Arsenal Pull Away, Wow Pedro & VAR Again!

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Coming up on today's show.

Come the end of this season. If they win the lead, they have found a way to be the best team

in the lead. And the Arsenal fans will not give a jot. What anyone says if they go out

win the title. The next twist in turn has to go in city's favor. You would suspect otherwise

I think it might be too far. I would say so. Yeah. What do you think is going for referees

miniser because I feel like we're totally and utterly confused. The damage that B.A.R has

done to the referees and their performances has been absolutely incredible. Come on lead sweetly

here. I'm starting to get worried now.

Are you mad?

Hello and welcome to the rest of football with Mike Richards, Alan Shearer and me Gary

Linnica. The title race has taken another twist. I'm sure we'll get to that very soon.

But firstly, Chaps, how are we doing? Alan, you were at the game last night in Newcastle.

Great. I thought you might have enjoyed that one. Mike, you were doing much of the day,

which I watched the entirety of this morning. It would have been a late night because it was

nine matches. I remember those midweek ones. Even the midweek are you're getting there. No problem.

Games are half seven. But you forget. They're on for an hour and a half. I think it backed

all to a clock last night. And you always go on air a little bit later because they have the news

and then the local news. So you're generally on about what? 1040 or 1030 or 1040?

Yes, so you did down an hour, 10 past midnight before you finished. It's not like a real job,

but I can't, I can't complain about so much. But you know, you're plenty to go out on that

programme. But it probably, it was sounding like it was really rocking at St James's out.

Oh, the atmosphere was fantastic. It was exactly what Newcastle needed after what happened

at the weekend and been pretty poor at the weekend and a poor result. Yeah, a lot of criticism

flying around and rightly so because players didn't play well. Players made mistakes and you

get beaten in that manner. But then you've got the right to reply. And I thought the players were

absolutely superb. Yeah, particularly with 10 men as well. 10 men didn't get any help again

from the officials. Welcome to that later. Welcome to that later. But there's something very,

very important I need to clear up with you, Alan. Go on. We've had a message here from Adam

Rosario. I hope that's how he's pronounced it. Hi guys, great podcast. I need something

clearing up. Alan McCoy claims that Alan always has sugar cubes in his coat. He claimed this

during the Newcastle versus Manchester United game. Please can this be confirmed or denied?

Well, Adam McCoy, well, I had them in my hand because I was in my friend's box watching the

game and Ali was 10 yards in front of me. It was just too easy. It was just a free hit, guys.

Oh, you were throwing the man. Oh, that's funny. So you don't always have sugar cubes.

I just see this little monkey's arse at the back. That's Ali McCoy's. And then him and Fletcher

were there doing the do the commentary and it was just it was just a free hit lands. I just had no

jokes, but it was, honestly, it was hilarious. So I was picking them down there. Adam like that.

One was hitting them on the back and there was no response. So I'm thinking, is he feeling that I've

got to check another one? And then one last he had his notepad with all his notes on and one hit him

and landed and stuck on his notepad. It was just it was there for five or 10 minutes and he was

trying to be as professional as possible. Did he ever turn around and snap to you or anything?

No, there was nothing that was waiting for him to turn around because I don't know whether he was

angry or he knew or what. And then I texted him just before half time seeing if you're wondering

what's hitting you on the back of the head or on the court or what's on your notes. That's me

chucking sugar cubes. I got back to it. I fucking thought it was you. That's not a very good

scotch accent. And then and then of course he reflects turn around and realized it was it was

making sense. He should have texted. You should have texted just through half time was he's

coming up to half time, Ali. How many sugar cubes do you have in your toe?

Yeah. So that was definitely me. Yeah. We'll go to depth into the game shortly, but last night

could have been a pivotal night in terms of the championship. Premier League title, Michael.

I know you keep thinking of be swings and roundabouts, but they can't afford the next little

swing. Can't if that goes to Arsenal's way. Just before you go on, where is where's the noise

from the whole of England today on about City Botland? Because if Arsenal had had drawn it home

or Arsenal drew it home, then that's the reward you get for having years of success.

