Ole back at the Wheel?

23:42Shaka Hislop:John Stones, who knows what's going on with John Stones? No one seems to know. Jules, this is a massive problem obviously for City. How are they going to address it now in the January transfer window?

23:54I think they have to go for at least one defender, if not two, to be fair. I know Guardiola was a bit cautious saying, let's see, we can cope. Of course, he was always going to say that. But when you look at the Chelsea game and they ended that game with a back four of Mateus Nunez, a right back, Nico Riley, a left back, who both of them, as we know, obviously are not full backs. And then Kusanov and Ake are the two centre backs and nobody on the bench. That's the thing as well. And if one of them, OK, Rico Lewis. But, you know, if something happens to one of them, it gets even worse. So they have to go for somebody in the transfer window for sure in January, whether that's Marguerite and trying to tempt him away from Crystal Palace and paying for it because obviously everybody knows now that they badly need defenders in January or is to go somewhere else.

24:44But I think, remember what they did last January, which was a little bit different, but they went for Kusanov, they went for Vittor Reis, two young centre-backs, very promising, but not really clearly. Remember that debut for Kusanov against Chelsea at the ITH, which was very difficult. So I think they would go for a more established Premier League defender, a more experienced one as well.

25:04Shaka Hislop:Semenyo looks like he's got the green light, Jules. Does that have any effect with regards to how much money they can spend now on defenders? No, I don't think so. I think they've got a bit of a war chest there because they sold really well. Guardiola referred to it again today in his press conference. So those£65 million release close will go to Bournemouth in one payment, by the way. That's the case in most release closes. but there will still be enough to sign at least centre-back, maybe two depending on the second one. But even if you want a Marguerite type with six months left on his contract, they will have enough money for that.

25:37So, Frank, is that it? Is it Arsenal's title?

25:42Well, it could be. Yeah, I'm sorry, but you cannot survive and chase for the title without Rubin Diaz and Guardiola. And it was already difficult with them. So imagine without them. And Ake, yeah, he has proven that he can deal with that. But Kuzinov is not ready for me. And you cannot bet on that, especially as Jules said, with nobody on the bench in case some of them is either red-carded or injured. So you need somebody else. It will cost a lot because you need a leader. You absolutely need at least one leader to make sure you can chase Arsenal. Otherwise, it's already over. Yeah, I guess we'll find out If they don't go and push the boat out To try and sign defenders Then we know that They're thinking about the future As opposed to spending a lot of money on Maybe players that they normally wouldn't take Because that's kind of where they're going to be You know Does anybody really think Gay's going to turn around and move In this January window?

26:48I don't think so If I'm gay, I'm not doing that

26:50Shaka Hislop:If you're Palace though Do you not take the money? Well, the problem is it's not in Palace's hand. It's in Matt Gay's hand. If Matt Gay wants to go to Real Madrid, then City are done. City ain't getting them. So they're in a tough place. They're going to have to sign two experienced guys that normally they wouldn't want. That's kind of where they are. And we'll find out. Because if they don't do that, then we'll know that they are just basically saying, OK, this year the Premier League is just out of our reach because of the situation. So we'll find out. Maybe they can buy Gabriel and Saliba. And that would be a very good move if they wanted with the title.

27:31That would help.

27:33Shaka Hislop:Jules, where will Gae be at the end of the month? It's a great question. I agree with Stevie. I think if you're in his position, really, you have to wait six months. And then in six-month time, you're a free agent. You would have clubs like City, like Liverpool, like others, like queuing up for you really and then you'll get more money as a free agent you'll get a massive signing on fee as a free agent which you won't get now because city or somebody else who come and get you will have to pay a transfer fee to to palace so it makes more sense for him to wait that he might decide otherwise and to move now because he wants to work with pep and he can win the primary league and he can win the champions league all of that of course he can so it's not as straightforward as us here saying stay where you are win the conference league finish top 10 in the Premier League you'll have a great season again and then go wherever you want as a free agent in the summer it's not as simple as that but I agree with Stevie if I was him I would stay put just a reminder extra time as always available on our YouTube channel Jules will be answering questions about those rumours suggesting Vinicius Junior could be going to Chelsea

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30:11Shaka Hislop:by Joan Garcia coming back to haunt his former club. Firmin Lopez spins his man, passes on to Ulmo! The first goal of 2026 for Barcelona is something rather special. Firmin passes it on, and it is bundled home for Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona are the Windsor champions. We didn't deserve it, I'll be honest. but at the end the quality we brought on the pitch after the changes decided the game. I'm really happy about that because first of all I have to say thank you to John Garcia because he played unbelievable. I think he's one of the best goalkeeper in the world.

