Manchester City have Arsenal in their sights – Football Weekly

Summary

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Football Weekly: Manchester City Have Arsenal In Their Sights

The Guardian | April 13, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Jacob Steinberg, Seb Hutchinson

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Main Theme

This episode of Football Weekly delves into the unraveling of Arsenal's title campaign after a damaging home defeat to Bournemouth, and explores Manchester City’s relentless pressure in the Premier League title race. The panel also covers the escalating relegation battle, key matches across the Premier League, and pays homage to both inspirational and, in Barry's case, reluctantly completed long-distance running.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arsenal’s Dispiriting Defeat: Arsenal 1–2 Bournemouth

Timestamps: [01:22]–[15:21]

• Atmosphere of Inevitability: From kickoff, Arsenal’s body language and play made it feel like a loss was looming. Seb Hutchinson noted, “From the moment this game started, it felt like this sort of air of inevitability that Arsenal weren't going to do it.” [03:54]
• Attacking Struggles: Seb pointed out that, despite Arsenal’s strong defense, their attacking play from open play has been poor for months, relying heavily on set pieces.
  • “They look one of the poorer attacks in the top half of the League at the moment, which is incredible to say.” [05:41]
• Missing Key Players: Jacob Steinberg emphasized the absence of Odegaard and Saka:
  • “So much of that play has gone through that link up between Saka and Odegaard down the right…this season he's just not there.” [06:59]
• Psychological Paralysis: Barry Glendenning highlighted a “vicious cycle” of fear:
  • “They looked paralyzed with fear, hesitation, players taking too many touches on the ball.” [09:13]
  • “That fear spreads to the stands.” [09:56]
  • Arteta’s touchline antics (“bouncing around…like Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with a tree branch”) may feed that anxiety. [10:01]
• Fan Tension: Both panelists and Max discuss how the Emirates’ tense atmosphere is affecting performances:
  • “Why do you appear to hate your players so much?” (Jacob) [12:41]
• Credit to Bournemouth: Seb praised Bournemouth’s composure and young talents like Alex Scott and Croupy, noting their European ambitions and fearless mindset. [15:21]

2. Manchester City’s Ruthless Response: Chelsea 0–3 Manchester City

Timestamps: [17:06]–[25:09]

• City’s Second-Half Domination: Jacob observed that after a sluggish first half, City “came out, the passing was quicker, more aggressive…they scored three goals in 17 minutes.” [17:25]
  • Pep’s halftime talk: “Not tactics. I just told the guys…at this stage of the season, you have to step up, you have to make the difference, and you have to show the mentality.” (Guardiola via Jacob) [20:23]
• Managerial Class: The panel discussed the “magic” of Pep’s leadership compared to inexperienced rivals.
• Attacking Fluidity: Seb extolled City’s options—Cherky’s craft, Doku’s directness, Semenyo’s running, Haaland’s finishing. He argued there had to be more than “just mentality”; Guardiola’s system gives creative license to talented players.
  • “That second half from Man City was the best half of football I think I've seen from a team this season.” [21:13]
• Contrasts to Arsenal: City’s attacking players are thriving—contrary to the old charge that Pep coaches the flair out of players, Doku and Cherky are “doing their own thing.” [23:26]

3. Title Race Predictions

Timestamps: [25:09]–[25:58]

• All panelists now see City as firm favorites, expecting them to clinch the title before the final weekend.
  • “I think City will win it before the final game of the season, incredible to say.” (Seb) [25:19]
  • “I would piss myself laughing if Arsenal messed this up…but I think they will crawl over the line.” (Barry) [25:58]

4. Spurs’ Plight Deepens & Relegation Battleground

Timestamps: [27:41]–[41:12]

• Tottenham’s Despair: Fourteen league games without a win. New boss Roberto De Zerbi unable to spark improvement.
  • “They just seem to have forgotten what [winning] actually feels like.” (Jacob) [30:55]
• Injury Woes: Romero’s injury seen as a devastating blow; lack of attacking threat with key attackers missing.
• Fixtures Offer Some Hope: Despite form, Spurs’ fixture list might yet save them.
• Manager Choice Critique: Seb questions hiring De Zerbi, suggesting a calmer presence was needed to stabilize the team. [33:33]
• West Ham Resurgence: Much improved thanks to January signings, particularly Castellanos. Now seen as likely to survive.
  • “West Ham are showing fight. Leeds are showing fight. Forest are showing fight. Spurs are not.” (Barry) [38:30]
• Forest & Villa: Forest earn vital point against wasteful Villa.
  • “The running is with West Ham…they’re the ones I’m most confident about staying up right now.” (Seb) [40:45]

5. The Race for Europe & Other Premier League Notes

Timestamps: [42:30]–[50:38]

• Liverpool’s Uplifting Win: Liverpool see improved performances from youngsters, notably Ngomo, but discontent remains over ticket prices.
  • “Ngomoa, his performance was definitely something for the Liverpool fans to savor. I didn't realize quite how young he was. He's only 17. His goal was absolutely brilliant.” (Barry) [42:43]
• Everton v Brentford: Goalless draw stalls both teams’ European pushes but keeps both in the mix.
• Newcastle’s Woes: Palace come from behind; questions mounting for Eddie Howe as Newcastle’s summer signings fail to deliver.
  • “Newcastle's recruitment last summer has proved disastrous. That's on Eddie Howe, I think.” (Barry) [47:58]
• Crystal Palace Managerial Situation: Glassner could secure his legacy with Conference League success despite friction over club policy.

6. EFL, Women’s Football, and Scottish Fitba Highlights

Timestamps: [52:19]–[54:22]

• Quick round-ups of promotion, playoff, and relegation battles in the Championship, League One, League Two. Shoutouts for Ipswich (East Anglian Derby), Cardiff, Stevenage, and others.
• In Scotland, Celtic, Rangers, and Hearts all win.

7. Memorable Moment: Barry’s Half-Marathon & Listener Stories

Timestamps: [54:22]–[59:46]

• Barry Glendenning’s Half Marathon: Wryly described as “one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life.” Barry’s self-deprecating account and listener Johnny’s “longtime listener, first-time stalker” story brought laughter and warmth.
  • “It was hideous…I’m just glad it’s over…can we please never speak of it again?” (Barry) [58:17]
  • Over £100,000 raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital after Barry’s and Football Weekly’s fundraising efforts.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Arsenal’s fear: “I don't think anyone is helped by Michael Arteta bouncing around his technical area like a jack in the box…like Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with a tree branch.” (Barry) [10:01]
• On City’s mental edge: “Pep Guardiola…in the dugout…an invisible magic that someone like Pep…has.” (Jacob) [19:43]
• On Bournemouth’s courage: “Their players were almost to a man, they were excellent…Alex Scott…the way he took his goal again, that composure, the technique, the run…” (Seb) [15:21]
• On Spurs’ desperation: “They have no confidence…We talk about that anxiety of Arsenal. They've got nothing. They. They do nothing.” (Max & Jacob) [30:24]
• On running and virtue: “This exercise in woke virtue, signaling, and self-aggrandizement. I don't like to talk up my achievements…but I think this puts me in the holy trinity of Irish humanitarians: Bono, Bob Geldof, and Barry Glendenning.” (Barry) [58:17]

