Super Spurs sink City and Amorim era begins at United – Football Weekly

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Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly Manchester City, L, L, L, L, L, not something we've seen for a while, not something anyone under 19 years old has ever seen. And this was a hammering four-nil at home to Spurs who were missing their first-choice centre backs. James Madison and Dejan Kuleseski were brilliant. City are still second, but how big a crisis is this? Liverpool are nine clear after a 3-2 win at Southampton. They were pushed and needed Mo Salah to be

Brilliant. Martin Odergaard reminded us all why we kept saying Arsenal aren't as good without Martin Odergaard, but Kaya Saka reminded us why we keep on saying he's just a joyous talent. Steve Cooper's sacked by Leicester. How will we cope without his incessant moaning about perfectly decent refereeing performances? Ruben Amarem and the 182nd manager bounce. Ipswich probably should have won Andrea Nana was excellent. And then there's Matthias Kunier's absolute brilliance. Jao Pedro's perfect pass. Villa's High Line, and Everton, Nill Brentford, Nill. All that plus your questions, and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly.

on the panel today, Lucy Ward. Hello. Hi, Max. Welcome down Bardell. Hello, Max. And hello, Seb Hutchinson. Hello, Max. And let's start the Etihad, then. Tombow says, putting the charges to one side might city get relegated the old fashioned way. Tim says, how long can man city continue to be so, so good? And Messay Dunn says, given Pep won the league without a striker. Do you think he's bored? And wants to see if he can win the league without a functional midfield. Five losses on the spin. They're worse than feet at the Etihad.

Ever. They've worked at home since 2003. Longest losing streak of Pep's career. He'd never lost by four goals at home as a manager. First defeat at the 1853 Games. You were there, Seb. Massive blip. Total crisis. It'll be fine. What is this?

The last time I was on, I said that metaphorically, I was scratching my eyes, watching this match to Cityside. This time, I had to metaphorically windscreen wife over and over again, because we saw Brighton run through City's midfield. And this time, it was Spurs' turn. And I think Eve Busouma picked up

the fastest yellow card in Premier League history, yet was standout in midfield along with Papé Sar after that. I mean, he picked up his performance. It didn't change anything. We spent a lot of time saying they have to walk the tightrope when they pick up a yellow card, but that wasn't the case this time. There was the, I found it rather awkward watching Roger E.

walk out with the ballon door knowing full well he wasn't even on the shortlist for Premier League player of the year last year and I felt he should have won it in the last two seasons mind and we can see the problems that city have without him but it was still stand out I think once that that stood out to me was

Vadiol racked up the most chances created by a defender since they started making note of these things about 20 years ago, and the most chances created by a city player under Pep in the Premier League, which is extraordinary, they didn't score, so you could look at Harlan's misses in the game, which would stand out as well, and also

Tottenham have had to template to beat City, even when they've been at their height, except when they know that Arsenal are going to win the league. Otherwise they've gone there and they've put in incredible displays or they've hosted them and beaten them and I think it felt like City were playing into Tottenham's hands. We know that they've had issues this season sometimes when the game

Is almost they played against side to they should be and they've had to come onto teams and teams have picked them off but this time around I think cities I think spurs is game plan was was fantastic and there are worries here for Manchester City and I can't believe I'm saying it.

Yeah. I mean, the Rodary thing is, and we even got a message saying, please don't mention Rodary, but the stats are ridiculous Lucy, that they've lost 2.6% of games he's played in and 36% of games that he hasn't. Which is a ridiculous statistic, but that midfield did look, you did think that actually feels like a mismatch in Tottenham's favour.

Yeah, I think that, you know, if a team like Manchester City lose five in a row, not just because of Roger, there's more going on. And I think we've now reached the point yesterday, Saturday, sorry, where it's mentally affecting the players confidence-wise, because before they might have lost a couple and they come and they win 20 in a row.

It's obviously players out of form, injuries, tactics. I think that the sentiment field is aging. I think that they've planned brilliantly, City, for years, over a decade. But I think they've been a little bit complacent in the last sort of 18 months to two years. So that they end up in a crisis where they, you know, yes, Hal and scores a lot of goals. But if he's not scoring or you're not getting him in the right positions, who's going to score?

Who's going to be that and that's that they just look vulnerable now. They don't compete in in jewels as well. It's just amazing how you can have a team like that. And the mental side of the game then comes into it because they did look really flimsy at times. I do think that tactically I think that when they try to press high up the pitch, I think the structure that

the tacticals call it rest defense. So when they've got the ball but they're ready to just in case they lose it to pounds, that structure doesn't look the same. And that's probably because of the lack of legs in midfield. And I think when the likes of, I think the Miss Diaz, I think he's a massive miss that nobody really talks about that. De Bruyne is when he comes on the pitch makes a difference. But again, you know, he's not probably not the same play because we all get old, et cetera.

I think from seven said all that, I think that Spurs were absolutely brilliant. I don't think it was because of Man City. I think Spurs were excellent. I think the fact Davis played center back just helped the back line because they made better decisions where the line was because of him.

I do think that. I mean, I did think before the game, Dan. There's no van de Venne, which I think is more important than Romero, but no Romero either. So you're looking at Ben Davis and drag us in and thinking, Oh, no, city of us four in a row. I was convinced. I was absolutely convinced that Spurs would get wallets. And you know, Aidan says, what is the opposite of a flat track bully? And is that what Spurs are now? You know, like it does feel and Barry sort of said it on Thursday. It's vintage Spurs to lose to it, which is then put in a performance like this.

Yeah, I was exactly the same as you. I saw no world in which Tottenham won that game. I was very guilty on focusing on the players that Spurs had missing pregame. But actually, Lucy just touched on it there. The players Manchester City had missing. They're just a complete lack of steel without Diaz, Kovacic and Rodgeri. And Lucy's right to point out just the energy. The team selection at Pet Pete, that midfield.

He completely played into Spurs hands, what a Spurs good at, high tempo football, energetic football in the make-up of that midfield, just completely played into Tottenham's hands. And there's a huge, huge difference from Riko Lewis playing in defence and stepping into midfield. Then there is Riko Lewis starting in midfield. And that make-up of the midfield was completely where I think all Manchester City's problems came from. And then Stones comes off at half time for Akaif for whatever reason as well.

I'm not saying john stones is the answer in that he's that that steely player in that Manchester city side but when they're at their best in that trouble winning year was him stepping in the long side luxury when he's gone as well in the second half. You're just looking quite flimsy which is not something i've ever really associated Manchester city with and was brave like he dropped in johnson who's the top scorer he moved could could just get up a bit who has been so good and like the way he just dinked it past like not sure it wasn't midfield to the top.

