Semenyo Strikes Again

17:34Thomas Hitzlsperger:I wanted to give him his platform to get his points across on how he feels about the whole situation. Let's move on.

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18:20Archie Rhind-Tutt:They're the ones with the bear on the box. Do you know what the scariest sound to hear on a factory floor is? Silence. That means something somewhere broke. Production has stopped and now you're paying workers to wait while the team troubleshoots and fixes the problem. Finally, there's a proactive way to reduce equipment downtime thanks to MaintainX. maintain x is the ai-powered maintenance and asset management system that brings your unplanned maintenance downtime to zero maintain x lets you build preventative maintenance schedules manage work orders in real time and access the data you need to make better decisions try maintain x for free control the daily operations of your business and transform your maintenance program.

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19:10Thomas Hitzlsperger:That's maintain and the letter x dot com slash sports. And so it finished nil-nil between Forrest and Wolfe. So Forrest moved two points behind Spurs, who are five ahead of West Ham in that battle at the bottom. All right, Frank, we need to talk about another Frank today, Thomas Frank, who's departed ways with Tottenham Hotspur. Are you surprised?

19:34Archie Rhind-Tutt:I'm not because I think the board needed to take a decision because it didn't work. But I'm kind of sad and I don't know. Something's going in my head. I say that guy has been so good the past seasons, you know, with his former club. How come he cannot transfer that to Tottenham Spurs? But we have seen that with many coaches at Spurs the past season. So maybe, maybe the players have to take some responsibilities in that matter, because I don't, you know, you cannot be that good and be that bad the season after. Even if you change the club, you know, your philosophy, your tactic, the way you want your players to play is kind of the same because you want to keep.

20:22Archie Rhind-Tutt:And you have a better personal so-called individuals than your former club. But it doesn't work. And after such a long time and so many years where I didn't see anything coming with Spurs, a little bit, maybe at the beginning, the players, they listen to the coach, and after they do whatever they want. And I always say that for that club, I think the board and even the fans, they have to put the pressure on the players. It's like the players, they do whatever they want, and nobody is kind of resentful towards the players who do, I would say, almost nothing. so fans have to react the board has to decide and make sure that the next coach you're going to get will be listened by the players

21:10Thomas Hitzlsperger:it was seven years of success at Brentford for Thomas Frank so why didn't this translate to success at Spurs for him I think I think the way that Spurs play the game matters at Tottenham to the fans they hated it with Mourinho I mean they just they don't want to sit and watch a team that keeps it tight and then tries to attack and then of course you get Ange and it goes completely it goes completely the other way and it's just too much and so I think the pressure from the fans is a huge part of the problem you know they're not signing world beaters they're signing players who are good enough to fight for the the Champions League spots, but they're not signing players that are good enough to win the Premier League.

22:04Thomas Hitzlsperger:And so it has to be that pressure that's coming from the outside that sports teams just don't handle. We talked for years about Newcastle United fans thought that Newcastle should be winning the Premier League every year, winning the FA Cup, winning this, winning that. They look at themselves as a certain type of club. And I think sports fans are the same. They seem to think that they should be something that they haven't been, well, have they ever been? So I think there seems to be such a pressure coming from the outside that on paper you've got players that are of a certain calibre that can't produce.

22:44Thomas Hitzlsperger:And it can't just be down to the managers all the time. Now, there's no question, when you're sitting in 16th place in the Premier League, you're in trouble. But I don't think it's all down to Thomas Frank. I think a lot of it is to do with the pressure coming from the fans in particular.

23:03Archie Rhind-Tutt:When you're this late into the season and Spurs are part of the relegation conversation, this goes on everybody. It's not just on Thomas Frank. It reflects poorly on the players, on the club, on the manager. But in addressing Thomas Frank in particular, and specifically him, When he knows his job is teetering, right, barely hanging on, and I mean barely hanging on, you can't show up to a press conference to go and defend Christian Romero and say the things that he said about him. This is a player that's usually not red carded. And then somebody from the news, a reporter, tells him, actually, he's received the most red card since he's been in the Premier League.

23:45Archie Rhind-Tutt:That you don't know that, and you go out and do this, and then the expression and the face of Thomas Frank, I'm like, ooh, what? You know that? If I'm a fan that was defending Thomas Frank up until that point, that's when I say, game, set, match. This guy's not connected. He doesn't know what players he has available. He doesn't know his own players. He doesn't know anything about my group. He has to go. If I had any faith going into that press conference with Thomas Frank, after that performance, I go, no, I'm out. This guy's already checked out. We need him out the door.