31:06Shaka Hislop:and it's a goalkeeper that's grabbed all the headlines San Juan very much the sentiment Saint Juan of course after that incredible performance in that Catalan derby up against his old side goodness me, what a special guest we have on Sid Lowe has found a little space for us what a treat and he's got quite facial hair as well it's the first time I've seen that Sid is that for a bet? I was just thinking, according to Jules I need to put the glasses on, don't I? Does that make me look more intellectual? Exactly. Assistant manager at Chelsea now. It doesn't work because the light reflects on it. Okay, right then.

31:39Shaka Hislop:I could be. I mean, everyone else has had a go, Dan, so why shouldn't I? Well, maybe not. Championship manager would say that everyone's been waxing lyrical, wouldn't they, about Jermaine Garcia over the last 48 hours? Of course they have, because his performance was so, so good. Admittedly, some of the excitement was taken away from him by the other Garcia the following night when Gonzalo García got a hat-trick for Real Madrid. But there was a real sense, I think, of the derby performance from Joan Garcia being really, really important in terms of how he responded to the pressure because there was a huge amount of pressure on him, a huge amount of noise around him in the way that he played and the maturity of that performance.

32:17Shaka Hislop:And if you like, the emotional control of it as well. But I also think what it did was it cemented something that had already been forming in people's minds. And that is the idea that Barcelona have bought themselves a player who's a genuine game-changer and may well be for a decade or more that this is a really, really significant signing. It's not just a guy who had one good game. It's a guy who's looked really, really good all season. Look, last year, there's no two ways about it. Chesney coming out of retirement and winning a treble for Barcelona and getting to a European Cup semi-final and very nearly reaching a final was one of the great stories in football.

32:47Shaka Hislop:But I think deep down when we stripped away all of that and we stripped away how good his performances were as well, I think everybody kind of felt at the end of last season, yeah, but Barcelona really need a goalkeeper that takes them up a level. And I think what's happened with Joao Garcia is that they've started to think they've found him. What has been apparent, of course, to Barcelona so far this season, as they look short at the back, they have brought in a new fullback, an interesting fullback as well, as Joao Cancelo returns to Barcelona, looking to guide them, of course, across the finish line in La Liga and the Champions League.

33:19Shaka Hislop:Surprise signing, says the front page of Sport. Here's Hansi Flick. I need to ask you about the signing of Joao Cancelo. How was the process of choosing him? Was him the first option? Because maybe a centre-back was more expected. How was this process and how is it going? Thank you. For us, Deco and I, and also with my staff, I spoke with them. We discussed a lot of things. And, you know, at the end, Ronald, when he's back, so we have, I think, also in the centre-backs good options, but also with Joao, maybe he can give us more options also as full-backs. Both sides, he is in the offence, good quality.

34:08Shaka Hislop:But at the end, how I know it till now, it's not done. So it's just for that. If it works, I will be happy. I think we have one more option in the offence. And this is it. For us, we discussed it also, bring a centre back. But I think it makes more sense. It's six months now. And I think it's a good option. And he's a high-quality player. Sid, those who have watched Barcelona this season, I doubt their first thought was, you know what Barcelona really need is more attacking full-backs. Yeah, more attacking full-backs, more defenders who don't chase their men, who are not particularly tactically disciplined, that may well have lots of talent but don't have those things, the Barcelona of Lack this year.

