Farewell

Just hours after Spurs won the Europa League, Tomo and Tommy look back on a strange but very enjoyable 2024/25 season.

2024/25 Season Review

One last time to answer questions from our listeners!

Final Q&A

There is no denying that social media has redefined the world as we know it. There’s also no denying it’s impact on football. We now seem to know about every transfer days and sometimes weeks before it’s even been confirmed. We get access to players’ and their private lives like never before. Clubs feel much closer; fans can celebrate as a community and when something like the Super League comes along, fans can revolt as one.

But with this increased connection also comes a darker side—where anonymity can lead to toxic behaviour, and where misinformation spreads like wildfire.

Social Media

More Pet Peeves

He once said that if his name was ‘Sam Allardicio’, he could have got a job at Manchester United. He also claimed that there was no one in football ahead of him; not Pep, Klopp or Arteta. But still many people claim that Sam Allardyce is a long-ball merchant, whose teams would play out of date football.

Big Sam

What looked inevitable from pretty much the start of the season was last week confirmed. After falling to a 3-1 defeat against fellow strugglers Tottenham, Southampton’s relegation was confirmed — becoming the first club to ever suffer that fate with as many as seven matches to play.

Going Down

Substitute Hana Takahashi netted an injury-time penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for Japan against Colombia on Sunday, preserving the women's national football team's unbeaten record under their new manager Nils Nielsen.

It was also the first on home soil for Nielsen, played at Yodoko Stadium in Osaka, in front of just over 8,000 fans.

The State of Women's Football

After a 25-year partnership with Nike, the Premier League is set to turn to a new official match ball supplier for the 2025/26 season.

The fact that this change is making news headlines is a reflection of how far the game has come. What was once a simple, heavy leather ball, only needing to move when it was kicked, has evolved into a multi-million dollar industry. And, for some managers, has even because the go-to excuse for why their team lost a match.

Balls

It was a remarkable display of sportsmanship.

With Manchester United leading their Europa League Round of 16 tie with Real Sociedad, the Red Devils were awarded a penalty when the referee felt Patrick Dorgu had been fouled in the box. Dorgu, however, disagreed and was seen gesturing to the referee that it was a not a foul.


VAR agreed and the penalty was revoked — but just how often does a player admit something that benefits the opposition?

Sportsmanship

日本語と英語でサッカーの世界情報についての話を聴いて、英語が学べるポッドキャスト。 // A weekly podcast in Japanese & English, discussing the world of football.

サッカーと英語 // Football & English