Menace & The Monk

Menace & The Monk

This football podcast goes beyond the pitch. Deep, long-form storytelling and soccer analysis on the game’s greatest players, rivalries, tactics and defining moments. From Messi and Ronaldo to Liverpool, the Premier League and Champions League nights, we explore football history, culture, politics and legacy. For fans who want insight, context and powerful storytelling — not just highlights. We always love to hear from you, so do get in touch with us on Twitter & Instagram. If you would like to feature on the channel, just let us know 😊

  1. The Engineer: How Zidane Built the Three-Peat

    MAR 3

    The Engineer: How Zidane Built the Three-Peat

    Three Champions Leagues. Back to back to back. In modern football, that simply does not happen by accident. And yet, Zinedine Zidane’s managerial reign at Real Madrid is often reduced to a single explanation: he had great players. In this episode, we go beyond that simplification. We revisit the circumstances of Rafa Benítez’s dismissal and the fractured dressing room Zidane inherited in January 2016. We examine how the reintroduction of Casemiro restored structural balance, how the Kroos–Modrić–Casemiro midfield became the spine of European dominance, and how Zidane quietly transformed Cristiano Ronaldo from a touchline winger into a decisive penalty-box striker. We break down each Champions League campaign in detail: • 2015–16: From the Wolfsburg comeback to the Milan final against Atlético Madrid.• 2016–17: The diamond system, squad rotation, and the tactical dismantling of Juventus in Cardiff.• 2017–18: The path of giants — PSG, Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool — and the art of tournament survival. Beyond tactics, this episode explores the psychological architecture of the three-peat: player sacrifice, dressing room trust, ego management, and Zidane’s relationship-based leadership model. From Benzema’s adaptation to Isco’s role as Juventus’ “pain point,” to the impact of Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio in high-pressure moments, we analyse what truly held the structure together. Finally, we address why Zidane walked away in 2018 — and how recognising the end of a cycle may have been one of his most intelligent decisions. This is not a highlight reel.This is a structural breakdown. Because winning once can be momentum.Winning twice can be form.Winning three times in a row is design.

    41 min
  2. Leicester vs Liverpool : Match Preview ft Leicester City India Supporters Club

    12/28/2021

    Leicester vs Liverpool : Match Preview ft Leicester City India Supporters Club

    Hello Everyone,   Welcome to Menace & The Monk.   We play an injury-ravaged Leicester today after a disappointing draw against Spurs. We, of course, just played Leicester in the Carabao Cup which made for one of the best games at Anfield this season. We sat down with Akash & Vedant from Leicester City India Fan Club and talk about the common link that is Brendan Rodgers, what did we make of the win in the Carabao Cup with a massively changed team, what are we thinking about our team at almost full strength and Leicester with their injury concerns. Watch as we discuss all this and more in this preview with Leicester City India. Let us know in the comments section how you are feeling about this clash and what are your expectations. Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below. Also, don't forget to join our 21/22 FPL and win a 100% authentic jersey of the club you support. More details on our channel. Don't forget to follow the podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Follow us on our social media handles for regular updates. Twitter: https://twitter.com/menaceandmonk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menaceandthemonk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCig4kmjHI322eouk-WSYNQ

    27 min
  3. Suarez Back at Anfield : His Times as a Liverpool Player & Beyond ft Shivangi & Ram

    11/10/2021

    Suarez Back at Anfield : His Times as a Liverpool Player & Beyond ft Shivangi & Ram

    Hello Everyone,   Welcome to Menace & The Monk.   Luis Suarez, the man, the enigma, was back at Anfield last week for the second time and he has left both times disappointed and empty-handed. It was also a night where the Anfield faithful booed their old hero. Was it right? Is it a big deal? Have we treated him too harshly? To talk about that incident, and his time as our number 7, the incidents surrounding him, the times beyond, and much more, we got Shivangi and Ram. Watch as we discuss the mad genius of the man, the influence he has had on Liverpool, and what kind of legacy will he leave behind - both for Liverpool Football Club and as a footballing personality. We had a lot of laughs recording this and thoroughly enjoyed it, and we hope you have fun watching it as well. Have a look and let us know in the comments section what your take is on the man, and whether you think the booing incident was right, wrong, or just plain blown out of proportion. Thank you for all the support to Menace & The Monk. It truly has been a wonderful journey so far and we have more exciting content coming your way. We always love to hear from you so please let us know your comments in the comment section below. Also, don't forget to join our 21/22 FPL and win a 100% authentic jersey of the club you support. More details on our channel. Don't forget to follow the podcast and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Follow us on our social media handles for regular updates. Twitter: https://twitter.com/menaceandmonk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menaceandthemonk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCig4kmjHI322eouk-WSYNQ/

    29 min

About

This football podcast goes beyond the pitch. Deep, long-form storytelling and soccer analysis on the game’s greatest players, rivalries, tactics and defining moments. From Messi and Ronaldo to Liverpool, the Premier League and Champions League nights, we explore football history, culture, politics and legacy. For fans who want insight, context and powerful storytelling — not just highlights. We always love to hear from you, so do get in touch with us on Twitter & Instagram. If you would like to feature on the channel, just let us know 😊