Port Vale Heroics, Magical Max & Arsenal’s Unfair Criticism

Summary

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The Rest Is Football

Episode: Port Vale Heroics, Magical Max & Arsenal’s Unfair Criticism
Date: March 9, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards

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Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on the thrilling surprises of FA Cup weekend, with deep dives into Port Vale’s fairy-tale run, rising star Max Dalman, the ongoing debate over Arsenal’s style (and their critics), and frank analysis of notable Premier League stories. The chemistry between Lineker, Shearer, and Richards delivers not only sharp insight but great banter, making this essential listening (or reading) for football fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

FA Cup Heroics: Underdogs and Big Names

• Port Vale’s Upset Over Sunderland

  • Port Vale reached the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in over 70 years, knocking out Sunderland despite being bottom of League One.
    • Alan Shearer: "We couldn't have Sunderland going further than Newcastle…" [35:40]
    • The hosts marveled at the quality and atmosphere, particularly given the poor pitch conditions at Vale Park:
      • Alan: “They reacted to the atmosphere…I thought they were worthy winners.” [35:53]
      • On Ben Wayne’s winner and Shearer-style celebration: “Flashed up my...phone started flashing up…I'm really pleased for him. It was a really good header. Great for Port Vale.” [36:13]

• Wrexham’s Brave Battle With Chelsea

  • All three hosts praised Wrexham’s energy and fearless approach:
    • Alan Shearer: “They just weren't afraid of anything. They just went at Chelsea, defended well, creative in midfield, scored a couple of brilliant goals, could have been more.” [06:58]
    • Micah Richards on Sam Smith’s performance: “His hold up play was amazing. He didn’t stop running…you couldn’t tell at the time who was the Premier League striker.” [07:31]
    • Tight VAR calls and big-game moments sparked debate on officiating and technology.

VAR, Officiating & Match Tensions

• VAR and Offside Frustrations
  • Shearer explained the in-the-moment tension for pundits and players as decisions drag on, and the inherent absurdity when a player is a toe offside.
    • Alan: “It doesn’t sit right with the offside when someone’s a toe offside…I know that they’ll say it’s factual…but it just took so long.” [11:24]
    • Gary: “Slow motion shouldn’t be allowed in those decisions…makes everything look intentional.” [09:14]

Individual Praise: Max Dalman and João Pedro

• Max Dalman’s Rise at Arsenal

  • The trio expressed excitement over Arsenal’s 16-year-old star Max Dalman, debating if he could emulate the likes of Walcott and make a shock England squad appearance.
    • Gary: “Oh my, what a talent…He looks like almost the best player on the pitch.” [17:41, 17:51]
    • Micah: “The way he glides past players…his touch, always turns the right way…he’s a special player.” [18:25]
    • Alan cautioned about hyping young players too soon, with all agreeing that Dalman looks destined for greatness.

• João Pedro Among Europe’s Elite?

  • Debate about whether Pedro belongs in the elite striker bracket:
    • Gary: “I think he’s a tad premature…He’s got the potential, but I wouldn’t have him in those brackets.” [09:55-10:26]
    • Classic Micah: “Come on, guys, give me my credit. J. Pedro. I told you about him a couple years ago!” [10:26]
    • Alan: “It doesn’t take a genius to work out J. Pedro’s a good player.” [10:53]

Arsenal’s Criticism – Is It Fair?

• “Quadruple” Hype and Style Critiques
  • Arsenal’s achievements are broken down—first team to 100 goals in all competitions—yet they still receive stick.
    • Gary: “Maybe some of that criticism’s a little bit undeserved…I do find it absurd.” [19:40, 20:41]
    • Alan: “I’m not having the criticism. Do me a favor…They’re absolutely flying.” [20:03]
    • Micah provides cautious balance: “They’ve not won anything just yet…however you get over the line, who cares?” [21:08, 21:51]

Newcastle, Recruitment Woes & Manchester City

• Newcastle’s Struggles & Transfer Issues
  • Post-match banter on Newcastle’s bruising defeat to Man City and the pitfalls in summer recruitment:
    • Alan: “I look at City…recruitment’s been poor…Most players that they’ve bought haven’t worked.” [26:13]
  • On Man City’s system:
    • Micah: “It does suit Mamouche really well…with that fast breaks and the movements and rotations.” [25:37]

Liverpool, Wolves & Squad Rotation Head-Scratchers

• Rotation Roulette and Missed Opportunities
  • The guys balked at Wolves and Fulham for making excessive lineup changes in the cup, suggesting it cost them.
    • Alan (on Fulham): “You make that many changes…got no sympathy for them at all.” [39:46]
  • On the value of momentum and cup runs for clubs outside the elite.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Wrexham’s Cup Display:

• “You couldn’t tell at the time who was the Premier League striker.”
  – Micah Richards [07:31]

On João Pedro and Scouting Rights:

• “Come on, guys, give me my credit… I told you about him a couple of years ago. I told you.”
  – Micah Richards [10:26]

On Arsenal’s Critics:

• “I’m not having the criticism. Do me a favor…They couldn’t do any better at this moment in time.”
  – Alan Shearer [20:03]

On Max Dalman:

• “The way he glides past players…He’s a special player.”
  – Micah Richards [18:25]

On Squad Rotation:

• “When you make that many changes…and you get beaten, I’ve got no sympathy for them at all.”
  – Alan Shearer [39:46]

On Spurs’ Crisis:

• “There is a real, real possibility danger that Spurs could be relegated…It just looks a mess from the outside.”
  – Alan Shearer [44:18, 45:48]
• “I still don’t think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in…that big personality lifting everybody.”
  – Michael Richardson [46:33]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• FA Cup Weekend Surprises & Wrexham/Chelsea Analysis: 03:12 – 13:50
• VAR, Red Cards, Offside Frustrations: 08:47 – 12:50
• Port Vale vs Sunderland - Post-Sunday Game Reaction: 35:17 – 39:13
• Arsenal: Criticism & Max Dalman Discussion: 17:01 – 21:51
• Newcastle & Man City Analysis: 22:41 – 27:04
• Liverpool, Wolves & Squad Rotation: 28:05 – 31:30
• Spurs Crisis Talk: 43:34 – 48:23

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Additional Insights & Dressing Room Banter

• Frequent light-hearted ribbing about pundit “scouting” claims and TV studio privileges.
• Multiple references to the challenges of pitch conditions, both as players and pundits.
• Repeated emphasis on the unique atmosphere of lower-league cup ties.

