The SoccerKakis Podcast

Vikram shares his thoughts on the recent edition of the ASEAN Football Federation's biggest competition - diving into topics such as a more integrated ASEAN football framework, how Singapore fared, and what it means to be Singaporean. Strap yourselves for this one peeps, we dive deep.

Boy, oh boy. The Europa League truly has become an exciting competition. It may still remain second to the UEFA Champions League in terms of stature but as Jack points out, the Europa League may just be more exciting than the UCL this season. We review the changes to the Europa League format and cover four matches - FC Barcelona vs Napoli, Porto vs Lazio, Rangers vs Dortmund, and RB Leipzig vs Real Sociedad. It is interesting how all ties could very well be Champions League fixtures - further evidence that the standards of the Europa League are indeed on the rise. 

In this episode, we will be looking at the Uefa Champions League redraw which caused a fair bit of controversy. For those unfamiliar with what transpired: In essence, Manchester United were mistakenly omitted as plausible opponents for Atlético Madrid during the initial draw which saw the Red Devils draw Paris Saint-Germain and Atleti draw Bayern Munich. Interestingly enough, Atleti drew Manchester United following the redraw but not everyone was too happy with their newly drawn opponents. Real Madrid were the most furious team and Chelsea were probably the luckiest. Why? Tune in as we discuss these post-redraw matchups and share our predictions for each of them.

This was supposed to be uploaded sometime the past few days but unfortunately, work has bogged me down. Alas, it is better late than never.

In what would be Carrick’s last game as a Manchester United’s employee, let alone caretaker head coach, the red devils managed to put a solid performance against the gunners. Arsenal may have scored two goals but the first goal by Emile Smith Rowe was a contentious one. Should the goal have stood with David de Gea visibly down and injured? Is it finally the end of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s arsenal tenure?

Tune in to find out as Vikram and Jack discuss this and much more in this delayed episode.

It is never easy being a modern-day head coach at an elite club. Regardless of your previous exploits with the team, a string of poor results could see you facing the sack. Such is the life of a gaffer. Every flawed tactical decision and erroneous player selection could push him closer to the exit. 

Unfortunately, we see this all too often in Europe's top-flight leagues and recently, a host of managers have been sacked in the Premier League and specific candidates have been appointed as their replacements. After an abysmal start to the campaign, Spurs sacked Nuno Espírito Santo and appointed Antonio Conte. FC Barcelona ended Ronald Koeman's tumultuous reign and brought back a true Catalonian icon, Xavi Hernández. And, of course, how we can forget Steve Bruce - the first casualty after the Saudi takeover of Newcastle United. Eddie Howe remains the most likely candidate as things stand after Unai Emery rejected the role. 

What do we have to say about these moves?

Tune in to find out!

Well, we dive into some uncomfortable territory. Vikram and Jack talk about their favourite teams' recent woes. In particular, Vikram is feeling the after-effects of Liverpool's 5-1 thrashing of the Red Devils while Jack discusses how Everton and Lyon's recent form has been rather dreadful as well.

How do we feel about our teams' respectful forms? What changes need to be made? Does Vikram think Cristiano Ronaldo is a hindrance or help to United?

Tune in to find out more!

Yes, it may be a tad bit late but the points we make are still kinda great (or we hope they are).

We did an El Clásico preview with our good friend Russell from The Goal Assembly before the clash of the titans - one without Lionel Messi mind you - and we felt it was only right for us to do a review after the momentous fixture. Real Madrid may have emerged victorious [2-1] but there were lots to talk about. We also review the entertaining fixture between Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad.

Tune in to find out what we discussed!

If you're a LaLiga fan, this is certainly a blockbuster game week for you. If you're not a fan of LaLiga, where better to start than the two fixtures we talk about in this week's episode!

We had the privilege of having a former guest speaker, Russell Tan (the regional Head of Marketing & Strategy for LaLiga and the founder of The Goal Assembly),  return for this week's episode. After close to two decades, this would be the first El Clásico without global footballing icon Lionel Messi and it will be interesting to see how both teams fare. After all, both teams are in a period of transition with Los Blancos faring relatively better than the Catalans. Yet, El Clásicos are special matches - form matters little in the impending battle between Barca and Real.