24:18Thomas Hitzlsperger:Here are the next manager odds when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur and which managers we'd be looking at to bring in to a club here and take over this group of players. Roberto De Zerbi, the favourite. Yes, remember him? 13-8 at the top of that list. What do you think of that, Frank?

24:37Archie Rhind-Tutt:Well, according to what I've seen with Marseille lately, I want to give a chance to the Zerbe, but not with what he has been working on with Marseille. When we saw the game against Liverpool, where, you know, you have the fans, you want to get crazy, you want to work hard and you do something which absolutely pleased the Liverpool team. the reason they wanted to go in, no pressure whatsoever, where we all knew how they couldn't handle any pressure at that point. I don't know. I still have some question marks. I'm not sure he's going to be the right guy. Well, let's try. His philosophie of football before Marseille has been absolutely interesting, but will he please Tottenham?

25:30Archie Rhind-Tutt:I don't know. I don't know if there is anybody who can please the players and the board and the fans at the same time. I don't know what's going on there, but it's like there is a curse and anybody who has a little bit of an idea doesn't last long because it's not followed by, I would say, the people responsible for that act, the players. The players listen for like two months and after that's it.

25:58Thomas Hitzlsperger:That was an interesting reaction from you when you mentioned the Marseille-Liverpool game. I don't know how betting works. Don't worry, that makes two of us. So, in order for the bookies, do the bookies have to take... Can you not ask this on a Dan Thomas show, the betting expert? No, no, that's true. How can Ruben Amarin be on the betting? I mean, come on, seriously. How's that possible? Do you need to know how betting works to be talking about this then. Well, not really. Why shouldn't he be on the list?

26:31Thomas Hitzlsperger:There's no reason why he should be on the list. Why shouldn't he be on the list? Why shouldn't he be? How long have we got? What time are we finishing? Hopefully sooner than later. It's late here. Yeah, yeah. Let's just go to that. When you do look at a manager who's looking to take it over, when we're talking about this and the players being a problem here and playing style being a problem and the fans being so demanding, that's going to be factored in by any manager who is looking to take this job on?

27:03Thomas Hitzlsperger:Well, managers... Managers at this level think they can fix everything and anything. I'll take these players on. I'm bigger than them. I've got a strong personality. I can do this. I'll sort them out on the field. I'll sort them out on the training pitch. I'll sort them out disciplinary, any action they want to try. They're not beating me. But you're telling me that Mourinho and Conte, aren't those two guys that thought and said that to themselves? And they couldn't do it. So, I mean, again, you've got to look at the playing staff. You're going to have to change the playing staff. Because this playing staff, on paper, is not bad.

27:43But when it comes to getting it done, they can't do it.

27:48Thomas Hitzlsperger:so I mean this is a tough one to choose how do you throw Conte away, Mourinho away I mean who's going to have a better CV than they had when they got the Spurs job so this is going to be a complete and utter gamble from Spurs as to what they're going to get next So we've seen plenty of Premier League action midweek and yesterday we got to see Chelsea leads, it finished 2-2 this is the second goal, the equalising goal from Leeds which survived a VAR check for handball from Jaden Bogle it was a bit of a crazy scramble there the goal would stand it finished 2-2 how did they survive this? it's happening in the elbow so accidental elbow from him and didn't score the goal anyway Liam Rossenia was asked about it in the post-match presser and this is what he had to say about the situation I think it's within six minutes so the penalty

28:47Archie Rhind-Tutt:He goes in, they hit a few long balls, their energy's up, they pick up a few second balls and then the lad handballs it. He handballs it, it affects my players in that moment. They think it's a handball, we switch off, we don't clear the ball, they score. Then for 25 minutes after that, it was wave after wave of attack. We have to just make sure we take care of moments and be professional.

29:08Thomas Hitzlsperger:So he's obviously, he's said about the situation, which you agree with, like that it was a strange situation, but then still said that his team have got to do better in some of the other moments that came in that game? What did you make of what he had to say afterwards?

29:24Thomas Hitzlsperger:It's one thing to tell us to do it. It's one thing to tell us that they need to do it. But that's part of your job. You're the coach. Situations. You know, you're talking, as a coach, you're talking about situations all the time. And playing to the whistle is one of those situations you talk about all the time. So the fact that he thinks his players stopped doesn't reflect well on him because you shouldn't do that. And he should come round and say, you know what, I don't care what happened, my players should be playing to the whistle. Not try and blame somebody else. That's not taking responsibility.

29:59Thomas Hitzlsperger:And you can go on about how much you had the ball and all the chances you had. Again, nobody's looking round at Arna Slaught or Man City losing late goals. Nobody's going around saying, well, they were unlucky or it's not your responsibility. Absolutely, it's your responsibility. So, you know, when you win, you take the plaudits. But, you know, when things don't go your way, you take responsibility that you're going to change it and not wait for the referee or the VAR or anybody else. So take some responsibility.

