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Hello and welcome to the Rest Is Football with Micah Richards and me, Gary Lineker. Alan is grafting today with Premier League Productions, but he does insist that he'll join us for the second half when we'll talk about Sunday's games, today's games. He'll probably be in a somewhat bad mood having watched Newcastle get beaten by West Ham, but. Mike, how's your weekend been?
Micah Richards
Yes, no work for me. I've been doing some commercial work. I won't tell you who I was working for this weekend just in case they don't want me to announce it. But, yeah, good for me and good for the podcast.
Gary Lineker
Good to hear, Good to hear. Micah.
Micah Richards
And you. What, what's your weekend consisted of this.
Gary Lineker
Watching football mostly, as usual.
Micah Richards
Are you getting bored now or not? Guys, come on.
Gary Lineker
No, no, I'm really, no, I'm generally pretty busy. I meant, I know. I genuinely, I, I don't miss doing much of the day. I, I, Funnily enough, I was thinking this morning I was watching the show again and I thought, I've watched more Match of the Days in the last two months than I've watched in the last 20 OD. I never used to watch it when I did it, so. Because no one likes to watch themselves too often, do they? You don't like to listen to your own voice and all that. It's awful. But now I'm actually watching the show and it's on a, on a reg. Well, I watch it every week because it helps for this. Helps for this. And also it's good, it gives you, I mean, I always. My argument about Match of the Day and the reason that it still does really good business is that a lot of people in the country, and I'm, I'm not one of those people, I obviously, I have got sky and TNT and everything else, but a lot of people haven't and it gives you, you know, your little fix of Premier League football, doesn't it? So, so I was, yeah, I was watching, watching that. And it's very helpful for doing this because obviously you can't see all the games and that's the one thing you can't do that I used to be able to do. You know, you get there on a Saturday and we'd have that bank of screens, monitors and watching all the games. But, but I quite enjoy. I'd football at home, though. It's quite, it's quite nice. Yeah, it's really comfortable.
Micah Richards
Can I ask you though, guys, why don't you watch yourself back?
Gary Lineker
No, I, I used to, I used to do a lot and I also listen to the podcast back quite a bit. Even though it grates a bit when I listen to myself. Just. You just do it to improve. But I Did you know television for so many years and in the first five, 10 years, I would watch myself back as almost a punishment, but not really more to learn. You just see little things that you don't pick up at the time. So I did do. And then I. Then it got to the stage where you do much of the day, and then I get home at 3, 3:30, sometimes 4am and then obviously I'm not going to get myself up for the repeat and I also know what's going to happen in the show, so. So I kind of got out of the habit of that, but I got to a stage where, you know, I sort of knew how it worked. I could probably do it in my sleep. So. But yeah, I watch it now because I don't have the, the ability to be able to watch all the games that I used to be able to watch. So I'm still enjoying the show. It does, you know, does what it says on the tin. Let's start with Saturday's guys and then we discussed today's games. We're recording this on Sunday evening when Al's free a little bit later on. Probably start with Arsenal, Top of the League. They're looking very good. I know things can change in football.
But at the moment they look solid, they look organized, they look like they're in control of everything and they're incredibly difficult, not only to beat, but to score against. Micah.
Micah Richards
Yeah, it's. It's interesting watching Arsenal because we talk about them every week and it's the same old story, isn't it? Or the keep a clean sheet, they deny opportunities, the work really hard and, you know, especially on Match of the Day or even on our podcast or whatever we're doing. I don't like singling out just one player because I feel like it's a team effort and I have to give Arteta credit for building that. It looked like it was coming then, couldn't quite get over the line. Now it looks like it's back. But I have to identify Declan Rice. Declan Rice, he took his game to a next level. Now where you're talking about him as possibly being one of the best in world football.
Gary Lineker
That's fair.
Micah Richards
And we saw him at West Ham, a very good player.
I remember some pundits were criticizing him in terms of that didn't know what he was going to be. Is he a defensive midfielder? Is he attacking midfielder?
Everything. He's a box to box midfielder. I like him in the eight. I feel as though sometimes he's wasted in a six and he doesn't dominate the game. Like, it's just. It could do. It can do everything. But he's consistently putting in these performances where we have to start talking about him as one of the best in. In world football.
Gary Lineker
And I'll take it a bit further about England as well. If I, if, If I were Thomas Tuka, which I'm not, and it's very easy just to be on the sidelines, as we all know, but I would look at England, I would go, imagine, Imagine having as your two eights, Bellingham, Rice, boom, boom, boom, up and down, and then a holding player, whether it, you know, whether it be Anderson or Wharton or whoever it is, that kind of player. And then three up. I mean, if you've got those two going, I mean, they. I mean, the amount of ground that Rice covers and the way, also the way he advances with the ball, I mean, he's. And he's. I mean, he's such a mover. I mean, he's so. I mean, he's quick once he gets in his stride and he covers the ground really well with or without the ball. He's got a real kind of smart side to the, the. The way he thinks about the game defensively, gets interceptions. He's just, I mean, he's got it all. He's delivery from. Delivery from, like, well, crosses, free kicks, corners, got what you like, is. Is as good as anyone probably in the game at the moment. He just hits it, hits the money every time. So, I mean, he really has. I mean, some players, you know, you. You see them as young, you think this is. He's got something, this kid, but has he got quite enough to go a little. He's one of those players that continues to improve and improve as they get older. And he clearly, I think, probably thinks. I don't know him, I've never met him, but he strikes me as a really solid individual. Probably thinks about the game a lot.
