Foden sparkles for City and Scottish title race goes to the wire – Football Weekly podcast

Summary

Football Weekly Podcast Summary

Episode: "Foden sparkles for City and Scottish title race goes to the wire"

Date: May 14, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Ewan Murray, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan, Will Unwin

Episode Overview

This lively episode dissects the latest twists in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership title races, zooming in on Phil Foden's starring role for Manchester City, VAR controversy in Scotland, the rising tension around Pep Guardiola's future, and the farcical "Spygate" scandal involving Southampton. The panel moves with their signature banter and sharp punditry, mixing detailed analysis with characteristic humor and occasional sidebar digressions.

---

Premier League Title Race: City Keeping Pressure on Arsenal

(Starts ~02:00)

Man City 3 – Crystal Palace 0: The Foden Show

• City overcame Palace with relative ease, with Phil Foden providing two assists and a critical spark in an otherwise flat match.
• Will Unwin (03:22):

  "Phil Foden back in the starting lineup after a pretty disappointing season... produced the sort of moment of magic with the back heel to Semeno that games like that needed... two assists on a really good night for City."

• The stadium atmosphere was subdued, as both teams treated the game with an end-of-season casualness. City fans seemed resigned to missing out on the title.
• Panel consensus: City's focus might already be shifting toward the FA Cup final, suggested by their six changes to the starting lineup.

Contrast in Pressure and Vibes: Arsenal v. City

• Arsenal now lead with 79 points; City two behind on 77. Both teams have two games each remaining.
• Arsenal’s fans are described as tense and feverish, while City’s crowd seemed more detached, perhaps due to recent years’ successes.
• Max Rushden (04:53):

  "About a month ago, it was the opposite. ...Now, I think the title race, I think we will win the League, so I've blatantly now jinxed it."

Foden’s England Prospects & Future

• Debate over whether Foden’s form merits a more prominent role for England at the World Cup.
• Jordan Jarrett-Bryan (07:09):

  "He's just unlucky that England have so much strength in depth. He hasn't had a good season... last night was, was too little, too late."

• Speculation: is it time for Foden to leave City for a new challenge?

Pep Guardiola’s Future Up in the Air

• Rumors swirl about whether Pep will depart at season's end.
• Will Unwin (08:37):

  "People within the club think he's going to [leave], but he's definitely not confirmed it... I'm starting to be of the opinion that he'll stick around for another season."

• Light-hearted banter about where Pep should go next and the mythos around his coaching stature.

Arsenal’s Run-In

• Arsenal face Burnley and Palace; City play Bournemouth and Villa—both Burnley and Villa may have little to play for.
• The panel discusses iconic “bottled” moments in Premier League history, speculating on the chaos if Arsenal choke at this stage.
• Barry Glendenning (14:13):

  "It would be absolutely extraordinary [if Arsenal let it slip]."

---

Scottish Premiership: VAR Controversy and a Title Race for the Ages

(Starts ~17:46)

Hearts v. Celtic—Title Race Drama

• Hearts top on 80 points, one ahead of Celtic with one game left.
• Celtic’s 3-2 win over Motherwell handed to them in stoppage time by a highly debatable VAR penalty.
• Ewan Murray (18:48):

  "That's one of the most incredible decisions I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of incredible decisions. ...It was inexplicable, unfathomable."

The VAR Debacle

• Panel consensus: the penalty awarded against Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson is incomprehensible, with inadequate replays and an absurdly brief check.
• VAR is described as having introduced more controversy than it solves, especially problematic in Scotland due to limited resources and poor implementation.
• Ewan Murray (21:56, paraphrasing Martin O'Neill):

  "It is such a nonsense... In time we won't need a referee, VAR will do it."

• General agreement that VAR has undermined both fan experience and the perceived quality of officiating in Scottish football.
• Notable quote about fans’ inability to admit when their teams receive generous decisions:
  • Ewan Murray (30:05):

    "Hearts fans... would laugh and say, 'Geez, we got away with one.' Whereas I think supporters of the big two in Scotland... have to convince you and convince themselves, 'oh, no, actually it was a penalty.'"

Hearts’ Prospects

• Hearts only need to avoid defeat at Celtic Park to win the title—easier said than done.
• Despite a historic season for Hearts, the focus is on whether the recent controversy will linger as a shadow if Celtic clinch the league on the back of the VAR decision.

---

Spygate and the Championship Playoffs

(Starts ~30:58)

Southampton’s Spying Scandal

• Southampton allegedly spied on Middlesbrough before their playoff semi-final, sending an analyst to film training sessions from a nearby golf course.
• Barry Glendenning (33:14):

  "It is impossible to know how they resolve this. It's impossible to know what the right punishment is and where spying fits on the sort of grand scale of cheating."

• The analyst, described as looking "about 12 years old," was caught after using his bank card at the club's attached cafe.
• Jordan Jarrett-Bryan (33:48):

  "Southampton have not denied spying. ...That shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to figure out, really."

• The panel ridicules both the act and Southampton’s lack of transparency, but agree it’s a serious offense.

Panel's Suggested Solution

• General support for immediately kicking Southampton out of the playoffs if found guilty, as other punishments lack practical validity.
• Banter ensues about the farcical nature of the incident (fans dressing as bushes, the notion of a prepubescent "lone wolf" spy).

Broader Cheating Debate

• The team weighs up "Spygate" versus PSR (profit and sustainability rules) breaches, concluding that financial cheating may actually be a greater competitive concern but is less sensational than spying.
• Will Unwin (36:59):

  "I think the only solution is to kick them out of the playoffs because everything else has too many connotations..."

---

Playoff and FA Cup Final Previews

(Starts ~43:43)

FA Cup Final: Man City vs. Chelsea

• City play their fourth consecutive final; Chelsea seek their ninth win.
• Universal panel expectation: City are clear favorites given current form and squad depth, with Chelsea in disarray.
• Noted: Erling Haaland has never scored in a single final for City (Community Shields included).
• Will Unwin (46:09):

  "City are just in the sort of... robotic machine nature of their performances. AI football if you will against analog Chelsea."

Other Promotion Playoffs

• League One: Stockport to play either Bradford or Bolton; League Two playoffs ongoing.
• Shout out to Stockport, featuring their top striker Kyle Wootton playing at center-back due to injuries (41:28).

---

Final Premier League Push & European Hot Takes

(Starts ~46:42)

Relegation/Europe Battles

• Newcastle vs. West Ham: West Ham fighting for survival, Newcastle desperate not to finish below Sunderland.
• Spurs are at risk, requiring results to avoid relegation.
• Jordan Jarrett-Bryan (48:40):

  "I'm not sure any of those reasons trump West Ham's motivation... I think West Ham go there and win."

Villa vs. Liverpool

• Winner is guaranteed Champions League football unless Villa qualify through Europe.

Quickfire International Notes

• Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez holds a bizarre press conference, ranting about La Liga corruption and leaks. (50:37)
• Cristiano Ronaldo's latest Saudi mishap referenced with evident schadenfreude (52:05).

