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Rio Ferdinand Presents

16 Feb 2026 · 30m · 12 chapters

Episode artwork

Harry Kane could play in ANY era | Tuchel has ruled himself out of Utd job.

In short

Harry Kane’s versatility across eras; England manager Thomas Tuchel’s 18-month extension and what it means for squad selection; Arsenal’s title challenge after a Brentford draw; Manchester United’s coaching situation; Kane’s goal milestone; debate over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s “Beckham-like” passing.

Guests

Rio Ferdinand (former England/Manchester United defender, six-time Premier League winner); Steve (co-host, former player/analyst voice in the show); plus Joe and Clay are mentioned as hosts/participants.

Key claims

Kane can “play in any great era,” creating as well as scoring, and is thriving at Bayern (dropping deep, impacting games, on track to break Lewandowski’s Bundesliga record). Tuchel’s extension reduces noise about him leaving and signals confidence in his England decisions, especially for the 8–10 role. Arsenal’s Brentford result shouldn’t trigger panic; Arteta’s reactions may show insecurity, but experience and leaders like Jesus matter. Trent’s passing is elite, though Steve disputes Beckham comparisons.

Notable examples

Kane’s positions “in the Ajax box” and dropping deep at Bayern; England squad debate around Jude Bellingham/Cole Palmer/Foden; Arsenal set-piece complaints after Brentford; Trent’s 48 passes/11 long passes in 60 minutes for Real Madrid; Tuchel’s England record referenced as 8 wins, no goals conceded.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

Chapters

0:00

Behind the Scenes with Diogo Dalot

Discussion about Diogo Dalot's insights into Manchester United's dynamics.

“What if you had a room where no one interrupts?”
1:24

Behind the Scenes with Diogo Dalot

Discussion about Diogo Dalot's insights into Manchester United's dynamics.

“You know, I was up in Manchester this week, last week, actually.”
5:10

Title Race Tensions

A heated debate on the current title race and Arsenal's performance.

“He's looking at 12 at one point, I'm sure, too.”
11:08

Thomas Tuchel's England Contract

Discussion on Thomas Tuchel's contract extension and its implications.

“I see a couple of draws at the very least.”
14:00

Analyzing England's Team Dynamics

The discussion centers around the importance of the attacking midfielder position and handling public pressure during team selection.

“They're going to mean if we win or lose.”
15:48

FA's Managerial Decisions

The hosts discuss the implications of the new contract for England's manager and its effect on club interest.

“Have the FA panicked a bit, do you reckon?”
18:11

Harry Kane's Historic Achievement

The segment highlights Harry Kane reaching 500 career goals and comparisons with football legends.

“Yeah I agree with Steve no one's going to be ringing him up now going this fancy little here at May United when he just signed an 18-month extension.”
19:58

Kane's Versatility Across Eras

A discussion on Harry Kane's ability to adapt and thrive in any football era and his game-changing skills.

“I think he's a player of wonderful ability.”
22:27

England's Tactical Challenges

The conversation shifts to England's tactical approach and the need for players to fill spaces effectively on the pitch.

“That's another reason why Gareth Southgate's not the one.”
23:24

Top Wingers in Today's Game

The hosts debate the current top wingers in world football and their impact on the game.

“Dume-Ai Kavashgala, if that's how you say his name, Kava.”
Show all 12 chapters
24:49

Trent Alexander-Arnold's Performance

A detailed analysis of Trent Alexander-Arnold's recent performances and comparisons with David Beckham.

“Seeing Alexander Arnold in action to study the mechanics of a Swiss watch, each pass he makes, every line he draws seems perfect.”
28:00

Analyzing Elite Passing in Football

Explore the intricacies of elite passing in football and the context behind player statistics.

“How close to the ball do I plant my foot?”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00A BetterHelp ad. Hold on. One second. I just need to...

0:11What if you had a room where no one interrupts? No notifications. No expectations. Just space to talk. With BetterHelp, therapy happens in a space that's yours. Visit betterhelp.com slash randompodcast for 10 % off your first month of online therapy. If there's a player today who you could comfortably say could live in any great era before this one right now, Harry Kane is one of them. And I do believe that I sit in the same camp. I think he's a player of wonderful ability. He's got more ways to skin a cat. They were just hitting a bomb rifle in the bottom corner. He can create, he can drop in as a 10.

