From his early life and rise through the game to becoming Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper, representing England on the international stage, and lifting the FA Cup with Portsmouth, David James reflects on the highs, the challenges and everything he learned along the way in the latest episode of the Beast Mode On Podcast.
Evangelos Marinakis boasts big ambition at Nottingham Forest, with Reds legend Des Walker telling GOAL that trophy targets on Trentside can be hit as ādancingā at Wembley is enjoyed. Another new era is about to be opened at the City Ground as, following plenty of movement on the managerial front, Oliver Glasner leads the collective charge in 2026-27.
Florian Wirtz endured a difficult debut season at Liverpool on the back of his Ā£116 million ($155m) transfer to Anfield, with Danny Murphy telling GOAL that double figures for goals and assists will be the ābare minimumā requirement in 2026-27. The Germany international is aware that patience can only stretch so far when it comes to making a telling contribution to the collective cause.
Scott McTominay has enjoyed a remarkable renaissance in Italian football, on the back of leaving Manchester United for Napoli, with ex-Serie A star Des Walker telling GOAL how that success has been enjoyed after āstarting from way belowā many of those around him. The many challenges of life in Italy have been conquered in style by a title-winning MVP.
Cole Palmerās spectacular debut season at Chelsea saw him earn comparisons with Blues legends Gianfranco Zola and Eden Hazard, but Tony Cascarino has told GOAL what the talented playmaker needs to do in order to emulate icons of the past. Palmerās output in west London has been heading in the wrong direction, with a fading spark needing to be rekindled.
Sandro Tonali was being linked with Manchester United and teams across Europe, but has completed a £100 million ($134m) transfer to Tottenham. Is that big-money move the result of a desire to live in London? Ex-Spurs star Danny Murphy has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL, while assessing a busy window in the English capital.
Morgan Gibbs-White can see his No.10 āegoā massaged at Nottingham Forest, Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL, with there no need for a transfer elsewhere to be considered. The England international playmaker is a proven Premier League performer, which means that he inevitably attracts interest, but āmain manā status can continue to be enjoyed at the City Ground.
Celtic should consider bringing Robbie Keane in alongside Martin OāNeill at some stage, Tony Cascarino has told GOAL, with the perfect managerial mentor in place at Parkhead for a potential head coach of the future. The Hoops are placing trust in a familiar face for now, but are aware of the need to find a long-term successor to their evergreen 74-year-old boss.
Harry Kane forms part of GOAT conversations in the England national team, but former Three Lions striker Stan Collymore has explained to GOAL how ārecency biasā impacts that debate and why a āpoolā of greats should be celebrated rather than singling out individuals. Kane is currently enjoying the best form of his career, with World Cup glory being pursued in North America.
Jude Bellinghamās āarroganceā is considered to be a good thing and more productive than similar qualities boasted by Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah, with Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why criticism of Englandās No.10 has been made to look ālaughableā. A āGalacticoā performer from Real Madrid has been starring at the 2026 World Cup finals.
Morgan Rogers has seen a big-money transfer away from Aston Villa speculated on - potentially at £130 million ($175m) - but Stan Collymore has told GOAL why the likes of Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze are unlikely to be targeted as potential replacements for their fellow England international. Unai Emery is expected to bolster his ranks with a different type of player.
England need to find the answer to one big question at the 2026 World Cup: How do you keep Erling Haaland quiet? Ex-Three Lions defender Des Walker has attempted to provide a solution during an exclusive interview with GOAL, ahead of Thomas Tuchelās side taking in an eagerly-anticipated quarter-final clash with Norway at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday.
Harry Kane has been in the form of his life across 2025-26, including at the World Cup finals, with former England international Danny Murphy explaining to GOAL why the prolific frontman is at the peak of his powers. There are considered to be two important reasons why the Three Lionsā record-breaking captain is performing at a career-best level.
Aston Villa have been credited with interest in Folarin Balogun, but Stan Collymore has told GOAL why Unai Emery is likely to favour another 2026 World Cup star over a United States international that made plenty of headlines at FIFAās flagship event. The Villans are looking to bolster their ranks from back to front during the summer, with comings and goings being mooted.
Nottingham Forest have āmoney to burnā following their record-breaking Ā£116 million ($155m) sale of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, but Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL why cash in the bank can pose recruitment problems. The former centre-half has also explained why the City Ground faithful have a crucial role to play in ambitious future plans.
Patrice Evra has explained to GOAL why Michael Oliseās ānonchalanceā is a good thing, with the enigmatic France international winger being told what the āhardestā part of being a superstar is about to become. The Bayern Munich forward has been in dazzling form for club and country, with World Cup glory currently being chased down on North American soil.
