Man United's UCL Return

23:45but for the moment Arsenal sit at the top and it is Saka who is obviously dominating the back pages, returning from injury in style in that victory against Fulham. Here's Arteta on the Englishman. Well, he certainly made a difference. I mean, he made two actions that always decided the game and we know what he's capable of. He's come back in the most important period of the season and now he's fresh. His mind is fresh, his hunger is at the highest possible height and I think he needed a performance like that to impact the team. That's a big platform for Tuesday. Watching the guy, it looked a bit like he had some of his burst back.

24:29Do you feel like the Achilles thing has eased quite significantly? The Achilles issue has eased quite significantly because it looked physically, maybe like you did at the start of the season? In a positive way. I think so. I think the pain is gone and that was obviously something that was restricting his capacity to deliver certain actions. I agree. Today he felt loose, he felt relaxed and I think we had the Wukai that we know back. Is Saka the difference, Stevie, in this title race? Yes. So Arsenal are going to win the title? if he plays like that between now and the end of the season when he steps on the field then they're going to win games I believe it's in City's hands right now is that correct?

25:16not necessarily if they win their games it's all down to goal difference but yeah if Bakaya Saka if Bakaya Saka between now and the end of the season plays the way he has been then there's no question City win the league because he's the most important player they have in the front line no question when he's flying Astor seemed to fly I mean you've just got to look at the results and the games and the goals when he's scoring goals when he's at his best they win comfortably when he's not they struggle so yes is the answer

25:47Steve Nicol:couldn't hear what the questions were really but he had that he had this injury when he was out of the team but he wasn't playing well he just wanted he was another one that lost his form he looked tired whether he was or not I don't know but he looked tired he wasn't beating his man he was coming back in side a lot and just looked a little flat and stale and nobody wants to be out injured but maybe that little break, as I think Arteta said, has done him the world of good. Will he win the title for Arsenal? Sorry? Will he win the title for Arsenal? Yeah, if he is the high level of Bukaya Saka that we know and fully fit between now and end of the season, and that was Fulham yesterday, who, you know, they're not really playing for a lot.

26:35Steve Nicol:Yeah. But it's piled the pressure back onto Man City, hasn't it? And I think, yeah, the answer is, yeah, yeah. But kind of second place like that, they wouldn't. Think about it, think about it, right. The other two of the front three, all season, even though they're sitting where they are, all season, Arteta has been trying to figure out who's the best. Yes. It's either Martinelli or Trossard. He's tried Mudweke on that side. Centre forward, he's tried Havertz, he's tried Jesus, he's tried Gokic. The one consistent, when he's fit as you know exactly who's playing on the right hand side and that's Saka they've got this Atleti game in midweek and they've got three league games left yeah two of them are layups Burnley Palace you couldn't ask for better could you?

27:18Steve Nicol:Glasner's on his way out Palace he just wants to go so three games very winnable on paper just to get over that line and post a number in City City who've got obviously two extra games and an FA Cup final and Guardiola is extremely unhappy with all and sundry particularly the FA the Premier League you name it about fix your scheduling so if you're Arsenal you just say listen let's just whatever happens with Atleti happens they're favourites to win but we post that number with these three games and we can do no more and I think that's the kind of mindset where you're at and I'd much rather have the three than that very very heavy schedule that City have I've got to tell you when you said Palace is a lay-up yep that's what we said a few years ago when Liverpool under Gerrard were going for the title that was a lay-up and look what happened wow you're talking about so kill your jets Brendan Rodgers correct Liverpool title was in their hands and they went to Palace yep and they were 3-0 up and blew it so calm down

28:25maybe 2-0 1-0 up well the game was anyway you got my point So did Liverpool Frank, you said we're going to draw against Fulham

28:40Yes, because somebody showed me a graphic about the fact that between two Champions League games they were mostly drawing and losing I initially put 3-1 and I changed my mind because of Pete Van Lee I was a producer today and I put a 0-0 Yeah, so I sent him a text today that I kind of insulted him about the wrong prediction, but whatever. No, but can I have a word on that? You know, Saka is very important, but don't forget that when Saka was on the top, at the top of his football, he was held on the right side by Odegaard and White, who were also on top of their football. And since then, there was a fall-off of those players, and it's why maybe we don't see the Arsenal that we used to see.

29:26Yesterday, or today, against Fulham. I kind of see, I've seen, sorry, a revival of the former Arsenal that we used to see like some years ago, where in fact, you see Trossard on fire. Oh my god. Go Kieros, you know, scoring goals. Come on, it's one game against Fulham, isn't it? We're getting a bit carried away. Yeah, but you are getting excited about Saka. You are getting excited for Saka against Fulham as well, so Why? Well it should be different For good go-cares You know It has to be the same For everybody But I found I found Arsenal yesterday More alive Than the old season long Where I don't recognise that team Where it's just boring to watch Hey Don't question him again So maybe they found The right solution Don't question him again Yeah Why what's happened?

