On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett take a slightly different look at the game they love, asking what history can teach us about football surviving its biggest scandals, controversies and crises. From the infamous 1964 British betting scandal, which saw Sheffield Wednesday players Peter Swan, Tony Kay and Bronco Layne banned from football, to Swindon Town's promotion controversy, Martin and Neil revisit moments that appeared capable of doing lasting damage to clubs, players and the reputation of the game itself. Yet football survived, recovered and, in many cases, those involved eventually found a way back. They revisit Diego Maradona's 1994 World Cup drugs ban, the extraordinary career that ultimately came to define him far more than that controversy, Eric Cantona's infamous kung fu kick at Crystal Palace and Rio Ferdinand's missed drugs test. Along the way, Neil and Martin discuss the relationship between supporters and players, including brilliant stories involving Paul Gascoigne and James Maddison, and why football's imperfections have never stopped the joy of the game from shining through. In Letter From The Gantry, Martin reflects on England's emphatic performance against Croatia and goes back 25 years to David Beckham's legendary free kick against Greece at Old Trafford, recalling his feeling from the commentary gantry that Beckham was going to deliver. Martin also remembers Ken Taylor, the last surviving Huddersfield player from the extraordinary 7–6 defeat to Charlton Athletic in 1957. Then, Three of the Best takes on a different format as Martin and Neil travel through the generations in search of football's greatest dribblers. From Stanley Matthews and George Best through John Barnes, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Eden Hazard, they explore how the art of beating a defender has evolved and why dribbling might be making a comeback in the modern game. Football has faced scandals, bans, controversy and moments of genuine crisis before. It survived them all. And through every generation, the joy has remained. #MartinTyler #PremierLeague #England #DavidBeckham #EricCantona #Maradona #GeorgeBest #LionelMessi #ManchesterUnited #Football #TheJoyOfFootball #JOF00:00 Intro 00:47 Football's Biggest Scandals: Can the Game Always Survive? 01:39 The 1964 British Betting Scandal 06:53 The Joy of Football in Practice: FA Youth Cup 11:43 Chelsea vs Tottenham: Rivalry, Respect & Football Fans 15:40 Swindon Town's 1990 Promotion Scandal 18:37 Diego Maradona's 1994 World Cup Drugs Ban 21:30 Letter From The Gantry: England, David Beckham & Ken Taylor 22:25 David Beckham's Legendary Free Kick vs Greece 25:13 Remembering Ken Taylor & Charlton 7–6 Huddersfield 28:17 England's Statement Win Over Croatia 29:30 Eric Cantona's Infamous Kung Fu Kick 31:09 James Maddison, Chelsea Fans & the FA Cup 33:01 Paul Gascoigne Silences Stamford Bridge 34:28 How GREAT Was Eric Cantona? 37:09 Voice of Passion: What Happened to the FA Youth Cup? 40:30 Rio Ferdinand's Missed Drugs Test 42:12 Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand & West Ham's Youth Team 44:49 Three of the Best: Football's Greatest Dribblers 46:02 Stanley Matthews & Tom Finney 48:43 George Best & the Great 1960s Dribblers 51:17 The Great Wingers of the 1970s 52:43 John Barnes & the Best Dribblers of the 1980s 56:20 Ryan Giggs & Manchester United's Great Wingers 58:10 Thierry Henry, Pelé & the World's Greatest Dribblers 59:17 Maradona, Zidane & Ronaldinho 1:00:13 Arjen Robben, Lionel Messi & Eden Hazard 1:02:59 The Premier League's Best Dribblers Today 1:08:42 Martin & Neil Pick Their Three Greatest Dribblers Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon & YouTube Members Supporters: Benjamin Fairclough Dimitre Krouchev Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Nick Parmenter Katie Watson

