"The Destructive” Conor Bradley, Are There A Lack Of Flair Players & Alan Shearer The Traitor

Summary

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The Rest Is Football

Episode: "The Destructive” Conor Bradley, Are There A Lack Of Flair Players & Alan Shearer The Traitor
Date: November 7, 2025
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards

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Episode Overview

This high-energy episode explores recent Champions League action with a focus on young stars, the changing nature of football's flair players, modern goalkeeping, and dressing-room banter. The trio share robust opinions, dissect tactical trends, argue about fantasy football, and riff off-topic with the chemistry that makes the pod a must-listen for football fans.

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Champions League Reflections

Newcastle’s Dominant Win & Dan Burn’s Goal

Key segment: [02:44-03:32]

• Alan Shearer enthuses about Newcastle’s improvement after a poor league showing:

  “Newcastle were a lot better last night than they were at the weekend… Once Dan Burn got that goal, I thought there was never any part of me that was worried.” [03:08]

• Gary jokes: Dan Burn is “the Brazilian of headers.” [02:54]
• Alan notes Bilbao’s injury woes:

  "Bilbao were pretty poor. They had injuries. All left forward players were out." [02:56]

Liverpool’s Midfield & Conor Bradley’s "Destructive" Performance

Key segment: [03:36-06:18]

• Micah Richards highlights Liverpool:

  "I thought Liverpool were excellent… When you've got Gravenberch back and when you've got McAllister back… the running power of Szoboszlai, they do look a little better balanced." [04:19] "Conor Bradley. What a performance from him. Do you remember what I said a couple of pods ago… He needed a big performance and that certainly was an amazing performance." [05:05]

• Alan Shearer describes the energy in the ground as Liverpool fans willed Conor Bradley on:

  “Every tackle, every run, every pass, every cross was cheered from the Liverpool fans as if it was a goal. I really think that spurred him on…” [05:16] “My man of the match was without doubt Conor Bradley. He was outstanding.” [06:15]

• Gary reflects on English football’s appreciation for crunching tackles:

  “We get more excited about crunching tackles and… we perhaps seem to appreciate someone who’s more destructive than someone that’s perhaps more creative.” [06:18]

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Reception

Notable quote:

• “They panned around the crowd, there were one hell of a lot of Liverpool fans that actually stood on their feet and applauded Trent Alexander-Arnold when he came on. And I think it's important to mention that because that was the classy way to deal with it.” (Gary, [06:34])

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Goalkeepers: Modern Evolution & The Best in the World

Key segment: [07:47-09:15]

• Discussion of Courtois’ influence for Real Madrid.

  “He looks so big in the goal… It was always going to take something really special to beat him… If it wasn’t for him, it would have been four or five, maybe more.” (Alan, [07:47])

• Comparing top keepers: Courtois, Raya, Alisson, Donnarumma, Oblak.

  “I think Courtois [has] been the best… In the Premier League it would be Alisson. Raya is on his way to being the best certainly, but what Alisson does is one-on-one shot-stopping, it’s ridiculous.” (Micah, [08:41])

• The trio debate whether keepers today are more athletic, with playful ribbing about “back in my day” mud and heavy pitches.

  “Goalkeepers used to have to dive out of mud… The game is much the better for it.” (Gary, [09:37])

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Are Flair Players Fading? Data vs. Individuality

Key segment: [09:57-13:35]

• Gary references Thierry Henry’s comments on modern football:

  “He was talking about perhaps that the game now is… more about data… than perhaps individual flair. Is the game not as good to watch now?” [09:57]

• Lamine Yamal praised for breathtaking skill despite tactical systems:

  “What a move… Lamine Yamal was absolutely breathtaking. The goal he scored himself. I mean, gorgeous stuff.” (Gary, [12:00])

• Micah on player attitude:

  "He basically talks shit before the game and he backs it up. So I love him even more." [12:20]

• The hypocrisy of football media/fans about player personalities:

  “Do we want all that? No, we want... as soon as someone comes out and says something a little bit brash… then we complain about it.” (Gary, [12:52])

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Football Culture & Banter

"Down With the Kids" and Modern Player Fashion

Notable moment: [13:10-13:45]

• Alan asks about the trend of wristbandages among young players (bandages/“wrist coverings”), prompting giggles.

  “Phil Foden had a bad wrist for about three years.” (Alan, [13:40]) “Maybe he's got some snuff under there…” (Micah, [13:45])

Alan Shearer: "The Traitor"

Key segment: [14:05-14:57]

• Gary and Micah tease Alan over his outfit resembling "The Traitors" TV show garb.

  “Please don’t murder either Micah or me tonight, because we’re faithfuls, okay?” (Gary, [14:14])

• Lighthearted discussion about reality TV, Alan Carr, and Joe Marler:

  “Alan Carr’s been an absolute star and he’s brilliant.” (Gary, [14:37])

Pundit Criticism vs. Player Perspective

Key segment: [15:28-17:54]

• On Virgil van Dijk’s reaction to pundit comments:

  “If Wayne Rooney’s spoken about Virgil van Dijk 50 times, 49 times out of 50 would have been very positive… But footballers… one criticism, that’s the one that tends to stay in your mind.” (Gary, [16:29])

• Micah, self-deprecating:

  “Well, it didn’t happen like my career. 99 was all bad… One percent was a good comment.” [16:51]

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Is Football More Tactical, Less Fun?