Jack, Russell and I discuss these points and more including the upcoming match against Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad, who currently sit at the top of the La Liga table.

Who will emerge victorious from both matches?

Tune in to find out our predictions.

It's yet another edition of the UEFA Nations League Finals and this time we have a mouthwatering clash on our plates. The reigning world champions France, take on a young and vibrant Spanish side that has the potential to emerge victorious from their bout. Elsewhere, the third-place match sees Belgium and Italy hash it out. 

We also discuss how these teams fared in their respective semi-final fixtures and what these results mean for all parties involved. 

The question remains though, who do you think is going to win the Nations League and finishes third?

Just a disclaimer, but this was recorded before the Europa League started!

While the UEFA Europa Conference League is the new kid on the block, the Europa League went through some changes itself. The number of groups has dropped from 12 to 8 - similar to the Champions League. Interestingly, the reduced number of participants has created some rather exciting groups. It's safe to say that the Europa League is increasingly becoming a competition that clubs take seriously. With lesser teams, the quality of the competition is only going to increase!

Yet, a crucial remains (one we try to answer):  who will qualify from each group?

We continue going through the other remaining groups in this episode and the latter groups have some interesting matches for sure. Manchester United will look for revenge against Villareal following last season's Europa League final loss, Chelsea and Juventus will be a mouthwatering clash and Bayern Munich will be looking to capitalize on Barcelona's period of transition. Obviously, we did not forget Group G, and it's anyone guess as to who might qualify to the next round.

Here are the teams we talk about and the groups they're in:

Group E: Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Benfica, Dynamo Kyiv

Group F: Villareal, Manchester United, Atalanta, Young Boys

Group G: Lille, Sevilla, Red Bull Salzburg, VFL Wolfsburg

Group H: Chelsea, Juventus, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Malmö FF

And that wraps up our Champions League guide and predictions! Do you think we made sound predictions?

That's right, if you need a quick guide for all the champions league teams, and I repeat ALL the champions league teams, we've got you covered. We discuss key transfers of each club and their form in their respective domestic leagues. From Lionel Messi reuniting with Pep Guardiola in Group A to even new debutants FC Sheriff Tiraspol's qualification journey, we really do cover it all. 

For those unfamiliar with the teams in the 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League Group Stages: 

Group A: Man City, PSG, Leipzig, Club Brugge,

Group B: Atlético Madrid, Liverpool, Porto, AC Milan

Group C: Sporting CP, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Beşiktaş

Group D: Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Sheriff Tiraspol

Do you agree with what we have to say? Let us know in the comment sections of our socials!

Of course, we wouldn't only cover the Premier League. Jack would never allow it.

Besides looking at Kylian Mbappé's failed move to Real Madrid and what this means for all parties involved, we look at Moise Kean's move to Juventus, Luuk de Jong's surprise move to Barcelona, Eduardo Camavinga's move to Santiago Bernabéu, Antoine Griezmann's shock return to Atlético Madrid and many other moves across Europe.

Tune in to hear our thoughts and we also lightly touch on Ben Davies's move from Fulham to Oxford United!

Transfer Deadline Day rarely disappoints and it was truly an eventful last day of the window with a host of players making some expected and unexpected moves. 

Tune in to hear us share our thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, Daniel James to Leeds United, Saul to Chelsea, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Odsonne Édouard to Crystal Palace and many others.

Have teams signed the right players? Will these new signings flop at their new clubs? Only time will tell.

Ronaldo looks like he's moving to United instead of City and we kind of recorded this a few hours before the Red Devils announced the signing. We also discuss Kylian Mbappé's potential move to Real Madrid, Saúl Ñíguez's loan to Chelsea, Moise Kean departing Everton and many other players!

With Messi's departure from Barcelona and Ramos's departure from Real Madrid, El Clásico will never be the same for many modern-day fans. Of course, new stars will be born, but this is an interesting period for the Spanish the top-flight. With both LaLiga titans in a period of transition, could this mean other clubs have a chance to stake their claim for the league title?

