Beyond The Pitch

Phil and Anto are joined once again by former Wimbledon, Newcastle and England international defender Warren Barton for another episode that begins with the Champions League semi-finals with a surprise final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich waiting at the Allianz in Germany for all the spoils and the huge ramifications of the Pep Guardiola departure from Barcelona after a hugely successful run. We take a look back at both semi-finals, gauge the advantage for the German side and explore whether Chelsea has further exposed a blueprint on how to beat the Spanish giants. We also consider the Guardiola era at Barcelona, his legacy and how this club might just be regarded in football history. Whereas Barcelona won roughly 13 trophies during this golden moment in its history, will they be remembered as fondly years from now having not left a remarkable stretch featuring consecutive European trophies or Final appearances or a long stretch in an otherwise top heavy domestic league. What next for Pep Guardiola in the future and what kind of football operation would best match his talents and what happens next to Barcelona who will have several key questions to address now that teams have found a measure of success in disrupting their offensive playing style with stubborn defensive sides and a core of players who are either at the edge of their careers or just worn down past optimal level given the amount of football they have played for club and country. Then we turn to the matter of the Manchester Derby to get a preview of what we might expect for the biggest match of the season in the Premier League with a title on the line at Etihad Stadium. Predictions and a look at the experience of Sir Alex Ferguson will be on full display in a match with everything on the line. We also take another look at Newcastle United and hand out some plaudits for a midfield that may have jelled even better than its two Senegalese strikers in the names of Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Tiote - perhaps the biggest unintended consequence in the EPL this season. Then we take one more look at the top four to determine if Arsenal will feel the pain from Stoke City should they surrender more points and consider whether Tottenham can make one more surge past Chelsea to grab that fourth and expensive slot over the Blues in the end. Vaishali Bhardwaj also makes her return with world football updates in this episode.

Anto and Phil are joined by Italian football commentator and writer Gabriele Marcotti to take a look at some of the key stories involving Serie A and calcio as the Scudetto is coming right into view. This begins with Juventus and AC Milan with 12 points in the balance and the big questions really do surround Milan as problems arise between Max Allegri and owner Silvio Berlusconi and where the title may have been lost by the Rossoneri while Juventus has literally motored along throughout the year. Lots of reasons beyond referee decisions here, but many believe it was a highly unexpected combination of the Juventus midfield, a Gigi Buffon resurrection and perhaps the camel that broke the back in the form of losing Thiago Silva at precisely the wrong time. We gauge whether this Juventus form can translate to the Euros and what may be the strengths of the Azzurri come summer in Poland/Ukraine. Then we turn to the matters Zamparini at US Palermo and Claudio Lotito at Lazio who have been handed FIGC bans for transfer irregularities and what was the underlying reasons for taking action by football authorities as well as the rather loud and early divorce between Christian Panucci and the controversial Palermo owner. We also discuss the potential teams to rise from Serie B next season where two legendary clubs in Verona and Torino look to fulfill and whether Pescara is in the right place to join them after a playoff. We close on the matter of potential problems for Antonio Conte and his handling of a reporting mandate at Siena when matchfixing activities were suspected, and then a rather interesting discussion on where the great central defenders have gone and what might be some underlying reasons for this phenomenon.

Anto and Nico are joined by Avi Creditor of Sports Illustrated and SoccerByIves.net for an early season checkpoint review of what has gone on in Major League Soccer starting with the recent drama created by Rafa Marquez once more, leading to a three match suspension. We also cover the issues at Toronto FC where the fragility of the situation is at hand with Aron Winter in the crosshairs and whether the Dutchman can survive in the top spot where the wins have been fewer than the backroom concerns. We also take a look at San Jose Earthquakes who have surprisingly reached top spot in the Western Conference to discuss what have been the reasons for their early season success. As a sidebar we gauge the possibility that this early success may be putting huge pressure on Portland Timbers who have not started fast, and given the unbalanced schedule may find themselves in a season-long struggle to claim one of the five playoff spots this year. Also in view here is Houston who continues to show remarkable resilience on an extended away streak waiting for their new stadium to open where it is believed that the team will get that needed bump just in time for the summer stretch. Also in discussion are the three superpowers in the West - Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders - who all have some questions to resolve, but do appear to have some good signs edging toward the surface. All of this includes a deeper look into the defensive problems for Los Angeles, exploration of the problems for Toronto FC and if Philadelphia Union may be in a bit more trouble than forecasted given recent results. In conclusion we get into the goal line discussion for Major League Soccer and the retrospective suspensions that have seemed to lack some consistency but at least point to doing the right thing for protecting its players.

