Football Weekly: Premier League Thrills while Dr Tottenham Leaves it Late

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Johnny Liu, Lars Sivertsen

Episode Overview

This episode dives into an electric night of Premier League action, with the panel unpacking dramatic late goals, controversial red cards, managerial pressure, and poignant off-field moments. The team covers Newcastle’s rollercoaster victory, Tottenham’s ongoing woes, Fulham’s derby triumph, Chelsea’s discipline crisis, Manchester City’s stumble, and more. The tone is classic Football Weekly—witty, insightful, and at times laugh-out-loud.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Newcastle 4–3 Leeds: St. James’ Park Magic

Timestamps: 00:48–05:49

• Wild match with two goals in injury time—an “advert for the Premier League.”
• Commentary on Managerial Pressure Shifts:
  “One goal, suddenly the whole picture changes. Maybe that means the picture was wrong to begin with, I don’t know.” —Lars (02:05)
• Harvey Barnes shined, scoring and continuing his “strange” scoring record against Leeds.
• Sympathy for Leeds, who had been on a great run but lost in gutting fashion.
• Emotional backdrop: Touching messages of support for club legend Kevin Keegan after his cancer diagnosis.
• Mention of Terry Yorath’s passing, adding to a somber news cycle.

“A brilliantly entertaining game. Newcastle fans got the result they wanted, but you feel hard done by if you’re Leeds.” —Barry (04:28)

2. Dr Tottenham Leaves it Late—And Drifts

Timestamps: 05:49–17:08

• Antoine Semenyo’s epic 96th-minute winner and emotional goodbye lap as he heads for a transfer.

• Importance of fleeting stars for smaller clubs discussed with warmth.

• Thomas Frank and Tottenham’s continued mixed form (“not a terrible performance,” but “the vibes were in the negative”).

• ‘Coffee mug’ optics: Frank filmed drinking from a mug with an Arsenal crest; panel finds it trivial but notes “optics are not ideal.”

• Post-match discontent: Christian Romero’s Instagram post criticizes the club’s leadership:

  “At times like this it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t. As has been happening for several years now. They only show up when things are going well to tell a few lies.” —Read by Max (12:29)

• Spurs in almost exactly the same league position as last year; lack of attacking threats underlined:

  “It’s harder when you don’t have any goals in the team… It’s a much harder trick to pull.” —Johnny (16:00)

• Tribute to former Spurs legend Martin Chivers who passed away.

3. Fulham 2–1 Chelsea: Derby Drama and Chelsea’s Discipline

Timestamps: 18:42–25:02

• Harry Wilson praised as “one of the best players in the Premier League at the moment.” (19:01)
• Another reckless Chelsea red card—Cucurella grabbing Wilson’s arm.

  “He just dropped to his knees, arms out like Willem Defoe in Platoon.” —Barry (21:12)

• Chelsea’s red card crisis: 5 in 21 league games, 7 in all competitions.
• Chelsea’s lack of mature presence and a culture that’s “desperate, individualistic, and immature.” (Johnny: 23:10)
• Fulham’s Jimenez lauded for his vintage striker’s goal and post-injury bravery.

4. Manchester City 1–1 Brighton: Title Race Slips

Timestamps: 25:02–29:21

• Three draws in a row for City; Arsenal threatening to run away with it.
• Despite returning starters, City lacked conviction.

  “Foden had six good weeks, maybe… Brighton just kept passing them the ball... and Haaland misses from two yards.” —Johnny (26:05)

• Haaland’s struggles reflect City’s drop in form; described as “getting a little yippee.”
• Praising Brighton’s chances and City’s defensive fragility despite a “return to 2022-23 City” in playing style.

5. Manchester United 2–2 Burnley: Tactical Debates and Solskjaer Rumours

Timestamps: 29:45–37:24

• Fletcher’s debut as caretaker manager; United let Burnley in for a late draw.
• Ongoing system debate: Is the three-/four-at-the-back argument a red herring for United?

  “It’s so much more about individual errors and players not tracking back than systems.” —Johnny (31:11)

• Benjamin Sesko scores twice but discussed as a “work in progress” with expectations too high for young signings.
• Solskjaer linked with a return:

  “He does genuinely love the club in a way very few people in the football industry do... I think it’s kind of sweet in a way.” —Lars (34:30)

• Risks of a “caretaker bounce,” and what that could mean for managerial appointments.

6. Everton 1–1 Wolves: Red Cards & Resilience

Timestamps: 37:56–42:32

• Everton finish match with nine men: Michael Keane sent off for a “classic” hair pull, Jack Grealish for sarcastic applause.

  “You can’t beat a good hair pull, can you? Straight out of kindergarten.” —Johnny (37:56)

• Wolves unlucky not to win; Pickford’s late save crucial.
• Praise for Wolves’ young star Matthias Manet and for resilience from both sides.
• Strand Larsen discussed as a solid, if overshadowed, number nine option.

7. Brentford, Palace, Miscellaneous

Timestamps: 42:55–47:33

• Thiago’s red-hot form: “16 is the most a Brazilian has ever scored in a Premier League season.”
• Brentford’s rise to fifth: reflection on their improvement and philosophy. “He’s strong, he’s quick, got good touch for a big man. Two-footed—he’s really impressive.” —Barry (43:36)
• Panel chuckles at missed penalty antics and grumbles about over-the-top media criticism of players.
• Crystal Palace 0–0 Aston Villa: quickly summarized as a “meh” fixture; “some games are just a good matchup for them” (Johnny).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fleeting stardom at smaller clubs:
  “These players make memories that last for decades and generations.” —Johnny (08:00)

• On the value of emotional narratives:
  “The atmosphere... is one of those football clichés that I suspect does live up to its name.” —Lars (02:05)

• On Chelsea’s immaturity:
  “You can see that urgency, almost that kind of desperation and also that the individualism... these red cards are for basically very selfish acts.” —Johnny (23:10)

• On social media after matches:
  “If you’ve just lost quite an emotional game, no posting from the team bus... maybe put the phone in a box and throw away the key.” —Lars (13:13)

• On defensive tricks:
  “There’s a slightly snide streak to [centre-backs]... if the chance avails itself to just grab someone’s hair, you know, you just try and get some leverage.” —Johnny (38:30)

• On Solskjaer:
  “He has a kind of selfless affection for Manchester United, almost like that of a fan.” —Lars (34:30)

Important Timestamps by Segment

• Newcastle 4–3 Leeds: 00:48–05:49
• Dr Tottenham/Bournemouth: 05:49–17:08
• Fulham 2–1 Chelsea: 18:42–25:02
• Man City 1–1 Brighton: 25:02–29:21
• Man Utd 2–2 Burnley, Solskjaer: 29:45–37:24
• Everton 1–1 Wolves: 37:56–42:32
• Brentford/Palace: 42:55–47:33

Tone & Style

Football Weekly remains irreverent, sharp, and affectionate. The panel blends deep football analysis with jokes, cultural references, and the reliable running gags (e.g., Dr Tottenham, “limbs,” terrible post-match social media, and club DNA). Tributes to football figures are delivered with respect, and there’s just enough silliness to keep the pace brisk and engaging.

Perfect for listeners who love a mix of tactical debate, genuine sentiment, and classic football banter.