Carrick on the Hot Seat?

21:01Stewart Robson:Yeah, we don't know what we're going to get from either of these two teams. That's very true. And that's where we are. Barcelona, we know, is gold. It's attack. It's exciting. It's open. You and I did the Elche-Real Madrid game. Mourinho put it down to switching off. Not sure. I think that's the simplistic answer. as we see these goals going in from Adleti. I think that's the simplistic answer. Well, we switched off, let them back in the game. But I think there's more to it than that. Heavily reliant on Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. Diamandi still finding his feet. Vinicius Jr., another bang average performance.

21:40Stewart Robson:His finishing was terrible. Giving up chances at the back. So we don't know. We don't know what version of either of these two teams. and that's good for Barcelona, but they can let these two squabble away and be inconsistent. So it's a really, I think, a really difficult game to call. But yeah, I was not impressed once again with Real Madrid and that match against Elche a few days ago. Yeah, Craig mentioned it, those misses as well from Vinicius Jr. just kind of piles on the criticism because 5 out of 10, 6 out of 10 has pretty much been his average so far this campaign.

22:16Dan Thomas:Yeah, that's a big thing as well, isn't it, Dan? and I know you guys have been talking about it on ESPN FC this week, that Jose Mourinho continues to support Vinny. But what are we seeing with Vinny? Is he lacking confidence? What's happened to him? And how long does Jose Mourinho stay patient with him? Because there's going to have to come a time that obviously he's hoping that soon enough, if he shows the confidence in the player, he's going to deliver. And we're going to see that Vinny that we know is in there. But if he doesn't, then Jose Mourinho's got a big decision to make.

22:47Stewart Robson:Yeah, I mean, but he keeps saying, doesn't he, Dan, he's working harder. And maybe he is, I mean, I don't know, I don't know the stats of that, he looks as if he's kind of the same to me. But here's the deal, he's cut him a fair amount of slack at the moment, and that's alright, it's a lot of love there. He's signed a new six-year deal, he's got his money, he's happy, blah, blah, blah. But we know he's not playing, as you said, five or six out of ten, particularly in the final third. And we discussed this two or three weeks ago. I've not really seen him skip past on a one-on-one, a defender, like he did when he was in his pump.

23:23Stewart Robson:I've not seen him drop a shoulder and skin the defender. And maybe the fact that he is having to do a little bit more of the hard work, he's maybe not as sharp. He's maybe not used to that because he's doing more defensive work. He's not as sharp going forward. But what if Bellingham and Mbappe have a dry spell? that's the problem for Vinicius Jr. and Jose Mourinho because somebody then has to step up because at the moment those two are pretty much carrying the midfield and the front line if, along with Adegula to be fair to him, he's played well if those three, but particularly the first two have a bad run of form and the goals dry up they're going to have to come from somewhere else and that's going to put even more pressure on Vinicius Jr.

24:09Stewart Robson:to perform and that's when I think the manager might get a bit angsty with him and have less support if this continues.

24:16Frank Leboeuf:I'm not giving Vinny that easy enough as he's doing more work defensively and as a result you're seeing some of the bad passes and the inability. No, I'm trying to find the reason. No, no, no, I'm just saying. Don't get angsty with me, Hizko. No, no, no, you're all right. But the thing is, who does Jose Mourinho turn to? Otherwise, kind of given Vinicius Junior and who he is when he's playing well and what other options there are. I'm not sure that Jose Mourinho has that answer other than to maybe stick with Vinicius Jr. and hope he plays his way out of this poor run of form. But you just don't know when that is going to happen, how that is going to happen.

24:56Frank Leboeuf:And as a result, you have this kind of imbalance to Real Madrid that I don't think anybody expected. And the added extra as well, Kay, obviously it's the final game before the international break. so no matter what happens in the derby this weekend it will dominate the headlines from now until we pick up the baton again in three weeks

25:14Dan Thomas:Oh absolutely it will Dan as you know they've got to fill those pages the two sports dailies here in Madrid and so that's a big talking point for both of them because can Atleti follow up what they've just done in that game against Osasuna can Madrid finally give their fans a convincing win and something for them to actually be happy about going into that break There's just so many things at stake. And then, of course, it's Jose Mourinho against Diego Simeone again. And you'll remember, Dan, from when we were living in Madrid, it was 14 years that Atleti could not beat Real Madrid. And, of course, that big win finally came for Atleti in the Copa del Rey final in 2013 at the Santiago Bernabeu when Diego Simeone beat Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

