Football Weekly – "Manchester is blue and Arsenal brush Postecoglou aside"

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson, Lars Ivarsson, Lars Sivertsen

Episode Overview

This episode of Football Weekly covers a big Premier League weekend, diving deep into Manchester City’s comfortable derby win over Manchester United and Arsenal’s dominant home victory against Nottingham Forest under new manager Ange Postecoglou. The panel also explores trends in set pieces, unexpected managerial struggles, VAR controversies, and the latest on Liverpool’s perfect start, with the usual sideways glances, digressions, and laugh-out-loud moments that define the pod.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Manchester City Dominate Manchester United in a Flat Derby

[01:52 – 14:54]

• Ricky Hatton’s Tribute: Before the match, an emotional moment for City and United fans marked the passing of boxing legend and City superfan Ricky Hatton.
  • "It was very noticeable that although Ricky Hatton was a City fan, United fans were just as vociferous in their appreciation. So it was a very moving...turned out to be about 90 seconds." – Jonathan Wilson [04:09]
• Match Analysis:
  • City were comfortable winners (3–0), with standout performances from Haaland, Doku, and Foden.
  • United started promisingly but faded, allowing City to manage the game with relative ease. Haaland and the attacking ensemble returned to form.
  • Foden ended a long personal barren run. "That was his first goal or assist in the last 11 appearances for City." – Barry Glendenning [05:17]
• Guardiola’s Tactical Shift:
  • City’s approach is evolving; more willingness to cede possession and defend compactly when ahead.
  • "There seems to be a broader shift...of him fully embracing that having possession is not always the correct solution to every single situation." – Lars Sivertsen [06:33]
• United’s Ongoing Malaise:
  • United now occupy a “middle ground of meh,” neither bad enough to sack the manager, nor good enough to worry the league’s top teams.
  • The system does not suit their players, as highlighted by Bruno Fernandes’ ineffective, withdrawn role and lack of defensive discipline.
  • The panel questions United’s seriousness: "I do think that you can't take United seriously anymore. They're not a big team....You should beat United." – Jonathan Wilson [10:58]
• Haaland Hat-Trick of Points:
  • Haaland’s record against United further cemented; the consensus is to stop doubting him.
  • "There's no point arguing against him...He's always going to make whatever critics he has look stupid." – Barry Glendenning [14:54]

2. Arsenal’s Depth and Postecoglou’s Tough Start at Forest

[16:09 – 20:51]

• Arsenal 3–0 Nottingham Forest:
  • Impressive, routine victory for the Gunners, who rotated key players and still cruised.
  • "It could scarcely have been a more straightforward win for Arsenal and it served to show their strength in depth, the strength in depth they didn't have last season." – Barry Glendenning [16:20]
  • Noni Madueke shone on the left, exploiting Morato's positional unfamiliarity.
• Forest Under Ange:
  • No criticism of Postecoglou after just one session with his squad.
  • Ange’s post-match candour delights the panel: "He announced it will be Wednesday...No fannying about from Ange." – Lars Ivarsson [20:51]
• Debate – Are Deflected Goals Less Beautiful?
  • "If there's a tiny deflection on a strike, you know, it instantly can't be goal of the month." – Jonathan Wilson [19:31]
  • The panel share quirky but passionate views about “goal purity.”

3. Set Pieces, Long Throws, and Tactical Trends

[23:11 – 28:53]

• Brentford 2–2 Chelsea:
  • Brentford’s set piece prowess is on display again. Long throws lead to their 7th goal this way since last season.
  • "Set pieces and long throws [are] phenomenally trendy right now. They're all the rage. They'll be doing them in the clubs." – Barry Glendenning [25:30]
  • The panel nerds out over the history and mechanics of the long throw, tracing it back to 1890s Sunderland captain Huey Wilson.
• Data Trends:
  • Notable rise in goals from long throws: 0.03% (2020–21) to 0.338% (2024–25).
  • Long throws are harder to defend because of their unpredictable trajectory.

4. Spurs Ruthless at West Ham; West Ham Defensive Crisis

[30:26 – 35:00]

• Spurs’ Transformation:
  • Tottenham beat West Ham 3–0, thriving on set pieces under Thomas Frank’s urgent, robust style.
  • "It's just funny how that is just a complete reversal of what they were under Ange. And it's happened so quickly." – Barry Glendenning [35:00]
• West Ham’s Defensive Failings:
  • Potter’s side has now conceded 11 goals (8 from set pieces/crosses) in just three defeats. Defensive coaching and personnel come under sharp scrutiny.
  • "If you're West Ham, you cannot be conceding like eight goals from just balls flung into the box in three games." – Barry Glendenning [35:00]

5. Liverpool: Flawed but Perfect

[35:11 – 40:32]

