Pundits

Arsene Wenger remains, but things are supposed to be different for Arsenal this season. They simply can't deliver more of the same. But how much has changed at the Emirates Stadium this summer? How much of an impact will Alexandre Lacazette? Should Wenger still be concerned by the soft centre at the club? What happens if they miss out on the top four for a second successive season? Would that be the end for Wenger at the club? Niall Murray was joined by Graham Ruthven and Stefan Bienkowski... who just wouldn't stop talking about spinning plates.

Pep Guardiola is a project manager, but this summer, he is required to overhaul Manchester City's entire team in the space of just a few weeks. Is it possible? Indeed, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich has completely dismantled City's defence, signing three full backs at a cost of £140 million. Elsewhere, there are questions to be answered at centre back, in central midfield and up front. Is it realistic to expect that Man City will challenge for the Premier League title this season? Niall Murray was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it all over.

We're used to this by now. Every so often, Neymar is linked with an exit from Barcelona. Normally, such speculation is purely a tactic to earn a new contract. This time, however, there seems to be genuine weight in the suggestions. Paris Saint-Germain are prepared to activate the Brazilian's release clause, which would make him the most expensive player in the history football. But by moving to France would Neymar be jeopardising his career? He is, after all, the next best player in the world in-waiting. Can he really achieve his full potential at PSG, in Ligue 1? What would his exit mean for Barcelona? And for Lionel Messi? Niall Murray is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. We're just surprised AC Milan aren't in for him.

Over £600 million has been spent by Premier League clubs in the transfer market so far this summer, and that total will only rise and rise before the window closes. But which club has made the most progress this summer? Arsenal have added Alexandre Lacazette to their attacking options - how much of an impact will he have? Is Romelu Lukaku an upgrade on Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Manchester United? Has Pep Guardiola given himself too much work to do ahead of the new season? Should Liverpool fans be concerned by an apparent lack of activity at Anfield? And what about Chelsea? Will they find the striker they so desperately need? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt. Worth watching purely for Stefan calling AC Milan "the Everton of Italy."

And so the end of an era was reached. Wayne Rooney is no longer a Manchester United player, joining Everton 13 years after he last left Goodison Park. He's back home. But for all his records and achievements, Rooney's exit from United was met with little more than muted applause. Did the striker outstay his welcome at Old Trafford? Does he deserve the criticism he gets? Why didn't Man Utd fans warm to Rooney? What could he have done to prolong his career at the very top level? Did Coleen's deal with Asda prevent him from making the move to China? Niall Murray is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Graham Ruthven to talk it over. Unsurprisingly, it's another topic on which Stefan and Graham disagree on.

We're into July now and Mesut Ozil still hasn't signed a new contract at Arsenal. But while there is plenty interest in his teammate Alexis Sanchez, who also has just one year left on his contract, very little has been rumoured about Ozil. So does that mean the German will stay at the Emirates Stadium for next season? Are Arsenal in a strange position in strength over the playmaker's future? Is he worth the fuss? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt to talk about the Premier League's great lightning rod.

The Confederations Cup hasn't yet caught the imagination, but the debate over the use of VAR in the competition has caught light. Technology in football is finally coming, but is the sport ready for it? A number of controversial decisions have made using the VAR system, with a lack of clarity contributing to the confusion, but are these just teething problems or more fundamental issues? Does video technology belong in football in the first place? Does it spoil the euphoria of scoring a goal? Could it end the careers of Luis Suarez and Neymar (honestly, there's an argument there). Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it over on this week's show.

There's only one talking point in football at the moment - is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Real Madrid? Do we believe him? Is he for real or is this just a ploy related to his tax fraud charge? For argument's sake, what if Ronaldo were to leave Spain? Is Manchester United the only club that could afford the Portuguese forward? What about China or MLS? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Thom Watt to talk things over. And came to the same conclusion...