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett are joined by former Everton, Rangers, Marseille and England midfielder Trevor Steven for a special extended conversation spanning his remarkable career in football and his work today with mental health charity MindFlow. Trevor takes us inside the great Everton side of the 1980s, recalling life under Howard Kendall, winning the FA Cup, two First Division titles and the European Cup Winners' Cup, and playing alongside the likes of Peter Reid, Kevin Sheedy, Andy Gray and Gary Lineker. He also reflects on the impact of the ban on English clubs competing in Europe and reveals why he eventually decided to leave Goodison Park. That decision left Trevor with a huge choice. He reveals his conversations with Sir Alex Ferguson about joining Manchester United, why a move to Old Trafford ultimately didn't happen, and how Graeme Souness convinced him to join Rangers instead. Trevor remembers arriving at Ibrox during an extraordinary period for Scottish football, before discussing his later move to Marseille and life inside one of Europe's biggest clubs. Trevor also takes Martin and Neil inside his England career under Sir Bobby Robson, from the unexpected phone call that gave him his first international opportunity to representing his country at two World Cups. He relives Mexico 1986, Gary Lineker's goals against Poland and being on the pitch against Diego Maradona during the Hand of God and Goal of the Century, before remembering just how close he came to taking a penalty in England's dramatic 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany. Away from the pitch, Trevor explains the work behind MindFlow, bringing football and the construction industry together to tackle the mental health crisis affecting workers across the UK. He discusses the similarities between football dressing rooms and construction sites, the importance of getting men talking, and how former players including Gary Lineker, Stuart Pearce, John Barnes and Viv Anderson are helping to change the conversation. Plus, Trevor gives his thoughts on the modern game, England and the way football has changed since his playing days, before Martin delivers another Letter From The Gantry. From Everton, Rangers and Marseille to Sir Alex Ferguson, Graeme Souness, Bobby Robson, Maradona, England and the World Cup, this is Trevor Steven's story. #TrevorSteven #Everton #EFC #Rangers #RangersFC #England #ThreeLions #Maradona #WorldCup #ManchesterUnited #SirAlexFerguson #BobbyRobson #GraemeSouness #EvertonFC #Football #MartinTyler #NeilBarnett #TheJoyOfFootball #JOF Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon Supporters: Nick Parmenter Hillary Abbott Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Katie Watson Nathan A

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On this week's Spy in the Camp, Neil Barnett takes Martin Tyler back to one of the most infamous nights in Premier League history: Chelsea vs Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in 2016, the Battle of the Bridge, when Eden Hazard's equaliser handed Leicester City the Premier League title. Neil reveals what happened the night before the game, when Martin called him after commentating on Manchester United vs Leicester and spent an hour preparing for the Chelsea vs Tottenham match. Martin explains how he used Neil's Chelsea knowledge and statistics in his commentary, while Neil remembers just how excited Martin was by the possibility of calling another title-defining night. They revisit the extraordinary match itself, with Tottenham going 2-0 ahead before Chelsea fought back to 2-2 and Leicester City were crowned Premier League champions. Neil also remembers his subsequent encounters with Tottenham supporters and tells the brilliant story of receiving a late-night message from Claudio Ranieri while being stopped by police after Liverpool vs Chelsea. More than anything, it's a story about Martin Tyler's obsession with football and commentary, and the preparation behind one of the Premier League's most memorable broadcasts. Spy in the Camp brings JOF Supporters' Club members the stories, memories, and moments that Neil and Martin couldn't fit into the main podcast. #Chelsea #ChelseaFC #CFC #SpyInTheCamp #NeilBarnett #TheJoyOfFootball #JOF #StamfordBridge #ClubCall #ChelseaHistory #FootballStories #FootballPodcast #DidierDrogba #Drogba #FrankLampard #JohnTerry #PremierLeague Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon & YouTube Members Supporters: Benjamin Fairclough Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Nick Parmenter Katie Watson