All right. Well, I don't I don't think any of them bother it. I mean, it just happens,

doesn't it, but it's the nervousness that everyone gets. But when you're actually out playing,

I mean, I don't know about you too, but did you ever feel nervous? You're just you're just so

engrossed in the game, aren't you? And I don't, I mean, maybe it's me. I don't. Did you?

It's different for you, those strikers. I mean, you know, especially me, where are the ones

under the most pressure to do that? This is this is a nonsense. What are you going on about?

Nonsense. So the keeper's probably got the most pressure in the game because any little mistake

it's game over. Then it's to defend us. Then the fielders can sort again. And then the strikers

you get a tapping and you the hero never heard so much shooting all my life nonsense. What a

Lorda rubbish. The pressure of strikers zero pressure. Oh, that's more pressure to score.

Balls coming across and you have to score. You've got that penalty and you have to score.

There's no pressure. They're all the pressure you have. I'll give you that is penalties.

And then the one versus one, if a cross comes in and you get a head or a shot, you know,

I expect it to score. If you score a world, you know, I'm ready to score the defender. Did you

say the one Cole Palmer missed the other week from under the car? Oh, yeah, that was, yeah,

that was I agree with goalkeepers, right? No, man, that's a separate sport for me. But

defenders. Get me a penalty. Get a penalty. You can't pay anywhere when you're under

any kind of pressure. When you're a defender, going into a game and you're playing a massive game

and like we asked all the defenders, that's why they've been so great. Gabrielle in particular.

But you know, if you make a mistake, you're going to get punished at this level. And you know,

as a striker, if you miss a fucking chance, you won't be the person to blame. No, but you could,

you could miss ten chances. Score the winner. And my hero, you're talking to Alan. We could make

ten chances. We could make ten unbelievable. That many chances he's frozen. One mistake and you

the villain. You know it's true, Lutz. You know it. Yeah, nonsense. Absolutely nonsense.

What's the nonsense to say? What is not nonsense is fuse energy.

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Well, whatever way we look at it, there was a significant twist in the title race last night.

And I don't think probably any of us saw that one coming this mid week because if it was going to

twist one way or the other, you would have expected probably city to win at home an arsenal facing

a tough one away at bright and even though bright and are on a bad run. Yeah, I mean, I'll call it

and you can go in a second now. He said there's going to be twists and turns. Like you said,

maybe not this game, but I thought forests were actually very good on the night. Yes,

I have to defend low. Yes, city mischances, but then when they got their chances, imagine having

to take your chances with just 30% possession. And the Anderson goal was brilliant and so was

what gives why I go was so quick thinking. I think they're going to take the event of love that

go clever, but city had a chance, Savino in the last minute of winning it. And I was just,

I was just thinking, city, you're going to score here. When you play for Man City, you always have

the feeling that at the Etihad, you'll get another one. You'll get another one. Don't worry.

You'll get a late goal. And then it just didn't come. I agree with that. I think there's going to be

more twists and turns, but it's gone from Man City's hands now into Arsenal's hands. So it's

going to be interesting. And the next twist and turn has to go in city's favor, you would

suspect. Otherwise, I think it might be too far. Yeah, I would say so. But I still, I still,

I don't think either team will win every game, I guess. So there are going to be twists and turns.

So they do play each other. That's true. Yeah, of course. Yeah. But no, I just think yesterday was

typical of what will happen not every week, but it will happen once or twice in the next couple of

months when when all the games are played. And if not, I don't think it's a surprise when you've been

there. I guess even when city you've been there so many times, it's still tough, but because

that's it. And now they know that now they just can't make any mistakes. Now, but let's see,

it's great. It's great for the neutral law. Yeah. And, you know, we've just kind of stuck with

Arsenal throughout. I thought we'd, and I think their resilience will see them through. I think

they're so difficult to score against. I know they've considered one or two in the games prior

to last night, but they're very difficult to break down. And when they've got, you know,

Gabrielle, particularly, I think, and Celeba, I think there's such strong defenders. They've

got a great work ethic in the team. Everyone's fighting for everyone else. Whether it's a corner,

I mean, obviously they score other kinds of goals as well. And they did last night, although it's

obviously it's, I think they're a bit fortunate last night to be perfectly honest to get all three

points. I thought Brian played really well, but they couldn't finish it off. But that's the problem.

