PL Review: Arsenal ominous & concerns for Fulham

9:14Clinton Morrison:So he'll get it. And then before you know it, he's kind of sidekick, you know, like started an attack. He's one of the best. Chelsea though, as we said, like I think, you know, disappointed with the result, obviously, but they're a good team. I like the way they played. I really like the fact that they've got a sort of constant outlet in Neto on the right. He was really effective today for them. Probably unlucky not to score when he kind of grazed the outside of the post. And the goal was good and they kept on pushing to try and get something. They scored in the opening five minutes of all of their Premier League games so far, I think I'm right in saying.

9:56Clinton Morrison:I think Xabi Alonso will be pretty happy with what he's seen.

9:59Rick Edwards:I certainly wouldn't be disheartened from anything you've seen, even today, because it was a narrow defeat and there was a very clever foul from Declan Rice to trip Morgan Rodgers as he was, if you remember, late on in the second half. And Morgan Rodgers took that very well. He took it really well from his England pound. He was not having any of it, wasn't he?

10:18Clinton Morrison:No, it was naughty, but you like it if it's for your team.

10:21Rick Edwards:You love to see that sort of thing. I thought they were good. And yeah, Neto was bright. I think Lavia in the centre of midfield, if they can keep him fit, I think that makes a big difference to them because you got the excitement of that front three. I thought Pedro was a little bit quiet today. I thought Palm was a little bit quiet, but they are coming up against the best defence in the Premier League, if not Europe. I think the way they start the season, that's a really, really solid foundations for them. They haven't got any European football this year. I think that is also going to make them extremely dangerous in terms of being able to rest and recuperate.

10:56Rick Edwards:The Champions League is about to start this week. It does do funny things to those elite teams and the demands of those extra games. So I think Chelsea will be very, very dangerous. And I think just because they've lost away at Arsenal today 2-1, a narrow defeat, I still think they're going to be in the title mix-up. Do I think they can win it? No. I'll say that now because I like a bold sweeping statement. But Champions League for Chelsea? But certainly Champions League. Oh, definitely Champions League. I think they're one of the four best teams in the country from the evidence I've seen. They've got a serious manager.

11:24Rick Edwards:They've brought in Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson in the summer to just add that experience and that know-how and that professionalism in what was, let's face it, of an amateurish dressing room last season. That was one of the big criticisms. Amateurish? Young? Yeah, well, yeah. Lacking experience? Immature. Rash. All the red cards. It lacked those leaders. So I think Chelsea would be a very, very dangerous team this season.

11:48Clinton Morrison:Earlier on today, Everton's horrible week, really, had a happy ending. Deadline day, as we know, complete disaster. But one of the players that they did manage to bring in, Ainsley Maiton-Niles, scored a stunner. to get them a point at home to Manchester United. Some really good goals in this game. A bit of criticism on the TV commentary for Lamont's for Everton's first goal. And I just thought, are you completely mad? Have you seen how hard he's hit that? I mean, I know you always say, oh, you shouldn't get beaten at the near post.

12:24Luke Edwards:That's why they said it, Rick.

12:25Clinton Morrison:And we'll talk about that with Isak's first goal, actually, in a moment, probably. but for this goalkeeper's not saving that

12:33Luke Edwards:you know why it's because you can understand why people say it because they always say a goalie shouldn't be beating and he's in their post but with the power that Tyreek George gets and with you Rick I think it's a fantastic strike he'll be disappointed because he gets a hand to it and what they say is if as a goalie you get your hand to it you should keep it out you should have stronger risks but I think the power that George that's what I mean exactly mate but I think the power George gets but that wasn't even the best goal in the game the Maitland-Nars goal is unbelievable that is not even it is top top top corner like the ball could have got stuck in that corner it was that top also I like the way he kind of he strokes it in yeah

13:13Clinton Morrison:it's a side foot finish powerful stroke into the top corner from distance how far out

13:20Rick Edwards:do you reckon that is 25 or 30

13:22Luke Edwards:between the two I reckon 28 27 should we go 27 and a half 27 and a half

13:29Clinton Morrison:it's a lovely I mean someone will be able to buy that out but I don't really care I'll just guess really nice I do think and not a lot was made of this I didn't think that Jordan Pickford's had a shocker for Cesco's goal I just don't know what I can't figure out like what he's doing with his body but it feels like it's a good look I'm not taking anything away from Cesco it's a decent header but But I think a decent goalkeeper has to save that. Probably with their leg or something. It's just odd. You're into goalkeepers today. This has gone to the goalkeepers podcast. I'm going for the goalkeepers.

