Man United Robbed?

26:15But in terms of performance, and look, it's March now. Most of the season has come and gone, and he still hasn't done it here. Nadim? Yeah, so this is the thing with Thomas Tuchel. I think in some ways he did deliver a message with what he said because he's basically tried to make sure that he addresses everything that's been before. But in some ways he says, I just don't fancy you. I just do not fancy you in this team at all because he says, oh, he's so talented. He's so successful. He's done this. He's done that. But he didn't say anything about how he's playing right now. And even his skill set, maybe Tuchel just doesn't like it because there are people in this England squad, If you look at the likes of John Stones, Phil Fordham, for example, who aren't playing week in, week out for Man City But clearly he likes something about them's profile of players Which is why they've been selected, and obviously, as we've said, the squad is massive But he's still seen something in them that he likes Even Jude Bellingham being in the squad, without really playing any significant minutes in this last month or so Again, it's something about him that he likes And I think for Alexander-Arnold, in reality, the manager essentially just doesn't like his style of play because if he did, you know, you can't, for example, hang his hat on the excuse, oh, he's not playing well or he's not done this, he's not done that because there are players in that England squad who haven't been playing well and some England players who haven't been playing.

27:29So I think in some ways he's just shown them, basically, this is the door and he's great, but he's just not great for me. Speaking of style and skill set, did you know that some of our pundits on the show have this in their locker? This is Mario Suarez. Little fashion show from Mario. Oh boy. I'm a model, you know what I mean. I'll do my little catwalk. I've definitely got a job, isn't it? So that's Mario. Oh boy! He doesn't have this shot like Mario, does he? He looks like he got lost. He's trying to find his way out. Sid's face looked like he had a tummy ache or something. He just high-fived his son Charlie there.

28:19Sid's walking along and his head is going, what am I doing here? How did I get here? We need to go to Alex first on this one because obviously you work closely with Sid. Alex, what's going on here? What have you made of this? Sid kept this very, very quiet. He told us he was going to this event. He didn't tell us he was walking down the catwalk. I assumed he was just covering it. but no look I think we found a new talent for Sid that we weren't expecting I think this can be his focus going forward some sort of Spanish football Kate Moss I'm impressed surprised and a little bit impressed I didn't get an invite by the way there was no invite for me to take part out I'm not bitter we'll have to address that I wonder if Sid's going to start giving it I'm not getting out of bed for less than 10 ,000 well a 90s out what Nadim you look shocked and stunned and a A little bit embarrassed for our friends.

29:09No, not necessarily. I think Mario is probably walking a bit too quickly. You know, people were supposed to have a look at his shirt. And Sid looks like he's in the rest of the leave as well. So maybe that's the sentiment. It would have been funny if Sid walked into her around that corner. That would have been fantastic. But more powerful. He's a superstar, isn't he? He is a man of many times. He needs to spend more time in makeup. Oh, both of the guys. I'm sure that will not be the last that we're seeing a bit. I hope it is. Alex, we're going to let you go. We can see it's raining in Spain right now.

29:41We'll let you go and get dry. Sid and Mario will have to answer for themselves on tomorrow's ESPN FC. We'll be seeing both of them. Make sure to join us to see what their excuses or explanations are right here on ESPN+.

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30:31Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin? Or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews, all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. Here's how things are looking in the Premier League as we look ahead to Brighton against Liverpool on Saturday and Everton against Chelsea. You'll remember that yesterday, Stevie said Liverpool are absolutely back. I'm doing so much over the Champions League.

31:11Obviously, I'm kidding here. What he really said was he'll make the decision on that comment after this Brighton game. So these are the predictions of the panel. Shaka Nadam and myself saying that Liverpool are going to win this one, but Dan Thomas and Stevie Nicol saying it's going to be 2-2. Why, Stevie? Well, Liverpool can't keep a clean sheet, other than the other night, which was a big surprise, let's be honest. Can't keep two clean sheets in a row. Let's go for that. So the fact that they kept a clean sheet means there's no way possible they're going to keep a clean sheet against Brighton.

31:48They can't follow up a big win, as Virgil van Dijk's told us. And considering the amount of chances they made the other night and the previous games, they don't take enough percentage of the chances that they do create. So that's why I've gone for 2-2. I think they'll score twice. Obviously there's no more Salah. Don't know whether that's going to be a good thing or a bad thing. But yeah, that's why I've gone for a 2-2 draw. I don't think they'll keep a clean sheet and I don't see them scoring 3-4 and 5 goals. So why didn't you answer that Liverpool are absolutely not back instead of telling me they'll take it after the Brighton game to decide when you've decided that the Brighton game is going to be a draw anyway?

