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Football Weekly
Game of the season at Old Trafford and the latest from the EFL – Football Weekly
00:55:49
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Sanny Rudravajhala and George Elek as Manchester United and Bournemouth play out a thrilling 4-4 draw
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- [00:00]
George Ellick
This is the Guardian.
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Barry Glendenning
Not with that attitude.
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- [00:39]
George Ellick
Okay.
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- [00:43]
Boost Mobile Announcer
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- [01:03]
Max Rushworth
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. I haven't checked the score at Old Trafford for a couple of minutes, but I imagine it's 10 all by now. Lots of fun. Hopefully the panel have worked out how to analyse it. Who played well, who didn't, what formation Man United were playing by the end. You don't want every game to be just goals when anyone attacks, but they're great when they come around. After that, we'll give you a big EFL update as we approach the halfway stage of the season. Can Kov hold on? Preston and Millwall are still in the playoffs, but almost anyone could get there with a decent run. Cardiff and Walsall lead the way in Leagues 1 and 2. We'll answer your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendenning.
- [01:39]
Barry Glendenning
Hello.
- [01:39]
Baz
Hi, Max.
- [01:40]
Max Rushworth
Welcome. Sani Rudravagula.
- [01:42]
Barry Glendenning
Hello, Max.
- [01:42]
Max Rushworth
And from the excellent not the top 20 podcast, George Ellick. Hey George.
- [01:45]
George Ellick
Hey Max.
- [01:46]
Max Rushworth
We begin. Adult trafford. Manchester United 4, Bournemouth 4. Lucius sent us a message before the game had ended. Our Manchester United back before he finished the post. Wait a minute. Never mind. Bournemouth just scored again. Will Manchester United ever be good again a few seconds later? I mean, are Manchester United back and then finally or where were they when they were trying to come back? If they are in fact not already back from where they were, in which case should they stay there or go back there or here? I also enjoyed Edward Van der Sar's post Quickly Walk the Dog at halftime what happened FFS in Manchester. It was a ridiculous game. George I am said it was fun game for everyone at home and I think that is.
- [02:25]
George Ellick
That's pretty much the only way.
- [02:27]
Max Rushworth
I find it very hard to analyze games that have this many goals in them.
- [02:30]
George Ellick
Yeah, it's like a classic case where I don't think any football managers come away from a 4 all draw having enjoyed it. But for us as fans it's brilliant. And what's interesting about it is that the first 40 minutes after which, you know, before SEO scored United were just sensational. Like it was almost the story of the game was was missed chances for Manchester United where they could have easily had they been more clinical, been basically put the game to bed before Semeno got the. Got the equalizer. And there's something very Manchester United under Ruben Amarim that in what has to have been Manchester United's best, most exhilarating attacking performance under him, it's a game that they haven't even won because the defensively where despite the fact that United made most of the running within the game and dominated it for for large parts, Bournemouth still found it pretty easy when they did attack in transition to carve United open. You know, if you look at the stats of the game, United outshot Bournemouth 25 to 14. But in of big chances it was 62 to Bournemouth. And that is, you know, continually. United's undoing is that when they do concede chances they're normally pretty good ones. And maybe it's not that much of a surprise when you've got attacking players. You know, Semenya is obviously one of the informed players in the league when you got a back three of of Luke Shaw and Lenny Yoro and Aiden Heaven with Diallo playing as a right wing back, D playing as a left wing back. You're probably going to struggle against a team who is so good at attacking in transition. But yeah, what happened in the second half was phenomenal. Just amazing goals. Both free kicks are obviously brilliant hits. And then chaos at the end with. With Brooks being denied a famous winner. Right the death by by good save.
- [04:02]
Max Rushworth
From Lemons Iriola at the end. Baz was funny saying he sort of didn't know if he wanted the game to end. Like when Bournemouth had it he was like keep playing. And then suddenly Man United would get be like ref, blow your whistle. Like nobody knew exactly what what to do.
- [04:13]
Baz
I suppose you could argue that Bournemouth possibly deserved to win just because they had those two big chances at the end. But as George said, United missed Some good chances at the beginning, but it's the ones at the end we remember most. And Brooks probably should have scored one of those. He was a bit unlucky to go. The first chance in particular was an excellent save when Lemons stuck the leg out. I think ultimately both managers will be relieved they didn't lose the game. Iriola seemed the happier of the two with. With the draw.
- [04:49]
Max Rushworth
It is so interesting, isn't it, as George says, that they can be that good and that bad because it almost felt like the goal. So many of the goals just sort of happened rather than. There was sort of like great momentum before they happened.
- [05:00]
Barry Glendenning
It was great even from the. The very beginning of the game, which you might have missed them. It was a great flowing move right from more or less the off. And, you know, one player I think might be Nbumo, let the ball go through his legs for another player and they're all running forward, the Red Arrows and all that, and a great chance which then resulted in Tyler Adams actually getting a knee injury in mcl, I think Iriola said. And after that I thought, oh, maybe the momentum here might, you know, diminish a bit because obviously when you got a long injury that can do that. But it didn't. It just carried on. And that's. That's by far and away the best Man United performance I can remember seeing in years. It really was, you know, the Fergie, the Fergie era, where it was, you know, Vindaloo, Willscore. Well, more than you. That's what we had and it was great. And I think, you know, United fans, you know, by chance I was on the pod, having been to Old Trafford a year ago when they'd lost 30 to Bournemouth at home. And last time around I spoke about how to a man, Bournemouth players were better. You know, Milos Kirkes was the example I gave. Whereas here, attacking wise, they were toe to toe and then some. It was really positive. I mean, Cunha dropping deep, making things happen, them going up again and Bumo the same. So going forward, it was. It was thrilling. And had they had won, I mean, the message on are United back. I think maybe could have had a bit more momentum. So, yeah, a really enjoyable game. Very hard to kind of keep track of exactly what was happening, but we love it, you know, touted as the game of the season so far, I have to agree with that. But as George has mentioned, it's the defense where they're just completely inept. There was the bit where Mason Mount's like telling Aiden Heaven what to do, what he should have done and I think as he's running back and Semenya scores he's there going come across, come across and like he doesn't. And then it happens and he's looking. You should have come across. Which just takes me back to five a side like every single week. But yeah, defensively terrible. But going forward just brilliant, brilliant stuff.
- [07:06]
Baz
I used to play five a side with a guy like that and if I was on the same team as him that was my evening ruined before it even started.
- [07:15]
Max Rushworth
See the thing is I buried am a talker like a big talker in five aside. But I, but in a very positive way. I don't think you'd hate it but you know I, I also think you might hate it is is what I think. So I mean maybe we don't need to put it to the test Barry but you know I'm very much like I'm always available and I'm always praying. I'm always saying we're very good. Probably patronizing is how I would be.
- [07:37]
Baz
Described I reckon also condescending instruction instead of just baring orders. Well, I mean I am fitter now than I have been for the last 35 years max. But I think it'll be a while before I'm fit enough to play five aside.