Micah Richards
Yeah, he is. I've met him off the field. He takes criticism really well. And, you know, when you're analyzing someone, you're talking about positioning and all that sort of thing, and he would agree with you and say, I need to do better there and that's what I'm going to do next season. And that's exactly what he's done. And our opinion is just our opinion. We speak about football, but he knows, he knows the bits. When I used to have them interviews, when someone said, oh, he can do this, I used to take it personally and think, what did I know? My reaction Was to. Oh, what's he talking about? Where. Yes. Or react. But Declan Rice's attitude is I'm going to take it on board and I'm going to show everyone exactly what I can do. And that's what. That's what he's done. It is. So it's so good to see. And if Arsenal do win the League this season because of someone like him, again, I mentioned at the start it's a. It's a team game, but he's just exceeding all expectations.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, I, I agree. Did you see the analysis on Match of the Day of the two fullbacks as well, which I thought was really good.
Micah Richards
Yes, I. I thought it was really good because Rich actually sent it to me.
Gary Lineker
Okay.
Micah Richards
Last week.
Gary Lineker
The editor of Most of the Day, by the way, for those that don't.
Micah Richards
Yeah. Sorry for all. Yeah, we've mentioned him so many times. People probably know. But yeah, Rich, yeah. A Match of the Day, but he sent it to me as I was going on sky and their stats are not different, but I don't want to take someone's stats from somewhere else and go to a different show. And then I saw Alan do it. I was like, you bastard. Honestly.
I wanted to do that especially because I'm a fullback. And what the analysis was, and everyone didn't see it, is everyone talks about Arsenal's wingers and midfielders and all that, but it's actually the fullbacks are in positions to take different areas to. Yes. Califiori and Timber. Some of. Some of the best fullbacks I've seen in, in. In.
Gary Lineker
Amazing how they get in positions like they're playing basically up front at times. It's mental.
Micah Richards
It is. But that, that's. That's what the money the managed to do. And again you go to coaching, you have to give Arteta credit for that, for. For trusting them. And it doesn't matter. Even Ben White. Let's not forget Ben White, because I always feel like when people are performing well, we forget about the ones who come in and do well. Ben White comes in and Louis Kelly comes in, especially Louis Skelly in a Champions League game where he got that assist and he burst through free player. They've just got really good players all over the field.
Gary Lineker
Incredible depth at the moment. I mean, but you're in Timber. I really. I think he's. I mean, truly exceptional footballer. And they've got so many of them at the moment. So I think it's got to the point. Now, I know we all tip Liverpool at the start of the season. I know Liver and will come to Liverpool in a second, but it'd be hard to go if you had to pick now. It'd be hard to go against Arsenal, wouldn't it?
Micah Richards
It's too early.
Alan Shearer
Too early.
Gary Lineker
No, it is too early. But it'd be hard, even as early as it is, to actually go tip anyone ahead of them at the moment. But. But we all know what football's like. You win, you lose two games on the bounce and everyone's demanding the manager get sacked.
Micah Richards
You know what the question's going to be at the end of the season? I was looking at all the numbers. I was looking at. I use an app called why Scout?
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
And you basically, you watch a game, but you watch it in 40 minutes instead of watching the whole game. So no throw in. As soon as the ball goes out, it's back into play. But the question is going to be Yokerez, can he make the difference in the bigger games? Because right now he's doing so well for the team in terms of stretching, but he's missing a lot of opportunities that maybe could go against him at the end of the season. I know we've got Kai Havertz to come back, but Yokerez needs to be the difference against the bigger teams, the later stages of the. The Champions League. And when it gets really difficult in the league, you're playing three times a week. If you have a Real Madrid in one week, you have a man city or whatever it may be, that needs to be the difference.
Gary Lineker
I. I agree with. It would have helped his confidence scoring yesterday. You know, people will say, yeah, but it was just a tap in. Doesn't matter. Does not matter one iota. It's really important for strikers because I think he'd gone like five games or something without a goal in the Premier League. So that would help him because, you know, believe you me, I know when you go through those little patches that you start to. You start to wonder a little bit. The criticism that people perhaps would say is that I don't want to call him a flat trap bully. That's a bit unfair because what he did, obviously in Portugal, he didn't really score many goals against the top teams. And so far his goals have been against Burnley, Forest and Leeds. So I take your point. I think he needs to do in some of the big games, but, you know, but I think he's had a reasonable start. But he has given, and I think Alan pointed it out the week or so ago, he has given them something different. Because he does like to try and get behind defenses which makes defenses drop a little bit deeper. So therefore you have more space for the likes of Declan Rice and, and the playmakers also that Arsenal have. So it's, it's working at the moment. But I take your point. You know, he needs to do it in a. We see it in the Champions League or see it in a game. We. We shall see. But I would say overall I would think he's. He's been a reasonable start. Nothing incredible. But I mean he's. He's not. He's not Harland clearly. But then no one is. No one is. He's unique. But yeah, I think Arsenal looking really good. Let's move on to. To Liverpool. Micah and we, we. We discussed their decision to play a second string. Lots of teams played second string. But then leaving everyone off the bench and basically throwing really the Carabao cup against a team as good as palace. You didn't give yourself a great chance to win that game. And we all said he's got to win the game at the weekend to justify that. And then with Real Madrid coming up. So they did it and it was more. He actually went pretty much back to the way and how they played last season with the personnel that they played last season. True.
Micah Richards
What did I say to Alan? Alan was saying, oh, he's got to win this game. I wish he was here right now. I might pull him up later when we speak to him. The Carabao cup is the least fancy, extravagant cup we, we all know.
Gary Lineker
But Newcastle won it last year. Micah, don't forget that.
Micah Richards
The manager had a decision to make and I said it was the right decision because he always plays all the. Historically Liverpool have played with youngsters in the early rounds of the League Cup.
Gary Lineker
That's always been in the FA cup as well. If you remember last season. They did exactly the same in the FA cup last season.
