Football Weekly – “Spurs see red (twice) while Newcastle and Chelsea serve up a treat”

Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Glenn Hoddle, Dan Bardell, Seb Hutchinson

Episode Overview

This Football Weekly episode dissects an eventful Premier League weekend. The team breaks down the thrill-ride 2-2 draw between Newcastle and Chelsea, Tottenham’s chaotic, red-card-strewn loss to Liverpool, Aston Villa’s relentless form, and handballs, VAR controversies, and off-pitch talking points from up and down the league. The distinctive tone is witty, irreverent and insightful, with each panelist bringing their footballing know-how and personality to the fore.

1. Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea: A Premier League Classic

(Start: 02:20)

• An explosive match hailed as possibly the season’s best so far, swinging back and forth with big moments, missed chances, and VAR controversy.
• Nick Voltimar: After last week’s disastrous own goal in the Derby, he bags two for Newcastle but also misses a sitter that would have put the game out of Chelsea’s reach.
  • Quote: Barry Glendenning (03:00):
    “He has gone some way towards redeeming himself. That goal will haunt him forever … but he seems like the kind of guy who will take it on the chin and in time be able to laugh at the good of it.”
• Debate over Voltimar’s redemption—was his brace enough to silence last week’s critics? Consensus: Not quite.
• Rhys James’ impact: Brilliant free kick, strong defensive tackles but a somewhat understated player.
  • Quote: Max Rushden (10:42):
    “He sort of does these … spectacular things, but not in a very spectacular way.”
• VAR Controversy:
  • Anthony Gordon bundled over by Trevor Chalaba. Referee and VAR see it as “shielding,” sparking panel disbelief.
  • Quote: Max Rushden (06:27):
    "Anywhere else on earth, that is a free kick. I mean, Seb, you wouldn't want Trevor Chalaba to shield like a flock of baby ducklings across the road, would you?"
• Praise for Lewis Smiley—young Newcastle fullback and standout performer.
• Panel’s verdict: Game was breathless and end-to-end. Newcastle left feeling two points slipped.

2. Spurs 1-2 Liverpool: Red Cards & Chaos

(Starts 14:58)

• Spurs lose at home—again—ending with nine men against a misfiring Liverpool who still manage to get the three points.
• Cristian Romero’s lack of discipline: Key discussion on why the captain’s impetuousness harms Spurs' stability.
  • Quote: Seb Hutchinson (15:56):
    “For me, Romero is the story of the game … I don't feel he ever plays the game with a general sense of how's the game going, what's the game state, what would be best for my team.”
• Xavi Simons' red card called "bizarre" and deserved.
• Thomas Frank (“poor Thomas Frank!”) left trying to draw positives from a match where his side's fight with 10 men turned the mood from gloom to “valiant defeat.”
• VAR decisions dissected; general bafflement over the “high bar” threshold for overturning referee calls.
• Memorable moment:
  Max Rushden (18:09):
  “To lose [Romero] would be… Even though he is a bit odd as a leader. I'd love him to go to Athletic because then I wouldn't have to be stressed watching him!”

3. Aston Villa 2-1 Manchester United: Relentless Villa

(Starts 25:42)

• Villa make it ten straight wins in all competitions, seven in a row in the league.
• Morgan Rogers’ “unbelievable” strike opens proceedings.
• Panel discussion: Are Villa real title contenders, or just on a hot streak? Upcoming fixtures versus Chelsea and Arsenal will test their mettle.
• Dan Bardell draws parallels between Rogers and prime Gareth Bale for his recent match-winning displays.
  • Quote: Dan Bardell (28:59):
    “The way he’s lashing the ball in from range at the moment, he reminds me of … Gareth Bale … just a top level player at the moment.”
• Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes suffers a rare injury, with panelists musing over United’s current low expectations.
• Barry Glendenning notes condescending praise United now receive for doing basic things well.

4. Set-Piece Sagas: Leeds, Palace & Calvert-Lewin

(Starts 33:28)

• Leeds batter Palace 4-1, propelled by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s scoring streak (six in five).
• Leeds’ Elland Road home form could be key to survival; Daniel Farke lauded for turning it around.
• Palace’s repeated Conference League hangovers: 0 wins after Thursday nights.
• Olivier Glasner (Palace manager) furious—all four goals conceded from set pieces.

