Saka Back in the Goals

31 Aug 2026 · 57 min · 23 chapters

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In short

ESPN SC episode covering Premier League results and tactics (Arsenal vs Aston Villa; Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest), major transfer-window talk (Man City signing “Zikliman Jai” from Everton; Everton linked with Folarin Balogun; late-window expectations), plus La Liga/Barcelona highlights and Messi’s retirement from Argentina.

Guests

Nadam Anua (football analyst; former player perspective used by hosts), Stevie Nicol (former defender; frequent tactical comparisons), Gab Marcotti (football journalist; transfer and money-focused analysis).

Key claims

  • Arsenal’s title-winning style: organized, collective defending; away wins don’t need to be “spectacular.”
  • Liverpool’s attack lacks connection; Alexander Isak’s touch/impact criticized; squad/selection issues (e.g., right-back mismatch; Rojo criticized).
  • Barcola/“Barcola” signing discussed as high cost but not instant solutions; fear/trepidation about integration.
  • Man City’s signing from Everton (reported £65m) could be an impact sub/rotation option; debate whether bench time limits adaptation.
  • Messi: never play for Argentina again; statement reflects lingering criticism about loyalty/patriotism.

Notable examples

  • Saka’s 60th-minute goal vs Villa.
  • Liverpool drawing 2-2 with Forest; Forest comfortable despite Liverpool possession.
  • Barcelona 5-2 vs Rayo: Rafinha as “number nine,” Lamine Yamal scoring twice; Anthony Gordon multiple assists.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Arsenal's Victory Analysis

0:22 to 1:54

Discussion on Arsenal's recent match performance and tactics.

“We'll kick things off though with Monday Night Action in the Premier League.”

Liverpool's Struggles

1:54 to 4:33

Analysis of Liverpool's disappointing performance in recent matches.

“and get the job done, and they certainly did do that.”

Transfer Talk: Bacala and Gakpo

4:33 to 7:54

Discussion on recent transfers and their implications for teams.

“Meanwhile, let's talk about Liverpool, shall we?”

Everton's Prospects with Balogun

7:54 to 14:01

Exploration of Everton's plans with potential new signing Balogun.

“But if we think he's just going to turn up and everything's going to be rosy in the garden, it's not happening.”

Balogun's Potential Move to Everton

14:01 to 16:40

Discussion on Balogun's suitability for Everton and his potential impact.

“looks like he could be heading to Goodison Park to Everton, the new stadium gap.”

Transfer Window Insights

16:41 to 17:52

Analysis of transfer activities and key players on the move before the deadline.

“Less than 24 hours to go until the transfer window closes, Gab.”

Transfer Window Insights

17:54 to 19:19

Analysis of transfer activities and key players on the move before the deadline.

“that's thin and light it feels smooth very smooth for a better feel in your hands and less weight on your shoulders With a responsive touchscreen, it feels fast and precise.”

Barcelona's Match Review

19:39 to 23:20

Recap and analysis of Barcelona's recent match against Rio.

“Barca looking to make it three wins out of three.”

Discussing Player Performances and Tactics

23:21 to 28:00

In-depth discussion on individual player performances and tactical approaches in La Liga.

“Looks at the decision to not take Rashford and sign Anthony Gordon, which we all thought was a real left field at the time.”

Soft Start for Teams

28:00 to 28:24

Discussion on the softer start for teams after the World Cup.

Show all 23 chapters

Hansi Flick's Team Reaction

28:24 to 28:59

Hansi Flick discusses his team's reaction after conceding goals.

“Greg, thank you very much you're leaving us now I believe I believe I'm being subbed off Steve, he wants it all to himself to talk about Lionel Messi Ah, yes indeed.”

Expectations for Gabriel Jesus

28:59 to 30:18

Discussion on Gabriel Jesus's role and importance to the team.

“but the end reaction was quite good and yeah, I love a lot of things I saw in the first half.”

Messi's Retirement Announcement

31:04 to 31:41

Discussion on Messi's announcement regarding playing for Argentina.

“Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on?”

Messi's Career Reflections

31:41 to 34:05

Reflections on Messi's career and overcoming early criticism.

“Lionel Messi announced that he will never play for Argentina again.”

Filling Maradona's Shoes

34:05 to 35:28

Discussion on Messi's legacy in the shadow of Maradona.

“Yeah, this guy who you felt was forever going to be in the shadow of Maradona.”

Messi's Influence and Future

35:28 to 37:34

Discussion on Messi's current performance and future in soccer.

“And then the biggest step is probably something that's quite inevitable now.”

Liverpool's Current Status

37:53 to 42:00

Discussion on Liverpool's performance and upcoming matches.

“Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time.”

Liverpool's Defensive Signings Discussed

42:00 to 44:36

The hosts analyze Liverpool's recent signings and their impact on the team.

“And the only reason I said I would do it is because there was no way possible that we were going to do back-to-back.”

Debate Over Player Performance

44:36 to 46:44

A heated discussion ensues regarding individual player performances and management decisions.

“it's the context because for Barcelona, he hasn't been one of their most significant or important players across this last couple of years.”

Aston Villa's Prospects Analyzed

46:44 to 54:12

The panel discusses Aston Villa's performance and chances in the current season.

“I said the situation at Liverpool right now, particularly from the point of view of people in the building, everybody is lower than a snake's belly, that it had just got out of control.”

Barcelona's Recent Victory and Player Insights

54:12 to 56:03

A recap of Barcelona's win and insights from a player on their current form and strategy.

“I wouldn't rule it out completely, but it would be monumental feat number 199 for Unai Emery if he gets it done.”

The Impact of Gabriel Jesus on the Squad

56:03 to 57:00

Discussing the potential impact of Gabriel Jesus on the team's performance.

“No, I think we always believe that the goals can come from anywhere, even from the second line.”

The Impact of Gabriel Jesus on the Squad

57:01 to 57:36

Discussing the potential impact of Gabriel Jesus on the team's performance.

“You can see every single Lally game live on the ESPN app throughout the season and we'll be back tomorrow.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00From athletic stuff like a full court pickup game, swish, to athletic-ish stuff like a half mile stroll. Get those steps in. Head to Sierra or Sierra.com for the brands you want at the prices that let you do it all. From athletic to athletic-ish, Sierra's got it.