Micah Richards
And what did I say in the League? I said that they should go back to basics. They've had a few injuries. Who comes back? Graven Birch comes back into the. Into the starting line. He scores. Mallister comes back a little bit more protection in, in there. And suppose like we all know his running power, of course it was going to go back to something like what we had seen because they've got the players to. To do that. I actually thought Villa did very well early in the game.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, they did have chances.
Micah Richards
They broke the press really well. And Liverpool was like, oh, they're actually playing through us here. But as the game Went on, they figured out what they needed to do and the balance was just a lot better.
Gary Lineker
Interesting thing is, isn't it apart from Ekatike, all the new players.
I mean all that money that they've spent, it's.
Micah Richards
A hard one, isn't it? Because you spend you spending money. But then it has to be in a system that they're familiar with. If you have vert at the moment, he's not up to speed for the Premier League, but he spent 100 million on him.
Gary Lineker
So he, it's difficult.
Micah Richards
100. It was the right decision that he made, without doubt. He had to, he had to do it, he had to do that. But in terms of the money spent, they've spent a lot. But they've also lost a lot. And I know we talked about Trent before and all that sort of thing like of course you're gonna miss that caliber of play. You just, you just have to Liverpool now go back to what they did last season. Slowly but surely move verts into the side. Whether that's going to be on the left, you know, for Gakpo at some point. But the way the Premier League is too fast and furious.
Gary Lineker
It would also be good for Wirtz to come back into the team when there's confidence in the team.
Micah Richards
Correct.
Gary Lineker
I think that would be sensible man management at the moment. Take him out the firing line a little bit and then, you know, bring him on, let him. And then just because we know how good he is. I mean Wirtz is. He's a really good player. And you don't buy these players for the first three months. You buy them for years, years ahead long, you know, and, and he's an exceptionally talented young. We've watched so much of him over the last year or two at different places, whether it be for the national team or when he was at Bayer Leverkusen. And he's so gifted. So it will, it will come good for him as long as, you know, as long as he's mentally strong enough to deal with the situation at the moment. Because it won't be easy for him. Don't think he's not suffering a little bit with this.
Micah Richards
But yeah, I agree with that. And you know, when we're talking about it and a lot of people saying oh he's extra money. You're just protecting him because he plays. It's nothing to do with that. It's because we've seen him play for the national team, we've seen him play in the Champions League. We know what he can Do. I'm not basing my evidence of the Bundesliga. I'm not, I'm basing it off in Europe. Andy started so young. He's got to come good and I believe he will.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, he's really, really good at football. So yeah, I think it was important with for Liverpool in all sorts of different ways especially going into a big game in the week against Real Madrid.
Biggie that one, isn't it?
Micah Richards
I fear from Real Madrid killer Killian Mbappe. Oh, is in scintillating form. He's in scintillating form at the moment.
Gary Lineker
Two more goals, two more goals yesterday. I mean he's knocking, I mean as well. He's brilliant getting behind defenses. So Liverpool are gonna have to be very careful because they're very good at the counter attacking style of play. Real Madrid at the moment with Mbappe spinning behind. Really good.
Micah Richards
Really, really good. And it always, he always likes to time his run right at the very edge. If they give him space, it will punish you. I can't wait is that game's Tuesday, right? Not Wednesday, Tuesday, right? Champions League.
Gary Lineker
I think it is Tuesday.
Alan Shearer
Yes.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
Wait for that.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Bellingham as well. He's come back after his injury and he's really looking good. Brilliant goal yesterday. He's funny. I, I just a little plug. I'm not sure when we're going to put it out. Probably next week or this week or the week after next. Carlo Ancelotti I interviewed on Friday. No, you keep it secrets. It was quite a last minute thing and I, you know, I don't want you lot working too hard and, and he was down the line. He was in, he was in Brazil because he's obviously now the Brazil's national team coach. I mean it was great and I, you know we did about 35, 40 minutes and, and he's obviously very busy but he was, he was really good. And I asked him about Jude Belling because you know you hear these like people start going oh he's too big for his boots and he's this, that and the other. And you hear the rumors and you go. And I'm, I don't think that I'm, I'm not sure if that's true. And I asked him and he went model, professional, absolutely brilliant kid, great personality, wonderful talent. And it just affirmed what. Because you know what that like they jabbering in a room a monger world and all this nonsense of you're hearing stuff.
Micah Richards
But let's not forget it's World cup year. We don't we don't need that noise going in. Okay?
Gary Lineker
I mean, it comes because he was left out, I suppose, but he'd only just come back from being out. I mean, he will be in England's next squad next week. If he's not, then I'll sit here and go, I, I, I'll actually be flabbergasted if he's.
Micah Richards
Would it just be nice, though, guys? I mean, you've been to multiple tournaments with a BBC and a player and, and as a, a broadcaster. But wouldn't it just be nice to go into the World cup where our star players, our star players just have no, nothing surrounding them, Whether that be insecurity of what, whatever the situation might be, whether that be uncertainty, whether that be. No, you know, no injuries, loss of thought, any of that. I just thought it'd be so once.
Gary Lineker
It will, it'll happen one day. It will happen one day. I mean, I'd go back to my point about the Bellingham and Rice and, you know, and the talent, you know, you've got with, I mean, but then, you know, there are other. Spain have got incredible talent. France have got incredible talent. Argentina will take some beating still, I think, defending their trophy, I think, I mean, it's, it. But World Cups are quite hard to win, you know.