32:27Say that again.

32:32Yesterday when I said Liverpool are back, you said, ask me that question again after the racing game. But if you think it's going to be a draw, why didn't you just answer me anyway? You're not going to say they're back after a 2-2 draw, are you? Listen, after you absolutely pummel somebody in Champions League, then it's a little hard to turn around and say, absolutely, 100 % not. Because at some stage, most teams... Because at some stage, most teams can turn the corner. And so that's why I said, ask me after Brighton. Because if Liverpool battered Brighton and beat them 4-0 and play the way they did and create the chances and close the ball down and have the energy they had in the game against Galatasaray, then I will turn around and say, well, you know what?

33:15I think they might be right and they might be back. So that's why I said, ask me after the game. All right, but it's going to be a draw. I think it'll be a draw, yeah. The other game that we wanted to talk about, well, get your prediction on, was Everton against Chelsea. Stevie's a little bit more optimistic for Chelsea here. However, Nathan's got a 2-2 draw. Myself, Dan and Shakur have all gone for a 1-1 draw. So, Stevie, I'm going to have to go back to you. You're the only person here that's saying that there is going to be a winner and it's going to be Chelsea. Everton can't buy a win, a performance, you name it.

33:47What's the name of the stadium? Dickonfield we'll go with that close enough Hill Dickinson Dickonfield that was close Hill Dickinson I nearly said Goodison had it been a Goodison it would have been a completely different story it's all about the name change everyone can't buy anything at home so yeah that's why I think Chelsea will win again yesterday we're bringing up some things that happened yesterday. We had Enzo Fernandez's quote on his future after the PSG game when he said, I don't know. My focus is here for now. We have eight Premier League matches to play and the FA Cup, then the World Cup coming up.

34:33So we'll see after that. Now, yesterday we talked about being lost in translation. We're seeing different translations across the board as well on what he said. I don't think it still changed your mind that it wasn't that big a deal though, right, Shekhar? I'm still saying it wasn't that big a deal. Because it's difficult asking a player such a question right after a game, especially a loss, a heavier loss, especially over the aggregate, as Chelsea suffered against PSG. That is dangerous on its own. And then you put into perspective Enzo Fernandes and his time at Sanford Bridge, signed by Pochettino.

35:11He's gone after a year. Moresca comes in and then he's gone on it unexpectedly. And then Liam Rossigno comes in and now you have this. So all that kind of, given his journey, given the moment, I don't want to read too much into what was said. It wasn't a bad answer. OK, we've got another answer for you since then. Well, the guy went straight at him and said, can you guarantee you'll be at Chelsea next year? Nobody's going to turn around and guarantee anything. When you've got a lockdown contract? It doesn't matter. When somebody goes straight in your face with a microphone and says, can you guarantee you're going to be here next year?

35:48I thought he just batted it away pretty well. He said, we've got eight games left. We've got the World Cup coming up. And right now I'm concentrating on being here. I don't see the problem. OK, so before we go to Nadim on what he thinks about this, there was another quote after this game with another broadcaster. He was asked here what happened before and after Mareska's departure. and he said we had an identity. He gave us an order, even though, as is the way of football, sometimes it's good and bad. Obviously, his departure hurt us a lot, especially in the middle of the season. He goes on to say it cuts everything short, but he's talking here about having a clear identity.

36:28So that doesn't change your opinion at all on what he was trying to get across after the game? No, not at all. You don't think there's anything towards receiving you here? All he's doing is answering a question about Maresca and how surprised he was. and what he says makes absolute sense. About not having a clear identity now. No, no, no, no, no. See, you're jumping into your journalist mode here. That's exactly what people do with, like say, Enzo Fernandes. Jumping on people, hoping they slip up. He's not slipping up at all. All he's saying is that under Maresco, the amount of time they spent with the Club World Cup and then the start of the season, that he obviously feels as though something was gone.

37:07They were doing something. They were organised. They knew what they were about. and all of a sudden the legs are taken away in the middle of the season and you're starting again with a new manager. And regardless of how close and the way he thinks about the game with the manager previously, every manager does things slightly different. So I think people are just looking into this and trying to find something that I don't think is there. Yeah, Dan. Dan. Yeah, Dan. Dan. Are you staying with Stevie on this still? I'm sticking with TV. As I say, I think it's born out of frustrations and it's just a poor time to try and articulate anything about the game when you've just been handily beaten.