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett compare some of the greatest centre forwards in football history, from Marco van Basten and Ronaldo Nazário to Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Sergio Agüero, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. What separates the truly great goalscorers, and how would strikers from different generations compare?Elsewhere, Martin and Neil try to explain some of football's biggest talking points. Why are Spanish managers enjoying so much success around the world while Spain's biggest clubs look elsewhere? What went wrong for Arsenal in a 3-0 defeat to Brighton? Neil discusses Chelsea's problems following defeat to Brentford, while Raphinha's omission from the Ballon d'Or nominees sparks another debate.Martin's Letter From The Gantry takes us back more than 50 years to his second ever television commentary at Portsmouth, and his memories of Liverpool legend Ian St John. Martin remembers the extraordinary financial problems facing Portsmouth at the time, the emergence of future names including Chris Kamara, and how Ian St John eventually formed one of British football's most famous television partnerships with Jimmy Greaves.Finally, Three of the Best returns with Martin and Neil picking out players who caught their eye, including Pascal Groß, Colin Bell, Brian Brobbey and Jay Dasilva, alongside a look at goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and some of football's emerging young talent.From Van Basten, Ronaldo, Shearer and Henry to Drogba, Agüero, Kane and Haaland, plus Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton, Barcelona, Raphinha, Jürgen Klopp and Germany, it's another episode spanning football's past, present and future.Join the JOF Supporters' Club on Patreon or YouTube for exclusive weekly content from Martin and Neil, early access, behind the scenes stories and more.#TheJoyOfFootball #MartinTyler #NeilBarnett #PremierLeague #Football #Arsenal #Chelsea #ErlingHaaland #HarryKane #ThierryHenry #AlanShearer #DidierDrogba #SergioAguero #Ronaldo #MarcoVanBasten #JOF 00:00 Intro 02:11 Chelsea & Cole Palmer's INCREDIBLE Goal 09:09 Champions League: AEK Athens, Luka Jović & Real Madrid 12:32 Como, Cesc Fàbregas & RB Leipzig 16:30 Letter From The Gantry: PSG, Ousmane Dembélé & Luis Enrique 25:09 Arsenal Have the BEST Squad in the Premier League? 28:21 Why Isn't Anyone Talking About Fabián Ruiz? 30:25 The Way We Were: How Football Fans Used to Follow the Scores 36:04 Three of the Best: Chelsea Legend Tommy Langley 39:41 Arda Turan: Atlético Madrid, Barcelona & Shakhtar Donetsk 45:03 Mohamed Amoura Shines for Hull City 47:07 Brighton's Kostoulas & Malick Yalcouyé 50:19 Slovan Bratislava's Sinner Camara Impresses Martin Tyler 52:35 Jamal Musiala & Alphonso Davies Are BACK for Bayern Munich 57:32 VAR! Manchester United, Man City & Arsenal Controversy Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/

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On the very first episode of The Joy of Football's Spy in the Camp, Neil Barnett opens up his archive of stories from decades spent behind the scenes at Chelsea Football Club. Spy in the Camp is exclusive to JOF YouTube Members when first released, bringing supporters closer to the stories Neil couldn't tell from the touchline. For Episode One, Neil goes back to 1986 and the birth of ClubCall, when he was simultaneously working inside Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers and Wimbledon. From a chaotic Chelsea 2–6 Nottingham Forest commentary to rival managers trying to get team news out of him, Neil reveals how working across three top-flight clubs earned him the nickname “Spy in the Camp” at Chelsea's training ground. He also remembers taking over the Chelsea newspaper in 1991 and getting an immediate lesson in the extraordinary competitiveness of top-flight football behind closed doors. Spy in the Camp is about the stories that rarely made the newspapers or television cameras: the personalities behind the players and managers, what really happened away from the pitch, and Neil's memories of being embedded inside Chelsea through some of the most remarkable years in the club's history. This is Episode One of a brand new JOF series, with new editions of Spy in the Camp bringing more of Neil's untold Chelsea stories to Patreon subscribers and YouTube Members. Welcome to Spy in the Camp. #Chelsea #ChelseaFC #CFC #SpyInTheCamp #NeilBarnett #TheJoyOfFootball #JOF #StamfordBridge #ClubCall #ChelseaHistory #FootballStories #FootballPodcast #QPR #WimbledonFC #PremierLeague Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon & YouTube Members Supporters: Benjamin Fairclough Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Nick Parmenter Katie Watson