0:19Welcome in to the latest edition of ESPN SC. I'm Dan Thomas, joined by the one, the only, Stevie Nicol is alongside me. Lots to get through today. We'll kick things off though with Monday Night Action in the Premier League. Aston Villa taking on Arsenal and Arsenal make it two wins out of two. Saka scrambling home the only goal of the game in the 60th minute to give them six points out of six as they impress as the defending champions. For more on this let's welcome in shall we? Nadam Anua joins us. Nadam this is the sort of games that we saw Arsenal do so well last season continuing that form this campaign.

0:54Nothing spectacular but they get the win. yeah exactly and i think um this is probably the way it's going to be going forward we've seen that that's the form for them to essentially win a league title last year and at times maybe they can be more expressive but the fact is the way that they're playing now it reminds me of certain times in my career when you would play against a manchester united you play against the chelsea like the game goes one nil and the game is basically finished because to give arsenal their credit like obviously they can attack well but the defense so so well they're a team who nobody enjoys playing against because if you want to try and attack against them you're not attacking against ones and twos it's that whole collective everybody's prepared to put that work and they do it really really well they move very much as a unit they attack well together they can keep the ball together you know and they do have a little bit of star power in there as well which can make a big big difference so yeah this is the one nil to the arsenal but in a sort of different way because this is them as champions now yeah and until somebody can stop them then this is the way it's going to be and i think obviously this villa side we will see a better version of aston in the weeks and months ahead.

1:53But the fact is Arsenal still had to travel away from home and get the job done, and they certainly did do that. It wasn't the most exciting game, but realistically, does it need to be? Absolutely not. It's a fair play to Arsenal. Yeah, champions performance, isn't it, Stevie?

2:05Steve Nicol:Yeah. I'm thinking along the same lines as Naidem. I was sitting watching, thinking, this reminds me of a team I played on. You know, when they went ahead, the game was done. Mm-hm. And this team could play in there. This Arsenal team could play in my era and they can play today. That's how strong and organised and confident they are. Because whatever it takes, they've got it. If it takes somebody like Saka to do something, or even Calafiora with the ball he's played back, then you know it's coming. Not just from the opposition's point of view, but as a player in that team, you know that between the first and the last minute, we're going to do something and we're going to score and we're going to create.

2:53Steve Nicol:But we're also not going to give anything away. And that's how you should do it away from home. You know, sometimes I think we get too unrealistic thinking that, you know, Arsenal or City or whoever it is should be going away from home and winning 3-0 and, you know, playing like Brazil of the 70s, you know. The realistic thing is, away from home, you win the game. And if you can do it winning 3-0, fantastic. But if you can't, that's how you do it. Brazil of the 70s. Nathan, what I was telling as well is this depth, and we've talked about it a lot in pre-season, didn't we? The fact that you can bring on Eze, that you can bring on Bruno Gimaraes, no other squad can match that.

3:33No, not at this moment in time now. With the sort of experience that they have in the Premier League, it's very, very impressive. In some ways, someone like Solis, who had done very well before this point, well, you need to take him off. Who are you bringing on? Are you bringing on England International? You want to bring on Bruno Gimaraes, like a Premier League captain for Newcastle in the years gone by. You know, huge credit to them. And even sort of for the way the Arsenal are right now, you know, you've seen Gabriel Martinelli leave. And also today, as I looked at the bench, I was like, oh, where's Max Downman?

4:00You know, this superstar who the club's going to be built around for years to come. I don't think he even made the 18 today. So that really shows how much talent they have, how much experience they have. And for Arteta, you know, this is the perfect situation when it comes down to being able to make changes. But all I would say is the other side of that coin, which some managers will struggle with long term, is all the players on the bench know that they can be starting games of football. So the manager not only has to manage the 11, but he has to manage the substitutes as well. Because as time passes, if it goes longer and longer and longer where these guys aren't playing games or playing significant minutes, there'll be some element of discontent.

4:32And that is probably going to be one of Arteta's toughest challenges this year, in my opinion. Meanwhile, let's talk about Liverpool, shall we? Because it's the first time Stevie's been with us since he was celebrating his daughter's 40th birthday. Liverpool celebrating nothing at the moment. And this would be another disappointing result, opening the season, of course, that draw against Newcastle. 2-2 again, this time against Nottingham Forest. And if I'm a Liverpool fan looking at this, Stevie, it's not necessarily the scoreline, it's the performance again.

5:02Steve Nicol:Yeah, I mean, it was just a rerun of what happened in Newcastle. You know, they had plenty of the ball, but can't do anything with it. I mean, to be kind to Alexander Isak, his touch was horrendous. I mean, he did score a goal, but his touch was horrendous. You know, he really didn't contribute anything other than that goal. And actually, you could say that about most of the team. The first half was, I thought it was last season. I thought I actually had put the wrong game on and stuck a video in and was watching a game from last year. Because every facet of the team was struggling. And again, to go back to last year, it's always a lie.

5:45Steve Nicol:who, in my opinion, arguably is Liverpool's best attacking player, ends up at right back again. I mean, it's just a mismatch. And Orojo came on. I was embarrassed for him. He was horrendous. I don't understand why he doesn't just leave Xhaki in, because the young kid Xhaki, I thought, has been as good as the defender as Liverpool have had. So, it's just a mess. They got a point, but you shouldn't be just getting a point and be happy with a point at Anfield. You've got one of the most expensive attacking forces now in the Premier League. Isaac, Wurtz, obviously, over 100 million. And Barcola's coming as well now.

6:27That was confirmed.

6:29Steve Nicol:350 million to the three? Yes. How excited are you about the prospect of Barcola? I can honestly tell you that excitement is not what I'm feeling. It's trepidation. How is this guy going to How do you go from the service And the team that he's playing in at PSG To We're not sure what's going on That's what the team The team he's joining Isn't quite sure what it is And if we think As good as Bradley Barker is If we think just him coming and signing Is going to change everything I don't see that Number one you've got to get him the ball And number two you're going to have to play with him And right now, nobody in the front line has got a connection with each other.

7:19Steve Nicol:You know, there's nothing between Verts and Isak. Gakpo's mostly doing things on his own. It's individual stuff that he's creating the goal for Isak or he's getting a shot. Inge Moore isn't going to cut it on the right-hand side. I mean, so there's no connections. There's no fluid passing and moving. You know, we've just watched Barcelona. You talk about great movement, passing, confidence. You can just turn that around and go the opposite way with Liverpool because there's absolutely none of that. So, yes, it's fantastic they've signed Bacala. But if we think he's just going to turn up and everything's going to be rosy in the garden, it's not happening.