34:55Shaka Hislop:Now, I think Hansi Flick's response there, I think, is actually a pretty good one in that there's a degree of analysis there, there's a degree of explaining why he thinks it works. But, of course, one of the reasons why this deal has happened is because it can happen. When you go into the winter window, you don't always have the possibility to make the signings that you really, really want. You have to look at the potential alternatives. You've got a player who's been there before. you've got an agent who has a very close relationship with the president and so you know you can get the deal done you have a player who's desperate to go there so you know it can happen and I suppose in that sense you look at it and as Hansi Flick admits there in that clip we looked at centre-backs yeah they did and they didn't find one what this might do of course is enable them to have for example Eric Garcia who's played some games at right back he can now be seen as a centre-back although he's also played in midfield Jules Koundé who's played the whole season more or less at right back could maybe now play at centre-back But it is true that this doesn't really address the issue that Barcelona had in hand, but maybe it gives them more options and so perhaps allows them just to have a little bit more, if nothing else, just in terms of numbers within the back four.

35:54Shaka Hislop:Tomorrow, of course, live on ESPN is Barcelona against Athletic Club, the first semi-final of the Spanish Supercoppa, Sid. How seriously are both of these teams taking it? I think for many years it was one of these competitions in which people thought, well it doesn't count as an actual trophy not least because it was at the start of the season it was it was a one-off game between two clubs they obviously played two-legged but it was a one-off trophy now I think actually the move of the Super Cup to midway through the season the move of the Super Cup in terms of the formation and having four teams in it I think has changed it and has given it much more significance I still think there's all sorts of debate to be had about the fact that it's gone to Saudi Arabia and I think lots of people are still very unhappy about that including Inyaki Williams but as a competition now it's taken seriously and it is taken very very seriously in particular these four clubs maybe Barcelona less than the other three but I would argue that three of the four clubs here look at this and think this is an opportunity for Real Madrid to to if you like begin something of a comeback and for the other two it's the opportunity possibly the only opportunity to win something this season so Barcelona against Athletic Club our coverage starts then tomorrow 1 30 Eastern you can see that live on ESPN2 and then 24 hours later it's Real Madrid in action against Atletico Madrid.

37:09Shaka Hislop:Very differing weekends for both of the Madrid-based sides. Of course Atletico dropping points once again away from home. For Real Madrid it was all about Gonzalo Garcia.

37:22Shaka Hislop:Rodrigo and freedom there headed in by Garcia. His first goal in La Liga.

37:31Shaka Hislop:And on the line, that's magnificent. García has done it again. Say hello to Real Madrid's new young star. And Gugliel in support. And oh my goodness, that is how to seal the hat-trick. Gonzalo García, a man quite certainly takes your breath away.

37:58Shaka Hislop:A night that he will never forget at the Santiago Bernabéu. No surprises. He's on the front pages of the two main Madrid-based newspapers. Marco, Marco, saying Gonzalo es un marco. What has he said? A king? A crown? What is he? Ah, right. Well, this is a difficult one to translate properly. A marco, in this sense, really is one of the wise men, one of the free wise men. Remember that today is kings in Spain. It's the arrival of the free wise men in Bethlehem. It's, if you like, Christmas Day in Spain. And so here it's being presented as one of the wise men, but Mago also means a magician or a wizard.

38:35Shaka Hislop:An absolute dream. It's something that I imagine that you thought about a lot when you were a youngster, when you're playing throughout the Real Madrid, under 12, working your way up through, and then you go and do that after starring for Castilla to put in that sort of performance. It's just extraordinary. I mean, it really is. And, you know, you see his reaction. I loved his reaction at the end where there's a moment where he kind of looks across the pitch and sort of thinks, where's the ball gone? And actually, Mejia Davila, who's the matchday delegate at Real Madrid, a former referee, as soon as the final whistle went, he was dashing across the pitch to make sure that he got to the match ball before anyone else to make sure that Gonzalo Garcia wasn't in a position where he wasn't going to find it.

39:13Shaka Hislop:He looked at it, he was kind of pointing at this thing as if to say, wow, look at this, isn't this just amazing? Which, of course, it is. He knows, he's realistic enough to know that he's at a club like Real Madrid, that he's got a player like Kylian Mbappé in front of him, that he's not going to play a huge amount or didn't think he was going to play a huge amount. Of course, he went to the Club World Cup and was top scorer. Then as soon as Mbappe was fit, he was then not actually left out the side but moved to the right-hand side of the forward line. Had only started one game before this weekend.

