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Football Weekly
A two-horse race after Arsenal thrash Aston Villa? – Football Weekly
00:58:37
Max Rushden is joined by Will Unwin, Paul Watson and Dan Bardell as Arsenal stroll past Aston Villa to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League
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- [00:00]
A
This is the Guardian.
- [00:13]
B
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. We know the sign of champions is playing badly but winning. But surely playing well. And winning counts too. Arsenal blow Aston Villa away in the second half of the Emirates. How many people have said statement victory. Have they made it a two horse race? Two great two twos after that. At times it looked like Chelsea and Bournemouth would score with every attack. Meanwhile, three penalties in the first half at the London Stadium. Who doesn't love a missed Panenka? Also today, a point for Wolves this time at Old Trafford. Manchester United always just one game away from crisis. And there are good away wins for Newcastle at Burnley and Everton at Forest. Also Paul Watson on afcon. And has the life of a football fan ever been summed up better than Charlton's? We never lose at Fratton park before. Yes, definitely losing at Fratton Park. We'll do that plus all your questions. And that's the maze. Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today will unw. Welcome.
- [01:03]
A
Hello, Max.
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B
Hello, Dan Bardell.
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C
Hello.
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B
And from the excellent Sweeper podcast, Paul Watson. Hi, Paul.
- [01:09]
D
Hi, Max.
- [01:10]
B
Sort of almost on this podcast. Enough to say from the excellent Guardian Football Weekly, Paul Watson. But I, you know, I suppose it's good to give your other pot a sell, isn't it? And lots to talk about in afcon and there's been some great stuff in there. But we will start at the Emirates. Arsenal for Aston Villa one. With apologies, Dan. This is a massive win for Arsenal and one of those. Yeah, we really, we look really good. Like I, I thought after, for the first 20 minutes I thought, oh, Villa got a chance here. And then the second half, it was, it looked like a real golf between the two sides.
- [01:40]
C
Yeah, I'll try and put my neutral hat on to, to answer. I thought Villa were good in, in the first half. I thought the game plan was executed pretty well. And then with a bit of a better decision making in the, in in the final third, overheating passes and you know, the, the final shot getting away. Villa were quite unlucky not to be ahead. Maybe shaded it, maybe had the better of that first half. But in the second half, Arsenal just smelled blood and took full advantage. As soon as they went 1 nil up, they just completely went at Villa. It's a, a typical Arsenal kind of set piece goal, isn't it, to get them on their way. It's such a good trade to have when a game's close, to be able to be so dominant and, and be so dangerous from set pieces. Albeit I think it Was pretty poor from Emmy Martinez. That's kind of the third away game in kind of a couple of months where he's looked pretty weak from set pieces. But Arsenal get the goal and, and from then on it, it was complete one way traffic that they just dominated. They could have had more. In all honesty and like you said at the top end of the show, it was, it was a, was a statement victory and man City have got a, got a tough game away at Sunderland. It felt like a, like a massive win for us. So you could, you could see after the game Arteta, the massive smile on his face when he, he was being interviewed, the way the fans reacted. It's a, it's a big win because Villa, Villa were up there. Villa were on a, on a stupendous run and Arsenal have completely ripped that to pieces. So from an Arsenal perspective, absolute, absolutely brilliant. It's a fantastic result. From a Villa perspective. I don't think Villa fans should dwell on it too long because it's been a, been a sensational run. Winning 11 games in. In. In a row is always going to come to an end at some point. Arsenal away is probably as, as likely a place for it to come to an end as any and them to back them to go again on Saturday against Forest and, and start another run. All's not lost. We're still in a, in a really, really good position. I managed to go nearly the whole spiel there without saying we and then I failed right at the end.
- [03:36]
B
That's okay, that's okay. Look, I will get you to dwell on the defeat in a little while, but let's focus on Arsenal for a bit. And look a lot Paul has talked about set pieces and rightly so and a little bit of but you never score from open play. And then that Odegaard past the Zuba men in that finish is just so heavenly, isn't it?
- [03:54]
D
Yeah, it's one of those passes where you just, you can't see it enough times. It's just a beautiful, beautiful part. You couldn't place it better. It was, it was an amazing goal and it's funny because once, once Arsenal, I say like Villa look great first half, they genuinely looked every bit as good as Arsenal. But as soon as Arsenal were ahead, it just felt like this waves of momentum and momentum. It just seemed like they could score like pretty much every time they came forward. And yeah, I think a lot will go back to that. That Emmy Martinez era really for he was too busy fighting the players around him forgot there was a corner Coming over and I think before that it genuinely felt like this could go either way and it just totally tipped the balance. It was just absolutely relentless after that.
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A
Really. Yeah.
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B
I just on that Zube mini goal and I don't if anyone has an answer this. It's amazing. But I did think how many goals in the prem Premier League have been assisted and scored by a Martin? And I was like, that seems pretty rare to have Martin to Martin scoring a goal. I should get in touch with the knowledge, shouldn't I? Well on that set piece actually will the match today broke it down quite well. I think it was Rob Green saying Aston Villa needed to have somebody in between Gabriel and Martinez. And it's not like we haven't been warned for what feels like a decade now, but like for a long time that you just. Gabrielle. God, so annoying to be the person has to be him just leaning into you and leaning. I'd just be like, I just can't be bothered. But I'm not a professional footballer. Villa needed to have someone there to stop that happening.
- [05:24]
A
There's a set pieces coach role going at Anfield Max. If you feel you, if you're up for it after this, get rid of their consider it. I mean, I think obviously Arsenal are excellent at set pieces and you know, planned very well. Slightly problematic for Villa where everyone knows now that you can wind up Martinez and get in his face and that probably they should know that as well. And as you say, Green points out, you need to in between, you need to not to leave it to Martinez. His job is bigger than wrestling, Gabrielle. And that's it. Once teams at this level know you've got a weakness, they'll target it. And especially when it's their own strength. If they can add an extra 5% when it is getting in in the face of someone like Martinez, you know, he's supposed to be a world number one goalkeeper. He should have learned from his mistakes. With these things getting involved, they've got to. You got to protect your goalkeeper. Goalkeepers, you really do hate defending set pieces. You speak to any of them, they, you know, they need clear lines, they need space to get to the ball and if you've got someone right in front of you, you're never going to do it. And that's, you know, it's a simple matter of fact and you've got to be a bit smarter with these things and you know what's coming with Arsenal and you've got to analyze it to, you know, the minutiae of it all. And Yeah, I think Villa and Martinez have probably let themselves down on that. And you say football is a matter of moments and that's turned that game because it set Arsenal on the way to victory. And as everyone else said, once that goal goes in, it was all Arsenal. Probably a little bit of the mentality was gone from Villa, a bit concerned by what was coming. And you've got to know that those small details matter and probably Villa have just let themselves down on that one a little bit.
- [07:09]
B
I hadn't considered it was Austin McPhee versus Nicholas Yova that was the real battle. And surely McPhee must be. McPhee's got to be his to as one of the best. He's got to know better than that. I, I did think, I mean look, the finishes from Trossard and Jesus are both lovely and I thought Dan, I thought Trossard who is a sort of criminally underrated footballer. I'm not sure why, but I thought he had a brilliant game, not just a brilliant finish.
