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Stick to Football

19 Mar 2026 · 56m · 23 chapters

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Does Bruno Make United’s All-Time XI? Rooney’s Rule Rage & Worst World Cup Ever? | Stick to Football EP 121

In short

Main points

  • Gary Neville
  • Wayne Rooney
  • Jill Scott
  • Roy Keane
  • Ian Wright

In this episode, the panel tackles various hot topics and unpopular opinions related to football, including discussions about key players, managerial strategies, and upcoming tournaments. The episode features guests and lively debates on topics ranging from Bruno Fernandes's place in Manchester United's history to the implications of specific rule changes in football.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes.

Chapters

1:30

Casual Banter: Cricket and Football

Light-hearted conversation about cricket, training anecdotes, and camaraderie.

“You really whizzed that down in on me, gal.”
4:10

The Role of a Second Goalkeeper

Discussion on the importance of being a backup goalkeeper and readiness.

“You want the ball up front What is the easiest way?”
8:20

Challenges of Goalkeeping Decisions

Exploring the difficulties faced by goalkeepers and managerial decisions.

“Roy said last week he thought that a goalkeeper should be allowed to be substituted after 15 minutes because basically why should football other players sort of outfield?”
11:20

Evolution of Goalkeepers' Roles

Examining the modern expectations for goalkeepers in football.

“Did you ever go through anything when you were a young keeper like that?”
14:02

Goalkeepers and Playing from the Back

Exploration of the challenges goalkeepers face when playing from the back.

“Goalkeepers, in terms of with their feet, are they being asked to do too much?”
15:42

Unpopular Opinions on Premier League Players

Discussion on whether any Premier League player is better than prime Neymar.

“No Premier League player in history is better than a prime Neymar.”
17:45

Pep Guardiola's Legacy and Money's Role

Debate on Pep Guardiola's success and the influence of money in football.

“I think he was good at Barstona, but I think he was still always overshadowed by Messi.”
20:08

All-Time Premier League XI Debate

Arguments over the best all-time Premier League XI and notable omissions.

“It seems addicted to the game, doesn't it?”
24:55

Throw-Ins vs. Kick-Outs: A Controversial Proposal

Discussion on an unpopular opinion suggesting throw-ins be replaced with kick-outs.

“I can't get over Wayne not being in front of Salah.”
28:12

Unpopular Opinions on Football Rules

Discussion on unpopular football rule changes and opinions.

“Throw-ins should be replaced with kick-outs.”
Show all 23 chapters
29:52

Debating Medical Assistance Rules

Analyzing new rules regarding player injuries and time-wasting.

“If a player asks for medical assistance on the field, he must leave the pitch for one minute.”
31:55

Critique of Modern Football Tactics

Exploring the negative impacts of tactics and rules in modern football.

“It'd be different if you're winding up and they're putting you under pressure, but when you're on top of them, just finish it, get the job done.”
34:06

Evaluating Current and Former Player Greatness

Debate about the greatness of current vs. past players in football.

“We don't know if they're injured or not.”
36:20

Bruno Fernandes and Manchester United's All-Time XI

Discussion on whether Bruno Fernandes deserves a place in United's all-time top eleven.

“I think there's too many players, coaches, whatever, trying to cheat.”
42:00

Evaluating Bruno Fernandes' Impact at United

Discussion on Bruno Fernandes' contributions and achievements at Manchester United.

“As a matter of fact, what's Bruno won at United?”
43:55

Comparing Players and Team Dynamics

Exploration of how different players contribute to team success and legacy.

“He was hard with us, but he was amazing with us, you know.”
48:50

Unai Emery and Managerial Timing

Analysis of Unai Emery's managerial experience at Arsenal and its implications.

“See business.reddit.com for more information.”
50:52

Pundit Opinions and Football Insights

Discussion on the role of pundits in football analysis and the validity of their opinions.

“he's not a million miles off of Mikel with the attention to detail.”
56:00

Fan Perspectives on Manager Decisions

Explore how fans perceive managerial choices and their impact on players.

“Now, they're also highly qualified doing a pressurised job.”
56:40

Pundits' Rights to Opinions

Discuss the entitlement of pundits to express opinions on football matters.

57:20

Experiences in Different Football Environments

Learn how different club experiences shape players' views on tactics and management.

58:20

The Story of Fans and Player Substitutions

Hear a memorable story about the challenges coaches face with fan expectations.

59:00

Cork City Football Club Merch

A light-hearted discussion about gifts and merchandise from Cork City FC.

“I'll put it on for the last part of the show.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Gary Neville: Just before we get started, a quick thanks to our partners and clothing. We hope you enjoy the show.

0:30Do you want your soccer analysis more direct than an Arsenal set piece? Join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalists for the latest action and news from the Premier League to the Champions League and all the way to the World Cup. We'll have chat more out of the box than a Dominic Sobber's live free kick, more panellists than Chelsea have players, and unlike VAR, we know where to draw the line. For fine margins, fun debates, and full-blooded tackles, football weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube.

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1:34Ian Wright: Roy, put the stumps down. Have a go. Come on. Take him in there. You need the ball. Yeah, the ball's here. Embarrassing. Oh, I can ball, you know. No, you can't, Jill. Well, you have to be good at one sport. Gary's quite good. Lovely. Can I have a proper ball? Oh, lovely technique, Ian. Thank you. Now do it properly, Jill. Yes, Jill. Jesus, Jill. Why are you firing? This is your two mid, two yards away. Here you go. Oh! He got a ducky. How's that? I got a ducky. Gary, that's a really good ball. He got a ducky. That would have hit as well. Gary, did you bowl, Gary? I used to like cricket. Oh, did you bowl?

2:17Ian Wright: I was your batsman. I batted a bit, yeah. Phil was a good batsman, wasn't he? In school. And my cricket club, Greenmount. You really whizzed that down in on me, gal. I like playing cricket, but not watching it. I hate it. Did you hate it? No, I liked it. I loved it. Raymond. Raymond, she's come in, by the way. Yes, Ray. Where's Ray? Remember you kicked me in training that time? You done my calf. No shame. Raymond, come in.

2:45Gary Neville: Come in. Five, seven minutes. Ray done me one time in training. Who's got a... Have you got a chair? My calf. Have you got a microphone? He caught my calf. Hey. He looks a lot younger than you. Is he younger? Do you know, Raymond is the best-looking football player in the world. I was going to say... No. He's not. Let me see. Raymond is the best-looking football player in the world. Raymond, you've got to come in for five, ten minutes. To be honest.

3:10Ian Wright: Yeah, Ray, you're good. He's handsome, bro. He kind of looks like me, doesn't he? He's got that kind of James Bond energy. He's got James Bond... He could be James Bond. And you're 20. Yeah, you could be an actor, Ray. He could have been James Bond, bro. Man's handsome. And he's dressed so smart. Don't be afraid to call a man handsome. Ray was my goalkeeping coach. I'm not insecure. Man's handsome. Nice to meet you. You're a lot younger than... Did he do you right? You don't mean training. Do you remember? Of course I remember. I'll never forget that, my friend. Was he vexed with him? Was he on a calf?

3:39Yeah, but listen. My first training at Man United. Why did I have the first training? The first training. We played five a side. And somebody jumped on my knee. Wow. I had a good time, dived on the ball, had the ball, of course. and then I thought who was it? Who was it? Dirty bastard Who was it? Was it working? Oh it must have been an accident It was my first training So I never forgot it Never forgot it So I got it back

4:06Gary Neville: You did You did Stick to football is brought to you by arm clothing Why? Why is everybody playing from around? You want the ball up front What is the easiest way? It's the one to pass it forward Unpopular opinions Wow I've never seen Neymar Hazard. No. Top, top player. Not one Manchester United player should get into the Premier League all-time 11. Terry, company, Ashley Cole. I think that answers it. Do you ever say to a player, or do you ever go down so I can make a sub? Don't you love it? It might still be in the job.