39:39Shaka Hislop:So it's just phenomenal. And it's a brilliant hat-trick as well. Two of the three goals are absolutely fantastic. It's a goal for his right foot, a goal for his left foot, and a goal with a header. And I think what it does as well is it confirms something because this isn't just a player out of nowhere. This is a player who, as a youth team player, running through the round system all the way back to the age of 10, scored loads and loads and loads of goals, sometimes from a wide position rather than a central forward position. And if you talk to staff at the Spanish Football Federation, where, of course, he's come through the junior teams there as well, they are absolutely enamoured of him.

40:10Shaka Hislop:And they think that this isn't chance, that they think this is a genuinely special player. Now, of course, the difficulty is you're at possibly the club in the whole world where it's hardest to get minutes. Said that's your question, isn't it? how long, if you're Garcia how long do you wait? Because if Vinny's gone nowhere and Bappi's gone nowhere, he's not getting a game I mean if I'm Arsenal, Chelsea anybody else I'm throwing money at this guy and throwing money at Real Madrid because he's not going to play No and actually Steve, I think without the Club World Cup in the summer I think he would already have gone from Real Madrid Now, I want to make this very clear here he would have gone from Real Madrid on loan I think this season he would have been playing at Getafe or be still my beating heart.

40:57Shaka Hislop:He might even have gone to a club like Real Oviedo in the summer because there was an opportunity there for him to play and get minutes. I know, I know, I know. I'm beating myself up over it. My God, if it hadn't been for the stupid, sexy Club World Cup, he might have gone on loan for a season. And things would look very, very different. But anyway, so actually, Steve, you're right. The question is, what happens now? How long does he wait for? How patient can he be? And now, of course, the opportunities to go somewhere else will be different clubs at a different level and potentially on a permanent deal.

41:24Shaka Hislop:Now, there's one big caveat here, though. You just said if Mbappe is going nowhere, if Vinicius is going nowhere. Ah, OK. So here's the question. Is Vinicius going nowhere? Is the structure of that forward line going to be the same next season? Or will opportunities open in a different place for Gonzalo García? Well, go on then. You're the journo. Where's he going to be next season? Oh, Vinny. OK, well, I think Real Madrid have a situation with Vinicius, which needs resolving, which isn't necessarily to say that Vinicius goes. But I think right now that is a possibility that Gonzalo García's agents and, of course, Real Madrid will have to entertain at the moment.

42:01Shaka Hislop:We'll have to think about how that plays out. But of course, it's likely that Gonzalo García is put in a position where maybe he moves. Now, I suspect that what will happen, and we've seen it before, and take Real Madrid's current captain, Dani Carvajal. he went to Germany for a year and came back. Now, he went to Germany sold, not on loan, and he came back with them paying, if you like, a re-signing fee. And I think that's a formula that potentially would work very well for them, to send him to somewhere in which they have a buyback clause which they can meet reasonably comfortably. I think we'll see this with Nico Paff, for example, at some point probably next summer, that he's likely to come back, and that they will give themselves the chance to not lose him permanently, but to also give him minutes.

42:39Shaka Hislop:Because, of course, he's a young player. but at 21 and I know this is stating the obvious at 21 he's not a teenager he's not a 17 18 19 year old who you can think look it doesn't matter if he only gets 10 or 15 games a season he's at an age where he needs to be getting 25 30 games a season final question Sid what does Claire say about that about what the you know what's on your face

43:08Shaka Hislop:I think knows that this is just laziness since Christmas. I should make something very clear, by the way. This isn't a moustache. It's just that the colour of the beard isn't uniform, unfortunately. This has not been a deliberate decision to look like I can walk into a biker bar. This is to do with it growing back at different colours, unfortunately. Alright, Sid. Much appreciated, as always. Thank you very much, mate. A big couple of days, then, for the Spanish Super Cup. I just remember the Barca game tomorrow All right, then, Atleti against Real Madrid on Thursday. O 'Reilly Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your check engine, ABS, or maintenance light with O 'Reilly Veriscan.

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44:38Shaka Hislop:That's F-O-U-N-D dot com. Found as a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by lead bank member FDIC. Last round of 16 matches then in the African Cup of Nations. Algeria taking on Congo. This one nil-nil as we take it into extra time. And it looked like it was going to penalties. But Bulbina is the absolute hero. His goal sees them advance to the quarterfinal. Yeah, just drops his shoulder. Gets way too much time to pick his spot. but my goodness does he have a picky spot. What celebrations there as Algeria go through. Ivory Coast didn't make their fans sweat as much in the end.

