72+ EFL Pod: Holloway’s rant & Blackburn bother

14:18Jobi McAnuff:Because if you're going to think of a game where you want to come back and get back to winning ways, this is no disrespect to Oxford. They're struggling a little bit. Matt's gone in there and steadied the ship a little bit. You'd probably pick Oxford at home to try and get yourself back to those winning ways.

14:32Aaron Paul:OK, but have they been found out? Is that the crux of it, Joby? Because at one point they were scoring goals for fun. Darrell made a key point there about them shipping goals where are we with these guys?

14:46Darrell Clarke:You know I think that term found out is a really interesting one I go back to my time at Watford and we were absolutely flying first half of the season and you know played one way which was direct which was physical you know we'd go long at times and what was really interesting in the second half of the season teams definitely did make adjustments because whereas before we'd go up quite early but there was space in behind and what I found in the first half of the season teams are more prepared to have a little bit of a ding dong with you you know it still feels like we want to come out and win a game you know if we lose it all right fair enough whereas now there's so much to play for up and down the leagues the teams are now going one because they've been so good in the first half actually we will sit back you know if we nick a point against Coventry it's a great point because of how good they were in the first half of the season and what they were so good at again from a forward area, you know, getting in behind teams with the pace and, you know, with their forward players.

15:39Darrell Clarke:I don't think they've been allowed to do that as much. So I definitely feel it's about, the word tweak is absolutely spot on from Daz. You know, it's not about throwing everything out the window, but you do have to make adjustments and whether that is being a bit more pragmatic at times, you know, defensively. Do you think they're going to be pragmatic?

15:57Aaron Paul:You look at the reinforcements?

15:59Darrell Clarke:No, I'm not talking about, like, as I say, it's not a total turnaround of, right, let's sit in now and not try and win games, of course. But there's times in games and some of those goals they've conceded, they've just been so sloppy. Why are they going out

16:11Aaron Paul:and bringing in more attackers then? Yang Min?

16:13Darrell Clarke:Well, this is the question. Remain it, sir. Yeah, exactly. When I feel the real issues are probably the other end of the pitch or just how you're setting up the team. Again, you still want your full-back bombing on, which they do really well, maybe on one side, but at times it's both of them going and then you've got the two centre-halves and there's big spacing behind when you look at some of the goals they've conceded or teams are getting into those full-back areas. So I definitely feel there's an issue there that needs to be addressed. If they can do that, they still have got so much firepower that I'd more than fancy them to go and finish the job.

16:46Darrell Clarke:And they've still got a little bit of a cushion, although Hull have got a game in hand on the third place, which is the real big one, really.

16:52Aaron Paul:I like Hull. There's something about them I really like. I love the manager. I think he's hilarious. but they've got players who turn up they make a difference they're very structured in what they do big fan of Ryan Giles on the left I think he's a cracker he's got a cracker of left foot and he can get a ball into that mixer really really well but what about Middlesbrough I mean we've seen them sort of not quite have a dip but yet also have a dip as well Kim Helberg has settled in nicely they brought in Leo Castledine who I think is a real, real bright, bright sign-in. Samiento, I like him. I'm a fan.

17:35Aaron Paul:I'm a fan. I don't know. Joby's got a face.

17:37Darrell Clarke:No, listen, I think he's one of those that you sort of look around and go, you know, he's been involved in teams that have been promoted. So I think that's the first little tick because you're like, right, what gets us over the line now? I think he's capable of those moments of magic, which again, down the stretch, there's going to be some tight games. You know, I think the last one's a prime example against Norwich, where you're not just going to steamroll the teams between now and the end of the season. So have you got that little bit of, might be a bit of impact off the bench, but we've seen him on so many occasions, that little sort of dip inside, whip one into the top corner.

18:09Darrell Clarke:So for me, that one makes sense in terms of a bit of, yeah, that X factor, a bit of know-how. Young really come in and join the group, which is full of life, full of energy at the moment and absolutely flying. So I don't think that's a bad one, I've got to say.

