The Athletic FC Podcast
Episode: The Biggest Moments of the 2025/26 Season So Far
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Contributors: David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton, Matt Slater, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Charlotte Harper, John McKenzie, others
Episode Overview
This mid-season review delivers an in-depth, insider look at the biggest, wildest, and most controversial football stories of the Premier League’s 2025/26 campaign so far. From transfer drama and managerial merry-go-rounds to seismic boardroom changes and explosive player outbursts, The Athletic’s top reporters break down not just what happened, but why it mattered.
Key Topics and Discussions
1. The Summer Transfer Window: Drama and Bombshell Deals
Timestamps: 04:00 – 20:00
Arsenal’s Hijack of Eberechi Eze from Spurs
- David Ornstein narrates the defining transfer saga: Arsenal successfully swooping for Eberechi Eze after Tottenham’s long negotiation with Crystal Palace had stalled.
- Ornstein details:
- “Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle … for a fee in the region of his now expired release clause, which was £60 plus 8 million.” (05:00)
- Arsenal pounced when they sensed Tottenham’s negotiations faltering; Eze, a boyhood Arsenal fan and academy product, preferred the Gunners.
- Jack Pitt-Brooke weighs in on the fallout for Tottenham and manager Thomas Frank, emphasizing that Spurs weren't at fault, but this misfire complicates their season plans:
- “I don’t think this is a case necessarily of Levy not backing Frank … Tottenham would be a better team with either of those two guys.” (09:30)
- Highlights Tottenham’s lack of creativity: “He’s got lots of physical defensive midfielders but … not really got guys who can play that clever final pass.” (10:10)
The Alexander Isak Saga: Record Move to Liverpool
- Ornstein describes the prolonged negotiations, internal strife at Newcastle, and the saga’s conclusion:
- Newcastle’s owners initially reluctant to sell, but Isak forced the issue and refused to play. Liverpool ultimately secured the deal for around £130m.
- Jolt Cking (The Athletic Newcastle): “Isak has moved. That means that Eddie Howe can get on with molding his squad. … But we shouldn’t kid ourselves—Newcastle have lost a world class player.” (16:50)
- The deal is framed as emblematic of modern football’s player power and Newcastle’s transitional stage.
Liverpool’s Remarkable Window and Ambition
- Adam Crafton marvels at Liverpool’s aggressive recruitment and tactical rebuilding:
- “On paper, at least, probably the most spectacular single window I can ever really remember.” (17:38)
- Notes the emotional and tactical challenge of losing Diogo Jota.
2. Boardroom Earthquake: Daniel Levy Out at Tottenham
Timestamps: 20:00 – 29:00
- Matt Davies Adams leads the discussion on the stunning ouster of Daniel Levy as Spurs’ chairman after nearly a quarter-century.
- Jack Pitt-Brooke confirms Levy’s “stepping down” narrative is misleading:
- “He was removed by the majority shareholders, the Lewis family.” (22:10)
- A thorough club review initiated by the Lewis family spurred the move; new CEO Vinay Venkatesham and Peter Charrington (new non-executive chairman) are steering the club’s reset.
- Jay Harris and Oliver Kay offer context:
- “It’s a really long stint at a Premier League club, right, nearly quarter of a century. But the legacy looks different if you view it on the pitch and off the pitch.” (25:00)
- Tottenham join the “Big Six” thanks to Levy, despite the trophy drought and last season’s “contradiction” (a trophy win after years without).
3. Managerial Turmoil: Sacking Season
Timestamps: 29:00 – 50:00
Nottingham Forest’s Merry-Go-Round: Nuno Out, Ange In and Out
- Tim Spears, Matt Davies Adams, and Adam Leventhal dissect Forest’s high-profile moves:
- Nuno Espirito Santo sacked following backroom bust-ups and disunity over transfers.
- Former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s shock arrival—and even swifter departure after just 39 days:
- Paul Taylor: “For Postecoglou, when he spoke it was always about himself as an individual. I think that was where he went wrong.” (49:00)
- Forest fans want managers to “understand the role and responsibility … and for Postecoglou, it was always about him.”
Benji Lanyardo on West Ham’s Managerial Swipe File
- Graham Potter’s forgettable tenure ends, replaced by Nuno.
- “I think it was one of the most forgettable tenures as a West Ham manager that we’ve had ... I’m not sure what the strategy was.” (42:00)
Wolves: Victor Pereira’s Short, Doomed Reign
- Tim Spears narrates Wolves’ routine early-season struggles, manager sackings, and club malaise:
- “No surprise whatsoever. The squad they’ve got is not good enough. There’s no creativity and the defense is really weak.” (49:40)
- “Anti-ownership sentiment everywhere you look. Rock bottom. And to top it off, Sam Allardyce said he wanted a job this morning. So I need to lie down.” (50:37)
4. Manchester United’s Rubén Amorim: Charisma, Scrutiny, and Leadership
Timestamps: 52:00 – 58:00
- Charlotte Harper lauds Amorim as an “influencer”—not by social media standards, but by galvanizing a fractured United.
