Michael Richards (2:20)

It was hard, though.

Alan Shearer (2:22)

He was strong. Yeah, he was brilliant at everything, actually. I mean, I know I joked about being a better goal scorer, but his goal scorer, all types of goals, all of them tap ins, 30 yarders, headers. You said strong as they come. The best for me.

Michael Richards (2:40)

I think he could be the best player, player England have ever produced.

Gary Lineker (2:44)

I think he's definitely got to be in that argument. Let's have that argument.

Michael Richards (2:48)

Yeah, now. Okay. But it's different eras.

Gary Lineker (2:51)

Yeah, of course. And it's really difficult talking about different eras because things change a lot. We were just having a little chat, weren't we before, about, you know, the, the warm up. Now what is it? The pre activation. Yes. And that's the warm up before the warmer.

Michael Richards (3:04)

And it's in the gym where you get, you know, stretches, he groin.

Gary Lineker (3:07)

But even the way. And, and that would have changed even since Wayne played probably that. He would probably been through some of that change. But you got these beautiful gyms, ice baths, massive areas. We're in a, a loft here. It's fairly, fairly big actually. It's about, probably three times as big as a dressing room. In our day you'd squeeze in there and you got to play on boggy pitches and stuff. So different players from different generations. I would definitely throw in Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves, Gazza, Tom Finney, people like that you'd have to recognize. But it's really hard unless you've seen them play a lot to make that judgment. But Gazza, Gazza, in terms of ability, yes, but in terms of career, not quite.

Alan Shearer (3:51)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Gary Lineker (3:51)

Gaza has self destruct button. Although you could say Wayne Rooney's got a little bit of Gazza in him, hasn't he? Bit of a maverick. But he'd have to be up there, wouldn't he?

Michael Richards (4:00)

Well, yeah, he scored on my debut and I thought I'd get some footage ready just in case this is not

Gary Lineker (4:05)

one of the most.

Michael Richards (4:07)

I just want to do it because.

Alan Shearer (4:08)

Sorry, Rooney scored on your debut.

Michael Richards (4:11)

No, hold on. Yeah, he scored.

Alan Shearer (4:12)

Yes.

Michael Richards (4:12)

Rooney scored on my debut for England.

Alan Shearer (4:14)

All right. Okay.

Michael Richards (4:15)

I was 18, I was fast, I was strong. Let me get it here. Yeah.

Alan Shearer (4:20)

What year was this?

Michael Richards (4:22)

This would have been 2006. Analysis. Look at the run here to open up the gap for Joe Cole. I didn't get the assist on this one.

Gary Lineker (4:32)

All you did was make a run to open up space for Joe Cole.

Michael Richards (4:35)

Yes, but basically I'm just talking about

Alan Shearer (4:38)

searching for that for three hours on the train here. Chain Lincoln. Hang on a minute.

Michael Richards (4:42)

How important the space is, you know when we talk about space is a pocket in space, overlapping, creating space.

Alan Shearer (4:49)

Was it Wembley?

Michael Richards (4:50)

No, this was away. Ah, he never debuted away. Okay, we got a draw there. I was up against Robham. Absolutely smashed him to pieces on this

Gary Lineker (4:59)

week's episode of Premier League Greats to moments and made them. We've got Michael. So basically Rooney owes him entire career. Basically.

Michael Richards (5:10)

If it Wasn't for that space, he would have scored.

Gary Lineker (5:12)

Yeah, my point entirely. Let's start with the first moment, which has to be one thing. You've already mentioned it. Right at the. The top. That remarkable goal when he announced himself. Wayne Rooney.

Michael Richards (5:30)

Oh, he went for it. Oh, his first goal in the premiership. What a special goal.

Alan Shearer (5:39)

But the touch and I mean everything. And 16 year old to do that against Arsenal and all those great players that Arsenal had. I mean the touch and then the move and then the. The finish is just look at that

Michael Richards (5:51)

against Seaman as well.

Alan Shearer (5:52)

Yeah, it's just like, wow. Just brilliant.

Michael Richards (5:56)

Look at the size of him.

Alan Shearer (5:58)

I know. Yeah. You know, he was, he was a man already then, wasn't he?

