Football Weekly: The West Ham Crisis Deepens and EFL Roundup

Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, George Elek, Sanny Rudravajhala

Overview

This episode dissects the deepening crisis at West Ham following their crucial Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest, debates key refereeing decisions and VAR controversies, and provides a thorough roundup of the EFL—covering drama at the top and bottom of the Championship, League One, and League Two. The panel also weighs in on managerial changes at Chelsea and Celtic, discusses the broader implications of multi-club ownership, and highlights standout stories from across the leagues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

West Ham 1–2 Nottingham Forest: The Crisis Intensifies

• West Ham’s woes: Another painful defeat, despite moments of promise, with morale reportedly at rock bottom.
• VAR and key decisions: A contentious penalty awarded against Alphonse Areola and a disallowed West Ham goal sparked heated debate.
• Nuno Espírito Santo’s job in peril: Panelists question his future as head coach amid rumors of player-manager rifts and an increasingly disenfranchised fanbase.

Notable quotes:

• "Yesterday was one of their better performances in recent times and they still lost... I'm not going to say it's impossible for them to get themselves out of this mess. It's only 'seven points.' But it's going to be very difficult." — Barry (03:28)
• "Nuno does sad like no one else does sad." — Max (01:40)

VAR Penalty Debate (04:17-06:31)

• George challenges the consensus, arguing Areola’s penalty was a harsh call, describing it as “punishment that in no way befits the crime.”
• Reference to Rob Green’s opposing view, offering balance.

Quote:
"I can understand why Aréola seems pretty flummoxed when the penalty was awarded... It doesn't seem to me like the proper use of VAR." — George (05:05)

The Offside Call and New Signings

• Discussion on the fine margins affecting West Ham, particularly involving their new striker’s positioning (07:04-08:30).
• Sanny gives personal color on snap app-driven judgments of new signings.

What Next for Nuno and West Ham? (09:32-10:35)

• Panel agrees that nothing would surprise them at this point regarding a managerial change.

Forest’s Survival Prospects

• The result is “massive” for Forest, whose squad, while talented, is caught in the Premier League’s increasing competitiveness (10:35-12:21).
• "Forest’s looks to me to be far more stacked than West Ham’s. Yes, they still point to a couple of quality players—for the most part it’s a bit of a shambles." — George (12:10)

Elsewhere in the Premier League & Europe

Chelsea Appoint Liam Rosenior as Head Coach (12:21-15:03)

• Concern from Strasbourg fans regarding Chelsea’s multi-club model, with fears for the integrity of French football.
• Barry: "I don't think it's right that a top-flight team in one of the big five leagues in Europe should be basically the...spare parts shop for a top-flight team in another league."

Multi-Club Ownership Models (15:03-16:34)

• George and Sanny reflect on the dangers and previous disasters of multi-club ownership systems, particularly in the EFL.

Celtic Managerial Carousel (16:34-20:31)

• Martin O'Neill returns in a blaze of eccentric, carefree press conference energy.
  • "He’s the Scrooge McDuck in this situation when it comes to credit in the bank at Celtic... If that press conference is anything to go by, yeah, he's his own man." — Sanny (18:32)
• Sympathy for sacked Wilfried Nancy and director Paul Tisdale.

Manchester United’s ‘DNA’ Obsession (20:55-22:52)

• Darren Fletcher’s Sir Alex Ferguson references analyzed:
  • "Is it not exactly the wrong thing to say?...this is half the problem at Manchester United. He's, he's this specter at the feast." — Barry (21:34)
• Nostalgia: Football’s endless cycle highlighted by referencing similar discussions during the Busby-Ferguson eras.

EFL Roundup

The Championship — Top and Bottom Drama

Coventry’s Wobble and the Promotion Race (23:59-26:47)

• Coventry's once-unassailable lead is fading amidst poor recent performances; keeper Kyle Rushworth hailed for saving points.
• George: "I'd say they’ve been wobbling for too long—they’re kind of really off balance now." (24:46)

Financial Gamble and January Transfers (28:17-30:36)

• Panel highlights the inherent gambling of the league, particularly for sides like Preston, Millwall, and upstart Wrexham.
• Wrexham’s turnaround and playoff push praised, with Phil Parkinson’s management style acknowledged.

