Brighton Oozing Class, The Dark Cloud Over the Premier League & Newcastle Struggle Again

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4:20as Brighton dismantle Palace in the A23 derby. So I think we'll start there. But firstly, chaps, how are we? Micah, you're still wearing your range, I see. Yes, of course. Still promoting. Always got to promote, you know. Josh, how are we looking? Fantastic. Looks a bit tight on you, that one, Micah. You know what? Is that a good weekend? That's why. He's been drinking and eating. That's why. Yes. Well, I saw him working yesterday. I was just thinking. Is that a good weekend? That's why he's been drinking and eating. That's why. Yes. Well, I saw him working yesterday. Yeah, I have been drinking. I need to stop. I need to go on the zero Guinness. I need some more zero Guinness, please. If you could order me some of that, please, Gaz.

5:00That got me through last year, but yeah, I don't know. I've let myself go a little bit. I've only put on a one kg, Al. If you must know. But yeah, I don't know. I've let myself go a little bit. I've only put on one kg now, if you must know. But guys, you're right. It does look a little bit tight around the chest area, doesn't it? You've been bench pressing again, haven't you? Alan, did you have a busy weekend? I didn't see you on anything. No, I had a weekend off, guys. I went to St. James' Park, unfortunately, on Saturday. Oh, did you oh dear and then I had a date on the city watching football all day yesterday so I'm nice and refreshed I did exactly the same thing bit of Sunday lunch as usual

5:36yeah I think if you look at City it was fairly routine you look at Arsenal it was very Arsenal I suppose they managed to get it over the line and then Chelsea won comfortably as well. But I thought the performance of the weekend had to be Brighton. Three up in 10 minutes. Tough one for Palace, that's for sure. And certainly the leading contender for goal of the season. I was on the city watching the Man United-Leeds game and my texts would go mad about Brighton and I didn't see any of the first 15 or 20 minutes. Goal, goal. And I was thinking, goodness me, then I started to flick him. And then, of course, that Gomez goal. Wow. Wow. Gee, unbelievable. Do you know the trajectory of it? It was like it was proper ping, wasn't it?

6:18It was an unbelievable strike, yeah. Drilled it. A little bit like the Rooney one. It's slightly different. Remember when he hit that low kind of thing over the keeper there was a I saw them on I think it was on match of the day they found a post from someone that said Sunday would seem like a good day for Gomez to score from the halfway line wow that's Oracle that is real Oracle stuff Mike but he has he does have a pop at those. He's had a try a few times, but he caught that one absolutely sweet. Can I ask you a question, guys? Obviously you interviewed Herzler, didn't you? Please don't ask me about shooting from that far away. I'm certainly not going to ask you about that. How's the one you need

7:00to ask about those? I was watching a little documentary yesterday on Brighton. It was on, I think it was around eight o'clock or whatever. And it was taking you around the training ground and all the different people from Fat Test, Jamie Redknapp called them, whether it be the structure from going from the youth to the 21 to the first team, having a pathway to see all that sort of thing. How much credit is Herzl? Because you've been there, you've been with him, you've interviewed him. And how much credit has to go to the club and the infrastructure, would you say? Before I answer your question, Mark, I'm not sure you'd pass the fat test this morning. I thought you were going to say something very sincere.

7:48I was. I did. That's sincere. No, I'm kidding. I would say, well, I think he has to take a lot of credit. Of course he does. I mean, it's impossible to say, to quantify exactly how much is him and how much is what the club do generally. Now, obviously, we know they're data-driven. I'm sure many, many football clubs are to a degree, but they haven't got that kind of super expert thing that comes down from the owner and his business. So, obviously obviously the recruitment, which I think is the most important thing in our game, whatever your budget, if you spend it wisely, you'll get the best results. So I think, this is my opinion generally now of coaching across the board. I think it's so competitive in industry.

8:43They are pretty much all very good. I think there's a few exceptional ones that we've seen. Obviously, you go Ferguson, Klopp, Pep Guardiola, just Luis Enrique, and there'll be a few more. But below them, I think they're probably all pretty, they're all very, very good good and they come in and it's ultimately about the players you've got at your disposal and if you've got good players it gives you a chance now the recruitment is really important but I think the way Herzl has done it and he's only had one really sticky patch and that was towards the last stage of last season I interviewed him I was very impressed with the way he spoke and his confidence without being arrogant with his, obviously, his tactical acumen.

