In this end-of-year review episode, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb look back at the biggest themes that shaped football in 2025 — and revisit the questions we’ve explored across the season.

We break down the long-term impact of the Club World Cup, using real injury data and availability trends to assess whether the tournament is already affecting squads — and whether the second half of the season could bring further consequences. We also return to one of our biggest ongoing debates: will injuries decide the Premier League title race? From squad depth and fixture congestion to how tactical systems can increase injury risk, we look at why “availability” might be the real competitive advantage.

Then we dive into episode eight’s big question: are we watching the game… or the data? With the Premier League becoming more direct, sprint demands are rising — and we explore why physical outputs (like sprint distance and repeat sprint ability) are increasingly linked to goals, decisive moments, and tactical evolution. Plus, a few trends catching the eye: late goals, headed goals, kick-off tactics, and the controversial rise of “goalkeeper cramps.”

To close, we look ahead to a massive 2026 lineup — featuring voices from inside the game including analysts, recruitment, physios, strength & conditioning, agents, kit men, CEOs, and current/former Premier League players — plus an honest conversation on player mental health.

A proper football deep-dive — with a few laughs along the way.

It’s Part Two of our Strain on the Game Christmas Special — and this one goes right into the chaos of the festive football calendar: AFCON, alcohol, and what Christmas is really like for players and staff.

First up, Stephen and Adrian break down AFCON’s ripple effect across the Premier League: who gets hit hardest, how clubs cope when key starters disappear for weeks, and why it can quietly tilt a title race (or a relegation fight). It’s not just “they’ll miss a few games” — it’s momentum, tactics, recruitment pressure, inflated January prices, and the added risk of players returning with knocks after long travel and different conditions.

Then it turns personal — the real-life sacrifices behind the Boxing Day tradition. From Christmas Day training schedules and early meetings, to trying to still be present for kids in the morning, the lads share what it feels like when the football calendar doesn’t pause… even when everyone else’s does.

And finally: alcohol — the enemy of performance, but also (sometimes) part of football culture. Adrian explains what drinking actually does to recovery: sleep quality, HRV, inflammation, hydration, and muscle repair — while Stephen shares stories from Christmas parties, fancy dress disguises, and why team bonding trips can genuinely change a season.

It’s our Strain on the Game Christmas Special, and we’re kicking it off with the bit we didn’t give enough airtime this year: supplements.

After Stephen gets hit with a proper dose of “man flu” and calls Adrian for help, the lads dive into why even a “good diet” doesn’t always cover you anymore — from the decline in the nutritional quality of food (and what soil depletion has to do with it), to the reality of winter in the UK and vitamin D.

Adrian breaks down the supplement basics in a way footballers (and normal humans) can actually use:

• Fish oils (what to look for, why sourcing matters, and how they support recovery and inflammation)
• Magnesium (sleep, stress, nervous system regulation — and why glycinate wins)
• Vitamin D (Northern Hemisphere problems… and why Adrian is “solar powered”)
• Creatine (performance benefits, plus Stephen’s horror story of “creatine gummies” that were basically just expensive sweets)

• • Plus quick hits on probiotics, tart cherry, turmeric, and why you’ve got to be careful with things like zinc (because more isn’t always better)

World Cup 2026 is already chaos – and the ball hasn’t even been kicked.

In this episode, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb react to the showbiz World Cup draw in the US: scripted jokes, awkward celebrity cameos, Infantino centre stage, and now a Super Bowl–style halftime show for the World Cup final. They ask a simple question: is all this actually good for the game, or is football being bent out of shape for TV and sponsors?

They dig into:

• The World Cup draw turning into an awards show

• FIFA’s push for a halftime show and what that means for players

• The new 48-team, 104-game format and player burnout

• Ticket prices, resale madness and whether fans are being priced out

• How preparation, travel, heat and tight schedules will really affect teams

• England’s path in 2026 and what needs to happen behind the scenes to get it right

Honest, opinionated and full of behind-the-scenes insight from an ex-England international and an elite performance coach.

This week on Strain on the Game, it’s officially Job Justification Day for fitness coach Adrian Lamb – as Stephen asks the question every player has had at some point: what’s the point of the warm-up… and why does it take so long?