- [07:53]
Max Rushworth
Do you know in that game the moment that I don't know I was. I think I was probably just supporting Bournemouth because you know innately you feel that way George about Manchester United if you grew up in the 90s but that the Fernandez free kick is so good. But I thought that handball decision was really. It really frustrated me that I think Man United just called for one that wasn't in a penalty and I just felt that was a sort of very generous. It was like a generous he will have a. Have a free kick. But it was so perfect.
- [08:20]
George Ellick
The strike from Fernandez neutrals getting frustrated at Manchester United getting decisions at Old Trafford. Manchester United really are back. This is it. Yeah, I mean yeah it was. It was definitely a soft one. To be honest I kind of hadn't really thought about it again after the free kick went in and and just yeah an amazing strike. It does feel you know looking back to the United Everton game a couple of weeks ago where you know obviously address a gay was set off early in the game and United just looked absolutely clueless as to how they. How to attack against. Against 10 men now obviously a 10 man Everton defending a lead and an Iriola Bournemouth team are two Very, very different propositions and the players that United have got are going to benefit from playing when there is space to attack into. But like they looked a completely different side yesterday. Like, you know, Fernandez looked brilliant in that, in that deep role that we see him take. Nanetz Casamiro, I thought Mount was again pretty good, especially in the first half. Had a really good, good shot. Saved at Nil. Nil. Cunha and Nambomo look really sharp. Just feels like this is a front line that's starting to click now. When you look at these players in terms of their person, their profile, they should be an exciting team to watch. They should be like an exciting attacking side. And yeah, I liked. I thought Kunya's finish for the, for the gold maker 43 was good and the kind of celebrations from, from Old Trafford was as if it was going to be a famous victory, but they came very close to losing in the end.
- [09:38]
Max Rushworth
And we saw Kobbie Mainu Baz.
- [09:40]
Baz
We did, yeah. He got about 20 minutes at the end. We also saw his brother wearing a T shirt that said Free Kobe Mainu. I'm not sure how or if that will affect Mainoo Amarim relations which already seem quite frosty. Apparently he wants Napoli want to take him on loan. I can't really see any reason why he shouldn't be allowed go on loan, but apparently he is among the least well paid players in the United squad, so. So bringing cover for him would cost him a lot of money. So I did. That's something for him and his agent to sort out with the club. But he doesn't seem to feature too probably. He certainly doesn't seem to feature too prominently in Amaram's plans. I can't remember anything much of Naughty did in his 20 minutes on the pitch, if I'm honest. But so. But we saw him.
- [10:36]
Max Rushworth
Yeah. The fans were so excited that when he'd sort of get the ball and play a simple five yard pass and then run towards the ball and make himself available, there was like a real enthusiasm.
- [10:43]
Baz
There is that condescending enthusiasm.
- [10:46]
Max Rushworth
Yeah, maybe it was. Yeah. Well done, Kobbie. Yeah, I'm still available. Have it back. Yeah, keep going, son.
- [10:51]
Barry Glendenning
Just that, you know, West Ham talks about banning half and half scarves. Do clubs need to think about banning promotional player T shirts that are actually a subtle dig, if not so subtle at the manager as well? Do we need to like get a bit more nuance in the. On the stewarding to have a look at this?
- [11:08]
Max Rushworth
Do you think he's. He's a not. I mean, like, has he done that deal? Has his brother got the sign off from Cobby? Do you mind if I wear this? Or it's just like, you know, don't.
- [11:17]
George Ellick
Please don't embarrass me at work if he hasn't. You'll be absolutely livid, wouldn't you? If you're, if you're mine and you turn out to your brother wearing that and he hasn't asked for it, like, could ruin his career.
- [11:27]
Max Rushworth
Well, look, we contractually obliged doers to ask what formation Amaranth moved to. It looked like he abandoned 352 for maybe a 424. It didn't feel like a formations game by the last 20 minutes.
- [11:39]
George Ellick
Like a five, five, was it?
- [11:41]
Max Rushworth
I think maybe, I don't know, five, zero, five.
- [11:43]
George Ellick
Yeah, I don't know really either. I think when games descend into that kind of chaos, where it is effectively a basketball game with the ball just kind of going down one end, there being an opportunity to go down the other end, there's no shape. So I, I, you know, if you ask the players what, what position they were playing, they'd probably tell you, but it doesn't necessarily mean it resembled that on the pitch. So I remember very clearly a couple of years ago, I can't remember what manager. It was arguing with his, with his. In a press conference after the game when the fans were criticizing him for playing 4, 4, 3, 3. And he said, no, no, we didn't. We played 4, 2, 2. And he looked at the position map, he looked at where all the players playing and they were definitely playing the formation. He didn't know they were playing. So, like, as Redknap says, what, what are formations like? It's just normally when it's very rigid and with Amarim's normal system, you can very much see what he's doing. And last night it didn't resemble that. But I think that's probably more because of game state rather than any decision that he's made to be more fluid with his decisions and the shape that he wants to play.
- [12:35]
Barry Glendenning
Amrim afterwards was asked on the formation and he basically said, well, it's up to you to figure it out. I'm not sure how that works. Just another thing, I don't know, Max, whether on your world feed you had the same commentary, but we had Guardian Football Weekly Seb Hutchinson on comms duties with Gary Neville and it was great. And I always love it when I hear a fellow pod member, you know, organically, they're just There. And what I love about Seb's commentary is you get all that. He loved it as much as us. Right. He really did.
- [13:05]
George Ellick
He just.
- [13:05]
Barry Glendenning
He just let it wash over him as well and really added to it, so. Nice one, Seb. Hope you're recovering today. Probably just lying in a dark room, I think.
- [13:13]
Max Rushworth
Wonder if on Monday Night Football he's as keen to talk about anecdotes about him being a goalkeeper or shearing his sheep. You know, he treats us differently, don't they? So, look, Man United, we've got Villa away, Newcastle at home, Wolves at home, leads away, Burn away. They're sixth. Sort of. I mean, it's an impossible question, Barry. It is impossible to know, like. Like what will happen now to this team.
- [13:34]
Baz
And. And yet you're asking me to tell you.
- [13:37]
George Ellick
I am, yes.
- [13:38]
Max Rushworth
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
- [13:38]
Baz
You're.
- [13:39]
Max Rushworth
You're a prescient guy, Baz.
- [13:41]
Baz
I have my moments, but I think this one's beyond my wit. I haven't a clue is the answer to that question. I mean, we're all talking or lots of people are saying that this was Manchester United's best performance under Amarim. They still conceded four goals and they didn't win. They led three times and. And only came away with a point. So if that's the benchmark for. For greatness under Amarim, then I would say no, they're not going to finish in the Champions League places. If they did somehow scrape into the top four, I wouldn't be massively shocked, as you know the answer. That sort of more or less covers any question about football. Let's wait and see.
- [14:29]
Barry Glendenning
They are. They are going to lose Noosa Masrawi, Brian and Bumo and Ahmad Diallo for the afcon. So. So how's it going to go? Probably revert back to type now.