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Summary Table: Key Matches & Insights

| Fixture | Score | Key Points | |--------------------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Arsenal vs Bournemouth | 1–2 | Arsenal look timid, attack issues, Bournemouth bold and clinical | | Chelsea vs Man City | 0–3 | City’s second-half quality, Guardiola’s mentality edge, attacking fluency | | Sunderland vs Tottenham | 1–0 | Spurs run continues, injuries, lack of inspiration, relegation zone worries | | West Ham vs Wolves | 4–0 | West Ham’s revival, new signings making impact, Nuno’s steadiness | | Forest vs Aston Villa | 1–1 | Villa’s missed chances, Forest’s doggedness, significance to relegation fight | | Liverpool vs Fulham | 2–0 | Youngster Ngomo stars, necessary morale boost, fan protests over ticket prices | | Everton vs Brentford | 0–0 | Both teams miss chance to leapfrog Chelsea, goalkeepers excel | | Newcastle vs Crystal Palace | (Palace late comeback) | Newcastle’s late collapse, Eddie Howe under scrutiny, Palace focus on Europe |

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Arsenal’s defeat and malaise: [01:22]–[15:21]
• Man City’s title charge at Stamford Bridge: [17:06]–[25:09]
• Relegation battle (Spurs focus): [27:41]–[41:12]
• Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle, Palace: [42:30]–[50:38]
• EFL, Fitba round-ups: [52:19]–[54:22]
• Barry’s half-marathon & listener stories: [54:22]–[59:46]

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Tone & Style

True to Football Weekly’s signature style, this episode mixes sharp, informed analysis with dry humor, a touch of existential football angst, and moments of genuine warmth. Listeners are treated to informed debate, honest admissions of bias, lighthearted banter, and relatable supporter frustrations—with puns, analogies, and just a bit of schadenfreude.

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For New Listeners:
This summary covers the twists in the Premier League title race and relegation battle, and encapsulates the fears and laughs of football fans, as told by a panel as ready to analyze as to commiserate. Even if you missed the episode, you’ll come away with not just what happened, but why it felt important.

Transcript

[Jacob Steinberg]

This is the Guardian.

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[Max Rushden]

Foreign. Welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Oh, Arsenal. Is it even worth getting close if it's going to end in agony? Fans streaming out before full time booze at the end and they were still nine points clear at the top at the time. But it felt bad and it was bad. Bournemouth were excellent. It opened the door for City who broke down Chelsea in the second half and ran away with it at the bridge we have league at the bottom. Oh Spurs. They weren't terrible. They weren't good. They were a little unlucky. That Mukieli deflected goal. Everyone could see it going in for hours, but no one could do anything about it. They were already in the relegation zone after West Ham beat Wolves 40 on Friday night. And then Forest got a crucial point at home to Villa. Some real couldn't hit a barn door stuff for Amun Emery's men in the second half. A morale boosting win for Liverpool. A morale sapping defeat for Newcastle too. All manner of excitement, the EFL and in the fitbar and Barry ran a half marathon. Wild times we are living in. All that plus your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Week. Clean. On the panel today, Seb Hutchinson. Welcome.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Hello Max.

[Max Rushden]

Hello Jacob Steinberg.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Hello.

[Max Rushden]

And the hero of the hour, Barry Glendenning. How are you feeling?

[Barry Glendenning]

I'm in a world of pain, Max. Everything from the waist down hurts. Even the soles of my feet hurt. And it took. I'm not exaggerating, it took me 10 minutes to lever myself out of bed and walk down the stairs this morning. But. But unlike my friend Gavin, whose fault it is, I'm in this mess. He. He did it with me yesterday as well. And he had to climb a crane this morning for work because he forgot to take the day off.

[Max Rushden]

Oh, man alive. Okay. Anyway, we'll get to that. More importantly, let's begin at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal 1, Bournemouth 2. Carlon Bluesky says, is quad bottle a word, Matthew, I've not known this, the country, this United in a long time. Every weekend wanting both North London teams to lose. Every week for totally different reasons. And candid says, who could have imagined two years ago that Baz would have a more impressive heat map over the weekend than Declan Rice and Moses Caicedo? Well, we'll get to Caicedo, but with credit to Bournemouth and we will get to that. Sebit is always easy to be wise after the event. Right, so maybe I'm. Maybe that's where this is coming from. But from the moment this game started, it felt like this sort of air of inevitability that Arsenal weren't going to do it.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Well, I'll show wisdom from, I think maybe a match, day 11 or 12, when I was on this pod and we said, is it too early? And we were talking about Arsenal and I, I said, Arsenal defensively look strong, but going forward, they've got real problems in the structure of their attacks. And as the season's gone on, that has basically come to the fore and causing them real problems because the set pieces have been so important for them. But when it comes to general play, they don't look like a side who are going to score goals against most teams. Now, if you go back and look at their performances in recent months, when have they truly sparkled in an attacking sense? And throughout the season, Manchester City have shown that even when they've stuttered along the way in terms of the results, they've always looked like a side who are going to score against teams. And now from the moment the League Cup Final was the moment where Man City pinned them in and they had no way of getting out. And I think teams of now, at this point of the season, teams like Bournemouth who are playing with a sense of freedom they are in the European mix themselves. I mean, we can apply this idea that they're on the beach. They're not on the beach at all. I mean, they literally are, but in the football sense, they're not on the beach. And so they had something to get out of this game. For sure. They deserve this win. And that's the scary thing from an Arsenal point of view. You look at it and think, well, can they even win a game towards the back end of the season? I know it sounds crazy, but they don't look. They look one of the poorer attacks in the top half of the League at the moment, which is incredible to say. And who do we lay that at? Is it an Arteta thing? Is it the actual players they've bought? Who knows? But watching that game, there wasn't a spell in it where you thought Arsenal were going to win it. Even when they got level, they looked wobbly. Shortly after that, the second half, the drop off as well. Bournemouth found it so easy to carve through the midfield. Zubamendi's physical level just didn't seem to be there. Players were running off him. Declan Rice did have that spell where he tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck, you know, the Gerrard style, but it didn't work. Having to turn to the 16 year old max Dalman to try and give you something and he didn't see the ball. He just didn't see the ball. They couldn't structure an attack. Jocherez snatching at chances. I mean, I could go on and on and on. And I do get the sense with Arsenal at the moment, are they just, if you indulge me for a second, are they just the Frankie Fredericks of football at the moment, whereby you think everything seems to be working nicely? You know, they look, they look a well oiled, well polished machine. They look the part, but there's just somebody better, there's somebody who just looks freer.

[Max Rushden]

The Frankie Fredericks, the Ivan Lendl.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Yeah, it's just, it's just Donovan Bailey 96. It's however you want to put it.

[Max Rushden]

But I suppose it's interesting, Jacob, isn't it? We've talked about this before but like, shouldn't they be good at attacking? Like they've got good attackers, they've got a good midfield, they've got a creative midfield. Like they should be good from open play.