18:25Aaron Paul:Darrell, flip it round from Coventry and talk to me about what is going to be going on in the Middlesbrough camp right now when they know they've eaten away at a 10-point lead. You've brought it down to ground zero again. It's the opportunity to start afresh. Yes, the goal difference is mega. I think there's a 10-goal swing from Borough to Coventry where Coventry are on plus 28 and Borough are on plus 18. But if you're Kim Helberg right now, pretend you are, what are you saying to your players every day? How are you getting them going? you probably don't need to get them going but you need to keep them channeled the energy channeled

18:58Jobi McAnuff:and focused right yeah you're chasing so you've got that energy and to be honest with you they've had a really good window because they haven't lost the best players you know sometimes in the window is making sure you keep your key players because as soon as soon as one or two of your key players go when you're going for the title or trying to get out of the championship that's uh that's really tough to take so they'll be energized after the window they've been chasing they've been chasing for a while they had a little dip now they're coming back to the boil again so i think the momentum's with them i think you that the place is a positive place uh one of my good friends mark tinkler's the under 21 coach up there the culture and the environment up there is fantastic they've got a young hungry team mixed in with a couple of experienced boys so uh i just feel that when you've got that momentum and you are chasing it takes you over the course for the next 15 16 game so yeah it'll be interesting to see them them kick on okay let's dive in to the other end of the

19:52Aaron Paul:table Blackburn Rovers have sat their head coach Valerian Ishmael after nine games without a win they're in the championship relegation zone and haven't been in league one since 2018 um Toby where where do you want to start because I don't even know where where to go with this one For me, from the outset, it never felt like the right appointment in the first place. But also, there is an element of can't be picky.

20:22Darrell Clarke:Yes. Where am I on this one? Not surprised. It's probably my first reaction to the situation around Blackburn Rovers, regardless of who the manager is at any point in time. It just feels like a club that has been destined for this to happen. And I know they had a positive end to last season, but that was really off the back of a really poor run under Ishmael when he sort of first went in. And I think it was one of the last four out of five and gave themselves a chance of getting into playoffs, which on the balance of how the season went would have been absolutely crazy. And then whether that raises expectations or, you know, people think they're going to do better again this year when you've lost key players.

21:00Darrell Clarke:And I think the experience of the level, again, I always come back to, you know, when you're at a club that isn't really going to go and, you know, put a big outlay on players, which clearly they haven't done for a considerable amount of time. Then those real, you know, key cornerstones of your team, the experience, you know, the Travises of this world are so, so important. And you lose them in the summer, Dom Haim, another one. And I just think it's a tough, tough job. But listen, I think for a manager, you know, having to deal with that week in, week out, eventually it just grinds you down, Aaron.

21:34Darrell Clarke:And I think with him, unfortunately, I think probably mixed with, I'd say, style of play, which wasn't great to watch. But I think this is an overall situation of a club that, you know, from an ownership perspective has been really mismanaged and mishandled and unloved. and ultimately we've seen so many times before where this ends up being what happens. They were a real worry for me at the start of this season and nothing I've seen has allayed those fears and they're in big, big trouble now and there's no doubt about it.

22:02Jobi McAnuff:They've gone obviously quite young. Ismail's always been quite direct. I'm not criticising this, by the way, because he's been effective at some clubs that he's managed. Then all of a sudden you have to put more young players in the mix and you haven't got your senior boys. I just don't think it fits. I really don't and I think that's why they've struggled a lot this season as soon as you lose them experienced players and you're going more and more younger as you go along plus the negativity in the club it's been festering there for a while and I fear for them now to be honest with you I really do because when you're under pressure and you're down there and you're a big name club like Blackburn if you're too young it's going to be a real test in times I personally think it would have been worth sticking with him until the end of the season, if I'm honest with you, unless they've got somebody lined up.

22:53Jobi McAnuff:I do, because I think he's been there, seen it, done it. He's been in those situations before. And, you know, Dean Whitehead was his assistant. I've had him at a few of my clubs as well. And I think sometimes it's the better the devil, you know. And listen, it's easy to go, listen, we haven't won for eight games. Let's give it to the manager and whatnot. I get it. But I'm always going to be looking at it from a logistic sort of point of view. and been a manager at that, is that unless they're going to bring in somebody really experienced now, okay, who's been there, seen it, and knows relegation fights, working with a young group as well, Joby, you know, it's going to be a tough ask, and I think they should have just stuck with him until the end of the season.

23:35Jobi McAnuff:He's used to getting teams out of situations, and I think it would have just about kept him up. Now I fear for him.

