A bruising game at Stamford Bridge and Manchester City leave it late – Football Weekly

Summary

Football Weekly – "A bruising game at Stamford Bridge and Manchester City leave it late"

The Guardian
Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Barney Ronay, Dan Bardell

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Episode Overview

This episode of Football Weekly dives into another dramatic weekend across the Premier League. The panel dissects a bruising clash between Chelsea and Arsenal, Manchester City’s nervy late win over Leeds, and key talking points from Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle, Villa, and more. Along the way, they pay tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds, debate football’s increasingly performative culture, and—true to form—find time to exchange travel tips for away fans.

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1. Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal: A Hectic, Bad-tempered Title Clash

[00:47–14:42]

• Game Feel:

  • Barney Ronay: "All square in the title decider at the Bridge. Chelsea are impressive with 11 and knuckled down with 10 after Caicedo's red card—perhaps another sign they’re serious contenders."
  • The game was not a classic; described as hectic and bad-tempered, yet absorbing for its intensity.

• Was It Actually Good?

  • Max Rushden: "I would say it was quite a bad game. If it hadn’t been Chelsea-Arsenal, it would’ve been last on Match of the Day." (01:55)
  • Barney Ronay disagrees, emphasizing the game’s tightness and how competitiveness across the league has rebounded:
    "It’s what you want in a league where you want it to feel as tight as this … It felt visceral."

• Chelsea’s Credentials & Rhys James’ Role:

  • Praise for Chelsea and manager Maresca’s tactical acumen—“Maresca is so good at these one-off occasions, Manchester City have to play Chelsea twice more, so they can be kingmakers.”
  • Rhys James highlighted as underrated and pivotal:
    "He’s having a great season so far ... To be playing at that level for Chelsea, I actually, when Caicedo’s not getting sent off, quite like that midfield three." (Dan Bardell, 05:23)

• Playing with 10 Men:

  • Panel suggests that playing against 10 isn’t as much of an advantage as people think:
    "In many ways it’s just another game state and sometimes it puts more pressure on the opponent." (Barney Ronay, 03:08)
  • Chelsea are “the most experienced at playing with 10 men” lately.

• COVID-Era Footballers:

  • Barry Glendenning raises the idea of “COVID footballers” whose stars have faded (e.g., Mason Mount, Rhys James):
    "We should have an inquiry into the COVID footballers. Where have they gone? Rhys James was one of them." (06:38)

• Performative Aspects & Ref Conduct:

  • Increasing theatricality:
    "Being in pain is part of the performance ... the sport has become such a microscopic performance." (Barney Ronay, 10:25)
  • Arteta’s calmness "very measured"—perhaps a mark of a team now leading the title charge.

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2. Manchester City 3–2 Leeds United: Drama and Game Management

[15:10–22:20]

• Key Moments:

  • City nearly let a 2–0 lead slip, Leeds roared back to 2–2 before Foden’s late winner clinched it in injury time.
  • Max Rushden: "Great finish from Foden. Perhaps an even better out the way from Josep Guardiol." (15:10)

• Tactical Timeout Hijinks:

  • Leeds were on top until City’s Ruben Dias told Gianluigi Donnarumma to feign injury for a ‘tactical time-out’ to get Pep’s instructions—a rising trend:
    "It's not against the rules, but probably very much against the spirit of fair play." (Barry Glendenning, 16:30)
  • Panel jokes about required medicals and how to ‘prove’ injury.

• Impact of Added Time for Underdogs:

  • Extra stoppage time drains underdogs’ morale:
    "When the board went up with 10 minutes, it’s classic, you fear for Leeds. It’s like the SAS shows where, just as you get to the truck, it drives away and you have to do another marathon." (Barney Ronay, 22:02)
  • New rules favor deeper squads like City’s:
    "That rule quite clearly favors stronger teams ... it’s a bit of shame." (Barry Glendenning, 20:49)

• Phil Foden’s Resurgence:

  • After a quiet year, Foden’s brilliance back on display:
    "When he’s on song, I absolutely love watching him. He’s so unique—no English player plays like him." (Dan Bardell, 19:51)

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3. Liverpool Back on Track at West Ham, No Salah Needed

[23:51–30:08]

• Slot’s Big Call Pays Off:

  • Liverpool win 1–0, Alexander Isak scores with Salah dropped:
    "He dropped Salah and it worked." (23:51)
  • West Ham went down a man (Paquetá, two bookings for dissent), making Liverpool's job easier.

• Lucas Paquetá’s Red Card & Frustrations:

  • Paquetá posted on social media about lack of psychological support during betting investigation.
    "It’s infuriating to be booked for being infuriated." (Barney Ronay, 26:31)

• Liverpool’s New-Look Attack:

  • Praise for the flexibility with Isak, Szoboszlai, and the under-the-radar impact of Joe Gomez at right back (29:08).
  • Isak’s barren run "overstated" as he hasn’t played many full games.

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4. Billy Bonds Tribute

[30:08–33:43]

• The panel offers a heartfelt reflection on West Ham legend Billy Bonds, who passed away at 79.
  • Barney Ronay: "He was an archetype of a certain sort of English player ... Forever caked in mud, socks rolled down, teeth and eyes glinting through a fog of sweat and beard." (30:08)
  • Stands out as a “club legend of a kind that doesn’t really happen anymore.”

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5. Tottenham’s Turmoil: Loss to Fulham & Fan Dissent

[33:43–40:22]

• Fulham win 2–1 at Tottenham:

  • Early goals and a “delightful” finish from Harry Wilson, aided by Dire Spurs defending.
  • Panel notes Fulham’s rarely take the lead away—“could have been more at halftime.”

• Thomas Frank Booed—and Responds:

  • Frank comments post-game: "I’m fine with them booing after the game. During the game, I hope it was one incident." (36:58)
  • Barney Ronay: “It’s not very helpful, is it? He’s made a mistake. He’s not deliberately done that.” (36:58)
  • Spurs fan expectations debated—Europa League success perhaps creating false hopes after a 17th-place finish last year.

• Creativity Issues:

  • Spurs struggle badly to create, hitting record-low xG numbers and an “art installation” at pushing xG lower and lower.
  • “It feels a little bit delusional at the moment to think it wasn’t going to be hard.” (Dan Bardell, 39:09)

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6. Newcastle Finally Win Away; Defensive Upgrades Make the Difference

[41:12–43:35]

• Newcastle’s First Away Win:

  • 4–1 at Everton: “Bad must you be, we’re winning away. Their first in seven months.” (41:12)
  • Barry praises Anthony Elanga’s play and Volta Matera’s elegantly slow finish.

• Fullbacks Key:

  • Massive difference made by the return of full-backs Livermento and Lewis Hall.
    “Livramento is such a good player ... one of those fullbacks where wherever they are creates an overload for the opponent.” (Barry Glendenning, 42:16)

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7. Brief Roundup: Liverpool, Man United Comebacks, and Reflections

[43:51–48:58]

• Man United's Comeback Win:

  • Beat Palace 2–1 away, coming from behind. Panel notes Palace’s fatigue (after their Conference League game) as a big factor.
  • Dan Bardell: "That’s a huge result at Selhurst Park because Palace's home record is phenomenal."(43:51)
  • Panel suggestion: Palace manager Glasner is getting "feisty," frustrated at lack of club investment and mounting injuries.

• Travel Tips Aside...

  • The panel can’t resist debating the easiest route to Selhurst Park and why overground improvements in London are underrated.

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8. Championship & Other Highlights

[48:58–56:12]

• Sunderland 3–2 Bournemouth:

  • Great comeback win in driving rain; Tyler Adams scores a spectacular lob for Bournemouth.
  • Barry Glendenning: "I didn’t give Sunderland much of a chance coming back, but what a great addition to the Premier League they’ve been." (49:27)

• Brentford 3, Burnley 1:

  • Brentford striker Igor Thiago matches Ivan Toney’s exploits:
    "He kind of is—if you put Ivan Toney through a Slavic Portuguese translator app, you would get Igor Thiago." (Barry Glendenning, 52:57)

• Villa 1, Wolves 0:

  • Villa’s home dominance, and recurring “goal of the season” strikes.
    "57% of their goals have come from outside the box... people keep saying it’s not sustainable but it keeps happening." (Dan Bardell, 54:51)

• Brighton win at Forest:

  • Maxim De Kuiper and Simas score; Brighton back up to fifth in the table.

