Spurs Avoid Relegation

25:49And my point is, as you made the point when Andy Robertson came from Hull, when Mo Salah came after Chelsea and when he did it... He came from Roma. Yes, but not with great fanfare. No one expected this at all. I'm not comparing, I'm not comparing, no, you're right. I'm not comparing and contrasting coming from Dundee United and Hull and Chelsea and Roma and wherever he was I'm not contrasting all I'm saying is I think certain things have been handled a little better by others and I think that's probably because Mo Salah's been where he's been up here, so he's taking it harder, but you're absolutely right now, nobody thought De Bruyne was going to come in at City from Wilkes-Barre because they knew he was a very good player but nobody expected his impact and you're right, nobody expected that impact from Mo Salah but I do take what Stevie's saying in a sense that it's not going to diminish what he achieved at Liverpool because the stats and numbers are amazing but I think it is more than slightly disappointing the way that he's been unable to handle basically a semi-rejection and the issue I have with that the only issue I have with it it's been in his hands he's the one that's taking the edge off it but in a sense that Arley Slott, whether you agree he should still be there or not he gave him a once again this platform Liverpool gave him this huge salary as they did Van Dijk who hasn't been great and I know Frank has mentioned that many times certainly this year they gave him the money and the platform to go out on a high and this was on him, Mo Salah, to take that and he wasn't able to do with it, so why he was upset with the manager and others because he was being left out of the team and he felt the need he had to make statements because he wasn't dropped at the start of the season.

27:42He wasn't replaced by another wide man. He had that opportunity of his own accord to go out on a high and he failed because he wasn't playing well enough. And unfortunately, he had a manager who had to make some decisions and he's not handled that. That's the only issue I have. But I think history will quickly forget that. Yes, history will. I agree. But right now, when he should, he should have everybody talking about him the way you were talking about him. He should have everybody talking about that right now. But what he's done is he's taken the edge off it and people like myself and other Liverpool fans and supporters who...

28:21But they're going to say greats. Edges. He has put that in your brain. You can't... Right now, it's very difficult... It's in your brain so long, Stevie No I'm not I'm talking about I'm talking about right now Right That's why it's hard To come out with All the gush And all the other stuff Because he's the one That's put The spanner in the works And you're right In six months time We'll be looking back When Liverpool Are struggling to score goals And they might not Sign a great guy In a wide right hand position We'll all be going God we could do With Mo Salah And how great was he And all the goals And then you think Oh my Look at all the goals That's what we should Be doing now But it's hard to do that because he's the one that came out and said what he said and took the edge off it for himself.

29:06So he's actually spoiled it for himself. Frank, who would have thought that most allar at Chelsea would turn into the Premier League legend that he has? You're such a stubborn person, you know, keeping your question, you know. But nobody, but like Kevin De Bruyne, you know, that's football. Sometimes, you know, you need something else, maybe more experience, more freedom, teammates as well, and a tactic to make you better. And it's what happened to Mo Salah. And that was amazing. Yes, the exit is not very nice because of what he said. But yeah, within like six months, maybe a year, maybe 10 years, people will remember him as the best of the best.

29:48And he deserved that. He really deserved that. Like Robertson. I think the guy with Jürgen Klopp, with Trent Alexander-Hannor, they were the two best winbacks of the world. because of their crosses, because of what they were bringing to the football. So those people are going to be remembered. And because Moussa is a forward player, he's going to be more remembered than the others because of the positioning that he had. But I want to forget about the past months, let's say, or two months of what he said in the media and just want to remember the excellency of that player. And he's been fantastic for Liverpool, good for them.

30:29he should have kept silence like Bernardo Silva and we're going to talk about the house of God I don't know if we're going to talk about Manchester City I can like I can really love house of God you know when I see that and we're going to talk later but I don't know I'm with Stevie with the season that Liverpool players had yeah I guess stay simple don't stay too much not too long on the field he was an listen he was magnificent but what he couldn't accept was unfortunately for him and he had a little spark with Jürgen Klopp in the end ironically it was at West Ham and he didn't take that very well when Klopp dropped him that day and he sort of ran his mouth to some reporters so he didn't he didn't accept the rejection very well which none of us do some of us get rejected a bit more often than others but rejection is sometimes hard to accept and what he couldn't accept in the second half of the season or certainly coming up to around the Christmas point was that there was a manager under pressure and there was a player and himself that was no longer an automatic selection in the team.

