Manchester Mishaps

21:02Stewart Robson:Mariska made the right changes when Ndi and one or two other changes and Ndi comes on, he gives them that bit of pace and that helps out Erling Haaland. So he did pretty much all the right things and Michael Carrick, whatever he did, just did not work. So it's been a good start to the season for City. Great start to the season as well for Arsenal. You think back to this tie against Sunderland last year, they managed that 2-2 draw, were kind of bullied out of a victory. They were excellent in this tie to win by two goals to nil. Sunderland, of course, were given a penalty. It was saved. Arteta was asked about that penalty after the game.

22:00How can this a penalty? I mean, I don't know. I cannot find an explanation, honestly. That's why I'm going to try to find an explanation now. Has anyone explained it? No, but I have to be here in front of you guys and talk about it. I don't want to talk about it. I want to talk about the game and how good we were, how good Sunderland was and the level of the league and how beautiful this is. We should never be talking about this or the safe of David, which was incredible. We should not even be talking about that. Well, he is talking about it. Mario Malkiot joins us. Let's just keep this simple, Mario.

22:30For you, was it a penalty?

22:34No, no. Because you know what the thing is when I watch this, you know what he's saying? I love it. Why? Because last season, everything was okay. There was no problem. This season is identical what happened to them last season, what they were doing, as I'm saying. And the kid falls down. So it's for me. No. You know, he has to call it because the rules change now. You know, you're not allowed to grab people up like they were doing last season. So now you're going to get a penalty against you. If you don't like it, it doesn't matter what you like. It's going to be like this. Atat is just trying to outsmart him last season and this season.

23:10He comes with another one. So is this mind games from him, Naden? To be honest, so that's the fourth interview I've seen from Arteta where he's talking about the shirt being pulled. And that is funny in this one. He's saying, I don't even want to talk about it. But in all the interviews, he was making sure that that's exactly what he spoke about. so clearly he's upset about it and I think the fact he said he's watched it 20 times as well probably needs to relax a little bit probably won't need to see it that many times Paul I think what's interesting about this incident for me with Ballard it's similar to the way that say Brian Brobby plays some people when they're attacking they really get hold of the defender behind them they pull their shirt and very rarely is that penalised and I think sometimes you can fall off balance when you're the person behind because you instinctively start to jostle but I think something that's missing within this is the way that the referees communicate with the video assistant referees and the referees probably said i'm given the penalty because i have seen esri konza over the back of said person holding him and when the var looks at the video he can see that that's probably happening but it's alongside ballard so i don't think they can say to him that this is wrong and i think in some ways the referee again needs to understand that that's the way ballard is attacking the play that's the way brobbies doing this that's the way this person's doing that and i think if they had a better understanding of those moments within games they can see what appears more natural and what doesn't because there are plenty of times where attackers are essentially cheating the defenders by holding them and making it seem like there's a bigger file there but also one final point it's funny how arteta is talking about referees now how much of a disgrace it was but then do you remember the game against west ham back in may where west ham had a goal ruled out there's like oh the refereeing system this is the best system in all the world these guys are so brave i've never seen anything and like it, they are heroes and five games later, you know, they're the villains that seem to be just ruining his life

24:56Stewart Robson:I've got no interest whether this is a penalty or not none couldn't care less don't care if it's a penalty, don't care if it's not a penalty, don't care for the argument what I'm focusing on here is a pathetic manager of this football club who won the league who won the game who talks about the beautiful game in the Premier League and all that sort of stuff, but it was his team that won the league last year, but it was his team were arguably the most guilty of making it an ugly game last year. He talks about the beautiful game, his team with the ability that they have to go out there and make us all purr about how they're playing, relied on set pieces, on pulling, on blocking and all the skullduggery that goes on, which I'm okay with because we all did it, Shaq, when we were playing, we all blocked and we all pulled and it was part of the game and they've been the worst at it.

26:02Stewart Robson:And they were the worst at time wasting in the Champions League final. And they thought that was going to get them over the line and it failed. And yet here he is against little old Sunderland, second season in the Premier League, They've won the game, folks, not lost it. And he's watched it 20 times. He needs to get on with it and get a life. And he needs to accept that all this grappling and all this blocking and all this trying to stifle the goalkeeper is partly because everyone's trying to copy his team. And I've been adamant that we need some sort of law change that stops the amount of players being inside the six-yard box to make it easier for the officials to officiate a game and stop all this nonsense.

26:52Stewart Robson:And yet he has the gall after spending two years with this set-piece coach that only pops his head up when something goes well and comes out like a jack-in-the-box to get on camera. And yet he's got the cheek to moan about set-pieces and referees and beautiful games when they operate with one of the best squads in Europe and they operate set pieces in time waste in the manner in which they do, it's pathetic.