---

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Foden:

  "There's almost something feral about him... we've seen those videos of him playing street football and his close control and how good he is." — Barry Glendenning (07:09)

• On VAR in Scotland:

  "VAR in Scotland materially undermines the match attending experience." — Ewan Murray (22:32)

• On Spygate:

  "It's just funny that a man went to Middlesbrough to hide behind a bush." — Barry Glendenning (39:24)

• Heartfelt listener email:

  "I'd like to just support my nice, rather unthreatening team, but that's not easy right now." — Adam, Southampton fan, on dealing with Spygate shame (30:58)

---

Humor & Tone

• The episode is packed with characteristic Football Weekly wit, mock self-deprecation (e.g., "I'm a small man"—52:05), offbeat analogies, and lighthearted ribbing (use of "feral" as a compliment/insult for Foden, jokes about East European weddings, and the farce of Spygate).

---

Key Timestamps

• 02:00: City v Palace recap, Foden's performance
• 08:00: Guardiola’s future debate
• 17:46: Scottish title race & VAR scandal
• 30:58: Southampton Spygate, Championship playoff fallout
• 43:43: FA Cup and other playoff previews
• 46:42: Premier League relegation battle preview
• 52:05: Ronaldo’s Saudi heartbreak
• 52:27: Listener email, Polish wedding banter

---

Summary

This episode deftly balances deep football insight with a lighthearted, irreverent approach. Major themes include Phil Foden’s rekindled brilliance, the unending drama of title races in England and Scotland, and the strange comedy of Spygate. The panel's blend of expertise and banter ensures that even the weightiest topics—controversial VAR, managerial futures, sporting integrity—are handled with perspective and a wink.

If you missed the episode, this summary gives you a roadmap of every key storyline and all the best quotes—minus the ads, intros, and outros.

Transcript

[Max Rushden]

This is the Guardian.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings by $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary. Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But Aura goes beyond data protection. With one app you get a VPN and antivirus, password manager, spam, call protection, dark web monitoring and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. All backed by 24. 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit monitoring or just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial today at aura.com safety protect yourself [e-mail] safety.

[Barry Glendinning]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Manchester City do what they have to do against Crystal palace two points behind Arsenal with two to play now. Palace started brightly, but a couple of glorious assists, one from Phil Foden and one from Ram Cherky, helped Pep to keep the pressure on. The real drama last night was in Scotland. After seeing what a late VAR call can do for the title race in the Premier League, the SPL thought let's have some of that. Celtic winning a penalty at the death at Motherwell. Kelechi Iheanacho was bafflingly calm as he rolled it home. So it's all to play for Celtic Lee Hearts. A point is enough for the Jab tarts. Then to Spygate as Southampton sneak their way into the playoff final. Kim Helburg heartbroken. Tonda Eckhart walking out of press conferences. Middlesbrough are still training. Just in case, we'll look ahead to the FA cup final and the Premier League weekend. Answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendenny.

[Ewan Murray]

Welcome.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Hi, Max.

[Barry Glendinning]

Hello, Jordan. Jarrett, Bryan.

[Max Rushden]

Morning, mate.

[Barry Glendinning]

And good morning, Will Unwin.

[Will Unwin]

Hello, Max.

[Barry Glendinning]

Let's begin with the title race. We'll get to that handball that looked suspiciously like a header in Scotland in a. In a bit with Yan. But before that, Arsenal so are top of the Premier League. 79 points from 36, man. City now have 77 from 36 and one better goal difference. They beat Crystal Palace 3 nil. Will, you were there. It didn't sound like a cauldron to me, but how was it for you?

[Will Unwin]

It was a very difficult sort of opening half hour for City where Palace in their team selection of sort of maintaining fitness before they have a proper match at the end of the season that they're interested in. Put 10 men behind the ball, break us down, see what you can do. We'll try a bit to do you on the break if we can be bothered, but at the moment we're just going to use this as a nice training exercise. Phil Foden back in the starting lineup after a pretty disappointed season. Pretty produced the sort of moment of magic with the back heel to Semeno that games like that needed. It was pretty flat inside the stadium. I don't think City fans are really expecting to chase down Arsenal at this point and maybe six changes for City suggests the FA cup is marginally more important. Yeah, it was quite easy in the end. City kept the ball very well, picked the gaps when they found them and it was nice to see Foden do. Do what he always promises to do and has the talent to do, you know, two assists on a really good night for City. But yeah, so pretty, pretty subdued all around. It was, yeah, for end of season friendly type vibe.

[Barry Glendinning]

That is so interesting, isn't it, Jordan? Like the difference between, you know, City who are the title race and Arsenal who are obviously leading the title race and the difference in vibe, in energy, in either like total terror or like this is like fever pitch that's happening at the. At the Emirates and at the Etihad. A kind of. Yeah, well, it's unlikely we're going to win it, but we've won it before. We'll make six changes.

[Max Rushden]

No, you're totally right. But it's funny because it was about a month Ago, it was the opposite. There was a couple of Arsenal games where we finished quite flat and it was a vibe of, oh, we've blown this, we know what's coming here. There was a couple of City games, maybe even the City Arsenal game where at the end, you know, the Etihad was buoyant and bouncing then because they thought, yep, yep, we know what's coming. This is, this is our time. I mean, I'm straddling the, the rope of confidence and arrogance quite well, I think, because I watched this game really not caring.

[Barry Glendinning]

Are you speaking about the title race or just you?

[Max Rushden]

Well, just generally there is that to be fair as well. But I watched this game just not really caring about the result because I'm quite confident. It doesn't really matter now. Just saying to Will before, I think the title race, I think we will win the League, so I' blatantly now jinxed it. But I just watched this game comfortable knowing that I don't really care what the result here is because I don't think it ultimately changes the outcome of, of who wins the Premier League title. It was flat. It was a little bit mares. We also did have a bit of a last game of the season vibe about it. My only takeaway from this game was Phil Foden again, as Bill said, and thinking about the World cup, you know, I, I, he was brilliant in, in this game, but I think that kind of discussion around the number tens, I think it might be too little, too late for him. I don't think he's performed for England previously. He's had chances and whilst nobody's screaming for that number 10 shirt for England, I, I think if you look at E could be a European and Premier League winner. Bellingham seems to be the front runner. Rogers had a decent season and Cole Palmer, off the bench at the bare minimum, has shown that he's an asset. I, I think he's at the bottom of the bottom of the list. And I love Phil Fern. I think he's a brilliant player. Signing the contract to City was a weird one for me because it feels like he's achieved everything he can there. It's maybe time for a new challenge, but he was brilliant in this game. But I fear in terms of the summer, it might be too little too late.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, look, whatever happens with the number 10 spot, Barry, unless England win the World cup, they'll be like, well, look what, look at that back hill Phil Foden did against Palace. But, but Jordan is right when he's on song and I guess he was the story of this game. He is. He has a grace and an elegance that makes you want to watch him play football.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Yeah, he's a terrific player. I don't think anyone has ever denied that. There's almost something feral about him. We've seen those videos of him playing street football and his close control and how good he is. But I, I will be surprised if he's England in the England squad. He's just unlucky that England have so much strength in depth. All over the place, really. A lot of super England footballers are not going to be at the World cup through no great fall to their own. He hasn't had a good season. Players go in and out of form and I suspect last night was, was too little, too late. This was, yeah, quite a flat game. As soon as I saw palace had left Sarah and Adam Orton on the bench, you're kind of thinking, yeah, they, they don't really care about this and that's fine. They're. They're perfectly entitled to prioritize the Conference League final.