14:11Clinton Morrison:Yeah.

14:12Rick Edwards:Okay. What did you think about that? I didn't think it was great. Well, thank you. We'll move on. There's a wider issue here with Jordan Pickford, isn't there? Yes. Because he has been a brilliant goalkeeper and has been England's undisputed number one for a long, long time now. Everton fans still love him. He's still capable of making unbelievable saves. But is he as consistent as he once was? He made some brilliant saves at the World Cup, but he never really inspired me with confidence. No, I'd agree with that. He looked to be constantly on edge. And almost, I think, that sometimes made the defenders in front of him on edge.

14:49Rick Edwards:Yeah, is it a terminal decline in his form? I don't know. there are signs that he maybe is on the way in a little bit and I think it's something we will as a narrative we will probably have to keep an eye on this season because James Trafford has just got that move from Manchester City to Leeds he's gone to Leeds to play every week in the hope or with the ambition to eventually become England's number one there's not another tournament you know for until 2028 so yeah it's going to be interesting because I don't think he did well for that I think he made mistakes in the summer as well I think he has made mistakes for Everton for a while now as well.

15:25Rick Edwards:So yeah, not great goalkeeping. It was straight at him and not for the first time he got his body position into a bit of a mess.

15:31Clinton Morrison:On Everton, really thin squad. Very thin. And they are still unbeaten. And I feel like David Moyes is probably the guy that you want in charge in a situation like this.

15:45Luke Edwards:Yeah, I'd agree. Would you, Luke?

15:48Rick Edwards:Yeah, I would. I think it's been an unhappy summer. Yeah. And they were heavily criticised for the end of the window. And to be perfectly frank, quite rightly so, because I think it's been an act of self-harm window, really, in terms of the players they've let go and the failure to bring players in. They've got one specialist centre-forward on the books in Barry. There are gaps all over that squad.

16:12Clinton Morrison:Did they get a bit unlucky with Balogun, though? It doesn't sound like they messed that up.

16:17Rick Edwards:You always want to be kind. They was going for Xerxes, weren't they, on the last day as well, on loan from Manchester? But you don't leave it that late, Rick. If you're scrambling around on deadline day for players, you've mucked up somewhere earlier in the window. That is my view of it. So it's going to be a tough season, but I know what you mean about David Moyes. He'll roll up his sleeves. I think so. And he'll make them really, really difficult to beat and to play against in the best incarnation of a David Moyes side. I think that's what Everton will be. They've got some good young players coming through.

16:51Rick Edwards:And I think the fans will respond to that as well, because they're going to like what they see. The way they've come back and got a point today, the circumstances of it, that builds a little bit of positivity, and it builds some positive momentum. So, tough summer, but now the season's underway. You know, I think they'll be OK.

17:07Clinton Morrison:Manchester United have conceded six goals in three games, and you couldn't really say that they were at fault for either of the goals that they conceded today, I don't think. but has Carrick got a bit of defensive work to do do you think Clinton?

17:25Luke Edwards:Yeah I've said it before many a times they strengthened well in midfield and up front but they needed to strengthen at the back as well I think there's problems at the back as well they want cover for Luke Shaw who I thought had a good game this afternoon really good game but they do need cover for him he's the only recognised left back I know Masurari can play there but he wants to play right back and then you look centre half it's obviously Maguire, Martinez I know they've got young Euro and De Ligt to come back in and young Aidan Heaven. So these are youngsters, but I still thought they maybe could have gone out and got a quality centre-half and a left-back.

17:57Luke Edwards:And that could be the difference between them finishing in the Champions League this season because I don't think they're title contenders.

18:03Rick Edwards:I think the problem with Manchester United is if you were being critical, is they haven't actually, I mean this, obviously I mean this disrespectfully, but you know when people say, I mean this with all due respect. I mean, they haven't played any of the teams that you would expect to finish in the top 10 this season probably, certainly not in the top eight. They've played Hull, Ipswich and Everton and they've got four points from those three games. So I know Michael Carrick is saying we're going to be fine. I don't think it's a great start, just in terms of the strength of the opposition that they've had to play.