The “Computer Game” Analogy and the Decline of Mavericks

Key segment: [17:54-20:14]

• Micah:

  “It’s more tactical, definitely. The game’s boring. Watching the games, if you actually watch.” [17:57]

• Gary raises if athleticism is crowding out flair:

  “Footballers now are more athletic, 100%. The data is there. It’s become survival of the fittest… The intensity of the game has definitely gone up.” (Micah, [18:20])

• Discussion on the perennial belief that “characters” have disappeared from the modern game.

  “Every generation it’s the same – you don’t have the characters you used to get.” (Gary, [18:50])

Alan’s Perspective

• “In every era you’re pushing what you have available… In ten years’ time, we’ll be saying can you remember when Haaland was doing this?” (Alan, [20:14])

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Champions League & Premier League Talking Points

Dan Burn vs. Micky van de Ven: Centre-Back Goals

Key segment: [22:35-23:18]

• “Dan’s was a great header, but oh my goodness me, a center half running that far with the ball at his feet at pace, going past six opposition players and then having the ability to stick it in… van de Ven’s was slightly better.” (Alan, [22:59-23:18])

Fantasy Football Banter

[23:18-23:36]

• “You wouldn’t know because you don’t do it. And you're having a torrid time. You were at the top of the league for a week, now you've been at the bottom for three weeks.” (Micah to Alan, [23:18])

Brentford and Thomas Frank’s Man-Management

[24:08-24:23]

• Gary praises Frank’s pragmatic handling of player frustrations:

  “The way he joked, ‘If he scores goals like that, he can storm off the pitch anytime. I don’t care.’ I thought that was a brilliant way of dealing with it.” [24:03]

Spurs, Europa, Arsenal: Perspective & Progress

[24:46-25:15]

• Micah:

  "If you look at what Spurs have done in the league and they're doing all right in the Champions League, I think it’s been a better start than people are giving them credit."

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Standout Technical Performances

Touches, Tackles, and VAR Decisions

[25:23-26:19]

• Gary laments VAR and slow-mo overanalyzing challenges:

  “Slow Mo makes everything look bad. Every single challenge look bad. But it was clearly just sliding in and there was no thought of lifting his foot.” [25:58]

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England Prospects and Midfield Debates

Form Players Returning

Key segment: [26:32-28:57]

• Phil Foden, Bellingham, Kane, Rashford, Gordon, and Morgan Rogers all highlighted as in-form ahead of the World Cup.

  “It’s nice, you see players… Bellingham’s been brilliant… Foden coming back to peak form. Harry Kane’s been unbelievable. Marcus Rashford has been absolutely ripping.” (Gary, [28:13]) “The likes of Gordon… just doesn’t stop running…I just love.” (Micah, [28:35])

The Midfield Debate: Rice vs. Rodri & Others

[29:37-30:56]

• “Declan Rice for me at the moment is breathtaking what he's doing. But so is Caicedo.” (Gary, [30:43])
• “Kai winning the ball back for the goal against Spurs… he's like Kante.” (Micah, [30:56])
• Alan, tongue-in-cheek:

  "There's no bias whatsoever from this man." (Alan, [31:18])

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Bayern Munich’s Start under Vincent Kompany

Key segment: [31:47-32:54]

• “We all love Vincent… What a start to the season. Won every bloody football match.” (Gary, [31:47])
• “I read 16 wins in a row. But it might be 19… Either way… incredible.” (Micah and Alan, [31:55])
• Michael Olise getting praised for making the step up, fitting right in at Bayern:

  “He’s the main man there, which is crazy for Bayern Munich.” (Micah, [32:22])

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Anticipation for Upcoming European Fixtures & Honours

• Arsenal vs. Bayern, Chelsea vs. Barcelona hyped as must-watch games.
• Eden Hazard and Gary Neville inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.

  “So well done Eden Hazard and Gary Neville, very deserved recipients.” (Gary, [33:44])

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Notable Quotes

• “My man of the match was without doubt Conor Bradley. He was outstanding.”
  — Alan Shearer [06:15]
• “It’s more tactical, definitely. The game’s boring. Watching the games, if you actually watch…”
  — Micah Richards [17:57]
• “If you get hundreds of compliments and you get one derogatory comment… that's the one that tends to stay in your mind.”
  — Gary Lineker [16:29]
• “We get more excited about crunching tackles and… we perhaps seem to appreciate someone who’s more destructive than someone that’s perhaps more creative.”
  — Gary Lineker [06:18]
• "He basically talks shit before the game and he backs it up. So I love him even more."
  — Micah Richards, on Lamine Yamal [12:20]
• “Dan’s was a great header, but oh my goodness me, van de Ven’s was slightly better.”
  — Alan Shearer [22:59-23:18]