- “What he says in the media is very often replicated to what he says to the players … he’s extremely savvy and knows where he can go with the media.” (54:30)
- Critch and Harper reflect on the pressure and unique scrutiny at United:
- “You’ve got to judge him still on the results … but there is something about his personality and the way he carries himself.” (56:40)
5. Liverpool Under Arne Slot: Context, Crisis, Cascade Effects
Timestamps: 58:00 – 69:00
John McKenzie (Tifo) on Football’s ‘Cascade Effects’
- Delivers a standout analogy:
- “So the end of the 1800s, sea otter living all along the west coast of the US … one little change—killing off the sea otters—has a massive effect across the rest of the board … Same thing happens in football. As soon as one thing goes wrong, everything can fall apart.” (60:50)
- Applies it to Liverpool’s loss of Diogo Jota and new signings—“These players are human beings. … When something as tragic as what happened with Diogo Jota happens, that has impacts, has ripple effects and it changes the way that people behave.” (62:40)
Mo Salah’s Explosive Outburst
- Mo Salah, speaking to media after being benched, claims:
- “Seems like a club is throwing me under the bus. … The club promised me in the summer for a lot of promises and nothing. So far I’m on the bench three games.” (64:10)
- Simon: “It’s extraordinary in the sense of the revelations that came from it … these are big claims. And it lays naked the state of affairs at Liverpool and how vulnerable the club is at the moment.” (65:10)
- Adam Crafton: “There’s been loads of people saying this is behavior of a kind of slightly spoilt aging player raging against the dying of the light … you can’t bench your best paid, most famous player three times and not expect a reaction.” (66:55)
- Oli: “It was calculated. I’m sure he was angry but it looked measured … He’s entitled to feel, ‘why on earth have I gone from playing all the time to being the scapegoat?’” (68:10)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Arsenal’s Eze Deal:
"Arsenal detected the negotiations between Tottenham and Palace were not going as smoothly as Tottenham would have liked and they identified it as a chance to pounce. And pounce they did in quite remarkable speed and efficiency."
— David Ornstein (07:30) -
On Newcastle’s Isak Sale:
"Isak refused to play. He behaved appallingly and he's got what he's wanted. I think that's a terrible look … This is their [club ownership's] responsibility too."
— Jolt Cking (18:40) -
John McKenzie’s Otter Analogy:
"The difference between Yokerez and Isak is that they’re going into different teams at very different moments with very different momentum ... one little change—killing off the sea otters—has a massive effect across the rest of the board. Same thing happens in football."
— John McKenzie (61:00) -
On Daniel Levy’s Sacking:
"He was removed by the majority shareholders, the Lewis family. I don’t think he decided on Thursday morning that he wanted to do something else. I think he was told." — Jack Pitt-Brooke (22:30) -
Mo Salah’s Outburst:
"Seems like a club is throwing me under the bus. That’s how I felt, that’s how I feel. I think it’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. The club promised me in the summer … so far, I’m on the bench three games." — Mo Salah (64:10)
Final Thoughts
The first half of the 2025/26 Premier League season has delivered high drama and major upheaval: power struggles at board level, mega transfers, rapid-fire managerial firings, tactical crises, and the human cost of football’s relentless pace. The reporters’ consensus: this campaign is shaping up to be an “absolute classic.”
Segment Timestamps (Approximate)
- Introduction & Transfer Window Begins: 03:50
- Arsenal Hijack Eze from Spurs: 04:30 – 11:30
- Alexander Isak Saga & Liverpool’s Window: 11:30 – 20:00
- Newcastle Perspective on Isak: 17:20 – 19:30
- Daniel Levy Leaves Spurs: 20:00 – 29:00
- Forest Sacking Season & Postecoglou Saga: 29:00 – 39:30
- West Ham/Moyes/Sackings: 39:30 – 44:30
- Wolves Managerial Chaos: 49:30 – 51:00
- Manchester United – Amorim’s Challenge: 52:00 – 58:00
- Liverpool’s Rollercoaster, McKenzie’s Otters Analogy: 58:00 – 62:30
- Mo Salah vs. Liverpool: 64:00 – 70:00
For anyone who missed the episode:
This summary captures all the big shifts, reveals, and dramatic talking points—offering clarity and context to the events defining this Premier League season, straight from The Athletic’s leading reporters.