45:16Shaka Hislop:It was a comfortable victory against Burkino Faso. The first goal coming in the 20th minute. Diallo.

45:24No. Just dances through some defenders and then a lovely little cheeky dink at the end of it. I mean look at his feet here. Lovely little dink.

45:35Shaka Hislop:Yeah, fantastic goal. 12 minutes later, Diomando here making it 2-0. It's a beautiful finish from Diomando. He just picks his spot. Keepers going the wrong way. Simple finish. And then with three minutes remaining, Ivory Coast on the counter-attack. And it's a devastating one at that. Pace. Defenders hate pace. Let me tell you. I think they've been tired by now, aren't they? Chasing all game. Oh, what a finish from Toure as well. It was van der Verne-esque, wasn't it? Really? Can you put it up tonight? Yeah, I don't know. I feel like you've already doubted yourself. So the quarter-final line-up is set.

46:14Shaka Hislop:Mali, Senegal, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon, and Morocco. A lot of big boys there facing off for a place in the semi-finals. Jules, take us through your bracket. How's it going to play out? Yeah, I think it's been a great tournament so far. And those are the big boys. They're the team that we expected. I think it's the first time in history that all the top eight seeds qualified for the quarterfinals, for the last eight. Here they are. They're the best team. I think Mali would be too difficult against a very, very strong Senegal team. Mo Salah against Ivory Coast. I like what we saw from Ivory Coast today.

46:50I think Egypt has been a bit difficult for them. We saw yesterday against Benin, for example, how laborious it was in the way they played too, and they had to win in extra time. so I went for Ivory Coast, but this could be tight. I think the game of the quarterfinal, without a doubt, is Algeria against Nigeria. Two teams in great form. Okay, Algeria needed extra time today to win against Congo, but they've been great in this tournament. For me, the best team in Nigeria with Lukman, Ozyman, although they had a massive argument on the pitch yesterday in the last 16, they also have been outstanding.

47:24And I think Algeria, in a tight result, will just go through to meet Morocco in the semifinal because I think the home advantage is huge for Walid Rekhragui and his team. So we get two amazing semifinals, and I think Senegal and Morocco will book their place for the final, and Morocco will be the winner in the end.

47:42Shaka Hislop:Thank you very much, Jules. Meanwhile, action in Italy today, and some significant results regarding the title race as well. We saw your victories for Juventus and for Roma. Take a look at that. Three points separate the top five in Italy. Yes, the top three, though, do have two games in hand. A lot more on that. What's going on in the African Cup of Nations? Gab with the inside look at what's going on at Chelsea as well. Be sure to check out the latest edition of the Gab and Jules podcast, which drops on Thursday. Actually, in the Premier League today, West Ham against Nottingham Forest. Both teams, of course, in desperate need of points.

48:23Shaka Hislop:And it'd be West Ham who would take the lead. Maria, with the own goal. Yeah, it's unfortunate. and it gets flicked on at the near from Suchek. And Murillo can't adjust in time and puts it in his own net. So, six minutes into the second half. Even better for the hosts as they have the ball in the back of the net once again. However, take a look at this. Cassiano's offside. Goals disallowed. Wow.

48:55Shaka Hislop:Four minutes later. Salt into the wounds then as Dominguez makes it 1-1. Similar set piece, flick on it in the near post and it drops in at the far post. And then five minutes to go, is this a penalty, Stevie? Oh, 100%. Gokeeper smashes Gibbs White in the face. Not allowed to punch people in the face? It's not a natural collision? Unless they've changed the rules. Gibbs White then steps up, scores the penalty. Nottingham Forest get three points take a look then at how things stand at the bottom of the table you can see West Ham now seven adrift of Forest it's difficult to put up an argument any of those three in 18th, 19th and 20th are going to survive Meanwhile lots of matches on Wednesday in the Premier League, Bournemouth Spurs Palace Villa, Fulham Chelsea, City Brighton Burnley United, Newcastle against Let's welcome back to week Jules and Frank with us.

49:56Shaka Hislop:Let's start with you Frank, which of those games are you most excited about?

