Amorim Got It Right, Salah Dropped & When Roy Met Marinakis! | Stick to Football EP 99

0:00Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show. Hi everyone, you okay? Morning, Gaddy. Yes, Kieran. How you doing? Incredible. Incredible? Incredible. And you know why. You can have that one. Right. Feels quiet in here today. What do you reckon? A little bit quiet. What? It's usually because of you, though. You're the loud one. I know. Did you go to the game, Kieran? Yeah. did you enjoy it yeah I thought it was a very good game it was wasn't it I was amazed at how we did yeah I mean look I think it still rolled our luck a little bit at times Liverpool at the post but I just thought we were always in the game and I thought even at 1-1 I thought I didn't think it was everyone was thinking Liverpool would be the ones to win after I wasn't no I wasn't sure I just thought when you're not safe at home I just thought United still were going forward still looked like they could do something I thought both teams were sloppy, though.

1:04With what? The finishing? In the first half, Liverpool should have took advantage a few times where they'd given the ball away at the back, United. Yeah. I don't know. Ekka TK's got to start for Liverpool. Then what's that mean? I don't care. Doesn't matter, does it? He shouldn't have been dropped in the first place. What do you mean, dropped Izak? I mean... That chance in the first half was him winning. He's got to score it. But even then, I don't think... He's not had a pre-season. why is he going straight into the team if Eka TK's playing well it doesn't matter in my head if he's not ready to play don't put him in yet I don't defense is the main problem oh there's there's problems through the team though isn't there it's not just even midfield exactly the fullbacks do you know I was thinking by the way last night watching Arsenal I was watching Lewis Skelly and obviously Timber played and then you've got Ben White and you've got Calafiore and I thought all Arsenal's full-backs are better than Liverpool's.

2:03All four of them are better than Liverpool's full-backs. That's a big problem for Liverpool, that. Do you know what? I was listening to my car coming up. Do you know what? Music hits the specials. What are you playing at? Oh, just everything. I was just in the mood for something. And then who have you got? Frimpong and Bradley. Need a Gary Neville, don't they? And Sobba Slice, I'm sorry. Why do I always think you're taking the piss when you're taking the piss? Oh, you're a bit quieter there, aren't you?

2:36He was getting stuff signed last week, wasn't he? Have you got the ticket from the weekend? Yeah, yeah. All digital now. All digital, innit? Yeah, yeah. All digital now. Sign your ticket. I get it.

2:51I only didn't have to walk with Martin. My respect for Martin, but... I shouldn't have. You look at these forest players. they were like oh well another manager's gone a new one comes in you know idiot if they don't win it from here the way the other teams are looking it's 21 cup finals what's that HMAC guy do Roy Roy Roy I want to come to the stage come to the stage this won't go away girl it won't go away 30 and a half game what happened can't happen last season it was like oh that's great he's got a bit of a free roll and now it's like he's not defending well but he's never done it he managed everything really well on Sunday You got it right, didn't you?

3:28But when you win, everything's right, isn't it? You get the result. I give him a five-year deal. Forget a treat, I give him a five-year deal. I love long throws. George Lallon's full with the apple. The apple's not big enough. Too bitter disguise. So my first throw, right? My first throw. You remember your first throw? You're your first goal, innit? You remember your first throw.

3:52I was just saying then about the full-backs for Arsenal. Timber, Lewis Skelly, Ben White. and Califuri, are better than, all four of them are better than every one of Liverpool's full-backs. Would you agree with that? Yeah. Where Robertson is now, Bradley, Frimpong and Kerkers, they've got four brilliant full-backs. Timber was good last night. Yeah, I liked Timber. Timber was good. Timber's the best full-back in the league at the moment. That run by Lewis Skelly through the middle was amazing. He's still up great in the last bit, though, is he, Timber? I think Timber is almost, in my mind, I would class as being, do you know the guy I forget his name I'm mad plays for Real Madrid Dani Caval Caval for me he's the best and I think Timber's the nearest to him at the moment I see in terms of being able to do that bit and do that bit do the forward bit well enough but definitely cuts everything off down his side he's come from remember when he signed for us he got that injury they're powerful aren't they Arsenal are powerful you don't like to play against them and do you know You're on about not giving up goals.

4:55They're not giving up chances. I think they've had one shot in the last three games. Even that one last night, he was good though. Atletico aren't a team doing a few years ago. Really good. Atletico, they're not a few years ago. In respects of the... Yeah, but then I think we even reduced them more. Of course. They still have to score. Yeah, they still try to... But Liverpool scored three against them a few weeks ago. They're still not bad. But they're not Atletico, that powerful team they were at their best a good few years ago. It was good for Jokeres to get a couple of goals. Do you know Jokerez, he's going to score 20 goals, but in games and in moments that maybe aren't quite big goals.

5:30He's going to contribute a lot, but in like... You know what I mean by that? It's like... I think he does a good job up there, just sort of like... Yeah. What do you think? He's got a handful, isn't he? Well, that's the thing. You know what? Even that goal that he scored, where he was just in there to tap it in, that's what we've needed. Off his hip, the one in the second half. Yeah, you need a striker in the middle. So he's gone across and he's headed across, and then a striker is there to put it in. He's working hard though, isn't he? He is working hard. So you don't think he'll be scoring important goals for Arsenal?

5:58I just think, look at his goals he's scored so far. I don't think he'll be scoring good goals. I think he'll be scoring... What do you mean? Like last night he gave the two. I know what you say, I don't think he'll be scoring a good goal. But I mean like scrappy goals like that last night. Do you need them then to build your confidence up? I don't mind the player getting a couple of ugly goals. The way we play and the way we're getting the ball in there, if he gets himself in the middle, then Arsenal will create that kind of chance for him. He should be a lot for him. That's ideally what we need our number nine for.

6:27You know what? I think what they liked, what they saw of him last, he's worked great. And people say, yeah, strikers are judge on the goals. Of course they are. But the fans, the way you keep yourself amongst them and stay in their consciousness is the work rate. And then if the chance, then what happens is they support you through that hard time rather than when you strike. If you're a striker, you're just waiting for stuff to happen. and you're not giving the fans in. When you miss, they've grown. But now when you miss, they give you encouragement. And they're winning, right? And that's the thing, Roy.

6:57I think it's like Liverpool earlier in the season when they were winning, some of the new players hadn't settled in. We weren't really focusing on them because the team were winning. But now they're not winning. You're going, oh, he's not settling. But if players go to a club but you're winning, you kind of get away with it. You can be under that radar, but that's what's happening then. Jamie said last night the favourites for the Champions League, didn't he? Who were Arsenal as well? That's what he said. Well, he put them as his favourites, I think. But Jamie plays games like that, doesn't he?

7:25He puts them favourites, doesn't he? Yeah, a little bit. There's a bit of that. But we're all going to sit here today and go, who's going to win the league or who's favourite? We're all going to pop us. He's Arsenal now, aren't we? So that's putting pressure on them. I'm still sticking to Chelsea. Chelsea will win's might, wouldn't he? I'm serious now. Do you like drink alcohol in the morning? How do you think Chelsea can win the league? They gave them 10 chances up against Forest by playing out from the back. They're actually doing OK, you know. And you said... Win the league, though, dude. Yeah, we're not saying that you're on about winning the league title.

7:55Yeah. What, you think they're better than Arsenal? Well, you change your mind all the time. When did I change your mind? Who did I say at the Saturday season for the title? Arsenal. I said Arsenal. The thing with it is, Jill, is that you have to look at Arsenal's progression to where they are now. It's been like they've built themselves to this and now they're ready to go and do it. Now, Chelsea are still trying to find, to build themselves into a place where they can be in that place, where they can go and challenge. How bad would it in the first half against them? Against Forrest. You don't know about Ange losing his job.

8:23You look at the Forrest players and the chance they had. Like, what chance have you got? Do they really want to score? I know. Do they want to keep them in the job? I'm on about good players not even hitting the target. I know, I know. And then a manager loses his job and you look at these Forrest players and they're like, oh well, another manager's gone and a new one comes in, you know. Idiots. Talk about Arsenal there. Honestly. I don't think they've seen any great teams yet, have you? At the start of this year I don't think they've seen I think Arsenal look a very good team. Fall from. They look a very good team, but I've not seen one performance where I thought they're going to win the league this year.

8:54Can I say something? Other than maybe Newcastle away. That's the kind of performance you put in. Yeah, other than that. Yeah, but then you look at it, like Newcastle, West Ham and Fulham, three games, we got one point last year. And this is what made me feel like, right, they're right now. Because we got nine points out of that. The mentality's changed. They know what's got to happen. even the result at Newcastle. And of course, I'm still... And the way they want it, right? Exactly. The way they want it, though. They keep going in it. They keep going in it and they know that they're solid enough at the back where we can go for it.

9:29If you look at who they've played, they've played United away, they've played City, they've played Liverpool, they've played Newcastle away. They've played nearly everybody already and they're where they are. That was probably why he played that way in the first few games. I feel like the unbreakable zone, but he may have had a plan to do that. because the next round of games are games that you, especially if you're going, you have to win them. It's wrong to say this because it's ridiculous. It's ridiculous to say this because we've all been in title races. Bigs over. What? Bigs over. No, if they don't win it from here.