9:29So I think at a ridiculously young age, he's already joined that bracket underneath, you know, the ones that, they're all good. But I think potentially he can possibly go on to be one of the absolute top coaches. You know, he's battling on two fronts, but he's got a squad now that he can make changes. I think seven were made for the team that played on Sunday. So it's too early to say yet, but I think he's got the potential to be one of the absolutely top coaches in world football. Do we now start talking about Brighton and Champions League football? Not only that, could they actually have a run at it this season? I mean, obviously, we're only seven games in, but let me read you one or two stats

10:09I've got here. They've scored 23 Premier League goals this season. They're most ever at this stage of a campaign in the top four tiers. Only Barcelona have scored more goals than the Seagulls across the five leagues, the big five leagues this term. Only three sides in Premier League history have scored more goals in their Seagulls across the five leagues, the big five leagues this term. Only three sides in Premier League history have scored more goals in their first seven games of a season. That would have been Arsenal in 29-10. They got 24. United in 11-12 were 24. And City, they did it in 20-19, 20 with 27. Four clean sheets in a row as well. Not only are they banging them in. So at what point do we go,

10:48can they do a Leicester? No, no, no, no. Let's be real. That was one in a billion. Let's forget, let's not forget when Leicester won the league, they had no Europe. Brighton have got Europe. Do I think Brighton get the Champions League? Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. And that's why actually the question at the start, really impressive the manager who's just 33, by the way. I think what he's doing is remarkable. But I think them having to play in Europe, and I know it's, I don't want to say only Conference League, but they, you would think they could get to quarters, semis, without having to play their first 11, as it were. Like you said, they make a lot of changes when they're in Europe.

11:33But I think Champions League football is a realistic target for them. I don't think winning the league. When you think about what the job entails as a football coach stroke manager now, and I know over the years it's slightly changed and 30 years ago the manager in charge of everything, recruitment, blah, blah, blah. But what you have to be very good at, it's not just having a set of 25 guys and coaching them and putting them into different – you've got to be a psychologist, you've got to handle the media, you've got to be a psychologist, you've got to handle the media, you've got to be a brilliant football coach. The decisions and what you have to be very, very good at, it's just, it's so different to just going out onto a pitch on a training ground

12:15and setting your team up. You've got to be able to handle a group of 25 guys who can be difficult at times. I mean, the list is incredible what you have to be brilliant at being a coach. And so for him to have all that at such a young age and doing the job that he's doing is remarkable. You have to have people around you who you obviously trust as well. I think when I was watching a documentary, totally right in terms of all the things that he has to essentially oversee. But he has got a really good team around him as well, which he obviously trusts. But everyone looks to the coach. Everyone looks to the manager. You know, when you've got to make these decisions, you've got to put sessions on.

12:57You've got to go and talk to the middler. You've got to be that psychologist that you can make someone feel very special for you to go out and play and feel good and then you've got issues with players who are not playing you've got to handle that side of things you know so how hard is that i know we have a laugh about you managing and all that sort of stuff and i know we're going a little bit off topic but how how hard is that is that to do you know where you've got to face up to the media and then you've got to put a training session on and then you've got all the stuff that comes with running a football club. Yeah, it's tough. I mean, it's unbelievable, I guess. But I guess when you talk about 25 or 30 years ago, the manager actually basically ran the club.

13:35It was his decision who came in. It was his decision to go and look at players. It was his decision to how much to pay for. It's like, so it's from back then to what it is now. And I know it's such a difficult job, but years and years ago when the manager was in charge of all of that, I mean, it's unbelievable when you think of it. But yeah, very, very difficult. Slight difference, I suppose, from back in our day, Al, in the sense that you would have had a relatively small squad by comparison to now. There'd only probably been about realistically 14, 15, 16 maybe players that you would play. Well, I remember when I, this is how it's changed so much when I played, right? We had, you'd have the manager,

14:16the first team coach, you'd have a physio and a kit man. Yeah. That was about it. Now you've got a different coach full of different analysts they've got two coaches exactly you know when they showed City sneaking in round the back of Anfield and I thought god they have two coaches now two bosses unbelievable I mean talk about it's moved on now it's such an industry and that's why I say to the fact that now all the coaches are, they're obviously a pretty high level. And then you see this merry-go-round of clubs that are, and I think the owners use that situation as well. You know, let's blame the coaches. The coach's fault takes the pressure off us, the owners, and bring in a new coach who's probably of the same level.