4:43Ian Wright: What was it like when you were 12 playing in the playground, bro? I went to school at that time. That is unbelievable, by the way. Brilliant stats. Amazing. Part of your greatness has to be getting your hands on trophies. On trophies, yeah. It has to be. It has to be. Without a doubt. I just think there's too many rules, and just let the two teams play the game, and see them win. Yeah, but wait.

5:10Gary Neville: We had a debate last week about players who need to contribute to the professionalism of the club, but they don't always play. Now, you obviously were number two to Peter Schmeichel. arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time. How important is that role of a keeper that basically is next in line? I think it's a very important role. I came to the club, I said, OK, this is my role, I accept it, but I also had in my mind, you never know what's going to happen. I'm at the biggest club, one of the biggest clubs of England at that time. And I thought, OK, if something will happen with Peter Smiley, I have my chance.

5:49And I was there, and I had the feeling this was a special time, a special group. And I was right. And you have been talking about, okay, you are the number two, maybe you can play somewhere else. But my aim was to have a chance to win trophies. And I was at the right time at Man United. And I never wanted to change that. And if you are the number two, okay. But I had my part and that was the most important thing. And I had the feeling I had the appreciation of the players. They respected me because I was always working hard. You can ignore it, but for me, that was important. I had the feeling, OK, if something happens, I'm there.

6:35I had appreciation from the manager and appreciation from the players. And respect. That's what you want. Say, like Scott Carson, for instance, now where they need the English keeper. Scott Carson was playing at Derby, was he, before? Yeah. and then he gets a big pay rise to go and sit there rather than his career probably would have ended four or five years ago but he's sat there at City and known he's not going to have any chance of playing. I think that's the difference to being the number two. Yeah, right.

7:02Ian Wright: So with the games because obviously Peter Schmeich I can't remember him missing too many games. Yes. When you were coming in how did you feel? Was you, every time you came in was you still as nervous as the very first time because everybody's looking at you you know that Schmeich will come back and he'll probably play So if you make a mistake, they go, oh, no, that's why he's number two. Were you ever afraid of that situation? No, I was not afraid. I was looking forward to play. Of course, there's always pressure. But I had the feeling, OK, if you train hard, and that's what I did. But I also played in a reserve team.

7:35So I had my feeling with the game. So if everything is OK, then you take it, but you're in the game. And, well, I trained every day with the players, so I know them. so there was not I felt it was an honour it was great to play with those guys that's why I always look back at our time at United and people remember certain players going back in 99 and Bex and Giggs and all these but the players I would give most credit were players like Ray lads in the background are fringe players because they were amazing players brilliant pros and yeah there was a lot of games where Ray would say I'm not going to play but the way they trained the way they pushed other players they weren't sitting back and I'll never play they were like no and Ray made a good point but they were ready Always ready when they were called upon.

8:16So when they did get called upon, they were ready and they'd done a brilliant job for the team.

8:20Gary Neville: Roy said last week he thought that a goalkeeper should be allowed to be substituted after 15 minutes because basically why should football other players sort of outfield? What did you think of the Kinski one last week? I thought it was brutal, but what did you think of it in terms of a goalkeeper from a goalkeeper's perspective? I think it's really hard, especially as a goalkeeper. It's difficult. most of the time you play or you don't play a player there's always a chance to come on as a goalkeeper it's not and maybe you can have a terrible start but you still have to you always have to wait for the balls you get sometimes it's a shit ball you think the manager should have left him on I think so yeah but I mean it's hard you've been talking also about the players around around the goalkeeper it looks like there's a discussion as well with Romero didn't it?

9:11Romero I'm not saying it was good to happen, but I'm just saying these things can happen in a game. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I felt for a goalkeeper, but I also feel as a manager of a club, if he thinks it's the right thing to do, you don't have to agree with it.

9:28Ian Wright: If he was asking Romero, it's even worse. Romero might have went to him and seen the lad. He's a young lad. He might have looked like he was really affected by it and said, do you know what? Take him off the spotlight. Do you know what goalkeeper, the bigger challenge for any goalkeeper when they're not playing a big club or they make big mistakes is bouncing backs because goalkeepers will make mistakes. Ray made them, Schmeichel made them. It's what you do afterwards and that's the big test for this kid. How he reacts to it and it has to be in a positive way. You know, when you were talking about it, I was thinking about another situation.

9:59It was for the national team of England. It was with David James and Ben Foster, I think. And Steve McLaren had to make a choice. Do you make a choice to go for the experienced goalkeeper or for a young player, Ben Foster. He chose for Foster and it went wrong, I think, against Croatia. Yeah. Very bad with the rain. Yeah. Scott Carson. Scott Carson at Wembley. Yeah. Scott Carson at Wembley. Was that a 2-2? Yeah. 3-2. After that, it was never good for the goalkeeper, of course. And that's what you have. If you make a choice, go for it or you don't go for it. Yes. But if somebody takes you off after 20 minutes, oh, my God.

10:39Imagine by yourself A man takes you off After 20 minutes Ian If you miss One chance Or two chances In 20 minutes And a man takes you off What happens to you Yeah it's true And that's the thing He has a full Van Gaal done it And Ian I think it would be worse If you get through the game And you get the penalties Like Van Gaal took He took the goal For the penalties Yeah The Dutch team So I think Either way It's not No it's not It's not good for a goalkeeper I don't think so At the moment Imagine the manager's under huge pressure and he might think, deep down, if you could have a timeout, he might think I'm doing the right thing.

11:15He might do, but at this moment in time, all the decisions are backfiring on Spurs. Did you ever go through anything when you were a young keeper like that? Not in this way, never, no. Thank God. Have you ever been sucked, Ray? Have you ever been sucked as a goalkeeper? I had one season. I played my first game of the season. It was against Feyenoord Rotterdam. And it was a full house, a full stadium. And we lost 5-2. I saved two penalties from Ronald Koeman and Larsson. And the next game, the manager put me on the bench.

11:54Gary Neville: Have you ever been subbed during a game, though? No. Never? Never. But you can see the five, though.

12:02Ian Wright: Yeah, we're great. That's how I'm ready. It's still a bonus. But he played after 20 minutes with 10 men. Raymond Atherfeld, maybe you know him. He played also for Everton. Yeah. Yeah. He got a red card. And it was our first away game against Feyenoord, against a top team. Another five or seven. For 20 minutes, yeah, 10 men. And lost five to save two penalties. And the next game you're out. Next game you're out. It's still hot. It could have been seven, though. Ray, final question. Thank you, Jill. What was it like working with Roy at Sunderland? Very good. I loved it. I loved my time there. Yeah, I know him as a player, but as a manager, it's different.

12:46I can understand where he was coming from, and sometimes the players couldn't follow him. The players what? Sorry, could? Could not follow him. In what way? Because he expected high level, and some of the players, Roy expected that, but the players couldn't deliver that. And that was, I think, was difficult for you to accept that. well it must have been it must have been and the whole time he was you know put a lot of pressure on the players that's what he's supposed to do but I had a good time it was hard it was hard it was difficult because Sunderland was at that time you know they said the yo-yo club

13:23Ian Wright: yeah it was not easy it was not easy it was not easy they were last they were down the bottom but I think they were down the bottom of the league when they took over thank you you know what I mean again people don't you don't get a lot of love for that No, I think Roy did a very good job. Only, I think you can say that. I think you expect it more from yourself or from the players. Yeah, absolutely. But sometimes you forget the overview. You can go on now, Ray. Thanks, Ray. Well done. Nice one, Ray. That's room you're on a dispoor's job.