18:32Rick Edwards:They've blown away an Ipswich team who kind of were a bit gung-ho first away game since promotion. They blew them away. Poor against Hull. I didn't think they were great today, Rick. I just didn't. I think it was a bit slow and pedestrian. I've been reading bits and bobs from the guys who cover Manchester United and some of them were comparing it a bit to the football under Louis van Gaal, which I don't think is meant as a compliment. So it's solid enough. It's good enough. But I don't think they've been electric or scintillating despite the strength of those attacking players, as Clinton has said.

19:05Clinton Morrison:On Friday night, Andoni Arreola got his first win as Liverpool manager. Two very early ESAC goals. saw them win 2-0 at Ipswich. I knew you'd be watching, Luke, and I knew you'd be hating it. And I was loving it. And yeah, just talk me through your feelings as you saw Alexander Isak look a bit like the Alexander Isak you used to play for Newcastle.

19:28Rick Edwards:It's established on this podcast that we don't talk about Friday night games. I mean, it's just, it's not what we do on this podcast. I'm just slightly missed a fight.

19:36Clinton Morrison:I completely agree. Just because there's, you know, there's such a strength of feeling about Isak from you, isn't there?

19:41Rick Edwards:There's not a strength of feeling. I said on the podcast last week, while you remained on holiday, I really hoped that we saw the best of Alexander Isak this season because he is at his best, a world-class centre forward and we need players like that in the Premier League. So they were very, very good Alexander Isak finishes. That is the first time. It's the first time in 12 months that he has looked like a£125 million centre forward. So was it two in three minutes as well, which is really annoying because you got really excited, A, by the first one, and then slightly delirious after the second one went in, which annoyed me.

20:18Rick Edwards:I have to admit that annoyed me. But no, I think Liverpool need him to come good. OK, TK's out injured. He has to be the main man. They have to find a way to play to his strengths. So that's three goals now in three games this season. He was absolutely diabolical against Newcastle. I will just throw that in. But he is starting. There are definitely signs he's going to come good. and if Liverpool are going to have anything like the season they aspire to have, he has to be that world-class centre-forward. And they were two world-class finishes. So I'm very happy for him, actually, Rick. Less so for you.

20:49Clinton Morrison:Oh, OK. Two superb assists, actually, from Cody Gakbo, who's now assisted ISAC for all three of his goals. And you never know whether there's any kind of validity to this, but he looks like, Clinton, a guy with a point to prove. And the point is that Liverpool fans, when it was rumoured that he was going to Tottenham and then subsequently maybe to Manchester City, which I don't think the fans liked as much, but by and large, the fans were like, oh, well, yeah, as long as we get someone else in. Like, no one was that disappointed. And he looks like he's sort of, I will show you why it was vital that you kept me.

21:31Luke Edwards:Yeah, sometimes you need that. And Liverpool, I think Man City were going to pay like 80, 85 million. so it would have been great business for Liverpool but Liverpool pulled the plug and said they wanted to keep him and I thought his performance over the last couple even against Newcastle I thought Gatpo was the shining light going forward and one thing yeah one thing with Gatpo he'll score your goals I know he wants to play on the left hand side I don't think he will play on the left hand side when everyone's fit and available I think he will be that player that plays on the right hand side but the ball he plays the first ball that he plays to Isak and Isak's touch and finish is very good I know Sherpin Ipswich goalie should do better in that situation but the second pass is outrageous outside of the boot and then the touch from Isak the way he chops Greaves and rolls it left foot fantastic goal you know if Liverpool's front three get it going they'll cause anyone problems on their day the only thing is I worry for Liverpool is the right back position because too many times one of their best midfielders has to keep going over to right back which is about a row

22:31Clinton Morrison:that's what I'm saying he did alright yeah he looked he at least looked like someone who was a defender

22:36Luke Edwards:that's what I'm seeing Frimpong's not a defender no disrespect to Frimpong he's not a defender and then it's the midfield where you look at them but I like McAllister and I think it's going to work out for Liverpool I know what you're saying they're too vulnerable

22:49Clinton Morrison:in transition too vulnerable

22:51Luke Edwards:that's why I was screaming Rick to Liverpool go and buy a number six but obviously but then everyone's been I don't understand that's what I mean yeah I know but when you spent

23:01Rick Edwards:400 million the previous summer there was no money left funnily enough and they just decided they wanted another winger. They wanted another winger, didn't they? They love wingers at Liverpool.