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Conclusion

This episode crackles with on-the-ground detail from Cup weekend, showcases deep football knowledge, and leavens it all with humor. The hosts bring together tactical insight and a fan’s passion, pulling no punches for teams or managers, and highlighting football’s unpredictability—whether it’s Port Vale’s fairy-tale, Arsenal’s statistical feats, or Spurs teetering on the brink. Fans are reminded football is both about the big picture—and the brilliant little stories.

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Transcript

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[Gary Lineker]

coming up on today's show. Port Vale.

[Alan Shearer]

Wow.

[Gary Lineker]

Didn't really see that one coming against Sunderland.

[Michael Richardson]

You've got a little smile on your face.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh, yeah. We couldn't have Sunderland going further than Newcastle Arsenal.

[Gary Lineker]

Still batting on four fronts. When are we allowed to mention the quadruple?

[Micah Richards]

Max Dalwoman.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, my, what a talent.

[Micah Richards]

This is so exciting, the way he glides past players.

[Gary Lineker]

Wow. Doesn't he?

[Micah Richards]

And his touch. Yeah, he's a special player in. Come on, guys, give him my credit. J. Pedro. I told you about him a couple of years ago. I told you.

[Gary Lineker]

What do you mean?

[Alan Shearer]

It doesn't take a genius to work out J. Pedro. It's a good player.

[Gary Lineker]

Hello and welcome to the Rest Is Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richardson, me, Gary Lineker. We're doing this Sunday. It's FA cup weekend. This section of the show will be discussing the games that have already been played Friday and Saturday. Alan, you've been exceptionally busy. Micah, I'm not sure what you've been up to.

[Micah Richards]

I will do the same game as Alan as well. Just.

[Gary Lineker]

You didn't do both though, did you?

[Micah Richards]

Just one.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, exactly.

[Micah Richards]

Just the wreck. Some Chelsea game. Fantastic.

[Alan Shearer]

Can't do two games in a weekend. You can only work one day. Remember that.

[Gary Lineker]

Precisely my point. Alan, really?

[Micah Richards]

That's what he was alluded to. I knew where he's going with it. But, you know, Alan's a seasoned veteran at this sort of thing, so.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I felt a veteran this morning when I woke up. When I got in, I don't know, after extra time and travel on the motorway and all of that, I felt the right veteran. Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. I mean, extra time in these FA cup ties, I always think, just go straight to penalties. It's every. But particularly when you're broadcasting because obviously the time's ticking on. You need to.

[Alan Shearer]

You.

[Gary Lineker]

You only get and you get home at point and generally extra time, you know, just. Well, it did sort it out obviously in the wrecks of Chelsea game that will come to in a while but I don't know about extra time.

[Alan Shearer]

No, I'm about the same especially with the games and everything that's going on and just. Yeah, I would. I would be in favor of just going straight to penalties also think it

[Gary Lineker]

gives the smaller clubs a little bit

[Michael Richardson]

more of a chance.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, I think generally which we perhaps need to do because we had you know, a couple of classic cup ties this weekend where the underdogs had a real go and Wrexham with. If it had gone straight to penalties and would have had a chance, wouldn't they?

[Alan Shearer]

Especially with the firepower the big boys can bring on towards the end down into extra time as well.

[Gary Lineker]

You know, huge advantage with the big squads which was.

[Alan Shearer]

Was yesterday for Chelsea. I mean Joe Pedro, he was just a class above everyone yesterday when he came on for Chelsea.

[Micah Richards]

Now I know why you like doing co comes being at the ground yesterday was just outstanding. The Wrexham fans were brilliant and the game just offered so much. It was like was it going to go one way and then you think.

[Alan Shearer]

You mean even. You mean at pitch side you were rather than in the studio. Even in the. Even in the ground in the studio it's slightly different. But pitch side and the side is amazing atmosphere, isn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

It's.

[Micah Richards]

It's top. Top notch.

[Gary Lineker]

Were you pitch side last night, Micah?

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, it was pitch side for the

[Gary Lineker]

whole before, during and after.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, it was good actually. We had Be Soza who's formerly of Wrexham. So it's always good, you know when you can get that insight from the club. Someone who's played there. Wayne Rooney and me and Chapas and it was just a good feeling from the start. You know, you're outside the fans allowed. You're having a bit of fun and it's hectic, isn't it? Because not everything's great in terms of the sound, you know, the technical aspects of it. But it just makes you work a lot harder and you sort of have to be off the cuff and sort of ad lib and stuff. So yeah, it was really. It was really fun.

[Gary Lineker]

I've done obviously some. Some games like that. The one one thing is is is you can miss some of the action because you have to go somewhere else, don't you? I mean when the Game's going on, you've got to go and sit down somewhere and then there's always a period where you either coming back for half time or you're coming back for the end of the game and something happens.

[Micah Richards]

Oh, it's a nightmare and you miss it.

[Alan Shearer]

It's so much better though, being involved in the atmosphere. I mean, I, I loved yesterday. I thought it just to get to arriving at the ground, the anticipation, the excitement and all of that with Chels and then the atmosphere and the ground when you got in the gantry, oh, it was just. And then the game didn't let anyone down. It was just. It was a brilliant day.

[Gary Lineker]

It really was. And speaking of energy, this episode is

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[Gary Lineker]

Well, Wrexham certainly gave Chelsea a run for their money, didn't they? I thought the, you know, had a real go. They're exceptional.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, they were brilliant. I thought the energy they brought, they just fed off the crowd. Yeah, they were everything they did, they just, they weren't afraid of anything. They just went at Chelsea, defended well, were creative in midfield, scored a couple of brilliant goals, could have been more, pushed Chelsea all the way. Chelsea didn't play well at all. Changed the team around, left a few out, change a system and was slightly fortunate to get through, I thought. But cup football, you just got to get through to the next round and Chelsea did that, but it was just a great occasion.