30:29Archie Rhind-Tutt:And to that point, Stevie, regardless of the handball, that goal that they just gave up in that specific sequence, U10s sort of goal, U8s sort of goal. This is what you're seeing kids do, this sort of mistake. there were plenty of opportunities within that same sequence to just clear the danger. Clear it. And we ask questions later. Instead, you got it. I got it. He's got it. Oh, nobody's got it. Where does the ball go? And here we go, tap in. It should not happen at the professional level, and it certainly should not happen at Chelsea's level.

31:06Thomas Hitzlsperger:Frank?

31:09Archie Rhind-Tutt:Yeah, that was a clear handball for me, so the goal should be done a lot. but I'm with the guys, you know. But I don't like the comments. I mean, it can happen. It was, let's say, unfortunate. They should have cleared it, but it was like a bond, a rebound. And it was, you know, in France, you know, I remember in the 80s, 90s, and even when I played, we wanted to see some goals like that from England. And that was very, especially in England, you could see goals that way. That was a big mess in a six-yard box and we didn't know where the ball was and suddenly it was a goal. That was English football.

31:46Archie Rhind-Tutt:But we saw that today and it looks stupid because the football is not like that anymore. Because now you don't clear the ball. You try to build. Even if you have a slight chance to touch the ball, you try to build. And in the player's head right now, it's, oh, I have the ball. I have to try to find a fine solution. I have to try the good pass. No, kick the stand. You know, kick the ball. The fans will be happy to get it and give it back to you. And that's what it is. That's bad reflexes and unfortunate rebounds. But that was very bad to watch.

32:22Thomas Hitzlsperger:But even with that, there was a big chance for Chelsea to seal the deal when Cole Palmer missed very late on. I think we're going to get a chance to look back at that. Obviously, these moments, Ale, mean a lot. And right late on here, this would have been a chance for Chelsea to win it. You got to score.

32:39Archie Rhind-Tutt:Simple as that. The fans know it. Colt Palmer knows it. Once this ball is being played across and it falls to his left foot, yeah, he's taking it on the short hop, but it's one that he has to, at the very least, just redirect on target. And if you redirect it on target from two yards out, my kind of range, it's a goal. And it should be a goal.

33:00Thomas Hitzlsperger:Do you think he's just not taking enough care because he thinks he's just going to score?

33:05Archie Rhind-Tutt:Yeah, it seemed very relaxed for him. And instead of just you put any body part that you can to at that point, it doesn't matter how pretty it looks, you just bumble that ball in. Even if it's with a sliding sort of challenge, if you will, you're making sure that you get the touch that is required for that ball to stay down. And he took the one touch that was always going to take the ball up, which is as that ball is on the short hop, he's trying to sort of side foot it. With him leaning back, his foot leaning back, it was always going to go up. it's a technique that you should be able to execute from two yards out.

33:39Thomas Hitzlsperger:It had a higher XG than a penalty if you do like XG. It accounted for.87 of Chelsea's 3.65 expected goals overall. Stevie, you feel a little bit more sympathetic towards Cole Palmer there, it would seem. No, I just think, I think sometimes players, you know, that ball's coming across, Cole Palmer knows, his head's as clear as this guy. in the middle of summer, honestly. In his mind, this is a goal already. That's the only thing that I think is the reason why he hasn't concentrated on it enough. I think he's taken it for granted that he's already scored. And when you do that, things can go wrong.

34:23Thomas Hitzlsperger:I think that's what's happened here. You know, again, I know Coke said to me once, he said, you know what? He said, you know once the ball hits the back of the net, then you can get your hands in the air you can celebrate and then when you go home you can watch it over and over and over and over at home but you can do all that once it's in the back of the net I think he's thought he's already scored and just just taking a little piece of concentration off it and it ends up over the bar and you can see it in his face he's trying to figure it out So Mr Chelsea the day after now how are you feeling overall about this result for the Blues?

35:03Archie Rhind-Tutt:Well, it's a big frustration because it shouldn't have happened in any cases. And what we saw with Palmer is exactly what we saw when they considered a second goal. So, you know, maybe being unfortunate if you don't want to find any solution. Let's say that I would have been in Palmer's situation as a defender. I would have maybe tried to tackle the ball to make sure it doesn't fly up. that's that's maybe the reflex that would go maybe the forward player they are more style more confident about their football so they they think they can do it but it's a nightmare that guy will remember this situation for the rest of his life in 2001 i played against australia i had a header the easiest header ever uh to score with and i decided to instead of heading it just maybe deflected because I was enough.