37:53OK, Nadem, where do you stand on these comments from Enzo after the game? So on this occasion, I'm going to go against the fellas and somehow I'm on the side of Dan Thomas. Because I believe... Oh, I'm holding people. I'm holding people. I know, I'm sorry guys, I'm sorry because Enzo Fernandez in those two interviews or clips or the bits that you've seen there, he could also just have lied or said nothing at all, I think the fact that he's gone out and tried to be honest is like commendable to him but then it leaves it open to interpretation for example, after the game against PSG, you know, he's talking about the facts of we've got eight games left, the fact that it's the FA Cup, the fact that it's the World Cup, but then he didn't need to finish it with said but after that we'll see, because that's the question mark which the reporter was seeking.

38:40And then in the Maresco sacking one, unfortunately, I think I've had 14 managers in my 16-year career, so maybe once or twice I've had to speak about managers leaving. And I think, again, it'd be very easy to almost accept the move without showing the sort of negatives that come with it because some of those things, in my opinion, are best said almost in private or said to people who aren't going to potentially run with it and make of it whatever he will and enzo fernandez is a he's not the oldest player but he's a very experienced player very successful player especially for his national team so in my mind i think he's probably been a bit too honest and said a bit too much and that honesty has cast a little bit of doubt and it's the sort of food that you know the likes of uh dan thomas will just pick up on straight away and run with for as long as possible so yeah i think he could have said less and probably should have but he could very easily have been a real good friend Anyway, Maresca, he might have really liked Maresca.

39:32The tournament might have got on really well. You don't think he's using the term clear identity, though, is going to be picked off? Everything he said there is nice things about Maresca. Yeah. Right? Yeah. So what's the problem with that? Because I suppose we're seniors under the spotlight right now, and so to say that your former coach had a clear identity... See, now you're getting into the realms of, well, players need to know Dr. Cien about their former manager. Well, they do, though, don't they? They know it's going to be picked apart. You're talking about football players here. Football players in general.

40:0690 % of what goes on is about them and how it affects them and what they're doing. What their future might look like. And what they're doing. Do you think he's sitting, after he said that, when, oh, I never mentioned the new manager, maybe he should have said this. No, he just said some nice things about Maresca. But again, you want to take it as if he's slagging Rosinia off. I didn't say that. I was just putting it to you. She definitely said that. Just asking the question. You said a song. You said. Just doing my job and asking the question. You said. You said. Well, that was one example of how players can speak after being asked things.

40:46There was another example as well of players speaking after being asked things after a game. This is Christian Romero speaking about his future this week. He said, my focus is on Spurs and try to help in this bad situation. This is the priority. Then after, we will see. But now I want to recover energy and help Spurs. Is that a better way to handle it? Or is it the same old? Apparently you're the executioner here slicing and dating. Nadem, what are we thinking here? Slicing people up for opening their mouth. To be honest, as far as the season goes, it seems like every time after Romero says something, you know something bad happens so hopefully his sake and Spurs is saying nothing too drastic happens this weekend but again it's that sort of like question mark about you know we'll see this is my focus for now but we'll see and obviously as a player it can be tough when somebody's asking you a question about your future but again you could just refuse to answer or just not necessarily leave it in that line because yeah it's great the first part's terrific if you are somebody that's like giving him guidance terrific is focused on this it's a tough situation we're doing the best that we can, but we will see.

41:55And all of a sudden, everything that came before doesn't matter anymore, but for Romero, as I say, the last time I saw him speaking and putting stuff on social media, then got a red card and a four-game ban against United, so yeah, I suppose all eyes on him again this weekend. Listen, I think as answers go, Romero gave as good an answer as you can hope for, but I'm with Natham. Romero has given good answers to his struggles all season long. He just hasn't backed it up on the pitch. And at times, he hasn't been available to back it up on the pitch. And I think that's the difference here. And there's two very different contexts between Enzo Fernandes and Christian Romero.

42:33In that, Enzo Fernandes, Chelsea just got, as I said, humbled by a team that they beat this summer to win the Club World Cup. Spurs have struggled and actually made a better fist of of, well, certainly second leg against Atletico Madrid than anybody I was expecting. So he is, it's a very different mindset. And again, you ask players questions immediately after games. You're not quite sure what you're going to get because of the emotion of the game. And again, the emotions of those two situations were absolutely contrasting. And so as a result, you see fairly contrasting responses or responses that K kind of...

