PL Review: ‘Laughable’ Spurs & Maguire ‘basketball’

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1:29Aaron Paul:or would he be mid-table? It's the Telegraph's Luke, how are you, Luke? Welcome back, Aaron. What a lovely introduction there. I mean, I thought you were going to say something really nice and pleasant and flattering and then you just sort of relegated me to Europa Conference League. Are you a title contender? I'm a Champions League contender. I'm not just domestic. I'm going continental contender. That's what I am, Aaron. I keep coming back on this podcast. Look, it's just a joy to see you, really. It's a joy to see you. I've missed you. Always good to be back with you, Luke. and Charlie. I mean, it's been a hot minute, hasn't it?

2:00It has, mate. It's been a while, to be fair. I'd done it last week with Luke. We had good fun. Got a bit excited because it's the first week of the Premier League. Yeah. And now we're back. We're back for the next one. But as, yeah, it's been a while, my friend. It's been a while.

2:14Aaron Paul:It has. I mean, tell us about your interesting weekend because I think as far as parenting goes, you are quite real with it. You like to tell everyone what it's about. And I respect that because I'm childless for now. and I like to learn off of you guys. I don't really have that many male role models in my life, and so I look at you, I look at Luke, and I want to really sort of just like, just drain every sinew of knowledge you've got when it comes to it. So tell us about your weekend with your kids. I've been to Reading Festival. Yeah. Wow. I went Friday. I took my daughter and her friend, and my nine-year-old son and his friend.

2:51Really enjoyable until it rained, and then became very obviously wet and muddy. And then we went back yesterday, full mud bath, but the sun was shining. Very enjoyable. However, comfort zone, that was something that it was not. Oh, dear. So it was a learning curve for myself. However, I had the dad flag in the air, and I was fully supporting dads with their kids, mate, at Reading Festival.

3:20Aaron Paul:Who was the most popular Charlie at Reading Festival? Charlie Austin or Charlie XCX? Well, to myself, definitely Charlie Austin. To my 14-year-old daughter, Charlie XCX. And everyone else at the festival. Fair play. Luke, do you want to top up and tell us about your parenting situation and what you're going to be up to? I'm going to YB for my daughter's birthday next year and I'm already breaking out in slight cold sweats. I don't think I've been since 2009. So that's going to be a blast from the past. But you know I've got a broken foot, Aaron, so I'm very much out of action at the minute. There's a lot of sitting on the sofa, there's a lot of watching.

3:59Well, basically I've spent my entire weekend watching sport, a mixture of football and cricket.

4:02Aaron Paul:Well, it's great to have you with us. We are very much back and we don't do much on this but Manchester United are back, aren't they? Beating Ipswich Town in our live commentary game on Fire Live. Bruno Fernandes with his second Premier League hat-trick. United absolutely peppering that Ipswich goal with 33 shots today. The last time they had more in a Premier League game was October 2016 against Burnley. That was 372 games ago. Thoughts, everybody? Manchester United are back, part 972. Yeah, but in the first half, credit to Ipswich, Ipswich were really, really good. First half took the lead, caused Manchester United a lot of problems, could have maybe added a second goal and I thought they were on top.

4:54And then it's one of those games where a slip changes it all, really. Nunes slips just sort of deep inside, or the halfway line, really, and Kunja breaks away and sets up Fernandes for the equaliser just before half-time. And I think then from there there was a momentum shift. But Manchester United were on it, second half. I think Michael Carrick would have been a little bit worried by what he saw for 40 minutes. It seemed to be a bit of a continuation of the whole game. But once they got level, they were superb. The one thing I have to say, and it didn't have a bearing on the result in the end, but I have just seen a candidate for one of the oddest decisions of the season in the second weekend, which is Harry Maguire, who appears to be able to play basketball, controlling the ball with his hand, bouncing it in front of him and then shooting.

5:40The ball is deflected in. Laws state that the goal can stand because it's an own goal, not Harry Maguire's goal. and deflects off the defender. That seems very, very strange to me, Aaron. Very harsh.