Begin the move for i think the third goals was joy is what madison and madison was cuz he was great for the first 10 11 minutes you like to hammer them and then madison just scores two goals almost out of nothing but. He is a player that we want to see on the pitch right cuz is is grace and his movement and his touch is so nice and there were fears that this season. I don't know if it's i don't think it's too far to say that this season was sort of getting away from him until this weekend.

Yeah, he spoke about it after the game, you know, he doesn't know football. You know, they might see other players in the team playing well, but they want to play themselves. They want to be in this particular instance, the main man. And he, I think he revels in that James Madison. He wants to be that player because he is almost, to some extent, if the midfield is functioning behind him, he is the player then to impact games. If he's having to

almost make up for deficiency behind him as well. That's an issue. I think the England snub has affected him as well because he is a player who believes he can be in the England mix in an area where England have such talent. And when he's on this high, he just produces

Some of the ability that is up there with the best in the league. I think his finish for the second goal was superb, his run for the first was fantastic. And as you say, this is what people want to see from James Madison, because it was his 28th birthday. And as he also said, that means he's getting old, which I disagree with. That's prime, isn't it? That's what I thought 28. But anyway,

what i do to be 28 oh god i said yeah just feeling my skin and it just you know stays in stays in place um that's something else uh yeah so basically i i i think he and when you have a play like that doing that when they have the runners that spurs have they have players that cover so much ground that keep up that energy that city were lacking kulacevsky was stand out for that i mean he was

The last season, he was the player. In fact, the last two seasons, he's been the player that's run the most first Spurs. And that was, again, the case in point because he enables you to be a side who can maybe against City soak up that pressure and break. And what I was particularly impressed with this Spurs was that they were smart in the game. Even though when they were three nil up, they thought, well, we know City are going to have this period when they come on to us, even in this form. And we know we'll make the substitutions, we'll bring on the pace and we'll finish them off at the end. And that's how it played out.

I actually wasn't surprised to see Verner get away from Walker at the end of the game, because I think mentally and physically they were done at that point, City. I was thinking on car walk. It's a bit tricky that this season he started a podcast called, You'll Never Beat Karl Walker and getting beaten a lot at the moment. It's just like the wrong now. Maybe to change the name of it. So you change the 10th. Five done 93 minutes. Yeah. You would have never been. Five of a 93 minutes.

Yeah team of owners literally just basically just put on some blocks and find a gun and then he was like okay, you are going to beat me on this one i did like domic salenkey's tribute to and partridge three of the spurs goals he followed in and booted it into the net and another one. I'm very sad he didn't for poros because he set it up.

just back to city because it was a great win for spurs like it's a really important win for and as well and i think it will take a lot of pressure on this. This loosey to feels different to me like to get worked for me at home it and it's not a care about cup game you know it's a premier game and i don't know where to put some of the time they are still second they could still win the league but just it felt bigger this it felt like people going.

Well, hold on a second, this isn't... We know born with a good and bright and a good and going away is hard and Champions League, etc. But this felt different, I thought.

Yeah, I mean, I love Postakoglu and I could say every time I'm on, even when they lose. And I just think that eventually, obviously there's a big difference between Spurs at the best and Spurs at the worst. And what he's doing is shortening that. And that is what he will do to the higher part. So it'll be sort of seven, eight, out of 10, rather than launching from four out of 10 to nine out of 10.

And I think that he hasn't really got the players that all the players that he wants. I think that will come over the next couple of the two or three transfer windows. You know, Kula Seski was brilliant at the weekend, but he initially think, oh, well, he's not going to fit in because Pazakoglu likes his wingers to go wide and cross the ball into the box. But he finds a way to work with these players. And I do think that the players look like

that, you know, at first it was like, well, two nil, well, city might come back three nil, or could they? So let's just play it and let's manage the game. And at the end, it was like, we've done this. And I think that will really, really galvanize the Spurs squad, even though City have been struggling. I think this could be a point that Spurs fans, you know, Max, you'll look back and to go. That game against City was the, you know, that was the platform to what we've done since.

Does anyone think that if Harlan scores one of those early chances that City win that game 4-0?

I mean, possibly. I'm not sure. I'm not sure this time, actually. I'm really not sure this time because they scored first against Brighton and Brighton still railroaded them in the second half. I think they cannot operate the way they like to play with this midfield as it is now because we've watched them for several seasons now, have Roger there as a screen and have Karl Walker's there and Diaz is there to cover in that individual talent. And we know that Guardiola, we've obviously never seen him work with

Inverted comedy inferior talent relative he's so good at working with a league talent and if you're not at that level You start to wonder what's the idea here? Which is why you know I? I agree with Max I think it is concerning for them It was the first time they in the scored this season in the Premier League and the first time I lost at home for a couple of years So I don't often say this usually say they'll go on a run, but I

I'm not sure, and it could be good timing with this case pending that this is, if you're gonna drop off, maybe it's this season that you do it anyway. But we'll see, we'll see. On Harland, Johnny Lou writing, look, since he's sparking start of the season, he's scored two in his last seven, from next year of 7.8, in short, he's basically finishing about as well as you would with his chances at the moment. And I think that's an interesting point you make then, because my ints, my hunch, I think everyone's hunched with city is, if they scored first, yeah, it would be different.

And that's why when I asked Lucy, I feel this is different for City. I know she answered for Tottenham, and I was happy with that answer, Lucy. Don't worry, because I wanted to hear it. Sorry. No stress. Obviously. You were playing no attention. The person who's sitting where you're sitting currently often doesn't pay any attention to me. So that's fine. You're playing the role. It's exactly what we wanted. But that's why I feel this is different for City, Dan. I could be completely wrong, but it feels different.

No, I look, I've been saying the same as everyone. They'll still win the league, they'll still turn it around, but the manner in which they lost that game on Saturday is completely alarming. I've never seen a Pepside go under like that. I haven't seen Manchester City go under like that for a long, long time. Only game I can think of is I think I remember them losing.

four-nil to Everton potentially in Pep's first season and Luchman scored in that game. I don't even know if that was Pep, but that's the last time I remember watching Manchester City and thinking, what are they? What are they doing here? And it just feels like a lot of players have dropped off at the same time. Suddenly you do look at them and think, a few ageing players in that squad. Potentially they still will turn it around, but they lost a few games in a row last season, but it never felt like this.