[Jacob Steinberg]

They should be, but they don't actually have the creative midfield. You would probably want to be on the pitch all the time. I think it can't be underestimated that for a lot of this season they've not had Odegaard and now they don't have Saka fit as well. And when they've been at their best in the last couple of years, so much of that play has gone through that link up between Saka and Odegaard down the right. It was very heavily slanted there and probably teams were starting to work that out a little bit. But when Arsenal were probably at their freest in the early part of the Arteta title charge in the 20, 24, 23, so much of it was going through Odegaard. And this season he's just not there. I mean, he was taken off around the hour mark against Sporting Lisbon last week, looked like he was struggling physically in that game. And then he's not there on Saturday against Bournemouth. And I think he's just a really big, big miss for them. Even when he's not been playing well this season, that level that he brings, the ability to take the ball and just sort of keep things ticking over for find passes, thread passes, get through the Bournemouth press that that ability wasn't there. And I think they really do. I think they're really missing him. I think obviously they. They brought in as a last. Last summer as an alternative in attacking midfield to Odegaard, but I don't think he's the same kind of player who's going to sort of direct the play, orchestrate things in midfield in the way that Odegaard does. They tried Havertz in. In that position on. On Saturday after the goal against Sporting Lisbon. I missed the first half, but I was listening to the commentary on Talksport and a lot of it featured Stuart Pearce criticizing Havertz's performance, saying he'd be shocked if he wasn't taken off at halftime. So I'm assuming that that experiment didn't go too well. Then you look at the rest of the attack as well. And Seb mentioned before, did they buy well enough? I mean, ultimately, you're looking at the performances of Gilcares and Madueke in these games over the last few weeks. And the answer to that is probably at the moment, despite a few contributions here and there from both of them. No.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And Barry, the tension, you know, like, the players were tense, the fans were tense. It's sort of this vicious cycle that it sort of feels impossible to get out of. And like, as I said in the intro, like, they were still nine points clear at the end of this game.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, but it was a dismal performance. And if you you know, if it was a. An uncharacteristically bad performance, you'd say, fair enough, that happens. But this is the latest in quite a long list of poor performances, even against Sporting. I thought they weren't particularly good. They did win the game and it was a good result, but I wasn't impressed with them. And the one thing I took from this game, while I don't disagree with much or anything of what Jacob and Seb have said, is that they looked paralyzed with fear, hesitation players taking too many touches on the ball. David Rea was, I think, second highest.

[Max Rushden]

Yes.

[Barry Glendenning]

Second Arsenal passer. You know what I think? In quick succession, shortly after halftime, the ball was played back to him three times. What are you doing? Play forward. Play forward. Like Bournemouth playing. They couldn't play through Borman's press. And whenever they tried to play long, Victor Gokarez, he's no John Hartson. He can't trap the ball and hold it up. He can't, you know, spread his arms, chest it down and hold it up. He was very weak and. And Mark Senesi just bossed him. But, yeah, they looked paralyzed with fear. That fear spreads to the stands. And I don't think anyone. I've said this again and again and again. It's worth saying again, I don't think anyone is helped by Michael Arteta bouncing around his technical area like a jack in the box, gesticulating furiously and. And looking like he's having a. You know, he's like Basil Fawlty thrashing his car with a tree branch. That can't be helpful to anybody.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Can I touch on what Barry just said there about Senesi? There's something you don't see that often, but Senesci was able to bring the ball down on his chest from a long ball with Joker as really close to him. And then you look at the game against Chelsea from Manchester City's point of view. First long ball that goes forward and Haaland just traps it himself and takes it away from Fafana, who's an 80 million pound defender. So I think in a nutshell, that's another example from Arsenal's point of view, that relief of pressure. They can't get it from playing long passes either. So they are in a real, real mess.

[Jacob Steinberg]

The anxiety is a real thing, isn't it? As well? I think there's a feeling among Premier League managers who go up against him that Arteta is maybe a bit too emotional and that's feeding into it. And the comments beforehand about bring your Lunch. Bring your dinner to the crowd. This whole thing about the 12:30 kickoff potentially being a quiet atmosphere, that kind of. It feels like it's being made into too big a thing, that the whole thing is being built up into this grand event when ultimately they're nine points clear and they're playing at home to Bournemouth and ultimately they should win. It shouldn't be. It feels like the. There's. There's too much fear that's being built up going into the game. We have to make this. This huge atmosphere and then the game starts and the team's not really responding. And I think probably fans are sitting there thinking, hang on, we've been told to. To turn up and, and the players haven't. But I think also there's. There's an element of the, of the supporters as well, just being so tense for. For months now because it's probably been. Probably because it's been such a long wait since they've. Since they won the league and they thought this was going to be the year and it still might. But. I mean, I've been at games at the Emirates where they've been in a pretty comfortable position. I was there in early December when they looked like they were cruising at the top of the league at that point, and they went one nil up against Brentford very early in the game. And then it sort of went into a bit of a Lull after around 20 minutes, half an hour, and it turned into a bit of a grind and you could just feel the fans getting on the players backs even then. And you're looking at it and thinking, they. This. This doesn't feel like the way you should be reacting to your team when you're, when you're top of the league. I mean, there's a lot of fans who watch their team play pretty bad football and lose a lot. And you're sitting there thinking you're top. Why. Why are you so. Why do you appear to hate your players so much? And it's, you know, the Chelsea home game when they were struggling in that the howls from the crowd when passes were going out of play were really noticeable. And I just think that that atmosphere at the Emirates, I don't think it's. I. I don't think it's helping anyone, but I think also it comes from the. There's.

[Max Rushden]

That.

[Jacob Steinberg]

You can feel that from the team as well. I mean, I think there's a. There's a bit of a turning point which people sort of cottoned onto in around December when they. When they lost to Aston Villa Villa park in the last minute and they're all, all the players are slumped on the floor. They've thrown themselves on the floor when they concede that last minute goal and it looks like they've lost the Champions League final. And ultimately what they've done is they've lost quite a close, good game against the good side in the middle of December and instead they're acting like it's the end of the world. And actually ever since then they've barely had a game that's free of anxiety, especially at home.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And, and I suppose it's, it is desperation. Right. You can want something too much like that. There's just this air of desperation. I also think Barry as well, and it's hard to factor this in because we can't feel what they feel. Although you do feel it right now. And that is exhaustion. Right. You know, that is that they have played. You know, Bournemouth had a really good break. These guys have played and actually, you know, they've still got to play Sporting midweek and then City like this is, this is so tough now for them.

