Manchester City Win The Carabao Cup

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Coming up on today's show,

you have to start writing a game,

especially because not a trophy for five and a half years.

He's made a key error, which was a game changer,

which gave him the lead.

That's it, and we wouldn't have been talking about it

fast enough, wouldn't it?

He's out of form, he needs to now say,

okay, what can I do to make sure,

in the Champions League, in the FA Cup, and in the lead,

I'm the sack of everyone knows and loves

without trend, it lessens your chances slightly.

As a pun bit, I think he should be in.

Top manager should be able to accommodate that type of player.

Hello, and welcome to the rest of his football

with Alan Shira.

My courage is to meet Gary Lennyka.

We're all over the place.

Today, I'm up north, came up for the foodie weekend

and took in the time we're Darby.

I don't, it's not saying that should rub it in now.

I'll be all down south, because you're working

for Premier League Productions today.

And Mike, I saw you on pitch side,

Wembley, with a certain ear and right.

He says hello, guys.

He says hello.

He says he's missing, yeah, he's missing you dearly, he says.

Well, I'm missing his attire.

I mean, there's not too many people could get away

with wearing a hat like he had on.

Not on television, not on live television.

It just looks magnificent though, doesn't he?

He's got some sort of aura.

He's personality, he's amazing to be around.

You guys are lucky.

You got to spend what was it?

10, 15 years together?

Yeah, good love.

Great love.

Yeah, he really is.

I can't get away with that.

I'm really looking like a twat in a hat.

It's all the logs in it.

This is the logs that stick out, isn't it?

So how was Wembley?

Mike, was it pitch side?

The atmosphere, obviously.

You probably didn't know who you really wanted to win

and all that.

There we go.

We already put this to bed.

What are you thinking?

I mean, are you thinking I'm getting paid off city one hand?

I mean, Arsenal's my team.

The other hand, what's going through the mindset?

Look at you, you just try to be nasty,

I just become your team last.

Look at you, you're still celebrating

within three hours of football, aren't you?

I told you, what was you saying before?

You're not putting it right.

You're not putting it right again.

It's going to be something a little weekend.

What happened to you, mate?

Oh, quite as a mouse in the group you was.

You're a really big ballad yesterday, wouldn't you?

And then today, quiet as a mouse.

Yeah, hands up.

We were shit.

Yeah, we'll come to that later on

and myself have recorded the second half already

because we were waiting for you to get back to your hotel

Michael because we were struggling with the signal

in your car as expected.

So we'll take a pause

and then we'll discuss the car of our cup final.

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one question, four options and two contestants.

Today's a little question for you,

which goalkeeper has the most clean sheets

in Champions League history?

To A, Iker Kessias, B, Jan Lawidji, Bufon, C, Manuel Anoya,

or D, Edwin Van der Zah.

Manuel Anoya for me?

You know what, I'm going to be different.

I'm going to go Bufon.

You're going to go Bufon.

Yeah.

Well, Mika, that was not correct.

The answer was one,

Manuel Anoya, Alero Plays.

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So the first bite delivered by Uber Eats,

where it has to be the Carabao Cup final

and the end to any possibility

for Arsenal of winning the Quadruple.

It was Manchester City's win again.

Yet another triumph in that competition

that Pepp seems to own.

Five in ten, he said.

Afterwards, you let everybody know,

wow, he's just an incredible manager, isn't he?

And we've talked certain times about

of making decisions, maybe in games, in big games.

I remember one game when he put Fernandinho right back

against Real Madrid.

And everyone always says he does something weird and wonderful.

But today, he got it absolutely spot on.

So when you're on the right,

docker on the left,

Cherokee behind Harlan Arsenal didn't know what I'd hit him.

They had their spell in the first 20 minutes,

but after that,

Manchester had just dominated,

especially in that second half.

I thought there was outstanding.

How much to admit, I thought,

when I saw that back four of Man City,

I thought,

Arsenal got a chance here,

but to be fair to them,

didn't give him many chances to do.

I saw after the Real Madrid game

when obviously Nico Ryle made a possible error.

Yeah.

Some people were saying,

you know, you brought him in,

he's been playing midfield recently.

I think he was a bit miffed by it.

And he said, well,

hang on a minute,

he's played left back a lot of this season.

And he's been absolutely fine.

And then you wait to this moment,

then you say you're wrong to play him at left back.

And I think he's got a point,

then he comes in, he played this game.

Not only did he play really well,

he scored the only two goals of the game.

What a talent.

And we've talked about it many times on this pod before,

but the ability to be able to play midfield and left back.

And if you look at where his goals come from,

and if you afterwards he was talking about,

he's been a midfield or his life.

So in terms of this position,

he goes on scores of goal.

He's just brilliant to see.

And to be so adaptable, so young.

But he's some competition for England

and left back by the way.

Yeah.

Can you remember a few years ago?

It was all about the competition for England at right back.

And we didn't have any left backs,

because Trippie was having to play there.

Luke Shaw was injured.

Now that's the other way around.

You got Luis Hall,

in particular.

And he coerally,

if I think he was sure to be in the squad overall,

I think he might even start.

I mean, he's also flexible,

like you said, Michael,

that he can play and he's proven

that he can play really well in midfield.

And it gives two cool more options.

And we'll come to the England squad

a little bit later on, actually.

I want to do that before we go to the break.

But he's really made a case for himself.

I think he'll definitely, definitely be there.

