Ranking the Ballon d'Or Contenders

There are great players, and then there are the greatest players ever. Loads of them have never won football's most prestigious individual award, however. We look at five of those greats who never held up that Golden Ball, look at why it never happened for them and consider when it might have done. This is B/R Football Ranks, putting football back in the right order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15 Apr 202055min

There have been 10 transfers in football history that have cost more than €100 million. You know the names. Neymar. Ronaldo. Griezmann. Hazard. Pogba. Dembele. Coutinho. Mbappe. Bale. Felix. There's discussion, disagreements and drama, as we take Sam's ranking to task over his placements. This is B/R Football Ranks, doing what we do best.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8 Apr 20201h 7min

Gianni Infantino dropped us a message this morning asking us to play out what we thought would happen in this year's UCL. Not wanting to let the big boys down, we obliged, talking through every tie left, including a live draw for the quarter and semi-finals, to work out who should be crowned Champions of Europe right now. It wasn't easy. There's tough decisions to be made about the fate of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, we discuss whether Atalanta's fairytale sparkle could take them all the way, two German powerhouses stake their claim for glory, and both Manchester City and PSG's ultimate ambitions are put to the test. There's arguments, drama and decisions. This is B/R Football Ranks, Champions League edition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1 Apr 202058min

Lockdown and isolation meant one thing-the chance to sit down and forensically analyse the biggest football debate of our time. The Rank Squad looked at ten categories to compare the two men who have dominated the stage at the Ballon d'Or and beyond for 12 years and counting: Aesthetics, Physicality, Skill, Finishing, Creativity, Teamwork, Penalties, Free Kicks, Adaptability and Clutch Moments. From there, it's up to you. With no football taking place, we threw Hot Takes to you, and you told us some of the most controversial football opinions that you hold dearest - and we took them on for a quick debate. Shouts out to everyone who got involved on the B/R Football Twitter channel. We talked Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Ramos, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Christian Eriksen, Phil Foden, Mo Salah and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Mars 202059min

These are strange times, and without football to comment on every hour of every day, what do you do as a football fan with your waking hours? Luckily, the #RankSquad are here to help, with an episode that promises to highlight the best of football books, films, documentaries, classic games, video games, and podcasts to keep you occupied during this barren spell. There's also some words of advice from some old friends of the Rank Squad - Alexis from The Cooligans, comedian Rhys James, former USMNT stars Jimmy Conrad and Mike Magee, and Connor Rodgers from our brothers at Stick to Football, on how they're staying sane with no football to speak of; whilst Jack, Dean and Sam discuss their first weekends in quarantine. The most important thing right now though is that you stay safe, Rank Squad. Sending thoughts and love to every single one of you-we're with you every step of the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

18 Mars 202046min

The Premier League Hall of Fame inducts its first two members later this month and ahead of that celebration, we decided to try and work out exactly who those players should be. The Rank Squad were joined by Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer at The Independent, to work through the top 10 players he would place into the Hall of Fame - the only caveats were that only their PL games counted, and that they had to have retired. It made for some interesting results... Need, Want, Love gave us a discussion of where Harry Kane's future lies should he decide to leave Tottenham this summer; who Dortmund should sign as the replacement for Jadon Sancho if he makes his long-mooted return to the Premier League; and which game you need to be watching this weekend (if it goes ahead!) There was also a return to Roulette, where we talked the favourites for a really hard-to-predict Champions League and why every team left in the competition should be absolutely licking their lips, as well as whether Billy Gilmour should retain his place in Chelsea's lineup even when their other midfielders return to fitness; before Sam ranks the worst types of people who abuse him on Twitter in this week's nonsense rankings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Mars 202058min

Change can be a good thing, especially in the world of football. The Rank Squad were joined by Harry Brooks, football coach at Round World Royals, to talk about the professional players he coaches, and the superstars-in-waiting who could do with a change of position or system to really unlock their potential. We talk about some of the most exciting wonderkids coming through, why he thinks Liverpool selling Mo Salah might be a sensible option this summer and a host of other tactical bits. Hot Takes revolves around Sancho and Grealish possibly heading to United this summer, how Wolves could be a good bet for a Champions League spot in two separate ways, and why the opening weekend of MLS was lit!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Mars 202059min

It's one of the biggest games on the planet and it takes place this weekend - El Clasico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Castilia vs. Catalunya, at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid. Not only that, but it's got a title in the balance - before it kicks off, Barcelona sit two points clear of their great rivals at the summit of La Liga, but will they open up the gap under new boss Quique Setien or will Los Blancos swing things back in their favour. The Rank Squad, including Sam Tighe live and direct from Atlanta, Georgia, answer all these questions and more. Dean and Jack then talk a host of more general Clasico questions, from which goalkeeper we'd prefer, to which players from each side would best strengthen the other, to our favourite players ever from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Then, we're joined by MLS Expert Ranker Matt Doyle, of MLSSoccer.com, to talk about the MLS campaign that begins this weekend, including how Galaxy will replace Ibra, how Becks' Inter Miami will get on, and who he thinks will win the whole thing. As ever, we go back to Sam to round things off, and this week's nonsense involves all the things that he just doesn't get about the good old United States of America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

26 Feb 202055min