Arsenal go top of the Premier League as Liverpool lose again – Football Weekly

Summary

Football Weekly Summary: Arsenal Go Top of the Premier League as Liverpool Lose Again

Podcast: Football Weekly (The Guardian)
Episode Date: October 6, 2025
Panel: Max Rushden (host), Barry Glendenning, John Bruin, Lucy Ward
Main Theme:
The panel unpacks a dramatic Premier League weekend in which Arsenal leapfrogged a stuttering Liverpool to go top, analyses the growing crisis at Liverpool, dissects key games, and offers trademark Football Weekly banter. Discussion expands to cover title dynamics, club form, squad depth, player psychology, emerging talents, and a dash of medical insight and listener frivolity.

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1. Premier League Headliners

Chelsea 2 – Liverpool 1: Liverpool Slump Continues

[02:17–14:26]

Key Points:

• Liverpool's Third Straight Defeat
  • Liverpool’s "mini-crisis" is highlighted by losing three consecutive matches—something rare under recent management.
  • The on-field issues for Liverpool include lack of rhythm, misfiring new signings, and underperforming stars—especially Mo Salah.
  • Off-field, panelists touch on the lingering psychological impact of Diogo Jota’s death on Liverpool players, particularly on Salah.

    “I look at Salah and he just doesn’t look happy at all... The grief of losing Jota, it just doesn’t stop… it’s a very, very difficult thing to get your head around.” — Lucy Ward (04:46)

  • Integration for new Liverpool arrivals is complicated by this emotional environment.
• Chelsea’s Energized Win
  • Maresca’s passionate celebration after the winner earned him a red card.
  • Estevao’s 20-minute cameo is described as "almost man of the match," creating danger and showing promise for the future.

    “Estevao... what a performance he had in his 20 minutes. Pretty much a man of the match performance.” — Barry Glendenning (11:59)

  • Chelsea’s ever-expanding squad makes it hard even for journalists to keep track of their roster.

Notable Quotes:

• “Plenty for Arne Slot to think about over the next two weeks.” — Barry (04:34)
• “Footballers are human beings… Trying to be part of a group that shares something deeply sad might be very difficult for those new chaps coming in.” — John Bruin (07:07)

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Arsenal 2 – West Ham 0: Going Top, Title Hopes Rise

[14:26–18:54]

Key Points:

• Arsenal’s win is described as “tediously easy,” with a clinical, workmanlike display.
• The difference from last season: Arsenal are now winning games they lost last season, showing improved resilience and depth.

  “They’re not letting setbacks get to them in the same way… At this time last year, they were already fretting. There’s no need to worry.” — John Bruin (14:51)

• Squad depth is praised; focus on coping with Odegaard’s injury and introducing quality replacements (Zubimendi).
• Arsenal regarded as legitimate favourites for the title, but panel balances optimism with “it’s still early.”

  “Arsenal are now favorites to win the title and I think they’re very justified in that favoritism.” — Barry (18:17)

Notable Moment:

• Midsection diverges into Lucy Ward’s in-depth explanation of “the unhappy triad”—a classic sports injury scenario—displaying the pod’s blend of deep knowledge and irreverence.

  “The unhappy triad of O’Donoghue... when you get hit in the knee from the outside...” — Lucy Ward (16:52)

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2. The Rest of the Premier League & Key Talking Points

Tottenham’s Tough Win at Leeds

[21:06–27:51]

• Spurs showed grit and adaptability in a 2-1 away win, impressing with tactical flexibility and resilience under poor weather.
• Romano and van de Ven highlighted as defensive standouts.
• Thomas Frank praised for game management:

  “A masterclass from Thomas Frank in dealing with what’s in front of him.” — Lucy Ward (24:21)

• Leeds praised for their approach, though lack clinical edge up front.

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Manchester United 2 – Sunderland 0: Returning Solidity?

[27:51–33:45]

• United secure their first sequence of three consecutive home wins (and clean sheet) in over two years.
• Signs of progress under Ruben Amorim, though panel remains cautious on consistency.
• Panel hilariously discusses whether footballers could be lifted like rugby players at throw-ins.

  “In football… can you actually lift up your teammate like you can in rugby for a throw in?” — John Bruin (29:35)

• New goalkeeper Sunny Lamons gets credit for a clean-sheet debut.

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Bournemouth 3 – Fulham 1: Semenyo’s Star Turn

[34:05–37:28]

• Second-half comeback highlighted; Semenyo’s match-turning performance, including a remarkable solo goal.
• Marco Silva’s drenched sweater and the misfortune of managerial wardrobe choices provide comic relief.

  “Marco Silva decided to style it out in just a sweater which will have had to have been wrung out…” — John Bruin (34:05)

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Newcastle 2 – Nottingham Forest 0: Voltimara’s Unique Impact

[37:28–41:51]

• Voltimara earns rave reviews for his technical play—“did not lose the ball once”—and his character.

  “He reminds me a bit of Sheringham... but I’ve not really seen a player like him.” — John Bruin (39:30)

• Comparison with cult figures like Peter Crouch and Terry Sheringham, praised for combining strength, touch, and personality.

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Ange Postecoglou at Forest: Seven Games, No Wins

[41:04–44:14]

• Ange’s philosophy questioned as Forest slip toward relegation zone.
• Panel offers sympathy for lack of time to implement ideas but acknowledges high stakes and impatient ownership.
• Barry wryly notes, “Forest are very much in a relegation scrap.”
• Listeners enjoy meme-ification of Ange’s record (“007” for seven games, zero wins).

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Everton 2 – Crystal Palace 1: Grealish Joy

[45:40–49:41]

• Crystal Palace impressive for much of the game; Everton snatch victory late with a dash of luck.
• Universal love for Jack Grealish’s rediscovered joy and freedom (“It’s nice to see Jack Grealish playing with a smile on his face Lucy.” — Max [46:12] ).
• Palace’s exhaustion (“Thursday-Sunday factor”), defensive frailties and Everton’s opportunism highlighted.

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Villa, City, Wolves, and Beyond

Aston Villa 2 – Burnley 1:

• Donyell Malen’s two goals stand out; Villa’s resurgence acknowledged after a period of doubt.

Man City 1 – Brentford 0:

• Haaland’s solo goal lauded as a pure power move.

  “For me, this is a proper goal. And it was just like I’m bigger than you. I’m bigger than everyone. Here I go.” — John Bruin (51:41)

Wolves’ Frustration Grows:

• “Agony for Wolves,” as late concessions cost them.

  “For the second week in a row they were so close to winning a game... and then they just fall asleep at a corner they didn’t need to give away.” — Max (55:30)

• Panel generally agree Wolves are playing better than their position suggests, but board may lose patience.

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3. European and Managerial News

• Russell Martin Sacked by Rangers
  • A disastrous run ends with Martin’s dismissal post-police escort, a move universally regarded as overdue.

    “It was baffling… a weird appointment… he didn’t do himself any favors with some almost arrogant stuff in post-match interviews…” — Barry (58:41)

  • Hearts and Celtic now clear at the top; expectation is Rangers move to a more familiar manager template.

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4. Lighter Side & Memorable Banter

• Medical Insight:
  • Lucy Ward delivers another instalment of “Dr. Ward” on ACLs and hamstring grafts.
• Listener Game:
  • “Barry’s Headers” (“You throw a ball and your kid leaps in and has to head the ball as beautifully as Barry did.” — Listener Alex [61:34]) — a new poolside family game inspired by the pod.
• Classic Football Weekly Self-Deprecation & Teasing:
  • Barry’s ‘performance’ at Everton, line-out jokes, therapy for Liverpool, Adrian Durham gags (“Maresca sent off for being happy…” — Max [00:48]).

