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

Summary

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

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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.

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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.

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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!”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Max Rushden]

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[Max Rushden]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. A weekend of decent games that confirmed a lot of what we already know. Arsenal keep getting the job done, City look ominous and Aston Villa are going to win every game for the rest of time. Also giving us a chance to talk about Morgan Rodgers versus Bellingham yet again. Newcastle and Chelsea are inconsistent even in the same game. Is a brace here enough to offset that own goal last week for Nick Voltimar? Brackets? Probably not. Then to spurs who lose at home again, nine men and Liverpool still tried to give them something. Xavi Simmons with a silly red, but surprised about Romero. He's just not that kind of player. Dominic Calvert. Lewin can't stop scoring and Wolves are very sad. Elsewhere, AFCON begins and Wilfred Nancy gets a win. We'll do all that, answer your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Week. Cleave. On the panel today. Barry. Glenn Denning, welcome.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Hi, Max.

[Max Rushden]

Hello. Dan Bardell.

[Dan Bardell]

Hi Max.

[Max Rushden]

And welcome Seb Hutchinson.

[Barry Glendenning]

Hi Max.

[Max Rushden]

So let's start at St. James's Park. Probably the the most fun game of the weekend. There are a few to choose from. Newcastle 2, Chelsea 22 for Voltamarana. Brilliant free kick for Rhys James. That brilliant first touch from Joao Pedro before he went on and scored some controversial refereeing decisions which will take part of this pod, I imagine. Barry, we were discussing yesterday, do the two Nick Voltimar goals. I mean he needed something after the Derby catastrophe but. But do they exorcise the demons of last week?

[Glenn Hoddle]

I don't think so. I think the commentator or maybe the co comms mentioned redemption for Voltimada after his first and I'm thinking nah, he's got to do more than that to redeem himself from scoring the only goal against his own team in a time we're Derby. And he did do more. He scored a second but crucially he missed a third. A sitter which would have, you'd imagine put the game beyond Chelsea. It was two nil at the time. He had another chance. Not as easy that he'd also missed. So I. I think he has gone some way towards redeeming himself. I don't think the two misses are quite enough to cancel out the two goals. But he could have put this game beyond Chelsea and didn't. So he. He has gone some way towards redeeming himself. That goal will haunt him forever. On a personal level and for all his time on Tyneside one imagines he probably meets quite a few Mackims in his day to day activities. Whether it's going to do his big shop or walking around Tyneside or going visiting local tourist hotspots and amenities or whatnot. And he will constantly be reminded of that. 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. Yeah, I think this game overall draw seems fair. Newcastle will see it as two points dropped, another two points dropped because they should have had the game more or less won by halftime and they didn't quite do enough to win it by halftime. You mentioned the refereeing decisions. I presume we'll get to them at some point.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, yeah. Well you know I was just thinking is a big shot bigger if you're big for completely stupid idea but the big shot for Volta Mara's really big shop, isn't it?

[Glenn Hoddle]

Well I. I'd imagine it might be trickier for him because it would take longer because he's so tall. Little old Geordie women will be asking him to pick things off the high shelf for him.

[Max Rushden]

But also he'd have to ask little old Geordie women to bend down to get the things at the bottom. So if you're right it'd take forever I think. I don't know what you think Dan. I think Barry might be.

[Barry Glendenning]

That's.

[Max Rushden]

That's hat trick chance because his second finish was so good. I think the third Chance isn't a sitter. I think he probably should score. But I don't think it's that straightforward. I don't know what you think.

[Dan Bardell]

Probably along the same lines as you. I think he's set himself a high bar with that. That second finish because it is a lovely cushioned finish. Into the back of the net and then the form is on. At that point in the game you expect him to put away that big chance. And really the. The game swung on that didn't it? It was a monumental opportunity. And if Newcastle go 3 nil up. I don't think Chelsea go and do what they did in. In the second half. But Newcastle left the. Left the door ajar and Chelsea resp. Well it was a. It was an excellent game. I really really enjoyed it. It was oh maybe a bit of reason to bias for me. But nothing else is leaping out of me that my favorite game I've watched so far this this season. At the end of the game it was just end to end. And you really thought that someone was going to nick it and someone was going to win it. Evidently nobody did. And it. And. And it ended too too. But I just thought it was a fantastic fast tempo game that. That I really enjoyed. And Anthony Gordon. I know he went off how he's not picked up the man of the match in that game because he was like a rabid dog. Particularly in. In the first half. Just chasing after everything. He was a man possessed.

[Max Rushden]

Well maybe he could have been a bit stronger when Trevor Chalaba just shielded the ball out of play for that. How's that not.

[Dan Bardell]

How is that not.

[Max Rushden]

I I honestly. So. So. I mean we'll get. We. Let's get to it. Eddie House is anywhere on the pitch it's a free kick. I say anywhere else on earth that is a free kick. The Premier League match center right next. The referee's call of no penalty to Newcastle was checked and confirmed by var. With the contact from Chalaba on Gordon deemed to be side to side in a shielding action and the ball within playing distance. I mean Seb. You wouldn't want Trevor Chaliba to shield like a flock of baby ducklings across the road. Would you like it? It's so blatant. Is it too a foul?

[Barry Glendenning]

Maybe you just want him to if he's blocking the car so.

[Max Rushden]

Well that's true. Yeah. If he's blocking the car. But it's too. Is it too obvious a foul? Like it's so obvious from a VAR.

[Barry Glendenning]

Point of view from the referee's point of view when I first saw it and I was actually at Stockley park when it happened. And it's funny when these contentious moments happen because the building swells because everybody in the building knows that the refs are in the building. So this is these noises, these groans and. And. But obviously you're not allowed to go into that room and. And interfere.

[Dan Bardell]

Obviously you should have done sepi. I think that. Well, I think that warranted it.

[Max Rushden]

Surely there should be a button for one of the ex pros once a week to press the button and go, you've never played the game and just run in and change the.

