Frantic Football Episode 62: Catching Up & Format Chat

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

After two months off, hosts Neil and Ben return to dissect league endings, continental drama, and a frantic Football Manager save.

["The episode begins with hosts Neil Shillert and Ben Griffiths reuniting after nearly two months off the air.", "They open with a light-hearted discussion about Ben's Football Manager saves, where he frequently starts new games without completing long-term goals.", "The main segment is a global league roundup, starting in South Korea with the historic relegation of Suwon Blue Wings, a two-time AFC Champions League winner.", "They detail Blue Wings' final-day relegation battle, fan protests, and subsequent board resignations.", "The discussion moves to Japan, covering Vissel Kobe's first J1 title and the departure of manager Kevin Muscat from Yokohama F. Marinos.", "In Brazil, they analyze Botafogo's spectacular collapse from a 13-point lead to finish outside direct Copa Libertadores spots.", "They highlight Santos's first-ever relegation in its 111-year history, emphasizing the competitive nature of the Brazilian league.", "The hosts cover Chile's title race and cup final, noting struggles for historic clubs like Magallanes.", "Scandinavian football is reviewed, focusing on Sweden's tight title race where Malm\u00f6 beat AIK to the crown, and Norway's relegation of V\u00e5lerenga.", "A key insight reveals that five of Norway's current top six clubs have been relegated and promoted back within the last five years.", "The second half of the episode shifts to a format discussion of continental competitions, starting with the AFC Champions League.", "They criticize the AFC's decision to centralize the entire knockout stage in a single location, likely Saudi Arabia, from 2024-2027.", "The hosts argue this removes the magic of home-and-away ties and creates logistical and financial burdens for fans, especially from East Asia.", "They briefly touch on the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup and its upcoming expansion to 32 teams, viewing it as a potential pre-season tournament for European clubs.", "The conversation then turns to UEFA's new 'Swiss model' for the Champions League and Europa League, featuring a single league phase with more teams but fewer repeated fixtures.", "Neil expresses a lukewarm acceptance of this change, appreciating more varied matchups but lamenting increased fixture congestion.", "Ben suggests he might enjoy the format more in the Europa League, where teams from smaller leagues with fewer domestic games could benefit.", "They humorously propose a hypothetical 'Conference League Two' for second-division clubs to create more chaotic, fun matchups.", "The episode concludes with the hosts joking about taking charge of football's governing bodies to implement their ideas.", "They sign off, promising to return sooner for the next episode."]

As heard by us

A loose, league-spanning return finds its best thread in Norwegian clubs falling, rebuilding, and pushing back near the top.

Frantic Football turns a long break into a lively return, as Neil Shillert and Ben Griffiths catch up on leagues nearing the end of their seasons and group stages in continental competitions.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a football catch-up that starts with Football Manager detours, then settles into Norway's big-club churn: relegations, quick returns, and title-race relevance.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from World Football Index Podcast