0:55I think at Bayern now we're seeing him, I'm seeing some of the clips, some of the positions he's in in the pitch. In the Ajax box, he's being seen, I think, around Europe as an even better player than we even saw in the Premier League. And that's, again, testament to his hard work, his desire, his diligence, in his obsessive nature around improving and staying at the top of the game.

1:18yes guys welcome to another episode of rear presents brought to you by trusted partners crafted and guys joel bass d house and they're here with me as usual man listen how you doing guys fa cup weekend just gone doing great man you know what it's just that competition it's good to be in multiple competitions you know i mean i could afford to spend a good valentine's see the scoreline and know that we're not affected. So all blessed, man. How are you doing? Yeah, I'm right, man. I'm good, man. You know, I was up in Manchester this week, last week, actually. We got a great, great opportunity to sit with one of the players, Diogo Dallor.

1:56Done a great Real meets with him. Steve, I know you're looking at your phone there saying, where was the invitation? But you know, sometimes it's got to be a personal trip. It's got to be a one-man trip, man. And yeah, it's dropping later on this week, actually. We'll give you the details. Just stay tuned, man. Turn the notifications on. But you know what? He had a couple of days off just before that happened. I sat with him. I think the players are given a day. I've got 13 days between the last match and the next match. He wanted to sit down. It was a great chat. He was open. He gave loads of detail about Carrick and the new coaches and what they're really like.

2:32Cristiano Ronaldo's importance to him in changing the way that he saw the game and his personal kind of journey. Plus, you know what? he was really honest about Amarim. And quite surprisingly at times, he told us like, like why that period under Amarim was really important for the way the group is now. So I think... Wait, wait, wait, wait, what, what? Important in what way? Good or bad? Watch, watch the interview, but it's really like, I mean, when he said it to me, I was like, whoa, but then he explained it and it was really kind of like, I can see where he's coming from and I think he's, it was a really open and honest conversation, man.

3:05And we had a laugh and you could just see how much actually not only the club but being in Manchester the city is to him now as an individual it's really nice to see that the context of what the city actually means to him now he's the second longest ever in play by the way oh wow I've I've heard what he said about Amorim and without giving away a bit of the interview I actually don't think it's as good as as everyone's making it out to be what why is what he's praising Amorim for not something that the senior players are dealing with Yeah, I mean, listen, the interview will go into that. But listen, sometimes you are...

3:45I've been in situations where a manager comes in and you go, he's got the reins, just take us. Because that's all we knew. We knew that from Sir Alex Ferguson. There were situations that we would help and sort out. But when it's a new manager, you're waiting for him to set the parameters, to set the reboot of the club, and you're looking to just follow that lead. and some... Yeah, but the things he's on about changing room-wise, wouldn't you have dealt with that? Wouldn't Keane have dealt with that? Wouldn't Skolls and Giggs take care of that? Yeah, definitely. I think that's something that we would have, but I think that, listen, we were a seasoned kind of, the operation was running like on autopilot.

4:23Like there was guys in there that knew how to run a dressing room, knew how to run a dressing room that was successful. These guys are looking to be led to that. And that's where the difference I think comes in. but Rio is still Manchester United I mean anyway listen I think we could get into this all day long but just keep your notifications on because the interview is banging on Thursday it really is a big one and yeah we've had the preview the you know the we've been able to look at the preview and it's been really good so far so yeah massive stuff just before we move on quickly Steve I think we should we should touch on this once the interview goes out we should do a little a little reacts because I know what point you're talking about and we can talk about it in more depth so people understand it yeah fine all right cool so you said it's dropping this week but I want to bring it back to more important matters at the moment which is the title race look I'll be honest with you I don't know I don't know why have you stopped crying I haven't been crying really don't make me pull a text out from Wednesday night Thursday night whenever it was I haven't been crying I was concerned which I should be as a fan you know we're still four points clear sometimes what happens I have to be honest with you How many points, Clay?

5:34Nine? It was nine. It was nine two weeks ago. It was nine very recently. Yeah, I know. Yeah. Well, you know, it's this part. He's looking at 12 at one point, I'm sure, too. If anybody thinks that you're going to be winning the league and it's all going to be smooth sailing, then I'll tell you what, you have no experience in winning the league. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Everybody, I'm talking to Rio, and I'm talking to Steve. I'm talking to the six-time Premier League winner, and I'm talking to Steve. You guys, you don't know what it's like to win gold. Do you know what I mean? What I'm saying is... Joe, you was the one who was 10 lessons over.