• Millwall’s Climb (Championship):

  • Millwall win with a late goal; panel muses on the possibility and implications of their Premier League arrival.

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9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Football Drama:

  • "It’s a performance, and being in pain is part of the performance. But the sport has become such a microscopic performance." — Barney Ronay [10:25]

• On Full-backs’ Evolution:

  • "Livramento ... such a good full-back on both sides. It's important for England that he’s back." — Barry Glendenning [42:16]

• On crowd expectation and football as entertainment:

  • "What do you want to happen? Spurs have this amazing stadium … I just think everyone there should be thinking, this is great, I can just have a breath here and enjoy this." — Barney Ronay [38:45]

• Travel Tip Banter:

  • "Go to Crystal Palace, don’t try and go to Selhurst. There’s a lot more trains on the Windrush, that’s the kind of advice a football iconoclast like Thomas Frank would sweep away." — Barry Glendenning [48:25]

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10. Key Episode Timestamps

• Chelsea–Arsenal analysis: 00:47–14:42
• Man City–Leeds: 15:10–22:20
• Liverpool–West Ham: 23:51–30:08
• Billy Bonds tribute: 30:08–33:43
• Spurs–Fulham & fan issues: 33:43–40:22
• Newcastle–Everton: 41:12–43:35
• Man United–Palace: 43:51–48:58
• EFL, lower league, and travel chat: 48:58–end

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Conclusion

A quintessential Football Weekly—funny, insightful, loaded with debate, and full of both tactical reflection and affectionate tangents. While there’s concern for managers under scrutiny and the mechanics of modern football, the panel ultimately celebrates the league’s drama, the emergence of new stars, and the continuing spectacle for fans.

Transcript

[Barry Glendenny]

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[Barney Ronay]

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[Dan Bardell]

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[Barney Ronay]

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[Dan Bardell]

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[Barney Ronay]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. All square in the title decider at the Bridge. Chelsea are impressive with 11 and knuckled down with 10 after Caicedo's red card. Perhaps another sign that they're serious contenders. Man City sit in between those two in an injury time winner for Phil Foden. Heartbreak for Leeds United. Elsewhere, Liverpool stopped the rot at West Ham. No Salah and a goal for Isak. More home agony for spurs, giving Fulham their first away win of the season. Two down before the game even started. Thomas Frank criticises the fans. What a mess. There's a great comeback for Sunderland, a decent comeback for Man United against a tired Palace. An emphatic Newcastle win at Everton. Brentford beat Burnley. Leighton Brighton win at Forest and Villa squeeze past Wolves and into the top three. 4. We'll pay tribute to Billy Bonds. Answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendenny.

[Barry Glendenny]

Welcome.

[Max Rushton]

Hi Max.

[Barney Ronay]

Hello, Barney, Ronnie.

[Barry Glendenny]

Hi Max.

[Barney Ronay]

And good morning to Dan Bardell.

[Dan Bardell]

Morning, Max Rushton.

[Barney Ronay]

Let's begin at Stamford Bridge then Chelsea won. Arsenal 1. Not a bad game, Barry. Not a classic, just a bit hectic. Did I build it up too much on Thursday and on Monday and on Tuesday or whenever it was?

[Max Rushton]

I would say it was quite a bad game and it certainly didn't live up to the billing you were giving it on Thursday and Wednesday. If it hadn't been Chelsea Arsenal, it would very much have been last on Match of the Day. Even worse than Villa Wolves with apologies to Dan.

[Dan Bardell]

Apology accepted, Scrappy.

[Max Rushton]

It was bad tempered and entertaining for being bad tempered. I like the bad tempered game, but I certainly wouldn't. It was a good game of football and I think a draw was probably fair. Arsenal. Some Arsenal fans will see it as two points drop because they played against 10 men for so long. But seeing as they did go a goal behind and, and managed to turn it around. I. And it was a draw against the team that seemed most likely to be there biggest title rivals. It's. It's a good point I think for both, both teams.

[Barney Ronay]

Would you go on with that, Barney? Or do you think you sort of wonder. A point at Chelsea is not bad but since they played tenement for so long that this is. Is this an opportunity lost for Arsenal in a way?

[Barry Glendenny]

No. I mean I actually don't agree with any of that. I think it was a good game. I think it was really. It's what you want in a. In a league where you, you want it to feel as tight as this. I mean Chelsea are really. You know, I was very skeptical about the Chelsea project for ages, but they were really good, clever team. Maresca is so good at these one off occasions. Manchester City now have to play Chelsea twice in the remainder of the season. So obviously you can have a major effect either as chief challengers or kind of king makers in the league. And I thought it was a really good point for Arsenal. I don't think having a player sent off is such a big deal these days. The players are so fit and so good at keeping the ball. Mainly you don't then fall back and spend 80 minutes defending. They train for it. In many ways it's just another game state and sometimes it puts more pressure on the opponent because we now have to do something we weren't planning for. So I don't think it made a massive difference in that sense. It was definitely a red card. I really love the intensity of this game. I think it's. I saw five points clear at the top. They've just had a really good week. They were missing both their best defenders and if we assume Gyokkorz wasn't quite fit to start both their best attackers as well. Like don't forget I think Havertz would probably be starting in this team if he was fit. So I think even though yes, you could have won, they will, they will see it as a really good. Maybe it's just a good league where you have games like this where you're not going to win all the time. When Man United for example, won the treble, that was more of a standard league type season. They lost loads of games even towards the end. It was just a question of staying ahead of other people. And it feels like this. I think the league's really strong this year. I think teams have kind of rebounded back a bit. It's one of the reasons. It's interesting to see a champion team in such, you know, obvious state of decline, although they won. And I think it was a good game and a good point and I kind of enjoyed it. It felt visceral. I thought Rhys James played brilliantly. People forget how good he is and I think Arse will be glad to have got out of it.

[Barney Ronay]

He's like Cornflake. He's the Kellogg's Cornflakes of the Premier League. Dan, people have forgotten how good Rhys James he was. He was against Rice as well, against that midfield. He was brilliant, wasn't he?

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, he's having a. Having a great season so far, I think because of the injury problems and you've been away from the England squad because of said injury problems. You actually had for a period forgotten how. How good he is. And the fact that he's playing in midfield for a top club like Chelsea at the moment is testament to his ability. How good he is on the ball, what an intelligent and. And clever footballer he is. He's the leader as well. He's the captain. I think he actually kind of came through. I think he went on loan to Wigan and I think he played midfield for a season for them in, in the efl. So he's. He's played there in his career. But to be playing at that level for Chelsea, I actually, when Caicedo is not getting sent off, I quite like that Midfield three. I think Rhys James and Caicedo together gives Enzo the license to go forward a little bit. And he's been in dangerous form this season. Always looks like he might pop up with. With a goal. So, yeah, credit. Credit to Chelsea. I mean, they are very well versed at playing with 10 men at the moment. So from an Arsenal perspective, they're probably the hardest team to play against with 10 men because they're the most experience of playing with a man down because it's happened to them so much recently. I'm with Barney. I thought it was a. It wasn't a great game, but I thought it was a. Was an interesting game. And Chelsea, you know, Jonathan Wilson called them to be, you know, total favorites at the start of the season. They're not total favorites, but they're within touching distance and there's no reason why they can't keep the pace and keep the challenge up.