Michael Richards (6:02)

You can tell technically and physically he was just. Because there's always that thing, you know, big hitters I mentioned before. There was James Milner, Aaron Lennon at that time, Jermaine Pennant a little bit before Big Meeks, you know, and then there was Rooney. But he was the one who everyone talked about coming through the youth. He was going to be the best thing and he lived up to it. That's really hard to do.

Alan Shearer (6:27)

I think you're right because there's. You always hear the hype about these 14, 15, 16, 17 year old youngsters who are coming through the academy and they've been brilliant and they've been great in the reserves or youth team or whatever it may be. And then very rarely do you still talk about them being amazing 10 years later.

Gary Lineker (6:49)

Very rare.

Alan Shearer (6:50)

Very, very rarely. But on this occasion with him it's like, oh my, what a player.

Gary Lineker (6:55)

He obviously knew he was pretty good. There's a fantastic quote from Wayne, I've got it here. And he was talking about his early training sessions with these Everton teammates, you know, when he went up from being a boys teams or reserves team up training with the first team, lads, grown men. And he said, I remember thinking, these are crap. I thought the step up would be harder.

Michael Richards (7:18)

Crap. He actually said crap. Did he?

Gary Lineker (7:22)

Crap. That was a word. So basically I suppose what he's sort of saying is that it, when he stepped up into men's football, he thought it'd be actually. He thought they'd be way better than they actually are.

Alan Shearer (7:33)

But he was lacking confidence at 16 then as well.

Michael Richards (7:36)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (7:36)

It showed him that goal a little bit, that confidence.

Michael Richards (7:39)

It's just brilliant. Terrific.

Gary Lineker (7:41)

Yeah. There was the commentary as well, wasn't there, on the. Remember the name. Yeah.

Michael Richards (7:46)

Who was the commentator?

Gary Lineker (7:47)

It was Clive Tilsley.

Michael Richards (7:49)

Was it Clive Tilsley?

Gary Lineker (7:50)

I'm pretty sure it was Clive Tilsley. I think we remembered it.

Alan Shearer (7:54)

I think that goal at 16 so summed them up at 30 as well. Even like just the. I don't know, the arrogance, obviously, the ability, the strength and the ability to just do what he wanted to do. And I think that at 16 was. Was amazing. And he carried that on all his career.

Gary Lineker (8:16)

You played against him, Alan. And one of the moments is that extraordinary goal where he sort of loses his rag with the referee.

Alan Shearer (8:24)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (8:25)

And you said, you're right behind this.

Alan Shearer (8:27)

I was about 15 y behind it. And then he initial. My initial was like, what on earth is the goalkeeper even diving for that four? Because it was one of those where I just know what's happening here. And he just let. He just let rip.

Michael Richards (8:45)

Ready? Well, if that's what he does when he's injured, watch out when he's 100%. It's an astonishing moment. The true footballing genius. Apparently he was injured as well and

Alan Shearer (8:59)

he says he was about to come off. You know, Fergie was about to take him off.

Gary Lineker (9:03)

And not only that, he was having a rant at the referee just before it happened. It's brilliant. He's almost done that out.

Michael Richards (9:10)

Can we go longer, just a little bit on that, please? I just want to see it one more time. So can we all agree this is Avoni?

Gary Lineker (9:18)

Yes.

Michael Richards (9:19)

Finally. It didn't bounce. So it's a volley.

Alan Shearer (9:23)

Well, of course it's a volley.

Gary Lineker (9:24)

Of course it's a volley.

Michael Richards (9:25)

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It didn't bounce. That's the whole point. Headers and volleys. He volody. It didn't bounce. That is what you call a volley.

Gary Lineker (9:32)

And when it bounces, it's a half

Michael Richards (9:33)

volley on the way up.

Gary Lineker (9:36)

Otherwise it's just a shot.

Alan Shearer (9:39)

I think we're in agreement. That's a volley.

Michael Richards (9:42)

We finally agree on what's the volley.

Gary Lineker (9:44)

I think you're getting confused. Speaking of which. Fuse. This episode is brought to you by Fuse Energy. No one likes a panic buy on deadline day. The smart teams do their business early, not relying on dodgy fax machines. Are they still a thing? Rushed medicals or watching a plan B target become a plan C?