31:31And I think to go from where he was to not being, to almost being talked about as being dropped, you know, in a Thursday or Friday press conference, that was hard for him to stomach. And if we're being honest about it, he didn't take it too well. More questions to come then, what we see on the final day of the Premier League season over on Extra Time. As always, that is available on YouTube.

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32:34Book your next work trip at laquinta.com. Terms and conditions apply. Emotional scenes at Manchester as Pep Guardiola said goodbye, John Stones as well, also Bernardo Silva. They would end their time with the club with a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa. Frank, what do you want to say? I want to say that I think I said House of God Instead of God of Honor That's alright No one does Whatever Whatever But yeah That was nice That was very emotional For the three guys And I really like The fact that The V-Lanes They joined Because for me That's what it is Players decide If they want to celebrate Other players From another team But you don't force them But I like the fact That Aston Villa Came for Bernardo Silva for John Stones, and maybe for Pep Gordano at the end of the game.

33:27But that was great because that wasn't, for me, compulsory. So I liked it. I want to congratulate, you know, Bernardo Silva. I saw him playing for Monaco. He was really fantastic. But what he achieved for Manchester City is simply amazing. Pep, I want to talk about Pep. You know, Pep changed the football in England. And Stevie alluded it, I think, some shows ago, where we wonder if it was for the best. It was for the best in terms of what we've seen right now. All titles and all what he did, that was crazy. John Stones in the middle of the park where he was a defender getting. Edison was capable of putting out the pressure.

34:09Everything was amazing. But there was an ending of that. And the two past years or three past years, that was more complicated, let's say. because of his tiki-taka was maybe over. And it changed the mentality of the English football. The thing that we all love, the verticality of it, the pressure, and of course, because of the referring right now, you cannot touch a player anymore. So the aggressiveness and the good aggressiveness that we used to see in England doesn't exist anymore. The English football is like the others. so it's a worldwide sport and I think it's a little bit sad because of that.

34:51I enjoy playing in England, I enjoy watching English football because of the difference with the others and that's over. Is he responsible, totally responsible for that? Pep, I'm not sure but he's kind of responsible for that. It's a difficult situation now in a sense with all these players going, you know they've lost Vincent Kompany before, they lost David Silva, they lost Kevin De Bruyne but I think they all kind of lost him at periods of intervals, not all at once. And the talk is that Rodri may go as well. And then you look at the dominoes, how they're going to fall, because what has brought these fantastically talented players to Manchester City?

35:33It's not because in Manchester City's history as a football club, they're certainly not the biggest in England, and certainly no one near the biggest in Europe, but money and the manager. Now, the money's still there at the moment, but the manager has gone and that's going to beg a lot of questions so Maresca may not have the same sort of gravitas no and like say Ellen Harland and I mentioned Rodri and one or two other I start looking around and sometimes you go to a club obviously you go because you're getting your salary and blah blah blah but the manager usually has a big pull because you think I'm going to be successful I'm going to be working with that guy I'm getting paid well this is going to be great we're going to have five years of whatever it is we're going to be competitive in every tournament in every competition we go in, all of a sudden that changes.

36:17Players maybe start saying to the agent, hey, I'm not sure about this. What about Real Madrid? What about Basa? What about that? And I'm not suggesting that that's going to happen, but I think we've all seen that because there is that draw from the manager. There is this thing still hanging over Man City with the charges at the Premier League. What the hell are they doing? It's been hanging over them for however long it's been. And every other Tom, Dick and Harry gets punished or they don't get punished. So this is hovering. and I wouldn't be surprised if the talk is Rodri going to Real Madrid or Ellen Halland looking about, but certainly what we do know is the Bernardo Silva's of the world, even John Stones, even though he hasn't played much this season, I think first starts since October, he's been a really cultured footballer for them, a really cultured defender.