Riding it out until January, which is, I keep seeing city fans say, might be too damaging for city. You know, riding it out to get a, you know, sentiment field they're talking about Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace. But that, the damage might have already been done by January transfer window.

It'd probably be okay if it wasn't for Liverpool as well because it feels like a lot of teams have toyed this season. It's been a really, really bizarre season. But the why Liverpool are planning the way they keep getting results. That's made it an even bigger problem for me because they're getting further and further away now. Yeah, also bad news for Stuart Pierce, who...

with the last city manager to be there for five consecutive feet, and I think six and seven, and there was a run at the end of this season. I love you a bit so much, but it keeps getting brought up every time they lose another one. You mentioned Liverpool, they did win at Southampton. They didn't have their own way, actually. I thought it was a really good game. I was really impressed with Southampton, really impressed with Tyler Dibbling especially.

Um, but most salaries in just ridiculous form and that finish, I know actually goes for a wander, but it's such a, it's weird. When you see a goal that you don't often see and you think, is that random or is that brilliant? And I just think it's most salary. It's brilliant. Yeah. Look, salary is absolutely incredibly, he scored a goal the other way. I can't remember who it was against now. I thought my head was bright and actually the, it's just.

To him, that's normal, but actually it's not normal and he's just made the ridiculous look so easy over the last few years and I think that's what he did again at the weekend. I think Southampton in a lot of ways are the masters of their own downfall. I think they'll pick things from every goal and think they could have done certain things better there. But it's just that instinctive nature of Salah. Not many players can think to do that in that split second. He's almost had a glance and sin where the goalkeeper isn't just instinctively

Prodigy took towards goal and every wake up over and out of superlatives to for him because I've been saying for a few weeks now that I think in the Premier League era, he's Liverpool's best ever player and I know people will come at me and say, it's just Steve and Gera. But honestly, the productivity of salad, the numbers he gets every season, the eye test, the way you watch him. I don't think he gets the credit he deserves because he is actually quite unorthodox in a lot of ways. When he carries the ball, he's not as easy on the eye as well.

Yeah, scuttling. He's a bit Aaron Lennon, is that what you're saying? Hazard was just so beautiful to watch easy on the eye when he carries the ball and Sal has not quite like that. He's a bit hurly burly if that's even a phrase. But I honestly think he will go down as Liverpool's best ever Premier League player because

what he's won the goals he's scored his goal record is absolutely off the charts yeah i would be as early burly as him actually there is the question is about him and actually if we get in Liverpool's best ever team which is quite a good team yeah it is i mean the thing is is because he's so consistently good people ignore him you know that nobody talks about him in the ballon door conversation and or anything and i think that's because

He's got such a high level and he just keeps to it. It's like becomes normal. And I think the thing that he's added in recent years is his physicality. So he saw what he took his shirt off yesterday. He's in the prime physical condition. So people talk about, oh, I don't know whether we should offer him a three year contract. He could still go to Saudi Arabia after three years. You know, he's only sort of 32.

And I think that that physicality allows, because it's not tall, it's not a big fella, so they can ping the ball into Salah, and he will hold off a defender, whichever defender it is, and make sure the ball sticks, he either then lays it off, and I think that ability and his durability is very impressive. So he's hardly ever touched what's for the Liverpool fans injured, but that sort of physicality, I think, has taken him to the next level.

They're supposed to lose, Seb. They are fallible. We saw Southampton at the bottom and almost got a point here. How should teams try and get it Liverpool?

I mean, obviously Liverpool supporters will hate me for saying this, but I feel there's a little bit of the when Manchester United were on their runs about them in that you can get them, you can get to them, you can score goals, but there was almost a calmness about Liverpool towards the end of the game. Even when they were two, two, one down at that point, I just still felt that they could get back into it. It does make them, they're getting very watchable actually in a different way to when City were winning games where they just almost shut the game out and you'd think, well, we know the result after

after one minute. I actually always remember last season when I think Luton City scored really early against Luton at the Etihad and Paul Merse and said, I must have been like three minutes on the clock and Paul Merse just went game over. I just thought, and I couldn't disagree with him. I couldn't disagree with him, but we live a boy. I feel that anything can happen in the game, but they've just got enough at the moment, certainly in an attacking area. I thought, yeah, defensive vulnerabilities this time round and a note on Southampton, I think,

Fast to give them one idea would maybe be leave Tyler dibbling up the field, bring everyone back to defend and just whip the ball into the channel and just let him run. And I think things will happen for them then and they might be a bit more secure defensively. Do you think Russell Martin or just? I don't think so. I think he probably gets irritated every time dibbly takes more than two touches, but yeah, wonderful young player.

It's frustrating, isn't it? Southampton, I mean, I understand where Russell Martin's coming from, but I almost think now he's just digging his heels in that much just because he's sick of people sort of saying. But you can have your own style.

but on the pitch it's as if he doesn't allow them to to make decisions themselves and it as if if they don't do what he's asked them to do then they'll know they get an absolute roll again but they've got to manage the game and there's one point i was like i watched a little bit and i listened to it a little bit on the radio and it basically said all that they've cleared the ball

Quickly and the fans cheered I could hear the fans cheering it's like that's a sort of that's the sort of thing You know like if you're under pressure, right? You you you you you end up losing you know the loose possession the casino and all of a sudden The state of the game changes so you're coming back from one nil down now that didn't need to happen by taking you know, but if you

put the ball in an area where Liverpool can't hurt you. They still need to make those decisions on the pitch. Football is not an exact science. However much we want to make it an exact science. So therefore you could prepare the team. This is how I want you to play. But in some situations, just boot the ball out of that dangerous area. I think Flinn Downs almost summed up Southampton's performance because if you're asking teams to play in that way, you need players who are so comfortable doing that. And that's what the absolute elite teams do.

Flint down you felt he was often in positions like i don't want to do this is not me as a player i'm being asked to go against as loose you're saying almost go against my what's within me as a player and at that point the clearance that led to the solvers like old saying that clearance is that i don't think he would do that in a normal circumstance.

I think he would have knocked it behind, he would have put it out for a throw in, but his head is thinking, hang on hang on, I'm in my naughty area, I'll need to play some cultured ball.

through the middle, what am I doing? I can only explain that. It has to, surely. It has to. Yeah, I agree with you. It's actually filtered down to Sunday League. Where now, I have to say, it's not a crime to clear it. And if you're going to clear it, really give it some. You know, like, the worst is just like half-assed diagonal ball in the center mid. What are you doing? But that fling down is clear. It was just insane moment. And like,

I'm worried that there'll be some hipsters going these are now for. We're now for dinosaurs. But no, that just watched that flinging duck down. It's a that is a head in the tumble dryer, blind, like pie. It's just a mad kick of a football. Anyway, Liverpool City next weekend will be good. Well, now Liverpool have got Real Madrid in the week. Did like Michael saying, thoughts on Southampton playing a six foot eight striker and not getting it launched. Top trolling that from Russell Martin. Anyway, that'll be for part one. We'll be getting part two at the Emirates.