[Barry Glendenning]

They ran more than Bournemouth did. So I don't buy. Okay, they clocked up more mileage. I, I don't think this is anything other than a combination of fear and Arteta playing with the handbrake on again. And I'm really interested to see how he'll approach the game against Manchester City next weekend. I suspect he will set out not to lose it and it might work. But on the evidence of what I've seen this weekend, Arsenal get pacing.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And said we should credit Bournemouth. Right. Because they played really well in this game. Alex Scott, who, who hasn't been part of Tuchel's plans, had a, has had a brilliant season, took that goal very well.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Yeah, I know. And there's been links with Iraola going to Athletic Club, you know, because he has strong ties with that place. But what impressed me about them was that freedom and that's why people were applying that idea that they are, they have got nothing to lose. But they, they are still in the running to be in Europe for the first time. So there is that for the club. And I just thought their players were almost to a man, they were excellent. Jimenez at right back, he showed a boldness that was annoying his manager at times. He sort of was trying to say to him, no, tuck back in, stay back, get track yourself back. But he was enjoying himself down that right hand side. Alex Scott is a player that even Bristol City have always Always believed and, you know, I was with Leroy Rosenia at the weekend and, you know, he has strong ties with Bristol City and he works with the club as well. And he said they always believe that he would be a top player. But injuries obviously have affected him and he could go on a run here where you just think he has to be part of that England mix as well, because he's a type of player who is that midfielder who can do a bit of everything in that area. And the way he took his goal again, that composure, the technique, the run and a word on croupy. I mean, what a season he is having for a player who just feels like he's got a real knack of knowing where to be on a football pitch. You know, he's not the biggest player in the world and we talk about the physicality of footballers all the time, but he just pops up in the right areas and he scored some big goals in big games for Bournemouth this season. And I think he's, you know, I think he's closing in on the record for a teenager scoring goals in a Premier League season. It's an astonishing achievement. But the latest in big achievements from Bournemouth when it comes to players coming to the club.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I'm think how many players they lost in the summer.

[Barry Glendenning]

Right.

[Max Rushden]

Meanwhile at Stamford Bridge, then it was all set up. City had to win and they did. I mean, when they panned to that City fan drinking an empty bottle with an Arsenal logo on it, it did make me want Arsenal to win the league, actually. I was like, this is too much. You know, you're really. This is too. That's really. I don't know why I found it so annoying, but you were there. Jacob, what did you make of was

[Jacob Steinberg]

a strange first half because you're expecting Manchester City to just come out and immediately make the statement after Arsenal's defeat on. On Saturday. And instead they were very, very slow to get going. Passes astray, a lot of misconnections and attacked. It couldn't get Haaland into the game. It felt like one of those games where you're going to get through it wondering, oh, my God, Haaland's not touched the ball. What's going on with the Manchester City attack as they sort of draw nil. Nil. Somehow with a weakened Chelsea and Chelsea sort of set up quite well despite missing quite a few key players. They were quite hard to break down in the first half. They set up with deep defense and they played out quite well. They were getting through the press very well. And when they did, Cole Palmer was. Was there quite a lot of the time to pick up the ball in the number 10 position. They had this very clear focus on. On going down the left and targeting Nunes. And Neto had a few. Few good runs at him on the left. And you get the disallowed goal for Cucurea, which is just, well, probably inches in it for the pass from Joao Pedro. And City just weren't really doing that much. But at the same time, you kind of always felt that when they do step it up, there's going to be trouble. And the change after half time was stark. I mean, they just came out, the passing was quicker, more aggressive, more physical than they were in the first half. Didn't take them very long at all to get through that Chelsea defense. And, you know, they scored three goals in 17 minutes. And afterwards Guardiola is asked what the change was at half time, and he says, not tactics. I just told the guys, basically, at this stage of the season, you have to step up, you have to make the difference, and you have to show the mentality. And that's what they did. So he's. He's there afterwards and he's talking about this mentality that Manchester City have. I also think that that kind of shows just the. The value at times of a guy in the dugout who just knows what he's doing and has been there and done it. Because when he says those kind of things, it sounds. It sounds kind of simple. It sounds kind of simple when he says you have to be more aggressive and you have to play better. But presumably there's the trust from the Manchester City players. A lot of them very experienced, some of them less so when it comes to a title race, to listen to Pep and to respond. And I think I still feel that that's something in the last few years that Chelsea have slightly underestimated. This data model where there's been this talk that the overall impact of a manager statistically over time is not that important. And there's probably just this unquantifiable, hidden 5, 10%. You probably can't put any real number on it because as it's unquantifiable, but it's just. It's there and it's. It's kind of. It's just. It's an invisible magic that someone like Pep Guardiola has. And then you're watching Liam Rossinha next to him, who's this bright young coach, but ultimately is at this level, a novice. And I just felt that that second half kind of summed it up a little bit in the way that the two clubs have gone about this. And one has the proven guy there and the other one has a guy who may well turn out to be very talented, but at the moment is struggling badly. And ultimately that's borne out in the final score.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I had a TV producer once who just said, be better. I didn't find it amazing advice, but, you know, it wasn't Pep Guardiola you were commentating on this, Seb, as you know, Turkey was so good in that second half, wasn't he?

[Seb Hutchinson]

I think that second half from Man City was the best half of football I think I've seen from a team this season, not just in terms of the total control they had over Chelsea for the first 15 minutes of that half. And Ryan Shirky. This is why I slightly don't believe Pep Guardiola when he says he just told them about mentality. There has to be more going on here because the freedom, the space that Ryan Shirky had on the ball to make things happen, it just made it look so easy. And how can you, in an environment like that be so far ahead of the opposition? It just boggles my mind. And they've done it. His club has done it routinely season after season. I know last season they had a wobble, but in the back end of the season they had moments that were back to that again. And Cherky spoken about troubles he's had over his time, but when he was a 16 year old, he was very, very highly rated and there's not been doubts about his qualities and it's whether he could have the platform. But. But City as a whole, they just offered so many different points of attack. If they don't get you with Semeno's drives, they'll get you with Haaland's finishing. They don't get you with that. It'd be Cherky's craft, you know, and Doku, who just will run at defenders constantly. We talked about Madwake earlier and I think Doku has that ability to constantly have the confidence that I'm going to run at the defender every time. It doesn't matter. And that confidence caused Chelsea and they have to deal with it. They have to bring Palmer back to cover that space. It was something that made me say the City now are in a groove that I don't think they're going to be knocked out of. Even the Real Madrid game, when they were down to 10, they were so impressive and they are getting Their noses in front in games and then building on it in the League Cup Final. They did it against Liverpool in the FA cup they did it. And now they've, they, they, they did it in the Chelsea game as well.

[Max Rushden]

And actually it's interesting, Barry, that, that so much the criticism of Pep is, you know, players are over coached, you know, and they have to, you know, play in this rigid way and it's Arsenal that are playing a rigid way and then you've got Turkey sort of doing his own thing. Semenyo being very direct. Doku as well. I don't know if Pep's made a change or they're just playing really well in a perfectly coached system, you know, and I'm reading too much into that.