[Barry Glendenning]

I was actually watching the game with Don Hutchison and he was. He saw. When we first saw it, we did that. Oh, at first, but then the referee, we thought, oh, maybe, you know, and then you see the replay and the idea that he's shielding the ball is. Is quite, Quite unbelievable. I think I. I'm trying to put myself in the position of the var on why. Because I. I'm trying to do this so hard. Why are they not telling the referee to refer and look at their screen for that decision? And the only thing I can think there must be when they look at the laws of the game and he. Does this fit into this bracket of shielding the ball? Because we see players do this all the time, shepherd the ball towards, you know, out for a goal kick. So where is. Where's the line?

[Max Rushden]

That ain't shepherding.

[Glenn Hoddle]

He didn't have the ball, actually. Gordon had the ball.

[Max Rushden]

That's a good point, Barry.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah, sorry, I don't. I don't think we've dug deep enough into why Seb was at Stockley park watching this game with Don Hutchison.

[Barry Glendenning]

Oh, gosh. Conspiracy theories. Why was I there?

[Glenn Hoddle]

Is this regular Saturday behavior for you?

[Max Rushden]

I mean, there is a really. There's a really boring answer to this.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yes.

[Max Rushden]

Where Premier League productions are.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

It's not just. You don't just get a day out like a viewing gallery at court where you can watch. I don't know what's the watchman, Sam Barrett, making VAR decisions or whoever it was.

[Dan Bardell]

They don't only let in the people with the surname Hutchinson as well.

[Max Rushden]

Only.

[Boost Mobile Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Barry Glendenning]

No, let me just correct everybody here. I'm Hutchinson and he's Hutchison. Yeah, he doesn't. And, yeah, you see, this is. This is. And this is why I get referred to as Hutchison sometimes. And he said he. Actually, I think he told me the story that even the kit man, I think it was when he was at Everton. They printed it as Hutchinson and he just went with it for the season. Now I need.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, why not?

[Barry Glendenning]

I need somebody to call that out if that's true. But I would say is sometimes if your name's spelled register, I'll just go with it as long as I'm scoring the goals. I just wanted to say, when Dan said it was game of the season, I mean, we've just had the week with Man United, Bournemouth, I think it's.

[Max Rushden]

That's true.

[Barry Glendenning]

Brave. Brave that.

[Dan Bardell]

I don't look at that as being. Being good football. I looked at this one as being. Being good football. I look at that, the Bournemouth one. It's chaotic football. This was more pure.

[Barry Glendenning]

No World Cup Final wasn't there.

[Max Rushden]

You make a good point. That was silly. And this was breathless. This was exhausting, wasn't it? It was really. Was the game finished and you retired on your sofa? Lawrence says, just checking if Barry's put his name down for football editor Marcus Christensen's corner office after the latter's firing for excluding Rhys James from the top 100 best footballers in the world. It wasn't all Marcus's fault, of course. A lot of us had a vote. It's a brilliant free kick from Rhys James. He also makes that brilliant tackle at the end, which some people thought was the foul. But he. I wonder, Barry, if he. If he's underrated because he's. He sort of does these. He can do spectacular things, but not in a very spectacular way, if that makes sense.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Well, I mean, that was an undeniably spectacular free kick. How could he have made it more? No, he doesn't celebrate enough or he doesn't.

[Max Rushden]

Does he thrill you, like, as a footballer, like. He's clearly brilliant. But are you thrilled? Thrilled?

[Glenn Hoddle]

No. No, I'm not and I don't know why. So it's a good question, I suppose, because I think maybe it's something to do with the fact that he. He's seems to be injured an awful lot. So he flits in and on and off my radar when he is playing, you just expect him to be good. I kind think I raised an eyebrow recently. He was going, oh, this is interesting. When he. He gave a brilliant performance playing in the heart of Chelsea's midfield, which I don't think I'd seen him do that.

[Max Rushden]

Against Arsenal, I think. Was it?

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah. Was it? I can't remember. That's how impressive it was. Look, if it happened before the last tranche of games, it's gone out of my head. My Memory banks are only so big.

[Max Rushden]

Hey, you're full up. Get some more disc. Get some more disk space. Pay a bit more for the cloud barriers.

[Glenn Hoddle]

I need to plug in my hard external hard drive and flip through.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah.

[Glenn Hoddle]

It is a good question. I mean he is an undeniably excellent footballer. I don't know why. I think I'm just, maybe I'm just used to him. He's always good. He never seems to have a dip in form. So he's either playing and playing really well or he's injured. There's no kind of middle ground. Yeah. I don't know. I'd have to think about it.

[Herobred Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

And I suppose maybe it's a legacy of being a right back to begin with. And now he's sort of a bit more all action. And so you sort of categorize someone as a right back. I don't know. But it's a brilliant free kick. I, I, I wonder, Dan. I think that touch from J. Pedro is so brilliant. Like, like if he dragged it out of the sky with his instep. Everyone's, you know, it's slow motion memes, but because it's sort of on the head, perhaps visually it doesn't look as good. But to control a long kick from a goalkeeper and basically put a defender on his ass while he's doing it is incredible.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah. Robert Sanchez will get the assist for that. But I would say that Joao Pedro has got the assist and the goal by the way that he's got that. He's put himself through on goal with that touch. It's a, it's a majestic piece of plan. He's not exactly been, been thriving in front of goal. You wouldn't expect him to be, to be full of confidence. Chelsea have been a bit bitty themselves recently as well. But the way he's put himself through is, is absolutely brilliant. It's, it's an unbelievable touch and a great bit of skill.

[Max Rushden]

And then said we had Harvey Barnes. I was waiting for the net to burst when he smacked that volley. And then he's through and Rhys James pull but didn't pull him back enough for it to be a free kick.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah. You mentioned about Volta Marder's miss, but I actually think when the game was at 2 2, Newcastle had a fair few chances to win that. I think a Langer who seems to be short of that confidence to try and go past a player or to, to force the issue. And I feel like the Newcastle fans are getting on his back a bit about this. I think they've noticed this in his game. And then Harvey Barnes. Yeah he had. He had a couple of opportunities to win the game. And I suppose that feeds back into what Dan's saying about that match was that towards the end he did feel that any side could have won it really. But Newcastle will come away from that burning a bit more than Chelsea because they needed. I think they need a win and they've been bitten so hard this season at home against other big sides that they felt maybe this was this the one where we're going to beat one of these teams and then kick on. But it wasn't the case. And it probably sums up both teams season at the moment.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Newcastle have dropped 13 points from winning positions now. They're really struggling to get the season going. I think if we were seeing singling out Rhys James for praise we should probably also praise Lewis Smiley who played it right back for Newcastle in this game and was brilliant. And he's still just. Just a child basically.