Hello, it's Grace Den here from The Guardian's Comforating Podcast. This week, I sat down with comedian Phil Wang who auditioned the dirt and the importance of a prompt post-show meal. My wonderful tour manager became expert at timing the delivery order so that it arrived literally the second I got off stage. And people say the famous people are treated like babies. That's Comforating. Listen, wherever you get your portrait.

Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. Arsenal's first win in five then, beating nothing for us, three nil. I mean, this was all Lucy about Martin Eredegard and his link up with Bekai Osaka, which is just a joy, isn't it? Yeah, I mean, just the way that Eredegard plays the game. And, you know, a lot was said about him missing. And it's not just that sort of link up. It's everything that sort of works around him, not just when they've got the ball, Arsenal, but when they haven't got the ball, he's so important.

And Forrest, obviously, they like to frustrate teams away from home. They've done really, really well this season. Everybody's talking about the centre backs. But I think what the centre backs like to do is sort of defending the space around them and what they don't like is defending great amounts of space. So as soon as you get a team like Arsenal that you've got runners beyond, you've got good movement and you've got the clever passing of Erdogan, I think that's when you sort of can catch the centre backs of Forrest out.

He said, and you can, I think it was a really important game for Arsenal to sort of, you know, defining game in terms of getting a really good three points against Forrest, because Forrest have caused problems for so many teams this season, if they want to, you know, challenge back up at the top, because we need to see their identity again, and I think that was a game where we saw Arsenal's identity again.

A dance. I mean, it's like I had so much to do for that first goal, but it is that tiny little pass from Erdogan that I think so few players play, that sort of epitomise what they've been missing. He barely touches it, but it's just so clever. Yeah, Erdogan is a class actor. I think over the last few years, he's probably not got the credit he deserves because he's playing at a time when Kevin de Bruyne has been in the Premier League, but I think when Kevin de Bruyne is not there,

There'll be a full appreciation of how good erder God is. He just knows what's going on on the football pitch. He's aware of everything around him. And that link with Saka is so, so important. And I've just raved about Salah, but I could say quite a lot of the things that I said about Salah about Saka, because he's the talisman for a team that's consistently near the top. He gets shots off. He creates things. He makes things happen. He can run him behind. He can take people on Saka.

You know it's a young English player saying him be the talisman for a big club like Arsenal who are up towards the oppression under the Premier League every season now I think that that's an absolute joy and I've just mentioned that they're not like her to God's awareness of what's going on around him but.

Simon Hooper, the referee for a party's goal. He's referencing the game with wing mirrors there, isn't he? To have that awareness to move out of the way, I think Simon Hooper needs to take some credit for that Arsenal win for that second goal. Does he get some fantasy points? It could be quite cheap, you think, in fact. Yeah, he probably would. He's got him as a midfielder, Simon Hooper. From an old stage like Saka,

Seb to Ethan Wannieri who looks so fearless. It's a child just looking like he's playing in the park. It's one of my favourite things in football to see a highly rated young player make a breakthrough. This obviously was talking about a player who made his Premier League debut at 15, the youngest ever to do it.

But this feels like the season where Arsenal almost need him, actually, and there were a lot of calls for why he didn't play more with Erdegard out, but I understand why, because Arteta recognises you can't just throw a young player in and expect them to dictate the team in the way that Erdegard does. But we spoke about dibbling just before. I think these things are so eye-catching, especially for supporters of clubs, because they

This is their connection, really, to the club in a weird way. They're seeing somebody come through the system and actually be impactful and important for the team. And you could feel that when he scored in the stadium, it's almost because sometimes those games really do peter out badly. I think there was a point where Forrest had almost said, we're not going to get anything out of this game. And Arsenal were thinking, well, let's start resting players and let's start taking Tony and the energy back for the next one, looking ahead.

That's when supporters, I think, say, bring on that young player that we want to see. Bring them on. I don't want to see one of the old players that need minutes. I want to see the young player come on. It's hard with young players because you don't want to say that they're going to be fantastic players knowing full well that the chances are always quite low. But he definitely has something about him. You can see that left foot helps and being a player in the final third helps.

And he will get the time this season. I think that's sure because Arsenal are lacking actually in that area in that difference making area. And he said, Salah is the player who can win games for you out of nothing. I don't think Arsenal have enough of those players to make the difference. But they're going to need it now if they're going to catch Liverpool.

I think it's good management for Marteta as well. People have asked questions over the last few weeks about maybe certain players that have left lots of Smithrow when they've been struggling for numbers and had players miss it. But actually taking Smithrow out of that squad and selling him to Fullerman.

making the money that they'll need for PSR and whatnot. That helps, but also you've then left a gap in the squads to let him flourish, give him minutes. And yeah, you're right. He shouldn't come in and be playing every game, but because Smith Rose is not there now, they're kind of gap into getting into that team. He isn't there anymore and he'll get chances and he'll get minutes. And he's wonderful to see him score because he's been around for a couple of years now, hasn't he? But that you're right. It said that really did feel like his breakthrough moment in an Arsenal show.

Steve Cooper sacked then as Leicester manager after they lost 2-1 at home to Chelsea. You were at the game, Lucy. We'll get to what happened on the pitch first. A sacking before a podcast record is quite surprising. Don't really know how to deal with these things. He's been at Leicester for five months. They're 16th on 10 points, one above the relegation zone, which is probably where you'd expect them to be, Lucy. I don't know if you sort of felt at full time or this is it for him. It hasn't been an easy fit, but it still feels a bit of a surprise, perhaps.

Yeah, I mean, a number of things. He started off at the deficit being a forest ex-forest manager. I think that didn't help whatsoever. The fact that Lester had invested and had a leap of faith with Mareska the season before, you know, invested in him in terms of transfers and then he left

That's that was a massive problem for Lester and not really sure why they went down the route of Steve Cooper He wouldn't have been the obvious choice for a lot of Lester fans for the reasons I've just said about You know being a forest manager and I'm sure there were ones about and I don't think he was first choice either think that perhaps that

Probably Potter. It's always Potter, isn't it? I think he may have been first choice, but didn't take it, whether he takes it now is another thing. And then there's a few things yesterday on Saturday that I thought, and that's interesting, when Jeremy Vardy was substituted, and he basically had to touch the ball, not really his fault.