- [14:39]
George Ellick
There's an amazing stat and I don't know if we're allowed to kind of cross promote on here.
- [14:44]
Max Rushworth
Please do.
- [14:45]
George Ellick
Bill Edgar tweeted it, so. Better give him credit before I take credit myself. Manchester United were two and up half time yesterday and obviously were behind in the game and nearly lost the game later on. Since May 1984, they've played at 1129 home games. They've led in 542. They've won 491 of those. They've drawn 51 and they've lost none. So had had Brooks's when they've let.
- [15:05]
Max Rushworth
It hard at half time.
- [15:08]
George Ellick
Yeah. So 1129 games, they let in just under half of them.
- [15:13]
Max Rushworth
And then especially even since this terrible run. Like Man United fans sit there winning at half time, safe in the knowledge.
- [15:20]
Barry Glendenning
Well, it's pretty cool.
- [15:21]
George Ellick
They don't need a half time as often anymore.
- [15:23]
Max Rushworth
Well, well, that there is that, but that is. That's an amazing stat, isn't it? And out of Bournemouth, Sonny, look, they drew against Chelsea nil. Nil this 4.
- [15:31]
Barry Glendenning
4.
- [15:31]
Max Rushworth
Nadum said yesterday that they were sort of sliding down the table, sort of under the radar because, you know, they're one of the clubs that begin with B that are well run. No wins in seven now for them. Three points in that time, but still it doesn't feel. Maybe we're just blindsided by the fact it's Bournemouth and we like them, but we're blindsided by sort of where they're at.
- [15:50]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, I think there is a bit of that, but I also think, and Iriola mentioned this as well after the game, that you got to remember that he spent a lot, a big part of the season focusing on the defense and the goalkeeper because they all left basically. So I think attacking wise, the. The threat that they've got hasn't really changed. I mean, Antoine Semeno goes from strength to strength. You know, he's. I'm sure he'll be good to transfer. News fodder for the next couple of months, I suppose until the end of January. But defensively, swear they've kind of been needed to rebuild and you know, well, you know, Senesci was there before and he's done well. So, yeah, I think that's taken a bit of time and I think we saw going forward all that still there. Just defensively they're still kind of working on it. Petrovic, who I think's done quite well, actually had a pretty. Not a great game. Diallo's goal, Ahmad Diallo's goalie, he kind of didn't quite get himself right from the cross coming in. I don't know if he could have done more on the. On Casimiro's header as well, but I think, you know. Oh, yeah, they'll be okay. I don't mean any worry about that. I just think it's. It's hard because they've done so well and, you know, was it Barney talking about a club like Bournemouth can do better than United because they don't have all the weight of everything else around them, all the machinery, all the hype and all that. And they're agile, I guess, like a startup. Like a startup football club, if you like. They can just go around. But I guess that does come with it can go the other way as well. And I guess we're in a bit of a middle Y phase, but I think they'll kick on again.
- [17:21]
Max Rushworth
All right, well, that'll do for part one. Part two we'll head to the EFL starting with the championship.
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- [18:38]
Max Rushworth
Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So the top of the championship looks like this. Coventry have 47 points, Middlesbrough 42, Preston Mill will have 35. In third and fourth position, Ipswich and Hull on 34, Stoke 33, Leicester 31. I mean you could make a case for anyone down to about 15th or 16th, go on a run and, and, and make the playoffs.
- [19:00]
Baz
Preston in third to West Brom in 16th are because you could throw a blanket over them with seven points like so they will all fancy their chances of promotion.
- [19:10]
Max Rushworth
Yeah, so it's, it's brilliantly set up, I guess. I mean the question about Coventry, George, is that they had a sort of mini blip, didn't they? Where they lost three nil to Ipswich. They drew one all with Preston. Not easy games either. But they beat Bristol City at the weekend. I think the last time we did an EFL pod, people were saying, well look, their lead is so great. Some were saying it's, you know, they're definitely up. I don't think you can ever say that even at this stage of the championship. But, but that was a really important win, wasn't it?
- [19:35]
George Ellick
It was a really important win, yeah. Especially because there's this kind of quirk of the, of the fixture, the fixture in the FL that two teams are playing against each other home and away in December and for Coventry that was Ipswich and obviously they went to ipswich and lost three nil. And then they're going, they host them on the 29th of December and there was this kind of idea that if Ipswich could kind of hang on to their coattails up until that game and then beat them, then the gap would be smaller. So on Saturday for Ipswich to get beaten by, by Leicester away and for Coventry to win against Bristol City, it kind of put an end to that, that theory that we could have a title race on our hands early in the new year. I would say the Coventry are, you know, they're the best team in the league. They're rightfully top of the league. Definitely some concerns over their performances in the last couple of weeks. You know they were, they were pretty good in the first half an hour or so against Ipswich, then folded off going behind. They couldn't beat ten man Preston and even went ahead in that game and conceded to 10 man Preston later in it to draw and even against Bristol City on Saturday, you know, they, they were pretty good value for their lead. But then it was Kyle Rushworth, their keeper who was by far and away the best player on the pitch. And the key reason why Coventry were able to win the game, having made a string of really good saves. So that, you know, if I was one of the chasing pack, I'd probably be taking some heart from them not being quite as dominant as they were early in the season. And certainly for Middlesbrough who are five points behind them in, in second, as is often the case with managerial changes. Ask any Borough fan if they'd like to swap Rob Edwards for Kim Helberg now and you will not find a single one who will because they're very, very happy with how their team performing under their new manager. And they'll feel like, you know, with them five points behind Coventry as the stands and seven points clear of Preston in third, it is incredibly congested in the championship. And I would say that, you know, as Barry says from third down to 16th, the positions kind of bordering irrelevant because it's, it's so tight. But you know, Middlesbrough are the ones now who are kind of pulling away from the pack along with Kov.
- [21:27]
Max Rushworth
Yeah, and Kim Helberg is really interesting. Saddy, isn't it? Because you'd imagine when a manager comes into a team that are doing well, it just says okay, well this is good. I'M just going to keep this bit on a slot last year. This is good. I'll just keep this going. But by accounts, he's changed quite a lot about.
- [21:41]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, it seems that way. And what's also done well for him is Morgan Whittaker, whose form's been incredible. Six goals in his last six games. And I guess he's given him a bit more freedom going forward. I mean, Tommy Conway. I'd gone. How many games was it, George? He hadn't scored a goal. It was like a huge amount.
- [21:58]
George Ellick
One moment, please.
- [22:01]
Barry Glendenning
He's giggling to double check. But they've done this without one of the best attacking players being in form at all. He's finally got himself a penalty and I think, you know, at least he's got that off his back. But you've got. You've got at least 2.
- [22:17]
George Ellick
16.