27:21Frank Leboeuf:You and Frank were chatting to each other about this yesterday. Yeah, Frank didn't think it was a penalty, which I thought was absolutely bizarre. To Niram's point, if the striker has a hold of your shirt, as you're suggesting Ballard is doing here, what defenders do is put their two arms up to say, listen, I'm not holding, he's the one holding me. What you cannot do as a defender in that circumstance is wrap both your arms around the attacker and then hoped to be seen as innocent. It's absolutely ridiculous. Were the tables turned, Arteta would be the first run through everybody's little manager box trying to get the referee's attention.

27:57Frank Leboeuf:Jack in the box. The little manager box. Oh, the technical area. He's another one. He's always running all over.

28:03Stewart Robson:He was booked, wasn't he? Yeah, he was booked. They should have three lives, book them all, then send them off. I'm absolutely sick of it. Again, I don't get it. Why it matters is it a penalty or not, I don't understand. The point is, when did this change, by the way? When did, I don't remember. Do you remember coming off thinking a decision's gone against you and going, right, we need to write to somebody here. I tell you what. When has this changed?

28:30Frank Leboeuf:Here's what I, honestly, to your question, Dan, I honestly think this is mind games being played perfectly well by Al Tata. because we had all of this very early on in the season last season from Marteta everything that marginally could have been interpreted otherwise he was shouting from the rooftops about Nader mentioned the West Ham game where he had a decision go strongly in his favor the other that comes to mind is Rice handball against Chelsea again holding I can't remember who the player was the only thing was Chelsea scored from the resulting corner so it didn't become an it didn't you see is Arsenal later on in the season because of Arteta and all the noise he made early on get the benefit of the doubt later on and it sees them over the line had as Arsenal I can't remember if it was a draw or lost to West Ham in that circumstance that would that really would have put the cat amongst the pigeons in in the running now so to Arteta's point he is I think he's kind of putting the referees under pressure in the expectation given what happened last year that they'd get all the benefits of all the doubt later on in the season when it really really matters who's the main games for the referees where's the main games these clowns have no idea

29:50Stewart Robson:what's going on how can you get in the mind of incompetence it's impossible they're going to make a decision. These officials, you're not in their mind, they're just going to look at someone and go, duh, that's a penalty. That goes. No, but you know how it goes. You know, sometimes also, I think when he comes out, you understand, he says certain things that we don't agree with, he's also protecting his team, because he let the fire go on top of him, instead of, you know, refocusing on his players. But clearly, no. You know, like, for me, the interesting part is we know he will open up his mouth when something doesn't go his way.

30:33And now, clearly, this is one of the biggest points. So that's why he jumped on it. It was funny. It was interesting to see. I'm sure he will look it back. He should watch that one back and go like, OK.

30:44Stewart Robson:Watch that when he takes it away. I cannot wait for one of his players. I hope it's next week. I can't wait any longer than next week. I hope it's whenever they play next week. I can't wait for one of them to get... Oh, yeah, international ball. Oh, my God. Let's just pick and referies. I can't wait for one of them to get grappled. Okay, but also a perfect so far this season. The same can't be said for the show. You know what it is, Artesia? Shut up, I'm doing the same way to Chelsea. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back.

31:15Stewart Robson:From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click granger.com, or just stop by. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside a case that has captivated the nation. To many people, Luigi Mangione is a modern-day Robin Hood. People were cheering the demise of this person they'd never met, who was a father of two and a husband and had a life and was just doing a job.

31:58From the manhunt ending in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to what authorities are saying about a possible motive. I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmeyer. Listen to Burden of Proof, Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. Chelsea can only manage a 2-2 draw against the whole city and defensively they were all over the place. This is what Xavi Alonso said. The first goal we can do much better. It was too soft to give them this hope because until then we were controlling. You need to be very aware, very ready that the danger can come from any situation. If you are soft or if you are not prepared, you will get punished.

32:42They were punished, Mario. I tell you what, they could have been punished more because Hull had late chances as well. This was a real wake-up call for Chelsea fans who were excited about Alonso and the attack in football. he's going to bring because defensively they look absolutely shocking yeah i mean you know look look one of the key things when you learn when you come to england they always tell you don't let the ball bounce exactly it doesn't matter who you are like and believe me if you don't if they don't tell you that well let me be the first because i got two stitches when i allowed that to happen to me so for that to happen you understand okay here is clearly the header and then he strikes the ball Okay, Martinez comes out, that was good, but this long ball.

33:24Favanna doesn't jump up. Then Malagusto gets bumped. And then Hato thinks he's reading the bounce well. And Bouliem... You know, for me, the key thing is, don't let the ball bounce. Because when you bounce, every attacker, especially in our time, would always think he has a chance of winning that ball. And you should never allow him to. Because then it becomes muscle to muscle. And teams like Holt, it doesn't matter. If they cannot match you in quality-wise, they will match you in physicality and in determination. And I think that's what happened to Chelsea. What Alonso said is that he knows, look, he can score great goals.