Championship Survival Battle (32:28-35:33)

• Teams like West Brom, Swansea, and Sheffield United are dragged into the relegation scrap.
• Commentary on West Brom’s sacking of Ryan Mason and the tough situations for “yo-yo” clubs and their coaches.

League One — Tight at Top and Bottom (40:36-46:02)

• Cardiff and Lincoln lead an extremely competitive league, with Cardiff’s Brian Barry-Murphy lauded for transformative coaching.
  • "I just cannot overstate what an incredible job he’s done." — George (43:20)
• Gap from the top three to the rest, but mid-table sides could still realistically make a playoff push.
• George: "You can be in danger of relegation and promotion at the same time...It’s a brilliant league." (44:58)

Peterborough’s Resurgence

• Luke Williams credited for revitalizing the team, with new striker Harry Leonard described as "pure goals."

League Two — Bromley’s Fairytale and Survival Fight (47:04-54:27)

• Bromley top and are celebrated as a National League success story.
• Manager Andy Woodman’s friendship with Gareth Southgate shared as a fun aside.
  • Book anecdote: "Woody and Nord" (48:12)
• The table is so competitive, five wins can transform a team’s season.
• Cambridge, Swindon, and Walsall among those in contention; MK Dons under-perform despite financial clout.
• Neil Harris's Cambridge tipped to challenge at the business end.

Relegation Scrap

• Harrogate, Newport, Shrewsbury among those in serious danger.
• Newport’s improvement under Fuchs praised, though the recall of key loanee Sammy Braybrooke identified as a major blow.
  • "He’s been one of the standout players in League Two this season...losing him is going to be hard for Fuchs to deal with..." — George (53:47)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On West Ham’s malaise: "David Sullivan and Karen Brady have been in charge of this circus for a long time now, and they're running the club into the ground." — Barry (03:47)
• On VAR: "It just seems like a punishment that in no way befits the crime...it doesn't seem to me like the proper use of VAR." — George (05:18)
• On Celtic managerial drama: "He had a seance with Elvis and Frank Sinatra, and they were both upset with him that he's had more comebacks than them." — Sanny, on Martin O’Neill’s press conference (17:17)
• On the EFL: "If you are Peterborough you are currently seven points behind sixth...but you're also five points clear of the relegation zone...no doubt at all that they could either finish in the top six or in the bottom four." — George (44:58)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:13 — Introduction
• 01:22 — West Ham vs Nottingham Forest discussion begins
• 03:28 — Barry’s scathing West Ham analysis
• 04:17–06:31 — VAR and penalty debate
• 10:35 — Forest’s prospects and the Premier League threat
• 12:21 — Chelsea’s managerial appointment and Strasbourg fan unrest
• 16:34 — Celtic managerial change, Martin O’Neill’s antics
• 20:55 — Man United DNA, Darren Fletcher, and Sir Alex
• 23:59 — EFL Championship roundup (promotion and crisis)
• 28:17 — Financial gambles of the promotion contenders
• 30:39 — Wrexham’s dramatic progress
• 32:28 — Championship relegation battle
• 40:36 — League One: tight title and relegation races
• 47:04 — League Two: Bromley’s rise, survival stakes

Tone and Delivery

Consistently witty, lightly irreverent, but always informed panel discussion with space for both reasoned debate and comic relief. The episode seamlessly balances sharp criticism ("running the club into the ground") with laugh-out-loud moments (Martin O’Neill’s “seance with Elvis and Frank Sinatra”) and warm, anecdotal takes on the EFL’s colorful cast of characters.

Conclusion

This Football Weekly episode is a must-listen for anyone keen to understand the tumult at West Ham, VAR controversies, and the fascinating chaos of the EFL’s lower leagues. The panel delivers shrewd insight, biting humor, and just the right amount of nostalgia to keep fans both entertained and thoroughly informed.