Hammers move within two points of safety after wasting chances in stalemate

18:48But yeah, unfortunately, this one didn't go in today.

18:50Pien Meulensteen:I thought it was another excellent performance from you, but I will just talk about Ryan. He's obviously coming to the Premier League, not been here long, nearly scored one of the goals of the season today. He's a super exciting talent. What's he been like in and around the place? Yeah, really good. I think he's settled in well. He's trying his best with learning English. He's got Evan Nilsson here to help. he's like his big brother so you know he's helping him around the place with everything and us players are trying to help him as much as possible and you know on the pitch on the training pitch he does exactly what he did there um normally they go in the top corner you know that was a just a glimpse today of of what we've seen from him and what you know the world has seen from him for the the past few weeks so yeah he's settled in really well um he's obviously really young so we've got to do our do our best to get around in and help him as much as possible but yeah he's he's been amazing and and yeah long may it continue for the rest of the season.

19:38Bournemouth on a good run at the moment I think that's now seven games unbeaten in the Premier League so in terms of ambitions is there that push for Europe do you reckon? Yeah I think we've obviously got a chance we're playing well at the minute it's one of them there's so many other teams I think it's really tight at the minute you know maybe between sixth seventh and all the way down to 12th so yeah it's a tough league it's the Premier League and you pick up points some week and drop some you know the next week so it's really hard obviously we've got one eye on it we'd love to you know compete and be at that level um but yeah there's so many more games to play and we've got to be on our a game and keep this form going um games like that you probably need to win um to really push for those european places but yeah we take the point and we keep pushing and yeah hopefully we get europe and for you as well personally your ambitions for the summer of course we've got the world cup coming on you've got you so important such an important player for bournemouth but also for england how is that looking for you in the summer do you think Yeah, it's obviously something that I'm looking to.

20:39It's the biggest competition in the world and it would be a dream for me to get there. I've just got to keep focusing and playing as well as I can for Bournemouth. If I do that, if I do my job here and we're performing well, then hopefully I get the chance. But if not, so be it. There's so many top players in the country and so many top players in the England national team that it's so hard to get an opportunity to be there. But yeah, for me, just stay concentrated, stay focused and I'm playing well for Bournemouth. and yeah, we'll see what happens. Well, best of luck. Thank you very much for chatting to us.

21:09Thanks, guys. Well done. We're going to have a look at that chance that you mentioned because that was a real opportunity for Bournemouth, wasn't it?

21:16Pien Meulensteen:Yeah, and like he mentioned, it was a glimpse into what this young man can do. You know, 19 years of age. Oh, this is Smith. This is Alex. Yeah, sorry. This is Alex Scott's chance here. This is, he hits it. No, he was actually played, you know, underplayed. He actually strikes it pretty well. is coming across his body there on his opposite foot, although he's very two-footed. And it was just really unlucky. You know, he strikes it. You can see you're just trying to get it through the player's legs. The keeper makes a really good save. Made it look relatively easy. But you can see in his reaction there, once you get in that position, I thought he was excellent today.

21:49Pien Meulensteen:You know, you mentioned it was a great question about the World Cup. I think he's certainly knocking on the door. Every single game, I think you said to me, he's been involved in this year. He's resilient. He's good on the ball. He's comfortable. and especially in a situation of somewhere that's going to be extremely hot. You need people that can play, people that can pass the ball, people that are going to be composed and he has plenty of that and he's obviously got great energy as well. He's been absolutely fantastic for Bournemouth this season and it's rightly so. He should be getting the mentions like you're giving him for sure.

22:17Okay, well time for a quick break but when we come back we're going to be getting the reaction from both managers. I wonder whether Nuno Spirits of Santa will see that as a positive point or whether that was an opportunity missed. We'll hear from them next.

22:39What a year of golf we had in 2025. How on earth are we going to follow it? Well, on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, we're going to do our very best. I'm Jamie Weir, and each week I'll be joined by the sport's biggest names and best pundits to chat about the latest action and biggest talking points. Can Rory become only the fourth man to successfully defend the Masters title? Can Tommy Fleetwood win the claret jug in his own backyard at Birkdale? Could Charlie Hull finally become a major champion? And perhaps play a big role in Europe winning back the Solheim Cup? All that and more on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast in 2026.

23:21Available wherever you get your podcasts.