- [07:31]
C
Yeah, I think that's his third or fourth game in a row where he scored against Villa. And to be honest, whenever you watch him play, he tends to score against everyone. He was a bit of a forgotten man at the start of the season. You looked at all the business Arsenal had done in the summer and you did wonder where he would fit in. And I think there was a, a few murmurs that per. They'd look to sell him. I don't know how true that that ever was, but he's made himself such a, such a crucial player for them. And if you think back to that two, three Januarys ago when that, when, when they got him in, he's been a real, real smart signing for them. He scored a lot of, of crucial goals. He's actually a, a really, really intelligent footballer. And when Arsenal kind of need something to coin an American term, which I hate doing, he, he does seem to be that, that clutch player and he's just, he's just all round game. He scored lots of types of different goals as well. That was a, that was a lovely goal last night. Not much Martinez could, could do about that, about that one and that's completely killed the game. Although I do think there was a moment at 2 nil where the game may have turned the other way had the referee been a bit braver.
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B
Just when you said I hate using this American term, I was really hoping you were going to say Root and Tootin or something like that. But you know, I know what you mean about clutch and Trossard is, is he the best gray haired footballer in the Premier League? You know, I, I can't think of many others. You know, Glenn Hussein clearly, you know, famously, but I don't think he's, I'm not sure he's still playing. And they did it with that Declan Rice, Paul, because I think when that, when it was like, oh, he's injured and you're like, okay, this is. I really thought Villa had a chance. It's really interesting to see how Arsenal would get on with that Rice, who is sort of considered the heartbeat of the team. And then in that, in that wave after wave second half, you know, they definitely had, they had something pushing the blood around the team.
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D
Yeah, they didn't, they didn't appear sha of Declan Rice which is, which is an amazing statement to make given how good he's been. I mean, I think it almost said it all when Gabriel Jesus just came back from, you know, being away with cruciate injury for so long, comes back, scores with his first touch and you can almost imagine other managers going, oh, he's back now as well. You know, it's like you don't notice who's missing because they are just, they are just so good at the moment. I've got to say they look pretty ominous, don't they? Arsenal? If you're trying to stop them, it's. And you never want to say this about Arsenal because of the history, but yeah, it is at the moment it is sort of hard to see where, where that weakness is.
- [09:51]
B
So City are going well, right? I mean you're, I mean that's the, that's the interesting thing is that, that Arsenal have been in this kind of blip where they're winning apart from that Villa game and City have been winning reasonably well. And what we want is them both to be going toe to toe till the end.
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A
Right. I guess. Yeah.
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D
And I suppose you could also look at this and say, you know, Villa had what, two or three amazing chances in the first half. All of those or any one or two of those could have gone in. Maybe you'd be looking at a slightly different game. But no, I mean the way Arsenal look, I think it's almost a real testament to the strength in depth that you can have Rice out and you kind of don't notice. At least second half you kind of don't notice because they're just so good at going through their strides.
- [10:29]
B
Yeah, sorry that you mentioned that should Marino been sent off and I think most people think he should and it of weird Quirk of Var. It's a bit like that when it's so obviously not a corner to a team and it could be decided like that that they can't interfere with second yellows. And you just feel like if we've got this thing, which I don't want, we might as well use it for those as well.
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C
Yeah, I think it's a lack of bravery from the referee and the kind of cynic in me thinks back to Manchester City a few days ago against Forest, a similar incident, another team that. That's going for the title where it doesn't get given. And then they were mentioning this high bar for second yellows, which I must admit I've never heard of until last night. I don't know whether anyone can enlighten me whether that's a. A real thing or not. But this. They mentioned that there's a higher bar now for second yellows.
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B
That's ridiculous.
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C
That's not the yellow card, is. There is a yellow card. Yeah. For me, Moreno has pulled Rogers back. It's not fleeting or any of the other weird analogies that the PGMOL have used before. He has pulled him back whilst he's on a yellow card and he's heading towards goal. So in any country, in any league, in any competition, for me, that's a yellow card. I'm not sure what this second yell high bar is. It sounds nonsense, Victoria.
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B
Well, he doesn't need me to curse him in the way that I curse Timo Werner, but I think he's gonna come good. Like he hasn't scored with any of his last 23 shots in the Premier League, excluding penalties. He had five touches in the first half, didn't complete a single pass. This doesn't sound good. So, like he could do with scoring a goal, obviously, but I don't know. I think he does add, even though those statistics seem to suggest he does absolutely bugger all. I reckon he adds something to them and I think once one goes in of his ass or whatever, I reckon he will come good. I think he is worth persevering with. I don't know what you think.
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A
Yeah, I mean, it's the life of a striker, isn't it? I mean, no one in the modern game generally spends that much money on a player that they then think, oh, actually maybe he was better seated at Coventry or whatever. And you know, you look at the example of Calvert Lewin at start of the season, absolutely awful, really, getting in positions which cliche, but a good sign.
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B
Sure.
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A
That's the Same, you know, now he's on a run of 6. 6 games. Scoring in each one, I think it is. And that's the nature of being a striker, unfortunately. You know, you. You always go back to the confidence player thing. You know, he's big, he's physical, he's quick. You've got those attributes and, you know, he scored goals in the past and that's what. That's what will happen, you know, I mean, obviously he's got problems. That Jesus is back now and, you know, quite an arrogant chap with his new merch that says I belong to Jesus. I mean, can't wait for that to be in the Arsenal club shop. But that's the confidence you've got to have as a striker.
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B
He is the guy that. He is the guy that needs a caveat on that T shirt. Isn't it going.
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A
Not.
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B
I don't. By the way. I mean, Jesus, not me, but, you know, you get the point. But that's just a slightly less pithy in brackets.
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A
Not Gabriel, but not. Not the center back. Gabrielle. Me.
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D
Original Jesus.
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A
Yeah, but that's who I belong to, just to be clear.
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B
Yeah, yeah, but I am Gabrielle. Jesus. If you weren't sure you really needed a smaller font, I guess I forgot what point you were making now, Jocherez.
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A
Good. Yeah.
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D
Big, big.
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A
Fickle. Big fickle. Score some goals at some point because Arsenal create chances, as we've seen. Everything's fine. Don't worry about it. And they'll win the title by what, April 5th? Yeah, sort.
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B
And actually on strikers, Dan, and I don't know what you think about this with Ollie Watkins, because he had quite an interesting season where he didn't score for ages and started scoring. And that chance he had. And it's probably unfair to compare a normal center forward to Harry Kane, but occasionally you see Watkins snatching at a chance or trying to power something that he could place. And just in that moment is when you see the slight difference between elite and really good, which is what he is.
