John Brewin
@brewin.bsky.social
Freelance journalist, semi-regular at Guardian Sport, columnist at Straits Times, from Macclesfield, Cheshire in London, England. https://www.theguardian.com/profile/john-brewin
Collected writings from the distant past at https://johnbrewin.substack.com/
Collected writings from the distant past at https://johnbrewin.substack.com/
Pinned
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
What’s eating Liverpool?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/3505f9
What’s eating Liverpool?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/3505f9
Libero: Libero 069 | Liverpool's Mo Salah Conundrum
Liverpool fans rejoiced when the club signed Mo Salah to a new contract. With Liverpool’s title defence in tatters, the team in chaos, have Liverpool got a Mo Salah problem? The Egyptian has lit ...
pod.fo
November 11, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New Libero
What’s eating Liverpool?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/3505f9
What’s eating Liverpool?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/3505f9
This is sad news. His football book, The Mavericks, is a classic read - and re-read, too, which I did quite recently.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Rob Steen obituary
Other lives: Sports writer who authored a series of accomplished biographies and a cult football classic, The Mavericks
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This is sad news. His football book, The Mavericks, is a classic read - and re-read, too, which I did quite recently.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
Is it easier to be a small club or a big club?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34d3cf
Is it easier to be a small club or a big club?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34d3cf
Libero: Libero 068 | The Premier League’s Goldilocks Clubs
There is one big question that today's Libero is seeking to answer and that is: is it fundamentally easier to change the fortunes of a club with less historical baggage? Are the likes of Bournemout...
pod.fo
November 7, 2025 at 10:46 AM
New Libero
Is it easier to be a small club or a big club?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34d3cf
Is it easier to be a small club or a big club?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34d3cf
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
Is the Premier League boring now?
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34a63b
Is the Premier League boring now?
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34a63b
Libero: Libero 067 | Is The Premier League Boring?
A quarter of the way through this Premier League season, people are starting to ask: is the football we are watching this year any good? Or has the rise of set pieces turned it into a different gam...
pod.fo
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New Libero
Is the Premier League boring now?
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34a63b
Is the Premier League boring now?
@jonawils.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/34a63b
Now, Willie was a jockey but he’s also Willie Mullins, the master jumps trainer of the 21st century. From the BBC’s Melbourne Cup report.
November 4, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Now, Willie was a jockey but he’s also Willie Mullins, the master jumps trainer of the 21st century. From the BBC’s Melbourne Cup report.
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
Is this the end of the Old Firm? Are Hearts perfectly placed to exploit it?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Is this the end of the Old Firm? Are Hearts perfectly placed to exploit it?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Libero: Libero 066 | Celtic And Rangers On The Brink... Is The Old Firm Dying?
The rule of thumb in Scottish football is that if one Old Firm club is doing badly, then the other is doing well. So what happens when both Celtic and Rangers are both in troubled times concurrentl...
pod.fo
October 31, 2025 at 7:29 AM
New Libero
Is this the end of the Old Firm? Are Hearts perfectly placed to exploit it?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Is this the end of the Old Firm? Are Hearts perfectly placed to exploit it?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Reposted by John Brewin
Have Rangers and Celtic ever been in simultaneous crises before like they are now? What has happened to two huge clubs over the last 20 years? And can Hearts make the most of their opportunity?
Today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Libero: Libero 066 | Celtic And Rangers On The Brink... Is The Old Firm Dying?
The rule of thumb in Scottish football is that if one Old Firm club is doing badly, then the other is doing well. So what happens when both Celtic and Rangers are both in troubled times concurrentl...
pod.fo
October 31, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Have Rangers and Celtic ever been in simultaneous crises before like they are now? What has happened to two huge clubs over the last 20 years? And can Hearts make the most of their opportunity?
Today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/347e61
Reposted by John Brewin
Great podcast, including a mention of that Rivaldo bicycle kick.