[Barry Glendenny]

Can I add a supplementary point, please? And what Dan was saying, I think there's certain players who were really good in the COVID period, like Mason Mount. Like, people forget how good Mason Mount was. He scored yesterday he was amazing. He was in sort of Ballon d' or rankings and played really well, Set up the winner in the chat. But he's like something from COVID you want to forget. He's like ubereats and banging for the nhs. Like he's just some guy who. Like, what happened there? Don't know, don't remember. It's all a bit of a blur. We should have an inquiry into the COVID footballers. Like, where have they gone? And Rhys James is one of them people who were good then when there was no crowd and you could hear them shouting.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah. All my entire Covid was watching Paul Mullins score like three for Cambridge every week as we got promoted. And he wasn't forgotten because he then ended up in deadpool. And I maintained that he would still be in deadpool if he'd stayed at Cambridge and not gone down two divisions to Wrexham. But I may be wrong about that. Barry as well, like Chelsea defensively, like Arsenal set pieces looked a bit flat in this and like they sort of got those bits, those bits that you sort of don't study that much, but. But actually they defended those really well as well.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah, they did. And I. I guess they were probably helped by the fact that Saliba and Gabrielle were both absent. They did seem to have this plan where it was pointed out a match of the day. I didn't spot it myself until someone else pointed out that whenever Arsenal had a corner, Xiao Pedro just stood in the box, not looking at the corner taker, not looking at the ball, just waiting to see who's going to make a run and to block that run. That seems quite a clever plan. Quite a simple plan, but not one that anyone seems to have thought of before. I feel I'm going to get maligned now for saying I did. I thought this was a bad game because apparently, couldn't disagree with me more.

[Barry Glendenny]

I knew that you had strikes on this point. Yes. Yes.

[Max Rushton]

I thought it was an absorbing spectacle. It was reasonably interesting because of the two teams involved and their positions in the league. But I still maintain it was not a good game of football. And. And I think it is quite telling that. And I know we place far too much credence on what comes first. The match today. It wasn't for us to match of the day.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah.

[Max Rushton]

Although this. The sad death of. Of Billy Bonds may have had an influence in that factor or in that decision. Yeah.

[Barney Ronay]

Do I sound barney like a rugby fan trying to say why football is.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah.

[Barney Ronay]

I'm so fat. Thank you. I'm so I'm asked the question yet of players writhing in pain. Like, okay, Marino, maybe he did get caught, but Caicedo, when he, when he two footed. Marino, Chaliba, okay, gets an elbow in the face. Sanchez at the end. I'm not saying they're not hurt, but anyone who's been hurt, you stay still and I can't. Like this, this sort of mad sort of like writhing like you've sort of been shot in a, in an Oliver Stone movie. So I think just stay still.

[Barry Glendenny]

It is a performance. I mean you have to, you wouldn't do any of the things that footballers are doing if nobody, if you weren't involved in a game or people weren't watching. Like you wouldn't throw a ball back onto a pitch after it's come off. You wouldn't kick a ball to your teammate. I mean, it's a performance and being in pain is part of the performance. But yeah, was clearly trying to deceive the, the referee into thinking it was just a clash or coming together. I think it's a bit unfair and shallow, but he really had been clanged in the face.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, but if you're, if you're clanged in the face, you just hold your face and you just go, ow. That really hurt. Like you don't. I don't start body popping is what is the point.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, they were clearly trying to get to level up the score. I mean, Arteta noted afterwards that the Chelsea players were sort of targeting Arsenal players who'd already been booked and seeking contact. And then so for, oh my God, I'm in agony, you know, and, and that's I guess a tactic. And it's a professional game, but it's an increasingly performative sport, isn't it? Because the players are under this. The way you observe something changes the way it behaves. And we now observe it in tiny little, microscopic close up sl. And the players know that every single bit is going to be clipped. So Charlabas pointing at his cheekbone saying, look at this. Because he knows the world will zoom in on that. He's saying to the director, look at, he's not talking to the other players, talking to the TV director. You have a player, player to director. You know, I have a bump on my. That's really new. Lots of things have changed because of this principle of being observed. For example, goalkeepers and defenders celebrating tackles, which is something that I really enjoy. Did you see that Dean Henderson celebrated save with the crowd? I've noticed defenders doing this and there's like five or six minutes of the game still to go and they're celebrating because if I do that it means the game's nearly over and it means that we're winning and even really kind of minor interventions they're turning around and really this sort of perform cosplaying defense because a lot of these people aren't really, you know, they're so modern defenders who your Martin Keown wouldn't be celebrating a tackle. He'd be looking sad and, and somber and like this is just my life. I'm tied together with a rop on the pitch by. On the training pitch by George Graham because I'm essentially a defensive beaten down man. But they're celebrating and it's very confusing because I'm confused about what the game state is. I'm confused about what does that mean why is this man celebrating. But I think that the same with injury. So I'm going on about this a bit. But the same with injury. It's because the sport has become such a microscopic performance.

[Barney Ronay]

Dan, if I can drag you back to the game just before we move on as to not whether it was good or bad or not but any other like any other strong thoughts coming out of that Certainly in terms of how seriously you're taking Chelsea.

[Dan Bardell]

I still think it would be a stretch for them to win the League but there's no doubt that they're. They're in the conversation. I thought it was a decent point for Arsenal as, as well I know as Barney said that they're playing against 10 member. I agree with Barney that it's harder to play against 10 men than. Than people perhaps think they could have won it at the end if Timber hadn't have cleared the ball away from. From Yokarez. Unbelievable clearance. Probably the best bit of defending all day and there was quite a lot of defending in the game. But Arsenal have stumbled a little bit away from home recently but they're still doing enough to. To set the pace and I still expect them to. To win the League.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah.

[Barney Ronay]

And actually Arteta's Barry. We've spoken in previous season about Arteta being too emotional. He seems very measured at the moment. Like when I hear him I feel like oh, they've got this.

[Max Rushton]

I, I can't say I've noticed particularly but yeah, he seemed quite good mood yesterday. I thought he might be a bit chippy over the fact that Chelsea were trying to get his players sent off. They seem to target mascara in particular and the number of yellows that Arson players got compared to Chelsea. But now, he seemed quite relaxed about the result and. And the game itself. So I suppose, yeah, Naratesa of old might have been fuming and very angry about that.

[Dan Bardell]

Do you think that's the difference when you're setting the pace rather than being the chaser, so to speak? Like, you can afford to be a bit more measured and a bit more relaxed when you're actually the team at the top. Whereas you tend to probably be a bit more antsy when you're. You're the chaser and you need things to go your way because you're trying to claw back a points difference.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah. I think he knows his team is incredibly efficient this year. Strong. He knows that if they just keep doing what they're doing, it's going to be incredibly hard for them to lose enough games not to finish very, very close. He's really happy with what he's got. Do you know who I feel sorry for in all this is Callum Cham. Because whenever Arsenal have a defensive injury now, they're like, well, you look at. Look at how strong the squad is. You know, a few years back it was Callum Chambers coming in and his name is like, hoist the whole time. As an example of bad, does Rob holding not.

[Barney Ronay]

Does it Rob holding and Callum Chambers is it. Melly Chambers gets it.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, Rob holding too. But I mean, Callum Chambers, I mentioned him because he was a sub for Cardiff against Mansfield and actually my son was at the game and he sent me a message saying, you know, we need to study the downfall of Callum Chambers. What's happened here.

[Barney Ronay]

Right.