37:03Unfortunately, as he's got older, like a lot of players, he's suffered a lot of these injuries, so it's a big change for City. there's no guarantee that what they've had the last 5-10 years under this guy they're going to have in the next 5-10 years under whoever comes in no guarantee their recruitment is going to have to change they're going to have to go and get younger players who are nearly the finished article you know under Pep they've seen a lot of finished article players and that's because of Pep that's why they go there Ellen Haaland would not have been going to Manchester City if Mareska had been the manager you don't think so Ellen Haaland would have been going to Real Madrid or somewhere like that he 100 % went there because of Pep Guardiola and so they're not going to get I don't believe they're going to get that type of player now Well they've got like Savo Cherky he's got the potential surely to be one of the best in the world Semenyo coming in as well Again I'm talking about your top your finished articles the guy in the market who everybody wants City were getting them because of Pep that is 100 % going to change so their recruitment is going to have to they're going to have to taper the recruitment because of that Just going back to Pep Guardiola the critics of him when he came in were like, yeah, anyone can do it at Barcelona with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi Bayern, it's the Bundesliga hey, I'll tell you what, the Premier League, that's a different kettle of fish When you know what you're doing you have the respect of the players and then you have good players that's a recipe for success I mean, it's just it's just what it is when you have a guy you know everybody keeps throwing not everybody but a lot of people throw oh I'd love to see him down in the championship or you know that but I hate that argument because at the end of the day certain coaches have a certain set of skills for a certain type of player and Pep Guardiola's set of skills and tools are for the top class player and he's the guy who can get them together he's the guy who can shove their egos away and make them perform and have them, I mean, Bernardo Silva, look at the desire this week at this guy.

39:12He's had this for 10 years. Now, yes, it comes from him himself, but I'll tell you what, that comes from the manager because the manager's the one who's on him every single day for the last 10 years. That's why he produces what he does. And when you've got 11 players on the field who are some of the best players on the planet, but every one of them has got that desire and that edge because of the manager, not just because of his tactics, But because of the way he is and the way he keeps driving the best players on. And there's so many people out there these days that want to just find the negative in it.

39:47There is, and I suppose that's the way of the world these days. Well, he had this, well, he died, well, the club did that. It's like looking at Salah's last couple of months instead of just the big picture. Yeah, well, I don't do that. Who would do that? Well, I don't believe Pep Guardiola has made any silly statements, which has fuelled the fire. but but yeah you know there seems to be this narrative at the moment people love to get into these and I suppose I'm surprised we haven't done it at some point you know is he better than Sir Alex Ferguson that's going around at the moment look it's apples and oranges what Guardiola has been as well as a really good man manager it seems he's been a brilliant coach whereas Ferguson just ruled the roost when he obviously turned around Aberdeen and different stuff it's different the years it's different but what he's done in the Premier League whether you agree with the money and the spending and all that.

40:41It's been brilliant. But it did have its issues. It was a problem at the start. He struggled when he first came in. It took him a wee while. And I think one of the most important areas, ironically, when he first took over at City, that he tried to improve and made different, was the full-back areas. And then everybody else started... It was actually a wee bit embarrassing, wasn't it? Because people started copying it. The old inverting the full-backs. he must have been sat back going can't these people think of their own tactics so people followed him because it was working for him but it didn't always work as well so yeah it's going to be a really difficult act obviously to follow and yeah for City going forward losing that amount of players and a great manager it's going to be a very good watch next season Are you on tomorrow?

41:26I am yes Tomorrow's debate who is the better manager Pep Guardiola or Sir Alex Ferguson be sure to tune in for that Bruno Fernandes would break the all-time assist record in the Premier League, his corner leading to Manchester United's opener, he get a goal himself as United defeat Brighton by three goals to nil. Yet you don't think he deserves the player of the season, Frank.

41:49No, and not because he was great. Especially when Manchester United didn't play well, he was the only one that we could see that he was different, a different class player. It's just because of Declan Rice. It's not against Bruno Fernandes is for Declan Rice, where I found for the whole season long, the guy was consistent and was creating differences with Arsenal. That's it. And for the assist, I'm sorry, putting the ball in a big mess in the 18-yard box is not an assist. That's what I feel. And I think he made like 12 of those. And good for him. Congratulations to him. But, you know, it's not what I consider an assist.

42:32An assist, you give the ball on purpose to somebody that you decided to give the ball to. Otherwise, it's just luck. I much preferred the day when it was just a good pass. I mean, seriously, it's nerds paradise, isn't it? I mean, it's just sort of, I saw somebody in our, I saw somebody can build a graphic and go, I told you so, look at his assist. I mean, he's a great player. and what Bonehead thought it was better to play him deep line in the midfield? By the way, he was doing all right when he was there, but he was not doing as well and neither were Man United, is when he was pushed into that number 10 role where he could dictate that final third.