34:04He can score, he score really early. Sometimes scoring early is not always the greatest thing. Because when you score early, sometimes that's what creates even more pressure. But it doesn't matter when the opportunity comes. You know, Rodgers took it well. But then they allowed him to come back. And this was a game, if you look back at the end, they were kind of a little bit lucky that they didn't lose the game. Because there were some great saves made from Martinez. He made some mistakes as well, but there were also some great saves. So Chelsea has to be really careful because it's not always going to come out.

34:36You're going to get enough time, you understand, to get the goal. That, you know, like, did you score a goal at the end? It was a great dribble of Palmer, you understand? He cut it back, you understand? And Pedro striked it well. Great goal. Goalkeeper, you know, his first post. We can talk about all that. But for me, the key thing is for Chelsea now. They've got to clean it up at the back because sometimes you're only going to win and you have to win a game 1-0. And if you always concede like this, you will never be possible to win a game 1-0. How easy is this to fix? Is this simply saying, well, look, when Calisado comes back, then you'll have someone sitting in the back four.

35:09Stewart Robson:Obviously, having Calisado sweeping up in front of your back four is a plus. but that doesn't explain the hesitancy in letting the balls bounce as it did on three occasions on that one goal there. Look, if Alonso wants to play and the answer is the easy fix is by better players but they don't have those players. They have a back four that's half decent nothing more. Nothing more. If he wants to play Xabi Alonso that is an open, exciting front foot game then his back four need to be really on their toes because they don't have all those bodies in front of them to protect if they're going to be trying to be a little bit more swashbuckling and we saw some of that particularly at Craven Cottage in the first game, they were excellent going forward but again there was flaws at the back but if you want to play that game with Morgan Rodgers and Cole Palmer and Neto and Joe Pedro and you don't have a lot of protection there and everybody's sort of swarming forward and this is great, that back four has to be really solid.

36:21Stewart Robson:It has to be able to handle coughing the ball up and teams getting at them on a quick counter. And I don't think they can. So I think he's going to have to evaluate as the season goes along how he gets the balance right within the attack and the defence. And that sounds very simple. But if you're too much on the front foot and your defence isn't good enough, on that counter-attack, you're going to get exposed. But on the other side, if you have a really solid back four with experience and pace and nous and understanding, you could probably play that way, but they don't. So they're trying to play a way at the moment that's exposing the back four that has a lot of holes in it.

37:00Stewart Robson:And that's going to give him some headaches going forward. And let's see if they address that in the coming weeks and months. Nadim, you used to be a defender. yeah I did used to be defender thanks for that great little segue I think that goal the one from the long ball from just like a defensive standpoint I'm watching it is a horror show you know I'm sure it's the same for Mario and anyone else that's like ever been on a football pitch before because you know we've conceded so many goals and stuff within our careers obviously some people like myself more so than others however some of these goals if somebody does something good and they deserve the moment or it's a great finish or a great bit of play on occasion you might hold your hands up but when you look at that goal just imagine for example the video analysis they're going to do the day after the game you come in it's the meeting room right guys let's talk about the game on the weekend okay let's have a look at the goals so what could we do better here you know they would be silenced in that room because everybody's thinking this is a mess this is a horror show of a goal let the ball bounce as we say something that's I'm I'm like coaching my daughters on the ninth team and we're saying don't let the ball bounce now yes though you look at people who are playing in the premier league who are full internationals allowing that to happen and understanding like this is whole city and one thing they will do is compete that is exactly what they'll do as a bare minimum Holly McBurnie will take you under the ball they will chase the ball down to the channel somebody will whip it into the box they will fight for everything that's what it's going to be when they don't have the quality that you have they will try and elevate their fight so just keep things like as simple as possible and i think in my mind as well from jabby alonso to go back to his years where he was successful at leverkus and not least of all the year when they went invincible for as good as the attack was it was built on their defense they conceded 24 goals in 34 games so for all the talk about you know virtz was doing this or someone was doing that like jabby alonso was a really strong defensive mind in bundesliga and that's why they had success.

38:58There were so many times with Granit Xhaka talking about like you win championships on your defence and stuff like this and now we look at this Chelsea side and we're being wooed by the front three but around to see what value is the front three when everyone's gonna be scoring at least two goals against you throughout the entire season. It's a terrible start from that standpoint and realistically if they're gonna be the side say like Manchester United last year that prospered from not being in Europe for the season things have to change because as it stands like it's incredibly incredibly underwhelming from a defensive standpoint?

39:27Stewart Robson:You know, I always think, I don't know what the guys think, I always think in your centre-half position, you need to have at least one, if not the two of them, but at least one who's an organiser. Right? A talker. An organiser. A thinker. And I don't think they are. I think they all just want to be good footballers. I don't think they have. They certainly, they haven't got that experience. They haven't got that aura. And if you're playing at the top end of the elite leagues, You need to have a goalkeeper in centre-halves that are organising. Whether it's talking to the midfield, talking to the full-backs, talking to your centre-half partner.

