← Football Weekly.jpg)
Football Weekly
Manchester United beat Arsenal … has the wobble begun? – Football Weekly
00:58:37
Max Rushden is joined by Will Unwin, Robyn Cowen and Mark Langdon as Manchester United win 3-2 away at Arsenal in the game of the season so far
Loading summary
Transcript213 lines
- [00:00]
Max Rushden
This is the Guardian.
- [00:10]
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [00:19]
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
- [00:21]
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.
- [00:30]
Noah
We'll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right. So the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
- [00:39]
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:46]
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do them better.
- [00:54]
Robin Cowan
Love y'.
- [00:55]
Max Rushden
All.
- [00:58]
Raj
Foreign.
- [01:03]
Mark Langdon
Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Carrick's at the wheel. A second stunning win in a row. Cunha's beautiful winner, Patrick Daugu going full Yeboa. How quickly things can change. Arsenal's first home defeat of the season and prompting all the usual questions. Will they fall short once again? Why don't they try scoring from open play? Do they need a striker elsewhere? Another last minute winner for Bournemouth, piling more pressure on Arna Slot. Spurs are sticking with Frank, but could they be dragged into a relegation fight? What about Palace? Their wretched run continues while West Ham and Forest both win. Just making it a little tighter down there at the top. Villa one away while City get back on the train. Semeno's good, isn't he, Barry? And Harry Wilson is still on for player of the season. We'll answer your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Week. Clean. On the panel today, Robin Cowan. Welcome.
- [01:49]
Robin Cowan
Good morning, Max.
- [01:50]
Mark Langdon
Hello, Wilhelmin.
- [01:51]
Max Rushden
Good morning, Max.
- [01:53]
Mark Langdon
And from the Racing Post, Mark Langdon.
- [01:55]
Will
Hi, Max.
- [01:56]
Mark Langdon
Let's start then at the Emirates. Arsenal 2, Manchester United 3. Sam says it would be pretty harsh for United not to offer Carrick the job when he eventually wins the league. It was a great game, Mark. One of the best of the season. And look, Carrick has beaten City and Arse on his first two games in charge. And like, when you add that to what he managed in his last interim little spell, it's incredibly impressive.
- [02:17]
Will
Yeah, fantastic start. I don't think get too excited in terms of the long term and kind of, right, let's give him the job now. No, no, I think, you know, United have been here before and, you know, maybe made that mistake, but you can't do any better than what he's done. Putting people in positions that they feel comfortable in. He's clearly boosted confidence. Like the energy that's returned to the team just looked so lacking under Ruben Amarin, particularly in those final sequences. Stages Fernandez in the rightful position. It's weird, isn't it? Because like, you just assumed that the Manchester United manager would know more about football than the kind of general person on the street. And yeah, I mean, nearly all of us were going, Fernandez can't play in this deep role. He has to, has to be closer to the striker. And it turns out that kind of we were right and Ruben Amarim was wrong. The fans are right behind it. And yeah, it was, it was just a great game. It was a really exciting match and I think it was last week I'd been talking to a mate and just bemoaning the quality of the Premier League. I think since Christmas, a lot of draws, a lot of Neil Nils don't know if that's just the kind of the teams I'm watching maybe instead, but it did feel quite dull. And so to have a game like that and between two, you know, sort of giants who don't like each other as well, I really enjoyed it.
- [03:35]
Mark Langdon
Was it Barry? It sounds like a conversation you could be having with Barry at any given time in the last 10 years. Two Robin, two brilliant goals. I mean, Dorgoos is thrilling, isn't it? That's what you want from a goal.
- [03:47]
Robin Cowan
Yeah, it's kind of also to carry on from Mark's point about Reuben Amorim because Dor was clearly wasted as a wing back and now look where he is. And he still, he was preferred there to Cunha because he's still pretty good defensively. Fantastic goal from him and also the Cunha one. I mean, you know, some people would say when you look at the xg, they said three shots on target, they scored with all of them and it was 0.73, I think Manchester United. But in terms of Cunha in particular, we've seen him do that a lot, haven't we? It wasn't that surprising. That was a gorgeous strike. The Amarim thing is almost like. It's almost seemingly. It's like he's trying to be in the producers, like doing the producers style thing, like he went in and failed on purpose to get this huge payout. He's gone the Mel Brooks route. It's all, it's kind of seeming like that more and more now. He's like, what, what was he thinking? He's got us all.
- [04:40]
Mark Langdon
I mean, I suppose, I suppose it'd be interesting to see Will how they do against, you know, what they got Fulham, I mean, spurs, who the hell knows? West Ham, like, teams that are less likely to just be a. Like they picked, they picked City off and they picked Arsenal. They played how you'd expect to play against those sides. Be quite interesting when they are expected to have the ball.
- [04:58]
Max Rushden
Yeah. But at the same time, Carrick's come up with this cunning plan of playing this young lad called Kobe, Mayu from the academy. I mean, not many people had heard about him. Amaru hadn't. No one had told AM about this fella who's deced on the ball and whatnot. All right, so, yeah, that's fair. That's club knowledge that the Carrick brings.
- [05:14]
Mark Langdon
DNA, isn't it? It's DNA.
- [05:16]
Max Rushden
Obviously he's got the momentum, which I'm never had. Players seem to like him, which I'm really never seemed to have. So they can adapt. They've. You look at the bench yesterday, Kunya came off the bench and did what he did. Cesco came off the bench and did a job. Yeah, they've got options. They can actually change it up. You know, Carrick will have a different plan against these teams rather than going, yeah, let's play it we did last week when we lost and see how it goes. All right. Okay. Well, cheers, Reuben. They are a bit more malleable with this setup. You know, there's lots of voices involved. Steve Holland, Johnny Evans, Travis Binion. Very smart appointment that, you know, does know the club, but is regarded, you know, around the country as a very, very good coach.
- [06:00]
Mark Langdon
Who's he? Just for people who, who aren't across it.
- [06:03]
Max Rushden
He, he was the, he was the under 21s manager at United. He still is technically. And he, and he was brought in by Fletcher because flet lot of time for him. You know, you speak to a lot of people in the championship. They've sort of been, you know, wondering if he'll, he'll make the move to become a manager in his own right. And so the smart appointments and it's, you know, having all these different voices, whereas I think I, I, I couldn't say 100%, but I think a lot of AM's staff were disciples of Amarim and agreed with everything he said. Whereas I suspect there's a bit more of a discussion now, you know that hence why nothing changed Amarim. Whereas now, you know, it's. It's difficult to leave out people like Kune or put do in where he hasn't played before. But they're making these decisions, you know, fine, Fernandez is where he should be, but no one was really going, yeah, tell you what, Dorgu could play there or MBA is going to be the best number nine by himself, you know, but he's really doing that role. They're really quick on the counter, as I say. I think they will have a different option against these other teams and. And that's it. And you know, Mark said it just players wanted to play happy. Other times I reckon Kunya being dropped by Marin probably would have been pretty upset. Whereas now he comes on and he makes a difference and that's what he wants to do. And Robin said that is. That is the goal. He. He know Wolves. I did a lot of Wolves last season. Always doing that. I guess. Finally, you know, on. On these points, the defense seems to work. Harry Maguire might even earn a new contract, which is amazing. He was incredible. And, and this is it. Just everyone playing in the right roles, being happy, playing sensible football. And it unnerved Arsenal enough that they. They got on top in the end after, you know, very difficult spell this. They saw, you know, United States, it went behind but you know, they dug in and they turned it around.