7:59There isn't that fear, is it, at the moment, Nadam, certainly from opponents coming up against Liverpool? Yeah, I think that's really fair. Because I think, for me, the way that you can almost judge some of these bigger sides is how did opposition look when they're playing against them. And I thought for long spells on the weekend, Forest looked very, very comfortable. They felt that it could create a ton of chances and they were committing tons of bodies forward. And when you think about, say, what you'd expect to see from a side that is a dominant side playing at home like Liverpool, that wouldn't necessarily be the case.

8:26You'd expect to see a team suffer like we've seen over the weekend. Some teams having 20, nearly 30 shots dominating an opposition. But that certainly wasn't the case against the Forest side who, you know, essentially they're a good side, but that shouldn't necessarily be the case for say Liverpool not winning this game itself and I think it's an interesting position that they're in because they do feel like, I'm surprised that Xhaka is coming off again, but maybe just maybe from a Liverpool perspective if things are to be better, it's probably up front, not necessarily with Alexander Izak but with Eketike, because I could see Eketike and Barkle and Virts working better than Izak and those sorts of players around him, I think in some ways I'm like incredibly disappointed and surprised by how poor Izak looks within this side obviously he had significant injury last year and then there was all issues with pre-season throughout the year but some of the experience as he is with the skill that he has and the vision that you know we all have seen him have before it just doesn't feel like it's working but it feels like that's the case all around the field at this moment in time so yes they can get better they probably will get better but it almost feels like the ceiling for Liverpool has dropped down quite a bit from the expectations that you know we would put upon them maybe two three years ago

9:34Steve Nicol:You know we've got to be careful here Eketiki I agree. Eketiki, absolutely, since he's come, has been a ray of sunshine compared to what's been happening in Liverpool. But we can't forget, he's not due back till January. Right. At the earliest. And if we think he's going to be the Eketiki-er before the injury, I mean, we can just reel off names. Isaac being the best example. You know, yes, he was out for a long time, but when he came back, you talk about off the pace, not sharp. and particularly confidence-wise. I talked about the weekend how he didn't play like a centre-forward at the weekend.

10:13Steve Nicol:He couldn't hold the ball up and he wasn't joining in with anybody. And a lot of that is confidence, but he was out for a long time. And we shouldn't expect too much too soon from Ekitiki. Good news though for Liverpool. Surely Gakpo is going to stay linked to Spurs and Manchester City, of course. 100%. Gakpo's been the best player in the first two games of the season. Right. By a country mile, not even close. So, yeah, it's great. It's great news, but it would have been madness to have let them go anyway. Obviously, Manchester City were pursuing Gakpo. However, it looks like they've gone for another Premier League attacker and paid quite a lot of money for it as well.

10:53Zikliman Jai is going to make the switch from Everton to Manchester City. £65 million is the reported fee. Nadeem still with us welcoming Gab Marcotti as well Gab we can talk about money but money's boring really because it's not ours but let's talk about as to whether or not this guy in your opinion has the quality to step up from Everton to Manchester City I mean it depends what we're talking about stepping up if it's about offering an alternative off the bench I mean I think that's why Maneska brought it in he certainly showed that that he can hang in the Premier League just as he showed that he could get the job done at Marseille.

11:34Obviously, at this level, I think Maleska is going to look to him as somebody who can back up possibly either wing. Natum, are you excited by this signing? Yeah, I'm quite happy with it, to be honest. I think, obviously, those stats themselves there, they don't look that impressive. But when you add in the context that he's playing for an Everton side who aren't probably the most free-flowing in terms of how they attack. You know, there's lots of critique around, say, the forwards as well, and, say, Beto and Barry. I think he is a player who many Everton fans have seen has been one of the best for them across these last three seasons and, you know, almost felt nervous.

12:12Well, at some stage, he would go to somewhere a bit more progressive, somewhere where he can almost test himself, say, playing in Europe again. And, you know, I think for City to be able to get him, I think it's good. I think, obviously, the days where you're getting the biggest, biggest name and so on, I don't know if that really exists as such anymore in and around the Premier League in my opinion and he might not start every single game for City but I think it can have a huge impact because domestically he has done very well across the last few years and for him now, instead of say linking up with those forwards, playing with I forget who the right back is who plays for Everton, essentially a big centre half like things are different now the team will create differently there'll be more on the front foot, there'll be more attacking football he's trying to be feeding the likes of Erling Haaland he's playing alongside his Shirky, a Foden and these are some of the best players he's probably ever played with.

12:58So there's a chance for him to be able to step up and see what type of ability he can have as opposed to what was required of him when he was at Everton. So, yeah, I do like it.

13:07Steve Nicol:I'm not convinced. Listen, whether you're Premier Everton or MDL, if you're in the Premier League and you've got four assists in two seasons, there's different ways of looking at it. It is£65 million for the reserve, but then how's this guy going to adapt when he's sat on the bench week in and week out? Because he's not going to play a lot of games. He's just not. He'll play in the cup games, yes, but in the league, no. So it's a different ball game when you're sat on the bench week in and week out than it is when you know you're going to start. And for Everton, he was all heart and he was all effort and he had a smile on his face.

13:47Steve Nicol:And yes, he likes taking people on but at the end of the day, full assists in two seasons. Really? 65 million. I'm yet to be convinced. So what are Everton going to do with that money? U.S. international superstar Florian Balligan looks like he could be heading to Goodison Park to Everton, the new stadium gap. Dickinson. Thank you.

14:12Yeah, it certainly looks that way. I think Everton looking for a centre forward. Balligan fits the profile, obviously. has had a past at Arsenal. Look, Monaco, I was there this time last week. Actually, more recently than that. The club itself, they're basically demobilizing. You know, Aklouche leaving, others leaving. They've already made more than$100 million. And Balogun's going to add to that. They love Paris Brunner, a young German who scored two goals at the weekend when they beat Marseille 2-0. So in some ways, they were ready to cash in on Balogun. Now, whether he can bring that goal-scoring form to the Premier League, I think a lot, if you're just going to judge him by goals, as Stevie said, a lot's going to depend on the way Everton play, because Everton are a little bit stodgier and perhaps less free-flowing than other sides under the current manager.