[Micah Richards]

How good was Sam Smith up front, wasn't he? His hold up play was amazing. He didn't stop running, he took his finish well. And I was, I was looking at the lap, I was thinking you couldn't tell at the time who was the Premier League striker. And then Delap did something special, did he? For the first goal, he held it up, put it wide and it was really good. It was just. It was interesting to see, you know, obviously because Sam Smith plays in the championships where he's just probably used to that constant battling and all that. And he just looked like that was something he'd worked on and was used to a lot more. Whereas Dalap, he was not used to someone coming really tight to him and he didn't quite know how to figure out. And then he got to the grips of the game and did really well after that. But before that he found it very difficult, didn't he?

[Alan Shearer]

He gave him a torrid time with three center. I just thought with these hold up play, he's running in behind. His finish was brilliant to touch everything about it. I mean, you can point the finger at Chelsea and the goalkeeper and whatever, but I thought with a pass over the top that everything was just brilliant. And yeah, I was really impressed with Wrexham actually, again.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, just that couple of Vars went against them. They're just slight offside, just. Just tight.

[Alan Shearer]

What did you think of the red card, guys?

[Gary Lineker]

I thought it was a red probably.

[Alan Shearer]

Probably, probably.

[Gary Lineker]

But I think yellow would have done.

[Alan Shearer]

I don't know. It was one of those where I was. I would have been. I'd have been happy if the ref had a. Stuck to his original decision. Like. Yeah, I mean, I get why they looked at. It was the Pierce and High and all of that thing.

[Gary Lineker]

It's another one of those in real time. It flashes by so quickly and it's nothing in slow motion. It looks horrific.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean slow motion shouldn't be allowed in those decisions. I don't think personally it makes everything look intentional.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. But I think, I think. I don't see. He played up to the crowd, but because the crowd was so energized by the tackles and the players were feeling the atmosphere, it didn't need to make the challenge. It didn't.

[Alan Shearer]

It was.

[Micah Richards]

It was one of those where if you win it, you win it, but you don't need to go in like that. So, yeah, I think it was more red than yellow, to be honest. I think they got that one right.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Did you hear Rossini's comments, I think it was prior to the game about Jao Pedro?

[Alan Shearer]

No. What do you say?

[Gary Lineker]

I think he said he's up there in the levels of. Of Kane and Lewandowski and people like that in the world now should be considered in that bracket. I think. I think he's a tad premature.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, he's a. He's a very good player. He's got great ability, and there's no doubt he.

[Gary Lineker]

He got the potential to be.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, he was a level above when he. When he came on yesterday. He was a level above everyone yesterday, and he stood out a mile just with his ability and his balance and touc. Touch and technique and all of those things. But to. No, not to. I wouldn't have him in those brackets. No.

[Micah Richards]

Come on, guys, give me my credit. Ciao, Pedro. I told you about him a couple of years ago. I told you.

[Alan Shearer]

Here he is a cheap scout again.

[Micah Richards]

Here he is again. When are you guys gonna start listening to me? I try. I try.

[Gary Lineker]

We've got no choice but listening to you. We do a podcast together. Of course we're listening to.

[Michael Richardson]

We listen to you constantly.

[Gary Lineker]

And every now and again you'll get something. What do you mean?

[Alan Shearer]

It doesn't take a genius to work out? Jean. Pedro is a good player.

[Micah Richards]

I'm swearing about Watford, mate. I spotted him at Watford when he goes to Brighton. I said, guys, this guy is. He's cooking. He's cooking something.

[Gary Lineker]

I do remember you saying that, Micah, in your.

[Michael Richardson]

In your.

[Gary Lineker]

I'll back you up on that. I do remember.

[Alan Shearer]

Correct.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you remember? I'm thrilled for you.

[Alan Shearer]

What about the offside? I mean, I know it's difficult to argue with the offside as well. It's like, oh, oh, goodness, var again.

[Gary Lineker]

I'll just leave.

[Alan Shearer]

It doesn't sit right with the offside when someone's a toe offside. Doesn't. Doesn't sit right with me. I know that they'll turn around and say, well, it's factual. And I get that. And it just took so long as well, didn't it?

[Micah Richards]

Can I ask you a question? You know when you're doing the commentary.

[Alan Shearer]

L. Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

So sometimes. So you had go line technology, didn't you? And you had var.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

But you didn't have semi automated, did you?

[Alan Shearer]

No.

[Micah Richards]

Does that affect you in any way when you're making that decision? Because you're in it. You have to make that decision and make that decision quickly. You know, you don't really have the time to say, okay, I've got that to protect me, you know?

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

We've got a couple of screens with us, and one is the actual live television, what you and what everyone else is seeing. But we've also got one in the middle of us, which actually has got like four little screens and showing us different angles of. Of that particular incident. So we, whilst they're going and doing the replay, we can also whilst we're talking look at the freeze frames of another screen. So but I still, I was looking at it thinking this is such a tight call because I think tossing who was at the. The right at the front it was his left leg. I think that was perhaps might have been the one that they were taking the line off. And whatever they did, it was going to be very, very tight. So it was, it was too tight to call. It was just a matter of waiting and hearing and listening to why they were coming up with that decision.

[Micah Richards]

And one more thing. Could you hear what the VAR saying on Premier League games you can hear but for FA cup can you hear

[Alan Shearer]

them coming to their decision? I couldn't hear them talking and being involved with the referee if they were beforehand. But we knew maybe two or three seconds before because we can hear them telling the referee that they. They're going to disallow it.

[Gary Lineker]

The most cut up shots in the game were Rob McElhenny and Ryan Reynolds. Most of the players saw more of them.

[Alan Shearer]

We could them and because they were about 10 yards to the left, maybe less 8, 10 yards to the left of us. So we could see them their reactions to right throughout the game where you could have, you could have just sat and watched them and made a program about it. They were loving it.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

And rightly so.

[Gary Lineker]

It's incredible what. What's happened to Wrexham since. Since they've arrived at the football club. I know it's become, you know, a TV show and, and all these things but I mean Wrexham fans must be absolutely loving it. Incredible.