Hosted by @brewin.bsky.social, with @tariqpanja.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social.
pod.fo/e/343860
Hosted by @brewin.bsky.social, with @tariqpanja.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social.
pod.fo/e/343860
Libero: Libero 064 | Real Madrid v Barcelona: A Health Check On El Clasico
John Brewin, Jonathan Wilson and Tariq Panja are here to talk about the world’s biggest domestic fixture - self-styled, perhaps, but deservedly so - it's 'El Clasico'. Real Madrid v Barcelona, as...
pod.fo
October 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Great podcast, including a mention of that Rivaldo bicycle kick.
Hosted by @brewin.bsky.social, with @tariqpanja.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social.
pod.fo/e/343860
Hosted by @brewin.bsky.social, with @tariqpanja.bsky.social and @jonawils.bsky.social.
pod.fo/e/343860
In which I mistakenly call Barcelona’s franchise player “Limahl”.
New Libero
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
Libero: Libero 064 | Real Madrid v Barcelona: A Health Check On El Clasico
John Brewin, Jonathan Wilson and Tariq Panja are here to talk about the world’s biggest domestic fixture - self-styled, perhaps, but deservedly so - it's 'El Clasico'. Real Madrid v Barcelona, as...
pod.fo
October 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
In which I mistakenly call Barcelona’s franchise player “Limahl”.
Reposted by John Brewin
Danny Welbeck for England? Yeah, maybe.
@brewin.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on the Manchester boy who appears to be getting better with age as he prepares to return to Old Trafford.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
@brewin.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on the Manchester boy who appears to be getting better with age as he prepares to return to Old Trafford.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Welbeck’s career revival can put him back on England’s World Cup radar
Brighton’s Danny Welbeck is playing the best football of his career at 34 and Thomas Tuchel could have a vacancy for an intelligent, hard-working goal-scorer
www.theguardian.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Danny Welbeck for England? Yeah, maybe.
@brewin.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on the Manchester boy who appears to be getting better with age as he prepares to return to Old Trafford.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
@brewin.bsky.social for @sport.theguardian.com on the Manchester boy who appears to be getting better with age as he prepares to return to Old Trafford.
www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
Libero: Libero 064 | Real Madrid v Barcelona: A Health Check On El Clasico
John Brewin, Jonathan Wilson and Tariq Panja are here to talk about the world’s biggest domestic fixture - self-styled, perhaps, but deservedly so - it's 'El Clasico'. Real Madrid v Barcelona, as...
pod.fo
October 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
New Libero
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
El Clasico: still the biggest game in the world?
@brewin.bsky.social
@jonawils.bsky.social
@tariqpanja.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/343860
Reposted by John Brewin
😱 Manchester United won at Anfield for the first time since 2016.
😬 Nottingham Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou just 18 minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
🫡 Arsenal and Manchester City kept up their imperious form.
@maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social , @brewin.bsky.social
😬 Nottingham Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou just 18 minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
🫡 Arsenal and Manchester City kept up their imperious form.
@maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social , @brewin.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 1:15 PM
😱 Manchester United won at Anfield for the first time since 2016.
😬 Nottingham Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou just 18 minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
🫡 Arsenal and Manchester City kept up their imperious form.
@maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social , @brewin.bsky.social
😬 Nottingham Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou just 18 minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.
🫡 Arsenal and Manchester City kept up their imperious form.
@maxrushden.bsky.social @barryglendenning.bsky.social , @brewin.bsky.social
Watching Sinead O’Connor’s brilliant Letterman performance of Mandinka and Coogan’s Paul Calf is on bass.
October 12, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Watching Sinead O’Connor’s brilliant Letterman performance of Mandinka and Coogan’s Paul Calf is on bass.
Reposted by John Brewin
What are the politics underpinning the Premier League? Is it part of a Thatcherite legacy?
On today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @brewin.bsky.social and @rorysmith.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
On today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @brewin.bsky.social and @rorysmith.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Libero: Libero 060: The Premier League: Thatcher’s Greatest Triumph
Hated, adored, never ignored, Margaret Thatcher is one of the most important figures in the history of the country that is home to the world's wealthiest domestic league – this cannot be a coinci...
pod.fo
October 10, 2025 at 11:53 AM
What are the politics underpinning the Premier League? Is it part of a Thatcherite legacy?
