Scissors Kick

“AC Jimbo is back to rummage through coverage of this week’s Champions League matches, revealing the exact percentages of credit to give to members of Bayern Munich’s team and how Porto are in a storm” Guardian – James Richardson

“The pod reflects on a weekend of league and cup joy in Manchester and relegation woe for West Ham. Plus, the rest of the news from around Europe, and Craig David’s Chechnya gig” Guardian

“Our topics for rumination and mastication include showing a bit of love to Arsène Wenger after yet another late collapse by the Gunners; celebrating the end of Fernando Torres’s goal drought; and wondering whether Liverpool can pip Tottenham into fifth place and squeak into Europe. Plus, we look ahead to the Champions League semi-finals and catch up with the goings on in Serie A, the Bundseliga and La Liga (where Lionel Messi has scored his 50th goal of the season, and Real Madrid’s reserve side tonked third-place Valencia 6-3).” Guardian – James Richardson

“It’s Arsenal who dominate the agenda with their activities both on the field and off it. While Jens Lehmann made his return to see the Gunners through to victory against Blackpool, we wonder what the ownership of Stan Kroenke means for the club (apart from replica moustaches for fans). Next, it’s the second legs of the Champions League quarter-finals. Spurs look to have an impossible task overturning their 4-0 drubbing in Madrid, but there’s still everything to play for between Chelsea and Manchester United, while can defending champions Inter come back from their 5-2 deficit in Germany?” Guardian – James Richardson

“James Richardson has Sean Ingle, Barry Glendenning and James Horncastle on board for 46 minutes of Football Weekly aural pleasure. We start with all the action from the Premier League, including Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick and general sweariness, Sunderland’s slide towards the relegation zone, and the unveiling of the highly tasteful Michael Jackson statue at Craven Cottage. Next up, Sid Lowe tells us about the mood in Madrid ahead of Tottenham’s visit to the Bernabéu in the Champions League just days after Real all but surrendered La Liga by losing 1-0 at home to Sporting Gijón (which was, remarkably, José Mourinho’s first home defeat in nine years).” Guardian – James Richardson

“Despite a tumbleweed week of football, the pod find plenty to chew on in this week’s Football Weekly Extra-a-a-a-a-a-a … James is joined by ZonalMarking.net editor Michael Cox, Owen Gibson, Barry Glendenning and Paul MacInnes. And thank heavens for your posts, as the team discuss why there are so many games at Christmas and so few in March, now that the sun has come out.” Guardian, James Richardson

“We begin by hearing from Tom Lutz about Birmingham City’s victory in the Carling Cup final. Blues will be competing in Europe next season – lucky Europeans get to savour the delights of Mr Egg as a result – but what now for Arsenal: just how badly will this defeat destabilise the rest of Arsenal’s season? Also in the podcast, we discuss Wayne Rooney’s elbow, Ashley Cole’s misadventures with an air rifle, the malaise at Plymouth and various battles on and off the pitch involving Port Vale, Wycombe and Macclesfield. Finally, we get up to speed on all the action in Ligue 1; James Horncastle brings us his inaugural Serie A round-up; and we hear all about Uli Hoeness’s magnificent sausages.” Guardian – James Richardson

“With friends like these … James Richardson is joined by Gregg Roughley, Paul MacInnes, Raphael Honigstein and Jacob Steinberg – plus, on the line we have Ewan Murray and Marcela Mora y Araujo. The pod exercises cautious optimism after England’s 2-1 victory over Denmark and tours the rest of the international friendlies, including Germany v Italy and the big Messi-Ronaldo tussle in Geneva. There’s the midweek action – featuring Scotland’s win over Northern Ireland, and we look forward to the weekend’s matches, especially the Manchester derby. And what about that stadium victory for West Ham? Will a running track be perfect for a team used to going round in circles?” Guardian

“Is the buck-toothed Brazilian really heading to Blackburn? Plus: a Premier League and Championship review; Roy Hodgson lives to fight another day; and solidarity for the Deepdale Duck” Guardian – James Richardson

“Football Weekly regulars Barry Glendenning, Rafael Honeigstein and AC Jimbo are joined by Zonal Marking’s Michael Cox and France Football’s Phillipe Auclair to mull over the World Cup, Champions League and the best of domestic football from 2010” Guardian

“Welcome to a stereophonic, supercharged edition of Football Weekly Extra, with James Richardson, Barry Glendenning, Sean Ingle and Jonathan Wilson’s huge floating brain beaming down from near-earth orbit. We start our Premier League discussions with another fine mess at Newcastle United. The Geordies love a messiah – but really, Alan Pardew? Also in the podcast, we take in all the dead rubber action from the Champions League, while Sid Lowe tells us about the Barcelona-tinged Ballon d’Or.” Guardian – James Richardson

“Cast your eyes skywards on a clear night and, if you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse of a small pod circulating in near earth orbit. Contained within that small capsule is a group of people who – twice weekly – produce a master-class in football punditry, namely, The Football Weekly. Rallying those troops together in an attempt to reawaken Blighty with some European footie news interspersed with the odd welcoming pun is James Richardson, AC Jimbo to his mates.” (European Football Weekends)