43:17Dan, excuse me. Dan, Dan, Dan. Here's the thing. I always say you should never answer the question anyway. I always say it. Tell them what you want them to know and nothing else. But at the same time, football players don't have PhDs in English language and particularly foreigners. So when a foreigner says something like that, you have to give them some sort of leeway. A lot of the time he's speaking to the broadcasters in his native language. that then is being translated. Right, as I said, whatever language, maybe it's not the English PhD language, it's Spanish or whatever it is. You know, football players are not particularly brilliant at speaking, let's be honest, when they're playing, that's for sure.

44:00But isn't it easy to say, I don't want to talk about my future right now, our focus is on the next game? Well, it should be, right? But, as Shaka rightly said, you've just got pummeled at home, you've just got knocked out of the Champions League and somebody's shoving a microphone in your face. And listen to me. I did it when I was coaching. I kept saying you don't answer the question, but sometimes when you're riled up and you're disappointed or whatever it is, depending on where you are emotionally, sometimes you say the wrong thing. So I think we should give them a little bit of leeway. All right, we will.

44:32Sorry about that. I'll turn back into Kay now. OK. Well, that's not that big a difference. Let's move on to this weekend. It's Arsenal against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final as we take a look at the odds here. But we have heard from both managers ahead of it, both Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, discussing their goalkeeper strategies for this game. Can I just ask about the goalkeeper as well? Will James Trafford play on Sunday? Yeah. And how big a moment is that for him? For the team. For the team it's a big moment. Just to follow on there, James said a few weeks ago whether he was a little bit disappointed or he hadn't been expecting things to work out how they have done.

45:18What did you think of those comments? Good. Nothing to say. Police can be happy and happy. It is what it is. So, they have to be here, do the best that they do, and after, we'll see what happens at the end of the season. So, the important is that they have to be ready. Have you been pleased with James' attitude this season? Have you been pleased with James' attitude since he... Beyond, yeah. Kepa has started all your cup games in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Will he keep his place? Will he start? We'll see how everybody's tomorrow and make the decision. OK.

46:00Just because Pep says that James Traffler has started. Good try. I'm not sure you all know about that yet.

46:09Alright, reactions there from you, CV? I understand that because of the size of the squads now, it seems like everybody's being nice and the guy who's played all the games plays in the final. However, I come from an era where you play your best team. When you're in a cup final, you play the best team. The team that has the best opportunity to win the game. You're not playing for one guy, the goalkeeper. You're playing for everybody in the squad, all the players, all the fans, the owners, everything else. It's not about keeping one guy happy because that's what it's turning into. So, in my opinion, you play the best team.

46:52And it's just unfortunate that if you're the goalkeeper and you've played all the games leading up to the final, it's just unfortunate. it so what about the goalkeeper so no I I think you do what you think is right for you is right for the team and certainly way you manage now well this is exactly what Pep Guardiola has done throughout his his managerial career arrived at Barcelona uh Testeggan played in the Champions League Claudio Bravo played in the league and that happened all season throughout as it happens they won them both um so that is how Pep kind of uses his goalkeepers or go or substitute goalkeepers and has throughout his career.

47:32Now, who am I to question Pep in doing that? But as we were discussing yesterday, you had a Carlo Ancelotti who played Andre Lunin when Coutois was injured, played Andre Lunin. And then come the Champions League final, last couple of games in the season, went with Coutois and played Coutois in the final despite Lunin playing every round before that. Who am I to question Carlo Ancelotti? So there are just two very different approaches by sitting in those two examples, two of the most successful managers in the history of the game. Do what you feel is right for you. Personally, if I play in the cup games, even if I'm not playing in league games and we get all the way to the cup final, I also want to play in the cup final.

48:18But that's me, and that's a pretty selfish, my selfish approach as a player. Every player is selfish similarly. So I don't think there's a right or wrong. I think it's what you do as manager that fits your team, your squad, the people that you have around you. Depends on the scoreline, doesn't it? Whether it's right or wrong. Well, it depends on whether they win or lose. The goalkeeper throws one in and they lose the game 1-0, then it depends on the result. If you win the game, like you're saying with Barcelona, you won the Champions League, doing that, well, you're vindicated because you won.

48:55The problem is, if somebody throws one in... Pep has done this his entire career. And to your point, results do kind of dictate the narrative. Similarly, if Ancelotti had played Courtois and Courtois threw one in, then the discussion is well. Lunan play all the games, he's been playing well, stick with him. That's, you know, again, as managers, they live and die by results. But you go into those games doing what you trust, understanding what you believe in the game and utilising that. As the keeper though, how do you take it? Is it something you ask about or is it something you just have to accept?