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett discuss another huge week of football across the Premier League and Champions League, with Cole Palmer, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Enrique, Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich, Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Brighton, Hull City and Manchester United all featuring.In What I Saw This Week, Martin reflects on Chelsea's 2 2 draw with Hull City at Stamford Bridge, while Neil turns his attention to an extraordinary Cole Palmer goal against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup. Neil describes Palmer's finish as one of the best goals he's ever seen, before the conversation moves into the Champions League, from Luka Jović's career since leaving Eintracht Frankfurt for Real Madrid to Cesc Fàbregas' Como and their impressive victory over RB Leipzig.In Letter From The Gantry, Martin is on Champions League commentary duty as Paris Saint-Germain begins their pursuit of a remarkable third consecutive European crown. Martin examines Luis Enrique's attempts to keep his all conquering PSG squad evolving, the brilliance of Ousmane Dembélé and the competition developing within a team determined to remain at the summit of European football.That leads to Arsenal, with Neil arguing that Mikel Arteta's side now possess by far the strongest squad in the Premier League following four consecutive second place finishes. Are Arsenal finally getting the respect they deserve, or has their rise simply created jealousy among rival supporters? Martin and Neil also ask why Fabián Ruiz, a Champions League and World Cup winner, receives so little recognition among football's biggest stars.The Way We Were takes Martin and Neil back to an era before smartphones, live score apps and constant football coverage. From half time scoreboards and transistor radios to waiting for somebody to physically hang numbers inside the stadium, they remember how supporters once discovered what was happening at matches around the country.In Three of the Best, Martin and Neil pick out some of the players and personalities who caught their eye this week. There's Chelsea favourite Tommy Langley, former Atlético Madrid and Barcelona midfielder turned Shakhtar Donetsk manager Arda Turan, plus standout performers from Hull City, Brighton and Slovan Bratislava.The Champions League also provides two very familiar names as Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies make their mark for Bayern Munich following serious injury problems. With both players returning to fitness and Bayern looking dangerous again, could they become major contenders in Europe this season?Finally, things get heated in Voice of Passion as Neil takes aim at VAR, football's laws and modern officiating following a controversial weekend involving Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. Martin pushes back as the pair debate Phil Foden's red card, Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester derby and the decisions that dominated another Premier League weekend.From Cole Palmer and Chelsea to Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich and the Champions League, there's plenty to debate this week. #PremierLeague #MartinTyler #FootballPodcast #PremierLeagueNews #Football #TheJoyOfFootball #ChampionsLeague #ChelseaFC #ColePalmer #Arsenal #PSG #OusmaneDembele #LuisEnrique #BayernMunich #JamalMusiala #AlphonsoDavies #ManchesterUnited #ManchesterCity #Brighton #FootballPodcast

00:00 Intro

02:11 Chelsea & Cole Palmer's INCREDIBLE Goal

09:09 Champions League: AEK Athens, Luka Jović & Real Madrid

12:32 Como, Cesc Fàbregas & RB Leipzig

16:30 Letter From The Gantry: PSG, Ousmane Dembélé & Luis Enrique

25:09 Arsenal Have the BEST Squad in the Premier League?

28:21 Why Isn't Anyone Talking About Fabián Ruiz?

