Manchester City go top as Chelsea chuck Liam Rosenior: Football Weekly Extra

25:24Like, it's unsurprising they are where they are, but I think they are not in a bad position to bounce back up.

25:29Max Rushden:Well, bouncing back up is very difficult. You know, you could have Spurs in the championship next season. Everyone will expect them to bounce straight back up if they go down. There are a lot of good teams that spend a hell of a lot of money in the championship already. I'd imagine Leicester were among the favourites to bounce back last season, or this season, look what happened to them. Burnley, when they came up, their whole thing was built on their defence, wasn't it? They conceded like three goals all season, last season in the championship. and they were never going to be able to keep that sort of solidity going in the Premier League.

26:12Max Rushden:So I guess if you do come up, you have to do a Sunderland on it and have a complete squad overhaul and that's hard. Yeah, I mean, they've conceded 68 goals. I suppose that we can come to Leeds now, Lucy. They did recruit and they sort of went big and strong, but they didn't rip up the whole squad, did they? No, they didn't. And they weren't doing that well until he changed to a back three either and has brought the likes of Tanaka back into the team as well. And I think you saw last night that, you know, physically he can be sort of muscled off the ball when I think it was Sanessi who sent through for Kruppi's first goal.

26:53But yeah, I think they've done well. I think what Leeds will now, I mean, everybody's happy because they look like they're staying up. They're in a semi-final of an FA Cup. But I think when the dust settles at the end of the season, They'll look back at how Sheffield United were in their second season as a back three. It just blows my mind that it actually has surprised every single team the way that Leeds play. I think, what are the analysts doing watching how they play and not being able to counter it? I think that teams will be better at dealing with Leeds' back three, back five next season.

27:26But obviously, that's something in the future that everybody's very happy at the moment. How do you counter it, asking for the tactically unaware? I think the best example of how to play against Leeds was Arsenal when they came to Ellen Road and played against them. And they went up against them, but also passed it very, very well. I just think teams just get thinking, oh, hang on a minute, we've got to try and win the duels. And you're not going to beat Leeds at their own game. You have to sort of be better at connecting passes. but I think that teams will be better at that next season. But, you know, I think Leeds fans at the moment are like, who cares?

28:03Every single game with a team down there, and, you know, I know Leeds are pretty much safe before last night. Anyway, Barry, I just watch it through such a ridiculous Spurs lens and I watch that long staff volley going through about 20 players going, you know, if Javi Simmonds is hitting that, it's bouncing off and going out. Like this is, you know. VAR could have given at least one penalty to Bournemouth and then they obviously were unlucky with the offside. So I was looking at it thinking, God, if I was watching this and I was Forest, Spurs or West Ham, I would have been like, hang on a minute, why are you not giving penalties?

28:33Because the only problem with Bournemouth is that they cannot just finish, they just don't do enough to win games on a consistent basis. They draw all the time because they just don't have enough. So there was always that risk that that would happen. But obviously, if VAR would have gone their way, they would have been sort of two, three up by then and away from Leeds. Yeah, Sinetti hitting the bar as well, didn't he? late on for 2-1 and then you're right that offside is just come on VAR that's painful that's just that's not what it's meant for is it for goodness sake that'll do for part two part three we'll look ahead to the Evercup semifinals and the Premier League weekend.

29:23Cash flow? Wow. Invoices that chase themselves? Even better. Books that automate? That's a big one. And I can keep track from my phone while I get the job done. No spreadsheet in sight. What a life. Do right by yourself and your business and search XERO for your free trial. Conditions apply.

29:51Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly. Barry, we've sold out New York already in just five days. How big is the Bowery Ballroom? Is it just a capacity six? Is that what it is? Is that what happened?

30:00Max Rushden:Well, I actually know the answer to this question because I did my due diligence, Max. I think it's just shy of 500 people, but I think that's standing. Thank you for selling out. What do we do now? Do we move to Madison Square Gardens? I suspect we either try and get the Bowery for another couple of nights or move to the garden. yeah yeah a residency at the Bowery here we go anyway thanks for buying your tickets we look forward to coming don't resell them for a million dollars that's not that's not the Guardians vibe people so the FA Cup semi-finals we sort of touched on Chelsea-Leeds but how do you see it Baz?