23:40Aaron Paul:And the saddest thing is, is the fans are starting to vote with their feet. I mean, you look at it, Go on to wherever it is you get your data from. Go and look at how many contracts are out at the end of the season. Go and look at how many players are out of contract. It's going to be a clear-the-deck situation.

23:57Darrell Clarke:It is, and I think it comes back down to how hard a job it is for the manager, whoever is there, because you might say the age profile, they're not that young in terms of the 11 that they can get out at any one time. But I think when you look at a lot of the signings, particularly in the past summer, having just finished outside the playoffs, and you're thinking, right, have we got the bones of a squad to compete? Well, over 46 games, the answer was yes, because of where they finished in the league. But what do we need to kick on? And I think they've gone the complete opposite way. A lot of those signings have been players who don't have experience of the championship, regardless of their age, whether they're super, you know, the younger profile or a bit more experienced, but in different leagues.

24:34Darrell Clarke:The championship is a tough, tough place to come when you don't know what it's about playing for a team and a club that, you know, is going to struggle. and I just feel that they haven't got the recruitment right and I think they've needed a bit more help in terms of that championship or at least English football level experience and know-how because if you don't have it, this is a long, hard slog of a season and I think Blackburn are paying the price for that now. So I've got sympathies with the manager. I don't think he's been given a fair crack at it, if I'm being honest, with that recruitment side of it.

25:06Darrell Clarke:I can't see many of those signings they made being him saying this is a good level championship player that can come and compete at the level that we're at.

25:14Aaron Paul:I mean, we need to sort of have another conversation about the Venkis and their attitude towards the football club. What they've pumped into that football club, in excess of£200 million, they will never see that money again whilst this club is in the EFL, ever. And if they were to cut their ties, they cut their ties and they take a huge loss. But I think they look at clubs like a Sunderland, like a Luton Town and think, hey, we can do it. The difference is, the key difference, both of those clubs were highly organised at the time of them going to the Premier League. And Blackburn Rovers still don't actually have a CEO.

25:50Aaron Paul:Steve Waggett left the club, and I think people, again, will absolutely slate that man. But when you are in times of crisis, and Blackburn Rovers have been in time of crisis for a long time, you need a safe pair of hands. And Waggie was a safe pair of hands. He was experienced. he wanted to lead the club into his anniversary year and they parted company with him I'm worried for that football club especially considering the attendances are dwindling

26:17Jobi McAnuff:and what I will say is the clubs I've worked at is you're never ever successful if the club's not connected you understand and like leadership roles director of football's owners if it is not connected if you're not on the same page you struggle as a manager and this is what I'm saying Me personally, I think at Blackburn, he's quite disconnected. I think the manager can only say so much and do so much with the squad he's got at times and say what he can say in the press because he obviously wants to stay in the manager and wants to keep improving the team. And this is my point, is that there will still be supporters that remember 31 years ago, that still remember that club and still want to get back to it.

26:56Jobi McAnuff:And after being told and seeing where the club's been for like 10, 15 years now with the same owners. That's where the problem's becoming. It's not connected. The fans aren't connected to the owners. The owners aren't connected to the management team. And that's why it looks like a car crash, guys. And for me, going back to my point now, is who's going to go in there and massively be able to turn that round? I very much doubt that they're going to be able to get somebody in there that's going to be able to turn it. And I think, you know, it's... And if they don't get someone who's right, the right fit, I think they'll be going out the trap door.

27:29Jobi McAnuff:and that's what happens with disconnection.

27:30Aaron Paul:Who wants it?

27:31Jobi McAnuff:They'll always be takers, Aaron. They'll always be takers. Listen, I'd take the Blackburn job tomorrow because you'd always go in and think, you know what, I'll work with this group. Can I get a tweak out of them? Can I work with it? Can I then start managing above, managing above, change perceptions, change ideas? Because as a manager, you go into football clubs, okay, and I've been into a few football clubs recently where you say, okay, I know this is the way this football club works. Can I change that? can I go and give my opinions to that can I can I make them build what is a winning squad which they want to see and I want to see but with that nowadays is there's a lot of opinions there's a lot in between there's director of footballs there's different directors different and without a shadow of that guys one of the hardest things being a manager is managing above trust me trust me because there's so many variations you know like 10-15 years ago you'd be working with yourself and the chairman there's your budget Daryl you work with your budget that's your budget and we'll talk about it one on one now you've got five, six, seven eight people you're dealing with you know all got different opinions guys you know we sit on the you know podcast and TV and we talk we've all got different opinions about the game well you start trying to do that when there's six or seven people do you understand me?