Yeah. Well, I was mentioned,

and I've mentioned before previously Hall, Newcastle.

I think he's the outstanding candidate to be that left back.

But all Riley, because he can play

in variety different positions.

And not only the plate differently, don't they?

So Hall also was a midfielder growing up.

And he's playing left back very good,

technically, likes a challenge.

But I love the runs from Riley.

The way he can run from deep.

And he's physical attributes too.

So if you're up against a physical team,

he's a big old lad,

and he's got an engine,

he can get up and down.

And that's why a lot of people

are questioning it, thinking in the Madrid game.

Why play him at left back in the first leg

when he's been so good in midfield

and give city that energy that they've needed.

But like I said before,

for him to adapt, and especially in a pet team,

because when you talk about tactics

and being able to adapt,

so you've had Harland and Semenio playing up front, didn't you?

And then Semenio didn't play,

Harland played up front, gets his goal.

Then he had Semenio wide on the right

up against Encapier, who, who,

it was a difficult day for him.

And once he got that yellow card,

and I've been in that position, guys, right,

when you have a yellow card as a defender,

you take away, not all your attributes,

but Encapier is attributes.

He reads a game well, he's nice and aggressive,

but he gets out to people quickly.

And for the goal,

if he hadn't been on a yellow card,

he would have gone out to the ball,

but because he was thinking about,

I can't make that challenge,

I can't be aggressive.

And that's where I think Arta said,

got it wrong in the game.

When you've got left backs on the bench,

you have to use them.

And I know he likes Encapier,

he's been brilliant for Arsenal this season,

but in that moment,

I think that was the difference.

Yes, we can talk about Kepa.

He made it absolute Howler by his standards.

We know he's a good goalkeeper,

and he's played really well in Leacock.

However, I just think they could have made a change

in that moment because Man City was

absolutely dominating the game.

And you always have to look,

and you guys always talk about strikers.

In the second half, when Cementia went against Encapier,

he beat him the first time,

he went up against him,

and that was a sign of things to come.

So as a manager,

you got skinny on the bench,

you got kind of your own bench,

just just make the decision early,

and that could have been the difference in the game.

But you two mentioned that, by the way,

because I was going to bring that up

about the goalkeeping situation.

Yeah, for me,

you're under huge pressure to win a trophy,

and that decision could affect you going forward

for the rest of the scene,

and what could be like a huge momentum.

You know, if they win today,

yet you stick with the keeper,

who you think I've given a chance to,

and I think he deserves to keep on going in this competition.

He's played, he's more than he played,

he's part in getting us to the final.

But then what you feel about then,

not playing your best team or your best keeper

in the final for me,

I think I would,

but people will say, well, pepped in,

but he's won the trophy,

so no one's going to ask any questions of that.

Arsenal haven't, and the keepers made a mistake

by a decision that he's made on that.

I think it's a really good talking point.

I think you'd remember when

the brought in Rea to Arsenal,

and they had Ramsdale,

and I'll tell you to come out and say,

there'll be fighting for the number one spot.

So if you would have gone with a Ramsdale,

you would say, that's fair.

However, it's a first and second at Arsenal,

and we wouldn't be talking about it if we didn't make a mistake,

but he did, so we have to, exactly,

so we do have to talk about it,

and you have to start Rea in the game,

especially because, like you mentioned,

I'll, not a trophy for five and a half years.

Exactly.

I think it was different for Manchester City,

because Trafford was brought in as the number one, wasn't he?

Pepp trusted him to be the man for Manchester

going forward,

but then Donna Romer became available,

and you have to sign him at that money.

Was it 25, 26 million, quit?

Yeah, yeah.

Is someone who's just won the Champions League?

So that's why I think the difference is between,

you know, Kepper starting,

and then Trafford starting,

and Trafford has been outstanding when he played.

I remember he played up a new cast,

so he was brilliant.

So he fully deserved it,

but in answer to your question, Alan,

I definitely would have started Rea in that final,

because of the importance of the game.

The only thing I would say,

well, I mean, he's not got great members of Wembley,

as he kept, we remember the final years of the penalty shoot out,

when he wouldn't go off and all that sort of stuff.

But, you know, you feel for anyone who makes that sort of error,

and that's backfired on Manchester City.

The only thing I would say to you, Mike,

even though you said you got to start Rea,

I think it was only a week or so ago,

you were saying,

I don't think this competition matters that much to Arsenal.

There are bigger things ahead,

maybe they should, you know,

the prioritise the other things.

The point I was making is,

you still play your best team,

but it's not end of the world if you lose,

because they're in overtrophies.

Is it a momentum shifter, though?

Will it be a momentum shifter?

Yes, and that's the point that you was making.

And if you play your best team and you lose,

then maybe psychologically,

you're thinking, wow,

see if absolutely bad as,

but Arsenal didn't,

so it gives them a little bit of out, maybe.

But I think with a goalkeeper,

and especially because of how good he is on the ball,

and he starts the attack.

So how many times have we talked about?

He's shot stopping, really good.

But then the way Arsenal want to play,

and play out from the back,

he's pivotal in what they are doing or trying to do,

especially against Manchester City.

So, I take your point,

and I don't, I still don't think it's the end of the world

for Arsenal season going forward.

If they go win the league,

even if they just win the league,

it's still a successful season.

However, I just think to make that decision

not to play in number one,

when psychologically,

and you've not won a trophy for that long,

maybe Arteta Mickey can himself.