But if we, you know, if, if you're absolutely right, if, if we went to a tournament which we always seem to get one of our big players injured or something, if we had one where actually it all came together, then you never know. You never know. Maybe Thomas, maybe he's, you know, we'll see if, see if it, it can possibly happen. But yeah, important with, for, for Liverpool. God, chilled Spurs. I mean, I was, I was a bit shocked by this. I mean, you know, well done. Chelsea obviously got the better of it and I thought Kai Soto again was absolutely brilliant. I did, you know, watch most of that game and I mean, he's, he's, he's such a talent. But I mean, spurs was so, so disappointing. I mean, they've had a reasonable start to the season, I would say. Good. You know, Thomas points come in. But yesterday seemed like a massive step backwards because, you know, they were unbeaten in the Champions League. I know that two draws. But they were also, you know, they're in the top four of the, of the Premier League. But it just seems after that, like a negative energy. And you had the kind of strange thing, didn't you, at the end of the game with, with Van De Ven and Jed Spence going off the pitch having Thomas Franks, ask them to go around and you know, I understand from a point of view that you'd be pissed off and just want to get down the tunnel, but if your manager tells you to do that, you think you should do it. So all of a sudden from being all like, it's going really nicely to. There's a few questions. First time.
Micah Richards
Yeah. Well, firstly on the field, that's one of the worst games I've seen Spurs play. Even including.
Gary Lineker
He went to the game yesterday and he was saying, it's absolutely terrible.
Micah Richards
I couldn't believe. I didn't know what I was trying to do. Bergwal hindered this come off and they had to bring on Xavi Simons. It didn't, it didn't work out. So maybe that's one of the excuses, but I don't understand what I was trying to do. They was trying to play out there, was taking risks, but they had no control in the game. They didn't look like there was going to score.
Gary Lineker
They look like the big gaps between the back and the front. And I've never seen that with a Thomas Frank team. He always, you know, they're always like together. I mean, it might just be one. You know, you get games where everyone. You get a number of players off and they're not quite. But it was a strange one.
Micah Richards
It was just flat. I was watching the game thinking, okay, but maybe we're doing Chelsea a disservice because yeah, Caicedo, like you said, was just. It was just everywhere. Every, every time spurs tried to play out, they were there, wouldn't they? They know exactly where to be. The press was high that the defense would jump in as well.
Gary Lineker
Brought him into my fantasy team. Mike, I mention that, you know, 10 points.
Micah Richards
You know what? I was good. I was gonna bring him in. I'm wait, I'm waiting. I waited one more week. I bought him a Teta.
Gary Lineker
Me too. Me too. I did my wild card. I'm learning about this game. Things like wild card I've got. Got my bench boost next week. I mean, I'm so excited for it, Mike.
Micah Richards
It's so good at it. And just on, on your second point with Ched Spence and Advand, who I listened to a little bit of an interview and with Thomas Frank and he sort of played it down well.
Gary Lineker
You would do you say? It's not important.
Micah Richards
Yes, agreed. But if they're disrespecting the manager like that, it's an absolute disgrace. And if they did, I would even play him in the Next game. I, I really wouldn't because Thomas Frank's not that sort of person who causes that confrontation. So that's just a lack of respect. But, yeah, I don't. It's strange coming from Van de Ven.
Gary Lineker
Because it was actually the two players that were probably responsible for the goal as well. Don't forget, between them, they kind of messed up about three times, didn't they?
Micah Richards
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
You know, and they've both been really, really good this season. I think it's worth saying that as well. Maybe they've just. The two of them have just gone. We've had a nightmare. I can't go and face the fans because it was our fault. So you don't know all the details, so you' got to be a little bit careful in this. But at the same time, to go, you know, like, dismiss your manager in front of everybody is not a great look.
Micah Richards
It's just one of those in, in the moment. And yeah, I don't, I, I, We. We don't know what happened and only the manager does. And if he needs to make a stance or take a stance on how, how, how he felt about the situation. And I've been in that situation too, where I, I got. I got subbed and I threw my shirt. I threw my shirt down.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Who too.
Micah Richards
I was playing for Strip Pierce. I might have. Might have told you years ago.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
And I threw my shirt down and I meant no disrespect by it. This could just be a thing where there was so frustrated, where the game and it looked worse than what it.
Gary Lineker
Was, you know, I think that's probably the case.
Micah Richards
Probably the case, yeah. But if it wasn't, the manager has to take a stance, I think.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Yeah, I agree. Good win for Chelsea, though. A couple of other games to talk about. I thought Man United, that. I think they're creeping back. They're not gonna, you know, they're not gonna be top four, I don't think. Unlikely. But you can see. What do they call it? Marginal gains. You know, the, the two new signings are doing. You know, two of the new signings are doing pretty well. There's still things about them and the. And who plays on the wing backs and where it's not a perfect fit and they're probably slightly fortuitous with the ball. That was. Should have not been. It was. They gave a corner when it probably wasn't a corner. Although it was. I mean, it was a tiny little decision, you know, but. Which Var couldn't obviously intervene with, but.
Micah Richards
Overall, I would still say progress, but I just. I just don't. And Ashley Williams did it on Match of the Day yesterday. I just don't like wingers being in that position.
Yeah, but he's a. He's a win. He's a winger, isn't he?
Gary Lineker
He was right, actually. I thought it was really good.
Micah Richards
It was really picked up and I just thinking.
They were better, but I don't know if they're better because of the individual brilliance or they're just learning the system more. But they're still vulnerable.
Gary Lineker
They're still vulnerable. I would say. I would say they're slightly better, which is not. But I think they're. They're probably moving in the right direction. I still don't think, overall, they've got the players that necessarily suit the way that Amrin plays, and Ahmad was probably a really good example of that. You could see the. The positives of his game, but also the fact that he's not a defender and he's been asked to play as a wing back and he's not a wing back, he's a winger or a forward. So, you know, so at the minute, you can still see where they haven't necessarily got the players to suit the system. So I think that whilst they've had a little bit of a good run and a revival, you. It's hard to envisage that. That they'll sustain it for a long period. But, you know, you've got to remember, what were they like about 16th in the league last season? So they've, you know, they've. They've. You're not going to suddenly jump up into the top, but the one thing I would say for them is their recruitment. I think for the first time in quite some time, looks like it's been pretty good. Kanye's a really good player. Mbumo is a really good player. Seskos, I think, might show something as well. He's. I think he's promising, so I think it's been better recruitment, but time will tell on that as well.