23:31Pien Meulensteen:If you're enjoying this podcast, there are plenty more from Sky Sports we think you'll love too. There's the Gary Neville podcast for Gary's immediate reaction to the biggest matches. Transfer Talk has the latest on all the big moves in and out of the Premier League and beyond. And for WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

24:27feeling that it was close, the win, we had chances, we had a lot of situations, but overall the team competed really well.

24:37Pien Meulensteen:Looking at the positives, do you feel as well you started to show defensive solidity? Yeah, I think we were solid, not too many situations, but when the game broke down, a lot of running, of course Bournemouth is strong in that situation also, but overall We defend well and we play good. We create problems. We had chances. Sadness, but the sense that the boys did well. Defensively, tell us about the impact Axel De Sassi has made on the team. Yeah, give us more options alongside GC and Dinos and Max. We have centre-house. I think they did well. He's getting more complicity with the team, knowledge, and he's a good player.

25:19Pien Meulensteen:In terms of your game plan, was it about waiting more for the second half to open up? The first half looked hard work at times. If you allow Bournemouth to play their game the way they want to play, they become strong. I think we controlled well in the first half. There were not too many gaps. We had a lot of possession. In the second half, when the game opened, both teams went for the goal. It was close. You had the big chance at the end with Jared Bowen. What could you have done differently, maybe to get more of those sort of openings? Yeah, we had a couple of situations that required better decisions.

25:55We had a lot of players in the box to get the final pass. But that is the players. The players had the anxiety to score. But it's important that we keep creating these situations and the goal is going to come.

26:10Pien Meulensteen:And to do that, towards the end of the half, you brought on Callum Wilson almost as a two alongside Tati. Is that an option for something to go forward with? What did you think of that? Yeah, an extra body in the last line always creates problems. But then you allow your balance to not be always spot on. But we've been playing with two strikers, with Pavel, with Callum. It's an option for us as a team. Do you feel overall as well in the last two or three matches that there's a lot more confidence and belief returning to your team now? Yeah, we are confident. We know that this is the way. unfortunately some results are not coming our way but we are showing that we want to compete we have a tough situation to go and try to turn it around but the boys are on it And the next couple of games in particular, tough situations to go away from home you'll need that belief and that positivity Definitely Now let's recover the players and prepare the next one Thanks for your time, Ninole Good to see you So there's confidence in the West Ham team but when you look at their next couple of fixtures especially those next two away games Liverpool and Fulham they need to bring that confidence into those games don't they to get something from it they do peen and I've been in that position before when you're fighting for your lives trying to stay in the Premier League and you start to look at every fixture and you go well where are we going to get some points but this isn't Liverpool last season so can you get something there can you be difficult to beat and make sure that on the counter-attack you can you know take your opportunities Fulham can you drag them into this this relegation fight and then Brentford at home and all of a sudden the crowd are up and everything's good Man City at home you don't want to be thinking if we don't get anything out of those next three games then we've got Man City at home where's our next win going to come from so very difficult you know and I've spent I've done this job quite a long time and trying to predict results trying to say how you know what's an easy fixture what isn't it's really difficult but one thing I will say is at the moment like he said they've got a bit of spirit I look at that back four all of a sudden I've always worried about West Ham's back four all season start to have a little bit of shape a bit more defensive organisation, a bit more difficult to beat, set pieces looking slightly better.

28:18Pien Meulensteen:So they are in that area certainly improving, which has been something they've had a major problem with all season. When you are a player in a position that West Ham are in, currently in the relegation zone, are you actually looking at this game in, you know, one game at a time? Or are you looking at sort of what you've got to come in the next couple of weeks? I think as a team, I think you'd look at the bigger picture. OK, where's our target? What can we actually ascertain over the next couple of games? how many points can we accumulate but each game is its individual game you know whether it's Liverpool Man City Fulham whoever it is you're always in with a chance of getting three points you need a great spirit in that changing room that's why I asked Jared about it I've been in that position with West Ham going down to the last game of the season away at Manchester United no one gave us a hope no chance at all but we're going to come away with a one win and win who was top scorer that year Bob?

29:08that would be me mate I thought so I thought so I thought so but it was all about Tebbers It was more about Zamora, I think. It was. Listen, he tried, thank God VAR ain't there anymore, to be fair. He tried to clear one off the line for me at Blackburn. But our spirit, we shouldn't have been down now. We felt that we had a great squad, a great togetherness. It didn't go our way, pretty much like West Ham now, I think. But towards the back end of the season, we genuinely came together. Listen, guys, roll up your sleeves. Everybody give everything they have, every single game. And it showed. You know, we banged out results.