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C
Yeah, it felt quite a big moment, even at the time when it. When he missed. That felt quite critical in the. In the kind of story of the game for me. He's had an iffy season. He's carrying an injury. I mean, I'm encouraged that he's now managed three in. In his last two because he is a. He's a streaky player. He's. Even when he's on top form, you know, he always scores goals in burst. I think the thing that's been missing from him more so. Well, the goals have been missing but another thing that's been missing from him throughout this season is that getting assists whilst he's, whilst he's not playing well and contributing in that metric. He up until the last few weeks hasn't really been contributing anything goals or assists wise he's carrying this injury that, that we all know about. But that's a, that's a huge chance and he's had some, some really good days at the Emirates and that. I suppose that's just the slightly frustrating thing for Villa Villa fans last night is that the game plan actually looked quite good in the first half and they undid that within 10 wild minutes in the. At the start of the second half. And you haven't asked me this but I do think there's a few caveats to Villa losing that game. People talk about Arsenal not having Declan Rose. Villa had loads of players missing last night. Boubacar Kamara being suspended in midfield was, was critical. And then to lose Anana who I think at that point, maybe when he was there in the first, may be missing Declan Rice, him going off because he was causing them problems driving forward and to lose him from that point of view and then also lose him as he's kind of the big present spare man from a set piece point of view as well. They didn't cause Villa too many problems from corners in the first half yet the first one they face without Anana, they've conceded. So I do think there's a few caveats to that defeat for Villa but it won't define the season. We're still having an unbelievable season. To be third and like nine points of. Nine points clear of teams like Chelsea at this stage of the season is massive because ultimately for all the talk of title race, the ambition for Villa will be to get back in the Champions League.
- [16:03]
B
And the other games are on Thursday night. So Man City's trip to Sunderland. We're going to do a pod on Friday to round up those four Thursday night games. Don't know why there are none tonight but anyway that's what's happening. Chelsea 2, Bournemouth 2. You had this on your main screen, Dan. I mean absolutely ridiculous sort of first half hour where it did look like especially Bournemouth were just scything through Chelsea. I sort of almost thought Chelsea were pretty lucky for it to be 22 at that time.
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C
Yeah, I watched the, I watched the first half before I put the, put the Villa game on it. In all honesty, at halftime it could have been 10, 10. Both, both teams Coming forward, both teams looked, looked hopeless defensively. Bournemouth have got this weird thing at the moment whenever I see them where their intensity going in one direction is absolutely top draw. But then defensively they don't seem to be able to maintain that, that intensity and letting in, letting in poor goals especially away from home week after week. Chelsea are just a, a weird watch. They could, they can look like two different teams in, in one game. They're quite capable of having, having a good half and then dropping an absolute stinker in the second or, or vice versa. But Bournemouth started that game I thought like a team that felt like they had some making up to do to their fans because they obviously had a, had a bad Christmas game way at Brentford. Was it where they, where they got heavily beaten and they looked like they meant business in that in they just couldn't defend which meant that the, the game stayed level. And then the second half from what I saw on the highlights just looked like a bit of a, a non event compared to the, the raucous and, and rampant first half.
- [17:33]
B
Yeah, two goals from long throws for Bournemouth look like Garnacho was at fault for both and probably not the guy you want to be your last line of defense at any time I suspect. And, and look both long throws from Semenya Paul and that is the big story. He did a big, you know, applauding the fans at the end. I know Iriola said, oh no, he's our player. I mean part of me is looking forward to him lobbing them in for Man City which looks like where he's gonna go. But it will be a massive loss to Bournemouth. He's been, it's been so brilliant for them.
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D
Yeah. And on one hand, see I'm torn into here. On one hand, it'll be quite sad to see that. You know, no one wants to see Man City just buy up every single talented footballer. The fact he's doing this, this job for Bournemouth. It's brilliant to have a league where you can have players like that at Bournemouth and just being brilliant. It's quite depressing to think of him being signed up by Man City. The other side of me on the other hand is a Bristol City fan and we have a sell on clause. So I'd like him to go for 400 million which would sustain our losses for another season or two.
- [18:35]
B
Because he played for City for a long time, didn't he? Did you like when you watched him there, like maybe we've talked about this before, I can't remember like was he a Slow burn or was he instantly like, oh, this guy is gonna do something special?
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D
He was very good, but you never thought he'd be this good. It always felt like he didn't quite have the consistency to play. I thought. I thought he'd be in the Premier League, but I didn't think he'd be the sought after property in the Premier League. You know, that's definitely been a really fast process and yeah, and I think on the whole it. It is quite sad. I think seeing a player like this going to Man City, I think it speaks to a system that's broken when. When you know, you just have talent like that being just snapped up and it's routinely happening. But. But yeah, I love Chelsea Bournemouth as well. What a game that was. Those first like half hours. Just. Just magic. The thing that really stuck with me though is just. I know it's been spoken about an awful lot, but how bad Chelsea are at defending, especially at set pieces. Sometimes that you just like the. The Kleivert goal. Chelsea just flick it on forum. You know, it's all. It's bizarre seeing a team of Chelsea's talent just so consistently unpicked by what are relatively simple things really.
- [19:43]
B
Yeah. Of Sanchez dives like the goalkeeper used to dive in Match day two on the BBC Micro. Just sort of flat out like boom. Like just sort of flat in front of him and then pinged back. But perhaps not entirely his fault. I. I don't know.
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A
Interesting.
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B
If Semenya does go to City, will quite interesting given that Docu's been playing really well on that side. Okay. You need lots of good players. You need a deep squad. He may not go. He may go to Liverpool, who knows? Right. Everybody wants.
- [20:12]
A
Yeah, I mean, he will go to Manchester City. He prefers City as an option. I think other teams are offered more money, wage wise, but the idea I've been told is to work with Guardiola and go to City and I think that's where he fits in better. You know, they don't have a long throw expert, so that'd be important for him. Yeah, I think with having Semenu just gives you greater options, you know, Doc, who can then have the option of playing right and left. There's been a lot more rotation in those sort of three positions behind Haaland this season. And so to have Semenu, who can say left, right, you know, again could be down the middle. This sort of desire for more physical players, you know, Guardiola has spoken about it before. I think probably people like Oscar Bob now have fallen away a little bit, struggling to cope with what Guardiola wants and hasn't been. Hasn't been great this season. You know, obviously a difficult, difficult time injury and I think going forward, this is the type play that is desired in the squad, as I said, and Guardiola wants him and he will make a big difference. And I think if you look and we talk about sort of little differences, City, you know, scaring people with Doku and Cherokee and Foden, all that, and then to think, oh, they can lob in a throw now with Harland on the end of will give an extra dynamic for people to think about. And that's, you know, if Arsenal doing it. You know, we talk about Arsenal doing so well and that changed the match last night. If City have an extra option of an attacking threat because they don't have anyone that can, you know, reach the edge of the box from, from a throw in at the moment, it'll be, you know, fascinating to see the dynamic. And so you have lots of players that can make the difference from those, those sort of events. So now, you know, I think it's sort of the natural position of the, you know, Premier League over years that the best players over clubs get snapped up by the top six and, you know, this is the case of it and fair play to Semenu, fair play to Bournemouth recruitment, that they're going to make another massive profit. As for Bristol City, I mean, problem for Bournemouth is replacing it in the summer is obviously preferable, but once you've got a release course, you got to go and work out what you do. I'm sure they'll have someone lined up, but a lot of the time when it's Bournemouth, you say, oh, they've signed a really good player, but he's going to take six months to settle and learn about the Premier League. And, you know, considering the form Bournemouth are going on at the moment, it's. That's probably where the irritation is for Iriola. You know, it's their business model, so you can't really complain. Talk about their defence being struggling, struggling. They lost four of their back five over the summer and it's taking time to bed in and that's unfortunately what they've gone for. And if 65 million quid release clause is there, then he's going to go and City will be. The benefits of the schooling that Bournemouth would give him in the Premier League.