There's so much pressure on strikers these days. What do you, what's your thought on this? I

think it's absolutely nonsense about people seeing not great football to watch. You don't want to

play that way. I just think that is complete nonsense. I just think that's jealousy.

It's the opponents having a part. Yeah, but that, yeah, that was the brain manager said it

himself. Didn't I mean, I couldn't believe he came out of that rubbish. He's concentrated on

his own team and therefore, and where they're on the league, rather than speaking about someone

else's team. Yeah, he spoke after the game, of course, on that. And he had a swipe in the way

the goalkeeper went down injuries. I mean, teams do that nowadays. That is something they need

to look at. I mean, because goalies don't suddenly get injured three times in the last few minutes

of a football match or all twice. So most teams do it. When a team is doing really well,

there's always going to be some jealousy at that. And we saw it with Liverpool last season as well.

At times. In fact, he wasn't the only one that complained because slots had a go as well.

He was speaking about it. Not after they lost. I think it's important to add that. But he spoke

about it. I think before the game and his press conference, when he thought the game, you know,

he doesn't love the game at the moment. He doesn't think the Premier League is very entertaining.

I think it has taken a strange turn. It's become obsessed with set pieces and long throws.

I even saw that. Have you seen this thing that they do at kick off now? Some teams like scoop

the ball up and do like massive hoikit right up in the air to the edge of the... I mean, come on,

that guy. It's embarrassing. Everton did that, don't they? It's like an open under. Eddie

wearing the BBC rugby league commentator when I was growing up when he used to go. And there he goes.

He said, open under. And that was exactly what they're doing. It's like, you need to be a certain

age to remember that idea, listeners. Most of you will not be that age.

And when we talked about it in the episode, I'm undied, didn't we? About

micro in particular, about how robotic and a little bit of sports come. How defenders now,

the ones that touch the ball more than the midfield players. Yeah, but I think you have to adapt

to what the league needs. Yes, sometimes it's not pretty football. But what I would say with

Arsenal, and you mentioned defensively, I don't just think it's defenders. I think it's the whole

team. If you look at Arsenal, the way they defend as a group and the wingers, when they lose a ball,

they get back in. And then they're just waiting for that moment. I also think it's got to do with

the amount of football. And I know we have this debate all the time, guys. And you say back in your

days. But football now is more intense. It is. And they're playing too much football,

especially the teams that went to the club World Cup. You can see in some of the performances,

look at Cole Palmer. I mean, he's struggling with his injury. Manchester City played in that,

and you can see maybe Phil Foden, or you know, they just don't look quite the same this season.

If you look at the team, like even taking it to the Champions League, PSG,

have been a fraction of their selves as well. And they'll bring it back because they always do.

I think there's too much football, but the quality of football isn't this hasn't been the same

this season. I think you can't get the same output from your body when you constantly play.

And some players can, some players, maybe not that, what, I'm going to say a word here,

the fast switch affleets. So that's, look at fast switch and fast switch. Yeah, that's been around

forever. The fast switch show, the players who are a little bit more dynamic. So the muscles,

muscles, that's been a term even, that's not necessarily mind you, Mike. I must mention,

now you've mentioned straight terms twice last night. I watched the whole twice. What do you see?

What did he say? Fucking pockets of space. Twice. Just say pockets of space.

You remember though, in your defense, I'm only kidding here, of course. In your defense,

you go back 10, 20 years. It was in the hole. In the hole. Yeah.