15:04We've seen it. Take Forrest, for example, over the last couple of years. They've brought in a coach. He's done all right for a few games. And then they get back to actually the level they are. And then he gets sacked because of that. Then they bring in and they have a little start. Oh, that's quite nice. We're doing well again. And now, you know, now they've brought, you know, Glasnow just came from Palace. And it's just like, once you're in, you're in. And I think all these coaches are really, really good and an excellent level. But ultimately, I think Herzl might well be a bit more, but I think he will be massively helped by what's going on and the way the football club is run. And if you look at clubs like United and they struggle

15:44because it's not brilliantly run in the same way as a club is run. If you look at clubs like United, they struggle because it's not brilliantly run in the same way as a club like Brighton. Herzl has been linked with, I mean, it's probably just pure rumours, with United already should Carrick not go on for much longer. If you were Herzl and they came, say something went wrong, I know this is hypothetical, but something went wrong at a club like, would you go from Brighton to Manchester United? Which sounds a ridiculous question a few years ago, but I think it's a relevant question now. Would you, if you were him, would you go, hmm, I'm doing quite well here with a good team? We saw that decision with Graham Potter, didn't we?

16:22Only left there and went to Chelsea, wasn't it? Yeah, and that didn't quite, I mean, financially it worked for him, but I guess it didn't we? He only left there and went to Chelsea wasn't it? Yeah and that didn't quite, I mean financially it worked for him but I guess it didn't quite work out for him professionally. What are the terms? guys? What? Money? No, no, not money. Does he get a four year at least project? Well that's what I mean. Well that's what I mean. Who's ever guaranteed that? Look at Arteta. It took him six, seven years to win a trophy. But it's worked for them. At some point as a club, and I was going to say this about Manchester United and we'll do it later anyway, but at some point a club has to go,

16:54right, this guy knows what he's doing. We need to support him and back him. Because if you just keep changing, you know, it's like it's Groundhog Day. That's what you're getting with a lot of clubs. And at some point you've got to look at the clubs that have been successful over a long period of time You know, it's like it's Groundhog Day. That's what you get with a lot of clubs. And at some point, you've got to look at the clubs that have been successful over a long period of time have been the patient ones with their coach. If Sir Alex Ferguson had come into Manchester United now and performed like he did in his first, what, three seasons, he wouldn't have probably lasted anywhere near. But they obviously saw something in him and

17:25they were right to be patient and got the just rewards but is it people like us is it people who do podcasts is it is it the media is it just social media in in general where well i don't think any of us have ever called for someone to get the sack. I mean, someone might find something from somewhere, but... Yeah, but we're in an environment where essentially what we say goes a long way and it does put pressure on our opinions are valid, aren't they? That's why people listen to our podcast. Did you say some of us? No, I said the noises. I was going to say the noises are loud. It's a lot louder now. I thought you said some of us. No, I didn't say that. The thing is, though, if you're not working on Netflix,

18:08you're working on BBC, if you're not working on BBC, you're working on Amazon, Alan Shearer, if he says something, it holds weight, you know? And that does put pressure. And I think we like to give a balanced view and a fair view, definitely. But we are part of sometimes people applying that pressure. No, you're absolutely right. I mean, but, you know, there's always been media. I mean, it's just, it's been enhanced a lot and obviously has probably a deeper effect now because you've got social media as well, which is new to our game. I remember watching United last week and they were getting boos in the first half. Now, United, I've always thought the club, that actually their fans have been pretty patient

18:50with the players on the pitch. They don't tend to do that sort of stuff. But there is a shift now. And I think it might be down to Alan Shearer, to be honest. Because when Alan Shearer speaks, the world listens. And I think obviously there's a lot of pressure. It's hugely well recompensed, the job, obviously. Once you've established yourself, you're almost certain to get another job. It's probably, aside from perhaps being a prime minister or something, the one job where you're pretty much guaranteed to get kicked out. I mean, there are very, very few examples of people who have not been sacked. Obviously, Guardiola, Clark, Ferguson, people like that, but very, very few over the years. So it's a testing role, And, but also it's,

19:47I suppose once you get in there, once you're on the merry-go-round, it's kind of ka-ching in some ways. It takes us on to United, I suppose, in a way. They played Leeds, Leeds, Leeds. And actually both games I watched yesterday weren't great. That was one. And then I watched the Arsenal game. I mean, we've been talking the previous week hadn't we after the Champions League about oh everyone seems to be really having a go now and it's so much better and then as soon as you open your big mouth you get a fairly turgid weekend I did the same as you guys that's why I was mainly watching those two games and they were a bit flat weren't they Man Utd did alright I thought a couple of changes that he made Carrick put in a decent watching those two games and they were a bit flat, weren't they? Man United did all right.

