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Football Weekly
Arsenal find a way as Chelsea bounce back to reach FA Cup final – Football Weekly podcast
00:53:23
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Dan Bardell and Sam Dalling to discuss the Premier League and FA Cup action
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- [00:00]
Max Rushden
This is the Guardian.
- [00:12]
Barry Glendenning
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [00:20]
Nikayla Matthews Akomay
If you've ever dreamed of quitting your job to take your side hustle full time, listen up. This is Nikayla Matthews Akomay, host of side Hustle Pro, a podcast that helps you build and grow from passion project to profit business. Every week you'll hear from guests just like you who wanted to start a business on the side. If you can't run a side hustle, you can't run a business. They share real tips and so I started connecting with all these people on LinkedIn and I saw Target supplier diversity was having office hours. Real advice. Procrastination is the easiest form of resistance and the actual strategies they use to turn their side Hustle into their main hustle. Getting back in touch with your tangible cash and sitting down and learning to give your money a job like it changes something. Check out Side Hustle Pro every week on your favorite podcast app and YouTube.
- [01:10]
Sam Lee
Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.
- [01:25]
Max Rushden
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Drama all over the place. Southampton thinking they're in the FA cup final for three minutes. Rochdale in the Football league for eight minutes. Spurs out of the relegation zone for five minutes. Late winners in the fit bar. Lots to get through. We'll start with the FA cup finasas. What a hit with the best goal of the game until Nico Gonzalez won it for City. Meanwhile, Chelsea players turned up and edged past Leeds in the Premier League. Arsenal just did enough. Eze's beautiful goal beating Newcastle at the bottom. Spurs win their first game since the invention of the iPhone. But then Callum Wilson knocks the stuffing out of them while Forest absolutely wallops Sunderland and should be just about okay. In Scotland, a wild Edinburgh Derby sees Hearts beat nine man hibs while Rangers mess up at home to Motherwell. And perhaps the biggest moment of the weekend, Rochdale secure promotion in the 95th. Pitch invasion the lot. Only for York City to really secure promotion in the 103rd. All that plus your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendenning. Welcome.
- [02:23]
Dan Bardell
Hi Max.
- [02:24]
Max Rushden
Hello, Sam darling.
- [02:25]
Sam Lee
Hello Max Rushton.
- [02:26]
Max Rushden
And good morning, Dan Bardell.
- [02:28]
Barry Glendenning
Hello, Max.
- [02:28]
Max Rushden
Let's start with the FA cup semi finals. Then the better of the two games was on the Saturday Man City 2. Southampton won and a brilliant last 20 minutes or so. Sam, you were at the game also mowing the lawn at Wembley.
- [02:41]
Dan Bardell
But we'll.
- [02:41]
Max Rushden
We'll get to that. But from your vantage point, which was pitch side, I guess, I mean, you got to see the Azaz goal close up and. And you know what? That cheer was not just, I said this to Bass on the radio. It, it wasn't just, that's an amazing goal. That was, we're going to the cup final cheer wasn't. It was amazing.
- [02:59]
Sam Lee
The Southampton fans were wonderfully loud all afternoon, pre game and throughout. So I was sa. On. On, well, four stalls behind the goal, right behind James Trafford and by pure coincidence I happened to be in the corner of the goal where that ball was curled into. I mean, it was one of those. From that angle, as soon as it leaves the foot, you can, you just know it's going in despite Trafford's best effort. And you know, I was thinking about this often I've been in crowds myself as a supporter where I've completely lost it and seen that emotion and often you get to see it on tv, but to be able to turn around and see the just pure joy on those Southampton fans. There was the wall of noise and just the looks on people's faces. You end up focusing in on a couple of people and there was this family right in the front row. Dad and daughter and mum and son and mom and son were going nuts. Dad was just stood there in like a complete, you know, that look of shock, disbelief, tears and the daughter's trying to get him going and he just can't. Like he is just completely stunned. There was just so much joy and I think, yes, it was short lived, but they got that couple of minutes and they did believe at that point. I think what we are late 70s in terms of minutes. So you think, right, this actually could be, could be our day. And then to turn around a couple of minutes later and see the despair, it was not fun. But again, it is that human emotion that football can bring out of you. And, and they did have a chance as well. At one all. They had another chance that Trafford tipped over the bar and the noise as they came forward was brilliant there. But yeah, I just really felt for them because having, having got that late and scored and the nature of that goal, how good it was, you think that's going to be a winner that's going to send us to a Cup final.
- [04:52]
Max Rushden
I mean, I guess if you, if you want to see that emotion, you could either become a player for Southampton or just become a steward. And then you get to face the crowd for the whole time, Sam, and you'd be absolutely fine. I mean, and then, and then Barry, like Nico Gonzalez, sort of one of those generic man City players who kind of gets forgotten about scores perhaps a better goal. I don't know. I mean it's such a pure strike.
- [05:14]
Dan Bardell
Well look, they're both very, very good goals but Azaz was a, a curler on the turn and Nico Gonzalez was just an absolute thunderbolt into the top corner. From distance. There was no. No curl there. Brilliant strike. A strike worthy win in any semi final. I suppose I can't help feel a little bit sorry for Southampton. A championship team who makes the semi final and they're up against second ish string Manchester City side whose second string players would walk into most Premier League teams, most top flight teams across Europe. So it's, it is a very much a Dave and Goliath thing. And Goliath won as he often does. This is now City's fourth FA cup final in a row. And while Pep is to be commended for taking the competition seriously when so many head coaches don't Manchester City have just such an advantage over everyone else. It's, it's really seems a little unfair.
- [06:25]
Max Rushden
I suppose it is a bit annoying Dan, isn't it? For the neutral that it isn't because it would have meant so much more to Southampton and Leeds. Right. And it doesn't mean, it doesn't mean anything to City or Chelsea fans. But like if you're used to something and winning trophies and they're two sides that do win trophies, then it's just not the same.
- [06:42]
Barry Glendenning
Right.
- [06:42]
Max Rushden
You can understand why City fans, you know, think actually can we afford to go down to London and get another semi final and we'll probably get to the final. Whereas for Southampton fans it's like I've got to get a ticket for love nor money.
