Ranking Everything We Learned From the Bundesliga's Return

Forwards get a lot of the praise, but it's the midfield maestros who make the beautiful game what it is. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at the players who have been running things in the middle so far this season, including Real Sociedad's Martin Odegaard (22:12), PSG's Idrissa Gana Gueye (25:12), Liverpool's Fabinho (28:10); Inter Milan's Stefano Sensi (32:02) and Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne (34:44). Hot Takes this week involve a discussion of whether Leicester are actually the third best team in the Premier League this season (01:30); some insight from Dean on Jadon Sancho's transfer situation and where we think he should end up (08:59); and a look at just why everything is going wrong at AC Milan (12:58). This week's Melon of the Week is given for a ridiculous Cruyff turn on someone's own goal line... (18:35) Roulette asks who would be in our FIFA 20 Volta three-a-side team (40:35); whose playing career we'd rather have had out of Lampard, Solskjaer and Zidane (41:45) and if we'd rather win a Puskas Award or a Super Cup (43:29); before Sam rounds things off by ranking the things he hates most about autumn in this week's nonsense rankings (45:58). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Okt 201952min

What are the football-related things you have to achieve before you die? Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe), Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) and Jack Collins (@jjwc) are joined by new B/R Football presenter Aaron West (@ayyy_west) to talk about the experiences that we most want to tick off across the footballing landscape. We talk Clasicos, Superclasicos, Clasico de las Americas (any other Classics you like?!), as well as derbies across Europe, special stadiums and atmospheres like Anfield and the Westfalenstadion, living in Spain and much, much more as we hunt our way across the best this game has to offer - with some choice input from the #RankSquad across the world. Roulette asks which is the more intimidating atmosphere for an away team, Napoli's San Paolo Stadium or Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park (37:33), and what the worst pre-game rituals we've ever come across were (39:21); before we flip the script to interview Craig and Adam Malamut, the brains behind B/R Football's hit animation show 'The Champions' ahead of their Season 3 launch next week (42:59). Before we get into that though, Jack tees things up with a poem lamenting how bad the FIFA Best XI was (00:22), before Hot Takes sees Sam talk about how Barcelona are finally good on FIFA 20 (04:18); Dean urges Spurs fans to remain calm and not call for Mauricio Pochettino's head (07:11); and we break down Chelsea vs. Liverpool (09:45), before Dean gives Melon of the Week to Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde (12:42). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!Superclásico de las AméricasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Sep 201955min

The season is in full swing and it's time to look at some of the names set to be the new Frenkie de Jong, Joao Felix or Jadon Sancho. Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at the players under 20 who are set to have a breakout season in 2019/20 (19:22), including Chelsea's Reece James (20:37), Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai (25:09), Ajax's Sergino Dest (29:33); Stade Rennais' Eduardo Camavinga (33:52) and Barcelona's Ansu Fati (37:35). Hot Takes this week involve a deep discussion on whether Arsenal fans are overreacting and if they're going to be alright under Emery after all (04:20); some insight from Dean on Real Madrid's transfer targets next season (12:10); and a look at why Wolves are underperforming in the Premier League so far this campaign (15:02). This week's Melon of the Week is a certain Manchester City defender... (02:10) Roulette asks whether we'd rather have a cup of tea with Raheem Sterling or a cup of coffee with Christian Pulisic (49:35); and whether we'd value wages or playing time more as a professional footballer (48:13); before Sam rounds things off by ranking the most pointless things you learned at school in this week's nonsense rankings (51:08). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 Sep 201955min

The Rank Squad has a new No.1! Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe), Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) and Jack Collins (@jjwc) are joined by Premier League winner and famously safe pair of hands, Mr. Asmir Begovic, to talk all things goalkeeping. We kick off with Asmir letting us know his pet peeve myths about goalkeeping - not getting credit for penalty saves (18:52), the stigma of being beaten at the near post (26:14), and having 'nothing to do' (30:27) - before moving on to ranking who he believes to be the best goalkeepers in the world right now (33:27). Roulette returns, asking which ways you'd want to be unveiled as a new signing (44:15), and whether Huddersfield Town would have survived in the Premier League if they had been allowed to field two goalkeepers last season (46:33); before Asmir ranks his favourite sports outside of football (48:12) and talks about what it was like to score as a goalkeeper (50:02). Before we get into that though, Hot Takes sees Sam furious with the continual disrespect towards Roberto Firmino, fuelled by his FIFA 20 rating (02:37); Dean discussing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future and how his job is already under threat (06:16); and Jack gets emotional about the fact that the international break doesn't get the love it deserves (09:50). Then, finally, Dean gives out the second ever Melon of the Week award (13:51). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Sep 201955min