Anto is joined by writer and commentator Bobby McMahon of Fox Soccer Report, Soccer Report Extra and Forbes.com to take a look at the many facet of how information and data has changed the face of how the game is covered and the challenge of how this information is presented in media today. Then we turn to the matter of the Champions League semi-finals where Bobby is not so sold on Real Madrid beating Bayern Munich and Anto was never sold on the credentials this time around for Barcelona given the blueprint out there and an increasing level of wastefulness surrounding the defending champions around goal. Of just as much importance is the battle for fourth in the Premier League and what it may mean to a team like Chelsea who will be handcuffed by the constraints of UEFA Financial Fair Play and how commercial realities might just alter the business plan for the Blues. We also discuss the misplaced expectations at Manchester City and how Newcastle United has not only over-performed, but also have reset how clubs will approach the transfer market in England. Loads here on Newcastle, Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal in this battle for fourth. Then we close on a bit of history in terms of how successful national team programs and professional clubs - like we see with the Spanish team and Barcelona - are really exceptions to the rule and how the bubble may have moved past Spain as they look to enter territory never attained in the history of the sport.

Phil is joined by Doron Salomon of Stretford-End.com for a fifth episode to take a look at a disappointing result against Everton where the defence squandered an opportunity to seriously close the door on another Premier League title. And having failed to do so, it now adds extra dimension to the Manchester Derby next week away at Manchester City where all eyes will be next week with silverware in the balance. We examine the events of the day, what went right and what went wrong for Manchester United and how the strikers appear to be rounding into form at the right time. Even more in this episode on how Sir Alex might just approach the City match and how United does tend to make things harder for themselves than it has to be at times, to determine if it would be best to absorb attacks and counter or seriously test Manchester City in defense by pressing them from the outset of the match, given that this is uncharted waters for Mancini and this team so late in a season. We also examine the defensive errors and chalk those up to experience and explain how the young defenders will be viewed in the years ahead at United and why Everton might just be one of those examples of a lesson well learned. More in focus here with the Academy and Reserve players of the season, recent results and performances of note and what Manchester United may do about its midfield this summer given some recently linked players for the next transfer window.

Phil and Anto are joined once again by former Wimbledon, Newcastle and England international defender Warren Barton for another episode that takes a look at all the key stories in football starting with a Chelsea Football Club in the spotlight as they are on the verge of not finishing top four in Europe but may hold some cards to beat a superior Barcelona when all comes to the surface. We also examine the Real Madrid-Bayern Munich return leg to consider whether Jose Mourinho will be less stubborn in his team selection at home with an away goal in the bank. Will Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain feature at the Bernabeu and is the absence of David Villa the continued problem for Barcelona as a level of sloppiness continues to rear its head for the defending Champions League title holder. We also look at the chase for fourth in the Premier League and how the failures in the EPL will finally force Chelsea to make some moves in refreshing the squad and why this transition really did fail for Andre Villas-Boas given how it has been the veterans who have circled the wagons for Roberto Di Matteo. We also examine the run out of Arsenal without Mikel Arteta and how the last three games will be a quite precarious affair. We also gauge whether managers today are being too cautious with young players when they have the skills to compete at the highest levels. Then we close on the matter of the diving and simulation talking point that continues to be a problem in the biggest matches no matter where they are played and whether it is now time to address this situation more formally for fines and suspensions in the future. Loads here on the Champions League, the top four here in the EPL and Vaishali Bhardwaj also makes her return with world football updates in this episode.