I think the key is he's made a mistake.

He's made a key error,

which was a game changer,

which gave them the lead,

and that's it.

And we wouldn't have been talking about it

if Arsenal would have been talking about something else

that would have happened,

but he has made the error, which has changed the game.

I mean, obviously,

the one or two players missing out of God,

there's a more creative players probably in there,

but they didn't really look like breaking City down.

Obviously, that amazing triple save from Trafford.

And I thought he spoke quite well after the game,

talking about how difficult it's been this season,

but he also said,

you know, I've been rewarded for training properly

and carrying on doing all the right things.

I'd be interested to see what Trafford does.

It's coming to Newcastle Lads.

Yeah, I mean, Donna rumours Yon.

So I don't think he'll be satisfied by being a number two.

He's clearly incredibly talented.

And it'll be interesting to see what happens to him

maybe this summer.

Wouldn't surprise me how it was,

it was almost, it was almost signed,

almost done and dusted last summer.

And for whatever reason,

City then came back in with the buy back clothes

and all of those things.

And I guess he thought he was going there as number one.

And clearly, other things took over with Donna rumour

and whatever you put on.

Yeah, I would like to think Newcastle

are going to be back in for him.

I know he'll definitely have options.

But if he was that close to Newcastle last summer,

I would see no reason for him not to be that close again.

What do you think about this now?

Because obviously the going to the international break,

you know, Arsenal are well ahead in this during the Champions League.

Obviously, this is a blow losing a cup final.

It's always a blow.

Will it play with their minds?

Or is it better that now that they get a break

and they go and play for your country

and then you come back rejuvenated?

Yeah, I guess something that next game Arsenal is in the FA Cup.

They're going to be playing Southampton a way.

I'm doing that game, much to the BBC.

Yeah, I guess if there was one competition

that they would say, okay.

And I guess the team and playing Kepa tells you that

what Michael Artheter is in terms of mindset,

which is fine.

I get that and understand that in terms of priorities.

But it would have been so much better mentally

if they could have got that over the line.

But then they'd say, okay, let's reset.

Let's go again.

We'll have a couple of weeks off.

Or players will go off on it in the national duty

and come back and hopefully be ready to go and reset for the FA Cup.

And what should be a huge push?

And it should be, it should be a huge end of the season

for Arsenal.

Yeah, it should be, but when you watch in the games

and we're doing our punditry,

yeah, we look at sort of chances created.

And we know Arsenal will always score a goal.

But I do feel as though they do need to take more risks in games.

So if you go to the Everton game,

up until Downman came on,

Everton played a blinder.

They couldn't really break them down.

And what happens is when you look at the bigger picture,

then you say, well, Arsenal win.

And we've been positive about Arsenal in terms of getting over the line.

Doing what it takes to win.

However, when you're not playing free,

playing football and you're not creating the chances

that you expect because when you've got Saka and Trossard and Yoko Rez,

this is where you see that I'll separate the men from the boys.

First, the thing comes from the manager

because I think they're having to do too much defensive work.

So when they're getting on the ball,

they're having to travel too far at the pitch.

And I've said that consistently throughout the season.

And then it's about the players now taking the responsibility

because these are good players.

Saka is a top player,

but we're not seeing it because one, the set up

and then two, he's out of form.

He needs to now say, okay, we've lost this.

It's not the end of the world.

What can I do to make sure in the Champions League?

In the FA Cup and in the league,

I'm the Saka that everyone knows and loves

because that's a big player.

Big players turn up in the big games

and that's what they need to do.

But can you do it the way they're playing?

Like you said, they get the ball deep

and he's having to do so much defensive work

but the time he gets it,

the opposition side are all back and deep

and they can double and sometimes travel up on him and in fact.

And I mean, he still plays brilliantly,

but it's not easy for him.

Whereas if they're like you said,

higher up the pitch, you could get the ball to him early

and then he's one on one.

And you've got half a chance then.

He's very difficult beating two and three players every time.

They're not changing though, guys.

Arsenal are not changing between now and the end of the season.

No, it's worked for them so far.

That's why, isn't it?

They're not changing, Michael.

I'm not saying they need to change.

They just need to take more risks in certain areas.

And I was watching the Arsenal game.

I mean, I've been looking closely at Arsenal

because I'm thinking about the whole.

You always get that question

towards the end of the season.

Who's better equipped to win the league?

So then you end up watching more games and watching more games.

And I'd say eight weeks ago, Arsenal,

the sort of just sitting in.

There has been occasions where

Sacka has been let free,

but then he comes back in the inside

and then he doesn't want to,

and at the area, he actually did a really good piece

on Monday night football,

where he's in certain positions,

but he sort of, I don't say programmed.

So you know how Pepp talked about Greeley?

When he goes in wide areas,

it was almost like, don't lose the ball.

And I think that's what Arsenal have them at the moment is.

Just don't take the extra pass.

Just wait and don't force it.

That's what they're doing.

And I think now players are going to have to take it

upon themselves to say,

not actually, if there is a one-on-one situation,

I will take it.

Yes, Gase is completely right.

They're not getting as much opportunities to do that.

But when they do get the opportunity,

they have to take it.

The car reliant on Young Downman to get him out of trouble.

Rednut was calling for him at half time,

and I was like, that's all one and good,

but he's a 16-year-old kid.

You know, you're currently bought for big money.