13:59Gary Neville: Ray, that was going to be the last question, but we'll ask another. Okay. Goalkeepers, in terms of with their feet, are they being asked to do too much? That's a good one. I don't think it's too much, but you have to find the right balance between playing with your feet or not. And when are you doing it? You spoke about Tottenham. The players have to feel comfortable with the goalkeeper and the way of playing. But especially know when you have to do it. make sure you're in the game if you're not in the game just play the first 20 minutes long long yeah why why is everybody playing from around why do you play from behind why do you start there you want the ball up front what is the easiest way it's the one to play forward

14:46Ian Wright: from the edge of the six-hour box to the goalkeeper in the middle of the goal yeah I don't like that you speak about Tottenham the Atletico Madrid keeper did it for Solanke's goal didn't they just played the ball they're stupid they can do it it's not a problem but if it goes wrong you have a problem you make the strikers happy right? Absolutely It's the whole game Exactly One chance one goal there's pressure on the goalkeeper there's pressure on the players and the manager why would you do that?

15:14Gary Neville: No In the first 10 minutes 20 minutes I think everybody has the same opinion that seems to come on this show whether actually you're sort of a goalkeeper or whether you're not a goalkeeper or whether you're a coach I don't see anybody say anything different but Ray thank you so much great to see you thanks for coming Thank you for watching us, Ray. Ray, thank you. Really great to see you, Ray. Thanks, too. Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. We've got a different type of show this week. Unpopular opinions. Wow. No Premier League player in history is better than a prime Neymar.

15:50No players are better than a Neymar. No, there is one sort of better.

15:53Gary Neville: We asked our community to write in, and the first unpopular opinion that's come in from one of our community has said, no Premier League player in history is better than a prime Neymar. Oh, that's crazy.

16:05Ian Wright: Wayne, Thierry Henry, Ronaldo. Salah or not? Even Hazard. I like Neymar, but I've never seen Neymar as a top, top player. Yeah. Like, as Messi, Ronaldo in that category. He could have been, but he didn't get to that place.

16:29Gary Neville: He was, I mean, obviously I played against him with Valencia, the Beatles 7-0, and that front three was Neymar, Suarez and Messi.

16:36Ian Wright: I know, I'll come back. That sounds like hard work. Did you not park the bus? Did you not try and sit in? No, but Neymar, to be fair, he's the one that... But was it 7, Nevin? It could have been 17 or was it just 7?

16:46Gary Neville: Every time they took a shot. Yeah, but look at Neymar, he was unbelievable. Look, Neymar, is it because he hasn't won the World Cup that were saying this or is it because of what he's... No, it's not just a World Cup stuff, is it? Has he ever been likeable? Has people liked him as much? That's the thing, is it the likeability, the World Cup? When he left the way he left, it was a person, it was just all a bit... I think you always got the impression it was, again, very much about money and maybe he wasn't a team player at PSG. And I know these lads can be... Listen, can be selfish. You can be selfish in the right way, don't get me wrong.

17:17But yeah, he was never kind of that likeable, was he? Am I wrong with that? No, no.

17:21Ian Wright: No, I'm not interested.

17:23Gary Neville: How many Premier League players in history are better than him?

17:26Ian Wright: But I think we watch the Premier League. Henry, Ronaldo. What about Mane? Hazard, I'll give up with Hazard. I think he would be better. I think so, yeah. If you look back at stuff he did, I think so. No, Salah's not better than Neymar. You think Salah's better than him? Yeah. No, Salah's not better than Neymar. I'll have to fight Wayne for that one.

17:45Gary Neville: Salah's not better than Neymar? No. How long was he at Barstona? I think he was good at Barstona, but I think he was still always overshadowed by Messi. Yeah.

17:53Ian Wright: Are we talking ability-wise in respect to... Because if it's ability-wise, I think he is better than Salah. But like longevity, probably Salah. We'll probably nick it. But as a player, I'm going with... Righty, the ability is there but did he just do enough? Well, this is the problem and this is where the top players should get the credit because, you know what I mean, the pressure they're under and to perform consistently. Especially the attacking players, yeah. Like Wayne did from the age of 16. You know, it's something I constantly say. Right.

18:20Gary Neville: Next one. Pep wouldn't be anywhere near it if it wasn't for the money.

18:28Gary Neville: Say that again. Pep wouldn't be anywhere near it if it wasn't for the money. The manager is, you mean? Yeah. No. You need to work with our players, of course, but what he's done in the game, his win-win show, the trophies, he's won the hunger he's kept. No, Pep's up there with all-time great.

18:44Ian Wright: And the fact that he is so good is why he's up there with the money, because they can see what he's capable of doing with good players. Why would Pep want to go and manage a team that he's got to try and fight? No, he's proven that with the right players... Apart from being a smart manager, going to the right jobs, people go, he's gone to Bayern Munich, he's started to... That's clever management, working with top quality players. We've seen many managers who've had a massive amount of money. We've got nowhere near the record what Pep's got. And what he's done with younger players as well, like Foden, O 'Reilly, like, I know McAtee.

19:19What I love about Pep, when you're working with them young players, I love when I see Pep getting a big result somewhere. It's like his first win. Yeah. Keeping that motivation, that hunger, for all the trophies he's won, the few bobbies got, no doubt. I think that's amazing. Again, none of us have worked under him. Listen, he might be hard-working, maybe puts players under pressure or whatever, but that's what the top managers do, you know, they push people. I mean, this is what you try and do. Put them under pressure. Yeah, put him there.

19:47Gary Neville: He seems to not want to freshen it up as well, doesn't he? Yeah, he's got that. I think it's a nonsense, this idea. I mean, the reason that these clubs are placing that money with him is because he's the best. Exactly. I mean, they trust him. I've seen people waste money. You wouldn't give him the money. The reason managers get sacked is because they don't want to put money because of the results, but they also don't want to give him money again because they've already given them money once and they basically... Yeah, you lose that trust. I'm not having that. It's a nonsense. It seems addicted to the game, doesn't it?

20:10That's very unpopular.

20:11Gary Neville: Studented again. Yeah. Okay, this is an interesting one. Not one Manchester United player should get into the Premier League all-time 11. They were a successful collective unit, but not an individual standout. So they've then sent a top 11 through. Edison, Walker, Terry, Company, Ashley Cole.

20:35I think that answers it.

20:37Gary Neville: Right as well. De Bruyne, Vieira, Gerrard, Salah, Shearer, Omri. I mean, it's a hell of a team, by the way. It is, but like... So are we just forgetting about... Who's the midfield? Roy Scolge. Yeah, who's the midfield? So let's just start at the back. Edison, I mean, I would go Schmeichel over Edison every day of the week. That, to me, is the most obvious one, to be fair. Yeah. I think. Yeah, I'd do that. Yeah. That, to me, is the most obvious one. Yeah. I'd have Gary Neville at my right back. Well, yeah, but I think you can't say... A lot of people would say... Interestingly, I was speaking to Kyle the other day, and I said to him, you've got 96 England caps, which is absolutely incredible.

21:14Gary Neville: he's won the treble he's got all the accolades he's played at the highest level and I said to him the differentiator for me Kyle between me and you is I think that I was probably more positionally I said this to him positionally I think I knew the position better than you but if I was playing against Vinicius Junior or Mbappe one on one I said you're the only person but they've come at a different time

21:34Ian Wright: I get that I get that

21:36Gary Neville: I think him managing those players over a two or three year period in the Champions League I just thought was unbelievable even No, but Kyle, who is the right back?