- [06:54]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah. I think the price of football does factor into it at the moment. Manchester City have had a lot of success so they've had a lot of those big games where you, you go to Wembley or you go somewhere else and you have, you have to pay a lot of money. So there's no doubting that it would have meant more to Southampton fans because as you say, they would have done everything possible to make sure that they got their same with same with Leeds fans if, if they've managed to advance as well. It is a bit boring. Look, if Southampton had knocked out Manchester City and knocked out Arsenal in the, in the previous round as well, you've got to think that going up against anyone in the final they would a little bit of belief and it Would have been a fantastic story for a championship side to get to Wembley and have a genuine chance of, of lifting the trophy. Because as I say, that dispatched, that have dispatched the, the two best teams in the Premier League and are so close to doing it as well. I was watching the Arsenal game for my sins instead of the, instead of the, the Manchester City game and obviously keeping up with what was going on at the, at the semi final and I saw that Southampton had scored and I was like, Sam and the Southampton fans, I was like, yes, this is it. Oh my God. I said to my wife, Southampton a bit in Manchester City there. They're going to get to Wembley. The next time I look at my phone, it's 2:1. It was energy sapping and soul destroying. But I think Southampton can take a lot of heart actually from what's happened in the last few weeks into what's going to be a playoff campaign. I think they've got a massive chance of going up and playing those two huge games that they've played. I think that will bode well for them.
- [08:19]
Max Rushden
Yeah, well actually, I mean they play Ipswich in midweek and if they win that there is, and we'll get to it, an absolute bun fight for the final automatic promotion place in the Premier League. Why, Sam, were you on a ride on Moa? What were you doing as part of the ground stuff?
- [08:33]
Sam Lee
I think I've told you before, Max, that, you know, as much as I like being a football writer, I don't really like football. So anything that can get me away from writing about football and doing behind the scenes style stuff. So I had this idea of, well, can I spend the day on the ground staff somewhere? And I thought, well, why not start at the top? So I emailed Wembley and actually they welcomed me in. So I spent the full day and part of the day on Thursday sort of doing a behind the scenes piece for the Guardian, looking at what they do and they do an awful lot and stuff that you wouldn't necessarily expect. I walked in on Thursday and was greeted by a couple of falcons that they have going around weekly because Wembley is increasingly residential so they need to ward off the pigeons. And actually, rather than just having me in there sort of standing around looking awkward, they first thought, do you want to have a go mowing the pitch? And I thought they were joking.
- [09:24]
Max Rushden
Yes.
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Sam Lee
And initially I was like, no, no way I could do that. And then I thought, I can't look at myself and, and say that I was given the opportunity to mow the Wembley pitch and I Turned it down. So I have never been more nervous.
- [09:38]
Dan Bardell
Is that why there was a big cock and balls caught into the bridge?
- [09:42]
Max Rushden
Come on.
- [09:44]
Sam Lee
They let me get properly involved. So thanks to Carl and to Cam, who, you know, who is his deputy. And I'm sure he had much better things to do with his time on a work day than show me how to use a lawnmower. But they let me paint the penalty spot, so I was desperate for penalties. That would have been my penalty spot. I pinned up the sign that tells players where their designated warm up areas are. So they obviously all walk past it. And I think Manchester City are notorious. It's a semi final day. It's a bit more relaxed because there's no national anthems, there's no military on the pitch. So actually a little bit more relaxed. But getting the players off for the warm up is sometimes a little bit difficult. And the Manchester City, one of Pep's deputies likes to have a joke and he says, yeah, for the final, you won't get us off on time. You won't get us off on time. But I did a bit of divoting was out there afterwards. I was there till about 10 o' clock at night. I properly got involved divoting up and down the pitch. I didn't want to be the journalist that turns up and then, right, game's gone, got to disappear. But it was a great day and they do wonderful things and they do. They bring in students and they work with the King's Trust. They give people opportunities and ground staff from all around the country come in on match day to provide support to the seven or eight core teams. There were a couple of students who were just on the pitch. They turned up, they'd signed up, they'd got this placement at Wembley, but they didn't know what they were going to do. So if you just said to them 10 days before that they would be out on the pitch at Wembley at halftime, divoting like, you could just see the smiles on their faces and how much it went. And the final thing I should say is, wow. Putting in the goalposts. It was like this synchronized acrobatic masterpiece. I watched Lydia and Bren do it and it was like lift, counting in, flipping them over, like, no room for error there. But they get a lot of compliments for their pitch at Wembley and it was beautiful to walk on.
- [11:38]
Barry Glendenning
You like Ramesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett, but probably a more budget version for the Guardian. They've got that show where they go around and they try different things. Every time I do a show with you, you've done something quite, quite niche to do with football.
- [11:50]
Sam Lee
If anyone has can get me in to do some pre season fitness testing or I want to do a ground tour as well. I want to learn how to do a stadium tour and then take a group round and, and see what I'm like. But yeah, always open to ideas.
- [12:02]
Max Rushden
Well, the pitch looked good the next day when Chelsea beat Leeds. So well done to you Sam. Not a classic. It's a vintage Chelsea thing to have a season like this and then end up win, isn't it?
- [12:12]
Dan Bardell
No matter how basket Casey they get, they always seem to. And then no matter how many first team coaches they burn through, they always seem to come up with silverware. This wasn't a particularly good game and I think Leeds will be a bit disappointed that they didn't give a better account of themselves because we all know they can play better than they did here. Having said that, Robert Sanchez was the busier of the two goalkeepers. Lucas Perry didn't have a huge amount to do. There was very little he could do about that. Enzo Fernandez goal I think was Pascal's strike gave the ball away midfield. Chelsea went forward with Pedro Neto on the ball, his cross. James Justin possibly might have intercepted with it but he mistimed his jump and Fernandez was there to nod home. Fernandez was the standout player in the pitch. I think that speaks volumes about his character and not much of it complementary because he wasn't really trying very hard against Brighton. He didn't. He had a stinker when Chelsea got beaten by Everett and he just didn't seem to fancy playing for Lemur Sr. Daniel Fark said after the game that he thought his players were maybe a little bit nervous and overawed by the occasion. And that struck me as possibly being true. But they did have good chances. Brendan Aronson could and probably should have put them ahead and Anton Stack shot like Sanchez saved that brilliantly. So I think if Leeds had got a goal, especially if they'd got that early one through Aronson, it could have been a whole different ball game. But as it was they, they didn't really show up.
- [13:50]
Max Rushden
Yeah. And actually that, that Sancho say from Aronson is also brilliant, isn't it?
- [13:53]
Sam Lee
Because.
- [13:54]
Max Rushden
Because even though it's not in the corner and he perhaps he should score, he's not got any time to get his foot down to that. And Mark Bosnich, when I worked with him, he'd always say talk a lot about if the ball is quite close to you, obviously you can get your foot there quicker than your hand. And some of the best keepers, like David De Gea is really well known for like getting his feet to those kind of chances. So well done to Robert Sanchez. And there is a story there, Dan, about player power and, and Chelsea. And I suppose I take what Barry says, but I guess part of being a manager is getting players to play for you and if they won't, then you're not the right person to be the manager. Whether that's, whether that's, you know, a criticism of the players as well, that is just the truth of it.
