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Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan and Lucy Ward to discuss the latest in the Premier League
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Jordan Jarrett
This is the Guardian.
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Max Rushden
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. We'll begin with the sacking of Liam Rossinha, unsurprisingly dismissed by Chelsea after a truly horrendous run culminating in being walloped at Brighton. Did he ever stand a chance? He didn't have the experience and by all accounts, the players didn't believe in him. And perhaps he didn't help himself with some of the LinkedIn nonsense. But equally, there are big issues with sporting directors above him and the owners above them. Which genuinely good, experienced coach would view this as a sensible career choice? Then to the title race, man. City win at Burnley, but miss out on a chance to rack up the goals. So they go top on goals scored, displacing Arsenal, who've spent over 200 days at the top of the league this season. Leeds must be safe after a late point at Bournemouth. There's the FA cup semi finals to preview and the Premier League weekend. A lot of excellent correspondence. Your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today, Barry Glendennick.
Lucy Ward
Welcome.
Barry Glendenning
Hi, Max.
Max Rushden
Hello. Lucy Ward.
Lucy Ward
Hello.
Max Rushden
Is that your dog in the background? Lucy?
Lucy Ward
Yeah. Something's been delivered. Apologies.
Max Rushden
No, not a problem. I mean, it's either that or that's Neil Redfern's actual voice. And how exciting that would be. Welcome, Jordan Jarrett. Bryan.
Jordan Jarrett
Morning, mate. How you doing?
Max Rushden
I'm good, thank you. Let's start then, with Liam Rossini sacked as manager of Chelsea, Duncan Alexander tweeting there have been more managerial departures than direct free kick goals in the Premier League during 2026. What a league. Bill Edgar saying Lima Rossini was sacked by Chelsea with 96% of his contract time remaining 74 and a half months out of 78. Still, he lasted 15,264 times longer than his dad Leroy at Torquay in 2007. Appointed 10 minutes before a club takeover that ended his reign. Chelsea said this has not been a decision the club has taken lightly. However, recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards. With still so much more to play for this season as the club works to bring stability to the head coach position, we will undertake a process of self reflection to make the right long term appointment. Only spurs have taken fewer points than Chelsea over the last nine games. No clean sheet in the last 12 games. No goals scored in a five game losing streak. They haven't scored since. They all huddled around Paul Tierney in that game. Jacob Steinberg writing that Chelsea Spanish speakers amongst the players who were not fans of Liam Rossini's approach, he lacked respect from seasoned internationals. Apparently him replacing Sanchez with Jorgensen against PSG was apparently a problem. But like more than one thing can be possible at the same time. Lucy, he was not experienced enough. This is a terrible run but there are huge issues all the way up the chain with Chelsea.
Lucy Ward
Yeah, I mean the problem is not Liam Rossini. I don't think he helped himself at times. But the thing is though, he was working for that company and they offered him a promotion. So he's not going to say no, I don't want the promotion. So he was probably stuck in that sort of place as well. But yeah, just the people above in Chelsea. I don't. It's. It isn't the manager's fault. I remember speaking to somebody who was aware of what was going on and they said that the players were right on the edge of having him or not having him. And that was pretty early on in his. In it just because I think maybe the language and the way he was. Players are absolute nightmare. I mean, you know, we had it at Leeds where Massimo Celino was the owner and Neil Redford was the manager. Players just if they decide that they're not doing something. So they were basically told by Chalino not to play in a certain game. So six of them pretended allegedly to be injured and we all watched them come in one at a time because nobody is more popular than a narcissist who was the owner at the time. And we watched these six players come in. They became known as the sick Note 6 just before an away trip. So the point I'm trying to make is that players will always look after number one if they're told to do something or if they're not having a manager, then that's it for the manager.
Max Rushden
What do you make of it all, Jordan?
Jordan Jarrett
Yeah, a couple of thoughts on this one. I mean, I think what Lucy said there regarding him having to take the job seems to be the, the majority view, but I actually disagree. I think that once he's offered that Chelsea job, I think he should have turned it down. And I understand that Chelsea's a, you know, huge club, great opportunity. I understand that they're part of the same company as well and it's, it's a promotion, right? But I think if you're looking at your long term career, the chances are this was always going to go badly wrong at some point anyway. And the stain that is now left on him I think could affect him long term in regards to managerial prospects. Right? So I think he should have said, you know what, I don't want that job. It's too big for me.
Max Rushden
It's so hard. It's so hard, right, because you're getting millions of a six year contract. I don't know what payoff is but
Jordan Jarrett
like totally, it's big money. But look where he is now. Max, my second point would be once you take that job, then you only have one job. You're not going to win the league, you're not going in the Champions League, the League cup, they were in that point, the FA cup, they're still in it. You're not going to win anything. We know that Chelsea's model doesn't allow them to win the big trophies anyway because of their model and the lack of experienced players. Your one job is to ensure that, that when you do get sacked because you will get fired at Chelsea. 18 months, max, it's been shorter than that. When you do get fired, you've left enough of an impression whereby other clubs look at you and think, you know what it didn't go away from at Chelsea. But it's Chelsea, the Fulhams, the Palaces, the Bournemouths, the Brightons, those are sort of clubs that you want thinking, all right, it didn't go well at Chelsea, but you know what? We'll, we'll, we'll have a look at you. What's happened is, is that on the field his reputation is now trashed and off the field he's now a bit of a laughingstock. So it's actually gone wrong both ways and his reputation is in such a bad place. I, he'll get another job at some point soon, I'm sure, but I don't think he's in a position in a trajectory where he was on before whereby he could have, he can get the jobs now that had it have gone better at Chelsea or had him turned it down, he could have got. Do you know what I mean? Do you know what I'm trying to say here?
Max Rushden
No, no, I do, I do understand and actually, you know, if you look at Graham Potter, it took him a long time now and he's at Sweden and so it could I. It's put Rossini back. I wonder with if you take Barry someone like Iriola, right you'd sort of think he would be mad to take this job but does he have enough credit in the bank as a manager to go to Chelsea and when it doesn't work he can say well it's Chelsea where Liam Rossinia can't do that because he doesn't have a body of work like Ireola. So is it a free hit for, for an experienced good coach who we might all go you'd be mad to take this job.