30:25 The Way We Were: How Football Fans Used to Follow the Scores

36:04 Three of the Best: Chelsea Legend Tommy Langley

39:41 Arda Turan: Atlético Madrid, Barcelona & Shakhtar Donetsk

45:03 Mohamed Amoura Shines for Hull City

47:07 Brighton's Kostoulas & Malick Yalcouyé

50:19 Slovan Bratislava's Sinner Camara Impresses Martin Tyler

52:35 Jamal Musiala & Alphonso Davies Are BACK for Bayern Munich

57:32 VAR! Manchester United, Man City & Arsenal Controversy Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett discuss another fascinating week in football, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Luis Enrique, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Josh King and Alex Scott all featuring, alongside the fallout from another huge Premier League transfer window.In What I Saw This Week, Neil turns his attention to Luis Enrique and why even successful teams must constantly evolve. That sparks a wider discussion about the return of exciting, front foot football across the Premier League and how the modern game continues to change.In Letter From The Gantry, Martin discovers that moving house can feel remarkably similar to transfer deadline day. With three removal vans waiting and the money for his new home still yet to arrive, Martin finds himself watching the clock before eventually completing his own dramatic deadline day move. He then heads to the Gtech Community Stadium for Brentford vs Sunderland, reflecting on Sunderland's start to the season and the intensity of Premier League football.In Voice of Passion, Neil questions whether modern football now has too many transfers and too many people involved in recruitment. Martin and Neil compare Premier League and UEFA homegrown player rules, debate whether clubs should be required to give more opportunities to their own academy players and ask whether supporters deserve greater transparency over the money behind transfers.Finally, Three of the Best features Bournemouth's Alex Scott, Fulham's Josh King and Tyrique George, alongside praise for Ainsley Maitland Niles following his spectacular goal against Manchester United.The conversation then turns to Arsenal, with Neil arguing that their extraordinary physical strength could make them incredibly difficult to stop. Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz all come under the microscope as Martin and Neil examine the tactical evolution that could make Arsenal even stronger this season.After another enormous transfer window, are Premier League clubs doing enough for their own young players? And could Arsenal's new approach make them the team to beat again this season? #PremierLeague #MartinTyler #PremierLeague2026 #FootballPodcast #PremierLeagueNews #Football #TheJoyOfFootball #Arsenal #ArsenalFC #DeclanRice #MartinOdegaard #KaiHavertz #ManchesterUnited #ChelseaFC #NewcastleUnited #SunderlandAFC #LuisEnrique #PSG #JoshKing #AlexScott #TyriqueGeorge #TransferNews #TransferWindow #FootballPodcast #EnglishFootball Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett return to discuss another packed week of football, with Lionel Messi, Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Hull City, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Elanga, Romeo Lavia, Jack Wilshere and Vinnie Jones all featuring, alongside two brand new additions to the podcast. In the first ever What I Saw This Week, Martin tells the extraordinary story of how Reading Festival wristbands nearly caused a Woking Academy match to be abandoned after a referee demanded that players cut them off. That leads into a wider discussion about the changing Laws of the Game, new rules around injuries and substitutions, time wasting and whether young footballers need to play the full 90 minutes more regularly to properly develop. There's also a bizarre tactical moment involving Middlesbrough captain Luke Ayling, a piece of paper and an attempt to stop West Bromwich Albion discovering his team's instructions. In Letter From The Gantry, Martin turns his attention to Hull City following the Tigers' outstanding return to the Premier League. Two games, two victories and two clean sheets have provided early optimism that Hull can do more than simply battle relegation following promotion from the Championship. Martin then travels almost 50 years into his own broadcasting past, remembering his first Hull City commentary against Blackpool at Boothferry Park on 6 November 1976, featuring Leeds United and Scotland legend Billy Bremner. Three of the Best begins with Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia, who finally has his first goal for the club after an injury-disrupted start to his Stamford Bridge career. His story prompts a wider conversation about Chelsea's squad building and whether clubs risk damaging youth development by creating too much competition for the same pathway into the first team. Martin also recounts meeting former Wimbledon footballer turned Hollywood actor Vinnie Jones and his former manager Dave Bassett, before discussing former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere and why his work as a young manager has left Martin seriously