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5. Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Chelsea’s deep bench:

  “They seem to have about 100 players in their squad and I can’t keep track of them…” — Barry (02:43)

• On Salah’s form:

  “You could see his teammates starting to get frustrated with him, and that is something I don’t recall seeing before.” — Barry (04:34)

• On Arsenal’s squad:

  “The amount of defenders they’ve got is incredible… They are, yeah, just so full of options.” — John (15:29)

• On Everton and Grealish:

  “It’s nice to see Jack Grealish playing with a smile on his face.” — Max (46:12)

• On football’s changing perception of set-pieces:

  “It is like watching a rugby line out when Coyote for… we got to this strange situation…” — John (29:59)

• On Haaland’s goal:

  “I’m just going to run straight through you and Nathan Collins. Don’t you dare try and get in the way either.” — John (51:41)

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6. Additional Talking Points

• Squad Depth:
  • Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s squad options compared favourably to rivals—seen as crucial in the title race.
• Title Race Outlook:
  • Early but definite sense Arsenal might “finally do it.”
• Player Integration:
  • The unique challenges facing Liverpool’s new recruits and manager Slot after loss of Jota.

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7. Running Gags & Tone

• The episode blends sharp football analysis with the pod’s signature warmth, empathy, and dry humour—humanizing players’ struggles (especially Liverpool’s grief), relishing obscure footballing trivia, and drawing in listeners as part of the fun.

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Summary for the Uninitiated:

If you missed the games, Arsenal quietly asserted themselves as early favourites, while Liverpool’s campaign entered a potentially defining wobble—offering a potent blend of on-field tactical discussion and the off-field realities of team spirit and mental health. Chelsea’s emerging youth and endless bench options are a subplot. Spurs, Leeds, Newcastle, Everton, and others showcase the tight margins and distinct management strategies shaping the season. If you tune in only for the jokes—there’s a new pool game, detailed injury breakdowns, and plenty of panelist banter. Meanwhile, managerial sackings and rising stars keep the ‘Weekly’ as lively and unpredictable as the league.

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For in-depth match commentary, detailed player analysis, and a healthy measure of Football Weekly’s trademark wit, this was a classic episode.

Transcript

[A]

This is the Guardian. Not all journalism is the same. Take the Guardian. Our coverage has something unique. Fierce independence. Nobody owns us or tells us what we can and can't say, so we're free to report the whole picture. We connect what's happening in Washington to the rest of the globe, expose corruption wherever we find it, and give fresh perspective on everything from wellness and soccer to culture, the climate and more. Read, watch and listen to the Guardian for [e-mail].

[B]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Sound the brackets Mini close brackets. Crisis at Liverpool. Klaxon. Three defeats in a row for Arnold slots. And after weeks of not being great but winning late on, they're now not being great and losing late on. Chelsea missing so many in especially in defence are an odd team, but sometimes a good team. Caicedo with the perfect long range whack and Este vour late on. Maresca sent off for being happy. We can't have that. It means Arsenal go top. A tediously easy 20 win over West Ham. But they lost that one last year. This could be the year for Mikel. Spurs are third after a gritty, wet, windy, resolute win at Elland Road. Pascal does strike twice, the kind of game that they probably would have lost last year given they lost almost all their games last year. Ange is now losing Games at Forest. 20 at Newcastle for Valtomada was very good. Manchester United are back. Well, who knows? But a win is a win. Everton somehow end Crystal Palace's unbeaten run. Another chance to say we're all happy to see Jack Grealish being happy. Bournemouth are fourth. Antoine Semeno leading a comeback against Fulham. Donyle Marlon scores a couple of decent ones for Villa man. City win at Brentford. And more late agony for Wolves still without a win for the irresponsible Vitor Pereira. Elsewhere, Russell Martin is sacked as Rangers manager after a complete disaster. And Barry's head has been turned into a holiday game for all the family. We'll answer your questions as always. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, John Bruin. Hello.

[C]

Hello Max.

[B]

Welcome. Lucy Ward.

[D]

Hey Max.

[B]

And hello. Barry Glendenning.

[E]

It's not for the first time, Max. I want to skip straight to the end to find out about this game again.

[B]

It'll be an anti climax but it'll be a nice thing for people to hear. At the end of the podcast, Shamek says we what happened this week on the football? Great question. Let's go through it all. We'll begin at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea 2, Liverpool 1. Maresca running down the line for that winner. I mean a brilliant moment for Estevao. A great moment for Maresca even though he was sent off. Producer Joel saying does that make it four red cards in five? Not sure. But anyway Barry, a huge win for him and a huge win for Chelsea.

[E]

Yeah. And a worrying defeat for Liverpool. I think they don't lose three in a row too often and they're not playing well. But from a Chelsea perspective I find it kind of difficult to get invested in Chelsea this season. I'm not sure why. I just. I think there's so many. They seem to have about 100 players in their squad and I can't keep track of them. And they play guys I don't know which. You know, I have no idea who they are. Which is rare for a big six team. You know I could be forgiven I suppose for not recognizing a few Burnley players or Leeds players because they've just come up. Moyes Casado is turning out to be just a fantastic signing for Chelsea. Liverpool fans will be aware. Obviously they were looking on going. He was about to sign for us and then didn't. In terms of Liverpool's performance there's just so many things wrong and I presumed they'll just click into gear at some point and start winning while playing well instead of winning while playing well within themselves and that's not happened. They're. They're still not playing well and now they're starting to lose and it's worrying. What do you do with Mo Salah? Who. I think he has three goals and a few assists but he's clearly not the player he was in recent seasons. Do you do the unthinkable and drop him or. Because I think you. You could see there were a few occasions in that game where he did his most sad a thing. Cutting in from the right and trying to curl one inside the far post and he was ballooning the ball over the bar and you could see his teammates starting to get frustrated with him and that is something I don't recall seeing before. So plenty for Arnesot to think about over the next two weeks of international break.

[B]

Yeah, I did try and lead with Chelsea Lucy but I mean Liverpool losing three in the row is. Is the story I guess.

[D]

And you know what Max? Yeah that they're struggling to get the rhythm going. Liverpool, you know, integrating new signings have not hit the ground running but that will happen. But I think from experience, I think from a human side the grief of losing Jota is Just doesn't stop when, when all, you know, when all the tributes and the, you know, laying of flowers ends. This is. And I look at Salah and he just doesn't look happy at all. If you think about it as an adult, you sort of go into a place of work which is always full of fun every single day and one person now is not there and you still got to go and, you know, perform physically and mentally. I honestly think that that's got a lot to do with and you know, people, other fans will say that's just excuses but I just think the, the combination of new players in and that affecting a lot a key part of the group is, is massive because it just doesn't go away. You know, everybody who knows who's lost someone close to them. It's particularly unexpectedly, particularly when they're young. It is a very, very difficult to get your head around and it's already quite pressurized being a Premier League footballer. And I honestly think that that just sort of tips the balance of, of performance and it was never sustainable that they were going scoring late winners, you know, that always was going to tip the balance at some point. But I do think the, the grief will play a massive part of it.

[B]

No, I completely agree and actually it's, it's difficult in a way because you, you don't. Well, you can probably analyze every Liverpool game and at the end of it say, look, they are going through something and, and, and I, and I think we've talked about it before, we have talked about it before, John, but you know, it's a really stark example of the fact that, you know, sort of all analysis of football is at some level quite superficial because we just don't know how any of these guys are feeling. And I was listening to another podcast talking about Salah's form and saying how bad it was and I was thinking exactly what you said, Lucy, which is we might be projecting. We don't know. Clearly he was incredibly moved and like all the, you know, he had someone. And football dressing rooms are quite sort of odd places anywhere in terms of how intense it is day to day and sort of how close you are to these people, whether they're your friends or they're not. So we might be projecting, I don't know. But I really get that sense, John, that this is something that we should never ever ignore for, you know, not just this season, but for these young men.