- [07:43]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, Kunya does have that. Oh, sod it. I'll just score a goal. You know, he did that for Wolves so many times, didn't he? And you know, it was great to see him do it here. I mean, to Arsenal. Then Mark, I mean, Al says chicken's coming home to roost. You'll never convince me Arteta isn't a Waitrose Pulis, which is a great line. And look, they were ahead. But. And Zubamen gifts and Buma the opener. But it had been coming like Fernandez had got through twice and there are. There are now. And of course Arsenal are still in the best position out of all the teams in the Premier League in the Champions League. Like the season is still good but. But because of what's happened the last two years, you can just feel the terror and the panic.
- [08:21]
Will
Yeah, there. There is this sort of maybe feeling that they almost want it too much and like there's every time they don't win it like, oh no that you. The same thing's going to happen again. But I think you hit the nail on the head a moment ago, max. Like they're in the best position. They are still four points clear. They've won the Champions League League phase. They're in the semifinal of the League cup and a goal up against Chelsea. They're in the FA cup fourth round with a decent enough draw. Anyone would swap with where Arsenal are, but because of what's happened previously, there is just this feeling. Two points from the last three Premier League games. Of those there were two nil, nil draws and then an own goal and a set piece. And that they are scoring and do score a lot of goals from set pieces. And you would. And it's not the first time we said this. You'd want to see more from open play. But they are so brilliant at set pieces. It doesn't, you know, I don't think it really matters where the goals come from because this is not a fluke, how many goals they score from corners. So now I think it's just part of their kind of DNA and the remit. So I wouldn't be panicking too much. United are a funny old side that they, they are capable of beating anybody and then losing to anyone. So I wouldn't panic. I don't know if that kind of doesn't really sort of fit into the narrative of what you supposed to say about Arsenal, but they've got a great squad. I would disagree with the Arteta Pulis reference. He's a good manager. They've got good players. Just one of them games where it didn't go for them. I think they really deserve to be one new up. They give a silly goal away, which they don't normally do. Yeah, I wouldn't go to sort of two footed on Arsenal here, I don't think.
- [10:05]
Max Rushden
Fair enough. Fair enough.
- [10:06]
Mark Langdon
That's a shame. Sorry. But Robin. No, that's okay. I. It does say something about the, you know, the whole point of loving football that even some of these fans can't enjoy. When Mark has listed where they are in all the competitions and even they are like finding this stressful, like, why do any of us do it to ourselves?
- [10:25]
Robin Cowan
Oh, well, it's. It's the rush, isn't it? It's almost like, yeah, we're kind of a bit masochistic, aren't we? I mean, I think Mark makes the point that I think if this was. If Man City were four points clear, we'd say it' done, it's done, wouldn't we? Yeah, that's the thing. But because It's Arsenal. It's almost like, and it's been so long, we kind of don't trust them until they've like got the title in their hands. No, it's not. I wouldn't compare this. The comparison isn't totally comparable but Leicester City in 2016, like we, everyone kept saying they're not going to do it, they're not going to do it. It's just not going to happen until, you know, I don't know when people started to say they're going to do it, but it feels a little bit like that now. I'm not comparing the two but I think it's just because of the, the recent history of Arsenal that's kind of, kind of where we were. So it's kind of like we, we've, we're not going to trust them until, until they're, you know, they basically got their hands on the trophy. Just my other one other point I want to make on this game. I think on a, on a notebook of places I'd least like to be. A six yard box from an attacking Arsenal corner. My God, can you imagine how claustrophobic. It just looked awful. I was just thinking, oh wow.
- [11:32]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, no, it's a right. It's a tube at rush hour, isn't it?
- [11:35]
Max Rushden
Yeah.
- [11:35]
Robin Cowan
Oh yeah. 8:45 and no one making eye contact. They're all just pushing and pulling each other without looking at each other.
- [11:45]
Mark Langdon
Someone says, can you all move down? Can you all move down please? And you're all thinking it but no one says it.
- [11:51]
Will
You're.
- [11:51]
Mark Langdon
You're absolutely right. I suppose the way of. I suppose will the nature of the defeat because when they get it to two, two from a corner like that, you think there's only one winner here. And like when that. When Kunya scores. Nobody wants to see Ian Wright sad, right? There are lots of listeners who wouldn't mind Arsenal messing this up. But no one wants to see righty righty sad. I would say. Well, Arteta has been impressively calm this season. Whenever there's been a setback and there haven't been many and I thought he was again this time.
- [12:15]
Max Rushden
Well, this is it. Say they are in the dominant position. They do have a very good squad. I mean you watch them against Interim midweek they made seven changes and pretty easy beat a very good Serie A team. These moments happen and we're looking at it and it is, it's a negative at the moment. Two points from nine. That is bad. When you top of the league and you win, they've got the upside that City are so inconsistent. I don't think anyone's really backing them at the moment to put a run together, but obviously they do have that capability. The main thing here is just how you react and that's it. If it carries on for another couple of games, then we can start asking questions. Losing at home to United, you've got to say next, next few games, we're going to be at it. Admittedly, midweek, they're playing against Kyra Almighty, where I suspect there'll be some random people in the team. But you know, when, when Premier League comes back next week, they've got to be, they've got to be at it, they've got to make a statement and say, look, we're not bottlers, you know, fine, we've lost a game, drawn a couple, nil, nil, etc, and they've got to change the mindset because I think you look at that Zuba Mendy mistake, he didn't pass it to Rice, first of all. Then the second thing is he could have just opened himself up and he had loads of space to go forward. And it just seems a little bit nervous, a little bit tense that they need to get that out the system and maybe hopefully for Arsenal and their fans that losing a game like this will change it. They'll, you know, they'll think a bit more positively. I think we, we actually do need to be on the front foot a bit more because appreciate how good they are at set pieces, but if someone actually does manage to find a way of stopping those which everyone else will copy, then they, they could be in a bit of trouble. So I think they just need to be a bit more on the front foot, a bit more aggressive and a bit. Take a few more risks. You look at United, you say The XG is 0.72. Absolute stunning finishes from distance and whatnot and obviously a mistake. Maybe, you know, you need a bit more of that, a bit more risk taking that they're probably not having at the moment.
- [14:10]
Mark Langdon
Dave says, what did you make of the Arsenal Liverpool game? Yes, I did announce Arsenal playing Liverpool in the intro to last Thursday's pod and mentioned it again during the pod. Fortunately, none of the panelists were listening to me. Neither was the producer or the exec producer. So say root branch review. It's like basball. Something's gone. We've all gone complacent. Who knows what's wrong with it? But you have my apologies. I did a very mournful social media apology which hopefully Got all the haters off my back but yes look it just shows that.
- [14:39]
Robin Cowan
I hope you weren't photographed out enjoying yourself Matt.
- [14:41]
Mark Langdon
Oh you know Robin, I have at no point was I photographed out anywhere after the hours of 4pm and max.
- [14:49]
Will
It did it showed Max just how forgetful that Arsenal Liverpool game was about two weeks ago that I know yeah it completely slipped your mind.
- [14:57]
Max Rushden
I was more concerned when Matt kept saying about how well stigging a Bjornab would be up against Anderson Anders Limpa.
- [15:02]
Mark Langdon
So hey that it never got better than those times did it? Ben says I think you might be doing an honor slot related voice note I mean it can't surely be that time but look Liverpool lost at Bournemouth. That's joyless unbeaten run is over but perhaps they wish they were still on it. Robin should we be on Ana slot.