10:04No, seriously. No, no, from here where they are. It's still a long way though. No, I know. Are you saying that from how many games have we been going? No, no, we've all predicted Arsenal to win the league, right? We know it can go wrong. We know that it's fair. No, we all didn't predict Arsenal to win. No, we all didn't. He called on a second, Gary. Sorry, Jill predicted Chelsea. Did you say Arsenal? I did. Who did? He did. I think I'm Arsenal. Jamie went with Arsenal as well. There's a lot of Arsenals, right? But, Roy, you know what I'm saying, because it's ridiculous to say it, but if they don't win it from this confident position here now where the other teams are, I know a lot can change, but they're in a good place, Arsenal.

10:41How many games are we? We're nine games in, are we? Yeah, yeah, it's 29. It's a long way to go, right? Last season, Liverpool were nine games in. Every game's a cup final. How many points? Liverpool were nine games in last season. Every game's a cup final. They were doing well, Gal. I'm not putting pressure on them, right? You never said that. I think Phil, right? I'm not putting pressure on them. It feels like you are. No, it feels like, it feels like that Newcastle game turned the corner. You think? Yeah. Yeah, I think it's three seasons. 26 cup finals. Say it again, because we were... Sorry, sorry.

11:09Sorry. What was going on about? No, we were having a laugh about every game's a cup final. Yeah, but he had his story. It's far too early to say it, but from where they are here now, honestly, the way they're set up, the way the other teams are looking... It's 21 cup finals. And it's not a putting pressure on them statement. It's just I think they must be really confident inside thinking, this is us this year, we've got to win it this year. We've got to be careful. We've been in football a long time and we've got to be careful with saying stuff like that because two or three weeks ago... I should have said it though, no.

11:41I know, yeah, but not true. I'm on a boat in general. We say, oh, Stairs. Mike, we see how Liverpool, Arsenal, just Arsenal got a few injuries. Things can change very quickly. Yeah, I know. Yeah, it's not. And it's where other teams are at. They'll feel confident because Liverpool are looking dodgy at the minute. City don't look. Although City are winning. You know the thing was... They don't look. If Marland stays fit, though, how good is Harland? Ridiculous, yeah. Unbelievable. He's absolutely ridiculous. You're right, it's too early for a title chat. No, no, not a title chap but to be sitting...

12:12No, not a title chap but to be sitting oh, it's all on the stairs. There's a feeling you feel like a team are ready and you just feel like the others are quite... I agree with that. Yeah, but surely, guy, you give us another six games and then you say, you know what? Don't take it negatively. It's not a pressure point. What all's going on? I'm not taking it negatively. Don't get nervous because I'm... I'm not taking it negatively. I'm just saying the way that they've started is exactly how you start those first ten games and then you go into that next game. Yeah. Look, I know it was a couple of weeks ago before that Newcastle game, or a few weeks before the Newcastle game, we were saying, what's going on?

12:45I get it, but it just feels like... Even that goal against City in the last minute was a big goal for Modem. They just got a bit of momentum back into it. Liverpool slipped up the following day, got winning. Amazing, a momentum in sport. There's huge, and Arsenal have it at the moment. That's the thing, Roy. That's, again, what you're right. Last season, when Liverpool slipped up or we needed to put pressure, it didn't happen, and that's happening this season. So everything what you want in place for them to make the challenge is happening right now. Look at the benches, look at the bench. How strong is Arsenal?

13:12Roy, that's what I think. I think when you think that you can bring in Lewis Skelly for Calafiori, you can bring in Ben White for Timber. Sorry, I'm really glad he's playing Lewis Skelly. Oh, yeah, he's a good player. He needed to be playing. Yeah. Not just for Arsenal, for England as well. But I like Calafiori. Do you think he should start? Left back. Calafiori, yeah, but what's good about... No, I like Calafiori in certain games, and I think I like Lewis Skelly as well. I think he's brilliant. But I think Mosquera coming in for the two and not looking like there's any sort of drop-off. it's looking spot on at the moment I love the fact that Calafiore what he does you've seen pop up everywhere brilliant but Lewis Skelly he knows the levels he has to get he has to play like that against Atletico whatever we think about Atletico he makes your team although the defender he makes your team more attacking they have spent hundreds and hundreds of millions come on mate no it is it's bad clubs are spending we look at Liverpool you throw all that money at it but it's the first time you look at Arsenal over the last two or three years when Arsenal were still doing well we'd all sit here and we'd go when we're doing matches, they're missing something.

14:09But at this moment in time, we're going, it looks good for them. It looks good. So if they win, do you think they've bought it? They've what? They've bought it. Yeah, you have to spend big money on that. Absolutely. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Let's go back to Forrest. Right. That whole situation, that annoys me so much. Let's go back to Forrest. because, I mean, let's start with the... Why wouldn't Ange have lost his job in the international break? Why wait after the Chelsea game, knowing more than likely Chelsea are probably going to win? Why not just do it in the international break?

14:51Why wait till 20 minutes after the game? They're just speaking to other people and they're trying to get deals done with other managers. Do you know what I mean? The way they did it, though, I just thought, like, I know if you have to deliver some bad news, but you don't have to be a dick about it. I'm like, literally, to make him go into the cart, like, he left, like, 18 minutes after the game. But he's done that, he's got pretty light. He's done that with Martin O 'Neill. I've sacked four or five managers, I've sacked four managers, like, face-to-face in my time at Salford. I don't do it anymore because I'm not involved in that.

15:21But I've sacked four managers, right? It's, honestly, as a football club, it's one of the worst things that you can do. And you always think about the right time, obviously for the club. Of course you're going to do it, because you're doing it, ultimately, you're doing it because the club isn't happy and as owners you're not happy. But you're always thinking about how you deliver that news, where you deliver that news from a point of view of the manager and also giving him integrity, giving him some sort of... When you get sacked as a manager, and I've been sacked as a manager, you feel paranoid, you feel like the whole world's looking at you, you feel like everyone's sort of like...

15:53You feel awful, you feel awful. It's like you let everyone down. So the idea that there's a number of things that you do, you try and do it in as classy a way as possible, you try and give it a little bit of time away from the game, you try and make sure that he's got the ability to speak to his staff and his players and make sure he's got time to build a statement. To do it 15, 20 minutes after a game, you just said there about being a digitalist, I think you put it beautifully, to be honest with you. To leave the stadium and then do it 20 minutes after a match in the midst of a sort of... You're the mad one, not the owner.

16:21Why do you think this forest owner is going to do it differently to what he's always done? He's done it with Martin O 'Neill, he's done it with other managers, leopards and spots. Why do you think he was going to do it properly? Power, control. That's how they work. So where the manager go, out you go. And then what doesn't help? Listen, all that is, as you said, you have to sap managers, but do with a bit of, try and do with a bit of class. They can't do it. And then the players are coming in afterwards. Oh, well, that's football. All that carry on. When lads are missing the target from 10, 15 yards out.

16:51But I don't know why you're... I didn't see the interview after the game. Was it the captain? Yeah, it was a really nice kid who, by the way, didn't play in the game. Yeah. And he's like... Did he not play in the game? No, he didn't play in the game. But he played at Swansea when they were 2-1 up and they were in injury time and they lost for 3-2, excuse my language. But he gets interviewed after. He's your captain of the club. Gibbs White played in the gatch. He was captain. He's playing for England. He comes out and doesn't say anything. And Yates comes out, who's a really nice kid, going, ah, well, that's the nature of football.

17:18Yeah. That's the nature of football. But I think he was being dictated to. I think that's holding... He didn't even play in the game. I don't think there's any good way. I think he was in one of the rooms having some scampi and chips and they went, oh, you better come down and say something. But the manager just left. I don't know what, we can't be surprised. Exactly. Even with Ange. Club cut. Ange getting that job with the way that Nuno went out of that job, surely Ange must have been on his toes there. Oh, yeah. It's like, what? Everyone going there now has to be on the air. Wouldn't you say to yourself, you know something, especially if I'm Ange, you probably say, you know, I'm going to have a little break.

17:48This is too quick. Especially going into such a chaotic owner's, like, club. But right, to allow... Look, Andrew's come into that press conference on the Friday, he's done the five-minute speech, and he's obviously, to be fair, he's defending his position, he's standing for himself. He knows he's gone. He knows he's gone, but my point is to have a manager go into a press conference on a Friday, knowing that if he loses against Chelsea, one of the best teams in the league, that he's gone, is a horrible position to have to put a manager in. Why not just put an interim person in? What about Graham Potter?

18:18They made him do the interview and didn't give him the game. The press conference, didn't he, on the Friday? Yeah. And didn't give him the game. Yeah. But why, I don't get why we're even... Maybe I'm just disappointed. So this is your owner, when Forrest having a brilliant season last year is walking on the pitch complaining about stuff and making statements about referees, banning you. So what do you expect this owner's going to do to this manager where it's not panned out? Exactly, you can't expect, yeah. Just going back to the football side of it, obviously Nuno's style, we know Nuno's style, really sort of solid, quite, you know, compact, playing on the counter.