21:43Ian Wright: It's Kyle. No, I'm going to put you in.

21:46Gary Neville: But you can't debate, you can debate it. You can see it's subjective. Some would say Kyle, some would say me. So you can't say... Yeah, but what I'm saying is... A Schmeichel's a no-brainer.

21:52Ian Wright: Yeah, eight Premier Leagues playing in that man United side continually, the consistency is what I'm going for. I don't know if it's about Vinicius or Mbappe.

22:02Gary Neville: But righty, it's not nonsense though, is it? It's not nonsense, but what I'm saying is,

22:05Ian Wright: you know what I mean, you could have easily been in...

22:07Gary Neville: Yeah, so let's say Kyle was stick with that because it's subjective to some people. People will say Kyle. OK, cool. So, next one, John Terry and Vincent Kompany in centre-backs. Terry has to be in there. For me, Dan, it's probably, I'd say, Rio with Terry. Everyone who played with Yap Stam, though, who would be the best centre-half that you played with? Well, the ones you've got are Van Dijk. You've got... Yap didn't play, like, 100-200 games. Two seasons, Yap, three seasons. And we're talking about, obviously, they're all in their prime.

22:33Ian Wright: In fact, they're in their prime.

22:35Gary Neville: You're talking Rio, Van Dijk, Kompany, Rio Van Dyke Tony Adams as well Tony Adams the thing is

22:43Ian Wright: because obviously I've played with him so long and to see what he's gone for there's no way I'm never going to Tony yeah

22:49Gary Neville: but this is not a debate we're having no no this is just of course you could argue Terry and company you could argue Terry and company yeah yeah yeah I don't think you could say it's madness is it exactly yeah of course left back Ashley Cole love Ash I mean Dennis Irwin would be my left back however you can't deny Ash and what he's done and truthfully no be your honourable Peter, listen, we're on a bit of debate, to meet Dennis every day of the week. Yeah, I would go Dennis.

23:12Ian Wright: You're talking about a right-footed playing left-back as well. I'll go Ashley Cole. That's fine. No, it is. Of course, that's what we're doing. We're giving an opinion. But if we analyse Dennis Irwin, what he'd done week in, week out, defensively, very, very good. Brilliant going forward. I don't know how many goals Ashley Cole scored or got assists. Dennis was also adding that to his game. Again, if Dennis was playing today and he was being moved tomorrow,

23:37Gary Neville: our knowledge of Dennis is incredible I think if you actually went to a poll of probably people now they probably would say Ashley Cole wouldn't they I would imagine because it's so recent you spoke about your right back I understand that but I think Dennis they were doing what they did in the Premier League like longevity or as a player this is a guy who obviously to be fair he's been a little bit provocative knowing that three of us played for Man United but I'm looking at it a little bit sort of neutrally and trying to think where's he coming from okay I think to be fair you know you can't I mean Edison's the one I think is just completely wrong that is just completely wrong I think that Schmeichel to be fair he's just not and Dennis I agree Dennis left back however I can see why people would go sometimes actually call over Dennis if you were no I can't see that I know

24:26Ian Wright: and if it's not no I can't see what the other one if it's not Schmeichel Seaman yeah yeah yeah

24:30Gary Neville: if it's not Schmeichel Seaman okay De Bruyne Vieira Gerrard this is so difficult it's a tough day throw Roy in Paul Scholes David Silva you know what when you do these it feels like it feels disrespectful the debate is but them three players are brilliant players it's cool

24:49Ian Wright: again we're talking about the cream here but then we're talking about the cream here as well in my team as well Salah

24:58Gary Neville: Shearer Omri

24:59Ian Wright: Salah can't make my front free in front of Wayne Rooney yeah what we're doing now though Ronaldo's you know what I mean Ronaldo's had five six years Wayne and Ronaldo Wayne has to be in it from 16 man's kicking ball I think we'd have to be in it Wayne I think Giggs he has to be in there Salah can't be in front of Wayne bro

25:18Gary Neville: but you would also say Shearer and Henry have to be in by the way no you don't you could sit there and say what did you say Shearer and Henry you could easily sit here and say Shearer and Henry have to be in there you could no you can't say they have to be in there you could I could sit here and say Alan Shearer the greatest goal scorer in Premier League history and Thierry Henry probably voted the greatest player in Premier League history by probably masses, you couldn't sit here and say, like, you know, I mean, Thierry Henry, we are coming from a different angle in terms of what we see, you know, of course we support.

25:49Ian Wright: Difficult. I can't get over Wayne not being in front of Salah. What's wrong with him? I think it's just an absolute nonsense of a question, to be honest, to say that no Manchester United player. it's an unpopular opinion it's an unpopular popular opinion it's hard to leave Giggs here

26:10Gary Neville: how are you going to leave Giggs here as well Giggs here I agree but to be fair I'm just saying would people pick Thierry Henry over Giggs here Salah's to the right Henry's to the left and Shearer's up front

26:23Ian Wright: I'd have a question Max why Salah been ahead of him that's the only one Salah in front of Ronaldo people say that Ronaldo didn't do it as long as this but like Ronaldo's Ronaldo. Beckham as well. Yeah.

26:35Gary Neville: Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing.

26:42Looking for soccer analysis? More knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise? With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week. We'll cover more ground than Drew Bellingham in a Champions League final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set piece for fine margins, fun debates, and full-blooded tackles football weekly listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on youtube thank you for calling the bombas comfort line bombas make socks slippers tees and underwear made with the highest quality materials press one for comfort two for style three for donation you chose style bombas is styles for whatever you enjoy you can run in bombas lounge in bombas dress them up dress them down but always give back in bombas because with every item purchased another is donated bombas comfort worth calling for go to bombas.com slash audio and use code audio for 20 off your first purchase that's b-o-m-b-a-s.com and use code audio ryan reynolds here from mint mobile i don't know if you knew this but anyone can get the same premium wireless for 15 a month plan that i've been enjoying it's not just for celebrities so

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28:11Gary Neville: Next one, unpopular opinion. Throw-ins should be replaced with kick-outs. No.

28:18Ian Wright: That's my vengal again, isn't it? Don't blame my boss. You're not having that? That's not my boss bringing out that foolishness, is it?

28:25Gary Neville: Is that one of Arsene Wenger's new?

28:26Ian Wright: I think so, yeah. I mean, the throw... So, do you stop throwing in the box and kicking in the box? So it's a free kick instead of a... Yeah. You shouldn't even have asked that one, girl. There's too many rules. It's not popular. It's so unpopular, I don't even like it. That's why it's unpopular. I don't like it. That's a stupid one. There must be a better one than that. Like, you're going to not do throw-ons? You know how old I was when I first took throw-ons? I was so happy.

28:50Gary Neville: By the way, who's got the three rule changes for the World Cup in the summer? Should we do those now? Oh, yeah, I read that. Have you seen those? I didn't read that. Something like if you don't leave the pitch within ten seconds. If you don't leave the pitch within ten seconds of your number going up as a substitute, you get, what happens? Is it one minute? Ten seconds. That's ten seconds. That's too much. And can you leave on...

29:08Ian Wright: You have to leave exactly where you are. What if you're the opposite side? You have to just step off over there. I don't like that rule, by the way, where you have to walk around the pitch. I hate that. Imagine doing that at Anfield or... Exactly. Tottenham. Yeah.

