After a tricky start to the season, is Jude Bellingham back to his best? And after impressing earlier in the campaign, have Juventus become the most boring team in Europe? Plus, the future of Thomas Müller at Bayern, Christian Pulisic suffers an injury, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returns! Join Dotun, Andy, and Lars Sivertsen as they answer your qu…

We’re six games into the new-look Champions League. How come some of the “minnows” are flying and some of the big clubs aren’t having it all their own way? Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are on the hunt to find out… Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com. For ad-free shows, head over to our Pat…

Welcome to Millerntor, the home of FC St. Pauli. Millerntor isn’t just St. Pauli’s stadium, but it is their prize asset in terms of building a sustainable and successful future for Europe’s most fashionable club. St. Pauli are not like other clubs, and even though they are not alone in struggling to keep up with the financial demands of modern foot…

RB Leipzig suffer a heavy defeat at home to Wolfsburg, so how long can Marco Rose keep his job? João Pereira's Sporting suffer a humiliating defeat to Santa Clara, so is he really ready for the job? Plus, Raúl Asencio thriving in the deep end, the puzzling Samuel Chukwueze, and our favourite playmakers on the continent. Join Dotun, Andy & Nicky Ban…

What defines a blip and have Barcelona just recovered from one? Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini disagree over just that question on today’s OTC. Elsewhere, Nicky explains why there is no need to worry about Claudio Ranieri at Roma just yet, despite only having one point from three games. Plus, who is the best player in the Bundesliga? It’s not who yo…

Football could be considered the most popular cultural pursuit that has ever existed. So should we be surprised that – perhaps more than any other sport – it is routinely used to gain political and cultural soft power? Today, Miguel Delaney tells Dotun and Andy all about his new book, States of Play, which gets to the bottom of sportswashing and as…

Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1 in the Champions League this week, so how do they so often punch above their weight? After Robert Lewandowski reached 100 European goals, is he one of the all-time greats? Plus, FC Utrecht defying the odds, Pep Ljinders’ struggles in Salzburg continues, and can Tammy Abraham get back to his best at AC Milan? Join Do…

Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge look over a chastening week for a few European giants and try to work out what Real Madrid need to do to rediscover that magic - will working on the relationship between Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham prove enough? Elsewhere, PSG’s young forwards struggle to fill the void Mbappé left, as Luis Enrique’s spiky demea…

Patrick Vieira links up with his old teammate Mario Balotelli at Genoa, but can he be the man to save them from the drop? Pep Guardiola is set to sign a new contract at Manchester City, but why were no European clubs in the race for his signature? Plus, Bradley Barcola continues to show all the right signs, Randal Kolo Muani reaches a crossroad, an…

Lyon have been handed a “provisional relegation” by Ligue 1’s financial regulators. But what does this mean and could they really go down? Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson debate whether Lyon will still be in Ligue 1 come the start of next season. Before that though, it’s been an exciting week in the Nations League, but which countries are best pla…

Rúben Amorim is officially the new Manchester United manager. He joins after four years and two league titles at Sporting, but what can we learn from this? Portuguese football expert Miguel Pereira joins Andy Brassell to explain why he thinks Amorim will be a success at Old Trafford. Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us …

Roma have brought Claudio 'dilly ding, dilly dong' Ranieri out of retirement, but can he really be their long-term solution? Elsewhere, Éder Militão and Mauro Icardi both suffer ACL injuries, so where do Real Madrid and Galatasaray go from here? Plus, Fiorentina are exceeding expectations under Raffaele Palladino, Lyon beat Saint-Étienne in Le Derb…

One point separates the top five teams in Serie A. But who is best placed to challenge Inter for the Scudetto? Andy gets David Cartlidge and Nicky Bandini to revealed their thoughts on who might be in the title race come the end of the season. Elsewhere, it’s been an explosive week for Roberto De Zerbi, Nicky explains how he could be feeling the pr…

More midweek action for us to get stuck into, as Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of his former employers. Where has their form from last season gone?! Plus, Sporting move on from Rúben Amorim, so who’s next? Plus, why Girona have struggled to maintain last season’s form, who’s the best defensive midfielder in Eur…

Has Paulo Fonseca turned a corner at Milan? Lars Sivertsen tells Dotun and Andy that the underlying numbers are looking good for the Rossoneri. The underlying numbers for Real Madrid, however, are less pretty… Elsewhere, Atlético stole the three points off PSG but Andy fears Diego Simeone’s men still have plenty of flaws they need to address. Plus,…

Dotun, Nicky Bandini and David Cartlidge dive into your curious continental queries, and they begin with another edition of what seems to have become an annual question: should Atlético Madrid be searching for Diego Simeone’s replacement? Elsewhere, we discuss the chaotic mess at Roma, who were dusted up by a former academy prospect at the weekend,…

Real Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or after Rodri beat Vinicius Jr to the main prize. Were they right to do so or was it a convenient distraction after they lost 4-0 to Barcelona? Today, Dotun Adebayo, Nicky Bandini and David Cartlidge explain why they don’t support Real Madrid’s decision to skip the ceremony. Elsewhere, Antonio Conte’s Napoli are …