30:16It was 3-0 They were 3-0 Liverpool were 3-0 up Right With 11 minutes to go Ah There you go They went to 3-2 And Brendan Rodgers Put a forward on Right and lost a goal right but it wasn't well it's not it won the game but at that stage it had gone beyond their own destiny hadn't it because the slip against Chelsea oh don't spoil it for us as if you know oh my god Everton City anyone sorry Everton City is on Monday Bank Holiday Monday yeah it's a layup it's a layup you think so well you must have a story about no wait for the wait for the last 11 minutes there's no layups oh come on Yesterday was a lay-up for Arsenal.

30:57The Hill Dicker on the beach. Don't ask Everton of when I was playing, all the lay-ups that they'd screwed up when we won the league. Because they lost the lay-ups. So don't... How do you keep making this about... This lay-up nonsense. Well, he just keeps saying... He's coming out with claptrap. What's a lay-up? Stevie, it's not claptrap. You don't even have to turn up. Burnley and Crystal Palace as two games that you have to win. Well, I've just told you Crystal... I've just given you an example of Crystal Palace. Burnley, I agree with you. Right. But Everton's not a lay-up You don't get lay-ups Dan when you're going For the title You don't get lay-ups Of course you do Look what City's done For the last hour Of many years I've just given you Two examples of lay-ups That went wrong We're 1960 I think you'd better Go that way Jeez It doesn't matter what It doesn't matter what I tell you

31:43Steve Nicol:Does it really No easy games In the Premier League That's what we're saying No it's no easy game When it gets to that Stage of the season I mean Look at the hard work He's still asking Look at the hard work they made of Burnley. Man City won now. It was supposed to be five or six. The goal difference was going to help. It didn't turn out that way. You're wasting your breath. He's not listening to you. I'm talking to you. I've heard every word. Well, what was the team who... City won the title. The first title that they won was Guardiola. QPR. Which team was playing against them? QPR. It was QPR?

32:19Yes. Okay, thank you. Because I wasn't sure. but the last minute, last second. So it's never easy. Nope. There we go. So you convinced me or what? Was any of this on the running, although? Layups. ESPN FC returns tomorrow. But Monday, Monday means an early game. Chelsea in action against Nottingham Forest. And then the later one, obviously, City against Everton. The layup. I never said that was a layup. Never said that Everton was a layup. The new state. Yes, you did. Chelsea matches the City. there at the FA Cup final. We will be there. ESPN 2. Easy. ESPN Plus.

32:57Steve Nicol:I like things my way. My coffee, my schedule, and my treatment. So I talked to my doctor about self-injecting with the Vivgard Hytrulo Pre-Filled Syringe, which contains F-Guard Tigamide Alpha and Hyaluronidase QVFC. It's injected under your skin subcutaneously. It means I can inject in my space on my time. It's my treatment, my way. Visit VivgardMyWay.com. That's V-Y-V-G-A-R-T my way dot com. And talk to your doctor about Vivgard Hattrulo. Brought to you by Argenics. Harry Douglas here. Game day brings the excitement. Your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S.

33:37soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfasts, others give you room to spread out, space to stay productive, or extended stay comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy, where game day checks in. Real Madrid against Espanyol. Of course, going into this tie, Real Madrid had to win or else Barcelona would be champions. It was a horrible first half of football. 25 minutes in. It'd be a red card here for this challenge.

34:16However, the referee would be sent to the monitor and he would change his mind when he saw this.

34:24Steve Nicol:I think he thought it was a stamp, which it wasn't. So he was clumsy, but he was right to tell him that around. Now that'll be it for your first half highlights as we take it into the second half. Now, Trent Alexander-Arnold will be shown a yellow card here. Just take a look at the replay. That's a red card. You think so, Steve? That's a red card. Yeah.

34:55It should have been. Should have been a red card. They suck though. Yeah, it should have been a red. With a yellow card decision. And five minutes later, nice interplay here and then lovely individual effort from Vinicius Junior to make it 1-0. I mean that's brilliant, isn't it? Yeah, it's a great drop of the shoulder, isn't it? Yeah, he's running at pace as well, two of them. And rolls at home, yeah that's the real Vinny. Yeah, great stuff for the Brazilian, of course no Kylian Mbappe today, he's out with a hamstring injury. Three minutes later, another challenge from Trent, as you mentioned already on a yellow card so this one's more of a scissor challenge right that's a yellow anyway i mean it should definitely a yellow right not a straight red first one could have been so he should have been sent off for that yep regardless because he's

35:52Steve Nicol:already been booked yeah it should have been a second yellow because it's you know he's over the top of the ball and it's a scissor action so he's quite lucky it's a beautiful goal stevie Aye, as good as the first one was, look at this.