[Alan Shearer]

I know they've got fourth.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, they've got a chance, haven't they? Certainly think they might make the playoffs in which case, you know, they'll have a chance of going up Premier League

[Micah Richards]

football, you know, financially. Because I don't quite understand. You'll know a bit more than me, I think maybe Alan, actually, you know, with the financial fair play, how does it work? How have they been able to do that? So I know the journey. I've watched the. The show and everything, but I don't understand that the financial. So you've got one side of saying, well they've just bought the self there and the other side was like, well they've not actually just bought superstars and they've managed to do it the right way and build sort of a team and that togetherness to get them up. Is that. Is that. Is that fair?

[Alan Shearer]

I guess with the money that's coming in and sponsorship that those guys can bring to that as well. I guess that's all part of the revenue and that's one of the reasons why they can. I mean, when you look at their squad, they've got. Got. They've got a really big squad. The forward options that they had yesterday and we're bringing on as well. I know it's not Premier League standard, but at that level, then it's. It's a pretty good standard to have, but I guess it's all the sponsorships and what have you had those guys are bringing in on TV and everything else.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, I think it all adds up. And I suppose as well, the. The spending levels don't have to be that huge at that level to make a difference. It's not like the Premier League, is it? If you. If they get up to the Premier League, then they'll seriously have to spend, you would suspect. Whereas, you know, an extra. I don't know, extra few million will make a massive difference at the levels of League two, League one, and. And even in the championship. It obviously gets more competitive with this one. They're in what, they're in sixth place at the moment, three points above the tape derby, I think it is in. In seventh place. They've also got a game in hand on a couple of teams above them. So I think in terms of their overall spending, it'll be interesting to see how they can cope, because we all know don't the go gulf between the championship and even the spending in the championship and that the Premier League is. Is vastly different, but boy, oh boy, they've had a good time. We're doing this before the. This part of the show, before this Sunday fixtures, but there were two classic cup ties. Wrexham, Chelsea and then Mansfield. Mansfield had a real good go, didn't they?

[Alan Shearer]

Proper cup tie again. I mean, even look, if you look at the pitch, it was like a pitch from the 80s, wasn't it? That were the.

[Gary Lineker]

Actually, if you'd ever plunked that pitch back in the 80s, and I know it looked bubbly and a muddy at this time of year, you'd have gone,

[Michael Richardson]

oh, what a great pitch.

[Alan Shearer]

I actually, when I. Even when I was. I was. When I walked on the pitch at Wrexham yesterday, it was part of me was thinking, goodness me, you're coming to a championship club and the pitch is immaculate. But then when you looked at Mansfield, it certainly. It certainly wasn't, was it? But they Put up a right good fight as well. I was. I was watching that in the car. Yeah. On the way to. On the way to the Wrexham game. And they give. They give Arsenal a right good game, didn't they?

[Micah Richards]

Legally, I hope.

[Alan Shearer]

Of course,

[Gary Lineker]

but yeah. Resoats. Impressed. I thought, you know, it's great to see Nigel Clough on the touch line. Obviously I played with him for England and you probably did as well because you came in at the end of your career.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, yeah.

[Micah Richards]

I don't know.

[Gary Lineker]

Very intelligent football. He's played just. He's one of those that probably. It'd be a false nine. Now you describe him or possibly a ten, but intelligent footballer. Didn't give the ball away. Good to play with. And Arsenal still battling on four fronts.

[Alan Shearer]

When.

[Gary Lineker]

When are we allowed to mention the

[Micah Richards]

quadruple before we go on to that. Max Dalman.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, my, what a talent. Oh, so exciting.

[Alan Shearer]

Still 16, isn't he?

[Gary Lineker]

16? Do you think he can sneak into the England squad?

[Alan Shearer]

Theo. Theo did it 17, didn't he? Theo Walcott, right.

[Gary Lineker]

If he is that good in Spain, they go, in you come, son, and you'll like. Lamina Mali played him, right. He played him from when he was, well, 16, so. But we won't do that because everyone's too cautious. But, you know, he's been out injured in that sound. I. I jest a little, but I mean, he's been out for three months and he came in and you thought against, you know, he's playing in men's football and he's. He looks like almost the best player on the. Every now he does a thing and

[Micah Richards]

you go, oh, the way he glides past players.

[Gary Lineker]

Wow. Doesn't he?

[Micah Richards]

And his touch, if you watch him on the half turn, he always turns the right way as well, you know, away from the danger. He's a special player. But in terms of England, he's not going to play enough for Arsenal, is he? You know, but in terms of his talent and he's up against Cole Palmer and Foden and Saka and all these players. So it's come a little bit early for him, but. But he really does look special.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, it does. I was just watching the game and I was going, oh, boy, oh boy. It's one of those, isn't it, where you. You can see. I mean, obviously there are dangers and we know that with. You can get carried away with young players, but even Mikel Arteta, I've never heard him. Managers, you know, it enthuses about him, doesn't he? Talks about him, and I think he's probably in good hands with. With Mikel.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

And I don't have a problem with big enough players. What got cautious of is. Is knocking them down sometimes.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, you can't help it, can you? You're seeing it. You see, when you see him, they're showing great ability and great. I know he's. He's only young, but when. When they're that good, you have to talk about them, which then puts pressure on. But you have to accept that you

[Gary Lineker]

cannot ignore the evidence of your eyes. Yeah, I would say it's been a lot of chat this season, and we've. We've been involved in it, about Arsenal and their style of football. But. But let's. Let's flip it a little bit here. They're the first team in the Premier league to reach 100 goals in all competitions, so maybe some of that criticism's a little bit undeserved. I think we've defended them pretty much for most of the time.

[Alan Shearer]

I'm not having the criticism. I don't get it. And I said before they finished top of the Champions League group.

[Gary Lineker]

Exactly. They were brilliant.

[Alan Shearer]

They're in the final. They're in the quarter final of the FA Cup. They're seven points clear in the Premier League, yet people are finding a way to criticize them. Do me a favor, giver, from any standard, whoever you're looking at, in every position, wherever they are, in cup competition or League or whatever, they. They're absolutely flying. And forget about any other comment or any other negative comment. Forget that they're flying. And they couldn't do any better this moment in time.