Barry Glendenning
First of all, I don't think Racino's reputation is as stained or trashed as Jordan seems to think it is. I, I say he emerges from this fairly unscathed and I would imagine he would easily, you know, get a job in with a championship club at least next season should he want one or some go abroad. I don't think he's done himself any favors with the, the LinkedIn Liam stuff but that's a bit of a side issue. I don't think Anthony Iriola would touch this job with a 40 foot pole because he will be able to have his pick of a lot of jobs at clubs that are much better run than this circus. I I noted with interest the and if he for some reason he did take it, if they made him an offer he couldn't felt he couldn't refuse. Yeah it is a free hit for someone like him because we've seen what he can do elsewhere. I like the bit in the Chelsea statement where they said that the club hierarchy would embark on a period of self reflection because I suspect self reflection would not be a strong suit of Todd Bowley and his mate who, who run the club.
Max Rushden
I, I mean on that I mean Barney has written I'd never compliment him directly but a brilliant piece about this and about Blue Co and you know about the fact that was it Graham Potter said, you know they're billionaires so they must be right kind of thing at some point and actually that may not be the truth. And he Barney writes, look, this is a regime so fundamentally strange, it would come as no surprise to discover it is in fact a public art happening. The work of brilliant pranksters designed to demonstrate the emptiness of corporate life, the pity of commodified sport, the comic potential of what happens when the self appointed cleverest guys in the room turn out to be the stupidest and like it. This project we've talked about, it is weird and they've made some utterly bizarre decisions.
Jordan Jarrett
The Chelsea model is in trouble now because the whole point of their model is to make money, flip players and generate money. These are venture capitalists. Well, if they don't get Champions League football, which I think is gone, they might not even get European football. Are they now going to have to go against their model and sign some experienced players who will cost money in wages at the bare minimum? And then what does that do for their, for their financial model, which was to try and spend as little as possible to make money? Well, now they're going to have to spend money and put money into the club and.
Max Rushden
Yeah, but they haven't spent as little as possible. They spent like a billion pounds. Like it's, it's a, like the recruitment, Lucy, is, it's so bizarre and like so many of like recruitment is difficult and it doesn't always work. But Dilap hasn't worked, Garnacho hasn't worked, Gittins hasn't worked, Joe Felix didn't work. You know, Joe Pedro has been good, but recent recruitment has been almost disastrous.
Lucy Ward
Yeah, it has. I mean, I understand where you can't just put young, inexperienced players together, you need to have something else because they're not very consistent. So they do what they're doing now and I think the last few games you can just tell that they're just not having him. Even the players like Cucarea, who would always give and look like he's trying to be the best player on the pitch, I just watch and just think, well, they've obviously decided as a group that maybe they got a sniff that the owners weren't particularly happy. But in terms of recruitment, you know, if they then start, like Johnson, if they start changing the model now and bringing in experienced players, that the wages will be higher. Those experienced players are not going to sign for six years because the wages won't be high. So then they go into a changing room where the other players that are already there who think they're big hitters are on a lower wage for longer. It'll just be absolutely carnage. And again so which manager's looking at that and thinking, I'll have a bit of that. You know, that especially when, you know, like, Rossini was hired to be a yes man and it didn't work. You know, it obviously never was going to work. But, you know, even, you know, if they want a yes man in there, which now there's rumblings that they're not, they don't want a yes man in there, but they still want a little bit of control over it. It just, I mean, Chelsea fans, the, you know, the experience that they've had over the last sort of 10 or 15 years, I mean, this must be absolutely horrendous for them because that's just like, where's he going now? Who, who's going to come in next and which players are going to come in next? Because all the players now are talking about, we want to go now.
Max Rushden
And actually, I don't think they've sold their allocation for the semi final. Right. That shows the disconnect. And as with any club, Barry, at any level of the pyramid, having so little power over what happens to your football club. But like, you would feel so disaffected as a Chelsea fan.
Barry Glendenning
Yeah, if I was a Chelsea fan, I just wonder what, what is happening here? This, the club, it has no soul, no mojo, its identity is gradually being eroded. I mean, there's a certain delicious irony about the fact that the, the result that led to Rosinha's sacking was a thrashing at the hands of Brighton, which is the club Chelsea kind of aspired to become by just taking everything Brighton had. And it's. That's like being a disaster for them. Whereas Brighton are still chugging along wonderfully in their own little Brighton way. A club with a. That's well run, has a good young manager, has good committed players and a very happy fan base who have. Have a fair idea what they're going to get when they go to watch their team play.
Lucy Ward
And I'm looking at the, the, the semi final on Sunday and up until last night I was thinking, there's no other winner than Leeds on, on Sunday just because of the way that, that, that, that. The effort that looked like the player the Chelsea players were putting in and it didn't look like they quite believed what, what they were doing. But now I can completely see a completely different performance from Chelsea on Sunday because the players obviously want to get into an FA cup final, but they've, they've got what they wanted. So the Chelsea fans will be like, well, you know, why why can't you perform like that? Why haven't you performed? And then is it that. What's the name of the guy that's in there? Callum McFarlane. Is he. So he was. He was part of a number of coaches that were. Because that's the other thing that's happened in the background. I think it's Joe Shields has brought all these little coaches in who have taken jobs from play. Other coaches that are quite well qualified and sort of part of the. Been part of Chelsea for a while and moved up as you do the. Up from 15, 16s to 18s and then they've just sort of been slotted in. So that. I think that causes a little bit of trouble in the background as well with. Because people sort of don't agree with that. But yeah, I can see a completely different. So now I'm not so sure that Leeds will win on. On Sunday.
Max Rushden
We'll get to Leeds game last night in just a second. I mean Brian were brilliant in this game and 3 nil is flattered. Chelsea especially the first half. Brighton could have scored like a hundred goals. The absolute highlight of all of this was the. The fact that Mark Cucarella let slip to his hairdresser that Jao Pedro and Cole Palmer were injured. And Keith, I mean amongst many others, Barry before this pod started me on the radio yesterday, all making exactly the same joke. But it is worth repeating with the suggestion that Marcurella's barber leaked the Chelsea team news before Tuesday's festival of disrespecting the ball and running and in any way competing. The question is, do we really believe that Marco Corella has a barber? I mean it is very unlucky for Chelsea that, you know, how often is he going Once every six months. There are footballers that get it cut twice. Dion Dublin has his hair cut twice a day back in the day. But you know, to be on the annual. I think I have this memory, I mean, I presume I don't ever remember
Barry Glendenning
a time when Dion Dublin wasn't completely bald.