25:55Dan Thomas:So there's all that history as well. And you'd expect there's going to be loads of talking points after this game once again. Meanwhile, in the morning media... We were living in Madrid. In the more media future, the big talking point, Kay Murray is going to make her debut on Football Americas tonight. Oh, oh. To bring you more. What are you doing? About the Derby. All the latest on Julian Alvarez as well. Shaka Hissop, feet on the desk. That's going to be 3.30 in the morning in Spain. Dedicated, 2.30. Absolutely. 2.30, six hours. You were right the first. What a stupidity.

26:33Another very good day at the office of Barcelona as they set the record, as the guys discussed yesterday, unstoppable. The front page of both Sport and Mundo Deportivo. It's been an extraordinary start to the season for the defending champions, 100 % record. They've averaged 4.7 a game, which is just ridiculous. Ruffini with 11, Lomini Moua, Anthony Gordon with the assists. I've played a lot of the weaker teams. Yes, and that's the point I was just about to make. However, you compare them to their biggest competitor, who had to rely on a late goal from ESPY against Elche, who Barcelona put five past.

27:15And when you're doing that, you have to take your hat off and say, yeah, I know they're not the best opposition in front of them, but still, this is an opposition that put Real Madrid to the sword right to the end.

27:24Stewart Robson:But it's a continuation of Hansi Flick's work, isn't it? his ethic and his I hate the word philosophy but his way of playing and it's how do I take that make us a bit stronger defensively and we'll find that out probably in the Champions League and as the season goes on but how can they make us a bit stronger defensively and even better going forward and that's the key the key for them to win the Champions League and retain La Liga for the third straight season is to find some more solidity at the back they've got they've bought experience in the middle of the park and how do we take this team that was already super exciting going forward and scored a lot of goals as it did with Lewandowski and Ferran Torres and Laminya Mal and all the guys that are still there how do we make that better and you have to say thus far whilst they haven't had to do too much defending against teams like Racing Santander Elche Valencia away teams like that didn't really offer much going forward they if you said to me they're going to be better going forward than last year and I said nah that's going to be difficult I said what they need to do is be solid at the back but he's taken that model hasn't really well he has added to it in a sense he's brought Anthony Gordon and Adeyemi now if you'd have said to us last year Barcelona are going to sign Adeyemi from Dortmund and Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and that's going to somehow make the squad better and help make them better and Rafinha's going to go and play striker you'd be like, they're stupid.

28:56Stewart Robson:Rashford's better than Anthony Gordon. Rashford's better than Adiemi. But yet they allow him to go. They have the foresight and the decision-making to let him go back. Thanks very much. He did quite well, actually. But we think these guys are going to fit in here better. And they have. And it's allowed the others, particularly Rafinha, to go and just express himself. and then you look behind and Danny Omo in the number 10 or Fermin Lopez in the number 10. Take either of them. Does it weaken the team? No, it doesn't. You just take the piece of the puzzle out, you put the other piece in, the different piece in, it fits straight away and they go again.

29:38Stewart Robson:That being said, they've played some promoted teams and there has to be tougher tests ahead. But it's been sparkling. If you're a Barcelona fan, You've got to be loving what you're seeing in terms of the excitement. One negative, Shaq. Joanne Garcia, of course, getting injured. And we saw Chesney at half-time going, Oh, really? He didn't want to come on. Well, he could be bothered. Yeah, well, I get that feeling.

30:02Frank Leboeuf:And you saw that play out in real time in the second half. I know, when he gets caught. Listen, I... So... This is... I mean... Chesney... You're written all over it. No, because I don't control the ball. I'd never controlled the ball in my life. I just booted into the stand. I thought he sorts his feet out here quite well. So the weird thing is, right, and this story has been told time and time again, Chesney is retired. And then all of a sudden is brought in because of an injury crisis to Chester again and then makes his shirt his own unexpectedly. And now you're kind of seeing it play out again as though he's not expected to play.

30:45Frank Leboeuf:now he might get a run of games we'll see how long John Garcia's injury is how does Chesney respond? I know, granted this 45 was not encouraging I'll just put it like that but you're being very serious about this I'm trying to convince myself

31:07Stewart Robson:that Chesney's going to be okay it's how he stood on the ball he wants to be on the beach doesn't he? Yes, absolutely. He definitely has a Craig. Good real. Yeah, exactly. Barcelona looking to inflict more pain as Sevilla heads to the dentist on Saturday, 3pm Eastern. Our coverage starts at 2.30 on the ESPN app.