In the hole. Yeah. So there's always the language changes. But you did say it's what.

None of that is Arsenal's fault. Exactly. If they win the league, they have found a way to

be the best team in the race. And the Arsenal fans will not give a jot. What anyone says,

if they go out, win the title. Do you know what though? Do you know what? I've got one of two

Arsenal friends and a friend of mine, Briak French, long life, long Arsenal supporter. He used text

in me, he's going, why is everyone always having a good, why are they so, you know, why do they

hate us so much? You know, they didn't do this for us. And I say to him, you've got to take

it as a compliment. It's because, you know, you're a threat. And that's why they do it. So I think

some of them do take it a little bit personally. But if they go on to win the league,

they'll get all the plaudits except for those that are jealous and take that, you know,

enjoy that, I would say. I agree. Yeah, it's totally agree. If the winner that deserve it,

he's not fluke of a 38 games, is that? No, let me read you the quotes of Hurtzler and then see

what you think. He said, in the end, it's about the rules. In the Premier League, the referees allow

everything. Then it's difficult. They make their own rules. At the moment, I have the feeling they

are doing their own rules, no matter how they are playing. That's why I think it's difficult

to judge that. I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way. I want to develop

players. I want players to keep improving and keep playing football on the pitch. In the end,

of course, every team will manage and waste time. But I think there has to be a limit and the

limit has to be set by the Premier League. The limit has to be set by the referee at the moment.

They can just do what they want. He also said, is this what the supporters are paying for? And I think

that's perhaps the important thing in what he's saying here. I want to ask now, everyone here in

the room, did they really enjoy this football game? I'm sure maybe one raises his arm because he's

a big Arsenal fan, but besides that, no chance. It's just lost to football match. You've got to

bear that in mind as well. Yeah, I get that. I understand that. And it's perhaps the worst time

to talk to a manager after a game, particularly when they've lost because there are so many things

racing through your head and you might see things that you might not mean or you might regret.

But the Arsenal fans won't give a damn what he thinks. Won't give a damn how Arsenal performs

as long as they go out and win that game, particularly. They just want to win the title, don't they?

Yeah, I guess the Arsenal fans would have watched that game and enjoyed it and enjoyed the result.

Absolutely. He wouldn't because his team are not doing as well as what they should do. I don't

know what they won three in 16. So he'd be better off concentrating on his own team rather than the

other team. Talking about some of the referee decisions. I don't know if you want to wait to

go into that. Let's do it now. Get it out of the way. Some some of the decisions. I mean,

in the the ball of Brentford game. Oh my god. Was it that bad? It was Coyote on Tavineer. He's

got to tap him at the back post. He just tap in. No problem at all. Coyote accidentally trips him.

So he still gets his shot away. Oh, so that he has to divert his shot because he's been clipped

and they didn't give it. I was that was shocking. Harland one. I thought was a penalty. Some might say

not. I thought he shoved his foot. I think he knew what he was doing. I thought the same guy.

Having been in that position and I never obviously would have done that myself.

You know what he's doing. But if the keeper comes sliding out, he gives you the, you know, he has

come out and not made a not got the ball anywhere else on the pitch anywhere else on the pitch.

No one would have batted an eyelid if they'd have given it. Exactly. I think though, if they'd

have given it on field, they would not have turned it over either. But he did push his leg out

towards him. So it's one of those where he bought it. But for me, I'm never on the side of

keepers in those things. If there's if there's any contact at all, whether the whether the forward

kind of forces it or whether he doesn't because keepers don't get too sympathy from me.

