Premier League Preview: Ranking Everything You Need to Know

We're at the half-way point in the Italian season, the famous Winter Break, and it couldn't be any tighter at the top-with Maurizio Sarri's Juventus and Antonio Conte's Inter locked in a two-way tussle for the Scudetto, inseparable on 42 points. We decided it was a good time to look back at the season so far, and to do so, we brought back our Calcio expert, Bleacher Report's very own Alex McGovern, to talk all things Italian football. We discussed the ups and downs of 2019/20 so far, including the teams and players who had both impressed and disappointed us over the last few months, banged on for a bit about how much we love Cagliari, revelled in Atalanta's Champions League fairytale, and all things considered, had a very nice time. We hope you enjoy our trip to La Repubblica, and as ever, you can get involved by hitting us up on social media or using the hashtag #BRFootballRanks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29 Dec 201934min

Meet David Olaoye, the 23-year-old from London who is writing his name into the history books in a way different to any other. Leaving the English lower leagues at just 17, David has travelled a career path all his own, that has taken him from Greece to Slovakia to Norway, via Argentina, where he became the first Englishmen to ever play professionally in the country. David talks us through his maddest stories, his career so far, and his hopes for the future; as well as the experiences he's had across the world. To get involved, join the Rank Squad by using the hashtag #BRFootballRanks or hitting us up on social media!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Dec 201938min

Merry Christmas Rank Squad! It's B/R Football Ranks in a festive football feast, ranking everything from our favourite Christmas songs to the best seasonal chants, and at a special time of year, we thought we'd gift you with two very special interviews from this season. First up, Slovakia international, Fiorentina and Sparta Prague defender David Hancko - real life member of the Rank Squad and listener to the podcast - dropped by to talk with us about his football influences, talking about Steven Gerrard, David Beckham and Milan Skriniar as well as what it's like to have to train on Christmas Day. Then, Sam talks to USMNT legend Steve Cherundolo - asking about his fledgling coaching career and how Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have been in spirits for him for his as a coach. It's a special week and so we'll be back soon Squad - Merry Christmas to you and yours!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

25 Dec 201944min

The Champions League round of 16 is set and it's one of the most exciting rounds we've seen in years, so we ranked it! Stu Holden, B/R's lead analyst on our Champions League show and former US international, joined the Rank Squad to discuss potential upsets, ties that most caught our eye and everything else UCL related. It's also the end of the decade, which is kind of wild, so we looked back across the last ten years and put together our XI of the decade, the players that have most impressed us with longevity and talent - the ones we'd pick to defend the planet if aliens descended and challenged us to a game of football for our very survival. 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 Dec 201957min

Have you ever wondered where you should go, and where you should avoid, on a European football tour? Wonder no longer! The man who literally wrote the book on touring European football, Matt Walker, joined Jack Collins, Sam Tighe and Dean Jones to explore some of the best stories and locations he'd visited. We asked him about the best atmospheres he visited, the coolest stadiums he encountered, the biggest clubs that hosted him and the scariest things he witnessed, amongst a general tour of all things UEFA. Opening the podcast, burning questions addressed the issues that both Manchester City and Juventus were currently facing, as well as a quick discussion of Fred's recent improvement at Manchester United, before Dean handed out Melon of the Week to a certain Bayern Munich midfielder. With the Clasico coming up next week, we figured it would be a good time to theme the Roulette wheel with Spain's biggest fixture - discussing why the delays might have been a good thing for the spectator, which Real Madrid player we'd have as our phone background and if Barca are a one man team; before the Picks League returns and Sam hits nonsense rankings with a Political Party broadcast before the upcoming UK elections. 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 Dec 201957min

Leo Messi might have won the Ballon d'Or but the big question still remains - does Virgil van Dijk wear aftershave on the football pitch? Sam Tighe (@brsamtighe) and Dean Jones (@deanjonesbr) went to the Ballon d'Or to find out, and they join host Jack Collins (@jjwc) to reflect on a night full of awards, including a record sixth title for King Leo. We also spoke to Yashin Award winner and Goalkeeper of the Year, Alisson Becker; and Kopa Trophy Under-21 Player of the Year winner Matthijs De Ligt to find out what they made of the night. Then, with 2019 done and dusted, it's time to throw things forward, as Sam ranks his top five contenders to lift the Ballon d'Or trophy in 2020, before a ball has been kicked. Can Messi keep his crown? Can Ronaldo bite back? Can Virgil go 0.4% further and win the thing? Is Kylian Mbappe the heir to the throne? It's all up for debate as we talk through the contenders. The Roulette wheel returns, with a special German theme this week, Dean and Sam go head-to-head on naming this week's Melon of the Week before Sam rounds things off by ranking the weirdest things about France from his 24 hours in Paris covering the Ballon d'Or. 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 Dec 201947min

We went to Unai Emery's last game in charge of Arsenal to see just how bad things had got at the Emirates. It was about as bad as we expected, and this morning Emery was finally shown the exit door, leaving Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg in the dugout for the foreseeable future. We discuss the things he has to do to steady the ship, before talking about some managers that would be a perfect fit for Arsenal, and the players they should be looking to sign in January. It's back to the road then, as we rewind to last night and get the reaction from fans in North London about what went wrong for Emery, how they think Arsenal can move forwards, and what they want to see in their next manager.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

29 Nov 201942min

Jose Mourinho took charge of his first home game of his Tottenham tenure on Tuesday, coming back from 0-2 down to beat Olympiacos 4-2 in the Champions League. Jack Collins and Dean Jones went out on the ground to find out how Spurs fans are feeling about their new manager, their old manager, signings, systems, the winning mentality and whether trophies are on the way - and documented a thrilling game of football whilst they were at it. Hot Takes this week is replaced by Burning Questions, where we addressed the situation with Gareth Bale at Real Madrid, how long Unai Emery has left in the Arsenal hot seat, and just what happened with 'phone-gate' at AC Milan this weekend. There's room for Melon of the Week, which has found a home in the Bundesliga; and despite being too unwell to be in full attendance, Sam wrote us out a nonsense rankings which fully lives up to its name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Nov 201956min