[Barry Glendenning]

I don't know either. Yeah, that used to be a criticism of Pep. Jack Grealish famously being a player who arrived at City as this flamboyant individual with a big box of tricks that Pep confiscated from him and coached the, the flare out of him. But certainly not seeing this with the likes of Daku and Shirky. Maybe Cherokee hasn't been there long enough to, to have the, the good coach out of him, I don't know. But they were hugely impressive yesterday. Chelsea had a couple of chances. They never look like winning the game or taking anything from the game at all. I, I think City wanted it comfortably. Should have had a penalty as well I think for that Palmer challenge on Jeremy Docu before, while the scorer was still nil. Nil. Who'd be an Arsenal fan these days? I mean most fans, fans of both clubs must be really tense but Arsenal fans must be just going through the wringer. Interestingly, I watched this match in the pub yesterday and I was in the company of three Chelsea fans, all of whom wanted Manchester City to win.

[Max Rushden]

That's interesting.

[Barry Glendenning]

What does that tell you?

[Max Rushden]

Well, Ross says what are us neutrals to do who don't want City to win anything that find it hilarious how much Arsenal are making an ass of this. What are we to do? And I think a lot of fans are in that kind of dilemma. I mean it is worth mentioning Mark Gay's touch and finish. You know that was, that was elite center forward play from him and you know, buying him in. Semenya has been great and there will be some people shouting what about the 115 charges? I mean it would be useful to find them out before the apocalypse but you know, as yet they're not there. Who wins the league?

[Jacob Steinberg]

Jacob, for you from this position, Manchester City. And I'm not sure at this point it's going to get to the final day.

[Max Rushden]

Oh, okay. You see a real implosion, Seb.

[Seb Hutchinson]

I've just felt City going to win the league since. Since they went on the run towards the back end of when. When Villa were winning games, City were also winning games. And you just see enough, you know, we watch enough 90 minutes week in, week out and you just think when it gets tight, it's about the teams that have got those match winning players. And I thought Arsenal defensively this season, superb. But at some point when it gets tight, as we've seen, you can make mistakes at the back and we've seen it recently. So yeah, I've not changed my mind. I thought it'd be close in the end, but I agree with Jacob. I think. I think City will win it before the final game of the season. Incredible to say, Baz.

[Barry Glendenning]

I mean, I'm not going to lie. I would piss myself laughing if Arsenal messed this up. But I think they will crawl over the line. Just like crawl over the line.

[Max Rushden]

Speaking of crawling over the line, I would dream for Tottenham to do that, but it's a different line and they may well not. And we'll start with them in part two.

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[Max Rushden]

Foreign. Part two of the Guardian Football Weekly Andrew says, when did we start calling the new spurs boss Roberto Despersi? John says, could the day have gone any better for Barry? I think not. Barry. A bad if not predictable start for deserbi. It's 14 games without a win for them in the league now. December 6th, their last win, their worst run I think in 81 years. And it felt to me like they were simultaneously not good but quite unlucky and they don't have time to be either of those things.

[Barry Glendenning]

They weren't good, they weren't terrible, but they didn't. They lost again. I think they probably deserved to lose. I thought Sunderland was a better team. I really enjoyed the battle between Brian Brobbie and Christian Romero.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, probably was brilliant. Probably was brilliant. Like you mentioned Yokare's hold up play. Brobbie's hold up play was absolutely amazing in this game.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, he does so much more than score goals and he's a real handful. Obviously the battle in question ended with Romero going off with what looks like a serious knee injury which will probably rule him out for the rest of the summer and the World cup. So that's unfortunate for him. And Robbie probably should have been sent off. He probably should have been booked for that shove that caused that injury, shoving Romero into Kinski. I was pleased Kinski wasn't had a good game for spurs just after what happened to him.

[Max Rushden]

Athletic. Yeah, yeah.

[Barry Glendenning]

Because I think it was important he had a good game and he didn't do anything wrong. He played quite well. Nothing he could do about the goal. I was obviously hoping Sunderland would win this. I wasn't sure how up for it they'd be, but I think teams are invested in sending Tottenham down even if they have nothing else to play for. I do, I really do. And if you look through the Sunderland team here, Ro, Rainaldo, Le Fay, Al Granish, Jaca, Brobie, Mukieli, all played really well. All new signings well. Lefe was on loan there for the second half last season but he was only officially signed this summer. They're all new signings. They all played well. Luka 9 there as well from the the Sunderland old guard and what a job Regis Labrie has done. I know we're supposed to be talking about spurs but I just think he's done a sensational job this season. Spurs lost again. I've looked at their remaining fixtures. Hard to see where they're going to pick up Points, even against Wolves.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I agree, Jacob. I. And I. I still don't. Because they've never gone down in my lifetime. I still feel they won't go down. But I have nothing. I have nothing to base that on. They are.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Yeah, that's that.

[Max Rushden]

They're so out there's. They have no confidence. We talk about that anxiety of. Of Arsenal. They've got nothing. They like. They. They do nothing.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Yeah. That's not a reason to think they won't go down. The fact you've never seen it isn't.

[Max Rushden]

No, but it's. It's philosophically quite a good reason to think something isn't going to happen if you've never seen it happen. I've seen lots of things happen in my life and I know they happen and this hasn't happened. But you're right, it is bad reasoning. It's bad logic. They're not good, Jacob.

[Jacob Steinberg]

No, they're really bad. They are really bad. I mean, obviously they've not won in the league in 2026 and they just seem to have forgotten what that actually feels like. And they also can't score. Well, they do score some goals, but I think it's since the turn of the year, they've only scored more than once in two league games, which suggests a real problem. And obviously they're missing massive players in attack. A whole season without Kulusevsky, Madison and much of the. Well, it's been three or four months now without Kudis as well. Ode Bear, another player who was. Who has shown promise in patches as well. He's gone. I think obviously with Madison and Kudusevsky there, if they have been there for some of these games, it might be different. They just have no replacement for that. And the lack of creativity is really being felt now. And you looked at that front three that started on Sunday. They're all decent players probably in their own right, but as a combination they're all kind of the same player. And you're looking at it and thinking, well, who's going to make a goal for the other one? They had that small bit of success at Anfield where they play very direct, but in that game, Liverpool look so unready for that approach from Tottenham and Sunderland. I don't think that was the kind of thing that was going to scare them by playing long. And that lack of creativity now is a real problem. And it's another game where the big creative signing from last summer signed for what, 50, 60 million pounds. Xavi Simons is on the bench. He can't Even get into this side at the moment. So the real, real problems. And when you throw in the Romero injury as well, the lack of goals combined with now the problems in defence just makes it look even harder. I do think, though, at the same time, when you look at the fixtures, I do think that they're okay. I think if you could ask for any, then probably those would maybe just about be the ones you would want. They have this potential, obviously, game looming with Chelsea, where that could be the one that sends them down on the penultimate weekend, unless that gets changed by. Although I was listening to some Chelsea fans on the platform of West Brompton and they're starting to think that they might actually mess that up. So. So maybe there's hope.

[Max Rushden]

So, yeah, they've got Brighton at home, then Wolves away, Villa away. Leeds at home, Chelsea away, Everton at home. What should De Zerbi do? Seb

[Seb Hutchinson]

joining the.

[Max Rushden]

Go back in time and say, I don't want this job?