- [14:32]
Barry Glendenning
Look, it's not just Chelsea. It happens. It's happened at many big clubs previously. It's actually happened at Chelsea a few times. There's that famous banner about Fabregas and Hazard that was unfold at Stamford Bridge. I forget which manager it was but you know, it is a, it is a trending theme when a manager leaves. Suddenly the next game players turn up. I saw a clip of Wayne Rooney this morning talking about it happening at Club C. Was that so it's a, it's a trend in football. Chelsea turned up but, you know, they weren't absolutely fantastic, were they? It wasn't like they came out and Buster got to win that game. I think they just did the basics better than maybe they did with Liam. Racini actually tried to defend, which was an improvement on the Brighton game the week before. Fernandez was the, I say the best player on the pitch, but it wasn't a high bar. But I thought his role was quite interesting. He was covering off to the left quite a lot when Garnacho was pushing up. Because let's face it, Garnacho isn't going to work very hard the, the other way. And I think what we saw from the game towards the end of Messenia's tenure, there's a massive drop off when Joe Pedro doesn't play and Liam Delaps up front for Chelsea and they just look a better side when Joao Pedro's there. And if you look at the goal, he, you know, he's very good at dropping deep, but he kind of just halts his run, which creates the space then for Enzo Fernandez to ghost in, which he's very good at and, and get the goal. I just, I. I wanted Leeds to, to get through. I think Leeds have been a. Been a really, really good watch this season. I think Daniel Farke has recovered like a, a pretty untenable position at one point. Really, really well and they're going to stay up comfortably and I think he's probably in the top three or four managers of the season for me. So I wanted leads to Leeds to win. But I think they'll look back and think they probably didn't really do themselves justice on. On the big occasion. Which can happen because those Chelsea players are more used to the big occasion.
- [16:17]
Max Rushden
Yeah. It's worth saying well done to Callum McFarlane who said it was the greatest moment of his career. And he comes from, you know, a family of Chelsea fans and his thrust into this role that he's had before and wins an FA cup semi final. So good for him. Should be the Premier League then. Arsenal beating Newcastle 1 nil. So they have 73 from 34 games man. City 70 from 33. Arsenal played next as well before City play. So they could be six points clear. It was one of those Arsenal score one goal from a set piece then keep a clean sheet games remember from the start of the season. They are back. Although Sam, it was a different kind
- [16:51]
Sam Lee
of set piece from a Newcastle perspective. You look at it and go where's the defenders? Because you give Everett yesterday. I think they said on match today that he scored the most goals from outside the box since like 2022. So to give him that kind of space. But it was. It was smart because it looked like Newcastle were set up for that usual pack. Well they were definitely were set up for that pack. The penalty box. Get in and around the goalkeeper set piece. And they just. They'd done it. There maybe been a warning sign just beforehand. But it came so early. It was a brilliant finish. Another set piece goal as you say. And I just well felt a little bit for the Arsenal fans that must have been agony to sit there and. And hang on to that with the Newcastle had a couple of chances as well. So like oh the. The nerves and we said it before and the tension. They are not making it easy. They are not a comfortable watch at the moment. Arsenal.
- [17:43]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I suppose what was funny Baz, I don't know if you noticed this and I had to watch it again this morning because I didn't. I thought it happened and I wasn't sure. It's like the second time they did that short corner. So AS has already had a go which shows that Newcastle should be wise to it. But the second time they did short corner. Quite a lot of Arsenal fans groaned or sort of not quite booed but were like we're not up for this. And then it. And then as a scores this absolutely brilliant Goal.
- [18:06]
Dan Bardell
Yeah. Well I think Arsenal had decided. You know Newcastle are physically big team who are. And Arsenal decided to try something different. Because they thought Newcastle might have their measure with high balls coming in. So as you both pointed out. Newcastle were given a warning as they shot wide. And then they didn't heed the warning. And he put his next one in the top corner. It was not a particularly good Arsenal performance. And Newcastle had chances. And the pick of them fell to Johan Whisse. An inform. Firing Johan Whistler scores that one. And it finishes 1:1. And Arsenal. Oh that would have been a disastrous result for Arsenal. But he didn't. And they got the three points. I think they can go six points clearer before. Did he play again. So it was a good result. But yeah. Arsenal really putting their fans through the ring. I think they're running is conspicuously easier on paper at least than. Than Manchester City.
- [19:13]
Max Rushden
The Volta Marta passed to to whistle was so good. It's of what he can do. And I don't know how simple the wishes. I like the Asula miss kick as well. Just touches his standing leg. And then he just falls over. Here's a question. Sam. Carrie says. If all the teams fighting relegation start picking up points. Should Newcastle start worrying? They've lost four in a row. They've got Brighton Forest, West Ham and Fulham. I mean they could lose all. I mean I'm saying this with obviously amazing amounts of hope. And the idea that Tottenham will win all their games. But are you. Is it like 1% of you that's nervous about relegation?
- [19:48]
Sam Lee
No. Just about got enough. I mean these in looking back now. There was that injury time winner in the 43 at home against Leeds. And the one Willas who scored against Manchester United. And I know you could do this all day long. Right. But if you take those two sure out of it. You're in real trouble. I think that I'm not going to talk at length about Newcastle's problems and all of that. Because I could be here all day. But. But what is telling is that it is realistic that aside like Nottingham Forest for example who have been. They've changed managers a couple of times. They've been talking about fighting relegation the whole season. They could well finish above Newcastle. I think Newcastle could slip further behind. Newcastle still have to go to Nottingham Forest. It just looks like some. As we saw in November. They're just real issues with Newcastle. They haven't worked out how they were better at Arsenal. But the bar was so low they. They spent all this money. The front three on Saturday for Newcastle was Willock, Asula and Jacob Murphy. And that's the kind of thing you'd expect in the FA cup third round. But not when you spent a couple hundred million pounds on forward players. And they get up. They were better because they get up for the good teams. He dropped Lewis hall brought down burning. I am going into Newcastle. The short answer is no. Not about relegation. But they could easily finish below sides like Leeds and Nottingham Forest who have been fighting relegation all season. And I think that is telling about the direction Newcastle are in and how it's very difficult to see a way out without big change.
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Barry Glendenning
Do you feel Sam that at the moment Eddie Howe is almost distancing himself from the summer business with that lineup to leave Valtomada, Visser and Elanga on the bench who all cost a lot of money in the summer. Gia most fail. He's trying to distance himself from that summer business and say this season it's. It's not on me.