40:04Stewart Robson:They had it for years with John Terry and Carvalho. They had it at Man City with Vincent Kompany. Ruben Diaz, Gvadiel, John Stones. Even at Man United over the years, they've had good organisers at the back. All the big teams, Arsenal, Gabriel Saliba. experience talkers guys that annoy you guys that want to battle and fight you and I don't think Chelsea have that I don't I don't think so what do we give Alonso a pass as a manager because he hasn't got the personnel they're his players isn't it his job as a coach to get the best defensively out of these players yes and that's his problem he took the job I'm not giving him a pass I'm telling you what I think is needed to have a better defence, and I don't think they have it.

40:53Stewart Robson:They don't have an organiser.

40:55Frank Leboeuf:To that point, you criticise Xavi Alonso if Chelsea aren't organised defensively. But those goals, the second in particular, as everybody's touched on, for me, that's not about Xavi Alonso. That's about the most basic of defending. I don't understand. Surely it can't be Xavi Alonso. I've got this one. Surely it can't be Xavi Alonso's role as a Premier League coach slash manager to tell your defenders when the ball's coming in the air, run and hit it. Don't let it bounce. That can't be what he's doing on a Monday morning on the training ground. It absolutely can't. That is the basics of defending, page one.

41:44Frank Leboeuf:For me, that goes down to the defence and whether it's a lack of leadership, it's just comical. Is this a discussion we're going to have for the season, Mario, because you don't have good enough players at the bank? No, I think this is something that he definitely has to work on. Also, because the way Chelsea plays, they play on half spaces, right? Because they try to get the ball between the lines. But then also the offensive way, you understand they're standing in a certain way, so you have to do less, would you be more effective. But if you have every time a player behind you and in front of you, you got to make sure that you pick up wherever the side the ball is on, the guy that's in front of there, the closest to the ball, that is your man that you defend and not the one behind you because that's the responsibility for the person that is standing next to you.

42:31So little things like that, they got to fix it because it looks like, they sometimes look at each other like, oh, should you be there or should I be there? And I think now it's early, so you can pick that up. that there is no discussion in, you know, you cannot hesitate. And like what we said, you understand, when the ball got kicked, right? If Fafana would have had the ball, it wouldn't have even got the second bounce. He would have just gone for it, but he let it bounce, and Gustav gets the bump. You know, like little things like that for me, you understand? And I understand it. I'm not saying, like, this is something that, like Greg said, you know, like there have to be players that tell you that.

43:08I had it too. I get it the hard way. Like I said, I had like man like the first couple of times that I really happened to me Oh my god I had to go into the dressing room every time to get stitches on and go back on the field and it happened to me twice in a row Then the second then the third time when it happened this all started screaming at me Are you gonna allow it to happen again? So, you know, it's a wake-up call. You got to do it when the ball goes up go and win it because the first one you win Oh, trust me the second one that person won't come near you And I think those are the kind of things, like we talked about, is that the man needs to come out of them and just be a little tougher.

43:44Just be tough. Let them know that you're there. When you're tough, there's nothing wrong with it.

43:52Attention to the Carabao Cup, meanwhile, then, after this Premier League round has finished. And it's two teams who have had terrible weekends. Liverpool drew 0-0 against Everton. Both very, very poor performances. as Spurs expected, I suppose, these days for Liverpool. So many questions for Iriola to answer as the season unfolds. I suppose the big question, Nadam, going into this tie is how seriously do both teams take this? Because we're hearing that Spurs are going to make wholesale changes, which makes you think, well, why not just stick with a good team or the first team to try and give them a little bit of confidence?

44:29I suppose the wholesale changes might be positive because they have a bit more depth, But I've also heard that Irelia's talking about making changes as well, saying he's going to have a look at some of the players in the squad, and that doesn't necessarily scream of the type of language where you're going to be seeing really free-flowing, exciting football either. So in some ways, this game, on paper, it probably looked good when the draw was made, but in reality, it could be anything. I think the fact that they're both coming off 2-0-0 draws as well at home, I don't know which way this game's going to go.

45:01I think obviously a win would be a big boost for one of these teams. But honestly, I can't talk myself into how this is going to be a good game. I really can't. I hope it's going to be one. I hope it's going to be end-to-end. But I just don't think it's going to have the faces that could make it that sort of game. But more importantly, from a Spurs perspective, they just have to start scoring some goals. Deary me. I can't watch them have two shots a game and no shots on target anymore. Something has to give. It has to be better, surely.

45:29Stewart Robson:If De Zerbe anticipates that Areola will make changes, he needs to get his team... Why is anybody making changes? I don't know. Why is anybody making changes? I don't know. I don't know. We've got one game left in the Premier League before it's 10 years. International break. It doesn't make any sense. Because they've all convinced themselves that this is what they do these days. Right? It's the same as the Muppets out there that hang on to the terminologies that are out there today that make people think they're a smart arse. The low block and the transition and all this sort of stuff. And people hang on every one thing.