[Max Rushden]

My only other thought from this game, and I'd love to come here and get Will's view on this, is I've been of the thinking that this will be Pep Guardiola's last season at Manchester City, but you would have thought with it being City's second to last game home game, sorry, of the season, there might have been like a, an announcement by now, like a. I don't know if he's going to do it at the last game against Villa, like a wave goodbye. I don't. Will you think there's been any kind of tell signs as to whether he will be leaving or he's going to be staying beyond this season?

[Will Unwin]

Well, this is the, the hot topic. I mean there's a lot of rumors flying around about whether it will be his last season. Sort of the edging is, you know, the edging and thinking is towards that he's going. I spoke to someone last week and people within the club think he's going to, but he's not. He's definitely not confirmed it. I think people are confident that he sees this team and I think he fancies this team and he's not seen his full potential, which he'll want to see through. And so it'd be interesting to see on that front, you know, in recent weeks, you know, beating palaces. Last night, listening to Barry describe Feral as a positive for Phil Foden, he might be interested in harnessing that.

[Barry Glendinning]

So I.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

It wasn't Meant to be an insult. I see now how it could be construed as such.

[Will Unwin]

I've never heard Feral used as a.

[Barry Glendinning]

No, no, I just let it go. But I.

[Will Unwin]

God, look at that Feral dog is. Isn't he beautiful?

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah.

[Will Unwin]

I think he'd still want to go out with a bigger trophy than the FA cup, your Champions leagues, your Premier Leagues. I suspect if he won the Premier League, I reckon it'd be out the door if, you know, Burnley pull it off on Monday and whatnot. And City do the business in Bournemouth and Villa. But honestly, I am starting to be of the opinion that he'll stick around for another season. He's got that in his contract. I mean, I was fascinated when he went to Port Vale. Stockport. Port Vale the other week, you know, he sort of promised to go to the. Watch the Stockport game for eight years and he decides just now to. To go. Come good on his. On his promise. Just. Just in case he needs to. He won't be here next season.

[Barry Glendinning]

That is the thing. That's the thing that Pep should do though, isn't it? The thing that Pep should do is because everyone says, well, yeah, but could he do it with Stevenage? It's to go to Port. It's to say, okay, and then spend five years seeing how well he could do at Port Vale. That. That would be the dream.

[Will Unwin]

Bit harsh on John Brady there, Max. He's doing a good job.

[Barry Glendinning]

No, no, it is harsh on John Brady. You're right. And my apologies to John. Look, the other moment from this game, Rancher's past was. Was great and he has. He has been really good. And that aside, yeah, I think your right. Palace were pretty bright at the start. Could have got one, maybe on the break. Donnarumma made a brilliant save from Mateta, even though it was offside. And you know, he's been pretty key for them this season. So look, Arsenal, Burnley on Monday, Bournemouth, City on Tuesday. They couldn't. They can't mess it up now, Baz, can they? Arsenal?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I don't think so. I'd be astonished if they do. If palace had got a draw last night, then Arson would have been able to win the title at home. Which, you know, they will take winning the title at Selhurst park, no problem. But it would have been nice for them to win it at, you know, home. That now won't happen. I would love Burnley to surprise us all by at least putting up a good fight. But I can't see anything other than a steamrollering ahoy on Monday night.

[Barry Glendinning]

Will, you've seen Burnley more than you think. Any other journalist this year.

[Will Unwin]

Any of a national journalist.

[Max Rushden]

Right.

[Will Unwin]

Shout out to Matt Scrafton on the locals who has had to sit through it all season.

[Barry Glendinning]

Do you feel like. Did you feel like the editor is telling you something Will, by constantly telling you to watch burnout?

[Will Unwin]

I know the state of my career. It is very much second. Second for bottom in the league. Yeah. It was joke though.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I'd kill to be sent to Burnley.

[Will Unwin]

If I get found smothered in my sleep. We know who it was Baz. Desperate to do turf more on the final day of the season.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Just to be clear, that is a

[Baz]

joke

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

in case any of our bosses are listening.

[Will Unwin]

Baz using all these good feral and murder stuff early doors. Yeah. I think I've been told I'm allowed to hand out the wooden spoon on the final day for the Burnley Wolves game. So for whoever finishes bottom I can do it on the pitch sort of ceremonially. I've missed four Burnley home games this season. Seen a few away. Don't you worry everyone.

[Baz]

Yeah.

[Barry Glendinning]

Probably done better than a season ticket holder. There's probably. You've probably some Burnley season stick holders now having watched them this much. What does the will unwin Supercomputer percentage of Burnley getting a point at the Emirates?

[Will Unwin]

I'll give it a solid 0.5%. They'll go five at the back. The Mike Jackson wonder team four midfield Z fl desperately hoping to sort of, you know, scuff one in for a late leveler. But yeah, they've got no chance.

[Baz]

I'm.

[Max Rushden]

I'm going to do some. I'm going to do some self harming here boys.

[Ewan Murray]

Right.

[Max Rushden]

But let's have some fun. Right? How there's been some iconic Premier League moments in the Premier League's existence. If Arsenal were to bottle this on the last game of the season, somehow where does this rank in the most?

[Barry Glendinning]

Palace. So they. So they've beaten Burnley. Okay. So they go to palace who are three days before their Conference League final. Right. So they are. They've rested their entire team. You're now playing palace reserves at away. And where does this sit?

[Max Rushden]

If Arsenal think of like cancer nar Kung fu kick Aguero last minute, Yeboa off the bar. Big Premier League moments. Well where did.

[Barry Glendinning]

I suppose I. I'm. I'm trying to think of a team that didn't win, that needed to win and that cost them the Premier League title. Is. Is probably Man United at West Ham, isn't it?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

When Ludwal MacAskill turned into a buffon and octopus.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah. Because Blackburn lost to Liverpool, didn't they? So that, I guess that is, that is the equivalent. And I, you know, and Andy Cole, I think, missed quite a few chances in that game. This feels like it would be a bigger. Because Man United won the title so many times. Of course it mattered. But it doesn't matter that, that's the point that where Arsenal are at, I think Jordan is to fail to get over the line now and trust me, it is glorious to speculate about it because I think you're right. Once it's. Once the games are played, I don't think we'll be able to. But just for a moment to think. You would listen to. I would listen to phone ins. It's that level. It's that level of. Of, of. I can't. I, you know, it would be. It would be absolutely extraordinary.

[Will Unwin]

Now, right, everyone would be a sort of modern day Peter Cook character sort of phone.

[Barry Glendinning]

Well, interestingly, and maybe, you know, I shouldn't give away the secret, but, you know, we have like a dump button for swearing on the radio on Talk Sport. But it sort of, it builds up a delay over time. So if you, if you, if people keeps going, then they just can't do anything about it. Right. Like the BBC doesn't have a delay. So, you know, you just have to apologize. There's two ways to, to do that. But, you know, I think you're getting

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

your Peter Cook characters mixed up.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yes, right, I see. Which one?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

He used to ring phone ins, pretending to be. Was it an Icelandic or a Norwegian?

[Will Unwin]

Scandinavian. Yeah.

[Barry Glendinning]

Right, I see.