43:12But we do get carried away with all this sort of stuff. A five-yard pass can be an assist. It's just a world. The bigger picture here is United's turn around, guaranteed Champions League finishing the season on a real high have made the decision on Michael Carrick which is fine going to be an interesting summer and just the fact that when you have a manager as negative and as stubborn as Ruben Amarim who would not change well he did change a couple of times in the end free at the back I need my wing back you're really cornering the club into a way of trying to sign players because this is the only way to do it.

43:56And everybody just got fed up with it in the end, didn't they? They got fed up with the way they played, they were fed up listening to them. And Michael Carrick's been, he really has been a breath of fresh air. He hasn't said a lot, but he's just got the players to do the basics. They haven't always been brilliant to watch, but they've been effective and they've been much better going forward. So yeah, if you're a United fan, I think you're really happy with where you are. But that's not a guarantee of what's going to happen next year. Sunderland 2, Chelsea 1 at the Stadium of Light. Big ramifications for European football next season.

44:31Sunderland qualified for the Europa League. Chelsea finished 10th. There will be no European trips for Xavi Alonso next season. Frank, as embarrassing as that is for Chelsea and the amount of money that they've spent, is it a blessing in disguise for Xavi Alonso in that you've got a year now? No distractions, no midweek games. You can just concentrate on the league and get in this team, galvanize, back together and some sort of competitive nature. Yeah, if you see that way, that it can be very good for Xabi Alonso to make sure that everybody is tuned in for one competition and everybody's going to work the same way and he's not going to be distracted by any European campaign.

45:14But when you have the amount of players that he has in charge, What do you do with the players you don't use? That's gonna be an issue. That's gonna be an issue, but they always been an issue. But I think that yes, overall, that maybe at first it's a good lesson. Maybe we'll bring some players back to earth and ready to work harder next season. Because that is what we see. I mean, Sunderland, congratulations. French coach on top of it, a young guy working hard and the spirit was good and everything was perfect for Sunderland. But I have you seen Kukurela on the first goal the guy just oh my god I'm already with the national team of Spain maybe but I'm not playing the game and that's not the Kukurela We have known and we have seen lately and everybody disappeared everybody was hasn't been concerned and I'm very pleased that Xabi Alonso will be there because I know that he's gonna be able to do well I hope I hope he's gonna be able to do what he has done for or Bayer Leverkusen, with all the controls, but players have to wake up.

46:18Players have to give something back to the fans and the club because they haven't been good enough. And because they have won competition, everybody will have to make sure that he's very tuned in. Otherwise, it's not going to work. What a mess. The last Chelsea manager in that position won the league, can't they? Yes. First season came in, had no European football, and he won the league. But they're not going to win the league next year. I wouldn't put any money on it. But I'll tell you what, Xavi Alonso's coming into a great situation. I mean, you've seen what Michael Carrick has done. But Frank brings up a good point.

46:49You've got this massive squad, which you can kind of placate if you're in Europe, to rotate during the week. Now you've got all these players on massive contracts. There isn't enough place for them to play. Right. How do you deal with that? Well, there's not an answer to that. Because if you don't have games, you don't have games. Right. And if you're Xavi Alonso, you're more concerned with sorting out 16. Who's my 16 that I'm going to rely on week in and week out? And unfortunately, the ones on the outside either are going to have to bust the gut to get in the 16 or in his plans. Otherwise, they're just going to be on the periphery.

47:31And you're going to have to see a load of loan signings again. Yeah, but Stevie... But there's not an answer, Frank. That's not an answer to the question. Yeah, but Stevie, I... Unless you won the range of games. I 100 % agree with you, but the problem is inside the dressing room, what those players were not going to play will do to the others and will change the atmosphere maybe and start criticizing the coach any time he makes maybe a little mistakes. Sorry. It's why, that's the thing I wonder. How do you deal with players who will never play and will be in the dressing room, maybe trying to change things, putting them in.

48:12And you've got a manager who wanted, who didn't want this job.