Micah Richards
I'll agree with everything that you think. I think you nailed it, actually. But tire. Time will tell. I had United finishing sixth, I think, or above this season. So with the players that they have, the signings that they brought in the summer, that's. That's where I have them.
I think we're just looking for consistency. I think it's as simple as that. And let's see how far it takes them.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, let's see Wolves bring on to that because obviously Vitor Pereira's lost his job. I mean what. I mean what chance have you got? I mean it's like a managerial merry go round, isn't it? In many ways this whole thing. And you can just see it. It's like he comes in, does a really, really, really good job. Last season when they were. He took over from pretty much where they are now this season and he turned things around. But last season he did have some talent. Comes the sell their best two players. I Nori to Manchester City and Cun to Manchester United. Then don't really buy anybody else and then well, things start to go wrong. Surprise, surprise. And whose fault is it now?
Micah Richards
Don't forget they unsettled Strand Larson.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
With Newcastle coming in for a bit 50 million, he thinks he's going out the door as well.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
You know what it's like when you're a player and you come in and they said we've sold two of the best players.
New Balance Advertiser
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Micah Richards
You've come. You've come through the door. You're thinking I'm going to Newcastle, I'm going to. To play for a team who was wants to play Champions league football or is playing Champions League football. And you're looking at and thinking what will I want to go to? And then he had that period where he's injured for a little while and he's come back and he's. And he's. And he's feeding off. He's feeding off straps.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, very difficult.
Micah Richards
Good in midfield. They've got some good players in the midfield and the end. And I do like Manetzi. He's one of my favorite players to watch because he's sort of like a holding midfielder who always gets in the boss and always starts and preps. I really like him. But defensively they're just not. Just not good enough. And they're always concede goals.
Gary Lineker
It's going to be difficult forever. Comes in, they're talking about Gary o'. Neill. I mean talk about.
Merry go round I should say. Obviously it's about a year ago that he lost his job and he's a very similar situation. Maybe they've just taken turns now so you get a little dip. Bring back Gary o' Neill for this season. They'll start next season badly. Bring back Victor Pereira, Vito Pereira next season. Keep it going. But you just look at it across the board. Don't you say you go, you know the, the managers now like Nuno goes from forest to. To now he's at West Ham and then you've got Sean Dyche who's been, they said that. And then he goes, it's just like, which club are you at at the moment? It's, it's just, it's a mad way to make a living. I talked to Carlo Ancelotti and it will be in, in the podcast about, about managers and he went, he went, I was sacked here, I was sacked at, I was sacked there, I was sacked. And he's probably got the best record of any coach ever.
Micah Richards
I bet he wasn't complaining about the, what did the settlement fee when you leave as a manager there, was he?
Gary Lineker
Well, I did, I didn't bring it up, funnily enough. But I mean that, that's the thing. I mean they obviously, they, they do. I said to her, does it not get to you though? And he went, well, the first time it did the second time a little bit. And then actually after that, that, I think after that he probably thought, well, I'll get the settlement, whatever it is. Who knows? Who knows. Let's take a break there, Micah, and when we come back, hopefully we'll be joined by Alan and we'll discuss the two games that were played today, Sunday when we're talking. Back in a minute.
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Welcome back to the Rest Is Football. Mike Richards and me, Gary Leake are now joined by a certain Alan Shearer in the back of a car. You've had a very busy long weekend, Alan.
Alan Shearer
I've had a busy weekend, yeah. I'm actually a very bit tired actually. Yeah. I did match the day yesterday, jumped in the car, got down to London and then did PLP today.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alan Shearer
With the two games that we've been doing. So heavy weekend. Yeah.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. And now where you're driving.
Alan Shearer
I'm heading back up north back to Newcastle now. Yeah. So only in that one of the four and a half hours to go.
Micah Richards
Well can I ask you though, why don't you just stay down and go.
Alan Shearer
Back in the morning because then it'll take me off a day traveling on Monday where I just prefer to get home. If I get home at about half midnight tonight, at least I wake up with my own bed.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. I used to think the same thing after much of the day because obviously traveling on Sunday is not as easy anyway because trying to get the train up and down but just. And it's the same, isn't it? At least you get in your own bed and you can have a line the next day or something. Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you on that one. Just two games played today that you would have covered, obviously. Alan, let's start with I tell you what, do you want to get the rant out you off first? You want.
Micah Richards
Oh yeah.
Gary Lineker
Let's get Newcastle out of the way so we can finish perhaps on a slightly More positive note, cuz you weren't very happy, were you?
Alan Shearer
Seriously, how bad were Newcastle? I mean, they were rotten. They were awful. It's as bad as I've as I can remember under Eddie. How for a long time until the.
Gary Lineker
Last time you said this last season at some point. So bad.
Alan Shearer
I mean they were lazy, they were lethargic, they. They had no energy. They.
I mean other than maybe Murphy who scored the goal, there was not one player, not one player that could come off that pitch and say, I did all right today. They were terrible. Every single one of them. From the goalkeeper to the center forward, right the way through. They were awful and got what they deserved. West Ham were the best team by a mile. Yeah. And it hurts to say that because it was a. Even though. Even when they went one nil up. I'm thinking they're a bit fortunate here. But then I'm thinking West Ham, well.
Gary Lineker
It was mad, wasn't it? Because you had that incredible effort from Jared Bowen near the post and then they went straight down the other side and scored.
Alan Shearer
I thought.
