Szoboszlai’s rocket and Milner’s new milestone – Football Weekly

Summary

Football Weekly – Szoboszlai’s Rocket and Milner’s New Milestone

Date: September 1, 2025
Main Theme:
Max Rushden and panelists Philippe Auclair, Lars Sivertsen, and Noz (Nurin Chowdhury) dissect a dramatic round of Premier League football, with big transfer headlines, spectacular goals, VAR controversy, and personal milestones. A focus on Liverpool’s big-money moves and their pivotal win, Manchester United’s potentially season-defining penalty, Manchester City’s transition woes, an ode to James Milner, and memorable performances across the league and Europe.

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Liverpool’s Transfer Coup and Szoboszlai’s Rocket Secures the Top ([01:21]–[13:18])

Alexander Isak Joins Liverpool: Record-Breaking Transfer

• Deal Details: Isak signs for £125m rising to £130m, breaking the British transfer record.
• Panel Reaction:
  • Noz ([03:21]): “There’s nothing like a deadline day to focus the minds… Liverpool do need that player… Isak is the difference maker. He’s not the most prolific, but in big moments against Real Madrid, against PSG, he’ll get the goal.”
  • Philippe ([04:29]): Emphasizes Liverpool’s net spend remains reasonable, due to sales like Quansah, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Diaz. “It is money they’ve earned. Very profitable club… They have sold well.”
  • Lars ([05:58]): Views Liverpool’s moves as “thinking big picture”—future-proofing for the post-Salah era by integrating world-class attacking talents now.

Liverpool 1-0 Arsenal: Szoboszlai’s Brilliant Winner

• The game itself was “boring” (Max, [07:07]), but Szoboszlai, again starting at right-back, produced a moment of “total brilliance” to win it.
• Noz ([07:33]): On Szoboszlai’s versatility and underrated genius, praising his intelligence and ability both to defend and to spark attacks from fullback.

  “He’s so good at everything he does. In a lot of ways he’s a complete footballer.”

• Max & Philippe ([09:19]): Lampoon the Ronaldo comparison for Szoboszlai’s free-kick, calling it a “grave disservice.”
• Arsenal Critique:
  • Auclair criticizes Arteta’s overly cautious game plan and personnel choices, especially around Martinelli and Eze ([10:01]):

    “Wrong lineup, wrong attitude, wrong game plan… Liverpool were there for the taking, a huge opportunity missed.”

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James Milner’s New Milestone & Brighton Best Man City ([14:51]–[20:34])

James Milner: Second Youngest and Second Oldest Premier League Scorer

• Milner scores for Brighton, achieving a unique double (second youngest, now also second oldest scorer in PL).
• His “understated” greatness and versatility are celebrated.
  • Philippe ([15:27]): “He’s on the bench of the great, which is the right place… that is the essence of James Milner’s greatness.”
  • Noz ([16:00]): Praises his athleticism and longevity, jokes about Milner competing in “World’s Strongest Man” after football.

Brighton 2-1 Manchester City: City’s Growing Pains

• Brighton’s young stars shine—Brighton’s talent-spotting lauded by Lars ([17:32]).
• City “Crisis”?
  • Philippe ([18:44]): Labels it a “blippish” transition, noting lack of decisiveness, some underperformers, and the challenge of incorporating squad changes.
  • On Haaland’s misses: “Is this the striker whom we thought was going to be the greatest striker football had ever seen? We haven’t seen him for a while now.”
  • Lars ([20:41]): Cautions against overreaction: “He’s still scoring a lot of goals because he’s very good.”

Rumour Watch: Donnarumma to City?

• Philippe ([21:49]) and Lars ([22:05]) both perplexed by the City–Donnarumma rumor, given his footwork limitations and Guardiola’s goalkeeper requirements.

  “For him to go to Guardiola City is absurd… really weird… It makes me wonder, what are they doing with the rebuild?”

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Manchester United’s Last-Minute Win & The Amarim Discussion ([26:00]–[34:09])

Man United 3-2 Burnley: Amarim’s Crucial Penalty

• Dramatic end: VAR-given penalty secures Utd a win. The panel agrees it could be pivotal due to the timing before an international break.
  • Noz ([26:58]): “I was seriously worried Amarim would walk... he's that kind of personality.”
  • On the performance: “You can scrape a convincing win… United actually played really, really well… should have scored at least three more goals.”
• Manager Focus: Ruben Amarim
  • Lars ([29:24]): Questions Amarim’s penchant for existential doubt—“Is that a big fear at this point?”
  • Noz ([29:58]): Stands by Amarim’s system, even if the results wobble: “I genuinely still believe it’s about the players… I want the manager’s beliefs and system to be the focus and the players to learn around that.”
  • Philippe ([31:03]): Skeptical about forcing players into a rigid system, citing issues with Bruno Fernandes’ role mirroring the Ronaldo/Solskjær dilemma.

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West Ham’s Dramatic Turnaround at Forest ([34:49]–[37:55])

• West Ham’s Much-Needed Win:
  • West Ham turn around a poor start with a late flurry of goals—Bowen, Somerville, and Callum Wilson instrumental.
  • Lars ([34:49]): “Had to go to Forest away and [Potter’s] side just kind of pulled this out of… not much.”
  • Praises Bowen as a “genuinely heroic character in the story of West Ham.”
• Discussion of a near-brilliant goal ([37:03]): Comparison to John Barnes and Michael Owen’s classic solo runs—almost thwarted at the last moment.

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VAR & Refereeing Meltdown: Chelsea-Fulham ([38:11]–[44:49])

Fulham Denied at the Bridge: VAR Controversy

• Fulham’s equalizer ruled out for a soft foul; immediate PGMOL apology (“did not reach the high bar of a VAR intervention”).
• Lars ([39:10]): “It’s so fantastically, spectacularly annoying… a full house of things we don’t want to see.”
• Critique the current VAR process—pressure put on pitch referee when told “we think it’s a foul.”
• Philippe & Max ([41:46-44:12]): Lament modern confusion about fouls, overexposure of refereeing decisions, and how VAR itself becomes too prominent in the narrative.

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Around the Grounds: Everton’s Attack, Wolves’ Misery, Bournemouth Joy, Palace Pragmatism, and More

Wolves 2-3 Everton ([44:49]–[47:18])

• Everton now “appointment viewing” (Noz), with the joyous partnership of Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, and Ndiaye.
• Noz ([45:10]): Regrets Grealish’s City years: “We've basically missed out on Grealish… It's a pity.”
• Philippe ([46:24]): Agrees Grealish’s infectious enthusiasm has lifted Everton, admitting surprise at their new approach.

Tottenham 0-1 Bournemouth: Spurs Stifled, Bournemouth Brilliant ([48:39]–[53:22])

• Lars ([49:10]): “Bournemouth were terrific… Spurs were complete trash after a very promising start to the season.”
• Praises Bournemouth’s energy, directness (28 tackles!), and technical improvement—Alex Scott and Semenyo highlighted.
• Spurs’ lack of creativity without Maddison; call for Xavi Simons to fill the gap.

Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace: Palace’s Resilience

• Noz ([53:53]): Praises Palace’s ability to reinvent after losing stars, credits manager Oliver Glasner’s system.
• Philippe ([54:57]): Warns Palace’s player losses come from necessity, not design—they risk losing their manager too if this continues.

Sunderland’s Win, Promoted Teams’ Rise ([56:47])

• Big win over Brentford thanks to a last-minute winner and questionable penalty calls.
• Lars ([56:54]): Stat: This season’s promoted teams have 13 points after three rounds, “more than six times better” than last year’s trio.

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European Highlight: Joao Neves’ Hat Trick for PSG ([58:17]–[62:02])

• Philippe’s highlight of the weekend: Joao Neves’ breathtaking hat trick for PSG in their 6-3 win at Toulouse.