48:18Am I wrong? Oh, he took it. He wanted a Liverpool job. But that was never there. He thought it was. And then they did a U-turn. I don't know if that's true. He wanted, Xabi Alonso wanted a... I don't know, Craig. I don't know he did a... I don't think Liverpool did a U-turn. Xabi Alonso, no. he thought slot most people thought slot was going to get outed right it became clear through Liverpool that they were going to stick with slot because we were in London last week we heard all this nonsense I don't know if you heard it Stevie Liverpool ran the data data and I knew that they weren't sold on Alonso and slot they preferred slot over Alonso let me tell you now Alonso would have taken the Liverpool job that's the one he would have wanted because that's a better job than Chelsea to say that he doesn't want this job is a big stretch that's a big jump no no no he wanted a different job but to say he didn't get but we all want different jobs no no well whatever I don't want your job he wanted he wanted a different job but that doesn't mean that he's not going to put 100 % into the Chelsea no I'm not saying he's not putting 100 % into it but he's taken what I'm trying to say is when you're walking out of a job like Real Madrid where it was a mess for him and he left and it was horrible and it went badly wrong, you have to pick and choose where you go.

49:43And I think in an ideal world, he would not have stepped into this job. I don't know. Well, I do know. I do know. Chelsea's not a great job to step into. No. You just sat there saying they're not going to... If they don't have the steak and you have the fish, you're still enjoying the fish, don't you? What are you talking about? You're saying it as if If he didn't get the Liverpool job Wherever he goes He wouldn't be happy As usual you're not listening What I'm saying is You have to pick your poison carefully Right In an ideal world He wouldn't have stepped in To this Chelsea job But he's done it because There's no other better ones out there No I don't think Yes I don't think that's right Yes If Liverpool It's not like he has to work Because otherwise They're going to repossess his house No He's decided What he's seen at Chelsea He can take on He's decided because He's like most managers is he can't sit in his ass and be patient.

50:33And then they make bad decisions. Right? All I'm saying is, if the Liverpool job had came up, he would not have been Chelsea manager. So he's decided, because there's nothing much else out there at the moment, because Real Madrid, obviously, has been there. Barcelona is not going to... Whatever. Man United have hired, you know, Michael Carrick. All that. He's not going to Man City, obviously. His choices were then limited. And so he's taking the Chelsea job, because he thinks he can make a difference. However, had better jobs have came up, he wouldn't have taken the Chelsea job. That's my point.

51:07He would have taken a Liverpool job, but it became clear that they're sticking with slot, which, by the way, I think is a mistake. I mean, that may be right, but at the end of the day, he's still going to do a good job. Is he? Well, I think so, yeah. If there was one thing that is going to be a problem for him, it's going to be the fact that at Chelsea, it seems as though you don't actually get the last call on him. That's probably the reason why if he had a choice... And has he just stepped out of a place that's exactly that? Well, that would be my one concern about him and the Chelsea job. I think the fact that with the players he has, he'll try and do what he did at Leverkusen with him.

51:50I don't see that the football side of it is where his problem's going to be. His problem's going to be the fact that Chelsea is what it is, that you can't actually have the final say on every single thing. That's what his problem's going to be. And he may have, if he had a choice, would he have taken a Liverpool? Maybe he would have. But at the end of the day, I don't think it's going to affect his job with the Chelsea players and what he does on the training field. It's going to be all that other stuff that'll just remind him of what went on at Real Madrid. The problem is he's got these players in big six-year contracts.

52:23Some of them, or most of them. And what's their desire? What's their hunger level? are they going to hang him out to dry? Because, you know, it's crystal clear particularly in the second half of the season you know, alright, Liam Rossini came in he was out of his depth well, it was crystal clear the players saw that and went, you know what? He'll get pumped. He has to get that. That 16 I was talking about that's what he has to do. Frank's talking about what's he going to do with the rest of them. Well, you know what? He has to just shove the rest of them aside. The rest, as far as he's concerned the rest don't exist.

52:56Right. They're at the door. I need to get my 16, my 18, depends what it is, and get them with me. They trust me. They know I trust them. And we're going to go forward and take the club forward. That's what he has to do. Get rid of the rest. Make them change in a different dressing room. Make them train anywhere they have. Whatever you want. But you get your squad. You get your team. And you concentrate on them. That's the only way he's going to be successful. I hear you, Stevie. But for example, in Ligue 1, that's forbidden. You cannot put people away from the dressing room and not training at the same time that the others.