23:08Clinton Morrison:He'll be good to that. Hold on a minute. I mean, you say that like they haven't just lost Mo Salah, the best winger in Premier League history. Yeah, they have. And they need three players to replace him. Not on last season's form, he wasn't, was he? No, not on last season's form.

23:21Rick Edwards:You put the boot into him if I seem to remember, Rick. Let's not get the rose-tinted cell aspects calls out. You don't need to be rose-tinted to look at the eight seasons when he was absolutely unbelievable. Liverpool are a bit like Manchester United for me. it's been an okay it's been a sort of good start to the season but nothing special and they did just beat Ipswich so just calm down

23:41Clinton Morrison:Manchester City has still got 100 % record as well so they edged past Coventry thanks to another world class striker third of the season Erling Haaland you feel like there's some interesting signings from City obviously Enzo Fernandes Maresco knows him well Illiman and Jai I think he's a really fantastic player actually but they are going to you suspect it's going to take them a little while to gel properly but they're still they're

24:09Rick Edwards:still winning so fine uh yeah the winning machine aren't they that's continued um in the post pet world is what again one of the one of the we said this on the first week but seeing how mareska does at manchester city i think will be one of the most fascinating stories of of this season on a 100 % record start what annoys me about manchester city though as you talked about those signings then we We all talk about they just go out and spend, but they have signings that are failures, right, who just don't come good, and they end up making a profit on them. Maybe not even a profit, but Savino, Marmouche, Trafford.

24:41Rick Edwards:Rinders, Gonzalez. Like, they all sort... Flop is the wrong word, but they didn't really have the impact that they were expected to have. They've not set the team alight, have they? No. Exactly. And then it's just got this incredible thing where everybody goes, oh, yeah, we'll buy them off you. Yeah, we'll have them. And then they just go and spend£125 million on Fernandes on deadline day to go and fill... Signed Elliot Anderson for£116 million earlier in the window. So, you know, they make mistakes and they've just got the financial power to be able to rectify them. And then what you've seen with Liverpool last...

25:12Rick Edwards:Go on about Liverpool again, but Liverpool's summer window went from being the best window ever to probably one of the worst. And it will probably set them back some time because the amount of money they spent on those players, they're not going to be able to recoup the value. in the world of SCR that's damaging but Man City are just incredible how they managed to get rid of those players that they didn't really want anymore and just got their money back or made a profit on them

25:36Clinton Morrison:On Coventry, they've lost 3 from 3 and that, if you look at all of the 12 promoted teams who have lost their opening 3 games only Southampton in the 2012-13 season managed to stay up Having said that, I thought Coventry were alright they could have legitimately got something out of that game

25:56Luke Edwards:you're spot on Rick one you miss is a golden chance when he's one on one and I think Rodoni at the back post where he should head it back across and Donnarumma makes a brilliant save but if he heads it back across he scores go to Etihad and create the chances Coventry did I think Frank and only conceding one goal and I know Man City dominated possession it should give you confidence moving forward the disappointing result was the whole one before it's the teams in and around you where you need to get points so I think they're trying to find their feet They spent a lot of money trying to work out his best 11 at the moment.

26:27Luke Edwards:But there's a lot of positive signs to take from Man City. It's going to be a long season. Everyone knew it at Coventry. And I think Frank will know it's going to be a long season. But they've got to keep believing. And obviously, the next few games they've got coming up, you need to take points. Because they'll look at a team like Hull and think, oh, wow, they've got seven points. Everyone predicted them to go down. So they've got to start getting points on the board.

26:48Clinton Morrison:I'm going to talk about Aston Villa and Tottenham has continued to wait for a goal. Also, Alvaro Abeloa's tricky start at Fulham. But first, halftime teaser. Erling Haaland's header against Coventry was his 20th Premier League-headed goal. Since he joined the league in 2022, only four other players have scored more than 10 headers. Can you name them? The EFL has a brand new home. Hello and welcome to 72 Plus, the home of the EFL from Five Live Sport.

27:22Rick Edwards:Aaron Paul and Joby McAnuff tackle the biggest stories from across the championship, League One, League Two and beyond.

27:29Clinton Morrison:A minimum of one week's wages fine. And we may even write to your wife and tell you what you've been fined if you carry on. And the biggest talking points from across the football league. Well, we spoke well at Joby and enjoyed working with him. It's my show too now, but yeah, thanks for that. Sorry, Aaron, I don't know if you go.