30:37Max Rushden:My view is almost identical to Lucy's I couldn't see any other winner than Leeds but now I think Chelsea's players will gamble about with the gay abandon of Cavs who've just been let out of the Baron at springtime. I'll be honest, I want Leeds to win. I hope they do. And at least they don't have to worry about, they can devote all their focus to this. They don't have to worry about staying up because they presumably have enough points. Yeah. Actually, Jordan, they're the only side Leeds who really are sort of, you know, can really throw everything at the FA Cup. You know, City, Avatar, Race, Southampton are still going for automatic promotion, although the result they drew with Bristol City which means they'll be pretty lucky but they've been on an absolutely incredible run.

31:26Do we want a Leeds-Southampton final? Is that the dream final? I don't really care who's in the final but I think Leeds win this. I still think Leeds win. I thought Leeds before Rossini was fired were favourites. I totally understand what Lucy and Barry are saying about with Rossini going there will be a new lease of life amongst some of those Chelsea players but I still think Leeds win this game. Chelsea are not good. They're just not good. And I think with Leeds having to, as you allude to there, having the kind of shackles of the relegation fight now off their ankles, they will go for this 100%.

32:01I'm looking forward to this game. I'm looking forward to this match a lot. There's obviously the historical rivalry between the two clubs. And yeah, and Leeds will see it as like, you know, once in a generation opportunity to get to a cup final. So I think Leeds win this. To the Premier League weekend, And then, so we talked about Arsenal and Newcastle a little bit. I mean, Newcastle do not have a good record at the Emirates. They've only scored one in their last nine visits, haven't won there for 13 games. If Arsenal win, they'll have done the double over Newcastle for the first time since 2020-21.

32:35And actually, Barry, you sort of think home to Newcastle is as good as it gets at this stage of the season?

32:40Max Rushden:I think so. I'd be astonished if Arsenal don't win this game. Newcastle's last performance in defeat against Bournemouth, They were pathetic. Half the players weren't even trying. As you say, the record at the Emirates is dismal. They're on a run of eight defeats and 11 in the league. So Arsenal have to win this. And if they don't, then good luck. Yeah. We haven't actually mentioned the tragic death of Alex Manninger, who passed away last week in very tragic circumstances. He made 64 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2002, won the Premier League in the FA Cup, best remembered by Arsenal fans for the role he played during the run.

33:23To the double in 97-98, David Seaman says, when I think of Alex Manninger, he was a fantastic goalkeeper for us. He came in and deputized for me during a really critical time to help us win the double. He did amazingly well. Was just a young lad when he broke into the first team. For a 20-year-old to come in and play for Arsenal the way he did was really special. I was out for quite a few games through injury. Played 13 times, kept a clean sheet in that 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford and saved penalties in our quarterfinal FA Cup win against West Ham. The fans loved him. I must admit, it was touch and go as to whether I would get back in the side.

33:53He was a massive player for Arsenal. And I mean, Jordan, presumably, you know, that is true. You know, he played a pivotal role for Arsenal in that time. I remember that season. He was pivotal. He was really important in that year. As you mentioned, Seaman missed quite a few games. I remember him being, I read some quotes actually, sorry, him being really well thought of in Italy. And some of the Italian teams and goalkeepers that have come out and speaking about him talk about how fondly they remember him. And he was well loved for his time there as well. Awful, awful, awful way to pass. Very young as well.

34:31Yeah, Gigi Buffon wrote a beautiful message on his Instagram about it too. So, yeah, our thoughts, of course, with everyone who knows Alex Manninger. Back to the football. The bottom of the table then, Barry. It's Wolves Tottenham and West Ham Everton. And we keep saying for Spurs, this is must win. But this is must win, Barry.

34:57Max Rushden:It is. And I think they probably will win. And I think that could be the spark they need to get their act together. If they don't win, they deserve to be relegated, quite frankly. Wolves are not a good team. They are capable of pulling a decent performance out of the bag every now and then. They have improved under Rob Edwards, but the bar was so low that they had to really. But I will be massively surprised if Spurs don't win this game very comfortably. I won't. They've lost their last three away at Molyneux. Wolves are unbeaten in their last six games against Spurs, for goodness sake. What do you reckon, Lucy?