29:20Gary Neville: So a player is substituted, he'll have 10 seconds to leave the field. If he takes longer, the player coming in must wait at least one minute before entering. Yeah, one minute. So a goal could be scored, you could be down for 10 minutes if you don't get off the pitch. That's quite a good rule, I like it. I don't. I didn't get off the pitch, I hate players walking off. 10 is a bit short of you. You're always within 10 seconds. Why do you not just book the player who's going off the pitch? If he's taking a piss? No, but then punish them as well. No, punish me now, he's getting booked, he's walking off.

29:49It's all about time-wasting, isn't it, really? Do we like that rule? I think I'm OK with it.

29:53Ian Wright: I can see where they're coming from. Maybe give a 15 seconds, Gal? Ten feels really short, doesn't it? Or is it just me? It's just me, I don't know. That's quite a quick run, isn't it? It feels... Ten seconds feels like...

30:04Gary Neville: Right, next rule change. If a player asks for medical assistance on the field, he must leave the pitch for one minute. Exceptions can be made. That's an important addition at the end, I think. So that's just a grey area. Yeah. Yeah. Because who's... The acceptance can be made. So, do you know what's happened? And I've seen it a lot, to be fair. I see, actually, we've solved for it a lot in League Two, and I see it a lot, actually. The keepers now are going down on 65, 70 minutes. I mean, Raya does it a lot. I think, you know, a lot of... Salford Kibber. I'm not having to go at your keeper. Salford Kibber done it last night.

30:34Gary Neville: Yeah, I saw it last night.

30:35Ian Wright: Yeah, but, you know, when I first noticed it, it really... The women's game. Yeah, yeah, we did it in the 2015 World Cup. I think it was under Mark Samson. But we used to do it about... I think it was 30 minutes and like 70 to go and get tactical advice.

30:51Gary Neville: Do you know something? I hate it. Look, I've known it's been going on for a bit, but the fact that actually your coach is like, I actually think if a goalkeeper goes down now... Just play on. Right?

31:06Ian Wright: If all the team go on, just play on. If all the team go on, we just say you've got five seconds. You know what I saw last night in the game last night? it was athletic homagerie and he tried to go down on purpose with cramp he didn't have it and the referee just went

31:21Gary Neville: get up what about this really if a keeper goes down right I think the first half you're going to have to accept it if a keeper goes down in the last 25 minutes of a match there's an extra two minutes added on just automatically add a minute on to the extra so just stop them doing it they're wasting time if it's genuine they will go down and they'll be injured and you'll know that if not you get an extra bit do you know what I find strange when the keeper's done it Salford did her last night Salford scored you're wanted up against a team blowing the league you're going go and get the Solford start slowing the game down you're going why are you slowing the game down?

31:51you've got them where you want them go and get the second goal

31:53Gary Neville: what I would say though in regards to Solford you've seen a lot of Solford matches as I have we actually sometimes have been too guilty of going for it after getting one look rather than just saying right ok let's manage and control the guy I thought we managed the game in the last 15 minutes quite well last night did you know I thought we actually managed it quite well after we went 1-0 up yeah but the game finishes 1-0 the other side to that Solfer, you could say, well, I've conceded maybe a lot of late goals, maybe. Go and get the second goal. Smell the game. It'd be different if you're winding up and they're putting you under pressure, but when you're on top of them, just finish it, get the job done.

32:22Best form of defence is a team. Yeah, Gary. Thank you, Jim.

32:24Gary Neville: So anyway, this rule, if a player asks for medical assistance, he must leave the pitch for one minute. I don't like the 30-second rule, but the same exceptions can be made. Now, that's obviously if someone's genuinely injured, because people can get genuinely injured, but are we happy with the rule or not?

32:37Ian Wright: Yeah, because if there's something wrong with him, he's probably going to need that time. he's probably going to need that if there's something genuinely wrong with him but there's nothing wrong with him what are we doing then? OK what are we doing then? I'm asking you there's too many grey areas well I think you like the rule

32:54Gary Neville: I just feel like I wanted

32:55Ian Wright: there's more to go with this rule

32:57Gary Neville: but I don't like the 30 second rule when a player's genuinely injured and they have to go for 30 seconds if a player goes down in the first half of a game I always say he's not genuinely he's going to be injured yeah because he's not going to go down at that stage he's not time wasted in the first half of a game at nil-nil so my point is if he goes down then and it goes up for 30 seconds and then he misses a set piece or defending a corner or something like that you're punishing a team for a player being injured but how can you be injured and come back on after 30 seconds like you're saying he's genuinely injured if he's genuinely injured he's not coming in after even after a minute we're back to last week again you can't be ill they're treating him on the pitch aren't they they're saying they can't move they're treating him on the pitch and then they've done the treatment they go off and then they can come back on but usually if you're getting treatment on the pitch you should be like badly injured so Gary if you do get treatment

33:39Ian Wright: if you get treatment you get the treatment Then you've got to wait one minute. One minute now. I don't like it. Well, that's what you said you did before. I feel like I've changed my mind. Changed my mind, girl, because... And plus, do we know if they're injured? Why are we putting time on... No, I think this is...

33:54Gary Neville: I think these rules need to move into the last 25 minutes of a match, 20 minutes. I don't... These rules, to me... I just think there's too many f***ing rules, and... It's a load of f***ing... You just let the two teams play the game. And see f***ing wins. Yeah, but when...

34:08Ian Wright: LAUGHTER I'll fucking just be a mess. I don't know if it is. All these rules and... Whereas people are using tactics now. We don't know if they're injured or not. That's the thing. If players stop fucking lighting at Arsenal... How do Arsenal use... Because the world will be...

34:24Gary Neville: All's not in play for 60 minutes. I've got a question for you. When you were a manager, did you ever tell a player to go down so that you could do something? Did you ever give a tactic to a team? Did you ever say to a player or did you ever go down so I could make a sub? No, I shouldn't. I might still be in the job.

34:41Did you, Gary? No.

34:45Gary Neville: In Spanish. It's expensive. Cosentration.

34:51Gary Neville: That's all you said, girl. I love it. They're trying to just put so many different things into the game, which is ruining the game. Yeah. Yeah. It's ruining the game. It's boring. It's just so many different things. It's like water breaks. Is there water breaks? Just let the two teams play the game. Water breaks. Right, well, to be fair, you've just... You need the world's fixed on America. Modern football is in danger of eating itself. Unpopular opinion. Yeah, but all these rules we've just discussed. That's why I've just said that one then. That's a unpopular opinion. Yeah, that's what I think.

35:24Gary Neville: Gareth, I thought, Gareth, it was interesting sometimes when you actually have an opinion and you're retired or you feel like a bit of a dinosaur, don't you, coming up with this type of modern football is eating itself. But hearing someone who's so close to the game saying that he thinks it's boring to watch. I think what he said on the show a couple of weeks ago was a real problem. But we've had a few people on here, and obviously even past players, who've all said they're frustrated with the game. But that's all... Mercer said it, or I think Ru Paulette said it, Henry Larson. But now Gareth Bale's 36.

35:54Gary Neville: He's just retired in the last year or two. And he's saying it. That's a real worry, I think. It's definitely not as exciting, I think. It's getting more and more... It's two stops down. It's two stops. I still get... It sounds crazy. I listen to everybody say that it's getting boring. I listen to fans saying it worries me. But when I go to a game, I'm going to United Villa this weekend or it could be Arsenal, Chelsea. I still feel excited. And when I'm watching the game, I don't feel bored. I don't feel like... I still feel quite excited. I think there's too many players, coaches, whatever, trying to cheat.

36:26I think that's the trying to cheat. There's too many stops down. It's just constant stops down.