- [22:17]
Barry Glendenning
16 games without goal. It's incredible. But you've got at least two key players there. Morgan Whittaker and Hayden Hackney, who have different jobs, but both are kind of standout players in that team. So I think, yeah, he's tweaked quite a bit by the sounds of things, but he's got some really important players who've been given the freedom. Morgan Whittaker in particular on the right flank has been devastating. I guess for them. The only worry is they had a similar Morgan go on a run of scoring goals and Aston Villa went and bought him. So Whittaker's taken a bit of time to kind of find his feet. He had a great season about three, four seasons ago now for Plymouth Argyle and then hadn't quite come together at all at Borough and now it finally looks like he has. So they're doing very well. Just. Just going back to Coventry. By the way, I don't know if you've seen the goal scored column, but it's 52 goals they've scored. Their goal difference is plus 30.
- [23:10]
Baz
Yeah.
- [23:11]
Barry Glendenning
I've been sent to Coventry quite often by Five Live. Two games actually. In particular recently. They were behind against Sheffield United and also behind against West Brom at both times. I didn't feel once that they weren't going to win. Like the atmosphere there. The players they've got, quite a few are interchangeable. It just means that they can just crush an opponent. It's quite something, George.
- [23:33]
Max Rushworth
I wonder how many times I'm not the top 20. You've had the discussion about whether Preston and Millwall can last last the season in. In the form that they're in.
- [23:42]
George Ellick
Yeah, a Few times I made the foolish mistake of on, on the BBC Oxford pod that I do about Oxford United saying that Preston were in a false position before a game against them on Saturday, so it was inevitable that then they then go and beat us two one. Preston being in third is an incredible achievement from Paul Heckinbottom and you know, they. And he deserves like unbelievable credit for getting them there. I think what he's done and what the club have done in terms of recruitment, you know, if you're someone that dips in and out of the championship around kind of playoff time, whatever else, you'd be forgiven for thinking of Preston as being a, you know, a team that are punching above their weight with a pretty old group of players who struggle for goals. Like that's kind of been their identity for a long time. But heck, he's come in and brought in this kind of raft of young Loney or, or permanent signings. So you've got Daniel Jeon leading the line after a kind of hellish couple of years for him, who's kind of finding his feet under his former Blades boss, Hecky Lewis. Dobbin, who's been fantastic with four goals and five assists. Alfie Divine, who's looking, you know, every bit a future Premier League player. Harrison Armstrong, who's only 18 years old, probably the pick of the bunch. Kind of really good technically gifted midfield player. They brought in Thierry Small from Charlton, who's in England under 21 international, who can basically play either left back or off the right hand side, a left footed, really good attacking wing back or winger. And so they've freshened up the squad quickly with this injection of youth and a different playing style and it's really working. You know, I would mitigate that by saying that I think there have been some performances recently that have been a bit concerning. You know, they beat each other Wednesday, 3, 2. But Wednesday were definitely the better team within that game and press were pretty fortunate to get away from it. Even the performance against Oxford on Saturday wasn't vintage. But they still got over the line with Millwall. It's a bit more sustainable in my view. They kind of look to me to be having kind of been building towards this for a while. Interest and Kramer, they've got a, a player who plays center back or right back who you know, used to be at Brentford and I'm pretty sure will be a Premier League defender relatively soon. Caleb Taylor's another one who's a big young center back and again they're a team that have kept their, that Kind of defensive solidity that, that identity. But it have added for the first time in a while some kind of sparkling young attacking talent to go with it. Femi Aziz has been superb playing off the right hand side in Mihailo Ivanovic. They've got a 21 year old striker who scored four goals, scored a lot of goals last season and will be I'm sure pretty sought after over the summer. Tierno Ballo's had a decent season as well so it's kind of adding that that bit of attacking quality in the final third along with the manager and Alex Neil, who we know when he kind of gets his teeth into a job normally can get success. So you know, this season in particular where the parachute payment teams have struggled, albeit, you know, certainly it looks like something are finding some form and Leicester without good results Saturday too. But this feels like the season where maybe where that top six is so difficult to break into because you can normally rely on at least two of the parachute or two of the relegated teams being in it and probably last season's playoff finalists too with Sheffield United struggling as well. This feels like the season where maybe a Preston or a Millwall or both of them could sneak into the top six or maybe even the top two.
- [26:48]
Baz
Could I formally object to your assertion that Alex Neil can achieve success whenever he gets his teeth into a job?
- [26:57]
George Ellick
The man, the man who took Sunderland out of League one, the man who.
- [26:59]
Baz
Abandoned Sunderland to go and fail at Stoke Having, having.
- [27:04]
Barry Glendenning
Having.
- [27:04]
George Ellick
Having taken you out of League one. Yeah, but he didn't get his teeth into that Stoke job was the issue, I think. But no, he's, I mean he's someone who, who I think the job he did at Preston's age pretty well and Norwich who was obviously fantastic and he's.
- [27:17]
Barry Glendenning
Doing it again now, the Barry Glendenning death stare there.
- [27:20]
George Ellick
By the way.
- [27:22]
Max Rushworth
Just before you interrupted Barry, I was about to say we're contractually obliged for Barry to say something bad about Alex Neil whenever his name comes up. It was interesting. Certainly George mentioned the, you know, the relegated clubs and there was a, you know, a couple of months ago it was like, oh, they're all hopeless. And now Ipswich have been on a great run. They're in fifth now, Leicester at eighth, inconsistent. But you know, I've put a few results together in Southampton until the weekend we're on this absolutely incredible run, weren't they when they'd won? I can't remember a lot in a row. And then you had Leicester beating Ipswich and Fatab was scoring this Unbelievable goal. But it sort of from, you know, there are good halfway line goals and bad ones, if that makes any sense. And this was an absolutely brilliant. I mean it was well inside his own half, but a brilliant goal.
- [28:09]
Barry Glendenning
Yes. And just in the build up to it, he nutmegs a midfielder as well, pokes it through the leg, saying brings it forward. Then he says, I was wondering which way you were going to go on this by the way, Mats, because I know the ball goes over the keeper and then bounces and we get the keeper kind of ending up in the net but he doesn't fully get crashing into net and I wondered you were going to say. Oh, it's not. Aesthetically, it's not what I want to see from a halfway line goal. So I'm pleased that you actually liked that goal. It could have gone either way, I think.
- [28:35]
Max Rushworth
Well, no, I liked it from the build up totally. But essentially those three sides are now, you know, on a sort of. On a more macro level. These three sides are starting to put it together.
- [28:44]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah. And I suppose when you've got the quality you can do that. I mean I saw Ipswich, Blackburn Rovers in the replayed game from the game that got abandoned from the waterlogged pitch back in August and Rovers had it sealed but they're so inept they allowed Ipswich to score right at the def. And that was a mixture of their own ineptitude and the fact that Ipswich have just got better players. And I suppose fundamentally if you took a macro level, you've got players who were able to be okay at times in the Premier League and that can see you through. So I suppose that was always the thing. And Southampton's a really interesting case because there's a lot of players around that squad. You know, it's cliche to say who used to losing. Right. So. So managed to turn that around and change. The mentality I think is huge for Leicester. Non football stuff still hangs over them and I, I do feel with the fans that they're not too many poor performances away from feeling a bit mutinous and.