15:06So you have to take that into account. But I think in terms of effort, in terms of finishing, if you get him the ball, I think Balogun can certainly be productive in the Premier League. How will he get on at a stodgy Everton, Stevie? He'll probably fit in pretty well.

15:21Steve Nicol:Yeah. Yeah, I mean... Yeah, I... Again, it's a different ball game, stepping into the Premier League and playing for Everton. So, does he have the ability? He's shown, particularly in the World Cup, that he has ability to score goals and he has ability to hold the ball up and link play. can he do it on a consistent basis with Everton? And if he does, then he will get his first year. Nadeem? Yeah, I think it's a really good move, to be honest. I think a club the size of Everton is a big football club. And him coming across to the Premier League for a chance to essentially prove himself back in English football, I think that's going to be a big deal.

16:02But he looked at the traits that he had. We saw it at the World Cup, but we've seen it for, say, Monaco in the Champions League, seen it for Monaco in Liga. He's got a sense of physicality about him. he leads the line really well he can do things like run channels but he's got a good touch as well to link up with other players around him and I think that's essentially what you'd want to see from a striker if you are an Everton fan you know if you're an Everton player somebody who will probably end up being a better finisher than Beto or better finisher than Barry but still be able to have the impact on the field and fit in with what the culture is so I think it's a really good move for both parties if it happens to be the case and I wouldn't be surprised if he if he does well and breaks 10 goals this season in the league.

16:41Less than 24 hours to go until the transfer window closes, Gab. What can we expect during that period? Well, look, I mean, a lot of these things are going down to the wire and Enzo Fernandez is obviously, there's been reports that there's now finally direct contact between the clubs rather than via the usual intermediaries who seem to be doing the sporting director's jobs at many Premier League clubs and many clubs around Europe indeed. I don't know that, I think Chelsea, despite what they said before, if they get the fee they want or anything close to it, I think they'll be happy to see the back of him and obviously Maresca wants him there.

17:27I think that is the one that's really going to dominate the final hours of the transfer window in terms of size. just to remember more Balingan talk tonight as they'll be writing the news it could be heading to Dickinson Football America tonight on the ESPN app What does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core with a premium design that's thin and light it feels smooth very smooth for a better feel in your hands and less weight on your shoulders With a responsive touchscreen, it feels fast and precise. For better scrolling, zooming, and swiping, so everything just flows.

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19:00Less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. And listeners of this show will get a$75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast. Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed-sponsored jobs. Like it or not, Craig Burley's here now as we look back at Barca against Rio. Barca looking to make it three wins out of three.

19:44Rio looking for their first win of the season. Gabriel Jesus in attendance, he of course now a Barcelona player after making that switch from Arsenal. And it would be Ryo who would open the scoring here 12 minutes in to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

19:59Steve Nicol:Yeah, it's a nice break. Couldn't be. I mean, just a horrendous decision to try and close the ball when it wasn't on. Nice cut back and that's a great finish. What a response though from Barcelona and Rafinha, Craig. Yeah, nice ball in from Pedri into the youngster, left back. Love the little cushion pass around the corner to Rafinha. Yeah, you'll not be getting a game. Copa del Rey. Copa del Rey, yeah. Brilliant from Rafinha. We talk about him every week now. Filling that number nine spot, doing the business. And then Lamin Amal opens his account for the season. What a way to open it as well.

20:39Steve Nicol:I mean, you can't even see he smashed it. It's the instep, he knows exactly where he's putting it. There's a little bit of giving the eyes to the keeper. You think he's going to go the other side, but boy, what a finish. Anthony Gordon giving the start again, and once again he'll get an assist, this time setting up the own goal. Yeah, I mean, he's really settled in very well. He's played a part in all the games. He's assists, you name it, own goal here, but it's his pace running in behind. However, Ryan making a game of it, as Camano will get his second of the game to make it 3-2. Yeah, it's horrendous defensively.

21:18Steve Nicol:It's a good header into that side netting but should never have got an easy header later. Juan Garcia, one of Vars' best players last season, called into action here. Yeah, they were a little bit all over the place at this point, Barcelona, and it looked like they were going to throw the points away needlessly. John Garcia sort of flapping at that a little bit. Any sort of hopes of a comeback would be put to bed here. Anthony Gordon, what an assist to Rafinha. Middle back heel and the Brazilian does the rest. Yeah, it's good football. Big ball from Koundé. A bit more excitement, Stevie. What's wrong?

21:59Just waiting for the Messi segment. Why is that so dark? Yeah.

22:03Steve Nicol:I don't think it is.

22:08Raya, though, once again testing the old high line for Barcelona. Ngetta here with the opportunity, but can't make the most of it. Right.

22:22Steve Nicol:Yeah, but you're going to see this a lot with Barcelona. João Cancelo had just come on. He just played a little bit deeper. Ball's coming at him relatively quickly. He's off balance. He's fallen over before he hits it, he's had a panic up. Basically he's had a panic up. Barcelona win this by five goals to two. Adeyemi coming on as a substitute, plays it into Laminya Maal who gets his second. Oh, a fantastic goal! Adeyemi, the unbelievable little knockback and then what a finish. Seriously. That's more like it. This is absolutely incredible play from Barcelona. Oh dear. Just because Liverpool are crap.

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22:59Right, Barcelona make it 5-2 and make it three wins out of three. Matching Real Madrid, of course, at the top of the table with three wins so far this season. I'll tell you what, Craig, impressive again. They'll be disappointed they conceded goals, but this front line is just on fire.

23:19Steve Nicol:Gordon's fitted in really well, looks super confident. Looks at the decision to not take Rashford and sign Anthony Gordon, which we all thought was a real left field at the time. going from Newcastle, was a bit of a strange one, but they've planned what they wanted. They signed Adeyemi as well. Very similar in terms of the running behind, the pacey, the quick. Obviously, Gordon's shown some extra stringsties ball with the assess and the back heels and all that sort of stuff. And, of course, you know, Rufina up front filling that number nine role because of all the Julian Alvarez nonsense. Ferran Torres has gone to PSG.