[Will Unwin]

But I'm just suggesting there be like caricatures of who they're supposed to be. These sort of Arsenal fans phoning up, sort of, you know, again, not, not using the word feral as a positive, I'll say that.

[Barry Glendinning]

No. Anyway, so, yeah, so that is it. Arsenal Bernie on Monday, Bournemouth City on Tuesday. Then on the final day, Palace v. Arsenal and City vs Villa. And Villa could have something to play for, but they will be a few days after the Europa League final. So, like they could also be in the Champions League and not be that bothered. That's what's going to happen in the Premier League. And we'll obviously cover it on the pod next week. And that'll do for part one. Part two. We'll go full var in Ewan Murray's Fitbar corner.

[Aura Advertiser]

We're lost and kickoff's coming up.

[Will Unwin]

I don't want to miss the lineup.

[Barry Glendinning]

I'm going to ask that man for directions.

[Aura Advertiser]

Hi there. We're trying to get to the stadium.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

Well, you're going to take a left at the old oak tree at this here road.

[Max Rushden]

Nah, I'm just kidding.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

Let me get my phone out.

[Aura Advertiser]

How is there signal out here?

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

T Mobile and US Cellular are coming together so the network out here is huge. We get the same great signal as the city, saving a boatload with benefits. And there's a five year price guarantee too. Okay, here's the turn.

[Aura Advertiser]

Actually, can you pull up the way to a channel T Mobile store?

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

America's best network just got bigger. Switch to T Mobile today and get built in benefits the other guys leave out plus our five year price guarantee. And now T Mobile is available at U S Cellular stores in Hermiston. Best mobile network Based on analysis by UCLOS BTES Intelligence data second half of 2025 bigger network. The combination of T Mobile's and US Cellular's network footprints will enhance the T Mobile network's coverage price guarantee on talk text and data exclusions like taxes and fees apply. CT mobile.com for details.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Barry Glendinning]

Welcome to part two of the Guardian Footprint Weekly. Now, last week you and Murray was on. We speculated it might be the first time we'd heard. Happy you and Murray. It may not be the case today. The top of the Scottish premiership looks like this. Hearts top 80 points from 37. Celtic have 79 from 37. After last night's results, Hearts beat Falkirk 30 and Celtic won 32 at Motherwell. Ewan, welcome. How. How are you?

[Ewan Murray]

Exhausted.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah.

[Ewan Murray]

Yes. How are you?

[Barry Glendinning]

Well, I'm good but I mean we were just. We don't tend in the sort of the downtime pre show chat to talk about football. We save it. But we've all been talking about this VAR call at Fur Park. It's 2:2 in the final minute of injury time. Celtic have a long throw. Sam Nicholson, motherworld player, goes up with Austin trustee. His arm is raised but unless he has the punch of Mike Tyson, he heads out for a corner. Right. Did it brush his arm? I don't know, but it is given as a penalty. After a pretty quick var check, Derek McKinnon said a disgusting call. Martin O' Neill said a clear handball.

[Ewan Murray]

Your thoughts, Ewan Martin O' Neill said that with a straight face as well. It was the most remarkable thing. Yeah, that's one of the most incredible decisions I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of incredible decisions. I mean, Hearts run in this Scottish title race means there's been attention everywhere. The story has, you know, you guys know, it has gathered attention in all corners of the world. Well, if there's any corner of the world that, that wasn't gathering attention, then that var call last night reached those very corners. It was a staggering moment given what was at stake. But it would be a staggering decision anyway if it was a game involving two bottom six teams in Scotland. It was inexplicable, unfathomable. The key point with Nicholson's arm is it hits his arm, hits Trusty's shoulder, which knocks it up the way. Which affects whether he. I'm not certain he, he touched the ball with his hand either, but, but the, the mere projection of the ball, we clearly headed it. But if his hand was, as I say, in an unnatural place, it was because his arm bounced off trustees shoulder. And you know, one of many, you touched on it. But one of many stunning things about this was that John Beaton, the referee, took what, 15, 20 seconds to look at the screen and determined it was a, a penalty. It was so quick.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah. And I suppose, you know, we often complain about how long var checks take, Barry, but like the whole. And I hate saying clear and obvious, I hate saying it, but I just don't know how anybody can say like, like I don't know how many times I've watched that. I don't know how many times a whole panel have watched that and none of us know. I do not know if he's touched up with his hand or not. I don't know what the handball law really is anymore. If he has touched it. I don't know if that's a handball, but you cannot categorically say that is a clear and obvious error.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

No. Was it a handball? I don't know. I don't think so.

[Ewan Murray]

There's a.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Still doing the round that shows Sam Nicholson his hand is on his forehead and the ball hits the back of his hand. He clearly heads it either with, you know, his hand between his head and the ball back out, either for a throw in or a corner. So that's what 20 yards is. He's hoided. Was it a clear and obvious error? No. Was the game re. Refereed?

[Ewan Murray]

Yes.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

That's not supposed to happen. There is a suggestion he went to check one foul but awarded the penalty for another. I don't know if that's the case, but this was clearly a case for referees. Call that the on field decision could stand because you could look at that replay a hundred times and not be clear on whether it's a handball or not. And that's the third big decision that's gone against Hart's in the last four days. I'm not crying conspiracy, it's just a matter of fact. It's a massive decision. It's gone against Hearts and it's the third one. There was two big ones at the weekend. One the Celtic game, one the Hearts game and now this.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, I mean I. I don't know you and I. I like the more that Var interferes. Like the whole point of it was to stop controversy and all it does is add controversy. Prevar that is a corner and no one says anything about anything.

[Ewan Murray]

Yeah. Well, can I read a quote to you? Yeah, you can tell me who it's from. The quote says it is such a nonsense. I'm all for people that have missed something dramatic in a game that constitutes something they should have a look at. But when a referee sees instant himself and then what he's been asked to do is. No, you didn't see that. You saw something else. That has got to be debilitating for a referee. It has got to be. In time we won't need a referee. Vari Var will do it from whatever they are doing it from. Because that is what they did. Brackets in this instant. This is someone speaking about the re refereeing of a game. Who was that?

[Barry Glendinning]

I mean it could be so many managers, couldn't it?

[Max Rushden]

Was it yesterday mine?

[Ewan Murray]

Oh no, it was Martin o' Neill in February when Celtic had a player sent off and he believed that the game was being re refereed. That was his point of view then. So. Yeah, sorry, the overall Var point. I. I have two. This is a. I've had this issue for a long time, so I'm not crying foul after last night. I have two fundamental issues with Var in Scotland. One, Scottish football was supposed to be all about the supporter experience. The in game experience, the fan attending the match. They make great play of that and they made embarrassing great play of that during COVID times. And a bid to get fans back in the grounds and raise money. Var in Scotland materially undermines the match attending experience. And I say that as a paying customer who does it, not a journalist. And the other thing is Scotland doesn't have enough referees to spread them even more thin with var, so, you know, it doesn't have enough capable referees for the top fight in the country. So when you bring in Var and you need them for VAR duties, assistant VAR duties, plus what they're doing on a pitch, it's obvious you're going to diminish the standard of refereeing. And what has baffled me for a while, and obviously this, this morning, is that Scottish football clubs who pay for this have sat back and allowed this to happen, rather than actually saying, maybe this is detrimental to what we're. What we're trying to do here. So. But as I say, those are issues I would have told you before last night's episode.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Anyway, they also seem to have gone for a budget version of var, because both on Sky Sports and the footage the referee was shown, he was only shown one angle that we've only seen one angle and it's not a very helpful one. So, you know, either have it with all its bells and whistles or ideally don't have it at all. But the upshot for this is now that instead of needing to beat Hearts by three clear goals at home on Sunday, Celtic now just need to beat them. And you can understand Derek McInnes's rage.