[C]

It can't be dismissed because all of us will have or will experience this type of thing. And you Footballers are human beings. I do wonder that that loss, in a strange way, affected the integration of those other new players because they're arriving at a club where there's this thing hanging over the other players that they've lost their friend. And trying to be part of a group that actually shares something, which is deeply sad, might be very difficult for those new chaps coming in. And we have to. It seems a bit trite to put an asterisk, but you have to put that against Liverpool at the moment. Arne Slot spoke very well about this, but Arnie Slot, of course, we'll also talk about the football matters, which are that a team is failing to integrate for whatever reason, and the changes he's making aren't coming off in a way that they did last season. So whereas last season, you know, it was a genius move to put round Graven Birch as a central midfielder. That's maybe not coming off in the same way this season. Florian Verts. Florian Verts was a. A pressing machine, I was told in the Bundesliga. Maybe pressing in the Premier League isn't the same as in the Bundesliga, because I laugh at a joke. You might have to put in a tackle in the Premier League, you might have to throw in one. And he. He does a lot of running around chasing after the ball, but I'm not sure he's quite up to the physical bit yet. And that. That will take time. Listen, when you paid that much money for a play, you've got to give them time, even if people like us are already beginning to ask questions. But you've got this issue of Salah where the more cynical people are saying, well, he's got his new contract and, you know, does he. That. No, I don't think that really works. I think Salah is off for what. For whatever reason. And this is it. There's a. There's a great big intangible over Liverpool in. They've signed all these players. They signed. I mean, Isaac. It's funny, isn't it? The best two touches in this game came from Isaac. And although. Did he mean it when Verts. Yes, well, yeah, he meant that.

[B]

He meant that. There are the glimpses of what a player he is.

[C]

Yeah. When he set up for Gakpo, who unfortunately, Gapo did not have a good game. Apart from that.

[B]

Oh, no, sorry, sorry. I. I thought you meant the Virt one where he.

[C]

Yeah, but the Verts one. He did mean that one. The Verts one. That was unbelievable. Yeah.

[B]

If Isaac meant that. It's extraordinary.

[C]

Yes. Yeah. I mean, that is. Yeah that's what you pay 100, whatever million for. But those okay the most effective touches. Obviously Salah misses the. The chance created by Verts so there probably are signs that it can work but it's, it's again I've made this example at the start of the season and I will celebrate myself. Why not the one Sebastian Veron comparison just rings out doesn't it where the football at times can be beautiful twinkle toed stuff but it's not very effective and you've got other players like the right back spot. What about Trent Alexander? Remember Alexander Arnold? What a good player he was. It turns out you know you've got Conor Bradley having. He's having a problem, isn't he? He gets booked. He gets booked too easily, doesn't he? That's probably. He's not. Not that discipline and frim pong. I think among Liverpool fans they're already saying why do we buy this guy? And yeah but do you know what, let's talk about Chelsea a little bit. I was talking to the detective chief superintendent of the celebration police, his name is Jonathan Wilson and he was saying about Maresca's celebration he said why is it after the winning the seventh game of the season is he celebrating like his Bob Stoko or David pleat back in 1983, you know I mean it would be great actually to see Enzo Maresca in a pair of moccasins, you know and white suit Maresca. Is he a big game manager? He's beaten psg, he's beaten Liverpool and yet in other games Chelsea played like a drain. When Barry says the mysterious that's another edge to it, isn't it?

[B]

Well I suppose that's the point. If you're an odd team like I said in the intro, sometimes you can be bad and sometimes you can be good. And it is like it's some feat Barry to beat Liverpool even if it's an out of form Liverpool. When you are missing so many defenders and then another to get injured and then you write, you bring on players and you're. You do have to have like Wikipedia open.

[E]

Yes.

[B]

At the moment if you're not a Chelsea fan to be like that guy is that guy and I don't think that's like professional irresponsibility of us. I think a lot of neutrals are like oh okay he was 35 million from them and he was an academy player and you know and there must be part of Maresca just looking at the, you know who he's putting on his bench and like thinking where do they fit in a kind of whiteboard?

[E]

Well, I knew they had Gittens, I knew they had Estevao and what a performance he had in his 20 minutes. Pretty much a man of the match performance. Set up a goal, had a couple of shots himself, created a brilliant chance for Enzo Fernandez which, which he didn't convert. So that. But I knew about him from the club World Cup. I knew about Mark Yu because he went on loan to Sunderland and then they took him back when the lap got injured. I think he might have played one or maybe two games for Sunderland. He told. Who's this guy? Not a clue. He. I think he replaced Achin Pong who I also wasn't particularly familiar with. Maybe it is professional responsibility. I do find it.

[D]

Do you not watch the UEFA Conference League last?

[E]

No. No I don't.

[D]

Well you told me you watched everyone that I commented meditated on, so obviously not.

[B]

No. So Lucy. Well fill us in Lucy, because you know you're the most professional of us.

[D]

Well, a Champong is an extremely, I mean should have had a lot more minutes than he's had. He's very comfortable on the ball and he's played a lot in the. And this is the thing about Chelsea now is that they can bring some of these players in when they're having problems injury wise and know that they can perform. You know some of the places that they went to were wild. You know like the, the fans, the, the opposition fans where it was Warsaw or Copenhagen, these players played in that sort of environment and, and Sean, so the Champong, Tyreek, George, you know, there's all these academy players so if he needs them, he, he'll play them. Although he's loath to play them. That's a thing Bareska at times he'll play them in the Conference League and he sort of had separate squads. But I've noticed that even though Champong is probably one of the. The better, even if you don't even consider him a young player who's one of these better defenders, he doesn't really get a chance. And I noticed as well. Who did I notice?

[B]

Oh, I was gonna say malo gusto. Playing in midfield actually was really impressive, I thought.

[D]

Yeah, I mean he's, he's just, I mean technically, you know, right back is arguably the most. If you're right footed is the most simple position to play because everything's in front of you to the side. You know, it's not sort of 360. So if you've got that sort of technical ability as Rhys James has as well, you can sort of integrate back. I just think that Chelsea were the only team who were at the end of it, were trying to win it and prepared to take risks. And I think that was the bit that just got him over the line at the end. And Esteban is going to be unbelievable player.

[B]

Yeah. Well, that Liverpool defeat meant they were replaced at the top of league by Arsenal. They beat West Ham 2 nil. Mikel Arteta's 300th game in charge. The game itself completely unmemorable I would say John, but it has been a really, really good week for Arsenal. This and Newcastle away were games they lost last season. They've won those both. They had a good win in the Champions League as well. And it could be a title winning team.

[C]

This for the fourth season in a row. Arsenal look like contenders and this could be their year. If we flip through the other contenders, they have the strongest squad. That is of no doubt. Match of the Day did a comparison of their bench last season against West Ham, this season against West Ham and there really was no comparison. And so they. They suffer what last season was a mortal blow. The loss of Martin Odegaard who had been brilliant actually against Olympiacos in midweek, him back to his best. It didn't knock them down. Eze moves into the center and they bring on Zubimendi who is a really high quality player and they get the job done. And it's about getting the job done, winning those games. Okay, it's West Ham. The other match, the Dave Fats I enjoyed was that West Ham's last four meetings against Arsenal have featured four different managers. Yeah, which says something about. Yes it does. But actually and the thing is Arsenal have built a stability and the fact that the Arteta can. The amount of defenders they've got is incredible. I mean even Chelsea's injury crisis, they'd still be able to fill the, you know, a full group of internationals if he had that. They are, yeah, just so full of options. I suppose the big question is if Jocherez is starts scoring goals on a. I was saying this yesterday actually. I said if he scores say half of Haaland total, say. I think Arsenal are pretty set fair because they're getting goals from other parts of the team. City we'll get to them are reliant on Haaland. But Arsenal, they look well set. They really do look well set and they are not letting setbacks get to them in the same way. It's not as frantic but I Think at this time last year, they were already fretting, weren't they? There's no need to worry. They've got so many good players, there shouldn't be a problem.