Atlético Madrid has what it takes to defend their title, but teams like Sevilla and Villareal could also pull off surprises. 

Tune in to hear our thoughts!

We're switching things up with how we do things. 

This episode primarily focuses on three Premier League clubs - Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs, and Manchester United. After the first two weeks of EPL action, these teams have stood out for the right and wrong reasons. 

Arsenal have been abysmal in the league and despite thrashing West Brom during the mid-week, do the Gunners have what it takes to overcome a tricky trip to the Etihad? Meanwhile, Spurs have done well without Harry Kane but now that their talismanic forward has decided to commit his future to the club, what does that mean for Nuno Espírito Santo and co.?

On the other hand, Manchester United have had a mixed start to their campaign. Can the Red Devils find the form they need to potentially clinch the title?

In the third and final part of our EPL preview, we look at the rest of the pack who constitute the new EPL "Mid-table." Yes, we know there hasn't been any true EPL mid-table club since Stoke got relegated but these clubs are as close as you're going to get. We also discuss the potential relegation contenders before concluding with our picks for the top 6, players of the season and bold claims. 

What do you think? Agree with what we say?

Who's going to qualify for Europe? 

Unlike previous seasons, it's a question that's hard to answer this time around. Leicester City may have replaced Arsenal in the top 6 but can the Gunners find a way to qualify for Europe? West Ham United qualified for the Europa League this time around but do they have the depth to compete? What about Leeds and Aston Villa? What are their chances?

Listen in to find out!

The English Premier League is right around the corner and we couldn't help but do an EPL Preview. 

After all, a lot and we mean a lot has happened since the end of last season. In part 1 of our EPL Preview, we look at the top four teams of last season and discuss how they may fare this season. Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool & Chelsea have all dipped into the transfer market to various degrees but have they solved existing problems with their signings? Who do they need to sign before the end of the window? Where will they finish?

Tune in to find out what we think!

Romelu Lukaku has returned to Stamford Bridge. It was bound to happen sooner rather than later. After all, Lukaku has unfinished business with Chelsea, and he actually provides them with the lethal finishing that has eluded the Blues at times. Let us know if you agree with our views!

We next look at Harry Kane and his increasingly uncertain future. It was previously thought that Kane would sign for Manchester City but after Grealish's £100m move to the Etihad, it seems that the club might not choose to purchase the prolific Spurs goal scorer. Perhaps Kane decides to reverse his stance on wanting to remain in England, but then again that doesn't leave him with many options other than Real Madrid. If he remains, it is kind of awkward for all parties at Tottenham as well. In that regard, he is truly a man lost in space.

So what then should Kane do? Find out by tuning in!

And yes, that's right, we are back with yet another episode. Unfortunately, we recorded this episode before the major announcement that Lionel Messi will be parting ways with Barcelona - truly an end of an era. Stay tuned for an article on that. 

Meanwhile, we looked at three other major pieces of transfer news and rumours. In this first part, we look at Manchester City's latest signing, Jack Grealish and the implications of him signing with the Blues. What does this mean for players like Sterling? Is Grealish going to be the most expensive bench warmer in history? 

Tune in to hear what we have to say!

We had some time to spare and we end episode 10 off by discussing two important topics - Ole Gunnar Solskjær's contract extension and Konami's rebranding of PES to eFootball.

The Singapore Premier League has finally returned and the second leg has officially commenced. Last weekend we saw three highly entertaining matches. Tune in as we break down how Albirex drew Lion City Sailors in 2020 AFC Champions League winner Kim Do Hoon's first match in charge, Tanjong Pagar United causing a major upset against Hougang United and how Geylang International are potentially turning things around after they came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory over Balestier Khalsa!

In the third part, we discuss transfer rumours and potential deals surrounding Everton and Manchester United. Importantly, with Paul Pogba reportedly rejecting a contract offer from United, it seems that the Frenchman is destined to leave. PSG are interested. The question remains though, would United sell the 2018 World Cup Winner? Besides looking at potential Pogba replacements United could look at, we also take a look at how Everton has fared thus far in the window!