28:45Jobi McAnuff:and this is what I'm talking about when clubs are disconnected they have to be connected to be successful and you'll see all the clubs that are successful will have that connection

28:54Darrell Clarke:From a small village on the banks of the River Nile...

28:57Aaron Paul:Everybody call me Mohamed, but, you know, short name or nickname, they call me Moh.

29:02Darrell Clarke:..to the biggest stages of world football. Goes for the corner! Mo Salah! Salah is more than just a player. He's an icon, a symbol, a king.

29:13Jobi McAnuff:It's 6-0! And Salah rips off his shirt!

29:17Darrell Clarke:Mohamed Salah represents a dream for Egyptians, for Muslims, for Africans.

29:22Aaron Paul:More than just a football player, he gave us hope. I'm Kelly Cates. This is Sporting Giants' Mo Salah. Listen on BBC Sounds.

29:34Darrell Clarke:If there was a big red button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world.

29:48Aaron Paul:This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet.

30:01Darrell Clarke:Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

30:08Darrell Clarke:72 Plus, the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Jody McAnuff.

30:14Aaron Paul:Watford Football Club tweeted on Sunday afternoon, the club is sad and disappointed to confirm the resignation of Javi Grazia as head coach

30:24Aaron Paul:where do you even start Jovi your former club I mean three months in the job Watford four points off the top six 21 games I thought when he came back in it was a masterstroke he looked happy they looked happy it felt as though as Darrell says they're all singing off the same hymn sheet life is good again the lager is cool but but but but January is a difficult month in football especially when you're asking the chairman to dip his hand in his pocket

30:55Darrell Clarke:yes again I've got to say I'm really feel for Watford supporters because it is that sort of thing of oh god here we go again and again and again it's ridiculous the amount of turnover what is slightly different on this occasion it seems to be you know clearly it's been instigated by him sort of saying that in terms of what he wanted the club weren't willing to deliver. I think the big question with that is, have the goalposts moved from when he first went in? Is it a bit of a situation, maybe like we saw with Mareska, of, look, I've come in and done really, really well. And it looked as though this could be the season for Watford to be that team that finally gets themselves back in amongst the playoffs.

31:36Darrell Clarke:And I think as a manager, he's probably earned his right to say, look, just back me, give me one or two players. Again, we talk about the same thing all the time, that can come in and compete at this level to keep things going because you look at where they were at the turn of the year just coming off that brilliant run four wins on the bounce you know looking like they were really going to go and it seems from that point things the wheels have fallen off so you look at that as a key factor in this and I think he literally just got to the point of saying I need to get out of here before it goes sour maybe my stock isn't as high as it is right now I don't really want to deal with this situation I might have to go in and keep trying to motivate a group that needs reinforcements um so I think there's a lot to this that probably we haven't seen yet and I'm sure more will come out but it's just disappointing because I like you thought it was a smart appointment someone who knew the club had done well for them previously had done well so far this season but unfortunately for Watford we all know the ending.

32:34Aaron Paul:But I also I fully agree with him in the sense of you need a bit of experience. I mean Watford are on the periphery of the playoffs.

32:44Darrell Clarke:Yeah but if that's not the club's position when he comes we have to understand It's not their MO. We don't know what he's been told when he comes in. We know what their their trading model is now. Develop players get them from abroad bring them in and then sell them on for a profit. That is kind of what they're doing. Does that make them a shoe-in for a playoff place? No, because you're going to keep selling your best players and you haven't got the experience to get you over the line. But if that's the club's position when he came through the door, then their argument might be, and I'm only playing devil's advocate here, well, listen, mate, the job was what it was.

33:17Darrell Clarke:It hasn't changed in three months.

33:18Jobi McAnuff:I'm trying to get my head around this one, to be honest with you, because he must know what he's going into with the environment at Watford. I haven't been there previously. And, listen, they've got a couple of, the three tuck-away games coming up. they haven't won in four Hull, Southampton and Preston I think the next three away games and I just think to myself it doesn't really add up they're listen they're not where they want to be but they've got what are they four points off the playoffs with a game in hand guys and Garcia's just walked out the door yeah they're on you know it's and I don't there's got to be something there's got to be a lot more into this because he knows the club he knows what he's about when he came into and I don't really get it.