[Barry Glendinning]

I heard another interview with that McKinnis Ewan and he actually sounded pretty level about that. I don't know if it was before he was. Said it was a disgusting call, or afterwards, either had he collected himself or had he not seen it properly to realize how egregious it was, but, like, he has to use this as motivation. Hearts have had a brilliant season. They are still. And I think a lot of neutrals would love them to win the. The title. You know, they are still in the box seat, would you say? I mean, they only need to avoid defeat.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah.

[Ewan Murray]

Only. Yeah, as I said last night, so easy to see and. Right. A bit more difficult to do, of course. No, he. He was calmed. Eric McInnes. It was his words, that word. Disgusting. And he used it when he came and sat in the main press conference. Obviously leaps out. I mean, Hearts are a further grievance because they were denied what I think and they think was a blatant penalty at Motherwell on Saturday evening. So there's a combination of things here. And I felt sorry for Derek and the Hearts players last night because at the end of that game, it should have been a celebration of sorts. They'd won. They'd won the game. They've had an unbeaten league season at home. They've had a monumental season overall in terms of taking the. The title this far and they deserved a really strong ovation and some great moments in front of their fans. And that was taken away because of what. What happened that at Motherboard and I thought that was a pity in terms of the game on. On Saturday. You know, as you know, I have emotional investment in this. If you go to Celtic park, having to lose 2 nil and you can still win the league and others like me would be uncomfortable with that, but I think it's definitely preferable to going there. Needing a point.

[Will Unwin]

Oh, of course.

[Ewan Murray]

To win the league. So it felt like a significant shift. It was such a big deal and obviously the, the circumstances behind it are why Hearts, their fans felt so. And looked certainly so deflated.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

You. We've seen how poor Celtics recruitment has been this season. We've seen the arrogance of their board at that famous AGM and then the. The fiasco with Rodgers leaving and Wilfred Nancy coming in. If they go on to win the league, will their vord. Jen go?

[Max Rushden]

Me?

[Baz]

We.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

We are doing everything right, you know, not.

[Ewan Murray]

What's all the fuss about? What's all the fuss about? Yeah, yeah, there's every chance of that. The answer with Certic is you never entirely know. I mean, Dermot Desmond as the main shareholder is not. Is not around. Obviously you don't see him or hear from him, so you never entirely know what their thoughts are. But I, I think there's every chance they will say it was a sticky season and we've still come out with the championship. What's all the. What's all the fuss about? Which would be a mistake. Celtic need an overhaul of quite a lot of things. But, you know, they need. They need a manager, they need a new chairman, they need various things behind the scenes. When you go to Celtic park, it's a. It's a tired venue. You know, their own supporters rightly acknowledge that, so they need a big overhaul. But I think there is a live chance that if they win this league, they will regard it as further justification of. Of what they do. I think history tells us that when actually if you scratch just a little bit below the surface, there's an awful lot of work needing done there to make them a. You know, they should be a serious incredible force in European football, not Scotland. And they've missed the opportunity over. Over a number of years. So, yeah, that will become an intriguing conversation if they get it done on Saturday.

[Barry Glendinning]

Now, look, we know in the situation, Hearts are the goodies and And Celtic are the baddies. But it was. You said Celtic. Yeah. When Celtic got that penalty, there was just this absolute classic and every fan will know this. The Celtic fans went absolutely mad and then they realized they had to watch their team take a penalty. And that joy went to absolute fear. You could just see so many Celtic fans with just their head in their hands like this. And you do have to say Ewan.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

And then Kalichi Ini natural picked up

[Barry Glendinning]

the ball, but he was extraordinary. Like, that was one of the most chilled out penalties I think I've ever seen.

[Ewan Murray]

It was a terrifically calm penalty. Yeah, it wasn't. I accepted goodies and baddies analogy and I would probably use it myself, but the Celtic fans at the game, that's an enthralling, exhilarating. Of course, I completely get that you're in a title race, you know, you're staring down the barrel of a pretty grim situation and you get a penalty. In those circumstances. I completely get their attitude. I wouldn't decry them. That it's just in, in broader context and as I said, we can't get away from it. The way that was awarded means that there was, you know, there's been eyebrows raised, shall we say, way beyond Scotland and there will be ramifications if Celtic go on and win the league. That will. Unfortunately, that will just become a reference point for years to come.

[Barry Glendinning]

And you know, the annoying thing about Martin o' Neill saying that is,

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

you

[Barry Glendinning]

know, and you, you've encapsulated personally and it's not just him. Managers do this all the time. You know, they criticize the ref if they, if the decision goes against them, you know, they never, almost never go. It doesn't change the result. It would be so refreshing if a manager said, actually, I don't think that was the right decision or I don't know and I don't like Var and be consistent with it because I don't know, I'm just, I'm. I'm clutching at how Var might actually be. We could get rid of it from this game and it would have to come from people being consistent, you know,

[Ewan Murray]

ethic ethically about decision and so, and, and supporters. I mean, I've already got it in social media, as I'm sure we all have. Celtic supporters try to contort themselves into absolutely convincing you why it was a penalty. And I, I think this is a difference between supporters of Hearts, for example, and supporters of Celtic and Rangers Hearts fans. I think we would laugh and say, geez, we got away with one There was. It wasn't that funny. That's the attitude you would take. Whereas I, I think supporters of the big two in Scotland are so ensconced in all this, they have to convince you and convince themselves. Oh, no, actually it was, it was a penalty instead of. And Martin o' Neill was an extension of that where, you know, he obviously just cannot say, yeah, we definitely, we definitely get away with that and, and, and, and laugh about it. It wouldn't make Hearts feel any better, but I think it would undeniably be the truth.

[Will Unwin]

Sure.

[Barry Glendinning]

I mean we are all guilty of that, I guess. I've watched that James Madison non penalty, I mean like days after the game happened, thinking maybe, maybe that is. Maybe you can find a way of thinking that. Yeah, I mean, it's a waste of my time anyway. Ewan, look, let's catch up on Monday regardless.

[Ewan Murray]

Yes, possibly.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Okay.

[Barry Glendinning]

You and Murray, our Scottish football correspondent. Thank you, Yan. Cheers, mate.

[Ewan Murray]

Thank you.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Thanks.