And he came off and he was carrying on about basically, I would suspect he was saying something like, why are we, you know, why am I on the pitch? If you're not even going to feed, you know, the service to him was terrible. The way that they set up was defensive. The fans were getting frustrated. And then there was a point in the first half Chelsea will one nil up and

It looked like Chelsea could score two, three, four, they were sitting back showing far too much respect, Leicester, and then somebody went on a run, and I think it might have been skip after Harry Winks went off. When I run up the pitch and the crowd went, yeah, this is what we want. And then for the next sort of 10 minutes, they thought, hang on a minute, we can press Chelsea, you know, because Chelsea had sort of been lulled into what we're going to win this easily. And then it's like, then the fans were like, why did we not do this from the start? Why are we not pressing? And I think it just,

It just didn't seem happy regardless of whether he's got the 10 points or not and he's got seven points in the last five. There's just something there where it was never really going to work. And I think Vadi coming off and doing that when you got senior player doing that, I think you've got a problem. So not really a surprise for me that he's lost his job. That's a poor choice in the first place.

And his last job in a less than as less than manager was to. I thought we really unfair and madly actually after the game and say. We've had a lot of bad luck with this referee this year it's a third or fourth game with him it's not been the best of times it continued today the last thing the p g m o l needed was that performance got some big decisions massively wrong in general a couple of advantages he blew up.

I don't know if he lost concentration or composure, but it's not what the referees needed in the first game on live TV after the international break. So he's sort of trying to be like, I'm actually doing them a favour by saying, you know, be patronising. And actually said,

The biggest decision of the game was, well, we're indeed not getting a straight red card. Actually, Samari could have been sent off as well. It's so irresponsible. And I know he's been sacked now, so perhaps it feels a bit harsh. But still, he's a repeat offender, as Bazz has brought up a lot of times on the pods. I thought it was so out of order. I was remembering when I was younger, my father saying to me that if the manager's blaming the referee, then the manager's got bigger issues than the referee. And as soon as I heard Steve Cooper say that,

I thought, well, one, I thought finding coming for a start, but secondly, because I just couldn't see the grounds for that. If you're madly looking at that, you're saying, well, what are you actually talking about overall? Yeah, the good game. I thought the one of their penalty shouts, I thought, yeah, it wasn't a penalty because

The foot from Fafana was in place and the player just, you know, falls over it essentially. And then the set and then for the indeedy challenge that one of the worst kind of challenges for me. I think belabour had a it was very similar belabour in the Bournemouth game where you just you catch a players the back of their foot almost in the challenge and there was a movement a few seasons ago certainly in La Liga for that to be an instant red card. Any time you've made contact with

an Achilles or the back of someone's foot because that can cause huge issues and you're never going to win the ball. You're never going to win the ball from that position. So they were fortunate there. I mean, Steve Cooper will always be the man that helped England under the 17s to World Cup glory and I'll never forget that. But it did feel like this moment was coming and Lucy's covered them less than being unsettled before the season started.

And I do feel it's good that it feels quite universal that a lot of people are coming out to say that he was wrong to blame the referee because we know the referees have been under so much scrutiny and it feels even more now than ever and being pinned down off the field and everything else. To have this moment where people come out and say, no, no, I think you're wrong here, actually. I think you're wrong here. You should look at your own side and not look at the referee.

Why are you so enamoured by the England under 17? Were you playing? No, I was working on a documentary at the time looking at what the FA was doing and players coming through. And that year in 2017, all the age groups were doing very well. And that just capped it all off. It was a nice moment there. I like watching youth football and seeing the next generation coming through. And a lot of players from that particular team have done very well indeed.

Chelsea Dan, outside shot for the title.

seems silly to even say out loud, but look, they're doing incredibly well. Mareska for me is probably difficult to say, which slot actually I've changed my mind as I'm about to talk, but he would be up there as manager of the season so far because I think he's made what I thought would be a really, really difficult job. Look easier than it should be. And they play some nice football, he's probably got his core of seven or eight that play every week and then he makes subtle changes.

for for each game obviously on the face of he's got an 18 for the Premier League and then a B team for the Europa Conference League but a few of those players a lot of Felix played for example on Saturday move for far into right back and put bad issue like in the defense but he's got that kind of eight players that he's seven eight players that he's relying on every week and he's managing them really really well it it should be chaos at Chelsea I always think and it has been over the last few years but Mariska is

kind of bought an unexpected calm to things that I didn't really see coming in. They're doing really, really well. Nicholas Jackson has been absolutely brilliant for an apply that took criticism at times last season. But if you look at his goal output since he's been there, it's probably up there with a lot of really good Premier League strikers over the years at this stage of his development. So I think Chelsea deserve a huge amount of credit and I'm not looking forward to my term going there next weekend.

You'd have thought the opening game of Ruben Ammerin would be higher up the running order, but so much good stuff happened, Lucy. They went to Portman Road. I took an early lead with Marcus Rashford after two minutes before being pegged back and Murray Hutchinson, a great goal that was deflected. Feels too soon, perhaps, to judge how well Ruben Ammerin will do, Lucy. But what did you think of, and something that was made of the formation, what did you think of the way they set up?

Yeah, I mean, that is just the typical way that he sets up. And to be honest, he does have the history of introducing a new style very quickly. And I don't think it's actually as difficult as everybody thinks it is. It offers a little bit more protection to the centre backs.

I'm not sure that central midfield of Ericsson and Kesamiro will be the one going forward and still need a bit of legs in there. I understand Ericsson because of his passing. But he had said earlier in the week that he wants

fallbacks to be playing the wingback position because it's easier to convert that than convert a winger into the defensive part, but then put Ahmad there, but I quite like him as well. Ganachio, it's interesting for Rashford being a nine. I think that is the obvious choice. I don't think he particularly likes playing there or apparently doesn't like playing there, but I think that that's probably where he will

he will probably shine most in this system. So there was little bits of positive, obviously, scoring early was positive. But everybody was saying, oh, this is a perfect game. Well, actually, Ipswich at home, a fearless. They had a great press. They really put Manchester United under pressure because of how well organised they are. But I quite like Amory about it. I've done him a couple of times in Europe with sporting.