18:50You said that, Gary, sorry, I keep interrupting you, but his last game, they lost him 3-0. The wheels were coming off. You look at the results towards the end of last season, the wheels were coming off of Forrest. And that's because he wanted change. But if you think Ange has gone in and completely changed everything, he's obviously trying to sort things out himself. I think the owner wanted change, didn't he? He wanted to play better football. From what Nuno was doing, and the players have got this year to start playing football. Yeah, but the wheels were coming. His fans had gone in and gone, Nuno was rock solid, everything was great.

19:20And he's tried to play Ange's ball and said, No, the wheels were coming off at Forest towards the end of last season, but they got into Euro. They had to come up semi-final. And if you're a manager at Nürnberg Forest, you're going to go two phases where you're going to have a difficult spell. But as soon as you... Surely the whole idea... You're out. Yeah, exactly. But it's history, Forest, about eight managers' last season. So as soon as your manager is getting on about getting back in, whatever the way he does it, which we know he's got no class, you're going to be gone. What did he expect from Manj, though they had Arsenal, Chelsea Newcastle away he had five Premier League games the Forest home game the Swansea game would have been they were the sore ones which home game right sorry they lost to home to S that was a way that wasn't it no Forest lost to home to Sunderland I think it was a 1-0 they lost to Cup game 2-1 up in injury time at Swansea there were a couple of games where they went oh I think the Arsenal game is understandable obviously you know you're not going to win and what was the other game there was another game they slipped up and you're like ooh it's a sore one and then, of course, the weekend.

20:22Yeah. Newcastle away, wasn't it? They got beat. Yeah. Which can happen. And the set pieces. I think the set pieces would have been hurt. And the European game. They gave up three goals in the European game at home. Yeah. It's not great. I watched them a few times. I thought they were all right. Well, they missed chances. You should be talking about Daishi now, man. No, I was going to throw it forward. That's where I was going with it. It's a new style, very similar to Sean Daichi's style, in the expense of Sean Daichi's teams, ordinarily. Think about what he did at Burnley, Everton, they've been quite usually compact, very difficult to beat.

20:53Isn't that the same as Nuno? So if the manager wants a different manager... He's flipped back again. Yeah, he's flipped again. He's flipped back to obviously a style that basically the players probably have been suited to play because the reason he changed Nuno might have been a number of things, but there definitely seemed to be a want to play more expressive football, didn't there? More sort of exciting football. That's obviously not worked, but he's now gone back to obviously more of a manager that has a style similar to Nuno. I hope that... Yeah, but Nuno's last game, again, West Ham, did 60-odd percent possession.

21:20So they weren't just sitting in, Gary. They were last season, though, quite a bit, playing on the camera tight. They were last year. And he definitely would have felt, the owner definitely wouldn't have forgiven the manager because towards the end of the season, I think when they beat United, it was a good few games ago, Forrest looked odds on almost to get in the Champions League. So when they slipped up and people were going, oh, they're still in Europe, the owner would have been going, no, no, we had the Champions League. We had it. So the slip-up, that's what he'd been looking at. Whatever sides of play, he would have looked at the results toward the end.

21:45and when you have an owner I think sometimes just what mood you wake up in the morning and go you're on about the timing do the international break I don't think these lads care they just wake up and go it's time to go he's gone today Does anybody think like me that it's a brilliant job for Sean Dyche with the quality of players there and the fact that ultimately just get them organised which he will and they could really sort of start to soar up the table I think so I think that it's a good it's a great opportunity with them being in Europe as well with them not having no European experience them being in Europe with a good squad.

22:15I think that squad is good enough. Yeah, they'll be fine. Right. They've got some good players, haven't they? It's a great opportunity, I think, for him to dispel the myth of being that manager that comes in and just saves teams. He's got an opportunity with that, obviously the owners all over the place, with that squad to prove what he's capable of. But why would a manager want to walk with that on? I don't know. This is what I'm thinking. Well, he obviously gets cleared. Sean Dash can come in and do unbelievably and we could still be sitting there at a year's time saying, and he still sacked him because he's not going to be happy with...

22:45Suppose Sean Dyche's football doesn't quite click in yet. I'm talking about not clicking, but winning games, but then not winning certain games. Is he going to come down out of the stands again? You don't know what's going to happen. But he walked onto the pitch last year. What happens in Greece, we see that all the time, these owners, but he's brought them traits to the Premier League. Walking on the pitch, making statements about referees, treating managers like something at the end of your shoe. Would you want to walk for somebody like that? No. Roy, I said last year... Someone says the other day, Forrest's job, it's up.

23:17There'll be loads of people queuing up for it. Not the top guys. The top guys wouldn't want to walk with that guy. At the time, a lot of people disagreed with what I said when I said Nuno should go and negotiate his exit that night. Because I think when someone does that in public in front of you, I think you're at the thin end of the wedge. For me, I think personally, I was quite clear last year people thought it was an overreaction because obviously Forrest would go from Europe. But at the time, I think that's when you... We should call it what it was. It was absolutely out of order to do that he said he went on the pitch for different reasons but I think the reason he went on the pitch was quite clear he's angry Well I'll ask you a question in the last 10, 15, 20 years have we ever seen any owner walking on a football pitch?

23:51Only in moments of celebration Oh yeah of course No I'm on a book like going in and Yeah but Royden you look at the forest and the appointments that they make it's always managers who are so Nuno Bam from Tottenham or whatever and then you've got now you've got Ange Bam from Tottenham you've got Sean Dyche needing a job to come it's not a manager Yeah he never goes and prizes somebody and so you always feel He wanted Marco Silva, though, they say, don't they? They say he wanted Marco Silva. Yeah, but his contract, yeah, but he didn't go and get him, did he? He's obviously going to wait until his contract's up and have a look at that in the supper.

24:18He's had him before and he's had him at Olympiacos. It just feels always like there's a manager, I need that. Like, Daishi, he needs this job to go to where he wants to go. You know, Ange trying to come back to prove people what he could have done. Nuno coming in, you know, after getting sat like he did. We're on about momentum, you know, you're going to a job. And Ange, you say the fans aren't having you, and we've seen it with Martin Upper Rangers, and you're going to a job and they're not having it to start, but you've got to win then. You've got to win to get some. And if you don't get it, you don't get results in the first four.

24:48It's sad. We're talking about managers, but listen, it's happened at other clubs as well. And you don't get that momentum in the first month or two. It's hard. It just feels like this owner, you have to win all the games. Don't you think? What? You get a bit greedy, the owners. Because Nuno's done what he's done, he's done it, and the way he does it. And then all of a sudden, you want more. You want to bring the brilliant football and the expansive football, it doesn't quite work for him. Now, it might be the same with Sean. Sean might come and settle it down like he can do. As we know, he can be organised, getting fit, whatever it is.

25:20And then the next stage will be again. Can we be more excited? Can he do that? I do think Forrest were creating chances. He didn't play Chris Swett either, did he? No. He'd be back in the team. Again, he doesn't help himself. So there was four players who signed in the summer, all of them on the bench. So Luno's brought players in because he wants to change that and bring them in. And he didn't play any of them. Yeah, but did he sign them? He didn't sign them, no. He didn't sign them. So he's not going to play them, I take it. No, no, but there's people upstairs making decisions. The balance of the Forest squad is not great.

25:52Maybe, yeah. Did you work with him, right? Sorry? Did you work for Maranakis? Yeah, I went there with Martin, yeah. I went there with Martin for a few months. Sorry? Do you have any dealings with him? One. How did that end? No, when I was going in there. Oh. But I only didn't have to work with Martin. my respect for Martin but I shouldn't have put Martin a bit of loyalty and my respect to Martin obviously I made sure I had a ghetto clause in the summer did you feel that as soon as you met him? no you don't want to talk about it I thought you might have got on with him right to be honest with you doesn't talk it's like a good match no no no you get vibes off people isn't it of course chemistry no I was only going in the assistant manager is different that's when I said how would you work when we got you in and I went in and worked with Martin and I went in for a few months My plan was always just to go in and try and help Martin in there.

26:39And again, Martin, Martin's CV, when you think about it, and what he'd done at the club previously, how many games do you think Martin got at Forest? 20. What many was it? 30, 40, so what was it? I heard it yesterday. 25. 19. I would say 25 as well. 15. 19. So if a manager like Martin's getting 19. You've got to look at that situation and think, he's not going to give him more than that. 19 games. He didn't sack him either. Sorry? He didn't sack him either. What, not like face-to-face? No, no, no. So you go. And you're on about managers, and Martin's obviously spoke about it. I'd already left the club.

27:22I think they announced the new manager, I think it was 24 minutes later, when Martin was still in the building. You're on about treating people properly. Blah, blah, blah. Does he not sack the managers face-to-face, Roy? Well, he didn't. He didn't sack Martin. Martin spoke about that many times I think to me that's the one thing as an owner You owe that to him I think Martin said last week that the guy who sacked him was the director of football I think he said he was a former swimmer or something Yeah I heard him say that He was talking about it yesterday Can you imagine Martin when that's happening Martin's thinking of him You're an actual swimmer You're a swimmer sacking me I don't know if he's an actual swimmer I think if you're an owner if you've had an influence on the manager coming in you have to be the one sitting down to talk to them if you've not had the influence of bringing them in and it's been a sporting decision I think that's when you can potentially sit back and say look to be fair my team appointed and they'll do the job and they run the club so I suspect if I'll just use United if United were sacking their manager I wouldn't expect that the Glazer family and Jim Ratcliffe would go in and sack them I'd expect that Omar Barada and Jason Wilcox would because they've appointed but I would expect at certain clubs where you can see there's a big manager influence that they should be the ones that make that David Moyes said he found out the media rang him that he'd been sacked United, yeah.