27:44Rick Edwards:Search 72 Plus, the EFL podcast on BBC Sounds.

27:50Clinton Morrison:On the Football Daily Podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League Review. Before the break, I ask you to name any player other than Erling Haaland to score more than 10 Premier League headed goals since the start of the 22-23 season. Clinton, you had an idea.

28:10Luke Edwards:No, the 22-23 season. No way. That blows my mind. I was thinking that Alan Shiro you want to go Sheringham and Ronaldo as well no no no no no Shiro but if you're saying 22-23 now I've got to think of good headers of the ball in the Premier League four of them four of them and it it's got to be centre can it be centre well I'll tell you two centre forwards

28:36Clinton Morrison:two centre forwards one midfielder one one centre half is Gabriel one no Saliba one no No, I'm good at these. It's 23-24. Wait, I'm good at these. To me, the defender seems obvious. That's a clue. Karkowski?

28:54Luke Edwards:Maguire? No. He said the defender seems obvious. Headed goals, yeah?

29:00Clinton Morrison:Yeah. Van Dijk. Thank you, Clinton. Yeah, he scored 11. Yeah. The midfielder is a United player, or scored the goals for United.

29:10Rick Edwards:Casemiro?

29:11Clinton Morrison:Yes, also 11. The two centre-forwards, I mean, I can't really give you the teams because then that just... No, don't give us the teams. Don't give us the teams.

29:19Luke Edwards:Don't give us the teams. Don't give us... Are they both still playing in the Premier League? No.

29:22Clinton Morrison:One of them has just left to the disappointment of the team he scored the goals for. Watkins. Yes.

29:31Luke Edwards:Yeah.

29:31Clinton Morrison:Watkins, 16.

29:33Luke Edwards:Wow, his head is surprising. I know, I know. And the other centre-forward... The other centre-forward... This guy had one...

29:41Clinton Morrison:Well, maybe that's unfair. He had one season where he was absolutely on fire.

29:44Luke Edwards:Outrageous. And that's when he probably scored all the headed goals.

29:47Clinton Morrison:Plays for a team that were at the World Cup and I think they were the lowest ranked team.

29:55Rick Edwards:Don't know. I've gone here. Given up.

29:58Clinton Morrison:All right. Plays for Forrest. Chris Wood. Yes. I think New Zealand were the lowest ranked team in the World Cup.

30:04Luke Edwards:New Zealand, they were one of the lowest. Yeah, you are right. Oh, my God.

30:07Rick Edwards:Don't forget Rick did a World Cup pod

30:09Clinton Morrison:so he'd know all about those things. Yeah, that's right, actually. And it was a good one, weren't it?

30:14Luke Edwards:Well, we got there in the end

30:15Clinton Morrison:and it was, as always, painful. So Aston Villa and Spurs both picked up their first points of the season on Saturday. Both are still waiting to score their first goals. Spurs held to a goaliest draw at Forest. Villa drew 0-0 at Hull. Spurs, I mean, lucky not to have lost, really. That Nico Williams sort of bundled in goal ruled out because he was a judge to have handballed it. I think it's, I don't know, it's certainly not clear and also, it gets booted in the head. And not obvious. I would be very frustrated if I was a Forest fan by that.

30:52Rick Edwards:What did you think, Clinton? You were a second forward. Would you put your head there in the first place?

30:58Luke Edwards:Yeah, you want a goal, don't you? You didn't sound convinced there, didn't you? Yeah, because you know what, Rick, I've been in many situations you could get your head taken off but I thought he was brave. But you know what, it's probably the letter of the law and I know the Forest manager Glasner weren't happy even Williams himself weren't happy but I think when you slow it down you can see his arm

31:15Rick Edwards:just

31:16Luke Edwards:it's before it can't stand it can't stand no matter if we agree with it or don't agree with it which I don't agree with it because I think he's thrown his whole body at it but it does hit his arm and it does before it goes over the line so I think the right decision is made I'm going to have to

31:34Rick Edwards:disagree with you no you can you are allowed to disagree with me you know you know from the angle from behind, I know that seems counterintuitive, but the angle from behind, it looks so clearly that it comes off his head. And actually, when you look at it, if it hits his arm, is it not already over the line when it hits the arm? Nobody has commented on that. I think it might already be over the line. And he gets a boot in the head.

