Football is Life

Ross McLean, Waleed Arshad, Mike Blanchette
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Soccer
  • Updated Weekly

A Scot, an Englishman & a Yank. Three clubs. Zero objectivity. The only thing we agree on: #FootballIsLife 🎙️ Listen here ↓ linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod

  1. 22h ago

    Send the Ref Off!

    Ross praised the refereeing—and immediately regretted it. The Liverpool–City fallout sends the boys straight into Gravenberch’s sending-off, inconsistent bookings, and the familiar question of who actually holds referees accountable. Liverpool’s toothless attack doesn’t escape criticism, but Mike, Ross, and Billy want answers on second-yellow reviews, transparent VAR decisions, and whether protecting the officials has become more important than getting the decisions right. City’s unresolved punishment adds another cloud over the title race: does anyone want to win the league with an asterisk? Then, Manchester United takes over the crisis department. Spurs’ dominance at Old Trafford and Lisandro Martínez’s criticism of United’s recruitment spark an argument about honesty, dressing-room standards, and whether pointing at the sporting director is particularly convincing when your own defending needs work. Carrick and De Zerbi also enter the sack-race conversation, with Leeds and Coventry threatening to make their weekends considerably worse. The FPL reset brings its own uncomfortable decisions. Calafiori is doing a convincing impression of a striker, Arsenal’s clean sheets keep disappearing, and Timber versus Raya becomes a debate about attacking upside and rotation risk. The boys weigh Chelsea’s attacking returns, City’s tempting fixtures, Fulham’s potential, and Calvert-Lewin as a budget third forward—before attempting the considerably harder task of finding a Spurs attacker they actually trust. IN THIS EPISODE Gravenberch Sees Red Who Refs the Ref? A Title with an Asterisk? United’s Blame Game The Sack Race FPL: Fixtures vs. Form The ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow. Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    Send the Ref Off!

  2. Oct 5

    Man City's Bill Comes Due!

    Manchester City’s financial reckoning has arrived—and nobody agrees how big the bill should be. Mike, Ross, and Billy tackle the verdict in the infamous 115-charge case and debate what punishment could possibly fit: points deductions, relegation, transfer bans, vacated titles, or forcing the owners out. With City appealing the findings, the boys ask who should actually pay for the damage—and whether handing rival clubs retrospective trophies would give anyone back the moment they lost. Then the argument turns on the system itself. Ross questions whether financial rules protect the established elite while putting a ceiling on Newcastle, Aston Villa and anyone else trying to join the party. Mike draws the line between investing in a club and disguising the source of the money, while Billy argues that meaningful punishment and meaningful reform need to happen together. Nobody’s handing City a free pass. Nobody’s particularly impressed with the rulebook either. Back on the pitch, the boys preview City’s trip to Anfield and a United–Spurs meeting with serious meltdown potential. Carrick and De Zerbi enter the firing line before the conversation turns to an FPL wildcard reset: international-break injuries, chasing price rises, loading up on Arsenal’s defense, and whether Saka’s premium price is buying premium returns—or just a very expensive reputation. IN THIS EPISODE City’s Reckoning — What punishment actually fits the financial breaches?Owners Out? — Targeting those responsible without making fans and players carry the whole bill.Titles Without the Moment — Vacating trophies versus handing out retrospective medals.Is FFP Broken? — Financial sustainability or a velvet rope around the established elite?Anfield Awaits — A siege mentality, a massive distraction, or both?United vs. Spurs — Two managers, one fixture, and plenty of meltdown potential.FPL Wildcard Reset — Injuries, Arsenal assets, and the Saka premium debate.The ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow. Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcastInstagram: @fil_thepodcastYouTube: @fil_pod

    Man City's Bill Comes Due!

  3. Sep 21

    North London on Fire!