35:55Archie Rhind-Tutt:It went just out. I was a yard away like Palmer. And I'm still wondering how I did that, how I was capable of not scoring. That's insane. And I think Cole, because he's a real professional player, will wonder for the rest of his life how he couldn't get the three points for his club.

36:16Thomas Hitzlsperger:The good thing is it's not haunting Frank all these years. He's turned the page. Definitely turned the page. It's good. These three guys will be answering your questions on the latest edition of Extra Time. You can check it out over on our YouTube channel. The big weekend of FA Cup action coming. It all gets underway on Friday with Hull City against Chelsea. All of these games will be available for you to see. It is bright and early. And let me tell you, I mean that. On Sunday morning. And I see your face, Stevie, because I know you're joining me for this one. Birmingham against Leeds. 6.30am.

36:49Thomas Hitzlsperger:set that alarm three times over. That game will also be available on ESPN2.

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38:29Thomas Hitzlsperger:In the quarterfinals of the DFB Pokal, Bayern Munich beat Leipzig to put best spot in the semifinal. Leipzig did have a goal ruled out four minutes into the game. and it was in the second half when Bayern got the job done thanks to a penalty from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz back on the score sheet again. After the game, Archie and Thomas caught up with Vincent Kompany, but first let's hear from the penalty scorer, Harry Kane.

38:53Archie Rhind-Tutt:2-0.

38:54Thomas Hitzlsperger:One of the biggest games of the season so far, how did you see it go overall?

39:00Archie Rhind-Tutt:What value and significance do you put on the win?

39:02Thomas Hitzlsperger:Yeah, really big win. Any quarter final you play is

39:06Archie Rhind-Tutt:going to be high pressure, you're going to have to step up in the moment and I thought we'd done that today. First half the game was a little bit more open, I feel like we had some good chances, their keeper made some good saves.

39:16Thomas Hitzlsperger:Second half defensively I thought we looked really solid, we played nicely on the ball and took our moments when they came. So overall a really professional performance and great to be in the semi-final.

39:26Archie Rhind-Tutt:Yeah it was stable, very stable, I think it felt like there was like a trophy mentality in this game I thought that we created chances enough to deserve to score maybe a few more goals in the beginning and when it didn't go in we we didn't change anything we stayed calm we we took our moments in the second half better and then as well I thought that after we scored the two goals we picked and chose our moment really well to get to get a result but still stay the remain dangerous as well going forward. Would you say because from the outside it looks like this is almost a perfect season up until now but would you say there have been difficult moments that might come up later you need to learn from?

40:04Archie Rhind-Tutt:There's always difficult moments for sure. Were there? No, first of all I think the biggest one is at the moment, January, there was the schedule. You know, when you have seven games in 20, 21 days, you know, it takes a hit on the body, it takes a hit on the squad and to get through it and battle is not just quality and fitness is sometimes also mentality. to.

40:27Thomas Hitzlsperger:Once again, Luis Diaz, who's been so strong since he came in at Bayern, was on the score sheet today. He had a hat-trick at the weekend as well. We were talking about the creative chaos that he brings to this side. And we got more word from the boys' pitch side today about him and this game.

40:45Archie Rhind-Tutt:The DFB Cup has been a competition where Bayern Munich have stumbled in the past six years. Not won it since 2020, Thomas Sitzlsperger but tonight for the first time since they last won it they took a step into the semi-finals what did you make of that step? Well it started with the lineup you know Vincent Kompany did not make a single change and we felt before the game this is probably his best 11 this is very serious stuff here he needs a trophy he wants a trophy the only two players on the bench Conrad Leimann and Jamal Musiala are the other two players where I think they also belong in this team and overall I think they deserve to win Leipzig they had some good moments but over 19 minutes Bayern were the better team that didn't really show any weaknesses there wasn't a particular player that is worth mentioning but there's a good all-round team performance there might be some who say well Bayern's first halves recently they've not been quite as dominant as in the first half of the season and yet to that I say well look if you're continually as consistent as they are in the second half and they're really squeezing the opponents, does it really matter?

41:50Archie Rhind-Tutt:No, it doesn't because we look at the season, they didn't have a summer break, they've got so many games and overall, I can't remember Bayern having a real dip in form over a longer period. Of course, they lost to Augsburg, they didn't have a good game against Hamburg, but overall this is a team that loves playing together. They work hard for each other and they played against a top four team in the Bundesliga here tonight through to the next round semi-finally in the DFB Pokal and here we are. And a top four team that they've already dismantled twice before this evening, 6-0 and 5-1. And in a way it seemed like the scars of those games still hung heavy on RB Leipzig's mind.