Before we delve into the transfers by Manchester United and Everton, we wanted to get a few things out of the way first. Why? Well, because we tend to emphasize our own clubs (well mostly United thanks to Vikram's tendency to link it back to United). So this time, we gave some much-needed attention to Manchester City and Aston Villa who are linked to some promising talent as well as Crystal Palace, who have done well in the transfer window thus far. 

And we're back with another episode! This week we dive deep into transfer discussions but surprisingly, we talk more about other teams than our own [Everton and Manchester United]. In Part 1, we look at Tottenham Hotspurs' recent transfer dealings in the window and potential moves that may or may not happen. Under Nuno, Spurs have done well so far but many questions surrounding when, where and how much will Harry Kane leave for remain.

In our last episode for this week, we decided to use this opportunity we had of having Ryn join us to discuss a few pertinent Manchester United topics. Discussing whether Ole is the man for the job and who should United field as their number one, tune in to hear what was said.

Well, we now turn our attention to Arsenal and oh how the mighty have fallen. It is clear that Arsenal desperately needs reinforcements, especially in defence. However, is Ben White the answer? Is 50 million pounds splashed on one player the answer for Arsenal whose board is potentially scaling back their overall transfer activity since they won't feature in Europe this season. If anything, Arsenal do need to sign a player who can act as the creative outlet for the team. Martin Ødegaard has returned to Real Madrid and so, the question beckons: Who replaces the Norwegian? 

Want to know who we think will move to Arsenal? Listen in!

Jack's worst nightmare has turned into reality as in part 2, he not only has to contend with one but two United fans on the topic of transfers. Manchester United have already practically signed Jadon Sancho and are about to conclude a deal for Raphaël Varane. It's amazing what can happen when Ed Woodward is no longer the top dog in the transfers department. United are also linked to Eduardo Camavinga, Declan Rice and Vinícius. Who do you think United will sign? 

Besides incomings, Pogba looks to be leaving United and this time PSG look like likely suitors. Do you think it's time for Manchester United to cash out on Pogba before his contract expires or do they risk him leaving on a free by keeping him on for yet another season?

Another week, another podcast but a new face join us this time around! Rynaldy joins the podcast team and offers his insights to the discussions at hand.

In our first part, we look at the ongoing situation at Barcelona. All is not well with the Catalan giants. The club is forced to offload a number of players before they can re-sign Lionel Messi because of their ludicrous wage bill. Messi has allegedly agreed to take more than a 50% pay cut to rejoin FC Barcelona but until they offload a few more players, it is going to be hard. Who are these players and what's next for all parties? Tune in to find out! 

In the final part, we look at the Singapore Premier League and preview the resumption of the league. How is the title race going to shape up? Who might finish bottom? What are factors affecting Albirex’s Niigata’s title defence? Do we actually talk about these points or ramble on?

In this third part, we discuss a rather interesting topic about the World Cup. Recently, Arsène Wenger has come out to back plans to transform the World Cup into a bi-annual competition. Why wait 4 years for the World Cup right? Well, no, we rather wait four years for the World Cup. Besides explaining why this is a bad idea, we also touch on whether friendlies remain relevant nowadays. Listen to part 8C to find out what we have to say.

In part 2, we discuss the 2021 Copa América final between Brazil and Argentina. As you've probably guessed from the title, Lionel Messi has finally won an international honour with the Argentina national team. Critics and haters have constantly argued that unlike the other greats, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi has never won anything outside of Barcelona at the senior level. So, with Copa América victory, does this make Messi the greatest player of all time? Want to know what we think? Listen to the episode right now to find out! 

The ongoings of the football world never let us rest and this week, we take a look at many interesting events. In this first part, we look at the 2020 Euros finals and discuss how it went to Rome instead of coming home. England went out on penalties and our hearts go out to Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. At the same time, we also celebrate Italy's win and highlight how they were arguably the best team in the tournament. Do we think that Gareth Southgate should be sacked? What do we think is next for Italy? Tune in to find out!

In the third and final part, we look at Tampines Rovers' AFC Champions League run thus far and what lessons the Stags can learn. Vikram discusses his disdain for the mindless hate thrown at the club by a small but vocal minority. We discuss what's next steps for the Stags and what implications their AFC Champions League on both the players, staff and the rest of the league! Support the stags as they prepare for their final two games!