• Burnley 0–1 Liverpool:
  • Liverpool top the league with a perfect four-from-four record; every win sealed with a late goal (88’+, 95’, 82’, 94’).
  • "Maybe that is just a...they eventually wear opponents down rather than being incredibly lucky repeatedly." – Lars Sivertsen [35:59]
  • Scott Parker’s post-match: "We had to dig and go to places that not many human beings go." [39:05]
• Liverpool’s Season Outlook:
  • Questions linger over their defensive solidity and whether performances can match results.
  • "The fact that they can have these slightly iffy performances while this is happening and still have four wins out of four, I take that as a very positive thing..." – Barry Glendenning [40:32]

6. Around the Grounds: Other Notable Matches & Themes

[42:22 – 58:57]

• Bournemouth’s Historic Start:
  • A third straight win, highlighted by Alex Scott’s “beautiful” goal and a discussion about manager Iraola’s acceptance of direct, aggressive play.
  • "I prefer too much chaos to too much organization." – Iraola, quoted by Barry Glendenning [43:23]
• Football Getting More Direct:
  • Panel notes a swing away from “Pep ball” and “control,” toward aggression, physicality, pragmatism, and direct play.
  • "Football is becoming a little bit more direct, is becoming a bit more aggressive again." – Lars Sivertsen [46:31]
• Newcastle 1–0 Wolves:
  • Voltimara heads his first goal for Newcastle, giving Eddie Howe options up front. Discussion of his qualities and fit.
  • Wolves remain pointless despite decent performances. Critical run of matches against fellow strugglers awaits.
• Leeds Suffer Agonizing Defeat, Everton & Villa Stumble:
  • Luckless own goal for Leeds; more evidence Dominic Calvert-Lewin underperforms his expected goals.
  • Villa are goalless after four matches, worst start since 1997–98.
• Palace & Sunderland Draw, Hearts Heap More Trouble on Rangers, Wilder to Return at Sheffield United?:
  • Sunderland claim their first away point, manager Russell Martin under fire at Rangers, and Ruben Selles sacked after six straight losses at Sheffield United. Chris Wilder rumored as potential returnee.
  • "This has not worked." – Jonathan Wilson [56:54] on Selles' brief reign.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On United’s identity crisis:
  "They're occupying this middle ground of meh where Amarim is allowed to keep bumbling along…" – Barry Glendenning [11:14]
• On Haaland’s critics:
  "He’s always going to make whatever critics he has look stupid. It’s just what he does, and it’s completely inevitable." – Barry Glendenning [14:54]
• On football’s changing tactical winds:
  "Football is becoming a little bit more direct, is becoming a bit more aggressive again...post-Pep ball world we appear to be moving into." – Lars Sivertsen [46:31]
• On Liverpool grinding out wins:
  "They can have these slightly iffy performances while this is happening and still have four wins out of four, I take that as a very positive thing…" – Barry Glendenning [40:32]
• On Scott Parker’s post-match metaphor:
  "We had to dig and go to places that not many human beings go." – Scott Parker (quoted) [39:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Tribute to Ricky Hatton & Derby buildup: [01:52 – 05:09]
• Manchester Derby tactical discussion: [05:09 – 14:54]
• Arsenal v Forest & the Postecoglou era: [16:09 – 20:51]
• Debate: Deflected goals, are they beautiful?: [18:57 – 19:46]
• Brentford’s long throw & set pieces: [23:11 – 28:53]
• West Ham’s defensive crisis & Spurs’ tactical identity: [30:26 – 35:00]
• Liverpool’s win over Burnley, late goal theme: [35:11 – 40:32]
• Bournemouth, tactical trends, bookings: [42:22 – 46:31]
• Newcastle & Wolves discussion: [47:12 – 51:25]
• Leeds’ own goal, Calvert-Lewin stats: [51:51 – 53:26]
• Villa’s woes, Palace vs Sunderland, Rangers in crisis: [53:49 – 58:54]
• Sheffield United sack Sellers, possible Wilder return: [56:31 – 58:57]

In the Panel’s Words (Original Tone):

• Empathetic football nerdiness, lightly sharp analysis, and comic despair at Arsenal or United’s failings.
• Bizarre but sincere debates over what constitutes a “beautiful”, deflected goal and the cyclical nature of tactics.
• Glendenning’s self-effacing humor and dry wit, especially on managerial jobs and footballing fads.
• Lars Sivertsen’s trademark, “I’m not sure about that, but…” musings about direct football and transfer values.

Conclusion

This episode provided a rich, entertaining glance at a defining Premier League weekend, with smart tactical explanations, data-driven insights, and classic Football Weekly banter—from the surprising emotional weight of a lost City fan to the mundane struggle of Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. There’s plenty here for casual listeners and football obsessives alike, whether you want to understand key results, tactical trends, or just revel in the panel’s latest comedy rabbit hole.