  “I've never seen a hat trick like this one… The first two goals—overhead kicks with the chest control, the third a 25-yard outside-of-boot curler. The hat trick of the year, and probably of all of French football history.”

• Disappointment at limited UK Ligue 1 TV coverage.

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Notable Moments & Quotes

• Noz on Szoboszlai ([07:33]): “He is so, so good at everything he does… a complete footballer.”
• Lars on VAR ([41:22]): “I like the concept of VAR in the sense you can tell the referee, ‘hey, you might want to look at the situation again,’ but the second you say, ‘we believe it's this,’ you put a lot of social pressure on the referee.”
• Philippe on Milner ([15:27]): “He’s on the bench of the great… that is the essence of James Milner's greatness.”
• Philippe’s assessment of Arsenal ([10:27]): “Wrong lineup, wrong attitude, wrong game plan. The opportunity was missed.”
• Philippe on Joao Neves’ hat trick ([59:23]): “The first one, an overhead kick in the corner… the third, my favorite skill in football, an outside-of-the-boot spinner into the top corner. I've never seen a hat trick like this one.”

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Key Timestamps

| Segment | Topic/Event | Timestamp | |--------------|---------------------------|------------| | Liverpool’s record signing, Szoboszlai’s heroics | [01:21]-[13:18] | | Milner’s milestone, Brighton-City | [14:51]-[20:34] | | Manchester United–Burnley, Amarim’s situation | [26:00]-[34:09] | | West Ham comeback at Forest | [34:49]-[37:55] | | VAR controversy: Chelsea-Fulham | [38:11]-[44:49] | | Everton’s attacking revival, Wolves’ troubles | [44:49]-[47:18] | | Spurs crash vs Bournemouth | [48:39]-[53:22] | | Palace victory, Villa concerns | [53:53]-[56:47] | | Sunderland win, promoted team stat | [56:47]-[57:48] | | PSG’s game & Joao Neves hat trick | [58:17]-[62:02] |

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Summary Tone

Light-hearted, quick-witted, and generously laced with in-jokes and light sarcasm—a typical Football Weekly mix of proper analysis, informed debate, and plenty of entertainment.

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For football fans who missed the episode, this summary covers all the major on-pitch stories, insightful critiques, amusing asides, and the running pulse of the Premier League weekend—with special attention to moments that may shape the rest of the season.

Transcript

[Max Rushden]

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[Noz]

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[Lars Sivertsen]

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[Noz]

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[Max Rushden]

Hello and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly. Alexander Isaacs Liverpool are top of the league. One kick from Dominik Szoboszlai rockets them to the top. It was a bad game settled by a quite brilliant goal. It looked like it sped up. It could be huge in the title race, as could the most expensive signing in Premier League history. A title race that Manchester City might not be part of. Two defeats in three feels like a crisis for them. James Milner, the second oldest Premier League scorer ever. A priceless penalty for Ruben Amarim as Manchester United beat Burnley in injury time. A priceless last six minutes at the City ground for Graham Potter and blimey we've got this far without mentioning decisions and var you feel for Fulham you you really do. The pgmol apology is already in. Everton probably won't get relegated. Barry Grealish Jews Brihorren and die is nice isn't it? All the spurs optimism is burst by Bournemouth who absolutely batter them. 10 Crisis at Villa as Marc Gay maybe says goodbye to palace with a lovely goal. Lots of grappling at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland get a second win and almost nothing happens at Elland Road. All that which is a lot your questions and that's today's Guardian Football Weekly. On the panel today Philippeau Claire Bonjour.

[Philippe Auclair]

But I'm already tired. I'm exhausted.

[Max Rushden]

I know there's a lot. There's a lot to get through and a panel that like to Talk. So apologies to Leeds and Newcastle fans already. Nurin Chowdhury. Hello. Hello and welcome. Lars Siverton.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, I have no idea how this is going to work, getting through this in any kind of. What's the, what's the longest time we can do because before the producers start like blasting us into outer space or something.

[Max Rushden]

If it gets to 63 minutes, there's fury in my ears. Let's start at Anfield then and we will talk about Liverpool 1 Arsenal in a second. But I suppose we probably. Knowles should start with Alexander isak signing for 125 million rising to 130 million on a six year deal. You know, it's agreed. I don't know if he's been unveiled yet. By the time you hear this, he's probably been unveiled. A British transfer record eclipsing Moses Caicedo to Chelsea in 2023. Is this a good. I mean it's so good that the saga is over, I think.

[Noz]

Yeah. I mean there's nothing like a deadline day to focus the minds. It's so interesting how in the old days sign on deadline day used to feel like a knee jerk or sort of panic reaction but now it's just a natural sort of stage at where things get resolved because egos are put to aside. All this sort of posturing is ended and it actually happens. It was incredibly inevitable. But also, I mean this is stating the obvious but, but Liverpool do need that player. It's. They've got so many riches up front. They've got, they've got such a good team. But the one thing about Isak is he's the difference maker. It's not as if he's going to be the most prolific player in the world. He's not, he's not scored the most goals of any striker. But in those big games, in those big moments against Real Madrid, against psg, he, he will get the goal. So, so I think it's, it's exciting for them and slightly worrying for everyone else.

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah.

[Max Rushden]

Ricky says the podcasters regularly praise Liverpool and against Chelsea and Manchester City. Spending. But then paying a British record fee for a player, does this still mean they are pure and good unlike the rest of the big six? Feels like a Philippe question to me.

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah. The net spend of Liverpool remains very reasonable. People forget that it's not the growth spend which matters, it's the net spend difference between what you spend and what you get. For players. They've sold Quansah, they've sold Darwin Nunez, they've sold Luis Diaz, they got Money for Trent Alexander Arnold, Kevin Kelleher. They might still make some business. And in total this year after not spending anything last year they've spent about £225 million net. That's more or less what Newcastle United spent net in the first year the Saudis arrived. So the difference is that it is money they've earned. It's a very profitable club. They hardly spent anything last season and they've also sold well. So yes, it makes complete sense. And I think we've everybody else has very good reasons to be extremely worried about what the competition will look like in not this year but I think quite a few years to come.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And actually Lars, I mean you can get carried away with who is the starting three for Liverpool because you start different players in different games. But you know it is in that is now you have, you have. Nunes and Diaz have gone obviously there's the tragedy of Diego Jota and Ekitike has come in and started well. And now Isex come in and you still have Salah and we'll get on to how well he's playing or not at the moment. Gakpo is improving all the time. Who have I missed? I probably missed somebody as well. Florian Viet and Florian Virt of course.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, just 100 million and they have of course the small child who scored the winner against Newcastle. So there are many, many options. But I think they're thinking big picture with this. I think one of the reasons they're so comfortable going big with transfer fees is obviously that they've sold well as Felipe said. But also we know the sort of stats overlords are back in charge. Who are people who keep like kind of a big sort of helicopter view on this. And while Mo Salah is still there and did renew his contract I think it's very clear that at some point he will no longer be there. I mean maybe that's next summer, maybe that's the year after. But we are moving to a point at Liverpool will lose the guy who has been their attacking talisman for this entire modern era of sort of prosperity that they've had. And I think they're thinking ahead. I think bringing in Wirtz, one of the most talented young attacking midfielders in the continent. Bringing in Isak who's an extraordinary striker who can score goals out of nothing. Who can do it on the big moments like Nols said. I think that's not just about this season. I think that's about getting the team ready for when Salah leaves so that you have people in the building already who can step up and be the.