35:46Well, there has been a difference. I mean, I was sort of following the Brighton game. I was in Iceland doing the England women's game and with a Spurs fan who watched their reaction on the side of the pitch when that equaliser went in. But I actually felt, I mean, I'm not a Spurs fan, but I was just like, oh, gosh, how was your look? You score to go 2-1 and then that happens. But I do think that there's more positives about the way that they're playing. And it's just about getting over the line. And that is, I mean, it's nothing to do with anything tactical, anything like that. It's just mentality.

36:22And he looks like he's affecting that mentality, Deserby. And I think that is key. That's the only thing that needs to be as strong as possible. But a nightmare for Spurs fans. Yeah, Ruter missed a chance for Brighton against Chelsea. And it was a much easier chance than when he scored against Spurs. I was like, for goodness sake, he ballooned it like 100 miles over the bar. I was like, come on, balloon that one over the bar, you bastards. Anyway. That's what he normally does. Meanwhile, Jordan, West Ham host Everton. They're two points above Tottenham. That is not, that's not an easy game. Everton are still pushing for Europe.

37:00No, it's not. Everton have to share the embarrassment that I've heard Barry acknowledge in that I had Everton to go down this season in my bottom three preseason predictions. So yeah, they've massively proved me wrong and they are still pushing for Europe. That's a genuine possibility for them. So no, West Ham can't think that Everton are in that kind of mid-table comfort because they'll be pushing for sure. I think West Ham are in a good place or good-ish place at the moment. I think at this point now, if you're West Ham and you're Forrest, you're thinking just get points, even draws. I think you want to just stay ahead of Spurs.

37:39Just get a point. They can get a point against Everton. I think they'll see that as positive. Before we get on to that Forest game, Karen Brady stepped down from her role as vice chair of West Ham on Tuesday. West Ham's joint chair, Daniel Kratinsky, praised her work, saying her contribution to West Ham's growth, such as the long-term contract for London Stadium. Shareholders' transition and the British record transfer of Declan Rice has been absolutely essential and not always fully appreciated. David Sullivan, who worked with Brady when he owned Birmingham City as well, called her an exceptional leader and a key figure in the club's development.

38:14Not, Barry, the same reaction from many West Ham fans, it has to be said.

38:18Max Rushden:No, the vast majority of them seem to be delighted to see the back of her. The West Ham United fan advisory board said her legacy is deeply damaging, but she has had a long career. which she began as a very young woman in a largely male industry. So she probably deserves some credit for that. Some of the abuse she's taken from West Ham fans has been, I think, well beyond the pale. But I wouldn't be a huge fan of her work. She has been the subject of some fawning tributes in the media, which have surprised me a bit. I've never met her. I don't know what she's like, but she's getting all the credit for the sale of Declan Rice.

39:07Max Rushden:But he was sold for what someone was willing to pay for him because he's a very good footballer. She doesn't seem to be getting any of the blame for the huge number of overpriced flops that West Ham have bought during her reign. I don't know how responsible she was for them. I presume she had to sign them off at some stage. I think she viewed the move to the London Stadium as a triumph. West Ham fans don't like that stadium. It's not a nice place to watch football because it's not a football stadium. It's an athletic stadium. It's a soulless bowl in the middle of nowhere. So, yeah, she's gone and West Ham fans are very happy she's gone.

39:48Yeah, I guess, Lucy, you know, you can be a pioneer, as she definitely has been. as Barry said very young as well when she started being like a real pioneer for women in the men's game and at the same time not have made every decision right not necessarily be viewed totally favourably these two things are both possible right? Yeah I mean I can't possibly begin to imagine some of the hassle that she's had over the years you know with fans and people that she works with but the thing that stood out with this for me is the timing I think it wasn't just her that's left. I think there's two or three others have left at a similar time.

40:28So that, I think the story about why it's happened at the time it's happened will come out very, very soon. I don't know what it is, but I don't think there's a coincidence to her going now. Why didn't she not leave at the end of the season, et cetera, et cetera. But I do think that there's more to the story than that. Okay. Forest plays Sunderland on Friday night, as we've mentioned. You know, they've got this semi-final against Aston Villa. It probably buried one win enough. Is it one win enough? I mean, I think you might need a higher point to stay up. It might be a bad season to be bad. Well, I mean, the thing is, I've been wondering.