- [21:40]
Sam Lee
Big old mess last summer. And he ended up basically being in charge of recruitment. Having come out and said that we need to act fast. They then lost Paul Mitchell. He really pushed for Alanga. Elanga is very much in. Eddie Howe signing. They were there for a couple of years. Doesn't seem to know how to use Volta Marder. It's just playing him in midfield. He's become the scapegoat. Particularly in the press. Oh it's like whatever happens it's Nick Voltimar's fault and they can't keep a clean sheet. They're going to lose players. Trippy is going to go. Shadow's going to go. They're going to lose a couple of big players over the summer. So yeah, they're probably going to have to have eight or nine changes in that squad. But looking back at last summer, it's difficult for him to distance. Just feels like they'd written the season off in the Premier League and it's just treading water and they've done that from about 10 or 12 games to go. So yeah, I don't know where it goes next. I think big they've got a Pete. They've got a summit at Matthew and Hall, the really nice Hogwartsy hotel that Barcelona stayed in where Piff actually fly over and they do it every year and it's all presentations and things. But I think a big thing will be made of that. They could do with a bit of. They could do with making a decision coming out and saying right, Eddie Howe is either going to go in the summer, or we're going to back him and keep him, because I think there's just this limbo at the moment that is not healthy for anyone.
- [23:01]
Max Rushden
All right, that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll do the relegation dogfight.
- [23:09]
Barry Glendenning
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [23:17]
Nikayla Matthews Akomay
If you've ever dreamed of quitting your job to take your side hustle full time, listen up. This is Nikayla Matthews Akome, host of Side Hustle Pro, a podcast that helps you build and grow from passion project to profitable business business. Every week you'll hear from guests just like you who wanted to start a business on the side. If you can't run a side hustle, you can't run a business. They share real tips and so I started connecting with all these people on LinkedIn and I saw Target supplier diversity was having office hours. Real advice. Procrastination is the easiest form of resistance. And the actual strategies they use to turn their side hustle into their main hustle. Getting back in touch with your tangible cash and sitting down and learning to give your money a job like it changes something. Check outside Hustle Pro every week on your favorite podcast app and YouTube.
- [24:07]
Sam Lee
Acast helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.
- [24:23]
Max Rushden
Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So the bottom of the table looks like this. Wolves and Burnley are down. Tottenham are 18th on 34. West Ham have 36. And then if you include them, Forest 39, Leeds 40 and Newcastle 42. Come on, the more teams, the more the merrier, everyone. And a real roller coaster, Dan, especially for, you know, West Ham fans. 80 minutes into these games at 3 o', clock, they're winning. Spurs are drawing, then spurs score, then Everton score. Spurs are out of the relegation zone before Callum Wilson scores an injury time. How big do you think that Callum Wilson goal is?
- [24:56]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, it feels like one of those pivotal weekends, doesn't it? Why did much of the day not do that thing where they play the two games at the same time and between. And can that only be done on the last day of the season? Like, is it reserved for that? Because I was fully expecting. Expecting that.
- [25:09]
Max Rushden
That's what we're doing right now, isn't it?
- [25:11]
Barry Glendenning
We're doing unbelievable. From you, Max.
- [25:14]
Max Rushden
Thanks.
- [25:15]
Barry Glendenning
And when Tottenham, when Tottenham scored and Everton equalized, you thought as a, you're not going to like this, but as someone who is like a neutral in the relegation. Well, I'm not really neutral in the relegation battle. I would like Tottenham to get relegated. I think it would be fascinating for a so called big six team to be operating in the championship. So that's what I want to happen. That two, three minute spell when, when Tottenham scored and Everton equalized, I was crestfallen. And you know, Tottenham, the Tottenham fans must have been thinking at that point, oh my God, things have turned. This is it. This is the moment that we've been waiting for, for then Callum Wilson to pop up and, and score that goal. That's got to be energy sapping for everyone involved at Tottenham. The players, the, the manager, the fans. Because, because you've won. And look, it's the, it's the first time Tottenham have won in 20, 26. So it's, it's a big moment. But if you'd have won and West Ham had dropped points and you're out the relegation zone, the whole mood feels completely different. As it happens now. Spurs have won, but nothing's changed. They're still in that bottom three. West Ham have won. Nottingham Forest have, have won. So you, you do feel like that really could have been a pivotal moment for Spurs. And I think it is, but not in the way that you'd hope.
- [26:24]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I mean, Wilson does really well. I think Barry, like, like, you know, it's, it's, it's not, it's not the hardest finish, but he does take it very calmly considering, very calmly.
- [26:36]
Dan Bardell
Placed it very precisely into the gap. On another day he might have smashed it over the bar like into the stand. So I think he deserves a lot of credit for that finish given the lateness of the hour and the circumstances in which he, he scored it. How much is at stake?
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Max Rushden
Yeah, eight goals in nine games against Everton for, for Callum Wilson, it's an
- [27:00]
Sam Lee
amazing arc he's had within this year because West Ham fans had turned against him. Free signing that I was at the game. They lost to Brentford. They got battered at home and Wilson was left on the bench. He didn't start. And then they brought a young lad on whose squad number was in the 50s or 60s ahead of Callum Wilson and they went to Wolves and they lost. Wolves's first win. And it was all this talk about how Wilson, they're basically going to rip his contract up. He was going to leave on a free. I don't think he played the following week against Forest, but he came on, he scored the winner against spurs, didn't he? Yeah, he was on last for like one minute.
- [27:32]
Max Rushden
That is an enormous goal now.
- [27:33]
Sam Lee
Yeah, exactly. So actually he's going to turn in at Christmas or January. They're writing him off thinking, oh, what a terrible signing. And actually he having scored those two goals now, if they could, if they keep West Ham up. Wow, what a free signing he's turned out to be.
- [27:47]
Max Rushden
And Suchek Dan, like, he scored a good header, but his header to stop Tierno. Barry's header is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, I don't know how much he knows about it, but you got to react a bit. That's an extraordinary clearance.
- [28:02]
Barry Glendenning
He's a such a bizarre player, isn't he? Suchet? Because you watch him and it looks like he can't move. Sometimes you watch a footballer and think, that might be how I look if. If I. If I'm on the football pitch. It happens occasionally with Premier League goalkeepers and I think sue checks the Su Chek's another one. But my God, he's got a. Got a big moment in him. The amount of important goals he scored for that, that football club. And you know, that's as. As good as a goal, isn't it, that. That clearance Forest the same on Friday. They're used to having a talisman. I think they've got three or four contenders that could be the ones to keep them up. And then Spurs. I know this isn't what you asked me, you know, it felt like it might be Xavi Simons and he goes off. He goes off injured and I don't think he can play again for. For the rest of this, the season. Like everything is pointing towards that. Those other two clubs are going to be able to galvanize themselves and get themselves to stay up and Tottenham might galvanize themselves to get kind of a few wins, but I think the other two might do the same, which, if that happens, I suppose it could drag
- [29:01]
Max Rushden
more teams into it. I think Everton did deserve something from this game. Barry. I don't think I'm. I'm being myopic about this. You know, they could have had a penal sort of odd moment. Yeah. And they had some really good chances as well.
- [29:14]
Dan Bardell
Yeah, I think they should have had a penalty for that Matthias Fernandez handball when he had his arms around Barry. Down with the byline. Maybe they deserve something. They didn't get anything. I think you're just delaying the inevitable.