In this week's episode, we review the first round of the Euros, preview the second round of the competitions, look at the transfer merry go round and discuss UEFA's abolishment of the away goals rule. 

In part 2, we look at manager and player movements as well as the ending of the away goals rule by UEFA.

In this week's episode, we review the first round of the Euros, preview the second round of the competitions, look at the transfer merry go round and discuss UEFA's abolishment of the away goals rule.

In part 1, we focus entirely on the Euros!

Another week, another podcast episode. This time, we look at the first round of the euro matches (and a few second-round fixtures), transfer moves and Tampines Rovers’ upcoming AFC Champions League expedition.

In the second part, we look at various transfer moves and discuss the Stags' inaugural AFC Champions League journey!

Another week, another podcast episode. This time, we look at the first round of the euro matches (and a few second-round fixtures), transfer moves and Tampines Rovers’ upcoming AFC Champions League expedition. 

We look at the Euros in the first part, where we discuss all the highs and lows from round 1, including Christian Eriksen's unfortunate collapse and Benjamin Pavard's concussion!

We’re splitting the episodes into two again! This week we once again discuss a range of topics, including Carlo Ancelotti’s move to Real Madrid and what that means in the Manager merry-go-round, how we rank the teams for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2020, the upcoming Copa América as well as how the USA and Singapore National Teams have fared in their recent matches.

In Part 1 [4B], we look at how Brazil and Argentina will fare for the upcoming Copa  América as well as how the USA and Singapore national teams have fared in their recent fixtures. The USA national team recently won the CONCACAF Nations League while Singapore national team lost to Uzbekistan and Palestine in their World Cup Qualifiers.

We're splitting the episodes into two again! This week we once again discuss a range of topics, including Carlo Ancelotti's move to Real Madrid and what that means in the Manager merry-go-round, how we rank the teams for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2020, the upcoming Copa América as well as how the USA and Singapore National Teams have fared in their recent matches.

If you don't have Spotify, find us on Anchor instead!

In Part 1 [4A], we look at Carlo Ancelotti's move to Real Madrid, what that means for Everton, other managers' potential destinations as well as discuss Jack's four-tier ranking for his UEFA Euro 2020 favourites.

Episode 3 will be split into three parts but we're trying out something new. We've decided to post all episodes simultaneously. We will focus on the UEFA Champions League and Europa League final reviews, looking at what Chelsea's and Villareal's victories mean for all parties involved, the Manager merry-go-round currently happening in Europe And finally, we look at some national team selections - including the Singapore, France and Germany national teams.

In this first part, we discuss the national team selections - including the Singapore, France and Germany national teams - and boy, do we have a ton to discuss. 

Episode 3 will be split into three parts but we're trying out something new. We've decided to post all episodes simultaneously. We will focus on the UEFA Champions League and Europa League final reviews, looking at what Chelsea's and Villareal's victories mean for all parties involved, the Manager merry-go-round currently happening in Europe And finally, we look at some national team selections - including the Singapore, France and Germany national teams.

In this second part, we discuss the movement of various managers in Europe including Nuno Espírito Santo, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte!

Episode 3 will be split into three parts but we're trying out something new. We've decided to post all episodes simultaneously. We will focus on the UEFA Champions League and Europa League final reviews, looking at what Chelsea's and Villareal's victories mean for all parties involved, the Manager merry-go-round currently happening in Europe And finally, we look at some national team selections - including the Singapore, France and Germany national teams.

In this first part, we discuss the UCL and UEL finals and what that means for Man Utd, Man City, Villareal and Chelsea!

This week's episode will be split into three parts and we will be focusing on the final day of the EPL season, Lille OSC and Atlético Madrid winning their respective league titles, the UEFA Champions League and Europa League Final previews, Coach Kim Do Hoon's move to Lion City Sailors, and of course, the national team selections.

In this third and final part, we'll be focusing on  Coach Kim Do Hoon's move to Lion City Sailors and some national team selection decisions that we have issues with.