41:02Max Rushden:Everyone's saying, oh, Leeds are safe. They have 40 points. But it just takes one team below them to go on a remarkable run for them not to be safe. And 40 points may not be enough. It probably will be, but it may not be. I thought Sunderland would have switched off after they beat Spurs but they gave Villa a right good game last weekend that could have gone either way so I'm not sure what to expect from Sunderland I can't call that one to be honest I don't know what version of Sunderland is going to turn up Elsewhere Liverpool played Palace Optic Supercomputer says Liverpool's chance of a top 5 finisher 89 % Champions League spot is pretty much confirmed really we think although you know someone could go on a great run uh the same at the top as the bottom um i guess palace might rest players ahead of their semi-final against shaktar in the conference league uh fulham play villa now villa have uh in their latest accounting maneuver have sold a warehouse to themselves for 55 million pounds um it's it's the warehouse uh which is the club's matchday fan zone and entertainment venue uh they've sold it to nswe holding limited a sister company and have made a£36 million profit from the sale.

42:20The Premier League's largest beer hall on match days has a£3 ,500 capacity. Space for concerts and shows was converted from an old training facility and soft launch in December. It is nice. Is it nice? Yeah, it is nice. They've made the outside look really good, but yeah, maybe not that much. Nice. £55 million, but there we are. It's a waiting ratification from the Premier League, which assesses transactions between clubs and associated parties, including sister companies and clubs within multi-club ownership groups. We all just thinking, I wish I could just sell this shed back to myself. 50 million pound.

42:55I mean, you know, I don't know who, how do I profit out of this? You know, you can. Okay.

43:01Max Rushden:You just set up Max Inc. Yeah. Okay. And Max Inc. Pays you a load of money, but you're just moving money around. and you're not actually making a profit. I suppose I don't have to. There's no PSR for me, is there? I don't think. Monday, Man United play Brentford in the EFL. But as you noticed, the championship clubs have rejected VAR next season. Your thoughts? I'm slightly disappointed because it looked... Well, I think the championship would be better off without VAR. I think this was a version of VAR I think might have worked because it was going to be a referral thing. So head coaches were going to be able to have, say, two reviews which they could use at their discretion.

43:50Max Rushden:And I think that's the way, if we accept that VAR is here to stay, which I think it is, I think that's the only way it's going to become workable. And that is the version they were going to have in the championship. I think that they had to pay for it, which probably was one of the reasons why they voted against it. Perhaps if it would have come free and not much money, then they might not have voted that way, perhaps. I quite like the idea of how long do you get to... That is a fun bit of cricket when they've got 15 seconds and Steve Smith is looking at Pat Cummins going, what do you reckon? Should we review this or not?

44:30And you think, OK, have you got the manager? Because basically you just review any goal, just on the off chance. But maybe you'd have to, you know...

44:38Max Rushden:But you only get, if you waste it. Well, of course, yeah. So you're all looking around going, was there a handball in there somewhere? What do you reckon, Darren? Right, y 'all, let's review it. But the thing is, I think managers would waste them. And then when some outrages the egregious decision is given against them, they've no review left. That would just be, that would add to the occasion. I'm thoroughly behind that over what we currently have. In the championship, Ipswich back in the top two after winning at Charlton, who are mathematically not safe, but are basically safe. They'd need to lose both their games and Oxford win both theirs.

45:13Oxford lost to Wrexham on Tuesday. Millwall had gone second the night before. Coventry are champions after hammering Portsmouth. So Ipswich have 79 from 43. Millwall, 79 from 44. Southampton and Middlesbrough, 76 from 44. Hull and Wrexham locked on 70 points. Wrexham ahead on goal difference at the moment. Blackburn confirmed their safety. two as well last night. Well done, Michael O 'Neill. They beat Sheffield United. Leicester's relegation was confirmed on Tuesday. In League One, Port Vale were relegated after losing to Cardiff. Stockport lost to Mansfield on Tuesday. Stevenage beat Barnsley.