[Barry Glendenning]

The Rhys James debate, I think what it is is he just does most facets of the game quite well. And it's a bit like the Philip Lahm, you know, Joshua Kimmich type player where they just what's their weakness? They don't really have one. But then what's their strength? You can't say. That's probably why. That's why they could play in multiple positions. They're just that kind of player, aren't they?

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. You don't pay to see Josh Kimmich. But maybe you. I mean you do actually literally do figurative.

[Barry Glendenning]

I don't.

[Max Rushden]

I don't literally.

[Glenn Hoddle]

But yeah.

[Max Rushden]

No, of course not. Spurs 1 Liverpool 2 Aiden says what's ruining your life more? Watching spurs or watching England play cricket? Moonlight hanger. Were Romero and Simmons a little bit too keen to get Christmas off through suspension? And Neil says are spurs trolling their own players with those ads on the pitch side hoarding saying it's classic Tottenham. You were commentating on this one, Seb. I mean this was really for a neutral I imagine quite a lot of fun. Odd. And at the end of it Tottenham lose another game and Liverpool don't look very good at all but still win.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, it's a game that kept coming up with little surprising moments but unsurprising in the grand scheme of these two clubs at the moment. And it's just we always talk about sad manager cutaways. I feel really sad when I see Thomas Frank on the sides after something's gone wrong because you feel like he's the Sort of person who gets into his mindset. I will not be brought down by anything in the game, but he must be watching these things.

[Max Rushden]

I mean, taking the spurs job was a mistake, if that's what he wanted.

[Barry Glendenning]

Well, yeah, we don't, yeah, we don't get into that. But of course, the Romero. For me, Romero is the story of the game. Because it's so many different points in the match. I don't feel he ever plays the game with a general sense of how is the game going, what's the game state, what would be best for my team. Early on in the game, he swore at the ref a couple of times. And I, I, I did point out that wearing that captain's armband gives you some license with the referee to, to communicate with them. But I thought not this much license. And I, at all times the referee's probably thinking, just give me one reason to get you off this pitch. One more reason. Just one more. And he did give it in the second half. A, a chaotic game in many respects. I think what Alexander Reac, I mean, to be on the bench, then come on, then be injured potentially for a while in such a short space of time, to happen so quickly again, that feels like that sums up his time at Liverpool so far. Xavi Simons, you think, right, he's, he's on to something now. He's into form and then that challenge. And obviously you're going to go into these things in detail, but overall, just Romero for me was the story of the match. I feel that I make jokes about it, but there has to be a serious question asked. What is the purpose of having that attitude on the pitch? I think maybe if everybody else in the team buys into that, then maybe you can get away with it because you get a yellow and then another player gets a yellow and you mix it up. But the rest of the spurs team just doesn't feel like they're, they're in that mode with him. I mean, Bentoncourt gives it a go every now and again, but I just don't think that anybody else buys into it. So why isn't anybody saying to him, just, just calm down, just, yeah, it's okay.

[Max Rushden]

I think you're right. I mean, I think if everyone else buys into it, you might have no players on the pitch. It felt like a game where you were like, this guy's definitely gonna get of. And look, I called him a donut the other day and in a sort of loving way, like, he clearly brings something to that team. He brings something to Argentina Right. That they, they, they love him. I don't think spurs have got some natural leaders so like I'd love him to go to Athletic because then I wouldn't have to be stressed when I was watching him. But also that's his spiritual home. But I think Tottenham don't have any leaders. To lose him would be. Even though he is a bit odd as a leader. I, I don't know what you think, Dan. I thought both teams were not great, but spurs were slightly better than Liverpool until Xavi Simmons went through Van Dyke.

[Dan Bardell]

It's a bizarre challenge, the state of the game as well because it was referenced on matches on Match of the Day. I think Joe Hart said it that you know, it's his international teammate. He's not deliberately going out to, to do something to Van Dyke. But it's a strange movement and a strange motion towards him and it. Look, it's a, it's a red card. It was an odd game. I watched Match of the Day back last night and the first highlight from the game was the sending off half an hour in. There was nothing before that. But when you're watching it live I didn't feel like it was a poor game up until that point. But bizarrely there was nothing to pull out of note before then to put, to put in the highlight highlights package. I thought spurs would be quite well with 10 men if I was Thomas Frank. You know, he's a positive guy anyways and he. You could find maybe some encouragement from the, the way spurs played and the way they, that they pull together. But at the end it's just a complete lack of discipline all around. Benton Kerr's made a challenge in that game as well. Even Richarlison when he scores, he's looking for a straightener with, with anyone he can find when, when he's put the board in the. It isn't he. You know, he's. He was a bit Romero like when he scored that goal. Spurs conceivably could have lost even more players in, in that game and they're just a, they're just an odd team. I feel sorry, I feel a bit sorry for Thomas Frank because I think maybe at the start of the season when they started okay, people thought they'd just be okay be. Be top six, have a decent cut run maybe and be a little bit more stable. But it is looking more and more like the kind of postecoglou era, isn't it? Which points to me that there's just wider problems at the club than the manager.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

I. In a way, Barry, I think that red card, the sim I might help Frank because the team fought for him even if they took it a bit too far. It looked like the fans were a bit like, hey, look, we really gave it a go. It was kind of valiant defeat, which is better than sort of pathetic defeat, isn't it?

