VAR was meant to make football fairer—but has it actually broken the game?

In this episode of Beyond The Back Four, Sam Homewood is joined by ex-Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, football finance guru Kieran Maguire, and transfer insider Graeme Bailey to dissect how VAR has evolved, why chaos has followed, and whether officiating needs a complete reset.

What you’ll learn:

• How VAR has changed football (and where it’s gone wrong)
• Why fans and players have lost trust in decisions
• Could a “challenge system” like cricket & tennis save the game?
• The financial & reputational cost of VAR chaos

If you think VAR is “just part of the game,” this will change your mind.

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Why were transfer windows brought in? Have they made football fairer—or just fuelled chaos, inflated fees, and panic spending?

In this episode of Beyond The Back Four, Sam Homewood sits down with football finance expert Kieran Maguire and transfer insider Graeme Bailey to unpack:

• The origins of the transfer window system
• How limiting squad building drives massive fees
• The growing impact of PSR (Profit & Sustainability Rules) on top clubs
• Chelsea’s spending strategy & compliance risks
• Arsenal & Liverpool’s recruitment model under pressure
• What football could look like if windows were scrapped

This is your deep dive into the economics of the transfer market and the rules shaping the modern game.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

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The weekend delivered Premier League theatre in full — and we're here to dissect every nail-biting moment.

• Liverpool edge Arsenal 1-0 thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick — extending LFC’s goalscoring run to 37 straight games, a new club record.

• Chelsea beat Fulham 2-0, but it’s the VAR that’s trending after Josh King had a goal controversially disallowed for the visitors.

• Manchester United snatch a dramatic 3-2 win over Burnley with a 97th-minute penalty — late-game drama in full flow.

Plus, we break down the blockbuster news of the weekend: **Alexander Isak’s £125m British-record move to Liverpool** and what it could mean for their title hopes going forward.

Subscribe to *Beyond The Back Four* for the sharpest Premier League analysis every week.

Don’t miss our “Hot Takes & Cold Showers” segment — raw, real, and ready for debate.

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Premier League winner Danny Simpson lifts the lid on life at Manchester United, why Neville stepped in during contract talks, and what it was really like coming through the academy under Sir Alex.

Danny also opens up on idolising Ashley Cole and the look he copied; Claudio Ranieri telling him he could leave before Leicester’s title win; and life after football with a new bar/restaurant and his Phoenix City Academy in Dubai

🔔 Subscribe for more exclusives and weekly Premier League analysis from Beyond The Back Four!

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Kobbie Mainoo could be ready to leave Manchester United after growing frustrated with his playing time, Arsenal finally unveil £67.5m star Eberechi Eze, and Chelsea smash West Ham in a 5-1 demolition. Sam Homewood is joined by Kieran Maguire, Graeme Bailey and special guest Danny Simpson to break down the Premier League’s biggest stories from the weekend — plus Hot Takes & Cold Showers with some bold predictions!

Don't forget to subscribe for new episodes every Monday and feature specials every Wednesday.

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Welcome to Beyond The Back Four, the football podcast that goes deeper than just match reports and talking points.

Every Monday, Sam Homewood is joined by show regulars Kieran Maguire, Mark Clattenburg and Graeme Bailey. Together, they’ll break down all the major Premier League action from the weekend — the goals, the controversies, the transfers, and yes... the refereeing decisions too.

Every Wednesday, Beyond The Back Four shifts gears. You’ll hear exclusive episodes and feature specials — whether they’re diving into how VAR is actually used behind the scenes, the secrets of transfer negotiations, or football’s greatest sliding doors moments. One week we might be analysing club finances, the next week debating whether the offside rule needs rewriting.

So hit follow, subscribe, and join the team every Monday and Wednesday on Beyond The Back Four — wherever you get your podcasts.

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