Phil and Anto are joined by world-recognized Spanish football correspondent Sid Lowe directly post-match from Camp Nou in Barcelona after a massive 2-1 victory by Real Madrid essentially settled the title for Los Blancos on the heels of a tremendous Cristiano Ronaldo game winner. We examine many of the key talking points including the starting lineup by Pep Guardiola, which was something of a surprise, perhaps an approaching weariness amongst the Barcelona team itself and whether the fine margins in this El Clasico were the sum of past experiences for the Real Madrid of Jose Mourinho over the last two years. We get into the symbolism of the evening including what this victory will mean to Cristiano Ronaldo on a big worldwide stage, but also how the absence of David Villa really became an important factor indirectly in the sense that efficiency around goal has played a rapidly increasing problem for Barcelona largely borne from past deals involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto`o which have denied Barcelona a needed ruthlessness around goal. We also evaluate the evolution of Mesut Ozil and what it may mean for Kaka who was conspicuously never used either tonight or against Bayern Munich. Other topics reviewed include the Gerard Pique snub and how defensive frailties in key points became a problem this evening and how some decisions by the Spanish federation may signal more trouble ahead for those players who are selected for Euro 2012.

Anto is joined by the one and only Ray Hudson of GolTV for a one of a kind look at everything from El Clasico to Copa Libertadores and a pair of important milestones in the world of football. We begin with the emergence of Spain as the dominant force in European football as five of the final eight teams in the Champions League and Europa League continue to battle for some very important silverware, but the stakes get no bigger than Real Madrid and Barcelona at the semi-final stage in Europe wrapped around what looks to be a massive deciding match for La Liga which be this edition of El Clasico in Camp Nou on Saturday. Cast in the spotlight is Jose Mourinho as he is on the verge of winning a league title in four different countries as well as his third European Cup with three different teams. We get underneath many of the key points of the matchups including the tale of the tape for both Barcelona and Real Madrid including how Pep Guardiola has evolved in his approach over time, how Mourinho might have two key personnel decisions to make in advance of his team sheet and whether both managers may have had a bit of divided attention with the Champions League midweek, which both clubs lost in away fixtures. Is there an increasing level of weariness about Barcelona at the wrong time of the season, are we feeling the loss of David Villa at the business end of a season, and if it is largely assumed that the weak link in Barcelona is its defence, clearly the goals allowed run counter-intuitive to this belief. Maybe the tiki-taka midfield is something other than an offensive system. Does Mourinho go with Higuain over Benzema and might there be a move to Kaka for a different wrinkle given the short week to the Bayern Munich return leg. We also look at the third and fourth slots in La Liga for Champions League football next season and if Valencia and Malaga can hold on by the end of the season. Then as a special bonus we take a look at the Copa Libertadores in South America to review one of the best tournaments in the world and a competition every bit as dramatic and entertaining as the Champions League to handicap some of the favorites and consider some of the favorites, including Boca and defending champion Santos with Neymar. In closing we take a look back at New York Cosmos and Lazio legend Giorgio Chinaglia as Ray Hudson remembers him both from his playing days and as a fellow broadcaster to give a fabulous look into a truly larger than life figure and some unforgettable memories. We also pay a bit of a tribute to Freddy Kanoute who looks to have played his last match in La Liga with Sevilla as retirement now looms for the French-born Mali international striker and profile one the most elegant strikers of his generation - the winner of two UEFA Cup titles, two Copa del Rey titles, plus one European Super Cup, since joining from Tottenham in 2005.

Anto is joined by ESPN Commentator and ESPN Press Pass co-host Janusz Michallik for a supershow on a variety of major stories that center on the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and the semi-final talking points in the Champions League. We start on the matter of goal line decisions and simulation in football today and take a serious economic approach to how huge decisions now are well beyond just issues of sporting justice - clubs, leagues and players are being hit with multi-million euro impacts that have a clear bearing on the bottom line. Then we take a look at how the players themselves with an increasing frequency are undermining the game with all kinds of tactics that put referees unfairly in the spotlight and some of this may come down to managers themselves who encourage how players shape contact into fouls. Next we move to some of the key issues in the Premier League affecting the race for fourth to gauge whether Tottenham, Chelsea or Newcastle grab fourth and a ticket to the millions in TV money. We also talk Chelsea at a crossroads and whether Roman Abramovich might regret not making the manager change even sooner and left himself too little wiggle room. Then we move to the battles in Serie A between Juventus and Milan for first and the key pieces missing for the defending champion Rossoneri and the race for third and the millions in Champions League football awaiting either Roma, Lazio or Udinese and who might win the lottery ticket. We also talk a bit about Borussia Dortmund and how it might just shape what host nation Poland could do this summer in the European Championship and whether the host nations are serious dark horse candidates in Poland and Ukraine given the group stage opponents they have. In the end we move to the Champions League with focus on these semi-final match-ups as two legged ties to determine just how close Jose Mourinho might be to becoming the first manager to win the Champions League with three different teams. We preview the issues ahead for Real Madrid who might just be the favorite given that the final is a one-off on a neutral pitch and Chelsea might just prove to be a very dangerous threat to Barcelona given the squad available to the Blues. This is a massive supershow with one of the classiest commentators out there today.