36:06It makes it look so easy. You know, he's at an angle, he's got defenders in front of him. It doesn't even, it doesn't look as though he's got any back left either.

36:18Steve Nicol:The great back heel from Birmingham as well. Pretty it's all a bit late, isn't it? Yeah. Well, Real Madrid get the victory and of course get the three points. so mathematically they can still catch Barca at the top of the table. What it means is they won't be given the guard of honour, of course, to their league rivals as it comes to the Clasico next week. What it does mean, though, is that Barcelona can clinch the league with a victory against Real Madrid. At the bottom of the table, Espanyol would have looked at this game, not expected to pick up any points. They are five clear of Sevilla, who sit in 18th.

36:52Sevilla in action on Monday.

36:54Steve Nicol:Are you serious about that guard of honour? Second. Right, Luis Garcia is here. Hello Luis Garcia. Let's have Craig Burley. Sorry for interrupting. Guard of Honour. Yes. Real Madrid obviously goes to next week. Yes. You say that as if it's compulsory. It would have been the biggest talking point in Spain. Why? Because it's always a big talking point if it's Barcelona against Real Madrid. But it's not compulsory for Real Madrid if it had been the case to do that. There's two sides obviously to it. it's like, is it bad sportsmanship, not giving a guard of honour? Is it disrespectful? Well, you're not taking away a league title.

37:30Steve Nicol:You know, if they'd won it, if they'd lost today, then Barcelona still getting the league title. No, absolutely. But the Passio would have been a big talking point, and now it's not a talking point. But you've decided to make it a talking point for some reason. Completely unnecessary, really, in this conversation. So I'm going to move on and say, Luis, the champagne's on ice.

37:53Yeah, it looks like it could be a big celebration. Let's not forget, it's going to be the first time in La Liga that Barcelona can win the trophy, can celebrate the trophy against Real Madrid in his own stadium. So if there is a good scenario for the supporters, for the players and the whole club to celebrate the second league in a row after an amazing season, I think it could be against the biggest rival that is Real Madrid. still need to manage a result. They need to get at least the draw. It looks like by the way that Real Madrid is arriving to this match and how it looks so strong and solid.

38:33Barcelona in the past few months looks like it's going to be like this. But it's a special game. You never know what is going to happen in those today. Even though there was a poor first 45 minutes, 25 minutes was enough for Beniz Jr. to complete turnaround the situation and show how an amazing player he is. So anything can happen in those kind of games. The Clasico is special. We'll have to wait and see. But, of course, the champagnes are nice. Barcelona will win La Liga. It's, of course, a matter of when. And it makes it, I suppose, interesting now, going into Clasico next weekend as to what sort of result we're going to see.

39:06Interesting in what way.

39:08Steve Nicol:Well, I think if you're a Barcelona fan, how beautiful, how sweet would it be that you can beat Real Madrid at the camp now, clinch back-to-back La Liga's and really rub it in. Yeah, you're really... Yeah, there is obviously an intrigue in terms of, you know, as Luis said, Barcelona could, and will be huge, will be favourites, to rub Real Madrid's nose in it next week. Yeah. And I think that's the intrigue in a sense that we know Barcelona at some point, whether it's next week or the week after, or wherever are going to lift the league title, they're going to be champions. But what response to Real Madrid...

39:47Steve Nicol:I said this before the live game today. It's just about, you know, saving face. You're not saving your face with the season you've had, but having some pride in finishing the season strongly. Right. And I think that is going to be one of the big questions next week in this classical, is what Real Madrid are going to turn up? The one that's feeling sorry for themselves, hasn't played particularly well and knows they're not going to win the title, or one that at least is going to put their foot down and stop it happening on Barcelona's patch? and I suppose we'll find out next week. There's not a lot else to play for in terms of it as a huge rivalry but obviously you'd want to stop.

40:26Steve Nicol:I mean, if Stevie, if it had been Liverpool, Everton or Celtic Rangers from my perspective, you would not want that to happen. So there has to be some element of professional pride. It does add an edge to the game. Absolutely it does because for one team it's the icing on the cake. For the other team you don't want them putting the last nail in the coffin. So there's every single reason for both sides to get after it. The season's done, but you know what? That will not be in their mind. It will just about make sure, if you're Real Madrid, we cannot get beat today by this mob. And Arbor Loha doesn't want that to happen.