34:03Jobi McAnuff:Whether more stuff comes out in the future about this, I just find it very strange with this because obviously there's connection with the club beforehand.

34:11Darrell Clarke:Given they have got a model of wanting to play certain players to enhance their value and potentially sell on and I think what I've seen certainly from Watford in recent weeks, the lack of Barr, Irokunda, even Chatford had said, was out of the team. whether there's a bit of friction there because he's saying listen these aren't the guys that are going to get us in the playoffs but then the Watford hierarchy saying to him well they need to play anyway because we need their valuations to either stay high or get enlarged so that we can sell them on I think that's the difficult thing for a Watford coach you have to have an understanding of what that model is for me again does it make it easy for a coach to go and get on the playoffs no would I be absolutely like Javi Gracia saying look give me a chance here this could be the season you know that we can get up everyone says the owner's ambitious and he wants to you know for me this would be the season you know with a manager that you know well who has had success in the premier league with the club before to back him and say listen we can still carry on that policy but actually is this the chance is this the season that we can make the playoffs you know given how open it is you I mean if Wrexham get in there I mean come on Watford fans are going to be thinking hang on a minute look how long we've been around the level and a Wrexham come up yes they've spent money but they're going to end up in the playoffs and you know i just feel as as daryl's just said there there's there's definitely a little bit more to it than meets the eye i've

35:34Aaron Paul:got to say before we move on i need to get your thoughts on the extraordinary rant from swindon boss ian holloway he laid into fa officials after his captain ollie clark was suspended 24 hours before saturday's match with barrow it comes back to swindon playing clark in an efl trophy tie when he was meant to be serving a seven game ban swindon thought it didn't apply in the trophy and also because Wyndham brought on Aaron Drynan as a substitute, despite him not being on the team sheet. Anyway, here's some of what Ian Holloway had to say about it all on Saturday. They've hampered me as a manager.

36:04Aaron Paul:I am not allowed to do the preparation that I've done in such an unprofessional way. How are they allowed to say he's banned for tomorrow and I've got no time to train my team? So I've rung the LMA. Do you know what I can do about any of it? Absolutely nothing. I've just asked all the officials today, If I try to put someone on at half time Who's not named on the team sheet Whose responsibility is that To let him go on Because I could easily use one of the other ones And they said quite honestly Yeah it would be ours wouldn't it I said well don't do that today then will you Why are we trying to blame everybody else It's disgusting They want to find me good They want to ban me good Do it Have a look at yourselves Every single god damn one of you

36:50Jobi McAnuff:It's absolutely disgusting

36:52Aaron Paul:it and whether i get another game or not i don't really care anymore i care about my team i care about my captain i care about my players and i should be allowed to prepare professionally and if anybody wants to say oh you're you're you should have been professional right well i'll tell you what's professional she looked on the portal she made one mistake by press the wrong button and the wrong name went down on these horrible computers that will take over the world in the end So I forgive her that mistake But the referee and the fourth official Let her down at half time And the portal let her down Apparently she should have checked With the handbook Sort your lives out Every single stinking one of you And it's a siege mentality in my head now Absolutely, totally and utterly And if Luton go through Because they've had all good luck to you We beat you fair and poxy square and I'm not having our club secretary drag through the coals left right and centre you have a look at yourselves first I know how wrong you are you cowards anyway back to football okay do you know what I feel like I feel like I've just been told off anyone else

38:12Jobi McAnuff:do you know what I know Ian very well do you know what he is he's a proper leader because you put yourself now in Swindon's change rooms and working on the staff that he is because they've made the mistake. They've done that. But he's fighting for his club, his fans, his players and his staff. You know, that is a proper leader. Listen, Ian's it. I think we're miscarriages like Ian in the game now, to be honest with you. I really do. I think there's things I agree with because, you know, now you have to do the team sheet. You do it. It's all through computer and stuff like that. What was wrong with the old paper things?

38:46Jobi McAnuff:mistakes weren't really made or very, really made do you know what I mean? and I just and listen I know we've got to move on with the times but come on you know and it's these things so I feel for Ian he's a passionate guy but that that passionate guy is the guy that wins football games and won promotions guys do you know what I mean? so you have to take the rough through the smooth he's probably upset a few at the FA he's probably got a bigger bank balance to be able to pay the fine to be fair to him Ian so listen good on him and hopefully they don't get kicked out because I think they've won the game fair and square.