[Barry Glendenny]

Think he's not helped by Arsenal's squad depth, the. The narrative. He's in the media. All he's mentioned far more than he should be. Or just like a good footballer who tried his best to be good for Arsenal. Didn't quite work out and he's now all that is bad or was bad.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, yeah. Mentioned more than Premier League players who are actually playing games. But, yeah, down in League one now. I don't know how they got on. I should check. Let's talk about Man City. While we're doing the top of the table, they beat Leeds 3 2. Vital moment for them in injury time. Barry to keep pace. Great finish from Foden. Perhaps an even better out the way from Josep Guardiol. This is why people jump on boxes for that moment.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah. This game looked to be over very early when City went 20 up. Foden put them ahead. Vardy all scored from a mistake at a corner from. From Perry who came to punch the ball and didn't connect with it properly. Daniel Fark made some changes at halftime. I think he just decided, look, we might as well lose 5 nil as 2 nil. Let's. Let's have a go. And it really worked. The second half, it was just a total transformation from Leeds. I think man. City thought the game was over by half time. They just were. Yeah, we'll see this out. No problem. Leeds got it back to 2 2. And then Leeds thought, right, we'll take the point. And they sat back. I think if Leeds had kept going, they might have won this game. But they didn't. And when the board went up with 10 minutes, it's classic. You fear for leads. You really do. And City duty scores. Courtesy Vid. Excellent shot by Foden. And as you say, Varley all spotting what he was about to do and making sure to jump out of the way. I think the main talking point from this game was when Leeds were on top in the second half and they were on top very much so. Reuben Diaz instructed Gianli Gi Donnaruma to to start feeling his hamstring and go down injured. This allowed Pep to have a tactical time out with his players. And that's when they turned the game around back in their favor. So it's not against the rules. It is probably very much against the spirit of fair play. But this is the Premier League of fair plays and something that too many people are concerned about. So Pep had a laugh about it yesterday or after the game. Daniel Farrokh wasn't particularly happy, but these things happen, I guess. I'm not sure what you can do to stop it happening.

[Barney Ronay]

Well, DRT says if things start going wrong in the pod and Barry needs a timeout, maybe Barney can do a donna rumma and fake an injury, he says. And Daniel Farker was very upset about it. It's not the elephant in the room. Everyone knows why he went down, why he went down. It was obvious. It is within the rules. It's smart if I like it, if it's within a sense of fair play. If it should be like this, I will keep it to myself. It's up to the authorities to find a solution. Solution has been mentioned, Barney, is you have to take a player off. Like you just a pick, you know, a poor. Your sort of Callan Chambers, I guess to say you have to go off because the keeper's injured.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, I mean either that or you could insist that if the goalkeeper is found not to be injured, you must forcefully injure him. He Must be injured, maybe using a sort of cattle prod. Now I've seen this happen 3 times in games this season. I've seen a manager call his goalkeeper across while his team has an attacking corner and say, explain the goalkeeper's talking. What you want? What? Okay. And then on. On 40 minutes, the goalkeeper just goes down holding his hamstring and the coaching staff are out calling everyone over. It's a pre planned thing. It happens all the time and it. Yeah, it's really annoying. It shouldn't happen. It's someone pretending the goalkeeper should be booked. I mean, but how do you establish someone isn't injured? That's impossible, isn't it? You can't prove a negative.

[Max Rushton]

So Donna Roma has to be taken to hospital, given an mri, a full medical.

[Barry Glendenny]

You have to strain his hamstring, like overextend his leg. 2. I can see a 4th, 5th and 6th official bending his leg back on the pitch until his hamstring until he screams and then it's okay, fine. You wave on the manager, the players, and if you're legitimately. But I think what we're saying is you. You then have to take an outfield player off in the way you. Because goalkeepers don't come off. Because it would be. We had to restart the game and nobody in the goal. So that's why they always have the goalkeeper feigning injury.

[Barney Ronay]

Sometimes spurs just don't have the keeper in the goal anyway, just during the match. But we'll, we'll get to that. Now I do like the idea of Donna Rumor having to have a full medical assessment, you know, because men don't talk about these things. And I'll have a PSA test, a stool sample, all those things. Do his blood pressure and then three days later he gets texted the results and then the game can carry on. It is worth Dan, whenever Phil Foden does something good, you know, it's worth having that. Where is he on the plane? Is he on the plane? Is he off the plane? Is he near the plane? You know how many number tens have to be injured before? Because he's playing so much better than last year.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, a real off season last time around, after the season of his life, the season before. Ferdinand's just one of those players that when he is on song. I absolutely love watching him. He's one of my favorite players in the league. He's so unique. There's not, there's certainly not any, any English players that play the game in the same way as him. And he's Had a. Had a difficult 12 months. Lots of questions asked about him. He's answering them with the plum. So far. So far this season, you know, turned into a really, really important player for Manchester City again. I love it when he drifts into those. Those central areas. He must be so hard for defenders to pick up. And, you know, on a day when Harland has. Has not really done the business, it's. It's Foden that's come up trumps and shown how important he is for Manchester City and, you know, have great season. So, so far, that was a good game. That was a good game. I thought Manchester City against Leeds, Daniel Farker, his substitutions have been questioned, but actually taking the pace off at halftime and making the subst made that a really entertaining and interesting second half. And they were unlucky not to take something.

[Barry Glendenny]

Can I just add one thing on that game that the thing at the end where we now gonna have regularly have 10 minutes of stoppage time for some reason, that thing where they hold up the board and the crowd goes. Yeah, it's really affected how the game goes when these trying to see outer backs to the wall point a nominally more powerful team. It happened with Bayern Munich as well this weekend. They were at the board, went up and it's like there's massive time left. And they also scored twice, I think in stoppage time almost immediately as well, because there's this sudden emotional sapping of this. These players who retired and have been fighting and oh, my God, we've got to play for 10 minutes. 10 minutes more. That's a lifetime. And City scored almost immediate not to take in the away. It's brilliant goal. And Foden is brilliant. But that rule quite clearly favors stronger teams who have. Everyone has five subs, but your five subs are going to be better when you're Man City clearly designed to take. To give an advantage to larger clubs, bigger clubs, clubs who, if you just keep playing, we will win in the end. And I think it's a bit of a shame, but then I don't support a team like that, so I'd probably disagree if I did.

[Barney Ronay]

It's like those sas, those terrible SAS shows where you run a marathon. The sickener. And then you get to the truck and just as you get to the truck, it drives away. And they say, now do another marathon.

[Barry Glendenny]

But if you could bring on Phil Foden to do that marathon for you. Whereas you can't, you know, you can't really.

[Barney Ronay]

I can't do another. I just couldn't do another one. Anyway, that'll do for Part one. Part two we'll begin at the London Stadium. Hi, this is Robert Mase from the Athletic and today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile. You know how the holidays can get.

[Max Rushton]

With all the shopping, spending and stress.

[Barney Ronay]

Between games, travel and everything else, it's a busy season for all of us. Boost Mobile is making it easy to treat yourself and your wallet. When you bring your own device and switch to the $25 Unlimited plan, you get unlimited talk, text and data for just $25 a month with no trade ins, no contracts and no hassle. So while you're checking everything else off your list, don't forget to put your own name on it too, because simplifying things is always a good game plan. Visit boostmobile.com to start saving. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as.

[Max Rushton]

Long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Barry Glendenny]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. You know one of the perks about having four kids that you know about is actually getting a direct line to the big man up north. And this year he wants you to.

[Barney Ronay]

Know the best gift that you can.

[Barry Glendenny]

Give someone is the gift of Mint Mobile's unlimited wireless for $15 a month.

[Dan Bardell]

Now you don't even need to wrap it.

[Barney Ronay]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Dan Bardell]

Of $45 for three month plan equivalent equivalent to 15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes if network's busy, taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com.

[Barney Ronay]

Welcome to Part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Liverpool stopped the rot. They deserved this one, Barry and I suppose everything came right for Slot. Esac scored, he dropped Salah and it worked.

[Barry Glendenny]

Worked.

[Max Rushton]

I thought West Ham might do better in this game, to be honest. I thought with Liverpool in their current state of being very much on the ropes and West Ham being a bit resurgent, I thought they might beat Liverpool here. But they provided very little in the way of strong opposition and ultimately it was easy for Liverpool, made all the more easy by Lucas Paquetta's extraordinary sending off for two yellow cards in quick succession for Descent. And it was remarkable that it was quite obvious it was going to happen. Jared Bowen and is it Matthias Fernandez were standing nearby but didn't do anything to try and shut him up or usher him away from the referee and it was actually Alisson who tried to manhandle him away. They're obviously more Brazilian. They played together for Brazil. Alison was the only one who tried to stop him get talking his way off the pitch in vain as it happened. And then Paquetta published this howl and perhaps a little justified howl of self pity on social media afterwards complaining about the lack of support he got from the FA when he was had those betting charges hanging over him. But I'm not sure that is justification for the stupid sending off that cost his team. Pretty straightforward win for. For Liverpool. Although Jared Bowen missed a reasonably good chance to equalize when the west ham were only 1 nil down. And obviously Alexander Isaac scoring is. Is good for him and good for Liverpool.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, that Bowen chance was very much. It was like it wasn't an easy chance but it was a Jared Bowen chance, wasn't it? It was like you've seen him score that goal.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah.