Alan Shearer (10:07)

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Gary Lineker (10:12)

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Michael Richards (10:35)

And it doesn't stop there. Switch to Fuse Energy and you could have your question answered on the show.

Gary Lineker (10:41)

Sign up to fuse energy@fuseenergy.com football. Use the referral code football. And you could also win a 1990 England show signed by the three of us. The rest is football. Back to Wayne Rooney. I mean, he's about his temperament. Obviously had his moments. There was the Ronaldo thing against Portugal where he got the red card. I don't think he was a particularly, you know, tough individual. I mean, he was tough, but he wasn't, you know, it wasn't a nasty player. It wasn't any like, it wasn't horrible, just passionate. Wasn't he just passionate?

Michael Richards (11:18)

I loved it.

Gary Lineker (11:20)

Do you think the fact. I mean, he obviously had incredibly competitive side to him and he did track back and we saw the goal where you didn't out there, but he loved to do that sort of thing. I always wonder whether if he hadn't have done that kind of running backwards all the time, whether he'd have been even better up the other end.

Michael Richards (11:42)

Agreed.

Gary Lineker (11:43)

He was so honest, so honest in the way he would trap back and chase people that sometimes I think, I mean, I remember going to Barcelona, I played Barcelona and I started playing there, you know, in those days it was 4, 4, 2, generally in most places. And then the ball would go out to the fullbacks and it was job of one of the striker on that side to chase the fullback down, wasn't it, and try and get in a tackle. And I was doing that the first two or three games, doing that. And the players pulled me aside. What are you doing? I said, well, I'm just doing my job, defensive job. And they went, oh, you've been signed to stay in the middle and score goals.

Michael Richards (12:20)

And I went, oh, yeah, music to your ears.

Gary Lineker (12:23)

I mean, he epitomized that effort in chasing fullbacks down and chasing midfield players down as well. I just wonder whether sometimes he reserved a little bit more energy. I mean, it's hard to say. He could have been much better because he's one of the greats.

Alan Shearer (12:37)

I just loved his attitude. I think even the nasty side to him, which I think you have to that just his personality. I loved that he hated being beaten and hate or hated losing a tackle or hated anyone getting the better of him. And that's probably helped him have the career that he did. But I think he was one of these that wherever he would have played. He would have been the best in that position.

Michael Richards (13:01)

I agree with you. I think it hindered him a little bit, but I think he's one of those players who had to be involved in play and if he was not involved, he got frustrated. That's why he would run back, that's why he would tackle. That's why he got so many assists. He's just a complete player. I just wish it could have went on a little bit longer.

Gary Lineker (13:16)

Nine or a ten?

Michael Richards (13:17)

False nine.

Gary Lineker (13:18)

Yeah. You can do both roles. You could do away with either a 9 or a 10 and just play him, couldn't you?

Michael Richards (13:24)

Yeah, but technically he was so good. People talk about power, but he was just. He had everything. He was just.

Alan Shearer (13:31)

He was a street kid, wasn't he? He was just kid. You could tell. He was just naturally played football in the street as a kid and then took that attitude and that belief onto

Gary Lineker (13:42)

the football pitch almost in a South American way.

Michael Richards (13:44)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (13:45)

You know that sort of technique. Yeah, yeah. Toughness.

Michael Richards (13:50)

It's so humble with it, though, you know, we shared time in Berlin, didn't we?

Gary Lineker (13:55)

Yeah.

Alan Shearer (13:55)

With him.

Gary Lineker (13:56)

Outside of football, I mean, outside of football. What I mean, he is genuinely a lovely guy. He's just great. And a brilliant storyteller. He's got so many stories. Some of them are unbelievably funny. But he is great company.

Michael Richards (14:15)

When he died, he's there.

Alan Shearer (14:17)

We could.

Michael Richards (14:17)

We could say. We can say that, can't we?

Gary Lineker (14:19)

I think we can.

Michael Richards (14:20)

We can talk about that because he went on BBC the next day. We bought ginger ale.

Gary Lineker (14:26)

I think we can tell some of the story. Harry's going ready because he was involved in the.

Michael Richards (14:34)

Harry, do you want to come and sell it?