Trotsad's coming to the team

and everyone's been raving about him.

Martinelli, all these players,

soccer, they need to turn up in the big games,

and I think that is different.

They need to take responsibility is what I would say.

And they're still, top of the league,

they're still going well,

the route to potentially the final in Champions League

is looking good for them,

and then they've got Southampton.

Yeah, fake up.

Away in the FA Cup,

so they're still in a good place.

Coussetter, now they have to put all that outside noise

to the side,

because you know there's going to be a big overreaction,

all the other fans are going to be piling into Arsenal,

saying, our titles bottled it again,

but they need to use that,

instead of feeling sorry for themselves,

use that to advantage and say,

well, that's not going to happen again

when we go into a big game.

Yeah, the world's against us, use that one.

The old Alex Perez technique down the years in Pep Baudiola.

I mean, he's yet another trophy for him,

and before we move on to other things,

I mean, his enthusiasm and energy and his desire,

and he's, that you say on the touch,

I let alone obviously his tactical genius

and brilliance in terms of football.

He's from Arcable, isn't he?

Five league cups,

some just astonishing,

I'm just like absolutely ridiculous.

The success of that manager has been phenomenal,

so he needs respect.

You could see though,

I don't know if you saw the pictures

when he was watching the game,

but he's celebration.

Yeah, he can tell at the house.

Animated, he was on the touch line.

He knows what it means.

That's why I said it, Michael.

I love to see that part of him as well,

because sometimes after a when,

he's standing for months,

sitting winning over the years,

but then when things don't go well,

then he gets very emotional,

but I like the emotion in that way,

say, he still cares.

It still means a lot to him.

I also think, Michael,

I also think that he would have thought,

if we can win this,

it just puts a little glitch into Arsenal

and their belief and going forward.

And it much, even though they're still obviously

massive second favorites for the league,

just gives them a little bit of something, doesn't it?

It's playing mind games.

So often, isn't if you heard,

he said, well, you know,

I'd rather be an Arsenal's dressing room,

you know, nine points clear.

Yeah.

He's already been in a little seat.

And you know, if Man City win the next game,

and then they was to be awesome,

there's only three points in it.

And Arsenal's still favorites aren't they?

They just need to overcome this hurdle.

Of course they are.

But you know, Man City,

if they sniff something,

they're going to be fighting all the way to the end.

So it sets up the league really nicely.

It don't have felt

when you've seen there been there and done it.

Yep, absolutely.

It really does.

Well, that was the first bite delivered by Uber Eats.

I just want to move on to actually the England squad.

Firstly, what did we make of the fact?

Was it?

It's almost very difficult not to be in the squad.

So many players.

Exactly.

That's why I'm getting called up.

It's not that fucking desperate.

Like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I found that those news were still good,

Mike, you'd be guaranteed to be in the squad.

But what I will say is that

with always when we talk about England squads

and it'll be the same when we go for the World Cup,

you generally tend to spend most time

talking about those that don't make it

rather than those that perhaps do.

For obvious reasons, because you're looking to say,

oh, my goodness,

Trent Alexanderano's not in the squad,

which personally, I'll find that.

If you go, the story's in Spain running tonight, actually.

We're doing this on Sunday night, obviously.

But he didn't play.

He's on the bench for the game against Atlético.

They're one down at half time.

He's on Malguaz.

He's on Malguaz.

All right.

I think Marka, the newspaper there,

ran it that he was late for one of the training sessions

towards the end of this week.

And that's why he didn't start him.

Now, I don't know how it's true,

but that's what Marka says.

But for me looking at the squad,

and the fact that he's not putting him in this squad,

when he's obviously been playing a bit now in Real Madrid,

it suggests to me that Tuck was not having him.

If he suddenly plays brilliantly

and they go on and win the Champions League,

it'll probably be forced to put him in.

But what I will say, I think without Trent,

it lessens your chances slightly.

Very slightly, even if it's half a percent, whatever.

If you're 15 minutes to go,

and you're playing in the quarter-finals

of the World Cup or at semi-finals,

and you're 1-0 down, I mean,

and he was on the bench,

and you could put that delivery and that passing ability,

something completely different.

I can't see why you wouldn't want that asset,

even if you don't see him as a starter,

because you worried about him defensively.

That would be my point.

I know I'm a huge Trent fan,

I've just given me a lot of joy watching him play,

and he's passing, and he's crossing over the years.

What about if I took this at you?

Go on.

I mean, when we're talking yesterday,

Jude, Bellingham and Trent are a pretty powerful couple.

Would there be a point in Tuck's mind where he thinks

that if those two are together,

I'm not going to play either of them,

or maybe a one of them or one of the other,

but then they have an influence on the squad.

I think that would be bizarre.

What I will say, what we might be thinking,

is that he left Bellingham out in the previous squad,

maybe to send a message.

Maybe he's leaving Trent out just to send another message,

but we're getting quite close to the competition now.

I don't know, I don't know whether they're

problematical people to have in your side,

that what I do know is that two unbelievably talented

and brilliant footballers that have delivered

other recent seasons.

So, I mean, it's impossible for us to know

what the connection is or lack of connection

between Tuck and those players.

What he thinks is only one man who decides,

he picks the squad, he's up to him.

And what I was talking, I was talking to John Terry,

actually, I interviewed him for the podcast

that will go out sometime in the next few weeks.

I said, what do you think's missing with England?