39:21Jobi McAnuff:Yes, they've obviously played a player they shouldn't have played and whatnot, but hopefully they still manage to stay in the competition.

39:29Aaron Paul:Simon in Swindon has got in touch and said maybe there should be a discussion slash a bit of insight in how the portal works after listening to Ian Holloway. Darrell, how does it work when you're registering your team for a game? Is it done on a tablet and have you had any dealings with the portal?

39:43Jobi McAnuff:Yeah, I have, yeah. So basically, the old school was write the team out, your subs out, your coaching staff on the bench. The pick sheet in the election. Yeah, the pick sheet. Yeah, you know what, you hand that to the press and the referee and then you have the discussion with the ref, you exchange team sheets with the opposition's manager. Now it's all on a computer. And now, I mean, they had problems early in the season to start off with doing this. And so you've basically got to do exactly the same thing but put it in a computer thing. but I don't think you make that mistake if you're writing it down if I'm being honest with you.

40:16Jobi McAnuff:I don't think it happens. It's a lot of things. I was having discussions with managers early in the season this season and we didn't agree with it to be honest with you. I'm not sure they asked the other managers what we thought about it. I think they just went ahead with it. There's always going to be a few times when there's a new system comes in place there's always going to be things that happen with Ian and Swindon. I'm hoping they don't get punished. Swindon fans are not massive fans of myself Swindon fans and beat them in the playoffs and whatnot. But I genuinely hope that Ian and the team get to stay in the cup.

40:47Jobi McAnuff:But he's certainly stick with the old ways with the paper, Joby. You know what I mean?

40:51Darrell Clarke:I'm with you. Where am I sympathy for Ian Holloway? I think he's gone way over the top with that interview, I must say. I get it. He's passionate. He wants to defend his team. You know, but there is a bit of a collective responsibility here, particularly more about the Aaron Drinnon, because, again, there are officials that should be checking that before he goes and enters the pitch so i do feel there's a you know something there that i can see his frustration it's clearly an admin error on on that occasion um and i do think that should be taken into account but yeah man there's nothing wrong with the old school get back to the pen and paper uh save everyone all the hassle of the

41:30Aaron Paul:computers taking over you want a bit of passion you want a bit of character you don't want someone who's been necessarily media trained. Yeah, you do, but you kind of don't as well. You're on a good hybrid. With Ian Holloway, you know what you're getting. It's, you know, six litres, pure, you know, foot to the floor, and we're going to give it to you both barrels, and I love it. The accent adds onto it as well, by the way. It just adds. It reinforces it.

41:55Darrell Clarke:Listen, I'm all for people speaking out. I just feel on this occasion, he's gone a little bit overboard with it.

42:01Aaron Paul:Maybe he could be the manager of our ultimate EFL Hardman XI, which we will return to next week as we look to trim down our squad into an old school 4-4-2. But for now, we're going to finish with this.

42:13Darrell Clarke:72 plus, 72 minus on the Football Daily.

42:17Aaron Paul:Yeah, it's time for Joby's best and worst moments of the week from across the Football League. Where are we starting this week, Jobes?

42:23Darrell Clarke:Well, I'm going to start with my 72 minus and it's that Ian Holloway rant. Great to hear his passion, but as I said, I think he might regret being quite so vocal.

42:33Aaron Paul:Let's hear it. It's disgusting. They want to find me good. They want to ban me good. Do it. Have a look at yourselves, every single goddamn one of you. It's absolutely disgusting. And Joe, you can't beat it. You're 72 plus.

42:47Darrell Clarke:Well, I'm going to go for Tottenham Loney, Yousef Akamrich, who's on his first start for Bristol Rovers, bags two brilliant goals in a massive six-pointer with Newport County. What a way to introduce yourself to your new fans.

43:03Jobi McAnuff:Here we go. Every time the ball goes out to Akamrich, it's looking dangerous.