6:01is done, sunglasses are out. You've done that so many times. Cigars, the lot. Don't start backtracking and saying you've got to be a little bit more conservative about these things and you've got to play the game properly. It's never over till it's over. First of all, can't you take a bit of banner, all right? You know, lighting up the channel and stuff. You were organising the buffet for the parade, man! But yeah, look, we've spoken about it right now. Look, it wasn't a good result against Brentford. I wasn't happy, but Ria, I want to throw it back to you. You've been saying Arsenal are going to win the league.

6:33I've questioned if you really mean that or if you're just setting us up for a fall. When you saw that result against Brentford, what were your thoughts for our title challenge? I just thought, let me take myself back to that moment of being in that change room. It's a decent result against a hard team to play against Brentford. Forget the name and the status of the club. Each season, teams come into the league and teams become a different version of what we knew them was and what their kind of reputation has been Leicester done it one year became the team that beat everybody do you know what I mean Brighton have stepped out from the bunch a couple of times and looked like a team we were going to challenge for European positions and you go that's a hard place to go now five years ago maybe Brighton wasn't a harder place to go you wouldn't have called it that so Brentford this season it feels like a hard place to go at times for teams and Arsenal I would have been in that change room and if you're Declan and Ryerson, among others, Gabriel, etc.

7:29and Mikel Arteta especially. Boys, point away from home. We move on. Do you know what I mean? That's true. And as much as the fans, I think you get emotional about it. As players, you can't do that. And the biggest point will be, what was that conversation like? What was the reaction like in the training ground in the coming days after that result? Was it a feeling of, guys, we're letting it slip. I can see it now. We've been here before. Fear starts creeping in. Or is it? You know what, guys? Who's going around rallying the troops going, guys, come on. Sharpness in training today. Listen, we're going to drop points from now to the end of the season still.

8:08It's just making sure we keep tallying them up, making sure we stay ahead of the City boys. We're going to start coming. We know they're coming, but we're ready. And who's having them conversations? And that's where experience comes in. That's where the likes of Jesus might be critical right now because he's one of the only ones who's won something in a league in that dressing room. So, they're going to be looking for answers, they're going to be looking for guidance, and Mikel Arteta, this is where you earn your money. I agree, Rio, I'm fully with you. Steve, your thoughts, because you were shaking your head throughout.

8:37He was. Yeah, because I'm not seeing a calm, confident, composed Arteta. I'm seeing someone raging at everything, which tells me he's insecure, which tells me that he's flapping, which tells me that the bottle is being warmed up in the microwave right now. like it's getting ready to be brought out like look at the complaints from everyone on the raya of all people arsenal this week was hilarious all year you've been going on about set plays set plays this if you can't hey you've got to deal with it yeah you've got to learn how to deal with this and then you get a taste of your own medicine could you imagine tony pulis coming out and be like i can't believe what they've just done at set plays to us because that's what you've just done You got out arsenalled at a set play and then started crying about it.

9:25And the reason you're crying about it is because you can smell what's coming around the corner. Objects in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear. And you know they are. I think you're being a bit harsh, Steve, because if you look at our recent results... Accurate was the word you were looking at. No, no, no, harsh. Because, look, we beat in Wigan. We drew against Brentford. Prior to that, we slapped up Sunderland 3-0, who have been a difficult team. We beat Chelsea to make it to the final, even though we were going to go through anyway. we beat Leeds before that we beat Carrier in the Champions League and the last game we lost was Man United so why should we be panicking?

9:57Do I always say mate it's the draws that will do you and drawing at places like Brentford that's what's going to do you like you've got Wolves you should beat Wolves Wednesday night I think it is Tottenham though like let's say you drop a point here right let's say you get a draw against Wolves City play before you they're going to be right on your tail then and then you've got to go to Tottenham and you're going to be thinking oh no City have got games in hand if they win their games that's the thing that messes things up you know it's the mental games now like who's playing first if City play first and winning it's one point before a ball's kicked pressure's on different pressure so I mean if you if you kick off first and you're you're four points ahead ain't the same pressure it's different but I looked at both your run-ins I don't think there's much difference to between the run-ins I don't think anyone's majorly more difficult than the other.