And he went, I think it's been someone

that absolutely is the boss,

and he's not worried about Ego,

he's not worried about, you know, he is in charge,

and he thinks that too cool is that kind of person.

So, if it works, will all applaud him?

If he doesn't, we'll do what we usually do,

we'll be critical.

But what did you think of the idea of the massive squad

and it's like half here and someone get a rest?

I think it's a good idea.

I think it gives them a rest at a good time.

I don't think you want to be over playing with,

I mean, our players are largely knackered

at this time of year anyway.

So, I think I thought it was a good idea.

I think it's a good idea.

I think it's pretty sensible to say

you have a few days' rest before,

then come in and play a bit

or if you've played the first game,

then you have a rest after.

I like that forward thinking.

And also in terms of the squad,

I also, what is he going to take?

A squad of 26 and he's named it

a squad of 35 on this occasion.

I also look at the centre forwards

and I think well back, who's 35,

who's the top Englishman scorer

in the Premier League this season.

It's got two again.

I also think Oli Watkins got a goal today.

I think maybe he's looking thinking,

okay, I know what you guys can do,

particularly Watkins.

I'll have a look at you, Calvert Loan.

I'll have a look at you, Solanki.

I'd be amazed if either of those two were to go

instead of Watkins.

Solanki's three Premier League goals this season.

He's been injured a lot of the season,

let's say that.

Calvert Loan's got two and he's last 12.

I'd be really surprised if those two

were picked ahead of Oli Watkins in the squad of 26.

Yeah, it sounds like Harvey Barnes.

I think Harvey Barnes is breaking news.

I think it's been pulled into the squad

because Ezra is out injured.

So Harvey Barnes turned down,

obviously, the chance to play for Scotland.

So what do you think of that?

And as a Newcastle, I think he's had a really good spell.

He's been in cracking form.

Yeah, he's been in decent form

and clearly had the choice to make

and he said no to Scotland in the hope

that his form or his ability would somehow

get him into the England squad.

And he's been called up now.

So he's another one that has now got an opportunity

to impress.

And I hope he does it because he's going well for Newcastle.

What jumped out for you, Michael?

Yeah, just going back to you,

you trend Alexander Arnold one.

I think there's a couple of points to look at really.

If you look at someone like Marcelo,

or Roberto Carlos, or whatever.

As a coach, I think it's your responsibility

to be able to get the best out of world class players

like that.

And it's not happened through England

and he's not performed at his level

and he'd be the first to say that.

So that's the first thing.

However, we was sort of lauding the fact

that Tuckles coming in to make difficult decisions.

And what we said around Southgate in games,

and in-game substitutions,

Tuckle, we know tactically he has that, you know?

So if you've been trained to come, I'm disappointed.

As a pundit, I think he should be in.

And I feel as though Tuck managers should be able

to accommodate that type of player

because other nations would be taking their top players.

Again, a little bit trend has to look at himself.

He's been injured and then he's got to look at form as well.

Could he have done better?

But then Southgate has been to two finals

did ever so well.

We've praised him for that, but couldn't get over the line.

The whole point being Tuckle is to get over the line.

And we're not managers, we're with fans,

we want England to do well.

But that's why he's a manager

because he sees things that we can't see.

Or maybe we can't see them,

but not brave enough to say them or implement them.

I think that is the different with Tuckles.

So now I have no problem with it.

But the problem becomes, like again,

let's take it back to the Arsenal game today.

If the goal and it doesn't work,

then we can have the questions.

But if they go and win it,

it's going to look like his decision is justified.

So I think two things can be right at the same time.

But me as a fan and a fan of Trent,

I'm disappointed not to see him there

because I think he's an incredible talent.

And to back to your point, guys,

even if it's just that one percent or half a percent,

he can create that.

And that's a disappointing thing.

But someone's going to be left out.

There'll be a lot more disappointing people.

And we'll talk about that.

But there's a lot of talent in there, Ali.

Yeah, absolutely.

But I do think there's a part of him that thinks,

I know about him and I know about him.

So I perhaps might not put him in this one.

And I'll have a look at him.

And then when I have to name my 26,

I think there'll be players will lock back on in this squad

and say, well, that's probably why he's done that.

Yeah, Mike, we've already recorded the first half.

So thanks for joining us later on.

But we're going to take a break now.

But I've just noticed that the game has come to life in Madrid.

It's now Atlético 2, Real Madrid 3.

And guess who got an assist with the Nisi Jr.

The aforementioned Trent, I think Santa Ronaldo.

Well, I hope you're watching Thomas.

We'll be back after the break.

It's Gary Enrique here from The Rest Is Football.

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Who's your favorite teammate?

Mine would have to be Teddy sharing them, guys, with England.

It's just one of those partnerships that worked that clipped.

For you, Micah, Pablo, Zamoleta, by the chance.

I know you're going to say that.

I would have to pick Johar.

Just on the pitch, if I made a mistake, I just knew he had my back.

I'm sure you kept him very busy.

I would probably go...

Probably Peter Beansley, who I had amazing partnership with with England.

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Welcome back to the RESTY's football with Just Alan Shira and me,

Gary Linnick and now, much to discuss.

I went, obviously, as I said, I've been up in the North East,

Alan, on the one side were you down south, you down south.

So unfortunately, we didn't get to share a pint,

but made a few days of actually a bit of a food trip.

We started just outside York at a restaurant called the Black Swan.