[Seb Hutchinson]

Yeah, I can't believe that spurs went for De Zerbi at this point in time. It just didn't really make sense to me. I felt like it needed somebody who would just come in and just calm them down, just go, you know, the players here are. Surely they're good enough to get more goals than they have got in recent games, surely. I mean, we're talking about talented players on the surface, but it's just not working. And the interesting thing for me was when Romero started crying, you knew it was because he was going to miss the World Cup. You knew those tears were for Argentina. As soon as you sort of just thought, this is going to be a bad injury. Because he's had injury problems before. He's had multiple suspensions for spurs and Van der Ven, the way he was playing, everything we spoke about Arsenal and their tension. I think there's a tension in the Tottenham team now where they're forgetting how to do simple things. When things go against them, they're getting frustrated. Three of the back four was booked fairly early on in the game. And once that snowball starts rolling, it's really tough to stop it. And it was a bad weekend when it comes to the other results, and that's even before Leeds are playing as well.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Well, let's talk about West Ham then. Beat Wolves 4 nil, put spurs in the relegation zone on Friday night. You are West Ham, Jacob. You're alive. Figuratively. You know, it looks rosier after this game.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Well, it's the first time that they've had it in their hands pretty Much throughout the run. In the first time, they've been out to the bottom of three properly since, I think, November. By the end of the weekend, they've had moments here and there where they've gone out and then been immediately put back in by the end of the weekend. The change is massive and it probably goes back to these two signings in attack that they've made. Pablo and Castellanos, who I still can't really work out if either of them are particularly good. They probably overpaid for both of them, particularly Pablo, given that he was signed for not very much by his previous club in Portugal, Gil Vicente, but they've both made an impact. Unlike the Tottenham players in attack, they are making that impact by partly just running around and being a nuisance and occupying defenders. Just being really annoying to play against. Particularly in the case of Pablo, who hasn't actually scored yet. Took a really bad penalty in the shootout against Leeds in the FA cup quarter final last weekend. But without ever really looking like he might score, he is contributing to the side. And then Castellanos as well. He's got five goals since he turned up. These were probably the most important ones because the others have. They've not been ones that have really made a huge difference to the final score in most cases. But these two really sort of changed the mood in the stadium because it was. It was quite nervous for much of the game. I mean, Wolves turned up and they dominated for about 40 minutes. And it felt like West Ham, because they knew that because their fixtures are pretty hard from. From here, it felt like they knew they absolutely had to win this game, that if they didn't, it would just be such a. Such a huge blow for them to take. And I'm not sure they would have recovered from it. They were sort of snatching at chances. And when that first goal goes in from Mavropanos, who's another massive change in performances as well from him at the back. Still, it felt nervous. Wolves hit the post at the start of the second half. That first Castellanos goal just felt like it lifted all the tension in the stadium. And after that they just ran through them. The other huge difference they've had in January was De Sassi, who, coming in on loan from Chelsea at the back, has just shored things up to a defence that previously was comfortably looked like the worst in the division, with particularly Kilman playing there. And since coming in, he's just made things much calmer. De Sassi and at Chelsea, he was a player who really struggled with the whole playing out from the back thing. But I think if you just ask him to be a defender, then he's good at that. He can do all the things that a defender traditionally has to do. And he's also just a really good, really good character. And it feels like Nuno from having had a really difficult start around December, January, the mood around the place was really, really bad. There were a lot of unhappy players and there was quite a lot of disquiet inside the building. Just feels like he's got the spirit in the team now and goals in the team. Importantly, despite the pricksters, I would now really think that they're going to stay up. And the interesting question as well is if they don't, what do you do with Nuno? Because if you do go down, he's probably the guy who you want to try and get you back up. Probably more the question is going to be, would he want to stay there? Would he start to think, I've got better options than this?

[Max Rushden]

I would say Castellano's is two of the worst hit strikes of a football of all time. But you know, it doesn't matter. You need that luck. I guess so. Barry, they've got palace away. Everton at home. Brentford away. Arsenal at home. Newcastle away. Leeds at home. I mean it isn't easy, but you know, that final game against Leeds could be enormous for them.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, they are tough assignments, but the thing is, West Ham are shown fight. Leeds are showing fight. Forest are showing fight. Spurs are not. Not, not any. No fight at all. So just on that alone, you'd have to go for Spurs. But spurs definitely have easier fixtures. But as I said, I cannot see where spurs are going to get even a point from their remaining fixtures. Playing the way they are at the City Ground.

[Max Rushden]

Forest drew one all with Villa. I mean, apologies for looking at this through a Spurs lens said, but the chances Villa missed in this game were just sort of extraordinary. I mean, Cells made some saves, but that Rodgers miss. You know, when you're. I love it when you get to this stage of the season where you're so invested in other teams and you're like utterly furious with Aston Villa. I haven't really bothered about anything they've done all year and suddenly I'm livid with Morgan Rodgers.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Yeah, Forest, they were the ones I was most worried about a couple of weeks ago because even though most I felt they were going to stay up for a lot of the season, I was struggling where their goals were going to come from. And Chris woods come back which is great. But yes, I think they would have. They would have taken a point before that game. They know that Villa are a side who are well up the league and doing well. Although I think Villa have only scored three more goals than spurs this season. So they've not been great goal scorers and that probably showed by the chances they missed. In the end, every weekend is going to feel pivotal because Forest are still in the Europa League, so. And they're in a good position to progress in that. You know, if they. If they beat Porto, they're through to the semifinals and then that's another game in the fixtures. But then the game after that is Burnley at home. And Burnley at home for any team now feels like the one where you just have to win that game. It's that sort of game. And that's what it was for West Ham. Friday. You have to beat Wolves. Even though we're talking down about spurs situation, the running is with West Ham at the moment. Of the four, they're the ones I'm most confident about staying up right now because they're hitting form all the others still. Leeds, spurs and Forest are struggling to score goals. And this could be the one where they have that. Those narrow defeats, is this going to be the difference? And so that point against Villa, I think was pretty big.

[Max Rushden]

Both those guys played on Thursday night. Villa had a big win against Bologna. Away beating the three. One scored really late on for a crucial third goal. Forestry one, all the way at Porto. Their goal was an excellent home goal, palace one as well. In the Conference League tonight, the other side in danger, Leeds, go to Old Trafford. So we'll talk about that on Wednesday's pod. And that'll do for part two. Part three. We'll do the rest of the Premier League. Bit of afl, bit of Fitbar, and that's about it.

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[Max Rushden]

Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly at Liverpool 2 Fulham Nil this Barry felt it was just nice for Liverpool just for them to see some good performances. You know, Ngamoa was great. Salah scored a good goal. He felt happy for a change.

[Barry Glendenning]

Up to a point. Liverpool fans had a protest of sorts. They I think they didn't have any banners on the cop apart from the one that said no to ticket price increases. So they're not happy with the club hierarchy over that. They're not happy with performances. I thought Fulham might get something here, but they didn't. They weren't terrible but they missed a couple of decent chances. Raul Jimenez, Emil Smith row. A good win for Liverpool. I think at best it will paper over some gaping fissures. But Ngomoa, his performance was definitely something for the Liverpool fans to savor. I didn't realize quite how young he was. He's only 17. His goal was absolutely brilliant. He played a pivotal part in setting up Salah to score a kind of mirror image inside the other post. His performance was really good. A much needed win for Liverpool but it is hardly going to do much to change the mood around Anfield.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, Man United in that race for the Chamberlain spot have 55 from 31 obviously play Leeds tonight. Villa 55 from 32. Liverpool now 52 from 32. Chelsea in 648 from 32 and then Brentford and Everton both on 47 and Seb, you sort of needed one of these sides to win to maintain their Champions League push and neither of them did.