[Barry Glendinning]

You, you and Murray there, our Scottish football correspondent. We'll move on to an email from Adam who says hello, Max, Barry and everyone else, long time listener, first time emailer here. I'm a Southampton fan. Due to the fortune of my place of birth, this past week has been very conflicting for me given Spygate and all the rancor around that. Plus the allegations over Taylor Harwood Bellas abusing Luke Ailing. Frankly, I'm embarrassed. I don't really know how to react. Southampton are not a club that engender much feeling from anyone apart from Pompey fans, and as a result, I'm completely at a loss to suddenly support vilified team Rupert Lowe, who we always hated, and Matt Leticia aside, we always just seem like a nice club like Fulham, Brighton or Norwich. I'd probably be used to hate if I supported a top club or Millwall or MK Dons or whoever, but I don't. As a result, the situation has left me discombobulated. I'd like to just support my nice, rather unthreatening team, but that's not easy right now. I'd be interested in what panelists suggest. I'm hoping that it was just a bad apple or apples, but that seems rather far fetched. As a result, maybe we should be kicked out of the playoffs. Although there seems to be a lot of other cheating that goes lightly punished. Whatever happens, I'll be happier when Southamp stop being a topic for bad reasons on Football Weekly. At least we still have the FA cup run to remember. Cheers for all you do, Adam in Bristol. Well, unless of course, you spied your way through the FA cup run. So look, it will be Southampton, harlot, Wembley. We think Middlesbrough are still training at the moment because Southampton beat Middlesbrough 21 after extra time. Shay Charles sort of cross that just sort of wandered into the far post and the Middlesbrough players, all Sammy Kafoor style, fell to their knees. But the story, Barry, is Spygate, isn't it? You know it. The. The spying question has been named by the Daily Mail as a guy called William Salt. Sort of sounds like a character from Robin Hood, doesn't he? Hiding just behind a tree. He looks about 12 years old with an iPhone. The report states that he used his personal bank card to buy a coffee. His first mistake as a spy. Rockcliffe Hall Golf Club, which backs onto the training ground, is owned by the club's chairman, Steve Gibson. I don't know what you think, Barry, but it is impossible to know how they resolve this. It's impossible to know what the right punishment is and where spying fits on the sort of grand. I know we talked about it already, but on the sort of grand scale of, I don't know, claiming a throw in that isn't yours at one end of cheating and match fixing at the other end, where spying fits in for

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

all that, I suspect it's probably not as useful as, you know, in terms of risk, reward, risk of getting caught in reward for getting footage of some Middlesbrough set pieces. I say it's probably not worth it, but it's definitely at the higher end of the scale, in my opinion. Southampton have not denied spying Middlesbrough. They haven't admitted it either. They have asked for more time to get to the bottom of what seems to me a fairly straightforward

[Ewan Murray]

issue.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Did we spy who was involved? How. How deep does this thing go? That shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to figure out, really. I think Tond Eckhart keeps getting shoved into press conferences and being asked about spying and he's clearly been told not to answer any questions about it. I think he wants to answer questions about it. The Southampton press officer doesn't seem to be very good at being a press officer, but I appreciate he's in a very difficult position that he probably never imagined being in as a Southampton press officer. I don't think Borough lost this tie because Southampton spied on them. I think they lost because Southampton were much better than them over, certainly across the second leg. I'm not surprised. Borough are continuing to train in the hope that Southampton might be slung out of the playoffs and they will get the place in the final instead. I wouldn't be shocked if that happened. Is there a case to be made that Southampton should just say, do you know what? We will withdraw. We. We did it, we're sorry. Borough can play in the playoff final. I know I'm away with the fairies thinking a football club would do that with the money at stake, but it's an option. I would be very surprised whether he's involved or not. I would be very surprised if Tonde Eckhart isn't considering his position, even if he's completely innocent. If I was him, I'd be thinking about just walking away from, from this because I wouldn't want to be tainted by association.

[Barry Glendinning]

I mean, I think he is tainted already, but I mean it's sort of. It feels so unlikely. And we don't know that analysts are doing this without telling the manager. I mean, if they are, that's sort of quite extraordinary. They're trying to do all this sort of undercover stuff. But I mean it's possible, I guess will.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Well, but the analyst has to be giving the information to someone else. That's what analysts do.

[Will Unwin]

But, but also, I mean imagine you, you know, a few days before the, the biggest game of the season. You, it's like, oh, you take a

[Barry Glendinning]

day off, mate, you got something, you

[Will Unwin]

got something to do. Don't you worry about it. You crack on. We, we'll carry on without you. I mean, there is one problem with Barry's suggestion that Saints just sort of withdraw from the playoffs is that would show quite a lot of class and they have shown absolutely zero in the past week from top to bottom. It's been incredible. It's like press conferences to spying to ball boys taking the ball back during the match and things like that. So that's not going to happen. I mean, I think the only solution is to kick them out of the playoffs because everything else has too many connotations. You try and have a points deduction this season and that moves around what should have happened in the playoff. Who had the home leg second or who played who? Financial. It's never going to make a difference if they get the 150 million quid. So the only actual option is just at this point go, yeah, you're out, you're gone. And that's otherwise there's too many problems that will come off the back of it. And I'm sure Southampton will try and come up with some claim their lone wolf 12 year old looking analyst has come up with this cunning plan to hide in the bushes. But yeah, I think, yeah, get rid of him.

[Max Rushden]

Can you imagine Southampton getting kicked out of the playoffs and Man City relegated in the same week? And that is the dream.

[Barry Glendinning]

Well, if that happened that week, that week would be in about 2055. I would suggest Jordan. I mean, I suppose that the interesting thing Jordan is, is I, I don't disagree with you Will, that you know, if they are found guilty, that throwing out the playoffs seems to be the only sensible solution. But like on, on a scale of like if you breach psr, like it's not as interesting a crime, it's not as easy to kind of follow, it's not as obvious, it's not as like Sky Sports News recreate. They literally recreated a man hiding behind a tree for like five minutes. Absolutely. I mean fair play that reporter for doing that with a straight face. But if you breach psr, that means you can pay more wages to players, buy better players while other teams are following the rules. And surely that is a bigger advantage than going to a hide behind a tree in Middlesbrough. And yet is this punishment? I mean, I don't know. I, I. Do you see the point I'm trying to make, whereas the punishment is a sort of small points deduction.

[Max Rushden]

Well, I guess it depends on what said team's objective is. So for Southampton trying to get into the Premier League, that is huge. Or back at the Prem, that's huge. So for Chelsea or, or, or a Premier League club, you know, doing things with, with their books and, and finances, that is also huge, but in a very different way. I, I agree with Will. I, I think if this is, they're found guilty and I think it's a pretty open shut case here, I think the only solution is to kick them out of the playoffs because it's not acceptable. But I also agree with Barry's earlier point about risk to reward. I just think to myself it feels like a really big thing to do for not that much gain. But if you get caught, the consequences as I'm alluding to are apps could actually be really, really big. So I just think was it, was it really worth it? I just don't see if it was worth it in that sense.

[Barry Glendinning]

I mean, obviously. And it's one of those things, Barry, that simultaneously it is serious and it is cheating and it's also incredibly funny. And I think you can like, you know, you can just because, because we were talking about it, me and Charlie on the radio yesterday and being flippant about it and then Middlebrook fans are saying if this was a big club, you'd hate it. And you're going to. Actually. It's just funny that a man went to Middlesworth to hide behind a bush. And then it is funn. Southampton fans dressed as bushes. Like that is a funny thing.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

And then it turned out to be a tree. Exactly.