31:33Friday night action in the Premier League sees Brentford take on Chelsea. Chelsea are going to concede goals. How many, I suppose, is the big question. How do the bookies have this one set? We know there's no Caicedo. Probably no Gerald Pedro either. Let's take a look at how the bookies have it. Chelsea are the slight favourites, but it's pretty close, as you would expect. What's going to happen in this game, Craig? Brentford.

32:00Stewart Robson:Brentford will try and outplay them. And they actually outplayed them last year. And this was the opposite fixture. It was the game at Stamford Bridge. They outplayed them at Stamford Bridge and lost. I expect Keith Andrews side to try and go toe-to-toe. So they're not going to... Chelsea are not going to face a side that's sitting in in fear of these guys that have this expensively assembled squad. Far from it. I could see, particularly the way they defended against Hull, Chelsea that is, I could see Brentford winning this one. They're a really good side, he's done a really good job, Keith Andrews, they've got a lot of power up front and they play good football.

32:33Stewart Robson:This is a tough game for Alonso.

32:35Frank Leboeuf:I'm with Craig on this. I think Chelsea are still reeling from the horror show that was was Hull City looking for a bit of a response. I'm not sure it comes against a Brentford team at home, physical, who will play in Chelsea faces. I do not see Chelsea winning this. The best I think Chelsea come out from this is with a point. We'll be reflecting on that big Chelsea victory tomorrow then on ESPN FC. Alexis in the hot seat. Kane once again joining them from Spain. Checkers power rankings, ladies and gentlemen. Here they are. Not a whole lot of change from last week as the big boys just keep winning.

33:15Frank Leboeuf:There's three news in there. Yeah. Benfica top in Portugal. Oh, no. Porto top in Portugal. Benfica doing well in Europe as well. So they're in. Freiburg. Elvesburg were in a 10 last week, but they drew. Elvesburg, who were top of the Bundesliga. But Freiburg are in as my football romantic pick. They are... You just closed your eyes and you hit... No, no, no. It's still early in Germany. It's only three games gone. They're 100%. And explain to us why Manchester City are above Arsenal. Just because City had a better result in Europe a couple of weeks ago. Everybody won this week, so I just let them know.

33:55So where was City? Wait, didn't Arsenal beat Napoli?

33:59Frank Leboeuf:And City won away to... Who was it? I can't remember. So that was the differentiator last week. Right. I put City above Arsenal because they're both just about neck and neck in the league. City had a better result on the road in Europe. So I put City at... City won in Porto. There you go. I put City above Arsenal because they won on the road.

34:20Stewart Robson:City beat Porto. I think they beat Porto. Yeah, you got 2-0. And yet you've got Porto.

34:26Frank Leboeuf:Porto 100 % in Portugal. Seven wins out of seven. So are Inter, aren't they? Yeah, but they got demolished about five. They got five in Europe. That's no good. Who did it? Inter. They lost 2-1 to Madrid. There you go. What was that team you had?

34:40Stewart Robson:What was that team? That's what I said. I'm just going to turn my back. There you go. That's what I said. What was that team you had in? Elversburg. Oh, God. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's... Elversburg. Today's... I've never heard of power rankings. Newly promoted Bundesliga. Shaq will be back next week for his final ones, of course. Before that very long international break, Dan. You just watch the space. You've got to do a power rankings on the internationals. Yes. No, I don't. All right, Extra Time's next. Kay's back. Hey!

35:13Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Fear not. It's not just Craig and Shaka in the studio. Kay Murray is with us now and it's what? Approaching midnight, Kay in Spain.

35:25Dan Thomas:Yep, still lots going on here as you can imagine, but it's changed, Dan, since when we were here. Now I'm sat doing hits for ESPN FC instead of out on the streets with all those guys. Ah, they were good times. They were good times. What do they like to eat in Madrid? I assume that's not just people. I assume that's like you, Gay, and the boys. What was your go-to today? Oh, well, I went out for a little bit of tortilla, Dan. Nice. Which I know was not really on your list back in the day. What are you talking about? Of course I ate tortilla. You all just seem to think I ate pizza all the time. Yeah, I do.