36:31Gary Neville: Is it game or advantage? Is it gaming or advantage? If you want to say the correct word, and it's whatever but I just think there's so many things going on not cheating are they when you're telling the keeper to go down you're looking for anything Newcastle did a few months ago at United and they get the manager saying to the keeper Ramsey go down well to be fair I mean I remember they made a big like a tactical substitution didn't they because United I think played with a four rather than a five that game it was when our room changed and I think Eddie said get down to the keeper and he went straight down when we were playing I'd be shouting at my teammates to get up if you want the game to get on you want to carry on playing you want to you're not saying oh stay down let's go and get a drink and do this you're saying get up let's keep playing like keep the momentum the floor of the game I've never met anybody like you who's like a street footballer mentality to be fair imagine the playground at school if the ball went over on to the you'd be gutted wouldn't you stop the game can you imagine as well if the game would stop or if the ball burst you'd be like oh no we've not got on

37:31Ian Wright: can you imagine though can I just a picture so Wayne made his his debut at like 16 can you imagine when he was in the playground at 12 what he was doing to people what was it like when you was 12 playing in the playground bro I went in school at that time I was out of there my mum was sitting late so I used to get me dinner and then I'd shoot up I can't imagine you at 12 when you was playing at 16 it's crazy yeah

37:59Gary Neville: Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing The USA in the World Cup will be the worst ever. As a team or the whole tournament? No, the USA, the tournament.

38:16Ian Wright: I never feel that the world... Once the game starts, once the football starts... I think it'll be amazing. It always kicks in, you know, wherever it is. It'll be amazing, yeah. It's probably just logistically the thing in Canada. I think people are thinking about... You're not getting worse in South Africa. You're not. Like the atmosphere of the state, what do you mean? I remember driving into the USA game, the first game. We played my driving in, it's pitch black, there's no fans there. It was just nowhere you normally go to a World Cup and there's fans everywhere and you feel the atmosphere.

38:44Nothing. It just didn't feel like a World Cup at all. It's really interesting. America won't be like that. America won't be like that. You'll get a lot of fans, won't you? America, I think it'll be really good. I think conditions will be hard.

38:55Gary Neville: I think conditions, travel, prices, the trouble at the moment. I think people are sort of saying this is going to be like a bad... But the only thing I'd say about the Americans, obviously you've played in 94, the Americans are still the best at sport and events. They are the biggest and the best. I agree. I just agree with that. Yeah. The golden generation is better than this current England squad. Yeah. Yeah. It's so difficult when times... Individuals in that golden generation. I just don't think you can because of the achievements of this current squad. They've got to two finals, two semifinals and a quarter-final, is it?

39:29Ian Wright: Are we talking about better individuals or what they've... I just think... What they've achieved.

39:33Gary Neville: Well, there's a statement. It's an unpopular opinion.

39:35Ian Wright: Very unpopular.

39:36Gary Neville: Because this current squad, I think, to be fair, got to places where the golden generation never did.

39:42Ian Wright: Yeah.

39:42Gary Neville: I do think that if you hadn't got injured in 2004... We wouldn't. And I know that you... No, no, no. I do think we would have gone on to the final. I do think that. Yeah, but Dev, is that not part of the challenge of a team, missing your players and adapting and rolling with it? You're talking about, like, levels there to here. I think if you go like we've just done before with the United lads in the top 11, if you go with that golden generation, if you like to call it, and go individually and positionally, you probably have the majority of that team in there. But if you go on as a team and a collective of where you've been, then you go with this team.

40:19Yeah.

40:20Gary Neville: Absolutely. Okay. Bruno would easily get into an all-time Man United 11. I just saw a Man United 11 the other day. Bruno was in it. I can't remember who it was that did it. so Bruno gets into an all-time Manchester United 11 let's get how many are you playing in the middle let's get Bruno's stats or two his stats are incredible to be fair you know his stats

40:40Ian Wright: did they put an 11 there so as we can find out who would be replacing no one to get in

40:45Gary Neville: the Tornall man yet

40:46Ian Wright: yeah but they haven't put him in an 11 so we can say he can't get in there in front of such and such it's a statement it's a statement but I don't like this game girl what It's too much loose ends with this game. But what do you class as a good player? Is it stats? I think Brewer's a top player, but to get into Manchester United's all-time 11, I don't think so. Yeah, I think it'd be hard. Well, you think you've got Cantona, all the midfielders, you've got Cantona, you've got all the attacking players. I just don't think, just on stats alone.

41:25Gary Neville: Yeah, 101 assists, 105 goals. That's what he's got. That is unbelievable, by the way. Brilliant. That's amazing. No, it is. They're unbelievable. They're incredible. But to be fair, you talk... But that's not the question you ask. But you are talking about getting in front of people like Bobby Charlton and that attacking field position and attacking sort of... Best. Best Charlton, Scholes... And what if Bruno leads in the next couple of years and he's not got even a couple of league titles under his belt or... That shouldn't count as well. Part of your greatness has to be getting your hands on trophies.

41:50On trophies, yeah. It has to be. It has to be. Without a doubt. If you're comparing them to all the players you've just mentioned there, great players, you... Great characters. Robson. Exactly. In his position, Robson. Yeah, yeah, there's loads. Those creative.

42:02Ian Wright: Yeah, of course. It's such an unpopular question. I don't like that question at all, bro. He's eaten all these. Shouldn't have asked that one. What's Bruno? As a matter of fact, what's Bruno won at United? What's he won? Is it trophy-wise?

42:15Gary Neville: FA Cup? League Cup? Twice? How long has he been? Has he won the FA Cup twice? How long has he been at the club? Five, six years now. League Cup, the one. Let's have a look. He's been longer. he's won the EFL Cup and the FA Cup so if he left United in summer if he moves after the World Cup look the counter argument to that is that up until 93 when Brian Robson was 35-36 he'd only won two or three FA Cups at United so my point is the greatness of Brian Robson as a player when he was playing for England playing for United Steven Gerrard at Liverpool obviously won the Champions League but he also only won Cups so I think there are sometimes a player that does stay with a club that holds that club together through a difficult time.

42:57Gary Neville: I think Bruno has been a shining light for United. So it's that... I mean, if you put... But I think regardless, I don't think he gets... At least I get so much respect from him. I think what he's doing in a poor Man United team, what's been for the last few years. He's been by far the standout player and his stats are very good. But to get in the team ahead of some of the players over Man United's history, I couldn't put him in there. No. Sometimes there's players, and I've looked at players over the years who've played for teams and they've got amazing stats, but the team doesn't really make progress.

43:27I'd rather almost say to players, and I just don't mean Bruno, I'd rather your stats were a bit less but your team were winning a bit more. Yeah. Does that make sense? Yeah, it does. It can't be just about stats. Scoring goals and not winning no trophies.

43:40Ian Wright: You know what I mean? That's what it feels like. All the players you played with, you're going into the biggest game. Who's beside you in the midfield? You don't look at stats. It's like, who would you want beside you? What have you got, Gaz? From my United days. Yeah. if you could pick Incy scores you maybe yeah but he was good he wanted to battle with yeah Incy people still underestimate Paulins because that's his time at Liverpool yeah

44:03Gary Neville: Incy midfield when Incy left United it was a big blow because a young lad that summer Sparky left and Incy left and like we were obviously young players at the time we were actually breaking in we played in that final before they left the one against Everton when Everton beat us and it was a blow because them two were massive characters in the dressing room I mean, Incy was amazing with the young players. He was hard with us, but he was amazing with us, you know. He really looked after us properly, Incy. Well, we go back again. Dinosaurs go back to when we played. But all these players we kind of throw, we mention, and we talk about the modern player, Incy, Sparky, all these lads, Raymond, whatever.