49:35You have to accept. And to the question I was put to Pep Guardiola, James Trafford quite clearly said that he's not been happy with the role he's played or lack of playing time. that he's had but at the same time you kind of sympathize edison was sold and moved on jim trapper was was brought in as his replacement he probably arrived and was sold um coming coming to the etihad as being pep guardiola's number one given the fact that edison would now move on and then all of a sudden an opportunity to sign donnarumma kind of pops up and that doesn't happen very often. Donnarumma were your top five goalkeepers in the world.

50:18Manchester City take that option. And as a result, James Trafford finds himself as second fiddle and really questioning his future, questioning what he was told a few months and understandably wanting to know what's next for him. He's an incredibly talented goalkeeper. Earlier in the show, we're talking about Thomas Tuchel naming this England squad. Trafford probably figures that he needs to be a part of that squad especially as we talk to talk about um talk about succession and who's to who's to come next so from a trafford perspective it started on such a high and well what nine months in he's probably really questioning a lot of those decisions and understandably so made him no i think this is um this is one of those things that's special about football i think there's no right or wrong answer but one thing that the guys have sort of revealed there is that we'll look at the result and we'll start sort of work backwards but I think Xhaka's laid out a really interesting case from both sides of things with Guardiola who makes that change and sticks with it but Ancelotti who gets towards the end and then makes changes you know like Steve would have done as a coach but then Xhaka's also talking about what his perspective if he was the goalkeeper that was in Trafford's position or Kefford's position you'd be not selfishly like you'd be hoping to play in the final because you've helped your team earn the right to be there and you in some ways will have a point to prove as is the case with James Trafford on Sunday if he actually does play because he will believe that he's good enough to be playing week in week out no matter who is in front of him right now he will believe that he's good enough he's been selected for England, Succo really likes him, he's received so much praise before, he was bought for a certain reason and now he's not playing so as he steps out there on the field on Sunday he'll want this to be one of the best games of his entire career to almost like show the manager this is who I am, this is why I should be playing in these big games.

52:10So I think it's going to be very, very interesting. And I think to talk about the other side as well, Mikel Arteta gives nothing away to anyone ever. Any person that thinks they're going to get any info from Arteta in a press conference, you're not having it. You could have a report on a Thursday that somebody's leg's been broken and Arteta will be like, yeah, we'll see what he's like in training on Saturday before we make a decision on Sunday. That is exactly who he is. And that's the way that he operates his ship, which is very different to other people. but again it's the beauty of football so many different ways to do it and nothing guarantees success and nothing is always going to lead to failure Now unfortunately Nadim you are going to have to give something away here, who have you got winning it?

52:50Well, okay thank you very much for this Okay Believe it or not as a City fan and former City player, I'm not going to take Arsenal but logically I would suggest them emotionally I cannot do that Okay, so I'm going for a Man City win, even though they've had the week from hell so far, the Sunday, I'm going to see this as the start of a beautiful future for Manchester City, and they're going to win in the cup final against Arsenal, and then who knows what happens after an international break, but it starts with a win on Sunday. I'm looking forward to celebrating that, and if they don't win, please don't contact me for at least a week, okay?

53:27Thank you very much. We've already seen your true colours now, Nadeem. We get it. Yes, that is coming up, but of course here on ESPN +, We still have the FA Cup to enjoy. We're at the quarterfinal stage on April 4th. Things get back underway. Man City against Liverpool. Nadam against Stevie. We've got Chelsea against Port Vale. Southampton against Arsenal. And on April 5th, West Ham, Xhaka against Leeds. O 'Reilly Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your check engine, ABS, or maintenance light with O 'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASC-certified master technicians.

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54:56And we've got WSL action coming up on Saturday. London City against Chelsea Saturday morning as is Man City against Spurs both of these games available on ESPN Plus Football W has you covered for women's football make sure to check it out it's available now on ESPN Plus we had Crystal Dunn as a special guest along with Ali Krieger and it is great to have her with us Football W check it out I think we should do that I think we should be You've said it now, so that's it. Well, Shaka didn't nominate himself for that. No, I did. He volunteered Stevie, so we'll bring that up soon. That will do it for the latest edition of ESPN FC Stick Around.

55:39Nadam's back. These guys are going to answer your questions on Extra Time.

55:46Welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. Nadam is joining us. we've got shaka and stevie here in the studio are you going to say something okay call me dan thomas today didn't know no need all right to craig burley craig burley has actually put a question in extra time tonight's choice of attire is all he's

56:25What's he trying to say, Stevie? No idea. I have no idea.

