not a smart thing to do. If he accepts that he's not a pundit, but instead that he's the MC of the podcast, Hugh could improve it enormously, especially if lets his guests and Gregor do the heavy llifting.

It's a tricky balancing act but TG's rivals have pulled it off, I hope Hugh does too.

I’ve been listening to this regularly for a few months but suddenly the new season has brought the standard down from well informed - to embarrassingly ill informed. I’m sure for me as a Leeds fan I was particularly sensitive to the nonsense being spoken but it was like none of the presenters on the new season show had any knowledge of the championship and certainly could not have watched Leeds play last year. I’m not sure if Natalie Sawyer left or was pushed out but without her the podcast has gone downhill.

Why would a respected newspaper like The Times hire a bait-merchant Talksport host to front their podcast? There’s no logic, or knowledge to anything he claims, it brings down the entire show. No idea how he’s landed the role when there’s so much better out there. Such a poor decision to replace Natalie with him. Lost a listener here.

I’ll informed rambles. Show dated 10/10/20 showed no insight into football away from Premier league. Poor. Steer away!

Within 10 minutes completely disengaged with this podcast. Clearly don’t know their stuff, unless they are purposely talking rubbish to cause controversy.

Leeds haters

Under the stewardship of Gab Marcotti this podcast was an essential listen at the beginning of each week. It has fallen dramatically since his departure and the analysis appears to be anodyne and wishy-washy at present. They need to get back to providing short and punchy honest opinions on the game with less meandering. The writers are excellent so the show should be as well.

Please fix the audio levels. Some people are loud and others are so quiet you can’t hear them when the podcast is being played at a normal volume. Recording straight from a Skype call and uploading is serious amateur hour stuff. A bit of balancing would go a long way

Great football podcast. Give it a listen!

As others have mentioned content is a little up and down but please at least normalise the audio levels. A booming Alyson Rudd is a difficult listen..

Used to really enjoy this podcast. High quality analysis, times journalists who always have an interesting viewpoint, miss Marcotti but still well marshalled by the only female male football ‘pundit’ I have time for - Natalie Sawyer.

Then they introduced commercials .... message to editor - whoever came up with the idea of placing that low budget IBM Wimbledon 2 minute monologue in the middle of the show should be fired ...

sorry guys time to find another show

Average pod. A shame shame Alyson Rudd shows too much Liverpool bias. Gregor, although good, shows his lack of research/knowledge by referring to Man City’s ownership as a ‘country’ rather than the City Football Group.

Where’s Gab

What happened to the big fella

Not really sure what this show is anymore. I’m a massive Natalie Sawyer fan and Gregor is pretty good but the rest are just awful. I’m glad I’m not alone of being sick of Alyson rudd and her Liverpool/Gylfi bias and answering every question like a teacher has just been asked the stupidest question by a child. The rest just aren’t that interesting or controversial and there’s nothing here that you don’t get from the Guardian, Totally or the Telegraph except they do it much better. The banter seems forced and insincere and I never realised the lack of coverage for other teams until it was pointed out! The rating is mainly for Nat and Gregor. Further work needed me thinks...

Stop downloading as not the show it used to be. Seems lightweight and not the humour you get with football weekly or totally football show. Gab big miss

Used to be my go to football pod for the last ten years with great insight and opinions but has become major bore now. Lacking depth and variety in coverage of the game outside of the top 6 in England and pro Liverpool love in is just nauseating. Sad to have to unsubscribe

Used to be the “go to” for forensic analysis, with Gab, Rory, Patrick Barclay etc.

Now increasingly amateurish. I am debating an unsubscribe.

It’s ok to pass time in the car, but I may as well be listening to opinions in the pub. Guardian pod much better.

3 stars because the cast wasn’t my type

Alyson Rudd is a joke. If you follow Liverpool she makes you want unfollow them she’s so annoying, acting like a 12 year old fan girl. Supped to be a ‘professional journalist’ i.e objective and unbiased etc.

Great pod and even better now that droning horrible voice of Mr Macotti is on less and less. Please keep him away, I’m sure he’s a nice person but his voice makes me want to pull teeth

This used to be a great listen but the loss of Gab coupled with the fact this has turned into a Liverpool podcast makes it easily missable now. 50% or more of every episode is purely about Liverpool. Plenty of better options out there