- [15:21]
Robin Cowan
Voice note watch yet like that would surprise me a lot. I mean I know it's been underwhelming obviously they had a 313 a very underwhelming 13 match on beat and run that was ended and this felt. I know Liverpool fans felt this was very familiar to them and you've got to say after having fought back from two goals down to lose from a long throw it's pretty. That's tough to take isn't it? In the pissing rain as well. That is really really really tough to take. And yeah and I thought that was a good, good scrambled goal but then you sent us the. The WSL 2 goal the Sunderland winner which was even better. I went on for about 10 minutes then everyone having a swing in the girl. Absolutely glorious.
- [16:00]
Mark Langdon
So fun. I couldn't work out. I couldn't work out Mark if that was a brill from Adley at the end of it or if he just got lucky.
- [16:07]
Will
I know I thought he meant it. I didn't. I didn't realize that was a debate. I thought. I thought it was. Yeah I thought it was an outstanding. I thought it was an outstanding finish just on. On the slot. One of the most interesting things for me is that I I'm not not inside the stadium. Liverpool fans are not calling for slot to go but I definitely feel like there's a large section of the fan base like even regular matchgoers that that are wanting him to leave but don't necessarily want to be that aggressive and make it toxic inside the stadium. And I'm not sure that's been picked up at a national level which is quite surprising for a team of Liverpool size really that I think slot probably should be under More pressure given the way the fans are feeling about him at the moment. Not just the results. The football gone very negative. I know this was a free two but generally speaking he seems to have really lost his way and is unable to turn it around at the moment. Just another mess really from Liverpool. They disorganized, was it six, seven minutes to make a substitution which left them down to 10 men. They're making a lot of mistakes and just don't look as cohesive as they were obviously last season. But I would be surprised if they got rid of him just because he won the league last season. But I'd be equally surprised to see him still there next season.
- [17:27]
Mark Langdon
Well, that's interesting. Surely that gives you some grace, doesn't it? And these players have time to gel. And of course we've talked a lot about Diego Jota like Mo Salah's got a lot of criticism, Will for not really performing. He wasn't great again in, in this game but. But so Van Dyke has. Van Dyke doesn't get criticized because he's a Rolls Royce, but he seemed very much like a Rolls Royce in park, didn't he? Yeah, I'm doing this game.
- [17:51]
Max Rushden
Football is always about little moments. And as you say, he doesn't get criticism because he's seen as so reliable and he, and let's be honest, he generally is, you know, but at the same time he spent the summer trying to find Margue to slot in as a left center back. But yeah, those moments where it wasn't. He wasn't even under any pressure like that's the thing, it's not like someone was, you know, really up against him. He just didn't, he just lost what he was doing and sort of quite confused. And when your captain's doing things like that, when you know he's the spokesperson for the team, he is the leader, you know, he runs the team meetings when, you know, when he has to, when he's making mistakes like that, you must sort of think, oh no, we're, we're in the excrement here, aren't we? You know, he's saying difficult conditions, difficult team and that's it. It's problematic when you, you've got, you know, senior players not doing well and you saw what happened with Salah when, when he wasn't in the team, when he was dropped, he really went for it. I don't think Van Dijk would have napped in the same way, I suspect. But yeah, when you've got senior players not doing their part, people that You've relied on last season you look at all the tight games that Liverpool won it was because van Dijk was really good at the back and Salah had a moment of genius and there was a lot of those A lot of one goal margins and those things make a big difference. Look slots had a lot of problems to contend with. A season of injuries also shows how difficult it is to integrate four new players. It's really hard even if they've excellent because they won't play in the same position.
- [19:21]
Mark Langdon
Although someone would say Sunderland have done it amazingly well. I don't know why it's different but maybe it is.
- [19:26]
Max Rushden
Well this is. Look some of them I've said before on here that some of them really well and that it is the most difficult thing when you've got a whole new squad but I think probably more out and wanting to get quality Liverpool we've got players that probably don't fit into the system as well whereas something ball plays for each position perfectly. So Vert is you know not really found a role yet. He's sort of been moved around left sensor and he's trying to learn what the evil players want because he's clearly an exceptional player. He's got those passes in his head but probably not the players running off to find them and when you buy number nine that's you know now got a broken leg turned upon fit etc it's look it's difficult I think Slot will get to the end of the season and therefore he'll get the start the summer and the start of next season. I think what is telling from Friday where it looked like Robertson was going to go and Liverpool seemed quite happy about it. They thought actually we need him here he's going to stick about because we need experience, we need bodies and we need calm heads in a tricky stage.
- [20:25]
Mark Langdon
Even though maybe they were doing right by Robertson because he deserves to go on his own terms of what he's done for that club. It was really unpopular among the fan base because of how loved that guy is and so I think it is a stroke of luck even if he doesn't play that much football for Liverpool that they've managed to keep keeping mark just on Bournemouth. I mean Dr. Tottenham are amazing aren't they? They don't to West Ham or run Now Bournemouth are unbeaten. They did lose on penalties in the cup to Newcastle but you know in the league they're unbeaten after that victory they've got injury problems as well. I mean like the pass through to Jimenez for that goal is brilliant. And like two injury time wins, you know, against Tottenham and Liverpool in the last few games are just. And suddenly you shoot up the table. They're four points off the European place.
- [21:04]
Will
Yeah, I, I sort of never worried about them when they were dropping coaches is outstanding. You could maybe swap the two coaches. Like to see what he would do at Liverpool, for instance, just in terms of stylistically. Yeah, I think they're a really well run club. They know what they're doing from a recruiting point of view. Will was talking there about kind of integrating new players. Bournemouth lost so many defenders in the summer and so and to top teams as well. So it's been difficult, I think for Iriola and they have conceded a lot of goals, but it's meant for exciting games. They always play on the front foot. They're always trying to score goals. You know, Semenya goes in January and they're still able to beat Liverpool free too. So I think that that's a great sort of effort from them to, to not be in that relegation conversation because I think when you lose that amount of players in the summer as they did, I think lesser teams and lesser coaches might have sort of found themselves in and around that bottom three.
- [22:02]
Mark Langdon
All right, that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll begin at Turf Moore.
- [22:07]
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [22:16]
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
- [22:18]
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.
- [22:27]
Noah
We'll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right. So the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
- [22:36]
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:43]
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.
- [22:52]
Robin Cowan
Love you all do.
- [23:02]
Mark Langdon
Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. As I Burnley two, spurs two, Dr. Tottenham. Not even Dr. Tottenham could give Burnley a win. Will, you were there. And you. In your report, you said Burnley deserved This I only saw the highlights but it looked a bit like Burnley's draw at Liverpool where you know, if Liverpool take their chances, they're out of sight. If Tottenham take their chances, they win this comfortably. Or have I been duped by the edit?
- [23:24]
Max Rushden
Well, I mean if anyone takes their chances and they're out of sight, Max I think. But yeah, both teams had numerous opportunities at times good spells. I think Burnley have performances in them and every post match press conference from Scott Barker involves the phrase fine margins. Unfortunately they're generally on the wrong side of them which is just a difference in quality they have that they don't have. Maybe the killer instincts, et cetera that's required. They're looking very composed and organized considering that, you know, they priced that. I think it's called 23 and 22 for kickoff. I mean you've got to look at spurs where you play three center backs against a team that don't create much. It's very sort of negative. You know, pretty media football. When they did score that was amid their best spell, I'd say this started dominating midfield. You know Dan so or Van De Ven were getting in there to add the extra man and that got them on top of just not much about that team at the moment. You know, Dubrovka did make some saves but there was nothing to inspire much confidence that things are going to get any better. You know, playing against a burning team that, let's be honest, they're going to get relegated. And when you, when you go one nil up again in that spell of, you know, good, good performance really Champions League team should build on that. They should have that ability to go on and kick on and go right fine. We've got this lot. They've, you know, they've not got much about them. No offense to Burnley but they, they didn't. It was sort of similar Newcastle at Burnley a few weeks ago. Although Newcastle are going to win. Heard a bit more about them and just sort of, you know, dropped off. The defense was all over the place. You know, Brosier got through a few a couple of times. There's a bit more invention from Edwards and Anthony misplaced a lot of passes but yeah, Tottenham just couldn't really cope with a Burnley team for long periods and the crowd got on them but Burnley just tired again and you know there is a bit of bottle with Romero and he, you know that header is you know, sort of a big bullet but I mean I'd say a draw was the fairest result. I don't think either team could go away. They'd absolutely dominate Thomas Frank. Thomas Frank might disagree. Sure.