20:25I thought the couple of changes that he made, Carrick putting a decent performance in the first half, went 1-0 up. And Buemo, he missed a couple before that. And I was thinking, here we go again because I watched them in Madrid in the week and they missed chances there. But Leeds came back second half, deserved the point and it was a bit of a, yeah, drab game, I thought. Players now, when the ball's coming over, they try and side flick it in rather than just head it straight on with a forehead. That's the art of heading. I know, obviously, we used to train a lot with heading balls. And nowadays that's not deemed as wise for obvious reasons, for your brain health, et cetera. So they probably do way less practice than we did.

21:08And you can see, you don't see too many great headers of the ball in the game now. And I wonder if there's anything to do with that. And I think it's obviously, I've always said for a long time, they shouldn't allow heading in training and then just restrict it just to games. But there will be, because of that, a lack of know-how into how to head a ball. Although the Lewis Potter one for Brentford was a brilliant header. There are plenty of examples of people that do head it properly, but I've just seen this general thing where people come in and just try it and generally a guy that goes, never goes in. No, I totally understand that and that's you're probably right in what you see with less training

21:50and less doing it then you're going to see it less often I guess but I was impressed with his movement for his goal eventually when the ball came in from the right hand side Telemans whipped it in his movement was brilliant to finish it off but Leeds came back into its second half. Calvert-Lewin again. Yeah. Scoring a good goal, good finish. But it was probably a fair result, wasn't it? I don't think either team did enough to win the game. I think we've got to give Carrick a little bit of credit for the way he set up. In terms of the game, it wasn't, like you guys said, it wasn't a brilliant game. But there was a lot more effort. And they went to three at the back, and they sort of had Ahmad on one side

22:28and Dalot on the other side. Up front, and they had Santos and Boliba in midfield. But then it was weird what they were doing up front. Like, Fernandes was the furthest man forward at times in the middle. Tielemans was sort of just to the right of him. And then Mbomo wasn't quite on the left, but was then going centrally when Fernandes dropped deep. So it was interesting. When we got the team sheet, I was looking at it thinking, what's he going to do here? I was saying before the game, United just need to go back to basics. You know, against Atletico Madrid, it wasn't great, all doom and gloom. But to go to Leeds, Ellen Road, with the high energy that they have at that ground, I thought it was a much better performance.

23:09Not great, but in terms of the circumstances, the pressure that Carrick was under, for him, he's been challenged tactically, I would say, this season. I think last season, it was more sit in a low block, counter-attack. That's what United are. This season when they've got to take the game to somebody, they don't quite know what they're doing. But in the game yesterday, I saw a few signs to say, okay, they've got a little bit more than what they've shown this season so far. Where can Leeds finish, Micah? Leeds are a really good outfit you know honestly watching the movement I think Bogle's a really good player I think Justin although he got caught on the goal but how do you know he was so funny yesterday I was

23:56doing the game right and the Leeds centre half is caught like I don't I just basically went Mahamarevich I just moved on. Mohamadovic, and no one got on it because I said it so- It's not an easy one. I was like, if it goes slow on this, I'm going to fuck it up. So- Mohamadovic, isn't it? Something like that, isn't it? It's a tricky one. It's a good player as well. Mohamadovic, and I just went, and no one looked at me, I was like, yes, I've got away with it. But it was so tough. But he is... I'm moving away. And he's a good player. Elvideen's not bad as well. In the midfield, I love Stack and his energy. I wish he had a little bit more composure at times. Gunnmanson offers a whiff on the left hand side

24:46as well and the rotations between the team they look really good how high can they finish I think top 10 yeah just around the mid table would be a realistic target for Leeds because I think in games though as well some of the games that they've drawn they could have got over the line and I think Calvert-Lewin needs someone else to help him with the goals as well I think they've been better since he went to back three yes they've been much more consistent and it seems to have worked for him the only thing is though guys they do leave themselves exposed though because when they go they all go had Man United been a little bit sharper on the counter-attack they would have got punished but it's how they play Daniel Fark's doing a brilliant job and they're an exciting had Man United been a little bit sharper on the counter attack they would have got punished

25:25but it's how they play Daniel Fark's doing a doing a brilliant job and they're an exciting watch which is the most important come on the leads Dominic Calvert-Lewin I mean he's had a run now of being fit yes for quite a while and I think that and it reminds you of the fact that actually he's he's a bit of a hamper up front you know he can hold it up he's good in the air he can get a goal which fact that actually he's a bit of a hamper up front. You know, he can hold it up. He's good in the air. He can get a goal, which he's doing. Obviously, he takes the penalties as well. And he's had a pretty good start to the season. I would say at present, he's probably number two as a nine behind Kane, isn't he?