[Glenn Hoddle]

The first thing I'd say with regard to what Dan said about Simmons not setting out to injure his international teammate and captain is that the Netherlands dressing room is famously fractious. So there's every chance he was setting out do him a mischief. I think Frank gets a pass for this one. And in a way, like you say, Max, the Simmons red card may have helped him. Because the reason no highlights were plucked out of this is because the Simmons red card was the first thing of interest that happened in the game after what, 34 or five minutes. Because both teams were being incredibly cautious. They both taken eons over goal kicks. And you know that thing where the goalkeeper split the two center halves and they fanny around for ages trying to. Emmy Martinez is a master of it, actually trying to draw in opposition players, but the opposition players weren't biting. So that's why there were very few first half highlights. And I think spurs fans, they want results for sure, but they also want to see good football. And what they were being served up until Simmons, and to a point after Simmons got sent off, was not good football. But at least when they were playing with 10 men, they've an excuse not to play particularly good football. But I really enjoy this and I can't. Liverpool's difficulty in closing out games is quite interesting. You know, last season's Liverpool, they go two nil up. They do not lose. They either win two nil or they win by more. This season's Liverpool, I mean, I think they, they were on the ropes there towards the end.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I, I want to say just on the decisions, I as a Tottenham fan felt completely aggrieved about all of them, but also thought perhaps all of them were correct, apart from maybe the Ekatike goal. Like he does have two hands on Romero and Thomas. Frank said, look, Romero gets booked for dissent because he's annoyed that he's been pushed and it's not given. And I think that might be a free kick. I don't know what you think.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, we see these things so often, don't we? I wonder again, this goes down to the line of when the VAR looks at this, how much? Because they, they've basically given themselves this high bar situation. Howard Webb said it at the start of the season.

[Max Rushden]

The high Trevor Cella bar as.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Brilliant.

[Barry Glendenning]

Oh God. I was thinking Denbigh. I don't know why. Yeah. And, and I that because they've set that they have to feel. Is there any debate about this? If there's debate, then we'll stick with the on field decision. That's the tone that they were set for the season. So this maybe falls into that, I guess because there'll be some people saying Romero should be stronger. He should get up earlier. Ekatiga's got the leap on him. That's the thing. I see both sides and I don't, I don't see it as much as a big point to talk about as the chaliba one, I have to say. And in the game it's a strange one. I don't think that's something you pick out either because as Barry said once the game's there for Liverpool to win in any case. And the fact that was the goal that took it to win it. Yeah, we could talk about that. You might not talk about that. But I, I don't know. I don't. I don't think it's the standout moment of the whole game in terms of controversy.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Just one more thing. Just, just one more bit Dan, before we move on, which is quite a lot of Liverpool fans, I presume Liverpool fans got in touch to say, look, that vendor van der Ven challenge on Isaac is dangerous. And because there's a goal quite often if the player takes a shot, then what happens afterwards isn't counted. I've watched it a lot of times and I don't know if that is because of the injury that you look at the challenge again because he's on the ground and his leg does get caught under his leg and I, I think it's unfortunate.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

But maybe I'm slightly biased. I don't know what you think.

[Dan Bardell]

It's one of them, isn't it? If Romero's done it, you might be sat here today saying it's a dangerous.

[Max Rushden]

On the ground if he's doing it. You know, I think he's hip height.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah. I think it's, it's an unfortunate accident, isn't it? And it's. Look, it's going to cause a, a long term injury for, for Isac. It's a great for him to get the goal but then his whole season is just upended and, and ruined as, as the ball hits, hits the back of the net. I think it's just unfortunate. Circumstances, the way Isack's struck the ball, the way that, the way they've collided, I don't think again there's any malice in it for me.

[Glenn Hoddle]

And the Isaac's injury, well, I, I don't know whether this has ever. But Isaac came on for Connor Bradley. So then when Isaac went, went off, Jeremy Frimpong came on for him and then Frimpong lost his head when he didn't quite get elbowed deliberately by Richarlison. So he was replaced by Federico Chiesa. So you basically sub replaces sub replaces sub, which I don't know if that has ever happened before in a game of football.

[Max Rushden]

Interesting you bring that up, Barry, and certainly without any pause in the edit to find out this information. December 2024, if memory serves me correctly, if you all remember the game between Shrewsbury and Northampton, Akin Ademayo was replaced by Liam McCarron in the 58th minute automobile. Just very disappointed to be hooked that early. McCarron got injured, was replaced by Jack Baldwin in the 82nd minute. Baldwin got injured and was replaced by Jordan Willis in the 90th minute. So I remember that. I don't remember the score, I'm afraid, but there you go, it has happened before. And that'll do for part one. Part two we'll be at Villa Park. Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Villa 2, Manchester United 1. Some very good bants from the Aston Villa official account saying that United fan could have had two haircuts. Yeah, ten straight wins. Dan, how was it?

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, I was going to say brilliant. The game wasn't fantastic from a Villa perspective. It wasn't the best showing that we've put on across that, that 10 game winning run. But quite importantly at the moment this Villa team seems to be able to win in, in a variety of ways. They seem to just score great goal after great goal as well. That first goal from Morgan Rogers is a, is an unbelievable strike and we just keep getting results. Seven in a row in the Premier League now, which I think is probably more impressive than the 10 overall given some of them were in the Europa League. Seven games in a row to win in the Premier League is a, is a difficult thing to do. Obviously you're a fountain of knowledge this morning, Max. I don't know whether you know how many teams have won seven games in, in a row off the, off the top of your head, but in the Premier League terms it's a difficult thing to do. When you look at the, the fixtures that Villa have had as well in that time, just flying at the moment and keeping the pace with Manchester City and Arsenal, which ultimately I think isn't what Villa fans are bothered about. But having that little gap now between third and fourth is unbelievable at this stage of the season. Next two games are Chelsea away and Arsenal away. Knowing that whatever happens in those two games will still be third going into 2026 is just an incredible achievement from a brilliant squad and an unbelievable manager. The turnaround from the start of the season when we couldn't hit a barn door is unbelievable.

[Max Rushden]

And that's the thing. You've just been hitting the barn door again. More goal. More brilliant goals. I don't know what the XG on either of them is. The first one, as you say, it reminds me a bit of, I think Harry Kane in a North London derby scored one of those goals where he was out wide and he cut in you like, you know, it's one of those he's got no right to score from there. And one of those where, you know, the player just goes, I'm going to do this all myself. And he's such a brilliant player, Rogers. And obviously I don't watch enough of Real Madrid to know who is a better footballer right now. That doesn't mean who's the better footballer, who's the generational talent? But right now, Rodgers is playing so brilliant.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah.