[Max Rushden]

Guy to the game yesterday and nos, it was not a good football match. I mean it was boring. I found it really boring, but still a moment of total brilliance to win it. And actually Szoboszlai now from right back has basically. I mean Lars a second ago met the child who won it, but the dummy kind of won the game against Newcastle. He has provided perhaps the two greatest bits of skill we've seen this season and so crucial for Liverpool.

[Noz]

Yeah, I mean Szabozlai in a lot of ways I think he's so underrated. And again, I think he encapsulates what is so great about this Liverpool team in that first of all he's underrated. And in a strange way I think this Liverpool team is underrated because it's not a vintage team as you describe a Liverpool team. It's not incredible in terms of player or whatever, but they always find a way and they always adapt and they're intelligent. They've got intelligent players and intelligent manager. And Szoboszlai is so, so good at everything he does. He's just. In a lot of ways he's a complete footballer. He was so good at fullback to the extent that you think. You wonder now is he the first choice. He's, he's doing what, what Trent Alexander Arnold does in terms of his long passes and, and and starting attacks. He's, he's really good at defending. I mean, I mean he shows that in midfield. But I suppose the most impressive thing with him playing at fullback and or wing back and doing so well is whenever you've got an attacking player who does that, I think their natural instinct is to play within themselves and be extra defensive just to, just to overcompensate. And, and he, he's got the confidence and intelligence to not do that. He. He's got the confidence to sort of go forward, be progressive and that's what Liverpool do. And again like a lot was spoken about Arsenal's set pieces. And again what Liverpool did so well is even though personnel wise they were smaller and Arsenal have got these amazing sort of like people who send an amazing sort of deliveries. And these big guys, they were just a pain. They pushed people pull people. They got in their faces. And again it's that thing of finding a way even if the situation is imperfect. And, and again suppose like a fullback sort of was just a. Another version of that.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And, and it means as well that you know, you don't have to play him in midfield. So you can accommodate Verts and Gravenbergs can play. And then you've got McAllister and Jones, etc, etc. Gary Neville did say the free kick was Cristiano Ronaldo. Like Felipe And I, the WhatsApp, we were saying that is a grave disservice to someone's life because Ronaldo has not hit a barn door from a free kick in about 200 years.

[Philippe Auclair]

That's scandalous.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, but you know, he did play like Trent. I thought it was interesting. Arsenal have the second lowest XG from open play this season. They, they weren't great at set pieces. I, you, Philippe, sort of think that they had a chance here. Other people have said it, this sort of over cautious approach from Arteta. They had the chance here to win this game.

[Philippe Auclair]

I will not share the WhatsApp conversations I had with Philo Gunas when the lineup arrived because they would say, oh, you're inventing that. Because I basically said this is what's going to happen. And what happened is exactly what I said would happen. And I got a lot of blue sky stick. And a blue sky stick is, I'm sorry if I disagree with you, but.

[Max Rushden]

I had a lot of that when.

[Philippe Auclair]

I said I wrote something like the wrong lineup, wrong attitude, wrong game plan. And I stick to that. I think there was the message that was sent from the lineup onwards was wrong. And when I read what Michael Arteta said after the game in which he basically said that they hadn't set up to not lose, but to win, I thought, if you really believe that, we've obviously seen a very different game, the lineup. And I know there was, you know, when I say lineup, I also mean the formation. So choice of personnel is one thing. Like Gabby Martinelli shouldn't have been the starting lineup. And everybody who's seen Arsenal play since the beginning of the season knows that he's at the moment so short on confidence. He's also not as quick as he normally is and so forth. And you had possibilities, you had Leandro Tosa and you had especially Eberechiese, who.

[Max Rushden]

Did look good when he came on, didn't he?

[Philippe Auclair]

He looked fantastic. But because he's a fantastic player and the idea, oh, you cannot play a player who's just arrived in the club. That's insane. Why did you make him come then? I mean, he's fully fit. He is also somebody who can deliver the ball from a wide area. When you've got this huge centre forward called Juchedes who has no service whatsoever for Martinelli So anyway, there was that. Then you have three defensive midfielders, and that's okay, provided one of them is given freedom to actually roam forward. In that case, that didn't happen. Declan Rice could have played as an advanced eight. He did not. He was a six. And then the attitude, can I pass the ball backward? Oh, yes, I think I'll do that. Can I make absolutely sure that I take no risks whatsoever in the transmission of the ball, the choices I make? Except, of course, when I'm playing within my own box. Yes, we'll have that. And then suddenly you realize, well, what is going on here? Yes, they're dominating with rabbit ears. They're controlling the game. But Liverpool, who honestly were there for the taking, as they have been there for the taking since the beginning of the season, but will not be for very long, it was a huge opportunity missed. And you saw the impact, actually that EZ had when he went on the pitch. You saw what even actually the impact Martino de Haerte had when he came on the pitch. And when Declan Rice actually went a bit forward. I think it's a huge opportunity missed for Mikel Arteta, who, again, he's brilliant at many things, but there's one thing he's not brilliant as, which is to use his imagination and think outside of the box that he's constantly cloistering himself in.

[Max Rushden]

Well, the box that he's just on the edge, the technical area that he's just on the edge of. But he can't think outside the technical area, can he? I think your career is interesting, Lars. And obviously, you know, it's three games or whatever, and you can't judge players, but like Konate, who's had a bad season so far, just totally dominated him, I thought, in this game.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah. Ironically, Arteta is quite often outside of that box. It's just the box he needs to. Needs to work on. You know, I get almost slightly defensive about Arteta because I feel like he often doesn't get enough credit for taking Arsenal back to a point where they are contenders. And I think people underestimate the difficulty of doing that. So I was kind of watching this thinking, well, you know, you've gone away to the champions. You've trusted your defense, which is Arsenal really being the only one of the top three who can really do that, I think. And you haven't created a lot, but you're good at set pieces and maybe. But the more I think about it, I don't really buy it, because you're going away to the champions but you're going away to the champions who've conced two in their last three games who looked very vulnerable defensively both against 10 man Newcastle and against Bournemouth and against palace in the community shield. And I'm not enough of a tactics blogger to really identify if Liverpool did something dramatically different to be more solid in this game. But I don't think they did. I think it was more a case of Arsenal just decided to not try to push them, to not try to exploit the fact that they don't have a lot of ball winners in that middle field and not try to exploit that they have a number eight playing right back and I have to side with Philippe about yeah, opportunity missed in a big way. And Yokaris, I'm going to wield this. Just an old joke. I've not seen the Scandinavian get such poor service since the last time I went to a restaurant in Budapest.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, good. Okay.

[Philippe Auclair]

Boom. It's true.

[Max Rushden]

Let's go to Brighton man. City Brighton winning 2:1. Dara says I'm hoping for a big James Milner tribute at some point this season. Maybe after his goal yesterday, now's the time to do it. He's now the Premier League's second youngest and second oldest goal scorer. He is in the top 10 for all time Premier League assists, top 10 all time tackles. He's won everything the Premier League with two clubs. He's played in most outfield positions. He may become the record Premier League appearance maker this season. He's never in the discussions around the list of all time Premier League greats or is in the best ever Premier League xi. Maybe we don't understand what greatness is. He makes a very good point though.

[Philippe Auclair]

He's on the bench of the great, which I think is the right place. Just it is right that he's the second youngest and the second oldest, not the first. And that is the essence of James Milner's greatness.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I think he hadn't scored no since 2019. And also what's nice is he was born on the 4th of January 1986. Merry Christmas everyone. By Shakin Stevens was number one. This is in my wheelhouse. Replaced by West End Girls Pet Shop Boys the day after nos. Please praise James Milner.