42:32Archie Rhind-Tutt:That did part of the job for Bayern this evening. Well it did and Bayern did that work in the previous two games. You sense in the first half Leipzig I thought credit to them they defended well they didn't give Bayern much space but in the second half when the first goal went in you sort of thought like how are they going to come back they'll probably come here they want to improve of last two games performances which they did but this is a cup competition you've got to take more risk and I think that I would hold that against Leipzig that did not take enough risk to win this game. Usually by now we would have spoken about one of Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Michael Elise but the man of the match tonight Thomas was the team.

43:07Archie Rhind-Tutt:It was the team. It never sounds really as grand as when you're saying it. You want to say the manager, Vincent Kompany? Yes, the team. I agree with you, hard to pick one single player. Therefore, all-round performance, really well done by the team. And if you were to pick one team of the final four that could trip them up, Stuttgart, Leverkusen, Freiburg, who's it going to be? Stuttgart away. Really? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stuttgart is that team. They play without hunger, without appetite. When they play at home against this Bayern, I could see Bayern having problems. Not say that they would struggle, but Stuttgart is the one team that I would tip to be the toughest opponent.

43:46Archie Rhind-Tutt:Thomas, thank you very much. RB Leipzig out Bayern Munich through to the semi-finals of the DFB Cup.

43:54Thomas Hitzlsperger:In case you were wondering, Thomas Hitzelsberg used to play for Stuttgart, won the Bundesliga with them. They'll be in action against Köln at the weekend. Bayern will be back in action on Saturday morning. away to Bremen. It all kicks off on Friday, though, with Dortmund against Mines. You can catch all of these games on ESPN+. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly.

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45:13Thomas Hitzlsperger:The other game is Atleti against Barcelona. And when it comes to Copa del Rey meetings in the last 25 years, this is what we're looking at. Very Barcelona dominant. Atleti last advancing in the 99-2000 semi-final. So here's what Diego Simeone has had to say about Barcelona. He says, I give credit to Flick for consistently continuing with the high line, for maintaining that suffocating pressure in the opponent's territory and for convincing his players to play with so much risk. All right. And so this is the road to the semis for both teams, for Atleti they've had to beat Real Betis in the quarters to get here before that Deportivo and Atletico Baleares.

46:02Thomas Hitzlsperger:As for Barcelona it's Albacete, Racing and Guadalajara and it was put to Hansi Flick in the pre-match press conference that Barcelona have had an easy path to the semi-finals. This is what he had to say about that.

46:18Archie Rhind-Tutt:What do you think of those who downplay this qualification or try to downplay because you have not yet faced any top-level team? Ask Real Madrid.

46:28Thomas Hitzlsperger:I would say that you threw the first shot at Real Madrid by reminding them that they got eliminated by a second division team. You've always been respectful towards Real Madrid. Is that because you don't want to have problems with them?

46:42Archie Rhind-Tutt:No, it's not. It helps me not. It helps you, but not me or my team. So it's like that. But it's just war. I think it was the right answer because, you know, we also have to respect the second division, the third division teams in the Copa and they made a fantastic job.

47:02Thomas Hitzlsperger:Ale, your reaction?

47:05Archie Rhind-Tutt:Well, I think the first question is a loaded question to begin with, right? It's a backhanded compliment. I mean, oh, what do you say about those that are downplaying the fact that, or that somehow is Barcelona's responsibility the teams that are put in front of them? Look, you beat the team that's in front of you, and Albacete had just beaten Real Madrid. So it was an easy answer for Hansi Flick to say, well, that team was good enough to beat Real Madrid, so don't talk to me about these teams being easy. and that somehow it's our fault that it's easy to play against second division opposition.

47:46Archie Rhind-Tutt:And then the second question, it's even more incendiary because it's like, oh, you're throwing darts at Real Madrid. No, I'm stating fact. Did Real Madrid not lose to Albacete? Yes. So yeah, ask Real Madrid, is it easy to play against second division teams? Well, no, apparently not. So this is reporters at their very worst.

48:06Thomas Hitzlsperger:Stevie, you can only be what's in front of you I mean if he didn't want any nonsense then that would have been his first answer just must have been how he was feeling at the time when he gave him that answer basically Well that game will be coming up and we'll see if there's any more funny little bits to bring you from the press conferences from both Simeone and Flick, that game will be available on Thursday 2.30pm Eastern, for all the build up and kick off is at 3pm Eastern And it's Atleti against Barcelona. First leg semi of the Copa del Rey. Football Americas with Alejandro Moreno will have you covered on Thursday.

48:45Thomas Hitzlsperger:Alexis is back from the Super Bowl.

48:47Archie Rhind-Tutt:Do not miss it.

