The Players Channel

BBC Radio 5 Live

Real football talk...straight from The Players! With multiple episodes every week The Players Channel will provide unfiltered access to some of the biggest names in the game.Don't worry, the Footballer's Football Podcast isn't going anywhere, with West Ham's Michail Antonio and Radio 1's Rickie Haywood-Williams, back for more weekly Premier League insider chat and plenty of laughs alongside a stellar cast of Premier League guests.They will be joined on the channel by our brand new 'Football Firsts' podcast, with Jermain Defoe and Troy Deeney, discussing a range of topics revolving around the first time they experienced something in football. You don't want to miss it!There will also be more podcasts fronted by current players coming to the feed soon.

  • 39 minutes 37 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Will A Salary Cap Make The Premier League Fairer?

    As Man City seem all but destined to make it four in a row, the boys wonder if Arteta actually has what it takes to win a league title. We debate the merits of a proposed Premier League salary cap and whether it would actually make things fairer. Plus, following Sweden's decision not to introduce VAR in top-flight football, our hosts ask if it's time we put the continued existence of the ever-controversial tech to a vote.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We'd love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    1 May 2024, 9:13 am
  • 38 minutes
    Antonio & Cairney: Why Roy Keane Is Wrong

    The boy’s assess the lay of the land at Chelsea FC following their bruising encounter with Arsenal and wonder what needs to happen for the Blues to return to winning ways. Michail comes to Erik Ten Hag’s defence following the tidal wave of criticism the Man United manager has faced this week but goes after Keano for saying pros shouldn’t podcast. Meanwhile Tom highlights the up and coming talent he foresees making a big impact on the 24/25 season and the boy’s perform a thorough post mortem on Nottingham Forest’s latest VAR debacle. Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    25 April 2024, 10:01 am
  • 32 minutes 56 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Is KDB The Greatest Midfielder Of All Time?

    Has Michail changed his mind about VAR now that it's finally worked in West Ham’s favour? What’s John McGinn's greatest footballing asset? How much trash-talking goes on in the box right before a corner kick? All of these questions and more are answered on this week’s podcast. Plus, the boys look forward to next week's FFP Derby.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    10 April 2024, 9:48 am
  • 43 minutes 38 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Did Haaland Go Missing Against Arsenal?

    We welcome the boys back to the pod after a two-week break and there’s a lot to talk about. There were highs and lows for both Fulham and West Ham during that time and Michail is very eager to discuss his return to goalscoring form. Plus, we go long on that much-hyped City v Arsenal fixture and chat about Roy Keane’s description of Erling Haaland as a ‘League 2’ player.

    4 April 2024, 10:02 pm
  • 49 minutes 4 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Are Arsenal Fans Delusional?

    The boys dissect that epic Liverpool-Manchester City clash and there's a lot of love for Virgil Van Dijk - though not so much for VAR.

    As the most exciting title race in years shapes up, they all give their final predictions for the top four, with very different results.

    Plus, Rickie shocks the boys with the news that saying ‘megs’ can now get a youth player banned for three weeks. We ask, should we be discouraging young players from showing off?

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    14 March 2024, 10:55 am
  • 44 minutes 44 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Is Foden England's Most Gifted Player?

    It’s a packed pod this week with the boys both coming in off the back of Premier League wins for the second week in a row. They discuss the controversy at Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool and speculate about what Mark Clattenburg’s role as a refereeing consultant actually entails. Plus, there’s a lively debate about where Phil Foden fits in the England starting XI, what's acceptable for clubs to post on social media, and Rickie’s forced to explain why he failed to invite his co-hosts to the Brits.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    5 March 2024, 3:35 pm
  • 44 minutes 6 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Are Chelsea Really ‘Billion Pound Bottle Jobs’?

    The boys are both riding high this week off the back of wins for West Ham and Fulham. Michail talks us through that Jarrod Bowen hattrick and explains how vital the return of Lucas Paquetá to the starting squad is, for the Hammer’s hopes for European football next year. Meanwhile, it was a historic victory for Fulham at the Theatre of Dreams. Tom explains how much it meant to secure a win there for the first time since 2003.

    Plus, the boys discuss the pressure on Pochettino following defeat to Liverpool's youngsters, the impact on players in the relegation fight following Everton's points deduction appeal, and how a foot race with Homeland star Damian Lewis at Soccer Aid, left Ricky clutching his hamstring.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected].

    29 February 2024, 1:29 pm
  • 26 minutes 43 seconds
    Defoe & Deeney Football Firsts: Considering Retirement

    In the final episode of the series, Troy and Jermain discuss the first time they considered retirement, how it made them feel, and their fears for life after football.

    Jermain talks about how he wanted to have control of the final decision to call it a day and not have it forced on him by injury, about what it's like to wake up as a retired player, and what happens when the cheering stops. And Troy wonders what it will be like when his time comes and how he'll feel.

    And they get into the weeds about why they need football so much, and how they reflect on their respective careers.

    26 February 2024, 2:00 am
  • 44 minutes 53 seconds
    Antonio and Cairney: Boots & Matchday Rituals

    On today’s pod, the boys debate boot preferences. Old vs new. Studs vs blades. Plus, they dish on their teammates’ most unusual matchday rituals. We also take a look back at the long and impactful career of Premier League legend Roy Hodgson, and we ask which of Man Utd’s promising young prospects are most likely to turn into future club legends.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    22 February 2024, 10:40 am
  • 28 minutes 44 seconds
    Defoe & Deeney Football Firsts: Playing With A Genius

    In episode eleven of Football Firsts, Troy and Jermain discuss the first time they played with or against genius, and what it's like to play alongside the very best.

    First up, the pair ask what makes a genius and throw out some names of players they think are special. Jermain talks about playing with Paolo Di Canio and Luka Modric, and against Kaka and Clarence Seedorf. They talk about what makes a footballing genius, why Steven Gerrard and Alan Shearer are so good, and why Dimitar Berbatov carries his own plastic cutlery!

    And they discuss which players they would pay money to see in the Premier League today.

    19 February 2024, 2:00 am
  • 37 minutes 54 seconds
    Antonio & Cairney: Blue cards...Yay or nay?

    On today’s pod, the boy’s debate the use of blue cards in top-flight football. Will they make the game fairer, or are we simply overcomplicating things at this point? Plus, we get Michail’s reaction to that 6-0 drubbing by Arsenal and Tom explains what it feels like when a ball going 70 mph hits you straight in the face. Finally, the lads talk about professional fines and who the worst offenders are at their respective clubs.

    Got a query that only a professional footballer can answer? We’d love to hear from you. Send your questions to [email protected]

    14 February 2024, 12:32 pm
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