[D]

Watch that. The Odegaard incident. And it reminded me of injury that I learned when I was at university that was called the unhappy triad of o', Donoghue, which is basically an NFL injury. So when you hit in the knee from the outside, it damages your mcl, which is your medial collateral ligament, which I think is what Erdogan has done. Your medial cartilage and your acl. And I remember that. And it always. When I saw it, I thought, oh, God, that could be. But I think it's just been reported that he's done his mcl, his medial collateral ligament, which is probably the best thing that out of that that could have happened. So, yeah, there you are, some knowledge, some injury knowledge there for you. Baz, don't fall asleep.

[E]

What did you call it? Sorry?

[D]

The unhappy triad of o'. Donoghue.

[E]

O', Donoghue, right. Who's o'? Donoghue?

[D]

It must have happened to him first. I don't know. I don't know that much.

[B]

He was an unhappy triad. He didn't really want to be in.

[C]

The triads, but he had the tattoos, but he just didn't want to be there.

[B]

Yeah, it paid the bills, didn't it? The thing is as well, like winning the title is either being the best or the least worse. And obviously at the moment, Barry, you look at the rivals with Liverpool slipping, and it is of course, very early. You know, Liverpool slipping a bit. City. City could really still turn it on. Right? There's. There's no doubt about that. But like, yeah, you'd have to go, God, we've been second so many times and now look, the door is ajar even this early.

[E]

Yeah, well, Arsenal are now favorites to win the title and I think they're very justified in that favoritism. The cynic in me thinks they will find a way to mess it up, but it's far too early to say it's theirs to lose. So many things could go wrong, of course, but they are just on the evidence, what we've seen or what I've seen so far, I think they are definitely in a very, very good position to win it, given their performances, their defense, their squad depth. Yeah, totally justified in their favoritism at the moment.

[B]

Well, congratulations to Mikel Arteta for winning the title. Anyway, that'll do for part one. Part will begin at Elland Road. Hi, Football Weekly fans of America. Max here. Barry's here too.

[E]

Hello.

[B]

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[E]

I can't think of anything I'd rather more.

[B]

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[E]

It is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. As a famous poet Auden, I think.

[B]

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[E]

I am, Max. And it was John Keats.

[B]

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[A]

Not all journalism is the same. Take the Guardian. Our coverage has something unique. Fierce independence. Nobody owns us or tells us what we can and can't say, so we're free to report the whole picture. We connect what's happening in Washington to the rest of the globe, expose corruption wherever we find it, and give fresh perspective on everything from wellness and soccer to culture, the climate and more. Read, watch and listen to the Guardian for [e-mail] welcome to part two of.

[B]

The Guardian Football Weekly. Leeds 1. Spurs 2. Tottenham are third. Lucy, I'm not sure how good they are, but you were, you were at this game. What did you make of it?

[D]

It was all set up, wasn't it? You know, Leeds home record, the baying crowd and, and the, the, the atmosphere, the weather was absolutely horrific. I did some filming beforehand and there was a wind tunnel in the east stand which nearly took my head off. The viewers of TNT Sports managed to see my goal in Lucas Radeby's testimonial even though it looked grainy. It was only 20 years ago. But in the cop end so I made sure that that was played out.

[B]

But yeah, good stuff, good fit.

[D]

I didn't realize it's a good goal against Bruce Goblear. So it was, you know, it's sat. Levels, levels.

[C]

Let's say no more about that.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. We all, we all had a line but none of us said it. Carry on.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[D]

So spurs very impressed with Spurs. You know, we'll. I'm sure we'll talk about Russell Martin later. But Thomas Frank in a example of a manager who recognizes when you know, things are what sort of challenge you'll face him when he goes to a place like Ellen Road. And they actually, the Ellen Road crowd after the start were actually really quiet because spurs did quite well. They got. They got a goal and then they allowed Leeds back into it, which I thought it's good play by Calvert Lewin who had a really difficult afternoon against Van de Ven and Romero. What a player Romero is, by the way. I mean obviously I've commentated him on live, but he's usually miles away. I'm using miles, but you're out on top of it at Ellen Road. So it's quite interesting to watch. But those two are very difficult to play against. Two spurs center back kudos was very good. It's quite a tight game. But I just think that when they got the second goal and Leeds changed to a back three and shoved Calvin up with the other two center forwards and he went for it, did Daniel Farker and he has actually been criticized a lot for his. The choice of his subs, timing of his subs. But I think he's. Farker has shown that he's learned a lot from his experiences with Norwich in the Premier League. He's not playing the same as he did last season with Leeds in the Championship. Completely different. You know, he's going a little bit longer. He's recruited all physical players that sometimes lack a little bit of finesse but you know, it's what's needed and he's got a few creative players. Okafor, if he keeps coming good then great signing. But what Thomas Frank did when they changed to a back three leads. I could see him for a minute or so having discussions with his center back. It's with his coaching staff and he just then shoved on Kevin Dansel and Wait. Right. All right then you won't get past us now. We'll. We'll just match you up and you know, you don't really score from open play which leads done. That's what they're struggling from. And they saw it through. And I just thought it was a masterclass from. From Thomas Frank in dealing with what's in front of him rather than this is my philosophy and I'll do it regardless of what happens in the end and that very impressive. And Leeds were brilliant as well. You know, Leeds will cause lots of problems at Elland Road. I think they need to. They need to make sure that they improve themselves in front of goal when it's not a set piece. However, you know, set pieces might help them get, get, get wins and points this season. But a really positive start for Leeds.

[B]

Lucy, what did you make of Xavi Simmons? Because I think a lot of Tottenham fans are looking at him because they are missing Madison and Kuluseski for sort of a creative spark.

[D]

Thomas Frank allowed him to just pop up anywhere. He was very effective in terms of. So when spurs won it back, you just looked where he was. Wherever he was is where they sort of attacked down. And Leeds left it quite open. Had a quite high line with no real pressure on the ball at times. That's how they got the first goal with Tell. But I quite like Simons. There was a couple of balls that he played that they don't have anybody that can play those balls because obviously Madison's not there. And I think that might be. Once he sort of finds his feet even more, I think he will be really important for Spurs.

[B]

And it is, John, a game that, you know, Tottenham don't win because it's cold and wet and hard and Leeds were good and so that, I mean, I don't know if I don't. Those cliches do feel. That feels like him. And maybe they did have a resolve under Pochettino at times.

[C]

But I mean, actually Pochettino departed in 2019, which is. Is a reasonable amount of time ago. But we forget that for quite a. Spurs have actually been quite a decent team in the last 10 years. And there's just that, I suppose the. The Mourinho period and then the Ange and they were a good team under Conte. So expectations are quite high. And this is a club in transition. This is a club that's just. Daniel Levy has been ushered out in succession style. You know, in. In it. You know, the. The family are taking over the business and it's a club in turmoil. And every time let's praise Thomas Frank for a guy who can instill a team to play and win. A difficult place to go and ignore all the distractions because at other clubs stuff like that starts to Peel into the dressing room. He's just getting on with his job. It's funny you did talked about Simmons. I was told when I was at a Spurs game a couple of weeks ago that over in Holland a couple of. Well, one in particular keen eyed Dutch coach was saying why are they playing him on the left? He is not a left winger. Get him in the middle, you'll get the best of him. And I think Frank is starting to realize that, that he can only really. We know he's a good enough player to give a free role but it might take a little bit more time. He's not, he's come from a different league. He's not someone like James Madison that's arriving from the Premier League and you know, has is up to speed. There's a very good player there. Tottenham are going in the right direction. It's felt like a while even though they won the Europa League last season. Strange old game, isn't it?