[Barry Glendinning]

And I did wonder maybe Middlesbrough. What they could have done. They could have turned him into a double agent when they caught him and that would have been the real sting if they'd done that. But I mean, it is totally. I mean it has totally overshadowed the game and it's. It's put a lot of people at that club. I'm sure in a.

[Will Unwin]

Really.

[Barry Glendinning]

There must be lots of people who work at Southampton, probably the players who probably didn't know anything about this and a lot of the staff and other people who've been put in a totally invidious position by this. And we don't know where. We don't. You're right. We don't know how high up it went. But be lots of innocent people at Southampton who are absolutely livid. Right. Livid. And fans are laughing and dressing as tree. But there'll be other Southampton fans who'll be furious. A bit like that email.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I'd be embarrassed if. If it was a team I supported that was at that crack. I mean, you. I. I was listening to you and Charlie yesterday and you spoke to Franny Banali who revealed he's currently working on a cruise liner. I was thinking, is he a cabaret singer now?

[Ewan Murray]

A magician?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

He's got quite the career. Swerve.

[Barry Glendinning]

Pulled Jason Dodd out of a hat. Connie.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I'm sure the likes of him is thoroughly embarrassed about it. He had to be a bit careful about what he said. But you could read between the lines and tell he's not happy with. To. To carry on because it's. It is embarrassing.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah. So Hull will probably play Southampton on the 23rd, the day before the last day of the Premier League and we'll see what the AFL have to say in the next few days. But I think I can't see another. Another Tonda Eckhart press conference. I never thought I'd be glued to Tonda Eckhart press conferences, but I just can't watch anymore with the really angry press officer.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

It's. It's almost cruel at this stage.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Putting him in front of the press because it's obviously the only thing reporters want to ask him about and it's the one thing he's not allowed to

[Barry Glendinning]

talk about in League One. Stockport Week. Stephen is 2 nil so they will play either Bradford or Bolton in the final and then the League Two playoffs are on Friday. Salford 21 up against Grimsby, Knox County 1 up against Chesterfield.

[Will Unwin]

Can I say fair play to Stockport who have not had two centre backs for the past month and are playing the league's top goalscore, Kyle Wootton at centre back who did score a magnificent goal last night against Stevenage. And so, you know, it's quite impressive that they keep going. I mean helped by Louis Barry and. And whatnot.

[Barry Glendinning]

So Paul Warhurst Dion Dublin style, is that.

[Will Unwin]

Yeah, yeah. They've had. Yeah. It's just quite funny that, you know, you'd think it might be your reserve sense forward. No, it's the best centre forward in the league. We've had to put at centre back to try and get us through the end of the season. So yeah, no, I mean obviously I live in Stockport, so incredible what Mark Stott and Simon Wilson, who's leaving the season, have done over the past sort of, you know, decade almost. And so they deserve a lot of credit. And so, you know, especially Simon leaving in the coming weeks. So yeah, done really well. So it'd be interesting to see. Hopefully they can get up because, you know, Stockport v Tottenham next season will be a big game for the, for the town.

[Barry Glendinning]

Well, we'll get to a Premier League preview in a second. Before that, the FA cup final preview.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

You're listening to this podcast, so I know you've got a curious mind. Here's a helpful fact you might not know yet. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average. Pop over to progressive.com, answer some questions and you'll get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by. In fact, 99% of their auto customers earn at least one discount. Visit progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little cash back. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates national average 12 month savings by $946 by new customers surveyed who saved with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.

[Baz]

High interest debt is one of the toughest opponents you'll face unless you power up with a SOFI personal loan. A SOFI personal loan could repackage your bad debt into one low fixed rate monthly payment. It's even got super speed since you could get the funds as soon as the same day you sign. Visit sofi.compower to learn more. That's S-O-F I.com p o w e r loans originated by Sofa 5 Bank NA member FDIC terms and conditions apply. MLS 696891.

[Barry Glendinning]

Welcome to Part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So they're Man City. Chelsea. City. The first team to play in four consecutive FA cup finals. It's Chelsea, 17th final at the third most after Manchester United and Arsenal. They've won eight and lost eight. City haven't lost to Chelsea in any competition since the Champions league final in 2020, 2021. How do we see this playing out, Jordan?

[Max Rushden]

I think City win it because I think City are just significantly better than Chelsea at the moment. I think City want that double. I think that they know they're unlikely, he says arrogantly again to win the Premier League. So double and finishing second the Premier League I think constitutes a decent season for them. I think Chelsea are a mess. I think they're. I don't think they're playing particularly well. I think there was improvement against Liverpool but Liverpool aren't very good. So that's not a very good barometer either. I, I just think City, City will assert their. Their superiority over Chelsea in this game who still don't have a manager in charge and kind of a little bit in the wilderness. So I, I think it would be quite a big shock if Chelsea were to. To win this final.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, I think you're right. But then it would be so Chelsea to win this after a season like this. That.

[Max Rushden]

That is true as well. Yeah. We've seen Chelsea have really poor seasons and come away with silver where I just think Pep doesn't want to let this go. And I think as go back to our earlier conversation about it being his last season potentially. I just think he wants to rack up as many trophies and cups as he can before he does leave. Whether that is this or next season. They're just significantly better than Chelsea. I think it would be a shock if City were to lose this. But we've seen Wigan do it. So I could be wrong.

[Will Unwin]

Not just Wigan. Erik ten Hag's Manchester United beats this.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, that as well.

[Will Unwin]

No, that was a shock. Similar to that Champions League final. There'll be no Rodri which I guess is what gives Chelsea a bit of hope. But take away the Everton game. City have been pretty good recently. You know, it was quite easy last night against Crystal Palace. You know, Docker in form. Chelsea really not at the races. I think Doc will have a lot of fun on Saturday. He likes a trip to Wembley. So. Yeah, so it would be a big shock. But I think City are just in the sort of. In the sort of robotic machine nature of their performances. AI football if you will against sort of analog Chelsea. So yeah, I'd be confident if I was City for a good day out.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Yeah, I. I find it hard to see past City but obviously I thought they'd win it the last two seasons as well and they haven't. It would be odd if they lost 3 cup finals in a row. FA cup finals. Will we see a goal from Erling Haaland? That's the question. He's including community Shields. He's played nine finals for Man City. He has yet to score in one.

[Barry Glendinning]

It's an interesting stat. Barry. Are you calling him a flat track bully?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I am. I'm putting them right up there with Harry Kane. The pair of them are frauds

[Barry Glendinning]

in the Premier League. Then all the games are on Sunday. The biggest One is at St James's Park. Newcastle versus West Ham. Currently West Ham in the relegation zone. 36 points from 36 games. Two points behind Tottenham. They have a much inferior goal difference as well. So if they win this they jump over spurs and I guess Baz is just which Newcastle turn up and which

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

West Ham turn up. West Ham are in a bit of a wobble. They've lost two in a row. One at Newcastle last season. Lost the season before Drew the one before that. So we can't really read any. Anything much into that. There's no doubt my mind West Sam or go Good enough on their day to beat Newcastle. Newcastle are not having a good time of it at the moment. Anthony Gordon seems to be being phased out. He's been linked with Bayern Munich and Eddie Howe didn't play him last weekend because he said he's looking to the future. So one presumes he might be left out again. I find the Bayern Munich links slightly odd. Anthony Gordon's quite a good player. I don't think he's anywhere near as good as he thinks he is. And I don't. I couldn't imagine him getting near that Bayern Munich first team. But who knows. I'd give West Ham a decent chance and they could also get battered.

