Football Weekly – "Game of the season at Old Trafford and the latest from the EFL"

Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Sanny Rudravajhala, George Elek (Not The Top 20 podcast)

Overview

This episode dives into the wild 4-4 draw between Manchester United and Bournemouth—described as possibly the game of the season—before a comprehensive look at the EFL as we approach the halfway point. The panel delivers humour, plenty of stats, behind-the-scenes tidbits, and incisive analysis of matches, team form, and league narratives across the Premier League, Championship, Leagues One and Two, with detours into club ownership and management, all in the show’s trademark witty, light-hearted style.

Part 1: "Game of the Season" – Manchester United 4-4 Bournemouth

(01:46–17:20)

Key Discussion Points

• A Ridiculous, End-to-End Game:

  • The panel agrees this was a wildly entertaining, if nearly un-analyzable, goal-fest.
  • George Elek: "It's like a classic case where I don't think any football managers come away from a 4-all draw having enjoyed it. But for us as fans, it's brilliant." (02:30)
  • United were "sensational" for the first 40 minutes, missed big chances, and then lost control as Bournemouth struck quickly in transition.

• United’s Contradictory Performance:

  • United’s best attacking display under Ruben Amorim—yet unable to win due to defensive issues:
    “There’s something very Manchester United under Ruben Amorim that in what has to have been United’s best, most exhilarating attacking performance under him, it’s a game they haven’t even won.” – George Elek (02:44)
  • United’s defense “completely inept.” Goals seemed to "just happen," with little buildup—panelists compare it to chaotic five-a-side.

• Standout Moments & Notable Quotes

  • Mason Mount instructing teammate Aidan Heaven as Semenya scored:
    "As he's running back and Semenya scores, he's going 'come across, come across, and like, he doesn’t... Takes me back to five a side." – Barry Glendenning (06:22)
  • Bruno Fernandes’ free kick:
    "Neutrals getting frustrated at Manchester United getting decisions at Old Trafford. Manchester United really are back." – George Elek (08:19)
  • Brooks denied a famous late winner by a "good save" in stoppage time (04:01).

• Tactical Upheaval:

  • Max: “Didn’t feel like a formations game by the last 20 minutes.”
  • George: “Like a five, five, was it?” (11:39)
  • Amarim, when asked post-match about his formation, quipped: “It’s up to you to figure it out.” (12:34, via Barry)

• Cultural, Comic Touches:

  • Debates about condescending five-a-side instructions, fans’ condescending applause for Kobbie Mainu, formation confusion:
    “If you ask the players what position they were playing, they’d probably tell you, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it resembled that on the pitch.” – George Elek (11:43)

• Stats & Streaks:

  • Staggering stat: Since May 1984, when United have led at half-time at Old Trafford, they've never lost (491 wins, 51 draws, 0 losses) out of 542 games. (14:43)
  • United about to lose Noosa Masraoui, Bryan Mbeumo, and Amad Diallo to AFCON (14:28).

Part 2: EFL Deep Dive – Championship

(18:37–40:25)

State of the Playoff Race (18:37)

• Championship Table Breakdown

  • Coventry 47pts, Middlesbrough 42, then a seven-point spread covering from Preston (35, 3rd) to West Brom (16th).
  • “You could throw a blanket over them… so they will all fancy their chances of promotion.” – Baz (19:10)

• Spotlight on Coventry City

  • “Best team in the league, rightfully top.” – George Elek (19:55)
  • Despite a wobble (loss to Ipswich, draw vs. 10-man Preston), "the gap" to rivals like Ipswich remains.
  • Keeper Kyle Rushworth was MOTM vs. Bristol City, raising some concern but, says George, “Middlesbrough are the ones now kind of pulling away from the pack.”

• Middlesbrough Under Kim Helberg

  • “He’s changed quite a lot,” notes Barry, citing increased freedom for the likes of Morgan Whittaker (six goals in six).
  • Helberg’s tweaks see Boro “kind of building towards this for a while,” George adds (23:10).

• Preston & Millwall—Sustainable Surprises?

  • Preston: Young players and a “raft of” energetic signings fuelling impressive form.
  • “Hecky’s come in and brought in this kind of raft of young loanee or permanent signings...” – George Elek (23:41)
  • Millwall: Strong defensive foundation, “sparkling young attacking talent” added.
  • Millwall “building towards this for a while,” per George, with a realistic shot at the top six or even the top two.

• Recent Form of Relegated Clubs

  • Momentum for Ipswich, Leicester, and Southampton, with the latter two rediscovering form.
  • Goal of the week: Leicester’s Fatab scoring a “brilliant” halfway line goal (28:09).
  • Leicester’s potential points deduction looms (29:43), hanging over the season.

• Relegation Picture

  • Oxford in trouble: “If Oxford stay up on final day on goal scored then it’s a job well done.” – George (31:02)
  • Improvement from Norwich and Swansea (under “Vic Tomatoes”).
  • Blackpool’s comeback win at Portsmouth a “win that, that I'll be hoping can kick start their own season” (33:29).