Max Rushden
But well, he clippered it, you know, back in the day. He could have had a proper Bobby Charlton comb over Dion if he'd let it grow. The thing I like Barry is is the thought of Mark Cucarella at the hairdressers and the hairdresser doesn't know it's Mark just says, you up to anything later? And he's like, oh, I'm just playing football. And he's on his phone, he goes, ah, jowl. And Cole can't make it and it's like that. That's where it's come from. But it's a great story.
Barry Glendenning
I mean, I, I find the, the task of having to make small talk with my barber excruciating. So I would, I would divulge any information at the drop of a hat, just, just to say something, just to break the awkward silence.
Max Rushden
Anyway, that will do for part one. Part two we will look back at Man City going top of the Premier League.
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Lucy Ward
Foreign.
Max Rushden
To Part two of the Guardian Football Weekly so Man City are top played 33 Arsenal played 33 wins Man City 21 Arsenal 21 draws Man City 7 Arsenal 7 losses Man City 5 Arsenal 5 goal difference plus 37 Man City plus 37 Arsenal they have scored three more goals and conceded three more goals and that is Man City are top of the league on goals scored. It is so brilliantly poised here and they won one nil at Burnley. And I suppose my question to you, Jordan, as an Arsenal fan, is given we've talked about a possible shootout and it might come down to how many goals you've scored and goal difference. Would you have taken a 10 win for Man City at the start of the night?
Jordan Jarrett
Yeah, for sure. For sure. I think everybody expected Manchester City to rack up the goals last night against Burnley. And as an Arsenal fan, I'm sure Arsenal, yeah, we're breathing a slight sigh of relief that it wasn't a 4 or 5 nil. Because after the defeat on Sunday at the Etihad, I turned to my mate and I said, we're going to lose this title and goal difference, aren't we? He Nolan said, yes, we are. It's, it's going to be that tight. Look, I think the, the, the message, the message for Arsenal is, is, is really clear. If you're going to catch the City team, you're going have to start scoring lots of goals. It's it's as simple as that. Easier said than done for this Arsenal team. At the moment, you can't even get a win, let alone rack up the goals. But for City, I think for them, they will feel now that going back to the top of the League, it time. They've been handed the initiative, they've been handed the motivation, the momentum. They've got the form, they've got the players and they've got the manager. Most importantly, they are now in the, in the boxy in terms of who your smart money would probably go on to see this through. They will feel confident about, about getting this title over the line now. And if you just look at how the players are playing, it's such a takeout Sunday from the last handful of games. But the way City are playing versus how Arsenal are playing, they just look so much freer. They're enjoying it. They're smiling. You know, there's a meme of Erling Harlan now because he's just going around with that look of like, yeah, we know what's coming, versus the Arsenal players who just look like they're scared, they're frightened, and they know what's coming as well. So for City, it's ominous now because not only are they playing well, they look like they're enjoying the, the, the battle. They're enjoying the pressure. And I, I think that, that, that Arsenal fans is what should be, should be very concerning.
Max Rushden
Yeah, I, I don't know, Lucy. They're running. I don't think it's done. You know, City, of course, got the FA cup, so Arsenal will play two League games before City have another one. Of course, Arsenal got the Champions League, two games against Athletic is, you know, that's not a relaxing time, is it? But City's running, I think, is trickier. City go to Everton, home to Brentford go to Bournemouth, home to palace at some point, home to Villa. Arsenal home to Newcastle, home to Fulham, West Ham away. Burnley at home, palace away. What are the vibes with you, Lucy?
Lucy Ward
Yeah, I agree. I don't think it's straightforward. And all I was reading last night was how stressed out City fans were that they hadn't scored more than, than one goal. I've just got a feeling that City have gone a little bit too early with the sort of, you know, it's going our way and a little bit arrogant. You know, Pep praising Arsenal players. You know, he always does that when he's trying to be. Be condescending. You know, he's praising Declan Rice, saying it's not done. And, and I' got a bit of, you know, Noel Gallagher appearing multiple times on Talk Sport talking about, you know, what Arsenal have done wrong. Haaland with that look on his face. I just think maybe, you know, now they're the ones, you know, lead. And it's not particularly straightforward as we saw last night against, against Burnley. I think that the way that Arsenal performed against them, I mean, I did the Bournemouth game where they were absolutely frightened to death the week before, but I thought they were very good against City. That could quite easily have gone either way that game. The main thing I took out from last night was Pep's jumper with the big letter P on it. Like we didn't know who he was wearing the jumper. Puma have obviously bought out this range for, for Pep with big P on it. I thought that was quite amusing. That was probably the best bit of that that game.
Barry Glendenning
City were comfortably better than Burnley last night, but the outcome was never the foregone conclusion everyone thought it was would be. And Burnley were only, you know, one skanky deflected shot or lay header from a corner away from actually snatching a point off them and blowing the title rails even more wide open than it is already. You know, Pep was on the bed, he was sweating last night. He was very agitated in his big P jumper. And yeah, I, I thought Burnley were going to nick something at the end of that game. They didn't. Yeah, they had chances.
Max Rushden
Yeah, they had a few chances and also they, they did have that corner in injury time, didn't they? And you thought, oh, this is just, just when there's a corner time in those kind of moments. You think they couldn't, could they? Does me. Burnley are down. Second time in a row they've come up and gone straight back down. What do you make of their campaign, Jordan? Like their recruitment wasn't life changing and I feel like they've never given up. Right. I feel like I, I, if I were them, I would stick with Scott Parker and say we go again.