Harry Kane continues to look unstoppable for England at the 2026 World Cup, with former Three Lions star Des Walker admitting to GOAL that kicking the prolific striker may be the only way of bringing him to a halt. The record-breaking frontman has been rewriting the history books, with the benefits of a move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich being explained.
Mikel Arteta is capable of eclipsing Arsene Wengerās achievements and becoming a four-time Premier League title winner at Arsenal, Stefan Schwarz has told GOAL, as āthe hardest one is always the first oneā. That box has been ticked by a Spanish tactician at Emirates Stadium, with the challenge now being to build a new dynasty in north London.
Nottingham Forest will be hoping to see Brazilian defender Murillo spend another decade at the City Ground, with legendary former Reds centre-half Des Walker telling GOAL why the enigmatic South American can hit individual targets without seeking a transfer elsewhere. A long-term contract is ensuring that no sale needs to be considered any time soon.
Kylian Mbappe is on a Lionel Messi-themed revenge mission at the 2026 World Cup, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with Franceās talismanic striker determined to right a few wrongs from Qatar 2022. Final agony - despite scoring a hat-trick against Argentina - was endured in the Middle East, but positive progress has been made through another major competition on North American soil.
Jude Bellingham enjoys being a āshow-offā and Englandās āmain manā, Des Walker has told GOAL, with the Three Lions superstar considered to have joined fellow generational talents Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne in an exclusive ābig headā club. Bellingham is said to boast positive āarroganceā, with that self belief allowing him to thrive at the 2026 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo has already run ā1,000 marathonsā over the course of his career, but Louis Saha has told GOAL that the Portuguese GOAT may have another left in him at the 2030 World Cup. At 41 years of age, the evergreen frontman is currently gracing FIFAās flagship event for the sixth time. Said tournament will be heading to his homeland in four yearsā time.
Oliver Glasner will be next through the managerial revolving door at Nottingham Forest, but how long will he last? Reds legend Stan Collymore has admitted to GOAL that the Austrianās decision to link up with enigmatic Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis is ānot a marriage made in heavenā, with his reign likely to be another that is measured in months rather than years.
Michael Olise is said to be attracting admiring glances from Real Madrid, with the Blancos reportedly prepared to pay a world record transfer fee of ā¬223 million (Ā£191m/$255m) for the Bayern Munich winger. Is he, or anybody, worth that kind of money? Former France international Louis Saha has endeavoured to answer that question for GOAL, with some ācrazy numbersā flying around.
Harry Kane has become Lionel Messi-esque for England in terms of his value to the collective cause, with Stan Collymore explaining to GOAL why that is a good thing and how the Three Lionsā record goalscorer is benefitting from a mindset that others have lacked. The prolific Bayern Munich frontman is leading another bid for World Cup glory at present, with a star-studded squad often being carried on his back.
Cristiano Ronaldo retains the ability to make āpeople shut their mouthā, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with a former Manchester United team-mate of CR7 explaining why the Portuguese superstar attracts more criticism than fellow GOAT Lionel Messi. Both men are currently on 2026 World Cup duty, with more questions being put to an evergreen European frontman than his eternal South American rival is facing.
Former Arsenal and Sweden midfielder Stefan Schwarz has told GOAL that while Viktor Gyokeres may not be a āclassy attackerā, he is finding his feet in the Premier League - as a title winner - and should be closer to his ābestā during the 2026-27 campaign. The powerful frontman enjoyed a productive debut campaign at Emirates Stadium, but continues to see more forwards linked with big-money moves to north London.
The France national team are no strangers to World Cup soap operas, with some bizarre headlines being made down the years, but Louis Saha has told GOAL that Rayan Cherkiās apparent snubbing of head coach Didier Deschamps is ānot dramaā. The enigmatic Manchester City playmaker has seemingly not taken kindly to the lack of game time being passed his way at FIFAās flagship event.
Kylian Mbappe is capable of completing a clean sweep on the trophy front in 2026, Louis Saha has told GOAL, with the France international in contention for World Cup, Golden Boot, Golden Ball and Ballon dāHor honours. The Real Madrid forward has been starring on the grandest of stages, with the perfect response being delivered to some āstrange criticismā.
Tony Cascarino has admitted to GOAL that ābig players have always movedā, but the former Aston Villa striker is still annoyed at the slightly baffling situation that sees Morgan Rogers generating intense transfer talk. The England international is seeing a big-money move to Arsenal speculated on, with the Villans needing to sanction sales in order to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).