Gary Lineker (14:36)

No,

Alan Shearer (14:39)

stay quiet, Harry.

Gary Lineker (14:40)

Stay quiet. Right, so we had a lunch, didn't we? And it went on. And we were also house in Berlin all day and we had a few drinks. In the end we went back to watch the football where we were filming in the apartment there and. And the night went on a little bit and. And Waza was with us all day and the filming at night. And then we went back, didn't we, and had a few more drinks and watched watch the football. Paul Stretford was. Was with him and they were going to leave, but I did one or two things to ch. Scripts or something for the next day and Wayne left with. With Paul Stretford and I left about 10 minutes later. So I walk into our hotel and there's a big armchair sat there. Wayne's in it, just sat there like this. And I went, you're right, Wayne. He went, yeah. He went, do you think Harry had fancy going out? I went, 100%. And then he went out. I think they had a big night.

Alan Shearer (15:36)

We're gonna have to get a sign off for this.

Gary Lineker (15:40)

And then Harry calls me, he says, oh, oh, Wayne to talk to you. He's got a problem. I went, oh, no, what is it? So, so, so he said, well, he's. He's had a shower.

Michael Richards (15:53)

I said, well, what? So what's wrong with that?

Gary Lineker (15:55)

He's dyed his. He's dyed his beard and his hair. And I said, what, what, what do you mean he's dyed it? Then Wayne, Wayne calls me and gets into. He said, oh. He said, what is what? You know, she said, I've had a nightmare and all this. He says, I said, how's that?

Alan Shearer (16:10)

What.

Gary Lineker (16:10)

What makes you die? He said, I. He said, I had this stuff. I said, I by. He says, he said, I couldn't read the instructions because they're all in Arabic. And it was really, really dark and big change. I mean, it's very funny. And then all day said, well. And we were doing a program that night and it was Italy against someone. Can't remember it was. And. And he came in and said, well, what should I do? Should we like. I went, well, let's work it out, see if makeup can do so. Makeup. So they started to dye it, you know, started putting whatever to cover the colors on it, all over his beard and his hair. I think it was mainly his beard. And then they did a really good job. But we sat. And then we sat there before the show, about 20 minutes before the show, and he's going, do you think we should say something? I said, well, there is a way I can do it at the top and we'll have a bit of fun at it, or we can just ignore it.

Michael Richards (17:06)

But.

Gary Lineker (17:07)

And he said, well, what's that? I said, well, I said, you know, Italy have had a bad start, but. But they've changed their color for this particular match, as has someone on our panel or something like that. We could do something like that. And he went, oh, yeah, maybe, maybe do that. I said, or we can ignore it, Monitor social media, see if there's a bit of a maelstrom. And if there is, we'll. We'll deal with it half time. So in the end we decided to do that. And no one really noticed. No, the makeup did it. They did a great job. But yeah, so it was. But he. He's great company. Should we talk about some of his abilities. Micah, this is your moment. Oh. This is your. You know. What's going on? The overhead kick.

Michael Richards (17:59)

Nanny Rudy. Oh, wonderful. What a goal. And what a time it was. What a place. What a player. No, no, no, no.

Alan Shearer (18:14)

Your position.

Michael Richards (18:15)

No, no, no.

Alan Shearer (18:16)

This is.

Michael Richards (18:16)

I knew you was going to say that. Nonsense. Go back. I'm going back. I'm sick to death of Vincent Co. Getting all the accolades and I get off. Right, play it back, please. Slowly.

Alan Shearer (18:28)

You far too deep anyway as it is.

Michael Richards (18:30)

No, no, no, no, no.

Alan Shearer (18:31)

You're five yards behind everyone.

Michael Richards (18:32)

Vincent Company is with W.A.

Gary Lineker (18:35)

rooney. Why are you playing everyone on side there? Why are you.

Alan Shearer (18:39)

Look where your position is now. You're far too back.

Michael Richards (18:41)

Yeah, I know. Yeah. I didn't realize that. Five seconds. Didn't they used to have to go back again?

Alan Shearer (18:58)

We used to play a fullback, but I think you should be up on the line, so.

Michael Richards (19:01)

Yeah, Alan, you make a good point.

Alan Shearer (19:02)

You're too deep, aren't you?