[Noz]

I mean he is incredible. And the thing is now we think of like old man Milner. Like he's always looked the same, hasn't he? Even when he was like 16 he looked like a bricket. But what I especially love is the way we talk about him being like this old veteran and this old man. And like, from my point of view I'm thinking like. But yeah, he is still in his 30s, so like, what does that make me in the grand scheme of things? But yeah, no, he's incredible. He's an incredible athlete as well. And you can imagine like once he's given up football, he will definitely do something else, like physically, like he'll probably go on to be on World Strongest man or he'll probably take up like rowing or something and get to the Olympics.

[Max Rushden]

Olympic gold in the Spurs. That's great. Really understated. Just the third in the boat. You don't even know it's James Milner until he gets out with the gold medal. You're absolutely right.

[Noz]

But no, I mean, I mean he's incredible. But, but also it's. When he went to Brighton, there was, there was almost this sense of like, okay, now he's. He's like an old shire horse gone for pasture, but he's clearly not and he's clearly contributing and partly wonders like, how long can he go on? Because I could physically. And he's such an intelligent and multifaceted football. You can imagine him going for another couple of years easy.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, yeah. Another sub. Brajan Gruder, £25 million signing from Mainz. What a great way, Lars, to score your first goal for the club and to like sit down eight Nori and Trafford in one move as well.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, I mean it is the Brighton thing though. I know he played a number of times last year, so he's not, you know, he's not come out of nowhere, has he? But just to bring in players who even sort of self professed Euro nerd like myself doesn't have a lot to say about. And it's just whenever they bring in these guys, Brighton, you just go, they're probably good. Like you gotten to the point where you just don't think. You never question any of the signings Brighton make. It's just because their track record on this is so strong that you just assume these are young guys, often guys you haven't heard about or only seen a couple of games and Brighton brings them in and they just always work out. Seems to be. Maybe it's because they're so random, a lot of them, that if they don't work out, then we never hear them at all. So maybe I need to look very close, but it just seems they're just absolutely incredible at doing this stuff.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, Minto had a really good game as well, didn't he? From a City point of view, Felipe Pep says, I like many things we're doing. Like against Tottenham, we started well. I like many things the team has done here today, but we were unable to win. When we conceded the goal, we stopped playing. I mean, two defeats in three is not good. For those of us that said City would win the league, we just, you know, just. That'll probably be good. Where. Where are the levels of crisis, do.

[Philippe Auclair]

You think you mean, you know, on our crisis scale, with the blip, the bubble and all these sort of things. Teething pains, I think, is probably what I would think of. Again, there's been a lot of rebuilding of that squad and of that first team. I'm not absolutely sure that Pep actually knows what his starting lineup is. If Pep has ever known what his starting lineup was, that is. And so you can see that there's a certain lack of experience, there's a lack of decisiveness in the third. I was going to say in the third quarter. It should be in the fourth quarter of the pitch. Also, some players who are under par. And of course, I will ask Lars, what exactly is wrong with Mr. Haaland, because what he missed yesterday before scoring was quite extraordinary. And it's actually, I'm reaching the point where I'm thinking, is this the striker whom we thought was going to be the greatest striker football had ever seen? Because we haven't seen him for a while now. So between all of these things and some players who are not quite what they used to be like, Bernardo Silva is no longer quite the Bernardo Silva that we used to know. The same way that Ilkay Gunogan at one point was no longer the Inkle and you can carry on. So I think they're in the. Basically a period of transition in which the right balance hasn't been found. Because of that, they're making mistakes. I mean, Rodri actually made some pretty tough comments. I mean, he called them child's mistakes or something like that. And again, after playing decently, I think that he was absolutely right in his assessment. They started to play decently and as Sud, as their rival scored, they just lost their football. So it's. It's just a temporary thing. So it's a blippish on the scale. It's blippish.

[Max Rushden]

Blippish. Okay. I mean, what do you think about Haaland, Lars? Do you have to release a sequel going, actually, he was shite. Is that the.

[Lars Sivertsen]

I mean, he scored six goals in the last seven for City, so. But. But I mean, that is kind of the thing about him. He's. He gets into so many positions, his movement is so good, his physique is so good, so he gets into so many positions. And when he's finishing isn't as sharp as it could be, which it clearly wasn't yesterday, it ends up looking a bit daft. But I mean, his numbers in terms of scoring goals are still pretty extraordinary. So I'm not freaking out just yet. It's possible that he got word someone had told him that I have captained him on my fantasy team. It does seem to be a very effective hex, whatever I do with that thing. He has gone through a period where his finishing hasn't been as sharp as we expect it to be, but he's still scoring a lot of goals because he's very good.

[Max Rushden]

And Noz is just to let us have some breaking news. Here we go from, you know, our friend.

[Philippe Auclair]

Please don't use that expression.

[Max Rushden]

No. Max, wash your mouth. Donna Romantic says it doesn't mean it's going to happen. You know, I got excited about Gibbs, White and Eze with that, so you never know. But Donna, Rummata City, which is really interesting, isn't it?

[Philippe Auclair]

That's crazy. That's absolutely crazy. I cannot think of a top, top level goalkeeper who is as bad with his feet as Donnarumma. I mean, would you agree, guys?

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah. No, I mean, I am. Yes. Ending Philippe a little bit, because I swear to God, this rumor has been happening and I assumed it was made up. Not just because we know that this is something that can happen when agents are very keen to move a player. And clearly Donnarumma had to go somewhere and that they just make up a rumor and make sure it keeps getting reported until an actual club comes in. That was kind of what I was thinking because honestly, it makes no sense. One of the first things Guardiola did when he took over at City was look at Joe Hart and say, you're a perfectly fine shot stopper, but you can't play with your feet, so off you go. And that is essentially what Luis Enrique is doing here. Luis Enrique is taking the political capital he's earned from winning the Champions League, and he's spending that capital on getting rid of Donnarumma. I think there are few PSG coaches who, if they went to the bosses and said, I want to get rid of this goalkeeper, the bosses would have said, tough. But actually, you know, Enrique now has the clout to make that kind of decision. And he's making it because, partially in large part because he wants a goalkeeper who can play with his feet. So for him then to go to Guardiola City is absurd. It's really, really weird. And it makes me really wonder, like, what are they doing now with the rebuild at City? It doesn't make any sense.

[Max Rushden]

You sounded like you said Guardiola City like it's a place. Can you imagine that sort of place? Everything is overthought. Everything is manic and overthought. Anyway, look, it's fascinating. We'll round up all the transfers on the pod tomorrow, by the way, but we'll try and we'll try and get through the rest of the football before any transfers happen. And part two will begin at Old Trafford.

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[Max Rushden]

Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly live show. Still some tickets brackets the entire top tier available Sept. 11. People in the know have told me that you know since COVID people buy their tickets in the final week so rush to avoid disappointment. But already a good crowd in so like don't freak out if you have bought a ticket. It won't be just four of us chatting to one of you. But yeah, come on, be a hero. Fill the top tier. Barry Jonathan Wilson, Nikki Bandini, Johnny Liu, cameos from anyone we can grab. John Bruin is in in negotiations with many others. Great halftime show. A video that I don't want to be made public but I'm forced to agree can be part of proceedings too. Tickets purchased by heading to theguardian.com footballweeklylive live streaming it as well around the world. It's on my Instagram. Even on Barry's Instagram now. I gave him a lesson on how to use Instagram yesterday. It was painful, but we got there anyway. Please come along. It'd be lovely to see you. Let's go to Old Trafford. Man United 3, Burnley 2 nos. Did you have a nice time?

[Noz]

I did, except there was a weird situation before the game where you had a. For some reason, you had an Ed Sheeran lookalike wandering around the forecourt. I don't know what he was doing there or what the point was, but he was making himself very conspicuous and lots of people were taking photos with him, I assume, knowing that he's a lookalike, but who knows?