[Seb Hutchinson]

If Everton or Brentford had won that game then they would be above Chelsea right now and even in with Liverpool within range and then you're dreaming. But the draw sort of, you know, it just, it just made it a meh result. But what it does too is keep both sides firmly thinking about the season and for Thiago, I mean incredible campaign and you're looking at because of Haaland's Goals relatively drying up. He's now in a position where the golden boots in his sights and that would be some achievement. And of course if he does pick the. He'll probably be leading the line for Brazil come the World cup. And it could be one of those great stories after the way his Brentford career began with that serious injury.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah. He and Rayan from Bournemouth both made their Brazil debuts for during the international break in a match against Croatia in Florida I think.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. 22 goals. Harland. 21 eagle check. I mean when it's going for you and one just hits him and goes in, you know as I'm just watching Solanke and Kara Moane Richarlison just running around. Just let someone hit it and hit you for goodness sake. There was some brilliant goalkeeping in this game. Kelleher made one amazing double save. Pickford made a couple of brilliant saves as well. Both having brilliant seasons. Newcastle not having a brilliant season. Jacob. I mean palace with a late comeback here but the pressure on anyhow is quite interesting. And this idea that if he doesn't end the season well this could be it for him.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Yeah, it's another game where they've. They've thrown it away. He talked a lot about how they. He's not telling them to do this but they are sinking back in games and just trying to defend when they've got the lead. They obviously lost the lead against Sunderland in the previous game and they did it again here without ever palace seeming to dominate the game. And Newcastle nick the goal at the end of the first half and unable to push on from there. And the pressure in the end becomes too much. And Eddie Howe told Spurc afterwards about how he wanted the team to go for more and instead they're just losing control in games not taking the initiative. Annoyed by the fact that they're not taking even shots on when they. When they have the chance which he said really really annoyed him. And. And that's. That's just been a lot of the story of the season for Newcastle where they just seem to lack the ability to see. See games through and control that. And maybe part of that at the moment comes through not having Bruno Guimaraes who's. Who's been out now for a long time and is such an important player for them in midfield. Another element that's. That's obviously been a real part of their season is that the. The two strikers who've come in to replace Alexander Isaac simply haven't done it. It's another game where they both start on the bench. Walter Mada and Johan Visser and Osula starts and scores instead. But the two expensive ones are on the bench. And you know there's been tension at Newcastle in recent transfer windows over how the signings were done with how much say Eddie Howe would have over things. He's always had quite a lot of power there and there'd been sort of clashes with recruitment staff in the past. Particularly Paul Mitchell who ended up. Ended up leaving. You could just feel that maybe this is starting to come towards a natural ending. But you've got this other problem for Newcastle where they're talking about potentially needing to sell players as well. Needing to sell a big player. And there's. There's constant talk of Arsenal looking at Anthony Gordon, Manchester United looking at. Looking at Sandra Tonali. So it's. It's. It's very odd times at Newcastle. They've not had the season that they. That they would have wanted.

[Barry Glendenning]

You could tell a lot about both teams here from their respective benches. Palace started with Ishmael Assar, Adam Wharton and John Philippe Mateta on the bench because they were saving them for Europe. Newcastle started with Jacob Ramsey, Voltimaru Wissa and Elanga on the bench because all these expensive signings are not good enough to get in the team. Newcastle's recruitment last summer has proved disastrous. That's on Eddie Howe, I think. Palace have played 12 games after conference League matches this season. This is only the third one they've won. But there are seems to be a section of Newcastle fans who think that because Eddie Howe won them a trophy that should give him a lifetime residency at the helm in. At St. James's Park. And I mean you don't get rid of him unless you can bring someone else who will be better. But it's not going well for them this season, is it? It's very sad. Very sad.

[Max Rushden]

Well listen, I mean like he can't control Sven Botman doing that in the night, you know, the 90th minute. I. That is mad, isn't it? Even if you know it's soft and they're often not given. You don't need to do that. I suppose. Palace are interesting Seb in that, you know, a while ago Glassner sort of down tools and was desperately trying to get sacked. And then he's gone. Okay, well I'm here. I might as well try and win a European competition and you know like he could like you know, even more cement himself as the most successful palace manager of all time.

[Seb Hutchinson]

What an incredible story it would be. We're talking about managers winning trophies how and slot and then their jobs being under pressure. Glassner could probably win a third title essentially because I'm counting the community shield for Crystal palace and then just walk away and just be like, yeah, I'm done. Thank you very much. I'm going to be a legend here. And they will remember him as one. Even though he's had these dodgy moments this season where he's basically tried to. He's tried to be in a position where he's had. He. Everything can be under his watch in terms of transfers, ins and outs. But he knows that's not the case at a club like Crystal palace. So he's, he's vocally. He's earned the right to speak out about this stuff. But you do get remembered for winning things as a manager, that this is what sticks with people. It's either that or playing great football. You know, think of Keegan at Newcastle. Couldn't get them over the line in the league but they still look fondly on that title run because of the way they were playing. So these things are important and it would be quite the end to his time at palace because you know he will walk away if he wins that competition for sure. What an end that would be. And Mateta's back in the good books as well.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Well done. To Matt Zviffer who scored two for Brighton at Burnley.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Sorry Max, sorry I've got to cut you off because Matt Zwifa we're not going to have much chance to talk about him and I want to use him as an example why you should never trust AI for any football knowledge or anything you need to know. Because my father in law, West Ham season ticket holder, he was looking earlier this season for a central midfielder that you know, who could West Ham get. So he used AI to try and find who would be the best midfield signing for West Ham.

[Max Rushden]

Is he on the. Is he like part of the recruitment? It sounds like. How West Ham.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Well, that's a fan, isn't it? That's how they think.

[Max Rushden]

I guess they do.

[Seb Hutchinson]

And AI returned. You should look at Mats Weifer. He's a central midfielder for Atletico Madrid who's been brilliant under Diego Simeone and helped them win the La Liga title and I'll leave it at that. He's been playing right back most of this season.

[Barry Glendenning]

On the subject of people getting things wrong. Sorry, I just noticed in Fabian Herzler's press conference on Friday ahead of the Burnley game, he said we can't take them lightly because Burnley have proved in recent weeks that they can be anyone in the Premier League and I said hold on a minute. So I went and checked and since the start of November, Burnley have won one Premier League match against Crystal palace and that was on the 11th of February. So I actually think Fabian Hertzler might have been not being sure who his team were playing going into his pre match press conference because it was just an extraordinarily wrong thing to say.