• Management & Communication

  • Vic Tomatoes’ post-match—"You’re great, you haven’t got a clue what I'm saying"—draws laughter (34:14).
  • Sheff United’s revival under Chris Wilder: “I don’t think Sheffield United have anything to worry about.” – Barry (36:54)

• Wrexham Ownership Question

  • Recent reports reveal £18 million from grants, raising fairness issues given the club’s Hollywood owners.
  • Baz: “It seems quite unfair that a club… is taking money from the Welsh taxpayer…” (36:54)
  • Barry: “Are we ok with investments going into something that has a net community benefit?” (38:50)
  • Club/council claim funds go to stadium improvements with community access, but “if they’re taking the money out as well... doesn't feel like the dream it once was” (39:17).

Part 3: League One & Two Round-up

(41:34–58:30)

League One (41:34)

• Top of the Table in Flux

  • Cardiff, Bradford, Lincoln City lead, with Bolton, Stevenage, Stockport, and Luton in playoff slots.
  • Cardiff’s rise credited to Brian Barry-Murphy's methods and development of "a homegrown crop of players."
    “Cardiff are an example now of why hiring a manager who is a really good coach with a clear focus on player development... can be the route to success.” – George Elek (41:48)

• Bolton, Bradford, Lincoln as Key Challengers

  • George: “Bolton are the ones who I think are the closest challengers in terms of quality.”
  • Praise for Lincoln and Amara Cozy-Dubri as standout talent.

• Luton’s Managerial Flux

  • Debate about fan patience with Jack Wilshere: “If you can’t give him time, who can you give time to?” – Barry (44:39)
  • Recent run: “Only one loss in maybe 12 or 14” but “they’re knocking on the door.”

• Relegation Battle

  • Port Vale well adrift; Blackpool improving under Ian Evatt; Peterborough revived by Luke Williams; Plymouth Argyle’s two recent wins “very important” but fans unhappy.

• Exeter’s Financial Struggles

  • “It increasingly does kind of feel like the fan owned model is relatively unsustainable at this high up in the pyramids.”
  • FA Cup windfall from Manchester City draw vital, but not picked for TV—panel bemoans missed opportunity for financial boost.

League Two (52:01)

• Table Toppers & Playoff Pack

  • Walsall top, closely followed by Notts County, Swindon, Bromley; MK Dons, Salford, Chesterfield, Crew and Cambridge all in playoff race.

• Loan Player Dependency Worries for Walsall

  • Daniel Kanu praised but concern over potential January recall:
    "That's my big worry. Their main scorer... is a loanee and you just hope Charlton haven't got a recall clause come January." – Barry (54:22)
  • “Kanu’s, like, the most poacher of poachery strikers.” – Barry (54:22)

• Cambridge’s Steady Rise

  • George bets Cambridge are playoff-bound: “I've been pretty impressed recently. It just feels like League 2 is so mad this season... Cambridge are the ones who are probably just going to naturally plot along and finish somewhere between fifth and seventh.” (54:38)

• Christian Fuchs at Newport

  • Panel puzzled by Fuchs’ motives for taking the job but traces the link to his assistant’s local academy:
    "Does Christian Fuchs walk into a kind of League One or a Championship job? ...but it seems like [his assistant’s local links are] the reason." – George (56:57)
  • Baz: “My abiding memory of Christian Fuchs is when he kept trying to leave Leicester and they wouldn't let him...” (57:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On United’s Defensive Ineptitude:
  “That takes me back to five-a-side, like, every single week. But yeah, defensively terrible. But going forward, just brilliant, brilliant stuff.” – Barry, (06:58)

• On Home Odds at Old Trafford:
  “Since May 1984… they've lost none [after leading at half time]. Had Brooks’s… gone in, it’d have been one of those.” – George (14:43)

• On Club Money and Community:
  “Are we okay with investments going into something that has a net community benefit? Admittedly, some of the stuff's coming on like floodlights and stuff. I'm not sure quite well...” – Barry (38:50)

• On Jack Wilshere Pub Outrage:
  “Man goes for a drink after work is somehow outrage.” – Barry (44:39)

• Manager Post-Match Team Talks:
  “You’re great, you’re great, you were great, and you haven’t got a clue what I'm saying!” (on Vic Tomatoes) – Barry (34:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Man United vs. Bournemouth review: 01:42–17:20
• Championship update: 18:37–40:25
• League One Outlook: 41:34–47:31
• League Two Wrap-up: 52:01–56:31
• Wrexham grants debate: 36:54–39:17
• Vic Tomatoes team talk: 33:53–34:14
• Christian Fuchs at Newport: 56:31–58:03

Final Thoughts

Packed with laughter, analysis, stats, and panelist banter, this episode provides football fans a thorough mid-season look at England’s top four divisions, with particular relish over bonkers matches, rising clubs, management quirks, and the often-overlooked off-pitch realities of football finance and club culture. Whether you're a Premier League addict, an EFL lifer, or just in it for the jokes, it’s football as you’d chat it down the pub—with extra nerdy facts and big opinions.

Produced by: Dogrove
Executive Producer: Danielle Stevens
Next episode: Carabao Cup quarterfinals reaction