Well, wait until we go on to the Newcastle game to discuss the referees performance in that

because I was raging as well, by the way. What do you think is going for referees' minds,

though, because I feel like we're totally and utterly confused. They're wrecked. They're done. V

has done them in confidence wise and belief wise. There are two or three, maybe four to push good

referees that have the belief and the confidence and the ability. But I think the the damage

that VAR has done to the referees and their performances has been absolutely incredible. I think

we're really an all-time low into it. And I don't want to say and say it's a very, very difficult

job. In fact, it's almost it's almost impossible for them with how the laws are meant to be

interpreted and given for them. The decision makers are making it almost impossible for them

in terms of their performance, right? I agree. I agree. I don't need to stare fault at all in

many ways. Yes, they make mistakes. Of course they do. We all do. We miss chances. But the VAR

has totally ruined us. A lot of them and a lot of their performances are so bad, so bad. I mean,

we get back to this same thing again all the time and time again, we get back to the same decision.

Is that it wasn't meant to be like this way. It wasn't meant to give us a millimeter or two

offside or this decision that some might think some might not 50-50 and then it wasn't meant to be

that. It wasn't brilliant for that. If they had a vote now, a vote for getting rid of VAR completely

or keeping it like it is, what do you think the percentage would be? I think it would be a large

percentage to get rid of it. Around last season I saw one where it was something like 72% to

28. I think it would be even more now. I think supporters, particularly at the ground, it's a

dreadful experience. You don't know what the hell's going on, bad enough watching on television.

I think it's, I think, yeah. When was the last time you guys went to a championship game?

Honestly, it's way better. Me, I went a few weeks ago. So much better. I went to QPR

Coventry. And yeah, it's different. And obviously I watch Leicester quite a lot on TV. So

yeah, it's nice, lovely. And you think, oh, it's a goal. Yeah, and everyone's done dead,

then you can do the music and everything goes off. And you don't have a shred of doubt that it's

going to be changed. And yes, they'll stick them in the Obaste. You'll say, you had it in the FA

coupling, we had a couple of times when they'd get, oh, for the ad VAR, it would, I think, so what?

Really? Because they don't always get it right, even with VAR far from it. So, okay,

the VA is a problem. So we've said the refs, it's difficult and ours articulated really well.

But in terms of it, then it's the VAR who are making the decisions. What is the reason that they

can't make the decision if they've got time to make the decision? Some decisions, no, isn't it? It's

too long. That's one of the issues. It's a completely different skill set. Yeah.

So in the VAR room, operating some computer, looking at that, looking at that, it's clearly a different

skill set to being on the pitch and then having to make split decisions like that. And they're just

getting, they're just getting so many wrong. I mean, I know the one at Newcastle yesterday,

when he gave him another yellow card for Diving, I mean, for that referee to be in that mindset to

think he is actually conning me, right? You're a big cheater, you've made a massive dive,

and I'm going to show you a level cos it's a big business. No, it wasn't. It's a big con, it's a big

business yellow. Well, they're pretty to changing that as well. Exactly. That'll be another thing

for that referee to actually think that he's gone through. He's tried to con me massively,

and he's dived. He didn't even, he didn't even look up, well, he didn't even peel on nothing.

I mean, it was a nonsense decision. Yeah, Newcastle have to play, as it happens,

they probably did them a favour in terms of the cos of the way they galvanised themselves and

got back together and rallied and battled with ten men. It was an awful decision.

Yeah, we're going a bit all over the place, but while we're on that, we'll stick with that game.

They don't want to come back to a couple of things about City, but with Manchester United,

I think they're still struggling against the low. I think in a way, perhaps they'd have been

better off playing against 11 men. Do you know what I mean? Because Newcastle do have a real go,

although I would say Newcastle's still had a real go with ten men. I just, yeah, so.

I thought Newcastle was a better team with 11 men and ten men. I thought I wasn't disappointed

in mind. I thought they were really poor. I thought Newcastle, with the form that they've been in,

I was a bit edgy, cos Man United have been winning games and they've without doubt changed

under Michael Carrick, but I thought Newcastle dominated last night. A couple of really,

really big decisions from Eddie Howe. Got them right, brilliant Ramsdale, whatever happened

with Volta Mordor, whether it was Pooley or not, but that sort of made a change, and I thought

