Joga Podnito Episode 22 - The Premier League Returns

The boys are back, and are considering a rebrand! But whether the show is Joga Podnito or Talking Soccer, you can be sure the takes are still hot, the intro tracks still bang, and Premier League teams still cannot defend. Opening weekend of the 2017/2018 campaign was a screamer, and the lands run the rule over all the major talking points as well as Real Madrid's Supercopa victory over Neymar-less Barcelona.

Joga Podnito Episode 21 - Magnificent, Cowardly Leicester

Leicester's fairy tale story returns to its original script, as the Foxes defeat a blunt Sevilla side at the King Power to advance into the Champions League quarter finals. The lads also discuss Chelsea's win over 10-man United, and give their predictions on the FA Cup semi final ties.

Joga Podnito Episode 20 - Cup Glory And The Same Chelsea Story

United's win over Southampton in the EFL Cup Final kicks off this week's Joga Podnito, as the lads discuss Mourinho's men building momentum for the Premier League run in. Week 26 of the Premier League is reviewed as well, as Chelsea's unstoppable form continues, Liverpool's defense remains in shambles, and Super Harry Kane scores another hat-trick.

Joga Podnito Episode 19 - Defending Be Damned (UCL & FA Cup Rounds Of 16 Recap)

Defending is overrated and goals are hot in the streets as the lads rule the rule over Champions League Round of 16 action. City and Monaco combine to score 8, PSG smash Barcelona, and Arsenal suffer their annual public shaming at the hands of Bayern Munich. The FA Cup Round of 16 gets some shine as well, where non-league Lincoln shock Burnley at Middle Earth Fortress Turf Moor, and Chelsea prepare for a quarter final clash with Manchester United.

Joga Podnito Episode 17 - There Is No League

The Joga lads return and Week 22 of the Premier League is discussed. Tottenham and City play out a thrilling draw at the Etihad, United rescue a draw at Stoke, Liverpool stumble, and Chelsea look to have won the league with time to spare. Continental Corner returns as well, where Napoli's chances against Real Madrid in Champions League are looking better by the day. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 16 - Getting Worked at Goodison

The Joga lads return to review a classic Premier League weekend. Everton smash City at Goodison, Tottenham turn on the style against West Brom, while United and Liverpool share the spoils in the Northwest Derby. Real Madrid's epic run coming to an end is also discussed in Continental Corner. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 15 - London Calling

Joga Podnito returns after a brief winter hiatus - the lads discuss Jake's trip to London to see West Ham host Manchester United, and Andrew breaks down the Top 6 as the Premier League season moves into its second half. The recent managerial sackings are touched upon as well, as the boys say farewell to Bob Bradley's reign at Swansea.

Joga Podnito Episode 14 - Rainy Nights in Leicester

The lads are back to discuss City's slip up in the Leicester rain, Chelsea's march towards a Christmas title, and Manchester United finally seeing out a win at Old Trafford. The boys also cast an eye towards the Champions League quarter final draw, where every tie looks to have some real intrigue.

Joga Podnito Episode 13 - Counter Attack City

How do you win a game at the Etihad? Counter attack City. Andrew and Jake run the rule over Week 14 in the Premier League. Chelsea top the table, Liverpool crumble at the death against Bournemouth, and Manchester United cannot stop conceding late goals. The lads also discuss El Clasico, and the wonder of Modric and Iniesta. Subscribe on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 12 - Chelsea And Liverpool Lead The Way

The boys are back with a recap of Week 11 in the Premier League. Chelsea and Liverpool continue their remarkable runs, and find themselves atop the table. The North London derby draw is also discussed, as well as Swansea's woes and Sunderland's hopes. The pod ends with a brief player profile on one of Jake's favorite players, Patrice Evra

Joga Podnito Episode 11 - Premier League Q1 Review

Andrew and Jake return to review the first quarter of the 2016-2017 Premier League Season. The lads break down the table by the current top four, the chasing pack, the bleak mid-table, and the dredges of the Premier League society. Jake also predicts a big Arsenal win this coming weekend, and tips Stoke to continue on their winning ways.

Joga Podnito Episode 9 - The Premier League Title Race is On

The Premier League title race is on. Andrew and Jake return to discuss Tottenham's dominance over City, Arsenal's grit, and United's impotence as they recap Week 7 action. The Pod has a bit of Spanish Flair as well, as the lads discuss Atletico Madrid's La Liga and Champions League title hopes.