- [29:41]
Max Rushworth
And they're due at points deduction, aren't they?
- [29:43]
Barry Glendenning
So this goes back to historic rule breaches but then correct if I'm wrong, would it not apply? So it's like they did it in the EFL and got promoted and then it's still kind of hanging over them. That's right. Is that right, George? I think, yeah, exactly, yeah. So we just, we don't know and you know, this can't go on like man City like there needs to be resolution on that.
- [30:03]
Baz
So cue a Mick McCarthy esque. It can.
- [30:09]
George Ellick
But it seems like there's kind of actually. Exactly, says Manchester City. There are rumors that something's imminent and it's about to happen and then it just goes completely quiet again and there's no news so has to be resolved soon.
- [30:21]
Max Rushworth
I'd actually, I'd actually probably for a week or two forgotten about the 115 charges. That's sort of, that's, you know, I.
- [30:27]
Baz
Think that's what they want to happen, Max.
- [30:30]
Max Rushworth
Maybe you're right. Although now we've said that we might get a voice note for, you know, in a couple of hours at the bottom of the table. Obviously we know about Sheffield Wednesday, that they lost three north of Derby last night. Then you have Norwich City got a key win the other day. They're on 17 points. You're Oxford on 19, Portsmouth on 20, Blackburn 22, Swansea 23, Sheffield United 23. What do you make of Oxford, George? I mean it's sort of where you kind of should be, I guess.
- [31:02]
George Ellick
Don't tell our fans that.
- [31:04]
Max Rushworth
Okay.
- [31:05]
George Ellick
I got Pelters in pre season for having us in the relegation zone and I went 24s but yeah, I mean I think I'm of the view that if Oxford stay up on final day on goal scored then it's a, it's a job well done really. If you're a match going fan, it's very hard to have an enjoyable experience being a fan if you're watching your team struggle to win games and struggle to score goals. You know, with Gary Rawat in charge you probably expect there to be an element of solidity and there has been for much of this season. But four wins from 21 games, it isn't enough wins. The goal difference of -8 shows you that we're rarely beaten far. There was a bit of a change of style or at least personnel with a lot of attacking players starting against Preston on Saturday which didn't really work. I kind of think if you're Gary Rowett as your manager, you want him to route out and go properly. We're going to stop you from creating many chances. We're going to sit very deep and we're going to try and nick a goal because that's how he's had his success in the past with a rigid defensive shape. So I'm pretty pessimistic as it stands that we're going to, we're going to stay up but you know, we've. We're in it we're by no means kind of tailed off as it stands at the moment. The frustrating thing is that Norwich seem to have improved massively under, under Philippe Clement with a brilliant win last time out against Southampton. Swansea picked up back to back wins at home to Oxford and Portsmouth under their new manager, Victor Matos, who I've seen in some Swansea circles being called Vic Tomatoes, which I absolutely love as a nickname. Charlton have kind of struggled a little bit in weeks. Producer Joel won't like me saying a big game between Charlton, Knoxville on Saturday at Charlton where if Oxford can win that one, that really brings Charlton back into the, the relegation mix and then maybe the most significant result in the relegation picture was on on Saturday where Blackburn were 1 nil up away at Portsmouth and came back and won the game two one, which was very needed for John Massino, was very needed for, for Pompey because they've really struggled this season in Kobe, Bishop, Connor Chaplin and Josh Murphy. They have three players who, I mean certainly in Murphy's case, Chaplin was a key player for Ipswich when they, when they came second in the championship a couple of seasons ago and Bishop was very good last season. Those three players between them have one league goal which was not expected. So for them to be where they are given, you know, the struggles from a score scoring perspective from key players is maybe impressive in itself, but had they lost that game, I think the heat would have been turned up at a Fratton part. But instead it was a win that, that I'll be hoping can kick start their own season because they've, they've struggled as of late.
- [33:30]
Max Rushworth
Made it sound like they all scored that goal by just kicking it all at exactly the same time so that they all get.
- [33:35]
George Ellick
None of them scored the goal.
- [33:37]
Max Rushworth
Yeah, yeah. Stanley, you pointed me in the direction of the Vic Tomatoes doing a post match. I think they're getting a bit too common these, you know, manager does post match. Well done, lads. And they go, you must listen to this sound on this, it's amazing. And someone just goes, well done, you're all really good. Have a day off. Congratulations.
- [33:54]
Baz
Is this like Harry Kane's famous team talk in the.
- [33:59]
Max Rushworth
Come on lads, let's go get him. But he was quite funny at the end where clearly one of the players is, you know, a foreign player, I don't know who it was. And he's just going, you're great, you're great, you're great, you were great. And then he says, and you haven't got a clue what I'm saying. And the Whole place. The timing of the comedy. Timing was brilliant.
- [34:14]
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, that was great. I think it was Malik, you, you yell kule from Mar Marley and he's like, you don't understand a word I'm saying. Yeah, that was great. And yeah, you're right, it can feel a bit cynical. I think the, the highlights, the, the, the zenith of this was Plymouth Argyle beating Liverpool last season. And the manager whose names popped out my head, oh, yes. So easily can, can go, God, how can we not remember this bunch of old men? Come on, come on. I'm looking at you, George. You're the youngest.
- [34:45]
George Ellick
Mirin Muslich. Yeah.
- [34:47]
Barry Glendenning
Miran Muslim. There you go. Okay, that's it. One minute you're the toast of the town, the next minute you've completely forgotten. Yeah, that was kind of the, the, the high point of it and it was very cynical. But he's, he came in there with it with a, with it. With a good reputation. One of Jurgen Klopp's coaches. There was maybe a bit of Kloppism in his, maybe in it with the way he was, but that, that emotional intelligence was something that Klopp had and I think you've gotta, you gotta have that, haven't you? And he, he seems very kind of switched on. I was at the, the defeat actually to Stoke City on, on the weekend and they gave as good as they got and Stoke were kind of due a turning round, if you like. But yeah, he seems like a decent chap and he's got a good pedigree. I was going to ask George on how many seasons he'd be okay with Oxford just struggling and just surviving as the lowest budget club in the division. But, but whilst I got to mow, I suppose we should mention Sheffield United. Yeah, Chris Wilder kind of turning things around. Yeah. Watched quite a, quite a bit of them up close recently. Although they drew one all with Norwich in the week before, they then lost at West Brom. They had three games in like a week and Wilder made like eight changes from the 4, 0 win against Stoke City and that 4, 0. They were just brilliant. Like, you wouldn't have known at all that Sheffield United were right in the bottom and Stoke were trying to push to the playoffs. And Oli Arblaster came back in. He'd been out for, I think 17, 13 months. He'd been out injured and they threw him in and he was excellent in the Norwich game. And before that, Stokely was on the bench and they were just great. But then he made all these changes. Only got the Point and then lost this game at West Brom. You just remember that, actually, you can't really afford to roll the dice too much in this league because, you know, there's so many teams that kind of say, me. But he's definitely turned it around. Like, I don't think Sheffield United have anything to worry about. And they've just given Riedewal, the Crystal palace player, an extension on a contract. Patrick Bamford's due on as well. Danny Ings finally scored his first Cheff United goal the other day. Yes, they've got all these players there, so, yeah, I think they'll be okay. And they're good on the set pieces. They don't mind giving the opposition the ball and sitting back, and generally it's working well for them.