Jordan Jarrett
Yeah, I agree. I, I, I was think Scott Parker again. I think he's proven that he can get them up. He's done it before. I don't think it's been an embarrassing campaign from them. I wonder if teams that go down now are looking at the Sunderland model of you might have to spend big and smart to have a chance now. Teams have spent big and still gone down. Teams tried to be shrewd and gone down but they seem to kind of crack the model. Maybe Sunderland are one off. I don't know. But they're going to have to go down. And really it's recruitment, isn't it? Coming up. You have to bring in the right players. It's the right balance. You don't want to upset the guys that got you back to the Premier League too much. But equally there's a level in class that you need to bring in to. To compete in the Premier League. But I don't think for Burnley it's been a particularly embarrassing campaign. I think they can go down with their daughter. Patronize them here a little bit, which I'm going to do now inadvertently. But they can go down with their. Their heads. Their heads held high. And I think as you said they were or I think Barry said they were in that game until. Until the last minute. While the game is 1 nil, even against Manchester City, you're always in the chance of. Of getting something from that game. Can I just quickly mention something on Arsenal, just briefly? Is that allowed? So I know when the Burnley bit. Apologies.
Max Rushden
No, you're okay.
Jordan Jarrett
The Madrid game is where I have concerns. I think the Athletico Madrid tie might take a lot out of Arsenal's running. I think they've got Fulham after the second leg of that one. I just fear could really drain them a little bit. The other point I wanted to make as well is about the goals. Do you remember when Liverpool played Crystal palace in that Chrisan Bull game and they were going for goals, they were three up and they wanted to rack up the goals and end up drawing the game. Three. Three. Yeah. Yeah.
Lucy Ward
I think.
Jordan Jarrett
I think Arsenal have to just focus for the. For now. Just beat Newcastle. Just win the game. And if you're on a chance where you can get four or five, great. But don't go into that game thinking we got to win this game five nil. Because you could to lose sight of what's really important which is just win the game. That. That's the most important thing. And also take to the last game. Arsenal have to now take to the last game. If. If they. If nothing else, they owe it to the fans. Make sure that City win this game, win this league. Sorry. On the final game, what can't happen is they implode and it's done. With two games to go, they have to now take it to the last game of the season.
Max Rushden
It's interesting. We talk about Burnley and Barry. We feel that they've, you know, they've done themselves like a decent.
Barry Glendenning
I don't. I. I don't.
Max Rushden
Okay.
Barry Glendenning
They've won one game in the league since the start of November. I think it's been a pretty dismal effort on their part. I'm sorry. Apparently that's okay.
Max Rushden
But you know, the interesting thing is because they've actually only got three points more than Wolves now and you know, I, I, we didn't really talk about Wolves relegation and I just wonder if the sort of same questions about. I think Rob Edwards has actually done quite a good job since he came in November. You know, Michael Butler wrote a piece about how many players that they have let go of. You know, kunya, Strand, Larsen, 8 Nori, all sold in the summer. Like it's unsurprising they were where they are but I think they are not in a bad position to, to bounce back up.
Barry Glendenning
Well, bouncing back up is very difficult. You know, you could have spurs in the championship next season. Everyone will expect them to, to bounce straight back up as they go down. There are a lot of good teams that spend a hell of a lot of money in the championship already. I, I'd imagine Leicester were among the favorites to bounce back last season. Look what happened. Or this season look what happened to them. Burnley when they came up they, their whole thing was built on their defense, wasn't it? They conceded like three goals all season last season in the championship and that was never, they were never going to be able to keep, keep that sort of solidity going in the Premier League. So I, I guess if you do come up you have to do a Sunderland on it and have a complete squad overhaul and that's hard.
Max Rushden
Yeah, I mean they've conceded 68 goals. I suppose that we can come to leads now. Lucy. They did recruit and they sort of went big and strong but they didn't rip up the whole squad, did they? Like something?
Lucy Ward
No, no, no they didn't. And, and they weren't doing that well until he changed to, to a back three either. And, and, and has brought the likes of Tanaka back into the, to the team as well. And I think you saw last night that you know physically he can be sort of muscled off when off the ball when I think it was Senesi who sent through for, for Krupi's first goal. But yeah, I, I think they've done well. I think what Leeds will now, I mean that everybody's happy because they look like they're staying up. They're in a semi final of an FA cup. But I think when the dust settles at the end of the season they'll look back at how Sheffield United were in their second Season as a back three. You know, it's sort of. It just blows my mind that it actually has surprised every single team the way that Leeds play even, you know, I think what are the analysts doing, not watching how they play and not being able to counter it. I think that teams will be better at dealing with Leeds back three, back five next season. But obviously that's something in the future. Everybody's very happy at the moment.
Max Rushden
How do you counter it? Asking for, you know, the tactically unaware.
Lucy Ward
I think the best example of how to play against Leeds was Arsenal when they came to, to Ellen Road and played against them and they went up against them but also passed it very, very well. I just think teams just, just get thinking, oh, hang on a minute, we've got to try and win the jewels. And you're not gonna, you're not gonna beat Leeds at their own game. You have to sort of be better at at connecting passes. But I think that teams will be better at that next season. But you know, I think Leeds fans at the moment are like, who cares?
Max Rushden
Every single game with a team down there. And you know, I know Leeds are pretty much safe before last night anyway. Barry. I just watch it through such a ridiculous spurs lens and I watched that long staff volley going through about 20 players going. You know, if Javi Simmons is hitting that, it's bouncing off and going out like this is.
Lucy Ward
You know, Var could have given at least one penalty to Bournemouth and then they obviously were unlucky with the offset. So I was looking at it thinking, God, if I was watching this and I was Forest spurs or West Ham, I would have been like, hang on a minute. Why are you not giving penalties? Because that's the only problem with Bournemouth is that they cannot just finish. They just don't do enough to win games like on a consistent basis. They draw all the time because they just don't have enough. So there was always that risk that that would happen. But obviously if Var would have gone their way, there would have been sort of 2, 3, 3 up by then and away from Leeds.
Max Rushden
Yeah, Senetti hitting the bar as well, didn't it? Late on for two, one and then you're right, that offside is just. Come on, Var.
Jordan Jarrett
That's.
Lucy Ward
Yeah. Painful.
Jordan Jarrett
That's just not.
Max Rushden
That's not what it's meant for, is it? For goodness sake. That'll do for part two. Part three. We'll look ahead to the FA cup semi finals and the Premier League weekend.