56:34I mean, let's be honest, he's not exactly Mr Fashion, is he? I mean... I mean, all he's doing is waiting. He's waiting for Kieran to come up with another get-out so he can go and buy some beer.

56:50Oh, Craig. more questions coming from Craig come on all right Jackie his lops credit card debt 10 for all what are all your thoughts on the idea of Bruno Fernandes being the front-runner for the PFA and the criticism that he's only playing once a week the second favorite behind Declan Rice so to win the PFA player of the year LSU yes

57:18so should he be I'm okay with it they'll have voted already aren't they okay Nadam's okay with it Nadam tell us why they've already voted yeah I'm okay with it yeah I think I think I think they would have voted earlier this month perhaps but I'm okay with it because at the end of the day it's your peers and like people who are voting for it domestically in the league they've only played against him realistically in the league and they're seeing what they're seeing in the one competition that they do share with him so whether he's played 60 games or he's going to be playing 38. You know, you can only go off what you've seen in the competition that you're all involved in.

57:49So I think if he was to win it, I'm very much at peace with it. I think the Declan Rice one, he has obviously had a really good season, but Fernandes is possibly having one of his best seasons. So as a consequence, yeah, I think if he was to win it, it's fine. 38 league games in a season. This is the PFA League Award. So let him have it. Yeah, absolutely. I have no problem with Fernandes. What was that face? Well, first of all, the face is I've never been a fan of the PFA Awards. I've kind of said that ever since I was playing. I thought... I bet you went to the parties, though, didn't you? Yeah, I did, yeah.

58:23Of course you did. Why shouldn't I? So I've never been a fan of the awards themselves. Anyway, but to this award, well, OK, you can make the argument that Bruno Fernandes is having the season of his career. fine. You could say that Declan Rice maybe isn't. But Arsenal aren't there when you call Drupal. So it's a good thing he isn't. So I just think it's two different bars in terms of measuring Bruno Fernandes' importance to Manchester United, to Declan Rice's, to Arsenal. I'd have Declan Rice. All right. So the next question, and I've got some of the reaction after the United game today. It says, Farall, was that foul on Ahmad a second penalty for United?

59:13So there was 26 seconds between the no penalty incident and then the ball in the back of the net. So let's see. Bruno Fernandes says, we don't get a penalty and they get one. That's more or less the same as Ahmad. Michael Carrick says, it's as obvious as you can get. You've already given one, so to not give the other one, it's clear it's that's what he believes is a penalty to start with then the second one has to be i don't understand how you can't give that so it's clear if that's what he believes is a penalty to start with rio ferdinand refereeing decisions in the premier league are getting worse day by day ahmad was brought down with both hands but no penalty was given a few minutes later harry maguire was sent off for a similar incident and a penalty was awarded Wayne Rooney Ahmad Diallo was fouled but the referee ignored it Maguire's foul wasn't as visible as Ahmad's but it was given as a straight red card and a penalty can I just say I thought Ahmad's was a penalty then during the show all of a sudden it was like Shaka didn't think it was a penalty so I just had to kind of go with it I just had to I was like alright I've got in my notes Stevie says yes Shaka says no No no I So on first look When we were watching As I said First look I didn't think I didn't think it was a penalty But then I saw the replay I was like oh boy That's a penalty But then like I say This is because you were Ribbing him so much in there Going against him That I stuck with you Ribbing him And not listen to what you said After it It's just fun to wipe Stevie up That's what it is So I'm in agreement here.

1:00:54I think it was a penalty. Yeah, well, we know what you think. Hi. Naidin was pondering it. Obviously, it is Manchester United, current and ex-Manchester United players that we're hearing from here. Yeah, it was interesting that the four people or five that spoke have all been paid quite well from Man United and seemed very disgruntled with the result and the outcome. So, yeah, maybe it's not the most neutral of takes on it, But, you know, if I was a United fan, you'd obviously say it's a penalty, but only because it leads to a goal down the other end. I think without the contact, with a penalty down the other end, without that, or goal rather, if that wasn't the case, then I don't think it's seen as such a big thing in my mind.

1:01:31Because Xhaka actually made a good point, even though he was arguing against himself during the show, that Ahmad twists in a really weird way. And I think that's why the referee's probably not bought it. He's probably seen the contact, said it's not enough. And I think some of those United players that, you know, are around it, you know, they've maybe seen the replay and said, oh, it's definitely a penalty. but in real time they saw what the referees saw and nobody was appealing beyond Almad himself. For Nadam if Pep leaves at the end of the season who do you pick as manager for Man City? I don't need to give my opinion on this I'm Dan Thomas today.