- [23:02]
B
Would 2011 Pep think that in 15 years he'd have someone hurling? Maybe Semenya won't do long throws for C, who knows? But it'll be interesting to see. But yeah, worth mentioning. Fernandez. Enzo's finish was really love that feint was really lovely and a great finish too. But we talked a lot about Chelsea being odd on Monday and they remain odd. And that'll do for part one. Part two we'll begin at the London Stadium. Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So West Ham 2, Brighton 2. This match was so fun. Match of the day led with it, mainly because they didn't have the manager interviews ready. From the Arsenal Villa game. Three penalties in the first half, the second game in Premier League history where that's happened after fulham Bolton in August 2002. Or we should have got who scored the penalties for fulham Bolton in 2002. Joel, can you be bothered to find those? Fulham Bolton in 2002. What are your guesses? Clint Dempsey, Kevin Davis. Yeah, Kevin Davis, Kevin Davis and Bobby Zamora. Do you reckon it was Zamora? Different. Different str. Different penalties for Fulham. For the tape, we're going now to one of those old BBC website reports. You know, when the Internet was fresh.
- [24:14]
A
Yeah.
- [24:15]
B
And clear and fun. And there, you know, there was no rage, there were no comments. And producer Joel has it, the answers are it was Fulham 4, Bolton Wanderers 1. And the penalties were Michael Ricketts for Bolton, Lewis Saha equalizing. And then Steve marlay making it 3:1. There we go. No, we would have been here a long time. Anyway, let's. Let's talk about Danny Welbeck's missed Panenka. Paul, because I like a scored Panenka, but I love a missed panenka.
- [24:46]
D
I do. And the fact he'd already scored a penalty. I don't know if that makes it better or worse. In a way it makes it better. But what made him think. It's almost like it made it more of a showboaty thing to then do a Panenka with this one. I have to say it wasn't that bad. As bad Panenkas go. You know, at least he's. He's hit the bar. It wasn't one of those horror.
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B
Sure. I mean, I mean, there is one major detail about how it was bad, isn't there? You know, if we're being after the.
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D
Air didn't go in afterwards. It didn't go in.
- [25:15]
B
Oh, yeah, that, that.
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D
And also the slightly embarrassing when it rebounds him. Obviously he's totally not expecting it. He's off balance. So he takes this like ungainly kind of air shot. Hack attempt, you kind of. You lose all the cool of a Panenka when it comes back to you off a rebound and you have to have a sort of fly hack at.
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B
It and miss it, and you're not even allowed to kick it. I mean, like, it's not. It's a double, you know.
- [25:33]
A
Oh, yeah.
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D
It's a good point. Yeah.
- [25:34]
A
Ye.
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B
Yeah.
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D
Maybe it was an ingenious attempt to dummy it, but what was amazing, though, was then there's kind of like a sort of start of a fight between the players because. And what it seems to be is that the West Ham players are so affronted at the Panenka attempt that they kind of get in his face and that a fight starts. But I don't know, in a way, it's like, I don't quite understand why you'd be so angry at him. You know, the opposition players missed a penalty. He's obviously. I just feel like you'd be delighted. But they seem angry at the fact he's Panenka it. And I wonder if that's because he's already scored a penalty. It felt like, all right, you know, no need to. To sort of take the second one like that. Yeah.
- [26:12]
B
Do you think if West Ham. West Ham players feel they're disrespected, you know, and surely Danny Welbert could turn around and go, guys, he's just West Ham, like. Like, you can't. You can't be disrespected at this current level that you're playing. I mean, it was actually down quite a pivotal moment in the game, really. Like, if he scores that, you think West Ham are unlikely to get back into it?
- [26:33]
D
It.
- [26:33]
C
Yeah, especially. Especially at home. I know they've picked up ever so slightly at home since. Since Nuno's gone in, but when they go behind that place, can, I imagine, feel like a pretty difficult place to. To try and turn a game around? Because that. That fan base, and rightly so, is just dismayed with what's going on at their football club at the moment. They're. They're crying out for a proper midfielder. West Ham, I'd be shocked if they didn't try and get a proper central midfielder in. In January. But, yeah, if they go behind, it becomes a. A very. A very difficult game, I think, for West Ham. They of draw their way to safety at the moment, but I'm not sure that that's going to work. Every time I look at what. So.
- [27:10]
B
So are wolves, aren't they?
- [27:11]
C
Yeah.
- [27:12]
B
Slowly.
- [27:13]
C
We'll. We'll come on. We'll come on to that. I did quite enjoy that result last night, actually, due to having Manchester United friends. But I think West Ham, that they need wins, don't they? And at the moment the winds don't look like they're going to come. There was some weird rumors about Nuno over Christmas, that they're looking at dispatching him and, and getting a new man manager in. I. I'd suggest he's probably pretty well placed to try and keep them up, but it's a difficult situation here. I just don't think they've got enough. Enough about them. They've got players from what it seems too many different regimes in there now that they look like they've been cobbled together. I. I can't see them staying up personally, but they need to start winning some games and especially at home.
- [27:53]
B
Yeah, actually, I mean, look, they're only four points off Forest, but it feels like an enormous January will for. For West Ham and you wouldn't trust anyone like within miles of the London Stadium with recruitment, with, with, you know, getting things right this January.
- [28:07]
A
Oh, no. I mean, their recruitment over recent years has been some of the worst. You know, as Dan said, it's, you know, random sort of collections of players put together, you know, full crook who turned up as the new number nine, you know, not wanted. If, If Jarrah Bowen got injured. I mean, you'd got to be fearful of what would happen. But yeah, they can't control the midfield. You know, we've got pots in those, you know, young lad that's coming under. Nuno Magas is just getting used to the Premier League, you know, ABS last night. It's just nothing to be able to do to concern Brighton, who've got, you know, plenty of quality in there, not much off the bench, you know, Calm Wilson starting. Signed on a free transfer from Newcastle in the summer because there's just no one else available that West Ham could pick up and I mean, who's going to go there? I'll see if a question now. I can't. It doesn't seem particularly enticing as a prospect, I guess as the. In the teams in the relegation battle, you know, the say four points off, they're not too far behind. You know, they've got wolves at the weekend, which is a massive one.
- [29:13]
B
Yeah, they've got Wolves and then Forest, which. It's an enormous few days.
- [29:18]
A
Nuno seems to have changed it a bit. They're not as bad as they were at the start of the season, but, you know, the Goalkeepers looking very weak. You know, he was poor last night. The center backs, you know, rumors are trying to offload Kilburn, who, you know, they spent 40 million quid on trying to send him back to Wolves as part of the. A potential Strand Larsen deal. I mean, I can't really name which transfers come off at West Ham in recent years.
- [29:45]
B
No, no, I think you're right.
- [29:47]
A
When did Bowen.
- [29:49]
B
Yeah, well, but that's the point about Bowen, Dan, is if you're Jared Bowen, at some point, you've got to think, I can't just be dragging this enormous cart horse for like my whole life. Like, go somewhere good. You know, go somewhere good and. And see what. It'd be fascinating to see. And West Ham fans won't like hearing it, but they even must know it'd be great to see him in a. In a. We were complaining about Semenya going to a top side, but great to see him playing with some good players. Just see how good he could be.
