Football Writers Podcast

Mike Calvin, Anne Marie Batson and Adrian Clarke review Manchester United's issues, including the abuse of Harry Maguire, the form of Marcus Rashford, the appointment of a new manager and the need for a rebuild. They believe Jude Bellingham would turn Liverpool into a Hall of Fame team, and that Harry Kane would benefit from the resurrection of his proposed move to Manchester City. Everton's relegation worries, a defining day for women's football and the future of Gareth Bale are also on the agenda. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Glenn Moore and Jordan Jarrett Bryan discuss the relative merits of Liverpool and Manchester City, who are going for a quadruple and a treble respectively. Chelsea still seem capable of retaining the Champions League and Patrick Vieira is seen as a credible manager of the season candidate.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Dominic Fifield and Miguel Delaney analyse the quarter final draw for the Champions League. Liverpool face outsiders Benfica, Carlo Ancelotti returns to Chelsea with Real Madrid, and Diego Simeone will attempt to get inside Pep Guardiola's head. The panel see West Ham as credible contenders in the Europa League, and also preview the FA Cup quarter finals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Miguel Delaney and Paul Hayward discuss another turbulent weekend for football, and suggest the idea of a breakaway Super League has never really gone away. They believe Chelsea will progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League, and suspect Atletico Madrid's Ronaldo complex will tip Tuesday's tie at Old Trafford in Manchester United's favour. They also speak from the heart about what football means to them. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, John Cross and Patrick Barclay discuss the possibility of fundamental change in the wake of Chelsea's problems. Fan ownership, and an independent regulator, would be beneficial. Newcastle's visit to Stamford Bridge will be hugely symbolic, but the games of the weekend will be at Brighton, who face Liverpool, and at Leeds, who are in desperate need of a win against Norwich. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Dominic Fifield and Adrian Clarke assess the balance of power between Manchester City and Liverpool, Premier League title rivals who should comfortably qualify for the Champions League quarter finals this week. They praise Thomas Tuchel for his dignity, sympathise with Ralf Rangnick's lack of authority, and suggest Arsenal may eventually win things with kids. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Seb Stafford Bloor and Richard Amofa assess the fallout from Roman Abramovich's decision to sell Chelsea after nineteen consistently successful years. They highlight the gulf between Manchester City and Manchester United, suggest it is not too early to talk up Liverpool's chances of winning the quadruple, and feel Arsenal are 18 months away from being contenders. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Faye Carruthers and Glenn Moore analyse a tumultuous weekend for world football, and refuse to rule out the possibility of a boycott of the World Cup finals in Qatar. They celebrate the escapism of Liverpool's League Cup final win, mourn the departure of Marcelo Bielsa from Leeds, and look forward to the midweek FA Cup ties. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Miguel Delaney and Tony Hodson widen the debate about UEFA's decision to move the Champions League final, and their insistence that Russian and Ukrainian teams play at neutral venues. The panel previews Sunday's League Cup final, and assess Saturday's BT Sport game at Elland Road, where Leeds and Spurs, together with their respective managers, are at a crossroads. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Jordan Jarrett Bryan and John Cross discuss the Champions League challenges faced by Manchester United and Chelsea this week. They foresee Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku leaving their respective clubs in the summer, and focus on the revival of the Premier League title race. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Adrian Clarke and Anne Marie Batson question whether a high maintenance, high performance manager like Antonio Conte has a long term future at Spurs. They assess Tottenham's rivals for the final Champions League qualifying spot, Manchester United, Wolves, Arsenal and West Ham, for whom Jarrod Bowen is an unsung star of the season. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Dominic Fifield and Tony Hodson assess the last 16 of the Champions League, and name their eventual winners. Chelsea's status as world champions underlines their potential in Cup competition, while Manchester United's recurring problems suggest they will struggle in Europe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Faye Carruthers and Glenn Moore use the challenges facing Frank Lampard and Marcelo Bielsa, who are in opposition on Saturday, to highlight the pressures of football management, which may force Southampton's Ralph Hassenhutl to retire at the end of his current contract. They focus on relegation issues, hail the seamless Liverpool debut of Luis Diaz, and consider football's moral responsibilities in the light of the Kurt Zouma controversy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Paul Hayward and Miguel Delaney discuss Newcastle's chances of avoiding relegation, and react to the breaking news that Dan Ashworth has resigned from Brighton to join them as Director of Football. They preview another key set of fixtures at the bottom of the Premier League, praise Crystal Palace for their generosity of spirit, and suggest Chelsea's trip to the World Club Cup is another vision of football's future. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, John Cross and Seb Stafford Bloor believe Arsenal Spurs and West Ham missed a huge opportunity in the January transfer window. Newcastle's recruitment was flawed, but gives them a good chance of avoiding relegation. Aaron Ramsey's move to Rangers was a surprise, but Christian Eriksen at Brentford is the feelgood story football needs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Glenn Moore and Adrian Clarke see Roy Hodgson as a no-risk option for Watford, but fear the consequences of Everton's chaotic search for a new manager. They assess the state of the transfer market, regard the exploitation of Newcastle's needs as inevitable, and name their players with most to gain from a move in the January window. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Jordan Jarrett Bryan and Seb Stafford Bloor assess the significance of Watford's widely-anticipated search for their third manager of the season. Everton, Leeds and Brentford could be dragged into the relegation battle, but parachute payments distort the system by assisting a rapid return. Five clubs are competing for the final Champions League place, but the top three are seemingly set. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Paul Hayward and Richard Amofa highlight Jurgen Klopp's sustained commitment as the key to Liverpol's capacity to respond to the challenge of more lavishly-funded clubs. They foresee successful managerial careers for Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, and regard Brighton's Graham Potter as an England manager in waiting. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Faye Carruthers and Dominic Fifield sift through the wreckage of Rafa Benitez's brief reign at Everton, and doubt whether Roberto Martinez is the right man to succeed him. They see similar confusion at Newcastle, Manchester United and Spurs, focus on a key week in the relegation battle, and assess the damage caused by the chaotic postponement policy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mike Calvin, Glenn Moore and Tony Hodson set the scene for Chelsea's visit to Manchester City, live on BT Sport on Saturday lunchtime. They agree with Cristiano Ronaldo that the top three should be Manchester United's minimum expectation, but see no real reason (apart from Liverpool potentially poaching Jarrod Bowen) that West Ham cannot claim the final Champions League qualification place. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.