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Hello Rank Squad! It's that time of the year where amidst all the trophies being handed out, thoughts turn to who are the frontrunners in the race for the biggest individual prize in the game - France Football's yearly Ballon d'Or. Last year the award came with a whole thunderstorm of controversy, with Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony after Rodri won the top prize over Vinicius Jr. They probably don't need to worry that much this year - we'd be surprised if there were any Los Blancos stars anywhere near the podium - but the absence of both Vini and Rodri from the frontrunners opens up some interesting discussions. We dive deep on where we think the current positionings are for the likes of PSG's Ousmane Dembele, Gigi Donnarumma and Achraf Hakimi, as well as Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Pedri - as well as the individual pace-setters like Mo Salah, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane; before we also take a quick look at the Kopa Trophy candidates in Part Three. Before that, there's a return for Things We Love, where Dean discusses a big summer ahead for Arsenal in the transfer market, and Jack takes a quick look at a wonderful season at Balaidos for Celta Vigo, under the stewardship of Claudio Giraldez. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at how Hansi Flick's slightly surprising appointment at Barcelona last summer has turned into a masterstroke, and how the German has immediately brought the Blaugrana back to the top table of European football with a string of youngsters and some of the most exciting attacking football on the continent. There were question marks about Flick after his ill-fated tenure with the German national team, but his record at club level speaks for itself. And yet, when he was appointed at Barcelona to replace Xavi last summer, there were plenty who felt that this could be a step in the wrong direction for a Barcelona side mired in debt and already one step behind fierce rivals Real Madrid, who had just won La Liga and the Champions League, and then gone out and signed Kylian Mbappé, who was widely considered the best player in the world. But Flick took Xavi's possession-orientated philosophy and made it more direct, more streamlined; put his faith in the youngsters emerging from La Masia; and turned good players into superstars - all whilst staying true to his own brand of football and putting perhaps the boldest style of football in Europe on display for all to see. So was this a stroke of luck that the players matched his philosophy, or has the former Bayern treble-winner worked his magic again on another squad willing to do whatever he needs for them to get to the very top? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! We have our Champions League finalists, after PSG joined Inter in the showpiece event by beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Parc des Princes to progress 3-1 on aggregate. The game might not have had the verve and sparkle of Tuesday's semi, but there was plenty to discuss all the same here on UCL Takeaway. Arsenal started fast, but couldn't find the killer blow to leave the tie in the balance - thanks to some particularly impressive goalkeeping once again from Gigi Donnarumma in the PSG net - and then Fabian Ruiz landed a killer jab of his own, striking home from the edge of the box after Arsenal failed to clear a set piece. Vitinha missed a (very harsh) penalty, before Achraf Hakimi made it 2-0 with a striker's finish, and whilst Bukayo Saka pulled one back and Arsenal had their chances to find a leveller, it was Luis Enrique's charges who saw the game out, with no finishing flourish from his former apprentice Mikel Arteta in the other dugout. We discuss the game, as well as where it leaves Arsenal ahead of this summer, whether PSG's transformation into the team we have seen in recent months makes them favourites for the final, whether João Neves is a N'Golo Kante regen, where Arsenal need to upgrade to reach that next level, and loads more besides. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! After one of the most intriguing, exhausting, exhilarating semi-finals that the competition has ever seen, Inter will be in the final after finally dispatching Barcelona with a knockout blow, just moments after they had dragged themselves off the canvas themselves. 4-3 on the night, 7-6 on aggregate, this was one of the best games of football we have seen in many a long year, two sides who just traded punches for 210 minutes until a victory bell was finally rung, in favour of the home side. We discuss the momentum swings of a game that saw Inter take a 2-0 lead, before going down 3-2 with just moments to go, the late equaliser from the most unlikely of sources - Francesco Acerbi - before more drama in added time saw Davide Frattesi once more come up with the goods to send Simone Inzaghi's weathered old warriors to Munich - where they will face one of PSG or Arsenal. There's also some talk about what the future outlook is for a Barcelona side who have come a long way this year, and who perhaps just lacked a tad of experience when it mattered most, as well as why Inter feel like this could be there year to claim a long-awaited European crown - it's been 15 years since that famous night in Madrid. All that, and loads more, including Dean's experience watching Beckham & Friends on Paramount, on the show. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at the Premier League, and the argument that's been raging on social media as to whether this is a Premier League cast that's strong or weak? On one side, you have the earliest that three teams have been confirmed as relegated in Premier League history, as well as Champions in Liverpool who were crowned in April - but realistically haven't lost control since November. Plus, two traditional powerhouses in Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have languished at the bottom, whilst City's title defence never really got going. A lack of jeopardy, perhaps - but what does that say about the strength of the rest? On the other hand, there's a stronger than ever middle class in the Premier League, able to take points off the big boys on a regular basis. Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford and Fulham are still scrapping for the final European spot, and each of them have had big name scalps, and possess certain players that their mid-table counterparts in some of the European leagues could only dream of. Surely that suggests this is a stronger class than ever before, especially with 12th-placed Crystal Palace making their way to Wembley for an FA Cup final? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! That was absolutely breathless and chaotic, and so the podcast looking back at it is too. We try our best to get to the bottom of an anarchic game of football between Barcelona and Inter that started fast and got wilder from there, and one that ended with the two teams locked at three goals apiece. We discuss how Inter might well go home the happier side, even if Barcelona had the best of the chances; Lamine Yamal's dazzling performance in Blaugrana; the importance of Denzel Dumfries and Marcus Thuram's returns from injury; why the game played out as it did; how they could possibly replicate it in the second leg; the differing waves of emotion throughout the game - and of course, we rank the goals because that's what we do. There's loads more inside as well, so get stuck in! It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for Champions League Takeaway here on Ranks FC, and our first episode of the semi-finals, looking back at the game between Arsenal and PSG in North London, where Luis Enrique's side came out the victors, taking a 1-0 win with them back to the Parc des Princes for next week's second leg. We discuss it all in great detail - looking at a mesmerising first 25 minutes from the Parisiens, as well as the way Arsenal dug themselves back into the game briefly, before PSG spurned some late chances to make their lead much more secure. We talk the role of Declan Rice, the absence of Thomas Partey, a star turn from Myles Lewis-Skelly, the brilliance of João Neves, Ousmane Dembélé's free-role and how he picked up space, as well as the difference in experience between the two managers, the atmosphere and how PSG quietened it down early on, and loads more besides. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Serie A, and examining just how tight the race for the title is between Antonio Conte's Napoli and Simone Inzaghi's Inter - with both teams on 71 points with five games remaining in the league campaign. We discuss the distinct possibility of a playoff game between the two at the end of the season, a one-game shootout to determine who lifts that famous trophy in May. Then there's a deeper dive into both teams - the chaos that seems to always engulf Napoli has gone nowhere under the stewardship of Antonio Conte, with fiery pre-match interviews just the norm at this point in the city on the verges of Vesuvius. But that's sometimes a good thing, and with Scott Francis McTominay banging in important goal after important goal, and Romelu Lukaku leading the Serie A assist charts, you'd have to say it's working. Over in Milan, the Nerazzurri seem to be running out of puff at exactly the wrong point of the season. With their hopes of a treble dashed, is there a chance that they end up trophyless in what had looked to be a historic season in blue and black? Is their incredibly busy schedule catching up with them, and how do they wrest back control? Napoli or Inter? Decided in the normal way or with an extraordinary one-off event? And are the twists and turns done yet in Italy? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! We're well into the final stretch of this domestic season now, and whilst there are many things decided - Bayern and Liverpool are going to win their domestic leagues, for example, and certain relegation fights seem over before they've begun - there is still plenty of drama to be getting stuck into if you know where to look. So consider this episode a little bit of a guide - we start with the fight for European football in the Premier League, from the Champions League all the way down to the Conference League; before turning our attention to the title races in Italy and Spain. We also take a look at the European scraps in both of those leagues, as well as a mad Bundesliga dogfight in the middle of the park for very few European spaces. Jack finishes us off with a little whip round some of the most interesting stories from the relegation dogfights in Spain, Italy and France - including a team who were in the opening stages of the Champions League sleepwalking towards relegation, and Parma's unusual method of attempting to draw themselves to safety. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Real Madrid, and where things have gone wrong for them over the past couple of months. The perennial Champions League winners are out of the competition they love most, are currently second in La Liga to Barcelona, and whilst they are in a Copa del Rey final, they face off against Barça there too - who they've routinely struggled to contain all season long. We examine the hand that Carlo has been dealt - with squad building and injuries playing a key role - and question whether it's his fault that this squad stacked full of talent just isn't clicking right now. We also take a look at the potential contenders to succeed him, as well as what might be next on the agenda for Ancelotti if he does depart the Bernabeu this summer. Has Carlo been given an impossible hand to play, or is he justifiably at fault for the struggles of his team this year? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for this week's second Champions League Takeaway - looking back at Wednesday's Quarter Final second legs, where Arsenal and Inter were able to maintain their first leg advantages to progress to the semi-finals, but in very different circumstances. Dean is back in San Diego and back in the booth, so we start with Arsenal winning 2-1 at the Bernabeu to knock out the holders Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate, reaching their first semi-final since 2009 in the process, and starting what could be a long period of self-reflection for Los Blancos. It was a game full of drama, but one which Arsenal controlled, and they were worthy winners both on the night and over the two legs. Then in Part Two, we head to San Siro, where a full-blooded, full-throttle affair between Inter and Bayern Munich ended in a 2-2 draw, sending Inter through to the final four with a 4-3 aggregate win. We explore why Inter are so good at getting back up when they've been punched, and how their experience in the dugout helped them see out this tie with another very impressive performance both defensively and offensively. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for this week's first Champions League Takeaway - looking back at Tuesday's Quarter Final second legs, where both PSG and Barcelona emerged with qualification intact, but with their reputations bruised and having been handed on-the-night losses by Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund, who were both excellent. In the absence of Dean, who is flying back to San Diego, Jack is joined by football podcast royalty in Mike Zimmermann - to talk through both of the games and discuss the ramifications in more detail. We start with Aston Villa's impressive 3-2 win over PSG, where the Parisien favourites were given an almighty scare in the second half by Unai Emery's charges, who managed to break free of PSG's impressive counter-attacking hold after the break, going hell for leather and finding themselves some Gigi Donnarumma magic away from taking Luis Enrique's men to extra time. Then in Part Two, we head to the Westfalenstadion, where Dortmund had very little to lose, but managed to expose the Barcelona high line enough to give the Yellow Wall plenty to shout about. Serhou Guirassy's hat-trick had Barça very worried for a time, and although the Catalans progressed, they were subjected to defeat in a single game for the first time in 2025. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Chelsea, and a slide in form since the turn of the year that has seen them slide from second in the table to being on the brink of falling out of the Champions League places. So what has happened in 2025 to Enzo Maresca's side, and where has the form that saw them exceed all pre-season expectations gone to? We discuss the squad building and some of the quizzical decisions to let players go in January, the fact that Enzo Maresca's Leicester side had a similar second-half slump in the Championship last year, the lack of experience on the pitch in this squad, the injuries that have hurt Chelsea in key areas, the current style being at odds and loads more as we try to get to the bottom of it. Are Chelsea balancing the squad wrong and has Maresca got them in a spin, or is this just a dip in form that they'll come out of the other side of? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for this week's second Champions League Takeaway - looking back at Wednesday's Quarter Final first legs, where PSG roared back from 1-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-1 and Barcelona romped to yet another astounding win, routinely dismantling a discombobulated Dortmund 4-0. We start with PSG and wonder if anybody could have held up against the power of their attacking might last night - looking at the emergence of Desire Doué as a bona-fide starter and wonderkid, as well as the devastating directness of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia - before going a bit deeper into a discussion of how Luis Enrique has moulded this club to one in his own image - where the team comes first, but individual brilliance is actively encouraged as well. Then in Part Two it's time to head to Catalunya, to take a deep dive into how Barcelona pretty much killed this tie stone dead in the first leg, breaking a host of records in the process. All three of the front line of Raphinha (controversially), Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski were on the scoresheet - with Lewy making it 29 goals in 28 games against Dortmund since leaving them in 2014. Ouch. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for Champions League Takeaway, your late night delivery following the action - looking back at Tuesday's Quarter Finals, where Arsenal blew away Real Madrid in a stunning second half at the Emirates, whilst Inter dispatched Bayern with ruthless efficiency on German soil. We start with the man of the hour - Declan Rice - whose two unbelievable free-kicks handed Arsenal the lead in their tie against Real, putting the Gunners on their way to a 3-0 win that even the most ardent Gooner wouldn't have seen coming. Looking at the game as a whole, we discuss where Arsenal got things right, where Real Madrid got things wrong, the second leg at the Bernabeu, and loads more. Then in Part Two it's time to head to Bavaria to discuss Inter beating Bayern 2-1 at the Allianz, thanks to some clinical finishing from them, some profligate moments from their opponents, and a chaotic ending that saw a goal at each end in the closing two minutes of normal time. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Arsenal and in particular, a big reshuffle in the boardroom that has seen Andrea Berta succeed Edu Gaspar as their Sporting Director. Berta was formerly at Atletico Madrid, forming a (mostly) impressive team with Diego Simeone, and also previously worked at Genoa and Parma in his native Italy. We examine what his record was at Atleti in terms of overseeing signings, discuss which positions and players Arsenal may look to in the summer under his stewardship, and scrutinise how the Manager-SD relationship works at Arsenal in particular with Mikel Arteta. There's a little bit of time too to examine the role of a Sporting Director in the modern game, and look at exactly what falls under their remit, before we round things off. So, is this the appointment that helps steer Arsenal through that final step where they lift a Premier League trophy? Will he mesh with what Arteta wants and needs on the pitch? Or is this simply background shuffles that bark louder than they actually bite? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! Dean's back in London, so it's less of a Transatlantic Job this week, but that doesn't mean there's not still plenty to discuss. Today, we're looking at the Champions League Quarter Finalists, but in a slightly different way - examining who the most important player is for each of the eight teams remaining in the competition, from the perspectives of how they've played so far, as well as who is most likely to step up going forward. We take the eight teams in turn ahead of their QF matchups, thinking about star performers across the course of the competition, but also about which player their opposition would remove from these games if they were given a choice to do so - giving us some interesting names and discussions around how we rank players in systems. We finish by trying to pick a top three each, but we found that was a harder task than either of us envisaged to begin with! It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Juventus - who are currently one point off the Champions League places in Serie A, and have lost three league games all year, but who have just sacked manager Thiago Motta around 300 games into his tenure. Very few teams have drawn as many games as Juve this year, and coupled with decisive losses to Fiorentina and Atalanta in Serie A, coupled with disappointing exits to both PSV and Empoli in the Champions League and Coppa Italia respectively, the Bianconeri board have decided to abandon the project and turn to someone a little closer to home in Igor Tudor. But was this the right decision? Should they have tried to make a project last a little bit longer than three-quarters of a year? Are things going to go back to the Juventus DNA of Allegri? And is there someone else (Cristiano Guintoli) who should be taking a little bit more of the blame than he currently is? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! On Monday news broke that Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid this summer was close to being completed, with the Liverpool defender seemingly leaving his boyhood club for free at the expiration of his contract this summer, and it got us thinking - who else is in the same category of being on the open market this summer and where could they go? We start with a discussion of the three Liverpool names that have been in the spotlight all season - Trent, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah - taking a look at who is perhaps most expendable, who is least replaceable, and what we think might play out, especially with Salah and VVD, as well as taking a brief look at some potential replacements. Then it's on to some other names - we discuss the futures of Angel Gomes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Leroy Sane, Jonathan David, and young Swedish talent Roony Bardghji - and where they all might be plying their trades next season given the expiration of their current deals at their current homes. Jack finishes us off with a few more names to keep an eye on as the deadlines for extensions get closer and closer - Andre Franck Zambo Anguissa of Napoli, Marco Verratti of Al-Arabi - who is being linked with a move back to Europe - Sergio Reguilon of Tottenham Hotspur, and Espanyol captain Javi Puado. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Alexander Isak, who is hot property right now after another stellar campaign with Newcastle United, which culminated in him firing them to Carabao Cup glory at Wembley on Sunday against Liverpool. Newcastle are absolutely adamant that their Swedish superstar is going nowhere - and so they should be - but that hasn't stopped the rumour mill going into overdrive about clubs interested in prying him away from Tyneside this summer. So we dig into the numbers, take a look at Newcastle's financial position, examine the words of the people in the know about their business model, and try to work out whether this is bluster or something more concrete. We also explore possible destinations for if Newcastle decided that they were going to cash in on their most profitable asset, talking about how Isak would fit at both Liverpool and Arsenal - who are both reported to be very interested - and some alternate options on the continent as well. So, will Alexander Isak continue to spearhead the Geordie renaissance as they work their way up the table? Or will his value, a big offer, and a desire to build out the squad mean that he will be playing football elsewhere next year? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! After 70 years domestically, or 54 years across the board, Newcastle United finally got their hands on silverware again this weekend, beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup Final to end one of the longest trophy droughts in English football, and doing it in some style. Big Danny Burn completed his incredible redemption arc and Alexander Isak got the match-winner as a lifetime of black and white suffering ended at English football's stately home. We discuss the joy of the celebrations and what Newcastle need to do next to use this as a springboard for future success, before turning our attention to other clubs in with a shot at ending their own barren spells this season. We discuss most of the teams left in the FA Cup, as well as Tottenham Hotspur in our segment on the Premier League clubs, before turning our attention to Europe - where Jack points out opportunities for Bologna, Stuttgart and Fiorentina in particular, as well as long shots for Stade Reims, Go Ahead Eagles and Rio Ave. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Today, Sam and Dougie are looking at Brighton & Hove Albion, who are having an impressive season - but also one that's been permeated with strange results and odd streaks of form that have been up and down. On the verge of the Champions League places, things look pretty good under Fabian Hurzeler, who was brought in from St Pauli at the start of the season, who guided them to their best ever start, before going on an 8-game unbeaten run, then losing 7-0 to Nottingham Forest, and bouncing back with a four game win streak that has them looking well-placed for a return to European football. We look at a big summer spending spree, the new additions and how they've fitted in, tactical changes throughout the course of the campaign and where the future lies for a club who have made a habit of hitting the nail on the head with almost everything they've done in recent years. Is their Champions League chase an outlier in what has been a weird Premier League season, or should we be expecting the Seagulls' trajectory to keep going firmly in an upward direction? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's the second of two Champions League Takeaway episodes on the feed this week, with four more games to dissect - headlined by another 120 minutes of madness, this time from Madrid, where Real needed penalties to get the better of Atleti in a game the hosts will feel aggrieved not to have won (we've heard that one before...) We break down the chaos of the penalty shootout, including Julian Alvarez's disallowed spot kick for a double-touch, examining the rules and what exactly happened; before looking back at the game as a whole and examining some of the individual performances that caught our eye, for good and for bad. Then in Part Two, we take a look at a heavily rotated Arsenal's 2-2 draw with PSV - it didn't matter, progression was all but guaranteed; Aston Villa's 3-0 win over Club Brugge where Marco Asensio in particular shone once again - what a signing he has been for Unai Emery's men; and a vastly improved display from Borussia Dortmund as they came from a goal behind to beat Lille in France and progress to another quarter final. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! In a bit of a break from tradition, and after witnessing an absorbing encounter between Liverpool and PSG at Anfield, we decided this week might be a good one to switch things up and discuss the thing everyone will be discussing come Wednesday morning - the action from the Champions League, so this is the first of two UCL Takeaway episodes that will be with you this week. We start on Merseyside, where football reminded us it's a funny old game. Liverpool were outmatched in Paris last Wednesday, but came away with a 1-0 win against PSG; but on a night where they gave a far better account of themselves at home, they ended up losing the game 1-0 and being knocked out on penalties. Work that one out. We give PSG their due for a mighty performance over two legs, and discuss just how far this very talented side could go in this competition, as well as looking at what Liverpool might have done differently, and where the squad might need to be strengthened to push forwards again next season. Then in Part Two, we move over to the rest of the action, dissecting Barcelona's 3-1 win over Benfica where Lamine Yamal and Raphinha set some more records, as well as Pedri's astounding performance in the heart of midfield. We touch on Bayern, who Dean correctly backed in our power ranking episode, and how Leverkusen melted in the heat of the knockout stages; and finish with Inter, who made light work of Feyenoord even with a heavily rotated squad, and who are ticking along nicely in this competition. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Dougie's back in business with Sam after a well-earned week off and it's a return with a bang as we turn our attention to Manchester United - always a behemoth of a topic, who are currently seemingly locked inside a battle with themselves. After a dreary start to 2025, questions are being asked of Ruben Amorim's stewardship, and if United have actually got worse since he took over. Now, to be fair, Amorim himself said when he took the job that things were going to get worse before they got better, but much of the fanbase was expecting more of an uptick in form five months in than what we've seen on the pitch, especially after defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup wiped out one of the two remaining options that United had for silverware this campaign. But is that criticism fair? Amorim has struggled to get this squad ticking, but there are mitigating factors - the players are taking some time to adapt to his system (those that can), whilst the most impactful players in this squad have been struck down by injuries just as things were taking an upturn for them. Is that enough though, to absolve him of fault? Should United ride out this storm, trust in their new manager and try to build something long term? Or have we already seen enough to suggest that this isn't going to work and that a change is needed before United get bogged down in another cycle not going anywhere? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! It's time for Champions League Takeaway, your late night delivery following the action - following the first legs of the Round of 16, where we saw a lot of favourites come out on top, but perhaps not in the way we expected! Wednesday night saw Bayern's 3-0 demolition of Leverkusen - did Xabi Alonso overthink this one? - as well as Liverpool dropping an all-timer of a smash and grab job against PSG, where Alisson Becker gave a masterclass in the Redmen net. Barcelona also showed their versatility by beating Benfica with 10 men, whilst Inter were incredibly mature (and kept ANOTHER clean sheet) in a fairly routine 2-0 win over Feyenoord at De Kuip. In Part Two we move onto Tuesday's action, starting with a topsy-turvy Madrid derby that saw three wondergoals - and Real Madrid taking a narrow 2-1 advantage over city rivals Atletico Madrid - thanks to some magical footwork from Brahim Diaz. We also chat through Arsenal's demolition of PSG where the Gunners reloaded the ammunition tank to score seven after back-to-back blanks; Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Club Brugge where they were perhaps a little fortunate the scoreline looks so pleasant; and Dortmund dropping off to allow Lille to fight back for a 1-1 draw at the Westfalenstadion. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! Today we decided to take a look at the current state of the Premier League, which has had an exclusive winners club since it broke away from the Football League in 1992. Seven teams have won a 'Premier League' title since that time, and we wanted to take a look at who could become the eighth. (Yes, we know football didn't begin in 1992, but it makes for an interesting discussion...) Dean walks us through his top five contenders to join that winner's circle, discussing Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, and why each should look to the future with hope and optimism. Jack doesn't agree with them all, but that's part of the fun. Before we get into that, there's time to discuss the goings on from the FA Cup at the weekend - which Dean looks at through a personal lens, and the levels between Fulham and Manchester United throughout his life; whilst Jack is just excited that there's a real possibility we see a new name on the trophy this season. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Dougie's out on holiday this week so Jack hops over from the producer's chair to the co-host's one, joining Sam to go deep on Germany's most famous and most successful club, Bayern Munich - who are currently eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table after falling to third last season. But does that league position potentially conceal the fact that Bayern remain somewhat unconvincing, especially against better teams and in particular, in the Champions League? We explore Vincent Kompany's tenure so far in the Bayern hot seat, taking a look at what we learned from his previous managerial stints and how this Bayern side are mimicking some of the traits we saw in the Championship and the Premier League. Kompany's first port of call was to restore the Rekordmeister to the top of the Bundesliga table, and he's going to do that - with it looking pretty assured right now that Bayern will be once again lifting the Bundesliga shield come the end of this domestic season; but there is still a lot of convincing to do for his side to be considered the real deal in Europe. So, are we reading too much into certain results, or are there cracks beneath the surface at Bayern that are being masqueraded by the facade of domestic dominance? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
Hello Rank Squad! There are 16 clubs left in the Champions League with the Playoffs done and this year, there's a bracket in place so that we can plan out routes all the way to the final in Munich. So, given we have just a week until we're back in the thick of it, we wanted to take the opportunity to examine where all those clubs are and how likely they are to be lifting the trophy in May. So, 16 to 1, we decided to do just that - explaining our reasoning and discussing why we have certain teams in (vastly!) different places in our current rankings. There's a whole lot of variation in how the two of us see things right now, with Dean's reverence for experience and pedigree clashing quite dissonantly with Jack's reliance on form and current performance. To round things off, Jack takes us on a quickfire tour of both the Europa and Conference League favourites right now, as well as a couple of wildcards to keep your eyes on on Thursday nights. It's Ranks! http://patreon.com/ranksfc
It's time for The Truth! Dougie, by his own admission, has never been particularly interested in MLS - the top flight of American soccer. In this episode, Sam and Jack do their best to persuade him why this is a great time to start watching the league, by extolling the virtues of one of the most exciting leagues on the planet, which comes with its own quirks and surprises. We start at the beginning, with the basics of how things work and why MLS is different to the European leagues from an infrastructure perspective, before delving into some of the big storylines coming up in this, the league's 30th season. We look into some of the teams who might well be contending, as well as the players to keep an eye on; as well as exploring the changing face of MLS down the decades and why it struggles sometimes to shake off old reputations. From a retirement league to a hotbed for young talent, the world's most topsy-turvy affair to a distant din with some household names. everyone has an opinion on what the league represents. But what's the bottom line? Well, The Truth is somewhere in the middle... http://patreon.com/ranksfc