Anto is joined once again by former Wimbledon, Newcastle and England international defender Warren Barton for another episode that looks into the big football stories of the day including the dismissal of Damien Comolli from Liverpool Football Club and what it may hold in store for Kenny Dalglish. We cover the key factors which have come to light including some statements by Tom Werner of Fenway Sports Group who have indicated that Comolli was no longer capable of directing the long term strategy for the club and we evaluate the deals that were negotiated during his tenure. This includes the players who either did not work in synergy with one another as well as the cash for value in other deals that have proved to be inflated or have the possibility of becoming good value acquisitions with time. Then we turn to the matter of Newcastle United who continue to shock and surprise with their challenge for a top four slot in the Premier League and Warren gives us his analysis on how similar this team is to the Keegan teams of the late 1990s and we gauge whether top four is really possible given the fixture list ahead. That opens a discussion into teams who need that one special player in the names of Arsenal and Newcastle to take that next step either in the Premier League or Champions League and the name Kaka comes right to the front who might be the kind of player who could keep Robin Van Persie interested in a new deal with the Arsenal. What this also opens is a discussion into Clint Dempsey who has had the breakout season at Fulham and we take a deeper look not only into whether he could make a team with Champions League football. but also in what capacity as Dempsey is the kind of player whose versatility does seem add a level of interpretation in terms of his value. Is Dempsey a forward or an attacking midfield like Frank Lampard or Tim Cahill, a true goalscoring threat who has the required freedom to pick his spots. We also get into the comments of Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, who has sent communication to both the FA and the Premier League as well as made some public statements about how decisions have been made by referees and how they seem insulated by the institutions themselves. This gets into a timely discussion about some of the errors made by match officials and the issue of bringing video evidence into live matches starting with goal line technology which has raised its head repeatedly in some of the biggest competitions in football this season. We also profile the real surprise story of Paul Lambert and Norwich City who might just hold the key to who will reach the top four slots in the Premier League when looking at the fixture list. In the last segment we dig deeper into the Roberto Mancini tenure at Manchester City to separate what appears to be a manager in crisis or whether he is simply overwhelmed with the situation at hand given all the off the pitch drama including Carlos Tevez, SuperMario and challenging Sir Alex for a title. Lots here including how the media shapes events in England and how the media examines managers in Italy and how some of this plays out to certain disadvantages. We close on the matter of Roberto Martinez and whether he negotiate yet another Great Escape for Wigan on the heels of a surprise result against Manchester United and if Martinez is simply fulfilling a basic tenet of the job or whether he is simply staging future stops in his career to the detriment of the football club. Warren Barton also pays tribute to Sir Trevor Francis who was taken to hospital with a heart attack on Friday and gives us an insight into the man and extends his well wishes to the English football legend. Anto pays tribute to fallen Italian midfielder, Piermario Morosini, a 25-year-old Atalanta youth system prospect who collapsed during the Pescara-Livorno Serie B match and was later pronounced dead upon his arrival at a local hospital. This death has rocked Italian football at every level as all matches were postponed in the wake of this tragedy. Vaishali Bhardwaj also makes her return with world football updates in this episode.