43:06Aaron Paul:And he's got it again inside the penalty hour and a chance to score again. And he slots it away for 2-0. What a full debut this is from Yusuf Akamrich. A cool finish for a young man. He is just 20 years of age, but he's showing that top-level quality. No Yusuf Akamrich in any of our fantasy EFL teams. At the time of recording, Daft Caddy 9 is top of our list in the league, closely followed by utter stoke nonsense they're going to join is 72 efl pod 72 efl pod um joeby you're in 37th swindon towns aaron drynan no less with a couple of goals yeah yeah and that's it for the fantasy efl section it's funny how you always try and brush past

43:50Darrell Clarke:this where i know we had this conversation over christmas about you know loads of games forgetting to do teams like have you literally just forgotten since then can i be honest i got

43:59Aaron Paul:a new phone about three months ago and I got logged out and it just won't let me back in.

44:02Darrell Clarke:I've got to say, one thing you are really good at is finding an excuse to why you're so bad at fantasy football. Joby. I mean, I got logged out because I've got a new phone. Fair play to you because that actually sounds relatively viable. What do you reckon, Daz? It's kind of like a little bit of honesty or not. I think it's just pure black.

44:19Jobi McAnuff:Listen, when you're struggling, you may have an excuse every weekend. I've got loads of them. Stuck. Stuck.

44:26Aaron Paul:It's the portal. Meow has become the portal. where it's like merged into a ball. It's turned into a port key. Anyway.

44:33Darrell Clarke:Just on that, it's probably going to be handy not to have Josh Sargent as your captain at the moment. I don't know if you have seen Norwich in the last few weeks, but I can't see that one.

44:42Aaron Paul:I thought, you know what, as Daryl says, you know, you have those players where you think, yeah, I can rehabilitate him.

44:51Aaron Paul:I can rehabilitate him and I can get the best out of him. You know what I'm talking about, Daryl, don't you?

44:57Jobi McAnuff:Oh, all day, Aaron. you know what I mean it's never done until it's buried mate eh he's my Rory Gaffney

45:02Aaron Paul:alright there he is

45:03Jobi McAnuff:he's my Rory Gaffney

45:04Aaron Paul:yeah you deal with your own team Daryl Joby thank you so much where is everyone this weekend

45:10Darrell Clarke:I'm actually down in Bournemouth on Saturday for Bournemouth Villa BBC 5 Live CoCom so looking forward to that and then Monday night back in the studio Sheffield United are playing

45:23Aaron Paul:you're liking the old 5 Live CoCom aren't you

45:26Darrell Clarke:love it mate really really looking forward to it

45:28Jobi McAnuff:I want to go to the local pub, mate. Have a few beers and watch the results come in this Saturday, mate. Old school Saturday. Hero. Exactly, yeah.

45:37Darrell Clarke:Long for those days, Daz. Love it.

45:39Jobi McAnuff:None of this rubbish I'm going to again this weekend. Pure honesty. Straight to the local pub and a few pints.

45:46Aaron Paul:Fantastic stuff. Wherever you're going, enjoy it. Remember to send us your EFL 11 suggestions on WhatsApp. 08000 289 369. I'll tell you what. If you want me just to reinforce Joby as a pundit here on Fire Live and get him some more gigs, you can catch him Saturday, 3 o 'clock, with John Akers at Radio 5 Sports Extra for Bournemouth versus Aston Villa. Make sure you take John some sweets or something, Joby. He's a lovely man. His nickname is Juicy, by the way.

46:17Darrell Clarke:He likes a sweet. I took him a good selection last time we were at Palace.

46:20Aaron Paul:Just go up to him and go, all right, Juicy? And he'll know.

46:23Darrell Clarke:He's not going to look at me like...

46:25Aaron Paul:No, no, it's the eyes. they never lie his eyes never ever lie that is it for this episode of the Football Daily on the next one Steve Crossman will have reaction to Wednesday night's commentary as Manchester City face Newcastle United in their League Cup semi-final second leg that's for us here on 72 Plus we'll be back next week catch you then

46:56Jobi McAnuff:Her sport curls its way past the best goalkeeper in the division. BBC Women's Football Weekly.

47:02Darrell Clarke:The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Lucy Bruns, welcome back. What one lioness do you think would make the best rugby player? Me? Listen. With the BBC Sounds app.

47:17Aaron Paul:If there was a big red button that would just demolish the internet,

47:22Darrell Clarke:I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is The Interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world.

47:31Aaron Paul:This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet.

47:44Darrell Clarke:Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.