- [36:55]
Baz
Could I ask the obligatory Wrexham question, which is. Jasper Jolly in the Guardian a couple of weeks ago revealed that they've received £18 million in grants, so they don't have to pay it back from the Welsh taxpayer. And I'm just wondering. It seems quite unfair that a club which I think is now valued at 350 million has these two Hollywood star owners, one of whom is a billionaire, is taking money from the Welsh taxpayer. I think Wrexham would argue, well, we're generating loads of money for the town, but apparently, you know, there are going to be redundancies in Wrexham. Council and schools in the area are having to tighten their belts, but they're still apparently able to give all this money to a club that doesn't need it. I'm just wondering, does anyone have any strong thoughts on that, or is it something that has been discussed?
- [37:59]
Barry Glendenning
I suppose the argument is that the grants go towards infrastructure that has a community net benefit, and they're not the first club in football to get that. But in the same way, you know, extrapolate this, in the same way Jim Radcliffe's like, we're going to build New Trafford and we're going to get all this northern powerhouse, you know, money. It doesn't really kind of wash, does it? I guess the devil's in the detail there, George.
- [38:28]
George Ellick
Yeah, I hadn't seen that, but it doesn't sound great. Yeah, as. As Barry says, when you consider the wealth of the owners and also the fact that the owners, I think, have.
- [38:39]
Max Rushworth
They've sold a steak, haven't they?
- [38:40]
Baz
Yeah, they've just sold a steak.
- [38:42]
George Ellick
Well, they've sold the steak and they've. And it also reports that they've basically, you know, they've been repaid the money they initially invested as well, so yeah.
- [38:50]
Barry Glendenning
So the funding's part of the Wrexham gateway project. And I suppose you've also got to remember, you know, Wrexham, the football club now, yeah, is this big shiny Hollywood thing, at least, you know, outwardly. But Wrexham as a community, you know, it's got some areas of huge deprivation. So are we okay with investments going into something that has a net community benefit? Admittedly, some of the stuff's coming on like floodlights and stuff. I'm not sure quite well, I don't.
- [39:18]
Baz
Particularly know whether this is a good or a bad thing. That's why I'm floating it. But the money, to be clear, is going directly to the football club. Club. It's. It's not football club adjacent money or, you know, they are getting the money to do with as they wish.
- [39:34]
Max Rushworth
All to keep for more. The council said that funding for the project was not taken from its budgets, was provided solely through the Welsh government grants. The club must also make the racecourse ground available for other sporting events and concerts, which the council said would create additional benefits for the residents of North Wales. A spokesperson said the racecourse is an important cultural and heritage asset for the city of Wrexham. We're obviously keen to protect it for the future. A Wrexham AFC spokesperson said the funds would be used for overall improvements to the stadium. A new cops down that would bring the stadium to international level. There you go. But yeah, that was a good question. If they're taking the money out as well, you know, they're getting all their money back. Suddenly it doesn't feel like the dream that it once was. But you know, still, WREX and fans probably won't complain anyway. That'll do for part two. We'll do Lee one and lead two in part three.
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Max Rushworth
Part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Three cities at the top of League one Cardiff, Bradford and Lincoln City. And then come Bolton, Stevenage, Stockport and Luton making up the playoff places. How do you view it at the moment George?
- [41:49]
George Ellick
Yeah, it's. Well, I mean we're going to see the league leaders in action tonight with Cardiff hosting Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. They're four points clear and I think Brian Barry Murphy deserves immense credit for the job that he's done there. Really a guy who, and this is why it really frustrated me a lot with, because he was linked to a lot of jobs was, you know he was, he was Rochdale manager and Rochelle were relegated out of League one but the players that he had at Rochdale, a young group who, a lot of them, you know, Robert Sanchez included, have gone on to do some, some pretty cool stuff in, in with, in football, you know, gone on for, for better careers. He then got the job at Manchester City's academy and so often when clubs were linked to Barry Murphy fans would be like well what's he done? All he's done is get a relegation and it's not that, that simple. Like he is someone who in really tough circumstances still managed to play a certain way. It's a brilliant bit of recruitment from Cardiff who, whose managerial appointments prior to BBM have been so poor that it's part of the reason why they've ended up in League one and their transfer activity in the summer was, was minimal. Nathan Trot came in. The best bit of business they did was retain the services of Yusuf select who is a striker who just shouldn't be playing third tier football anywhere and is I think now topping the goal score charts in League 1 with, with, with 10 or at least first or second. But it's the, the young players that he's come in and immediately whether it's Reuben Colwill who's kind of the star of the show or Dylan Lawler who's a brilliant center back, Ronan Capacchio who's a Right back, who's kind of coming to the side and immediately look brilliant. Keon Ashford, a wide player. Joel Colwell, who's Reuben's brother, like, it's just a homegrown crop of players is. And in a time where football is. And football fans are so obsessed with recruitment and buying players the whole time. Cardiff are an example now of why hiring a manager who is a really good coach with a clear focus on player development and a clear playing style can be the route to success. When you consider their approach to Lutons, for example, who have chopped and changed squads so much between every window, have chopped and changed managers consistently and, you know, are struggling now in League one, albeit in seventh. But the performances haven't been good at all. You know, Cardiff are the ones who are really impressing and I fancy them tonight to not necessarily win, but I think they will give a really good account themselves and stick to their way of playing and it should be a great watch. Bolton, the ones who I think are the closest challenges in terms of quality, you know, Bradford sits second, having an unbelievable season. Lincoln in third. They're both under Steven Schumacher, a really, really good side in Amara Cozy Dubri. They have one of the best players in the league, loads of good options. They came back from 1 nil down against Exeter on Saturday and won the game 21 with their players coming off the bench to make a big impact. So they'd be my 2 most likely @ this.