40:57Steve Nicol:He's not getting the job and it's not gone as swimmingly as I think Florentino Perez would have wanted with the change of manager, albeit an inexperienced one, but one that was supposed to have the respect of the players. But he hasn't been able to find that right balance within the team to get good enough results. And he knows he's gone back to probably his old job after the end of this season. And as a former player, he'll not want Barcelona to rub. So there is some intrigue in the game. And the game sells itself in a sense. It's Barcelona v Real Madrid. But the very fact Barcelona, who have been the best team this season by quite a stretch in La Liga, can win the title against their biggest rivals on their own patch, is, I think, pretty something special you'd want to achieve if you were a Barcelona player.

41:40Steve Nicol:There you go. Good. I've managed to turn you around in the last five minutes. I appreciate that. I just didn't want to get that email sent. You're not selling the game. So I thought I'd just do a fool, Craig. If you got an email, you'd do the absolute opposite. Let's be honest. I'd just delete it. Luis, thank you very much, mate. Luis, I assume, are you going to the Classico, yeah? Yes, we'll be there, Dan. Good stuff. Of course, it's a game you can see live on ESPN and ESPN Plus. Barcelona against Real Madrid. Live on Sunday, ESPN and ESPN Plus at 3pm Eastern. Meanwhile, don't miss our Classico fan experience, an unforgettable Classico watch party and live concert by Aston Armado, featuring an appearance by La Liga legends Carlos Puyol and Eden Hazard.

42:24That is May the 10th at the tour. Just click on the QR code to register. Alex Kirkland joins us. Alex, why are you here? What have you got to say or tell us? You sound enthusiastic, Dan. Thanks for that. Yeah, listening to Alvaro Arbolor in his post-match news conference, Five questions in the presser, four of them about a player who wasn't here, Mbappé. We predicted this pre-match. We talked about this. Remember, Mbappé, injured, also pitched on holiday in the last few days. And you were asking me, sort of, have the club commented on this publicly? Well, our below was asked about it. He said, look, players that are injured are supervised by the class medical department.

43:01When they have to be at Valdebebas at the training ground, they're there. Otherwise, in their free time, it's not up to me to comment they can do what they like. He was asked about to compare, really, Vinicius Junior and his commitment to the team and Mbappe. He said, I'm not going to make those kind of comparisons between my players. But then he did get into quite a long sort of speech, really, about what the team need to do in terms of commitment, working together, you know, the values of the club. Again, referring to this thing here the other day about talent not being enough on its own. You need to sort of mesh the talent and the quality with a collective kind of commitment and identity, which may not have been aimed at Mbappe, but the timing of that little speech from him in that presser was interesting nonetheless.

43:41Otherwise, lots and lots of praise for Vinicius Jr., who was outstanding today, under a lot of pressure, a difficult game, and scored two cracking goals, and Arbolov was really singing his praises as well. Beautiful stuff, Alex. Much appreciated, as always. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house. If I'm grilling, chilling, and watching hoops, my outdoor setup better be ready to play. That's what Wayfair wins. From patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grill accessories, Wayfair's got it all, and it shows up fast. I'm talking fast and easy delivery.

44:16So level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game and head to Wayfair.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season. Wayfair, every style, every home. Oh, oh, oh, O 'Reilly.

44:30Steve Nicol:Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on. Take the guesswork out of your warning lights with O 'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. And if you need help, we could recommend a shop for you. Ask for O 'Reilly Veriscan today. Oh, oh, oh, O 'Reilly. Auto Parts.

45:02Inter Milan are the champions of Italy, winning the Scudetto for the 21st time. They looked good, didn't they? Certainly in the second half of the season to run away with it. Meanwhile Porto are champions in Portugal. These are the scenes at the full time whistle here as they manage to finish top of the table once again.

45:32A lot more on this on the latest edition of the Gab and Jules show that drops on Monday.

45:41Meanwhile, let's go to Argentina. I haven't seen this. Let's take a look. Go on, son. There it is.

45:48Steve Nicol:Go on, son. Get on the end of it. Go on, son.

45:54Go on the field. Who's the dog getting? That's always a question, isn't it? He doesn't have a ticket. Oh, don't grab him. Don't frighten him.

46:08You chase a dog, it'll run away. I mean, surely they know that. There you are. It took them a long time. Just chill out. You've got to take some treats. I was with Stevie's new dog yesterday. Little pup, little flow. Well, exactly. And she had to try and catch off. Don't chase her, can't catch her. Same as that dog. Unlike you. Unlike me. That's it, ESPN FC returns tomorrow. Stay tuned though, Frank Leboeuf is back to answer some of your questions on Extra Time.

46:39Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Frank Leboeuf is with us, Craig and Stevie as well. Craig, all three of Dembale, Gabaskelia and Due have played significantly less than minutes in the league compared to other world-class attackers players across Europe. Do PSG have an unfair advantage in the Champions League with the amount of rest they can afford their key players in the league games?