50:04Not a lot, but maybe the Derby, Fulham against Chelsea. I want to see how Liam Rossignor is doing for his first game and how the players are going to react to the Mariska sacking. So yeah, I'm going to watch that one. Jules? I think Burnley Manchester United obviously Darren Fletcher everything that's happened this week for United in a derby I know Burnley are not big rivals for United but they're very close to each other I don't think Turv Moore is an easy place to go even this poor Burnley team that is second from bottom could cause problems to United so let's see what kind of system Fletcher plays what kind of mood the players are on with all the injuries that they also have I think it'd be very interesting Stephen?

50:51Oh, City-Brighton. Oh, yeah? Yeah. I mean, how's City going to react with the two centre-backs they're going to be playing with? I mean, Brighton are a side that have got so much pace. They could worry Man City big time.

51:04Shaka Hislop:We'll, of course, be back tomorrow to take a look at those games. Be sure to join us. We'll also be reflecting on Barcelona against Athletic Club in the Spanish Super Cup.

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53:02Shaka Hislop:FA Cup then takes over this weekend. Friday, it all starts. Wrexham against the Nottingham Forest. all these games of course live on ESPN plus including the likes of Newcastle-Bourg, Spurs, Aston Villa, Charlton, Chelsea and then on Sunday Manchester United against Brighton. Monday sees Liverpool against Barnsley. And the Bundesliga is back on Friday. Eintracht Frankfurt against Borussia Dortmund. That match live on ESPN2. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's show. Be sure to stay tuned though. Extra time is next. Frank Lepoche, Julien Laurent and Stevie Nichol return to answer your questions.

53:46Shaka Hislop:Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Thank you very much for all your messages. Now, do you know what Grok is, Stevie? What? Grok. Grok. Yes, GROK is the AI system that is on X. You can ask it any question you like. All right. Someone asked about the three pundits who are on today. They replied to my tweet asking your questions. We'll start with a nice one. Julien Lerand, French football journalist, ESPN's league expert with deep European insights. You'll take that, Jules. Thank you very much. I would have just put Gab's number two, but there we go. Frank Leboeuf, former Chelsea and France star, World Cup winner, insightful pundit on ESPN FC.

54:31Shaka Hislop:That's when you're wearing your glasses. I love it, you know. And I love, you know, the only word that I say that I like is the star. I love that one. Thank you very much. Star. Stop, Tom. Stevie Nichol. I would say this is the least complimentary of the three. Oh, good. Ex-Liverpool defender, Pit Bland, considering everything you achieved. ESPN FC analysis, known for blunt takes. How would you take blunt takes? I'm really not bothered. I feel like it should have been nicer to you, Stevie. No, that's wrong with that. That should have been short. No, that's not good. Underrated. I'm all right with it.

55:20Shaka Hislop:Jules, today I've been spending the day today practising Liam Rosseño instead of Rosseño, as it seems that that's how he prefers to be called. So that was my focus today, and apparently that is how he wants to be addressed now, am I right? Rosseño? Yes, that's it, yeah. There we go. Perfect. Honestly, I played against his dad. Yes. And he was Rosseño. And when Liam was playing, he was called Rosseño, and he never piped up then. The voice message I got was from his dad, saying how to pronounce it properly. Well, his dad never played top 30 years ago. What does he know about his name? So you say what, you say, Rossegior?

56:01Rossegior.

56:03Shaka Hislop:Okay. Okay. Okay. Good. Or gone in six months, whatever you prefer. Jules, is there any substance to the rumour that Chelsea is pursuing Vinicius Junior? I mean, I would love to say yes for the Chelsea fans who would love to see Vinny at Stamford Bridge, for sure, including Frank but I would just leave you with this and that is very simple and I know it's not always about money I know it's not always about money Vinicius Junior right now at Real Madrid earns between, depending on the bonuses, etc but between 18 and 20 million euros net per year Chelsea's highest earner right now and I don't count Raheem Sterling because he's the highest earner but obviously doesn't really count in this discussion is Rich James who earns gross per year around 11 million pounds right 18 or 19 million net 11 gross this is it you that's all you need to know this is never gonna happen oh there we go and imagine imagine he signs and he doesn't track back when he loses the ball

57:14whatever

57:20I'm just saying that I would be rich Jams and we're on half of what Vinny Jones runs and the guy doesn't track back when he loses the ball I don't know what's going on in the dressing room between him and I because that would be great to watch because you know I would never accept that kind of weird guy you know.