[Gary Lineker]

And some of it obviously comes from their own fans. You see these things like Arsenal TV and all that, where these ultra. I mean, I know it's clickbait nonsense and they get people ranting for no good reason, but I do find it absurd.

[Alan Shearer]

I. You can.

[Gary Lineker]

You know, we've done it ourselves. We forensically look at some performances and we evaluate where their strengths are and their weaknesses. And, you know, you can point things out in certain games, but that record this season is. It's extraordinary.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. All I would say is, and I don't want to be the negative one, is they've not won anything just yet.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, that's fine. But we're only talking about up to now. Up to now. Up to now. They're pretty faultless.

[Micah Richards]

Well, it depends though, haven't they, in terms of results. Yes. In terms of style of play, when you're watching them and analyzing them and they score a lot of set pieces and the goals that have scored have been a lot of own goals. I don't think it's wrong for people to pick that out. But I also don't think it's right for people to be negative. Just as to say Arsenal don't play good football. The objective at the end of the season is to win the League. However you get over the line, who cares?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

But the point I was trying to make a couple of weeks ago, I think Arsenal are favorites for the Champions League because it suits them more. I think with. And we've made this point especially with someone like Anthony Gordon, where in the Champions League it is a little bit more stretched. Teams have a go a little bit more. So it's giving him more room to score the goal. In the Premier League, everyone's going to the low block. And I. I thought Man City would have the capabilities to break teams down when they're going into the low block and that. That's all my opinion is that if Arsenal win the League by playing this, who. Who cares? You know what I mean? End of the day, the objective is to win. And it's as simple as that.

[Gary Lineker]

Of course. It always has been. Speaking of Manchester City, Sorry, Al.

[Micah Richards]

Hey, come on, Ali boy.

[Alan Shearer]

During the Coroms yesterday, I got wind and Newcastle going one nil up. And obviously I couldn't see anything and show my excitement or anything. But then by the time we were walking down back to pick my bag up to get back into the car, it was one all. And then I got into the car and within 10 minutes it was 2:1. And then, yeah, it was 3:1.

[Micah Richards]

We'll set the scene though. We was down at Wrexham. You know what it's like, guys. You do it for 25 years. You're in the truck, you're doing your preppy notes for the game. And obviously the later game is Newcastle, Man City. And he goes to me, we're gonna beat you today.

[Gary Lineker]

You need to work on your Jory accent marker.

[Micah Richards]

We're gonna. I fancy us today. I fancy you today. We're gonna be. We're gonna beat you today. And then when he scored first, I was thinking, oh, yeah, in the group, I'm gonna get. And then. Mamoosh, come on. I mean, yeah. You see, you brought into the hype, didn't you? That Newcastle at home, the back, the energized Man City can't defend and all that sort of stuff. You got dismantled, Alan.

[Alan Shearer]

I can't argue with that. Micah Man City with a better team. They showed the levels that the rest have got to somehow get to and catch or like. Like Newcastle. I mean I did look at the team they put out and thought yeah, we've got even better chance here. But to be fair, they were particularly second half. I mean last 10 minutes of the first half city were better and Newcastle never had a sniff or a kick in the second half. And Man City battered us in the second half. So can't argue with that. Unfortunately. As much as it hurts, it's interesting isn't.

[Gary Lineker]

When you look at City at the moment, obviously they're playing this new sort of new system. Box in midfield and then kind of two up top. And we talked in the previous episodes about Haaland within that role has to change. But does that suit Marmouche more than it perhaps suits Erling? Perhaps Erling's the only one in this system that doesn't get the best out of it.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, I think for Marmouche. I remember the game before. It was at Newcastle, wasn't it? We got away at Newcastle.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. He loves playing Newcastle. Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

And then it was Liverpool, wouldn't it? And I said or what? The point I was trying to make was when Haaland goes to Anfield he always has that battle with Van Dijk and that's what Liverpool are going to be expecting. Would it be good to introduce Haaland a little bit later in the game when the game is open so he comes on fresh. So in answer to your question, the way Man City want to play with that two up front and have movement and runners and rotations, it does suit Mahmouche really well. Because remember when we first signed Mahmoud and it was all about what is he good at? What is he going to bring. And it was that run from outside to win, which is absolutely perfect. And Haaland's tried to do that. He's worked so hard for the team. His movement's been better. He's trying to get involved in the play a lot more. But he's not no longer in the center of the goal. Whereas Mamouche is that type of player where he can play wide left, he can play number 10, he can play number nine, he'll even play as a number eight. So in terms of that it probably does suit him a lot better. But when Haaland's fit in terms of his goal scoring record, you'd always have Haaland that. But I think it suits the way Man City want to play with that fast breaks and the Movements and the rotations.

[Gary Lineker]

What about Newcastle? I've been still. I mean it does seem to be the issue of the summer's recruitment at the moment. You're having a bit of a rant on. On our group chat.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I just. I just look at City yesterday where when Marmush Savino Semeno look at their recruitment and they look at Newcastle's recruitment and there's no. There's no doubt it's. It's hurt Newcastle. What they've done in last summer, it's set them back. How they try and recover from that. This summer is going to be huge for them. But most of the players that they've bought haven't worked. Malik Chow being the exception. Jacob Ramsey a little bit. But that has hurt Newcastle without a doubt. And again he. I mean he. He persists in playing or he did yester putting Valtoma back in into midfield. And he's not a midfielder. He can't play in central midfield. But I also think he'll look at it and think well, Elanga hasn't done enough whistle and he came on. He didn't do enough. So it's not just Baltimore. I don't know if he seemed to be pick on him but recruitment's been poor in the summer.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, most definitely. You were at Molyneu Allen as well to see Liverpool. The one thing I was a little bit surprised in that game. Wolves again. We've had these conversations before. You know, Wolves got a bit of momentum. Won a couple of games including against Liverpool just a few days prior to this particular encounter. And they what made about 6 change 6 now I know a lot of teams do, but I just thought to myself, you're going down anyway. I mean yes, they've got a decent run of games, but they're mild. It will be an absolute miracle if they stayed up. But you know, if you got to the quarterfinal of the FA cup that would give you a real lift. And you never know from there. Leicester won it a few years ago. We never thought we would, but went all the way. I don't know. Just A, you lose momentum. B, you're out of the cup competition, which is always disappointing. And three, you're gonna go down. You've got no other games. You've got. And. And also you don't play now because they're playing on Friday. That's at least the following weekend. You've got a nice big gap. So it baffles me a little bit.