- [29:25]
Max Rushden
Spurs chat let's have it. Let's have it, Barry. No, so, I mean, I suppose that's the point is they. They hadn't won for 118 days in the Premier League. Their first win of 2026 and obviously, like if you can't beat Wolves, fair enough. But Wolves last three games were beating Villa, beating Liverpool and drawing with Arsenal at home. So like it. It isn't. It isn't like ridiculous to suggest it's. It's not worthy getting this win. So I guess the question is just like how much of it can this lead to some psychological change or they've got Solanke and Simmons injured and everyone else is winning, so it doesn't matter at all.
- [30:04]
Dan Bardell
Look, the win was crucial, but it was far from convincing. I think Wolves probably deserve something from this game. Kinski had to make two good saves, one of them outstanding from Joao Gomez in one of the last kicks of the game. Good to see him back on track after the Atletico Madrid fiasco. The first half was totally uneventful, but for Dominic Solanke going off with a hamstring injury, which you would presume will rule him out for the remaining games. And then the second half they lost Xavi Simmons and he's. It's since emerged. What most suspected he's done is acl. So he's gone for the rest of the season and he missed the World Cup. That's sad for him but. So the only positive, and it is a massive positive for spurs on the day was the fact that they managed to crawl over the line against the the Premier League's bottom side. I don't think Leeds are safe. Everyone's presuming that because they've got 40 points, they're safe. I'm not so sure about that. I think they might need a couple more, but.
- [31:06]
Max Rushden
Yeah, well, I mean I think you say that, but if you look at the fixtures and we'll do Forest win in a second. Leeds do have Burnley at home next and that feels like a win.
- [31:16]
Dan Bardell
And then they also have to play West Ham and Spurs.
- [31:19]
Max Rushden
They do, yeah. And Brighton. So. So, so spurs have to go to Villa and hopefully Villa will lie down in between the Europa League semi finals against Forest. Home to Leeds, away to Chelsea at some point and then home to Everton. West Ham go to Brentford. Home to Arsenal, away to Newcastle, Home to Leeds and Forest go to Chelsea. Home to Newcastle. Away to Man United. Home to Bournemouth. I suppose it's a. It's a case, Sam, that, you know, lots of teams in the Premier League are good. Like you could make a case for all those sides losing all those games. Pretty much.
- [31:51]
Sam Lee
There aren't many meaningless games in the Premier League left as a lot of those sides they're going to. Even the ones that you would get inverted Commas go sort of mid table. Actually. They're still fighting to be in Europe, you know, Everton, last day of the season. Spurs have got Bournemouth, so there's, there's a lot to play for. They haven't. It's probably Newcastle and Crystal palace just about the. I haven't, I've not got the table in front of me. But other teams that you are just sort of already meandering towards the summer. I just, I can't see spurs getting out of it now. It just feels. No, I bring it back to Newcastle, but it feels like that Newcastle side of 09 where all these star names but just not a team. And as Dan has already said, the other sides are showing something and showing a bit of fight and a bit of togetherness. And spurs have got players who know they won't be there next season regardless. And all right, they'll play and they'll celebrate and. Yeah, but it's a long way out and as Dan says, I'll have a smile on my face if it does happen.
- [32:54]
Max Rushden
Yeah, I mean, you say teams are showing togetherness. Nottingham Forest. Barry, on Friday night, I didn't see this game live. I woke up and saw the score. I was like, you've got to be kidding me. This is ridiculous. 5 nil win, 4 nil up after 40 minutes, including 3 in 6 minutes. As you were saying, you know, teams are invested in Tottenham getting relegated. Would you include Sunderland in that?
- [33:15]
Dan Bardell
I'm not sure what Tottenham have done to upset Sunderland, but they really seem to have it in for them. They beat them and then total capitulation against Forest. They conceded pretty much the same goal twice either side of Robin Roofs gifting Forrest their second goal. So that's them three nil down in jig time. Igor, Jesus put makes it 4 nil by halftime. Sunderland fans start streaming for the exits of the stadium alight. And who can blame them, to be honest, Friday night, Would you rather be in the pub or watching that Drake? But Regis the Bri said afterwards, when you drop Your standards by 10%, your opponents can kill you. And I would say it was being extremely kind to suggest Sunderland had only dropped her standards by 10%. It was an absolutely abysmal performance. I'll be honest. I wouldn't have minded Sunderland losing that game. But to get absolutely thumped like that was, was not good. They were pitiful. You can only beat what's in front of you. And Nottingham Forest made extremely short work of what was in front of them.
- [34:27]
Max Rushden
Adam says Morgan Gibbs White hitting forward for goals and Assists for Forest and Cole Palmer struggling with fitness and form with Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham being Thomas Siegel's preferred players for 10. Should he be considering Gibbs White for the squad? Especially as he seems to be more adept at playing on the wings as well as the 10 providing greater tactical flexibility off the bench whereas Palmer seems to be less creative from the wings. I don't know what you think Dan.
- [34:48]
Barry Glendenning
I think it would come down to and I think he's got a shout when it's a 26 man squad and as, as that that man said, you know it's, it's Rogers and Rogers and Bellingham are the two main candidates for that position. Would Gibbs White be a better traveler in being in the squad but not playing than Cole Palmer? I think that gets factored into to selection sometimes. I think that's why Trent's not getting selected because I think Tuchel thinks if he's not going to play I don't want him in that, in that 26 man squad as, as a backup player that's not really going to get on the pitch because he's too kind of big a player. If he thinks that with, with Palmer versus versus Gibbs. What I think gives Water's got a chance. He's. He's a fantastic player. Gives. Well, I think he's, he's something different as well in terms of the energy and the work. Right. That he brings. So I guess it comes down to how Tuco's gonna, gonna measure that that 26 man selection.
- [35:35]
Dan Bardell
Cole Palmer has not had a good season at all. His standards, very high standards have, have dropped also. A lot more than 10%. You know, we know how good he can be but he hasn't shown it for a long time.
- [35:51]
Max Rushden
Yeah, and fitness as well. Anyway, we can discuss the England squad ad nauseam when the season's done. Who will be the third choice? Left back. Right. We'll be back in a second.
- [36:04]
Sam Lee
What makes a leader worth following?
- [36:05]
Max Rushden
What should you really care about in your job?
- [36:08]
Dan Bardell
As technology is changing so quickly, is
- [36:10]
Sam Lee
it just gonna be about machines talking to other machines? I mean, should you quit your job and start something on your own? What would that take?
- [36:16]
Max Rushden
What does success and risk look like
- [36:19]
Sam Lee
when we're all at the starting gate together? These are the questions we answer each week on Lead Human with Jack Myers and Tim Spengler.