Joel Linton midfield while he was just a really nice, brilliant. I did what Man United thought

were really, really poor. With the exception, I would serve Bruno Fernandez again. He thought

was incredibly creative. I mean, he made so many chances for them, didn't he? He was getting

frustrated. He's now created 92 chances in the Premier League decision, 36 more than any other

player. It's ridiculous. Yeah, correct. He's a very, very good player. We're running out of

the superlatives to talk about him, how are we? Yeah, he was without doubt the best of a bad

bunch last night for them, yeah. You see, um, there's a little bit of beef between poor schools

and Michael Carrick is digging him out. I mean, he's not exactly being very supportive. He's

old team. I don't think he's got any aspirations to be a coach. It is a next teammate. I thought

they just had to reach the book that time. It was, it was strange to say the least.

They apparently deleted the Instagram post, not long after he posted it. Maybe they had a couple.

And they lost, you know, maybe it's just like, like all fans, even Alan Occasion gets upset with

Newcastle. I had a few things typed out last night, because I had a few points of Guinness,

so that didn't press send. So that was the only thing. I thought that might be it. We saw

you in the crowd out. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Very snug. Great stuff. Throw

any sugar cubes around before we move on. Just, just quickly, it's quite, I mean,

Irling's going through a tough spell, but he's in the new system, um, that they're playing.

Do you think it's making life a little bit more difficult for him? He's just going through one

of those spells that all strikers go through. With some menu more up alongside him, then he's

maybe not getting into the positions that he would have before and because some menus there,

you got to work off each other. So it's slightly different for him. But do I think it'll,

um, it'll change him. Do I think no, it'll be, it'll be back. It'll just be about a time. No worries.

Yeah, it'll be back banging in loads of goals, and it might be for the next, whatever it is

to the end of the season. You know, what's interesting though about his position and you guys are

strikers, but have you looked at his overall game? His movements are a lot different now. He's

less. Right to be when you're playing with a partner, isn't it? You have to, you have to adjust,

yeah. Yeah. If you play with a partner as opposed to just one in your central focus,

yeah. And normally you would have people wide or whatever, and some of you're still going

in wide areas at times when they're on the ball. But even his work rate, I remember a couple of

games ago, he's playing at a centre-off for a while, heading stuff back, and then he was on the

right-hand side and dribbling and trying to assist people. So we can't criticise him or not,

you're not criticising, but people can't criticise him now for the trying to advance his game,

and he's not being in that middle of the pitch all up because Pep wants him to do a slightly

different role. Although it is hampering his chances going. Yes. You know, because he's in

different positions now. Well, last, don't worry. We will, though, because we'll be back with

a second half. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. What's worse than missing a penalty?

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Welcome back to the rest of his football with Alan Shere and Mike Richardson, me,

Gary Linneke. Defeat for Liverpool, just as they've started to look like they may be getting

their act together. Two successive wins for Walsh, producer John was happy last night. He

thinks they're going to do a lester and maybe stay up when, I'm going back a decade here,

when they won seven of the last nine to stay up, and then they go on when the league next season,

cut that out to Wolves, not likely, but a great victory for them. I've told you, I've told you,

Wolves, I test, forget all the stats, I've given for us in the table.

They've got, yeah, they've been, they're not scoring, of course, they don't defend well enough.

Alan put it right earlier on in the season, which is totally correct. However, they've got

some good players, and there was always in games, and now they're putting them chances away,

they defend a lot better, but it's a lot easier when there's less pressure. That's the only thing

I would say. I applaud their spirit and their fight and their attitude, giving everything for

the manager because they could have rolled over, which they haven't. I think that speaks to the

manager and their togetherness there, because we all know they're relegated. I mean, when he,

you know, they know that, but to keep them going and to have that kind of drive and commitment

under those circumstances, it's easy to hide, isn't it? Yeah, I've been impressed with them.

I think the way he's sort of got them organized and definitely harder to play against, because

they were, they were, they were easy. They were too played through too easily, but not so easy now,

much more organized. And they're a threat. I mean, to score two against Arsenal, two against

Ascent Villa, two against Liverpool, and get the results as they have done. And I've

said that, you know, we said they're down, but they've won the last two. They're running.