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Key Timestamps

• 02:44 – Champions League reflections, Newcastle’s improved performance
• 05:05 – Conor Bradley’s “destructive” display for Liverpool
• 06:18 – British football’s love for tough tackling vs. continental flair
• 07:47 – Courtois and the rise of athletic goalkeepers
• 09:57 – Has individual flair disappeared from top-level football?
• 12:00 – Lamine Yamal’s emergence and attitude
• 16:29 – Pundits vs. player criticism
• 17:57 – Has tactical football made matches duller?
• 22:59 – Dan Burn vs. van de Ven, best centre-back goals
• 26:32 – England’s in-form attackers ahead of the World Cup
• 30:43 – The Rice vs. Rodri midfield debate
• 31:47 – Kompany’s unbeaten start at Bayern Munich
• 33:44 – Hall of Fame news

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Summary

This episode is a packed, quickfire celebration and critique of modern football. The hosts’ chemistry produces effortless back-and-forth as they tackle everything from Champions League match analysis to deeper questions about modern football’s tactical straitjacket and the role of individual flair. Conor Bradley’s hard-hitting, crowd-rallying performance is held up as peak British footballing pride, while young stars like Lamine Yamal are praised for bringing much-needed character to the modern game. The trio argue, joke, and reminisce—making this an episode that deftly combines insight and laughter for football obsessives and casual fans alike.

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Transcript

[Gary Lineker]

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[Gary Lineker]

Hello and welcome to the Rest Is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and to me, Gary Lineker. We're recording this on the Thursday after a couple of fascinating nights of Champions League football in which you two were both involved work wise. Who wants to start? Mike well, Alan, actually, because you actually went to two games, weren't you? Obviously you're doing the co comms at Liverpool. Liverpool Real Madrid game. Yeah, but also I they cut you up in vision. I saw you at St. James's park as well. So a good couple of days.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Good couple of days. Yeah. And what about Big Dan's header? How the hell did you get the bend on the header like that? What a. It was brilliant, wasn't it? Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

He's the Brazilian of headers.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah. Newcastle were a lot better last night than they were at the weekend. Although I have to say Bill Bar were pretty poor. They had injuries. All left forward players were out.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Once down man got that goal. I thought there was never any part of me that was worried. You know. Even when the ref or the. The assistant on the side puts up the extra time at the last. And it came up five minutes. Normally there's a moan and a groan if you're. If you're winning. I don't think anyone was that worried because Newcastle were that comfortable. I think they were rather weak Bilbao. But it was a lot better from Newcastle after what we saw last weekend.

[Gary Lineker]

What were you doing Mike? Are you in the studio both night? Studio for cbs? Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

Gareth Bale was in studio for the first night. Really nice guy who's reminiscing about our battles. And remember the. The quote. He said I was the hardest defender he ever played against.

[Gary Lineker]

Did he stick with that.

[Micah Richards]

Guys? But it's nice Jamie Carragher was out the studio. We always have a laugh at a joke that the studio was better without him. And we got really big numbers because it was a big game as well. So he was seething. But yeah it was. It was good. As for the game, I thought Liverpool were excellent.

[Gary Lineker]

Well they've go back to how they were last season. And not just in terms of the way they perform but also the style of their play and their midfield.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. I mean you don't have to be a rocket scientist. It was always going to be difficult to get vert in the team. And we. We talked about that. And me and Alan we had a bit. Not a back and forth. But he was alluding to the fact that there wasn't one of the challenges. I agreed with that point. But it was just. They were lacking something in the middle of the park. And when you've got Graven Birch back and when you've got McAllister back. We the running power of Szoboszlai. They do look a little bit better balanced in that way I would say. And that's the point I was trying to make. And then Wirtz going on the left instead of Gakpo did really well. Connor Bradley. What a performance from him. Do you remember what I said a couple of pods ago. I watched him on Northern Ireland on a Friday night and for them he had so much confidence and I said he needed a big performance and that certainly was an amazing performance from him because obviously the.

[Alan Shearer]

The situation with Trent and it was pretty negative towards him which you'll have a view either way, which is fine. But I because Trent was sat on the in the dugout as a substitute, every tackle, every run, every pass, every cross was like cheered from the Liverpool fans as if it was a goal. I really think that spurred him on. And can you remember was it last season or the season before you had that crunch and tackle with Mbappe?

[Gary Lineker]

Mbappe?

[Alan Shearer]

Yes, yes he a similar one with Vinicius Jr. And the raw was like oh I thought to a man I thought every single Liverpool player were brilliant. I thought w put a shift in. TK was brilliant. The midfield obviously Van Dijk and Canate who have come in for criticism, I thought they were brilliant. Robertson was fantastic. The keeper made a save when he had to make a save in the first half. Marmadashville. But I thought the pick of the bunch and my man of the match was without doubt was Conor Bradley. He was outstanding.