“James Richardson has Kevin McCarra, Owen Gibson and Barry Glendenning on board for this edition of Football Weekly Extra to look back on England’s soufflé-like collapse against Laurent Blanc’s France. We wrap up the best (and worst) of the rest of the international friendlies – including Sid Lowe’s account of Spain’s 4-0 defeat to Portugal, Italy’s controversial draw with Romania, and Scotland’s demolition of, er, the Faroe Islands – and get up to speed with the latest shenanigans at Fifa.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“We start with the Premier League, and, with talk of a player revolt, we ask: is it all over for Roberto Mancini after Manchester City slumped to another defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers? Just what was going on with the officials for Manchester United’s controversial second goal against Tottenham Hotspur? And how come Kevin Nolan can’t stop scoring now that Newcastle United team-mate Andy Carroll has come to stay? Next, Paolo Bandini joins us to marvel at Lazio, who are setting the pace in Serie A, and we look forward to Internazionale’s visit to White Hart Lane in the Champions League. Finally, Sid Lowe tells us that it’s now officially a two-horse-race between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga (and it might even come down to a shoot-out between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo), and we wonder whether Cardiff City and Swansea will grace England’s top division next season.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“The latest round of the Carling Cup; the Ballon d’Or; a look ahead to the weekend’s fixtures; plus, we mourn the passing of Paul the psychic octopus” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“Football Weekly returns with a director’s-cut length Premier League preview show with host James Richardson and an old-school line-up of John Ashdown, Barry Glendenning and Sean Ingle. First up we discuss the contenders for the title: Will Man City be hampered by having too many holding midfielders? Will Man Utd’s ageing squad be a problem? Are Chelsea on the way down? Who comes out best in the Cole/Benayoun swap? What the hell is going on at Aston Villa? And has Barry really bet Sean £20 that Liverpool won’t finish in the top six?” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“It’s the final Football Weekly of the season, and James Richardson’s got Fernando Duarte, Paolo Bandini and Barry Glendenning in the pod to celebrate and commiserate in equal measure. We start of of course with the Champions League final. Internazionale claimed an historical Treble after the beat Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. And with José Mourinho now all but certain to join Real Madrid – can the galácticos rightly claim to be managed by the greatest coach around?” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“With just two weeks left of the Premier League season, it’s still all to play for at the top. Chelsea went goal crazy (again) to stay in control, but Manchester United put in a gut-wrenching performance – at least for Patrice Evra and Nani – to beat Tottenham Hotspur to stay in the hunt. James Richardson and his Football Weekly chums are here to analyse it all.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“Paolo Bandini, Sean Ingle and Owen Gibson join James to debate the week’s football news. As Barcelona lose away to Inter, the pod ponder where it went wrong for the European Champions. They also discuss Zlatan Ibrahimović’s shocking match stats and the latest in the Mario Balotelli saga. Sid Lowe is on hand to give reaction from the Spanish press.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“After a fantastic midweek of Champions League action, Sean Ingle, Barry Glendenning and Raphael Honigstein join James Richardson to look back at the key moments. First up, the pod assess how Arsenal were able to get back into their thunderously exciting first-leg against Barcelona and assess what chance their injury-hit squad have in the second leg.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“Manchester United sit on top of the Premier League today after beating Liverpool, while Chelsea dropped more points against Blackburn Rovers. On your brand new Football Weekly, James Richardson, Sean Ingle, Paolo Bandini and Fernando Duarte analyse the various machinations of the title race. Can the Blues regain their confidence? Are the Red Devils utterly unstoppable? And will Arsenal still have a say, or will the Champions League prove too much of a distraction?” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“It’s a sad day in podland, and not just because Phil Brown has been relieved of his duties at Hull City. On your brand new Football Weekly, we sing an ode to David Beckham, whose World Cup dream is over in the wake of a potentially career-ending achilles injury (although that cut under his eye looks fairly nasty too). James Richardson and a dangerously sleep-deprived Rob Smyth shed a tear.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“The pod squad is suited and booted for your brand new Football Weekly. We start with the FA Cup, where Harry Redknapp could be set for another encounter with Portsmouth, and Aston Villa came from behind against Reading to set up a semi-final with Chelsea – for whom John Terry was the perfect gentleman in his victory celebration and post-match interview. Barry Glendenning gives his thoughts.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“Sean Ingle, Paul Doyle and Raphael Honigstein join James Richardson to talk about the midweek’s action. As Wayne Bridge calls time on his England career, the pod ponder his reasons and consider how missing Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge will affect England in South Africa. Could the excellent form of Leighton Baines ease Fabio Capello’s pain?” (BBC – James Richardson)

“The little big man is back! Yes, James Richardson returns to lead the Football Weekly team – that’s Messrs Ashdown, Ronay, and Duarte to you – in its latest battle with mediocrity (aka 6-0-6). This week, having shown Manchester United a thing or two about free-flowing football, we’re asking whether Everton have the best midfield in the Premier League? Plus, after Manchester City and Liverpool played out the dullest game of the season, we assess the chances of Aston Villa or Tottenham Hotspur clinching that final Champions League spot.” (Guardian – James Richardson)

“Another Football Weekly, and it’s a show as packed as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Armani underpants (more on him later). James Richardson is joined in the pod by Sean Ingle, Barry Glendenning and Barney Ronay,and they begin by analysing a mixed weekend for Manchester United and Manchester City ahead of the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. City’s Robinho appears to be heading back to Brazil, and – with a little help from Fernando Duarte – we discuss whether this is a case of good riddance to bad rubbish, or has British football’s most expensive import just been badly managed?” (BBC – James Richardson)