Anto is joined by world-recognized commentator Tim Caple who covers international sport for Eurosport, ESPN and Al Jazeera and some of the biggest events in the world in the aftermath of a huge match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich - a match that was terrific drama and had all the elements of a heavyweight prize fight for Bundesliga superiority. We breakdown many of the key battles within the match, forecast just how close a second straight German domestic title is for defending champions Dortmund and consider what might have gone wrong for Bayern Munich as they seek to tend to matters in the Champions League semi-finals against Jose Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. But for the night it was mostly about what each of German favorites do well and maybe a bit of lethargy for the visiting side who seemed to get overwhelmed by a Dortmund team who created loads of chances and pushed the workrate and forced their will on the Bavarian giants. What may concern Bayern going forward was just how ineffective that Robben, Ribery, Gomez and Muller were on the evening and we evaluate whether the clash with Real Madrid will produce a much different outlook as Bayern has the extra motivation of playing the final at home at the Allianz Arena. Then we turn to the matter of the Dutch league with loads of storylines including a resurgent Ajax under Frank de Boer who has the team flying on all cylinders at the most important part of the season even while club has been left in turmoil since a long-running feud between Johan Cruyff, club directors and fellow board members played itself out in a court battle in February, overturning the appointments of Louis van Gaal and others against his wishes. We also take a look at the situation involving PSV Eindhoven and Phillip Cocu who has indicated that he will not return as first team manager next season having been appointed caretaker since Fred Rutten was sacked. We evaluate the decision by Cocu and the club and get into some of the internal politics involved with a return of Mark Van Bommel, who is considering a return to PSV this summer. We also evaluate the Germans and Dutch teams heading toward the Euros this summer and even weigh which national team coach will be liking his chances heading into Poland and Ukraine. Loads in the episode with one of the most recognized commentators in the business including a look at the Olympics this summer and always but always a reach into boxing references from an announcer who has called some of the biggest world sporting events.

Phil is joined by Doron Salomon of Stretford-End.com as well as an appearance from Nik Storey who not only contributes to Stretford End, but also serves as a referee in England, for a fourth edition of the Manchester United show to take a look at some rather interesting referee decisions, another Premier League title edging ever closer to reality and how the club is performing behind the scenes at the Academy and Reserve levels. In focus is a key call during the QPR match and Nik helps break down how Lee Mason would have looked at the key moment involving Ashley Young which led to a red card on skipper Shaun Derry after 13 minutes. We also examine how referees are under constant pressure with players who are prone to working contact, complete simulation or diving in the modern game and gauge whether this kind of thing is an increasing issue for Ashley Young since he moved to Old Trafford last summer. It is clear that this is a problem at all levels of football no matter where the game is played and no matter the nationality of the player himself because of the scope of each game in the top flight. We also consider the impact that Paul Scholes has had since he has returned to Manchester United and his contribution has been well beyond expectations and even the in game statistics as he has closed the gap for a center of the midfield which desperately needed a degree of quality and mentality that had been lacking. Doron also gives us another in depth look at the Academy and Reserve prospects in the Manchester United system and breaks them down with a detailed insight and provides a view of the competitions that the club has undertaken throughout this phase of the season including the Dallas Cup in the United States and the FA Youth Cup. Then we explore the fixture coming up with Wigan, a few bold predictions on personnel decisions and if United might just be champion by the time the next Derby comes around with Manchester City. Just a ton of information in this episode including how referees view decisions, the Scholes effect and what Manchester United needs to do this next summer where several key decisions will be made to enhance what the club will target for silverware in the next few seasons.