- [44:40]
Barry Glendenning
Stage. Just on Luton, they drew two, all with Port Vale who have really struggled and hadn't scored a goal in nearly 10 hours. And someone, a Luton fan like, spotted Jack Wilshire in a pub and tweeted like, Jack Wilshire out for a beer after a 22 draw at bottom in a league. And I think he got, he got such pelters. I think he then del the post. It did maybe like, you know, man goes for a drink after work is somehow outrage. But. But on Luton, I suppose they lost 5 nil to Barnsley and that was a real. But they've only lost one in I think 12 or 14. But it is like all competitions, it looks like EFL trophy and stuff and losing on penalties to Fleet would hurt them. Against Orient, they drew one all. And then this again at home to Port Vale, they were behind as well. What wasn't great and I think it's, it's. But I don't know what Luton fans expect. Like they've. They've had this huge turnover and they brought in a coach who, like, they've got a player there Or a coach who, when he was a player is better than any of those players, like will achieve more than probably any of them will do. Right. Once on the COVID of FIFA, if you remember that, you know, so that's how good is how. His highest stock was Jack Wilshire. And I think it's credit to him for like, like going to a club where obviously, like, if you don't know he came through the academy then very celebrated before he went to Arsenal. And I just don't know what Luton fans want because you've got to give. If you can't give him time, who can you give time to? Like, they've had so many different types of manager. Now you've got one who maybe wants to play the right way but also has that Luton grit in it. Like, isn't that exactly what you want? But things take time and this league is, it can be quite middling and if you can just be there or thereabouts, you're okay. So they are, are seventh, albeit you know, they've not got a huge amount of, of wins. It's only eight and they've drawn a lot with the five. But you know, they're, they're knocking on the door. I don't know what Morty could ask for. I suppose a while ago I mentioned how under the previous manager they were about to play Stevenage and if things had gone wrong there, which they did, then he'd be in trouble and he was. And I guess that kind of that feeling that we should be doing better than we are and we're doing terribly. Still kind of, it's still there somewhere and they need to kind of get it out the system because it's not going to help.
- [46:53]
Max Rushworth
Him. He doesn't look that happy at the.
- [46:55]
George Ellick
Pub. It's.
- [46:57]
Max Rushworth
It'S. It's one of those overly lit pubs as well that has a sign on the wall that says take the path less traveled. I thought I would get a groan from you, Barry. At the bottom you mentioned Port Vale. They're pretty adrift. 15 points points. Five points away from Blackpool in 23rd, Exeter in 22nd and Plymouth in 21st. And then come Donnie, Peterborough, Reading all on the same points as Plymouth and then Burton have 23 points. How do you judge this.
- [47:31]
George Ellick
George? Blackpool look like they're improving under new boss Ian Ever. They came back from two nil down against Lincoln's draw to all last time out and I expect with the quality they've got in their squad that they will get out of this message. A couple of other really good manager at appointments had a similar effect. Peterborough were looking like a bit of a lost cause under Darren Ferguson. The appointment of Luke Williams looks an inspired one. They're playing much better. And then Harry Leonard looks like Peterborough who've you know, so many times over the years they've found these strikers who come in and score loads of goals and they sell for a massive profit. Normally these are players recruited from kind of beneath them, but not always. Like Ivan, Tony obviously came in from, from Newcastle having previously been at Northampton. And in Harry Leonard they've got a player who's been a blackbird for a long time. He's had big injury issues, has never quite been able to force his way into the first team. He's coming to Peterborough and he looks like he should be a championship striker and he I think will score a lot of goals for them. Scored two against Northampton in the Neen Derby on Saturday in a 21 win. There are massive concerns at the moment for Plymouth Argyle who got a really, really big important win last time out against Rotherham to make it Back to back 1/ Nil wins. The fans are not happy there. Basically anything. When you consider, you know the recently a mid table championship side who suddenly facing up to a relegation battle in League one, it's not a huge surprise. Simon Hallett, their owner put out a really good statement, kind of very. He's all about kind of honesty and transparency and it's good to see that. Quite often, you know, when the knives are set on him, he puts out a statement and the fans kind of nod their head and say fair enough, thank you for that. Like open communication can often work. Tom Cleverly, you know, they're keeping the faith in him to turn it around but have appointed Derek Adams as the director of football who's formerly Argyle manager and most mor manager for the second time. So and they'll be hoping that those two wins can kick start something. But I wouldn't say the performances have been amazing and should mention extra in Port Vale as well. Port Vale who looked like one of the unluckiest teams in the league to me early in the season where the performances were quite good but they couldn't win games. They're retaining the faith in Darren Moore at the moment but you have to wonder how much longer with just three wins from 19 and then Exeter who in 22nd, 20 points for 19 games. They are in the midst of a bit of an existential crisis at the moment moment cash flow is, is short, they need money and they've been very open you know, it increasingly does kind of feel like the fan owned model is relatively unsustainable at this high up in the pyramids. The win over Wickham in the FA cup was huge to get them in the third round draw because they needed the funds from whoever they drew. They then drew Manchester City away which is obviously a huge draw for them and they'll, they'll reap the win rewards from the gate receipts there. Albeit I wonder how many tickets will actually be sold for, for Manchester City home to Exeter. But I just couldn't believe it yesterday when the, the games were announced for, for live tv. Especially in this day and age where yeah, sure you're not going to put Manchester City at home to Exeter live on, on you know, the main channel because of risk of, you know, what it could be and what it's likely to be. But when you've got loads of games that are being streamed on various different platforms and you've got MK Dons versus Oxford being streamed and you've got got Port Vale versus Fleetwood being streamed, I can't understand how that hasn't been selected for, for TV which would have obviously brought, I mean not significant money but still would have brought some, some money that's very much needed for Exeter. That in itself isn't necessarily a reason to, for TV companies to do this. But the FA cup is all about the underdog. I just can't understand why that hasn't been chosen. Especially because it would be an opportunity to shine a light. You know, we talk whenever there are kind of properly to the wall issues at Reading or at Derby. There's talk about football having to kind of unite in order to help these clubs out. Well what about some preventative action in order to help a club that are being very open and honest about them heading that way. So I'm amazed that's a Saturday 3 o' clock kickoff. But you know, hopefully, hopefully they can get a famous win at Man City and get a home during the next round against Premier League time Premier League side and get a, get a plum TV slide.
- [51:26]
Max Rushworth
Lot. Even Cambridge's defeat to Birmingham is on Discovery plus FA cup third.
- [51:32]
George Ellick
Round. I just can't understand it. Yeah, but surely you think like there are enough Man City fans to make it worthwhile to put that on a, on a streaming.
- [51:40]
Max Rushworth
Platform? It may be. Yeah, well it's not. Not my decision. Yes, I'll sort it out, see what I can do. Lead to walsall top on 39. Knox County Swindon have 37, Bromley have 36.6mk Don Salford Chesterfield Crew and the Mighty Use. It's pretty tight in there, wasn't.
- [52:01]
Baz
It? This time last year, Walsall were about 50 points clearer at the top of League Two and then didn't get.
- [52:07]
Barry Glendenning
Promoted. Yeah, so they. So they were. They were how many points clear, were they, George?
- [52:11]
George Ellick
Again? 14, I think was.
