4 comments

• 

  Charles

  1 year ago

  Weird. I desperately miss Danny Kelly and Alyson Rudd, and have found myself far less excited to listen to that podcast this year because of their absence.
  
  
  Meanwhile, the one from the Guardian, which was solidly #3 for me last year (behind TheGame and The Beautiful Game) is now probably my favorite.
  
  
  
  Different strokes, I guess. Though I do agree that the team of Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague is fantastic. And their conversation a couple weeks ago about Man United, tactics, and different formations clarified the issue for me in a way that nothing else came close to.
  
  
  
  So I'm happy to listen to both. Which isn't too bad a thing.
  
  reply
• 

  Johnny on the Spot

  1 year ago

  I miss Danny Kelly too. Rudd has been on this year though.
  
  
  I miss Kelly because he kept it from being too much of a Marcotti love fest, with hot Marcotti on Marcotti action. Seriously he's an egomaniac. And informative one, but one nonetheless.
  
  
  
  I will also miss producer Adam from ESPN Soccernet.
  
  reply
• 

  Mark V

  1 year ago

  there has been a big debate about this the past few weeks in various places.
  
  
  i have listened to both since they started. I think the guardian is not as good anymore, they recycle stories that they have just written for the website/paper, there's not enough barry and the 'extra' show on thursday is so far superfluous, though the champs league & internationals should help. the times is meaty and has gotten rid fo the things that didn't work from last season, as u identified. Marcotti & Balague are always good value, very serious, good insight, argumentative and at 45 mins is a good meaty show.
  
  
  
  i'm always wary of footballer interviews but so far they have managed these well (i.e. we actually learned something).
  
  
  
  anyway, i agree, 1-0 to the times. Guardian just needs to refocus a bit, get barry back and more analysis.
  
  
  
  Mark,
  
  Okey Doke Football
  
  reply
• 

  Mando

  1 year ago

  Danny Kelly has a new podcast with his old pal Danny Baker (itunes), called unsurprisingly Baker and Kelly, and they're funny but not as funny as the muppet who they have in the background laughing at stale jokes. I think that Marcotti and Balague are still the best. Richardson and his crew have their place, and they bring some good analysis on Italy and Spain, but they get carried away with France, etc.
  reply