48:49Thomas Hitzlsperger:8.30 p.m. Eastern. That's all we've got time for in the latest edition of ESPN FC. Extra time is on the way, though. Frank Leboeuf will be joining us to answer your questions. Stick around. Extra time is coming up next.

49:07Thomas Hitzlsperger:Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. We have Ali, we have Frank and we've got Stevie here to answer your questions today. Alright, Stevie, the first one is for you. You've just been given the Spurs job, what's the first thing you do? Good luck. Oh, free. I haven't been in church for a while, but I think I may start going. You stop losing goals. If you don't lose goals, you can't lose the game. You're getting something. So the first thing you've got to do is cut out losing goals and then you go from there. Solid, strong base and then build forward. Okay. Has to be.

49:46Archie Rhind-Tutt:Well, that's very nice TV. But if you have Romero making stupid tackles and stupid things and getting a red card, he's getting hard, you know?

49:55Thomas Hitzlsperger:Yeah. Not if he's suspended.

49:57Archie Rhind-Tutt:I'll give you that. Yes. How dare you talk about Christian Romero like that? He's not like that. He's not that type of player. He's not that type of player. He hasn't had many red cards, to be honest, in the Premier League. No. What? No. What?

50:11Thomas Hitzlsperger:Spurs to get the manager bounce at Arsenal. Games after Arsenal.

50:16Archie Rhind-Tutt:What?

50:17Thomas Hitzlsperger:Hang on a minute. When do they face each other? How's the next game for Spurs? Unlucky. No. they'll bounce into the stadium and bounce right back out afterwards big bounce let me take a look then after that I'm just pulling it up here because that's part of the question so yes Spurs at home against Arsenal Sunday away to Fulham then they're at home against Crystal Palace and then they are away to Liverpool Stevie I might have a chance at Liverpool we're good at giving goals away alright Ale is Barcelona by far the most entertaining team in football right now?

50:58Archie Rhind-Tutt:I don't know by far, but yes is the answer. Yes. See, this is what we know for certain when you watch Barcelona play. There is zero chance for the game to end up 0-0. It's just not going to be that way. It's not going to be a fascinating tactical battle. No, no. Code word for boring. No, it is not. They're going to score goals and they're going to give up goals. It's who they are, and they've accepted it. Hansi Fleek has accepted that this is what he wants from his team. We're going to score a bunch of goals. We're more than likely going to give up some, but I'm willing to live with that because this is the way I want my team to play.

51:39Archie Rhind-Tutt:And they do it at a very high level. You think about who's playing up top for them and who's playing in the midfield for them and how they're able to create as many chances as they do. Then, yes, it makes it very entertaining because they're open to give up goals, but they're also open to go on score goals. Okay.

51:55Thomas Hitzlsperger:Frank, what do you make of the sister club arrangement between two of your former clubs, Strasbourg and Chelsea? Do you think these arrangements are bad for football?

52:08Archie Rhind-Tutt:Well, it can be tricky if Strasbourg does well and they both get qualified for the Champions League, for example, because we know only one of them, of the two clubs, will be allowed to participate in the competition. So in that matter, I'm against those kind of arrangements. But I know why Strasbourg accepted that deal. The fans that they got from there, the players that they got from there as well, it's very interesting for the club. But it brings instability for me where you can't see far. you see years after years because you know that as soon as the player is going to be good he's going to go he's going to leave even when a coach is good he's going to go so where where that club is going i really want to see strasbourg getting stabilized and getting better but nowadays especially in france it's hard to not accept the money coming from the from a club like chelsea So it is what it is.

53:17Archie Rhind-Tutt:And if it serves the two clubs, I'm okay for it because I love the two clubs. I do think that in this sort of arrangements, there is usually a big sister and a little sister. And there is usually an arrangement by which it's supposed to help both, but it's a one-sided relationship. And Strasbourg will get the crumbs, the leftovers. The main meal is for Chelsea and whatever is left over, here you go, Strasbourg, make the most of it. That's usually how these relationships work. It's not two way, it's one way to Chelsea and whatever is left over goes back to Strasbourg.

53:55Thomas Hitzlsperger:Oh, just to ruin things there for you.

