It's time for The Truth!

Today, the boys are discussing Real Madrid, given the events of the last couple of weeks. Xabi Alonso, who was brought in to replace Carlo Ancelotti in the summer - is reportedly still on the brink, despite a couple of positive results in the last few games.

We walk exactly what the situation looks like - why there's pressure, what can be changed, who could do a better job - and perhaps most pertinently, what Los Blancos actually want to be in this modern era of football, and whether going back to the old normality would be a step forwards or a step backwards given so many sides are now in a situation where they want to play system-based football.

So, do Real Madrid still hold a position where they can just get by with the best players in the world and a whole lot of vibes? Or do they need a manager like Alonso to help try to manoeuvre them into a world which feels particularly based on systems and structures? As ever, The Truth is somewhere in the middle...

And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon?

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Hello Rank Squad!

We're back with another transfer ranking, as the window draws ever closer - and today Dean wanted to get stuck into the stories that could be seismic in the January window - not just in terms of picking up the headlines, but in terms of defining the careers of certain players and managers.

We look through five Premier League stories in the main ranking - ranging from the major outgoing sagas of Mo Salah and Kobbie Mainoo, to the threat of Thomas Frank's dismissal hanging over Tottenham Hotspur's plans in January, and the next steps for forgotten men at their clubs - Raheem Sterling and Harvey Elliott.

Before that we talk about Things We Loved over the course of the weekend - where DJ goes all in on the chaotic Liga MX Final where Toluca outlasted Tigres in a madcap penalty shootout, and Jack waxes lyrical about the form of the Prince of Corwen - Harry Wilson - who FPL players are discussing bringing into their teams after this incredible hot streak.

Finally, we take a look at a few burgeoning stories in Europe for you to keep an eye on over the course of January and beyond, to wrap things up.

It's Ranks!

And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon?

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It's time for The Truth!

Today, the boys are discussing the teams outside of the traditional 'Big Six' who are in the conversation right now for finishing in the top five in the Premier League - and, we assume, picking up a Champions League spot whilst they do so?

We walk through the fortunes of Aston Villa, Everton, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United and see where their strengths and weaknesses are - assessing their major plusses and also looking at where there are potential issues might lie in the second half of the season, in order to come to a conclusion about how serious these claims are on qualifying for the biggest stage of them all!

So, are any of these contenders going to press their claim as genuine Champions League contenders, or are the powers that be going to come screaming back into the conversation over the As ever, The Truth is somewhere in the middle...

And remember, if you’d like more from the Rank Squad, including extra podcasts every Monday and Friday (including our weekly Postbox taking a look at the whole weekend of football) and access to our brilliant Discord community, then why not join us here on Patreon?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.