46:08Stewart Robson:He knows what he's talking about. It's the same thing. They've all been convinced that they need to make changes. Tottenham in particular, Liverpool also, but Tottenham in particular should be putting out what they deem their best at living is to try and get a performance. A result, a performance, something to get them going. That's what they should be doing. But we're in the modern age of we need to give this guy a rest and this guy a rest. No, they need to get moving. Liverpool the same, to be fair. Liverpool, you know, Stevie and I think you said Don were very, very up on Florian Vils' performance in the Atleti game.

46:46You know, so be it, whatever. But he's another one.

46:51Stewart Robson:They need to get all these guys going. Who cares if Florian Vils goes away for Germany and is man in a match? Liverpool fans don't care who cares if any players go away for their teams in this ludicrous international break that's coming up and they're all brilliant for the countries don't players want to play as well yes listen to that I want to maybe get a chance to go I still maybe want to get a chance believe it or not believe it or not players actually still want to win things at the end of the season I don't want to know how rested I am I don't care I've got two bad knees and a bad hamstring and I need to go and have an operation, which most of us used to have to do, at the end of the season to go and have something cleaned up.

47:31Stewart Robson:I want that to have happened because I had a chance at winning something. Not because I finished 12th in the Premier League and got rested in the Carabao Cup. That's not what a player wants.

47:42Frank Leboeuf:Listen, I don't get it at all. And whether players are going away on international duty or not, let's take Spurs as an example here, and Liverpool, let's be honest, are not that much different. But if you're a player going away on international duty, do you prefer to get rested now, thinking about two games ago, we had no shots on target. Last week we had one shot on target. And now you've got that on your mind. As opposed to, even if you beat, let's, for argument's sake, a weakened Liverpool team by 3-0. At least you have that to think about for the next couple of weeks. There's just so much about this, from a De Zerbe or Areola getting their best teams out, figuring a couple of things out to just psychologically what it means to those players to go away for two weeks whether they go away or not but have a good result and good performance to think about and let that be a focus for the next couple of weeks it makes absolutely no sense just to make whole scene changes on both sides of the ball here none at all Mario no no no I totally agree you know you also have to think about the rhythm right when you play in a team the team is not performing well okay when are you gonna work on the rhythm are you gonna do like what the guys already said look everybody wants to play for his country i get that you understand because that is some proud moment right you're going to represent your country but on the other side also at the club you want to do that because it's part of that journey what you're traveling you want to do well your club then you go to your country you take that kind of form with you and then you come back to your club and you say like okay let's carry on but if you are happy to go away and be with your national team because you're kind of coming out of the pressure where you just left then your coach need to be thinking like okay they might want to go there so we got to fix it here first before they go so put out a good team make sure because every trophy now is important if you have nothing because we just started so get the good run going and focus on that and i think that is one of the key things that everybody should think about and me as an individual oh if i'm not informed i'm even asking the coach if i can play uh we'll be looking back at that game of course on the next edition of ESPN FC.

49:50Stevie will be here, plus reflecting on Real Madrid who are in midweek La Liga action.

50:00An eight goal thriller in Serie A. What? Something you don't say every day. Inter against Udinese served exactly that up though. Nine minutes in, it's Udinese who would take the lead. James here with the goal.

50:14Frank Leboeuf:and it's a really simply work goal. Ball crossing to the middle, nobody pushes out, simple header from what four yards. Seven minutes later and it's 2-0, Shaka! What? I didn't make the mistake! Why do you keep asking me dad? Wow, he's a little unlucky. He's unlucky, he's thinking the ball's coming all the way through, where's the defence helping you out? And soft, Greg. Ten minutes later, Carlos Augusto gets one back from range.

50:47Interperfect so far this season, looking to continue that, but found themselves 2-1 down in the 35th minute, but Barella would make it 2-2 here.

50:57Frank Leboeuf:Barella does really well, just seems to lose his footing, defence adjusts, and as a result, that one touch gives him just the half a yard he needs. Good finish. Into the second half we go, for the first time in the game, Inter would take the lead. Chiram here.

51:17Inter side bouncing back after that. Disappointing defeat against Real Madrid and sooner it would be 4-2. Esposito here. Cooing up. Yeah, very much so. Well would.

51:29Stewart Robson:Actually, they didn't play badly in the Bernabeu, they just made a couple of horrible mistakes that cost them. But they're actually a pretty good side. They are a pretty good side who are perfect in Italy then as they would win this game by five goals to three. The fifth goal coming here from Bonny. Unesi getting one back late on. But it's three points to Inter that put some level with Roma at the top of the table who have also started perfectly. It's a bit of a good week for Betis, wasn't it? After beating Real Madrid, they then won in the Champions League as well. Villarreal their next stop on Monday night in Spain and it'd be Moreno who

52:09Frank Leboeuf:would make it 1-0. It's a really nice finish, the board just seems to beat him but he's able to adjust and nice volley. However, ten minutes later, Betis get that equaliser, Hernandez here.