impressed. There's plenty of Manchester United discussion after Bruno Fernandes' hat trick, with Martin praising the United captain's confidence, quality and longevity at Old Trafford. Martin and Neil also debate whether individual awards should simply recognise the outstanding player regardless of their team's success. Anthony Elanga earns his place following an exciting start with Newcastle United. After spells with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, Elanga is beginning to show his quality at St James' Park, becoming the first Newcastle player since Alan Shearer in 2003 to score in both of the club's opening two league matches of a season. Finally, the new Thanks for the Joy feature begins with Lionel Messi's retirement from international football. Martin and Neil look back across Messi's remarkable Argentina career, from his extraordinary international debut to becoming a World Cup winner and Copa América champion, while discussing his place alongside Pelé, Ferenc Puskás and Cristiano Ronaldo among football's greatest ever players. But it's not simply a celebration. Neil questions whether Messi was truly one of international football's greatest players throughout his entire career and argues that his 2014 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball was undeserved. They discuss the dramatic transformation of Messi's Argentina legacy, Lionel Scaloni, Emiliano Martínez, the 2022 World Cup and the extraordinary final chapter of one of football's greatest careers. #PremierLeague #MartinTyler #PremierLeague2026 #FootballPodcast #PremierLeagueNews #Football #TheJoyOfFootball #TheJoyOfFootball #MartinTyler #NeilBarnett #PremierLeague #LionelMessi #BrunoFernandes #ManchesterUnited #ChelseaFC #NewcastleUnited #HullCity #AnthonyElanga #RomeoLavia #JackWilshere #VinnieJones #FootballPodcast Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett react to the first full weekend of the new Premier League season. From standout young players and blockbuster transfers to Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United and the newly promoted clubs, there is plenty to unpack after the opening round of fixtures.Three of the Best returns with Martin and Neil picking out players who caught their eye over the weekend. Josh King earns huge praise after an outstanding performance for Fulham against Chelsea, while Martin highlights Brighton's homegrown talent and Neil turns to new Everton signing Tyrique George, a player he previously coached during his development at Chelsea. Brentford's record signing also catches Martin's attention after an impressive Premier League debut, while Anton Stach produces a brilliant late free kick to secure victory for Leeds United against Nottingham Forest.The return of Comparisons brings some of the Premier League's biggest attacking names into focus. Martin and Neil assess former Brentford partners Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa following their moves to Manchester United and Newcastle, with Mbeumo already looking increasingly comfortable under the intense scrutiny of playing at Old Trafford. They also discuss Alexander Isak and Jean Philippe Mateta, their difficult relationships with Newcastle and Crystal Palace and the pressures surrounding players pushing for major transfers.At Arsenal, the debate centres on Myles Lewis Skelly and Martín Zubimendi and the options available to the reigning Premier League champions in midfield. Has Lewis Skelly now become one of the first names on Mikel Arteta's team sheet, and could his creativity make him a permanent fixture in the England squad? Martin and Neil also compare two of England's outstanding talents, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden, after Palmer produced a magnificent performance for Chelsea while Foden looks to rediscover his very best form at Manchester City.The newly promoted clubs also make an immediate impression. Ipswich Town and Hull City both begin life back in the Premier League with victories, prompting the question of whether they can follow the example set by Leeds and Sunderland and beat the drop. Martin and Neil discuss Ipswich's Julio Enciso and the importance of Hull's goalkeeper after his performance helped secure a huge opening weekend win over Manchester United.Martin also reflects on the emotional tributes paid to the late Kevin Keegan, particularly at St James' Park. They remember Keegan's extraordinary career with Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton, Newcastle United, Fulham and England, his transformative impact as a manager and the energy, generosity and attacking football that made him such a loved figure throughout the game.In Martin's Letter From The Gantry, we get a week in the life of a self-confessed football addict. While preparing to move house after 36 years and packing away more than half a century of commentary notes, Martin somehow finds time for Woking Academy, Arsenal's youngsters, the National League Cup, Surrey vs Kent cricket, Brighton vs Aston Villa and Fulham vs Chelsea. The week ends with Morgan Rogers scoring on his Chelsea debut at Craven Cottage and Martin having