23:55Steve Nicol:Lewandowski's in Major League Soccer now, and Rufina's just gone in there, and he's continued his form through the middle that we've seen from that left-hand side where his numbers have been brilliant now. The big question is, from the striking position, can he beat that 30, 35 goals that he got in the 24-25 season? The early signs would be he's got a hell of a chance of doing that. What a way to start the season for him. Yeah, I mean, him in particular, his movement is frightening. No wonder people can get close to him because he just appears with a little burst of pace. And then his first goal, I mean, talk about quick feet through two defenders and then sticks it, showing the goalkeeper the eyes as well.

24:37Steve Nicol:So in terms of individual brilliance, I mean, look at this, he's just walked past them, sends the goalie the wrong way and rolls it home. But it's not just him. You know, things talking about the pace of Anthony Gordon, but the movement and the individual quality, what a combination. and to have, what, four players to choose from, I mean, it's the sort of vying with PSG for the team to watch going forward, really. Another two assists for Anthony Gordon as well. Yeah, yeah, as I say. And, you know, what he's done is not only start well and get his confidence up, but he's, and we've talked about this, he's really fitted in with the players and the supporters in terms of how unselfish he's been, which I think is hugely important.

25:22Steve Nicol:and a game these days full of egos. But to go back to Rafinha, brilliant little back heel. To go back to Rafinha, you've got Ferran Torres, yes, scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, which is absolutely fantastic, obviously. And he did have a good spell at Barcelona. He had a little bit of a quiet spell last year in the second half of the season. But you can see why he was sort of itching to get away because I think he knew the writing was on the wall. Because Rafinha, Steve, you mentioned, Rafinha's got the same, he's got as good a movement as Ferran Torres, he's as quick as Ferran Torres, but his finishing is better, he's a lot more clinical in the final third, Ferran Torres was very hot and cold in that area, when he was good, he was good, and when he was bad, it really was a little bit clumsy, Rafinha's numbers will tell you, even from that wide position, that graphic that we saw would tell you that his consistency in the final third is way better.

26:16Steve Nicol:And if they keep putting him in those positions, you know, the Fermin Lopez, Pedri, Dani Omo, Laminio, all these, Laminio Mal, Anthony Gordon, all these players that can supply somebody with that kind of movement and finishing, then he's going to have himself a heck of a season. And then Laminio Mal's opener, Stevie, we used to him curling it into the top corner. This is on the near side. Yeah, I mean, that's... You know, King was talking about the lack of composure from the Valle Cano player. I mean, this is what having a football brain does for you. It gives you so much time to figure things out.

26:53Steve Nicol:He knows they keep us probably thinking it's going in that top corner because we all thought it was as well. And he just switches and then smashes it again with the instep. To get the power with the instep is frightening. and yeah, just world class. And then the second one as well, Craig, great placement. Yeah, I mean, news of his demise was a little earlier. What are we going to talk about? He's not looked miserable today. He's not come off in a huff and ignored Hansi Flick. We need it. So he's, yeah, I mean, look, Real Madrid and Barcelona really have had a pretty, I'm going to say, soft start to the season when you look at the teams that they've played.

27:34Steve Nicol:and it's a little worrying I think for the rest how easy they've just sort of wafted these teams away it's been way too easy that's a concern so who's going to put up the challenge where are they going to drop points is it just going to come down to the Bassa Atleti and Bassa and the classical games or are some other teams in La Liga going to be able to put up a better fight than we've seen from Raya put up a fight to a certain extent before it was five in the end but LG never Athletic club never and some of the games we saw the Malaga game for Real Madrid they tried to go toe-to-toe and got hammered so it's been a relatively soft start for both teams which I think has been good from the management point of view because they've been able to arrest these players after the World Cup and thus far both Hansi Flick and Jose Mourinho have got their team selection spot on Greg, thank you very much you're leaving us now I believe I believe I'm being subbed off Steve, he wants it all to himself to talk about Lionel Messi Ah, yes indeed.

28:34We'll be talking Messi a little later on. We're talking Barcelona as well as we'll get a reaction. Let's hear from Hansi Flick.

28:41Steve Nicol:Good evening, Mr. Flick. Congratulations on the victory. Thank you very much. Good evening. What a great reaction from the team after conceding both goals. Is that what you have liked the most from today? Yes, of course. I think also the first half we played really fantastic. So the goal could happen, the 1-0 against us. but the end reaction was quite good and yeah, I love a lot of things I saw in the first half. Three matches, three wins, 12 goals, good news, but I'm sure that you want to improve things. Tell me just one thing. No, it's, you know, when you are 3-1 ahead, you also have to, especially at home, you also have to control the game much better.

29:25So I think we have the quality to control it, to have more ball possession And of course, this is maybe also the attitude, the mentality of our team, of some players. Always, always want to attack, but sometimes it's also good because with a ball, you have to recover. And this is really necessary how we are playing, the style how we're playing, that they also find the situations where we can let run the ball and not us.

29:58Steve Nicol:Just one quick question. Gabriel Jesus is already here. We have seen him with Laporta. What are you expecting from him? For me, he's a top striker and, of course, for us, very important. He can give us a lot of things and I'm very happy that he's here. De La Liga continues on Friday. Real Madrid and Barca both with three wins out of three so far. Real Madrid looking to make it four on Friday. It's there in Seville to take on Real Betis. Our coverage starts 2.30 Eastern on the ESPN app. 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.

30:41Steve Nicol: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 Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. O, O, O, O 'Reilly! 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.

31:20Steve Nicol: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.

31:41Lionel Messi announced that he will never play for Argentina again. Of course, so much criticism during the early part of his career. they could do it for Barcelona, but not for the national team. He silenced those critics in some style four years ago as they won the World Cup in Qatar. And then, of course, this summer just fell short, losing against Spain in the final. Gavin Nadum still with us. Gavin, this is not a big surprise. No, it's not a surprise at all. I mean, I think we know that he himself said that he had actually wrote the statement kind of two days after the World Cup final. He is 39 years old, as you point out.

32:26What surprised me a bit in his statement, and you touched upon it there, it's a short statement, it's 318 words. He devotes a lot of real estate to reiterating over and over again how hard he played and how he gave everything he had to Argentina. And to me, that speaks to the fact that some of the criticism that he got early in his career, before his first retirement. I mean, this was a guy who, by age 29, had won the Ballon d 'Or five times, had won eight Liga titles, three Champions Leagues with Barcelona, but had lost three consecutive finals with Argentina. And he was getting so much criticism back home.