53:57Archie Rhind-Tutt:No, I'm just, that's a reality. No, but that's clear, that's a reality. But the thing is, the deal is accepted both sides. And Strasbourg knows exactly what he has to expect from Chelsea, knowing that we give you money, we give you some players that we don't need. It's going to bring you maybe something better for you, maybe. But we don't care because we give you the money. So that's the deal that Strasbourg accepted. And so far, they're doing good. They're seventh in the league. They're very entertaining. and fans are pleased but fans don't forget that it's really unbalanced and not really brings something for the next years in an optimistic thought

54:49Thomas Hitzlsperger:Did you see that it's Braig Curley who asked that question? No Stevie, rank these legendary Liverpool forwards in their prime Ian Rush, John Barnes Robbie Fowler Wow, that's unfair. Well, there you go. Well, you're the man to answer it. Yes, you are. Liverpool legend. Well, Robbie Fowler is arguably one of the smoothest and most natural finishers English football has ever had. And his pomp was just so smooth. I don't remember him missing a chance. You know, he was just clinical. But unfortunately Robbie's career didn't last as long at Liverpool as certainly the other two. So for longevity I'm going to have to have Robbie in third place.

55:41Thomas Hitzlsperger:And in second place is going to have to be John Barnes because again in his pomp, Banzi walks into any team on the planet. Unfortunately Banzi's Achilles, he snapped his Achilles. and that pushed them inside. But as a wide player, as a forward, I mean, in today's game,

56:09Thomas Hitzlsperger:I played behind John Barnes. And whenever I could go forward, because John Barnes would sit for me. Can you imagine Kylian Mbappe sitting for anybody? You know, John Barnes at the time was arguably our best player. as Mbappe is for Madrid. But John Barnes would sit and play full-back for me if I went forward. I don't see Mbappe doing that. As I said, John Barnes absolutely walks out to any team. Certainly in the best ever Liverpool XI and but for snapping his Achilles. Could have been first on my list. But you've got to go with Roshi. I mean, about 650 appearances for Liverpool. 350 goals. I mean, seriously.

57:03Thomas Hitzlsperger:I mean... You can't beat that. The game's about scoring goals. Every single kid that starts playing football...

57:11Archie Rhind-Tutt:And Buffy does better.

57:13Thomas Hitzlsperger:No, I don't want to do it. I'd love to... I bet his stats aren't... Well, let's... If you want to talk about... If you want to take the goals away... I was talking about how Barnes defended. Our best defender was Ian Rush. Because he started it from the front. You wouldn't find Luis Enrique having to sit Ian Rush down and ask him to try and help somewhat take the opposition one way or the other. Ian Rush did it right off the bat. Closing people down, harrying people. I mean, he was absolutely the best in the business. he's the best forward at closing the ball down to start the defence I've ever played with that's how good he was at that oh and then if you want to add he's got 350 goals on top of it yeah I think he takes a bit of beating leave him alone even for him even if you're named him by the way leave him alone Frank come on so it's in the order as it stands

58:12Archie Rhind-Tutt:ok that's fair I love Jan Rausch so I won't go that far

58:18Thomas Hitzlsperger:ok of Middlesbrough in promotion how are you planning on celebrating. I'm going to be very kind to my boss and maybe suggest that Aidan Morris interview for Football Americas would make a lot of sense. And I could contribute to a US men's national team player at Middlesbrough who's thriving. And so I could fly home to Middlesbrough to celebrate and get an interview for Football Americas and I'd still be contributing to our output here but I would be doing it from over there just to really get you know the whole

58:54Archie Rhind-Tutt:picture. I see how this benefits you but this is like the Chelsea Strasbourg agreement. It seems very one-one. Yeah. Bless you. How about since apparently you're negotiating this plan with our boss on live television. How about you offer to do some food in America as you know preparation.

59:18Thomas Hitzlsperger:Yeah, preparation.

59:19Archie Rhind-Tutt:I'm just saying, so that the people that watch For the Americas are not shocked that you are in Middlesbrough, so that they know...

59:25Thomas Hitzlsperger:Aidan Morris watch. That could be my contribution to For the Ball America. Well, I'm just saying. Practice. Yeah, I mean, this is the hard thing. I don't want to get ahead of myself. They're top of the league, but they next face the team that they've just leapfrogged Coventry. So that's coming up next. So that will be a decision. I'm not getting ahead of myself.

59:42Archie Rhind-Tutt:You've been top of the league before, right? You've made a mess. I do believe you have gotten ahead of yourself because you're already making plans and negotiating trips with our boss on live television. You're saying basically you're going to eat a, what is that, chicken parmo?

59:55Thomas Hitzlsperger:Chicken parmo, yeah.

59:57Archie Rhind-Tutt:Okay.

59:58Thomas Hitzlsperger:I would definitely like to go home.

59:59Archie Rhind-Tutt:Are you ready to fly coach or you really want to go do business? Oh, wait, wait. Hey, who's negotiating this for you? I'll fly coach.

1:00:08Thomas Hitzlsperger:I'll change it, Dublin. I'll do it all. I've got a mate who's got a fashion book. He can take you over. Are you going to take me over? See, I could be there and back very quickly.