1:02:02Nadam. Okay. Best case scenario for me which won't happen will be like a vinting company but I don't think it'll happen because the job he's doing at Bayern is so good that he'll probably try and tie him down and you know somebody I think he's like going to be 41 years old this year he's got plenty of time to potentially get that Man City job. But I think if I was to do something maybe a bit different, because the pressure is obviously going to be there in terms of, say, what City strive to be, maybe look at somebody like Cesc Fabregas. I like the idea of that. I think the job that he's doing at Como is going very much, not necessarily fully under the radar, but he's doing Italian football in a very different way.

1:02:38I think he's finding real success with it. So I think that type of mind with the potential team that City have here, maybe it could be like the same way Vincent Kompany did a great job at Bayern. I think a younger mind in some ways could probably unlock this team and make them you know modernized and ready for the next five ten years as well. You know Como have not gone under the power rankings radar. Yes, they've been mentioned yesterday. Absolutely, some fine work if I'm interested to myself. Even Stevie said that it was fine work. Farol, thoughts on the AFCON 2026 situation? How crazy is this?

1:03:16Natham? Okay, I will begin. I will begin. I didn't know the extra time was three months. That's the first port of call. I also didn't remember seeing the Brahim Diaz-Panenka go in to make it 3-0. I don't remember that. And in some ways, it's obviously a really wild situation in terms of how the game sort of had that pause. Not necessarily how the game ended, but how the game had that pause. Because when it comes down to it, when they came back on the pitch, Brahim Diaz still had a penalty to win the whole competition for his side. It wasn't as if the game was abandoned and from there I do believe I think they played extra time, did they not?

1:03:52So the fact that they were able to get the game to conclude in a footballing manner but then still months down the line decided to change the outcome. I think the time of it is taking too long and if they were to make that decision they needed to make it on the day. From when Senegal walks off the pitch, forfeit the game then, then as a consequence people can have their issues but say this is the law, this is how it's going to be. But for it to be taking this long to get to this outcome where most people probably didn't even realize there was an appeal or this process in play I think in some ways it's embarrassing.

1:04:21I think the game itself was tricky beforehand I think this just makes it even worse and I don't know how many people Outside of say maybe the Moroccans will be in a position to say well. Yeah That's the that's the right outcome because of the way that it's been brought forward. Yeah My my I want to say my opinion, but my view of this has changed a lot over the last few days. Since the announcement of the court, where the judge said, etc. My initial reaction was somewhere between disbelief and anger. That's not how games are won. In the time since, I've just kind of calmed down. I've not felt as strongly about it.

1:05:02And that's for a couple of reasons. One, I am almost certain it will go to Cass and Cass will overturn the court findings. And I say that with confidence for a couple of reasons. This happened, I think it was in 71. Morocco won the Africa Cup of Nations after there was some, I think they walked off the pitch and came back on and won it. And that result upheld. It was never challenged in court, but that result upheld even though they walked off the pitch and stayed off the pitch. As recently as I think it was either 2022 or 2023, in the CAF Champions League, a Moroccan team, they're involved again, and a Tunisian team.

1:05:50Again, the Moroccan club team walked off, stayed off the field for an hour. I said they were not coming back on the park. So the referee awarded the game to a Tunisian club team. It was challenging court. Caf said the game had to be replayed. That was appealed to Cass. And Cass said no. The result on the day stood. The referee, because the Moroccan team, name slipped me, because the Moroccan team stayed off the park and refused to come back on, the referee awarded it to the Tunisian team. that result stood so there's history to this so again when it first came on I was like I cannot believe this is the most ridiculous thing I've and I was kind of buying it to the all this looks just it looks awful for the tournament it looks awful for for for for CAF and the more I thought about it again I'm sitting will be overturned I just thought it looked awful for Morocco as a player as much as Brahim Diaz was celebrating on the bench for Real Madrid when the announcement was made you don't want to win a game you don't want to win a tournament like this as a fan you do not want to win a tournament like this as neutrals we've moved on so the only people who are getting anything from this is a very small minority of moroccan fans and that will be snatched away from them anyway so i've just kind of like listen this is just all semantics um there's history to this we know how we've seen this movie a couple of times we know how it's going to end let's not pretend it's anything anything else for as far as I'm concerned for till the end of time um Senegal will be the Africa Cup of Nations champions for 2026 yeah and I'm sure Stevie echoes that sentiment yeah absolutely it won't go on Nadim who was the most fun manager you ever played for I'll ask you all this uh the most fun uh in a non-footballing way is probably Ian Holloway.