[Dan Bardell]

And look, Tuchel was picking him when he wasn't playing brilliantly. He had a difficult start to the season. It was a bit over egged what happened at Villa Park. But there was a game in, in Europe, I was at Villa park where he couldn't pass to a Villa player. He just couldn't do it. And eventually in like the 80th minute, he completed a pass and there was ironic cheers. But he's recovered really, really well from that. He's got a brilliant mentality. Morgan Rogers, he's only been playing Premier League football for. For just under under two years. So it's not like he's been playing Premier League football all his life. He was a bit around the houses in the. In the first stage of his career, spending times at various clubs on loan. But he's found a home and he's found a manager that has just eked out the best of him. Unai Emery has picked the best role for him in terms of. I think a lot of maybe managers may have used him as a. As a stereotypical why player. He usually plays as a number 10 for Villa. He's playing from the left yesterday, but essentially he's still a number 10 in, in Villa's system. This might be a bit hyperbolic, but the way he's lashing the ball in from range at the moment, he reminds me of, of when Gareth Bale was having that kind of phase where he was just scoring worldie after world every week. If he wasn't scoring, he was getting assists. They've got a, got a similar frame, haven't they? They play the game in, in a similar way. Albeit Morgan Rodgers is right footed and Bale was left footed of course. But he is just a top level player at the moment and one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League, if not the most dangerous.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, I think I tallied up about 14 shots from outside the box from both teams and Manchester United actually had more than Villa long range efforts. It struck me as a game where for Aston Villa they're on this amazing run and therefore when they face a side like Manchester United, when they've had a bad record against them, there's that tension, isn't there? That's like just looking, we're better, we're a better team than this team, but can we get over? And I think it wasn't so free flowing and it wasn't. So it wasn't such a satisfying win in that way that it was the week before. I'm sure Dan will attest to that. It was probably a bit more tense. It's like just blow the whistle, let's get this game done and move on to the next one. And that is probably the mentality of a team who are playing well and maybe think maybe could we, could we be involved in this title race here? Because they are at the moment, obviously because the points say so. But to stay in it, you have to have a lot of those tight wins, those games where you know you're better than the other team, you don't perform and you get through. Actually, Manchester United have fallen to the point we keep saying where they are, where any nice moment in the game they get praised for and there's that belief that oh wow, actually attacking quite well here. They look quite good. Well, of course they should look good because they spend a lot of money in attacking areas and they've got players who are some of the best Premier League players last season. So that should be where they are. And then to lose Bruno Fernandes who never gets injured and the way he went off was the most protracted time it takes for an injured player to leave the field. It's almost, I, I refuse to believe that I May be missing matches. And I'm also the cap. I'm also the man on the pitch who's there to drive this side through. Even when Roger scored, they have to cut to, you know, close ups of players. And they cut to him. He's almost like, oh, just wanted to get to half time so I can rest this leg, you know, and he's gone and scored that goal. So thanks to Matty Cash as well. And I actually caught. Weird thing about this queen. I watched the first 20 minutes and then I went to watch panto at the local theater, the family. And when I came back, what was on, it was Rapunzel.

[Max Rushden]

Okay.

[Barry Glendenning]

So, yeah, my daughter's giving me a running commentary through it. So that didn't happen in the Disney film. I said, well, there was a story before that. And anyway, and I came back and watched the second half. As in, I recorded it because I'm such a pro. I went to watch second half without knowing the score. So funny enough, I did see something flash up from Barry and I wondered, oh, is this going to be a dig at Dan about the result, or is this going to be a confirmation that they've done well? So I avoided everything until I watched the second half. And I didn't want to shout to Cash, you know, he's behind you. When Kunya slipped into school, but I refused. That was a funny little error in the game. But, yeah, I just wanted to give you a little insight into the. My professionalism there, that I recorded it.

[Max Rushden]

I like the fact that you're annoyed that your daughter is commentating on the. The panto when, you know, a lot of people are mainly annoyed that you're commentating on the football. I guess. Bruno Fernando, that. That injury thing is fascinating. I didn't realize this. He's missed two games to injury and one to illness since he got to United Barry. And like, he's. We've talked about how key he is to this side, so it will be really interesting to see how they get on without him.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah. And the thing is, his reluctance to come off may have exacerbated the injury. So it might. He might be out for longer than he should be because of his reluctance. Interesting. Like when he pulled up, just the whole game stopped, like the ball didn't go out of play. He just kind of put his arms out, oh, my hammy's gone. And everyone just stopped. As if that can't be right. His hammy doesn't go. And then John McGinn just sort of poke the ball out over the touchline when he could have gone on an attack or something. Yeah, he'd be a big loss to United. I mean, I. I think I. I kind of in Seb's camp in terms of Manchester United have to do Very little of note now to be praised incredibly condescendingly. That's the level they're at at the moment. I didn't think they were all that good yesterday. Amarim said they were the better team. Wayne Rooney was praising them to the high heavens on. On Match of the Day last night. I mean, what he said wasn't without merit, but it just seems like they're being praised for doing the basics now.

[Max Rushden]

And I mean, apart from Roy Keane, it was just like they're terrible off the ball, they ain't punished and they should get punished. But maybe that for Roy Keane is his praise in a sense, isn't it?

[Barry Glendenning]

Right.

[Max Rushden]

Lots of games to get through, not a huge amount of time. Leeds for Palace. 1 Johnny says how do you think Leeds will fare in next year's Champions League? It is great, Dan, to see Leeds doing so well. And it's great to see Dominic Calvert Lewin scoring goals.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah, six in five. He's. He scored now. Dominic Calvert Lewin, a real renaissance. Maybe a signing that. That made sense. But Leeds fans when he came in were possibly a little bit underwhelmed. His recent record wasn't brilliant, but when he's at it, we've seen it in spells for Everton. He's a really dangerous player and a hard player to defend against. I think Daniel Farker deserves a huge amount of credit because I think they lost to Villa and it was basically, you've got to do something in the next two games. And the next two games were Chelsea at home and Liverpool at home. And he's kind of rode that storm out. And suddenly Elland Road looks like a really difficult place to go and a place where teams are going to struggle to pick up points. And if Leeds are to stay up, a lot of it's going to come down to their Ellen Road form. But he was walking a tightrope, Daniel Farquhar. And I think he's. He's managed that really well. And now it feels like the whole club is back behind him. The fan, he's back behind him as well. I haven't got the stats in front of me, but his home record is up there. It's up to three the two and a bit seasons he's been there. Their home record is very, very strong. And if Leeds can channel that and Almost keep the feel good that they've got at the moment. They'll give themselves a hell of a chance of staying up and Calvin Lewin now will be what Danny Welbeck was three weeks ago where people are saying oh could he, could he be the backup to Harry Kane at the World Cup?