[Gary Lineker]

Such a very I suppose English Premier League, British thing, call it what you like but we get more excited about crunching tackles and perhaps and I think that encapsulates perhaps the two different kind of footballers that Trent compared with his young prodigy. And they are very different. But I think in many ways we perhaps seem to appreciate someone who's more destructive than someone that's perhaps more creative. And I get it. And I actually thought booze make a big bigger impact than applause. But when they panned around the crowd there were one hell of a lot of Liverpool fans that actually stood on their feet and applauded Trent Alexander Arnold when he came on. And I think it's important to mention that because that that was the classy way to deal with it. You know I get the rivalry and you want to boo your opponents anyway, whoever they are. But there's a lot of classy responses I think from the Liverpool fans which they get drowned out by booze because you can't really hear applause as much. But I think it's a real interesting thing because in Spain they don't football that way. Crunching, you know, you get used to. Used to. Used to kick lumps out of you. But kind of the modern era, the way they play, they keep the ball, the possession side of things. But. But overall Liverpool were. Were much, much the better side if it hadn't been for Courtois who was unbelievable as he was. If you recall in the final in France a few years ago when Liverpool played Real Madrid, made two or three unbelievable saves in that game. I mean, what a goalkeeper he is. Without him Liverpool would have absolutely battered them, wouldn't it?

[Alan Shearer]

He looks so big in the goal, you know, even, you know when Vert crossed the ball into slobbers line the first half and he came out and sort of made himself huge. Didn't need to block him. I mean he looks, he looks a man mountain in the. In the goal as if nothing and it was always going to take something, I mean the special to beat him. The crossing and the header were brilliant but he, yeah, he was outstanding. And as you say, it wasn't for him. It would have been four or five, maybe more.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, I'm going all over the place here but I quite like these conversations. Who's the best keeper in the world at the moment? Because you've obviously Courtois and then there's Rya at Arsenal. I mean he's not conceded a bloody goal hardly this season. Yes.

[Micah Richards]

But if you look at what's in.

[Gary Lineker]

Front of him, Alisson's obviously injured at the moment. You've got Donna Rumor as well who's been really good generally for Manchester City and there's some great goalkeepers around now, isn't there? There really are, yeah.

[Micah Richards]

I think, I think Courtois been the best for. I think I would say in the Premier League it would be Alisson. I think Reyes on his. On his way to being the best certainly. But what Alisson done is one on one shot. Stopping is ridiculous.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Oh, blacks are worth a mention as well. He has to be in any conversation. Atletico, I mean, I think the art of goalkeeping has got better. I mean they're bigger for a star, aren't they? Generally? I mean Rya's not. Rya's actually the exception. He's only about. I think he's only 6ft, 6ft one.

[Alan Shearer]

I think they're probably better athletes.

[Micah Richards]

I did say this about six months ago.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean the keepers say everything that just happened.

[Micah Richards]

What did I say? We had an argument, me and you. H. We got the receipts of this and I and I said that the goalkeepers now are more athletic and he was like oh no, there was basically overweight back in the day.

[Gary Lineker]

Let me make one valid point here. Right, okay. So you've got to remember that back in the day goalkeepers used to have to dive out of mud.

[Micah Richards]

Back in my day, the were rubbish. The pictures were crap. This was slow. It was like running treacle. What you're talking. That's literally what we.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, obviously we almost were running in treacle, because mud is like that, Micah. Mud is thick and it collects around your boots and you used to have to clean your boots at half time. There's no mud anymore. And it's. The game is much the better for it. In fact, it brings me to a point and because I think I saw it go on, I think social media with Thierry Henry and it was on cbs and he was talking about perhaps that the game now is. He thinks possibly that it's more about data and. And all this kind of stuff than perhaps individual flair. Is the game not as good to watch now? Or.

[Micah Richards]

It's a good.

[Gary Lineker]

What do you think? We're not producing players. But then you look at someone like Lamine Yamal, I don't know whether you saw his goal. I mean, in one of the craziest games of football. I mean, what. The way Barcelona plays, it's. It's ment. It's just nuts. I know we're going all over the place, but it doesn't really matter. And I think that that, that high line, I mean, the. Bruce just. Every time they attacked, they just went through and. And that was actually, if you remember, that was his undoing when he was the German national team boss, that they. They just didn't cope with the counter attack. And I think the longer it goes with this, as much as I admire, and I hope. I hope his football works, because, I mean, it really makes for fantastic, entertaining football.

[Alan Shearer]

I think it was the first goal, guys. Trisoldi. I mean, the high line, there must have been three yards inside their own heart. Still trying to play them offside.

[Gary Lineker]

That's it. When the ball's been about to be passed forward, they're still going towards the ball. I mean, if you. Are you. I mean, that is. I mean, if you've got half a brain as a striker there, you don't even need to take a chance because you know they're going in the wrong direction and you're going to go and be ready to turn that way. So the timing has to be so perfect. It's. And once teams. Teams are not daft and coaches are not daft, they're going to work this out. Imagine Harlan playing Man City playing against them. If they played that way.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean, it would. It would be carnage.