28:34From United. You know, let's not all just put on Forrest as other clubs. No, no, I'm not saying it, but just saying, it's just interesting. What was it like, guys? What? Sacking someone. Do you know something? You get to a point whereby you... You think they know. Of course, if you call a meeting, they must. Number one, they know it's coming. Sometimes they want it themselves because they think it's obviously coming. And secondly, I always felt, just be straight with them. Particularly with football people, just be straight. I don't think they want any fluff. They don't want any nonsense. Look, the results have not been good enough.

29:03The style of play isn't great. I feel like, you know, ultimately, you're not getting the best out of the players that we've got. The position that we've finished in is not where we needed to be when we agreed at the start of the season or before. Yeah, but sometimes you've sat managers where the results were going OK. Yeah, yeah. How's that one work? Do you know something? We sacked the managers when we got promoted from the National League North to the National League. That was the hardest one ever. Graham Alexander? Graham that was about three or four games yeah Graham hadn't got promoted to be fair but yeah it was three or four games what was the reason guy if you were winning but I've said that before about Graham that Graham Alexander one was the biggest mistake that I made as an owner and that set the club back I think a year or two without a shadow of a doubt I was at his last game I think they were home to Tranmere they were 2-0 up in injury time they gave up a couple of goals and he was gone that week and I've still only the season but obviously I'm going back to I was on the pitch wrestling with him giving him his muck sack off you go his muck sack full of cash I've said publicly that was the biggest mistake that I made at the football club was sacking Graham Alexander and said he was absolutely he'd been there two years just over two years and should have definitely been patient and it was also to be fair when you look at it he brought if we were going to sack him again stupidly it should have been before the recruitment had been done in the summer Graham had sat down with seven or eight players brought them in encouraged them to come to the club and then you end up sacking them.

30:30I always remember going into the dressing room and I knew straight away, I remember walking into the dressing room to see the players. Because obviously what I would do for sacked a manager, I'd go and see the manager, but then I'd go and see the players and explain it to them myself. This was like three years ago when I was obviously more hands-on. And I went and see the players and I actually saw their faces. Felt the energy. I thought, oh no, they weren't where I am. And they weren't where we were. Listen, managers understand, even if Deitchie's going to Forest Street, Deitchie's a big guy, he understands what's going on, I could be here in six weeks, maybe six months or whatever.

31:06But again, when they leave, as long as they have, I think sometimes you think as long as clubs do it properly, then you suck it up. It's when there's all that. You mentioned something, Roy, actually, I'm just thinking back to a couple of managers that are sacked. Quite quickly, I think they start, because they know it's coming, if you ask for a meeting with them, they sort of know it's coming. Even though you meet with them regularly, they just know that the feeling's there. They actually, to be fair, have got little things planned. So they are worried, you know, I need to tell my staff, I need to tell the players, you know, what about my deal?

31:36What about my money? Because obviously they've probably spoken at that point to their agent and I always say to them, don't worry about the money. You'll get every penny that you owe. We never ever do anything like that. That's what I mean, do it properly. Yeah, absolutely. We don't fight and haggle over money. If you've got like two years left on your contract, or let's say you've got 12 months notice and something like that, you get 12 months. we don't mess around with stuff like that a lot of clubs don't do that they might have been the contract but they'll try and find a way out of it they do that they do that obviously in the Premier League when there's millions involved but sometimes the problem for me is the managers lower down the league who are fighting for one or two years to get their you know it's not huge money and the clubs drag their heels that's didn't happen to you at Sunday you had to drag yeah but I was literally making peanuts is it the famous Sam Allardyce story where he got sacked at Newcastle and the guy said Sam see you soon he said and he's just stayed in the room.

32:27Yeah, I love you that one. I want my money. I want my money. You can move, you can move. I'm not moving. No, that's where it gets, you think getting sacked is, that's just the start of it. Then people trying to get their few bob. Sunday with me went down for about four and a half years. Owners and I just kind of shot with, yeah, about four and a half years. But do you have something, Roy? It's contractual. It's like what you're due, unless the contract's woolly, but it's not usually, It's usually a case of, you know, if you get sacked, you will get X amount of months, or you'll get two years, or you'll get one year, or you'll get nine months, or you'll have whatever is left on your contract.

33:03What was the debate about for four years? Because who'd done the deal with... Niall had done the deal with my solicitor, whatever, amicable, and there's a few bob here and there, and then he was saying Niall didn't have the jurisdiction to do it, even though Niall was the chairman, so that was the problem. And they'll find an excuse. Yeah, of course. But he was in a contract? Not the termination bit. Not that termination bit where there was a fee agreed up, you'd kind of shake hands and you'd go your separate ways. That word, amicable, isn't it? Yeah. That's where it gets a bit messy. You know when you say about the Forest players, I think some of them were actually out doing the blowout and like cool down and they actually didn't know.

33:42So when they come in, they heard the reporters like reporting about it. So the fact that the players didn't even get told. Jill, the reason you don't sack a manager 20 minutes after a game is because the manager's still in the stadium the players are still in the building the fans are still just around the building you just let things even if you wait five hours, six hours you just let everyone get home and then you probably it sounds really sort of callous this but let's say that night there's a game kicking off at 5.30 which there was I can't remember what game it was this was a 12.30 game and the 5.30 game I was doing who was the 5.30 game?

34:15Arsenal Fulham yeah it's Fulham Arsenal you probably release it just as the Fulham Arsenal game's starting so as then it can just you know what I mean it's like maybe wait for the full Marcel game to finish let Sky go off air and release it at 8 o 'clock so actually you've lost a lot of the you know it's like think about the time yeah but the finger girl you look like it's blatantly obvious we're dealing with an who just doesn't care so why are we even talking about Dave's was trying to rank me when I lost my job to be fair he ranked me but that's very nice yeah he was obviously polite as you could be with it but yeah but you're still a bit it's still a setback you're still knocked back even if your results aren't gone great but when he rings you he's like it's come to the end you're like I wouldn't deliver that your face, so I'm not surprised he ran.

34:56FaceTime will be all right. I'll just send them a DM on this time. FaceTime. It's lovely, I'm losing my job. Yeah, but you're all right. With my family down, all the kids to a new school in your life and we're lovely. You're not right. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Cara said the other night on Monday Night Football, I thought it was really interesting because to be fair, I disagree with the point, but he's not here and I wish he was here to. He said he hates long throws and the re-entry. And somebody else said it yesterday. They hate long throws and the re-entry.

35:28I'm like, I love long throws. Yeah, but he's probably hating because he probably has to defend them. Do you think so? From a visual perspective, he said it. Visual or not. In the game, a style thing. It's another way. It's another way to get an opportunity. It's an entry into the box. I cannot understand. Why has it got to this place where all of a sudden everybody's talking about the long throw or the long balling or the set pieces? It's another way. You know, when we watch football now and how hard it is... Who's the best at it? Brentford? Arsenal? Who's getting the ball? Who's got the long throw?

36:00Brentford. The Brentford's right. Oh, my gosh. What I'm saying is that we're watching games and it's so difficult when you're trying to break down. You have to find another way. The long throw has been used since the beginning of the year. Yeah, but when teams are doing it now, we're praising them. But everyone looked down at Rory De Lapp and Stoke when they were doing it. Ridicule them. Yeah. But Justin, the thing I look at is that we sometimes whinge about the fact that when people sort of get to the throw and then they throw it back and it ends up back at the keeper or it ends up being recycled.

36:28Yeah, yeah. The idea, I mean, the one thing that I probably can see is that you have to wait, it stops the game for probably about 30, 40 seconds because everyone's got to get up into the box. Wiping the ball. Pardon? Wiping the ball. So there is an element of it slowing the game down. So in League Two, when we watch League Two games a lot, you get a lot of it and the game is stopped a lot. No, I can't. No, Cal. When we're talking about VR, we're going on for ages. If you've got to stop for 15, 20 seconds for a throw to set it up so you can get your men in there, no way is that... Are we a fan of throws?

36:57Are we a fan of long throws? I'm a fan of long throws. We had a player when I played, Megan Campbell. She could hit the back post from, like, obviously the side. From the side put. Yeah, so we literally used to get, like, so many goals from it. Can she do different? Because it's the same as... Like, proper trajectory on it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But then I see now, I see some of them who go, oh, I've got like a long throw. I think Declan Rice took one yesterday, but it wasn't really a long throw. Like, I think if you've got someone who... Declan Rice took it yesterday. The one I used to do, not the one at the post, where you just threw it down the line.

37:27Yeah, yeah. Long way. The two that I used to do... You were better with your hands than your feet. What? It was, you accuracy. He was. The one down the line. So my first throw, right? My first throw. You remember your first throw? You're your first goal, innit? You remember your first throw? That was every game. Have we got that video? My first throw in the game. I must have that video, surely. My first throw in the game, down the line, right? Do you know what that does? Makes the centre-backs drop right off. Yes. Right? The second throw, you go to go down the line, and it's into your second striker.