- [30:15]
C
Yeah, I think at this point, West Ham fans would almost understand if he left. They'd obviously be devastated because he's a club icon, given some of the. The big moments he's had in a West Ham shirt. But he literally carries them, doesn't he? You always fancy West Ham to score in games because Jabra Bowen is playing for them. But you look at the rest of that team and you always fancy them to concede a few as well. And inevitably, Bowen does score in most games, but they also concede two plus most weeks, and that's even with. With Nuno coming in. There's a. A pretty defensively sound manager. Bowen's harming himself and harming his career at this point, because you would suggest that being at West Ham doesn't do him any favors in terms of his. His England chances and. And going to the World Cup. He obviously won't leave in January because he genuinely has an affection for the club and he'll. He'll want to keep them up. But you're right that at some point he must look at it and think it would be nice to. To play somewhere different. Somewhere. Somewhere where I might have a bit of help.
- [31:11]
B
And he's 29, right? He's 29, yeah. Yeah. Like. Like, not. Not that young. I enjoyed Paketa's foul for the penalty. Like, you know, as rugby tackles go, I thought that was really good. Herzler was upset with the penalty and even I think it is a handball and I don't like handballs. He says no one has clear Footage of it. I can't understand how you can make a decision that's not possible in the best league of the world. I think there was clear footage.
- [31:39]
C
I just like the footage I saw was pretty clear.
- [31:41]
A
Yeah.
- [31:43]
D
Go through the stand, see if anyone filmed it on their phones.
- [31:45]
B
Right, exactly.
- [31:46]
A
Yeah.
- [31:46]
B
But everybody filmed on their phone was at Fratton park, of course, which we'll get to and like. Nice to hear Michael Salisbury. I, I need to do this and I haven't done it yet. Of a radio quiz, of playing all the referees and can you guess who they are? Because they all sound identical. They're all from the same town in Yorkshire. It's just sensational. Just this pot of Pjmol only getting northern refs. Let's go to Old Trafford. Jed says, I've watched some absolute drivel in my time as a United fan, some world class shite, but I've never witnessed 11 players so devoid of everything. At least Ollie Ball was exciting. Wolves more than worth their point. I have complete confession to make now that I watched all the highlights. At least I thought I did, but I have. I don't. Unless it was so boring I can't remember it. I may confess I didn't see the highlights of this game. So, Paul, do me a favor, talk me through what happened.
- [32:36]
D
It was, it was a bizarre football match, I've got to say, so. I mean, it's bizarre only in as much as it's weirdly predictable. But for Manu to go ahead. So Xerxy scores, which doesn't really happen, it's basically his farewell goal. You'd imagine he's off in the transfer window. It's definitely not worked for him.
- [32:54]
A
He.
- [32:54]
D
He scored. But it, it did take an enormous deflection, like a huge deflection from Krei Chi, who's really unlucky. Kreiji then becomes the hero for Wolves when he scores with a header. But the header that Wolves score, I mean, it's a lovely header from his perspective, but the lack of defending being done on that header for him to score after, he's about eight yards out, it's a flick on from a corner and just. There's no one around. He just pops up to score. But the bizarre thing with this game, I suppose there's two things, two really telling things, is that Man U having gone a goal ahead against a team that are so devoid of self confidence, of, of anything really, and to not go on to win that game is, is a phenomenal achievement really, because you know, you go a goal up against Wolves you have a couple of chances. You kind of think this one's got to be put to bed that they just didn't. And Wolves genuinely could have won it. I think the closest thing Man U had to to winning it was actually from Wolves. It was nearly a bizarre. And goal for Mosquera. Incredible save actually this from SA like it's one of those incredible like kind of grass sit back from the line from mascara's header. But yeah, I mean you could argue that either side could have nicked it but really Wolves probably, I'd say probably with the better team. Which is not a sentence we've heard an awful lot this season. Is it really?
- [34:15]
B
No. And their first. Their first point under Rob Edwards. So could it be the turning point? Quite literally the interesting thing Will is, you know, despite Manchester United being sort of generally terrible, they are sick. They are two points off fourth and Liverpool are fourth with 32 points. And you see their form and you sort of think anyone down to maybe Even Bournemouth with 23 points has a good run like really puts it together. It is almost impossible to say who will come fourth in the Premier.
- [34:45]
A
Like.
- [34:45]
B
Like fourth and fifth Champions League spots. Most likely fifth is Champions League spot are absolutely impossible to come.
- [34:51]
A
Cool. Yeah but that's relying on one of those teams actually going on a good stick.
- [34:54]
B
No, of course, of course, yeah.
- [34:56]
A
I mean, yeah, yeah. That the problem is created because they're all so inconsistent. I mean you look at United last night against Wolves, you know, obviously they played each other less than a month ago and Wolves were I'd argue the worst Premier League team I'd ever seen. At that point last night they were actually come together competent, decent before the goal, decent after the goal, you know, didn't fall apart. You know, let's be honest, that team is pretty weak on paper but you know, is showing signs of being a bit more of a unit and in Edwards's mold. But I think for United they say purely inconsistent. You know, Xerxy. Yeah, it'll be gone. He's having to start. I mean he's not gonna. If this is a long term project, what's the point in starting him when he's going to be gone in a few weeks? And that's the aim. Pretty open about it. He doesn't seem to want to be there and he scored a goal admittedly from a deflection and should be quite confident going into the second half. But no, no, you, you get off. We're going to bring on one of the kids. I. It's bizarre and change him to defense again, you know. And the big difference between probably you know the previous game at Molyneux and this was no Fernandez and without Fernandez they just look rudderless. He's the man that can create fluidity within the team and there's none of that last night of Ugarti and Casimiro midfield Cunyin, you know, nowhere near as best as Xerxy and Sesco. I mean Cesco two goals in 17 I think it is. I mean I try not to just a striker too early on but he doesn't look confident. He doesn't like he's going to do the business that United really need from a 70 odd million pound striker. Thirteen months into Amarim and I just can't tell you what United are still. I don't know. And the only upside I would say for United at the moment is that if AM's finally worked out there is an academy beneath him with some really good players and he's. They're getting chances and he's you know I think in this January window he's got to decide if people like Xerxe aren't here for the long term and he's got a hold of hands like look we're you know we're six. We got chances but if we're going to push on for the next 18 months I've got to give more chances to Fletcher, Shay, Lacy, Mandito and all. All people like that because at the moment, you know you shouldn't be drawing one. One against one, you know arguably the worst team Premier League history at home and that's it. And they didn't look like winning really. And yeah that's the problem. Look if you have 10 shots and their keepers as a storm are fine, hold, hold your hands up but just slow monotonous football. You know. I appreciate there's a few injuries in afcon but yeah, not, not good enough.
- [37:31]
C
Again that's such a bad result last night. I think Kunya's probably. Kunya probably looks at it and thinks I should start at Wolves.
- [37:38]
B
That's how bad Manchester United was last time.
- [37:40]
C
That's how bad that result was last night.