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Max Rushden
Foreign. To Part 3 of the Guardian Football Weekly Barry we've sold out New York already in just five days. How big is the Bowery Ballroom? Is it just a capacity 6? Is that what it is? That's what happened.
Barry Glendenning
Well, I actually know the answer to this question because I did my due diligence, Max. I think it's a just shy of 500 people, but I think that's standing.
Max Rushden
So thank you for selling out. What do we do now? Do we move to Madison Square Gardens?
Barry Glendenning
I suspect we either try and get the Bowery for another couple of nights or move to the Garden.
Max Rushden
Yeah, yeah, a residency at the Bowery. Here we go. Anyway, thanks for buying our tickets. We look forward to coming. Don't resell them for a million dollars. That's not. That's not the Guardians vibe, people. So the FA cup semi finals we sort of touched on Chelsea leads. But how do you see it, Baz?
Barry Glendenning
My view is almost identical to Lucy's. I couldn't see any other winner than Leeds. But now I think think Chelsea's players will will gamble about with the gay abandon of calves who've just been let out of the barn at springtime. I'd be honest, I want Leeds to win. I hope they do. And at least they don't have to worry about. They can devote all their focus to this. They don't have to worry about staying up because they presumably have enough points.
Max Rushden
Yeah, actually Jordan, they're the only side leads who really are sort of, you know, can really throw everything at the. The FA cup, you know. City have a tight race. Southampton are still going for automatic promotion, although the result they drew with Bristol City, which Means you know they'll be pretty lucky. But they've been on an absolutely incredible run. Do we want a Leeds Southampton final? Is that the dream final?
Jordan Jarrett
I don't really care who's in, who's in the final. But I think Leeds win this. I, I still think Leeds win. I thought Leeds before Rossini was fired were favorites. I, I, I, I totally understand what Lucy and Barry is saying about you know Cena going. There will be a new lease of life amongst some of those Chelsea players. But I still think Leeds win this game. Chelsea are not, are not good. They're just not good. And I think with Leeds having to as you allude to there having the kind of shackles of the relegation fight now off off their, off their ankles. I think they will go for this 100. I'm looking forward to this game. I'm looking forward to this to, to this match a lot. Because there's obviously the historical rivalry between the two clubs and and yeah and Leeds will see it as like you know we're once in a generation opportunity to get to a cup final. So. But I'm. I think Leeds win this.
Max Rushden
To the Premier League weekend then. So we talked about Arsenal Newcastle a little bit. I mean Newcastle do not have a a good record at the Emirates. They've only scored one in the last nine visits. Haven't won there for 13 games. If Arsenal win they'll have done the double over Newcastle for the first time since 2020. 21. And actually Barry, you sort of think home to Newcastle is as good as it gets at this stage of the season.
Barry Glendenning
I think so. I'd be astonished if Arsenal don't win this game. Newcastle's last performance in defeat against Bournemouth. Well they were pathetic. Half the players weren't even trying. As you say. The record at the Emirates is dismal. They're on a run of eight defeats and 11 in the league. So Arsenal have to win this. And if they don't then you know, good luck.
Max Rushden
Yeah. We haven't actually mentioned the tragic death of Alex Manninger who who passed away last week in very tragic circumstances. He made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 97 and 2002. Won the Premier League in the FA Cup. Best remembered by Arsenal fans for the role he played during the run to the double in 97. 98. David Seaman says when I think of Alex Manninger. He was a fantastic goalkeeper for us. He came in and deputized me during a really critical time to help us win the double. He did amazingly well. Was just a young Lad when he broke into the first team, 20 year old to come in and play for Arsenal the way he did was really special. I was out for quite a few games through injury, played 13 times, kept a clean sheet in that 1 nil win against Manchester United, Old Trafford and saved penalties in our quarter final FA cup win against West Ham. The fans loved him. I must admit it was touch and go as to whether I would get back in the side. He was a massive player for Arsenal and I mean Jordan, presumably, you know that. That is true. You know, he played a pivotal role for Arsenal in that time.
Jordan Jarrett
I remember that season. He was, he was pivotal. He was really important in that year. As you mentioned, Seaman missed quite a few games. I remember him being, I read some quotes actually. Sorry, him being really well thought of in Italy. Some of the Italian teams and goalkeepers that have come out and speaking about him talk about how fondly they remember him and he was well loved for his time there as well. Awful, awful, awful way to pass very young as well.
Max Rushden
Yeah, Gigi Buffon wrote like a beautiful message on his Instagram about it too. So, yeah, our thoughts, of course, with everyone who knows Alex Manninger back to the football, the bottom of the table, then, Barry, It's Wolves, Tottenham and West Ham Everton. And we keep saying for spurs, this is must win.
Jordan Jarrett
But this is,
Max Rushden
this is must win, Barry.
Barry Glendenning
It is. And I think they probably will win and I think that could be the spark they need to get their act together. If they don't win, they deserve to be relegated. Quite frankly. Wolves are not a good team. They are capable of pulling a decent performance out of the bag every now and then. They have improved under Rob Edwards, but the bar was so low that they had to really. But if I will be massively surprised as far as don't win this game very comfortably, I won't.
Max Rushden
They've lost their last three away at Molyneux. Wolves are unbeaten in the last six games against Spurs. For goodness sake. What do you reckon, Lucy?
Lucy Ward
Well, there has been a difference. I mean, I was sort of following the, the Brighton game. I was in Iceland doing the England women's game and with a Spurs fan who was. Watched their reaction on the side of the pitch when that equalizer went in. But I actually felt, I mean, I'm not a Spurs fan, but I was just like, oh, gosh, how would you look? You know, you scored to go 2:1 and then that happens. But I do think that there's, there's, there's more positives about the way that they're playing and it's just about getting over the line and that is, I mean it's, it's, it's nothing to do with anything tactical, anything like that. It's just mentality and he looks like he's affecting that mentality. Deserbi and I think that that's, that is key. That's the only thing that needs to be as strong as possible. But a nightmare for spurs fans.
Max Rushden
Yeah, Ruto missed a chance for Brighton against Chelsea, you know, and it was a much easier chance than the one he scored against Spurs. I was like, for goodness sake. He ballooned it 100 miles over the bar. I was like, come on, balloon, that one over the bar, you bastard. Anyway, that's what he normally. Meanwhile, Jordan West Ham host Everton they're two points above Tottenham. That is not, that's not an easy game. Everton are still pushing for Europe.