- [25:27]
Mark Langdon
I mean if they can't cope with Burnley, then can they cope with Man City? Man United? Newcastle? Arsenal. Next.
- [25:33]
Max Rushden
Mark.
- [25:33]
Mark Langdon
Are you surprised Thomas Frank is still there?
- [25:35]
Will
Yes, I am. I think the fans have now made it very clear. Like when you lose the away fans, that really is like you feel like it's the end point. But clearly it's not. But you know, I think they nick the Birmingham song of sideways and backwards everywhere we go. When every time the ball was passed backwards. Thomas Frank, your football is shit. Thomas Frank, we want you to go. You're getting sacked in the morning. And this was a point when they weren't even losing some of this. So it's clear that the fans feel like they've got to make this noise and make it so toxic that Venkateshen the new CEO has no choice but to make a change. I think from his point of view, he's thinking he's new into the job. You don't want to just listen to the fans every time something's going wrong. Because you could be in this position in six months time and you do need to give a manager a period to make things better. I just don't think this one is going to make things better. Just in terms of this game. I felt Tottenham should have been winning at half time but conceded another cheat goal and the second half was. Was a mess really. I felt from. From both teams. They're just chaotic football that lacked structure.
- [26:50]
Mark Langdon
Mick says Mark, who would be your pick as the next spurs manager?
- [26:53]
Will
Iriola would be my first choice if he was willing to sort of leave Bournemouth and go to Tottenham in the summer. The obvious answer outside of that is Pochettino to come in in the summer. I'm not sure it will work second time around. I think this is completely different kind of feeling. But until he has another go, I feel like there'll be some fans that will always be calling for him to, you know, to come in again.
- [27:19]
Max Rushden
I think in terms of obviously Frank's failing. Postecoglou won the Europa League, but failed. I mean, they're very different managers. Yeah, that's quite obvious. I think the problems really are also above the coaching. The recruitment's been bizarre for a long time. So I appreciate the fans are rightly upset that the football's pretty mediocre on the Frank. But somewhere recruitment needs to change. A lot of it was what they wanted to say. Robinson. They'd spent so long by an inexperienced Players that were very talented, obviously, but just not consistent enough because that's the nature of human players, that something needs to change and need to have a different mindset at the top. It's great signing, you know, the best 19 year olds in Europe, but it needs to be something else. That team, I mean, you look that they're having to bring in Basuma for his first start of the season after I think he had one sub appearance the week before. Yeah, there's something wrong with that recruitment. It's all. It's just a bit all over the place and I think if you're going to change the manager, that's fine and understandable. But I know, I appreciate direct football's constant fontina, but yeah, something else needs to change in the, in the setup and maybe the only chief exit might, might ponder that and do that to, you know, make a positive step going forward. Because if you just keep changing the head coach and everything else stays the same, then nothing's really going to change much.
- [28:37]
Mark Langdon
Jim says after Oliver Glasner fails to secure an early release from his contract by calling out the board, is he now committing to doing it the old fashioned way by losing lots of games of football? Palace 1, Chelsea 3. And you wonder, Robin, if Palace and spurs could get dragged in, given what happened.
- [28:52]
Will
They are.
- [28:52]
Mark Langdon
They've got a little bit of a cushion. They're on 28 points, West Ham on 20. Maybe that's, you know, too, too drastic a thought, but it is sort of going all going wrong for Palace.
- [29:01]
Robin Cowan
Yeah, it's really sad. I mean, they will finish 12th because they always finish 12th somehow they will though that's where they'll finish. But no, I mean, I think that's not a bad point. Like it could really. It might be forced into getting rid of him a bit early. I'm assuming he won't get a huge amount because his contract was up. So then maybe they could find something to, to, to see him on his way. But no, it is really sad because it's just. What was it like five, six months ago? They were at Wembley lifting the trophy and yeah, I think, I think it's difficult after Glass and did what he did to kind of everyone to get back on board and just forget about.
- [29:38]
Will
Yeah, yeah.
- [29:39]
Robin Cowan
And all right, let's do I don't.
- [29:42]
Mark Langdon
Love you anymore and I never have. And then the next I go, I'm just emotional. It's fine.
- [29:46]
Robin Cowan
Yeah, I didn't mean that really. So, yeah, I think it is tricky. So maybe if, if they can find someone who could come in a bit earlier and be their next. Their next guy. I don't know who that would be at this stage. That's very, very difficult. I mean, they weren't actually that bad in this game against Chelsea. They had their chances. But yeah, maybe again John Fleet Mateta, he was. He should have scored. He wants to go. Yeah, it's all. It's all kind of. Yeah, it's all going wrong. And yeah, Mark Gay is a huge mess. He's such a classy operator. And yeah, no win in 11 now after such a great start to the season. So, yeah, it's just really sad because. Because it just seems like palace all the time, they. They usually sell one player per summer. Someone really, really great to watch, like Elise Ezra. But now they've gone a bit too far and maybe, yeah, they just need to rethink things a little bit.
- [30:38]
Mark Langdon
Poor old Brennan Johnson. What do you make of the palace situation?
- [30:40]
Will
I think that I think they could get dragged into relegation battle. Mateo wants to leave. Glassner wants to leave. The tiny squad still in the Europa Conference. So the matches will pile up again in the new year. West Ham fan text me yesterday saying, we've got them on the penultimate weekend. So they're thinking, can we get to within three and turn that into like a Cup final? Like Wharton, lack of discipline, getting sent off. Now he misses again. I think if there is a manager out there that they're sort of happy to take a chance on, I would. I think I'd roll the dice because Glass and doesn't want to be there and like the players will be looking around thinking, well, if he doesn't, you know, he's meant to be the leader if he doesn't want to be here, why, why should they run through brick walls for him anymore? And they did last season. The atmosphere as well at Sellers yesterday, I don't know if that was just from tv, but it looked. It sounded really flat for, you know, what would be a big game for Chelsea coming to Sellers. So y big problems at palace at the moment.
- [31:44]
Max Rushden
Water misses that Forest game next week, but obviously the players that are there wondering, well, why do I want to play for this manager that doesn't want to be here? Mateta, clearly they need to sign players and who's going to be that attracted to them when they'll be challenging? I don't know. Bournemouth who have a strategy for when players leave, whereas palace at the moment don't seem to get. He's sort of gone. It's like, I don't know, must be someone we can sign and that's it. If you. Players going, well, I don't. I'll sign now for Glassner for a few months, but then I don't know who's in the summer, he might not fancy me, etc. They're going to struggle to bring players in and especially when, you know. And then your key man's wanting to leave now, Mateta. Yeah, I think they're really in a bit of a, you know, a bit of a tight situation and they've got to sort of make a decision one way or another. They do just go, right, Oliver, you've got to go. We've got to have a bit of a. More of a plan and have a bit of a, you know, the new manager bounce. Because at the moment it just seems short of it. Like Bournemouth lost defenders. They've got James Hill who's come in and been fantastic. He's had, you know, designed years ago and had a couple of loan spells out. Whereas palace, it's just a bit like, yeah, Gay's gone. Someone with that bloke that's been on the bench all season. We didn't really like, he'll have to play and that's it. I mean, it's. Yeah, I know it's a business plan, but it's not. It doesn't seem the most effective one at the moment at Palace.
