Listener sentiment
Advertising overload remains the single most discussed issue across the recent rating window, with the overwhelming majority of reviewers — including many who still love the show — describing episodes where ad breaks and sponsor reads consume roughly half of already brief 20-to-30-minute runtimes. The Gemini AI sponsorship segments in particular drew sharp, repeated pushback from listeners who find them tonally jarring and antithetical to the podcast's appeal. Compounding the frustration, a cluster of recent reviews from August highlight a weeks-long content drought following the World Cup final, with several listeners suspecting the free podcast is being deprioritized in favour of the Netflix deal that reportedly offers fuller episodes behind a paywall. Micah Richards continues to attract consistent criticism for shouting and shallow analysis, while a smaller contingent finds Gary Lineker smug, interruptive, or too willing to stray into political commentary. A few newer reviews also flag repetitive "best XI" segments and a perceived bias toward big-six clubs as signs the content itself has grown stale. A loyal minority still praise the trio's chemistry, dressing-room anecdotes, and football insight, and a handful defend the ads as the price of a free show — but even sympathetic long-time listeners are now openly questioning whether the podcast still values its regular audience, suggesting patience is wearing thin.
Apple3.6 · 608
Summary generated Sep 4, 2026