45:48Luton won away at Rotherham. And Plymouth can only draw up Bradford. So Stockport are fifth with a game in hand on their rivals. Luton are three behind Stevenage who hold on to the last playoff spot. And on Tuesday, Cambridge United let in an injury time goal to Grimsby. We missed a penalty and then we lost 2-1. Oh, God, the agony of it all. We are still in third. It's still in our hands. Salford play champions or wannabe champions Bromley this evening. Come on, Bromley. Big win for Tranmere over Cheltenham means there's four points between them and the drop zone at the bottom of League Two. This is unsurprising.

46:21An envoy to Donald Trump has asked FIFA to replace Iran with Italy in the upcoming World Cup. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday. I confirm I've suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I'm an Italian native, and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri in a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion, the US Special Envoy Paolo Zampoli told the FT. I'm slightly confused by this.

46:46Max Rushden:Is it he wants Italy to replace Iran if Iran decide not to play? Or he wants Italy just to replace Iran and Iran don't get any say in the matter? I suppose alphabetically they're close, aren't they? Iran had said earlier in April it would only decide on the national team's participation in the World Cup once it received a response from FIFA over the relocation of their matches from the US to Mexico but you know FIFA have already given out their peace price haven't they? I'm supposed to be doing one of their games actually I'm supposed to be doing one of Iran's games in the World Cup so I'm looking forward to who I'm actually going to be commentating on instead if it's not Iran Hopefully it is all sorted and Iran can play in the World Cup that they qualified for I need to apologise for a man called Steve Potter I should have done this in the Lester bit, who is a board member of the Fox's Trust.

47:34And he came on Talk Sport. We had a nice interview. And then he said at the end, I've got a bone to pick with you. I was the first ever vasectomy. And then I wasn't in the Guardian book. So, Steve, I do apologize. I didn't put all the vasectomies together in the book. And you started us off on this merry way and accept our apologies. Edward writes with some relish. Subject Barney, correction, correction. Hello there. Imagine the pedant was wrong. while the stadium might always be on the right of the train when facing the direction of travel. If you're sat in a rear-facing seat, it will be on your left.

48:06Although, Edward, I hate to pedant the pedant the pedant. I think Barney said, the train driver said, to your right is the Etihad. We have to presume the driver is not in a rear-facing seat.

48:20We've had loads of lovely emails. So we've got a few minutes, so I'm going to do them. Kieran says, hi, Max and all, emailing in from Nova Scotia, Canada, as a longtime Spurs sufferer. You have my sympathies. Looking forward to seeing if we can do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke next season. My fiance, Abigail, and I are tying the knot next month in May. I've been a listener to the pod since the Max Rushton era began. Thank you for giving its rightful name. Following from these Soccer AM glory days. I work in football and the pod has always been a great companion while I drive from field to field over the years for training and matches.

48:50My partner, Abigail, has also always been aware of the pod as I play it while doing the cooking or chores around the house. Her favorite moments of when we get in the car and my Bluetooth connects, usually either to the dulcet tones of Barry or one of Max's wonderfully articulated anecdotes. I don't know if I have any of them. This is always followed by her saying, turn off this annoying soccer talk, sometimes followed with what can only be described as a terrible Tom Hardy in legend impression. I know from those moments on that nothing would piss her off more than to hear the one and only Barry Glendening wishing her a happy wedding day.

49:19And I can't think of a better way to kick off this lifelong journey. I'll be headed to Dublin in a couple of weeks for my stag do. would love any recommendation from Barry, tell Baz his next pints of Nova Scotia Guinness are on me if he ever finds himself back visiting family. Cheers. So that is from Kieran, and he's marrying Abigail.

49:36Max Rushden:Well, as Kieran knows, I was lucky enough to visit Nova Scotia during the summer. My sister lives there. If the wedding's in Halifax, very picturesque setting. You could take some lovely wedding photos down on the pier down there. and I wonder if his work takes him to Halifax Wanderers, which is the local team who sadly weren't playing at home when I was over. I wish Abigail and Kieran every happiness in their very long marriage. I reckon this one will last. Oh, interesting. Daniel says, My friend Kevin is the town crier for the city of Toowoomba in Queensland. He frequently wins national and international championships for the loudest cry, something anyone who's played five aside with him can attest.