52:22Stewart Robson:Just falling in off the drop ball from the goalkeeper. There he's at it again. Indeed, it'd be Nathan who would make it 2-1 here. There's a scramble at the end.

52:33Frank Leboeuf:Good save from the goalkeeper. She could save. Where's the defence? The defence stays way parked up on the edge of the box. And look at what it means for Real Betis. Third in the table. Level on points with Real Madrid. Four wins out of five so far this season. Alavante beat them 5-2. It's still quite something. As we mentioned then, tomorrow, Elche against Real Madrid. Barcelona went there and put five past them. What will Real Madrid do that game live? 3pm Eastern on ESPN2.

53:09San Diego taking on Philadelphia Union in MLS. Sullivan with the back heel. Five minutes into the second half.

53:20Frank Leboeuf:Really nice finish from Kevin Sullivan. Well, it comes at him quickly. I suggest. That's nice. Keeper can't even react. And he tried to nick it. No, he didn't. The boy in the lane tried to nick it. Sullivan again finds the back of the net here. Nicely timed run. Keeper. No, Dan. Good finish. Don't blame it, you go to your dad.

53:48Dimiani makes it 3-0.

53:54Convincing performance from Philadelphia Union. and it would get even better late on. Own goal here. Oh boy. It's a good header though. Give him that.

54:05Stewart Robson:What the hell was that? Seriously. It'd be five for Philly. Good home performance, eh? Yes. Oh boy. A lot more on that. Tonight, Philly America is 8.30 Eastern. The boys are back from the US Open. Be sure to join them. Right then, top ten goals, here we go. What have we got? We start with Crystal Palace against Middlesbrough. Oh, I love those finishes.

54:39Frank Leboeuf:Yeah, it's nice. They're so cool.

54:41Stewart Robson:Goalies hate them.

54:42Frank Leboeuf:Yes, you do. It's a nice finish, get in that. That's a nice start. That's fun. Yeah. Ah, we just saw this. I prefer the other one, but there we go. Sullivan. Sorry, what? I prefer the chip to this. Do you? No, I'll give it up.

54:58Stewart Robson:Well, you can sort it out with whoever put it in this order. No, I don't know. Pick a ball.

55:06Rafinha here for Barcelona. Look at the two defenders. Now, this could have gone higher.

55:13Stewart Robson:Well, we have to see what's to come, Greg. I know what's coming. He's picked the top three. Oh, has he? Yeah. I picked the top three this week. I think you'll find sure it could be the greatest of the top three. I agree that should be higher. Oh, no, I didn't pick this order. I know that's good goal. The due diligence that went into the top three today is amazing. We'll get there. Can't have been any golf this morning if you did that. Let's get to the fourth tier. This is Grimsby Blundell Park. I've been there. Craig, you want any Grimsby stories? Yeah, yeah. Ask Ian Dennis from BBC Five Live.

55:51Stewart Robson:He liked telling that story. To the third tier of... Oh my word! This was a good one. Wow! Wow! Actually, actually, I should have... Now in hindsight, I think this could have been... So I guess the due diligence wasn't that great after all. That could have been number three. This was close. Oh, wow! That's hit well. That is... But wait till you see how well hit these three are. Okay then. You can't. Okay, Alfonso Davies then. Oh, that's skill. Yeah, he hit that very hard. Look at the goalkeeper. See, that's technique. No, that free kick in the top. No, this is technique. OK. The next one. I've no idea who it is.

56:33Stewart Robson:This is... OK, this is York against Swindon, is it? Yes. Oh. Wow. Sits up nicely. That's good. I'm for the free kick. Yeah, I think. Yeah, I think. The trouble is there was no camera behind the goal because of the... Here we go. Lewis Dunk. Yeah, this is this is it's a centre-half what this is Matt Letizia in his baby. Yeah, okay.

56:57Frank Leboeuf:But I have the free kick second. Lewis Dunk top but free kick second. Look at that. That is, that is, that is.

57:04Stewart Robson:That's the first time in all my years that anybody's ever asked me to pick any goals. Is it Carrasco then the defending champion or Lewis Dunk? This of course because of the team goal this is voted last monday yep louis dunk for me i'm voting louis dunk yeah i'm voting louis dunk let's welcome back nadam and mario for their respective votes nadam do you know what i'm gonna go for louis dunk um previously i had the team goal but you know sometimes you've got to move on from these things and louis dunk has a defender doesn't score many of them usually it's a header so for him to score from 30 yards top corner with that technique yes please that's the one for me defenders union you call okay mario correct no i i go i go for my music my guys i'm sorry i'm staying on the guy you're staying with flamingo oh so the dunk i'm sorry it looks great but not for me craig you can do the ultimate burly move and vote against yourself come on come on i've actually i feel i feel dirty i feel i feel i've actually accepted to do this today but I must have had a moment when producer mate rang me and said well you pick the top three and instead of doing what I normally do like throw a strop and chuck everyone out the window and start shouting I said yeah wow he said that you said my pleasure I didn't even know that was in your lexicon I say that don't ring me again right don't ask me again what's your is it Flamengo or the dunk what's that Flamengo or the dunk I'm going to lose Dunk.