[Micah Richards]

I was cringing at that defender.

[Gary Lineker]

But having said that, I mean, Lamina Mao was absolutely Breathtaking again, I mean, some of the bits that he did. One pass, I think, for the first goal or second goal and the goal he scored himself. I mean, gorgeous stuff.

[Micah Richards]

This special.

[Gary Lineker]

It doesn't seem to worry him. All the bit of criticism of. For his attitude and all that kind of stuff. And he's. He's a bit cocky.

[Micah Richards]

I don't know if he saw when I was coming in, getting off the coach, he had this big chain on, this big diamond chain. And one of the lads in the studio was like, is he going to a. A concert? But it doesn't. It doesn't phase him. He just does his own thing. I just absolutely love him that he could. He talks. He basically talks shit before the game and he backs it up. So I love him even more. I just. I don't. Play is like that.

[Gary Lineker]

What do we want? Mundane, Boring, pretty much.

[Micah Richards]

Oh, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, no, sorry. You know, we didn't play so well today. But, you know, onward and four will be better for this and. Or you're going into a game. Well, we'll take every game as it comes. Do we want all that? No, we want to be. And then as soon as someone comes out and says something a little bit brash, a little bit cocky, a little bit arrogant, if you like, then we complain about it. So.

[Alan Shearer]

Micah, you're in with the kids, right? Can you.

[Micah Richards]

Can you. You don't say it like that, Ali. Say, I'm down with the kids.

[Gary Lineker]

I'm down with the kids.

[Alan Shearer]

Okay, you're down with the kids. Can you tell me what's the. What's this with the wrist coverings? The bandages on a wrist? I think there's at least one person in every team now with a band.

[Gary Lineker]

Lamania mount.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah. What is it?

[Alan Shearer]

Have you noticed it, Micah?

[Micah Richards]

Yeah, I have. Yeah. I'm.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean, has Phil Forden had a bad wrist for about three years.

[Micah Richards]

Maybe he's got some snuff under there that he just takes.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, maybe. I don't think it's anything to do with an injured wrist or anything like that. Can I just make one quick point? Because I've just noticed it, Alan, and. And by the time this goes out, everyone will know the result of traitors. But when did you become a traitor? What, with the outfit you've got on?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Put it over your head, Al. Please.

[Micah Richards]

Put it.

[Gary Lineker]

Go. Let me have a look. See if you look like.

[Micah Richards]

There he is. There he is.

[Gary Lineker]

Who? You. Please don't murder either micro or me tonight, because we're faithfuls, okay? We're definitely faithful.

[Alan Shearer]

That has given you the little prompt there, is. It has, you little. No, it wasn't.

[Gary Lineker]

It was. It actually wasn't this time. I know he loves traitors, but so do I. I've been watching the whole series. It's been absolutely.

[Micah Richards]

Who's been the best on it? I heard Alan Carr's been good.

[Gary Lineker]

Joe Mara and Alan, Alan Carr particular. Alan Carr's been an absolute star and he's brilliant. By the time this go out, people will know one I we, I, I we're doing this on Thursday. But Alan Carr's been absolutely sensational. I think Joe Mar has been a bit of a star as well. He calls it. Who's Joe Mar? Who's that rugby player? I mean.

[Micah Richards]

Oh, the big lad.

[Gary Lineker]

Big guy.

[Micah Richards]

I don't know who that is. Sorry.

[Gary Lineker]

But he's been very good.

[Alan Shearer]

So you're not done with the kids, are you? Keep up with it.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. David, one of our hosts on a Journey through Time as well as one of our podcast and he's kind of, I would say got away with it a little bit it but he's kind of wriggled through somehow to, to the final. I don't know who won, but.

Definitely watching that. If you're gonna wear a traitor's outfit, what do you expect?

[Alan Shearer]

Mike is on about snus. We've got white bandits on wrists. We've got. We've got other podcasts.

[Micah Richards]

Anyway, quickly though, I know we bouncing around, but did you see the interview with Van Dyke and Rooney, by the way?

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, a little bit of. But we've had. I've had that over the years. You've had that probably as well, hasn't I? Because I will say I get it. Both sides, but because players don't like to be criticized when things are not going well. But pundits have to be. Have to. You have to be honest and you call it out as you see it. But I also understand why you get humpy. I mean, let's be honest. I would imagine if Wayne Rooney's spoken about Virgil van Dijk 50 times, 49 times out of 50 would have been very positive. He's not been in the punditry game long enough probably to mention him that many times, but we have. So we would also have mentioned Virgil Van Dyke over the. What we've done this pod now, two and a half years almost, I would say almost every time we've eulogized about him. We've told everyone how amazing he is, what a leader is, but this season, slightly below par. Start and we will call that out. So he could equally be critical of us for that. But footballers, and in fact, not just footballers, I think all people in life, if you get hundreds of compliments and you get one derogatory comment, insult criticism, call it what you like, that's the one that tends to stay in your mind and it stays in your head and they forget all the lovely things that you've said. So I understand it from both sides.