Michael Richards (19:03)

Too deep. Aren't I?

Gary Lineker (19:04)

Yeah. However, I don't think it would have saved you, though, because he's Wayne Rooney's not offside.

Alan Shearer (19:09)

But I think not only are you too deep, you should be nearer to Vincent.

Michael Richards (19:12)

No, no, no, no, no. Yes, I agree with that. But look at Vincent Company's position. He's only looking one way. He's supposed to be there and there. We talk about that. Body positions, don't we?

Alan Shearer (19:26)

So.

Gary Lineker (19:26)

I know.

Michael Richards (19:27)

So we run it on slowly. I'm going to take the pause again. H. In a minute.

Gary Lineker (19:30)

Pause.

Michael Richards (19:31)

Look, he can see his name and his number. What do we say about that? Don't do that. So my position here, I'm taking. I think it's Giggs coming in here. I've got him. I can see the ball and I can see the man. Perfect position.

Alan Shearer (19:45)

Should you not be a couple of yards further to Vincent?

Michael Richards (19:48)

Yes, I could. Really, I should be here.

Alan Shearer (19:51)

I think so.

Michael Richards (19:52)

I really. I should be here.

Alan Shearer (19:53)

Then you can go and attack it because you nearly get there anyway.

Michael Richards (19:55)

But now you need to focus on the slip. Watch the slip from Vincent Co. Look, he slipped. He slipped. No one has mentioned the slip. He doesn't slip. He just heads it away.

Gary Lineker (20:08)

Micah, can I just say one thing? When we do eventually just play this forward, there's a brilliant little motion that I only just spotted from you where Wayne goes up to head it and you go.

Michael Richards (20:19)

I know.

Gary Lineker (20:19)

Yeah, your little head goes up.

Michael Richards (20:21)

I think I've got it.

Alan Shearer (20:22)

You think you've got it, don't you?

Gary Lineker (20:25)

What stage did you actually start to see the ball? Cause I know that you had eyesight problems at this.

Michael Richards (20:30)

You know what? I couldn't actually see the ball.

Alan Shearer (20:34)

That's the problem.

Michael Richards (20:36)

That is a very big problem. It is. I couldn't actually see the ball until Rooney's foot was up here.

Gary Lineker (20:42)

Yeah.

Michael Richards (20:43)

So then you see me, I'm closing my eyes thinking, okay, I've got a chance here. But that is the major problem. Vincent Co. You can play it on now, H. And then you'll see the close up on the third angle here. What a finish, by the way. It's about Wayne this, isn't it? It's just remarkable how he's managed to do this. I think you see it on this angle here.

Gary Lineker (21:06)

Pause.

Michael Richards (21:06)

But that's where I've seen the ball there. Yeah, that's the angle and I think I've got it. And look at his leg. Look at his leg, where his leg is. And Joe Hart's position has got to be better than that. He's a pundit now, giving you all this talk about body positions. Why don't you adapt, Joe? You didn't adapt your body position. Roll it on.

Gary Lineker (21:30)

Oh, look at that.

Alan Shearer (21:32)

No one's stopping that.

Michael Richards (21:33)

Look at it. Oh, devastating.

Gary Lineker (21:39)

Oh, it's brilliant.

Michael Richards (21:40)

Goal.

Gary Lineker (21:40)

Absolutely. One of the most iconic moments in Premier League history. Another one, of course, was his record breaking free kick at Stoke. And it was to break, of course, the great, great Sir Bobby Charlton's record. It's Rooney.

Michael Richards (21:56)

Oh, my word. History, Lloyd Rooney does it in style,

Alan Shearer (22:04)

but that's all he could do. It's just all types of goals, overhead kicks. We've seen that. We've seen the brilliant one. One of his 16 free kicks. Whatever goal you wanted, he could come up with a piece of magic.

Gary Lineker (22:17)

Much like Bobby Charlton, you know, and Bobby Charles, a different sort of player. Wasn't aggressive as, you know, dynamic as probably Wayne, but what, the sweetest striker of a football. Just like Wayne Rooney in that sense. Yeah.

Alan Shearer (22:29)

Amazing player.

Gary Lineker (22:30)

Yeah.

Michael Richards (22:30)

Do you think?