Jordan Jarrett
No, it's, it's not. Everton have to share the embarrassment that I've heard Barry acknowledge in that I had Everton to go down this season in my bottom three preseason predictions. So yeah, they've massively proved me wrong and they are still pushing for, for Europe. That's a genuine possibility for them. So no, West Ham can't think that Everton that kind of mid table comfort because they'll be pushing for sure. I think West Ham are in a good place or good ish place at the moment. I think at this point now if you're West Ham and you're Forest, you're thinking just get points, even draws. I think you want to just stay ahead of spurs, just get a point. They can get a point against Everton. I think they'll see that as positive
Max Rushden
before we get onto that Forest game. Karen Brady stepped down from her role as vice chair of West Ham on Tuesday. West Ham's joint chair Daniel Kratinsky praised her work, saying her contribution to West Ham's growth, such as the long term contract for the London Stadium shareholders transition and the British record transfer of Declan Rice has been absolutely essential and not always fully appreciated. David Sullivan, who worked with Brady when he owned Birmingham City as well, called her an exceptional leader and a key figure in the club's development. Not Barry. The same reaction from many West Ham fans, it has to be said.
Barry Glendenning
No, the vast majority of them seem to be delighted to to see the back of her. The West Ham United fan advisory board said her legacy is deeply damaging but she has had a long career which she began as a very young woman in a largely male industry. So she probably deserves some Credit for that. Some of the abuse she's taken from West Sam fans has been, I think, well beyond the pale. But I wouldn't be a huge fan of her work. She has been the subject of some fawning tributes in the media, which have surprised me a bit. I've never met her. I don't know what she's like, but she, she's getting all the credit for the, the sale of Declan Rice, but he was sold for what someone was willing to pay for him because he's a very good footballer. She doesn't seem to be getting any of the blame for the huge number of overpriced flops that West Ham have bought fought during her reign. I don't know how responsible she was for them. Presume she had to sign them off at some stage. I think she viewed the move to the London Stadium as, As a triumph. West Ham fans don't like that stadium. It's not a nice place to watch football because it's not a football stadium. It's an athletic stadium. It's a soulless bowl in the middle of nowhere. So, yeah, she's gone. And West Ham fans are very, very happy she's gone.
Max Rushden
Yeah, I guess Lucy, you know, you can, you know, you can be a pioneer as she definitely has been as basic, very young as well when she started being like a real pioneer for women in, in the men's game and at the same time not have made every decision. Right. Not necessarily be viewed totally favorably. These two things are both possible, right?
Lucy Ward
Yeah. I mean, I can't possibly begin to imagine some of the hassle that she's had over the years, you know, with, with, with, with. With fans and people that she works with. But the, the thing that, that stood out with this for me is the time. And I think it wasn't just her that that's left. I think there's two or three others have left at a similar time. So that, that I think the story about why it's happened at the time it's happened will come out very, very soon. I don't know what it is, but I, I don't think there's a coincidence to, to her going now, why didn't she not leave at the end of the season, etc. Etc. But I do, I do think that there's more to the story than that,
Max Rushden
that, okay, Forest play Sunderland on Friday night. As we've mentioned, you know, they've got this semi final against Aston Villa. It probably buried one win enough. Is it one win enough? I mean it is. I think you might need a higher points like just to stay up. It might be a bad season to be bad.
Barry Glendenning
Well I mean the thing is I've been wondering. Everyone's saying oh Leeds are Safe, they have 40 points but it just takes one team below them to go on a remarkable run for them not to be safe. And 40 points may not be enough. It probably will be but it. It may not be. I thought Sunderland would have switched off after the beat spurs but they gave Villa right good game last weekend that could have gone either way so I'm not sure what to expect from Sunderland. I can't call that one to be honest. I don't. I don't know know what version of Sunderland is going to turn up elsewhere.
Max Rushden
Liverpool play Palace Optic supercomputer says Liverpool's chance of a top five finisher 89 yeah Champions League spots pretty much confirmed really we think Although you know someone could go on a great run. The same at the top as the bottom I guess. Palace might rest players ahead of their semi final against Shakhtar in the Conference League. Fulham play Villa now Villa have in their latest accounting maneuver have sold a warehouse to themselves for £55 million pounds. It's. It's the warehouse which is the club's match day fan zone and entertainment venue. They've sold it to NSWE Holding Ltd. A sister company and have made a 36 million pound profit from the sale. The Premier League's largest beer hall on match days has a three and a half thousand capacity space for concerts and shows was converted from an old training facility and soft launch in December.
Lucy Ward
It is nice. Yeah, it is nice. They've made the outside look really good but yeah maybe not that much nice
Max Rushden
55 million but they we are. It's awaiting ratification from the Premier League which assesses transactions between clubs and associated parties including sister companies and clubs within multi club ownership groups. We all just thinking I wish I could just sell this shed back to myself. 50 million pound. I mean you know, I don't know who, who. How do I profit out of this? You know you can.
Barry Glendenning
Okay you just set up Max Inc. Yeah okay and Max Inc pays you a load of money but right you're just moving money around. You're not actually making a profit.
Max Rushden
I suppose I don't have to. I don't. There's no PSR for me, is there? I don't think. Monday Man United play Brenford in the efl but as you notice the championship clubs have rejected VAR next season.
Barry Glendenning
Your thoughts I'm slightly disappointed because it looked well, I think the championship would be better off without far. I think this was a version of Var, I think might have worked because it was going to be a referral thing. So head coaches were going to be able to have, say, two reviews which they could use at their discretion. And I think that's the way. If we accept that VAR is here to stay, which I think it is, I think that's the only way it's going to become workable. And that is the version they were going to have in the championship.
Lucy Ward
I think that they had to pay for it, which is probably was one of the reasons why they voted against it. Perhaps if it had come free and all, not much money, then they might not have voted that way. Perhaps.
Max Rushden
I quite like the idea of how long, you know, how long do you get to. You know, that is a fun bit of cricket when they've got 15 seconds and, you know, Steve Smith is looking at Pat Cummings going, what do you reckon? Should we review this or not? And you think, okay, you know, have you got the manager? Because basically you just review any goal just on the off chance. But maybe you'd have to, you know,
Barry Glendenning
but you only get if you waste.