Brentford, Westham, Leeds, Spurs, Sunderland, Brighton, Fullham and Burnley. When all those

might get to Europe, John. No, but at least they're going down, at least they're going down

with a fight, which I mean, it wasn't so long ago, that, that people were talking about them,

then getting the record and getting at least a number of points ever. So at least they have

an a fight in a battle. And Liverpool won't be looking forward to going there in the FA Cup

on Friday again. And I'm doing that game with the BBC. So it'll be really interesting to see

what happens, but I thought Wolves were worthy winners and did enough to win it will defensively

again, all over the police. Arnie slot came out and said, most of the games in the Premier League

are not a joy to watch. My football heart doesn't like it. Well, I mean, he's, he's entitled to his

he's opinion that I feel so when you're watching it, I would tend to agree with him. It's not

that exciting. And even this game, Wolves Liverpool only really got going in the last 20 minutes,

didn't it? Of the second half. So Liverpool just, it became very open and then they just couldn't

deal with it, which is strange, you know, even like Van Dyke. For one of the goals, I thought

can I take it covered. And then Alison came running now. If he stayed in his position, it just

grabs that. So their experience plays and reliable players are making those little mistakes,

which is costing them. And the squad, what have conceded late goals in five games now.

And it's unlike Liverpool, I mean, he's trying to stitch it together because Van Dyke's not

become a bad player overnight as he got pushed off the ball. So easily, they're barged off the ball,

or did he? Yeah, it's just it's strange to see that there just can't find the balance. I think

slots finding it hard to get the balance right of what the team needs. And then the winner

couple of games, did you think the back? And then they go back to the, to the same old Liverpool

who were making it to easy for teams, which is really strange. Five games they've lost this season

by conceding a 90th minute goal. So that's that's quite damaging for anyone's. So good night for

Chelsea, really, because obviously Manchester United slipped up and Liverpool slipped up as well.

And Chelsea by contrast, a really good victory for them. So it's now, it's really

tightened up quite a bit because we think there'll be five teams in the Champions League.

Now it's the top two are clear. Then it's Manchester United 51, Aston Villa 51. They lost as well,

of course. Chelsea were there, win 48, Liverpool 48. So there's three points, separate the four clubs.

I think one of them is going to miss out. Yeah, I think it was a really impressive result,

especially after going one nil down. I mean, they had some really, up, they've been really up and

down. I'm playing them. We said it did a day of ill look knackered, don't they? And they've got

their formers just knows, died at the wrong time for them. And they look all over the place at

the minute. I only saw a bit of that last last evening. But big, big win for Chelsea.

You know what? That's one of the best games I've seen Villa play in in a while. They were

dynamic. They were playing through the lines. They they had loads of chances again, loads of chances.

Allie Watkins must have come. Probably was unlucky with the offside. I mean, you know,

all the other side of stuff. So I think he went through a couple of times. You're just thinking

strike the ball. And it didn't and then they got punished at the other end. What kind of

easily had a hat trick in that game? And we're talking about a different. I don't think that was a

I think previously at the last couple of games before the Chelsea game, Villa did look like

the play too many games, looked like they needed a rest. In this game, there was up for it,

it was end-to-end, it was such a good game of football. It was really good. Chelsea took their chances

and Villa didn't. Yeah, Charles Pedro was the difference in many ways. The one thing I was

saying with, you know, I am very after the game. He said, yeah, I recognise you're in a bad moment.

He said, but overall the season's really good. He said, we have got now a break. I think, you

know, because the FA Cup he missed. So he can rest everyone and that might galvanise them. So

he recognised that. But Pedro has been, Xiao Pedro has been a terrific signing. You've got him in

your fancy team. I can tell him. Look at your face. He's got a cheeky little assist. He's

an old Mini with his hip. Yeah. Yeah. Good finishes. Patrick and an assist. Yeah. I mean, he's got,

I mean, I don't think they probably necessarily put what he originally is thinking he's a nine,

but I don't know. He might be the answer to that. I think, I mean, he was his record in the last

time. It's 17 goals in all competitions and eight Premier League goals since Rossinia took over.