[Max Rushden]

The world of the lookalikes is very interesting, isn't it? It's just so beholden to how, you know, there are obviously lookalikes that suddenly the person you're being suddenly gets arrested and you're like, ah, that's me done.

[Noz]

Can we have a minute? Silenced for Ryland's lookalike this week.

[Max Rushden]

Exactly. Now, look, I don't know how vital you think that penalty is. Scott Parker was like, you know, is it clear and obvious, some bloke in a van. It's a great way of describing Stockley Park. I don't think it matters how big or small the van. The question is, what is Jayden Anthony doing pulling someone's shirt that late on, I think. But still, how big do you think that moment is for Ruben Amarin?

[Noz]

I think it's massive, simply because there's a scenario where United lose or even draw, and because we've got an international break and there's lots of time to overthink and think about your future. I was seriously worried that Amarim would walk. He's expressed previously that if he didn't feel that he was doing things right, if he felt as if like he was failing the team or he didn't have the team on his side, the board weren't on his side or the fans weren't, he would walk without compensation. And I genuinely believe he's that kind of personality. So that was a major concern. But it's funny because even the Grimsby game, obviously, incredibly embarrassing that United lost and even that it was such a competitive game, but when it was 2 2, I honestly believe that if United had scored and won 3 2, it could have worked as a bounce, like you hit in a dare, and then you bounce back up, even. Even a game like that where you obviously should have won. And similarly against Burnley, it can actually lead to something. And again, especially, there's so much narrative that can, that can happen before an international break that sort of. There's a vacuum. So people sort of talk a lot about the last game. So I think, I think this is, this is a, it could be an important moment. And also it was a strange game because I, I genuinely believe that you can scrape a convincing win, if that makes sense. Because, because in one respect, you could think, oh, it's three, two against Burnley, who, who are one of the favorites to go down and you. And you won by a last minute penalty. What's so good about that? But I think Manchester United actually played really, really well, made loads of chances. It was really, it was a really entertaining game. And, and yeah, should, should, should have won, should have scored at least three more goals. So, so, yeah, and again, it goes back to this thing of if we, if we go back to the Liverpool Arsenal game, there was a lot of talk is, is Liverpool's defence really weak? Is it, is it. Are they shipping too many goals? But in a way, Arsenal were the best team to play just because they, they were so, so reserved and so play so within themselves. And in the same way that you think playing a relegation team would be easier, it's not. I knew that United would play well against Arsenal and I was worried that United would play badly against or struggle against Burnley. So it was a big win for me and I definitely saw reasons to be optimistic.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Can I just. Noz.

[Noz]

Yeah.

[Lars Sivertsen]

You phrase it like you were afraid Amarim would walk.

[Noz]

Yeah.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Is that a big fear at this point? Are you terrified? Like, what will we do without this great manager? Because I just kind of feel after we've had the preseason tour where you had all the reports that, oh my God, it's so positive. You know, everyone's so super happy. It's never been this good. And then you're three games into the tournament and he's lost his head to the point where he nearly sacks himself on air. That just kind of makes me think he might not be cut out for this. And I'm gonna make this point now when they've won the game rather than when they've lost. Because I still think it's the case.

[Noz]

It's. I mean, it's absolutely a valid point. I suppose the thing with Amarim, I think he's the right guy. I think he's the right guy. And essentially if he fails, then I am incredibly worried about Manchester United because that just proves that it is literally cursed and everything is Wrong. And even a guy who came into sporting a very similar moment where they were constantly failing, were being crushed by their own reputation, and he kind of cleared the decks and sort of have created something from that. In a lot of ways, that's perfect for United now. And if he was to fail at United, and he still may, he will go on to be a great manager somewhere else. So. So in, in a sense, it's almost a meta thought. It's almost a. It's almost a thought of like you've had all these managers who failed. And I genuinely believe Amarim is different. He believes in his system. He's got a good system that should work. He's a gray sort of motivator. And if he fails, then. Then that makes me incredibly worried about who can succeed.

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah, I'm, I'm really interested to hear that because I think this is the first time that I've heard somebody being convinced that the fact that he's a systems manager is something that can work to Manchester United's advantage. Please say tell us more because I have to say I'm struggling a little bit more to get my head around this. When it looks as if a lot of the problems that Manchester United seems to have had on the field has been because he's been trying to hammer square pegs in round holes. So you're telling me basically he hasn't hammered enough. Is that what you're telling us?

[Lars Sivertsen]

He needs a bigger hammer.

[Philippe Auclair]

He needs a bigger hammer.

[Noz]

Yeah, he does. I mean, the one big concern I do have with Amarim is the midfield and the way he is trying to hammer Bruno into that hole. And then again, that's a concern because that almost it's a mirror of the way that Solskjaer had this team that worked and then he tried to bring Ronaldo into it and it all derailed. Derailed because of that. And I'm worried that it might derail for Amarim because of Bruno. But in terms of Amarim and his system, like players play lots of systems, I think the system is kind of over exaggerated in terms of the failing. I genuinely still believe it's about the players. And we've had so many managers at Manchester United who have been pragmatists and in, in a, in a bad way, they, they, they've kind of looked at the tools they've got and they've thought, right, how can we get the best out of these players? And my belief is that the players have been. Have had the wrong attitude and have been the wrong pro profile. Of players to be at a club at Manchester United, and they don't deserve that honor of building a team around them. So that's why I won. The manager's beliefs and the manager's system to be the star and the focus and the players learn around that. And again, the frustrating thing about this season is if you look at the results, it looks bad, but there's been long periods of the season where we've played well, where the system has worked, where the players have been up for it and motivated. I don't think it's a coincidence that so many games this season, Manchester United have started well. I think practically every game, they've started really well, where the system has been implemented, and then it starts to unravel. And then you kind of think, well, is that motivation? Is that sort of how strictly the players are sort of adhering to what they've been told, and then it starts to unravel and they stop sort of, like, fitting their role? So that's why, like, and again, like, maybe. Maybe this is me sort of like, against all better judgment, sort of trusting Amarin. But I. I do see these signs of, like, when it's working, it is working really well. And again, if you look at how many chances Manchester United create, I think they're right up there in terms of xg, of everyone in the Premier League. And if you look at the goals.

[Max Rushden]

That we've conceded, every shot has gone in.

[Noz]

Yeah, but no, but there's so many goalkeeper errors of the, like, I don't know, is it six goals or whatever they've conceded, like, or seven, like, like four or five of them have been goalkeeper errors.

[Philippe Auclair]

So you should have got. Done a rumor. That's what you should have done.

[Max Rushden]

Well, there are rumors, you know, Emi Martinez didn't play yesterday. By the time we finished recording, you might have. Martinez, you do not sound a bit like. Like I sounded last season talking about Ange, but, like, it's nice to believe. It's nice to believe in something. Let's go to the City grounds. Jim says, is Nuno trying to make the inevitable breakup easier by not beating this West Ham side? Lars, what a brilliant last six minutes for West Ham. Cresencio Somerville sort of spearheaded it. Jared Bowen, like that. End of the game. Bowen was great. Somerville was great. Callum Wilson was great. And like, West Ham. If anyone needed this, West Ham and Graham Potter needed this.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, I feel like that's almost a bigger story than Forest and Nuno because just from the first two games this season, you're thinking, this is not gonna end well, is it? For Potter at West Ham, it looked absolutely desperate. And then, of course, you have to go to Forest away and Forest's home record is very, very strong. And you think this is gonna be. This is gonna be bad. And they just kind of pulled this out of. Out of. Not much. Like. I absolutely baffled that this went the way it did, to be honest. But you had. You had Crescentio Summerwell come on and make an impact. You had Calum Wilson make a real impact and looking sharp and looking at. And maybe that, like, being a super sub is. Is a very good role for him. And I don't know, I didn't really see this coming. But speaking of systems, Potter's been playing a lot. Three at the back at. At West Ham, went to four, Went to four at the back here and won a game. So that's interesting, isn't it?