The way they went through West Ham, I thought, even though we're going to get a few here, West Ham are fragile. Fans will be moaning. It's going to be a tough day for West Ham. But give. Give credit to them the way they turned it around and the way they stuck together. Because it would have been. The pressure was on them then when Newcastle scored. So yeah, well done West Ham. The thorough deserved it. Newcastle were hopeless. Stop laughing. What's he. What you laughing at, Baker?
He's been holding that in you.
Gary Lineker
He has.
Alan Shearer
Look at him.
Gary Lineker
It's just how it affects your mood. It's just how it affects you.
Micah Richards
Yeah, it's brilliant. Brilliant. When you beat me last week at Baller League, you was giving the bigger the this.
I've not sent you one message because I know how much it hurts. So I was just waiting for the run.
Gary Lineker
It's mad out. It's mad, isn't it? As even however old. And you think you're getting a bit more mature. How much your team's performances affect your mood. You just think, come on. It's just. It's like what. Why. Why does it. It's this. I mean Lester at the moment. I mean talk about you think you've got things bad. I mean, crikey, we're really defeat lost at home again. And you just think, oh God, is anything ever going to change? But I was actually talking to my. My mate last night. We're out for dinner and.
I was saying, if you think about it, though, if you think about it about 10, 12 years ago, if you just said, right, okay, Lester, they're going to win the league and then they're going to win the FA cup and then they're going to go back to being Leicester and be pretty and probably championship and occasionally visit the Premier League again. Would you accept that? And I'd have gone, absolutely. And also that ain't gonna happen, but it has. It did happen. So. Yeah. Yeah, but it does. It does affect your mood. It really does.
Alan Shearer
Especially when you've got four and a half hours up the waterway in a car.
Gary Lineker
No.
Micah Richards
Oh, God.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Alan Shearer
Oh, never mind.
Micah Richards
Did anyone stand out for West Ham?
Alan Shearer
Yeah, the young boy, Freddie Potts. M. His first Premier League star. He's. Remember, I think it was. Is it Steve Potts? I think he was. He's at West Ham. He's been there for years, hasn't he? That's his. That's his son. And by the way, to put him in. In a pressurized situation like it was.
And for him to stand out and like he did was he got man of the match, play of the match. He was brilliant. He was. He really stood out. So, yeah, he was the. He was the. He was the standout, Michael.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, I totally agree with that as well. And it. But for a. But for a toenail, he would have. He would have scored, wouldn't it? Apparently his dad only got one goal, didn't he, or something? Or he had to wait like 10 years to score a goal or something.
Alan Shearer
Yeah. What a day for him. Great day for the family.
Gary Lineker
Why do you think Newcastle are struggling away from home?
Alan Shearer
I think different.
Different style, obviously because of what happened in the summer, getting used to playing a different way. But no, I don't. I don't like what I'm seeing away from home. I don't.
Micah Richards
I get.
Alan Shearer
I get that things have changed, but that doesn't stop you running around. That doesn't stop you being aggressive.
If you go back to last season, the one thing that Newcastle were. Were tough to play against. And.
The thing about going away from home is you might have two or three thousand of your fans in the stadium. It might be drowned out somewhere. But the difference between away and home, you've got 52,000 at home who will not let you not put a shift in, not graft, not work, not tackle and do all the things that made Newcastle successful by winning the cup last year, by getting back into the Champions League. And I'm not seeing that away from home. And that's the. That's the thing that Eddie has to somehow turn around. I could sense his anger after the game. I knew he was angry at half time because he got stuck into his players and made three changes, but they didn't really get any better second half, to be honest. So that's what he's got to work out and figure out. He's got to get back that. That being tough to play against, particularly away from home. Not so bad at St. James's but away from him, been very, very weak. And they've also got to get players into goal scoring positions because there's only four of them scored league goals at this moment in time. Anthony Gordon's been really good in the Champions League. Hasn't done it in the league as yet, and there's a few like that as well. So they've got to get back to being tough and back to basics. What made them successful.
Gary Lineker
Which is probably what Nuno is trying to do with West Ham, isn't it?
Alan Shearer
Yeah, I think that's what. That's what would have pleased him more than anything today. It wasn't about the performance with West Ham. It wasn't about just about their great attitude because it would have been easy for them to crumble with Newcastle going in front early on with them hitting the post, with them getting the penalty decision turned over. And they must have thought, here we go again, we're up against it. But they stuck at it. And that's what would have pleased him more than anything as well as the 3 points. Cuz it just gives you something to build on, knowing that the players are with you and they're willing to work extremely hard.
Gary Lineker
I think they'll stay up. Do you, Micah?
West Ham, not Newcastle.
Micah Richards
Oh, please. No, I'm not.
Alan Shearer
I'm.
Gary Lineker
I'm cruel, but I'm not that cruel.
Alan Shearer
He's even laughing at that again. You thinking, man, what's up?
Gary Lineker
You?
Micah Richards
Yeah, I think they have too much quality to go down. I think that was a massive win from. If you look at the individual quality they have on the field.
With Bowen, even Pakatar, I didn't like the dive that he did when he was squared up to someone on the pitch. And they don't need to do all that. It was nonsense. But in terms of the quality, they have Bowen when he's on it, it'll get him out of trouble for sure.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, it was very unlucky with the one that hit the post. Manchester City. Micah.
Looked pretty good, I thought, in in that game and you know, you get the pluses of Rodri coming on. I know it was only for a couple of minutes, but it's back from injury again, so hopefully he'll return. I thought O'Reilly did really well. I mean, but we have to talk about the fella again, don't we? The big man. God, the only thing.
Micah Richards
How good is he?
Gary Lineker
I mean, particularly if. I mean, the one thing I would say if I was. And I think Iriola's amazing coach and he's done a brilliant job at Bournemouth. But to play a high line against Erling Haaland, who can give you three yard star anyway, is very, very brave. Let's. Let's say brave.