37:56Yeah. It's that one, into the field. Oh, good groundwork. Oh, I love it. The next one, no, seriously, it was like a playbook every single game, right? The next one, the midfield players drop off. Of course. And then you get to the midfield. Cover and then you're into the midfielders. Yeah. And so you literally... I don't remember that, do you? it was like a playbook was this in a reserve game? what was that? if Liverpool drew down the line the other night it would have been alright Liverpool draw the back if you've got a long throw the right back can bend in you're in, it's like a long ball over you're in I loved it did you practice the master training?

38:36I had a good disguise with my throws Do you know what I'd do sometimes? You'd walk over to a throw. No, show us. Come on. He would be sometimes. You walk over to a throw. You look disinterested. I'd look where I was. I'd Teddy or Cole or one of them would give him the nod. I'd just go, and literally it's gone. Wow. And they're in behind. It's like... You're playing possum, girl. Yeah, I mean, come on. We could definitely do a DVD, Your Best 20 Trolls. Can we do a DVD? Hey, I'm sitting on millions of pounds here, Gary. What was the noise of it as well? Gal. You know what? I love Gal. You're a build-up too.

39:13I know what I'm doing here. Nobody else does. No one knows. Hey, right here. Did you... You won't play for Palace in... No, you weren't. You weren't playing for Arsenal then. So we played against Palace in the semi-final of the cup. The game on the Sunday before you got sent off on the Wednesday. You love bringing up my sending-offs, don't you? We're only about your troll. I didn't bring up my sending-offs. So, Roy, we scored for one of my long throws to equalise against Palace to get a replay, I think. I could get HMR seed on that, but I'm not sure.

39:43Did I actually... I'm sure he scored from a long throw. Rami, show us the long throw with the apple. No, I'm not... I'll go along. With the apple. Come on. The apple's not big. Get a ball from there, Joe. Oh, Joe, I can't believe you've had to be throwing it. Do you want to catch it? Right, let's move on to better things. I'm trying to get a Cubs semi-final. The throw-in, I can't remember the throw-in. The Sunday... The first game on Sunday. The first game on Sunday. FA Cup semi-finals at Villa Park. We then played the replay on the Tuesday or the Wednesday, but the game on the Sunday at Villa Park, we definitely scored from a long throw of mine.

40:14Did I play centre-half with you? No, that was against Chelsea. Are you sure? I was at Villa Park as well, wasn't I? Who was up front when you played again? I'm talking about 95 here. It's 95, Palace, first game on a Sunday. We draw, we were quite lucky. I played centre-half with you, I'm sure. No, that was the game the year after, when we got to the final again, and it was Chelsea, and it was Rude Hullet playing up front for them. I think I played a midfield that game. Can we have a can someone look when I played 10 and a half with Roy we can't move on until I get to the bottom. In a FA Cup semi-finals I'm sure it was Chelsea.

40:45No, I played 10 and a half with you definitely against Palace not against Chelsea. I played midfield against Chelsea I'm sure of it. We definitely need to have something on this because you're sure and I'm sure so what's that mean? I can't imagine you sure. What's that mean? What's the forfeit? You have to have a forfeit Palace. What's the forfeit? I'm sure it was. What's the forfeit? You have to forfeit. What's the forfeit? Come on, writing. A Rolex. Jesus, Jim. A Rolex. I played midfield against Chelsea. I played midfield against Chelsea. But the pitch was dead heavy. Yeah, what's the forfeit, anybody?

41:17Can someone come up with a forfeit? I'm not for a forfeit. Midfield with Botti, won't you? Yeah, I'm sure. Come on, Ben, where's Ben? Barry, where are you? Kieran, come on. Dennis Riles. Forfeit, you've got to get dressed up for the Halloween episode. No, no, no, we haven't got anything for that. It's a good idea. Vincent, we've got to go afterwards. You've got to wear a Santa Claus outfit for the Christmas quiz. Yeah, yeah, that's a good one. Have you got it? You could be... 2004? No, no, that's not right. No, no. This is 95... 95, 96. This is 95... No, sorry. This is 95 final. This is 94, 95, 95, 96.

41:50Semi-finals at Villa Park. Semi-finals at Villa Park. You beat Chelsea 2-1. In where? Yeah. Hullet scored, then Andy Cole and David Beckham. Villa? I played in midfield. In 96? Yeah. Okay, me and Roy played centre-back, yeah? No, who was the team? David May, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Roy Keane. Yeah, play it. Lee Sharp, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, Kant and Uncle. Who'd have played with Maisie? Who'd have played with Maisie? Who'd have played left back? Phil Neville. Right, OK. In 95, go to 95 semifinal in Crystal Palace. I did not play centre-half with you, I know that. Not your golf ball.

42:25I played right back as John Salarco. I'm trying to move his golf ball. Anyway, let's move on. That is a golf ball. We'll find out. Jesus, what just happened there? I'll just never get that time back. There's a golfer. Can you see my golfer? He's hitting the ball. He's hitting the ball. You are fighting for the golfer, aren't you? You are like... No, it's just coincidence. It's a good shot. So what was the answer? You like that? Got scores. You like what I've done here? Can we show Ryder's T-shirt, please? Can you look at Ryder's T-shirt? I thought it was a piece of cream or something, or yoghurt.

42:51Everybody's been trying to pick this off. Everybody's trying to pick it off, but it's the golfer. Look at my man here, and then my golf ball here. So this is... Oh, here we go. Because Ryder Cup's the best. This is the throw against Crystal Palace. Let me see it. Oh, wow. The long throw. Pally's gone up. There we go. Look at that. That is a long throw. Wow, Gina. How good was that? Nice one. You did it. You said it and did it. No, Pally. Pally scored. Yeah, Pally was amazing. I used to like that kid. Great small when Pally scored. I had that kid. How good was Pally? Oh, you were right. I played, well, I was playing centre-half next to Pally then.

43:22Yeah. And Brucey. Yeah, it was me and Pally. Roy, you were centre-half with Pally.

43:29I was right. You said you played centre-half with me? No, I played centre-half in the game. No, no. Can we look at the video, please? No, I played centre-half in the game. What's that HMASA guy do? Roy, Roy, Roy, Roy. I once in, I played centre-half. Come to the stage, Roy. It doesn't matter who I played next to, but I played centre-half in the game. You said with me. You said with me in my head. Do you know that kit? I got that kit on my ear for Christmas. The blue one? The United one? Why was you a United fan? Well, I just used to get any kit, I think, when I was... My eighth birthday, I got that kit.

44:04You take what you get. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. We're moving on to Liverpool. Right. Why are things not working out with Liverpool? Let's come to you first, Riety. What's happening with Liverpool? If I'm really totally honest, I don't think they understand what the manager wants them to do. Ooh. In respect of what they're doing. When you look at the way they're playing, they either win or they lose. It's famine or feast or famine with them. There's no real cohesion with them. None of the players are thriving in what they're doing. Look at Eketike. Look at Eketike.

44:43Started the season well. You'd have thought, leave him in there. I know he's coming. The only player that you can look at from Liverpool this season and say, yeah, he's doing it. He's been left out the last couple of games. in a team that the full-backs are not doing it at the moment for me. Midfield, McAllister, it's just not happening. Graven Birch isn't having the same kind of season. You're looking at Salah. You know, Salah, you've either got to create space for him or give him the ball where he can go and attack. It's nothing. He's not getting either of those two things. Giving the ball when he's got time or getting to attack the space.

45:23None of that's happening. Trent's a massive miss in that as well. So when you look at the way he's trying to play, you know, Bruno was saying, Bruno was saying, yeah, you look at them, and we knew because the fans were upset because they weren't moving the ball quick enough. Now, that worked with the Klopp team when he was doing it. It slowed it down. Everybody, oh, it slowed down. It feels a little bit better. But now with these players, it just seems like they're just not quite convinced. They're not actually doing anything that you could say, oh, I could see what he's doing. It just feels like it's all disconnected.

45:54But isn't football mad? they could have scored six goals against you they had so many chances Gakpo's edit Gakpo's edit I'm not so bad I think obviously the biggest problem is defensively going forward there's a goal threat the lads are a little bit off but they'll come back and they've got quality but defensively and we said it at the start of the season going back to the community shield they're giving up chances you're going yeah but they're scoring they're scoring and now that's dried up they're still giving up loads of chances loads of goals even towards the end of last season that's the biggest issue the full backs you're on about Arsenal, the moment Arsenal attack and defend as a team Arsenal, Liverpool obviously it is disjointed they need another Sunday afternoon yeah that's a huge mistake I thought Canati played well on Sunday I thought Canati was the best one yeah he did not but still thinking back up even the full backs the full backs have a struggle you think of Fring Pong he's a winger he looked really good yeah but he's a winger he created a good chance when he took that touch the left back looks like a kid playing against men at times so again we've watched football for years but just because a club have gone bought some brilliant players as if it's going to happen straight away last year we were writing Liverpool off and obviously then they end up winning the league very comfortably so we're the ones who should be looking at ourselves going hold on a second this is the nature of the beat this is football isn't it where you bring players in you go well it's automatically going to happen they're all going to gel together absolutely not there's no more pressure on them there's no more pressure on the manager going how are you going to fix this because last year everything he'd done because he brought no players in he'd like less options and as you know one of the biggest problems Pep says if Pep wants less players I don't want too many players too many again you can have too many options we've seen that with England over the years you've loads of attacking players what do you do with it sometimes you've got less is more Verts is the big option do you like him Scalzi?