Tommy Banks is the chef there, and it was absolutely marvellous.

We had fish and chips in a lay-by, which was extraordinary.

And then we went to Pine Restaurant, now, do you understand?

Lovely, yeah, it's beautiful.

So he's in menu, absolutely sensational, did the game,

and then had a lovely Indian after it,

some way you've probably been.

Double world, Jeff, did he look after you?

I'm pretty sure you were, wouldn't he?

Jeff looked after his fabulously,

as did Newcastle at the game, as well.

So the only thing that was missing, Alan,

was a home fixture, so, you know.

Honestly, it's like, I was doing,

I was doing PLP, as you know,

which is why I wasn't at the game,

and I was getting so frustrated, and so on.

Please, everyone looked after you, by the way.

There was never enough.

I must say, before we got to the game,

Alan, the atmosphere, I mean, poof.

Oh, yeah.

It wasn't, I mean, for 12 o'clock, let's start.

I think we walked from the hotel to the ground.

It's about half an hour walk,

and we won't pass so many pubs,

and there were massive queues out of every pub,

but they were waiting for them to open,

and I think this was like quarter to ten.

That's my way.

Oh, yeah, such a shame, I mean.

Yeah, but, yeah.

Sunderland did really well, particularly in the second half.

I mean, what a season they've had.

What a job, Reggie Lebris doing there,

but looked like it was going to be a good day for Newcastle.

I wonder whether midweek caught up with them a little bit.

No, I'm not.

Possibly. It's an excuse, I don't.

I'm not accepting the midweek court,

but I'm not going to die again.

Don't, I'm not, I don't buy that.

No. You can't be tired.

You can't let's not an excuse.

They got battered in the second half against Barcelona.

I get that, I understand that, and the travelling and all of that.

And they would have better team you cast on the first half,

and someone really struggled to cope with their intensity.

I mean, it was madness the way Sunderland gifted Newcastle the first goal,

brilliant feeling from Anthony Gordon,

but I mean, what on earth are you doing in the first,

inside the first 10 minutes trying to play out like that?

And that's what Newcastle wanted you to do.

I mean, punish them for that, and I was getting so worried,

and I said it a half time that Sunderland can't be as bad in the second half

because Newcastle should have scored another one, maybe two more.

And I was always fearful that they would come back

and increase the intensity.

And they did that right from the first minute, Sunderland.

And Newcastle couldn't cope with it.

I'm saying, come on.

Get someone to put the thought on the board.

It's like, oh, I was just getting so annoyed and so angry.

And yeah, Sunderland with a better team and punished us.

And Brian Brobby was probably the best player for Sunderland.

A real handful.

17 million, he cost from Ajax.

You compare that to Newcastle's recruitment in the summer.

What they paid on forwards.

I mean,

and they're lies the problem.

That's been a huge problem for Newcastle inconsistency.

Sunderland wanted it more than Newcastle in the second half.

And that is pretty damning,

particularly after the way Newcastle played in the first game at Stadium of Light.

And he got it all wrong in that game.

And he couldn't lift his players in the second half.

And that is really, really worrying and disappointing.

Well done, Sunderland.

The better team, the deserve to win.

Good on them as much as it hurts me to say that.

But worry in for Newcastle and big head.

Big questions will be asked.

And it's going to be a long two or three weeks for Newcastle now.

The international week.

Breafic should say because people will be hurt.

People will be angry.

And there'll be so much shit thrown at Eddie and Newcastle now.

And he asked a court without an understanding.

Has it do the people that are running the club?

Yeah, you could sense that at the end of the game.

You know, that obviously to lose the job is bad enough.

But that's the double that Sunderland have done.

Of course, over Newcastle, which that hurts.

I can tell, you can really get that feeling up here

when you actually come to the game.

But as you said, it was great for Sunderland.

But few exceptions with Newcastle.

I thought Anthony Gordon ran himself into the ground.

Might have run out of steam a little bit

towards the end of the game, which is understandable.

But he put in a shift, great finish.

Hall had whipped a couple of absolutely brilliant crosses

then, great balls in which they probably, you know,

could have scored from one of those.

They hit the post, but they did have that lead at half time.

I thought they were well worth it.

And then second half, it was like a completely different football

match.

You know, Sunderland changed things a little bit,

went a bit more direct, a couple of scruffy goals, maybe.

But they all count.

They all count, don't they?

Yeah, they all count.

Sorry, I'm just having a sip of red wine.

I have to use my ear to use my anger for today.

I have to say, that was the early game, obviously,

at P.L. for the game.

I had to somehow lift my spirits

because we had another two games after that.

We got this, the forest game, and of course,

the Villa West Ham game will go on at the same time.

So I have to do that.

And then of course, I knew that hour after that

for the goal show and finish it six,

and had to keep my energy after feeling so flat and angry

after the Newcastle game.

So, yeah, well done, Sunderland.

Enjoy your season, you deserve to be

on both occasions, but really shit from a Newcastle point of view.

He says through Gritty Teeth.

Gritty Teeth.

Absolutely.

Let's talk about the relegation battle really.

I mean, car spurs, I mean...

Could be worse, it could be a spurs fun.

Yeah, well indeed.

That's only chances early on.

And then you suddenly thought, I mean,

three in at home to the side,

that one of the sides that you're obviously

battling against down there, that, I mean,

particularly after there was a little bit of a glimmer of hope

in the last two games.

