The Blizzard

What Russia’s World Cup stadiums say about Vladimir Putin’s government. In Episode One Hundred and Thirty Five, we feature “Diplomatic Manoeuvres” by Luke Connelly, first published in Issue Five of The Squall, in September 2020. Read Issue Five of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/ground   Discover Man the Footballer: Homo Passiens: theblizzard.co.uk/news/homo-passiens-man-footballer Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard Preorder Issue 38, our upcoming edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-eight Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

Robert Lewandowski is proving the value of the old-fashioned striker. But what created him? In Episode One Hundred and Thirty Four, we feature "The Throwback" by Maciej Iwanski, first published in Issue 19, in December 2015. Discover Man the Footballer: Homo Passiens: theblizzard.co.uk/news/homo-passiens-man-footballer Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard Read Issue Four of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/red You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

What happens physiologically when we lose our rag? In Episode One Hundred and Thirty Three, we feature "The Science of the Red Mist" by Ben Welch, first published in Issue Four of The Squall, in August 2020. Read Issue Four of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/red Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

Sergio Ramos and the art of the red card. In Episode One Hundred and Thirty Two, we feature “The Lord of Misrule” by Emile Avanessian, first published in Issue Four of The Squall, in August 2020. Read Issue Four of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/red Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

In Episode One Hundred and Thirty One, a special edition of our regular podcast, we feature “A Letter to Fans” from the pages of Man the Footballer: Homo Passiens. Discover more from Man the Footballer, including the wonderful illustrative work of satirical artist Matt Kenyon: theblizzard.co.uk/news/homo-passiens-man-footballer Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard Read Issue Four of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/red You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

What if Alex Ferguson had retired in 2001, and Sven-Göran Eriksson had replaced him at Old Trafford? In Episode One Hundred and Thirty, we feature “The Rejected Retraction” by Richard Jolly, first published in Issue Three of The Squall, in July 2020. Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard Read Issue Three of The Squall for a recommended £3: theblizzard.co.uk/news/sliding-doors You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

How Bielsa's honesty and hard work re-energised Leeds United. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Nine, we take a look back to "No Airs" by Rob Bagchi, first published in Issue 36, in March 2020. Immortalise football history with The Goal Hanger: thegoalhanger.co.uk/collections/blizzard You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

What if Agüero had gone down against QPR in 2012, leaving Mario Balotelli to take the penalty? In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Eight, we take a look at "Not Always Him" by Huw Davies, published in Issue Three of The Squall, in July 2020.  Read and support The Squall: theblizzard.co.uk/news/sliding-doors You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

How two sets of brothers chart the changing face of football in Manchester. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Seven, we take a look at "The Nevilles and the Gallaghers" by John Brewin, published in Issue 28, in March 2018. You can order Issue 28 here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-twenty-eight You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

If carbon emissions targets are to be met, football’s relentless expansion must stop. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Six, we take a look at “The Green Future” by Tim Walters, published in Issue 37, in June 2020. You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Read by: Tim Adams (@TimAdams76) Produced by: Ryan Arnold (@_RyanArnold__)

The night in 1962 when third-division Crystal Palace pushed Real Madrid to the limit. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Five, we take a look at “When Puskás came to Selhurst Park” by Jo Harman, published in Issue 37, in June 2020. You can order Issue 37, our latest edition, here: theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-seven Unlock our archives with a subscription from just £20: theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions

How fans fought back against the rise of the far right on the Elland Road terraces. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Four, we take a look at “Leeds United v the National Front” by Gary Hartley, published in Issue 35, in December 2019. You can order Issue 35, our latest edition, here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/i…ue-thirty-five And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

Globalisation, the Third Way, the Premier League and the Brexit backlash against the elites. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Three, we take a look at “Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Cheated?” by Anthony Clavane, published in Issue 28, in March 2018. You can order our latest edition, Issue 35, here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/i…ue-thirty-five And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

Why a certain level of cynical fouling is essential for football's balance. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty Two, we take a look at “The Yoshida Defence” by Mark Thompson, published in Issue 28, in March 2018. You can order our latest edition, Issue 35, here: https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/issue-thirty-five And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

Adama Traoré dribbles more than almost anybody else in the world. But what is he actually good for? In Episode One Hundred and Twenty One, we take a look at “The Dribber” by Sam France, published in our latest issue, Issue 34, in September 2019. You can order Issue 34 here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/i…e-thirty-four And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

What Reading's attempts at a club song tell us about the hollowness of modern football. In Episode One Hundred and Twenty, we take a look at "Royal Dissent" by Edward Sugden, published in our latest issue, Issue 34, in September 2019. You can order Issue 34 here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/i…e-thirty-four And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

Brazil won the Copa América but their triumph was hijacked by Jair Bolsonaro. In Episode One Hundred and Nineteen, we take an early look at "Mediocrity and the Beast" by Ewan MacKenna, to be published in Issue 34, in September 2019. You can preorder Issue 34 here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/shop/product/i…e-thirty-four And access our entire archives here: www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles

Champions League Final, Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, 25 May 2005. Jonathan Wilson and Marcus Speller are joined by freelance sports journalist, John Brewin, to discuss the 2005 Champions League Final between Milan and Liverpool. It was the last match that the Liverpool squad at the time would play together, many aware that they were soon to be replaced. Standing in their way of a Champions League winners medal were Milan who could boast a squad full of superstars. Despite the disparity between the sides, it turned out to be one of the greatest finals of all time. Subscribe now: www.theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Recorded at: outsetstudio.com Produced by: Jack Elderton & Ryan Arnold

FA Cup semi-final, Wembley Stadium, London, 16 April 2011 Jonathan Wilson and Marcus Speller are joined by football journalist at The Independent, Jack Pitt-Brooke, to discuss the 2011 FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Manchester United. The expectation of silverware was beginning to stir at Manchester City as fans and pundits looked for justification for the millions being spent by the relatively new ownership regime led by Sheikh Mansour. The game not only set City on their way to their first FA Cup final since 1981 but also represented a significant moment in the development of the modern Manchester City and the landscape of football in Manchester today. Subscribe now: www.theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Recorded at: outsetstudio.com Produced by: Jack Elderton & Ryan Arnold

Copa del Rey Final, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona, 17 March 2004. In the first episode of The Greatest Games, Jonathan Wilson and Marcus Speller are joined by European football correspondent and author of Di Stéfano, the Alfredo Di Stéfano biography, Ian Hawkey to discuss the 2004 Copa del Rey final. In the 2003/04 season, Real Madrid were hurtling towards their first ever treble. With a four-point buffer at the top of La Liga and a Champions League semi-final against Monaco coming up, they went into the Copa del Rey final against Real Zaragoza full of expectation. What happened next sent the club on a downward spiral that signalled the end of the Galácticos... Subscribe now: https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/subscriptions Recorded at: https://outsetstudio.com Produced by: Jack Elderton & Ryan Arnold