5:56Aaron Paul:It's this new rule, isn't it? It's just odd because your common sense says he's handballed it to bring it under control and that leads to the goal, Charlie, surely. Yeah, and I'm fully with you, Luke, and I feel like this is, unfortunately, we're the second week in. It's one of them where the rules, we're finding out more about rules every weekend when certain scenarios happen. like to the common eye that's handball and that's a free kick and the goal shouldn't be allowed however the knock-on effect is because Harry Maguire didn't score it was an own goal it can be allowed hang on a minute it's handball now we don't need to go back and see points points C D F and G because it's an own goal it's handball it should be a free kick it didn't it shouldn't count however flip side of it Manchester United played at home their first home game of the season against newly promoted Ipswich.

6:52So I'm not really too sure we can, us speaking about it, or Manchester United fans, really get too carried away. No, but what I did like, Bruno Fernandes, there was a little bit of debate at the end of last season, Aaron and Charlie, I don't know if you remember, he won Football Writers Player of the Year and there was a bit of a debate about whether it should have gone to someone like Declan Rice because Arsenal won the title. Look, I voted for Bruno Fernandes because he's capable of those sorts of performances. And he carries Manchester United on his shoulders time and time again. And he was, again, very quiet at Hull.

7:24But I thought he was phenomenal today. Got the hat trick. But it was his all-round game as well, his creativity, the pass from Rembuemo. He's taken that game by the scruff of the net. They were in a little bit of trouble. Like I said, they were 1-0 down. Absolutely smashes it past the goalkeeper at his near post. So that's what Bruno Fernandes does. And he's up and running again this season. And I think he'll continue to be Manchester United's talisman.

7:45Aaron Paul:Conclusion to that section, Manchester United are back. Let's push on and talk about Tottenham. 3-0 defeat for them on the opening weekend. Brentford followed up with a 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle United. £300 million spent, bottom of the table, new season, same story. They are going to spend more money, but still are. Charlie, where do you even go with these? For two years, they've been in the position they have been, right? and they were in the Champions League because they won the Europa League and that qualified them to get in there. We all thought Tottenham would be a different proposition this year because they have spent money.

8:23Last weekend against Brentford, they got brushed aside quite easily. And I think the alarming side is Deserby come in with... How many games did he play? Five games last year? Whatever it was. Five or six. I think it's six games he got at the end of last season. Yeah, and Geisler's come in with two and a half, three weeks of pre-season and he's turned them into two performances that are exciting for Newcastle. However, for me, I think it doesn't matter how much money is spent. Like you said, As was like 300 million and they're still going to spend. I think the alarming thing was what Deserby said.

8:54It doesn't matter how much you spend. Money cannot buy mentality. And if I was a Tottenham fan, that would be something that would scare me. As an ex-pro, that is so true. Mentality, you can't put a price tag on.

9:08Aaron Paul:Before we unpack this, Let's hear from the Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi after Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle. I have no doubt about the quality of the player, about the quality of the project. We need time. Maybe we thought could be better at the beginning, easier. By then we have to accept this moment. I have no doubt because I think we have a great squad great players we are lucky because our club has done something great in transfer market we are not ready yet yes we are not team yet it's true and we work to become a team as soon as possible What do you say to some of the fans because they're worried that it might be repeating last season again?

10:02I'm sorry for the result. We are working. To become strong, to become top team is not enough to change the players on the paper. You have to become team. We have to create the connection between the players. The new players, they have to adapt in a new environment, in a new club, in a new city, in a new stadium, a new teammates, a new dressing room, a new coach. So many, many things to become team.

10:34Aaron Paul:Spurs fans have only seen three wins from their past 23 home league games. I actually asked someone to do this on 6.06. I can't remember the things back in the last season. Work out the worst value season to get out there. How many wins per pound, effectively, you've seen. Spurs have got to be up there. Considering the price that their fans pay, they've seen a remarkable devaluation in what they've got. It's been so, so bad. They've lost their opening two games of a league campaign without scoring for the first time since 1974. Where do you even start with this lot? I mean, you could laugh at them.