[B]

I mean no one on this podcast would say Javi Simmons was a winger. That I can say for certain. Any strong thoughts? I mean Lucy mentioned Dominic Calvert, Lewin there. Barry, another day where he had some chance. And Vicari had made a couple of good saves in this game. But Cavalier had a couple of chances. The kind of chances that he does miss.

[E]

Yeah, and he missed them. I think he had three presentable chances. Sean Logstaff put a good shot just narrowly wide. Joe Roden hit the post with a header when it was still nil. Nil. I was very impressed with Leeds but the last time I said they look light up front, they proceeded to score four goals in the next game.

[D]

So.

[E]

But they do look light up front on another day with a slightly more consistent or clinical striker than Dominic Calvert. Lune, they might have won this game. I thought they were really good in defeat.

[B]

Let's go to Old trafford. Manchester United 2 Sunderland nil. Manchester United have won three home games in a row. The first time in over two years that's happened. Their first clean sheet of the season. Two John. They're back.

[C]

Ecstatic scenes as they beat Sunderland two nil. Yeah, better. Better. That's all we can say really. That's all Reuben Amarim was prepared to say. I was listening to Gary Neville. Gary Neville kicking back at criticism of Gary Neville as he often does.

[E]

He's going to be busy today then.

[C]

Yes, well yes, that's a separate issue that let's probably not discuss on this, this podcast. But he remember he said like the pundits have been kicking up against us and he said, well we use the pundits back in 1995 when Alan Hanson said we couldn't win anything with kids and you know, we all want you to do well. Why do I, would I go to Old Trafford if I wanted you to lose and all this. And maybe things are turning. Perhaps they're not, we don't know. But the thing is he is. He made slight tactical switches. Diallo looked very good in that game. Mason Mount is a player who is one of those players and there aren't many of them who's looked better under Ruben Amarim than he did on the previous management Sesko. Nice goal from the. I think Route 1, we're calling it now is. Route 1 is a throw ins. Now let's discuss this because we might. We might get to the throw ins now that they're so prevalent in the game. I was chatting to some pals after the Brentford game yesterday. I in football and Lucy may know this because she's the best informed of us on actual football. Can you actually lift up your teammate like you can in rugby for a throw in or is that considered some sort of infringement?

[D]

Yeah, it'll be ungentlemanly conduct or whatever they call it.

[B]

Yeah, that is.

[C]

Yeah, it's that right?

[D]

It will be. Yeah. They just have that section open for anything that people might think of like that. John. I think.

[B]

But also it'd be very hard actually to. Because a line out is going in a specific place. A long throw. It'd be actually I don't think. I think what you'd have is just one of your players 12ft in the air missing the ball. I just don't like that.

[C]

I think actually because if you've got like the biggest guy in the team say he's just going to get in the way of the ball. I mean because when I was watching Harland essentially is the leading man. He's the block forward. I wrote this in my match report. You know, he's the lock forward. That's like he's the target for the. When the opposing hooker is throwing in the ball. I mean it's. We got to this strange situation where it's. It is like watching a rugby line out when Coyote for. It's just so we.

[E]

We'll see Harand coming out now with those little handles so his teammates additional perk.

[D]

You'll be able to lift it. It'd take about six to lift him up.

[B]

Yeah, but the odd thing is, isn't the odd thing that you know long throws have always Been quite useful. Perhaps not as useful as, you know, not everyone's really delap that suddenly just how, you know, sort of like chic football teams are that everyone's gone, well, this, this seems totally. This seems like a really good idea. Like, like. It just seems odd that there weren't just a few teams always doing it. Or maybe they were like, everyone's just gone, why don't I just lump it in the box? Who. Who didn't. Who thought of this?

[D]

Do you know what? Quite a lot of them probably didn't know they could do a long throw. When I was working for the Premier League in Covid and you had, I was going around to Sheffield United to check that they were doing all the processes right, they weren't going too close to each other, etc. They were on the training ground, I was watching training and Chris Wilder and Alan Nill, they were working out set pieces and Jack Robinson picks the ball up and went, oh, I'll have a go. And then absolutely arrowed this long throw and he did it and nobody attacked. Everybody just went, why did you not say you could do that? And then from then on, from then on, Jack Robin, every time I see him, he's not playing for them anymore, but it's a few years after he played for them and he would take these long throws and they were like, how the hell. Why did you. He said, well, I did know I could do it. Well, why didn't you say? Because that is so effective. And they used it quite a bit after that. It was quite amusing.

[B]

Barry, what did you make of Sunny Lamons debuting goal? I mean, got a clean sheet. Fans were thinking, are you Schmeichel in disguise? You know, he did everything was needed to do. I guess I was kind of surprised.

[E]

He was brought in after what I would say was Bender's. Probably his best game for United last week, but Lemons came in, he made a couple of decent saves. I think you'd expect him to make them. Nothing out of the top drawer, particularly because Sunderland didn't really offer much in this game apart from the. The chance Bertrand Traore missed when it was still scoreless. But clean sheet on debut, you can't make do much better than that, I suppose. But he did. He didn't have a great deal to do, but anything he did have to do, he did quite well, apart from one little rush of blood where he charged out of his penalty area and got away with it.

[B]

I mean, that's that Troy or a miss. There was some conjecture on the radio yesterday, Barry, about whether it was offside. And so not a bad miss. But I don't think Traore knew it was offside, John. And that would have changed the whole complexion of this game was that three minutes in, if Sunderland take the lead. It is very different.

[C]

Yeah, yeah. Because Manchester United's sense of self is so lacking at the moment and fans at Old Trafford as well, that it would have been United in crisis again. And the world turns to Old Trafford and it's. The funny thing is as soon as they start winning, soon everyone's. Oh, that's boring, isn't it? Oh, yeah. God, no one, no one cares about that anymore. We, we, you know, without Man United to punch in. Used to be used as a punch bag. They're no use to anyone, are they? That's the thing. That's it. That's just their role in life now. It's just for everyone to laugh at them. Joy. That's. That hurts, you know, that hurts.

[B]

Yeah. But I suppose the next thing is to get close is the sort of Arsenal come second and not quite do it, you know, that's where the. That would be the next stage, I reckon, of this process, but feels a reasonable way off. John, you were on the south coast on Friday night, you know, in your. In your sou' wester to see Bournemouth beat Fulham. Good comeback from Bournemouth.

[C]

Well, the first half was affected by the weather, let's put it that way. Good God. And the second half, I think the players just thought we're good to have to run around a lot more in this because otherwise it's going to be even worse. And Semenya had not really been too involved, suddenly just took up the cudgels and was absolutely brilliant. More tributes paid to Iriola for some very nice substitutions. Brings on Justin Kliver. Brings on Jimenez to push up on overlap on the right. Gambled he took off defenders to go for to try and get back in the game and just went for it. And it paid off because at the moment, Bournemouth have players in reserve that can come in which they didn't have last season. Remember, they were playing with 12 fit players at one point and doing very well. The squad is stronger. Despite being asset stripped over the summer. He continues to be a, you know, a hugely impressive character. I felt deeply sorry for Marco Silva who decided to style it out in just a. A sweater which will have had to have been rung out the minute he came into the dressing room. I think he just said the start was like that. And it's like being the alpha male that he is was like, I can't really go back on this. I can't come. The club Puffer will have to stay in the dugout. And I don't know if you remember this time when they. When they played at Bournemouth last season, they. They subbed off the wrong player. Do you remember this? It was going to take. It was Sassa Lukic and Session. They got. One of his assistants got mixed up.