29:42I think seven wins out the last nine it was, it turns out, which is crazy. We were dead and buried. So it can happen. We looked at every single game. Come on, let's go. Do you think this team is capable of getting seven wins out the last nine though, Bob? That's the thing. Listen, there's 11 games to go, right? There's a lot more points on the board currently. And it's still relatively tight down there. So there's a lot of points to go, a lot of games. And you know what a Premier League's like. Any team can beat any team on its day. No games are given.

30:09Pien Meulensteen:Yeah, they've got match winners as well. I think that's the other thing. with the likes of Somerville, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen. Tati's come on and given them something as well. Fernandes in midfield. It's starting to look more like a team that I feel you can pin your hopes on a little bit. Are they going to stop? I wouldn't like to put my house on it, that's for sure. But they've given themselves a real opportunity. They've got to leave a little bit of luck with results going their way. But I feel that De Sazi has been one of those signings and it was probably a bit of a risk to take him because at Chelsea he was in that what they so-called bomb squad, never playing, having to play under-21s football, And that's a really difficult place for any player to be because you don't want to be.

30:45Pien Meulensteen:It's humiliating to a certain extent, but he's got himself fit. He's now doing a really good job for West Ham. If he can keep this going, keep it simple, head it, tackle, play it in midfield when you can. Don't ask too much of him playing out from the back, which I think maybe at Chelsea they did. He could end up being a really important signing for him. It might be one that you look at, not like your Tevez that kept you up that time, but might be one that you go, De Sazi, he was so important for us, you know, because so far it's been a really good start for him and a clean sheet today. I think you need that sometimes in terms of, like, it's a clean slate.

31:14Let me go to a new club. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree. Not judged by everybody in the building. Go out there and show what you can do. It's three clean sheets so far. I mean, listen, if you'd have asked him, would you fancy that your first couple of games? He'd have snapped your hand up.

31:24Pien Meulensteen:Absolutely. Probably lost his confidence as well. Confidence has been on the floor thinking, well, am I good enough for this league? And he's proven right now he is. Long way to go. But I think Wan-Bissaka as well alongside has been excellent. Okay, let's get some Bournemouth reaction then. Johnny Phillips is with Andoni Arreola. Andoni, overall how do you assess that as an away point? I think it's a good point for us because I don't think we've had good individual performances I don't think we've had players making the difference especially offensively and at least we haven't considered any goal and we go with a point When you talk about making a difference is it that little spark and that creativity to get the edge?

32:05Pien Meulensteen:Yes, especially first half, I was quite disappointed. I think we were not being aggressive on the ball. We were not looking like a danger for them. Second half, yes, second half has been more open. We've had a couple of really nice chances. The post, another one from Ryan. Good situations, even to a score. They also had the situations and a better game, I would say. But first half, I think, has been poor from us. When you see a half of football like that, as a manager, is it hard to put your finger on why the levels aren't there? Yeah, of course. I think we have to reflect. It's not about one tactical thing or one we are doing wrong in a certain detail.

32:46Pien Meulensteen:It's about just winning your duels, wanting the ball to be more proactive, more offensive, attacking more spaces. I think we've improved in the second half, yes. When the game opened up in the second half, it gave players like Ryan in particular a chance to get on the ball. Is that what you needed more of? Yes, yes, we knew. Normally West Ham starts very strong in the games. I think they've scored first in the last eight games they've played. So it was about surviving a little bit this strong start. And second half, normally the games open a little bit more. Players are more tired and we've had good situations.

33:19Pien Meulensteen:Four against threes, three against second twos. We haven't scored, but there were situations where I normally trust our players. Do you feel you're getting options off the bench as well? The players that you brought on were able to make some sort of impact? Yes, I think we had some situations, recovering from injuries, from Tuff, from Brooksy, even from Tyler Adams. We decided not to risk too much with him. As long as they need training, they need games, they need to recover their form. But I think we are recovering a little bit more depth, and especially for second half, this is going to be very good.

33:53Pien Meulensteen:When the performance is not at the level you really want, it's important not to lose at the other end, though. So an unbeaten record that continues is important. Yes, and away from home. This is a difficult stadium to come right now because there is a big need. You can feel it since the beginning. They put you under pressure straight away. I think we have to believe this point. How do you see your situation overall in the table now? Do you feel you're on the verge of a European push? I think we had today our first chance to get to these 40 magical points. We haven't done We are 38 and I hope we can arrive to those 40 points and see where we are when we arrive.