- [32:53]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. Meanwhile, talking of business plans that we don't know if they're effective or not, Chelsea, like Rossini Robbins had a good start, hasn't he? What Won four out of five. The only defeat was to Arsenal. You know, he's managing without Cole Palmer and I really hope he gets back to full fitness because, you know, that is a. That's a blow if he's really affected by. By his injury. But Esteban comes in and he's a real. He is really fun, isn't he?
- [33:13]
Robin Cowan
Oh, yeah. No, he. Great value to watch. Yeah. No two wins in the Premier League for Rossinia, I mean, against Brentford and Palace, so possibly teams that you'd expect Chelsea to beat. But no, it's been. It's been a very good start. You know, I think he's in. He's sort of in danger of becoming a bit of a figure of fun with his sort of LinkedIn speak. But if he keeps winning, then, then, then. Then that. That's all good. But yeah, it's just so hard to judge these Chelsea managers, isn't it? He's clearly a nice guy and he. He kind of seems like Quite emotionally intelligent. So I'd like him to do well because he seems like he has good intentions, the bomb squad and the concept of that. But yeah, it's just like. I don't. I don't really know what. What this. What. What success for Chelsea. I don't know. Is it signing a load of players and then you know, get. Getting a profit and maybe winning the odd trophy. I suppose that is. I mean it's fine, isn't it? But they're still protest against the. Gets them. The ownership isn't there and so the mood's just an odd one. Just an odd club. Odd club.
- [34:08]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, we've said that a lot of times, but I think it's a perfect answer. Yeah, look, big game against Napoli. Antonio Conte, Napoleon. On Wednesday night in the Champions League. There was Mark some exciting Var Darren England with the biggest, you know, sort of observational off, you know, bit of chat. He's like. It was the first time one of them had been a human and actually said look, let me just. I've got to explain this. Right. And he also did it with a bit of like, you know, like he teased him a little bit because he thought, oh, it's not accidental. And everyone goes, well it's not a penalty and it is a penalty. But it turns out that after all that he was wrong anyway. But, but by all accounts he didn't. He didn't want to give the decision and Var really sort of lent on him to do it about. About you. Canvo's arm being in an unnaturally bigger position. I mean absolutely bollocks was it.
- [34:52]
Will
But the. The twist where he. The accidental and the palace fans start cheering.
- [34:57]
Mark Langdon
He said, I have always been. And you're like, yeah, I knew it.
- [35:02]
Will
But you're right that. But I mean you read the laws and I think you'd struggle to make that a penalty as he as Darren England said it was accidental and his arm was by his side from point blank range as well. Yeah, wrong decision.
- [35:22]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, odd. Look, it's got title bomb because West Ham won and Forest won. Let's do West Ham's win first three wins in a row in all competitions on Nuno's birthday as well. The ready Brett glow will be back after the dying Jedi look that he's had recently. And Robin, they blew them away in the first half. Played some good stuff, scored some good goals. How odd. You don't see that at the London Stadium.
- [35:43]
Robin Cowan
No. Although actually the last West Ham game I did was when they won against Newcastle at the London Stadium. And yeah, they hadn't. I don't think they'd won since It's. Yeah. Again, I kind of. I do think they could. They will stay up. I could. I'd say let's. Let's say they will, because it doesn't. No one will remember this. I think Nuno is a really good coach. He's extremely awkward to interview and talk to because he really doesn't like talking. Well, maybe just me, but like, just generally, he's. He's a man of few. Famously hates Robbie Coward, hates me. Well, I find it quite. It's like getting a blood out of a stone talking to him. But I think he is genuinely a good coach and again, he kind of. He really places a lot of emphasis on. On the mood and trying to get everyone sort of galvanized and things. Somerville scores for the third game in a row. You know, he's had a really stop start time to his career at West Ham. He's clearly a very good player. They've still got Bowen and. Yeah, no, I think. I really do think they have a. They have a chance. It looks like they've, you know, they're investing in January and Yeah, I do rate him. I just do rate Nuno quite highly as a. As a coach. I mean, the best thing about this game was when Fernandez hit the bar and there was a. There was a fight going on during. That was great, wasn't it?
- [36:52]
Mark Langdon
Who was it? It was Mavra Panos and Aldoretti. And it's absolutely brilliant, isn't it? Because they're just doing the rutting stag as this absolutely amazing shot. It's like. It's like they're not actually players. It's like they just, you know, they just come in from like a suburban high street on a Friday night. Exactly. Chin each other while this glorious piece of football is happening around them. It's absolutely amazing, isn't it? I mean, I mean, Willie's Fernandez first strike was brilliant, wasn't it? I mean, to almost get two of those in one game, it's very impressive.
- [37:25]
Max Rushden
It's the standing position. Like there's, you know, you know, when players come onto it, you expect them to absolutely, you know, whack it towards goal. But he's, you know, pretty much stationary, gets out his feet and boom. And, you know, obviously did the one later on and hit the bar. But yeah, it's. It's incredible technique to just get that, you know, your traction engine going with a moment's notice. It's. Yeah, yeah. No Wonder the goalkeeper. I think the goalkeeper's a bit surprised by it. And that's, you know, he got a hand to it for the goal, but couldn't keep it out because, you know, to get that sort, it's not the.
- [37:55]
Mark Langdon
Greatest testimonial for a goalkeeper, isn't it? Surprised by shots.
- [38:00]
Max Rushden
It's like, obviously we go, you know, go back to last, last week talking about xg. These people aren't taking these shots, are they? Because they're worried about it. So, yeah, I mean, obviously the goalkeeper should be surprised. But that's it. You know, these things come to shock. And now obviously the only problem for West Ham is that every time Fernandez gets the ball 30 yards from goal, you know, the London Stadium is just going to shout shoot. And he'll probably oblige and he'll never score another one again. That's the, the sort of general rule for these things. But yeah, no really good midfield. I think without. Got Piquetta in there, maybe there's a bit more structure, maybe that's helping. And it's a useful having strikers on the pitch, which West Ham have not really had for a lot of the season. And yeah, they're heavy reliant on Bowen, but now Somerville seems to have found a bit of consistency. Always one of those players, very, very talented, can do it all, but generally doesn't do it week in, week out. And now if you can, if you can get a run together, then it's, you know, be really positive for West Ham that they can have those two wide men. I'm fascinated to know from Robin if West Ham is staying up, who's going down. So I'm really waiting for it just to, to, you know, pin her colors here.
- [39:06]
Robin Cowan
No, well, no comment. Maybe it'll be two. Just be two. Just be two. This, this year they're gonna change the rules. Yeah, well, I was thinking Forest, but then, yeah, then, but then obviously yesterday they'll beat palace.
- [39:18]
Max Rushden
Next week they'll be fine.
- [39:20]
Mark Langdon
Well, that's it. So west ham are still five points adrift. Forest and Leeds both have 25. Palace and Spurs 28. Bournemouth and Brighton 30. Everton 32. Sunderland this game, 33. Another golfer, Brian. Bobby. Bobby. It was a brilliant goal, actually. Honestly. Try it at home if you're not sure. Just having not done a Mr. Blobby impression for quite a long time, I now do it every time I watch Sunderland and it makes me exponentially happier. Yeah, Forest one, two. Nila at Brentford. Robin. And that is a massive win for, for them. And then in the battle of the Igors, Igor Jesus trumped Igor Thiago this time.