26:01Good question. So who have we got? We've got Tony, who didn't get picked in the last squad. Obviously, he's playing in Saudi. Oli Watkins has gone to Saudi, obviously. You've got De Lappe, who's... It was looking really good, but the game yesterday, I was thinking, come on! He took a very quick, good throwing. Come on, I know, but the balls, like, it feels like he's got everything to be whatever he wants to be. But then there's zero conviction. I don't know. I don't even know if it's confidence. I just feel like he needs to believe in himself more because he's got it. He's there. He just needs to finish off the chances when he gets there. I think with regards to Calvert-Lewin, you have to play a specific way.

26:47You have to, and I think Leeds do it without doubt. It's noticeable. If they can get an early ball in every opportunity, that's their first thought. And I like that with him because he needs to be fed. He needs to have balls up to him and balls into him. He's that type of forward. He thrives on that. And there's no doubt when you do that, he's a handful. He can be really awkward to play against, yeah. Let's take a break there and discuss some of the other games when we come back. This episode is brought to you by Hotels.com. You know what's better than getting a good win? Getting another one straight after it. With the all-new 10 for £100 benefit from Hotels.com, You know what's better than getting a good win? Getting another one straight after it.

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29:42Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, and me, Gary Lineker. Let's talk Arsenal. I mean, that was more the performance we saw probably from them a few times last season. Forest had their opportunities in the game, even after Arsenal took the lead. I think it was their first shot on target, wasn't it, when they scored? But you could sort of see it coming, that it was going to be a 1-0 to the Arsenal. It was a... I mean, it wasn't a pretty game again, but we've seen it so many times that with teams, and we always say it, it doesn't have to be, you just have to find a way. But their squad again, I guess, hauling players off at half-time. He's going to put you in in terms of Eze, and if you don't work, you're coming off straight away.

30:22And there was no messing around, was there, off at half time have any of you seen this stat how many 1-0s Arsenal have had in the last year in the last 366 days is it 16 not quite that many oh 13 1-0 wins against Fulham Palace Everton Chelsea Brighton Sporting Newcastle obviously aren't Atletico West Ham Burnley Villa Everton, Chelsea, Brighton, Sporting, Newcastle, obviously, Atletico, West Ham, Burnley, Villa, Napoli, Forest. That's incredible, isn't it? It just shows you how strong they are defensively and how good the goalkeeper is as well. Although you did say, I mean, there was a chance, wasn't there, Chris Wood when they broke. Oh, yeah. Oh, my, his first touch was terrible. He brought it back inside

31:07instead of pushing it out onto his right and getting his strike away. It was... Murillo had that good effort, right? Right near the end. And they're just high and wide. Yeah. Which, yeah. So, I mean, they do defend well, but they get away with it. They certainly weren't very free-flowing yesterday, but they're, you know, obviously they've been playing in midweek. So, I mean, they're steady, Eddie, as you go, isn't it? I mean, I find it, I don't know about you too, and I'm going to bring it up again, and City winning their match. Sorry, Micah, but it's just, you know, City going with a good lead at the minute. You just keep thinking, well, what is the top of the table? What's going to happen?

31:47When's it going to happen? How long are they going to wait? Are they going to wait till after the appeal before they give out, which I don't understand. So do you sit there and think, even when you're watching City and they're playing some great stuff and they've got an unbelievably good squad and there again lies question mark. So you just go, oh, a brilliant City and now they want a few points clear. But are they? You know what I mean? You have to think that because that's the situation that we're in. And which adds to the chances of teams like probably Brighton to challenge a little bit. Maybe they're Arsenal's closest challengers at present or Chelsea or Liverpool. We don't know. But, you know,

32:27are City in this league or are they not in this league? Are they going to be deducted points? I mean, there's so many question marks around it. It's all a little bit peculiar, I think. Don't you think it's great for Man City players, though, how they're able to sort of shut out all the noise no matter what was going to happen you think this is great for Man City's players don't you think being able to just block all the noise out and still be able to perform a mentality do you not think I think they might use the world's against us thing and you can see that with the fans as well they've all gone very tribal as you would expect but I don't know if I was a player because also I think naturally you'd be thinking,