On today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @brewin.bsky.social and @rorysmith.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
On today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social with @brewin.bsky.social and @rorysmith.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
Is the Premier League Margaret Thatcher’s greatest legacy?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Is the Premier League Margaret Thatcher’s greatest legacy?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Libero: Libero 060: The Premier League: Thatcher’s Greatest Triumph
Hated, adored, never ignored, Margaret Thatcher is one of the most important figures in the history of the country that is home to the world's wealthiest domestic league – this cannot be a coinci...
pod.fo
October 10, 2025 at 6:29 AM
New Libero
Is the Premier League Margaret Thatcher’s greatest legacy?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Is the Premier League Margaret Thatcher’s greatest legacy?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/33ad00
Reposted by John Brewin
Any questions for the pod?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@luceward.bsky.social
🎙️👇👏
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@luceward.bsky.social
🎙️👇👏
October 5, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Any questions for the pod?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@luceward.bsky.social
🎙️👇👏
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@luceward.bsky.social
🎙️👇👏
Hegseth is someone else who doesn’t know what “reactionary” means.
Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."
October 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Hegseth is someone else who doesn’t know what “reactionary” means.
Reposted by John Brewin
‘Who said he’s as honest as the day is long?’
@mrjamesob.bsky.social poses a question about Reform’s ex-leader in Wales, who admitted making pro-Russian statements to the EU Parliament for cash.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social poses a question about Reform’s ex-leader in Wales, who admitted making pro-Russian statements to the EU Parliament for cash.
September 29, 2025 at 11:26 AM
‘Who said he’s as honest as the day is long?’
@mrjamesob.bsky.social poses a question about Reform’s ex-leader in Wales, who admitted making pro-Russian statements to the EU Parliament for cash.
@mrjamesob.bsky.social poses a question about Reform’s ex-leader in Wales, who admitted making pro-Russian statements to the EU Parliament for cash.
Reposted by John Brewin
Football documentaries on today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social, from Graham Taylor to 'All or Nothing' to Wrexham. With @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
pod.fo/e/333f06
Libero: Libero 057: All or Nothing... Do We Need More Football Documentaries?
No progressive football club’s project is complete without an authorised streaming documentary series. They’ve become a significant contribution to football’s reinvention as a content provide...
pod.fo
September 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Football documentaries on today's @liberopodcast.bsky.social, from Graham Taylor to 'All or Nothing' to Wrexham. With @rorysmith.bsky.social and @brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
pod.fo/e/333f06
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
Are football documentaries replacing football?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
Are football documentaries replacing football?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
Libero: Libero 057: All or Nothing... Do We Need More Football Documentaries?
No progressive football club’s project is complete without an authorised streaming documentary series. They’ve become a significant contribution to football’s reinvention as a content provide...
pod.fo
September 30, 2025 at 8:17 AM
New Libero
Are football documentaries replacing football?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
Are football documentaries replacing football?
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@jackpittbrooke.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/333f06
Reposted by John Brewin
New Libero
The Premier League’s Triangle of Sadness.
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jameshorncastle.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/331ea7
The Premier League’s Triangle of Sadness.
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jameshorncastle.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/331ea7
Libero: Libero 056: The Premier League's Triangle Of Sadness
What does Aston Villa’s sudden fall from grace say about the wisdom of basing a football club around one man in Unai Emery? Rory Smith, James Horncastle and John Brewin consider a club dogged by ...
pod.fo
September 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
New Libero
The Premier League’s Triangle of Sadness.
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jameshorncastle.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/331ea7
The Premier League’s Triangle of Sadness.
@rorysmith.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
@jameshorncastle.bsky.social
pod.fo/e/331ea7
Reposted by John Brewin
‘Arsenal have quality within the squad. Why were they playing Tranmere Rovers football for 89 minutes?’
Was this a good point for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal against Manchester City?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
Was this a good point for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal against Manchester City?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
‘Arsenal have quality within the squad. Why were they playing Tranmere Rovers football for 89 minutes?’
Was this a good point for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal against Manchester City?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social
Was this a good point for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal against Manchester City?
@maxrushden.bsky.social
@barryglendenning.bsky.social
@brewin.bsky.social