witnessed 25 goals in seven days.Finally, One Game returns as Martin revisits one of the most memorable opening nights of his commentary career: Brentford's famous 2- 0 victory over Arsenal in 2021. With Brentford returning to the top flight for the first time since the 1940s, Martin recalls being granted access to Thomas Frank's final training session before a night that announced the Bees' arrival in the Premier League.The Premier League is back, and Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett are back with the players, performances, stories and talking points from the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season. #PremierLeague #MartinTyler #PremierLeague2026 #ManchesterUnited #Liverpool #Arsenal #Chelsea #ManchesterCity #NewcastleUnited #ColePalmer #PhilFoden #MylesLewisSkelly #AlexanderIsak #FootballPodcast #PremierLeagueNews #Football #TheJoyOfFootball Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett complete their 2026/27 Premier League season preview, turning to the final ten clubs and asking what success looks like for each. From Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City chasing the biggest prizes to Newcastle United's rebuild, Tottenham Hotspur's new era and Sunderland balancing Premier League football with Europe, the pair assess the biggest questions ahead. The preview begins with Hull City, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool and Manchester City. Newly promoted Hull and Ipswich face Premier League survival, while Daniel Farke's Leeds look to build on an impressive first season back and target the top half. At Liverpool, the departures of Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konaté and Andy Robertson signal another period of change. Can they return to the Premier League title race and mount another serious UEFA Champions League challenge? Then comes one of the season's biggest questions: what happens to Manchester City after Pep Guardiola? With Enzo Maresca succeeding Guardiola after ten extraordinary years, City are undergoing a major transformation. Martin and Neil discuss the departures of John Stones, Nathan Aké and Bernardo Silva, the arrival of Elliot Anderson, the future of Rodri, Maresca's philosophy and whether Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Gianluigi Donnarumma can keep City among England's elite. Martin's Letter From The Gantry heads to York City, as Martin fulfils a promise to attend the club's return to the English Football League after ten years away. Alongside fellow commentator and York supporter Guy Mowbray and Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson, Martin reflects on York's journey back to the EFL and a thrilling 3 2 victory over Bristol Rovers. He also tells the stories of Ollie Pearce and Joe Felix, two players whose journeys through non league football eventually led them to the Football League. Back in the Premier League, attention turns to Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur. Michael Carrick begins his first full season in charge of Manchester United with Champions League football returning to Old Trafford. Martin and Neil discuss Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford, and ask whether United can close the gap to Arsenal and become genuine Premier League title contenders. Few clubs face more change than Newcastle United. With Eddie Howe gone and Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon all departing St James' Park, Martin and Neil examine a dramatic summer on Tyneside. After years of expectation following the club's Saudi backed takeover, are Newcastle moving closer to the Premier League elite, or have they taken a significant step backwards? Nottingham Forest begin a new era under Oliver Glasner, while Sunderland prepare for one of the most exciting and difficult seasons of their recent history. After earning Europa League football, Martin questions whether Sunderland can surprise Premier League opponents again while competing in Europe. With Granit Xhaka staying and Brian Brobbey potentially crucial, can Sunderland enjoy a European adventure without risking Premier League survival? Finally, Tottenham Hotspur enter another new chapter under Roberto De Zerbi after consecutive 17th place Premier League finishes. Following a huge summer including the arrival of Sandro Tonali, Martin and Neil ask whether Spurs can finally leave their struggles behind and return to the battle for Champions League qualification. With all 20 clubs now previewed across Episodes 123 and 124, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett give their verdict on the teams, players, managers and stories that could define the 2026/27 Premier League season. #PremierLeague #PremierLeaguePreview #MartinTyler #ManchesterUnited #Liverpool #ManchesterCity #NewcastleUnited #Tottenham #Sunderland #LeedsUnited #NottinghamForest #MarcusRashford #ErlingHaaland #MichaelCarrick #TransferNews #ChampionsLeague #EuropaLeague #FootballPodcast Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon Supporters: Nick Parmenter Hillary Abbott Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Katie Watson Nathan A

