E.193 - OnlyShades and Champions League nights

if you want smart match analysis with jokes, hot takes, and a real fan’s read on where the season is heading next. You are in for a TREAT Shady Gang A two-goal win can still expose a team, and this episode is all about separating panic from reality before the Manchester Derby. Crunk Chocolate and Bas break down why City’s Champions League result against Porto was stronger than the outrage around it suggested, what actually needs fixing, and why the real concern sits in midfield, not the back line. The Show Bros dig into Erling Haaland's brace, the impact of a new-look squad still learning each other, and the performances that stood out from the Porto match, including a composed showing from Bouaddi and the growing importance of Rayan Ait-Nori. From there, the conversation shifts straight into derby prep, with a look at how short rest, travel, rotation, and leggy opponents could shape Sunday’s matchup. Crunk and Bas also preview the rest of the Premier League weekend along with Carabao Cup trying to decipher which of the games that feel most likely to produce chaos, upsets, or pure nonsense. If you care about City, the derby, rotation, squad depth, or which clubs are about to make the internet miserable, this one has everything you want Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you find yourself enjoying this 10 minute sampler of the new episode. Become a Shades of Blue Patreon member to watch the episode in full, can add the Patreon episodes to your podcast app via RSS feed! All for only $6 a month which gets you ad free episodes, Premium content like “Choppin’ It Up” interview series or “Breaking Bread” our match preview series for Man City Men & Women games, and get entry in our secret Discord channel! Receive early access to new episodes along with episodes exclusively on Patreon for only $6 a month. Subscribe or buy VOD here:  https://www.patreon.com/cw/u94168109 Manchester United fans who want honesty, not PR, need this one. Flawless ( Mr Take Note (@YesItsFlawless) / X) of Sarcasm City TV ( Sarcasm City TV - YouTube ) breaks down why United’s season hinges on one thing, why the transfer window still feels incomplete, and why he is not buying the hype around every shiny new idea at Old Trafford. CrunkChocolate and Flawless go straight into the real questions surrounding United’s direction under Carrick, from the impact of last season’s surprise turnaround to whether a top four finish is actually the minimum standard for a club like this. The conversation gets especially sharp when they get into the transfer business, the missed chance to fix the left-back problem, and why the midfield additions may be good enough to move United forward without solving everything. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe! Rate the show 5 Stars! Leave a review to help the podcast get connected to most dope people like yourself! Manchester City just sent a warning to the rest of the league: this squad can win ugly, rotate heavily, and still keep stacking points. CrunkChocolate and Sharpie Charlie break down a gritty 1-0 win over Coventry City, a statement Champions League result at Porto, and why the title race in both the men’s and women’s game may already be tilting City’s way. The episode starts with the kind of win that reveals a lot more than the scoreline. From Nico O'Reilly’s late warmup injury and Enzo Fernandez’s surprise start to Elliott Anderson absolutely running the show, the conversation zeroes in on the performances, decisions, and small moments that shaped City’s week. The hosts also get into the frustrations which are sloppy passes, the missed chances, the goalkeeper issues, and why those flaws still don’t outweigh the bigger picture. The episode shifts to the women’s side, where City open the WSL season with a strong win over Birmingham City. Crunk and Sharpie spotlight Gracie Prior’s growth, Mary Fowler’s return, Lauren Hemp’s threat, and Bunny Shaw doing Bunny Shaw things with a brace that reminded everyone exactly why she is one of the most feared finishers in the league. This one also looks ahead to the Manchester derby, what to expect from United, why Arsenal and Chelsea are still the measuring sticks, and whether City’s men and women are both built for trophy runs this season. If you want sharp analysis, real opinions, and a little (LOT) chaos with your City talk, this is the episode to hit play on. Become a Shades of Blue Patreon member to watch the episode in full, can add the Patreon episodes to your podcast app via RSS feed! All for only $6 a month which gets you ad free episodes, Premium content like “Choppin’ It Up” interview series or “Breaking Bread” our match preview series for Man City Men & Women games, and get entry in our secret Discord channel! Receive early access to new episodes along with episodes exclusively on Patreon for only $6 a month. Subscribe or buy VOD here:  https://www.patreon.com/cw/u94168109  20% OFF SALE! Buy yourself a shirt from the Official SoBP Store! Look good while helping our podcast grow! https://shades-of-blue-network.square.site/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manchester City’s pre-Porto UCL press conference sounds routine until you catch the real story: how much Maresca trusts his young attackers, what his comments mean for Doku, Nico O’Reilly, Enzo Fernandez, and whether Ryan Cherki is suddenly forcing his way into the conversation. CrunkChocolate watches the interview live, reacts in real time, and turns every answer into something sharper—from the club’s money narrative and frozen ticket prices to the tension between rotation, form, and who actually deserves to start in the Champions League. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe! Rate the show 5 Stars! Leave a review to help the podcast get connected to most dope people like yourself! Become a Shades of Blue Patreon member to watch the episode in full, can add the Patreon episodes to your podcast app via RSS feed! All for only $6 a month which gets you ad free episodes, Premium content like “Choppin’ It Up” interview series or “Breaking Bread” our match preview series for Man City Men & Women games, and get entry in our secret Discord channel! Receive early access to new episodes along with episodes exclusively on Patreon for only $6 a month. Subscribe or buy VOD here:  https://www.patreon.com/cw/u94168109  20% OFF SALE! Buy yourself a shirt from the Official SoBP Store! Look good while helping our podcast grow! https://shades-of-blue-network.square.site/ Manchester City spent like a superclub, but the bigger question is whether this squad finally looks like a machine built to win right now. Crunk Chocolate and Bas break down the club’s staggering transfer window, the pressure that comes with a 526.7-million-euro outlay, and why this might actually be the most balanced City squad in years. They unpack the latest signings, what each new piece adds, and why the vibe around this team feels different from the recent veteran-heavy versions. From Elliot Anderson’s non-stop defensive work to Rayan Cherki’s off the ball energy, Matheus Nunes’ importance, and what Nico O’Reilly and Abdukodir Khusanov mean for the lineup puzzle, this episode is all about fit, depth, and the hidden consequences of a squad full of versatile players. The Show Bros also get into the conversation everyone is having about Enzo Fernandez. His footballing upside, the off-field baggage, and whether his arrival actually blocks anyone’s path. They separate the on-pitch logic from the emotional and moral reaction, then zoom out to ask the real question: how much pressure should Manchester City and Enzo Maresca actually be under after spending so heavily? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manchester City might be in the middle of a rebuild, but this squad is starting to look dangerous in all the right ways. Crunk Chocolate, Bas, and Sharpie Charlie break down the chaos of the transfer window, the new-look City identity, and why the club’s depth could make the rest of the Premier League nervous. The conversation gets spicy fast as they weigh the potential arrivals of players like Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson, and Abdoulaye Ndiaye, debate which moves City might actually regret, and make the case that this window could reshape the next few years at the Etihad. From midfield balance to wide-player fit to what happens when Erling Haaland is surrounded by even more elite talent, this episode is packed with big-picture City thinking. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We may not be brilliant, but we are certainly blues! Welcome to a new episode! Today we discuss Phil Foden’s future, Enzo Maresca’s early read on City, and the transfer window chaos all collide in this brutally honest, wildly entertaining Brilliant Blues conversation. If you want a no-filter breakdown of what actually matters for Manchester City right now, this is the one to hear. Crunk Chocolate, Dillon Meehan, and John Whitaker kick things off by sizing up the season’s opening questions; from the Community Shield reaction to what Bournemouth really told us about City’s shape, intensity, and mentality. Then the conversation turns fast: the panel digs into the exits, the money, and the looming possibility that City’s biggest moves could be defined by who leaves as much as who arrives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Subscribe! Rate the show 5 Stars! Leave a review to help the podcast get connected to most dope people like yourself! Manchester City’s transfer window is about to get weird, expensive, and maybe brilliant. Crunk Chocolate and Sharpie Charlie break down the late-summer sales spree, the Rodri-sized rebuild, and why City fans should be excited instead of panicked. The big question hanging over this episode is simple: are City losing too much, or are they doing what elite clubs do best - reload before everyone else realizes what happened? From Savio and Marmoush to Nico González, the conversation gets into the logic behind the exits, the market math that drives the deals, and why Ayyoub Bouaddi and Allan from Palmeiras is the kind of signing that tells you City are planning for the next era, not the last one. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CrunkChocolate reacts to Manchester City's postmatch and prematch media moments, and the real story is bigger than one win: a squad refresh, a sharper tactical identity, and a manager who keeps saying the quiet part out loud. The conversation turns from City’s comeback against Bournemouth to the bigger questions underneath it all. What does Maresca actually want from this team? How different is his vision from Pep’s? And why does this current City squad suddenly feel built for more than people expected? There’s also a lot of honest reaction here about player movement, minutes, patience, and the uncomfortable reality that some clubs simply let unhappy players go if the price is right. That leads to a bigger Premier League conversation about how top teams actually build, refresh, and manage expectation when the games start coming every three days. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Manchester City’s season hinges on one brutal question: can they survive the chaos of a Premier League that no longer gives anyone time to settle? CrunkChocolate and new show bro Bas kick off the campaign with a sharp, funny, and surprisingly honest preview of City’s shifting identity, the transfer window frenzy, and the first real test against Bournemouth. With two shows a week now back on the schedule and Bas officially joining the family, the conversation opens on what it means to step into a club that is still changing in real time. From Enzo Maresca’s pressure to evolve beyond Pep’s blueprint, to the strange new reality of City’s transfer strategy, this episode digs into the tension between stability and reinvention - and why this summer feels different. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.