Gary Lineker (22:31)

Seems a bit ridiculous. Slightly underrated.

Michael Richards (22:35)

Yeah, yeah. Longevity. I think if he. Without being disrespectful, you know, if he would have looked after himself like Ronaldo, I think he could have got more years out of him. And I think. Because.

Gary Lineker (22:47)

Do you not think that's part of his makeup there?

Michael Richards (22:50)

Yeah, a little bit. But I think as well, the United team changed, didn't it? And he didn't really have the same players around him, which would have been very frustrating. That's why he was running about and trying to get on the ball where he shouldn't really be. But it's just if he would have gone a couple more years, I think he would have been right up there with Ronaldo's of the world. That's how much ability I think he had.

Gary Lineker (23:15)

He's in that tier just below. Yeah. But I think there's a real argument that it could be one of England's greatest. Well, he's definitely one of England's greatest. It's whether he's the greatest. Who else would you put in that category? Bobby Chuck, Obviously I would say Harry Kane. I mean, how many goals has he scored? You have to mention Harry Kane, wouldn't you?

Michael Richards (23:35)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (23:36)

Thinking about it. Yeah.

Michael Richards (23:38)

Yeah, yeah. It's just Harry Kane was at spurs who weren't really winning. Well, didn't win anything, did they?

Gary Lineker (23:45)

No, he's won a bit of.

Michael Richards (23:47)

But that's why he saw. But for England, he's been phenomenal. Yeah.

Gary Lineker (23:51)

Absolutely incredible.

Michael Richards (23:52)

Ashley Cole, 100 caps.

Gary Lineker (23:55)

Yeah.

Michael Richards (23:55)

Stephen Gerard performs.

Gary Lineker (23:59)

Probably Gerard and Lampard, I mean they still had incredibly brilliant international careers, but didn't probably reach the heights they would have wished.

Michael Richards (24:07)

Agreed.

Alan Shearer (24:07)

I just think the. They're not winning anything with England.

Michael Richards (24:12)

Yeah. But everyone else had good teams as well. We always say that's a golden generation. But look at Spain's team. Look at France's team, you know.

Gary Lineker (24:22)

Right. Our final moment. A hat trick goal. And it was this one from his own half, wasn't it? I mean, wow. That for me is that. I think that's the best one I've seen from inside, you know, in terms of the Premier League. Because it's.

Alan Shearer (24:36)

Look at the technique first.

Gary Lineker (24:38)

And to drill it like so low.

Michael Richards (24:41)

Look who's in there. Show out again. Positioning.

Gary Lineker (24:47)

He's supposed to be your mate. He's also the only player I think to have done the two scored twice from inside his own half.

Alan Shearer (24:57)

The referee did well getting out the way this one, you know, but what a strike with the front of the boot.

Michael Richards (25:02)

That technique is clean, isn't it?

Gary Lineker (25:05)

Well done.

Alan Shearer (25:06)

Pure strike, isn't it?

Michael Richards (25:07)

Yeah.

Gary Lineker (25:08)

The ref deserves an assist.

Alan Shearer (25:11)

I just. I think there's so many players would have actually taken a touch there.

Gary Lineker (25:16)

Oh, nearly every.

Alan Shearer (25:17)

Just to say in the button.

Gary Lineker (25:20)

But also to have the realization that I need to hit this first time because this is the situation and also not float. But to drill it. Yeah, it was four.

Alan Shearer (25:28)

What a pleasure.

Gary Lineker (25:29)

Before. Before we finish particular episode working with Wayne.

Michael Richards (25:34)

I love him.

Gary Lineker (25:34)

He's. He's settling in. He's having a go. Yeah, punditry now. It didn't quite work for him in management.

Alan Shearer (25:40)

Can definitely tell work how much he loves football. Yeah, I mean, I know it's easy to say, well, he played it, he should love it. But not everyone does.

Michael Richards (25:46)

You can't pronounce Stroup Milk.

Gary Lineker (25:51)

What are they saying anyway? 3 str. And you're out. So that's it for this episode. Episode of Premier Leagues. The moments that make Goodbye from me.

Michael Richards (26:02)

Goodbye from me.

Gary Lineker (26:03)

Goodbye from me.