44:41Proper characters. It's the characters that get you over the line in certain games or when you have a difficult few months. And it's the guys in the background who are the fringe players. I was at Wes and Saul for all these lads who come in and might play. you talk about 15-20 games but they were ready they were ready top pros I still think he's showed a lot of cards don't Bruno Bruno he has yeah he very rarely missed a game does he oh yeah I give him credit for all that stuff he's always available

45:05Gary Neville: just that Roy imagine you're not in the area that you're in imagine you're not just born at the point whereby Sir Alex Ferguson signs you come and play at United and you obviously come into a great team in 94 with great lads imagine you're born when Bruno's born and you come and you're that you take Bruno's place and Bruno goes back and plays when you play as an example what impact I do think timing is it because for Bruno to be fit if Bruno was playing in our team he would have won titles yeah we could sit here for the next 20 minutes and speak very highly of Bruno and this is my little hang up with him a little bit an amazing player more talent than I could ever dream about fantastic but I just go back to the great players I still think the great players make the other lads around them better but if they're signing shit around you for like five years six years you've said a few times they can all have been shit they've spent hundreds of millions it's not worked out and that's not on Bruno that's the environment the team chopping and changing managers recruitment but I still look at Bruno certain times and I'd have high standards of players you're talking here about comparing to Bobby Charlton and Robbo and all these lads and I still think the top players what I watch week in week out different levels of football they're great players make yours around them a bit better I just think Bruno But Bruno, I don't think he's got that in his locker.

46:22And that's fine. He's got different DNA and he's probably thinking, no, no, I'm doing my thing and I'm getting all these goals and stats. And I would just, on certain days, look and go, just come back a little bit and be more, dig in where the team can get a result instead of you and your stats. It sounds, I'm contradicting myself because you need a player.

46:39Gary Neville: Yeah, what I would say is I think playing him in a deeper role in midfield was, to be fair, not right. I think where he's playing now in that number 10 role, I think is perfect because it allows him that freedom to be able to go and do what he should be doing. I get all that yeah but ultimately you're playing for Man United we're talking about players who don't necessarily go on and win stuff but when we are experienced at United and if you're saying Incy, Scoles all these lads and I'm thinking if we're in a game and Bruno's in our team or not in our team I still think you'd be rubbing your hands up against Bruno I just think I don't compare them to the lads we've just mentioned and maybe that's because I've got loyalty to them lads Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing Super 6 has more ways to win this year, with a streak of 100 clubs winners just last month.

47:25Gary Neville: Only 70 players predicted Liverpool's 5-2 win over West Ham, and just 27 called Newcastle's 6-1 away win against Carabaug. Cash prizes and custom keepsakes are up for grabs every week alongside massive jackpots, and it's completely free to play. 18 plus TNCs apply.

47:51looking for soccer analysis more knowing than a carlo ancelotti eyebrow raise with the world cup around the corner join me max rushton and the guardians expert soccer journalists on football weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week we'll cover more ground than juve bellingham in a champions league final with conversations sharper than an arsenal set piece for fine margins fun debates and full-blooded tackles football weekly listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on youtube Reddit is where people go for real human advice. When you advertise on Reddit, your brand shows up alongside the most trusted recommendations on the internet.

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48:56Gary Neville: Okay, an Arsenal one. You don't like this game, but you're going to get an Arsenal question. If Unai Emery had been given the same financial backing and support from the fans and club as Arteta has had, we would have won the league at least twice by now possibly even a European trophy

49:13Ian Wright: yeah yeah it's not bad I mean you know what I think that you know what's always living against him is the fact that they didn't give him the time I don't think they did but when you look at Una and what he's done with Villa and what he's trying to do with Villa with all their kind of like PSR all the monies that they can't spend whatever it is I think he probably could have won a couple I don't know if he'd win that much but I think we would have definitely won something. The timing for a manager is huge. His timing at Arsenal when he was a bit younger and Arsenal maybe might have been a bit more...

49:45Maybe the timing for a manager was after... So sometimes you go... I think if you spoke to him now, he'd be going, oh, that Arsenal experience was fantastic for me. It didn't work out, but I learnt a lot. I know what he has done and maybe didn't have at Arsenal. I'll only go to a job when I have my people around me upstairs because that's where he comes alive and he's probably in charge of everything, which he probably is a villa. But it's very hard to get that control at an Arsenal or a Man United. there's too much stuff going on upstairs. But he's got a villain he had obviously in Spain. And maybe that's his environment.

50:12This is where I'm comfortable.

50:13Gary Neville: But Arsenal have done well to stand by a manager who hasn't won a trophy for five years and believe in him because I think he's going to get there this season. I think there's been a... A massive progression every season. A progression and I think Arteta has been brilliant. For all their patience, they're going to get the rewards. Not just the next few months. Because Arsenal obviously, you think they're going to get their hands on one trophy anyway, maybe two. But from Arsenal's point of view and Arteta and their point of view, but listen, that's just the start of it. We've got a new director of football and this is the start because Arsenal want to be around the next four, five, six, seven, eight years and try and dominate.

50:44Gary Neville: Would you and I have won the title by now if he'd been backed?

50:47Ian Wright: I'd have to say that. Arsenal got that support, I would say, yeah, with his quality. That's what I'm thinking as well. The way he is, his attention to detail on what he's done, he's not a million miles off of Mikel with the attention to detail. So if he got that same backing and, like you say, the timing, yeah, I think he could have done that.

51:02Gary Neville: Would you and I Henry be a candidate for Manchester United in the summer? No, because of what we just said. The structure. You don't think he'll go there? No. He would go there, no?

51:13Ian Wright: I think he's... I know, but you talk about managers, the top managers, Pep included, the top managers manage upwards as well. They call the shots with the people above him. He's got that at Villa. He didn't have an answer to go back to the day. And I know sometimes you can't just automatically go to a job because you've got control everywhere. But I think what's he doing at Villa? And the people above him suits him down to the house. So he'd have to have his own people. Yeah, I think that's his strength, managing outwards tanks. I learned that on my pro licence. I think he would take the job, though.

51:41I think Mikel manages that. I don't think he would be that desperate enough to sacrifice all that to go to even a United. I think Mikel's got the power to his manager.

51:49Ian Wright: Oh, definitely. Yeah, I doubt. Fingers crossed Mikel can finish it.

51:53Gary Neville: Last one. Probably levelled at us, this maybe, or not all of us. Those who haven't managed in the top tier should temper their opinion on managers working in the game.

52:04Ian Wright: listen I'm baller league manager I'm a baller league champion that kind of question is that I'm a winner do they mean like pundits and stuff like that I think that's what it's saying I think when I look back at the jobs I've done I think I've asked my teams to try and play the way a Premier League team would play so I think I'd be actually suited better to a Premier League team than to what I was if that makes sense yeah but if people also question pundits opinions who've not managed? Is that the question? That's the question. Yeah. Yeah, but that's... Who's going to get on then? You're not going to have all ex-managers, are you?

52:43Exactly. No, but also in general, when we're doing games, you mean week in, week out. The standard pundit, you mean? Yeah, yeah. You'd manage in the top tier or else it wouldn't be leveled at you. Yeah, but I'd like to think it gives you a chance. Do you? Well, you've coached at a good level. But for me, giving an opinion on a football match, I'm actually, and it's not about people in agreement, but if you've played at a decent level, you've managed or coached, international football or premier, yeah, it should give you a little bit of help along the way what you're giving. But it doesn't mean to say you're going to be right or wrong.

53:09Or people go, yeah, we agree with you. Actually, I worry when people agree with me all the time. The man in the street will go, I don't want you to agree with me. Exactly. You'll be watching the game after 15 pints. But then you've got fans.