47:08Steve Nicol:They had a title race this year with Lons. Yeah but the facts speak for themselves. Their star players haven't played as much as other people's star players. But that's... What's the point? What is this idiotic point? So PSG could play their second string of the weekend. They played their second string of the weekend. Which means they could rest their players obviously for the second leg against Barney. Just take the unfair bit away from it. Aston Villa made changes. They've got a big game. Atletico Madrid made 11 changes for their Champions League game because they're not in the title race. They're going to get in the top four in Spain.

47:45Steve Nicol:Champions League football. PSG have been in a title race this year, I believe it's with Lons. Yes. Right. Capiticelli was out of the team and the other players have been injured at times. So that's everybody else's problem. What's the point? What's unfair about it? Well, the argument is that Arteta came out and said it, didn't he? He said that it's easier for the likes of Bayern and PSG because they're not in competitive, physical battles every weekend because they've already sealed the title. Well, then if Arsenal had anything about them, they would have sealed this title long ago and Mikel Arteta could have arrested these players.

48:21Steve Nicol:But they didn't. So that's Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's fault because they could have had six, seven, maybe nine points on Man City already. The title would have been done and he could have played who he wanted, but he didn't because he stuffed it up. Bayern Munich did not. They went out, they got the job done early, right? And he was able to arrest players. So that's on Mikel Ateta and as for the question we've been on for you, that's just stupid. Frank?

48:51Yeah, you know, I'm fed up to hear Ateta crying for everything, you know, complaining about life and any excuses that he can get. I mean, yeah, Craig was absolutely right saying that they should have done the job and arrest the player now because they would have settled down the Premier League. But whatever, I think it's an unfair comment because we talk about an unfair advantage. It's an unfair comment. I mean, they have a depth on the bench and they change. And if Gva and Due, for example, sometimes, and even Dembélé, they were on the bench, because Enrique said they weren't good enough. And they all agreed to say that the coach was right and he pushed them to their best to come back to the first 11.

49:39So he has a great bench, Riz Enrique. He knows how to talk to the players, how to make them work. And as Craig said, they are fighting for the title against Lens. I think they're going to get the Ligue 1 again, but it's not given. And to say that the Premier League is maybe better than the League One, yes, in terms of money.

50:03Steve Nicol:But right now and for the past two years, I still have some question marks about some teams. Were Arsenal playing in June last year? No, they weren't. PSG were, winning the Champions League in June. Were Arsenal playing in the Club World Cup? Which is a load of knowledge, but they weren't playing in that. PSG were. That's why their start of the season probably was a little flatter. That's why they had some injuries. and I think, I might be wrong, but Arsenal at one point had something like a nine-point lead there or thereabouts over Man City. So it was in their hands, the destiny of how the season was going to pan out for them, i.e.

50:39Steve Nicol:relatively simply or quite difficult, that was in their hands and they've made it difficult for themselves. These managers, man. Stevie, Liverpool had eight days to prepare for United and Burton another pootred opening 45 minutes. What exactly does Slott do during training to bring out such limp performances?

51:01Well, I think, unfortunately, they've got to the stage where it doesn't really matter what he says or does. They just can't wait for the season to end. They're just completely lost. They're frazzled mentally and physically. So I don't think now it matters what Slott does. How can they be frazzled physically when they've had so much time? Well because when you're frazzled mentally it affects everything. Everything becomes harder. What are you looking at me like that for? You don't understand it, do you? No. No. Listen, when you're winning every game, right? Yeah. The mental side of it, it's not even there.

51:40Right. You're just playing. So everything's free and there's no pressure or nothing, you're sleeping great and... Everything's easy. But when you start struggling the way they do, every single thing you do becomes difficult. Right. And it wears you down. You could sleep great in a bed of nails, you could.

52:00Steve Nicol:No, no. Never win, lose or draw. That ain't affecting you, is it? I can't hug you with that, Bob. Obviously, Carrick has had an impact at United, but how much is their good form due to not having to worry about European football this season? Does their current squad even have the depth for the Champions League next year? No, don't have the depth. So how do you gauge Carrick as a coach when you have to throw in that extra element of rotation and managing a squad? Well, that's why I said earlier on, depending on who's available, that's why I think you need somebody who's been... If you're Manchester United, you need somebody who's been through that, who can handle playing in four tournaments.

52:38Like who? Just the experienced ones on the list. So for example, Jose Mourinho is on the list, right? This is the next Real Madrid manager. I thought it was Man United. Well, that was the list. Wasn't that the Real Madrid manager? Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp.

53:01Steve Nicol:Mourinho, he's been at Man United, remember? What are you talking about Real Madrid? Second, you brought up Mourinho. Yeah, but what are you talking about Real Madrid? Because you said Jose Mourinho was on the list. We showed the list of the favourites of the Real Madrid religion. Yeah, I'm sorry. I got the wrong list. You're right. You're right. But somebody like him who has all the experience in the world but has probably passed the best. But he went to Manchester United and didn't do great. Well, he won the Europa League, right? Right. And he won the Carabao Cup. So if he was so great, why don't you just shoot him back?