[Barney Ronay]

Paquetta said afterwards it's ridiculous to have your life and career affected for two years without any psychological support from the federation. Perhaps it's ridiculous behavior which is a quote back to what the commentary said is just a reflection of everything I've had to endure and it seems have to continue enduring. I'm sorry if I'm not perfect. And I guess the thing is Barney Darren England can't take into account the last two years of Lucas Paquetta's life. I felt like, you know, refs can be quite quick to book players but actually I thought he. He sort of tried not to and then just eventually it was the right decision probably. I don't know who. Who should be giving Paquetta the support there. Is he talking about the FA or the PFA or.

[Barry Glendenny]

Or you know, the federation?

[Barney Ronay]

The federation. I mean the Brazilian FA or his. I mean, I don't know.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, I. I don't know. I mean he obviously feels he's still very raw about it. I mean it's a weird one because you're obviously you're. You're accused of and cleared entirely clear entirely an innocent man, Lucas Paquetta. But you are also accused of doing weird things in games to affect and this just looks so strange. It's one of those things like you're booked twice for the same. When does something stop happening? When does an emotion stop? Because it's really infuriating to be booked for being infuriated. You know, we've all had those kind of weird arguments where you're like I'm not angry. I can't stop being angry with this person who's pranked my car or whatever or you know or come in front of me in the supermarket line and of course I'm angry because now you're telling me I'm angry. But he then seemed to be sort of fine once he'd been sent off as though he needed that resolution. It's a different. It's a difficult one. Obviously didn't help his team. I thought the most interesting thing about this game maybe for Liverpool fans or for neutrals like me I'm a. I'm a big vert guy. I just really like him. It's slightly to do with just how good he looks in the flesh how well he moves. I think it's deceptive sometimes you think he's played better than he has just because the little things he does with the ball are so nice. He had a good game and for Liverpool he's clearly not the problem. He's the best player at the club and he's young and he's really committed to making it work and so anything where he has a good game is involved in making a goal with a really nice little pass is good for them because he's clearly the future. And I think there was quite a good model here for Arne Slot who rested his superstar and saw his other superstar the younger superstar have probably his best game for them so far.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah it feels premature to say this is what Liverpool look like without Salah down but like he's gone away to AFCON before he will do this time and it. It's a slot said afterwards like whoever I don't pick it's a big call. If I don't pick Isaac you asked me about that. If I don't pick you know Ek when he's playing well etc but it is clearly a big call not to play seller and it kind of worked with sort of so ostensibly in that role but drifting in.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah it was a more interchangeable system wasn't it Vers was. Was buzzing around sh life kind of a little bit of a free roll from. From the right hand side. He's right. Whoever he doesn't pick it's. It's. There's asked Salah at the moment he's not on form. He's struggling. He's nowhere near the levels that he's been previously and obviously he's been a been a legend of the Premier League. He'll almost get away with it slot in terms because the way he spoke about it and he'll play in the midweek round of games I would have thought he mentioned the schedule he listed how many games They've got in the next week. He's not going to keep Salah out that team. I would have thought he'll come in and someone else will, will sit, sit out the next game. But the system did just look, look a little bit more flexible. I thought Joe Gomez coming in at right back as well helped. I've been saying Liverpool should, should do that for weeks. Played the game actually in a different way than I expected. I thought he'd make them more solid, maybe tucking in and making a back three. But I thought he actually added a different dimension coming forward. I think Joe Gomez is a, is actually a really good footballer. People, people forget that he's probably the fourth or fifth person that Liverpool have tried in that role. But I thought he looked the most comfortable out of anyone that's played there this season. And then, you know, they changed things around and Esax got off the mark in the league. I believe this will probably be classed as an unpopular opinion. I think his Baron run has been overstated a little bit because he's barely played 90 minutes. He's barely played consecutive games and Liverpool as a team just haven't been functioning. But it'll, it'll do him good to get off the mark. And it was a, a smart finish reminiscent of the, the Esac of the last few years in the Premier League.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah. Paolo says have West Ham looked into the possibility they were only sold half a Krug? I think that's a bit harsh because full Krug actually they look quite good. When they went long to full group, which is how Liverpool have suffered. But anyway they didn't play well. We should talk about Bill Bonds. You mentioned it. Barry. He's passed away at the age of 79. His family released a statement through the club. Dad love West Ham United and it's wonderful. Supporters with all his heart treasured every moment of his time at the club. We take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on forever. Jonathan Wilson wrote a piece about him. Said for those of us whose football consciousness was formed in the early 80s, he seemed not only an eternal feature of West Ham, but the archetype of a certain sort of English player. As comfortable in midfield as at the back, uncompromising, but also good on the ball. Forever rolling his sleeves up and pointing. And he said where Trevor Brooking could have strolled through the Somme without dirting his shorts. Bond seemed forever caked in mud, socks rolled down, teeth and eyes glinting through a fog of sweat and beard. Barney, you. You saw him play.

[Barry Glendenny]

I'm just really glad to Hear Wilson referring to the Somme. Finally, we must always refer to the First World War. Yeah, I saw him play in the. In the sort of mid to late 80s, towards the end of his career. And I remember. I remember him. He was a really striking figure. He was. He was like a hard. He was one of these sort of hard men, warrior kind of midfielders. But he was also really skillful. He moved really well. He had this kind of really imposing sort of physicality, as you'd expect. Almost 800 games for one team, still playing at 41 in the top tier. So he's better than Ronaldo and probably didn't eat. I read this thing about Ronaldo the other day that he. Someone went for dinner with him and he. For dessert, he had another serving of plain chicken. He has plain chicken breasts for dessert. Now, Billy Bond's probably. Probably didn't have that, but he is a club legend of a kind that doesn't really happen anymore. Someone who just, like Wilson said, seems completely connected to the club. These sort of fixed points. He used to have players like this who were just really good, didn't leave, didn't necessarily have to play for England. West Ham had quite a lot of them. I mean, Alan Devonshire used to get the tube to the games and they sort of still felt like a fixed point in the community. He's also a type of man that I remember there being a lot of. He's kind of from. From the place where he's from, I think Woolwich. And he was in Elton for a while. Southeast Londoner. There used to be a lot of blokes like that around. Like his. His hair, nominally kind of long, pub rock sort of look, but also neat and sort of quite. Not exactly roguish, but also quite conservative and old school, clean cut. There used to be a lot of blokes like that around. Sort of mischievous, but also total club servant, eternal kind of geezer bloke. He's a very reassuring figure. You just liked him, you respected him. The fact he played for so long, obviously, really there's some pictures of him doing weights, going around on the Internet. He had an incredible physique and was obviously in that sense a kind of perfect professional. And you could see the. The link with him. It's nice to see Potts playing for West Ham, son of whose father would have played with Billy Bonds. And fans really feel a connection to that. I wondered if this might be a good moment for West Ham to start a kind of scheme in his memory where fans could possibly invest in the Club even acquire a kind of fan share by effectively loaning money to the club, buying into the club in his name, a kind of financial instrument. And I had an idea of what you could call these financial instruments that fans buy. You could call them Billy Gilts. Billy Gilts.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah.

[Barry Glendenny]

Sorry. It's too soon, is it?

[Barney Ronay]

Not really. Good, good, yeah. Okay. He made 799 appearances for West Ham. Only played to captain them to two FA cup victories. 75 and 80, 21 years there and managed them as well from 1990 to 1994. Our thoughts of course, with his friends and family to Tottenham Spurs 1, Fulham 2. Fulham's first away win of the season. Hello, Dr. Tottenham. An amazing Dan opening to this game. Fulham 2 n up after six minutes and before the spurs inquest. It is worth talking about how brilliant that Harry Wilson goal is because he as soon as he realizes the opportunity, he sort of moves, he creates the space for himself, gets a perfect pass and the finish is such a delight.