11:12I mean, you honestly could because there was, you know, we talked about Manchester United being back. Well, Tottenham were back, weren't they? They were re-establishing their big six credentials, flexing their financial muscles, you know, taking these players off other clubs like Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. and Tottenham were back and they weren't going to have any repeat of the successive 17th place finish. But they've started the season really badly and Tottenham are back. They're back to being rubbish. I mean, that is me being slightly facetious, but that is where they're at. I mean, they haven't started the season well at all.

11:46And I think that is hugely, hugely concerning. There is a hangover from the previous season. Did they win three games at home last season? And I just thought they were poor again. But that scar tissue is going to take a long time to heal, I think. And it's a new team, it's a new group of players. But the atmosphere, the nervousness, the tension, that was all still there. And I actually thought, if I'm going to be kinder, because yes, we can all laugh at Tottenham. Because let's be honest, Aaron, it is quite funny when a club goes and spends£400 million in a summer. Completely red-changes their team and is just as bad as they were at the end of last season.

12:21That is funny, I'm afraid, Tottenham fans. but if I can just be a little bit kinder I thought they were quite good first half I think they created the better chances I think the concern will be that Newcastle did Newcastle have two shots on target and scored both goals the concern will be how easily they were undone by a diagonal ball from Gonzalez to Dedic heads it onto a langer and and that leads to the goal I think after they went behind that is where the concern would be for me because I thought they were poor after that and I thought Newcastle controlled the game. They do have to gel at the team.

12:54I think Ndiye from Everton will be a fantastic addition for them with Richarlison going the other way. I think he will improve them. I think it is far too early to panic at Tottenham. I still fully expect them to be pushing in and around the European places this season. I think De Zerbi is a fantastic manager. You're going to have to just take your licks. You're going to have to be the butt of a joke for August. You're going to be the banter club for August. You're just going to have to accept it. Someone has to be. It's Tottenham Hotspur again. If anything, they should be delighted the fact they're going to get rid of Richarlison to Everton.

13:26If you're an Everton fan or the hierarchy of it, you'd be disappointed about losing a high-quality player going the other way, and you'll get Richarlison back. Now, they've got all these players in. It's about gelling them, and it will take time. I totally understand that. I really do. But at the moment, Tottenham Hotspur as a club, as people involved in that, and fans, maybe need to understand where they are.

13:50Aaron Paul:They have to get rid of this soft underbelly. They rebuilt their back line because they have a soft underbelly, because they keep losing games and keep losing games in a very, very silly manner. They stayed up by one point last season. This is Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. This is Spurs. They are an institution in the Premier League. And I just don't think we can talk about Europe now and where they're going to finish right now in August. I was trying to reassure people. I was trying to be nice. Can I not just inject some... What do you do? No, Luke. I'm causing therapy or something over the summer.

14:22Aaron Paul:No, it's therapy. It's therapy. I'm giving a little bit of therapy. I'm giving a little bit of hope to Tottenham fans. Look, they're embarrassing themselves. What do you want me to do? Do we want to keep kicking them? Absolutely. They are a joke. They are farcical. They've spent£400 million. And they're not better. And that's what makes it. But I still think they will get better. I think the players they've signed are good players in the main. I still think they will get better. Yeah, and I'm with you, Luke. I totally understand that. And I think the players will when they gel together. But we can't get away from the fact they spent£400 million.

14:52Everybody had a laugh last year because Alexander Isak and Florian Verts didn't work and everyone said about that price. Yeah, and still laughing. But you need to understand, they signed Savio slash Savinho. Man City didn't want him. He scored one slash two goals for Man City. Yeah. Omar Mamosh, don't get me wrong, he's playing second fiddle to arguably the best number nine in world football. So that is it. then goes to Spurs. These are not players that are playing week in, week out in the Premier League other than Sandro Tonali. Now, they're not signing Andrew Robertson of three or four years ago.

