It is only late August and already the EFL is serving up the kind of chaos that makes it the most entertaining division-by-division league in world football. The latest episode of the BBC's 72+ EFL Podcast brought together hosts Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff alongside Tranmere Rovers manager Darrell Clarke, and there was no shortage of talking points from the opening weeks of the new season.

Clarke's goalkeeper crisis at Tranmere

The most eye-catching moment to unpick was how Tranmere defender Bobby Faulkner ended up pulling on the goalkeeper's jersey. Clarke explained the circumstances to the panel, and it served as a neat reminder of just how thin the margins are for clubs operating at the lower end of the Football League. A summer that Clarke described as particularly busy for the club clearly stretched the squad, and with no senior keeper available, Faulkner stepped up. It is the sort of story you simply do not get in the Premier League, and it is exactly why so many supporters reckon the EFL produces more raw, genuine drama on any given Saturday afternoon.

Kamwa channels his inner Adebayor

Bristol Rovers striker Bobby Kamwa provided the podcast's most talked-about clip when he marked a goal against his former club Newport County with a celebration that the panel likened to Emmanuel Adebayor's infamous sprint the full length of the pitch against Arsenal back in 2009. Whether Kamwa's version carries quite the same theatrical weight as that Manchester City classic is debatable, but it clearly tickled the 72+ panel and will have wound up plenty of Newport supporters sat in their stand that afternoon.

Championship early pace-setters

Up in the second tier, three clubs have caught the eye in the opening weeks. Millwall are setting the early Championship pace, which will delight everyone who frequents The Den and irritate most of the clubs around them in equal measure. Charlton Athletic are discussed as a potential surprise package — a club with genuine support and infrastructure who could yet make this an interesting campaign. West Brom, meanwhile, have been impressing despite what sounds like a significant summer of change at The Hawthorns, and the panel appear to think there is enough there for Albion to be genuine contenders as the table begins to take shape.

The Russell Martin question at Leicester

Perhaps the most significant discussion centred on Leicester City, who are already looking uncomfortable in League One following their relegation from the Championship. The panel debated whether manager Russell Martin will be afforded the time and patience needed to implement his style of play and turn results around. Leicester remain a big club by any League One measure — their fanbase, their wage bill, the expectation in the stands at the King Power — and that pressure only intensifies with every dropped point at this level. Whether the board back Martin through a difficult early period or make a change sooner rather than later looks like one of the defining storylines of the League One season.

Puskas contender and a pantomime moment

The pod's regular 72PLUS 72MINUS segment surfaced a Puskas Award contender from the Championship — though you will need to listen to the episode for the full reveal — and a suitably daft pantomime moment from League Two that acted as a sharp reminder of why so many fans consider the fourth tier to be football at its most brilliantly unpolished.

The 72+ EFL Podcast is available weekly on BBC Sounds, with its own dedicated feed for the new season.

Frequently asked

Why did a Tranmere outfield player go in goal?
Tranmere defender Bobby Faulkner was called upon to play in goal during the early part of the season. Manager Darrell Clarke explained the circumstances on the 72+ EFL Podcast, pointing to a busy summer and squad limitations at the club.
Who are the early Championship leaders in the 2026-27 season?
According to discussion on the BBC's 72+ EFL Podcast, Millwall, Charlton and West Brom are the early pace-setters in the Championship after the opening weeks of the season.
How are Leicester City doing in League One?
Leicester are reportedly struggling in League One in the early weeks of the season. The 72+ panel debated whether manager Russell Martin will be given enough time to turn their form around.