[Dan Bardell]

It's helped by Udogi falling over slightly. I mean, he had a disastrous first eight minutes, didn't he? Destiny a doggy. But Harry Wilson strikes me as a player who probably had a difficult start to his career. And I think lots of players who come through the bigger academies and have a taste of it and then have to move down, they almost struggle to find themselves. I think he must be 20, 20, 29 now. Harry, Harry Wilson, he's turned into a really, really good wide player in the, in the Premier League. Lots of goals. Obviously done it on the international stage for Wales as well. But I think players that, that come through the academy often take longer to find themselves that come through those big academies. And now I just feel he's a player that's fully comfortable with himself. He knows what he is. He's full of confidence. He's not trying to. Trying to prove anything. And that goal kind of just sums him up as a player for me. And Fulham started that game like a house on fire. And really it could have been more at halftime.

[Barney Ronay]

Oh yeah. Mike says on that goal is the match of the day. Arrow to show where Vicario could have put the ball out for a throw against full of the funniest use of the graphic ever.

[Max Rushton]

I think the arrow might have been better pointed, sort of pointing at Pedro Para or Kevin Dancer, who neither of whom saw fit to see this entirely vacated goal behind them and get back to stand on the line and try and block any shot that might mean. But I think, and I could be wrong, but I Think it didn't even cross their mind that Harry Wilson would try and score from there. Now, I did notice in the commentary that the commentators said King puts it on a plate for Wilson. I mean, it was. He passed it to his feet, but he made it sound like Wilson couldn't possibly miss this sitter into a gaping goal from the touchline. It was a brilliant finish. I. I think the brilliance of the finish has somewhat been somewhat overshadowed by the slapstick nature of what went before it. Yeah, I think you're right.

[Barney Ronay]

I mean, look, three times they've won at home in the league in 2025, Barney so. And Tottenham, as Mark Langdon said the other day, they spent so much money, so they're booing. And they booed Vicario after that moment. And Thomas Frank afterwards said, said, you know, it's okay. They're frustrated because we haven't won a game at home for a long time. We all badly want to win. I'm fine with them booing after the game. During the game. I hope it was one incident. It never happens again. I agree with him, you know, and he said they can't be true Tottenham fans that do that. Fair enough. Booing after the game, no problem. But if you've only been at the club for as long as Thomas Frank has and it's not going well, I would just avoid criticizing the fans, even if he's right.

[Barry Glendenny]

Well, he has been a football manager for quite a long time. Time. And I think at any level, booing your own goalkeeper during a game is. It's not very helpful, is it? He's made a mistake. He's not deliberately done that. But I agree that the relationship is not good there. Ton of. Thomas Frank's a good manager, you know, but it just. The. The way he plays is very, you know, here is a lump of football. It's kind of very technocratic. It's not. It's not necessary. It really work. Brentford, you got these amazing moments through the structure that he imposed, but it did take a while for it to work there as well. And I just feel like it's one of those things that they've just had a look at him, quite a lot of spurs fans and said, no, that's not for us. Which I think is a shame. But I do understand it as well. What I don't understand about Tottenham is it's like, what do you want to happen? They've got this amazing stadium. That's a really good thing and it will really benefit the club. Although there are obviously commercial pressures around that, but what time I'm going to win the league. Thomas Frank's not going to create a beautiful spectacle in the way that club sees itself. I just think everyone there should be thinking, this is great. I can, I can just take, I can just have a breath here and enjoy this. And I think it was a weird, a weird appointment because that's not, that's not where everyone is in their life. It's like Tottenham are kind of close to the fans. Just want a bit of fun really. And that's really not happening. And maybe you're hardwired into wanting managers to go and wanting more and one even going to finish. It's very hard to finish in the top four this year, even the top five, because there are some good teams there. It just feels like they, there needs to be a narrative and something to talk about there and that is going to be the, the ill fitting nature of Frank and his football.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah. And it isn't fun, Dan. I mean look, they had an XG just before half time of 0.01. You know, at recent games they've been at 0.03 and 0.02. As, as producer Joel says, they're on a crusade to push XG to places it's never been before. Like an art installation. I agree, Barney. I think he is a good manager and like it's mad to talk of him going but already, you know, the, the, the, the there are. The noise is there.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah. It feels like the masses have decided they don't like him, they don't want him. This isn't going to be a good fit for Tottenham. What I would say is this is largely a squad that finished 17th last year and played some God awful football last year. Although I will say in the first half it did look like Ange had returned the way they, they, they were defending. It did feel like postecoglou had gone back in and nobody had informed me about it. In some ways it was never going to be turned overnight. I think the fact they won the Europa League and are actually playing Champions League football has maybe skewed Tottenham fans own perspective on their club because they're playing in the elite competition. It maybe makes them feel that they should be better than they are, but that they finished 17th and it feels a little bit delusional at the moment to think that it wasn't going to be hard. I think because Thomas Frank's losing his, his home games, bulk of their points had been picked up away. If it was the other way around, they'd Maybe be a little bit more. More forgiving. I guess Frank's may be paying for the almost the price of football at the moment that people are paying a lot of money to go to Tottenham every single week in that. That lovely new stadium and. And they expect better. But I think it was. It was always going to be tough. He was never going to be able to turn around what happened last season overnight.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah he's. He's missing a lot of creativity. And Jacoights will say Ange quite often had no Romero or Van der Ven. And so sort of he's had. He didn't have Romero on.

[Barry Glendenny]

On.

[Barney Ronay]

On the Saturday but he's had you know sort of a fit defense and they were sort of good at the start of the season but now they're shipping a lot of goals. Anyway. Terrible news for Spurs. They get a Newcastle on Tuesday where they're off an eight nil down after five minutes. So absolutely terrifying that Newcastle 141 at Everton. Newcastle fan saying how bad must you be? We're winning away their first away win of the season. Their first in seven months. Once I was fed up of it, says Eddie Howe. That's why I'm so pleased. The players gave me the opportunity to come here and not talk about it as much. And there may be more important things. Barry. But another glorious goal from the Volta Mater vault of beautiful goals. A naught miles an hour. Dink. I absolutely loved it.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah it was a lovely finish to capitalize on. Some awful defensive play. I think Everton got away with with Idris again getting sent off against Manchester United. But they really missed him here because Timil Rugboon came in and had an absolute shocker. He allowed Anthony Langa to be far too easily down the right. Elanga plays the ball inside for Voltameda who just yeah lifts just this beautifully delicate lift over the oncoming pick for his head. Really lovely finish finish. Everton were really bad in the first half here. Like shockingly bad. So Newcastle brought in Lewis Hall. Tino Livermento. Dan Byrne was back in his rightful place at the heart of defense. And a much needed away win for Newcastle. And Everton really did miss Gay in this game I think.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah. Ramsdale Pope was injured but Ramsdale came in. We're talking about that last week about whether he might come in anyway. And actually Barney is true. Livermento and hall make such a difference at fullback.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah the uplift from having those two fullbacks one week and Dan Byrne playing fullback another week. And Dan Byrne a very honest player but he is 14 foot tall and 34 years old. He cannot be chasing these tiny little, extremely quick, jinky wingers around. It's not fair. It's beneath his dignity. But I think Liv Remento is such a good player. He's such a good fullback on both sides. And it's actually really important for England that he's back because England do like the O'Reilly was, is good. He's a really good player. I don't know if. And no one knows if he's ready to be a defender at an international tournament yet. He doesn't. I think Lee Ramento is a brilliant fullback. Possibly frees up Rhys James to play in midfield if Tuchel wanted to do that or to play in the center. Because I think Rhys James is one of England's best players and Livermento is a brilliant fullback. Really one of those fullbacks where they go into strange positions, they move inside and it always feels like a problem for the other team, not for them because they're just so confident and so good on the ball and so mobile that there's never a sense, oh, there might be space behind this guy. It's always the other way, like, oh dear, this is an overlaid wherever this player is because he's so good on the ball. So I'm really glad to see him back and fit and I hope he can stay fit.