Vinícius Júnior is the favourite for the Ballon d”Or, but has he actually been the best player in the world? Meanwhile, Nuri Şahin’s Borussia Dortmund looked good against Real Madrid until they didn’t - was it an embarrassment for the Dortmund coach? Plus, Monaco’s unbeaten streak continues, there’s a second giant on the horizon in Paris, and could…

Andy joins us live from Barcelona airport after watching Raphinha & co bury Bayern Munich. Today, he tells Dotun and Nicky Bandini why it is one of the best games he has been to in a long time. Elsewhere, is it too early to say Juventus’ home form is a crisis? Nicky thinks so but she also explains why Thiago Motta’s side are still a work in progres…

With Thomas Tuchel now on the growing list of successful club managers to join a national team, can we say that international management is becoming cool again? Meanwhile, as Spain's 19-match unbeaten run in competitive fixtures continues, are they the very early favourites for the World Cup? Atlético Madrid and Lazio are handed small fines after t…

Thomas Tuchel is the new England manager and the German media are having a field day, obviously. Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen explain why Tuchel could actually be suited to international coaching for one surprising reason. Elsewhere, Man City have hired a new sporting director from Sporting, while there's more financial turmoil in France after be…

Paul Pogba's ban has been reduced to 18 months, but where does his future lie? After disobeying Paulo Fonseca’s penalty instructions, how do you reinstate order to a group of players seemingly not listening to the coach? Plus, the rise of Omar Marmoush, the future of Frenkie de Jong, and a reflection on Andrés Iniesta's influence on the European ga…

From the Reds to Red Bull. Jürgen Klopp has been appointed RB's Global Head of Soccer. What does the job mean? And why has the news been received so badly in Germany? Dotun, Andy and David discuss the hugely controversial move. Elsewhere, David tells us why it’s no longer about Kvara-dona but McToma-dona as Antonio Conte’s Napoli sit pretty at the …

An Ousmane Dembélé-less PSG suffered defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday, so does this prove the Parisians are better off with Dembélé in their side? Marco Rose described Juventus as one of the favourites to win the Champions League, but is that fair or is Rose getting overexcited? Plus, Robert Lewandowski keeps scoring, Pep Lijnders struggles with Salzbu…

Two wins from two for Bayer Leverkusen but are they contenders for the Champions League? Today, Dotun, Andy and Nicky Bandini assess how equipt Xabi Alonso’s side are to fight on two fronts. Elsewhere, there have been a number of heavy defeats in this season’s Champions League, is the new format to blame or could it be another reason? And José Mour…

Some off-pitch drama turbocharged what was threatening to be a fairly underwhelming Madrid derby. Join Andy Brassell and David Cartlidge for their reaction to Real and Atlético’s 1-1 draw! Andy and David wonder if both sides set up to not lose ground on Barcelona and who will be happier with the draw. We also look through the various controversies …

With Arsenal seemingly interested in Dušan Vlahović, is it time for Juventus to look for a replacement striker? After José Mourinho failed to attend his press conference following Fenerbahçe's defeat to Galatasaray, is time running out for the Special One? Plus, why did Benfica go back to Bruno Lage, and why has Raphaël Varane retired at just 31 ye…

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen touch base in the middle of a chaotic opening round of Europa League fixtures - just as well Lars is on to talk about arguably the biggest win in Bodø/Glimt’s history. We also tip our hats to Hansi Flick, who deserves immense credit after Barcelona’s impressive start. Plus, we ask if Roma’s ownership can win the fans …

Daniele De Rossi has been sacked by Roma, but is replacing him with Ivan Jurić the right move? Bayern Munich thrash Dinamo Zagreb, but is it a surprise given the current struggles in the Croatian league? Plus, how did Stuttgart pull off a deal with Brighton for Deniz Undav? Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge have all the answers. Ask us a question on …

Are Juventus one of the most interesting teams in Europe? Today, David Cartlidge tells Dotun and Andy why Thiago Motta’s side are currently one of his favourite teams to watch. Elsewhere, Dortmund got their Champions League campaign started with a win. Andy explores whether Jürgen Klopp’s spirit is living on through Nuri Şahin. And what is going on…

Lyon's John Textor says that buying Everton would be like becoming US president, but how serious is he about the purchase? Angel Gomes shone for England, so just how good can he become? And could Viktor Gyökeres become an even better striker than Zlatan Ibrahimović, or are we getting ahead of ourselves? Join Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson to find…

Is Griezmann the question or is Alvarez the answer to Atlético Madrid’s season? Today, Dotun, Andy and Jonathan Johnson explain how Atleti can successfully use both their key stars this season despite contrasting international breaks. Elsewhere, JJ is excited about PSG. He outlines why Les Parisiens could actually benefit from the departure of Kyli…

Things are bad at Sevilla, but can they get even worse? The summer transfer window has slammed shut, except in Türkiye that is. So which Premier League players might be making the move? And can Mats Hummels, having spent his whole career in Germany, adapt to the challenges of Serie A? Join Dotun, Andy and Nicky to find out the answers. Ask us a que…