15:29They're signing Andrew Robertson of now. From a player scenario, that is called the money train because it's the first time Tottenham Hotspur have been spending money and now all of a sudden you can go to Spurs and earn money. and that's why I think from a player's perspective the project is great the training ground the stadium etc etc but we can go there and earn a few quid

15:54Aaron Paul:so when I look at it from a Charlie Austin perspective was it QPR for you where you jumped on the train yeah I got the back end of it yeah so I got the back end of it because after that when we got relegated from QPR that's when we kind of just went down the hill then and all the players left who got the money but now I'm not saying Tottenham are going to go the way of QPR of course I'm not but I'm just saying that's the feeling that players get. What does it do in a dressing room? I was thinking about this actually yesterday. When you've got someone like Tonali who comes in on£275 ,000 a week around that figure, what does that do to a dressing room dynamic, Charlie, if you're there?

16:30And I know we're talking silly numbers here. For the normal people listening to this, we're talking silly numbers. But you're only on£110 ,000 a week,£120 ,000 a week. Can that cause problems? Listen, if any player was sat here speaking to the pair of you when you asked me that question, Luke, and said no, they're talking nonsense. Because your thought process is, it all depends if he's doing the business, right? If he turns up and is doing the business for the whole team and making you better and making the team better and making you win week in, week out, not a problem. But if he's not and you're, so say, the spotlight's on you on them figures, which are astronomical, of course, regardless of that.

17:16It's not the issue. But then the spotlight's on you. And then it's hard not to get away from that because then there becomes conversations in the dressing room, which then becomes a divide. Now, if you've got to look at it for the last two years at Tottenham, from the outside looking in, very much so looks like there was a divide in the dressing room just because how they performed. They didn't look like a together unit. It's interesting he's talking about we need a team already. It's like, I don't get this thing about Tonali. Tonali didn't go to the World Cup. He signed for Tottenham before pre-season.

17:48He's been at Tottenham for the whole pre-season. It's not like he's come in and he was on strike at Newcastle or he wasn't training properly because he wanted his move. He's had a full pre-season and they're saying he's not physically ready. Well, ultimately, while I've been kind, you know, the pressure cranks up, Aaron. It cranks up. It's two back-to-back defeats. It's two largely limp performances. Certainly the Brentford one, I thought they were atrocious. so you know these are questions that need to be asked and yeah he needs time of course he needs time he's been back to the tune of 400 million pounds he's got all the players he wants it it's actually ultimately we're going to come down to it it's up to deserve he to turn them into a team now that no one else can do it he's the manager that's up to him it does make me a little bit worried that he's talking about players who've been there all pre-season not being fit enough or

18:32Aaron Paul:not being part of a team okay here is your halftime teaser as we head into the break get your pens Only four newly promoted teams have won their first two Premier League games in a season. But can you name them? Answers on the way next.

19:08One, two, four. Settle down, tough. Solid. Cricket on Five Live Sport. Oh, I've lived every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds.

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21:01Aaron Paul:Welcome back to the Premier League Review Now before the break I said only four newly promoted teams have won their first two Premier League games in the season Can you name them any ideas gents? I'm going to go with Didn't Hull City do it previously? It was Hull City Thank you West Brom? No Sunderland? no think iconic Premier League teams from the early 2000s Charlton no Wigan no I'll give you a clue when they when they used to score goals at home their goal music in the early 2000s was James Brown I feel good this is continuing a long standing right okay you know what I'm just going to give you the answers because we need to click on it was Bolton Wonders of 2001 2002 2017-18 David Wagner's Huddersfield Town Oh yeah Do you know what's quite scary on that and I'm not disrespecting Huddersfield I actually forgot they was in the Premier League Yeah it's been a few years of nothingness Easily done to be fair Yeah it's been a few years of nothingness and Hull City again this season Olly McBurnie said to say we're the worst team in Premier League history is not a bad start from the boys is it?