33:07what's going to happen here? What does this mean? I think you're talking more bigger picture. Yes, I understand what you're saying. I'm talking bigger picture. But I'm talking more Man City having to deal with all this noise around, but still being able to perform on the pitch. I think players generally just get on with these things. Some of them will be more thoughtful about it than others. But I get what you're saying. You just want to go out and show that, you know, a bit of world's against us. And I suppose you're playing without, I don't know, are you playing with less stress because of this or more stress because of this? We don't really know. And I think each different players will be

33:45affected differently I was going to ask you right so this is another hypothetical question but is it that hypothetical should City get a massive punishment and which sees them go in the lower leagues or whatever obviously a lot of these players will will want out who could afford Harland and how much would he fucking cost Newcastle he's done it again not the way they're playing we'll get on to that in a minute I mean how much would he cost for a start it wouldn't cost a thing because he's not going anywhere. When he signed that new deal, you'd imagine he'd have some sort of clause in there that if this were to happen, his agent would have managed that situation and put a clause in it at some sort of price, you'd guess, no?

34:41I also wonder about the players that they've signed this summer, you know, the likes of Anderson and Boadio, I thought was really, really good again. I mean, he is very, very good at football. But I wonder whether they, because everyone knows this has been hanging over Manchester City for a long time. We all knew it was going to be fairly imminent. I wonder whether they've got clauses you would think so wouldn't you you would get out you would have to you know you because otherwise anderson and buari two most exciting young talents on the planet particularly obviously buari's younger but and i just think to myself you just don't know now what what are you going to be what's going to happen? What's going to happen?

35:25Whether you're going to be docked lots of points. Do you think they knew that? Come on. Every interview about City for years has been the charges, the charges. Micah, if you're one of those players coming in in the summer, or Anderson or whoever, their agent would have to, have to, I mean, if he or she haven't, then clearly they wouldn't be doing their job right. And I know they would have maybe asked the question and the answer would have come back from City, yeah, we're not guilty at all. But to have a client of yours, you'd have to be so sure. And to be so sure, you'd say, well, okay, Man City, if you're that adamant you're not guilty, then you have to put some sort of clause in my client's contract.

36:12Because if the worst were to happen, then they have to be given that opportunity to somehow get out. You'd think so. I would agree. If the players' agents have not taken this into account, have not put in some kind of clause should the worst happen, then I don't think they've been doing their job brilliantly. None of us know anything at the moment, but it's just that cloud hanging over everything in the Premier League at present. I just want to go one little thing back to Arsenal for a second because the last six games they've played, they haven't scored in the first half. He's been kind of changing things up top. They've still not plugged that hole up, have they, really? Well, his preference, obviously, is Havertz, which he's played.

37:00I know he brought Jokeres on, but his preference is Havertz. Yeah, it is. But when you look at the different options in terms of Saka and Eze and Madweki and Jokeres and who else have I missed goodness knows who else I've Odegaard Odegaard and he's got Downman on there which it's like their options are incredible but he does he does prefer Havertz doesn't he he seems to I mean I don't think Havertz is ever going to get 25 goals a season he's a different sort of't he? Oh, he seems to. I mean, I don't think Havertz is ever going to get 25 goals a season. He's a different sort of player. He drifts in. He's probably more of a 10, I think, Micah. But, yeah, I think, I mean, there's another one. Haaland to Arsenal.

37:37I mean, imagine them with… I don't like… This is going to be all season now, isn't it? Just this speculation. Oh, I can't deal with it, guys. I can't deal with it. I'm sorry. I mean, it's difficult for someone who's played for City for a long time, but let alone what might be going through your mind if you're actually playing now. Exactly why I said what they're doing on the field is so remarkable. Yeah. You know? They've definitely used it to, I suspect, use that the world's against us thing. Yeah, yeah. I mean, Haaland bagged another two. Harry triple captained him. Sorry, Al. Marching on. I think the only other talking point probably is that obviously they, Mark Gay made a mistake for the Ipswich goals.