53:33Maybe they can have another field, but they have to come at the same time. And that's, I don't know how it works with the PSA. Well, we've seen many players, and if they are now. Same a lot, haven't we, Frank, in the past? Yeah, I mean, whatever he's allowed to do legally, then he has to sort it out. But that's what has to happen. But that's the only way he succeeds. Oh, yeah, yeah, I agree with you. I agree with you. A lot more reaction to what we've seen this weekend, not only in the Premier League, but across Europe on our YouTube channel, go to ESPN SC and subscribe. Ian Fitzsimmons here, and I'm going to be brutally honest with you.

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55:19Visit your O 'Reilly Auto Parts store or OReillyAuto.com. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's show. Frank is back, Craig and Stevie as well, to answer your questions, which are coming up next.

55:35Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time. Craig is here, Stevie as well. Frank Leboeuf joins us. Everyone's here apart from the questions. Yeah, no questions. And I walked over during that highlight. Yeah, I know. And then up there, down upstairs. Who knows? Who knows? I wonder if it was going to get him. I just think I believe it. Shall we take a look at the first one? Exciting for the reveal. Craig, Chelsea, good to not have European competition next season, so can work with Alonso or a disgrace as a club. We talked about this exact subject on the show. Finishing 10th is pretty good. Yeah, what's your show?

56:13Stop sending the questions in. An embarrassment for Chelsea finishing 10th. With the money they spent, with the talent some of the players have, Brentford finished above them with an inexperienced manager, Sunderland newly promoted, Brighton, Bournemouth, all these clubs that don't have anywhere near the resources of Chelsea. So yeah, and it should help them in a sense next year to have less games because that's all we hear people complaining about these days is fix your list. You know what, Craig? When I was watching the game at the end, I said they finished 10th. I remember saying, I'm going to check on Wikipedia, you know, what was the worst result and position that we had when we arrived.

57:00When I arrived, Chelsea didn't win anything for 26 years. We were in the club that Chelsea has become. and the worst for five years was six in the position in the league and we were far away from being the club again that Chelsea is right now so that's shameful I tell you finish 10th is shameful Frank was this answer his last game at Chelsea and should Manchester City sign him or Elliot Anderson I don't know I I don't know if it's going to be his last game. I'll never be a big fan of Enzo Fernandez, not because of his football, but because of his way of behavior and different behaviors. So I don't care if he goes.

57:51I love Anderson. I mean, the guy what he did for his forest is simply amazing. And I think he's going to have many, many clubs. Yeah, everybody says that he's going to go to City. You need discipline in football. You need talent but you need discipline and if I have to pick between Enzo The guy is shepherd of the world and then the son only playing for for us. I'm sorry. I will go for Anderson Do you agree? Yeah, yeah, and so I Don't know I'm just Didn't the Frank said Enzo. No, I don't said I thought you said have a choice between the I'm going for Anderson I apologize. I apologize. Yeah, no, it was an answer.

58:33I thought he was going to do that as well. Give it the big build. I switched off probably halfway through the answer. And already thinking about the next one. No, because he's frankly saying, if I have a choice between the champion of the world, I'm going to take not the champion. That was it. Ranked these surprise of the season, Stevie. Sunderland getting European football, Manchester City losing a close title race to Arsenal, or Liverpool's poor, poor season? Ooh.

59:03Sunderland getting into Europe. I imagine most of us had them going down. At the end of the day, Liverpool have gotten into the Champions League. Easily Sunderland. Sunderland, Liverpool, City? Yes, 100%. Why are so many successful managers at mid-tier clubs leaving? Glaston is loved, Iriola made Europe, and Marco Silva is turning down an extension for a lot of money. Manchester United has a manager, Chelsea has one, and so does City. What's the upgrade, Craig? Why are those managers leaving? I think some... the answer is I don't exactly know. I'm surmising that sometimes when you're at those kind of clubs, you feel as if you've reached that peak and you can't take them any further.