47:42yeah I still think he'll do alright I'm not sure with Liverpool where they brought him into play that's the thing was it in place of McAllister? do you find a way Scalzi? I think you should find a way I think he's that good No but is this a case if this is a good argument we talk about football going obviously you want to get your best players on the pitch but you also have the best but you've got to find the best team don't you especially where Liverpool are now I think Liverpool have to go back to basics they're still a goal threat but hey let's go back to being hard to play against because I always think we slagged United off the last few years the biggest insult I can have if you're a player on a team when people say you're easy to play against and United scored two Bruno probably should have scored obviously should have scored a chance so all of a sudden teams are getting two or three goals getting good chances they have to go back to basics even the madness for the last 20 minutes they were still creating stuff the game was still talking if anyone's going to get the winner you think it's going to be Liverpool you have to sort out them decisions with the throwing lads not getting out from Bruno's ball these are little basics you go lads let's get that hunger back of not giving up many chances and goals the rest will fall into place I think but usually when you bring players in like Van Dijk McAllister Mo Salah will be playing well and then the lads kind of integrate don't they because they're not playing well but I think as fans we're so obviously result focused like Mo Salah last season it was like oh it's great he's got a bit of a free role and the lads will work hard find him in the gaps and now it's like he's not defending well but he's never done it but because do you know what Gildo but football at this level and in certain games it's not about playing well it's about digging in and finding a way because even United the other day again if you're going forward and you're thinking and everyone's desperate to win but you always have this mentality going if we can't win it the Chelsea game a few weeks ago don't lose it even as much as people go Palace hammered Liverpool they're still in the last kick of the game going don't lose the game if Liverpool got two or three draws over the last few weeks all of a sudden you're going listen they're right behind Arsenal they're on their heels and they've had a difficult spell find a way it's not about playing if it was not playing well every week it'd be fantastic winning league titles it's about digging a result out when you're not at your best and we were giving Liverpool praise last year for that we're going Liverpool weren't great they'll win it Leicester and they'll win you go hey but that's a sign of a good team they're not doing that stuff where we're going listen we're not quite at it but I tell you what even the start of this season they were like that weren't they we're winning games loads of games you see Bruno's ball in I don't think I think it's very underrated how good that was the technique the technique for him to put that back in there on the volley was just like brilliant it was brilliant but what I liked about this Man United side there was something about their celebration if Arsenal celebrated like that after just winning the game, people would have went crazy.

50:23There's something about the celebration where you felt, you know what, that something might have felt something from there. You did feel something from them simply because that might be the one that makes them believe, yes, come on. We've said that a lot of the one where let's see this side of it. Yeah, be by Brighton on Saturday. Do you know what I did? Liverpool are not doing great. They've gone there and beat them. Brighton's a harder game in a strange way than Liverpool because they'll maybe get a bit more possession and that's where they can get found out, maybe under counter-attack. When the game was open in the last 20 minutes, that's where United looked a bit.

50:50But when you have to sit deep, the easiest thing for defenders when you're playing with three-centre halves is defend crosses. It's when you're getting up to pitch and people are running off the back of you. But that's another challenge. Yeah, enjoy the victory. Do you know what they need, right? This United, get a result against... Build some momentum. He's not built any momentum since he's walked into the club. He's got a chance now after the Liverpool win, going, Brighton, try and win the game but don't lose it. And all of a sudden, you go, all right, things are looking better. Why do they do better against the better teams?

51:15Or is it because in that moment, it's like, Right, we've got a chance to... And you can sit in. Nobody expects anything from... And you're sitting in, when you're sitting in, and you've got a bit of pace up front, it's a chance. The next step for United for the next few months is... Yeah, brilliant. The next step for United is, can you dominate teams and whatever? And that's a bigger challenge. Because United's a bigger problem. Then we'll be getting done on the counter, a bit like the first goal at Brentford, where United are getting a bit of joy. And even against Liverpool, when United were getting a bit exciting going up the pitch, that's when Liverpool started picking them off.

51:44So that's the next challenge. I think the keeper going more direct, and then I thought the second balls from United were really good, whereas last season we've seen them trying to play through the thirds and they just couldn't do it. Isn't it bizarre? We're not praising teams for not playing off in the back. The last two or three years were like, oh, it's a lovely style. We're not praising them for not taking risks at the back. You're saying brilliant management, just a bit of common sense. Don't be getting the Liverpool crowd up and losing the ball on the edge of your box. Just going back to Liverpool one second, would you leave Mo Salah out momentarily if you were on the slot?

52:12I wouldn't. I think he's got too much quality. They're working on him. You don't know what they're like in training, having around the place, energy levels. But if he's not at it, yeah, he should be able to drop him. Of course he should. Nobody should be. Yeah, nobody's undroppable. But at the same time... And he's not playing very well. No, he's not playing well. I watched him and obviously there's something that he's not allowed. He doesn't have to come back and help defensively. Now, if you haven't got someone like Trent to release him when he's in that phase where, oh, he's free, where you've got someone who can hit him straight away, then he looks exactly what he looks like now.

52:47They've taken that away from him. They've taken that away from Mo Sal. He can't get that ball early. He can't get that great ball from Trent. And he can't go and do his thing. When you look at him now, he just looks like a passenger. And he signed a new bag of deal. He looks like a passenger. What does Anastasia do? Well, they're trying to find creative ways of... We're talking about Trent who can create something out of nothing. That's not the issue. They're creating chances. I'm talking about for Mo, even though he's missing, he's not creating as much as they could have been doing with Trent.

53:22They are creating chances. But why is Mo so stagnant? Something's missing from his game. It's gone. Something's gone from him. His goals are missing. I always thought, even when he was scoring goals, Mo Salah, he looks ugly at times. Do you know what I mean? Some of the stuff he does, it bounces off his legs. You forgive anything, though, don't you, when they're scoring? That's what I'm saying. He does some of the worst stuff you'll see from a centre-forward. Like even if he was scoring goals. Did you see the chance? You stop scoring goals. All that comes... That's what people focus on. And you end up...

53:52He's going to have to leave him out at some point. Do you think taking him out is the answer? Because I think if you take him out, how's he going to get that? Sometimes it's a good thing being left out. Because say with Joachim Rez not getting a goal, and then obviously he gets that goal and it changes it. But I'm like, I feel like that with Mo Salah. Yeah, but Arsenal are playing, Jill, in a way where as long as he's making the moves, he'll get that. Yeah, he's bald, isn't he? You see, Mo at the moment, with the way Liverpool are playing, they're not making those shots. And even though he did have that great chance at the back, which, again, I looked at what you said there, for the level of player he is, the way he took that shot...

54:23The technique was all weird, wasn't it? Really, yeah. Was that an instem? Was that an instem? It's the right foot. I know he's very much left foot. It's the right foot back across the goal, and it's just like a basic thing to do. Is that the one who pushed past the post? Yeah, so the goal's here. He hit it with his left foot. He can be the worst best footballer in the world. Yeah. the question is can he be it'd be interesting if Slott would drop him who plays instead of him yeah that's what I'm saying Frimpong Frimpong Frimpong's never going to be a goal scorer though is he in that way no I think like you said at the start Ekatike is the most unlucky unbelievable but you're leaving Isak out then are you well yeah that's what I'm saying yeah but the thing with Isak is but he's been better the way he's gone he's been better than Isak he's been better what do great managers do they find a way to get these players to work together the chemistry again we're sitting on paper or some of them it doesn't look like a right set up but sometimes you have to throw them in and work on I don't know if these are brilliant coaches It's like Jamie was saying why don't you just play your best players I'm not saying that's the right way but he's saying just get the best players What about the balance pitch?

55:25It's like Tuchel with England now I know but sometimes when we played in training games and we players at United or Club International there's some lads in your team there certainly wouldn't be one of your best players but you just felt we need them in the team there's loads of players like that I had a couple of lads of Sutherland That's like Harry Maguire though isn't it really he's not the best player but I think Man United need his leadership oh yeah Harry's experienced yeah that was important of course this episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing coming on to United I mean when I saw the team on Sunday I thought he's going to if United lose here today picking Casemiro alongside Fernandes Bruno in the midfield having travelled all that way and then picking Harry and De Ligt together knowing that there quick you know Gatpo Isak obviously Salah there and people but they also knew they'd be sitting in a lot yeah I actually think that's the ground you get away with yeah I think so do you know what I mean it's a tight it's all a bit fucking they got in once or twice in the first time Isak got in down that round and he should have scored he's got to score that was also like a Luke Shaw though that wasn't it yeah and he'd come off Maguire as well yeah but just in terms of that I say he took a risk you know he left Sesko out he played Casemiro in midfield with Bruno he played Harry and he didn't play Euro he was quicker I think at the end of the game if that had gone how everybody thought it would go including us when we saw the team I think he'd have been in a serious trouble he managed everything really well on Sunday got it right didn't he yeah got it right and when you win but when you win everything's right you get the result yeah I give him a five year deal forget the treat I give him a five year deal but you're right Gal what you said about the team he picked and going to Liverpool and Liverpool's team coming off the international break having to do something to show people that we're still here to pick that team and then beat them like he did I don't think you ever went to Liverpool oh dear without having a bit of luck you have to have a bit of luck and remember they scored two there last year and they could have won it last year so maybe we're wrong to be completely writing United off and I think they drew the year before that that's when Van Dijk said United came and parked the bus so United had their kind of memory of going to Anfield last year or two or a good memory so the weekend was obviously huge who they got next Brighton Saturday Just think on his front three