    Has Arsenal finally hit a wall — and Ross is enjoying every second of it. After Brighton handed the Gunners a bruising defeat, Mike and Billy try to separate one bad afternoon from genuine warning signs, while Ross argues Brighton may have exposed a blueprint for getting at the defending champions. From there, the crisis tour rolls across North London, with Spurs stuck at the bottom of the table and the pressure rapidly building on Roberto De Zerbi. Manchester United aren't escaping either. The boys dig into Michael Carrick, Bruno Fernandes, questionable training standards, and whether United's problems run much deeper than another managerial change. Chelsea and Liverpool get their own reality check as the early-season top-four picture starts to take shape, before the conversation turns to Manchester City — unbeaten, increasingly dangerous, and perhaps finding their form faster than Arsenal would like. Brighton, Brentford, Leeds, and Everton also force their way into an unexpectedly crowded Premier League conversation. And with a three-week international break arriving, it's the perfect time for an FPL rethink. Billy's early wildcard starts paying off, Mike explains why he's already made 11 transfers while chasing team value, and the guys debate Arsenal defensive assets, whether Bruno Fernandes is worth his premium price, Alexander Isak's upside and how to use the break to reshape your squad before the fixtures ramp up again. IN THIS EPISODE Brighton Humble Arsenal North London in Shambles Manchester United's Culture Problem Liverpool vs. Chelsea Is Man City the Real Threat? Brighton, Brentford & the Surprise Pack The FPL Premium Problem Wildcard Season Is Here The ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow. Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcastInstagram: @fil_thepodcastYouTube: @fil_pod

    North London on Fire!

  4. Sep 14

    VAR said, "Hold My Beer"

    Just when it looked as though VAR had gone quiet, the Manchester derby dragged it firmly back into the spotlight. Mike, Ross and Billy break down Manchester City’s controversial 1–0 victory at Old Trafford, Erling Haaland’s disputed winner, Phil Foden’s red card and United’s failure to capitalize against ten men. With City level on points with Arsenal despite not reaching top gear, are they already the champions’ only credible threat? The refereeing debate continues with Arsenal’s controversial penalty decision and the inconsistent enforcement of time-wasting rules. The guys also assess Liverpool’s disjointed display, Coventry’s collapse and Tottenham’s scoring problems before turning to FPL strategy—including wildcard timing, Arsenal’s defensive bargains and the best differentials ahead of the international break. In this episode: Manchester City’s controversial derby victory—and United’s ten-man failure Haaland’s disputed winner, Foden’s red card and VAR’s chaotic return Arsenal’s penalty controversy and the Premier League’s consistency problem Liverpool’s stumble, Coventry’s collapse and Tottenham’s scoring drought FPL wildcard timing, Arsenal defensive assets and Gameweek 5 differentials The ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow. Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    VAR said, "Hold My Beer"

  5. Sep 11

    Wazza Hangs Up the Mic

    Wazza returns to Football Is Life for a lively breakdown of Arsenal’s comeback victory over Chelsea, the growing gap at the top and whether Manchester City remain the champions’ only credible threat. The guys also debate Kai Havertz’s resurgence, Viktor Gyökeres’s uncertain Arsenal future and the continuing problems at Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham. Attention then turns to FPL strategy: wildcard now or wait until Gameweek 6, which Chelsea and Liverpool assets to target, and the value hiding in Arsenal’s defense. After previewing the Manchester derby, Wazza closes the show by announcing that he is stepping away from the podcast after five memorable seasons—although the door remains open for a future return. In this episode: Arsenal’s comeback against Chelsea and the widening gap at the topKai Havertz’s revival and whether Gyökeres has a future at ArsenalManchester City’s title hopes and mounting concerns at United, Liverpool and SpursFPL wildcard timing, Chelsea’s captaincy options and Arsenal’s defensive bargainsManchester derby predictions and Wazza’s farewell after five seasonsThe ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow, Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    Wazza Hangs Up the Mic