And I like his character. I think that he already has had a shock of how much sort of media attention that he's had, you know, interviews that he's had to do. And it's not going to change overnight. I wouldn't suspect. But he needs to get a balance between having that sort of energy in midfield and having the pass in there as well that will obviously connect to the two tens. What I want to say about this game is the best pass that I saw of the whole whole weekend was Leaf Davis's little

It was like a little tiny role across it took three Manchester United defenders out before then Liam DeLaat hit, I mean, and Anna saved a great save. If you remember, he got beyond, and then he just trickled this ball across that took out three Manchester United defenders showing that you don't really have to pass it fast as long as you pass it in the right place. And if DeLaat had to finish that, I am going to say, Giao Pedro to the former was better.

I mean, they were both good, but I think Pedro's Timetoma was amazing. Pedro's Timetoma was like a putt. It was like a putt in Stormburnt. You know, it was like, it was like, he's at Carneusti. Like, it was like unbelievable. I mean, I'm spoiling a lot of the ball with Brighton content here, but I thought that was, I agree with you. I loved what he did there. And actually, Anana, who we'd criticized a lot last year, said, I thought was, you know, he saves many nights in this game, doesn't he?

I think he's a good goalkeeper, but it's what people are expecting from him overall. It's a lot to ask as a top-level keeper. This game, though, gave me a side-note thrill, and it was. Here in Peter Jewry's Raw Hutchinson.

There was one moment in the first half, I heard him say, oh, great Hutchinson composure. And I was hoping my wife would not in agreement. It wasn't to be. I think, you know, it's a joy that I doubt yourself, Max, or even dad have been able to feel. And I guess maybe Lucy would have had it. When Ashley Ward scored. Yeah, Ashley Ward. My entire life. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Exactly being an ex-team mate of Neil Redfern, I'm sure he agrees. And I just, but Manchester United,

underwhelming, but that side of the game in a weird way makes them watchable, makes them really watchable because they have got the players that are capable of scoring goals. We saw that early on, but the way it played out. And I know we're, you know, praised Ahmad as a wing back, but you know deep down, he hates it.

I know he loves the fact he's starting. He hates it. He hates it. Give that role to Dallow, and I think maybe he enjoys it more. I just think fullbacks enjoy that role. Yeah, but I mean, Dallow's on the other side, right? So, yeah, he's going to get a Dallow. Yeah, that's a Dallow Dallow.

I mean, sure, I was not ready for it either. You know, I blame Roberto Carlos for all of this. Sure. Well, I mean, I guess, I guess if sure was fit, you could play him on the left of the three and play me as Rowey out wide, right? And then Dallow could go to the other side. I think obviously results are probably quite important, Dan. But I wonder if just Amarem's calmness and his just a bit more chilled out nature compared to Tenharg might actually help him with whatever is to come at old traffic.

Yeah, the media build-up in the week with him has been ridiculous and it's easy to get carried away. I took in for some reason so much content of Anne-Marie this week leading up to the game and I was really, really impressed with the way he spoke and the way he handled himself but the proof ultimately.

is in the pudding of the guy and i was really really looking forward to this game at the week and actually i really really enjoyed the game because i've watched a lot of hits which this season and i think they're a lot better than their position in the table suggest i've got some some really fun players leaf davis and and lemme lap is just absolutely fearless and i and i love that about him but i think they went they went one meal up and he got got back to one one and potentially Manchester United could have gone under but but they didn't i think

His team selection wasn't... Look, he's early days into his tenure and he's only been able to work with certain players through the week, but they will get better because they won't have certain players playing in certain positions that applied there on Sunday. Johnny Evans, who again I love, he's never a left-center back there. Ahmad at right wing back, not convinced he did a work long-term, but a quite large that he had the now's to play. Maz Rowi behind him, more of an orthodox fallback that offered a bit of defensive protection and allowed Ahmad to come forward. But I just thought,

In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United had possession with purpose. They had a little bit of identity, even in that first two minutes, the goal that they scored. That's the first time I've seen any form of identity from Manchester United for a long time, with the wing back getting to the barline and crossing the ball for the centre forward. It's early days, but at least that's an early bit of identity from Amarem's Manchester United. They'll get better. There was lots of subtle changes, body positioning of defenders, for example, when it was which had the ball out and noticed that.

quite quite early on. He'll be a good manager for them. It's the first time I've felt kind of not convinced, but 80% of the way there with the new Manchester United manager. There was a fire alarm at Stockley Park, which meant there was no VAR. Was that for the whole game? Or just for a bit, the ref had to... Like 10 minutes. Great. Really fun. Now the fans know that's the thing. You just watch. Oh, no. You just watch.

Somebody's gonna have to, someone's gonna be able to be a bouncer by the please break glass thing at Stockley Park, isn't there? Or just people, I shouldn't really be telling them, should I? But no one knows where Stockley Park is. There is a security guard, so you struggle to get anything.

Fair enough. And the Ed Sheeran cameo, I mean, that was a moment, wasn't it? When they're interviewing Ruben Amarin, and he just sort of tips up like the work colleague no one wants to hang around with, and really hugs Jamie Rednap.

And then we're a bit like, ah, like obviously, you know, they probably would talk to Ed Sheeran and I like, I can't begrudge them talking to Ed Sheeran, I guess, but everybody wants to hear from Ruben Ammer and he just sat there going, I have what is going on here. It was very funny. I thought it was very funny and I felt for Kelly Cates in that situation. Can you just say, mate, give us a minute? Like that would have been, I bet every part of her was thinking, God, I can I just say,

It's not your time now, Ed. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three, we'll begin with Will's brilliant win at Fulham.

Why was the part three of the Guardian football weekly? Massey Andrews says, doesn't Matares, couldn't you have the best goals to world these ratio going right now? I mean, Dan, too, wonderful. The first is like hobbled to bird camp, isn't it? But the mean has passed as ridiculous and the way couldn't you brings it down? And his second is perhaps better.

I wanted to throw in the lamina pass earlier when we were talking about pass of the weekend because that was the way it came from me. I honestly thought he was an incredible goal. Couldn't use such a composed player, but he's also got that kind of bite as well. You can tell he's been schooled by Simeone and spent some time in under Simeone, the way he plays the game.

He's been around for a couple of years now, but you actually forget, couldn't you cost 44 million pounds? So he should be a good player, shouldn't he? And he's one of the best kind of forward players in the Premier League at the moment. Find myself in a bit of a personal story. Find myself in an interesting time with Wolves at the moment because obviously I'm a villa fan, but my stepson has just started playing for Wolves in goal training with Wolves twice a week. So I'm spending a lot of time there.