57:44Shaka Hislop:If Stevie could change three things at Liverpool right now, what would they be? What are your blunt takes?

57:53Only three. I mean, you can't change the manager, so that's it. Why not? Because why would you? Because he's doing rubbish. Well, I mean, the players that have come in, and there's a lot, you have to look at them, and a lot of the blame has to be on them, not just the coach. OK. You know, you've got Kirkers who nobody thought would do anything other than be great, but actually, Luke's always holding them back. So you get Trent back?

58:34I think I would, yeah. Right, yeah. Yeah, that's a good one. One thing you changed? Yeah, because I'd love to change one of the centre-backs, but you can't do that because there's nobody else. You know, I'd love to be able to sit Kanati down, but you can't. You could say... Two full-backs. You know, Conor Bradley as well, in my opinion, has not fulfilled the potential that he showed when he first came on the team. So, to me, both full-backs are struggling big time. Ping-pong, you can't really question yet. He's hardly kicked a ball. because he's been injured. The midfield, I mean, considering how good they were last year, are you just going to throw them all out?

59:10I don't know, Steve. This is getting quite a long answer without any answers. Well, because there's not... I mean, if you're going to change things, you have to change them for the better. You're supposed to be blunt. Well, apparently I'm not blunt now. Lovink AI will be changing its tune now, no? Right, so... So that's another way of saying shut it.

59:30Shaka Hislop:Well, no, I'll just get to the point. That's blunt, there you go. You are good. Unai Emery has great success with Europa League table sides, winning the competition four times but failed duels at Arsenal and couldn't take PSG past the round of 16 in the Champions League. Does he deserve another crack at a top European side or even Man U? I think that's a fair point. I think he probably earned at Villa with everything that he's done there. probably another chance for sure i don't think he would leave villa for monster united right now maybe not in the summer i could be wrong but i don't think so but yeah it's not because things didn't go his way in paris for example where where i don't think it was all on him to be honest and and there's still a question mark over is he just a great great coach i club that is a very good club like Villa but just not some of the big one of the biggest clubs in the world really which they're not um I don't know it's only if he gets the chance at United or a club like that at City one day or you know at Liverpool or you know what those kind of clubs around Madrid or Barcelona you know whatever where maybe we'll have the answer to that question but it's true at PSG and Arsenal it didn't really work out for him there were some good things but overall it was good and I was trying to do an answer like Stevie like not blunt at all by not really answering the question but waffling yeah wow you catch it straight from George thanks you'll she is all best if you were uni emery would you go to manchester united in the summer if it was offered to you no not at all you know but again what I said during the show you have no basics there You don't know where to go.

1:01:23You don't know where they're going to go. They don't have the player that they need. It's such a mess. It's just a real shamble that he has created something at Aston Villa that he can be a kid. No, but that's the truth. I mean, due to that club that I've known, that I've played against, and I've seen how big that club was, that's a big shamble. That's a big mess, really. I think the fans might be very upset with what they see. And it's not a Unai Emery or so far nobody that I see who can resolve the problem. So Unai Emery is creating something amazing at Aston Villa. And Aston Villa is not a small club.

1:02:06It's a very good club. And it's a big club. They can win stuff. So I would advise him to stay there and maybe try to win something with him. Depends on Unai Emery, doesn't it? If Unai Emery thinks he is one of those elite managers that should be at the supposed top club, then that's really all that matters. Because if he does, then you go. He's got to think, I can sort this out. And what better way of showing how good I am than to take a club that ever since Alec Ferguson was in charge has been dragging along, basically. So that's the real key. What does Unai Emery think? If he thinks he should, then he'll take it.

1:02:55Shaka Hislop:Jules? Goodness me, this person holds a grudge like my missus. Back in 2024, ESPN had a ranking of the best players of the 21st century, with Zlatan five places higher than Benzema. Surely you disagree, as Benzema has four Champions Leagues to Zlatan zero, plus the fact that Benzema won the Ballon d 'Or.