33:04And if you remember, that's when, after the final of the Copa América Centenario at Giant Stadium, that's when he famously came out and announced his retirement, his first retirement. That lasted a couple of months. They couldn't keep him away. And then over the next decade, you know, he went out, won the Copa America twice, won the World Cup, reached the World Cup final, of course, on another occasion, scored 70 goals in 91 international appearances, you know, after scoring 55 kind of up to age 29. It's just incredible. Now, obviously, everybody loves him, but he still doesn't forget that there were moments when people questioned him and questioned his attachment, questioned his loyalty, questioned his patriotism.

33:55And he says he's now at peace with it. And I'm glad because clearly it must have bugged him for a very, very long time if he devoted so much time to it. Yeah, this guy who you felt was forever going to be in the shadow of Maradona. That was it. He was never going to live up to what Maradona did in the 80s. And obviously, in the end, he led Argentina to World Cups.

34:19Steve Nicol:And of all the things you could say about him and all the things that people have said, the toughest thing for him, no question, his career was filling the boots of Maradona. And to actually succeed in doing that, is there anything more difficult in the game than having to fill the boots of the greatest player who had played the game before you, I don't think there's an achievement higher than what Messi did. Winning it and taking this team four years later to the final. Now, we can argue all day the way it went, but at the end of the day, to win it and to get to the final on your back and have to follow a guy called Maradona, I mean, to be able to do that tells you not just the ability of this guy but the mental strength that he had to go through that and yes, Gab's saying he mentions it but he's done it, he's got through it and he's as he's done all his career, he's won Nadeem?

35:22Yeah, I think that's completely fair I think the successful international career that he's had and the fact that as he's gotten older it's become more and more influential and almost better, I think in some ways it's astonishing because even working the World Cup this summer just gone when they would show his goal record at the world cups it's like oh my gosh this is getting considerably better as he's getting older and here he was in the summer on the verge of you know a much better 90 minutes away from lifting the trophy again so in some ways you know this is this is not really a surprise i think for me in some ways maybe this is a mention in terms of how his career is probably coming very very close to the end now because i think in two years time the next copper american might be in the usa so if he happens to be playing on mls and be available Maybe that's something they would have considered doing, but perhaps in 2028, he won't be a professional player anymore.

36:09So this is step one. And then the biggest step is probably something that's quite inevitable now. Well, ESPN has produced an 80-page special edition. Lionel Messi commemorative magazine documents the extraordinary career of a global icon. Now, edition is available now on Amazon and also on your newsstands.

36:32Your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfast. 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. With Instacart Chopper Notes, you can be incredibly specific about your produce. Take heirloom tomatoes. Maybe you want one that's more than just red.

37:08You want a tomato that's cultured. One that knows words in a different language. Ciao. Los amico. Porco preso. A tomato you can wrap your arms around on a breezy warm day as it guides you through Naples' volcanic landscape. Okay, so maybe you can't get quite that specific with Chopper Notes, but you get the idea. Want to get groceries just how you like? Download the Instacart app. That is it. Thank you very much, guys. Of course, as always, a lot more from Nade and Gab to come as they'll be answering your questions on Extra Time. Stevie here as well. Inevitably, Stevie back, so a lot of questions about Liverpool and their rubbishness.

37:53Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Stevie here in the studio, Nade as well. Gab, I didn't know you went to Monaco. How was it? Did you have a lovely time? How expensive was a beer? It was very expensive. I didn't pay for the beer, but I can report back that the club sandwich, which I didn't order but I spot on the menu, clocked in at 48 euros, which is pretty close to 60 bucks. Wow, for a club sandwich. It did look really good, to be fair. Wow, you would have been so angry, Stevie, at that. I think I just missed a meal. Julian said, I wish it was a packet of chips. That gave me trouble.

38:33What were you doing there, Gab? Was it the draw? Was that the draw? Was the draw there? It was the Champions League draw. Of course, it was entirely overshadowed by... by Johnny Infantino. Oh, yes. All his opponents at UEFA and elsewhere plotting against him and filing that meme. those papers in district court in Miami and threatening legal action in Switzerland. I'm still thinking about the club sandwich. Right, is Rafinha actually better as a number nine? Neyden, I imagine not the easiest individual to mark if you're a centre-back. No, no, not at all, but I think that position as a specialist number nine will be suited to somebody else.

39:20I think Rafinha's done really well when himself and Lamine have almost played like a two at times in between, say, the centre-half and the winger. But I just don't see him as that type of player, that sort of number nine. And in tougher games, you'll get less of the ball. And if you get less of the ball, you lose a huge part of what Pozlone's attack is. So, no, I don't see him as a nine, to be honest. Which player in Europe has had a better start to the season, Gab? If I throw some names at you. Rafinha is there, obviously. You'd put Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham. Who from England's done well?

39:50Anyone? one? Cherking, I suppose, a little bit. Yeah, I mean, Joe Pedro's done okay. Yes. But I think you would probably, I mean, in my view, you'd have to give it to Rafinha, or I would give it to Rafinha, simply because, like, Bellingham's been devastating, but he had a devastating World Cup. Rafinha, let's not forget, got injured at the World Cup, missed out on it you know what it might have been a very different story for brazil if uh if rafinha had been out there especially after they they had those injuries uh in the attacking midfield position so um i feel like i want to give it to rafinha yeah could have taken a penalty as well obviously stevie where are you or or dono malin too oh yep i know it seems wrong to mention him in the same breath but come on.

40:43Yeah, come on. Oh Rafinha. Rafinha? Well we've sat last time. Are we not taking Mbappe a bit for granted? Scored a hat-trick, scored a beautiful goal yesterday.

40:55Steve Nicol:I don't think we're taking him for granted. I think we are. Everything Rafinha's done since the start of the season has been smooth, silky, spectacular.

41:10Yeah.

41:11Steve Nicol:Mbappe's hasn't been. He's had opportunities in not taking them. Oh, blood me next. He was a bit harsh. No. I think so. No, just because right now, Rafinha looks better. It doesn't mean we're disrespecting Mbappe. I think it sounds a bit disrespectful. Disappointing. Nainem? Yeah, I'm going to... Rafinha's obviously been very, very good, but I'm going for Mbappe. Maybe this will be a record season for Munoz. Yeah, I'm going to Mbappe all the way on this one. Stevie, are you feeling optimistic? Liverpool battle? No. Oh,

41:54Stevie. You had that bet, and you definitely don't have to fulfil it now, wouldn't you? If Liverpool won back-to-back games, They won back-to-back game. You were in a yoga class with Alexis. Correct.