10:49So listen, I think it's going to, it's going to, listen, I think it'd be, it's a good one. I'd rather it be a two, three, four horse race rather than one team just running away with it. So I'm glad that you're getting pulled in by City just to make it a bit interesting because you were starting to run away with it. I was getting a bit scared of that. I've got to be honest. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think we're losing any of these games that are left remaining. I see a couple of draws at the very least. I'm not worried, man. I know you guys are trying to. What it shows is when it comes to the crunch, you ain't got the bottle.

11:16they will see when a man says I'm not worried or I'm not scared that means they're worried and they're scared that's a fact that is a fact are you two coming to the Arsenal parade with me yes or no hell no that's all I want to know I'll be celebrating I'll be celebrating from afar and I'm reiterating every show if Arsenal win it I'll be happy I'll be sending Declan Rice a text I'll be sending multiple Arsenal players messages saying well done and thank you because City and Liverpool haven't won it you're playing Norts and Crosses Rio two way wins if it goes Arsenal's way you go yeah I told you if it doesn't then you're gonna you're gonna pile up with Stee and you're gonna be you know what I mean bantering but it's all good I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna win either way because if City win it I've got banter for days and you've got a month living with me in LA oh wow oh wow wow talking about and if you lot win it then you've already peaked talking about LA that's obviously we're gonna be over in the World Cup we're going to make sure you stay tuned for that guys we've got some great stuff planned but that brings us on to England and Thomas Tuchel getting an extension by the way on his contract what do we think about that guys do you think it's the right decision timing's weird right yeah I think United have had a bit of pressure on there with the timing maybe I think so yeah I think so I mean I actually didn't think that he would leave England I think one tournament probably not enough of him I think in one tournament getting a bit of experience around it understand it if he doesn't win it then he'll be more confident going to the next one with the pool of players that he's got 8 wins and no goals conceded that's probably had something to do with it right?

12:53Yeah but when don't England do that in all of a way? They look different though they have looked different to me they have like when England are playing Andorra and Slovenia and is parceling them up everyone's like oh great they do that every time that's not what you get judged on as an England manager it's can you beat France? Germany Can you see the players having a particular reaction to that Rio? What message does that send across to the players who are playing for the national team? It's very simple. The ones that are being picked and playing and the ones who feel like they're liked and on the good side of Tuka will be absolutely delighted, punch in the air.

13:28The ones who are on the outskirts of the squad, the ones who feel they should be and can't get in will be going, oh my God, I've got another 18 months of this. I've got to wait for him to go. So normal. And I think it's just like, listen, you want to get in that squad if you're not in there. And if you're in there, you want to stay in there. And I think that so far, I think the players will be happy with him. They'll be excited by what's to come. And we all know he's got some big decisions because he's got a lot of good players in one or two really specific areas. And his decision-making around those picks that he makes are going to be definitive.

14:03They're going to mean if we win or lose. I think that attacking midfielder, 8-10 position of Jude Benham, of Morgan Rodgers, of Cole Palmer, of Foden, like those guys, it's a big part of the team where productivity is going to be coming from. And there's going to be loads of people shouting for one of those players. And then if you don't pick that player, there's going to be loads of noise. He's got to be able to handle the noise. And I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes in the summer. Right, man, we've got loads still to come on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this.

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15:48Have the FA panicked a bit, do you reckon? No, I don't think so. If you're looking to sign a manager for England, you want someone with these credentials. He's won the big trophies. He's been at some massive clubs. so I mean where do you go from him where do you go from Thomas Huckel so I think having him for a longer period of time I think they probably would have signed him for a bit longer if he'd have wanted to at the beginning but I just think he wanted to see him see what he was like at a national level did he enjoy the way that it was in terms of like not being in every day and doing just chunks of it throughout the season so I think he's enjoying it he's enjoying his time enjoying the way that it's set up and I think the 18-month extension, it sues both parties.

16:32Steve, I'm going to ask you first and then I'll ask Rio. Does this new contract generally stop him from going to other top clubs? Yeah. Yeah, I think the fact that his contract was up at the end of the World Cup, there would have been people blowing his phone up. There's quite a few clubs without managers at the moment and there's probably more that are planning to get rid of their managers. I mean, you lot might be looking come summer anyway. if you don't win the title. So, you know, better due diligence from Arsenal would probably be to see what the landscape's saying to get a manager in that's capable of winning something, maybe.