[Will Unwin]

Don't know.

[Barry Glendinning]

I'm obviously speaking with a lot of hope that Newcastle do show up. Jordan. It is their last home game of the season. My friend Tom, who's a Sunderland fan pointed out that Newcastle are two points behind Sunderland and will absolutely not want to finish below them. Now that is the fans. The players will obviously care. But you know Kieran Trippier's last game as well. Like I'm really clutching here but like you are. You think they will show up, you know, like you think, you know. It's early evening and St. James's will be rocking. And please, Newcastle, you're struggling there.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Watch your mouth.

[Max Rushden]

You've put a very good case forward there, Max. But I. I'm not sure any of those reasons trump West Ham's motivation, which is. Which is bigger than all of those things. I think they get a result there and this isn't with my Arsenal hat on. I think spurs are in trouble. I think spurs had to beat Leeds. I think spurs had to beat Leeds and I think they've left the door open.

[Barry Glendinning]

Don't say it twice. Don't say it twice.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Sorry.

[Max Rushden]

Sorry.

[Barry Glendinning]

I heard you the first time.

[Max Rushden]

I think that was an opportunity miss for Spurs. I think West Ham go there and win. I think Westmore's been playing. From my vague memory, they've been playing well. They've won one of their games of late, but they've been playing and fighting with a spirit that I just haven't seen in spurs until the last couple of games. I think if West Ham win this game and it goes to the last game of the season, I've got a feeling spurs might go. But you put a good case forward for Newcastle. To be fair to you.

[Barry Glendinning]

There is every chance that neither West Ham or Tottenham get any more points and that's fine with me. But yeah, Tottenham go to Chelsea on Tuesday and then their last games are spurs are at home to Everton and West Ham are at home to Leeds. The pgmol, by the way, have released the whole VAR conversation from Sunday from the game with Arsenal. The Callum Wilson goal producer Tayo, obviously Arsenal fan listening to it was still worried they weren't going to disallow the goal. Elsewhere Villa Liverpool on Friday. Winner is guaranteed Champions League football. And the losers sort of might have to sweat a bit depending on how Bournemouth get on.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Barry, the Villa Liverpool game. I plump for Villa if they didn't have the safety net of the Europa League final to get them into the Champions League. I'll be interested to see what team Unai Marie picks for this game. Liverpool certainly need to play better than they did against Chelsea last week because that was a very poor performance. Apart from say the first 20 minutes now.

[Barry Glendinning]

We had Sid on the pod on Tuesday, was it? And then Florentino Perez came out and did an absolutely tremendous press conference where he said, I'm not in bed unwell. I have to come out and sit here because as Real Madrid president, I can't allow journalists to do what they do. I work hard, I'm up early, and I'm the last to go to bed. I understand there's frustration out there if people have forgotten we've won 37 titles since I've been in charge. I'd like to know the people who are saying these things in these board of directors. I want whoever is leaking this to come out. And of course, the enemy. La Liga. We have a battle against La Liga. Corruption in the game. Systematic, he said.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

I love his analogy. I'm. I'm all. He's always first into the boardroom and last one out.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, practicing. Practicing what, exactly? Yeah, no, like not practicing free kicks. Practicing hiring Jose or.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Or, you know, sending fans.

[Will Unwin]

It's very, very much Jeffrey boycott on Brass eye about getting all the way out of bed, if anyone remembers that. You have to get all the way out of bed. I'm not ready at all. I'm 100 out of it. You can't. You can't bat while lying in bed. That's what it is.

[Barry Glendinning]

Anyway. It's worth reading. It's worth reading Sid's piece on that.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

It's.

[Will Unwin]

It's.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

It's very much just the Father Ted Golden Cleric Award acceptance speech, you know? And now the liars.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, exactly. Cristiano Ronaldo. Barry had a sad time of it. Almost won the Saudi League. And then injury time, a quite amazing own goal cost his side, didn't it?

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Yes. And we retreated to just footage of sulky Ronaldo sitting alone on the bench with his lips out quivering. And I. I won't lie, I revel in his misfortune. Yeah, because I'm. I'm. I don't know. I'm a small man.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah. No, at least you admit it. Paul says. Or Pavel, he says. Hello, gang. It's Pavel here from Warsaw, Poland, to keep up with the pub tradition. I'm writing to you because the time has come, and on the 17th of May, I'll marry my beautiful fiance, Magda. She's no interested in football, but she's a big swifty. And as a true millennial Harry Potter fan, being a Real Madrid fan means it was a really shitty season, so at least I'll have another reason to celebrate. Obviously, I'm hoping for truly heartwarming wishes from Barry. Or if by any chance they're on the pod, Barney or Johnny Lou. Sorry, Jordan. Sorry, Will. Not interested in anything from you.

[Will Unwin]

I hope you get divorced soon.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, thanks, Will. Go on there, Barry, Pavel and Magda.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Well, Will's already stolen my line about their imminent divorce. But I hope they have a lovely day. Great wedding. I've been to a Polish wedding before. A friend of the pod, Greg Bukowski. I'll be honest, I don't know how anyone in Poland gets through the day because the speeches take place before the meal and every speech you at the end of each one you have to tow everyone toast and then knocks back a shot of vodka. I was on the floor before the soup was. I think I left at about 7 o' clock because I, I just, I was so drunk, like so drunk. So, yeah, Polish wedding. Take it handy. Pavlo. Magda, I hope you have a great day and maybe just toast every second. Speech.

[Will Unwin]

Barry woke up in Gdansk, but the wedding was in North London.

[Barry Glendinning]

Yeah, yeah, just do the Perry Groves, you know when he was out with the Arsenal lads and he just stood by the pot plant for ages. They were like, God, he can hold his booze. And he was just pouring it all in the poplar. Tony Adams stood next to the pot plant and he had a very bad day. Anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks everybody. Thank you, Jordan. Cheers, mate. Cheers, Will.

[Will Unwin]

Cheers, Max.

[Barry Glendinning]

Thank you, Barry.

[Jordan Jarrett-Bryan]

Thank you.

[Barry Glendinning]

Football Weekly is produced by Tayo Papula. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. And we'll be back on Monday.

[Max Rushden]

This is the Guardian.

[Progressive Insurance Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Aura Advertiser]

Most people don't realize how much of their personal information is being bought and sold every day. Data brokers are making billions, pulling details about you from public records and the Internet, then packaging and selling it, usually without your consent. That's how your information lands in the hands of scammers, spammers, even stalkers. It's why you get endless robocalls and why ads seem to follow you everywhere. That's where Aura comes in. Aura actively removes your data from broker sites and keeps it off. They also instantly alert you if your information shows up in a breach or on the dark web. But Aura goes beyond data protection. With one app, you get a vpn, antivirus, password manager, spam, call protection, dark web monitoring, and even up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. All backed by 24, 7 US based fraud support. Other companies might sell just credit, monitor or even just a vpn. Aura gives you all of it. Together at the same price competitors charge for just one service. Start your free trial [e-mail] safety. Protect yourself [e-mail] safety.