58:45Louis Dunk is our new king of the pitch. Oh, boy. Yeah, yeah. Fantastic. Be sure to stay tuned. The whole gang is back for Extra Time, which is coming up next. Craig has picked the question. Don't ask again. Don't ask again. Right. Ask. Questions are in my email. I've just been told. Here they come. Welcome to Extra Time. Nadim, after all the grief you took from Dan after the Community Shield, would you like to monologue that you were right about everyone's overreacting to City's considering their form since? No, I'm not going to do that, just because the season is so early and I'm sure Dan will have his moment again and again and again.

59:28So I don't want to rile him. I don't want to rile you down. I'm going to let you have your time. Some people have reacted. City are obviously going to be fine. But that's the show, isn't it? and I don't come on expecting to be treated well, especially when Dan Thomas is the host, so it's all good. Was that the conversation that we had when you were trying to convince me that maybe Arsenal didn't have the best squad? And I think you may have cited Spurs within that conversation. Well, Dan, there was also the one last year when you were talking about Jokeres being the top scorer or playing the season.

59:57You know, that's what we're going to do. Stop looking back, man. Look forward. Hey, listen, you're not talking about the future. Listen, man, that receipt, I remember that.

1:00:07Stewart Robson:Who did the... I can't remember. I was away on holiday. Who did Man City play? They played Arsenal. Arsenal played them off the park. Well, that's it. So where's the relevance to this? Because they haven't played Arsenal again. Does Carrick need to be more critical of United players? How long until he is in sack territory? Mario, he's come out. He's defending his players a lot. When does that get tired?

1:00:33No, I don't think yet. I mean, he's still too early. Look, I'm not the one that, you understand, will straight away have a go at him. There are certain things that I didn't like, of course, what I saw on the weekend. I thought his team, they played a little bit worried. I felt like 11 men against 10, you got to do something, you got to be more confident. Play one against one and take the advantage of having one in the center of the midfield. That's saying, I got one extra. That's what I wanted him to do. He didn't do it, but I will not be critical yet because it's too early. But I don't want him to wait too long to start doing some chop and changes.

1:01:11And the critical side, being more critical, I cannot imagine he's not critical inside the dressing room because that would be strange if he wasn't. Robert de Zervi, Shaka, has decided Richarlison won't play in the Carabao Cup even though he's available. Is he being stubborn or principled? This is obviously Richarlison who he said asked to leave and then didn't get a move in the transfer window.

1:01:36Frank Leboeuf:I have no problem with De Zerbi not playing him in that circumstance. But as we discussed during the show, if I were De Zerbi I'd play my full squad. That for me is a bigger factor here, not whether he plays Richarlison or not. Craig, does the dimension of the pitch have any significant impact on your team's performance? Did you enjoy playing in smaller come back pitches like Anfield or large spacious pitches like we see at the camp now? Do you like playing big pitches? How do we know what the dimensions of both those pitches are?

1:02:08Stewart Robson:Okay, it's a simple question. Don't complicate it Did you like playing on little pitches or big pitches? Depended if I fancy doing a lot of running that day. Oh my Lord. I prefer I prefer the bigger pitch because as obviously there's a bit more space you have more room generally to play balls over the top and that sort of stuff but then it's betwixt and between because i don't know again i don't know the dimensions of the pitch but the old highbury stadium uh maybe it just felt that way because the stands was very close but it felt very uh on top of you and i i always enjoyed uh playing there Yeah, Main Road set his old man, set his old ground.

1:02:48Stewart Robson:That definitely was a big pitch. Yeah. Yeah, I always enjoy playing at Main Road with the old kickbacks and that, yeah. Natham, that wouldn't have coincided, no? Main Road with you? I'm trying to think. Well, I was a ball boy there. I was a ball boy there. Am I a ball boy? Yeah. No, I wouldn't have ball boyed when Craig was there, because that's when it was like Division One, Division Two. Right, yeah. But I think Main Road was, that was known for how big the pitch was, one of the biggest in the country. And I think something about the size of his pitch, as Craig said it's like how close the fans are to the pitch as well because say when I was at QPR it was one of the smaller pitches but the fans were literally two feet two meters away almost so you couldn't like escape them whether you if you're playing well it's great if you're playing badly oh my god can you hear everything but then also some of those big pitches like playing at the Emirates when Arsenal were free-flowing and the pitch felt big enough already those days were chaos so yeah I think there is something to be said about those pitches but if you can get a small field what feels like a small pitch and fans right in front of people's faces that can be a great feeling for you as a team and as a player I'm chatting JPT and see if that who's got the biggest pitch there all right okay Mario did you like big pitches little pitches no I totally agree with the guys if you if you're playing on a team that you know is going to have the ball it's going to dictate the tempo everything is great when it's on a big field but when you are if you don't are in that position you aren't in that position and you got to chase the ball and you're not going to get the ball as much as you would like oh make that thing as small as you can my friend because you're still thinking about that running time when the game is finished and you know you have lost so no i am the guy good game good team when i'm in charge i control the ball give me the ball and make the beat as big as you want.