36:01That's what I heard.

36:02Dan Thomas:Pizza, pasta. tomato sauce those were your staples

36:07Stewart Robson:we didn't have any money you wouldn't know a good pizza if it came up and slapped you right in the face anyway what else did you have I swear to god somebody made you a really nice thin crust pizza in a proper wood oven you wouldn't have a scooby you'd rather have one in the oven a frozen one from the supermarket anything else Kay shut up

36:29Dan Thomas:we actually got some posh tapas The spread that was put on for us today was delightful. There were the things that we used to hang about for when we didn't have any money when we lived here to try and get a little bit of food. You know. And what was your pick from that? What was the pick? Mini burgers, little mini tacos, a mixture of everything. Not really Spanish. Who's putting that on?

36:53Stewart Robson:Yeah, who paid for that Kate? The company putting that on.

36:58Stewart Robson:Maybe. How can you go to Spain and eat mini burgers?

37:08Stewart Robson:tapas and and and fish and right right many burgers what's stevie there cultured craig over here cultured craig oh yeah you bet your bottom dollar don't go away and look when stevie's going to tea jelly fridays for his lunch in madrid Well, I stopped short at smokehouses in Wales. For Craig, did you always hate individual awards when you were playing? No. Yeah, apart from when I won the Football Writers' Player of the Year. Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year, 1998, it was very important. Right, but every other individual award... Well, I couldn't tell them that down. You could have?

37:49Stewart Robson:I couldn't tell them. With your principles about individual awards? I was esteemed from the journalists who voted for me for my performances that year. I just couldn't turn it down. Kay, when you were voted a Borough Babe, did you ever attempt to turn that down? Saying it's not about the individuals, it's about the team?

38:05Dan Thomas:Absolutely. It was all about me, the Borough Babe. And I'll tell you, it's the only cup we ever won this season that I was the Borough Babe, Dan. Shaka, when you won Hammer of the Year, did you say, no, I don't want it? No, I took it. Yep. Where is it?

38:21Frank Leboeuf:Somewhere. Did they give you a hammer? Is it an actual hammer? No, no. I got some kind of trophy something. Yep. Keep it moving down. For Xhaka, why are none of you on the ESPN FC panel considering Haaland for the Ballon d 'Or? He took Manchester City and Norway on his shoulders, won the Premier League golden boot, took Norway to the quarterfinals and had Sirloch passed. He had... He'd ha... Oh, sorry. And had Sirloch passed, he'd have taken them to the semis.

38:49Stewart Robson:That's a good point there. Commas. Patricia. I've got a commas apostrophe.

38:55Frank Leboeuf:Holland's in. I've just decided. He's your Ballon d 'Or. Yeah. We didn't talk about him.

39:00Stewart Robson:Mm-hmm. Yeah? Yes. That's it. Big talk in Spain about Ballon d 'Or at the moment. You're OK. Mbappe's got his campaign going on. Oh, yeah.

39:08Dan Thomas:Oh, yeah. He's absolutely on the campaign trail. He's got everybody on board with him as well, it seems. So we'll see how that all plays out. Let's see what sort of tapas he gives you and then see where your vote goes. Yeah, well, he's not eating mini burgers. Mini burgers, dearie me. Okay, with the character of United's manager being called into question for his passivity... Jesus, can you read? Why are you in a bad mood today? He's not feeling well, he's not feeling well, Dan.

39:37Frank Leboeuf:Oh, I'm feeling alright. He's not feeling well. Oh, babe.

39:41Stewart Robson:He's got a grumpy edge to him, even more so. Gotta get him to get some rest. Did I call in sick? No, I did not. You're a trooper. I'm feeling OK. I'm not feeling, but I'm feeling fine. A bit moody. I mean, I'm working with Peter who can't read. Were there times when managing Borough where he presented himself as tough and tenacious?

40:04Dan Thomas:He actually sent Craig into the positivity corner, if you remember. Shaq, you might have been on that show.

40:09Frank Leboeuf:I remember Craig being in the positivity corner.

40:11Dan Thomas:Back in the semi-final in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea. Yeah, there was the 1-0 win there. They got battered in the second leg, but let's not worry about that right now. That sent Craig into the positivity corner after the 1-0.