- [37:43]
B
Jack Fletcher son of Darren Blimey Burley won Newcastle three. Will you were there after 10 minutes you put a message in the group saying well this game is decided. But it wasn't totally decided, was it? Like Newcastle have been really bad away from home. They. They nearly gave up a two goal lead at Burnley and. And but for better finishing and but for Nick Pope perhaps Could have have come away without a victory.
- [38:04]
A
Seven minutes in and you tune up against again the second worst team in the Premier League. And they look really good. You know, I'd watched the Boxing Day game against United where in the final third Newcastle were dreadful. Bad decision, bad decision, poor finishing. Whereas 65 seconds in last night, Gordon got around the back of Walker, perfect cross. Jon goal. And then followed it up with, you know, Visser. And you thought, oh, Burnley can't really score. Don't attack. Their previous game against Everton, 16 shots, not on target. So you think, you know, I wrote my match report, I was quite happy, you know, you know, opened a can, it was fine. And then Newcastle just so bristle they just invited Burnley onto them. Couldn't control it. Midfield, if you, you know, you think of Tonali Guimares and Joel Intern in there, they sort of get a lot of praise. But last night it's just running through it. Marcus Edwards was really good, looked lively. He's, you know, that was his second start in a row and looks promising that he could create. But unfortunately for Burnley, they don't have a decent striker in the final third. They're pretty inept. And that's it. Honestly, they're really good until it came to the key moments and that's where they'll fall apart and you know, I think they're looking for a striker in January. You know, Parker talks a lot about fight, spirit, all these things. But quality is actually quite important in the Premier League. Yeah.
- [39:31]
B
Lyle Foster's at afcon, isn't he?
- [39:32]
A
I mean, I mean, I'm worried about that.
- [39:34]
B
Yeah.
- [39:35]
A
Lal Foster is not a good enough Premier League player. Simple as that. We can be polite about it, but he's not brosier 20 million quid in the summer. He's been injured a lot. His goal against Bournemouth was his first in 40 Premier League games. That's not going to keep you up. Obviously Jean Fleming is a good championship striker. Oh, well, not even a striker. Good championship player. Sort of number 10 winger, but that's it. It goes back to recruitment that they didn't find the right striker in the summer. The defense is all right. They've had a few problems with injuries. You know, Esteban took off last night missing. Twanzabe he's at afcon. Left back's been a bit of an issue. Hartman. Look, we're going to start season and he's fallen away. He's, you know, Parker was saying last night they've given him time away from the team to try and you know, Recover. He's been linked with a move to Ajax and yeah, it's, it's a shame for Burnley, but I mean there was sort of. It's two nil down. There was apathy within the team and within the fans. It was pretty quiet at Turfmore, but it's something to build on. It was. Having discussed the United game, they've got United on Wednesday. If they play like that at turf more against United, I mean they've got a good chance of winning. And I think, yeah, if you are in the Premier League and you are going to go down, give your fans a few nights to remember and yeah, that's what you've got to hold on to because I can't see them sign the players that'll turn it around in January. Josh Cullen, the captain's done his acl. He's. He's gone for the season, so.
- [40:57]
B
And that's a big blow actually, isn't it? I, I look, I mean I'm. I'm all here for Defiance Scott Parker. I really like hearing sort of brow beaten but we've, we've shown fight from him. I could listen to these interviews on, on Luke. Did you think. I mean, I don't. I thought they. Newcastle were really lucky for that second goal. Wasn't disallowed for that shove by Guimaraj. Well, that seemed so obvious to me but if I'm the only one, then I will happily withdraw this accusation.
- [41:25]
D
Yeah, he pushes him over the keeper, doesn't he? Like kind of shoves him. Yeah, it's a pretty foul. I don't know, it felt to me like you could disallow a goal for that.
- [41:35]
B
Yeah, I'm disallowing it. Forest nil. Everton 2. Everton up to 8. Good win for them at the City Ground. You know they, they haven't scored in their previous three. Got a lot of players out, injured fewer Afcon as well. And James Garner is the hero this game, Paul, isn't he? Lovely finish for the goal. Beautiful setup for Teano Barry for the second.
- [41:53]
D
Yeah, I almost think the second goal is better from Garner's perspective than the first because he does that incredible turn. Just one of those little bits of skill on the halfway line and then that pass to pick out Barry and you almost just. Of all the people to get that ball. Tierno Barry just being served. A brilliant ball that he has to finish. Fair play to him for putting that away because I, I don't think I would have bet on him in that situation, to be honest. I felt really happy for, for both them for Ghana. De Garner deserved that. He was brilliant but also felt the relief when Barry scored that goal. Just from his perspective because you know he has struggled and he's not the person you necessarily want on the end of a through ball has to score to save your life. You wouldn't, wouldn't necessarily put Tiano Barry in your probably rather have myself there than him a lot of the time but great finish.
- [42:43]
B
I didn't realize that. I didn't realize that that saved your life, Paul. There was more jeopardy on this game. I'd have put that in the WhatsApp group.
- [42:49]
D
Did I not leave with that? Max? Yeah. Yeah.
- [42:54]
B
You drew out of my hand and said Tiano Barry. You're like oh mate, okay. Get my, get my affairs.
- [43:00]
A
My wife though.
- [43:00]
D
I thought he was due like he's due a goal.
- [43:02]
B
He's a, he's a decent finisher. So good.
- [43:04]
A
Your better wasn't starting.
- [43:06]
B
Yeah. Yeah you're right. Yeah. You'd hope impact sub works, wouldn't you? I, I, I think even James Garner was like yeah. After I played the pass I was just praying he scored. He didn't say, you know, he didn't sound like he was certain. It's a good win for Everton. I don't know Dan, if you have any strong thoughts on this game or we'll, we can put it to bed.
- [43:25]
C
No, I'm, I'm happy with that. I'm, I'm happy with this. The summary, I, I didn't have any, my life wasn't riding on anything in, in that game. So I'm, I'm a. Yeah.
- [43:34]
B
Big win for them and Forest, you know, after. I think they hammered spurs, didn't they? Where spurs were absolutely hopeless.
- [43:40]
A
Yeah.
- [43:40]
B
They've lost a few in a row and so like the big game, those big games at the bottom next week are fascinating. Just before we end part two, Brendan Johnson set to decide whether he wants to go to palace. They've agreed a 35 million deal to sign him from Spurs. He scored the winner in the Europa League final, so we'll see what he decides. We can discuss that a bit on Friday's pod where both palace and Tottenham are playing Wilfred Nancy Watch fre from 67 Hail hail.com Running the headline, Max Rushton admits he would love to see Celtic win the league as he bats for Wilfred. Nancy with a photo of me playing golf I think at the British Masters Pro am in about 2010.
- [44:20]
C
Could have done with a photo of you with a bat rather than a.
- [44:22]
B
Yeah, I Don't know if there are many Getty images, but anyway, it must be a very slow news day.
- [44:28]
A
AI must. Yeah, I saw this.
- [44:30]
B
Surely AI, I think has better things to do than put a picture of me with a cricket bat. Anyway, Celtic probably lost two nil at Motherwell. A bit of a Rick from Cashbush. Michael for the second. So, you know, you say things like this, but I don't actually when you look at it in a headline, it sounds ridiculous. I don't really care like, you know, but. So maybe they can do another headline now. The vault fast from about fast from Max saying that he actually doesn't care after defeat to Motherwell. What a fair weather Celtic follower I am. Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three, we'll talk about Afcon.