31:57Luke Edwards:Yeah, you know what?

31:58Rick Edwards:He almost gets decapitated.

32:00Luke Edwards:I think VAR would have slowed it down to look at, I don't think it was over the line. It's not clear and obvious. It's not clear and obvious.

32:08Clinton Morrison:It's certainly not clear and obvious. Yeah, I know what you're saying.

32:11Luke Edwards:The referee gives it.

32:12Clinton Morrison:Much as I love hearing you two talk about it, this is what Oliver Glasnow had to say. It was not clear and obvious. For me, it was guessing that the ball touched the arm and that I really watched it back from five or six different angles. I told my analyst because I don't want to be hard on a thing if I don't watch it back. So from one angle, you can guess that the ball touched the arm. It's just because you see a movement of the shirt. And I think if it's a guess, the VR can't intervene. And we had a briefing before the season that the threshold of VR intervention should be high again. And in this situation, it was not high enough.

32:54Clinton Morrison:Yeah, I think I just completely agree with that. Totally agree with him. Forrest do have a sort of rich and proud history, as we know, of complaining about VAR. I love him as a manager

33:02Luke Edwards:so I'm not going to argue am I they do

33:05Rick Edwards:they generally take it well Forrest don't they they do but they've got look they have really got a point here I would say it's not clear and obvious no if it's a lighter touch like Oliver Glasner said there if it's a lighter touch VAR and the goal is given on the pitch and you can only it can brush a shirt without it touching the arm as well that's the other that's the other thing does the shirt is that does that count as part of the arm I'm not I just Nico Williams is so adamant as well that it hit his head. And it's instinctive. He's going to get booted in the face. Letter of the law. Maybe you're right, Clinton.

33:41Rick Edwards:Letter of the law. But I just don't think it's clear. Yeah, don't get me wrong.

33:43Luke Edwards:I think the goal should have stood. But that's just the way the game is with the letter of the law. If it hits your arm and goes in. But as you made a good point on Glasner, is it clear and obvious error? And that's the biggest thing that we look at needs to decide. One angle.

33:57Rick Edwards:One angle when you zoom in. that's not for me

34:00Clinton Morrison:Spurs have created less I don't love XG but they have created less XG than anyone except for Villa and Hull it's just it's just not clicking for them at all at the moment and you look at what Roberto De Zerbi has said we brought very very good players but you can't just build the team with the names like in Football Manager we're disappointed for the result but for the performance very happy considering we started to work together last Thursday for the first time for the first day. But I just sort of think, but they didn't lose anyone unexpectedly at the end of the transfer window. I think you'd want to see a bit, just a bit more from them three games in, wouldn't you, Luke?

34:46Rick Edwards:I think absolutely. And I think the words ring a little bit hollow, not for the first time. That De Zerbi is trying to explain himself after these games. The one that made me laugh was Sandro Tenali's not fit. he's not in the best possible condition well he's been there all pre-season so whose fault's that he should be fit that's only Tottenham's fault he didn't come in halfway through pre-season he said there it's not like football manager you know you don't just buy players and expect them to be a team well actually that's your job I mean that's kind of what you're supposed to do you're supposed to build a team with your recruitment they've spent heavily it's actually exactly like football manager yeah exactly like football manager that's the name being a football manager Yeah.

35:28Rick Edwards:So I get he's under a bit of early season pressure. I think there were better elements against Nottingham Forest. I will still maintain that Tottenham will get better. They will improve. But it's been a really poor start to the season and the longer it goes on. I mean, imagine if that Nico Williams goal had been allowed to stand. That would be three successive defeats for Spurs. Yeah. Having spent so much money in the time. Three successive defeats, no goals.

35:53Clinton Morrison:Yeah. And a manager who we know can get aggy quite quickly. yes

35:57Rick Edwards:well he's not yeah he's not renowned for his calm under pressure and the pressure is already building so let's sit back and watch the fireworks

36:06Clinton Morrison:I'm looking forward to them on Villa not really creating stuff you just think well yeah they've lost so many players lost so many yeah it's I feel I feel sorry for Unai Emery like his team has been eviscerated yeah

36:23Luke Edwards:you're right you know Rick but the one thing Villa do have is one of the best managers around. So they'll get it right. They'll be fine. I'm sure they'll be fine. They'll be fine. But I know what you're saying. They've still got the Mbaye, the young boy who was on the bench. Manzambi, he's a good signing. Young Swiss boy who was good at the World Cup. So they've got good players, but they just need to integrate into the squad. And some are injured at the moment. When everyone's fit, Goretzka, when he gets fit, up and running, I think they've recruited really well. With the players they've lost, it's going to be hard to replace that, the players that they've lost because they're all top quality players.