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On this week's episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett begin their 2026/27 Premier League season preview, taking an in-depth look at the first ten clubs alphabetically as the new campaign approaches. From champions Arsenal and a reshaped Chelsea, to newly promoted Coventry City, European hopefuls and teams simply looking to survive, Martin and Neil assess the transfers, managers, expectations and biggest questions facing each club. The preview begins with reigning Premier League champions Arsenal, as Martin and Neil discuss Mikel Arteta's attempts to retain the title following a season which also saw the Gunners reach the Champions League Final. New arrivals including Bruno Guimarães are assessed, while the pair discuss Arsenal's unsuccessful pursuit of Vinícius Júnior, whether the Premier League is still attracting the world's biggest individual stars, and whether a long domestic and European campaign followed by the FIFA World Cup could finally catch up with Arteta's squad. Attention then turns to Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton. Unai Emery faces another period of change at Villa Park following the departures of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United, while Martin and Neil assess whether Villa can maintain their place among Europe's elite. They also look at Bournemouth's latest rebuild, Brentford's attempts to build on an impressive season and Brighton's seemingly endless ability to identify new talent while continuing to compete in Europe. In Martin's Letter From The Gantry, Martin returns to the commentary box for Colchester United against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, but the story extends far beyond the result. Following Southampton's expulsion from the Championship playoffs and the fallout from their controversial "Spygate" scandal, Martin reflects on a club attempting to rebuild trust, recover from an extraordinary punishment and turn adversity into motivation for another promotion challenge. The Premier League preview then resumes with Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham. Chelsea begin a new era under Xabi Alonso after a dramatic summer of transfer activity, including the British record arrival of Morgan Rogers, while former Chelsea captain and manager Frank Lampard prepares to lead Championship winners Coventry back into the Premier League. Martin and Neil assess what constitutes success for both clubs before turning their attention to Crystal Palace, Everton and Fulham. Away from the individual clubs, Martin and Neil attempt to make sense of the Premier League's new financial landscape. With Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) replaced by Squad Cost Ratio rules (SCR), they explain the new spending limits and debate whether football's financial regulations genuinely protect clubs or simply make it harder for ambitious sides such as Newcastle United and Aston Villa to challenge the established elite. Finally, with the Premier League season rapidly approaching, the pair debate one of the biggest consequences of the summer's FIFA World Cup. Players involved in the latter stages of the tournament are only now returning to their clubs, leaving some with just two weeks of pre-season training before the new campaign begins. Is that enough preparation for a Premier League footballer, or are clubs risking injuries and exhaustion before the season has even properly started? Martin and Neil, unsurprisingly, don't quite agree. #PremierLeague #PremierLeaguePreview #PremierLeague2026 #MartinTyler #FootballPodcast #Arsenal #Chelsea #AstonVilla #CoventryCity #CrystalPalace #Everton #Fulham #Brighton #Brentford #Bournemouth #MikelArteta #XabiAlonso #FrankLampard #MorganRogers #BrunoGuimaraes #ViniciusJunior #TransferNews #FIFAWorldCup #PSR #Football #TheJoyOfFootball Hosted by The Revive Lounge Ltd UCsdye1hUxP4xhgBx9zvuSjg Subscribe to https://youtube.com/@TheReviveLounge?si=L5ddzrJrtSmErtJ5 Support the Pod https://patreon.com/TheJoysofFootballPodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Read us on Substack https://martintylerandneilbarnett.substack.com/ Follow our Twitter https://x.com/TheJOF Follow our Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@joy_of_football_pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow our Instagram https://https://www.instagram.com/joy_of_football_pod/ Contact us via: [email protected] Music by Arron Clague - https://www.instagram.com/arronclague?igsh=aHg1bjQ3OHpmaXIz Intro Sequence by Wellong Sadewo (wells.illustration): https://www.instagram.com/wells.illustration/ A massive thank you to our Patreon Supporters: Nick Parmenter Hillary Abbott Daniel Butigan Tommy Mck Katie Watson Nathan A

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