5. Arsenal 1-0 Everton: The Dull Slog at the Top

(Starts 36:19)

• Arsenal scrape a home win thanks to a “volleyball spike” handball by Jake O'Brien; panel finds incident forgettable, game underwhelming.
• Concerns rising about Arsenal grinding out results; City appear “ominous.”
• Controversial non-penalty: Saliba’s challenge on Tiano—usually given in the VAR-era, but not today.
• Quote: Dan Bardell (39:24):
  “In the modern day, it’s one that usually gets given. I will say it’s the type of penalty I hate for some reason … players always exaggerate how they go down.”
• Off-pitch moment: Panel calls out “poverty chanting” by visiting Arsenal fans at Goodison—a recurring, depressing trend.

6. Manchester City 3-0 West Ham: Business as Usual

(Starts 43:41)

• City cruise, with Donnarumma starring in goal and Haaland clinical up front.
• Discussion: City have a formula—world-class at both ends means they’re relentless, even when not playing their best.
• West Ham “accept their fate” from the outset; injuries and AFCON absences compound their struggles.

7. Wolves 0-2 Brentford: Despair in the Midlands

(Starts 47:28)

• Matt Doherty's post-match interview is a new standard in sadness.
• Wolves lose again, Jorgen Strand Larsen’s penalty is “pathetic.”
• Discussion on squad attitude—lack of fight, possible dressing room fractures.

8. Elsewhere:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Burnley: Burnley stop the rot with a late equalizer; Armando Broja praised for overcoming injury woes.
• Brighton 0-0 Sunderland: Little to discuss apart from Ayari’s curious heading attempts (“was he trying to give a ball to row F for Christmas?”).
• Scottish Football: Celtic win late, but Hearts are six clear at the summit. Hearts’ title charge captivates the panel; debate on Rangers’ all-orange kit.
• AFCON: Morocco’s Aabi scores spectacular overhead kick; controversy ahead of next tournament moving to a four-year cycle.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• VAR Frustration:
  “Surely there should be a button for one of the ex-pros once a week to press … and just run in and change the decision!”
  – Max Rushden (07:33)
• On Leeds’ resurgence:
  "If Leeds are to stay up a lot of it’s going to come down to their Elland Road form. … Now it feels like the whole club is back behind [Farke]."
  – Dan Bardell (34:17)
• On “Poverty Chanting”:
  “Some people … insist it’s just banter and to complain about it is snowflakey woke behavior. … But then my mind was changed.”
  – Barry Glendenning (41:47)
• On Matt Doherty’s post-match:
  “He sounded like Droopy. No one has ever sounded sadder than Matt Doherty did at the end of this and it was bleak.”
  – Max Rushden (47:28)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–01:29: Intro, adverts
• 02:20–14:58: Newcastle v Chelsea deep dive, VAR, player analysis
• 14:58–24:44: Spurs v Liverpool, red cards, manager discussion
• 25:42–33:18: Aston Villa v Manchester United, Morgan Rogers, Bruno Fernandes
• 33:28–36:19: Leeds v Palace, Calvert-Lewin, set-piece chat
• 36:19–43:41: Arsenal v Everton, dull but vital, poverty chanting
• 43:41–47:28: Man City v West Ham, City’s relentless machine
• 47:28–54:39: Wolves v Brentford, other PL games, Scottish football
• 54:39–End: Quick notes on AFCON, outro

Tone

Football Weekly is witty, irreverent, sometimes surreal ("would you want Trevor Chalaba to shepherd baby ducklings across the road?"), but always informed and passionate. The panel’s chemistry, teasing, and unique analogies add both depth and color, making the episode accessible and entertaining for newcomers and seasoned football fans alike.

For in-depth Premier League and European analysis (with a laugh), this episode delivers on all fronts—whether you care about who should’ve shielded better, how Matt Doherty really feels, or why Hearts fans dare to dream in Scotland.