50:26In a colourful life, he was formerly UK DJ of the Year and ground announcer for Cambridge United Football Club. There's a picture of him. I remember him. He's currently back in the UK tending to his mum, Mary, who is well into her 90s and had a fall recently. In between caring for her, he's been supporting his lifelong club, Olden, in their tumultuous push for promotion. Anyway, best wishes from Max and Barry to Kevin and Mary would lift their spirits to no end. Many thanks for considering. Good luck to you both. and hello Kevin thanks for giving me half time scores in the 90s

50:56Max Rushden:sorry can I can I just briefly go back to Ciarán from Nova Scotia he asked for stag do advice in Dublin do not under any circumstances go drinking in the Temple Bar area of the city it's overpriced it's full of tourists it's a tourist trap and most of the best pubs in Dublin are up around the Grafton Street area noted. Finally, Fraser writes, dear Max Barry and the Football Weekly team, in 2024 I wrote to you to say thank you for all that you do on this podcast. I felt the need to as I had a progressive and unstoppable lung disease that was in a bit of a rush to progress and unstop itself. At the time things weren't looking great.

51:35I likened it to seeing the board go up for added time. You read out my email on the Euro 2024 final podcast which became a bit of a therapy listen. By January this year I'd reached the point of needing one to go in off my arse. When the phone rang, a donor match had been found and I was bundled off to hospital for a double lung transplant which saved my life. Once I'd come around in hospital enough to re-engage with the world a little I had a lot of football weeklies to catch up on during the lonely nights on the recovery ward. It was a reassuring anchor of comfort to hear your voices as much it was deeply disorientating.

52:04I'd been put to sleep for several days after the transplant which happened to cross the meaningful bit of the January transfer window. That plus a stroke I suffered during the surgery that temporarily affected my short-term memory and a couple of weeks of intensive care delirium left me with the severe case of the Barrys. Strand Larson is where? Angel Gomez, Tammy Abraham at Villa. I would look at Bristol Rovers lineups and not recognise half the names on there. Am I actually dead? I'd wonder as I frantically googled Tommy Lee brackets footballer. Eventually I was discharged to rebuild at home, which I'm pleased to say is going better than anyone expected.

52:36I'm a lucky, lucky boy. The other day I took my son, now four to the park, with his plastic Paw Patrol football. I picked it up, tossed it in the air and gave one to Rubble with everything I had. My boy watched his ball spiral higher than he'd seen a ball go before. And he pissed his little self laughing. He might never get into football. And sometimes I think that might be a more balanced life for him. But seeing him kick a ball around and join in with him properly for the first time, it's a start. I'm thankful to so many people, some I know, and some I'll never know. When I last emailed, I thought it'd be my only opportunity to say thanks.

53:04But now who knows, maybe a live show sometime. Until then, thank you once more for the light footed chat that keeps my spirits in a good place. To get another go at life really brings into focus that it's just football. And we might as well find it funny. All the best, Fraser. Thank you, Fraser. That's a beautiful email. And yeah, we...

53:21Max Rushden:He's a very lucky man. Yeah. It's amazing, actually, because I thought raising, me personally raising£103 ,000 for the Ormond Street Children's Charity was a remarkable feast. Oh, well done, Baz. I've single-handedly, well, no, with the help of others, saved a man's life as well. how did you save his life he's not got your lungs god no one wants my lungs i was gonna say i smoked for 30 years i'd say my lungs be no use to anyone he's looking through the magazine saying would you like the glenn dennings he's gone actually up i'll just go back if that's all right anyway fraser uh we send you our love and uh good for you and uh all the best with your recovery and that'll do for today thank you everybody thank Thank you, Jordan.

54:16Cheers, mate. Thanks, Lucy. Thank you. Cheers, Baz. Thank you. Football Weekly is produced by Tayo Papula. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. We'll be back on Monday.

54:33This is The Guardian.

54:42Business is booming. But you know what really helped? Zero. The accounting platform for small businesses. I used to think spreadsheets were just part of it. Ugh. But real-time cash flow? Wow. Invoices that chase themselves? Even better. Books that automate? That's a big one. And I can keep track from my phone while I get the job done. No spreadsheet in sight. What a life. Do right by yourself and your business and search XERO for your free trial. Conditions apply.

55:17Thank you.