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I mean David Moyes and Everton fans must be like ah, you know, let this guy go. You know they got better when Barry like a good center forward behind their attacking line when they're all fit in there, you know would be something else. But yeah, he became the only fourth deeds player to score in five consecutive Premier League games joining Viduka twice, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank and Rod Wallace. It's interesting from a Palace point of view Bazin that that they just after they play on a Thursday they just can't do it. They made 11 changes on Thursday but they failed to win a league game directly after a Conference League fixture in seven of eight attempts this season. And Glasner was furious, wasn't it? Because all the goals were from set pieces.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah, when I saw this result I thought oh well it's Palace's second game in three days so you know, it's no big shock that they got beaten. And then I saw that actually none of these starters played on or started on Thursday so it's not really an excuse. The goals that conceded, two from long throws, one with Chris Richards providing the assist for Calvert Lune. One from a corner, one from a free kick. Not good enough. Glassner was clearly furious with his players and he had every right to be. But look, I think palace are entitled to a bad day. It happens.

[Max Rushden]

Let's go to the top of the league then. Arsenal won one. That Everton. The goal that decides it, Seb is, I mean I'm. And I'm a handball denier but you know, Jake o', Brien, it's, it's as Baz said, yes, it's a volleyball spike. Like he even claps to make sure everyone would know what's happening, you know, just to draw attention to it. It's very hard to know what a player is thinking when they. Because you do have to use your arms to jump. I understand that but you don't have to put your arms straight up in the air.

[Barry Glendenning]

I think sometime it's just the idea of when you're a footballer, you're on the pitch, if the ball's near you, you feel I have to touch it and if you can't reach it and you're up there think I've got to. I've got to touch something.

[Max Rushden]

You've got to iron out of your game. You've got to iron that out of your game early.

[Barry Glendenning]

I think that's why I didn't make it. No, I. There's lots of reasons. No, I. I think this. What was weird about this one, not many players appealed it and that was.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Was strange.

[Barry Glendenning]

Obviously the referee didn't notice it. It and only Califiori sort of belatedly went, okay, yeah, it might have handled that. So it wasn't a convincing appeal. They weren't rushing around. That was interesting. But it. I think in a weird way it was quite a forgettable. It summed up the whole match, really. It was quite forgettable. It always felt like a game that was going to be decided by a set piece. Because you thought Everton, with so many players missing, were they able. Are they going to be able to trouble Arsenal too much? But at the same time, because Arsenal are missing defenders or their defensive structure has been affected and they haven't actually played that well, haven't dominated a game really since they beat Bayern Munich. They've sort of got through games along the way, obviously lost to Villa, drew the Chelsea game and then just about beat Wolves and then obviously just about beat Everton. It felt like again, there's always going to be decided by little one moment really. And it was always going to threaten to be a bit of a stinker. I don't think Arsenal will care about that in terms of picking up the three points, but I think there will be a general concern that every game is feeling a bit more of a struggle for them than it is for City. And the next weekend City go to Forest and then Arsenal play Brighton at home. And interestingly, those fixtures then get flipped a few weeks after that. And when you're looking at, you think, well, maybe Arsenal going to Forest, that could be a tricky one for them. But the way City are playing right now, you don't feel the same. You just want to come in. I heard Gary Neville say he reckons around March Arsenal have pulled away. I'm not so sure. I think it might be the opposite, where Arsenal might be trying to play. Catch up then. And we'll find out how fit City are because they did play in the Club World Cup. They are strangely reliant on some big players that are making the difference at the moment. Can they do it for a whole season? Let's see.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Just before we get onto City, I know Arsenal did hit the woodwork a couple of times, didn't they but there was Dan this moment. I mean it's not quite Chalavar on Gordon but William Saliba just boots Tiano Barry. We've seen this penalty given so many times on VR. It's a var penalty. You know back in the day you wouldn't see these given but now you see a challenge like that and you think that's going to be a penalty.

[Dan Bardell]

Yeah. In the modern day it's one that, that usually gets given. I will say it's the type of penalty I hate for some reason I don't know why but penalty always, always really annoys me. Maybe it's the way players always exaggerate how they go down from, from. From that kind of challenge. I think Everton have probably got a got a right to be aggrieved just because I think nine times out of 10 it probably gets given and you may see a similar incident next week in the Premier League and it probably does get given as a, as a penalty. I think it's the inconsistency of those type of decisions.

[Max Rushden]

Oliver says. Never heard it mentioned on the pod or anywhere outside Liverpool and Everton fan circles. High time. The boring and predictable poverty chanting of visiting fans of the majority of clubs when at both Everton or Liverpool games is called out. Yeah. From Andy Hunter's match report there was nothing to report from a tedious opening aside from the pathetic and frequent poverty chanting by the Arsenal away support fair play to the Everton employee who decided to display an advertisement for fans supporting food banks on the Giant stadium screens in response. I think we have talked about, about tragedy chanting before Barry and this is adjacent to that, I guess. And it's hard to know what else to say apart from it's really dumb. I've written about this because when I was about 15 or 16 at Cambridge when northern teams would come behind the North Terrace, there was a song, you know, sign on, sign on with a pen in your hand and you'll never get a job. And I would just sing along because I was an idiot and actually like such as my, you know, man of the people upbringing. I didn't even know what signing on was and I look back and think that's a stupid thing to say but I was 16 so I tend to judge 40 year olds singing this stuff in a very different way to teenagers singing this stuff. But it is, it's pretty depressing.