[Micah Richards]

Well, it didn't happen like my career. 99 was all bad.

One percent was a good comment.

[Alan Shearer]

Every now and then, Micah, you're being harsh.

[Micah Richards]

Being Ash. You was the one creating it.

[Alan Shearer]

I'm just trying to be nice to you.

[Micah Richards]

Back in the day, Alan, oh, my God, that Micah Richards. He had a. He had a great start. To what. What's happened to him? He's out of position there, he's out of position there. There's no communication.

[Alan Shearer]

He's put on three stories.

[Gary Lineker]

Did he have a point, Micah?

[Micah Richards]

To be fair, Alan never criticized me. No, he never criticized.

[Gary Lineker]

He didn't know you were.

Anyway, we digress from the point. Oh, it's individual, brilliant players slightly out of fashion. Even though we've got someone like Lamina Marle coming through, there's always going to be incredible individual talents. Or is the game now being. Is it more like a computer game, for example?

[Micah Richards]

Yes, it is. It's more tactical, definitely.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Micah Richards]

The game's boring. Watching. Watching the games, if you actually watch.

[Gary Lineker]

We're trying to sell a podcast here. We're talking about football.

[Micah Richards]

You know, we'll do the scores. What's some of the scores? But I want to listen to was the game was boring, isn't it? And I think it's because managers are more tactical. So I. I feel as though.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you think we're more athletes, though, footballers than perhaps footballers?

[Micah Richards]

We had this conversation a year ago and you were saying, while you guys were saying, and Alan didn't agree, but footballers now are more athletic, 100%. The data. The data is there. It's become the survival of the fittest, hasn't it, really? It's more. I would say it's more aggressive. I think the tackles are better. I. I believe there were better players, better Mavericks, 10, 15 years ago, but the intensity of the game has definitely gone up.

[Gary Lineker]

The only thing I would say about the maverick side of things, or, you know, they don't have any fun anymore in football and all that. I have heard that. I've been around this over six, you know, over six decades now, and Every generation it's the same. You don't have the characters that you used to get. You don't this. And what happens is of course when you're actually playing you you can't, you know the character side of things comes out after and then because you finish the game you play with certain personalities. You don't know the personalities that were in the game now. But I do think there is a shift in the tactical and the way that players are taught.

[Micah Richards]

But it's a good thing though. It might be boring to watch but players.

[Gary Lineker]

That's not a good thing if it's brought to a. It's entertaining.

[Micah Richards]

I mean in terms of the way English players are being brought through now. I. They're more tactically aware. How many times historically we've said oh we played against the Italian team. They're a bit more what was the words that street wise the word was used to say Spanish teams or the technically better than us. I just feel it's taking a while. But they're being coached differently now which now everyone's got a strategy which I'm making the games more boring. I don't think it's a bad thing per se. But we're seeing less mavericks. Would you agree with that, Alan?

[Gary Lineker]

What's the traitor got to say about it?

[Alan Shearer]

I. I just think in every era you're pushing what you have available to you at that particular time. I think you're pushing, trying to push it to the maximum. I guess 10 years time will be. We'll be saying can you remember when Harland was doing this? Or I just wonder what new technology or what the fad is in in 10 or 15 years time, you know. But I think, I think you do to every era you do push to get the best out of what's available. I think the players 20 years ago were the fittest they could be. You're not telling me that players don't have a good time now. You're not telling me players don't party now and go out.

[Gary Lineker]

They're young men, aren't they? We know what young men are like. We know young men have a lot of fun and we have a lot of fun on this podcast and we'll have some more fun when we come back after this break. Break.

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[Alan Shearer]

This episode is brought to you by McAfee.

[Gary Lineker]

Yes, playoff tickets.

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[Alan Shearer]

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[Gary Lineker]

Welcome back to the Rest Is Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richardson, me, Gary Lineker. We're discussing the Champions League week. Lots of things to discuss. I want to ask a question because you were getting very excited about Dan Byrne's goal as a central defender. Brilliant curling header that he scored. Was that a better goal, in your opinion, than Micky Van der Ve. Oh, what a goal that was.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, Dan's was a great header, but oh my goodness me, a center half running that far with the ball at his feet at Pierce, going past what, six, six opposition players and then having the ability to stick it in after going all that way.

[Gary Lineker]

I think so, too.

[Alan Shearer]

No, I think van der Vens was, was. Was slightly better.

[Micah Richards]

Have you got him in your fantasy, Al? Oh, you wouldn't know because you don't do it it and you're having a torrid time. He was at the top of the league for a week and now you've been at the bottom for three weeks.

[Alan Shearer]

I've lost. I've lost concentration on that. I'll have to go back to it and see what my son's been doing.

[Gary Lineker]

I brought him in last weekend, Mickey Mand, and obviously that. And he. He ended up storming off the pitch with a hump and then he goes and scores a goal that obviously doesn't count at all in your fantasy team because it's in Europe, which is equally as frustrating. He could have saved that for the weekend, but I thought Thomas Frank in his. After talking about the goal, brilliantly handled. I think it was Absolutely perfectly done. The way joked that, listen, if he scores goals like that, he can storm off the pitch anytime. I don't care. And I thought that was a brilliant way of dealing with it.