I'm finding myself wanting wolves to do well, which is a bit of a bizarre feeling. And over the last couple of weeks, actually, since he's been drowning there, they have done well. It's a weird scenario for me, but Kunya is unbelievable to answer the early question. Get to chuck one in. Take him out. Gary O'Neill afterwards, Seb. This shows how football managers watch this. Well, actually, he kind of checked himself because he was sort of saying, well, Kunya was a great player.

before i got here but i've really made him amazing and then he sort of checks himself when at all him but he did say this was his best out of possession performance and i was like i was really watching him in possession and thinking he was good at that bit but you know each to their own of how we love this beautiful game but it's a it's a big moment for Gary Neil isn't it you know two wins in a row getting out of the relegation zone and i think

There was only one game where they were hopeless. Is it Brentford? Well, I was like, OK, actually, they are hopeless. But the rest of the season, I think, actually, they've had a really tough fixture list and they will be fine.

Yes, a second half against Chelsea, they were pretty hopeless as well at home. But yeah, I've felt it all season, I've covered quite a few rules games and I feel like they've got the ability to certainly pick up enough points to not be down in the bottom three, that's for sure. And I think Kunya, we sung his praises the last time I was on, so I don't need to add anything more there. What I will say is though, what did make me chuckle a little bit was that it felt like someone had told Fulham

that you're only two points off seconds when they win the game. I thought, this is not Fulham's role. We don't do this. We don't do this. We just sort of hang around mid-table. No one notices us while we pick up good results and good performances. And we've been praising Marco Silva all season, but it did feel a bit like, no, no, this is a game. We can't win this game.

At this time, on a Saturday, we cannot win this game because if we win it, all of a sudden, people are saying, oh, hold on Fulham, they're in the mix here. And I think it was just a bit too much for them in the end. But credit to all side. I am actually pleased for them. I don't have a dog in that particular fight. And I am pleased for them because I just feel that I like watching them play actually. And I really like them last season. And I like seeing a side where they have

players who want to run with the ball through midfield. And they just felt a bit different to a lot of other teams in the league. So I'm pleased to see them getting themselves back on track. And I guess four ones don't tell the whole story. I mean, Fulham did seem to hit the woodwork a lot. And they had to play with 10 men for quite a long time, because they'd made all their substitutes when Anderson went off. And I mean, Raoul, him and F, that is a big miss against your former club, isn't it? I have no idea how. He didn't score that one. Let's go to ball with Brighton.

Lucy, second best pass of the day or third best pass of the day, Jal Pedro's to Matona. Brighton's best start ever to the seat to a Premier League season. Yeah, and it was quite interesting because there's a bit of Twitter was going on beforehand. I think Baum with the put out a tweet that ridiculed, I think, seagulls or seaside or whatever. And even a bright, I don't know which Brighton player it was that was interviewed afterwards mentioned it. And it's mad because it just shows what somebody reads, the players read,

And if I could give any advice, don't read anything that's on Twitter before. Are they no seagulls in Bournemouth? They can't be. Were they slacking off seagulls? I don't really get... I had a look at the picture and I'm thinking, I don't really understand that, but it must be like a coastal thing that I just don't understand. It was mentioned afterwards by one of the players.

that yeah, coast banter that those of us who are who are far away from the coast. And I say quite close at the moment, but you know, we just wouldn't understand it. We don't understand your seaside in ways. Do you? People in black hole actually pissing themselves at whatever social media posts, the rest of us go. And I don't know. But I mean, I guess it could have, you know, it could have gone either way. The two exciting teams, it was a good game and like born with in the end, you know, they could have got something. But I think I love Japhedra. I think he's a great

Yeah, yeah, he's I don't have surprise that somebody else didn't take him before it was it what for he was up said yeah, and he was He was very very good there and not particularly good Watford side, but

You know, I like Bournemouth. I like Irela. I think he's a very, very good manager. But there's just something about Brighton that's quite exciting. The play for the first goal was how they move the ball, how many players they have in the open. Pedro is brilliant. And second best pass, I think. But yeah, second best pass of the weekend. But like you say, Bournemouth could have won it, but probably on the balance, Brighton deserved three points.

Yeah, I think so. Let's go to Villa Park. Villa 2 Palace 2. Daniel, you're out this game. You'd lost your previous four. You've stopped the rot. Many congratulations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Was that the feeling as people walked out of Villa Park?

I can't fathom what's happened. I just did not see this coming with Villar at all. We've been so consistent and so good for so long and under who I am, Ray. But obviously, 2023, I think Villar was second in the league table across the entirety of the calendar year. It was brilliant. And then 2024, we did have a few injuries at the end of last days and we ran out of steam a little bit.

I think with 7th or 8th, so 2024 hasn't been as good as 2023, but just seeing some things recently that I'm finding quite alarming. Last time I was on, spoke about the set-piece coach, Austin McPhee. No chance for Austin McPhee at the... Is it McPhee out, isn't it? Because you keep conceding from your own corners. When we get a corner,

We either score or the opposition score, it feels like the moment. I'm finding corners quite scary now, and the off-solid trap from Lassizan doesn't seem to be functioning. You've got for the first Crystal Palace gold powder, as he's trying to play the off-solid trap on his own, which probably isn't advisable, whereas Lassizan the whole back four.

was playing it and we just seemed too easy to play through at the moment. It's probably a decent point in some ways because it does stop the rock, but there was definitely probably the most frustration I've seen at Villa Parks in June, I am, we've been there and I'm never gonna get an Una, I am, he's back, he's transformed the football club in two years, but there's certain things that need rectifying at the moment because I'm just not seeing what I've been seeing consistently over the last two years.

I think that they've got an issue on the right because they've not got Matty Cash playing because Leon Bailey is not in the form that he is. What Villa tend to do is play central and then go wide and quite a lot of the stuff's going left and then becomes predictable because they then don't have that outlet on the right hand side because they haven't got and also concert as well. There's so many bits and I think sometimes when

The effect is a lot bigger than the small differences if that makes sense and I think cash missing has been a cash missing plus barely not been informed I think has just sort of affected everything that Villa have done. But they did, I'm looking at the stats again, they missed more big chances than

than Palace, they were in the box more. So they're still sort of getting in the right areas. But yeah, I mean, I do feel like quite a lot, particularly in Europe. In fact, I'm doing them this week when they're playing Juventus, which should be brilliant. But it's a heavy toll, isn't it, that Premier League plus the Champions League. And I think, like you said, that last season, they struggled towards the end of the season, keeping up with everything. And perhaps the Champions League is just that

level above in terms of preparation and excitement about it may be affecting the premier league form do a book a camera back i think if i look at villa's results with and without him it's a little bit like rogery villa up until february we're absolutely flying and then he got injured and was rolled out for the season we've not really seen him much this season a there i think tillamans and barkley i love them both.