53:34Well, if Michael Carrick had won the Europa League in the Carabao Cup, He would probably get another contract. They weren't in Europe. What are you on about? My point is... One, 100 % not being in Europe, not being in the FA Cup, not being in the Carabao Cup. Having a game once a week, absolutely 1000 % is one of the big reasons. The second question, no, not in a month of Sundays. Do they have a good enough squad to handle the Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and the Premier League? Okay. There you go. So it doesn't matter who the manager is? Unless they broaden the squad with proper players, then actually it's going to be tough for anybody.

54:28Okay. If they don't broaden their squad out and you start the season with what they have now,

54:36Regardless of who the manager is They're going to struggle Right

54:42It's the way he's looking Seriously What? Get that list Are you sniffing something at my house yesterday? I don't know what we say I don't know You're not been baiting it You get paint fumes I saw one in a pot You started the answer by saying you need to bring someone in with European experience and you ended it by saying it doesn't matter who you bring in because the squad's not good enough. But your questions are all over the shop. Oh, it's the question? Yeah. Your questions are all over the place. It's not even my questions.

55:22Frank, would you like to add anything? Oh, no, no, no, no. I don't want to be in that mess and I want to be in the middle of that. I agree with Stevie on the two questions. Don't go too far. I'm still looking for the list. Who's that list? Stevie, from a coach's point of view, can you explain the Kobe Manu situation and what may have happened between him and Amarim? Have you experienced that before? Because it's clear he's extremely talented and very important to his team's transformation. You know, I can only think, there's no question that coaches sometimes just don't fancy a player and it doesn't matter the situation, you're going to try somebody else.

56:12It seems as though that's what's happened with Maynard. Have you ever experienced that when you were playing? No. Like a manager didn't fancy a player or you didn't fancy a player and then all of a sudden the manager leaves and he's back in? No, no I can't. I always, because of that, so that's why, you know, when you're the manager, it's great to have somebody like Paul that I had, because you don't want to fall into that trap of disliking somebody for some reason and then not playing them because of that. And so whenever I was discarding somebody, I would always speak to Paul and go, listen, am I right or am I wrong here?

56:50Am I just not giving this guy a chance when should be, you need to be like, no you're on a presenter right. Because there's no question that Manu's talented. He's won flaws defensively but with the ball at his feet he's fantastic and he's only 21 so I can only think that Amonim just didn't fancy what he did for the team at all. Which promotion playoff format do you prefer Craig? A full-team playoff like the championship or a promotion relegation playoff between a top second division team and a first division side? So we sat in the Bundesliga, don't we? Yeah, yeah.

57:35Good question.

57:37Steve Nicol:I think I'd prefer... I think I would prefer to see the third-placed, third-bottom team in the Premier League playoff against. You'd have West Ham-Milwall in theory. The problem is what the EFL have tried to do over the last umpteen years is keep that. And I think there's been times, I think it was when Ian Dowey was at Palace. I think when Roy Keane was at Sunderland, they went all the way to Automatic from a crazy low position when he took over. But I think teams like Palace and others have got into the playoffs from quite a way down the league, well in the bottom half. So what the EFL have done, they've kept it open for a lot of teams.

58:21Steve Nicol:It's going to be more next season, obviously, as well. Apparently, yeah. Now, is that fair? I thought you can argue it's not. If a team finishes third in the league with 78 points and a team finishes sixth with whatever it is, 55 or 60, you're in a one-game potentially. Yes. It's a home or bust. But, so yeah, I would say that's more exciting, that leaves it more open. But I'm not sure over the season that's as fair as what the Bundesliga do, i.e. the third place, third place team, and you're either up or you're down. What about you? I don't know. Yeah, I understand how exciting the playoffs are in the championship, but I find it unfair that a team that Craig said who gets 75 points a team gets 52 or whatever and ends up going up I don't like that I understand why they do it but I don't think that is unfair So I mentioned it's going to go down to 8th next season Is that when it's going down to 8th?

59:26Yeah, it's going to be 6th teams

59:27Steve Nicol:So you could technically I mean obviously if you're having a bad season but if you're third or fourth you could be technically in the bottom three in the championship and get it together well if you're in the bottom three you're unlikely Yes. But you sign a few players, change a manager, whatever. You could make that run to the playoffs. But where do you stop? Yeah. Frank, which do you prefer? I prefer the promotion and relegation playoffs as well. I mean, I experienced that where you finish second and third and you have to play against each other and then you play against the team who was 18th in the Liga.