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, I think it really. I think it really is. I'm pleased for him because, you know, it's amazing how quickly you get written off. Maybe he's, you know, he's. He's had quite a long time to be written off, I don't know. But. But it was big for him. I thought Somerville looked so good when he came on Pakatar. Did a lot of, you know, people are calling me to sign me, I'm not interested. Throw away the phone, kiss the badge. Wouldn't it be absolutely hilarious if he signed for this afternoon?

[Lars Sivertsen]

I do also want to. I know I want to plague up Jared Bowen again, who scores a goal and it's just. Is he the guy who is the most, like, trying to pull his own team up by the bootstraps, currently in the Premier League? I feel like he is like, of all the guys, he's. He's the one who definitely could have been at a bigger and more successful club right now if he'd really pushed for that and if you really wanted that. And so much is on fire and. Or falling down around him. And he is the guy who pretty much every game does something and tries to pretty much, like, on his own, pull his team through it and seems from the outside at least, to be like a genuinely heroic character in the story of West Ham right now.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And it's Lucky Philippe, isn't it, that. I mean, he did play well, Callum Wilson, but that he wasn't in the Maracanare in 1984. Just as John Barnes finished that run and then just spooned one into the keeper.

[Philippe Auclair]

I was wondering where you were going, but that's great.

[Max Rushden]

The fury of Bowen.

[Philippe Auclair]

I've watched it three times this morning and I still don't understand exactly what is going on in that brain of his. What is going on? What does he think? Or is he so surprised to see Bowen doing the John Barnes slalom in the box that I'm sorry, mate, I'm dazzled. I can't move. What's going on?

[Max Rushden]

So who took the shot in the end? Does Wilson get in the way?

[Philippe Auclair]

Is it both?

[Max Rushden]

Maybe? I mean, the striker's instinct. You have to say to Callum Wilson, you know, take the chance and then, you know, worry about it later. But it would have been one of the greatest goals of all time. You know, you could just. And like, it doesn't matter. It's three nil. It doesn't matter. Like, just let him do it. Because the jinking run, I mean, it's better than Barnes. Barnes just runs in a straight line. Barnes is like, you know. Chris Marsden for Southampton against Ipswich, I think.

[Noz]

Do you know what it reminds me of? It reminds me of. Do you remember that Michael Owen Wondergal?

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah, yeah.

[Noz]

He goes on that big long run and then if you notice at the end, like, Paul Scholes wants to take the shot.

[Max Rushden]

Scholes is in a better position. Yeah, yeah.

[Noz]

Just the thought of Scholes taking that and shanking, it would be amazing.

[Max Rushden]

This is from Name who says, will you be getting a referee to join the pod? Because they seem to be the most important part of football right now. We've done very well to get to, what, 40 minutes in and not discuss them, but to Stamford bridge now. Chelsea 2, Fulham nil. The PGMOL have apologized to Fulham referees chief Howard Webb got in there quickly to declare the decision made by Michael Salisbury the var. And then Rob Jones to penalize Rodrigo Muniz for treading on Trevor Chaliba. Before Josh King scored his first ever Premier League goal as a mistake. He said the decision to rule out the goal did not reach the high bar of a VAR intervention. It was not clear and obvious. It was not a careless challenge. It is such a big moment in that game, Lars, because if Fulham take the lead, the whole thing is different. On Match of the Day, Danny Murphy said it was the worst VAR decision he had ever seen. I don't know if that's true, but it's pretty tough, isn't it, to take.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, I think the Liverpool one against spurs was probably worse on balance, but I think it's the most annoying VAR thing, possibly because it's also. It's a game that A lot of people are watching because it's being broadcast live in the uk. It's a local derby. It's Chelsea, which is maybe not a lot of neutral's favorite team, playing against Fulham, who are quite a sympathetic team. And then you have an academy and me, kid, score a great goal in a. In a derby against the team. Not a lot of people like. So that's like to have that ruled out for something that's also wrong just emotionally, is that like a full house of things we don't want to see? Like, it's so fantastically, spectacularly annoying. And so I completely get that. I guess the only thing I have to declare an interest. I'm spurs, right? So I can't. Last week, spurs go away to Man City and score a perfectly good goal that gets disallowed only for Var to intervene and put it back on again. So for me to sit and say that Var has ruined football and I hate it and it's the worst thing ever, that would be very hypocritical because a week ago I was quite happy with. But clearly these decisions are infuriating. And looking at the process of this, it just occurs to me and if we can and if a referee, if I'm wrong about this, feel free referees to correct me. I think the way Var works now is that they look at the incident in the room and they spot an infringement that they believe is an infringement, and then they call the ref and say, hey, we believe that this has happened and we're recommending this decision. Will you go and look at the screen? I don't like that process because I think then you're already putting a lot of pressure on the referee to agree with what the guy in the booth is saying. I like the concept of ear, but in the sense that you can tell the referee, hey, you might want to look at the situation again. There's something here you think you might have missed. But the second you go, we believe it's this, you then put a lot of social pressure onto the referee to agree with that. And you don't really get it does feel too much like re refereeing the thing. Because I do wonder what the referee on the day, Mr. Jones would have thought if just completely without context he was shown that situation is like, do you think this is a foul you need to get involved with without someone saying in your ear that we think.

[Max Rushden]

It'S a foul, but also, Philippe, it's got to this stage where 10 years ago I'd never have thought that was a Foul. But now I'm looking at it going, I don't know anymore. Maybe that is. I mean, I don't think it is a foul. Obviously, if you do that turn and you're standing leg rakes down the whole shin of an opponent, then that is a foul. But like, I'm sitting there going, I don't know. And I don't think it's a fault to say, I just don't know anymore.

[Philippe Auclair]

I think it's the point where, again, like you, I'm a bit. I don't know exactly what to think anymore, because I was always told, including by referees, not all contacts are fouls, and not all fouls have contacts. You know, you can perfectly. The intent to injure a player is a foul for which you can actually get sent off. But if you accidentally and really accidentally in the midst of the action, happen to tread on somebody's toes, come on, man, that can't be right. And I don't think anybody can disagree with that. The other thing I would add to what Lars has said about the process, what I also don't like is that the commentators are aware that the process is happening and are telling the viewers. It's not as if there was like a discrete. By the way, did you see this? No, I didn't. Well, an exchange which should happen all the time, that's not a problem at all. But the fact that it's also made public, it's something we understand. VAR is looking at this incident, really. Why is it important to build it up as something which matters in the game?

[Max Rushden]

Although, Philippe. Sorry to interrupt. Although, you know, we are constantly complaining that we don't know what's happening. So if somebody is at least telling us what's happening, even though they're not telling people in the ground what's happening.

[Philippe Auclair]

We are complaining that we don't understand why a particular decision has been taken. I don't think the fact that the referees are talking to each other all of the time, the linesman is talking to the ref, the men in the middle who are. They're talking to each other. I certainly hope so, because if they don't, they don't do their job. What I mean is that it's yet another way to put the refereeing on the scene and to make it an important part of the action, when honestly, the less we hear about it, the better it would be. That's the thing. It's like it becomes a staged intervention. Oh, Vara said something that's important. And when most of the time it's not important at all. But it was an absolutely shocking decision and I can understand. I know some people are having a go at Marco Silva because he's very. He's very extrovert, shall we say, in the way that he manifests his dissatisfaction. But I think in this particular game, because we haven't got to the penalty decisions, he has every reason to be extremely annoyed with what happened. They could have. It's a huge game for Fulham fans. It's the biggest game of the season. It is. If you can win at the bridge, my goodness, your season is a good one.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. No, I totally agree with you. And look, we don't have time necessarily to talk about one of those handballs, which I hate as a law, but I think they may have got it right under the laws. But it is deeply frustrating. Nicholas Jackson, who knows where he is now, but you know, he went to Munich, they said come back please, because delap got injured and so he's. Presumably someone's looking at his flight tracker right now, whether who's the representative. It's a former player you weren't expecting said planes don't go backwards, which is a great way of saying.