It's impressive. Really impressive. He's bringing out, I mean, and credit to the coach for getting

the best out of him as well. Very good. Very good. Very impressive. And he's, I only saw the

goals, but he goes lovely out. Very little dink. Yeah. Yeah. He's a very clever, very intelligent,

isn't he? Yeah. He takes you on where the defender comes back and then he makes good runs. And he's

not the quickest, but he's decent in the air as well. Yeah. He's good on both feet. Technically,

yeah. I technically really good. We all knew he was a good player, but having to sort of play

the number nine and the number 10, the link up with Cole Palmer was good as well. So, yeah,

he's had an outstanding season. 24 years old. But it would be Brazilian Brazil striking the

World Cup. I would think he was going to be, isn't he? No, what about with Charleston? I'd have,

I'd have shall Pedro slightly ahead of him personally. I don't know what you think now.

Oh, he did score the other night. I would have him ahead of him as well. Absolutely. Yeah.

What you laughing at? What you laughing at? He said to what about Richard Charles,

but we'll take the piss out of him. It just worked. No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't. No, not at all.

If you remember the last World Cup, he scored two, two cracking goals in one game, didn't you?

Remember, we all was at that game. Yeah, remember it. What's your birthday? What's it mean?

What's your bow? Yeah. Yeah. And then gas, obviously, he hosted. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. That's nearly four years ago. Well, actually three and a half, isn't it? Because it was a

winter World Cup. It's got quite interesting down the bottom as well, isn't it? Obviously Tottenham

played tonight that we're doing this on Thursday evening, just before the Tottenham game. So,

you can have it on the episode out on Friday. A lot of pressure on Tottenham now with those

results. Forest got a great point away at Manchester City. West Ham winning as well. I mean,

it's really made it true. I mean, look at it now. West Ham had got to 28. Forest 28. Tottenham

29 leads as lost as well, didn't they? That's 31. Spurs really do need a result in this game.

I mean, you'll know by the time you hear this, what's happened? But, cool. Do you know, I mean,

as much pressure right on that result, that story. I'm really what a win for West Ham. Yeah.

They have, but they have been a lot better West Ham. I mean, they're the turn around.

He's made a real difference, no, no, he's clearly a very good coach. He's starting to instill a

little bit what Forest had last season. It's just whether it's too late, doesn't look like he

will be having an incredible time as well as good in front of the goal. What a difference,

he's made his form. Seven and ten in all comps. I think it was, you know, I'm starting to

worry for my clean home time team because the playing well, they're getting into good areas,

but not finishing things anymore. And I'm starting to worry. And I'm on 31 points.

Shouldn't lead you about a penalty, Micah, isn't it? Hold on.

100%. I mean, oh, nine wasn't it? It was something like ridiculous. It was a storm wall.

That was the other decision I remembered to, I forgot to talk about. Stonewall is a,

it was a game movement, Micah. Stone Cold penalty. It's a regular mistake that everybody makes.

A storm, is it a storm? Cold, but not a storm wall. Well, people, because of the phrase Stonewall,

which was about a kind of game, LGBT movement, just game movement, I think, some time ago.

And then people started to say out of the stone wall penalty, but it's actually, like,

Stone Cold penalty. Stone Cold penalty. That's what it should be. That's my, yeah.

So it was a stone Cold penalty. We could all agree on that. I think we can all agree on that.

Come on, Leeds, we're here. I'm starting to get worried now. The match it all together.

I think I think that probably would be all right. Come on, but I mean, the form of West Ham

has dragged so many teams into it because a few weeks ago, they look gone. They look gone.

Exactly, yeah. And we'll be gone in just a second. So goodbye from me.

Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.

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