1:00:05I think it's more exciting and you deserve that more than the team who finishes fifth. I mean, fifths. I mean, it can be a huge gap between second and fifth. So, yeah, I think it's more fair to have those type of playoffs than the other, the one we see right now. I think I prefer the playoffs. Liverpool desperately need to sign an attacker this summer, Stevie. Another one. Another one. Who's on your list? Should they put in a bid for Felicius Junior? You mean a Wade player? Yeah. They need a Wade player, yeah.

1:00:47See, the problem is... Vinny Junior's a great player.

1:00:55But my goodness, he must be one pain in the backside to manage. Well, he's not going to go to Liverpool, I think is the big problem. No, I know. but it's a hypothetical question. You give Xabi Alonso the job

1:01:04Steve Nicol:because you're possibly going to sack Arby's lot and then you tell them how do you fancy bringing Vinny and you've had a pretty good relationship with him. Liverpool recently, particularly, well not recently, they've always been a hard-working team even in the 80s when they were winning everything but they didn't just do it by being good players, they did it because they worked hard as well and particularly in the last few years that's been their mantra, hasn't it? They outran teams and outpaced them and all that sort of stuff. And signing players like that just gets away from that. Who would you get, Steve?

1:01:38Steve Nicol:It's tricky, isn't it? There's no kind of standout. Actually, I was thinking... Gavin Scalia. No, you keep telling me he's not going to go to Liverpool. He's not going to go to Liverpool. Why? Because he's the best team in the world at the moment. What noise is that? Mbappé was there. And the best city in the world. Mbappé was at PSG. Right. He wanted to leave. Yes, but they weren't winning things with Mbappé. Maybe it's not just the allure of the Champions League, maybe it's the allure of playing in a different league.

1:02:07Steve Nicol:I'm just saying, it's not nothing. Are you saying Liverpool in the Premier League, and I don't think the Premier League's the be-all-and-end-all, far from it. I don't. But in terms of a global audience, are you saying the likes of Liverpool and the money that they have can't attract somebody like... No, not kind of scary. No? No. I don't think so. Not from Peter. If he was playing for the Longs or someone like that, then maybe. Why would he be playing for the Longs? Well, because this is where Liverpool need to target. I think it's unlikely, but money will talk. I don't think it'll talk that much.

1:02:41Steve Nicol:Listen, you're in an arsey mood today. I'm not in an arsey mood. He's about to give you a slap, and I'm going to be right behind him. Of all the players, you're plucking up some fucking... I'm not plucking... You're comparing Mbappe leaving PSG to go to Madrid. I'm plucking up somebody who is a top player in the wide position, who is relatively young and would be good enough to replace Amos Alar. But it's a step down. It's a step down to go from PSU to Liverpool. Spare me they can't get him and he won't go. I have no idea. If you're asking for names, I'm telling you. No, of course. We can all say names.

1:03:14Steve Nicol:We can all say names. Well, you're telling me Liverpool can't attract really good... If you're saying to me Liverpool can't attract top talent, I'm telling you now you're talking nonsense. How? Why? They can't attract the top-tier players. So he hasn't had a good season, but Florian Wurtz wasn't a top-tier player before he came to Liverpool. But Florian Wurtz wasn't winning the Champions League. He was playing for Leverkusen. He was playing for Leverkusen. But Frank, he's a bona fide German international who'd won the league with Leverkusen. He was£150 million or whatever he was because he was seen as a top-tier player.

1:03:50Steve Nicol:Yes. Right. So they can attract top-tier players. Because guess what? that Monique top... Betts has been a bad player this year. But he wasn't before he came. He was the best name. No, it was a great coup. So you're saying Liverpool can't attract top players? I'm saying they can't attract someone like... They can't attract... So Alisson wasn't a top player. Van Dijk wasn't a top player. Van Dijk came from Southampton. He was the most expensive defender in the world. Alisson came from Roma. You're just talking... These are all four teams that are lower in the ladder to Liverpool. So they're not top players?

1:04:20This isn't your argument. Your argument is they can get anyone, Well they did. Florian Verts was playing for Bayer Leverkusen. Alisson was playing for Roma. You know, it's this way it is.

1:04:30Steve Nicol:Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. He's had a bad year but Florian Verts could have taken his pick in most clubs in Europe. Absolutely. Because he's a top player who's had a bad season. So Liverpool can attract top players. They can attract top players from Bayer Leverkusen, yes. But not from PSG. Why? Because he wins the Champions League with PSG. If I may. He's stubborn. He knows he's wrong, Frank. It's all right. You're saying you can't attract top players. That's absolutely rubbish. Liverpool cannot attract top players who already belong to top teams, top clubs, like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and maybe Bayern Munich.