[B]

Yes. Yeah.

[C]

Then Lukic got injured and I just saw this howl of frustration from Marco, just, oh, God, it's like this place, you know, this always happens. And to be fair to him, he was quite nice towards Brent Bournemouth afterwards saying, you know, they really are a very, very good team. Did you see this? I wrote this in my talking point for today's website, the Guardian. Justin Cliver scored on a week that his two brothers scored.

[B]

Great stats.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Consecutive days. Patrick Clivett sons, Shane, Reuben and Justin all scored. Do we know who they play for?

[C]

Shane plays for Barcelona youth team essentially the. In the UEFA Youth League. Is it. Reuben is the other one. Is it. Reuben plays for Leon, I think. And obviously Justin plays for. For Bournemouth.

[B]

And what a hit from Justin Clark.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

I have to say, Barry, if you are Fulham, the Semenya first goal is brilliant, but you cannot let it in from a fuller perspective. That is just like banging your head against the wall, I think I thought.

[E]

That was just brilliant, that goal. The way. So he used his strength to get past Castagny and Chokewesi to the byline. His touch to keep the ball in play and then another touch to create the angle. And he said himself afterwards. I looked up, I saw I had no options. So I thought, right, I'll try and put it between. Between the keeper's legs. And that's exactly what he did. And to execute that perfectly in apocalyptic weather conditions. I was so impressed. So I get. He shouldn't have been able to get past Timothy Castagna and chuck a wease, but when he did, it was just a piece of genius. I think. I wouldn't really blame Burnt Leno for it. The way he created that angle was superb.

[B]

Yeah. No, I'm blaming the defence, not Leno to St James's part. Newcastle to Forest nil. So a good result for Newcastle because I haven't had too many good results this season. We'll get to Ange in a second. Lucy. Voltimara is fascinating. He reminds me a bit of Sheringham. Obviously he's a different shape and Size. But that's of all the statistics this weekend. The fact that he did not lose the ball once. And when you're a centre forward with your back to goal, that is astonishing that he wasn't tackled that someone didn't, you know, like. And I know maybe Forest was sitting off on a bit, but every touch, the way he lays the ball off, like, he's just. I think he's a delightful player.

[D]

He. He's. He's quite tall as well and usually sort of taller players, you know, may sort of struggle with that. But I just. What I like about him is he's quite individual. If you look at him off the pitch, he's. He. He sort of. And you don't often see this in football as they all sort of wear the same thing. He's a little bit different with what he wears and his style, you see, with his mustache and. And that is. That is an exception rather than the norm. Honestly, they dared and be different because, well, who knows, you know, same car, same clothes, etc. So I quite like that. Which tells me that, you know, that coming into the Premier League probably didn't phase him. And you can tell, you can tell his. His performances and the fact that he's getting on the score sheet helps as well, I think. A big character, big confidence. So, you know, when Newcastle fans, obviously losing Isak was a big issue, but once it got to the stage where, you know, he didn't want it, they knew he didn't want to play for him. It's like when he came in, it was like, well. And I'm not sure that, you know, he will be as good and he probably won't be as good, but he's a bit different and he will help the side. And I think he's sort of shown that in the. The opening games that he's played. So, yeah, I like him. I like him a lot.

[B]

And actually, if you've got a player like that, John, and it'd be interesting if, you know, if Sheringham played in a. An era of one guy up front, you have to have pace around, you know, so Gordon and Elanga next to. So either side of Volta Mara is like, is. Is actually really interesting, I think.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Carl Heinz ruming. His words being eaten.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

When he was, you know. Yeah. I mean, that. That was one of those quotes. We did it last week for the Football Daily Newsletter, digging out, you know, quote with a day or whatever. And it's like, is that one real? Like, could that someone have said that? And yeah, it did turn out to be true. We verified it. It's. Yeah, I mean, Volt, I love this guy. He's. I mean, that penalty. Pressman levels. Pressman levels. Brilliant. Brilliant. And do you know what? After all the Isaac stuff and, yeah, it was a painful time for Newcastle United supporters. That sort of reality check of like, we're not really where we thought we were. If players want to go to Liverpool and then you get a guy like Voltimada, who is different, a sort of folk hero type of guy who offers something that makes your team more interesting, all the better for it. I have really enjoyed him being in the Premier League. And I'm also. I mean, okay, there's a. The Sheringham comparisons. There's a sort of Peter Crouch comparison. I don't. I don't. I actually think he's a. I've not really seen a player like him. I don't really think I can compare him to anyone. Just that because he. He has such a mix of skills and. Yeah, and also the look is amazing as well. He looks like the type of person. I might run into it one of the death metal gigs, you know, he just, you know, you wouldn't want to be stood behind him, you know.

[B]

No, that's true. Sort of like a badly cast musketeer and the three Musketeers, you know, he sort of looks right, but you can't put someone who's seven foot as Aramis, can you? But you've done it anyway and he's sort of getting away with it. Meanwhile, Barry Ange has been in charge for seven games. They're yet to win. The reporter on Match of the Day says, Ange, it's been a roller coaster. And I wanted to say roller coasters also go up. Yeah, so. So, so it hasn't really. They're one point above the relegation zone and he's already in this kind of, you know, the. Ange, I don't care. I love the position I'm in right now where I have to fight for everything. It's what I've done my whole career. I started in Australia when I was 32 in semi professional football. I'm here in the Premier League at 60. Do you reckon I lack self belief or don't like a fight? I'm here. I didn't get here because of my connections. And he's right, you know, Ange's right.

[E]

Well, I think he got specifically there because of his connections because, yeah, he did.

[D]

I'm gonna say, yeah, he's outside the swimming pool with what's his face. I've seen that picture, Marinakis.

[E]

But I. I know what he's saying. I have a certain amount of sympathy for Ange because they've had seven games in 30 days since he took charge. When is he supposed to train the team? When is he. When does he get to impart this philosophy? But he knew what he was signing up for. He has a hard act to follow. He isn't following much of Plummet to be fair. I think Forest have played quite well in some of the games they haven't won on his watch. They did not play well in this one. They were well beaten by Newcastle. Joe Hart launched a very spirited defensive Ange on Match of the Day last night. And Joel has been one of Ange's biggest cheerleaders because Ange threw him a career lifeline when he was let go by spurs and it didn't look like anyone want him. And he went on to have a very successful few years at Celtic under Ange. So I get that he probably thinks he owes him one. But his defense falls down because he. He was comparing a bad time and was having at Celtic to the bad time he's having now. But it doesn't really matter how bad a time Ange has at Celtic. Celtic aren't going to get relegated. They're never going to be in a relegation scrap. Forest are very much in a relegation scrap. And look, who knows? I. I think he should be given more time. But it's easy for me to say that because makes no difference to me whether Forrest stay up or don't stay up. And Marinakis we know is a very volatile combustible character. Who knows what could happen in the next couple of weeks during the break.

[B]

Yeah. If Ange does give a career lifeline to his biggest cheerleaders, I may well end up being the set piece coach for Nottingham. Fore. We could do it together.

[C]

Did you. Did you see the Internet meme of mange as James Bond? Did you see this 007? That's his. Because that's his record so far.

[B]

Right, Right.

[C]

Very good.

[B]

I mean they did lose to meeter land as well on Thursday night.