17:08But yeah, I think it probably quietens down a little bit of noise for him going elsewhere. And for sure, like, it's the easiest answer ever, isn't it? It's like, I've got a new... Just, who's daft enough to ring him up the day after he signs a contract for an extension? It's true. It's true. And do you know what? He's telling you now, because in his career, after spending five years at Mainz, he's had short stays everywhere. Do you know what I mean? Dortmund, two years in charge, goals. Paris Saint-Germain, two and a half years. I mean, took him to a Champions League final, wins the Champions League, but leaves after 20 months at Chelsea.

17:43Bayern Munich left after just over a year, won the Bundesliga. He don't stay anywhere for that long, really. but so that sign of like commitment to the England cause I think is a really really refreshing kind of look considering what he's done in the last few years So that means that the United job is ruled out because you guys were giddy-ing going you know he would be your choice etc like you know when you see the extra 18 months of the contract given out by the FA that just stops him from going at all Yeah I agree with Steve no one's going to be ringing him up now going this fancy little here at May United when he just signed an 18-month extension.

18:19No chance. Game over. I bet Carrick's happy. Stay in that, by the way. Do you reckon that gives him a little bit of confidence? Who's the actual options for United? Nagelsmann and Enrique seem to be the two frontrunners based on just noise online, but that could just be completely wrong direction. You've got Xavi's name keeps getting mentioned. If you look at the actual odds, Glasner and Southgate are still in the mix, but Michael Carrick is odds on. and I think the fact that he's in the chair at the moment, the fact that it's going well at the moment, I think if he can just maintain what he started, it probably is his to lose.

18:56But there's nobody that's, there's no obvious candidate where you go, oh my God, get him because he's the one. There's none. Every one of them comes with a bit of a concern. That's true. By the way, moving on, boys. Harry Kane, fastest Englishman to 500 goals, career goals. He's reached that milestone. just add this by the way he's reached that milestone 10 games quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo not as fast as Daniel Messi but 10 games quicker than Cristiano Ronaldo who's deemed one of the best if not the best in the world ever so you know what how good is he man Wayne Rooney we had him on the meets didn't we on the meets show if you have not seen that go look in the archives guys the Wayne Rooney real meets show but he's well as I said he thinks he's the best number 9 England have ever had better than him I can't really disagree with that Rio though I think when I look at Harry Kane and I look at your errors and like the errors obviously you played in a successful era he definitely mixes it he mixes in with you boys isn't it?

19:57Yeah you know I was talking I was actually on the Sun Lounge about that outside earlier you wouldn't notice it from the tandem glowing but he said much but we were talking about one of my mates works in the agency Nourira, Jamie who you know has got a good knowledge on the game played the game himself said if there's a player today who you could comfortably say could live in any great era before this one right now, Harry Kane is one of them. And I do believe that. I sit in the same camp. I think he's a player of wonderful ability. He's got more ways to skin a cat than just hitting a ball and rifling it in the bottom corner.

20:32He can create, he can drop in as a 10. I think at Bayern now, we're seeing him, I'm seeing some of the clips, some of the positions he's in in the pitch. On the edge of his box, unbelievable. He's still, this season, and on track to break Lewandowski's record in that league. So he's doing everything and scoring goals. I mean, it's a ridiculous kind of run of form. And I mean, Michael Owen, again, another one of the meet shows was questioning why he'd gone to the Bundesliga, but he's gone there and he's gone. He's being seen, I think, around Europe as an even better player than we even saw in the Premier League.

21:04And that's, again, testament to his hard work, his desire, his diligence, in his obsessive nature around improving and staying at the top of the game. Rio, do you remember when he started falling deep for England and stuff like that? And we started like criticising him in this country. Does that tell you something about how we see football versus how other people see football, especially in Germany? Like they appreciate that. They welcome it. Yeah, but the difference is I think you can drop deep, right? And you're either going to look terrible and people are going to go, it's because of his age, because he's in a particular team where when he drops deep, nothing's happening.

21:38He's just not involved in the game as much. where in Germany at Bayern, he's dropping deep and he's got runners flying all over the place. There's red arrows everywhere. So he can drop deep and he's still impacting the game with his passing. Some of the passing is like Beckham or Kevin De Bruyne. It's ridiculous. So that's why. I mean, if he dropped deep and there was nothing going on around him, everyone would be going like, what the hell is he doing? Who is he? Why is he here? We've bought the wrong cane. It's his brother. But because he's got the team, the work, the fundamentals work around him, wherever he's on the pitch, the team manoeuvres to suit that and then he becomes impactful wherever he is.