57:47Just thinking about the front three He's got Sesco at 80 million quid But he loves Mason Mount That's a head scratcher I think still for me You can tell he wants Mount in With Ember Moncunia Mount's playing to be fair Off the left a little bit But he's also doing a lot to get inside is he like a left off yeah he defends really well he defends really well left off I don't know that position do you know what I think about Mount he reminds me of say Darren Anderton of Adam Lallana players who connect to G-sung Park maybe a little bit players who do that sort of ugly bit well but they also connect and glue things with like he starts to press he also he's doing well to get in the starting United team in Mount I think he's a lot of managers have loved him over the years he was kind of a main man with England for a while in Chelsea Chelsea of course and obviously the manager no one wants to put him in but again go back to stats if you're an attacking player at United stats when he's played really poor so as long as if he's going yeah I can see he's getting a lot of assists his stats are yeah but he's not popping up with big goals he could do some package you mentioned that he pops up with big goals or assists scores he's not getting the way that Mason Mount he can score those goals where he scores he's capable he's capable if he got to run it I'm not saying he's going to get a run if he got to run it maybe he can then develop that that's what they they can use him as that player the other two they're getting you up to pitch last year United they never were going to get many goals everyone was looking at Bruno all the time but now all of a sudden and as we know when you're midfield and your defender's obviously right he was attacker if you've got a striker that can get you out of the jail you go fucks that's brilliant Antonio Valencia get you up to pitch running power and ball carriers and when they're getting you up to pitch you're having a breather nice one even if they miss a chance a goal after a minute, minute and a half, what a start.

59:37They've got to kick on from this now, and that's the key thing. They can't go back to square one in the next couple of years. That's their first back-to-back wins, isn't it? No, no, but you've got Brighton at home, it's a massive game, really. You've got Brighton at home, Forrest away, those two matches now, you can see that United could be in a healthy position if they're to win those two matches. And Welbeck, Welbeck. I've seen Danny Welbs. That guy, that guy Welbs, bro, he's finishes. But then people are saying, should he go to the World Cup? And I'm like, He doesn't love Danny Welbeck. You love Danny Welbeck and Rory McIlroy.

1:00:06Righty, would you take him to the World Cup? Welbeck. You know something, if Danny Welbeck has a season where he continues playing like that, his name will be amongst him. Absolutely his name will be amongst him. What was the last time he was involved in England's squad? Is it like donkey's years ago? He scored in tournaments all for England. How old's Welbeck now? That man, that guy. Danny's got a great record for England. Yeah. You could see, like... To have a round, he wouldn't whinge if he's not playing. No, it is, but... 34, yeah. He's 34. Nothing, man. He's not going to be a problem, is he?

1:00:38And he could go on and do a job. Yeah, but we're talking about having a really good season. Instead of Kane. No, I'm saying, like, if you needed a sub, not to start, but, like, to come on, it's not going to be a problem around the place. Is he better than Watkins? What, coming off the bench? I do like Watkins. Yeah, but the thing is, is that Watkins will have the legs on stretching. That's the only thing that he'll have on Danny. But, like, if we're talking about the experience and being like, it, Danny could do a job without a doubt for me, if he's still playing well. The way he took them chances with somebody who's right where he needs to be now, in his head, and finishing.

1:01:11Both of them. You see the first one, brilliant, dinked it over, and the goalie was really close, Roy, but the second one, the amount of people in and around the goal, again, people just don't take notice of that. He'd done that on purpose, because I'm thinking, I'm coming on to it, I'm going to whip it in there. He's done that, wham, in there, and it was like, perfect. That is somebody who's ready to go. It's like Gabby's four.

1:01:34Please for him. But I wonder if the England manager would be looking at him. Sometimes you take a gamble with a player, don't you? Do you know what? If I was him... And he can bring 26. He can bring 26. That's a lot of players now, isn't he? I'd be... Right now, with Danny Welbeck, and you're looking at the sparseness in our forwards, you're thinking to yourself, I'm too cool. I hope he carries on the way he's playing this season, because if he does, he's got half a chance. Yeah. He's been like that for two or three years. Yeah. Is he a good lad? Is he a good lad? Is he a great lad? A great lad?

1:02:00Is he a great lad? A great lad. A great lad to be around. A great lad. He is a great lad, to be honest. He is. Right, Super 6.

1:02:11After eight rounds and no winner, it's crunch time. Someone is going to win£1 million with Super 6 this weekend. How? How if they don't get the right scores? Because after some time, I listened to you the last time, they're going to get her for being in front. For being in front. You know, it's amazing when you're listening. That's why you've got two ears on your mouth. Listen. Whoever's at the top, it's like goal difference. What a captain. Unless you get all six predictions correct, the season leader will walk away with the loss. Can you imagine? Where is he sleeping this weekend? Do we know who the season leader is so far?

1:02:42I don't. It'll be on a graphic, maybe. It's completely free to play. Just predict six scores this weekend and the money could be yours. So if you fancy becoming a million pounds richer, get your Super 6 picks in before 3pm on Saturday 25th October for a chance to win. 18 plus T's and C's Who's right if you fancy being a millionaire Everybody wants to be a millionaire Oh Bring problems Ian No In this situation anyone who's playing this is trying to win Fucking love it Right Last week Gary and Jamie in Rome got four points In Rome Honestly No We're not doing well We're not doing well We're not doing well We can get up to 30 And what did we get You got six points Yes There you go I was made at I was sick it's always true Scolsy I need you because Cara's struggling give Moise a call you've got to give Moise a call Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea oh I love that power back in January to Liverpool Chelsea Sunderland wow I can't predict this one it's too much heart over health well that's not right Jill you can't be doing that just be biased towards your team even if you don't think they're going to win Sunderland will get we'll give them a go Sunderland will definitely score a goal they'll be difficult there is that 3 o 'clock on Saturday Three o 'clock Saturday.

1:04:01Jill, you didn't even know Barini played. I think 2-1 Chelsea. Yeah, go on. We'll go with it. 2-1 Chelsea. Jill, you know that. You feel it. Is that a seven? Did Chelsea beat Sunderland by seven years ago? 2-1, right. Where were all them goals in the Champions League last night? I think that's seven. That's six. That format's good. Game's gone. Newcastle, Fulham, Saturday. It was good to see all the goals. Newcastle at all Newcastle yeah Newcastle Fulham are struggling by the way Fulham are like going 56 from back Newcastle I watched them the other day do you know what I think Fulham might get something sorry I always think Fulham are oh they're a good team yeah I just feel like he's going to score it for them one of the players he's still coming back now long throw they've got a long throw and Burbatoff Burbatoff Burbatoff Burbatoff Come on.

1:04:57I think we're going to get something. Don't follow the crowd. Newcastle beat. 1-1. 1-1, I love that. One result. Wow, that's great. No, we start picking up. Love that. Jill, you go on. This is it. United. This is it. They're back. Yeah, I know, but we won United. 5.30 Saturday. Yeah, I know. You've jumped on the Liverpool result. You're just flying high. You're just like flying high in your own supply gap. Lost the round twice. That means they're going to beat us soon. I don't know. Last couple of times. They can't lose Saturday. they can't it's impossible 3-1 3-1 United yeah honestly we're not losing I think there could be a lot of just say to the camera Gary just say United are back United are back who do you think will win be the top six I do think United will win but I don't think 2-1 United you've got the next one so I just jumped in Villa City Sunday 2pm City that's interesting that game Harland's just on fire you to go is he injured is he?

1:05:54no he's not I'm sure he's not. No, he's not. Yep. Right, I'm going to go... I'm going to go... That's Scolzi done a serious place as well. You've got Scolzi. I was like... Well, you pick 2-1. I think 1-1, Scolzi. 1-1. Arsenal Palace. Sunday, 2pm as well. Oh, this is the United Derby. Right, right, right. Come on, mate. No, Jill, this is a tough one. I love that one. I'm just saying what Jill said. See, I'll go first, then. I can't. I think Arsenal score one in the first half, one in the second, and win 2-0. Solid. Reliable. Do you know when you said you needed me? You've not used me yet. You said...

1:06:36I think I did the top one. You said 2-0. I did the top one. That was it. It fought me around, actually. It was the other way round. Was that like a board meeting at Salford? Yeah. I need your advice. Thanks for coming. It's a home game Arsenal. I need your advice. I'm attacking him. Should we keep going? He did agree to you. Do you not agree with that 2-0? Are you going to change it? Oh, it's all right, go on. Would you have gone brighter? Palace get a goal, everyone. I don't think Paris will score. Palace not scoring. Arsenal have scored... Arsenal have only conceded three goals all season. I know.