- [36:26]
Dan Bardell
Join us each week and subscribe at your favorite podcast platform and YouTube.
- [36:31]
Max Rushden
We'll tell stories, we'll hear from some
- [36:33]
Sam Lee
of the best and we'll try to figure this out together.
- [36:46]
Max Rushden
Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Liverpool beat Palace 31 in that Champions League race. Three sides have 58 points. Man United, Liverpool and Villa. Man United have a game in hand. That's against Brentford tonight. Looking pretty comfortable And I think if Villa win the Europa League then 6th place gets the into the Champions League as well. Which could make it very interesting for.
- [37:06]
Barry Glendenning
If they finish fifth.
- [37:07]
Max Rushden
If they finish.
- [37:08]
Barry Glendenning
I don't know why that is. It's only if they finish fifth. Yeah.
- [37:11]
Max Rushden
Okay. So if they finish fifth then it does make it interesting for your Bournemouths and your Brentfords. Etc. Liverpool beat Palace 3 1. Dan, what did you make of this one?
- [37:19]
Barry Glendenning
Probably the kind of comfortable afternoon they could have done Anfield through other points during the season. That's probably one of the things that's. That's let them down. It's starting to feel a little bit like a a farewell tour for. For Salah and Andy Robertson isn't it? Who we all know are going to depart at the end of the season. In fairness when Andy Robertson went through on goal and finished all that was missing was the. The number 11 on his back. Really what wasn't he with like Mo Salah driving towards Golem and putting it in the. In in the bottom corner. Salah got subbed in there with it with a little injury. Hopefully you know that for his sake and for Liverpool fans sake as well. That isn't his good box. I think he probably does well. He definitely deserves a proper send off. But I think palace in all fairness they've got their eyes on.
- [37:59]
Max Rushden
On.
- [37:59]
Barry Glendenning
On other things right now haven't haven't they? They're not going to qualify through Europe through the league. So I think it's. It's all in on the Conference League and trying to get themselves into the Europa League which is a competition they believe they should have been in this season and the chance to win two trophies in. In two seasons as well for. For Oliver Glasner. So yeah just a comfy afternoon's work for Liverpool.
- [38:17]
Max Rushden
Although Freddie Woodman had had to make some saves to be. To be fair Sam I guess being third keeper is. That was like a journalistic exploit for you. Soon I imagine if you write to any every Premier League club someone will let you be third keeper and that's a. But that's a nice story isn't it? Freddie Woodman coming in and playing well
- [38:32]
Sam Lee
Yeah I did go in and do. I was with Tom Heaton as Manchester United's third choice keeper. So I've done that one Last you've already done it.
- [38:38]
Max Rushden
Oh for us.
- [38:39]
Sam Lee
My apologies being and done I haven't.
- [38:40]
Max Rushden
I enjoyed that piece so much.
- [38:42]
Sam Lee
Freddie Woodman, great story because it was interesting move from him because he was. He was at Newcastle as a kid and his dad was. Is on the coaching stuff. His dad just got promoted with Bromley. I think he's Gareth Southgate's godson actually or something like that. He went out and had had a couple of brilliant loan spells in the championship with Swansea. They finished in the playoffs and he played a couple of games for Newcastle I think at the start of 21, 22 and he didn't look quite look ready and he left and he went to Preston as number one. Three seasons there to actually play and then he moved in the summer to Liverpool and it was a bit of a surprise and you think oh he's never going to get a game. But I think you have to back yourself in those. In that situation. You take the chance to have that move and just not hope you get a chance. Not wishing ill upon anyone else. And yet he makes a really good save as well for the one just before Robertson ends up scoring and it's a break from a Freddie Woodman save. And so that was a key intervention from him really. So I don't know how many more games he'll play when Alisson's due back. Inevitably I think whenever, like whenever Woodman made a save they sort of cut to Alisson on the sideline to see the other goalkeepers reaction but. But lovely for him to get a chance. He's what, 28 now? So in theory coming into peak goalkeeping years. So who knows for him. But there was another controversial moment involving him a little bit later on. Wasn't there when he was made a save and was down injured. So I don't think we can really call him a at fault for the Crystal palace goal.
- [40:12]
Max Rushden
No, no, he's 29. He was 28 until he was 29 but he's now. Okay, 2029. Should Munoz have been gone full Ducanio and just you know, passed it back to him and then you know, gave him some grapes and caressed his head.
- [40:28]
Dan Bardell
No, I think Munaz did the right thing. Score into the empty net which probably a little more difficult than he made it look. But it's his job to put the ball in the net and let everyone fight about it and argue about the niceties of it afterwards. I don't think he did anything wrong at all. Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Kanate and Curtis Jones Were all standing near the goal line but none of them thought to stand on the goal line and they might have been able to head it clear. But yeah, nothing wrong with it. And I don't know why Ernest Slot was apoplectic on the touchline because I'm sure in the call light today he would have no problem if one of his players did the exact same thing in similar circumstances. It did look as if Woodman had like hurt himself quite badly. So I wonder if he will be fit to play in Liverpool's next game. And if he isn't, who the hell gets.
- [41:22]
Max Rushden
Who's the number four keeper? It's my Mike Cooper or Sam. Yeah. Or Peggy. Arfax said Fulham beat Villa one nil. Dan, you know what the one moment from this game that that gets lost in all the football that happened was the bit of skill that Tammy Abraham did to fashion the chance before he ballooned it over was unbelievable. Like. Like how he turned his man there. Like he had no right to do that. And if he scores will people. People would be talking about this goal. But I want to talk about that bit of skill because I thought it
- [41:52]
Barry Glendenning
was great 10 minute time because I think every time he comes on here he only gets 10 minutes. Unfortunately after he did that majestic piece of skill as was Villa's way throughout the whole game and they did present themselves with a chance. He's fired it over the roof of Craven Cottage. So yeah it will get lost but Tommy's a good player obviously scored the winner against Sunderland last week. Unfortunately for him, Watkins has hit a little bit of form although he was. He missed a chance at the. The weekend as well. So he hasn't had much football but a nice reminder of. Of what he can do. Some, some footwork but just a game to forget for Villa really. Credit to Fulham. I think the game plan worked and they kind of snuffed snuffed Villa out. Villa had to rely on moments of individualism to. To create a chance. And when they did, as I say that the shooting was. Was very very wayward. A little bit of a. I think personally that Villa have got one eye on on Thursday but before the game and we spoke about wanting to finish third and wanting to finish as high as possible every time Villa have had the chance to do something like that. This is season they've lost or not won the game. So that's a little bit frustrating. I think Villa probably need one more win to make absolutely sure and we've got to play Burnley which is, you know anyone who's playing Burnley. Everyone says that's three points I think from to bring it back to Tottenham again. Max, I think you could have probably done with Villa beating Fulham because they may be sandwiched in between those two Europa games. They would have. Would have been leeway for Villa not to turn up and lose. Now I think Emil just want to get another three points on the board as soon as possible and you know that that probably needs to be sunder.