[Max Rushden]

Categorically, Burnley have proved they they can't beat anyone in the Premier League. Can't they? In the EFL ips which won the East Anglian Derby at Cara Road two points clear of Millwall and have two games in hand. So they're in a great spot to join Coventry who are basically up. I think they need one point for maths. They only drew nil. Nil at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Terrible week for Wrexham. Lost two in a row. Four point gap between them and Hull who are in sixth. So it's Millwall, Borough, Saints and Hull in the playoff spots. Terrible weekend for Leicester. They lost while Oxford and Portsmouth both won. So they are on 41 points in 23rd. Oxford have 44, Portsmouth 45, West Brom 46, Blackburn 48, Charlton 49 in League One. Great for Cardiff who beat fourth place Bolton 2 nil. Third place Bradford also lost to Stevenage. So Cardiff are basically up. That win for Stevenage. Huge for them. They look set for the playoffs along with Stockport, Bolton and Bradford in the Devon Derby. Exeter conceded a 90th minute equalize Plymouth, so that could really cost them. You could feasibly be 12th in League One and still get relegated. Unlikely. Barnsley would have to have a terrible time. You know Rotherham, Northampton and Port Vale basically down and then it is pick one from as many as you like. Enormous weekend in League two. The top four played each other leaders. Bromley lost two one at MK Dons. Cambridge Leapfrog, Knott's county after hammering them four nil. So we're back into the automatics. A bunt fight for the last playoff spot and a bit of daylight at the bottom. Now Barrow and harrogate both on 33 and then a four point gap between them and Newport. Crawley and Tranmere on 37 in Fitbar. All three teams won but Harts left it very late for their victory. Rangers were 20 down at full Coke but won 6 3. In the end Celtic won as well. So it's as you were. Hearts on 70, Rangers 69, Celtic 67. And in running we should finish the pod with running A big congratulations to producer Joel, who run a sub 3 hour Milan Marathon at the week. So well done to him and that'll do pretty much for today. I'm only kidding, Barry. We've had lots of messages but well done to Joel. Sub 3 is pretty impressive.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yes, he's well chuffed with that. I think it's his first sub three.

[Max Rushden]

John says Dear Football Weekly Team, As I continue my recovery from a nasty bout of anorexia nervosa, any discussion of running and personal best, et cetera can be extremely triggering. I can't tell you how refreshing it's been to listen to Barry's total disdain for the whole concept of what he's put his body through these last few months. Barry, your total refusal to turn into a pretentious twat wanging on about how great it feels to go for a run has bordered on the heroic great pod. Keep up the good work, says John Johnny says Today I ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon for the incredible charity Tommy's. I had a secret dream of meeting the one and only Barry Glendenning. I've been a listener to Football Weekly for over 10 years. I knew this would be my best chance. Although not in his natural habitat, I feared the odds were not in my favor with 20,000 people running. But when a START notification pinged just 20 minutes before my start time that Barry was underway, I had the hope of hunting him down. The first 7k of the run flew by with my eyes not fixed on the numerous landmarks, but scanning the sea of runners in the opposite direction for Barry's face. At last I spotted him and following another few K's, I caught him starstruck and in awe. I very much bottled theme of the weekend the opportunity giving him a thumbs up and telling him he was an inspiration. The rest of the race dragged following that high and left me with a distinct hollow feeling of regret at my encounter. So I did what any loyal listener would do and I waited around at the finish line in the hopes for a second meeting. Swarms of finishers passed me with no sign until there he was, riding fairly low off that runner's high. I waited for him and introduced myself with the line. Longtime listener, first time stalker. My conversation with Barry was everything. I wanted it as we shared a walk to the nearest tube station and for him to find a quiet place to talk with Max and Charlie on the radio. The money raised by Barry and the surrounding listener family is nothing short of incredible. He deserves immense credit. I offered him the choice of the London Marathon and He promptly replied with, fuck that. Good on you, Baz. Photo attached. Johnny, long suffering Villa fan, you did it, Barry. Congratulations.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, I was chatting to Johnny after the. Very soon after the finish and I had my arm around his shoulders for the selfie and then I was like. Became apparent that all 17 stone of me was just leaning on him and he was more or less propping me. So it was nice to meet him. Thank you to the few Football Weekly fans who recognized me and cheered me on. It was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. And if anyone would like to buy a pair of secondhand Asics with one careful owner about 200 miles on the clock, we can sort something out, but thanks to you and Charlie as well. I haven't heard it, but I know you did a telethon on the radio yesterday and you and the talk sport listeners raised, I think about 20 grand while I was on the road.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah.

[Barry Glendenning]

And, yeah, I'm never doing that again. It was hideous.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah.

[Barry Glendenning]

Just, yeah. Really horrible thing to do, but an interesting experience.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

I mean, at Fair Play to you. Like, I'm simultaneously amazed you've done it because it's a half marathon and I've never seen you run a step in your life and. But I know you're such a stubborn bastard that once you said you'd do it, you'd do it, and once the money started getting big, you were like, okay. But yeah, like, the Football Weekly audience have been amazing. And then on the radio, you'd. You'd raise 65 grand. So me and Charlie said, come on, let's get to 70 by the end of the show. And we'd raised 70 grand in 15 minutes. And the total now is £87,008 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, which is staggering.

[Barry Glendenning]

And including gift aid, it's over 100 grand.

[Max Rushden]

Unbelievable.

[Barry Glendenning]

I'm just glad it's over. This exercise in woke virtue, signaling and self aggrandizement. I don't like to talk up my achievements because I think I'm a quite humble man, but I think this puts me in the holy trinity of Irish humanitarians I.e. bono, Bob Geldof and Barry Glendenning.

[Max Rushden]

How were the righteous pints, Baz?

[Barry Glendenning]

I tell you, they went down like hemlock. I was just shattered and empty and I didn't enjoy them. I had a few. I forced a few down because I'm a trooper, but I didn't get hammered or anything. But, yeah, thanks to everyone and can we please never speak of it again?

[Max Rushden]

All right, well done. Barry, I am proud of you. And, you know, I didn't mean to patronize you, but, you know, I. You know, I quite like doing that. But no, it's an amazing. It's an absolutely amazing achievement and I think you will have inspired a lot of sedentary people to actually start running. And I know you walk a lot, but, like, yeah, it's unbelievable. So well done to you and thanks, everybody for your donations. Greatly appreciated. And that will do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Seb.

[Seb Hutchinson]

Thank you.

[Max Rushden]

Thanks, Jacob.

[Jacob Steinberg]

Thank you.

[Max Rushden]

Cheers, Bazaar.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, I look forward to Great Ormond Street Hospital naming a ward, if not a wing, after me. Or they can just give me half the money because I know the kids need it. I know the kids are poorly, but I did all the work.

[Max Rushden]

That's true. I mean, I'm pleased you didn't die, but I wouldn't have minded your flat. But look, we can talk about that later. Football Weekly is produced by Tyler Papula and Jesse Howard. Our executive producer Producer is Ian Chambers. We'll be back on Wednesday.

[Jacob Steinberg]

This is the Guardian.

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