38:20In fact, you could say two. Two, yeah. And one or two errors creep. Is it just a spell? Because obviously there was one at the end of last season with the back pass, and then there was one with the England game where he made a mistake when Luminia Mal got in behind him. So there's a few mistakes in there at present, but I suppose that happens to defenders, Micah, over the period. Yeah, I think it's just a spell. Obviously, he's a ball-playing centre-half as well as being a leader, especially at Palace. When we were analysing the game at Palace, we were talking about how good he was on the ball, where he was receiving the ball, how he was playing through the lines, all that sort of thing. But he does need to

39:00tighten up when he's playing for Man City. He's getting scrutinised a lot more, and England. And some of the mistakes that he's playing for Man City. He's getting scrutinised a lot more and England. And some of the mistakes that he's making, he doesn't really need to make. Remember his one against Everton last season when he was going for the league? He's a lot better than that. And I feel as though he's switching off when he doesn't need to switch off. He's very consistent in the way he plays and his attitudes towards the game. And I would agree with you. I think it's just a little bit of a blip, but you don't want to be known for someone who keeps giving away soft goals because that's when people will play on that.

39:35But yeah, I just feel he's going through a little bit of a tough patch. It was two, wasn't it? Even the penalty that he gave away, he was sloppy as well, wasn't he, towards the end? Yeah, it was just a little bit sloppy. But I think he's just going through one of those phases at the moment. I don't think that's what he is. I think so. Their midfielders, I mean, they've got some options in there. Well, he left Fernandes out, didn't he? And Anderson, was it? He played Boadi and Kovacic. I mean, he rested quite a lot of players. But Boadi, who I thought was absolutely sensational when he came on against PSG. He was. Was also really good again. I mean, I think he's quite special, Micah. And I think Maresca said, didn't he,

40:18he was asked about him and he went, hmm, not bad, eh? He's class. He's class, honestly. But you know what? I didn't know he had the Oracle. The Oracle missed it? He's class. He's class, honestly. But you know what? I didn't know he had the Oracle. The Oracle missed it, let's say. The Oracle missed it. I thought he was just more of a Rodri type. Rodri's not bad. No, but I didn't say Rodri. Rodri type, who was a sit in front of the back four and then dictate the game, as he saw for Morocco. But he's actually got that burst of pace where he can go past players and he's got a Cruyff and all that sort of stuff, which I didn't see against PSG when he came on. He absolutely changed the game with his press.

41:01So yeah, he does look tasty. And I think that's going to be the midfield going forward in the, in the harder game. Again, you got to go asterisk. That's the midfield going forward. Who's their best midfield though? You've got Shirky and the way he started this, this season, if you're playing against a team where you need to be a little bit more creative, you probably would go with Shirky in a number 10, the way he's performed this season and the end I think he's in the doghouse Schurke I know yeah but that's after that performance that happens though come on we all know Schurke is not great off the ball we know that we've said that so can we judge him by that yes at times because he needs to do more

41:42but he's a creative player he's a creative genius that He's a creative genius. That's what he does. If you're playing against a team who've got good running power, you play Bawadi, probably Enzo, and probably Anderson. But if not, the shirkster you've got to play. There's been times where I would play Bawadi or Anderson just sitting and play Foden and Schurke ahead of them you know it can change depending on who you're playing against I would go Quick word on Liverpool and then I just need a little Alan Shearer rant on his team before we go but Wurz creates nine chances he created from open play the most since Sadio Mane against Burnley in 2021 and obviously ended with the assist for Munoz from open play. The most since Sadio Mane against Burnley in 2021.

42:27And obviously, ended with an assist for Munoz as well. So, I suppose a good response because he's been getting a lot of every social media chat, I think, around Liverpool seems to be talking about him. And that's all he can do is try and respond by making chances and scoring goals. So a little bit of a grain of hope. You would hope so. I mean, clearly the sending off was a massive part of that game, wasn't it? Yarmuluk and the little pushes. What was he doing? I know, stupid, wasn't it? I mean, I can't, I mean, I just thought as soon as you saw the first replay, you went, well, he's got to go. I mean, even though it was only, you know, it was just, what are you doing? Giving the opportunity for that sort of decision.

43:15It wasn't that bad though, was it? I agree with you. But it wasn't. But it was that, wasn't it? It was just, it was stupid, yes. I agree with you. It was just stupid. Yeah, yeah. It was annoying what Xhaka was doing you. It was just stupid. Yeah, yeah. It was annoying what Jacques was doing. So I sort of understood the frustration. But you can't do that, no. It's just, why would you? It's like when they run off and take their shirts off and they know they're going to get a yellow card. You think, this is more serious. But you just, which is a stupid law. But the headbutt law is pretty plain. If you stick your head in someone and there's movement then you get in trouble and when your team's one up as well