36:55Luke Edwards:but it's going to take time. But I think they're just going down a different route at the moment, Aston Villa, but they'll be fine. It's a struggle when the Villa fans are... I think the Villa fans would be more worried if Unai Emery wasn't at that football club. I think with the CV he's got and the job he's done there, I think they'll be fine.

37:11Clinton Morrison:We do have to shout out Hull again, I think. Seven points from their first three games. Haven't conceded a goal. Only five promoted teams have previously taken seven points or more from their opening three games in the Premier League. All of them went on to stay up. It's just, it's perfect. It's perfect for them, Luke.

37:30Rick Edwards:Yeah, and they said it when the assistant manager came on the pod, that they don't mind not having the ball, and that really sets you up as a newly promoted team. Yeah, they stay up then.

37:41Clinton Morrison:I know it's so early to talk about this. It's so early, isn't it?

37:44Rick Edwards:Bit early, big shout early on, yeah. No, but I know what Rick is saying. The stat I just gave you, and seven points,

37:52Clinton Morrison:it's just such a good start, and I know it can all unravel but

37:56Luke Edwards:yeah of course but look at the teams that have got no points then Luke because then they're playing catch up then there's several points behind Hull and it's going to be so difficult and they're the only team who haven't conceded in a Premier League defensively really strong they're good at what they do you know what the story for Hull you have to give credit to the manager and to the chairman they've both been outstanding last season they were one of the favourites to get relegated from the championship and now they're doing alright in the Premier League I I got to hold my hand up. I had them down to get relegated.

38:27Luke Edwards:And I probably still, at this moment in time, can't change my mind after three games. But let me tell you something. They are proving a lot of people wrong. And I could eat my words at the end of the season. Well, I'd like that.

38:39Rick Edwards:We'd all like, we'd really all like that. I mean, Coventry City are going to be fine, he said a few minutes ago. They've got 0-4. No, I did.

38:45Luke Edwards:Yeah, because I tipped them to stay up, Lou. I can't change after three games. He's a man of the world. He's not a fit.

38:53Clinton Morrison:A fickle, flighty little man. Alvaro Arbeloa's difficult start at Fulham continued. Worried about them. Still no points. Lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace. I think he got booed by a few fans at the cottage. Fulham fans? It's a genteel. Yeah, well, yeah, exactly. He's an interesting appointment, isn't he? I think there was parts of the game that were not awful, is what I would say. They were actually quite good at times going forward. But then they just defensively, they're just a bit all over the show and Palace exploited it. That's a very good reading of it.

39:38Rick Edwards:I just love that. There's parts of the game that aren't awful, but also some parts of the game that are in fact awful. Yeah, that's what I thought. I'll stand by that. Yeah, but not... And against a Crystal Palace team that also hadn't started particularly well and also with a bit of a cloud hanging over them, you've got them at home and you lose. I watched Fulham play Sunderland the previous weekend and I was worried about where the goals were going to come from. I was worried that they looked OK until they got in and around the penalty area. They then put that right and scored two goals against Crystal Palace, but then it starts shipping them at the other end.

40:15Rick Edwards:So it's not great. and if you've got Fulham fans booing you already, that's quite a tough place to be because they're not a fan base that's renowned for being mutinous. They're one of the sort of calmer, more considerate fan bases in the country. So big worries. And we all thought, I think we all thought this, because of what happened last season as well, we all thought there was going to be a club that maybe was an established Premier League one who could drop out this year and particularly with Hull having that great start. here's an early call I can feel an early call

40:51Clinton Morrison:coming from Luke

40:51Rick Edwards:could it be Fulham I'm worried about Fulham I'm going to say I think they're going to be bottom five this season I'm not going to necessarily call it relegation but I think they're going to be bottom five

41:03Clinton Morrison:alright that is all we've got time for I think thank you very much Clinton nice to have you back thank you very much

41:08Luke Edwards:thanks for having me back

41:09Clinton Morrison:that is it the Monday Night Club will be your next episode of the Football Daily

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