[D]

Oh yeah, I was there. That was a bit dusty.

[B]

Yeah. And he got some. Yeah. The fans weren't happy at all. And then he did a three minute interview where he looked at his shoes and at the end said we've just got to keep our heads up. Which I did quite enjoy. Right, that'll do for part two. Part three will begin at Goodison.

[F]

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[A]

Not all journalism is the same. Take the Guardian. Our coverage has something unique fierce independence. Nobody owns us or tells us what we can and can't say, so we're free to report the whole picture. We connect what's happening in Washington to the rest of the globe, expose corruption wherever we find it and give fresh perspective on everything from wellness and soccer to culture, the climate and more. Read, watch and listen to the Guardian for [e-mail] welcome to part three of.

[B]

The Guardian Football Weekly. So Everton 2 Crystal Palace 1 Sergeant Napper says they're Everton in pole position for the Everton Cup. Would United take the spoil? Sal says would Barry have scored that Grealish goal? You know, in the same way that everyone likes Mason Mount I think, I think everyone loves Jack Grealish and everybody likes hearing other people say it's so nice to see Jack Grealish playing with a smile on his face Lucy. And you know Everton probably shouldn't have won this game. Palace were much better for 70 minutes. But I think nothing makes neutral fans happier than seeing Jack Grealish being happy.

[D]

Yeah, palace have been absolutely brilliant. I mean under ole glass honestly the way that they play and the way that he's got that, you know we talk about formation 3, 4, 2, 1. Yeah it's not the same way as Amarin plays it but he's got it absolutely nailed from his time at Frankfurt as well. But yeah, Jack Green I think, I think people sort of revisionism about his time at Manchester City because the year that they won the Treble I remember doing quite a lot of commentary and he, he did what Guardiola wanted him to do. Guardiola doesn't have wingers that are the same as everybody else who with the way that he's now playing at Everton, you know he wants them to sort of drag players away and you know, know the time to go quick and slow, etc. And he has a massive part to play in that. Grealish winning the Treble Manchester City but you know deep down the Villa Grealish is, was dying to come out and the only way that that could come out couldn't have come out of Manchester City. It had to come out somewhere else. And David Moyes was just being like, God, if I could get grealish. I know exactly. If I just say to him, right, this is what I want you to do, and then, you know, I'm going to tell you how to do it because you know how to do that and it's amazing. And he just seems like, you know, I mean, he might be a party boy and I don't know whether he still is as. As much as he used to be, but he genuinely is a player. It looks like all the fans watching would love to be him, just because he just looks like he's a fan playing the game who is obviously very, very good. He just enjoys every bit of it. He's so nice to everybody. So it's nice to see him doing well and nice to see him playing for Everton. Yeah, just. That's it, exactly what you said, Max. It's just smiling, doing what he wants to do and scoring goals and being effective. And you imagine being at Hill Dickinson Stadium and everybody absolutely loves you. He must be absolutely buzzing.

[B]

Yeah, it's infectious. He's got an infectious sort of bit like James Madison, maybe more. More so. Just a real infectious energy about him that I think, you know, will be so good for. For Everton for as long as he's there. I mean, Beto made a big difference, I'm sorry to say. Barry, you were quite lethargic in the first half and it was right that they replaced you with Beto.

[D]

Get him off. Get Barry off.

[E]

I said, yeah, I was quite lethargic at the start of this podcast as well.

[D]

You've not got any better.

[E]

Thanks.

[B]

Here we go.

[E]

At the end of this game, I could not figure out how the hell did Crystal palace not win. I mean, this should have been out of sight. And between Pickford making some great saves and various palace players pulling off some quite astonishing misses, it was just funny. But it's a great win for Everton. Fair play to them. They kept plugging away and they got. I mean, the penalty was ridiculous. That was just the. The tackle of a very fatigued player. I think Lacroix gave it away. The goal was a little bit lucky. The winner.

[B]

A little bit.

[E]

Yeah, yeah, okay. A little. Very lucky. I don't want to be down on Everton. It was a good win for them. But even David Moyes said afterwards, you know, we, we were lucky there. We should have been. Yeah, or they should have been out of sight, but what a win. I think Crystal palace this is. Early signs of the Thursday Sunday factor coming in. They looked very tired in that last 20 minutes and they don't have a huge amount on the bench compared to other squads whose strength in depth, newfound strength and depth we've been lauding in recent weeks.

[B]

Yeah, I think so. But look, they unbeaten run of 19 games is. Is not unimpressive. And some of those games, you know, that does include an FA cup final and a Community Shield, etc. And well done to Jordan Pickford. His 300th game for Everton. Aston Villa beat Burnley 21 and 2 goals. John, for Donyon, Marlon, two really good finishes, actually. I think.

[C]

Yeah, he's a sort of forgotten player really, isn't it? He was signed at the same time as they signed Rashford. And what was the other guy's name? Remind me. Yeah, sorry, sorry. Let's do that again.

[B]

Yeah, he's the forgotten one.

[C]

It's just my brain is melted. Yeah.

[B]

I think that's staying in.

[C]

Okay. The forgotten one as well as the other forgotten one. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

And thing of me, Bob.

[C]

What do you recall it? And what's his name? Were. Yeah. So what's his name? Scored two very good goals. I remember actually seeing him come on just about the same time as he signed as Rashford and the other bloke and thinking, there's a player. And then we've not seen much of him, but he's a very speedy player. He's got a lot of. A lot of power in the shot. Good signing. It feels like the last time I was on the pod, it was all over for Aston Villa. That was it. Rack and ruin a relegation season. Unai Emery going back to Spain, tail between his legs. No, he's a good enough manager. They've got enough talent. They'll be okay.

[B]

Yeah, four wins in a row. They beat Feynhorn 20 on Thursday night as well. I thought Fleming was a little bit lucky to stay on the pitch when he raised his arm into a little bit. Yeah, well, that was sort of check complete and you're like, are you sure? I would uncomplete this check quite quickly, man. City won nil at Brentford. You were at this one as well, John. Not the most exciting game, but the Haaland goal is just a lot of fun, isn't it? He said his quotes after a great first five minutes. He. Van den Berg kept pushing me. So I thought, all right, let's have it. For me, this is a proper goal. And it was just Like I'm bigger than you. I'm bigger than everyone. Here I go.

[C]

I'm just going to run straight through you and Nathan Collins. Don't you dare try and get in the way either. That was pretty much which Nathan Collins clearly did not do. Turn, run, pass, player clatter. Goal. Let's go home. After I. And the best defender on the pitch, Erling Haaland. I've noticed, obviously, City are. There aren't as many stars in the team as they used to be. There's no Kevin de Bruyne. Yeah, Gundogan's gone. Kyle Walker, Whatever. So you've got the alpha male collection now is Harland, who's 25 and a daddy these days. And then you've got Donna Rummer, who actually Pep's line was quite funny. He goes, as we signed this guy and he's only 26, I thought he'd been playing for centuries, which is great. And I agree. They're the three. They're the three. And Pep, of course. And there was a point just in front of the press boxes, just behind, there's a point where Pep and Harland were both sort of shouting and pointing and directing and saying to Donna Rummer, you know, get the ball over here when you kick it and stuff like that. But then there was a sort of buddy hug between Donna Rummer and Harland. I think these two, you know, game recognized game there.

[B]

I think that could create electricity. Couldn't it be like the Large Hadron Collider when Donna Rummer and Harland embrace and it powers a small nation? Yeah. And he made a good save from Thiago, didn't he? Who didn't quite sort his. Didn't quite sort his feet out.

[C]

He never. Well, Thiago had too long maybe to think about that one. And then suddenly it was all over.