1:07:49He was somebody that was always like singing, dancing, you know, he was always trying to lift the spirits. So yeah, he was definitely the most fun and it would come at the most like random times, like times when he's dancing at the front of the buses were arriving into a stadium and stuff like that. So I think I'd probably say he was, yeah, he was the most fun. He could be serious as well, but in terms of lighthearted jokes and general behaviours, because he always had a story to tell. So yeah, I'd say Ian Holloway when I was at QPR. Stevie? Probably Big Ron Atkinson. He came into Sheffield Wednesday when we were in relegation trouble.

1:08:27Initially I was a little shocked. He was so upbeat, he had a smile on his face, he was joking around. Training was fun. I was like, what's going on here? We're in relegation trouble. but it absolutely worked. It just lifted a load off all the players and that wasn't just training, that was game days and he'd just walk in and he'd say to me, right I want you to do the team talk. Talk about Liverpool, we were playing Liverpool, we went talk about Liverpool. So I went really? I went on you go, alright. So then I would do the team talk. I mean just throw things like that from nowhere and everybody had a smile on their face and we stayed up.

1:09:12A lot of the players that you talked to who played under Stevie say that Stevie was the most fun manager. I'd love to play under Stevie. Paul and I had a few laughs.

1:09:25Well Harry Redman for me and I'll say while I played for Harry, West Ham and Portsmouth, I'm going to lean Portsmouth because he brought Jim Smith, may he rest in peace, as his assistant. And talk about two old school managers in every sense of the word. And it was just so much fun. Jim was so relaxed. But for his history in the game, just came in and was just all about fun. All about, you know, he would coach and we'd point in the right direction. But he knew he wasn't the head man. so he could just relax and have fun with it. It was a fantastic time. And again, we were really successful. Was Jim still on the big cigar?

1:10:09Yes, yes. The big cigar. We win a game, cigar on the team bus, the biggest glass of red wine you've ever seen. Absolutely fantastic. Nadim, did you want to add something? Hey, I've got to say, I did, yeah, it's funny how things change because Shaq and I did share Harry Redknapp as a coach and Harry Redknapp, for me at QPR, was quite possibly, just at that time at QPR, one of the most miserable people I've ever seen in all my life. So clearly, Shaka, you took all the joy away from him in the early 2000s because he had no joy being with us. When he first came in, he was looking on the sideline like he was on community service.

1:10:42That's what it is. Well, that's me. That's every other player. That's all the staff as well, by the way. But he was standing on the sideline, like, just at the start, literally like it was community service. He'd just be standing there shaking his head like, oh my god why am I here? So yeah I didn't quite get the same level of fun that you had, Xhaka, unfortunately. Earlier Nadam was saying in 16 years he played under 14 managers. I think that tells its own story. That tells its own story.

1:11:11That's all I've got to say. Yeah, I agree. I cannot beat those allegations. Okay. For the panel, today is National Proposal day did any of you do anything interesting for your proposals to your wives was it in front of others or just the two of you nadam um we got engaged in paris just off the shows elizade in a hotel called touca barrière that was uh nice astra in french she said what you're talking about i said what you're talking about so you decide if that's interesting or not so yeah that was my proposal story oh you get the child of sweethearts right nadam yeah exactly that's the one oh okay that's a good one oh god i don't know who i don't know don't even ask me the short answer for me is no i did nothing special i proposed in trinidad we were tuned on holiday at the end at you know between seasons.

1:12:15I didn't even go down on one knee, which still my wife brings up every now and then. So the short answer to that is, no, I wish I could have a redo. Yeah, she does too.

1:12:34Dad today. I thought Dad was fine. Dad is on fire today. Oh, boy. He's trying to get out of it. Nothing romantic. Oh boy. I was sat across the other side of the table. You wanna get married? What are you saying? Just shouting over. That's why you married. We're married sometimes. Pretty much. We do a Sassari. I'd heard a few. I'd heard a few at the time so. I mean don't take every single word I say as the. Okay. Because I can't really remember that much about it. It was not romantic I can assure you. What year was it?

1:13:1682. Ah, boy. Don't look at me. I'm looking at you. I think it was 82, aye. Yeah, I got married in the summer of 82. There you go. That's when you proposed? So you proposed in 82 and got married, shall we? Yeah, pretty much. Love that. Well, OK, Needham, you win. All right, that will do it. By a while. By a while. By an absolute landslide. Right. ESPN FC available tomorrow. Make sure to join us then. So did Fred. to the men of the other hotel. Self-exempt.

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