I got a point at Liverpool,

and I know they lost in the Champions League,

but it was at home win and they did score three goals.

And then it's then this.

This is kind of demoralising as well.

Yeah, but I think in reality, guys,

no one, they weren't under a huge pressure

going to Liverpool last week,

because no one really expected them to win.

And similar thing in midweek in the Champions League,

but they were under massive pressure today,

being at home against Forest,

and it was always going to be a really intense game,

but they only had one shot on target

until they were three and they'll down, you know that.

There was that brilliant shot in the first half,

save I should say.

Other than that, there wasn't a lot in it, but that was a killer blow

was for Spurs going one and they'll down it half-time.

In the manner that they did,

free header from a corner.

And I was thinking the next goal is all important there,

because what have you got in the second half Spurs?

Show us what you're about.

Show us that you want to stay in the Premier League.

And if I was a Spurs fan,

I'd be really worried with the response

or the lacquer response in that second half from them.

Just the ability to defend and either stop across

or stop a shot or just getting your body in front

of a forward who's making a run.

You know, all of the things that should be pretty simple

at this level of football, massively worried for Spurs,

that there's a huge chance they could be,

they could be relegated this season.

I felt that before the game,

but watching that performance,

I'd be really, really, really worried if I was a Spurs fan.

Yeah, I think all Spurs fans will be really worried

at the moment, understandably so.

I suppose the only saving grace for them

is that West Ham lost as well,

but you'd probably expected that a little bit more

of those villains struggled of late,

but Villa beat them.

They're actually really important.

Win for Villa as well in terms of Champions League places,

especially with Chelsea and Liverpool having lost

will come to them shortly.

But, yeah, Forest looked like they've got a bit of momentum

going reasonably well.

They quite enjoy the defensive side of things.

They don't mind doing the hard work off the ball.

Some of the defenders I thought played really, really well.

I think of it to play really well again.

Gives white in the midfield.

I thought it was superb and up front.

So, yeah, I thought Forest were brilliant,

that you would think that the belief and the confidence

that would give them going forward would be huge.

I would say so as well.

And for Spurs, that knock on their confidence again.

And it's, you know, they're in turmoil.

Obviously, the new guys come in.

He's not really been any kind of bounce.

You wonder what they do at this point.

Where do they, I mean,

Well, if they're going to make a change,

it would be now because of the international ball.

International ball, yeah.

I mean, pretty embarrassing if they're doing for the guys

that have made the decision in the first place,

because this isn't your Turo's fault.

I mean, he's walked into a really messy,

ugly situation, and it's not his fault.

But there hasn't, there hasn't been an improvement.

In fact, things may be getting worse in the five games.

You've got one point hell of the five games.

So things may be getting worse,

but so it wouldn't surprise me with the tool at all

if there were to make another change.

For a club like Spurs to go, I mean,

for any club to go down, but Spurs really,

and then come on.

And I mean, I mean, I've really, yeah.

We say that, but they did finish what?

17th, that season.

Which is exactly where they are now, funnily enough.

I mean, we'll have to follow that very closely.

West Ham had been better in recent weeks.

Forest certainly had been better in the last few weeks.

So you start to, you know, you start to look at the side

without any momentum whatsoever, and that's Spurs.

So yeah, and I think they're next,

I don't think they play until another three weeks.

West Ham player wolves, I think on Friday evening

in a couple of weeks time at home.

So what I can, what I can know is,

so by the time the next time they play Spurs,

there's every chance they could be in the bottom three.

Let's turn our attention probably to the Champions League places.

It's a looked a little bit bleak for Villa,

but they managed to win today.

They're game against West Ham, obviously.

Manchester United got a point.

I think, well, let's discuss that game first.

They got a point, they looking good shape, really.

Insert, I mean, that twist of, you know,

they go one up, and then there's another penalty shout,

which did really look like a penalty.

And then for the team to go to the other end of the pitch

and score, it's like a double whammy against them.

And then McGuire gets sent off of something

that was quite similar to the one earlier on.

So I think the referee messed up.

And I mean, if you're going to give one of those,

then you have to give the others as well for me.

I think he messed up.

And I'm certain that the VR and the referee

were thinking, oh, no, when, when Bournemouth got either

on 20, 25 seconds later in school,

it's the worst thing I've ever had.

Do you think that might have impacted their decision slightly

because I bet they've gone, oh, imagine this,

if we actually give the penalty,

that also means we're disallowing a goal.

And it's, there's no doubt.

I mean, yeah, I think the most important should

have been penalty in VR, not to tell them

that that was a penalty for me.

But it's disappointed as they were, I guess,

and not taking all three.

I think it could be a really important point for Manchester United.

It's tough place to go Bournemouth

or in a pretty decent form.

And I think a point is a decent result

and could be a good one for them, come the end of the season.

Especially when you consider the fact that both Liverpool

and Chelsea lost, they're both struggling.

I mean, Chelsea, I thought Everton were really good.

Everton were brilliant. Everton really good.

From the first minute in that game,

there was only ever one team going to win that game.

And only one team wanted to win it in terms of the aggression,

their attitude, their desire,

and everything that you have to do to win a match,

not with the ball, I guess, but without the ball.

Everton was so much better than Chelsea.

But it comes back to the same old problem with Chelsea,

I think, in terms of not having a top-class goalkeeper

and not having a top-class centre-off

and even maybe a centre-forward.

Have you got a Pedro's been pretty good this season?