- [43:27]
Max Rushden
How are you feeling about the. The Forest game and how are you feeling about the sort of. Do you feel there is a sort of enough of an excitement in English football about an all English semi final? Because it's not, you know, two fancy down London teams. These are two big really historical sides and it's sort of. I don't know if it probably isn't lost to you, but it feels like people aren't really talking about this as a, you know, a must see event.
- [43:51]
Barry Glendenning
Maybe if Arsenal weren't still in the Champions League and there was no, no English representation in the Champions League maybe it would be getting a bit more fanfare than, than what it's been getting. But you're two, two perfect teams really to, to have that kind of game. Two teams that have, have won the big trophy in the, in the past, I think. I mean it's a West Midlands v East Midlands but it's a, it's a Midlands derby as well. And it's you know, two sets of fans that haven't won a trophy for an awfully long time. Forest even, even longer than Villa. I don't even know when they would have last won a trophy. So it's a massive moment for both teams I think. I actually think, you know, look, Villa are way higher than Forest in the league. I actually think it's a little bit of a leveler it being two, two English teams against each other as well. And Villa haven't won in, in. In the Premier League away from home since January 25th. So Villa's away record against English teams isn't brilliant. So if Forest turn up and, and have a good go in that first leg with the fan base that I know will absolutely get behind them, I think they can, they can take something to Villa part to protect and at that point I think maybe it becomes difficult for Villa. So I think it's a really, really intriguing battle and you know, I'd urge people to tune in because I think it'll be a massive occasion.
- [45:02]
Max Rushden
So to fit by corner then. It was a fascinating weekend. Hearts have 73 points from 34, Celtic 70 from 34 and Rangers 69 from 34. Hart beat Hibbs 21 yesterday. It was some game, Baz. I mean it was sort of extraordinary. Well, you can talk us through it
- [45:20]
Dan Bardell
just in the build up to this game. Celtic had beaten Falkirk 31 on the Saturday. Then Rangers lost 32 at home to Motherwell, which I suspect their fans that was a result they did not see. Comments. So Hearts go into this game against Hibs at Hibs, their Edinburgh rivals, bitter Edinburgh rivals. Knowing that a win is crucial, Hibbs promptly go a goal up through Martin Boyle, then lose their goalkeeper Rayfield Salinger to a red card. I was thinking actually if he was playing in a wheat field, would Salinger be the catcher in the rye?
- [46:00]
Max Rushden
But anyway, anyway he did. Unfortunately he caught it out of the field because yes, his hands, his feet were in the box but his hands couldn't have been further out of the box box when he caught it.
- [46:10]
Dan Bardell
He lost another man to a red card when Felix Paslak was sent off for a second yellow shortly after halftime. And then Hart's made very heavy weather of beating the nine men. Lawrence Shanklin pulled the first one back and then Blair Spittle who is one of the most Scottish sounding footballers of all time, he drove home a pullback to win it for them with four minutes of added time remaining. So it could be an absolutely critical derby win for Hartford.
- [46:40]
Max Rushden
But yeah, you could see the relief on the Hearts. Oh yeah, just ah, and it took a quite a big deflection actually. Both goals were pretty jammy and you were like ah, you know, maybe it is their time because that Rangers result was, I mean shocking wasn't? They were 2 nil down at home to Motherwell, got it back to 2:2 and then conceded the 90th minute. And you could hear the silence eyebrox. It was, it was deafening.
- [47:04]
Dan Bardell
Pirates have to play Celtic on the last day of the season. After games against Motherwell and Falkirk, Celtic and Rangers still have to play each other. So it's all very, very much up
- [47:14]
Max Rushden
for grab still in Scotland to the National League. Then Chris says, please do part one on Rochdale. York Oliver says, how do we go about hanging the last 14 minutes of Rochdale v York in the Louvre? Is that the best, most courageous lines person decision ever? Should we just retire football as a sport? It's peaked an absolutely ridiculous end to the National League. Ahead of the game, York were on 107 points. Rochdale were on 105. So York went to Rochdale knowing that a point would Be enough. And it's nil. Nil going to the 95th minute, at which point Rochdale score a beautiful goal. The cross is absolutely glorious. It's a great header. And there is a pitch invasion from the Rochdale fans and an understandable one. The game's not finished, so probably don't do it, but you kind of understand why. But that means there's so much, much added time. In 103rd minute, York score the scrappiest goal. It probably crosses the line like the, but you don't know. And then like, it's very hard to see, but they all run off and it's just total panda pandemonium. I don't know. Like, the local BBC commentary is unbelievable. Like the, the footage on Instagram has, has had like millions and millions of views of both the Rochdale goal and the York goal. So Rochdale finished 106 and are not promoted Yorker into the Football League. It is Dan. It's just absolutely extraordinary.
- [48:38]
Barry Glendenning
I mean, I don't know how to begin to, to describe it. He's probably best people just go and listen to that, to that BBC commentary because that will do it full justice. Anything I say won't be able to, but I feel like not probably to this extreme, you get to this point in the season in the leagues that me personally, I don't watch much of at all. If, if any. I feel like this kind of game with the, with the permutations, I feel like it happens quite, quite a lot. I could be wrong here, but I feel like not to this extreme. There's definitely been stuff like this before.
- [49:08]
Max Rushden
Yes. I mean, it feels Jimmy Glassy. I, I, I was, I don't know anyone else thinks. I, I feel like for it to go down in history, you need the net to bulge. I know it doesn't need to, but like, just as a purist, I want to see the net bulging in that moment because there's just a bit of, you know, I think everyone thinks it did cross the line, but I mean, maybe that is, that is Sam, I guess, splitting hairs, isn't it?
- [49:31]
Sam Lee
No, I'm, I'm with you. I think it's because it gives you that little hesitation. You don't just go bang straight into pure emotion. It's that, that little, little hesitation. But yeah, I mean, to go down to that last day and to be those two teams playing each other after 90 minutes of probably what was pretty nervous, hard to watch football, how Rochdale pick themselves up now and do it in the playoffs, I mean, that is a massive blow. It gives further Weight to the argument of there being more than one up from the National League. It's happened a couple of times. I think. Notts county finished behind Wrexham, didn't they? With 100 plus points. But they did go up in the playoffs. York themselves had a really good season last year. Finished second, lost to Oldham in the playoff semi finals. They sacked their manager at the start of the season. Your poor Adam Hinscherwood. I think after four games they were unbeaten but they'd drawn three of them. So they got rid of him. He weirdly went went and got promoted with Worthing. So he got promotions with two clubs this year. He'll be in the National League next year. But spare a thought for Yeovil fans sliding doors moment. Because the Ugla family a couple of years ago had agreed a takeover. Yeovil had this owner who wasn't very popular. They'd agreed everything and the Ugla family were pumping cash into it to the extent that he was. They were taking all the decisions that they were asked in about March, do you own the club now? So it's not fair. We can't call us owners but we are custodians. But that deal fell through in the end. I'm not exactly sure what happened but they put some money in. They should have been owners of Yeovil Town. Basically. Yeovil went down into the National League and but for that deal going through, York would never have seen the Ugla family and looks what's happened now.