22:13And so, again, you have to give credit, I think, also to not only the team, but to Vincent Kompany. Vincent Kompany has identified different areas in the pitch where he can be effective and is allowing him that freedom. And so Vincent Kompany definitely has to take a bit of credit there. That's another reason why Gareth Southgate's not the one. I saw him trying to play Fakker and Foden alongside him. How many times was I saying it? Sitting there saying, you can do this because he's great at it, but you have to have runners come behind. No one is stretching the pitch for England. It's true. And I'll be really interested to see it with England, especially against the bigger teams as we get later into the tournament, where he will want to come and drop at times.

22:55And it does save him a bit of energy at times because he's going into areas where he's not having to run as much maybe. Where are the other players moving? If he comes out, that's the whole thing in the game that's never going to change. if a player vacates an area, especially in the forward areas, who's filling that space? Who's filling that area? And England, I thought in that, I agree with Steve, I was shouting the same thing. Where are the players that are running into those areas to fill those spaces where he could supply? Wasn't happening. And I'd like to think that would change this week, this year.

23:24Yeah, because if you look at Diaz and Elisa, my word, their numbers, they're, look, to me, they're not MSN but they're touching certain numbers where you're going oof this could be scary so we'll see what happens over there so they got wiggers who's your top five wiggers in the world right now I like the emergence of Elyse I'm looking you can't put none of our boys in there you can't put none of the chocs what you can't though you want me to be honest you know you can't put none of the Liverpool it's bad isn't it they don't actually come from the Premier League at the moment I would say you know I think I think I'd say that Paris Saint-Germain might have two or three of them in the top five right now.

24:04Yeah, yeah. Dume-Ai Kavashgala, if that's how you say his name, Kava. Are we talking about form real? Are we talking about... Right now, right now. Lamin-Yamao. Yamal is probably, he's still the best, by the way. Like, I think people just like disregard him easily. For me, he's number one. You've obviously got Rafinha in there as well. Like, absolutely tops. I think yeah top five is I think Paris Saint-Germain have got two or three Laminya now Rafinha definitely yeah yeah yeah Olise definitely is in there mad can't I don't like to count him that pair as a winger but hey listen shout out to my boy Luckman as well you know cooking things as well man like can't argue with him up there seriously he's doing bits but yeah anyway listen talking about La Liga right Trent aka David Beckham Regen Steve don't don't shoot me did you see what he was producing on the weekend rio my man is back i've seen what people have said and i've got issues well why have you got issues he's had three injuries this season steve you know and he comes all right cool yeah did you see what the spanish media said yeah and that's what i've seen me out let me just in case you don't know for the listeners and the watchers you've had articles that have said is this david beckham back at the burnabout aesthetically it was just like Beckham, though much more effective as a weapon for the team.

25:28Seeing Alexander Arnold in action to study the mechanics of a Swiss watch, each pass he makes, every line he draws seems perfect. Now, if we're talking stats, guys, Trent made 48 passes in his 60 minutes that he played, more than any other colleague, right? He delivered more long passes, which was 11 in 60 minutes, than any Real Madrid player had contributed to in all but one previous league fixture this season. Listen, the guy's got skills, man. Well, what's wrong, Steve? What are you not happy with? Comparing it to David Beckham is a crime. Stylistically, they're not the same. One's laser-guided bombing, one's carpet bombing.

26:11They are not the same. What are you talking about? You can call it effective if you want. Like, Bruno Fernandes creates assists. He's not Paul Scholes. I mean, there's a completely different aesthetic to the way these guys play the game. you can't compare how they play the game. Just because he plays off the right-hand side and whips crosses in, they are not the same. They're not even close to being the same. Tell us the difference, the detail. One spams crosses and one was laser-guided. How many of Beckham's crosses didn't meet the target? There'll be loads, but he met the target very often, don't worry.

26:46Trent's a spammer. I think you're being a bit harsh, Tee, man. You can't deny the guy's passing ability. like you fair enough you you're you're allowed to say that he's not as good as david beckham okay cool that's not bad being the second best crosser in a generation i.e trent that is talk about trent maybe but to to completely disregard his skill which is probably his best attribute i do think you're being a little bit a little bit harsh i mean yeah he made two crosses by the way this is what people are actually touching the cocks about two crosses but did you see the type of crosses though steve but you know what i'm talking about though people are like people are talking like he's done something mind-blowing.