[Lars Sivertsen]

I mean, that is true. Unless they're on the ground and they're being towed out of the gate, you know. Yeah. Then they go backwards, the whole flight.

[Max Rushden]

Reversing, you know, beep, beep, beep. That's another thing would be terrible. All right, let's go to Molyneux. Wolves 2, Everton 3. Look, Barry did relegate Everton. I spoke to him yesterday. He's now not really thinking that they're going to go down that little pass noz from Grealish to Dewsbury hall and what I finish in the Jeff Hurst arc off the bar. They look quite good going forward. Everton.

[Noz]

I think Everton have replaced palace as my enjoyable watch anytime. They're on now, which I never thought I'd say about Everton with the Moyes, but they're really fun to watch. The point I'd make about Grealish is it makes me wish there was some way of limiting squads because there you've got a beautiful player, an amazing player and he's showing at Everton and he showed at Billa what he could do and essentially he was hoarded at City amongst all these other players. And I know why clubs have big squads because there's so many games and because it's not fair on the players and they're going to get burnt out. But I hate the fact you've got the likes of Chelsea that they're hoarding all this talent and that's fair enough for them, but we're missing out on watching these amazing players. We've essentially missed out on Grealish. We've missed out on this version of Grealish and it's a pity.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. And actually, do you know what, it's such a cliche, Philippe, isn't it, to say, you know, it's so good to watch him enjoying his football because, you know, and being loved because we all want to be loved and. And presumably most footballers love playing football well. But like, it's so visible with him, isn't it? You know, his relationship with fans, he's just so like, he doesn't. You really get the sense he doesn't go, I'm. I'm on a different plane. To anyone else. He's like just a bloke who happens to be brilliant and he loves it.

[Philippe Auclair]

And it's totally infectious. You can see the effect it has on the others. And which is why I'm absolutely stunned because Nosewood, your favorite team to watch. Do you remember Everton's first game of the season? I wouldn't have said that. It's absolutely dire.

[Lars Sivertsen]

David Moyes enthusiast.

[Philippe Auclair]

Oh, my goodness. But now you think they've got Grealish, they've got the wonderful ndi who's. I love that player. Absolutely love him to bits. And they've got Dukesbury Hall. So they've got a kind of very unlikely, unholy trinity of quite, I would say, not misfits, but players who don't fit in the kind of normal mold, but who seem to really enjoy playing with each other. And what is also is so infectious that even David Moyes seems to be enjoying it.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Yeah. And dibling as well to come.

[Philippe Auclair]

Oh, my gosh, yes.

[Max Rushden]

You know, they will be fun. You're right. They will be fun. Appointment to view Everton who thought the day would would ever come. Wolves the only side with naught points. Perhaps they are doomed. Strand Larsen wasn't playing. He was on his phone in a box. I think he was injured anyway. But like, maybe he'll be at Newcastle by the end of the. By tomorrow. By the time he listens to this, we don't know. Disappointingly, part three will begin at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

[Philippe Auclair]

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[Max Rushden]

Free year.

[Philippe Auclair]

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[Max Rushden]

Enough. But I'm your hype man.

[Philippe Auclair]

When you purchase an eligible device, you get $25 off every month for 12 months with credits totaling one year of free service, taxes extra for the device.

[Lars Sivertsen]

And service plan online only.

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[Max Rushden]

Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Tottenham nil. Bournemouth. One mark says. Guess you'll probably mention Bournemouth Bournemouth tomorrow. Yes, somewhat. A very angry Bournemouth fan because we didn't get to them last week. Charlie says, having won the league last week, is Thomas Frank now a fraud. Lars, look, you and I had a lot of Tottenham optimism going into this game. Let's save Tottenham for a second because Bournemouth were brilliant. Scored early, kept spurs to nothing. Spurs didn't have a corner in the whole game. They didn't have a shot until the 68th minute. Bournemouth should have won this. I don't know. Three, four, five?

[Noz]

Nil.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Yeah, no, they were terrific. They were very energetic. They were very. This thing about almost embracing the chaos a little bit like they are under Iraola. A team that can put, like, nice passing moves together for sure, but they don't try to hog the possession all the time. They're perfectly happy to, you know, be a team that attacks quite directly. They try to, like, win it in good areas of the field and attack and they do that really well. And they just. Spurs just didn't have a sniff. They weren't able to do anything. And I think it's hard. With apologies to the very angry Bournemouth fan. I think it is hard not to talk about spurs in this game because Bournemouth didn't do anything we don't expect from them, really. I think they did. This is what a good Bournemouth performance looks like and we've seen many of those and we've given them credit for that a lot. I think it's a bigger story that spurs were complete trash after a very promising start to the season.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. What's the answer? That, because I did, you know, you sort of looked at the, you know, you watch the game, you think, well, at some point, Thomas Frank, who is very known for changing things, will do something. He couldn't do anything in this game.

[Lars Sivertsen]

I was a little surprised by the lineup. Because we've talked about how Thomas Frank, he's very pragmatic. He changes the plan according to who you're playing against, you know, but here you're playing at home. And whilst Bournemouth are good and we respect Bournemouth and we have given them their due now. Please don't hurt me, angry Bournemouth fan. I was surprised to see the sort of against big scary teams. Midfield of Sar, Palinha and Bentonkur, those are three very energetic guys, but none of them are very good at passing the ball forwards. In a game where you're kind of expecting to dominate possession and you need to pry open someone and you need to. But then the question is, who is that player now that Madison is injured? I mean, that's what you're bringing in Xavi Simons for, I guess to have a little bit more guile. But I thought spurs improved when they got Bergwall on because then you have a midfielder who will transport the ball forwards in a meaningful way. What they've been doing this transfer window spurs, they keep. They've already signed Kudus and they keep signing more players who are good at dribbling, more so than passing. And they've almost stumbled onto Xavi Simons who is actually quite a good passer. But they were trying so hard to get guys who run with the ball rather than move the ball by passing. And it seems to be a plan now with Thomas Frank is that we're going to be quite defensively solid and we're going to get the ball to the dribbly boys and they're going to do the dribbly things. But I still think passing the ball is important in this game. They really, really struggle to move it forward. And I think, yeah, I'm really hoping Simons is the answer to that.

[Max Rushden]

And actually you need a balance, right Philippe? Because Bournemouth have David Brooks, who compassable played really well. Alex Scott, who I think is a. Alex Scott is a great player as well. And Semenya as curses, you know, can do everything actually.

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah. And it's the directness which is. Which is remarkable and which actually showed in the numbers because if you look spurs at, you know, again, you know, 2/3 of the possession, actually more than that, nearly 3/4 of the possession. But Bournemouth outshot them by 25, 20. This directness, it's a mixture of subtlety and silkiness because there are some very good technicians in this Bournemouth side. But as well, impact players, quick transitions and people who run with the ball. I mean, Semenyo is. If you were to do an 11 of the most underrated players. But though maybe not for long in the Premier League, I think it would probably in that starting lineup.