[Alan Shearer]

Experienced manager handling a difficult situation very well because he's one of his big players, as was Jed Spence. So he couldn't go looking for an argument. He just had to handle it the way he. The way he did. And I thought he did it really, really well.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, he also said they apologized after came up to him. We. I think we predicted it, right? Not predicted it, but I think we called it right on how it happened that the two players were just frustrated at the game, at the way they played and just. Just went off and then it's no big deal. And it was important win though after that they needed that because it was a really poor performance the previous weekend against Chelsea, wasn't it?

[Micah Richards]

It was turret, wasn't it? But the back. If you actually look at what spurs have done in the league and then doing all right in the Champions League, I think it's been start than people are giving them credit.

[Gary Lineker]

It's been a good start. Yeah, it's been a solid start, isn't it really? Considering you've got to Remember there was 17th in the Premier League last season. I know they won a European trophy, but they were 17th in the. In the Premier League. So I think that making strides, you've got to be a little bit patience but patient. But as we all know, football fans aren't generally just.

[Micah Richards]

Just one thing before you move on. Did you see was it Columni's first touch when the ball went high in the air?

[Gary Lineker]

Beautifully done, wasn't it? I saw his two misses as well.

[Micah Richards]

Spinning all over and he took it down beautifully and then passed it across. I just thought it was amazing.

[Gary Lineker]

Brennan Johnson off the sending off. I mean, did you see that? You see it, Alan?

[Alan Shearer]

I haven't seen that.

[Gary Lineker]

I know you're. You're at another game, but honestly, have a little look at it. It's ridiculous. He's sliding in as he's gone in. It's a yellow probably his foot hits the ground ground and bounces up like 3 inches off the ground and catches. It was not. I mean it was Slow Mo look.

[Micah Richards]

Did look great. Did it though, guys?

[Gary Lineker]

Slow Mo makes everything look bad. Every single challenge look bad. But it was clearly just sliding in and there was no thought of lifting his foot on it back, you know, like it does. Your foot suddenly lifts up off the ground. Have a look. I'll Be interested to see what you think. I wasn't even sure about. I mean, I know he's got injured from it, Hakeemi, and these things happen, but I just thought that was more clumsy than anything else and a bit awkward.

[Alan Shearer]

I thought that was a bit nauseous.

[Micah Richards]

His ankle was facing well like that one.

[Gary Lineker]

No, I think it was unfortunate the way he landed on him, but I don't think. I don't think there was any like vicious intent. Not at all. I want to talk about Phil Foden.

[Micah Richards]

He's back.

[Gary Lineker]

He's back, he's back. He's playing with a smile on his face. He's looking brilliant again. I'm. I'm so happy for. Well, for him because he's clearly a good lad and he's. He's a fantastic talent and it's really good. Good. There's a World cup coming up in seven or eight months.

[Micah Richards]

I think with, with Philip, it's. It's one of those things where we talk him up, we talk him up and I remember in the Euros was having a discussion with Fabregas, wouldn't he. He needs to do more. And the point I was trying to make is that they don't have to build a team around Foden, but if you are going to play him, he's just better in, in the central areas.

[Gary Lineker]

If you look so much better, isn't it?

[Micah Richards]

If you look at the time it took him to get in the space. We call them half spaces now, Alan, you know, for the modern day punditry, for him to turn and to shoot. I don't believe we've got anyone in the England squad that can do that. I think Morgan Rogers can get on the ball and drive at people. I think Bellingham can run all over the place. I think Cole Palmer likes to receive it and he's a bit of better dribbler and could score one. But in terms of the timing it takes, takes to get on the ball, turn and shoot or make the pass. That's why I believe Phil Foden's different to anything that we have.

[Alan Shearer]

He's got some big calls to make now, hasn't he? Thomas Tuchel with. With who he brings in and who he leaves out, or with Bellingham back and forward and back.

[Gary Lineker]

And the squad announced today, I think Friday, as you. If you're listening to this on Friday, we're doing this on Thursday, but I think it's announced. Yeah. Do you think Bellingham might sneak back in? I mean, it's nice, you see players I know he. The other night wasn't Real Madrid's night, but, you know, Bellingham's been brilliant the last two or three weeks. Absolutely world class as he is. You've got Foden coming back to peak form. Harry Kane's been unbelievable this season. Marcus Rashford has been absolutely ripping. Even Gordon.

[Micah Richards]

The likes of Gordon. Just like the way he just doesn't stop running. I just love.

[Alan Shearer]

He went off injured last night five minutes into the second half. Didn't.

[Micah Richards]

Is he going to be okay?

[Alan Shearer]

Whether he'll. It didn't. I'd be. I'd be surprised if he played at the. At the weekend. So that's. That may be an issue.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Morgan Rogers as well. You haven't mentioned so. Because he did well last England games. Eh?