[Glenn Hoddle]

I won't lie. Years ago I used to think the Feed the Scousers chant was funny just because of the. The Feed the World song. I probably didn't realize poverty was such a big issue in Liverpool and many other cities because I didn't grow up in poverty. As you get older, you realize it's not actually that funny at all and there's no need for. But I think, look, there are some people who think, yeah, look, it shouldn't be sung and there are other people who insist it's just banter and to complain about it is snowflakey woke behavior. And I don't think you're going to change those people's minds. But then my mind was changed.

[Barry Glendenning]

So yeah, it's pretty depressing.

[Dan Bardell]

Poverty is everywhere, isn't it?

[Glenn Hoddle]

It's not exclusively emerging side thing.

[Dan Bardell]

I walk past homeless people on my way into Villa park every single week. Like it's. To kind of eliminate it to being in, in one area as well is just absolutely ridiculous because of the whole country is struggling and has poverty. The state of the country now is horrible and some of the lives that people have to lead. So in 2025, just about to go into 2026 for people to think it's funny, I can't understand that mentality at all.

[Barry Glendenning]

I mean, the strange thing is back when that chant originated, I mean, the price of football tickets at the time would have made it affordable even for people who were struggling for work. I mean, now if you're going to a Premier League game, there's a strong chance you're nowhere near being in poverty for a start. And that maybe the irony of the chant is lost now completely because it's people who are. Have got that disposable income who are singing this song, which it makes it. I think it makes it burn more than it ever did.

[Max Rushden]

I think you're right. On a happier note, Jack Grealish did an effort to do this really well. He went to the school of a little kid who's really struggled, lost his dad and his mum is not very well and he has a way about him which is. Is so charming and warm and beautiful and he can, he can because a lot of players go and do this thing and can understand it can be quite awkward, but he could just go into a school class and basically just fit in seamlessly and he's just a lovely. And he bought the, he bought the kid as a mascot to the game and just credit to Jack Grealish for being a nice person. You mentioned City set. They won 3 nil against West Ham. I mean, I mean, I, I think this, this felt predictable, didn't it? I mean, I, I mean of all the Games to go, huh? Yeah, they won three nil. You know, if anyone can add some amazing one minute of podcast to this Seb then be my guest.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, well, I watch, I watched the game because I'm obviously I was in Stockley Park HQ so I could see the 3 o' clock it's in. I, I think this game with all the, you know, let's talk about the three o' clock thing a lot. The thing with Manchester City is it was the most three o' clock games you could ever ask for on Saturday, by the way. Absolutely incredible. And for most of the first, I think I need to check when the first goal from the other three games was scored but it was a long time into those three o' clocks and Manchester City when they're playing, aside from the bottom half of the table, that game is 99 of the time on at 3 o' clock on a Saturday because people know the way it's going to go. Interestingly though, I think there's probably when you look at City season as a whole, Donnarumma, when he signed, when he made, he arrived at the club when that signing made really late on in the window, I remember thinking, I saw that and thought, oh, this is going to be a huge signing this season for City because Trafford in the first few games there was enough there to think, well, there's going to be games where he's going to make the odd error, he's going to try and fit in, there's going to be time, they're going to drop a lot of points in this game. West Ham seemed to arrive with the idea of we're not getting anything out of this. When City scored in the second half, start of the second half, there was a 10 minute period but West Ham racked up quite a few chances and Donnaruma was just there in the goal and there was no way past him. I think with a Harland Donna rumor situation, those two either end, nobody has that, nobody in the Premier League has that, that in their armory and it just means that City don't have to play well for the all of the game. I mean we're used to them being under pet playing well for most of the game. They don't have to. They can have spells where they're out of the game and that's probably the thing that keeps them fitter for longer in the season. He can make changes at times because the game feels one and he has these two phenoms at either end of the pitch to, to make the difference and that was that was the thing of the game, I don't think. Harland, as we always say, barely touched the ball, wasn't really involved in the game, but the chances fell his way in comical circumstances, particularly the second one. Well, West Temple on a plate trying to clear the ball, hits another player. You know just everything about the West Ham performance. You just felt for them because Bowen's running his legs off but he can't get the ball. Skulls has come in after timeout. They've lost both fullbacks to afcon. It just felt that there was no one getting anything out of it. But City can be got at, but can you get past Donnarumma and can you stop Haaland from scoring?

[Max Rushden]

Peter says Do Wolves in West Ham cling to the hope there's never been a Premier League season without a team beginning with W. There's never been he did some more research. Peter there's never been a top flight season without a team beginning with W since the start of the league in 1888, including Woolwich Arsenal and we will do Wolves at the start of Part three.

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[Max Rushden]

Welcome to Part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. So Wolves nil, Brentford two Matt Doherty. If you read the words it could sound like Maximus Meridius Decimus at the end of the game. Do we want to be remembered for fighting until the end of the season or do we want to be remembered for being cowards? But Barry, he sounded like droopy. Like no one has ever sounded sadder than Matt Doherty did at the end of this and it was bleak. This game for balls.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Yeah, I I predicted this would be their first win of the season. Not even my amazing sued saying power rustle up a win for them. They lost because of course they did. And even when they had a chance to get themselves back in the game, they won a penalty. Jorgenstrand Larson's effort was pathetic. Made it easy for Kevin Kelleher to save. I think that Daugherty post match self flagellation may have been directed at Mr. Jorgenstrand Larson, among others. Now, the first thing to say about Doherty's very heartfelt creed is that you know that you should be doing that kind of talking on the pitch. It's no good doing it in the tunnel afterwards. But he clearly feels very strongly about this. I think it was a message to teammates who may be eyeing up a January move away from this bin fire, or teammates who would just rather be dropped and not be associated with it and have other players who aren't getting a game come in. Imagine being in that Wolves squad and not getting picked. God almighty, what an indictment that is. Jorgen's trend. Larson. I don't want to single him out, but I am singling him out because he's been awful this season. The one thing I would say, I think he's been playing through pain, a lot of pain, and he's not, not completely fit. But he, he was being touted with a 60 million pound move to Newcastle during the summer. I mean, would you give 6 million for them at the moment in January? I don't know. Again, I think he's not fit and he's playing through pain, or he certainly was for the first few months of the season.

[Dan Bardell]

But surely they're all playing through pain at this point.