This season saw Francesco Totti, John Terry and Philipp Lahm all leave the clubs of their legend. So is the one-club man becoming a thing of the past? A relic of a bygone age? Is loyalty no longer as important to players of the modern game? Will we ever see the likes of Totti, Terry and Lahm again? Did Totti suffer for being a one-club man? Should he have joined Real Madrid all those years ago? Graham Ruthven is joined by Grant Russell and Scott McClymont to talk it through... and baulk at Grant's suggestion of where Totti should go next.

Celtic have just completed an unbeaten domestic season, winning the Scottish Premiership, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup without losing a single game. It's fair to say Brendan Rodgers has had a profound impact at the club. Now the Hoops are targeting a place in the last 16 of the Champions League. Is that a realistic aim for the Scottish champions considering their resources in comparison to the rest of Europe? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Grant Russell to discuss where Celtic go from here.

It's the Champions League final this weekend, with Real Madrid up against Juventus in Cardiff as they look to claim a third European title in four years. No team has retained the European Cup since the great AC Milan side of the late 1980s, so is that the kind of company this Real Madrid team will keep in the context of history? Should they be considered one of the best sides the game has ever produced? On the other side, is this Juventus side equipped to get the better of the Spanish giants? Is it the Italians that are actually the best team in football right now? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Gran Russell to look at the Champions League final in Wales this Saturday.

David Moyes resigned as manager of Sunderland after relegating the club from the Premier League. Four years ago, he had just been named Sir Alex Ferguson's successor at Man Utd - where has it all gone so badly wrong for the Scot? Is it a case that he has simply failed to adapt over time? Is his public persona and the things he says in the media a problem? Where on earth can he possibly go next to rescue his reputation? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it over. What next for Moyes?

After beating Manchester United on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur will this season finish in the top two of the top flight for the first time since the 1960s. So are they on the brink of becoming Premier League giants? Are English football’s most renowned nearly men about to make it? What would happen if Mauricio Pochettino was to leave the club? Or Dele Alli? Or Harry Kane? Does Spurs' move to a new stadium come at the best or worst possible time? What will happen when they play all their home games at Wembley next season? Graham Ruthven was joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it all over, including the construction of a cheese room at Spurs' new ground. That's right... a cheese room.

Is Jurgen Klopp doing a good job at Liverpool? Has he been fortunate in the Premier League this season? Can he overcome the problems that ultimately forced Brendan Rodgers out of the job? All this and more is answered on this week's show as Stefan Bienkowski, Thom Watt and Scott McClymont talk through the Kop's Klopp.

It's that time of the year again! Who should be awarded with the prestigious award of English Premier League player of the year? On this week's show Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Thom Watt to run through their own choices for the award. Like, subscribe, follow... you know the drill! Twitter: twitter.com/ThisIsPundits Facebook: facebook.com/ThisIsPundits YouTube: youtube.com/ThisIsPundits With thanks to The Strathmore: https://www.strathmoreglasgow.co.uk/

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, but how big a blow will that really be to Manchester United? Are Jose Mourinho's team better off without him? Graham Ruthven is joined by Scott McClymont and Thom Watt to talk over the Swede's future and the impact he has made in the Premier League.

This week will make or break Barcelona's season - first they face Juventus then Real Madrid in El Clasico. But just how fundamental are the issues at the club? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Scott McClymont to look at the Catalans and the issues they face. Are they a one man team?

Will the Champions League ever be the same again? Have UEFA spoiled the greatest club competition in football? Is there any way to save it? Graham Ruthven, Stefan Bienkowski (who apparently hates Dynamo Kiev, by the way) and Grant Russell talk it through.

Brendan Rodgers was damaged goods when he arrived at Celtic, so has he rescued his reputation in Scotland? How long will he stay in Glasgow for? Why is he a figure of fun in England? Graham Ruthven is joined by Stefan Bienkowski and Grant Russell to talk it through on this week's episode.

After a week which saw both England and Scotland draw less then impressive crowds to their 2018 World Cup qualifiers, we ponder… what’s the point of international football? Does anyone really care anymore? Graham Ruthven was joined by Grant Russell and Thom Watt to examine the international game, looking at what can be done to generate excitement and suppress an apathy that seems to be growing with every passing international break.