1:03:19As you know, Karim is my boy, obviously, so I would always have him higher than Ibra and higher than a lot of other players. I don't remember his ranking in 2024. I must have been involved like Stevie and Frank, I'm sure, and you, Dan. I can't really remember how we ended up with Karim in 16th place and Ibra in 11th because, really, I know Ibra was great and he had great skill set for the size of him and technique, all of that. But Benzema was an incredible number nine, really. So I'm not sure what happened there, but yeah, I agree. I would have Benzema way, way above Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Frank?

1:03:59Yeah, I agree. I agree. And according to what he won, of course, you have to place him before Zlatan. I'm very fond of Zlatan. I mean, that guy was spectacular. and you go to the stadium to see those players with a big personality and a big talent. But what Benzema was capable of doing to Real Madrid and with Real Madrid and Ronaldo serving the big star and then becoming the star and the guy who won the Champions League because he was the guy who made the difference when they won the Champions League with Courtois. They were the two who made the difference being able to beat where they should have lost, against Chelsea, against Manchester City, against Paris Saint-Germain.

1:04:43That year, they won the Champions League because of Benzema. So Benzema should have been in a better position. And I don't know, I'm sure I wasn't involved with that.

1:04:55Shaka Hislop:Stevie, do you think Klopp deserves a statue at Anfield for his accomplishments with Liverpool and for raising the standard of the Premier League? No, I wish for these statues all of a sudden. No. So according to Grog, there are no Liverpool players who have statues. No. But two managers do. So you've got, I'm guessing, Shankly and Paisley. Exactly right. So should Klopp make the hat-trick of managers? Well, I think if you stack Klopp's silverware up against Bob Paisley, then he doesn't come close. Shankly's a different ball game. You can't really talk about silverware with Shankly because, yes, he won silverware, but it was what he did that built the club so that Paisley could go on and do what Paisley did as well.

1:05:53So I would say no. I don't think so, no.

1:05:57Shaka Hislop:What people maybe don't know is that Frank has got a house in Normandy, and as you drive up to it, there is a life-size statue of Frank holding the World Cup. No. Isn't that right, Frank? Which is completely untrue.

1:06:14But I was imagining, you know, the thing, and I love it. I love it. I will talk to the mayor. Why not? Dan, one of your old Real Madrid boys, the Mexican centre-forward, what's his name? Chicharito. No. Hugo Sanchez. Hugo Sanchez. Yep. Hugo Sanchez. Yeah, I remember on preseason we were going down the motorway and somebody said to us that Hugo Sanchez has a villa on the beach, right? And you can see it from the motorway. He's got a big bronze statue of himself at the back of his thing when he does his thing.

1:06:55Shaka Hislop:He's not shy. Oh my goodness. There are stories when he was coaching, he would give the strikers DVDs of himself to watch to show him how it was done. You can find worse than me, you see, you know, in terms of ego. Well, yes, I suppose he does feel that void. Finally, for Jules and Frank, well, Jules probably more, will Wemby win MVP this season? We're going basketball. Who? That's a great question. I would love him to. the problem is, or no, it's not a problem, but where I'm starting to worry a little bit is that he's already missed a few games. And as all the big NBA fans were watching us, you need at least 65 games played in the 82 game regular season to be eligible for those trophies, whether it's MVP or others.

1:07:47And I think he can still get to 65, but he can't miss many more now because right now he's still not playing, it's been a week off, he's obviously had the other injury previously in the season, so he will have to be careful. So yes, I think he can still win it, although I think that because of those little niggles and injuries, he might become sure in terms of purely on statistic and match play, and I think he will go to SGA or Luka Doncic. Stevie, at what point did you switch off during that?

1:08:23Shaka Hislop:Was he finished?

1:08:28Shaka Hislop:Frank, would you like to add anything? No, no, no. It's funny because I went to see a doctor for my wife today and the guy has all the big players. He had Mbappe, he had Giroud shirt in his office and there was one bianna a shirt as well and I was really jealous about that. Not Giroud and Mbappe but about Wembe shirt because that guy is huge and he's a great guy. He's such a nice guy and I would love to see him winning the MVP. Was the shot a sign? Yes. Yes. Yes. It was. He could have bought a shot and stopped Wembe on it couldn't he? Yes, he could. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's Extra Time.

1:09:21Shaka Hislop:We will return tomorrow to reflect on those Premier League matches plus the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup.

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