  6. Aug 31

    Serviceable, Not Sexy

    Arsenal made it two wins and two clean sheets with a surgical 1–0 victory at Aston Villa—but the first real test is coming. Mike, Ross and Billy assess the champions’ efficient start before previewing a fascinating clash with free-scoring Chelsea: Arsenal’s control and defensive strength against a side seemingly determined to outscore every opponent. The guys also examine Manchester City’s improvement, Manchester United’s unconvincing response, Liverpool’s familiar problems and the deepening chaos at Tottenham. With the transfer deadline approaching, they discuss the latest moves and rumors before turning to FPL Gameweek 3—wildcard timing, Manchester City and Chelsea assets, Arsenal’s defensive bargains and a potential Haaland triple captain. In this episode: Arsenal’s surgical win at Villa and the looming Chelsea testCan Chelsea or Manchester City mount a genuine title challenge?Manchester United’s shaky recovery, Liverpool’s problems and Tottenham’s turmoilTransfer-deadline moves, rumors and last-minute businessFPL Gameweek 3: wildcard strategy, players to target and the Haaland triple-captain debateThe ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Please help us grow, Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    Serviceable, Not Sexy

  7. Aug 28

    Roberto De Spursy?

    One weekend into the Premier League season, the overreactions are already flying. Mike, Ross, and Billy unpack Manchester United’s disastrous defeat at Hull, Tottenham’s collapse at Brentford, underwhelming starts for Manchester City and Liverpool, and why Arsenal suddenly appear to have a clear early advantage over their unsettled rivals. The guys also assess the Champions League draw and the transfer rumors heating up before the deadline—including Bradley Barcola, Emi Martínez, Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez. Then it’s time for FPL: whether to roll that first transfer, the players already worth targeting, the Bruno-versus-Haaland captaincy debate and the most intriguing fixtures of the coming weekend. In this episode: Manchester United’s Hull humiliation and Tottenham’s opening-week disasterWhy Arsenal already look a step ahead of their title rivalsChampions League draw reactions and the biggest transfer-window dominoesFPL transfer targets, defensive bargains and Bruno versus HaalandChelsea–Brighton, Tottenham–Newcastle and the weekend’s upset potentialThe ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas 🙏🏼Please help us grow, Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. 🙏🏼 https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    Roberto De Spursy?

  8. Aug 19

    The Prem is Back: Ready, Set, Overreact!

    The Premier League is back—and so are the bold predictions, premature conclusions and inevitable overreactions. Mike, Ross and Billy assess Arsenal’s Community Shield statement, the stability that could give the champions an early advantage, and the transfer business reshaping the Premier League. Then it’s time to build those FPL squads. The guys debate the biggest opening-week decisions, identify the safest early-season picks and explain why one bad weekend shouldn’t trigger a wildcard meltdown. In this episode: Can Arsenal’s stability give them an early advantage over their changing rivals?Which new-look Big Six clubs will—and won’t—finish in the top four?Tottenham’s rise, Chelsea’s gamble and trouble brewing at Aston VillaHaaland versus Isak and the biggest decisions facing FPL managersEarly fixture swings, positional changes and avoiding an opening-week panicNew season, new managers, new fantasy teams—same beautiful chaos. The ONLY thing we all agree on: #FootballIsLife... and everyone hates #alexilalas Join our FPL Mini-League: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/i07b9f 🙏🏼 Please help us grow, Like, Subscribe, Share, Leave a Hot Take, or a Review. 🙏🏼 https://linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod Facebook: @footballislifepodcast Instagram: @fil_thepodcast YouTube: @fil_pod

    The Prem is Back: Ready, Set, Overreact!
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About

A Scot, an Englishman & a Yank. Three clubs. Zero objectivity. The only thing we agree on: #FootballIsLife 🎙️ Listen here ↓ linktr.ee/FootballIsLifePod

Information

  • Creator
    Ross McLean, Waleed Arshad, Mike Blanchette
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Football is Life
  • Show Website
    Football is Life