[Glenn Hoddle]

I meant physical pain, pain rather than emotional pain.

[Max Rushden]

I'd need to take out an enormous loan to buy Jurgen strand Larsen for 6 million. And I'm not sure Mrs. Rushton would be delighted when I brought him in and said, we're in an incredible amount of debt, but we have this man, so maybe he can do.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Can he babysit?

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I had this.

[Barry Glendenning]

I had this image of him pouring you a coffee or something and just missing the cup.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, possibly. They are the worst. They have the worst record. Thanks to the BBC for the. For this. In any team In Europe's top 14 divisions, only Paralymni, with one point in the 15th ranked league in Cyprus, have fewer. So, yeah, poor old them. Well done, Keen Lewis Potter. And not again to our listener, who for a while thought Keane was just an adjective, like he was sort of in a war film from like, you know, who gets shot in the first 10 minutes elsewhere. Last two games, Bournemouth one, Burnley one. Late Armando Brosia. Goal ends Burnley's seven game losing streak. A real relief was it for Lauren. Danu fell over and you know, you just saw when he fell over and Semeno scored like the air just sort of. It just sort of like the stuffing fall out of all these Burnley players. Just like they were like, oh, you're not serious.

[Dan Bardell]

Because if you're a Burnley player, you know as soon as he's fell before that ball's even been hit. Yeah, there's a mistake here. There's going to be a goal here.

[Shopify Advertiser]

You.

[Dan Bardell]

You just know what, what's gonna happen. It's great finish from Semenya. To be fair. He's definitely got that in in his locker. But in fairness, Bernie stayed in in the game, didn't they? I mean it might not make a huge lot of difference come the end of the season because I think they'll probably get relegated anyway. But good to show a little bit of resilience and, and get that late goal and come back into the game. And quite pleased for bro here because I think people don't realize how much he's struggled with injuries over the last few years. He got a really bad injury in that str when the World cup was on, but yet team still took the rest of the players away. He got a really bad injury in a friendly against Villa. I remember watching that game. So his career has really stalled since then. So a decent header from him. He was the only one who seemed to be looking at the ball and wanted to. Wanted to attack the ball. So might not be a massive amount of difference at Burnley come the end of the season, but just kind of gets a point back on the board in a time when it feels like they've really been struggling.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

Bournemouth winless in eight now. And Semeno in some gossip columns say that he's already agreed personal terms with Liverpool regarding a move in January. The only other game. Brighton nil, Sunderland nil. Tony Gale was on co comms. I think it was Tony Gale wondering if Ayari was trying to give someone in the crowd a ball for Christmas because he's heading it over in exactly the same place like, like he had so many times. They're just booting it like straight into row F. It was quite interesting. Anyway, we don't need to spend a lot of time on that game. Fulham Forest tonight. We'll cover that on tomorrow's pod. Wilfred, Nancy watch. Big win for Celtic. And Nancy, two late goals. 88 and 92nd minute against Aberdeen. By all accounts they totally deserve the victory. And at the Top of the HeartsBeat range is 2:1, so our six points clear of Celtic. So interesting up there. Be great. I'd love if Nancy came through and won the title now, given everything that's happened.

[Barry Glendenning]

Well, no, hold on. I. I think the opposite.

[Glenn Hoddle]

It.

[Barry Glendenning]

My entire life, football conscious life, I haven't seen another Scottish team win that title. Bar Rangers.

[Max Rushden]

No, it's a good point. No, no, you make a good point.

[Glenn Hoddle]

I want Hearts to win the league just to see what a happy Ewan Murray is like, because I don't think I've ever seen. He'd find some way of, you know, down he. He would fight. Yeah, he'd find some way to be sad about Hearts winning the title.

[Barry Glendenning]

Can I add. Can I add to that? I actually watched the first half of this, which, because I've had that much interest every weekend, I'm going, oh, my God, Hearts. Oh, my God, this is incredible. And I think Shanklin's goal, which was the second goal, was both a brilliant strike and Butland should have done better. So if you get a chance to see this goal, I'm telling you, you'll see it and go, how has that gone in? But yet you see the replay and he strikes it so well at the near post. So Butland should be, as they say, goalkeepers should cover their near post. And Summer, it goes really hard and low on the ground and beats Chuck Butland at the near post. You don't see it happen that often. I have to say, that side of the keeper, the space that he squeezed it through was. Was quite something. Yeah. But I. Every weekend I'll be keeping an iron Hearts results. That's all I'm saying.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Could I ask, Seb, what did you make of Rangers entirely? Orange kit. I know it may have been a nod to their.

[Barry Glendenning]

It confused me at first.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Like 10 goalkeepers, I didn't like it at all.

[Barry Glendenning]

Not a fan of an orange kit after. So the. The exception is probably Ivory Coasts, because it's got that.

[Glenn Hoddle]

You need wide shit.

[Barry Glendenning]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah. It just didn't work for me and I got a bit confused when I first turned it on.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Max is so desperate. Just like, what?

[Max Rushden]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I. I don't mind. I don't mind podcasts going on forever, but apparently, you know, the algorithm says there's a. There's a length you need them to be, and we're. We're approaching the top end of it. If you, if you are in the, you know, market for looking up goals, look up Morocco's second Aabi scoring an overhead. A brilliant overhead kick. I gave it a 9.2 on the Sinclair Spectrum in their 2 nil win over Comrost. They're the host of AFCON. They're the favorites as well. We are going to talk about it with Philippe tomorrow because before the tournament head of Caf Patrick Motepe decided that AFCON's going to be moving to every four years, I think without asking anybody what they thought.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Like a football governing body, isn't it?

[Max Rushden]

But he's big mates with Jani Infantino, so Philippe has things to say about that. Anyway, that'll do for today. Thanks everybody. Thank you Dan.

[Dan Bardell]

Thank you Max.

[Max Rushden]

Thank you Barry.

[Glenn Hoddle]

Thanks.

[Max Rushden]

Cheers said.

[Barry Glendenning]

Merry Christmas all.

[Max Rushden]

Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove. Our executive producer is Danielle Stevens. No rest for us. We'll be back tomorrow. This is the Guardian.

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