Micah Richards
Well, it didn't. Didn't work at all, did it?
Gary Lineker
Because three times he went through, didn't he too? He scored.
Micah Richards
Shirky, I like. I liked Shirky's performance. He's. He's been injured and he always looks for that killer pass. I know a lot of people might think he's quite frustrating, but he's not afraid to take that pass. And it was really good football intelligence to just head it on to Harland once it goes through there. Even though it was the greatest finish. I think it went under the first one.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, yeah.
Micah Richards
When he headed it through. But yeah, he's just. It's just phenomenal. He really is Nico O'Reilly as well. Great game. I thought Philip played well.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Encouraging.
Micah Richards
I don't know if you saw during the game as well. And pet, everyone thought Pep was doing like a. A kiss sign to the goal scorer, but it was actually foden for getting in the pocket, getting in the. In the little half spaces, making something happen. But I thought he's. Yeah, he's. He looked really good.
Gary Lineker
Do you know what else he looked, he looked happy. He was playing with a smile on his face. And I think he admit by his own admission last season that he. I think he was obviously having struggles in. In whatever way, maybe mental health or whatever. But he looks, he looks like he's got his mojo back now.
Alan Shearer
Definitely. Yeah. You can tell he's got a bit of that swagger going back on again. I agree with you guys. I mean, Bournemouth's back four all over the place. Yeah. I haven't said that many times this season.
Micah Richards
No.
Alan Shearer
And I think a big picture is Bournemouth IV without doubt have been one of the best teams up to now and they would have taken that. But today with that high line, with that, with Erling Haaland playing against him.
And and it's even more noticeable. And I said it, didn't I, a few weeks back, is that they are so directed to him now. Now they are playing massively to what he needs and what he wants in terms of cross center, the box early balls in behind. And he is absolutely loving it and destroying teams with his goals.
Micah Richards
I like the look of this croupy, though. I like him. He's got good movement for a young fellow, isn't he? Was he only 19? He always seems to get a chance or be in the right place at the right time.
Gary Lineker
You're a creepy groupy.
Alan Shearer
He had that one chance, didn't he, to make it too old. And that was that. That might have been a turning point in the. In the game. But he missed that. And you thought I might get punished for that. And the. And they did. But yeah, he looks lively, doesn't he?
Micah Richards
He looks really lively. I just think watching him and seeing his movement, it looks really, really intelligent.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, he's got. He's definitely got something. Definitely talented. And he's. He's obviously scored.
Micah Richards
Scored.
Gary Lineker
What's. He scored three already, hasn't he? In the previous couple of games? Yeah. So, yeah, Bournemouth might have found it. They're pretty good at finding talent, Bournemouth, aren't they?
Micah Richards
I do like the left back. They're bought in as well. True, Fay?
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Micah Richards
Is that how you pronounce it, guys?
Gary Lineker
You tell me, Micah. I don't know.
Micah Richards
That's why I asked you. The Oracle, we call you, don't we? The Oracle.
Gary Lineker
No, you don't.
Micah Richards
You know everything.
Yes. Too fair. He's good.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. Truth or dare is a little Truth or dare.
Micah Richards
What about the. The lugs?
Alan Shearer
The lugs.
Micah Richards
Come and comment. The lugs. Oh, my God.
Alan Shearer
Still have a little chuckle. Have we gone from that comment?
Gary Lineker
Straight away.
I'm gonna say what brought that up? But that's. That's probably the wrong phrase.
Micah Richards
Just when he said true, fall down.
Gary Lineker
Okay, Michael. Yeah, but. Oh, dear. That, that. Yeah, I think that went pretty viral. Unsurpr.
Alan Shearer
Un.
Micah Richards
Surprising.
Alan Shearer
Oh, goodness.
Gary Lineker
I mean, obviously we. We talked about Arsenal's performance in the first half. Allan and you were doing Match of the Day last night. We watched that. But I mean, I think City or Liverpool, the most likely to chase them down. What do you think?
Alan Shearer
Yeah, I think they've set the standard. They're.
Gary Lineker
They're.
Alan Shearer
They're brilliant in every position. And even when they take one off and bring one on, the strength and depth is superb. Their first half yesterday, they were superb. They really were. They came off the gas a bit. Second half but the game was won. Yokerez went off at half time. I don't know how serious that is but hopefully not for him because I thought he was really good as well in the first half. Got his goal. Just incredible. They're not. They're not even given teams the chance to have a shot at them really. They're so tight and so mean and again a set piece. But I thought their fullbacks were outstanding and have been not just against Burnley but how they get into forward positions in the box and are such a threat and difficult to pick up. So yeah, Arsenal Arsenal have been absolutely magnificent. Setting the piece.
Gary Lineker
We were talking in the first half a little bit about this but I mean if you had to pick a team now and I know we will pick Liverpool as most people did at the start of the season. If you have to pick your team now. Be tough to go against Arsenal. I mean I know things can go wrong and things change and you lose a couple of games and confidence. Dwaynes. But I think that they look. They look the. They look the part, don't they? They really do.
Alan Shearer
Yeah, they do. I mean Liverpool. Liverpool got their win. They weren't perfect but it was a start for them again to start from somewhere. City I'm not sure about. Defensively they give them chances away. I mean Harland's always going to score. He's going to end up with 45 or 50 goals, maybe even more. But yeah, there's still. Still issues with those two. But I just don't. I don't see really weakness as yet in Arsenal. And that's. That would be the worrying thing for City.
Gary Lineker
For Liverpool.
Micah Richards
You know what. On some Brighton news. If Sunderland win tomorrow, they go second now.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alan Shearer
Yeah. Should we put them in the title the hunt as well then? Shall we?
Gary Lineker
Would you? Oh, I think so. Why not?