[Alan Shearer]

I was the same. Yeah, I was. I mean the one. One Chains. He had two because one was suspended. So. But yeah, to make that many changes and to bring players in who are on the fringe, especially after you've had a against them three days earlier, you think, here we go again.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, it was.

[Alan Shearer]

It wasn't a great game. Particularly first off, pretty dull and boring. I thought Liverpool were poor in forward positions other than their real Ungermore, isn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

He looks a real talent, doesn't he?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, very, very good. Very good. He was the. He was the best player by a mile in the first half. Brought energy, brought ability to go past players. So he was the bright spark in the first half. But then second half it was Liverpool. Andy Robertson's effort changed the game. As soon as he got that first goal, he just felt that was it. And yeah, wolves were done.

[Gary Lineker]

Let's get a fullback's perspective on. On one of the Premier League's great fullbacks, Andy Robertson.

[Michael Richardson]

Do you think he should have played

[Gary Lineker]

more this season, Mike? I mean, it's easy in hindsight. They're bringing Kirk as they spent a few bob on him. He comes in and he struggled a little bit, but you could see even Andy Roberts at the end. He did say, didn't he? Well, it took him a bit of time to settle in. And Robertson, I think they've really missed those. I know he's still there, Andy, but he's not playing regularly. I think they've really missed him. And Trent, that unbelievable attack creativity that both of those players have had as well as obviously Roberts was more up and down than probably Trent in that sense defensively as well. But I mean that creativity is a big miss for them on both sides. I would say.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, it has been. But I think the feeling was amongst Liverpool fans they needed to get someone in Kirkus. So I think they did the right. The right thing.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, he is. Well, he's in his 30s.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. And it's the outcome output that he does in the games. Robertson is up and down and up and down. And when you get in your 30s, not that he can't do it because he's a fit lad, but there were some games last season where you thought, ooh, and I don't know, like a lot of people were saying his legs are gone. And I didn't think his legs are gone. But there were certain aspects where he wasn't quite getting forward at the right times and he was a little bit late sort of defending. But all that might have been is just the amount of games he was playing at the time and he Needed a little bit of a rest. I think it was right to get Kirkes, but I would have played him more especially in the bigger games. Definitely just because of his experience and the timing of knowing that position, especially at Anfield as well. It's difficult for Kirkus coming in and he was outstanding at Bournemouth.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh yeah.

[Micah Richards]

We all thought as pundits, even journalists that he would fit in seamlessly in terms of what he can offer that side going forward. And he was quite reckless and rash at the start, but he's sort of grown into his position there. But in terms of the battle, you always need someone who can fill in there and. And I feel like there's horses for courses. I would say if there's a big game, I would play Robertson. If I need a little bit more energy up and down, then I would play Kirkus.

[Alan Shearer]

He got a big decision to make on Tuesday. I think it is. They play Galatasaray away and after Robertson's performance with his goal and his assistant assist slot's got a big decision to. To make whether he keeps Robertson in or brings Kirk has back in.

[Micah Richards]

You've got to play. You've got to play Robertson.

[Alan Shearer]

Me, I would do. I would.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, it was as simple as that.

[Gary Lineker]

Experience as well in a big game like that away from home.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. Just. Just know how, isn't it?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

And experience. I would definitely play Robertson. Without doubt.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, as. As we speak, quarter finalists, we've got Man City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea which is quite tasty looking lineup so far. More decided later. Alan and myself will be on later. What you up to, Micah?

[Micah Richards]

Alan's doing another double. Is he feeling all right?

[Gary Lineker]

Wow.

[Alan Shearer]

Unbelievable. Micah. Don't worry, I've got. We've got you back again, Micah. We'll cover for you. It's fine.

[Micah Richards]

Ah, lovely.

[Gary Lineker]

Where you off, Micah?

[Micah Richards]

I've got baller league trading ball, elite training. I've got some tactics I need to do. Honest to go well.

[Gary Lineker]

They need to do a bit of training. Your team the way you've performed.

[Micah Richards]

I'd say after we got beat by Alan last year, if we get beat by you this season, I'm retiring. I can't bear it. The amount of time and effort and energy I've put into that thing. For you to beat his first game. Honestly, I wanted to cry.

[Alan Shearer]

Make sure you get your training or we'll just come and kick your ass again.

[Gary Lineker]

Can I just get one clear? This. This is not Specsaver's best worst team. Is it not? Alan and myself will be back shortly

[Michael Richardson]

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[Gary Lineker]

Welcome back to the Rest is football.

[Michael Richardson]

Just Alan Sher and me, Gary Lin now, we've just been watching the Sunday games in the FA cup and well, well, Port Vale.

[Alan Shearer]

Wow.

[Michael Richardson]

Incredible. 70 odd years since they reached this stage of the competition. Didn't really see that one coming against Sunderland. You've got a little smile on your face.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean we couldn't have Sunderland going further than you. Newcastle. Yeah, it was, it was a like, I mean even just looking at the pitch we said, we said earlier didn't we, about the pitches at that level. I mean, they're bottom of League one.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

So, yeah, brilliant for them. I mean, they. They put on a show. They reacted to the atmosphere and I thought they were worthy winners, to be honest.

[Michael Richardson]

I thought they did remarkably well considering their position. Obviously. They only just got past Bristol because they had a waterlogged and it was delayed until this week. Ben Wayne scored in that one and then did it again. And his celebration. Alan, did you notice?

[Micah Richards]

Yes.

[Alan Shearer]

Flashed up my. My phone started. Yeah. Flashing. Flashing up. Yeah. And then I thought, I'll tune in and watch it. And I watched it. I watched it all after that, so. And then commented on it afterwards. You watched his interview and I heard.