The transfer window has finally slammed shut in Europe, and squads across the continent are locked in, until January at least! Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to take a look at what the big takeaways are from this summer's transfer chaos. We discuss a madness in Serie A (19:23), Ajax (22:22), Manchester United (25:10), PSG (31:02) and Liverpool (37:01) as we look at the big movers and shakers across the window. Before we get going, Dean hands out the inaugural Melon of the Week award (04:16). Hot Takes sees the boys talk about where the real problems lie at Real Madrid (07:17); how Sadio Mane's tantrum at the weekend was uncalled for given he's arguably the more selfish of Liverpool's strike force (11:06); and discuss the transfer of Ante Rebic to AC Milan in the deadline day deal picked by the poll. (16:08). Roulette returns, asking who is better at football: Lionel Messi after four pints, or Lee Cattermole (43:28), if it is ever acceptable to leave live games before the final whistle (45:28), and which was our favourite transfer of the window (47:38); before Sam ranks the colours of the rainbow (52:21). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Sep 201955min

The gang are back together and it's time to put the Ranks neck on the line again and take a punt at making our predictions for the upcoming season! Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to make their predictions for the upcoming season. There's talk of Lyon (18:30), Arsenal (22:45), Atletico (26:50), Dortmund (31:45) and Inter Milan (35:40) as Sam takes us on a tour of Europe's top five leagues. Hot Takes sees the boys talk about Christian Eriksen and whether Mauricio Pochettino has misplayed his hand (02.30); how AC Milan reportedly switching formations after one game with Giampaolo would potentially be the most stupid thing that they could do (06.45); and discuss whether it's possible that all three of the promoted teams in the Premier League could stay up this season. (09.50) Roulette is back with a bang, asking what the matchday experiences that have stuck with us are (40:15), which footballers we would recruit if we were starting a band (46:10), and what the biggest derby in World Football is (48:25); before Sam ranks his predictions for his new kittens (51:10). To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

28 Aug 201957min

The last of the five major European leagues is set for lift-off this weekend, with Italy's Serie A finally getting to the starting blocks, and there's plenty to discuss! Jack Collins (@jackjcollins) and Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) are joined by B/R Football's very own calcio aficionado, Alex McGovern (@AlexMcGovern11) to talk all about the Italian top flight and discuss which teams are the front-runners to try and knock Juventus off their perch this year. There's analysis of Roma (16.22), Lazio (25.18), Atalanta (26.17), Napoli (32.12), Milan (20.03) and Inter (36.37), as we ponder if anyone can stop the Bianconeri (14.12) from making it nine titles in a row. Hot Takes sees Sam and Jack discussing Barcelona's tough start to the new Liga season and if they really need to sign Neymar or not (02.22); whether Philippe Coutinho's transfer to Bayern Munich makes them favourites for the Bundesliga title once again (06.01); and there's a deep dive on Chelsea's Mason Mount - can he be the light that Chelsea need in what will be a difficult season for the Blues? (09.20) Roulette, as ever, asks the big questions: Naming three games you think you could beat Cristiano Ronaldo at (43.23), what your standard half-time routine at the football is (44.14), and which song you'd choose to sing on your initiation if you were joining a new football team (45.41); before Sam ranks his three most annoying things in football in this week's nonsense rankings. (47.13) To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks - and remember to join our FPL league! Get over to fantasy.premierleague.com and use the code tzl5nt to get involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21 Aug 201951min

The Spanish and German seasons get underway this weekend, with the big kickoff taking place in La Liga and the Bundesliga, and so we thought it would only be right to talk through the Ranks predictions for the European spots in each of those leagues. (Bundesliga 01.49, La Liga 17.04) And herald the return of the Rank God to do so! Sam Tighe returned from his pre-season retreat, joining the ever-present Jack Collins to talk through who would be taking the top six places in La Liga-from a tightly fought Seville derby in the Europa League spots to a title race between Real, Atleti and Barcelona. To round off our Spanish segment, we have a very special interview with La Liga ambassador and former Real Madrid, Valencia, Liverpool and Spain striker Fernando Morientes (36.57), who gives us his takes on the most exciting La Liga signing this season, who he thinks will win the league, and how his former sides will get on in this season's Champions League. And indeed in Hot Takes, Sam started us off by ranking the Bundesliga Top Six also. Will Bayern make it eight titles in a row, or is this the year that Dortmund finally topple the dynasty? There's chat too, about Manchester United's opening day thumping of Chelsea at Old Trafford (07.51), and about the debut of Spurs' record signing Tanguy Ndombele. (11.55) Roulette finds the boys discussing whether they'd rather have a season ticket at Atletico or Dortmund for this season (46.53), and what their new-season resolutions are (47.58); before Sam rounds things off by ranking his favourite types of 'Drake' in this week's nonsense. (51.15) To get involved, follow @brfootball on Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #BRFootballRanks - and remember to join our FPL league! Get over to fantasy.premierleague.com and use the code tzl5nt to get involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Aug 201954min