27:22No, but Steve... Like, have some fucking standards. No, but Steve, I think some of the passes, even to see them on the pitch sometimes, I'm not talking about this particular game, but when you break down passing, I think it's ridiculous. You're on the run. Someone like Beckham, I think Trent sits in that category. Kevin De Bruyne will sit in that category. Steven Gerrard, Scolzi, Herlo, these guys, they're on the run and they're going to make split-second decisions. And they're having to take into account where the player is on the pitch, the distance. Do I have to play over bodies or can I play it low?

28:00Do I go a lofted ball or do I drill it? Where do I hit the ball? What area of the ball do I hit? How close to the ball do I plant my foot? At what pace do I approach the ball? Do I put a bit of backspin on it? Do I put a bit of side on it? Do I curl it? All of these things are having to go through players. I don't think it's an easy thing. to and it's quite flippant I think some people I just passed it those things and they're doing it multiple times like he's done that 11 long passes more than anyone other than one game in any Real Madrid player this season I think that the amount of times he's doing this and the amount of times he's hitting and hitting the nail on the head with these passes like he's an elite operator man he's an elite operator at the highest level in terms of passing now we can pick apart his game and talk about other aspects etc but when you operate if you just well you're gonna pick about his game.

28:51No, no, but when you... Okay, cool. So, at weekend, defensive contributions was one, by the way, for a right-back. Tackles, one. None. Interceptions, one. One. One interception. Yeah, but they... Jules, one. Yeah, but those stats here can be... There's context for those stats. Were they dominating the game? Was he having to defend in the game a lot? Was there a lot of defensive plays in that game where you go, oh, he's missed out on eight balls and he's had eight challenges and only had one win? 50-50 possession there's always context for these things but I think they won 4-1 yeah dominated the game but what I would say is I think like we do worry a lot and I understand worrying about deficiencies in a player's game but when you've got a super strength as great as his strength is there you like Klopp you find a way to put these players in your team it's like Kobe Manuel we're talking about his super strength he's pressure resistant he can get you out of situations and change the course of the game through one simple moment that looks easy when he does it.

29:51But when they ask someone else to do that, they're all over the place thinking, well, I'm up kicking the ball in my right foot or left foot here. I don't know where I'm on the pitch. And I do think, as I said, if you can nullify the opposition highlighting that person's weaknesses with the way your team's structured, then he's a massive asset for your team because he can unlock any team on the planet with the way he plays. Yeah, you can see he doesn't agree, but it's all good. And yeah, guys, we'll see you next week. No, not this week. We'll see you this week with the new episode. Joe Baer, Stephen Alson, Ria Ferdinand signing out.

30:27Peace.

30:52Thank you.

31:18Hello, I'm Max Rushton. The World Cup is back and Football Weekly is going daily. If you want award-winning soccer coverage from a podcast that's been over-analyzing the game for more than 20 years and still hasn't run out of opinions or just repeats the same ones over and over again, this is where you'll find it. We'll be producing 33 daily episodes across the tournament, breaking down all the action, the results, and of course, the drama. Can the US make it out of the group stage and into the spotlight on the biggest stage? World Cup Daily. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch full episodes on YouTube.

From the publisher

Rio is joined by Ste and Joel to look back at a weekend which saw Trent Alexander-Arnold be compared to David Beckham, Harry Kane beat Cristiano Ronaldo to a momentus milestone and the dust settled on Thomas Tuchel’s contract extension as England manager.


With the title race taking a break for the FA Cup, Ste doesn’t take a break in analysing Arsena’s title credentials catching up with Joel for the first time since Arteta’s side dropped points at Brentford. Rio points out the key role of players within the dressing room who maintain perspective and are able to remain calm in this type of high-pressure situation.


Joel poses the question about whether German football fans are more appreciative of England striker Harry Kane than supporters of the national team and Rio heaps praise on the forward who beat Ronaldo by ten matches to score 500 career goals.


Ste and Joel produce various different stats when analysing the performance of Trent while Rio details why his passing ability is a skill that can often be under rated and appreciated considering all of the factors that are required to excel at that part of the game.


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