- [45:07]
C
Hey, you want to pay just 10 bucks for your phone service at Boost Mobile? Just 10 bucks for your phone service at Boost Mobile? Yeah, I totally do.
- [45:22]
D
This holiday, the best gift is for you. Pay just $10 a month for the first two months and $25 a month forever with unlimited data, talk and text offer valid@boostmobile.com after your first two months, you'll pay $25 a month unless you go online or call to cancel. Requires autopay.
- [45:46]
B
Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Nearing the end of the group stages of Afcon, Paul Benin, Senegal was your main screen last night Looked very comfortable for Senegal from what I saw.
- [45:58]
D
Yeah. It mostly was ever so slightly overshadowed for them by Koulibaly being given a red card, which is in his hundredth game for his nation. So he celebrated that with a. A straight red which will rule him out of the next round. It was. It's really weird. Afcon's really weird in this way because this thing of going from 24 teams down to 16 means that almost everyone seems to qualify.
- [46:21]
B
Yeah. So it's not a lot of jeopardy.
- [46:23]
D
Yeah. Suddenly sometimes there feels like a lot of jeopardy and then you suddenly it dissipates quite quickly. But yeah, Senegal are running, are running nicely. It's, you know, Morocco are obviously the team to beat and Morocco are in this fascinating situation that they're actually getting. They're getting quite a lot of stick in Morocco or certainly the coaches. This is a really weird kind of side note to tournament is Morocco obviously came into tournament massive favorites at home. Longest ever winning run in international football behind them. Their heroics at 2022 World Cup. You know, there's a huge expectation they can win this, but it's to the extent where the Coach Walid Regagui was booed when his name was read out before their game against Zambia because fans feel already that the team is not playing the way they should be at this tournament. I think part of the reason for that is so 2022 in Q, what they excelled at was effectively sitting deep and hitting teams on the break, hitting much bigger, technically bigger footballing nations, you know, pulling off the surprise. What they found much, much harder is being the team that has to be on the front foot. And the kind of football that fans are expecting of them in Morocco is attacking flair. When you look at some of the players, they've got. They've got an incredible squad. They're expecting that team to really spark and to play this beautiful attacking football, and they've not massively done that. They.
- [47:45]
B
They.
- [47:45]
D
They haven't looked brilliant in periods this tournament. So it's quite interesting that already there's an atmosphere where the coach could. Well, I don't think they'll sack him if they don't win afcon, necessarily. But it's. For example, if they didn't get, you know, to the final, at least I think they. They might. And there's a real sense of discontent and. And I think that is quite weird feeling at a tournament. It feels like there should be this whole, like, sense of the nation being excited and jubilant, but it's not really been like that with Morocco. And I think. I think that's. That's been a fascinating sort of dynamic with this tournament.
- [48:16]
A
Yeah.
- [48:16]
D
Added to the bad weather as well, it feels a very unusual AFCON vibe. Like that kind of rainy days and slightly miserable fans is not what we expect from Afcon, is it, really?
- [48:26]
B
No, no, not at all. But, you know, they've won their group already with two wins and a draw in Group A. And Al Karby, who we talked about scoring a brilliant overhead kick in, I think the first game scored another. I mean, another one, like. And, like, he does have a YouTube reel of overhead kick kicks to the. We were saying before the pod. It's amazing that that's his Cruyff turn. Like, he just keeps scoring over head kicks. Like, if he didn't score it, you'd be surprised. It's that kind of level now.
- [48:50]
D
Yeah. Doing his own goal of the goal of the tournament, basically on his own. But. But also, it's funny because, again, even with him, there is debate about how much he actually adds to the team. Like, outside of these incredible goals. I know it sounds silly, but there. There's a.
- [49:04]
B
He's he's just an overhead kick merchant. Yeah.
- [49:07]
D
All he'll do is score a beautiful overhead guy. Okay. But I don't know, it's interesting how a few of the teams afcon have got these kind of players where you look at them and in theory, you know, these should be their, like, sort of, their sort of gold plated shining stars, but actually there's always this debate about whether those players are slightly holding back the, the unit. Like, it's weird. You look at Morocco's situation, you'd think they would be absolutely over the moon right now, especially, you know, lining up their, their, their next round clash, don't you think? God, they're surely going to get through that. And instead they're kind of, they're kind of nervy then. They're so nervy. I feel nervous watching it and I've not got any investment in it.
- [49:46]
B
Three wins for three from Nigeria. Chukwesa, who's looked really good for Fulham recently, he, he looked very impressive in that win against Uganda.
- [49:54]
D
Yeah. And I think Nigeria is a funny one because Nigeria is so often held back by their own internal politics. And obviously there was a huge, the failure to qualify for the World cup up, that was a massive, massive moment for Nigeria and the fallout from that was, was pretty intense. So there's a feeling they've got to deliver at AFCON to kind of get rid of that, that kind of. To kind of lance the boil of failings, qualify for the World Cup. I think, you know, this is the fascinating thing with afcon. You've got a really rare situation that you've got a very clear outright favorite in Morocco, but below them there's a whole cast of teams, all of which you could quite, quite comfortably sort of say, have a decent chance. And I think Senegal probably maybe narrow second favorites, but then in there you got Egypt, you've got Algeria. It's going to be a really fascinating tournament now. And I think, as I say, because the first stage does feel a little bit sluggish because you're not knocking out very many teams. This, this. Now moving into the knockout is going to be fascinating because you've already got Algeria against Dr. Congo.
- [50:56]
A
You could.
- [50:57]
D
Well, I mean, it looks like you'll have South Africa against Ivory coast or Cameroon, and you're suddenly looking at these big, big games, you know, Mali versus Tunisia. It's a real switch of pace suddenly that you're looking at massive knockout clashes between some really, really good teams.
- [51:10]
B
Yeah, well, I mean, Congo might come above Senegal. I Mean, you're presuming Senegal win that group. I guess I'm not sure who the final games are.
- [51:17]
D
Right.
- [51:17]
B
But Congo. I mentioned that because I watched the Congo goals and it wasn't an overhead kick, but that goal from. Was it Nathaniel Mbuku. Brilliant back heel from Chelsea full. And Bolton's Gail Kakuta. I thought it was such a nice goal. Goal.
- [51:31]
D
Yeah. That was a beautiful. It was one of the best assists I've seen in a long time, wasn't it? Yeah. No, Congo. There was a period where Congo seemed like they were trying to rack up as many goals as they could to try and depose Senegal, but Senegal just really had to just.
- [51:44]
B
Oh, yes, sorry. That's done, isn't it? Three games is how many games you play. I'm an idiot. Yeah, that one.
- [51:49]
D
That one. That one's done. And Senegal had quite an easy. Yeah, quite an easy, easy game.
- [51:54]
B
It's like I'd never watched a tournament before. Three games in a group.
- [51:57]
D
They just keep playing.
- [51:58]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [51:58]
D
Max, when they come get to the seven games point, that's when you start to really.
- [52:01]
B
They play themselves, don't they? They haven't played themselves yet.