1:05:15The only guy maybe they could get is Michael Olysees because he's half English, half French, and he understands what it means to go to Liverpool and maybe he has something sentimentally. But otherwise, Kravash Kelly, Douai, Dembélé, and some others, it would be very hard if they played for Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, to come to Liverpool. I'm sorry, that's the reality of it. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's show. I can't wait with this show. You can't argue when he's in this mood. No. What, am I wrong, Stevie? Well, wait, wait, wait, am I wrong? You can't argue when he's in this mood.

1:05:55Wait, wait, wait, wait, Stevie, am I wrong? Time isn't. Exactly. That is it. Exactly. Oh, yes, exactly. What if I'm wrong? Tell me. Tell me I'm wrong. In this mood. You can't argue with you when you're in this mood.

1:06:07Steve Nicol:You said Liverpool can't attract top players. They've won the Champions League. I'm saying they can't attract them from PSG. or Real Madrid or Barcelona. Exactly. Frank just said exactly. But you're wrong because if a player wants to move and I'm not suggesting any of them do but if a player wants to move because he wants to play in Italy or Germany or England and the money's right and the player wants to do it anybody can be attracted. So it's a moot point really. I don't think it's a moot point. Yes it is. I don't think if you're Cavazcalier you're thinking I'm going to go to Liverpool. No I'm not saying he is but your argument that top players can't be attracted.

1:06:45Steve Nicol:But you just said Cavazcalo was your example. Yes. If you're asking me a player that could replace a Mo Salah, a Luis Diaz and people like that, I'm giving you names of players that could improve Liverpool. I could sit here and say, oh, put Federico Chiesa. He'll do a good job. He's been at Liverpool. That'd be nonsense. You're saying you can't attract players. Money will talk. I don't think it does. It's not like he's struggling at PSG financially, is he? No, you're nailing this down to one player. Because you brought that player up. Yeah, because you're asking me the type of player that could improve.

1:07:23No, I didn't ask the type of player. So what are you asking? Which player should they target? That's not what you said. It is, Craig. I didn't say what type of player. You didn't say a Kavatskelia-like player. You said Kavatskelia. I'll give you the answer. He wants to go to the best team in the world. I'll give you the answer. What player should they target? Kavatskelia, they won't get it. Well, I'm not suggesting. You can't get Laminya Marlin. I didn't say which should they target. I'm not suggesting they'll get them. How do you know they won't get them if they don't ask? Well, obviously. You can ask Luminium more.

1:07:52Ask Vinicius Junior. Why would you ask Vinicius Junior? Well, you don't know. But what if it turns around and says, Oh, I'd love to play for Liverpool. Then I am completely and utterly wrong. There you go. Exactly. As you said. The question was never...

1:08:04Steve Nicol:Exactly. What do you think? Target the poorer players? Or should Liverpool not target the best players and get accursed by... Your argument is, why would Kavatskelia not want to go to Liverpool? No, it's not. It is. It's not. You just brought it up. I didn't say why. See, this is it. You're utterly stupid with stuff like this. But you brought up Kavatskelia. I am saying you have to test the water. If you're a club like Liverpool or Man City, you have to test the water. If you're Kavatskelia, why would you want to go to Liverpool? Well, that's another debate for another day. But this is the debate we've been having for the last 10 minutes.

1:08:37and you've been saying go to Liverpool because you want to test yourself in the Premier League. No, again, I did not say test yourself in the Premier League.

1:08:43Steve Nicol:What did you say then? Why would I say test yourself in the Premier League when I don't even think the Premier League is that good? You said that! I said maybe he wanted to play in another country. Right. Not test yourself. Cavett Scalia could play standing on his head in the Premier League against the likes of Burnley and half the crap that's in there. I didn't say test himself. I was like saying Messi never tests himself in the Premier League. You don't listen half the time. So why would Kavatskelia go to Liverpool? Oh, I'm just saying. Why? Sorry? Why would he go to Liverpool? Well, I wouldn't go at the moment.

1:09:14Steve Nicol:So why did you bring him up? Because Liverpool have to target players that are a standard as good or better than Mo Salah. But we could sit here and say the same about so many other players that won't go to Liverpool. Alright, well, I was looking for a player that could make the move and you brought up Kavatskelia. A player that could make the move for any old player? Exactly. A player that Liverpool could ideally get. Well, what, you try and get them? Of course, try Lamin-Yamal, try everyone. But what I'm saying is who could they get? Stevie. That is it, that brings us to the end of today's show.

1:09:48He asked one thing and then he tried to take it down on the field. Well, unless you give him the answer he wants, he's not harbying. Yeah, it's all right. He's seen that kind of moodies. It's ridiculous. You've seen the kind of moodies in the day. Yeah, where's the list? Manchester City are taking on Everton tomorrow. It's Chelsea against Nottingham Forest. We'll be looking back at those games and looking ahead to the Champions League.

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