40:22Stewart Robson:Is he too nice, Kate? Mind you, Mini Burgers, if you come from Middlesbrough, Mini Burgers is like a fixed menu, isn't it? It's like Nouvelle Cuisine. It's your own fault, Kate, really, for this. Sorry, Craig, I forgot to bring you a Mini Burgers. If you come from Middlesbrough and somebody gives you a tray of Mini Burgers, you go, oh, this is fancy food.

40:47Dan Thomas:It is better than a plate of steam with a fork, that's for sure. Yes, Michael Carrick. Yeah, I suppose so. He was always known as being that calming influence on the players and known how to put the arm around them. But when he did come in at Middlesbrough, he took them from being relegation-threatened to the playoffs that season. But obviously that's Middlesbrough, not Manchester United. Percentage chance anyhow. He's managing Manchester United by the end of the season, Xhaka. I don't see him. Five. Five? Yeah.

41:16Stewart Robson:I'm not going to ask him. No, don't ask me. No, good. Who will have more goals this season, Kay? Haaland or Rafinha? Ooh.

41:25Dan Thomas:Oh, that's a good one, isn't it? Haaland. I don't think that's the right answer. There we go. You clearly think of Rafinha, Dan. Just go ahead and see it. Look at what Barca have done. We feel there was a bit of Haaland negativity on the show, so I'm just giving him a bit of love. Don't turn it down.

41:43Stewart Robson:Is it because Kier's in Madrid? Do you know why it is? And she's no cementer. It's absolutely crystal clear now that she's now the senior anchor on the show. I'll tell you what it is. We're talking about food. I haven't eaten. I've got colonoscopy tomorrow. I haven't eaten all day. And I've got you in a bad mood. Just have some. Daniel, do you have some? Just have some. Think of the sleep, Dan. Think of the sleep. I know, I know. Exactly. Kay, Sid told us once that Dan was fun on a night out in the mid-2000s. Not now. With his white shorts. What was your perception of Dan during this era?

42:18Dan Thomas:We had the time of our lives, didn't we, Dan? It was absolutely brilliant. Madrid's a 24-hour city. We took full advantage of that. And you always convinced us to go to a karaoke at the end of it all. Yep, it was good. Brilliant fun.

42:29Stewart Robson:You love a karaoke. Exactly. I mean, that's equally as bad as mini burgers. What's that? In Spain, in a beautiful city like Madrid, going to a karaoke. Beautiful city? What are you talking about? All right, I embellished that a little. What do you think? You don't go to a karaoke. That's like... Have pizza. Okay. And he had pizza there, you know, Craig? Think about all those cultured bars in Madrid you can go to. What cultured bars, Craig? Well, I don't know. I've not been. I'm being presumptuous. When have you ever been to a cultured bar anywhere? Oh, I like going to nice bars. Yes, but not cultured bars.

43:00Yeah, yeah. What is the difference between a nice bar and a cultured bar? Right. So, Xhaka, you've got the whole of New York to choose from. Right. What? What did you choose as your bar, your local bar? Oh.

43:15Stewart Robson:That's the oldest pub in New York? Yes, and it looked like it. It was open late.

43:23Stewart Robson:I mean, culture. I knew if I did overindulge, I would find the hotel. Yeah, right. From the aforementioned. The ear in, I think it was called. You were just looking for a hole in the wall, you told me. No, no, not. That was it. Culture. Ken, you're on Football Americas tonight. Can't wait. And then what's the plan for the rest of the night? Can't wait. What time are you going to finish? Like two? Not two, though.

43:50Dan Thomas:Yep. It's not like we haven't... That's early for us, though, in Madrid, Dan, from back in the day. Going on Football Americas tonight to talk about the USA contingent at Borough.

43:59Stewart Robson:Oh. Tell you what, that sounds super exciting. Hey, the sap will be here with that. I sure will. You must be recording that. You're not staying up to two in the morning, are you? Of course it is. It's professional.

44:10Dan Thomas:My wife saw the Football Americas couple. here in Madrid.

44:13Frank Leboeuf:And saw me and was like, who the hell is that? Oh, wow. That's my beard. Oh, she hated that beard. Yeah, she did. Well, I think everybody... It was popular, that beard. Absolute. It's a very beardly beard. That is it. It's a beardly beard. Thank you so much. Have a lovely time in Spain. I bet you wish you were here with him. I bet you're not. ESPN FC. I prefer to have a colonoscopy.

44:44Frank Leboeuf:Don't have any mini burgers!

44:47Stewart Robson:Let's get off.