I think one of the reasons we're so easy to play is because neither of them are really defensive midfielders and pallets, I think, targeted that and took advantage of it. Credit to pallets because they did play well on the break. I walk around the field holding a trophy to say, look, this is how good I am and I'm not playing just before, just to, you know, make the other villa players feel inferior like Rodgeri.

They could have fitted his name across, because they could only just fit Rodger across the pitch. It would have probably gone on for the edge of the pitch. It's a very good point. It does change who wins the ballon door, doesn't it? Because they can only afford five letters. Speaking of long names, when I saw Amari Hutchison score and he turned his back to the camera, I thought,

Oh, my name, my surname is quite long, actually. It just doesn't really work as a football surname on the back of a shirt. That took away the initial joy, it has to be said. It's interesting to see sort of insight into how you watch football. When I sort of think quite a lot of my work is quite self-indulgent, you know, you just base it entirely about your name. I quite like that. You know, maybe, maybe the next time you comment out an Ipswich, you should only say his name and none of the other players just see how that goes.

Oh, I will. And actually, I'm not going to say who the commentator was because I don't want to embarrass them, but I was texted by a mate who is a big Ipswich fan, and he was watching one of the games that were on, and he said that the commentator, the co-commentator, Kept calling him Ari Hutchinson, Sir Hutchinson. I really... Yeah, enough raises.

I don't know, it's Freud and Slip. I don't know who that is. I did you. It wasn't Lucy, by the way. As I'm actually, you could take a newspaper clippings of when Rushton and Diamonds do. Well, it's a Rushton. Rushton did well today. Rushton did. That could be one for you, maybe. During the start of the soccer and glorious, before I'd even filmed, before we'd even done a show, we did a whole, I didn't filmed, I'd say about 50 sketches with Anne Diamond, you know, former TVAM host.

And then we just go, whoa, Russian diamonds were whipped last week and then it would cut to me being like whipped by and diamond or that Russian diamonds up and down and then it just be me and diamond bouncing on a trampoline. It was a really, and I hadn't done any shows. That was like the first thing I did was just a day filming really odd sketches with and diamond. Very strange.

But you know, but that's why can you tell the listeners who and diamond is because that was a long time. Yeah, well, I think so and diamonds. Yeah, it was a long time ago Lucy. I think that's what said saying. I know she is. I know she is. Don't say this and Nick hosted what the BBC version of TV am so like like or maybe they did TV am I forget but it was like breakfast TV in the 80s. I would say did you know I was talking about Dan? You're a little bit young. You must have not.

I know and diamond is I know Nick Owen is as well because he does the Midlands news. Oh, yeah, it does. Yeah. Yeah. That's the only reason you know, we as you don't know, because I suppose for the international audience, there's a lot of them going, who is on diamond? Why am I listening to this? And who is on diamond? And the Crystal Palace fans, you were just about to talk about his minor star. And then you spent five minutes talking about and diamond. So we don't have time. Finally, ever to know Brent Vanill, I cannot believe Lucy, that Gary and Aka Michael Richards and Alan Shearer all thought that that was not a red card.

I thought it was absolutely blatant stone war. Intent doesn't matter. He didn't mean it. He's unlucky. It's a red card. Don't let me put you in their box.

I think that if you go for a ball that's that high and you miss it, then you're always at risk. But you know what? Players know what they're doing. You know, it's like, oh, I didn't quite play as players tend to probably 95% of the time know exactly what they're doing. So, you know, we talk about that.

And indeed a challenge on Palmer. He got him before he then tried to play the ball and said he played the ball. They know what they're doing. And I'm not saying he's a nasty player, but they know that, you know, if I do miss, then that is what's going to happen. And I think it just looks worse in slow motion, but you can't do that because anywhere else on the pitch, that is a red can.

just deleting my notes where I put that it wasn't, I didn't think it was a, was it, was it, was it? Did you not? Well, you, I mean, look, you're fine. You know, Gary Lineker doesn't think it was. I mean, obviously that's why he should get sacked immediately from match of the day, but you didn't, but like intent doesn't matter. Like they all said he didn't mean like, I don't think he means it. I don't think he means it. I know what you mean, Lucy, like players really know what they're doing, but I don't think he means it at all, but I, but that doesn't matter. Like that is not the law of football. Like if you just, he's trying to throw a goal, isn't it?

You're just trying to score a goal. Yeah, but that's not an excuse. If you're trying to tackle someone and you get them that high, Seb, you're allowed to disagree with me. I won't leave this thing and go straight to Blue Sky. I'm happy to stay on this if you want to disagree with me. I don't want to talk about this game. Mainly because it was on at three o'clock and I'm watch keeping an eye on all the other games and this was the one I was paying least attention to. How do you do that, Seb?

How do you keep an eye on all the games at the 3 o'clock blackout? Because I work in television and I have access to these feeds. They do film the games, don't forget. They are, they are awful. They probably didn't need to film Everton Brentford to be sure. So you're giving no opinion on them. You're giving no opinion on them.

nothing. I'm not giving any opinion on the red card and also I'm also very disappointed that Brentford who I keep saying produced great games that nobody pays attention to. Well this week I'm going to be fair and say this is a game there where they didn't play particularly well and so I'm not going to pay attention to it and Everton I mean we need them to start scoring some goals don't we? I mean this is getting a bit

Silly really and then well they do I mean some some some one needs them to start Scott I don't mind if they don't score every I mean I quite like a sort of slightly gritty angry good of sin and Sean dice going Yeah, we just need that killer instinct everything else is good I'd happily have that for the next 30 games or whatever Anyway, Andrew says I'm excited to listen to a Monday pod again West Ham won't lose until after it's finished so I can happily listen along Yeah is on Monday night? We'll talk about that on Wednesday along with all the Champions League games Tuesday night, but that'll do for today. Thanks everybody. Thank you Lucy

Thank you. Oh, we didn't have time to mention great win for Leeds. Fast. The highlights of brick. Go and watch the Leeds Swansea highlights. That was something else, wasn't it? Willy Nontow in injury time. But thank you, Lucy. Thank you, Dan. Thank you very much. Thank you for having me. Thank you, Seb. Thank you, Max. We're just going to get the train to Newcastle now. OK, enjoy it. Enjoy the game. Football Weekly is produced by Dog Grove. Our executive producer is Daniel Stevens.

This is The Guardian.