- [52:13]
Barry Glendenning
14. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So. So last year, Barry, they had Nathan Lowe on loan from Stoke city. He got 15 in 22 and set up another five. So he then got recalled by Stoke and that coincided with the wheels falling off dramatically. You know, he got to the player final and lost that. And it was. It was. Yeah, it was bad. This time around, they've had to rebuild. New goalie, you know, loads of different positions have to be refilled. They have another loan striker in, Daniel Karnu on loan from Charlton, who's got nine, 16 so far. And you think that the team that he's come on loan from could do with more goals in the Championship. They might also want to recall him and this same situation might end up becoming a reality. So that's the big worry for me. Kanu's like the most poacher of poachery strikers. Like, if you look at the stats, he doesn't seem to, like, touch the ball other than score a.
- [53:12]
Max Rushworth
Goal. Everyone listening wants to know, is it the son of kanu? It doesn't sound, you.
- [53:16]
Barry Glendenning
Know. Yeah, I don't think it is very upsetting.
- [53:20]
George Ellick
No. Sani, did he see his goal on Saturday? Because it was very. Because even though I agree with you, he got the ball. I mean, it's one of those goals that you're only taking a shot on if you're unbelievably confident. He got on the ball 25 yards out, could have just run forward to make it one on one and decided instead just to smack it off the crossbar in the top left hand corner from 25 yards out. So he can do it.
- [53:36]
Barry Glendenning
All. Well, there you go. I did see that goal, but I've seen so much football I can't remember it whatsoever. So that's my main worry for Walsall. I mean, Matt Sadler, like, had a lot. He's had a lot of pressure on him, especially in the way that things didn't come together and then losing in the playoff final and it would have been very easy for Walsall to go. Right, you know what, this has been going wrong for a while. He stuck with him. He's clearly proving that, you know, he can do it and that's very positive. But that's my big worry. The Fact that their main scorer and pretty much their only real scorer, the goals have kind of dried up from everywhere else is a loanee and you just hope that he haven't got Charlton, haven't got a recall clause come January because that'd be worrying again now.
- [54:25]
Max Rushworth
George, we are ninth not lost in the league since October. The only defeat in that time is a penalty shootout and the LDV Johnson's paint trophy, whatever it is now the meanest defense in the league. Have you still got us 18th?
- [54:38]
George Ellick
No. Live on the podcast of the day, me and ali had a 50 pound bet on whether or not Cambridge would finish in the top seven. And you'll be happy to know that I was the one saying that you would. Yes. Yeah, I've been pretty impressed recently. It just feels like League 2 is, is so mad this season and again it's another league where we'll sort of top on 39 points but you can go down to 15th and chamber on 26. Like it's. The position is in the middle of that is kind of irrelevant and Cambridge kind of sit directly in the middle in the middle of it. But there are so many teams whose performances kind of vary wildly from week to week. Swindon being one of those MK Dons being another Salford who are kind of hitting just crazy realm now with the the end to end nature of their games. Whereas Cambridge are the ones. You know, if you look at the the teams I just discussed there and MK Dons have scored 38 goals and conceded 24. You've got Chesterfield who scored 36 goals and conceded 31, Cambridge 22 goals scored, 1818.
- [55:33]
Max Rushworth
Conceded. It's not, we're not to make it entertaining.
- [55:35]
George Ellick
Guys. We're just, you're the solid option. You just absolutely know you're not going to concede many goals. You' score a few and that's normally enough. Like if you look at successful teams in League two in the past, it's very, very rare that it's the expansive gung ho teams. Normally it's the, the ones where you're like yeah, we've got a solid defensive unit, we've got some good players up front, we've got a wily manager who's been here and done it before. So I think as the chaos goes on around you, Cambridge are the ones who are probably just going to naturally plot along and finish somewhere between fifth and.
- [56:05]
Baz
Seventh. That's twice now that George has said league position is irrelevant, relevant. And I'm worried about Mark Langdon. If he's listening, just his head literally.
- [56:15]
Max Rushworth
Exploding. Just one question. One question at the bottom on Christian Fuchs, who I interviewed on Talk Sport. It was one of my worst interviews of all time because I was like, let's have some fun with Christian Fuchs. But he was in manager mode, being serious about having just. Which is fair enough, right? He's just got a job he doesn't want.
- [56:31]
George Ellick
To. Dick, if you told him that was the name of the segment, he might have. He might be.
- [56:34]
Barry Glendenning
Prepared and find.
- [56:38]
Baz
Out. Yeah.
- [56:39]
Max Rushworth
Exactly. But, like, it's interesting decision he's taken and it is currently. Look, they weren't doing well before Sonny, but they're still not doing.
- [56:47]
Barry Glendenning
Well. Yeah, he's still not one. That's the main thing. I. I don't know what. I don't know why he's done this. What's he. What's he got to gain from going in there.
- [56:57]
George Ellick
Like. Well, there was a really good interview with Ben Fisher in the Guardian with Fuchs, where he kind of explained his decision and it seemingly comes from his assistant manager, who is a Newport man, I think maybe played for them, who runs his academy in America. So that. Because I couldn't work out the link at all, and I messaged a couple of people who have kind of close to Newport or even people who are close to Leicester to try and find out, and they were all completely miffed as to why he'd turned up there. But it seems like that's the reason for the link of him to Newport. And I kind of, you know, does Christian Fuchs walk into a. A kind of League one or a championship job? You know, he's. He's been Dean Smith's assistant at Charlotte for the last 18.
- [57:39]
Baz
Months. My abiding memory of Christian Fuchs is when he kept trying to leave Leicester and they wouldn't let him, and his family had relocated to New York and he had a soccer school in New York and he wanted to go and run it, but Lester kept convincing him to sign a new contract. So he finally escaped and now he's back managing at the bottom of League 2. It doesn't stack.
- [58:04]
Barry Glendenning
Up. Yeah, a career decision based on doing a favour for a mate does sound. But maybe that academy. The guy clearly is very important. It's an academy, so, you know, it's like, go manage Newport or I walk. And he's like, well, I need that academy to keep going because Leicester might try and trap me again and I need somebody to keep it.
- [58:19]
Max Rushworth
Going. Or maybe he's just a lovely guy. You know, we're all here to help our friends out and, you know, he's just doing that. Anyway, thanks, everybody. That'll be for.
- [58:26]
George Ellick
Tonight. Cheers.
- [58:27]
Barry Glendenning
Sunny. Cheers. Thank.
- [58:27]
Max Rushworth
You. Thank you.
- [58:28]
George Ellick
George. Thank you.
- [58:29]
Max Rushworth
Max. Cheers.
- [58:29]
Baz
Barry. Thank.
- [58:30]
Max Rushworth
You. Football Weekly is produced by Dogrove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. Back on Thursday to review the Carabao cup.
- [58:36]
George Ellick
Quarterfinals. This is the.
- [58:43]
Professor Susannah Lipscomb
Guardian. I'm Professor Susannah Lipscomb. And on Not Just the Tudors from History hit. We do, admittedly cover quite a lot of Tudors, from the rise of Henry VII to the death of Henry viii, from Anne Boleyn to her daughter Elizabeth I. But we also do lots that's not Tudors. Murderers, mistresses, pirates and witches. Clues in the title, really. So follow not just the Tudors from History hit. Wherever you get your.