34:33Pien Meulensteen:I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you. One of the players that we were looking at pre-match was Ryan and he had such an impressive start to life at Bournemouth and assists two goals as well. It's the first game actually that he started. He's not actually been involved in any of the goals in this goalless draw. However, he was very impressive today still, wasn't he? Yeah, he's an incredible young player. You can see him here just this side of the pitch, number 37. this is what he likes open space just chips it over him there and now he's off and then you think players are trying to stop him can't get near him cuts inside pushes him away and then hits that and he probably as he's in it probably think this is definitely him but this is a what we saw with Semenyo that's a beautiful pace power poise class I mean look it's unstoppable normally as you know we said before that goes into the top corner but look at it just needs a slight bit more but that's what he's got this one here is an example for him maybe just to get into that back post at times sorry it's the next one but this is unlucky probably should have hit that a little bit earlier Bob maybe take that with his right foot I think left foot I think no he's open set bang left foot just pass it into the corner I think pretty much like his first one I'm pleased on the long run that he went he doesn't go for a smash he actually really tries to place it so I mean that's a nice art and a good tactic to use for sure and this one this is the 80th minute in the game.

35:54Pien Meulensteen:So I've probably been a little bit cruel in there, but this is the quality that he can possess. Can you just get into that back post? Can you just push yourself? Get in there. And if he does, he's got a goal. But that's what, you know, Salah did so often in these types of players. It was brilliant play by Tavernier, but he just didn't have the energy at that point. But because Sydney's been here, what, since the January transfer window, we often talk about it takes players a long time to get used to our league. It's been an incredible, incredible time for him. You know, he's a young man, probably doesn't know the language he's come in and he has shown glimpses of what he can achieve here because I think£30 million at 19 years of age is going to be a snip we're going to see a real star of the future you know and a great again the way that Bournemouth recruit players the way that they bring them in and the fact that he's done so well so early it'd be great for the club so he's going to be a superstar the kid you can see it Don't want to put too much pressure on him as a player but do you think he could be very influential in Bournemouth's push to try and get Europe next season?

36:52Yeah, definitely. Even the flashes that we've seen today, you know, he's certainly got that talent. He's there for goals. He's there for assists as well. So he's got the whole package, really. You know, I don't think they can just rely on him to do that. But at 19 years of age, he's certainly in a fantastic position and he holds all the keys to them, possibly. Getting European football is a big ask for them, but it's certainly something that they can achieve. When you see him run with that ball, not many players just travel so effortlessly with it, but he's a really passive player. Just power as well.

37:19The power that he's just strided through, went past everyone. and you could see those defenders really, really burning to try and get back. But he was just gliding away from them. Absolutely. OK, we're going to have a quick break. But when we come back, we're going to be speaking to a man who's just made Premier League history, James Milner, for Brighton, making the most Premier League appearances ever. We'll hear from him next.

37:49Pien Meulensteen:Hello, I'm Nikita Paras. And I'm Jordan Loves. And you can hear these two Lionesses legends every week on Pitch to Pod from Sky Sports, where they bring your topics straight from the pitch to their podcast. We talk everything football, WSL and beyond. So what are you waiting for? Search for Pitch to Pod with Jordan and Nikita wherever you listen to your podcast and give us a follow so you don't miss us at all. That's Pitch to Pod with Jordan and Nikita from Sky Sports.

38:25Pien Meulensteen:if you love sport then the sky sports app is the place for you there are free premier league highlights breaking news a 24 7 transfer center and expert analysis from top pundits you don't need to be a sky subscriber to use it either just head to your app store to download it for now let's get more analysis of today's game and head back to the studio

38:54Huge game tomorrow for Super Sunday, the North London Derby and a first game in charge for Igor Tudor for Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs against Arsenal kick off for that one at 4.30. Definitely not one to miss. Before all of that, though, there's three other games to watch with Forest taking on Liverpool. Forest, of course, looking to climb away from that relegation zone. And that is our focus on Sky Sports main event. Sunderland Fuller and Palace Wolves also in action as well.