I don't think he's now and now nine,

and I think he would be even better

if he was in that 10th position with a top-class number nine.

And I think that's what they miss.

But did you say the stat that we have said on match of the day

in terms of Chelsea, every single,

Premier League game they've played this season,

home and away, every team has our random.

Oh, right, yes, that's right on socials, actually.

I didn't have the chance to watch match of the day.

Fascinating, I had to get the guy to check it

three or four times the stat guy said, really?

I mean, that's unbelievable.

That every single team they've played this season

has run more than them.

Wow, I don't know what does that say.

You make a lot of questions, aren't you?

Well, I mean, I know sometimes that term,

you're going to have the ball a lot more than the opposition.

I guess that's Chelsea's style of play.

And it's always an important read.

In every single game, every game, Premier League game,

I think it's amazing, really.

But they were done with a straight through ball

against Newcastle last weekend.

And they were done with a straight through ball again

inside the centre-offs all over the place.

And they were punished again with the first goal

at Everton's scored better.

So them and Liverpool are going for fifth and sixth,

and one of them's going to be massively disappointed.

I mean, a lot of people obviously look at the coach

coming to add initial bounds to the pretty well.

But the last few weeks have been pretty grim for Chelsea.

I mean, I listened to Rossignia afterwards

in terms of the noise that he says about, around about Chelsea.

I guess that comes with having a huge football club

and managing the huge football club and the expectations.

But don't you think sometimes that it's up to the manager

to try and not increase that noise?

And I think some of the things that he said and done

has certainly increased the noise.

I mean, the stuff around the ball and respecting the ball

and all that nonsense.

I mean, I don't know.

Sometimes I just think you have to try and protect your club

and your players by not giving the media extra things

to grab onto.

And I think he's sort of done that too many times already.

Yeah, I wonder.

I mean, he obviously wouldn't have faced

that kind of examination at Strasbourg,

because there weren't even any legal.

I mean, he's done plenty of coaching, obviously.

And I think he knows his football clearly.

He's definitely a bright coach.

He's a bright and articulate young man,

but I think maybe he's come in there

and he's been a little bit naive in some of the ways

and it's an occasional lack of self-awareness

or well, just to take the heat out of things.

I think so, yeah.

And if you're that inexperienced, it's understandable,

but he'll need to learn fast, I think.

But then, I mean, they, I guess, have a point of the point,

you're able to finish in a Champions League position.

And if they don't finish in a Champions League position,

then he would be under huge pressure as well.

I was thinking, actually, you know,

let's talk about Rossenia, obviously.

Let's talk about Tudor.

There's also talk, even Arnie Slottis

and the pressure with Liverpool.

Although they did get through in the Champions League

and they were pretty good in midweek.

So I think he won the league a few months ago.

So I think we were all slightly hesitant,

a bit reluctant to go overboard about Liverpool in midweek,

because of their opposition,

how poor they were at Galatasaray,

particularly being away from home.

But they had, they had a bit,

they had a lot more energy in midweek, you think,

and okay, let's see that again.

But I thought Liverpool were a mess.

I mean, Van Dyke and Kanati.

They got the runaround by 35-year-old Wellbeck,

who had a field year.

He gave them a torrent time.

And they looked really, really poor.

And they were flat.

There were no energy.

There was no press.

I know Akateke went off early in the game,

which would have put them off their stride.

But there was nothing about Liverpool's game

that would give me confidence.

Are they going to finish in a Champions League position?

I think it's almost certainly going to be Manchester United.

I would say probably, and probably Villa,

after that was a big win for them.

And then it might be either all,

if English clubs get five,

which I think I think the experience shouldn't do.

They're well clear.

And at least two teams got through

to the Champions League court fans and elsewhere in Europe.

You look at Evan and Brent Ferdinand.

I mean, Evan, what are the jobbies doing?

I mean, David, I know they haven't struggled

a couple of occasions at their new stadium.

But the atmosphere yesterday, their new stadium,

looked incredible and sounded incredible.

And the players responded to that.

And I thought, Evan, we're brilliant.

And I just look at David and Moise and the jobbies do.

I got so much respect for him.

You know, Moise, I just think he's been absolutely

outstanding, and there's a great block.

He's been a great servant to our game.

And he's getting these rewards again, Evan.

I mean, it'd be amazing if you got them in the Champions League,

wouldn't it?

I mean, particularly when he took over,

obviously, they're in real trouble, right?

And just fractionally above the relegation zone last season

and just shows you the, he knows what he's doing.

It's rinse and every bit of ability over the players there.

I mean, I mean, in Ghana and midfield,

the England call up what a performance he put in

who's sensational in the midfield as well.

He looked the best player on the pitch.

I thought yesterday.

So yeah, he's getting every bit of performance

out of those evidently close.

Yeah, it's great to see as a former Evertonian

that they might, I mean,

a really good chance of Europe and, you know,

an outside outsides tablet.

Yeah, definitely football.

Lovely place to finish.

But before we go, and I just want to make it clear to everyone

that we're not in the same hotel room,

even if you can't see this in the spotty photo, YouTube,

it looks like we're in the same room,

but in different sides of it.

In the curtains and everything.

In this scene.

Let's make it clear.

I know Alan Shares is bad, but he's mates, but not me.

OK, that's all I want.

OK, that's it for this episode.

The rest is football. Goodbye from me.

Goodbye from me. Have a great week.

Ready, Seth?

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