[Barney Ronay]

All right, that'll do for part two. Part three will begin at Selhurst Park Park. Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Palace 1 Man United 2. What did you make of this one, Dan?

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, Halim didn't see Manchester United come back on the cards at all. They've got a bulk, the bulk of their attacking talent that they bought in in the summer. Missing S Park is a. A really, really difficult place to go. It's an even more difficult place to go when you're one nil. Down down. And for them to come back, I think that they deserve huge credit to unusual goals but two very, very well taken goals in a. In a weekend when actually there was lots of interesting things happen and there was lot, lots of good goals but the Xerxy one in, in particular was one of the strangest goals I think I've ever seen and first goal for it for a year as, as well for him. So it's a credit to him. It's. It's a, it's a great finish. I think Dean Henderson might be a little bit disappointed, but it's still a, still a great finish. And yeah, I thought Manchester United were you Know, they obviously had that period where they won a few games in a row and then it had been a few games without winning. That's a huge result at Sellhurst park because Crystal Palace's home record is phenomenal, everyone.

[Barney Ronay]

Barry made a point of how tired palace were in the second half. AM Rim said it. Glasner mentioned it. Obviously. Palace played on Thursday, lost in Strasbourg in the Conference League. And Man United have no European football, which, you know, should help them. And Oliver Glasner basically had another pop and it's not the first time ownership. He said, if you play European football for the first time in history, you should invest and not save. We're doing well. We're still in a good position in the league and in all four competitions. I think January is too late. We'll have played more than 50 of our games. I don't. Is he saying I'm leaving or is he saying. Is he keeping his options open? What's Glassner doing here? Or maybe he's just very honest saying, we haven't spent enough and we lost some players the summer.

[Max Rushton]

Oh, well, I would imagine his options are always open. I didn't hear that interview. But it's a matter of fact that Palace's record after Conference League games is poor. They've played six Sundays after Conference League game. They've lost three. Drawn two and only one one. And that was early in the season.

[Barry Glendenny]

He did one amazing zipping his mouth gesture. I don't know if you saw that, but it was incredibly. No, he was brilliant. He did like, as though he was zipping up his mouth like someone on Sesame street or the Muppets, but he did it.

[Barney Ronay]

Or rainbow. Or Rainbow Zippy.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, possibly rainbow Zippy. You know, you can take your choice on that. But it was incredibly well done. It was as though he'd done it hundreds of times as well. He's someone who's used to doing that gesture and. And it was a very aggressive interview as well. It was really like, I don't care what you say here or what you do, I'm going to say what I think. It was a manager looking after his legacy a bit, which I was. That's interesting. Feisty. Feisty from Glasner.

[Max Rushton]

I mean, there was a suggestion during the summer that he threatened to leave if they sold gay to Liverpool. So gay wasn't sold. I'd be honest, I wouldn't give United a huge amount of credit for this game. I think palace threw the way. They missed loads of chances in the first half. There should have been more than 1 nil up at the break and the winner they conceded was shocking. Like a free. Well, not the free kick. The ball was roll to mount and he just fired it through the defensive wall. That was terrible defending. While United they did win. I, I think palace really gifted them the three points.

[Dan Bardell]

Mateta's brilliant, but he has missed a lot of big chances so far. This and every time I've watched Palace he could have had three or four goals and he, he's putting the ball in the back of the net in general, but he's missing a host of big chances. I wouldn't know what his XG is, but I imagine it's higher than the amount he scored.

[Max Rushton]

But who was it he scored a.

[Dan Bardell]

Hat trick against Bournemouth.

[Max Rushton]

Six or seven.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Bardell]

He missed a. A banker in that game as well, didn't they?

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, I like the idea. He did score a double hit penalty. Our first ever. We see. How exciting to see that. And the idea that, you know, at Crystal palace training ground, people go up to Oliver Glassner to ask him questions and he just goes, zip. It's just constantly. He's just, he's so good at it.

[Barry Glendenny]

Can I also just say, when people say Selhurst park is a difficult place to go, it is a difficult place to go ago because of. It is because of that. There's an old advice, don't go to Crystal palace, go to Selhurst. Crystal palace is not where it is. I think that advice is out of date and you should go to Crystal palace because it's now on the Windrush line and you simply walk 15 minutes from there. So do go to Crystal palace, don't try and go to Sellers. There's a lot more trains on the Windrush. I think that's the kind of advice that a football iconoclast, like a new thinker, like maybe a Thomas Frank would, would just sweep that advice away. Go, go do go to Crystal Palace. It becomes a much easier place to go to.

[Max Rushton]

A lot of people who don't live in South London won't have a clue what you're talking about. Apparently. I would just say that.

[Barry Glendenny]

Well, they will if they travel to watch their team and they have followed that advice and found it's still hard to go there.

[Barney Ronay]

It's interesting. People don't really. Haven't really viewed those overground lines well enough. I understand this because young Ian is obsessed with the tube. They've remodeled them. You know, the Windrush and the Weaver Line and the Mile Bay to make Them feel like tubes, tube stops and tube stations and now everyone on the ghost them because before they were like, oh, I couldn't possibly get a train, got to get the tube. It's very interesting.

[Max Rushton]

I'm glad the voting for the FSA awards has already closed.

[Barney Ronay]

Sunderland 3, Bournemouth 2 perhaps harsh on Sunderland to be this far down the running order. Perhaps harsh Barry for this Sunderland win to be below public transport. London TfL chat as well. But what a brilliant. I mean look, both teams are really good at it. It was a really good game. Game. Tyler Adams goal is brilliant and you know, it could have been any result I guess, but what a comeback from your lot.

[Max Rushton]

Yeah, it was a really good win. The second game in a row that Sunderland's players have had to play in. Absolute. Oh, and Bournemouths indeed. Torrential rain from start to finish. Really entertaining spectacle. Sunderland gave away two cheap goals by gifting possessions. Bournemouth. Tyler Adams was the pick of the game obviously spotting Robin Rolfs off his line and channeling his inner Kenny McLean to score just a brilliant, brilliant goal to, to put Bournemouth 2 up. I didn't think, I didn't give Sunderland much of a chance of coming back, to be honest, but granite jacker was excellent. Enzo Le Fay is a brilliant player, a brilliant young player in Sunderland's midfield field. Sunlight got back into it went ahead and then it got very, very bad tempered towards the end Bournemouth players were getting very narciss having been pegged back and overtaken and after the game I, I thought I, I like Andreola, I have to say a big fan of his but he, he accused the ref afterwards of having lost control of the game. I would very much argue that Bournet's players lost control of the game and indeed themselves and that may have contributed to their defeat. But yeah, I am reminded of my constantly bleak prognosis last season where I kept saying I didn't want Sunderland to get promoted because I didn't want them to have a Southampton or a Leicester of a season and just get beaten week in and week out. But, but what a great addition to the Premier League they have been with those players they've brought in who have all hit the ground running.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, they were great. Xhaka was so once, once you were three, two up. He was excellent as well, wasn't he? I think on Iriola Dan that is. It's a bit like EFL managers who just when they lose say, well look, the opposition, they knock it long and they're very direct and there's nothing you can do to that. That sort of classic patronizing. I feel sorry for the ref because it's really hard to ref in this atmosphere. You know, let's just. Once you say you've lost control, it is just. Come on. I mean Lewis Cook did elbow a guy in the face. It's probably a red card, isn't it?

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, I would say Al bring someone in the face is stereotypically a red card offense. I think Bournemouth got swept up in the kind of atmosphere in the raucousness, if that's a word of. Of the stadium of like really. And in the end they got chewed up and. And spat out. Soon as Sunderland got. Got a goal back. They were just. They were just on it, weren't they? Just felt they were. They were going to go on and get something out of this game. And Bournemouth have been kind of battered a few times recently or lost games quite. Quite comfortably recently. So Ira is a brilliant manager and they got off to a brilliant start. But they're. They're certainly struggling at the moment. Bournemouth, it's not like the feel good of the. Of the start of the season. And Iriola does seem a bit tetchy right now.