39:28Well, as you can see, Spurs at the moment just kind of hovering over that relegation zone. It's not where they wanted to be. It's not where they expected to be at all this season. But what have you made of it? And how important is tomorrow now, Bobby? Well, it's a huge game. Listen, new manager coming in. You would like to think you get the new manager vibe. You know, the players go out, they try, they bust the gut and you get that result unfortunately they've got Arsenal so it's a huge huge game one for the derby and obviously two for new manager and desperately needing points Just on Arsenal as well because it's the North London derby as it stands at the moment City just two points behind Arsenal because they are currently leading against Newcastle that's a current score at the moment but does that add a little bit more pressure onto Arsenal as well?

40:13Pien Meulensteen:Absolutely it does because it's like the bogeyman chasing you because they know Hunt's heaps down they're brilliant at it they've done it so often Pep's teams are fantastic, relentless. I didn't see it this season, if I'm honest, the way they'd have come back. I felt that Arsenal would be clear, you know, six, seven points ahead by now, but they've given other teams a chance. They've thrown points away. You can't go to Wolverhampton Wanderers, two new up, it's bottom of the table and draw two twos. That's not title winning form or credentials, but can they still win the league? Absolutely, yes, they can.

40:45Pien Meulensteen:And tomorrow might be one of those occasions where it can change everything. him. You go and win there, big derby, start to relax, start to play. I think Tottenham Hotspur got 12 fit players he said he's worked with this week. So he plays a back three normally, Igor Tudor. How does he play tomorrow? Can he find a back three? You know, obviously Romero's suspended. Van de Ven will obviously be the one that will try and build the team around. Maybe he can drop Paulina back in there as well. Dragasane is a back three. But he said it sounded very interesting. He's been there seven days, I think, and he was talking about someone asking what's his philosophy.

41:16Pien Meulensteen:He said, my philosophy, I'm coming in. This is an emergency. I've just got to find wins. He said, so for me to have a philosophy, I'll need, you know, three, four months. When we talk about managers coming in, normally you need a long time, or we start saying, oh, look how he's changed this, look how he's changed that. They haven't got time. They're playing Champions League football, cup football, league football, week in, week out. He's just got to somehow extract, as Bobby says, some confidence out of this team, find a way to create a connection with the fans because the fans, there's a disconnect between the fans and the team.

41:45Pien Meulensteen:They don't like each other right now, but that can change if you get a couple of wins if it doesn't and you find yourself in a relegation fight the one place that's going to be hardest is Tottenham because they don't want to be they don't accept that they should be down in this position so it's probably harder for them right now than anyone else because all the other teams maybe barring West Ham because I think they'll have that sort of feeling that we shouldn't be in this position we're too big a club but all the other sides are fighting for their lives and Tottenham somehow got to let it all go now and try to like Igor Tudor was a surprise for me you know when he said he was coming I thought this is a really left field one, an odd one.

42:19Pien Meulensteen:They could have gone a lot of different routes. They've gone with this guy, very defensive coach. But if it works out, great. But I honestly think it should be an easy job for him to keep them up. Even though they've not got a great side, it's not a good Tottenham side, I still think they've got enough armoury to stay in the Premier League. I still don't think they're a team that's going to go down. Do you agree? Do you reckon it's an easy job? It's not an easy job. It's not an easy job. I don't think it's an easy job. But I think to keep them up, I think, you know, two managers have found it hard, but I think they've got more than enough to stay up.

42:47They've got plenty of quality in that changing room. It's just managing to get it all together. It all clicks and all works. And hopefully, listen, then we manage and go in there and do exactly that.

42:56Pien Meulensteen:If he loses a couple, trust me, there will be a lot of unrest because, as I say, when you talk about who you bought in, it wasn't one that I can't imagine any Tottenham fans are like, great, we've got Igor Tudor. He's managed at the top level, he's managed at Juventus, he's been sacked an awful lot, he's had a lot of clubs. So it's not like you're going, well, this is an elite manager that we've got in here. Do you think Premier League experience is what you would have gone for? Someone that's definitely done it in the Premier League or had something. We would have thought so, but that doesn't make any sense.

43:26Pien Meulensteen:We're talking about Tottenham here, Bob. You know, we were just talking earlier on, you were at Tottenham eight months, you had two managers. So how they work and how they get their managers in hasn't always made common sense. I honestly thought Thomas Frank would have done okay. He didn't. But maybe that then boils down to the recruitment over the last years hasn't been good enough because the managers, you need good players to work with. But has he got a great opportunity to cement his name as somebody that... Because if he has a good run, there's no reason why he can't throw himself in the mix to be the next manager for next season.