- [39:58]
Robin Cowan
Yeah, I mean, Thiago had a couple of chances. He. He kind of snatched that. Should have, perhaps should have scored. But it was a great goal from him, wasn't it? Love that sort of upper chest control and then, then the volley and then. Great to see a one year also on the score sheet after, you know, the. He's had a tough year. Over a year since his last Premier League goal. Had that collision with the post last season that he stayed on after. I don't know, he's like, yeah, it's really bad. That was really bad, wasn't it?
- [40:25]
Mark Langdon
Yes. It wasn't a nice. It was internal organs.
- [40:28]
Robin Cowan
Yeah. So it was great, great to see him score. But yeah, I was just looking at the xg. Brentford missed so many chances. They, they, they really should have taken them. It was, yeah, it was quite a surprise result, but obviously really, really important one for, For Forest, especially as we said after West Ham's result the previous day.
- [40:45]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. And actually on a one year goal, I mean, I mean it was a sort of real triumph of sort of bustling persistence. But he does this faint and I think it's Coyote slide. You know, Soul Campbell did that slide that went on for about 25 years. It's like that Coyote just slides past all the way. Which was a nice moment.
- [41:01]
Max Rushden
Yeah.
- [41:01]
Mark Langdon
But I mean, actually, Mark, there's been sort of murmurings about Shaun Dice, like they got him too soon. Like you can't have your Sean Dice bounce in sort of early October or whatever, because then it'll go wrong again. But this, I mean, we've talked about it. I mean, five points isn't a lot, but it still looks quite commanding at this stage.
- [41:18]
Will
Yeah, this was a kind of Burnley Ditch type performance though, really, rather than, you know, maybe him being more progressive and now's not the time possibly to, to try to, to, to do that anyway. But this, like, I think this is where he's in his element where like Brentford are. You mentioned Poolis earlier on and they play in red and white stripes and they launched the ball. You know, set piece is the throws from, you know, anywhere inside really the opposition half, like difficult to defend against. But Murillo and Milinkovic, bread and butter to them. That's how. That's the kind of football they love sort of playing. So in many respects that was the perfect sort of manager and team. Like for Dyche, it was throwback to the Nuno, I suppose in time Forest do want to be more progressive on the ball and get Gibbs White into positions and Elliot Anderson playing his football. But you went through the league table a moment ago like they just need to make sure they're still a Premier League team next season. And again, I'd probably be thinking that there could be a change coming anyway because I'm not sure DSCH is going to be that one. That sort of makes them more progressive, I think.
- [42:30]
Max Rushden
Obviously Forest had a really good open 25 minutes and sort of dropped off a bit, but showed that resilience that has probably been missing for a long time. Time and a bit more grit. And Dye has got back to the back five that Nuno had last season. Sells his back in net after the bizarre Victor spell, which we can all forget about after the Villa mistake. And then he's got Aina, who's been out for a long time. Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams. But very importantly at the moment. And the form's turned a bit with Sangare's back from afcon and he's really good and I think that that'll be. That's been very important. He's grown into that role. And yeah, I think they just. They'll grit out the rest season. They're getting signed Luca. We'll see how he gets on. I think our knee probably leave in the next week. I'll be surprised if he stayed and I think they might sign another striker and so that's it. They're going to look to get a finisher that's probably lacked a bit this season and I think they'll probably be all right.
- [43:25]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. And actually Ola Aina does so well for that first goal, doesn't he? It's an amazing. Because I think Brentford are really attacking. It goes on this sort of lung. I'd have to have to sit down halfway through and say, can we all just wait? And then I'll carry on. It was amazing.
- [43:35]
Will
Run.
- [43:35]
Mark Langdon
Anyway, that'll do for part two. Part three. We'll begin again at St. James's Park.
- [43:44]
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [43:52]
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
- [43:54]
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions or even dreaming.
- [44:03]
Noah
We'Ll be talking to X experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
- [44:12]
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [44:19]
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're gonna have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're gonna be right here to help you do em better.
- [44:28]
Robin Cowan
Love y'.
- [44:28]
Max Rushden
All.
- [44:31]
Robin Cowan
We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message.
- [44:34]
Raj
Wayfair's got style tips for Every home.
- [44:37]
Robin Cowan
This is Stiles Mackenzie helping you make those rooms sing.
- [44:40]
Raj
Today's style tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals.
- [44:45]
Robin Cowan
Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table.
- [44:50]
Raj
From wayfair.com Fierce, this has been your.
- [44:54]
Robin Cowan
Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior.
- [44:57]
Max Rushden
Wayfair.
- [44:58]
Robin Cowan
Every style. Every home.
- [44:59]
Will
Home.
- [45:07]
Mark Langdon
Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So back to the top of the table, then. Newcastle nil. Villa two. Matt says. Is it unsustainable for journalists to keep asking if Villa can sustain scoring from outside the box? What would Brazil's XG have been in 1982? Should Socrates have recycled the ball to get a higher percentage chance? Yeah. Their first win at St. James's park since 05, which was the Lebow, Yakir and Dyer fight. They've won more points away from home than any other team in Premier League. They're level on points with Man City. And yet, Robin, none of us are taking them serious. I mean, we're taking them seriously. Like we, you know, it's not a. It's not a sitcom, but we're not, in terms of the title, thinking about them in that sense.
- [45:45]
Robin Cowan
No, it's weird. We still aren't, are we? Maybe we should. Because, yeah, Unai Emery is. He's. He's just a fantastic coach and this was a really, really good win. I do think Newcastle, Newcastle seem to be a team that kind of. I mean, I think they have their chances, didn't they? But they do seem to, like, prefer playing in the Champions League and they. It's kind of difficult for them to sort of raise it again in the, in the Premier League, especially post Champions League. I do think we need to. We need to talk about this sort of sustainability, don't we? Because it's not a fluke now, is it? These are just players with incredible Technique that can do that. You know, this time it was Buendia, but we've seen Rogers do it, we've seen McGinn do it. And I think if you can do it, why not, you know, why, why go for this sort of higher XG shot? Maybe we should sort of look at it slightly differently. Yeah, yeah.
- [46:32]
Mark Langdon
And actually, Mark, if you can, it's not just being able to do it, it's being able to get into the position to do it.
- [46:37]
Max Rushden
Right.
- [46:37]
Mark Langdon
And okay, it requires defenders to back off, but the move that leads up to Buendia having that chance is actually brilliant football.
- [46:44]
Will
Yeah. And having a coach that's not going to tear you apart if you do take it on as well. 13 goals from outside the box. I mean, I would be one of those that said that, that, that is unsustainable even if you've got the quality of Wendia and Rogers. But like they mentioned like confidence, one of them things that you just can't. You can't measure you. You can't have an, you know, xc, can you? For like, you know, for a confidence, sort of expected confidence.
- [47:12]
Mark Langdon
I mean, it depends what C stands for and in what context. I think, I think many of us, many of us can for some things.
- [47:19]
Will
But do carry on when DIA has, I don't know, 10 of those efforts and they all fly over the bar and he's not feeling that vibe anymore. He might not take that shot on because it is happening for them. They feel more confident and, and it's working for them. Like the front four. I enjoyed their performance from, from Villa yesterday. Rodgers is just so good. England have got a number of options in that number 10 role, but I just feel like he's the one that, that if World cup started tomorrow would and should be wearing that shirt and it was an excellent performance. And you're not taking them seriously, Max, never mind us, because I think if you were, they probably would have been second on the running order because you'd be saying Arsenal have lost and Villa are four points behind them.