42:04Steve Nicol:And the only reason I said I would do it is because there was no way possible that we were going to do back-to-back. Who have you got next? Ipswich. At Anfield? I believe... I don't know. OK. All right, then. Are you feeling... So no optimism at all? No. Gav, are they going to do anything in the next 24 hours? Stevie's crying out for full-backs. I mean... I certainly haven't seen any reports. Obviously, Barcola was a huge expense. It's interesting that you mentioned getting help at fullback. I mean, Connor Bradley will be back at some point, and Sinekas is still around. I kind of think they could probably use another body in midfield as well with Curtis Jones gone.

42:51But instead, they seem to have a thing for wingers. Yeah, very much so. So Ipswich away is on Friday, Stevie, by the way.

42:58Steve Nicol:Friday, right, yeah, yeah. Gab, I said earlier I felt embarrassed for a Rojo. Was I being too harsh? Did I see what he did in the game correctly? Because he was absolutely, I thought, horrendous. Am I just being too harsh? No, look, I mean, the reality is, I think this has to be put in a certain context of signing. Longo Raujo has not been, he's either been fit or not good for kind of what, the last three, four years at Barcelona? That's why Liverpool only took him on loan. They felt that they needed another veteran defender. He would not have been my choice. No, me neither. But again, he's somebody who had big game experience and kind of been there, done that.

43:48He's been around a big club, even though he's hardly played the last couple of years. Yeah, I don't fully get it either. I hope they did their homework and figured out exactly what was wrong with him, if there was maybe something mental going on as well with him. But I don't have an issue with him bringing in another veteran, given that Van Dijk is the only one who's not a child left at centre-back. But I wouldn't have picked this guy either, Stevie. I can see the Liverpool echo now, Nadem. Liverpool legend Stevie Nicholls slammed Sirocco's debut as horrendous.

44:26Yeah, you could definitely say that. People will have good days and bad days and so on, but I think for those who carry, as Gav said, it's the context because for Barcelona, he hasn't been one of their most significant or important players across this last couple of years. And when you think about almost like Araujo moments for the last couple of years, it's negative ones. There's obviously elements of injury as well. And so poor defending. I think even against Chelsea last year in the Champions League that's one that sticks out in my mind so for Liverpool trying to you know be back again in conversations about winning titles you just wouldn't have thought that a player that would be surplus to requirements of Barcelona in that manner would be what Liverpool would choose to take on board to try and build for something more successful again so yeah he did slam him he said he was a disgrace that is the worst sign that's happened all window and yeah look where people are listening make sure you put that that is Stevie Nicton Stevie, seeing the way Chelsea are flying at hindsight, do you think Liverpool made the right decision to opt for Areola instead of Alonso?

45:33Steve Nicol:Well, yeah. I mean, it's chalk and cheese here. I mean, we only... You said you didn't want Alonso because he failed so badly at Real Madrid. I didn't see that. There's a shock. Dan Thomas, in a shock move, puts words in someone's mouth. What a surprise. Oh, dear. All I said was that I wasn't convinced because of what happened at Real Madrid. Yep, that's what I said. I honestly, listen, Pep Guardiola could have come in to Liverpool at the start of this season and would struggle with what he's got. Liverpool absolutely right now don't have a big enough squad. and the squad they do have isn't clearly good enough.

46:21Steve Nicol:And so, Eriola for me has been put in a position right now where he's not going to succeed. And so you can't blame him. Why did you blame Arna Slott? I didn't... Oh, hold on. Yes, in a shot move, Dan Thomas... Wait! I never blamed Arna Slott. You said it was time for him to go. I never blamed Arna Slott. You said it was time for him to go. I'll tell you exactly what I said. I said the situation at Liverpool right now, particularly from the point of view of people in the building, everybody is lower than a snake's belly, that it had just got out of control. And that's why he had to go. I didn't turn around and say, oh, it's Arnold Slott's fault.

47:05Steve Nicol:The only thing that was going to change that would make a change was not getting rid of all the players because you need to get players in. It would be the change in the staff. And that's what I said. So I didn't play him on the slot. But you said it was time for him to go. That's exactly what I said. And you went, no, no, no. I didn't say who this is. You did. You went, it's Dan Thomas. That is all we're getting. You can think what you want and say that shrapnel cluttered brain you go. All right. Thank you very much.

47:37Oh, no. Right. Nainem. Again, no minutes for sure, Karez. He didn't play at all. Ah, back-to-back games. Do you think there is an issue? And as a player, how do you react to being left out two games in a row? The last bit says when you were in the top scorer in the previous season, which obviously is not relevant to you. Yeah, thank you. I think the top scorer I think is interesting because by the end of the season he just wasn't a significant part of what Arsenal were. I think there was lots of insistence on, say, Havertz playing the position and Havertz does it better than him. The only reason Havertz wasn't playing early in the year I think it was because he was carrying an injury.

48:19I think Jokrej is in a tough position to where I think quite a few players will be this season where the moment Arteta isn't really feeling you I think you kind of drift along to the sidelines because it was only last season when start of the year they sign Eze, there's all this like fanfare, everything's great. Then there was an eight game period in the middle of the season where he just didn't play a single minute's worth of football. And I think with Arteta sometimes you're either in or you're out. And right now he trusts Havertz more and that's probably going to be the case for a little while and maybe, maybe Jokers will be drift fed like a cup game, you know, like a Champions League game against a team who they expect to win.

48:53But yeah, it seems that the signing that was once so important a year ago. doesn't really carry the same weight at this moment in time. Gab, do you think Como can actually contend and win the Scudetto this season? I think they can contend. I mean, I think Inter would have to seriously implode. I think the gap is really that big between Inter and everybody else. But I think what's obvious is what Cesc is doing is really, really special. They're hoping to make some signings now before the transfer window shuts. they're gonna have a problem in the Champions League because I think they only have one Italian player who's likely to see any kind of minutes and and that's the youngster Liberale although obviously they're working on Ricci and Ken to try to get some other bodies in but domestically where they don't have these restrictions they showed this weekend and Napoli they're absolutely fearless they're awkward to play against.

