2026 has barely begun, and football is already deep into what can only be described as a managerial bloodbath. In this episode of Strain on the Game, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb dissect a brutal start to the year that has seen multiple high-profile managers sacked within weeks — some despite recent success.

Is this really about results… or something much bigger?

From Chelsea and Manchester United to Celtic, Aberdeen and beyond, the conversation explores the evolving power dynamics inside modern football clubs. Who really holds the control now — the manager, the sporting director, the medical department, or the ownership group?

Stephen and Adrian go deep into:

• Why press conferences, politics, and “fit” now matter as much as form

• The growing influence of medical and performance teams on team selection

• Player load management, injury risk, and why 60 minutes can sometimes be a “full match”

• How tactical changes mid-season increase injury risk — and how clubs try to manage it

• Why some managerial changes lead to injury spikes, while others don’t

• The realities of working through a managerial change as staff — and the human cost behind it

Drawing on real-world experiences from Premier League dressing rooms and elite performance departments, this episode pulls back the curtain on how football really works when pressure, politics, and performance collide.

In this end-of-year review episode, Stephen Warnock and Adrian Lamb look back at the biggest themes that shaped football in 2025 — and revisit the questions we’ve explored across the season.

We break down the long-term impact of the Club World Cup, using real injury data and availability trends to assess whether the tournament is already affecting squads — and whether the second half of the season could bring further consequences. We also return to one of our biggest ongoing debates: will injuries decide the Premier League title race? From squad depth and fixture congestion to how tactical systems can increase injury risk, we look at why “availability” might be the real competitive advantage.

Then we dive into episode eight’s big question: are we watching the game… or the data? With the Premier League becoming more direct, sprint demands are rising — and we explore why physical outputs (like sprint distance and repeat sprint ability) are increasingly linked to goals, decisive moments, and tactical evolution. Plus, a few trends catching the eye: late goals, headed goals, kick-off tactics, and the controversial rise of “goalkeeper cramps.”

To close, we look ahead to a massive 2026 lineup — featuring voices from inside the game including analysts, recruitment, physios, strength & conditioning, agents, kit men, CEOs, and current/former Premier League players — plus an honest conversation on player mental health.

A proper football deep-dive — with a few laughs along the way.

It’s Part Two of our Strain on the Game Christmas Special — and this one goes right into the chaos of the festive football calendar: AFCON, alcohol, and what Christmas is really like for players and staff.

First up, Stephen and Adrian break down AFCON’s ripple effect across the Premier League: who gets hit hardest, how clubs cope when key starters disappear for weeks, and why it can quietly tilt a title race (or a relegation fight). It’s not just “they’ll miss a few games” — it’s momentum, tactics, recruitment pressure, inflated January prices, and the added risk of players returning with knocks after long travel and different conditions.

Then it turns personal — the real-life sacrifices behind the Boxing Day tradition. From Christmas Day training schedules and early meetings, to trying to still be present for kids in the morning, the lads share what it feels like when the football calendar doesn’t pause… even when everyone else’s does.

And finally: alcohol — the enemy of performance, but also (sometimes) part of football culture. Adrian explains what drinking actually does to recovery: sleep quality, HRV, inflammation, hydration, and muscle repair — while Stephen shares stories from Christmas parties, fancy dress disguises, and why team bonding trips can genuinely change a season.