[Gary Lineker]

He said.

[Alan Shearer]

I heard his interview and he said. Well, I. I never really saw him live because I was a bit too young. I'm thinking, to my.

[Micah Richards]

My world out.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh. Anyway, yeah. But I'm really pleased for him. It was a really good header. Great for Portville and I mean, what a. What a time to be a fan there. I know they're bottom of the league, but to have a quarterfinal in the chance of one of the big boys and financially for the club would be huge, massively important. Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

He did the Shearer celebration.

[Gary Lineker]

Marched away.

[Michael Richardson]

He's a Newcastle fan as well, obviously, so. Yeah. And to get one over on Sunderland, it would have meant a lot to him.

[Alan Shearer]

Absolutely. Yeah. I wonder how long you've been planning that one. Good for him. Please.

[Michael Richardson]

You'd have been an optimist to think you were going to score the winning goal in that game, wouldn't you? Again, Sunderland. But he really managed to do it.

[Alan Shearer]

Amazing.

[Michael Richardson]

And, yeah, they defended really well as

[Gary Lineker]

well, I thought, you know.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, they did. I mean, the pitch made it difficult, but they have to play on that every week. But if you. If you. If you're a Premier League player expected to go there and play and handle it and do. Do whatever, but Sunderland didn't and they got dumped out the cup and a bit embarrassing for them, but magnific for Portville.

[Michael Richardson]

I suppose they're really just not used to playing on surfaces like that anymore. I mean, we, week in, week out, we would do it. Particularly at this time of year. I suppose once you get accustomed to these perfect surfaces, it must be like, what the hell is this?

[Alan Shearer]

Well, every pitch in our time always started off in the 80s and 90s. Every pitch you went to was. Was like that, wasn't it? Yeah. Particularly this time of year. It's in sort of January, February March. All of them were terrible, weren't they?

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

So. But when you even. Even championship. I guess I said to you earlier about Wrexham's. It was immaculate yesterday for. For them and Chelsea, but slightly different at Portfield today and at Mansfield, as we said.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

Great result for the manager there. John Brady only came in at the turn of the year. I bet he never thought he'd have an FA cup run.

[Alan Shearer]

Not to the quarterfinals. I mean you can imagine how that place is feeling now and how they'll all be looking forward to the draw. They'll all be sat watching, watching it, hoping for one of the big boys at home. And they deserve it. Well done then, man.

[Michael Richardson]

Yep. The draws tomorrow night, isn't it?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Monday evening.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah. Yeah. So I think that all their fans and the players will all be waiting by. I mean the chances are they're going to get one of the big boys. I mean obviously four of them all went through on Saturday.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

So if I think they'd be happy with any one of those amazing.

[Alan Shearer]

Wouldn't they. If they got one of those. One of those big boys at home.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Wouldn't it? Or away Chelsea, Liverpool City or Arsenal. How brilliant would that be?

[Michael Richardson]

I wonder whether they as. As players, whether they'd prefer to be drawn away to play at one.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean get them back it. Get them at home on that pitch.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Be great, wouldn't it, for the. For those. I mean Arsenal have already had it, haven't they, when they went to. To Mansfield yesterday. Yeah. Get one of those boys at. At Port Vale on that pitch. It would be great. And a great atmosphere.

[Michael Richardson]

Proper cup time, proper golf.

[Gary Lineker]

That would.

[Alan Shearer]

It's a great story.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Elsewhere.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean Southampton lower league side than. Than Fulham obviously. But it didn't feel like a big cup shot because I mean in terms of size that in stature, they're probably similar sort of clubs. Obviously Southampton got relegated.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Yeah. But I had no sympathy for Fulham because they're safe in the league. You make that many changes and I know the manager will say we've got to keep the squad happy and got players to look after and what have you. But when you make that many changes then. And you get beaten. I've got no sympathy for them at all. I just don't. I don't. I get it when the clubs are in Europe or they've played in the club World cup and all of these things. I. I get that. I understand that more when you're in Fulham situation. No, I don't. And. And Wolves the other Night was something similar. When you're making that many changes and you've. Then you've been dumped out and you deserve to go out.

[Michael Richardson]

I understand, understand it if it's say the third round or the fourth round because you're miles off the likelihood of doing well. But when you're one game away from the quarterfinal, you know, there's a chance you could go all the way at that point.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, there's a chance to even get. With all due respect, we've been talking about Portville.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

There's a, there's a chance you could get Portville at home now and that should be a buy really for a Premier League club as. As good as it gets. But, but I don't know. I just don't. I don't understand that when there's a place at quarter final at stake.

[Gary Lineker]

Exactly.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean, and even then he waited until the 89th minute before he brought on Josh King and Ral k y.

[Alan Shearer]

Yes. I just, I don't, I don't get it. I don't understand it.

[Michael Richardson]

Took his penalty though. Well, didn't he? Ross Stuart. I kept hearing, I kept thinking Rod Stewart a couple of times.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Stuck the wood. Well, eh.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Pressure.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah. I mean, that's it. I think he's, he's one of those that could get in the Scotland squad for, for the World Cup.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Took the way well, looked really calm, didn't. Yeah, it was good.

[Michael Richardson]

Ben Wayne might be at the World cup as well with New Zealand.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh yeah, I saw that as well. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I hope he is. Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean, something like that happening in, you know, these high profile games, it's definitely going to help their cause.

[Alan Shearer]

Yep.

[Michael Richardson]

Leeds comfortably took care of, of Norwich. Daniel Farkers in the, in the stand didn't jump.

[Gary Lineker]

Joy.

[Michael Richardson]

When this cooks, obviously he's got this, you know, took Norwich up, what, twice, didn't he? From the championship to the Premier League.

[Alan Shearer]

What about Sean Longstaff's finish and touch and finish the first goal, eh?

[Michael Richardson]

Well, I know what a goal that was.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Bloody hell, that was amazing. I mean the touch and then for him to swivel around and then the volley. It was, it was a fantastic finish. It was just superb.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah. I've had Goodmanson in my. Either on my bench or in my fantasy team for weeks and weeks now and he's just delivered no points at all. And then FA cup scores a goal and gets an assist for long stuff.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

Bloody game.