43:58Pien Meulensteen:Because at the moment, this is just an audition. But if he does well and he keeps them up and they beat Arsenal tomorrow, all of a sudden he can be a hero there. So that's how quickly things can change, especially if they beat Arsenal and Arsenal don't win the title. Because that's really what Tottenham fans are clinging on to at the moment. Okay, let's move on. have a look at Brighton because how much can they start looking up the table now after a really big result against Brentford today? Yeah, huge result. It's been coming, I would say. The performances have been very, very good over the last couple of weeks.

44:25Dominated games, but just that final part hasn't been happening. Today it has, you know, plenty of balls in the box, lots of crosses and players getting on the end of it as well.

44:34Pien Meulensteen:Do you think that's something that's been missing, Bob, with Brighton? Crosses in the box. Playing out from the back, that's something. I know you do some work there with the forwards as well. Yeah, I think that just in general, Brighton normally dominate from playing out from the back, that mid part of the pitch as well and it's just that final third that we've just missed and I think we're going to try and focus on possibly getting a few more balls in towards the box because we get into that final third and we probably haven't created enough chances for what we probably should do. So, you know, today's a great result and probably eased a little bit of pressure and there was a lot of people talking about Fabian but from what I saw inside, the place was fantastic.

45:11Everybody's in the right mood. No real pressure on Agatha because everything was going very, very well and today's just capped it off. Big result. Yeah, absolutely. Big result for Brighton. Let's get some reaction from them as well because it was a very historic day as well for James Milner who made the most Premier League appearances ever. We can hear from him and his manager, Fabian Hetzler.

45:35Pien Meulensteen:Comences and results. How sweet is it to come here on the back of that important victory? Of course, a better feeling. I'm definitely proud of the team, I'm very happy for our supporters. I think they were great again. They supported us through this tough period. They waited for the win, so I'm very happy for them. I think overall, of course, in the second half we had to defend a lot, but overall I think we deserved this win. To pass the mark, it's obviously a big number and it's not something that I've really concentrated on. to be honest, there's been a lot of talk around it, but for me, anyone who knows me, it's all about the team and wanting to push there, but it's a good opportunity to give a nod to everyone who's helped me get there, and obviously the family and the sacrifices, they've made family friends and people who work with physios and sports scientists, things like that, so I've been fortunate to get there and work with a lot of good clubs and a lot of good people, and I'm so happy to get the win today and the three points.

46:32He always puts the team first, he always puts the club first. He's not only a role model on the pitch, also beside the pitch by having honest conversations, very loyal conversations and transparent conversations and I think that's missing in the football world that someone is very direct, someone is very honest in taking care of the team, taking care of the club and I think he's that kind of person so I would say that describes him the best way beside the pitch and on the pitch he's given everything, he shows always effort. So I never can remember at a day where he didn't give like 100 % effort.

47:07And I think he's a role model for every player outside.

47:14So 654 Premier League appearances then for James Milner, which takes over Gareth Barry's record as well. You've played with him. How much of an achievement is this for him? Fantastic. Even at 40 years of age, he's still knocking on the manager's door. he's the ultimate professional I know so many players have said it and everybody's talking about it at the minute but he genuinely is he's only focused he's doing well working hard staying fit doing everything that he can to help the team and that is him and that is being James Milner from day one I remember the under 21s 17 years of age me being the overage player 22 at the time and you know him coming through and playing and just being ultimate pro then as well so he's fair play to him incredible.

48:00Pien Meulensteen:Looks after himself, gets all the rewards he deserves. You know, what a player he's been. Fantastic quality, you know, with Liverpool, Man City and it's a still do playing now. I'll be fascinated to see what he does next because he has so much, you know, all the coaches that he's worked with, all the people that have obviously guided him and helped him. But you can see him there. He's still fit as a fiddle. There is not an ounce of fat on him. I played golf with him a few times and I remember him standing up to hit the ball and every vein in his body just pops out you know he's an unbelievable specimen and what a footballer you know and he works hard he gives a hundred percent and you can see why every single coach and player that's worked with him like Bobby there you know Bobby's eyes let up there when he starts talking about him what a credit to the game you know he's been wonderful.

48:46Okay well thank you very much guys that's all we've got time for. So despite a goalless draw it certainly was pretty entertaining in the end West Ham will be frustrated though that they They weren't able to get all three points to try and get themselves away from relegation. Lots more to come. We'll see you next time. Thank you very much.

49:09Pien Meulensteen:Thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Don't forget to hit follow so you don't miss an episode.