Anto is joined once again by former Wimbledon, Newcastle and England international defender Warren Barton for another episode that takes a look at many of the key talking points from the Quarter Final round in the Champions League, a first glance at the final four in Europe and into a Premier League story that now seems divided into three parts. We start with the controversy that was the return leg of the hotly contested Barcelona-AC Milan match up that had all kinds of controversy involving a key refereeing decision involving Sergio Busquets once again as Alessandro Nesta may have been incorrectly penalized for contact in the box before a corner kick was delivered. We debate the call and consider where things went wrong for Milan in the bigger context over two legs where they managed to not finish their chances yet again in the first leg and were without two key players in Thiago Silva and Mark Van Bommel who are two parts of a strong spine which did prove fatal. Then we turn to the matter of the semi-finals to look at the key issues for Chelsea as they look to avenge a highly controversial 2007-08 knockout including how they might want to attack Barcelona as the Spanish giants did look somewhat vulnerable in the 3-1 aggregate win over AC Milan. We also look at Real Madrid-Bayern Munich where many of the important questions must be answered by the Germans and we take a deeper look at Bayern Munich against Spanish sides over the last decade to illustrate just where the problems in the defensive philosophy might be the biggest challenge for Jupp Heynckes at both the flanks and in the center of the defense given how Real Madrid likes to attack with extreme pace. Then we turn to the breakneck set of fixtures in the Premier League in the next week to get underneath three key points in the table: four teams in the race for the last two European slots, Aston Villa in the crosshairs of a real and serious relegation fight and then to the two Manchester teams at the top of the table where Sir Alex Ferguson looks to have finally broken the will of Roberto Mancini and Manchester City, but even more importantly where United won this title. First up is yet another look at the Newcastle story and how they continue to defy the odds playing way over their heads on the heels of some remarkable transfer business since the sale of Andy Carroll and how their performance and efficiency is seriously embarrassing some established minds in the game given the cost of these players in comparison. We also take a moment to reflect on the fantastic job David Moyes has turned in yet again after a slow start to rebound to the top half of the table. Then we break down the fixture lists for Chelsea, Tottenham and Arsenal to determine how this will impact the final two slots in Europe and how Aston Villa is at serious risk given their final opponents this season as well. Then we close on the new season of San Diego Flash as Warren gives us a look at his football club and how it looks to defends the NPSL title and some of the success stories the team has created both in terms of winning a league but also developing young players for a future in the game itself.

Phil and Anto are joined by Bojan Djordjic who has had a very interesting career playing for Manchester United, Rangers and Red Star Belgrade after emigrating to Sweden as a young player from the former Yugoslavia. Born in Belgrade, Serbia he has seen football through the eyes of a player who has tested himself at some very historic football clubs and he joins us to talk about this intriguing career in a candid way not usually revealed in the media. Bojan cuts no corners nor makes no apologies for being the big personality creative player who arrived in Sweden and had to do almost twice as much to prove that he belonged and discusses some of the issues beyond the public eye that go into perceptions about players in general and how the inner workings really are. Check out his first hand account with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and how the very controversial striker can be understood and how he is continually misinterpreted by people who cover the game. We discuss his days at United, how his relationship with Sir Alex landed him another shot with Royal Antwerp in Belgium and how his return to Red Star Belgrade with a Manchester United tag may have been the most challenging part of his career. We examine the role of the number 10 in modern football, how lesser teams could never see that expressive players of his quality were not wingmen but better inside players controlling an attack and how he sees the game from the inside. This is a very revealing interview that deals with Sweden, Serbia, football in the Premiership and explores a one of a kind career that is as colorful as it is revealing.

Phil and Anto are joined by Gareth Roberts of Well Red Magazine and Late Tackle to take a look at the evolving situation at Liverpool Football Club on the heels of further difficulty in the Premier League season. We take stock of where the real progress can be found and whether the American owners will approach their evaluations of the performance this term a lot more clinically - but even more importantly, would it be more destructive to simply make a change for the sake of doing so. We look at the key emerging issue this season at the striker position where it does appear neither Andy Carroll and the combinations of striker options including Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll appear to be much of a matched set in terms of their skills or focus. We also examine what the club should do this closed season in terms of what the club needs to do and whether the focus on acquiring Premier League experienced players defies what has been a better level of success when looking outside of the UK for quality. Then we turn to the matter of the defense with Liverpool where the goals allowed has almost covered the fact that there is a general level of fragility at key moments of matches and whether this has been an area brought even quicker into focus with the absence of Lucas for the better part of the season, or whether younger players should be blooded into the squad now that a top four finish appears to be no longer achievable. We close on the matter of a much publicized moment at the end of the Newcastle match where Steven Gerrard seemed to wave off Kenny Dalglish in order to examine what exactly this episode might actually suggest beyond the general talking points. If you follow Liverpool or just want to know more Gareth Roberts gives you the unfiltered, realistic look at what is happening at Anfield.