Max Rushden
Well, of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you're all looking around going, was there a handball in there somewhere? What do you reckon, Darren? Aaron? Right, yeah, let's review it.
Barry Glendenning
But the thing is, I think, yeah, managers would waste them and then when some outrageously egregious decision is against them, they have no review left. That would just be. That would add to the occasion.
Max Rushden
I'm thoroughly behind that over what we currently have in the championship. It switched back in the top two after winning at Charlton, who are mathematically not safe, but are basically safe. They'd need to lose both their games and Oxford win both theirs. Oxford lost to Wrexham on Tuesday. Millwall had gone second the night before. Coventry are champions after hammering Portsmouth. So Ipswich have 79 from 43, Millwall 79 from 44. Southampton and Middlesbrough 76 from 44. Hull and Wrexham locked on 70 points at Wrexham ahead on goal difference at the moment. Blackburn confirmed their safety two as well last night. Well done, Michael o'. Neill. They beat Sheffield United. Leicester's relegation was confirmed on Tuesday in League one. Port Vale were relegated after losing to Cardiff. Stockport lost to Mansfield on Tuesday. Stevenage beat Barnsley. Luton one away at Rotherham and Plymouth can only draw at Bradford. So Stockport a fifth with a game in hand on their rivals. Luton a three behind Stevenage, who hold on to the last playoff spot. And on Tuesday Cambridge United let in an injury time goal to Grimsby. We missed a penalty and then we lost two one. Oh God, the agony of it all. We are still in third. It's still in our hands. Salford play champions or wannabe champions Bromley this evening. Come on Bromley. Big win for Tranmere over Cheltenham means there's four points between them and the drop zone at the bottom of League 2. This is unsurprising. An envoy to Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World cup, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. I confirm I've suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azuri at a U S hosted tournament with four titles. They have the pedigree to justify inclusion, the U S Special envoy Paolo Zampoli told the ft.
Barry Glendenning
I'm slightly confused by this is it he wants Italy to replace Iran if Iran decide not to play, or he wants Italy just to replace Iran and Iran don't get any say in the matter?
Max Rushden
I suppose alphabetically they're close, aren't they? Iran had said earlier in April it would only decide on the national team's participation in the World cup once it received a response from FIFA over the relocation of their matches from the US to Mexico. But you know, you know FIFA have already given out their Peace prize, haven't they?
Lucy Ward
I'm supposed to be doing one of their games, actually. I'm supposed to be doing one of Iran's games in the World cup. So be I'm looking forward to who I'm actually going to be commentating on instead. If it's not Iran.
Max Rushden
Hopefully it is all sorted in. Iran can play in the World cup that they qualified for. I need to apologize for a man called Steve Potter. I should have done this in the Leicester bit, who is a board member of the Foxes Trust and he came on Talk Sport, we had a nice interview and then he said at the end, I've got a bone to pick with you. I was the first ever vasectomy and then I wasn't in the Guardian book. So Steve, I do apologize. I didn't put all the vasectomies together in the book and you started us off on this merry way and accept our apologies. Edward writes with some relish. Subject Barney Correction, correction. Hello there. Imagine the pedant was wrong. While the stadium might always be on the right of the train when facing the direction of traffic travel, if you're sat in a rear facing seat it will be on your left. Although Edward I hate to pedant the pedant the pedant I think Barney said the train driver said to your right is the Etihad and we have to presume the driver is not in a rear facing. Had loads of lovely emails so we've got a few minutes so I'm gonna do them. Kieran says hi Max and all Emailing in from Nova Scotia, Canada. As a longtime spurs summer sufferer, you have my sympathies. Looking forward to seeing if we can do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke next season. My fiance Abigail and I are tying the knot next month in May. I've been a listener to the POD since the Max Rushton era began. Thank you for giving its rightful name. Following from the Soccer AM glory days, I work in football and the POD has always been a great companion while I drive from field to field over the years for training and matches. My partner Abigail has also always been aware of the part as I play it while doing the cooking or chores around the house. Her favorite moments are when we get in the car and my Bluetooth connection connects usually either to the dulcet tones of Barry or one of Max's wonderfully articulated anecdotes. I don't know if I have any of them. This is always followed by her saying turn off this annoying soccer talk, sometimes followed with what can only be described as a terrible Tom Hardy in legend impression. I know from those moments on that nothing would piss her off more than to hear the one and only Barry Glendenning wishing her a happy wedding day. And I can't think of a better way to kick off this lifelong journey. I'll be headed to Dublin in a couple of weeks for my stag do. Would love any recommendation from Barry. Tell Baz's next pints of Nova Scotia Guinness are on me if he ever finds himself back visiting family. Cheers. So that is from Kieran and he's marrying Abigail.
Barry Glendenning
Well, as Kieran knows, I was lucky enough to visit Nova Scotia during the summer. My sister lives there. If the weddings in Halifax very picturesque setting. You could take some lovely wedding photos down on the the pier down there. And I wonder if his work takes him to Halifax Wanderers, which is the local team who sadly weren't playing at home when I was over. I wish Abigail and Kieran every happiness in their very long marriage. I reckon this one will last.
Max Rushden
Oh, interesting. Daniel says. My friend Kevin is My friend Kevin is the town crier for the city of Toowoomba in Queensland. Queensland. He frequently wins national and international championships for the loudest cry, something anyone who's played five a side with him can attest in a colorful life. He was formerly UK DJ of the Year and ground announcer for Cambridge United Football Club. There's a picture of him. I remember him. He's currently back in the UK tending to his mum Mary, who is well into her 90s and had a fall recently. In between caring for her, he's been supporting his lifelong club Oldham in their tumultuous push for promotion. Anyway, best wishes from Max and Barry to Kevin and Mary would lift their spirits no end. Many thanks for considering. Good luck to you both and hello Kevin. Thanks for giving me halftime scores in the 90s and sorry, can I can
Barry Glendenning
I just briefly go back to Kieran from Nova Scotia? He asked. Yeah, yeah, Stag do advice in Dublin do not under any circumstances go drinking in the Temple Bar area of the city. It's overpriced, it's full of tourists, it's a tourist trap and most of the best pubs in Dublin are up around the Grafton street area.
