Football Talk - The Yorkshire Post

In this edition of the FootballTalk Podcast, we take out first look at the 2026 World Cup, the winners and losers in the first week, while assessing England’s promising performance in their 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday night in Dallas. Closer to home, Stuart Rayner, Leon Wobschall and host Mark Singleton turn their attention to Sheffield Wednesday and the appointment of new sporting director, Simon Wilson and his plans for making the owls a competitive force in 2026-27. The pressing need for Rotherham United to appoint a new permanent manager grows further after their top two choices both declined the chance to move to the New York Stadium, while the panel assess the comments of Barnsley ceo, Jon Flatman, with regard to the future direction of the club.

On this week’s show, The YP’s football writers Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobschall join host Mark Singleton and begin by analysing Hull City’s defeat at home to Championship rivals Bristol City and where it leaves a promotion push which, at the start of the season, was not predicted by many. Huddersfield Town continue to impress under Liam Manning, strengthening their play-off claims after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Blackpool before then going on to lose to League One rivals Doncaster Rovers in EFL Trophy after a penalty shootout, a result which saw Grant McCann’s team progress to the last four. Finally, we look at Middlesbrough’s continued rise under Kim Hellberg, who saw his team go top with Monday’s 2-1 win at Sheffield United. As Boro dream of being in the promotion mix come the end of the season, has the result signalled the end of Sheffield United’s already-faint hopes of making the play-offs. And, this week, Stuart determines the Team of the Week in Yorkshire, while Leon picks out his Player of the Week.

On this week’s show, The YP’s Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobschall join host Mark Singleton to sift through the latest action on and off the pitch involving Yorkshire’s leading clubs. They start in the Premier League and Leeds United’s 1-1 draw at Everton on Monday night which, while keeping them clear of the bottom three, could have been more having taken the lead at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.Next up is the Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield Town and Bradford City – the derby at the ACCU Stadium marking the first game in charge for new boss Liam Manning, brought in by owner Kevin Nagle to replace Lee Grant.Huddersfield backed up the 1-0 win over the Bantams with another one-goal victory – also on home turf – against another promotion rival in Luton Town. Bradford, by contrast, suffered a third straight defeat – the first time in almost two years – when they went down 3-0 at Lincoln City. Middlesbrough have put a recent poor run behind them by posting four straight wins, helping them ramp up the pressure on Championship leaders, Coventry City, fuelling hope of a top-two finish, while Hull City have also hit form to solidify a play-off spot – but could it be more? And does Sheffield United’s return to winning ways – with a 3-1 victory at home over Ipswich Town – mean they still have a chance of becoming a play-off contender despite such a dreadful start to the season.Finally, Stuart picks out his top-performing Yorkshire Team of the Week, while Leon selects his standout player from the last few days.

The FA Cup third round took up the weekend, with Hull City and Leeds United Yorkshire’s only remaining representatives in the next round, after their respective wins over Blackburn Rovers and Derby County.Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobschall join host Mark Singleton to discuss the ties, as well as focussing on Hull’s fourth round opponents, which brings them up against former Tigers’ manager, Liam Rosenior – who was sacked only 18 months ago after failing to make the Championship play-offs. The previous night, saw Barnsley visit Anfield in third round, the Reds going down 4-1 – a scoreline boosted by two late goals for the hosts.Business for Yorkshire’s clubs continues to take place during the January Transfer Window, with the team picking out the most eye-catching deals to take place so far.It was derby day on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy, with Huddersfield Town running out comfortable 3-0 winners over Rotherham United. This week, Leon picks out his top Yorkshire Team of the Week before Stuart picks out the star individual to hand out the Player of the Week gong.

The YP’s football writers, Stuart Rayner and Leon Wobschall, join host Mark Singleton to cast an eye over all ELEVEN of Yorkshire’s Premier League and EFL clubs and how their respective 2025-26 campaigns have gone so far. Have Leeds United laid the foundation to help them survive their first season back in the top-flight, are Middlesbrough and Hull City realistic candidates for automatic promotion from the Championship and can Sheffield United launch a late push for the play-offs under Chris Wilder despite their terrible start to the 2025-26 campaign? In League One, Bradford City are well-placed among the promotion candidates, with Huddersfield Town and Barnsley also in the frame for the play-offs. Harrogate Town, meanwhile, have endured a tough start in League Two and need a much-improved second half of the season to avoid being involved in a relegation dogfight.