[Barney Ronay]

Only five provided sides have ever had more points than Sunderland after 13 games. The best priority side since Wigan 05.06.

[Barry Glendenny]

And look what happened to them. Yeah, exactly. Well, they won the.

[Max Rushton]

Well, they have. I think they've got go to Anfield midweek, then City at home, I think and then Newcastle at home. So that's three big games coming up and then squad goes to afcon.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah, they're actually. Sunderland. They're actually in afcon. They've got a good chance of winning afcon, haven't they? Sunderland a couple more games to get through. Three more games in fact to get through. Brentford 3, Burnley 1. A game Barney which came alive after 18 minutes.

[Barry Glendenny]

I mean Brentford are really. They're a fascinating story, aren't they? I kind of. I've really enjoyed watching them this season. I love watching. I mean Igor Thiago who basically spent I think best part of a year injured and is now just showing how many sort of brilliant footballers there are out there waiting for a chance in this league. He's a really. He's always made me think of Ivan Tony. He kind of is. If you put the words Evan Tony through like a Slavic Portuguese translator app, you would get the words Igor Thiago. It's like. Like is it. It's like they've made a new. Even Tony. It's kind of similar player as well, like, he's strong, strong, he's really quick, he's a really good finisher and I, I, I think he's going to end up with almost, at this rate, almost 20 goals in the Premier League, which is an amazing story for him. And he always says, does that celebration which says, it's not me, it's Go God. Which I hope he will bear in mind when the massive money transfer deal to move to spurs or and or similar comes in at the end of the season. It's not you.

[Barney Ronay]

It's got 11 goals in 13 second behind Erling Harland. You know, he's sort of one of a lot of Brazilian number nines who all want to be number nine at the World Cup. But I heard Tim Vickery saying, you know, Brazil, the Brazil. You know, there's a snobbishness about if you're playing for Brentford, that's not good enough for us.

[Max Rushton]

He, he hasn't actually played for Brazil yet.

[Barney Ronay]

Not yet. Not yet. But he, he's keen to be in the running.

[Barry Glendenny]

Well, he needs to get ahead of Richarlison. That's the, that, that is your task, should you choose to accept it, is to appear at least as good as Richarlison, which he may.

[Dan Bardell]

The snobs are happy with Richarlison. Surprisingly.

[Barney Ronay]

Yeah. Villa 1, wolves nil. You were there, Dan. Talk us through it.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, it was a harder game than I thought it was going to be at the start of the day. I think Wolves deserves some credit and Rob Edwards deserves some credit for the, for the way they set it and probably some points.

[Barney Ronay]

Probably some points.

[Dan Bardell]

I mean, they need, need some points. Although I thought Wolf set up well and made it difficult for Villa and were perhaps unlucky not to score and, and go ahead. I did always feel that Villa would have enough to, to win the game. Villa seem to be having their own mini goal of the season competition going on at the moment. I think 57% of their goals have come from outside the box, which people keep saying isn't sustainable, but it keeps happening every single week.

[Barney Ronay]

And it's a bit like Guardiol from us to jump that high from a standing start. But there's no way to get that much power on that strike.

[Dan Bardell]

I mean, it's only second Premier League goal for the club as, as well. Berber Kakamara. They've both come on his, on his wrong foot. I suggest he should shoot on his wrong foot a little, A little bit more. Villa are just so good at home. I think We've lost about two games in, in 60 at Villa park in, in the league or something ridiculous. Like going to Villa park is. You know, I said Sellers park was a tough place to go. Villa Park's a, an even tougher place to go. And Unai Emery deserves a huge amount of credit because at the end of August we couldn't get even get a shot on, get a shot on target. And since the transfer window shut, I think we've only lost one Premier League game. So the fact that he, he's turned this round and got Villa to fourth on, on the 1st of December, I would never ever have seen that coming at the end of August. He's just a tremendous football manager. We're so lucky to have him Long mate, continue. And yeah, brilliant. You know, always nice to, to be at Wolverhampton Wanderers just on Villa park.

[Barry Glendenny]

Being a difficult place to go. Yeah, I would say don't go to Witten. That's a mistake. Get the number 17 bus which goes directly from one of the new street exits and that will take you straight there around the back.

[Barney Ronay]

Okay. Is that good advice, Dan?

[Dan Bardell]

I have to take my dad. So getting on public transport is a complete no go for us at the moment. We have to, we have to park in a disabled bike which is still quite a walk away from the ground actually. But Barney is the Premier League travel man who amongst to. To argue with his advice.

[Barney Ronay]

How would you get to the city ground, Barney?

[Barry Glendenny]

I would walk down over the river. It's lovely. Nottingham. Nottingham's a lovely city. Just. Just enjoy it. Enjoy being there. It's. It's beautiful.

[Barney Ronay]

That's what Brighton did and they won 2 nil. 20 seconds of thoughts on this, Barry. With apologies to Brighton and Forest fans.

[Max Rushton]

Well, I think it moves Brighton up to fifth, fourth, fifth, which is. I, I had very high hopes from the start of the season. It looked like they were going to let me down, but they're. They see to found their mojo. Carlos Ba was dropped for this game. He had his head turned during the summer and it really hasn't been playing well this season. So Herler finally took the decision to drop him. Two good goals. Maxim De Kuiper and that young Greek chap, Stephanus Simas. I think he scored his first goal for Brighton. It was a bit of a gain gift. That was one that was on a plate for him. He just had to roll the ball into an empty goal. I think Brighton probably would have got a penalty if he hadn't scored it anyway. And a good win for them and a very poor performance. From. From Forest. And Sha DY wasn't particularly impressed with his side afterwards.

[Barney Ronay]

I think some excellent advantage from the referee. It reminds me of. I can't remember who it was. Who was the ref who did a great advantage then ran off celebrating with his arms out.

[Dan Bardell]

He was against my team as well.

[Barney Ronay]

It's one of the best things you'll ever see. He runs off. He's running off like Tardelli, isn't it? It's absolutely sensational. Ed finally says how many additions does Barney think Millwall will need in time for their opening day in the Premier League next season? Third in the Championship. An injury time winner over Southampton. Barney.

[Barry Glendenny]

Yeah, it's. It's confusing. It's confusing because they're winning normally. It's. It's a struggle. It's ugly. It involves punting the ball forward towards Jake Cooper. But they're actually good, which is confusing. And know how to control games and have good players. Aziz is on a brilliant run at the moment. I mean, they're really good. And the Den. Den is a powerful force. I think it would be really fun to see them in the Premier League. I don't know what happened with the club. I've always felt it's on the verge of being sold to the most evil oligarch that can be found. Somewhere they'll find. Scouring the planet for who. Who have we got here? Is there anyone who's involved in arms and Oil? Because you can now redevelop that site and it's kind of a bit of London that someone could throw loads of money into and do stuff to which I don't want them to do. There's a part of me that fears promotion. From that respect, I quite like how things are. But yeah, they're really. The. The goals were great as well. Really good goals.

[Dan Bardell]

When Vida in the championship, the Dem was my favorite away ground due to the fact that it was the. The dragon's lair on Dream. Used to. Used to love going there for that reason alone.

[Barney Ronay]

You made London Bridge and then sort of pretty straightforward from there. I would suggest Barney, but anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Dan.

[Dan Bardell]

Thank you very much. Loved it.

[Barney Ronay]

Thank you, Barney.

[Barry Glendenny]

Cheers, everyone.

[Barney Ronay]

Did you love it like Dan said he did.

[Barry Glendenny]

I mean, we can. We can talk about this after the, you know, I don't, you know. Complex feelings. Max. They're complex.

[Barney Ronay]

Save it for the deeper brief. Thank you, Barry.

[Max Rushton]

Thank you.

[Barney Ronay]

Now, Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. We'll be back on Wednesday.

[Barry Glendenny]

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[Dan Bardell]

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[Dan Bardell]

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