Fresh from an overindulgent Thanksgiving and battling with his Whoop data, Adrian breaks down what an elite warm-up actually does at Premier League and MLS level. He explains:

• Why the warm-up is not just “a bit of running and stretching”
• How the RAMP protocol (Raise, Activate, Mobilise, Potentiate) really works
• How you can hide speed, agility and injury-prevention work inside every warm-up
• The role of chaos, instability and Franz Bosch-style movement in modern football
• Why subs, youth players and veterans all need different approaches to warming up

Stephen shares dressing room stories of warm-up saboteurs, leaders who set standards, and the awkward reality of trying to get ready on the touchline when you don’t know when you’re coming on.

If you’re a coach, player, parent, or just obsessed with what really goes on around training, this episode will change how you think about those 15–20 minutes before the “real” session starts.

👉 Follow Strain on the Game for more honest, behind-the-scenes conversations on performance, preparation and life inside elite football.

n this episode of Strain on the Game, Stephen and Adrian dive deep into one of the Premier League’s biggest modern problems: the disappearance of time, patience, and stability for managers.

With sackings at record levels and average tenures dropping below 18 months, they explore why the managerial cycle has become so brutal — and what really drives clubs to pull the trigger. From fan pressure and media noise to ownership demands, cultural resets, relegation fear, and the rise of short-term thinking, nothing is off the table.

Stephen shares first-hand experiences from the dressing room — what happens when a manager loses the players, how culture shapes success, and why some managers survive while others never get a second chance. Adrian brings the performance science angle, looking at how managerial changes impact injuries, fitness levels, and the entire high-performance environment.

They also discuss:

• Project managers vs. “firefighters”

• Why patience created the great eras of Ferguson, Wenger and Klopp

• How poor recruitment, club identity mismatches, and ownership changes can ruin stability

• The player power debate and what really happens behind the scenes

• Why some promoted managers thrive — and others don’t

• How media, fan channels, and instant gratification shape modern expectations

A revealing, honest conversation about the volatility of football management, the pressure cooker of the Premier League, and why so many clubs keep repeating the same mistakes.

If you enjoy the episode, make sure to like, subscribe and follow for more.

This week on Strain on the Game, we’re turning the mic over to you.

In our first-ever Ask Me Anything episode, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb dive into a brilliant mix of questions sent in by listeners covering everything from elite player preparation and recovery routines, to Premier League dressing-room dynamics, training misconceptions, mindset, motivation, and the realities of life inside professional football.

Nothing is off limits.
Nothing is too niche.
And nothing escapes Stephen and Adrian’s first-hand experience across decades in the game.

Whether you're a coach, a parent, a player, or just obsessed with understanding what really goes on behind the scenes, this AMA is packed with insight, practical takeaways, and a few stories that definitely don’t make it onto Match of the Day.

Tune in, send your questions for the next one and enjoy a deeper look at the strain behind the game.

This is Part Two of our deep dive into elite recovery with Dr. Robin Thorpe — the man who managed player regeneration and performance at Manchester United for a decade.

In this episode, we go even deeper behind the scenes of Premier League recovery and uncover what most fans never see:

• How travel, fixture congestion and European away days affect player readiness

• The data + monitoring systems that predict injury before it happens

• How clubs decide whether to travel home or stay overnight after matches

• The psychology of recovery — switching off, mental fatigue, emotional reset

• What happens when managers, medical, and sports science teams don’t agree

• Why some players love recovery… and others fight it

You’ll also hear never-before-told stories about working with world-class players — including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Robin van Persie, Alexis Sánchez, and Chicharito — and how different personalities respond to recovery demands.

If Part One explained what recovery is, this episode explains how it works under real pressure.

About Dr. Robin Thorpe:

• Former Senior Performance Scientist & Head of Recovery at Manchester United (2009–2019)

• Worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho & Ole Gunnar Solskjær

• Contributed to 10 national & international titles at Man United

• Consulted across the EPL, NBA, MLS, MLB, PGA Tour & Olympic Track and Field

• Former Director of Performance at Red Bull (LA)

Robin now consults globally, helping elite players and organisations reduce injury risk and maximise availability.