[D]

Max, Dr. Ward again, Rodri hamstring. So when you do your ACL, that ends up being all right. The actual graft onto into the knee, you usually. It's, you know, when you've rehabbed, that's all right. But you get the graft. I would suspect mine was from a hamstring, my hamstring into. And they use that as a graft to replace the. The ligament. And you end up always having. Because obviously you've had a piece of your hamstring taken out, you always tend to have a little bit weaker hamstrings that side. And obviously the technology. Now, sports science means that Roger's hamstrings may be a little bit percentage wise stronger than mine was. However, it still has an effect, particularly the, you know, the amount of minutes that he plays. And so you always get the, like the little knocks and strains to hamstrings backs sometimes as well when you're coming back from an acl, and it's a shame, really, but, you know, they're so. They're so reliant on what he does that, you know, it did affect them in the second half when sort of Brentford got themselves together as well, which obviously helped.

[B]

I don't know if I prefer your medical knowledge or Barry, just from the look of him, I'd make it six weeks. It's hard to say that's more than six. You think that's more than six?

[E]

Could be three months.

[B]

Oh, really?

[C]

Andy Gray used to do that, didn't he, on Sky? Do you remember, like from. From the, say the. The. The commentary box at Goodison? He died. That's a medium lead in the government. Yeah, he's six weeks, you know, just like that.

[B]

When I was playing last season, the last one of the last games of the season, and our star striker caught. I put him through and he took a heavy touch and then there was a bit of a coming together and he. He went down and held his knee and Henry ran up and just went, yeah, that's an acl, but Henry is a doctor and he was right. But his. His bedside manner wasn't a man. I don't think that's what wanted to hear. He's lying in agony. They brought out the stretcher that I don't think had been used since the First World War. You know, it was like all, you know, something threadbare thing. And actually, as he was taken off, the ref booked him and I thought, you don't need to do that. He might have found. You don't need that. He's done his acl, mate. Come on.

[E]

Anyway, I. I think one of the best sites in football is someone getting booked or sent off while lying on the stretcher.

[B]

You bastard.

[E]

It's just, I know you're miserable, but here, have a car.

[B]

Actually. Well, I mean, speaking of. Well, sending's off because Vitor Pereira was sent off as well as Maresca, and we forgot to say that neither of them were allowed to do the TV interview, which seems like a prize. Yeah, you know, you shouldn't be let off that. Anyway, whoever his assistant was said Vitor was very, very apologetic. He was sent off for, quote, irresponsible behavior in the technical area. But agony for wolves, this, Barry, because for the second Week in a row they were so close to winning a game. They had massive chances at 1 nil and then they just fall asleep at a corner they don't need to give away.

[E]

Well you pretty much summed it up. They should have increased their lead after going a goal up and it somewhat fortuitous opener. Then there was that incident where Pereira got sent off for being for his feckless behavior and they missed several good chances. The corner was, there was no need to give away that corner. Chachua gave it away. Completely unnecessary. Sam Johnston was understandably furious with him. Brighton took it quickly while Sam Johnston was still being furious with him. And they, they scored an equalizer. Well, they did deserve it. But Wolves should have been out of sight. I still think Wolves are not the worst team in the division by any stretch of the imagination despite being bottom of the table.

[B]

Yeah, I agree with you on that. And Lucy was nodding as well. And so we all agree.

[D]

Yeah, I do think as well, I think rather than seeing it sort of negative, I think that's a, that's a three game unbeaten run including the win that's kicked it off was it against Everton in the league cup for Wolves. And it's all about those small little steps for them because they didn't start well. Obviously the losing games. And then all of a sudden now even if you forget about the sort of late concessions they've put, they've not lost in three games. And that's how he will, when the dust settles, will approach it with his players that they've, you know, that they're putting in performances that should be winning and they'll, they'll, they'll turn it around. I think. I agree with Barry.

[E]

The only problem is Wolves. The Wolves hierarchy tend to have kind of an itchy trigger finger, don't they? So I think it would be unwise to sack Pereira.

[C]

But they gave him three, they gave him a three year contract.

[E]

Well, there is that too.

[C]

And he pointed out I was spurs last week. He pointed out that the players that were signed all arrived on the final day of the transfer window. He's like how are you supposed to build a team you know, that quickly? So I, I think wolves could be okay, but they're gonna have to crawl before they can run, if you see what I mean.

[B]

Russell Martin is available if they do, if that trigger finger goes. But he's been sacked as the Rangers head coach after 17 games. The club saying while all transition periods require some time, results have not met expectations. And I suppose lucky for Rangers fans To hear that the expectations are not this low, it got pretty sour. He required a police escort to his car. After they drew at Falkirk, fans blocked the team bus one winning seven in the league. Eleven points off Hearts in first, nine behind Celtic. We'll speak to you and Murray about it in depth soon. But Barry, it's been a. It's been a terrible appointment.

[E]

Yeah, it was baffling. He wasn't wanted by Rangers fans to begin with. He couldn't have got off to much worse of a start. The fact that Hearts have Tony Bloom on board and are doing really well hasn't helped him either. But just it was a weird appointment and he didn't do himself any favors with some coming out with some almost arrogant stuff in, in post match interviews when he had very little to be arrogant about. I mean I just, he. He clearly had something about him at one stage as a manager and I believe, and I happy to stand corrected if I'm wrong. Swansea fans loved him. They got Southampton promoted. But Southampton last season, the Premier League and Rangers this time around, it's just been horrific.

[C]

I have covered a few of the Rangers games in Europe this season for the Guardian and that's involved me, you know, watching all the build up and then off tv. You can send me a Glasgow one day if they'd like. But you know, that's another issue. The post match stuff. You're almost watching for the post match Russell Martin interview to see how we could explain this one away. And it's always this well, it's all going really well. Apart from that bit. Yeah. And then the rest of it. I can see so many positive signs that we'll get it together. And one of the owners, it's the 49ers group, isn't it? Was. It was in Glasgow for. They played Genk a couple of weeks ago or a week or so ago and he was not. He was surrounded by Rangers fans at the end. You could see the TV footage of them all just saying, why have we still got this guy in charge? And I was actually sat next to a Rangers fan yesterday at Brentford who just sort of had head in hands as the latest result came in and was just like I said to him, I said, the next time I see you, Russell Martin won't be your manager. By the time I think I got into the pub after the game, Russell Martin was actually gone. So, you know, a misadventure. Should we put it that way? I think they will. They tried to be progressive, didn't they? With a choice of manager. There's Progressive and then there's Russell Martin. I don't think they may be the same thing.

[B]

Stevie G back.

[C]

I don't know who they turn to.

[E]

Daich. That's Dice written all over it.

[C]

Yes, I like Dyche.

[B]

Dyche versus Brendan Rogers would be fun, wouldn't it? We end with this from Alex says. Hi, Max. I'm on holiday in Bali with the family doing a digital detox. Pods excluded. I have created a new game in the pool with my kids. It's called Barry's Headers. You throw a ball from one end and your kid leaps in and has to head the ball as beautifully as Barry did. Are you pleased to have made Barry's Headers? It could become the next Kirby. All the kids could play it and talk about it nostalgically in years to come.

[E]

I'm honored, delighted, and I'm sure many of their headers are far better than mine.

[B]

Was good to know. Hopefully we'll be big in Bali after as we do a live show there. Be useful. Quite easy, you know, sort of equidistant almost, but easier for me than you. But we could make it happen. Anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Lucy.

[D]

Thank you.

[B]

Thanks, John.

[C]

Thanks for having me.

[B]

Thanks, Barry.

[E]

Thank you.

[B]

Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Phil Maynard.

[A]

This is the Guardian.