- [48:04]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, no, it's a really good point. It's a really good point.
- [48:08]
Will
I would be very surprised if they won the league. But the primary aim here is to make sure you're in the Champions League next season. And if Arsenal and City do slip up, then be in the position to take advantage. Advantage. They've got Brentford at home at the weekend again. They should win and, you know, just keep winning and, and see where it gets you.
- [48:26]
Mark Langdon
And actually it makes that Everton defeat even more annoying. Right because that was just. That was one where we all did take them seriously and went well they've won that and they didn't. And you think ah that's really frustrating for the neutrals who really want like a really gripping title race. But maybe I'm doing them a massive disservice. Robin.
- [48:42]
Robin Cowan
Just a stat that really really surprised me on Newcastle. They've not won any Premier League game.
- [48:48]
Will
Yeah.
- [48:48]
Robin Cowan
Gimara has missed in four years since he's been there. I mean obviously he hasn't missed that many but that's pretty. That that's pretty stark isn't it?
- [48:56]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. I thought it was a really fascinating stat. Yeah he's missed nine games for them. Newcastle won north of them and Eddie Howe said I think we missed his ability to pass forward today. And as producer Joel said surely you want more than one midfielder who can pass forward. But actually we talk about with other teams will this inability to pass the ball forward. I suppose it's that it's such an oversimplification. It is that ability when you are up against a tight defense to know you know you are the one who has to play the ball. It's. If you get it wrong you lose possession. So you know it's a difficult to time that to get it right. To be good at it is an incredible skill.
- [49:32]
Max Rushden
Yeah the man to break the lines as they say. Obviously the Gumara's stat is quite ludicrous in its. In its own way but. But I think Newcastle obviously they beat PSV but I appreciate the new one the Overseer. But no great shakes of a side overall they got found out. But I did the Wolves game last week. Never really looked like scoring at a nil. Nil. Did the Burnley game just after Christmas. We're pretty poor in victory speak to Newcastle fans at the moment. They're not particularly happy with how maybe I always think that managerial tenures have a certain shelf life and I feel how might be coming to the end of his. It just doesn't look like you know he's able to sort of keep changing things. And you say you miss one player and it all falls to falls apart and the football's not very. Not great. They're not having it not got a cutting edge and you know if you consider the voltamide and the expense they're not. Not doing anything really. You know he's been quite.
- [50:31]
Mark Langdon
And Elanga as well has been.
- [50:32]
Max Rushden
Oh exactly that. You know you've changed the players that you know appreciate what has done for that football club. But he's got to have a big final four months of the season, I'd argue to justify his position. So, yeah, I think the pressure's on there at Newcastle.
- [50:46]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, they may have no cutting edge, but Joe Linton did manage to injure two Villa players in one tackle. Which is. I think it was one move, wasn't it? It was very impressive. So the Etihad, then City, two Wolves nil. Erling Haaland left on the bench. Lars was talking about this, how knackered he looked and actually that three mark of Turkey and Mahmouche and Semenya looked really fluid and great, didn't it?
- [51:09]
Will
Yeah, they did. Caveat. It's Wolves I know Wolves I've picked up. But I. I wondered why Harland had been playing every game for. For a while. Like I know Mahmoud was away but like he played even against Exeter. Like there were definitely moments where you didn't need to play Haaland or you could have taken him off when games were one quicker and he did look like he needed a rest. It wasn't playing up at his best. And Mahmoud comes in and again, not been great this season. I expected more from Mahmouche, but an important goal there. And you're right, I think Semenya just settled in so well. Actually when you come from Bournemouth small club in comparison to City and Gay. He was talking after the game about all the details you need to learn. So.
- [52:00]
Mark Langdon
Funny, wasn't it? He really genuinely sounded like, my God, there's a lot to do. Yeah, it's.
- [52:05]
Will
It is a bit you that sort of. When you're at school and there's this algebra just going way over your head and you, you. You miss one bit and it's all gone. There's a lot of detail that you need and a lot of players that play for Man City and Pep Guardiola take time to understand what is required of you. And yet Semeno seems to have just picked it up really quickly and a comfortable win. And like they probably wouldn't have expected Arsenal to have lost that game to United. So a big boost for them.
- [52:35]
Robin Cowan
But Ferray Hallam's getting the kicked out of him today by pgmo, isn't he? Is he a max rush, that ref? Yeah. I was gonna say you made a shrine to him already.
- [52:44]
Mark Langdon
Oh my goodness. Well, when for many reasons, one, you know, not a bald white guy from Yorkshire. Absolute heaven that that's happened. But also, yeah, he sent to the screen and I think it's his first Premier League game and he Went, went, no, that's not a handball for me. And, and you know what? I, I, I obviously don't know the handball. I think I do. But I don't want any of them to be given. So I'm not in a position to say I'm self aware enough to know that I don't want any handballs to ever be given. So maybe it was a penalty, maybe it wasn't. But just how great they just went, nah, not for me.
- [53:14]
Robin Cowan
Jog on Darren England's deep in their pocket. Yeah. No, he's, he's jaded, isn't he? I think I just.
- [53:21]
Mark Langdon
Darren England. Darren England was telling him him to go to the school. That was Darren England. And then Darren England the next day, you know, does his.
- [53:28]
Will
Yeah.
- [53:29]
Mark Langdon
Who knows. But I was so delighted that he did it. Well done. To Farah Lamb.
- [53:33]
Max Rushden
Yes. Will, he's the first person to show how the review system should actually work. Is that if that was given, if he gave it first of all and said, yeah, hit his hand, you know, fine. It's probably what, 40 the penalty 60. Not maybe it's one of those. It's subjective. He said, no, I didn't see it in normal time. No, I didn't think it was penalty. Fair enough. If it'd be given the first place. He probably just stick with it and that's it. That's how it should work.
- [53:58]
Will
Yeah.
- [53:58]
Mark Langdon
But as he sensible they'll be flushing his head down the toilet at Stockley Park.
- [54:03]
Robin Cowan
Howard Webb's gonna have him.
- [54:05]
Will
He'll have Northampton next week.
- [54:07]
Max Rushden
Yeah, he'll take his own monitor.
- [54:12]
Mark Langdon
Sent down to League one.
- [54:14]
Max Rushden
Oh man.
- [54:15]
Mark Langdon
But yeah, just on Harland it just interesting stat that he the only striker in Europe's top five leagues who played more minutes than him is. Is Mateta just one in eight there. But see he looked really good, didn't they? Finally Fallen 2 Brighton 1. Harry Wilson Free kick to win it mark. I mean it is. You sort of think the Brooklyn's got to do better, don't you? It was. He was 25 miles away. Maybe he was surprised.
- [54:37]
Will
He definitely should have saved it. But Harry Wilson is. He's not Gareth Bale player of the year. Oh, he's not Gareth Bale. But do you remember when Bale had that that season under Villas Bias when he just shoot from anywhere and it would just go in and like there were a lot of late goals and he was deciding matches almost on his own. Harry Wilson has developed into that for Fulham. He doing like the hardest thing in football to do which is to score goals. He's creating chances. He's just in the sort of best purple patch you could be in. And. And Fulham. Scott Parker was mentioning sort of details and those fine margins going against them. Fulham are kind of the opposite of that, aren't they? Where they're involved in so many tight games and then you've got somebody like Wilson that can decide a match that goes for you rather than against you. And talk about kind of, you know, a few managers leaving between now and the end of the season. Be interested to see what Marco Silva decides to do. I'm sure Fulham would love to keep him, but he might. Might feel like he's time there. He is deserves an opportunity to, you know, push on and get closer to a team that the ambition for sort of major silverware.