Joga Podnito Episode 8 - Arsenal Roll, United are Back, and We Could Start for Sunderland

Jake and Andrew return with a higher-than-average level of energy (thanks mostly to our unreal intro song) and reflect on Week 6 of the Premier League. Manchester Untied are back, Arsenal roll, and we could probably start for Sunderland. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 7 - Manchester is Blue, and Stoke Stink

Andrew and I shrug off the drudgery of modern life and find solace in Week 4 of the Premier League. Manchester is Blue, Stoke are Bad, and the Premier League is awesome. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 6 - The Cream Rises To The Top

Andrew returns as we discuss Week 3 of the Premier League campaign. We focus on Chelsea, City, and United's undefeated starts, and look ahead to the Manchester Derby. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 5 - Both Manchesters March On (Week 2 Review & Week 3 Preview)

With Andrew traveling for work, I man the ship solo and provide an abridged Joga reviewing Week 2 of Premier League action. Given the show's late recording time (Wednesday), I also preview next weekend's notable games, and provide a couple betting tips for our listeners. Subscribe to Joga Podnito on iTunes!

Joga Podnito Episode 4 - Opening Weekend

We're back and better than ever (marginally), covering the opening weekend of the Premier League. We discuss Arsenal's defensive nightmare against Liverpool, Manchester United's strong performance at Bournemouth, Pep's new-look City, and much more.

Also - look out for Joga Podnito in the iTunes Podcast Store later this week!

Joga Podnito Episode 3 - Premier League Season Preview

Andrew and I return with Episode 3 of Joga Podnito - Premier League Season Preview. We discuss Manchester United's victory in the FA Community Shield, share predictions for the 2016/2017 Premier League season, and end with a bit of gambling chat. Enjoy!

ON THE VINDICATION OF THEO WALCOTT

If you follow English football, it is likely you've heard uttered the following phrase about the above-pictured Theo Walcott; "I just don't think he's got a football brain". That phrase was said by a reactionary former England international, Chris Waddle, after a dismal friendly wherein England narrowly scraped by an inferior Egypt side, and Walcott was thoroughly abject. That phrase, furthermore, stuck with Walcott for years; a haunting accusation recurrently mentioned following any sort of mediocre performance. 'He has the talent, he just doesn't have the mind for the game', his detractors claimed.

The above indictment was made by Waddle on the 3rd of March, 2010. Theo James Walcott was seventeen days shy of his 21st birthday. He'd already been written off by one of England's finest ever players, and moreover by much of the English media who viewed the young man from London as a luxury player who, frustratingly, would never fulfill his seemingly infinite potential. Three months on, he would (albeit surprisingly) be left out of Fabio Capello's 2010 World Cup roster, four years after traveling with the England squad to Germany for World Cup 2006. 

Walcott was 21 years old, and already a forgotten man.

ON BERBATOV AND SUAREZ, THE MOST ENTERTAINING PLAYERS IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

A week ago a pundit on the Guardian Newspaper's exceedingly great 'Football Weekly Podcast', quipped that he would pay good money simply to watch Dimitar Berbatov bring down goal kicks, one after another. He then moved to state that Berbatov, with his languid brilliance and nonchalantly devastating play, is the most entertaining player in the Premier League at present. That statement has remained a point of interest in my mind since, not simply because it is a decent claim, but more importantly because the idea of 'entertainment' provided by a footballer is quite a difficult one to reconcile. What provides entertainment at a football ground? Surely, at the most basic and obvious level of cognition, goals (and the prospect of goals being scored) are what entertain the paying audiences of football matches. A player, whose skill set and aptitude for the game promises at least the opportunity for a goal to be scored, is surely someone who may be deemed 'entertaining'. Yet this qualification alone is not sufficient; for example, at the present moment I do not find Fernando Torres even remotely entertaining as a footballer, though he still holds the capacity to score goals. Furthermore, some quality midfielders, who may infrequently be presented an opportunity to shoot at goal due to their positioning on the pitch, have captured the imaginations of, and provided entertainment for, fan bases world wide. Claude Makelele in his Chelsea pomp was a quality example of this type of footballer. Therefore, the ability to entertain lies in another key facet, one essential characteristic, I would argue. And that ability is this; a player must look different in the way he plays football. He must move about the field and interact with the ball in a fashion that appears almost unnatural to the eye, yet is undoubtedly aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, paltry few men in the English Premier League fulfill this qualification, one of them being the man whose picture adorns the top of this post, and another who is almost universally distained...