49:52Ces by the way it's not just pretty football, not just pass, pass, pass and commit people forward. They also know how to play with an edge. And Nico Paz just keeps getting better and better. He's got help now from Baturina as well. Sanjiao looks fit, looks sharp. It's just remarkable what Cesc has done in very, very little time. Kieran Gibbs is going there next weekend, Gab, for a wedding. How much for the locals at Commonwealth hate all these people coming over with all their billions and ruining in that place.

50:26Yeah, so here's the thing. Obviously, they'll welcome Kieran with open arms, because he's Kieran Gibbs. But I think in general, the ultra-rich who come to Como, they don't necessarily wander the streets. They generally have large villas on the lake, and they retreat to those, and they send their servants out to pick up their meals and dry cleaning and whatnot. So I think Kieran's probably going to be okay there. It'll be all right. Did you pull the trigger on buying that place in Koma in the end, Stevie? I did, yeah. Yeah, lovely. Congratulations. Yeah, one for me. Right. Have we written Aston Villa off too soon, Nadem?

51:08Their line-up today looked pretty strong on paper. They've made some good summer signings and they only conceded one against Arsenal. Are Villa actually as bad as we've made them seem or could they be a team that surprises us? Just reminding me, they haven't had a shot on target yet this season. Yeah. Yeah, I think if we're to be fair, I think Villa are more the team we saw today than the team we saw last week. I think the team we saw last week and the way they played was very much an abomination. And if that was to be the whole season, then it's fair to just sort of react quite heavily and say this would be a nightmare.

51:42But I think they will be competitive. But we're talking about Villa's side that, you know, like they've just they're in the Champions League you know they've just won the Europa League last year but they don't feel to carry that same energy now which is understandable when you're losing the likes of Tielemans, Konzers Morgan Rodgers like the team feels very very different and I don't think in my opinion this team is strong enough to be one that qualifies automatically for European football through the league system but maybe they can have a good cup run but it feels like you know I really said it a week ago this requires patience requires patience and anytime manager says that i think it's probably saying to you this could be a long season and i think relative to expectations that they've just had from winning in europe which is obviously a huge privilege and a great moment for so many fans it's generational yeah i don't think it's going to be anything close to a season like that gab are you writing aston villaroff too soon come on now okay depends what your expectations are i i I just kind of, you know, had a bit of a shock when he said, when the reader said, oh, well, these, that Villa team looked pretty good on paper against Arsenal.

52:48No, on paper, they do not look pretty good because many of these players aren't good and there isn't much depth. And also some of the players they do have that can come in and might be able to help, like Manzambi, obviously, like Goretzka, you know, these guys weren't there. So I don't know what on paper he's referring to. I think the big concern with Villa is that they're playing in the Champions League and the squad is still really, really thin. And if you go from Morgan Rodgers to Hemmings, that is a step down. Maybe it won't be one day. Maybe Hemmings will become as great as Morgan Rodgers.

53:26I hope he does. But for now, we're not there yet. I'm not writing them off because I learned the lesson a long, long time ago not to write off Unai Emery. That guy does voodoo out there and he squeezes every ounce of potential out of his team. He's shown it at Villa. He's shown it before at Sevilla and elsewhere. And look, in the season where Liverpool are in transition, Spurs are in transition, both these teams effectively have new managers. Or Manchester United, you don't know how good they're going to be. it's entirely possible that Chelsea and City also have new managers, let's not forget.

54:08It's entirely possible that a spot could open up for Villa in the top four. I wouldn't rule it out completely, but it would be monumental feat number 199 for Unai Emery if he gets it done. Thank you very much, guys. Much appreciated. Before we let you go earlier today, Barcelona beat Raio Verkano by five goals to two live on ESPN. Here's Kristiansen with Gemma after the game.

54:33Steve Nicol:Yes, we are with Andreas Kristiansen. Congratulations for this win. The team looked really sharp today and congratulations for reaching 100 games with Barcelona. I guess it's a happy day today. Yeah, it's a happy day. It's a good win, an important win to stay at the top. And yeah, like you say, 100 games, it means a lot for me and my family. We love to be here, you know, we love the club, we love the fans, We love the city, so it was a good day and it meant a lot for us. And yeah, I'm happy that we get a win at home again. So yeah, it's a good start. So you had the two previous seasons were quite difficult for you for the injuries.

55:16Steve Nicol:Now you played two games, two solid games. How far do you think you are to being back at your best level? No, there's still some to go, but right now, for me, it's about to find the joy again playing football. It's been, like you said, two difficult seasons with a lot of injuries. Right now, I just take game for game trying to enjoy it. Trying to get back to my best, still some work left to do, but it will only come with rhythm. I try to enjoy every game and do the best that I can on a day. I think it's the way to go. Talking about the team, it's easy for the fans to get excited. These three wings are scoring a lot.

55:59Steve Nicol:There was a big debate about who's going to score the goals now. Well, you don't have a problem with that. No, I think we always believe that the goals can come from anywhere, even from the second line. It doesn't have to be the front three. And yeah, we play... I think we have a good balance. Sometimes we play more patience and sometimes we play more direct. and yeah like you said it doesn't really matter who's who's playing in we find the goals somehow we always create chances and yeah so it's been it's been a good start so the club has just signed Gabriel Jesus what do you think about this edition and do you think this is a squad has the level to to play to compete for everything yeah it can take us through to the next level I know him from the Premier League played against him a few times and it's always been incredibly difficult so I'm looking forward to see him how he is and he can only make us stronger, you know, so we are happy to have him and we're looking forward to have him playing with us at the games You can see every single Lally game live on the ESPN app throughout the season and we'll be back tomorrow.

57:07What's going on tomorrow? Transfer deadline day

57:15Relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS.

57:26Steve Nicol:Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-CONTACTS.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-CONTACTS.

From the publisher

The FC crew react to Arsenal's 1-0 win over Aston Villa and praise Bukayo Saka for his game winning goal. Plus, the guys question why Man City are buying Iliman Ndiaye for such a high fee and argue if Folarin Balogun can become a success at Everton. The crew also react to Barcelona's 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano and praise Lamine Yamal for finally finding his form.
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