59:50And I think that's definitely where Areola is. We finished six, taking them into Europa League. Self has been there quite some time, done a great job Who's your other manager? Oh, I guess I was the last one Yeah, I mean, again They're playing in the European final this week They won the FA Cup, they won the Community Shield They've been selling their best players Over the last few years, like Alisi and Eze And Wharton will probably go Even though he didn't get in the England squad So I think it becomes a time these managers Feel that they can actually move on to Bigger and better things And they've probably taken those clubs as far as they're going to go.

1:00:27That can be the only... There's a ceiling where they're at with those clubs and that's where they're at. Stevie, do you think the World Cup announcement should have been made after the domestic season is over just to ensure that those left out have still got their patience?

1:00:43I absolutely would have suggested you wait until the end of the season. 100%. Yeah. The Monday after the... For me, it should have been done tomorrow. As soon as the season was done. I think that's the timing of it. You think about it, what should have been such an important day has been overshadowed because we've been talking about England's World Cup squad leading up to the final day of the season. So I would prefer it was tomorrow morning. Do they have a favourite memorable post-season trip they took with their team mates? Where was it, Craig? Japan? No, I've just got one. Where did you go after you dropped in the Chelsea final?

1:01:28Bangkok. Was it Bangkok? Brunei. So we went to Thailand. And Hong Kong. Hong Kong, Thailand and Brunei. No particular order, I can't remember. That was one of them. After the 94 Cup final, we went to Hong Kong. We went on a trip, that was a good trip. Yeah. It was a good trip that one to Hong Kong. Yeah, it was. I mean obviously somebody was getting a lot of money. Right I.e. at that point Ken Bates The owner of the club Yes He was getting weighed in Yeah So yeah Yeah Well I don't know If they still have these trips They don't seem to be Well World Cups now Yes And then that stupid Club World Cup Yeah That hinders But it used to be It used to be guaranteed Stevie wasn't it End of the season There was a Yeah where did you go Stevie We used to go to Israel a lot Right Tel Aviv Yeah No it was fantastic Really great time Frank Frank?

1:02:22Yeah, I'm with Craig. When we won the FAQ final, we went to Hong Kong, I think it was Bangkok and after Brunei. And I remember being in the Prince of Brunei, the Sultan castle, I would say. That was amazing. and I went to the restroom and I had the chance to go to the restroom and sorry, pee on the golden toilet. Wow! I always remember, there's a famous song in England sung by Cliff Richard. Yes. And it's called, We're All Going On A Summer Holiday. Yes. And I remember 1982, we played Watford Away and we were going straight to the airport after the game. Brilliant. And we sung that song the whole way.

1:03:16We're all going on a summer holiday. It's the small things in life, Stephen, isn't it? The song in the Braniya, the richest man of the world. I need to read this. Where's my script gone? ESPN are proud to announce that they are the official rights holders of the handstand championships. We've got some exclusive footage now of those training for the... Here it is. This is Mr. Stevie Nicholl. practicing his handstands ahead of the championship. Stevie, socks off. This is a practice. That is a practice. We had a handstand competition in my house last night. Right, as you do, obviously. And this is your real go.

1:03:57This is my real go. Right, here we go.

1:04:05It's amazing how hard it is. For some reason, I thought I would actually be able to do it. When's the last time you've done a handstand? Last night. Before last night. I can't remember, but... Yes. Was it something you would do regularly anyway? Not really, but I just figured I could do it. I was all gung ho. My kids did it and I thought, yeah, I'm gonna show them. Yes. And there you go. There you are. Frankie, how would you get on doing a handstand, do you think, mate? Well, I used to do yoga, so I can hold, you know, when you put your head in between those, but I never tried the handstand because I'm so afraid of going the other side.

1:04:43Yeah, you fall that way. You know what? You put your hands like that and you put your head there. But at the handstand, I'm going to try. What do you do, Frank? You put your hands... Just show us. What do you do? You put your hands like that and you put your head in the middle of it on the floor and you go over like that. That I do it because it's yoga position and I do it easily. I can easily do it, but I never tried the handstands. I can send you videos if you want to. You used to do the handstands against a wall. I never tried it myself. Remember the young kids used to do that? I'll maybe give that a go.

1:05:20I wouldn't. That is it. That brings us to the end of today's show. Just remember, ESPN FC, despite the end of the season, with you every single day, seven days a week, right through the World Cup, everything. Tomorrow, Craig returns as reflections on the Premier League season continues.

1:05:55We'll be right back.

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