1:00:20Archie Rhind-Tutt:But don't you feel, because you've been, you've been, you're very careful on like Stevie about what you eat and everything is very portioned and healthy and so on and so on. I'm sorry, Stevie. I'm sorry. He doesn't eat. I count my macros.

1:00:36Thomas Hitzlsperger:I don't think Stevie knows what macros are. Are you sure?

1:00:39Archie Rhind-Tutt:Are you sure you could take down a chicken parm and not somehow just blow up?

1:00:45Thomas Hitzlsperger:I could take a part of the chicken parmo and share it.

1:00:50Archie Rhind-Tutt:Oh, man.

1:00:51Thomas Hitzlsperger:The chicken parmo is over 1 ,000 calories per serving. I love you. Okay, so Stevie can come with me. This makes it even more important. Stevie can come with me to enjoy the promotion party if, because I'm not getting ahead of myself, if it happens.

1:01:04Archie Rhind-Tutt:This trip is falling apart already, because Stevie is going nowhere.

1:01:07Thomas Hitzlsperger:Yeah, and it's another Steve I need to bust her up, my boss, to see if I would be allowed to go home and celebrate Middlesbrough. Wow, he's still negotiating. for the Premier League. Just putting it out there and letting it know it may be a conversation later down the line. Let it simmer. Let it simmer. How excited is Stevie about his new doormat? And this question comes from our very own Dan Thomas. Thomas, I knew it. I knew it. I knew he would do this. Oh,

1:01:34Archie Rhind-Tutt:that's beautiful. That's beautiful. Wait a minute. I imagine you're the guy on the right. Yeah, yeah. Did he buy you this?

1:01:44Thomas Hitzlsperger:I'm not worried about the doormat. Eleanor sent that. It's my own fault because I said we need to get a doormat because when a dog comes in all it's snow. What kind of door is that? He's a new fee. He's 175 pounds, Frank. So it's a big dog door.

1:02:05Archie Rhind-Tutt:The doormat is nice but the door itself is very strange. Is there a dog place you know yeah okay okay yeah no he's a big glass this now it's supposed to be you on the right but this must have been way way way back when when when you were fully fully red hair I think used to be ginger yeah yeah I did yeah and so that's that's going back in time yeah yeah I think

1:02:34Thomas Hitzlsperger:I think that's pretty obvious. I'm just making sure.

1:02:37Archie Rhind-Tutt:It looks like more, it more looks like fat laugh than yourself, Stevie.

1:02:46Thomas Hitzlsperger:I'll put it this way, that t-shirt doesn't fit anymore. Do you like it you don't have Stevie? Do you like it?

1:02:54Archie Rhind-Tutt:I do, but not there. Well, all I'm saying is that Eleanor looks very much like this now. You seem to have taken your look way back in time, that's all I'm suggesting. It seems very convenient. It doesn't really resemble you, Stevie. No, it looks like mother and son.

1:03:15Thomas Hitzlsperger:Yeah, Stevie, that's not fair. That's not fair. Bold. Well, as you can see, I had nothing to do with it. A lovely lady, Eleanor, which she is. If I was picking it, I wouldn't have picked me a little bit either.

1:03:29Archie Rhind-Tutt:And is there a smile on the grumpy old men? Is that it?

1:03:33Thomas Hitzlsperger:I wouldn't think so.

1:03:35Archie Rhind-Tutt:It is. It's a big beaming smile. Yes, it's a smile on the grumpy old men.

1:03:40Thomas Hitzlsperger:I can't see that far. That's why I've got a big glass. I'll see it.

1:03:44Archie Rhind-Tutt:A lovely lady. Yes, a lovely lady and a grumpy old man.

1:03:49Thomas Hitzlsperger:See, I would say I'm not grumpy, though. I would say I'm not grumpy. No, you're not old. You're not old. I never said that. I said I'm not grumpy. Oh wait, wait a minute The facade just dropped Oh no, he's just giving the game away Alright, lovely Dormat there We would all like one We'll have to find out from Eleanor Would we though? Yeah, it makes us younger Well actually it doesn't make the women younger Just the men, so maybe you guys should all get one ESPN FC available every single day Make sure to join us tomorrow for more shenanigans

1:04:36Archie Rhind-Tutt:9-1-1, where is the emergency? It's the middle of the night in a small town on the Jersey Shore. Someone reports an abandoned car on a bridge. A search gets underway for the missing driver, 19-year-old Sarah Stern. Is it a missing person? Is it a suicide? At this point, nobody knows. old friendships, buried cash, and a sinister plot that was once pitched as a movie plays out in real life. I'm Juju Chang from 2020 and ABC Audio. Listen to Bridge of Lies coming March 10th, wherever you listen to podcasts.