Alan Shearer
Yeah. Would you?
Gary Lineker
Probably not. I've got.
Alan Shearer
I've got four and a half hours. Newcastle have been beat and you're telling me Sundar in that in title risk.
Come on. Be kind to me. Please. Come on.
Micah Richards
I'm just stating the facts. If they win tomorrow they go second. That's it. That's all I'm saying.
Alan Shearer
I have to be careful because the Sunderland fans don't like me saying anything against them. So they've been. Yeah. If the win second. Bloody hell. Worst off.
Gary Lineker
We'll let you go on your journey. Just one little news story that's just broken actually that Southampton had parted ways with Will still with that you know, obviously he was. Didn't he learn his trade on football manager and stuff?
Micah Richards
No, he didn't.
Gary Lineker
Is that a myth?
Micah Richards
It is him, yeah. But I did interview with him a couple years ago, sort of said it wasn't true. He said he loved the game but that's. He's been all over coaching.
Gary Lineker
I withdraw that comment.
Micah Richards
No, no, no, no, it is, it is true. That's what, that's what he, he was known for. But when I spoke to him, he said not really. Just was obsessed with the game.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, yeah.
Micah Richards
And then he used some of the stats from the game to bring into the modern day football or something. So it's completely right.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, well, a lot of clubs do that anyway, don't they? Use the statistics now and, and there's so much more data used on, on footballers and teams and such. But yeah, it's, it's a tough one. So manage. I mean we were talking the first half as well, Alan, about the coach's job and I, I spoke to Ancelotti on Friday, interview with him for which will come out in a week or two and even he was saying that it's just, you know, you just almost certain to get the sack at some point. I mean it's such a tough, it's well paid, but it's, it's, it's also, I mean, I don't, I don't know how they deal with it. Must drive you mad.
Alan Shearer
You know the rules, don't you? I mean, he understands South Africa, man, being relegated near the bottom of the championship now being beaten at home. So I guess you know the rules when you do, when you go into management that. And you understand that. I think at some stage you're probably right. You're probably going to get stacked sack one day.
Gary Lineker
What's the betting on Gary o' Neill coming back to Wolves and Russell Martin going back to Southampton? There's a double, little double. It's not impossible. I mean, Gary, Neil, Gary o' Neill is being linked with, with, with Wolves already and I think it, I, I think they take Russell Martin back at Southampton because he did pretty good job there. So. Yeah, you know, I mean, it's such a mad world, my coaching and the merry go round and all this nonsense.
Micah Richards
Who'd want to do coach today, Al?
Alan Shearer
See, it's a lot easier in our world, guys.
Gary Lineker
It's a lot easier telling them how to do it than do it yourselves. That is a fact and I'll always admit that. There's no question about that. All right, well, safe Travels, Allan. Have a smooth journey. And boys.
Alan Shearer
Micah, Will I be seeing you, Will I be seeing you at Anfield on Tuesday for Liverpool Real Madrid?
Gary Lineker
Oh, that's a biggie.
Micah Richards
Oh, no, I'm not going st Studio. Really?
Alan Shearer
Okay, I'll be, I'll be. I'll be at that game for Amazon. I'm doing the.
New Balance Advertiser
The.
Alan Shearer
What a game that is to look forward to.
Gary Lineker
That's a beauty, isn't it? That is a beauty and it helps with Liverpool winning as well. So hopefully, you know, a bit more buoyant going into that game just, just.
Micah Richards
On the Champions League. Rashford will be playing in the Champions League. He just scored.
Gary Lineker
Scored great goal again. Beat a player. Smashed it on the underside of the bar. I saw it. Did he? Cracking. He's. I think he's got a goal contribution on average of 70 minutes of every 70 minutes, which is pretty good. He's done really, really well because they've had injuries as well, but he's been a kind of ever present really. You know, remember people saying, well, I'm not sure why he'll get in the team, whether he'll get a game and all this stuff, but he's done really well. Really good. Really good. Pleased for him. Lovely way to finish. So that's it for this episode. I'll be back talking about Spanish football with Alex Aljo for you tomorrow on Tuesday. But for now, goodbye to.
Micah Richards
For me. Goodbye from me.
Alan Shearer
Goodbye from me.
Micah Richards
Have a great weekend.
Episode: Haaland The Robot, The Rice Is Right & What Next For Wolves?
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
Date: November 3, 2025
This episode dissects the major talking points from the recent Premier League weekend, including Arsenal's commanding form (and the impact of Declan Rice), Liverpool’s rotation gamble and Carabao Cup exit, Chelsea’s resurgence against Spurs, Manchester City's relentless machine in Erling Haaland, Tottenham’s head-scratching performance, and managerial turmoil at Wolves. The second half features Alan Shearer live from his post-PLP travels, reflecting passionately on Newcastle’s defeat and further analyzing the weekend's standout stories. As always, the trio balances sharp analysis with trademark banter and behind-the-scenes insight.
Timestamps: 06:17 – 13:56
Timestamps: 15:56 – 20:07
Timestamps: 20:55 – 23:24
Timestamps: 23:31 – 28:31
Timestamps: 28:31 – 31:45
Timestamps: 31:45 – 34:21
Timestamps: 37:43 – 45:47
Timestamps: 46:05 – 49:34
Timestamps: 50:39 – 53:31
Timestamps: 53:31 – 55:49
Packed with analysis, personality, and Premier League expertise, this episode captures the highs and lows of the football weekend, with sharp takes on Arsenal’s title credentials, Liverpool’s strategic decisions, and the rollercoaster that is football management. Alan’s raw post-match emotion is a highlight, as always, and the infamous “Haaland the Robot” discussion further cements the Norwegian’s status as a phenomenon. The chemistry between Gary, Micah, and Alan makes this a must-listen for fans who want more than just headlines.