Make no mistake about it: Victor Osimhen’s move to Galatasaray has shocked European football. But also – thanks to Napoli’s mismanagement – it was totally inevitable. Dotun and Andy are joined by Nicky Bandini to provide the full story and explain how Galatasaray have secured one of the best strikers in Europe in the very prime of his career, with …

Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here with more answers to your various continental queries. We give you the lowdown on Federico Chiesa’s move to Liverpool and how his versatility might prove useful, even if his star has waned since a bad injury in 2022. We also discuss Jamie Gittens’ continued improvements at Dortmund and if he can flourish into…

Lars Sivertsen would like to call Barcelona a circus - but that would be unfair to a lot of functioning circuses. Today, Lars joins Dotun and Andy to evaluate how Hansi Flick has won his first 3 La Liga games as Barça manager, despite the ongoing distractions behind the scenes. Elsewhere, we explain why Zlatan Ibrahimović could be the elephant in t…

İlkay Gündoğan is leaving Barcelona after just one season, so why are they relaxed about letting him go? As PSG look set to sell Manuel Ugarte so quickly too, what are Man United really getting for their money? Will Domenico Berardi move out of Serie B? And do Kilmarnock have any chance at all of beating Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League p…

Juventus made an eye-catching start to Serie A, but is it too early to get excited? Today, Nicky Bandini tells Dotun and Andy how Thiago Motta has already won the support of everyone at Juventus, something that isn’t always guaranteed. Elsewhere, Marseille also made a flying start to the season. Andy and Nicky explain why Roberto De Zerbi is the pe…

As the European football season fast approaches Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge are here to bring you up to speed with all the latest from an increasingly busy transfer window! We wonder if David de Gea has chosen a rewarding life experience over the demanding pressures of elite European football after signing for Fiorentina. Plus, Monaco and RB Le…

Club football returns across Europe this weekend – and Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge are here with all the biggest talking points for you. Real Madrid lifted the UEFA Super Cup last night in Kylian Mbappé’s very first game for the club. But what did we learn about him and this new-look Real Madrid? And can Barcelona close the gap this season? Els…

With the brand new season just around the corner, which title-holders in Europe are most likely to be dethroned? How will João Neves and Renato Sanches fare as they swap clubs? And how did ‘little’ Bournemouth win the race for one of Europe’s hottest prospects, Dean Huijsen? Join Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen for the best of your questions from th…

Have you been wondering how on earth Atlético Madrid can afford Julián Álvarez? Then you're in the right place. Today, Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen explain everything you need to know about this potential deal and discuss how Álvarez could become the new Antoine Griezmann. Elsewhere, reports say that Borussia Dortmund might sack former Arsenal He…

After the Premier League’s lawsuit against FIFA, what will happen to the Club World Cup? And what’s at stake if it does go ahead? Elsewhere, will any clubs follow Bordeaux’s tragic fate? What are the best under-the-radar transfers of the summer so far? And the Bundesliga 2 starts this weekend – so what are the big storylines? Join Dotun, Andy and M…

Wondering why it’s been a relatively quiet transfer window so far? Today, Dotun, Andy and Miguel Delaney are here to outline why the sale of Victor Osimhen could be the key to clubs spending money this summer. Elsewhere, the Champions League is back - already - and José Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe got through... just. Andy and Miguel explain how Fenerbah…

Is a Nico Williams departure from Athletic Bilbao less likely than we all think? Are Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku about to be reunited once more? How well-placed are Bayer Leverkusen to defend their Bundesliga crown? And after Che Adams’ move to Torino, why are Serie A clubs so regularly dipping into the Championship marketplace? Dotun puts your…

Riccardo Calafiori looks like he'll be the next player travelling down the Anglo-Italian highway. But why are so many players moving between Italy and England at the moment? And what will Calafiori bring to Arsenal? Today, Dotun, David Cartlidge and Nicky Bandini explain how being a modern, left-footed defender made Calafiori irresistible for Mikel…

French football has finally agreed a new TV deal, just one month before the start of the new season. But what does it all mean? Today, Andy is joined by Jonathan Johnson to explain the new deal and how things got so desperate for French football. JJ also outlines why this might not be the end of French football’s financial issues, and how French cl…

What’s the biggest news you might have missed during Euro 2024? Dotun, Andy and Lars are here to catch you on all the summer happenings across the continent! Plus, will Álvaro Morata be a good fit at AC Milan? What’s been the reaction to Marseille signing Mason Greenwood? And what can Man United fans expect from their new man, Joshua Zirkzee? Join …

As we gear up for the return of domestic football, some of Europe’s top clubs are undergoing a summer rebuild. Today, Dotun, Andy and Lars Sivertsen are here to explain why Thiago Motta’s main job at Juventus will be to achieve one thing: lose the title of "the Italian Manchester United”. Speaking of imitations, Andy explains how Dortmund are doing…

Have we just witnessed the start of the next great Spanish football dynasty? Today, Dotun, Andy and David Cartlidge are here to unpick how Spain won Euro 2024 by playing the best football at the tournament. Even if it wasn’t typically Spanish at times. Elsewhere, David and Andy also take a moment to commend the Basque core which was such an importa…