43:50I mean I don't know sometimes what they're thinking but you're right in terms of a little shoots a little yeah a little improvement a little bit better for Virts it has to start from somewhere so you would hope that going forward and starting tomorrow, Villarreal have got tomorrow, I'm doing that game. You would hope that he picks up a little bit of belief and confidence going forward. Your take on Liverpool, Michael? Still look relatively easy, not easy, but relatively comfortable to play against. Yeah. Danny Murphy did a piece on Match of the Day didn't he? They said he was still going through midfield which you would expect. They've had injuries. They need to tighten up a little bit more

44:32but I was more positive within Munoz. I thought Munoz was a story really. After watching him against Man City live and seeing how active he is and how willing he is to run in behind and press and all those sort of things. I actually thought he was a story. He's a 23-year-old coming to a different country, playing at Liverpool. It's massive what he's doing now. And everyone's talking about Rio, obviously because he's English. But I thought Munoz is doing a really good job. I was worried when he went down injured. I thought it looked like it might be a crew shot. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I was thinking, oh, it's one of those where he's jarred, he's just no one around. But he does look, I've been really impressed with him.

45:18Before he goes on his rant, who got to play the match for Aston Villa, Alan? Was it Nicholas Jackson? Of course it was! I find that really strange, actually, because I was there watching the game. Should have been Manzambi for me. Yeah, him or Tyrone Mings, I thought. I mean, a centre forward that doesn't score, doesn't assist, has one effort on target and gets man of the match. Hey, listen, listen. I didn't pick him up. I didn't pick him out. I didn't pick him, you know. That's what I said. I thought he was a bit strange. I thought he did all right, but... Well, since I've said it, he scored three and got... I think he's had, like, three play the matches and then got play... Yeah, so, you know, anyway.

45:57Yeah, I think because Unai Emery knows him and the way he handles him and manages him, I think he's responding to that. There's no doubt. I think he's a good player, Micah. And I guess Villa weren't the only club that were interested in him. But he gives them a different option because he goes the other way and he stretches the team. But, oh my goodness, Newcastle were so bad. What's wrong at the minute now? Because a couple of weeks ago you were telling us, oh, Champions League, and now because a couple of weeks ago you were telling us oh Champions League and now it's all gone flat for you well yeah it has because I look at their performance against Coventry it was terrible and I'm thinking what

46:34response have we got at home St. James's Park against Villa and there was nothing they didn't create that one shot on target which is Bottman who's in the second half and other than that no creativity no one with that He didn't create that one shot on target, which was Bottman, who was in the second half. And other than that, no creativity, no one with that killer pass. We were just, we were terrible. We were really, fuck off, Micah. We were really, really bad. You know why I'm laughing? Not because you're spilling your heart out and you're passionate for your club. I love all that side of things, but Gaz is exactly right. Do you remember when we was talking about top four and he goes, Newcastle are playing tomorrow.

47:17No, but what I did say is, I did say, I did say that it's going to be a yo-yo season. Yeah. And I did have them finishing 13th or 14th and I still think that it's going to be a yo-yo season. Yeah. And I did have them finishing 13th or 14th and I still think that'll be the case. But there was no response from that really poor performance at Coventry. I was expecting a lot more and they were really weak, tepid. There was nothing to their performance at all. You'd come away and think, oh, we did all right there. They were terrible. Newcastle are now without a home clean sheet in each of their last 16 games in all competitions. Longest run in their history. Too easy to play through, they were. I said to you about we didn't create anything,

47:58which is worrying, but the way teams can play through Newcastle, because if you beat that press with a front six, there's such huge holes in the middle. I've got some quite alarming stats. Goals conceded 13th, 20th in the Premier League. XG against, we're all big fans of this, 19th, 18th. Shots faced per game, over 17, that's 19th. Shots faced from fast breaks, 20th. Errors leading to shots, 20th. Final third, pressures per game, 18th. Yeah, worrying. Those stats, Alan, were before the Villa game, so they wouldn't have improved. Yeah, it was concerning, definitely. I've seen all of that. Coventry and Aston Villa, and those two performances would really worry me. There was a lack of everything.

48:48As I said, creativity. They don't look solid and they were missing that killer pass. I said to you about the youngster, Sean Sturr, who could play that pass. He chose not to play him or bring him on. Yeah, it was a worrying performance on Saturday, definitely. I want to finish on a little something that I saw. Manchester City's Erling Haaland has now netted 100 non-penalty goals in the Premier League, reaching this milestone in fewer appearances than any other player, 139. The previous fewest was 150 appearances by Alan Shearer in 1996. Another record gone out. Yeah, well, the sooner they get relegated, he can leave. What a way to finish. That's it for this episode. The rest is football. Goodbye from me.

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