1:07:03All season? Three goals all season in every game, Arsenal. I think. Is that right? What? Well... Gary, Gary comes to the stage. Arsenal have only conceded three goals all season. Is that your top take? Just something. Their defence is... I find your men... Everton, Tottenham This is good I like this Very boring I think Brighton beat Man United If they change it then Everton, Tottenham Sunday 4.30 Concentrate now Everton, Newstead Grealish is back isn't he because he can play against City Tottenham got 2-2 2-2 I thought Tottenham was shit I think 2-1 Everton right brilliant super six apparently the guy who's top of the league is called Ashley Ashley good luck to you he doesn't want to be known he didn't want to be known where's his address no we're not giving his second name out because obviously there's a lot of Ashleys around Ashley Young but Ashley is on the cards unless someone gets the right six results that's a big weekend for him isn't it imagine now that's horrible but how unlucky have you got to be if all that time We should go visit us.

1:08:19And then on this week, when somebody gets it, somebody gets it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he misses it. I'd give him half of it. I'd give him half of it. If Ashley comes in, he's got to come in to see us, isn't he?

1:08:32Graham Potter has agreed to manage Sweden. Yeah. Which international team would you love to manage? You know, in the women's game, I would love to manage Japan because the way they keep the ball is incredible. technical ability and I'd love to yeah manage them England? No you don't want to manage England yeah I forgot about England actually but

1:08:59Serena's got that job for life I'm thinking Brazil or the USA going into their home World Cup I think so yeah I can't I can't imagine Brazil taking long throws okay whoosh down the line hey look how it's a long throw Big Charleston, get down the line. I heard a castle on throw. Spain. He also had the best left foot we've ever seen. Spain? Spain. Tapping it around a bit. Yeah, funny. A bit of football. Funny in the world. That was a bizarre. I want to see Ireland. Of course it would. Oh, it's on the counter. Someone gave sex. That's his name in the hat. Oh, there we go. Yeah, he said Ireland. No, that's the job you'd like.

1:09:42Of course it would. So it's the job you like, you mean? If you could manage a country, your own country, obviously. Yeah. Get rid of half of them. Not obviously.

1:09:54I'd manage the Maldives because I'm at a stage where I just want to chill. The Maldives, so I could go there, I could chill there, then we could play football. Who's Steve managing? Jamaica. Jamaica, bro. He's a yardie now, bro. He's got locks and everything. Steve got the accent. He'll probably be, you know what, we'd be really good about it with him. is that, I know it's not going great for him, I'm not sure how happy they are with him, but he'll get some unbelievable energy from being in Jamaica. It's a pretty great place. Is it? I've never been. I know I've mentioned them all deep. That was for my own self.

1:10:28Is that right? His Yorke manager. Who's Yorke manager? Is he? Is he? Is he? I didn't know that. He was assistant manager. Who? Neil Wood. Was he? Yeah. Nice one. That's good. Good luck to him, yeah. Yeah. Can you see Jurgen Klopp making a return to Anfield in the future? Would it be a good choice to bring him back? I can't see that happen, can you? What was that, Tavi? Jurgen Klopp. He just said it was impossible. You know what, Roy? Did you see that interview? I saw him on an interview the other day. He looked relaxed. Yeah. Why would you want to, especially with what's going on in Liverpool, go back into that?

1:11:05Whatever it's going to be, it's going to be a boiling cauldron if he's going to go. why do you need that when he's come out for the reasons what he's relaxing for now isn't it great when you read about a manager who's left a job and has a step back from football and love it they're not like we see a lot of managers desperate to get back not taking a long enough break around about Ange where they go you need a job and then you go back take a step back take a step back he was talking about his United interview as well wasn't he yeah Ronaldo and Pogba going back really well he didn't want them or something he didn't want to be part of that or something who said that Clop I think I think they spoke to Clop didn't they oh yeah they definitely I don't know I don't know about the reasons why he didn't take the job I can't see I read a bit of that yeah I'm going back Clop's just doing like Travago adverts it's going to be a nightmare sleeping in hotel beds I like seeing him chilling and relaxing he looks so happy and relaxed I know your ad's good has anybody seen Roy's ad it's so funny which one?

1:12:04it's not for charity stuff I bet you've got a lot in February we're going to see the first Serie A match played walking with a dog and a fawn in his hand see me here in February the first Serie A match will be played outside of Italy AC Milan will play Como in Perth what do we make of this did you see the Spanish game it's got cancelled what do we make of this that's a long journey I'm not having it why I'm not having it we don't need it do we they might need it to promote our league I don't think we do it won't be the same it can't be the same it can't be the same I'm not having the game I'm not having the game the level of it not for the fact they play American football right I've been to American football is this a good or a bad example I don't know and I've gone to watch American football obviously in America in the stadiums and then they play games and I've gone to great occasions but it's not the same it's not the same it's not the same vibe it's different so the fans from the fans point of view like the fans all the way they can't get to that game to bring the game to them so as they can witness the team in a competitive game in their country is something that I don't see as one game is a bad thing for them.

1:13:15We're talking about fans waking up at twos and threes in the morning just to watch the team because they love them. If you could take it there one time, I don't know. It's something that people say... But surely it would be the same, right here, would it? It might not be the same. So four teams are away from home? There's a lot to go on in this home game, is it? But the thing is, we're talking about what they're doing for the fans to be able to go in and see their team in a competitive league game. I can feel something. I suspect, righty, looking at it, I don't know, and to be fair, I should probably have looked at it, but the integrity of the competition is the big one.

1:13:47But the second thing is, I suspect when you say about the fans over there, I bet the tickets are a fortune, by the way. I bet it's not accessible so that all the kids that you're talking about that want to watch football, it'll be like they'll make as much money out of it as possible, which will mean tickets will be$200 or something stupid, which means I don't think it'll become something that the kids that you're probably thinking about or the fans that you're thinking about will find it easy to go and get. Who's playing did you say, Nev? AC Milan versus... So if one of these teams miss out at the end of the season for a Champions League spot or whatever it might be and you go, that was the game that cost us or whatever, because Cormor are doing well and obviously Milan are always going to be...

1:14:18Really well, yeah. That's Fabregas. So come the end of the season and that's your home match and you miss out, you go, we took our team all the way over there. Yeah. And we've missed out on it. What about your fans who live... You know what I mean? I don't know. That's the chance you take, but you could feel like they started it. Maybe the inception of the idea is to bring it to people who can't see it. Yeah, so... But then it's like everything, Roy, it turns. They weaponise it. So what happens then? Just say it went really well and everyone was, so there's going to be a lot more games over there then.

1:14:46I just think we've won the 39th game. The one thing that I would say is that, let's say, for instance, this could be quite controversial. Let's say the FA Cup final as an example. I know it's going to be at Wemble, but let's say every five years or every three years, it's held in a different continent. You know, it goes to Africa, it goes to Europe, it goes to... I mean, the FA Cup has been... Yeah, but that's because that's a neutral ground, though. It's like Wembley, both teams... That's what I'm saying to you. That might work, that might work. Oh, the FA Cup semis. So the FA Cup semis, right, forget the FA Cup final, leave it at Wembley.

1:15:15League Cup. The FA Cup semi-final, which are at Wembley, they could be games that are neutral ground. You could potentially do it with that where you're not damaging integrity. That would be, I think that would be something of a... We complain about travel and stuff now, though in games, imagine them putting more travel on as well. The whole idea of people up in English football is tradition and walking to the stadiums. Then you go to a stadium over there that's not designed for maybe soccer. Premier League is a no-no for me. If you get to Wembley, it's a day out for the fans. It feels like a very...

1:15:45Premier League is a no for me. You're saying no because you'd have to travel to do the club. Then you're dismissing the FA Cup tradition. No, no. I'm just saying the FA Cup semi-finals, which I don't think fans, to be fair, like going to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals anyway. I think there's a big oh yeah there's another argument for us to go back to Villa Park or Hillsborough or wherever it was but yeah I get that chat but they're playing in a different country I don't know yeah but you know it's going to happen because they've got to monetise everything they've got to try and find another way can we bring in more how much more money can you bring I don't know I think the Spanish though looks like they've pushed back a little bit don't they because Barcelona were going to play again and that's been cancelled so I think there's a bit of a rumble over there and they've apologised they've actually apologised saying the fact they were thinking about bringing it somewhere else did they?

1:16:27yeah FA Cup's World Finals would you go with that? what? FA Cup's World Finals abroad where? give us what? I have no idea states people want Premier League that's what they would probably want they wouldn't want the FA Cup they'd want Premier League I'm sure I like you know it's an awkward one because I could see what they're trying to do with the fans so they could see a Premier League game so they could see a Premier League game but there's too much going on it doesn't feel You have to travel and make an effort. Yeah, but it's the future. You've got to tell, is it? It's the future. This won't go away, girl.

1:17:02It won't go away. The 39th game will come. It will go away. Semifinals are big. The game will go away. You don't think the 39th game will happen? Think about it. The 39th game will happen. It can't happen. That definitely did damage the integrity of everything. Unless Adidas are involved in riding. And you. I love you. He's delighted. You see, that's what I'm saying. He's even forgetting he's got it on. He's heading to the top. He's literally heading to the top. I know. He's trainers. Right. I think that's the end of the episode. Do you want to put a question in? Do you have any point? Thanks for that.

1:17:37Let's go. Let's go. Come on. Well done. Well done, Skulls. Well done. Really well done. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week. See you next week.

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