- [51:14]
Max Rushden
Maybe the ugly family just love the Jorvik Viking center and that's it. That, that, that that forced their decision.
- [51:20]
Dan Bardell
There was some great pictures going around of assorted members of the York team out drinking, celebrating, still in full kit.
- [51:30]
Sam Lee
Yes.
- [51:31]
Max Rushden
The difference between being able to go out in full kit and get absolutely larrapped or basically do a proper warm down because you've got to play the playoffs in a couple of weeks. Just so much, isn't it? Matt says hi Max, Barry and the gang. I know I'm preaching to the converted, I. E. Legacy football fans. But even after traveling from Vancouver to see Rochdale suffer the mother of all sucker punches from a goal that can't be proven to be over the line. It probably was.
- [51:55]
Nikayla Matthews Akomay
Was.
- [51:55]
Max Rushden
And even after a premature pitch invasion that may have cost us the league title, I still wouldn't swap it for situation in which VAR was being used and it had somehow helped us win the game. Both sets of fans got to celebrate the goals based on the huge occasion it was without having to wait five minutes for decisions that may not have been based on any conclusive evidence. I hope everyone enjoyed the National League drama. Matt and now longer suffering Rochdale fan in Vancouver. Good for you going all that way Matt and good luck in the playoffs.
- [52:22]
Barry Glendenning
They have to stay down longer now because of the, because of the players.
- [52:25]
Max Rushden
Well, because they finished second I think it takes quite a long time. There's quite a lot of teams in the playoffs and actually just on that 3Up campaign. But we spoke, I spoke to the chairman of Rochdale on the radio on Saturday and him, York and Rochdale both put out a statement saying whoever goes up we are both going to support 3Up because clearly you know, the teams at the top of the conference are as good as the teams in mid table League two and they often go straight up or they, they challenge for the playoffs. But also it creates this sort of bottleneck at the top of the national makes the National League a kind of ridiculous sort of a bit Premier Leaguey in the difference between the top and the bottom because there are just four or five teams like I think the other teams who are third and fourth and fifth, Carlisle and Scunthorp and a couple of others. They've got like 85, 90 odd points, you know, so it's, it sort of creates a sort of slightly ridiculous division. I suppose the only argument against it is, you know, it should be you should have to really earn the right to get into the football league. But, but you know I, you know, I can't see it happening because if you're elite 2 club you're not going to vote for more opportunities to get relegated. You're just not going to do it anyway. John says, I know you're all about football but should we note the achievement of Ethiopian Yomif Kej? Ela who broke the world record in the London Marathon with a time of 1:59:41 which is only the second time ever for a sub two hour in a true marathon race. But he came second by 11 seconds. Does, does that make him the arsenal of marathon runners? Barry, your Athlet correspondent.
- [53:52]
Dan Bardell
I didn't think we'd ever see a two hour marathon. Well I probably did in recent years but years ago I was. The thought of it was ludicrous. It's up there with the four minute mile, isn't it? But I reckon our producer Joel can probably bang out 4 minute miles at the drop of a hat these days. He didn't look too devastated, you know, he was well beaten but he still, he's got his sub Two hour marathon. He's the Buzz Aldrin of marathon running, isn't it?
- [54:21]
Max Rushden
That's true, but you know, 11 seconds over a marathon and it doesn't feel like well beaten to me, but you know, well done to them. Pete says Difficult weekly. I'm a longtime listener and first time emailer. On Sunday morning, I ran into Barry outside Stockwell tube. It being marathon day, I asked jokingly whether he'd be running. He rightly gave it short shrift and asked why I was loitering outside Stockwell station. I explained I was supporting my friend George in his first marathon since his last attempt in Amsterdam a few years ago, which by all accounts was a complete nightmare, where he fainted halfway through crew before being revived in a Red Cross tent by a kind old Dutch lady offering him Bovril. I explained that ever since then he's harbored an ambition of running a sub four hour marathon. Barry wished him the best of luck while also questioning his sanity. I'm delighted to report that George snuck in at 3 hours and 56. Not the only miracle, as his wife Hattie gave birth shortly before race day. Oh, congratulations to you. I'd be delighted if Barry could offer congratulations to George. I'm sure it's all he's been thinking about since our chance encounter. All the best, Pete. So we'd like to say congratulations to George Barry.
- [55:20]
Dan Bardell
Yeah, it's a heroic effort. I knew. So well done, George. I knew six different people doing the marathon yesterday. All of them finished.
- [55:31]
Max Rushden
Because you're in a running club now after audio running.
- [55:33]
Dan Bardell
No, I'm not in a running club. Although I might be pulling all my trainers today for the first time since the half marathon. I'm. I'm fully recovered.
- [55:43]
Max Rushden
Okay, what are you going to punch out? What are you going to punch out?
- [55:45]
Dan Bardell
Today I do just three miles to see what the lie of the land is.
- [55:50]
Barry Glendenning
Okay.
- [55:50]
Dan Bardell
I won't be punching out any more than five ever again, I think.
- [55:55]
Max Rushden
Got it. Got it. You don't fancy going sub two hour for a marathon? Imagine that. Barry Glendenning gets the world record. Anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Dan.
- [56:05]
Barry Glendenning
Thank you, Max.
- [56:06]
Max Rushden
Thanks, Barry.
- [56:07]
Dan Bardell
Thank you.
- [56:08]
Max Rushden
Thank you, Sam.
- [56:09]
Sam Lee
You're welcome. Thank you.
- [56:10]
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is produced by Rory Simon. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. And we'll be back on Wednesday. This is the Guardian.
- [56:30]
Barry Glendenning
Acast powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend.
- [56:38]
Nikayla Matthews Akomay
Hello. Hello, It's Brooke Devard from Naked Beauty. Join me each week for Unfiltered discussion about beauty trends, self care journeys, wellness tips, and the products we absolutely love and cannot get enough of. If you are a skincare obsessive and you spend 20 plus minutes on your skincare routine, this podcast is for you. Or if you're a newbie at the beginning of your skincare journey, you'll love this podcast as well. Because we go so much deeper than beauty. I talk to incredible and inspiring people from across industries about their relationship with beauty. You'll also hear from skincare experts. We break down lots of myths in the beauty industry. If this sounds like your thing, search for naked beauty on your podcast app and listen along. I hope you'll join us.