1:04:33When you were conceding all those goals at the camp now Shaq, were you going, oh this is a big pitch? Yeah. What's way done? Strangely, the goal was the same size though. Which is really odd. Does it make any difference to the goalkeepers?

1:04:43Frank Leboeuf:I like big pitches. Yeah.

1:04:46Stewart Robson:Millennium Stadium is high pitch. We have to say Craig. Let's see how it's an optical illusion because the both pitches are 68 meters wide which was rich which pitches questions pitches anfield and camp now oh okay and the camp and the camp now is four meters longer which isn't a lot right so there you go pretty much the same it's an optical illusion thanks for that but i've cleared that up a lot of the real madrid players were in the madrid grand prix in f1 i saw them what What was the best event you went to because you're a footballer? Good question. Cheltenham. Cheltenham races? Yeah, but Cheltenham as well.

1:05:28Cheltenham races? It's a big race meeting isn't it?

1:05:32Stewart Robson:I once went to a Mike Tyson fight. Oh yeah? 30 seconds it lasted. Glasgow. Didn't bud tune. No. So you lost your teeth? That'd be a good story. To be honest, I think I'd have put up a better fight than the guy that fought him that year. Naidan, best event you've gone to? I was struggling to be honest. I think from when I was at QPR there were quite a few nights out in West London which certainly had some good memories too then but nothing like a Grand Prix or such no. No. Mario? I've never been to a Grand Prix but I've been to like a movie award and it wasn't bad my friend. Going to James Bond and see the Queen of England when she was still alive, shook my hand, I felt like a champion.

1:06:18Wow! And then, you know what was the cherry on the cake? What was the cherry on the cake then? I have to tell you that. You remember that scene of the James Bond movie when a lady comes out of the water and I'm not going to mention the name. You all got to figure it out yourself. Yes. Okay, she comes out of the water and that was exactly the James Bond movie that I saw. And you know, we're all happy with our lady at home, but Halle Berry is definitely shocked to see it at that moment. And she was at the movie too. And also shook my hand and said, hi, welcome to coming to the movie. And I was like, oh guys, this is a kind of a cool movie to come to.

1:06:53Why is everyone shaking your hand? What was your relevance there, Mario? Because I was invited to go to the ceremony. So we stood there. And when you get invited then, you are standing there. Why is the queen shaking your hand? You weren't in the movie. It doesn't matter. Because before the movie, she goes by and shaking hands of certain people that were invited. One day when I get invited to a movie, Dan, I will consider you and ask you to join. Why did Halle Berry shake your hand? Yes! Of course! I was like, wow! I was, wow! Your voice has gone mad. Hey, Dan, look, look, look, look, look, look.

1:07:36You're English, man. If the Queen comes to you, you do it with a big smile, right? Yes. But then you see that I did the diamond of the movie shakes your hand too. What do you do? Oh, no, I think top that shot

1:07:49Frank Leboeuf:Cheltenham races I never saw the Queen at the Guinness bar Halle Berry Mario once told us in one of his great stories that it was his birthday at least six times a year for his teammates to use an excuse to go for a night out. What are some creative and novel excuses you used for nights out? Novel excuses to who? To the family, to work, to whoever you wish to make novel excuses to. I never made up any excuses. I imagine, was this common? This wasn't just a Mario Chelsea thing. I never made up any excuses to the family, Dan. Don't act like you don't know that one. I never made up any excuses to the family, none whatsoever.

1:08:35There would have been, I imagine, Newcastle players pretending that it was their birthday and you were saying, well, you know, we have to go out, we've got to celebrate. Nope. I don't remember anything of this sort, Dan. Shaka, you're a big liar. I don't remember anything of this sort. Craig, you admit it, yes, this was commonplace. Oh, yeah. Yes, there we go. Naidan? Yeah, this type of stuff did happen, but, you know, I've got a bit of freedom in my household, so I didn't necessarily need to lie like that anyway. Ooh! Oh, true.

1:09:08Okay. I want more Mario movies.

1:09:19Hey guys, don't hate on me. Why I'm having her?

1:09:24Frank Leboeuf:There I go. And I'll do it again. That was good. I bet she still talks about it.

1:09:31Stewart Robson:Thank you very much, Ian. She always wanted to meet Wiggins, captain. That is it! I'll tell you more tomorrow.