Max Rushden
Noted. Finally, Fraser writes Dear Max Barry in the Football Weekly team in 2024 I wrote to you to say thank you for all that you do on this podcast. I felt the need to as I had a progressive and unstoppable lung disease that was in a bit of a rush to progress and unstop itself. At the time, things weren't looking great. I likened it to seeing the board go up for added time. You read out my email on the Euro 2024 final podcast, which became a bit of a therapy listen. By January this year I'd reached the point of needing one to go in off my ass when the phone a donor match had been found and I was bundled off to hospital for a double lung transplant which saved my life. Once I'd come round in hospital enough to re engage with the world a little, I had a lot of football weeklies to catch up on during the lonely nights on the recovery ward. It was a reassuring anchor of comfort to hear your voices as much. It was deeply disorientating. I had been put to sleep for several days after the transplant, which happened to cross the meaningful bit of the January transfer window. That plus a stroke I suffered during the surgery that temporarily affected my short term memory and a couple of weeks of intensive care delirium left me with a severe case of the Barry Strand Larson is where Angel Gomez Tammy Abraham at Villa I would look at Bristol Rovers lineups and not recognize half the names on there. Am I actually dead? I'd wonder as I frantically googled Tommy Lee, brackets footballer. Eventually I was discharged to rebuild at home, which I'm pleased to say is going better than anyone expected. I'm a lucky, lucky boy. The other day I took my son now forward to the park with his plastic paw patrol football. I picked it up, tossed it in the air and gave one to rubble with everything I had. My boy watched his ball spiral higher than he'd seen a ball go before, before. And he pissed his little self laughing. He might never get into football and sometimes I think that might be a more balanced life for him. But seeing him kick a ball around and join in with him properly for the first time, it's a star. I'm thankful to so many people. Some I know and some I'll never know. When I last emailed, I thought it'd be my only opportunity to say thanks. But now, who knows, maybe a live show sometime. Until then, thank you once more for the light footed chat that keeps my spirits in a good place to get another go at life. Really brings it to focus that it's just football and we might as well find it fun, funny. All the best, Fraser. Thank you, Fraser. That's a beautiful email. And yeah, we.
Barry Glendenning
He's a very lucky man. Yeah, yeah, it's amazing actually, because I thought raising me personally, raising 103,000 pounds children's charity was remarkable.
Lucy Ward
Oh, well done.
Barry Glendenning
I've single handedly. Well, well, no, with the help of. Of others. Saved a man's life as well.
Max Rushden
How did you save his life? He's not got your lungs.
Barry Glendenning
Oh, God. No one wants my lungs.
Max Rushden
I was gonna say
Barry Glendenning
I smoke for 30 years and say, my love, be no use to anyone.
Max Rushden
He's. He's looking through the magazine saying, would you like the Glenn Dennings? He's gone actually up. I'll just go back if that's all right. Anyway, Fraser, we send you our love and good for you and all the best with your recovery. And that'll do for today. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, Jordan. Cheers, mate. Thanks, Lucy.
Lucy Ward
Thank you.
Max Rushden
Cheers, Baz.
Barry Glendenning
Thank you.
Max Rushden
Football Weekly is produced by Tayo Papula. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. We'll be back on Monday.
Jordan Jarrett
This is the Guardian.
Lucy Ward
What makes a leader worth following? What should you really care about in your job? As technology is changing so quickly, is it just gonna be about machines talking to other machines? I mean, should you quit your job and start something on your own, what would that take? What does success and risk look like when we're all at the starting gate together? These are the questions we answer each week on Lead Human with Jack Myers and Tim Spencer Angler. Join us each week and subscribe at your favorite podcast platform and YouTube. We'll tell stories, we'll hear from some of the best, and we'll try to figure this out together.
Host: Max Rushden | Panelists: Barry Glendenning, Lucy Ward, Jordan Jarrett-Bryan
This episode dives into the tumultuous week in English football, focusing on Liam Rosenior's sacking as Chelsea manager after a disastrous spell, Manchester City going top of the table after their Burnley win, the evolving title race with Arsenal, Premier League relegation battles, and a lively preview of the upcoming FA Cup semi-finals. The panel mixes sharp analysis with their trademark humor, fielding listener questions and tackling quirky headlines from across the footballing world.
Immediate Reaction
Was Rosenior a Victim of Circumstances?
Chelsea’s Model & Recruitment
Player Attitudes & Dressing Room Issues
Memorable Moment:
City edge Burnley 1-0 to go top on goals scored; Arsenal level on points, goal difference
Arsenal Perspective
Burnley’s Relegation Battles
Leeds United’s Survival Formula (27:02)
Bournemouth’s Shortcomings
Chelsea vs Leeds
Leeds’ Focus
Arsenal vs Newcastle
Wolves vs Spurs
West Ham vs Everton
Lucy Ward on football politics:
“Players will always look after number one. If they're told to do something or they're not having a manager, then that's it for the manager.” (04:29)
Barney Ronay (via Max Rushden) on Chelsea:
“A regime so fundamentally strange, it would come as no surprise to discover it is in fact a public art happening… designed to demonstrate the emptiness of corporate life…” (09:15-09:59)
The Cucurella Barber Story:
“Do we really believe that Marc Cucurella has a barber? ...how often is he going?” (Max, 15:14)
“I find the task of having to make small talk with my barber excruciating…” (Barry, 16:25)
Jordan on the title run-in:
“We're going to lose this title and goal difference, aren't we?” (18:36)
Lucy on Pep’s new look:
“Pep's jumper with the big letter P on it…Puma have obviously bought out this range for Pep with big P on it. I thought that was quite amusing.” (21:49)
Light-hearted, witty, often irreverent, but always informed—the usual Football Weekly mix of sharp debate, niche references, and affectionate banter.
This episode expertly skewers the chaos at Chelsea after a quickfire manager sacking, dissects the implications of Manchester City just edging ahead in the title race, and weighs in with practical advice for survival and success at both ends of the table. Add in some classic Football Weekly comedy, strong opinions, and moving stories from listeners—it’s football discourse at its most entertaining and insightful.