- [52:04]
A
Maximum into the knowledge this week will be fun. He's got a lot of questions. Why do you only play three games in the group? What's that about?
- [52:11]
B
Listen, has a Martin assisted A Martin is a good question. You know, how many games do you play in a four team group at a major tournament? Not a good question. I understand that. Look, we all, we all make mistakes. South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3. 2. I just wondered like, how big a rivalry is that. That in, in African football?
- [52:27]
D
Yeah, it, it, it's very big. That was a, that was a fascinating game. I mean South Africa really, with the, with the talent they've got in that side, South Africa really should have been getting through a lot easier than they did. And they, they really flirted with, with losing that game. They, they maybe deserved to lose that game. And that would have been. I think it's more. It would have been a huge kind of loss of face for us of Africa. More than, you know, Zimbabwe would have been over the moon, obviously. But I think coming into the tournament, nobody thought that that could happen, that South Africa could be beaten by Zimbabwe. So yeah, South Africa kind of. Kind of. I, I had them as a dark horse before the tournament to Africa, but I think that's been slightly upset by the fact that now, yeah, if they take on Ivory, coastal Cameroon, Cameroon looked like they were coming into the tournament in Absolute disarray. They had this crazy situation where they had two coaches who both picked a squad each.
- [53:18]
C
Oh, wow.
- [53:19]
D
Which was amazing. Yeah, it was a case of which Cameroon will turn up up, but. But quite literally because they had. They have the Football Federation and the Sports Ministry. The Sports Ministry appointed their coach, the Football Federation. Samuel Eto's Football federation basically rejected this coach, Mark Breece, but Breece stayed and just carried on doing the job while the federation just desperately tried to get rid of him at every turn. Then when Eto' O tried to sack him, so the Federation said, you're gone. The coach was like, well, no, I'm not, because I was appointed by the Sports Ministry, not the Federation. And so he kept trying to pick a squad while ETO brought in another manager, David Pagu, who is actually at the tournament, who picked his own squad. So for a little while it did look like there were going to be two Cameroon squads. So Cameroon could not have been in worse shape in terms of like the organization of the. The team, but actually have looked really decent at this tournament. It's almost like maybe the weight of expectations fallen away. They're definitely not amongst the favorites. And yeah, I actually think if it is South Africa, Cameroon, that that could be a chance for Cameroon to really upset them.
- [54:19]
B
Lovely stuff, Paul. We're going to do more afcon. We're desperately trying to find space in our diary to. Oh, yes, so I forgot. Will you have a. The Tanzania anecdote?
- [54:30]
A
Wow.
- [54:30]
B
I'm expecting big things.
- [54:32]
A
I'll say. I'll save that for the live tour. Tanzania have qualified for the knockout stage the first time. First team ever to do it with two points. Got a couple of players from the diaspora. Tarin Al Arakia and Haji Noga. The former plays for Rochdale, latter plays for Salford. It just sort of shows that, you know, we got a national league and league two players, you know, getting through in a major tournament shows where they are as a team. I guess that these are, you know, key players. You know, they got Samata used play for Villa as their main man. But yeah, just a really impressive performance from them. Two draws. Only lost two, one to Nigeria. And you know, they've got Morocco in the. In. In the next round, so that'll be fine. They'll win that. That. Yeah.
- [55:15]
B
And actually their goal, their goals, guy called Faye Toto, who also played for Zanzibar and I got worms in Zanzibar and they were all in my feet. So when I got back to the uk, I had worm trails all up my feet. And yeah, I. It was such an impressive array of worms that when I was in the hospital, the doctor called all the junior doctors to look at my wormy feet that I had got from the sand. But we buried one of my mates in the sand. He had worms all over him himself.
- [55:44]
D
Oh, God. He's all right, though. For a minute I thought that was going a lot darker.
- [55:48]
A
There he was. He was relying on Turno Barry scoring a goal.
- [55:54]
B
He was.
- [55:56]
D
Sorry.
- [55:57]
B
Oh, what I would do now just to have a few nights on a beach hut in Zanzibar, though. Anyway, finally, Nigel says to Charl, never lose at Fratton Park. Glenn is. Is we never lose at Fratton Park a contender for the greatest ever chant at a football match just for the wrong reasons. So this is an amazing. We had a nice email from Jamie Athen as well, says, hi, Max Barry and the gang. First time writer, long time listener. My interest was piqued when you mentioned my beloved Portsmouth not once but twice during the Christmas special on 17th December recorded on the 17th. The idea that Pompey, the only club not allowed to celebrate a goal sounds far fetched. Although this season it feels largely unnecessary. The lack of goals has already been taken. Has already taken care of that. In fact, your tongue in cheek remark of how now feels suspiciously accurate. I'm beginning to wonder if that's exactly why Pompey are putting the ball in the net.
- [56:40]
D
Net.
- [56:40]
B
Here's hoping 2026 is a year full of goals from the boys in blue. Keep up the great work. Well, Jamie would have loved Monday night. Portsmouth 2 chart on one chart and equalize in the 97th minute, former Cambridge striker Harvey Nibs. And you would have, if you haven't seen it, it's just it sort of sums up being a football fan. No one can write an article or do a TV show anything that sums up being a football fan better than people filming. In that end, we never lose at Fratton Park. I didn't know they hadn't lost for 20 years. It's not a stat that interests me. They're all singing we never lose at Fratton Park. You know the thing, we never lose at Fratton Park. Portsmouth fans in that corner are so furious. And that as that chant just sort of ends naturally comes to an end, there's this moment of silence and then Yang Min Hyuk, who is on loan from spurs, puts it in the corner for Portsmouth. I don't know, Paul. It feels so beautiful. Like the timing is unbelievable, isn't it?
- [57:41]
D
Yeah, yeah, it does. It Almost feels like if you were to script it, you. You couldn't do better than that, could you? It's tempting fate demonstrated, isn't it? Basically, yeah.
- [57:50]
B
But even 97th minute, you think, we're probably all right. Like, when can you gloat? As a football fan, I always think you've got to wait for the final. Me and my dad. If Tottenham are ever never 3 nil up, which they never are, you know, and it's the 92nd minute, we're like, still need another one. And it's that kind of thing. There is an amazing. Also, suddenly this footage came out from the Portsmouth end of just someone going. Just as. As Yang sort of takes the ball. He just goes, shoot. And then he shoots and it goes in the corner. It's like, this is amazing. Ah, I loved it so much. It was. Thank you so much for making that happen. Everyone that was involved and, you know, those. You know, the sort of fans who do their own YouTube channels, who sort of film themselves watching the whole game and I guess there's. It's a performative element, but because it's just so real, one of them just sort of laughs in this way where you just know. And the people around him are just like, yeah, this is what it is. This is. I don't know why we do this to ourselves, but we all do. So thank you. Thank you for delivering the best moment of the year this close to the end of the year. And that will do for today. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, Dan.
- [58:53]
C
Thank you.
- [58:54]
B
Thank you, Will.
- [58:54]
A
Cheers, Max.
- [58:55]
B
Thank you, Paul.
- [58:56]
A
Thanks, Max.
- [58:56]
B
Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. We'll be back on Friday.
- [59:05]
A
This is the Guardian.