- [55:51]
Robin Cowan
I just wonder where that would be where for Harry Wilson just seeing he's 28. So yeah, it's probably like his last maybe last big.
- [55:58]
Will
Oh, I was talking about silver. Sorry Rob.
- [56:00]
Robin Cowan
Oh, silver. Yeah.
- [56:02]
Will
I mean yeah. I won't tempt Wilson away. The fun fans would be absolutely furious.
- [56:07]
Mark Langdon
Well no, I was just gonna say you can see them both going to spurs and it. They're both being a disaster. Like that's, you know, like that's. You could just absolutely see it. There was a. There was a. A very tight Var in this. Where Danny Welbeck was. I mean it is. Where does the shoulder begin in the arm end and T shirt lines and all that. I guess there. You know will. There is a line, right? There has to be a line somewhere. Don't like it would rather Var didn't happen. But that is where the line is.
- [56:36]
Max Rushden
I think that's. That's when you got to. I mean offside was there so people didn't goal hang. I mean mean, you know if someone you know some. That was given pre vibe like. I think the problem is that, you know I. At Burnley on Saturday where Lucas Perez headed one in for Burnley. He's about five yards offside. I. I was about 200 yards ago. That's fine. And it still takes a minute with Var going o well we better look back and you know, you know may. May maybe he'd sort of dug a tunnel and we didn't see it and maybe we'll check for that. It was just stood there five years. He nodded it in. It is what it is with. With the offsides. I guess it was. You know he was by a bit. I. I wouldn't have cared if it was scored if you. You it's one of. It's like Guadal in the handball. If that was given against him, he probably be absolutely fuming. You know, if a City defender had handballed it and then you know, and it was given whereas you know, not being given because it was a wolves defender was absolutely, you know, really annoyed by it. And so, you know, if these things you in the good old days wanted to go for, you want to go against it, it'd be absolutely fine. But yeah, nowadays.
- [57:36]
Mark Langdon
Well, yeah, it does all even itself out over the season. Doesn' play leads tonight. We'll cover that on tomorrow's. Are we on tomorrow? I presume we were on Wednesday and Thursday, but I'm available.
- [57:47]
Max Rushden
Okay.
- [57:48]
Mark Langdon
All right, I will. That's good. Hopefully producer Joel's gonna write Wednesday soon. Otherwise I have to change my plans. We are on tomorrow.
- [57:55]
Max Rushden
Robin, what are you doing?
- [57:58]
Mark Langdon
Are all the Champions League games tonight? No, they're not. They're all Wednesday.
- [58:01]
Max Rushden
They're all a Wednesday. Yeah.
- [58:02]
Robin Cowan
So you'll have to be on Thursday. Yeah.
- [58:04]
Mark Langdon
Oh, so we are on tomorrow. What are we doing tomorrow? This is exciting.
- [58:08]
Robin Cowan
EFL sometimes.
- [58:09]
Mark Langdon
Who knows. I'll find out. We're doing Everton Leeds. There we go.
- [58:13]
Robin Cowan
And the EFL hour.
- [58:15]
Will
And also Arsenal versus Liverpool.
- [58:19]
Mark Langdon
Deep dive on Arsenal. Liverpool too. Good stuff. Anyway.
- [58:22]
Max Rushden
Yes.
- [58:23]
Mark Langdon
Yeah. Okay. I can't do Ian's bedtime again. That'll go down well. Just to say we are getting so many questions about the World cup in the US and it is something of course we'll keep discussing. Keith says should the World cup be boycotted. Chance, as an American please do not come to the World Cup Cup. It's the best thing you can do to help us through this nightmare. Legra. No question. Just please do not come to the World Cup. Please encourage all sensible nations people to boycott as well. Mike, how can a World cup take place in 6 months time in a nation which is in the first stages of a civil war? If government backed param military were executing protesters in any other country that's what we'd be calling it. Why is it different when it happens in the us? So that we are plan to do specials before and while we cover the tournament as well as we did with Qatar and as we didn't do and we should have done with Russia. Meanwhile the wsl. Robin, you were at Stamford Bridge to see Arsen Arsenal beat Chelsea. Massive result there in the title race.
- [59:11]
Robin Cowan
Well, yeah, huge. And then the day after man city beat London City lionesses just in the last minute. So they are now nine Points clear, Manchester City. So they should be winning just their second title in their history, really. They play Chelsea next week, which is it. Which, I mean, it is a big game, but they could even afford to lose that. So, yeah, a bit of a wobble for Chelsea and Sonia Bonpastor. It's been quite surprising. Arsenal were. Were very good. Good value for their win. Couple of very good goals. So, yeah, yeah, it's just interesting. It's kind of the first wob Chelsea in about eight years in the wsl. So, yeah, just interesting times.
- [59:45]
Mark Langdon
And is Patus going to the London City Lionesses?
- [59:48]
Robin Cowan
She was there watching. I mean, that would be. I mean, they, they've, they've signed Delphine Cascarino, who is again, like incredible Galactico player. I mean, it's, it's incredible. Michelle Kang, she's. She's. She's just there in her big sunglasses with her checkbook. Absolutely incredible what they're doing in London City Lionesses.
- [60:06]
Max Rushden
Absolutely incredible. The band playing the Spice Girls for most of the second half and whatnot. I mean, who isn't gonna sign for that club?
- [60:14]
Mark Langdon
No, that is good. That's strong, isn't it? What hits, what hits were they playing?
- [60:18]
Noah
All of them.
- [60:19]
Max Rushden
All of them? Yeah. All the ones I know. All of them, yeah.
- [60:21]
Mark Langdon
Okay.
- [60:23]
Max Rushden
Yeah. So Jim needs to, you know, he needs to learn about football ownership. I think if Old Trafford, how does that work?
- [60:29]
Mark Langdon
Like. Like when a corners come in, you could play. Say you'll be there at the far post just when you want the full timer to go. Stop right now. I don't just. It's hard. You put me on the spot here. Finally, Mbappe scored a panenka for Real Madrid. I don't know if you've seen this in their Tuna win over Villarreal at the weekend. And he said for you. For you while embracing Brahim Diaz, which is he. Let me now not want that. You don't want that, isn't it? It's absolutely not what you want. I'm just going. That is just not. Of all the things, what you could have done is just Julian dixed it into the corner and not said anything to me. You absolute bastard.
- [61:02]
Robin Cowan
I was just healing and trying not to think about that. Thanks, Kilian.
- [61:05]
Max Rushden
And they just unveiled the T shirt. That's Julian Dicks.
- [61:09]
Mark Langdon
Yeah, that would be really nice.
- [61:10]
Max Rushden
Yeah.
- [61:11]
Mark Langdon
Anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. What a lovely way to end. Well, that'll do. Thanks, Mark.
- [61:17]
Will
Thank you, Max.
- [61:18]
Mark Langdon
Thank you, Robin.
- [61:19]
Robin Cowan
Cheers, Max.
- [61:20]
Mark Langdon
Thank you, Will.
- [61:20]
Max Rushden
Thank you very much, Max.
- [61:21]
Mark Langdon
Now, football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens, and we'll be back tomorrow. I believe.
- [61:31]
Max Rushden
This is the Guardian Foreign.
- [61:39]
Raj
Hey, it's Raj and Noah. And we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [61:48]
Noah
Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.
- [61:50]
Raj
But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.
- [61:58]
Noah
We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right, so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.
- [62:07]
Raj
Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [62:15]
Noah
And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.
- [62:23]
Robin Cowan
Love y' all.