[Lars Sivertsen]

One more quick thing on Bournemouth, because I didn't do a good job praising them, did I? Really too annoyed about Spurs. They did in this game. I believe they had like 28 tackles. I've got the numbers in front of me now and 28 is a big number. If you look so far in the Premier League, the highest sort of average tackles per game is wolves were 23. So, like, 28 is a lot. And it's interesting because when you look at the lineup, yeah, you look at Brooks, you look at Scott Tavanier, you know, these, you think of these as more as technical guys, but clearly it's a team who are just really like, getting stuck in and again, embracing the chaos in a way that's like, they're always a good watch. Like, I. I would. I would say to. To Noz and his newfound love of Everton, I'd probably rather watch Bournemouth on a weekly basis. As much fun as Grealish and India are, just for a team that is consistently fun to watch and produce interesting football games. Very good, Bournemouth.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah. Also interesting as well that, you know, footballers have to do everything right. We sort of say this guy attacks, this guy defends, this guy stands still. But they all have to do everything that you have to do on a football pitch. Interesting stat that Tottenham haven't won the game before an international break since October 2023. That's a fascinating stat to Villa Park palace unbeaten in six against Villa, they're unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions. Crystal palace, although, you know, I'm not really interested in stats that go across seasons. Another brilliant win for Palace Noz.

[Noz]

Yeah. And again and again we talk about systems, managers like Glasna, somebody who has made that. That amaranth formation work in the Premier League. The way they. They lose their best players each year and yet they find a way to still play their game, still look exciting, still have, like, match winners, and you get the feeling that, like, they will eventually lose Wharton, but they will be fine because they've got such good manager and they do find solutions to games. So, I mean, I was slightly surprised at the scoreline, but I don't know if that's just a blip for Villa or it's worrying signs because you do get the sense with Emery that he needs. He kind of needs a constant rejuvenation of players and fresh players in and obviously they've not been able to do that for financial reasons and financial rule reasons, and it doesn't bode well for the rest of the season, especially if rumors are true and they want Sancho, which I'm not sure he's the answer.

[Max Rushden]

Philippe, did you want to say something?

[Philippe Auclair]

Yeah, just two things. First of all, I want to go back to Crystal palace because I hear what Noz is saying, but I am worried for palace because, yes, they've kept losing players like Wilfried Zaha. Remember when people said, you know, when Zaha's gone, that's it, they're finished. No Michael Ollise, same thing. Eze, same thing. Though we don't know where the impact is going to be. Gehe might have been gone by the time you listen to that, guys. For me, it's a completely different situation to, for example, a Brighton, where this is part of the policy. In the case of Crystal palace, this is not part of a policy. This is part of a necessity, which is not the same thing at all. And you can hear that Glassner, who is quite clearly a very, very fine manager, is frustrated by what is going on. So I'm also wondering, okay, you've lost all these players over the last few years, you're going to lose a few more. You could also lose your manager, which is why I am not as confident. I wish I were, because I do enjoy seeing them play with him, especially as a manager. But I think there's a problem and for Aston Villa, one of the things, yes, there is this phenomenon of it's like a stone being polished by a torrent over time and there's a moment that the stone is completely smooth and when it's smooth in football, it's not that great, to be honest. You want the angles, you want the sharpness and you lose that sharpness. But there is also the problem that there have been problems within the club because of psi are and that Emery also has the feeling that his hats have been tied behind his back and that the recruitment is not what it should have been, and so on and so forth. And that's not contributing to a very nice atmosphere, to say the least.

[Max Rushden]

Sunderland, Brentford, Lars, a lot of grappling in this game. This was the holding law at play.

[Lars Sivertsen]

It seems to be. But I mean, what a great win for Sunderland. Like this stuff really matters. I mean, we. For the newly promoted teams to kind of get going and get some points on the board, it's super, super valuable. It was another game where, like we saw against West Ham, they're. They're dangerous when they put crosses into the box, Sunderland and. And they managed to get a win from there. And I want to reference a bit of a stat here from my very good friend Peter in Dallas, who points out that this season's crop of promoted sides have a combined 13 points after three rounds, which is more than six times better than last season's promoted trio had. They only had two points between them after the third round. And Southampton, of course, only got 12 all season. So 13 points already for the newly promoted teams, which is heartening. Right. It makes us feel that maybe there will be some kind of relegation battle this time.

[Max Rushden]

Yeah, yeah. Totally delighted for them. Nice time for Isidore. They have a baby and then play and score the winner in the 96th minute the next day. But I do kind of agree with Keith Andrews. I thought the, I thought the. I thought they should have had two penalties where Nathan Collins was rugby tackled twice. And actually the penalty that Sunderland got wasn't quite as grappling. But you know, I haven't lost any sleep over it. Leeds nil. Newcastle nil. Not a lot happened. And we just have time, Philippe, for you to talk about Joe Neves hat trick, which was unbelievable.

[Philippe Auclair]

Oh my goodness, it was incredible. So the game finished 632 to PSG played. It played in Toulouse. And you can imagine it was rather fun. But it was even more fun than you can imagine with the 6:3 because PSG and I know Lars and I were talking about this before the part. They're becoming annoyingly entertaining and good and they were so entertaining at times, I could not believe it. There were six or seven PSG players not attacking in the box of Toulouse. In Toulouse, they were a kind of. Of anti arteta machine, you know that the way they were deployed, it was crazy. Leaving loads of space open. They don't care they're going to score. And this scored and Joao Neves scored probably. I think I've been really thinking about it. The greatest ever hat trick scored in French football. In French league football. I know it's not strictly speaking a hat trick because it's not left foot, head and right foot. So thank you, old pedants.

[Max Rushden]

I know that it's not a perfect hat trick. It's still a hat trick.

[Philippe Auclair]

It's still a hat trick. The first one, he receives the ball after a bit of a kind of billiards, aerial billiards, if there is such a thing. The ball lands to him, is his back to goal. He chests it in the safe movement whack. Overhead kick in the corner. You think that's pretty good. Seven minutes later, after a clearer and better structured attack, he receives the ball is back to goal, he chests it, and in one movement, another overhead kick. And even better than the first one. They're not chinners. They are absolutely met with the power of the foot and meant everything. So you think, my goodness, two overhead kicks in seven minutes, one more to go, and the third goal for me is even better. And it's not an overhead kick. He receives the ball quite a long way from the Toulouse goal. And what he does is about 25 yards out. My favorite skill in football. He cuts across the ball with the outside of his right boot, catching it with the laces in such a way that he is imparting exactly the right amount of spinning so that it ends up in the top corner. I've never seen, you know, I've never seen a hat trick like this one. Usually there's always one which is like, okay, from one yard out, a kind of nugent goal. But there wasn't in this particular occasion. And it was, I mean, Joao Neves, what can you say? And PSG were just wonderful. The game was crazy. Penalty for Toulouse. I think it's. I can't remember the name of the Toulouse player takes it, Chevalier stops it, and really good stop. But there's been encroachment, so the penalty has to be retaken. And the penalty is retaken by Cristian Caceres, another player, and Chevalier stops the penalty again. It was that kind of game. And then in the end, Toulouse scored two goals within a single minute in added time. I mean, honestly, guys, I'm really pissed off that Ligue 1 is not really available in the UK anymore, which I think is a shame. Tells you everything you need to know about the state of French football when it comes to broadcasting. You have to use those special passes and so forth. But it's not on one of the main broadcasters any longer, which is an absolute shame, because believe me, this was the game of the weekend for me. And the hat trick of the weekend and the hat trick of the year, and probably the hat trick of all of French football history, at least in the league.

[Max Rushden]

Perfect, Philippe. What a wonderful way to end. That will do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thank you, Lars.

[Lars Sivertsen]

Thank you, Max.

[Max Rushden]

Cheers, Noz.

[Noz]

See ya.

[Max Rushden]

Thanks, Philippe.

[Philippe Auclair]

Thank you.

[Max Rushden]

Football Weekly is produced by Silas Gray. Our executive producer is. Neil McVeigh will be back tomorrow.

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