[Alan Shearer]

He did really well, actually. Yeah. I mean, the ball back for long stuff and Then of course, his goal as well. So. Yeah, he did, did well. Big result for Leeds, I think, because the momentum and the belief and the confidence and all of those things that we spoke about with full. I mean they're, they're actually in a relegation battle leads, aren't they? So good for them to get. To get that result as well. And they can look forward to a quarter final as well. Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

And it makes everyone feel good, doesn't it?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean, obviously we played in an era where you played in all the games regardless and I know things have changed and there's big squads and you can understand it with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City. They're playing in European football as well. They're in all competitions and, and they've got squads that they can do it without really debilitating their team too much. So I get it from that point of view. But you know, if you just play once a week and it's a bit of a cut run. Yeah, I'm with. Totally with you on that.

[Alan Shearer]

And this an. Is an international break coming up soon as well, by the way. So yeah, a lot of the players will get a bit of a rest as well in a couple of weeks time. So no, I don't buy into that. No, they deserve to be knocked out. It's got no sympathy for.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah, same. Just moving away from the FA cup just to finish because I really got your views on, you know, what's going on at spurs at the moment. I mean, talk about crisis, crisis of confidence, crisis of belief. Just on and off the pitch. It just seems a bit of a mess. They've brought in Tudor, obviously. Three games, three defeats. Saw him in his press conference and he just didn't really seem to know what to say. I saw them ask him about a couple of the injuries, how they close certain players and he just went, I don't know. I mean, yeah, obviously I've got an allegiance towards Tottenham. I've got a lot of spurs friends and they're. They're all aghast at the moment.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, there's a live. Is a real, real possibility danger that spurs could be relegated.

[Michael Richardson]

Imagine.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I know, Yeah. I mean that stadium, that training ground. Oh, I mean I've been to the training ground and obviously been to the stadium.

[Michael Richardson]

Me too.

[Alan Shearer]

Which is the best around, you know. But for that, for that to be relegated and in the championship would be. I don't know. I don't know how they recover from it. It would be just like incredible because we all thought last year we thought, oh, had a poor season, a lot

[Michael Richardson]

of injuries, blah blah, blah.

[Alan Shearer]

No, they won in Europe. But yeah, all of that. That's not going to happen again. Goodness me. They're actually worse this year than. And I mean just you, you just said it. They are a mess on and off the pitch. Which is just incredible when you think of the size of the football club. So. And they've got their next two games or what? Athletico Madrid away. Away. And Liverpool away.

[Michael Richardson]

Oh, I know.

[Alan Shearer]

How did they finish fourth by the way, in the Championship league group?

[Michael Richardson]

Well, I'm just thinking maybe they're just the European kings and they're going to go and win the Champions League and get relegated.

[Alan Shearer]

Oh, goodness me.

[Michael Richardson]

It's mad how they finished fourth. I mean what would you do if you're in like Tottenham now because they brought in this guy. Obviously he's got no real history of the Premier League at all.

[Gary Lineker]

He was at Juve.

[Michael Richardson]

Didn't really go that well for him. There was a, it was a strange appointment.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, I wouldn't obviously I went into Newcastle and similar circumstances when. With eight games to go. Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

But at least you, you, you know, you knew, you knew the prem and

[Gary Lineker]

you certainly knew the football.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, but it's really diff, it's really, really difficult to get when I, what I. It was really. There's a crisis in confidence as a. The belief is it is all time law and it's really, really tough to, to go in there and I get, I, I understand what he's trying to say and doing but he's. I don't know, it's like it just, just looks a mess from the outside and everything just feels as if it's doom and gloom.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Which I guess if someone else had gone in they might have had a better chance of lifting the morale and all of that. I don't know. But somehow, and I don't know how, but somehow they've got to get, they've got to scrape a point or scrape a draw from somewhere to get a bit of belief back in that team, in that squad.

[Michael Richardson]

I'd honestly, I, I, I still. I don't think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in. Not someone like, but Harry Redknapp. I know it sounds a bit mad and he' out of the game for a while but you know what he's like that big personality lifting everybody coming in. I mean it's in a moment of crisis. A little bit like Martin o' Neill's Done on a couple of occasions now at Celtic and lifted them. I mean, God, the thought of them

[Alan Shearer]

going down, by the way, it's not all the manager's fault, you know, that it's all the coach's fault. It's. Other people in the club have to take their share responsibility.

[Michael Richardson]

And also, I mean, that's two seasons running now where they. They've had so many injuries. I mean, enormous amount of injuries.

[Gary Lineker]

They.

[Michael Richardson]

They must need to look at that as well, because, I mean, it might just be completely bad luck or.

[Alan Shearer]

I don't know, two seasons on the spin. I don't know. One, you think? Yeah, we'll accept that and understand that. I mean, everyone's going to get injuries, but the number that they've had is incredible.

[Michael Richardson]

Do you think they'll go down?

[Alan Shearer]

I think they might just. Might just. I mean, I'm. I'm not. I've got no confidence in. In it, but they may. They may just have enough. But with what I'm seeing, I'm just saying that because of maybe the names in their squad rather than the ability, and for too long they haven't performed. But I don't know, there's. There's something saying to me that they might just scrape it, but I've got no confidence with that at all.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean, West Ham have definitely improved.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, at least they're fighting and scrapping. Forest going to City, as we said.

[Michael Richardson]

Forest. Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

At least those two teams for their fans. You say, well, well, if we're going lads or guys, we're going down with a fight. And yeah, that, that. That in itself is a good thing. But spurs, you at the minute, you don't see any of that, do you?

[Gary Lineker]

No, no, it's very concerning.

[Michael Richardson]

Very concerning indeed. Okay, Al, let's go call it a day there. Goodbye from me.

[Alan Shearer]

Goodbye from me.

[Gary Lineker]

Foreign.

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[Alan Shearer]

Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today.

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[Gary Lineker]

And breathe.

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[Michael Richardson]

1-800-contacts.

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