Bobby McMahon




Beyond The Pitch show

Summary: 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.