[Gary Lineker]

Did. Did really well. So it's. Yeah, those kind of front forward positions looking promising. But then something will go wrong because it always seems to be. No if by saying something we'll go wrong. Wrong. I'm always wrong. So. So it. It. It might help in midfield at the moment in looking. Looking at the Premier League. I was watching obviously Arsenal again. We've not mentioned Arsenal yet and Rice was. Was terrific again. I mean they don't concede a goal. They're hardly. They've not conceded a single goal in. In the Champions League in four games. And won. Won all three.

[Micah Richards]

Set Piece fc though.

[Gary Lineker]

Won all four games.

[Micah Richards]

Set Piece fc. That's. That's it.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, if it works, who cares? I would say if I were an Arsenal fan.

[Micah Richards]

Exactly.

[Gary Lineker]

Slightest bit concerned about that. Who's the best midfield player in the Premier League at the moment because there are some tasty performances going.

[Alan Shearer]

We had this discussion not so long ago. Did we, with Rice and Rodri and look.

[Micah Richards]

Look at you.

You're a horrible man, you know that, Alan? You're horrible. The conversation and the debate we had last year was. Or it was around.

[Alan Shearer]

That's what I said.

[Micah Richards]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. It was based on the number six position. What's happened now? Oh, Zubamendi's gone into the number six. Declan Rice can fly. He's world class in that position. In a number six. He's never been as good as Rodri. We all know that.

[Alan Shearer]

I thought it was just a midfield. I wasn't aware that.

[Gary Lineker]

Who'S the best state in the English. In the English league. In the Premier League at the moment. I'm not going to do worldwide.

[Micah Richards]

There's two who are performing really well. It's Caicedo and Rice.

[Gary Lineker]

Rice Gravenberg.

[Micah Richards]

I see him as a sitter though, who can go forward.

[Gary Lineker]

Okay. Slightly different.

[Micah Richards]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean, I, I. Declan Rice for me at the moment is breathtaking what he's doing. But so is Kai Sao, though. Kai. Is he.

[Micah Richards]

Kai winning the ball. B for the goal against Spurs. Hers, it's just. He's like C. What's he doing there?

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, come on. Come on. Now you're getting car. No, we can't go, we can't go into Ungolo. Not at this moment.

[Alan Shearer]

Sandro.

[Gary Lineker]

There's no bias whatsoever from this match.

[Micah Richards]

I do love Sandro.

[Gary Lineker]

I tell you what, overall though, English teams are looking pretty good in. They're all, I think all six in the top 12, which is pretty impressive. But I think we also should have a word before we go on Bayern Munich and what Vincent Co. Is doing there. I mean, we all love Vincent. We know him pretty well. I'm absolutely delighted for him. I mean, what a start to the season. Won every bloody football match.

[Alan Shearer]

Is it 19? Is it? They've played 19 1. 19.

[Gary Lineker]

I think it's something along those lines. I mean, it's absolutely remarkable, isn't it?

[Micah Richards]

I read 16, I read 16 wins in a row. But it might be 19.

[Alan Shearer]

But I mean one of the two anyway. Even whatever it is, 16 or 19. It's.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, 16 might be 16.

[Alan Shearer]

Incredible.

[Gary Lineker]

It. I mean he's done, he's done a fabulous job. Sometimes he's dropped Kane in as a 10. He's made like different changes. I mean, they look really good at the moment, you know. You know, I mean, do you know, coming up very soon, Arsenal versus Bayern.

[Micah Richards]

I'm going to that game.

[Gary Lineker]

What a game that'll be.

[Micah Richards]

You know, the differences though, we've talked about Kane, Michael Alise. Wow.

[Gary Lineker]

What a play. Wow.

[Alan Shearer]

He.

[Micah Richards]

He took his game to the next level. What a move that was for him. Cuz if he would have went to City, he might not have played as much as he would have liked. Maybe even if he went Chelsea at the time of the wingers that they have the competition. He's gone straight into Bayern Munich and played. He missed a couple games when he first went there and after that it's just, he's. He's the main man there, which is crazy for Bayern Munich week.

[Gary Lineker]

So on the 25th, on the Tuesday night you've got Chelsea versus Barcelona, which could be unbelievable given the way that Barcelona play. Yeah, that's on Amazon. And then on Wednesday, Arsenal buying. So I must make sure that I don't do anything stupid and book a dinner in that night either of those two nights. You're so annoying when something like that happens, isn't it? You know we went the Football hall of Fame week this week for the inductees of Eden Hazard and Gary Neville. So I went along just to, you know, support the event and, and then you go, oh crike, it's Liverpool Real Madrid. So we, we perched and we ran to get out to go and watch. Watched it. We watched on our phones during the ceremony. Me and Harry watched it on the, in the cab going home. So. But it was, it was a good night and well done Eden Hazard and Gary Neville, very deserved recipient. Anyway, so look forward to those games but for now we'll call it a day. So goodbye from me.

[Micah Richards]

Goodbye from me.

[Alan Shearer]

Goodbye from me. Have a great weekend.