53:19Ian Wright: You're supposed to give a bit of expertise to it. But yeah, that's all you're doing. But like, even the fans have been watching the game for many, many years. They could qualify for talking about... What do you do now, don't you? Exactly, that's what they're doing now. Like fan debate. Could you imagine if you started to choose, Oh, you can't do it because you didn't play there, you didn't play in that tournament. But you know what I find? No one on the TV. Right, he does the women's game, like, do you have to have done something? I'll talk about men's football, do you know? Like, do you have to have done something?

53:45But what amazes me, you know, when we do stuff here and we work, and I find it strange when other pundits get on board and disagree with what you've said, you're going, that's just... Why are you questioning us? You're just another pundit. Other pundits seem to get upset with other pundits' opinion. That's what the game's about. we could all watch a game here everyone in this room and we see it a bit differently but because we've played a game and manage it I'd like to think I might be a step ahead of you but it doesn't mean to say you get blase but then go I can just say that because I've played a certain amount of games you still do your homework you still watch your game and go that's what I'm seeing today and you'll have it when you're playing don't you how many times have you been in the dressing room where I'll think something and you'll think something different or the same with you well you've managed Wayne right and we've done a bit of coaching but certainly when you're doing games and people ask what would the manager be doing I mean, it doesn't mean to say you're going to get it right or wrong, but you go, no, I'll have an idea of where the manager might be coming from.

54:37I'll try and see it from a manager's point of view, just because I've managed, sometimes good, sometimes bad, but you're entitled to give your opinion than anybody else. Everybody. But I don't understand the other pundits out there who get upset with the other pundits opinions. You go, that's fine, it's cool. You're cool, you're jets. Oh, you shouldn't be saying that. You're backing him, you're backing him. Everyone's backing somebody.

54:57Ian Wright: Well, that's what I've found. There's people who, I don't know, they're on different things and they just want to come at you just because of the pylon that can come with.

55:04Gary Neville: I think, to be fair, if you've played football or if you've watched football, I never doubt the opinion of a fan who's watched their team. If a fan has watched their team 50 games in a season every minute, they've got an unbelievable amount of knowledge of that club and that player. We watch Liverpool 15 times a season. If you've watched Liverpool 50 times, when I watch Liverpool sometimes, I don't think they're boring. I don't get bored watching Liverpool. I think actually I quite like them but if you speak to Liverpool fans en masse they're like nah I think that it's not right this but they watch them every week every minute of every single game we don't but that doesn't mean to see it on a red card you know what I mean no no I get that but what I'm saying to you Roy is that I think fans, ex-players, players have a right to have an opinion and a lot of the time I think managers to be fair I've got experience of managers and being a manager managers are the last to see the problem sometimes because of their stubbornness and their paranoia.

56:01Gary Neville: Now, they're also highly qualified doing a pressurised job. Amirim, you're talking about it. But they are very, very... Managers come in. No, not much about Amirim. He was stubborn. Yeah, he was stubborn. Managers come in with an idea. They stick to it. They have players where they have blind spots where they can't see a blind spot. Cobby Main is a good example with Amirim, actually. Yes. So you see that. And they're the last to change. But everybody in the crowd that can see it, just get Cobby in there or change the system, Ruben, and we'll back you again. Yeah. So, fans, again, but you're on the other hand, fans can all you have to be careful if you start listening to all the fans opinions every week you're in trouble but what's the actual unpopular opinion those who haven't managed in the top tier should temper their opinion on managers working like fans have opinions about certain players or certain clubs when we were at United certain fans would have favourites in you because we're walking closely we're going I don't get that one I know there's this thing in there we go he's a bluffer this fella but if you all like him no problem but they could pick on certain players because fans then can get brainwashed by other supporters or fanzines or listen social media wherever it might be but because hopefully we've got a bit of an insight and we've played at a decent level or we know what a manager is going through and you might say a manager going he's struggling why isn't he playing him because he might be working with him every day of the week and go do you know what he's the laziest f***ing lover of me you know there'll be reasons why a manager's picking and if the manager's not making the right decisions he'll be sacked anyway why should pundits not be allowed to speak about what other I mean we don't I know but why should pundits not be allowed to speak about what other pundits say because I'll go back to it because us we're sitting here we've all got different experiences we're entitled to our opinion it's not for other pundits to agree with us or not do you know what I mean we're just giving an opinion in a football match and these pundits go I don't agree with that I don't give a f*** if you agree with me or not who are you you know what I mean but other pundits seem to be getting upset lucky I'm not one of them

57:46it's bizarre it's so bizarre you know the different experiences as players I think there's that many platforms I know yeah and sometimes we'll talk and like because I know when you say about playing out from the back like I was at City and it was all about playing out from the back and you'd get hammered if the keeper did go along and we'll have conversations and you can't see that because it's like different ways that teams play isn't it so sometimes when you're on the ground at different teams you'll have different opinions like you see football differently Martin only told me a great story he went to Leicester Martin couldn't win the game for six months he tells the story and he's slightly exaggerating of course the way Martin does it and he had a young lad on the bench so for six months Martin said he couldn't win the game I forget the young player's name but I'll just say it was Murphy but it wasn't Murphy so the fans are like get Morphe the Irish name yeah get Morphe on so he's like every week after six months he went I'm going to get Morphe on play as Morphe Morphe starts badly get Morphe off get him on get him on get him off you've got to be careful who you're listening to get him on get him off

58:43Gary Neville: right on the subject of you brought some friends from Cork oh I love that and they did us all a shirt didn't they oh I love it and there's mine Cork City Football Club how nice is that shirt lovely yeah that is a lovely colour It's cool. The purple one's nice as well. That's the away one, yeah. Yeah. I've got the own one, haven't I? Are you putting it on? I'll put it on for the last part of the show. Could have played for Cox, should have, yeah.

59:05Ian Wright: Watch out for your mic. That's so kind, though. Is it a bit tight? No, it's all right. Wow. That's perfect, girl. You would have suited that top, Gary. You would have enjoyed League of Ireland. Yeah. Playing long role. Fix him up, Wayne. Jill, I think you need to shoot up. Oh, do I need to go? What? Jesus, she's got... This is a joke. We can't do it. Jill, no. No, she can't leave like that. Are you leaving me, sweetie? It's been lovely to see you. Come on. Come on. Jesus. I've got to go as well. I've got to go as well. My dog needs walking. I've got to go as well.

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From the publisher

Welcome back to Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE.


In this episode, Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, Jill Scott, Roy Keane and Ian Wright take on some of your unpopular opinions on the game today.


First, the team is joined by former Manchester United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw, who reflects on his time at the club as a backup keeper and his later role working alongside Roy Keane on the coaching staff at Sunderland.


The focus then shifts to your unpopular opinions, and it doesn’t take long for the debate to split the table. From whether Bruno Fernandes makes an all-time Manchester United XI, to the question of whether Neymar would have been the Premier League’s greatest ever player in his prime, the panel do not hold back.


As always, strong opinions are shared and challenged.


What is your all-time Premier League XI? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!


00:00 - Intro

18:36 - Neymar Versus Premier League all-time

23:05 -  Premier League All-Time XI

34:20 - Slowing The Game Down

44:55 - Worst World Cup ever?

47:10 - Does Bruno Make United’s All-Time XI

1:03:00 - Roy on pundits


This episode is sponsored by Heineken. Enjoy Heineken responsibly.

Heineken contains 5% ABV. Heineken 0.0 contains no more than 0.05% ABV.

For the facts about alcohol, visit https://wwww.bedrinkaware.co.uk


This episode is sponsored by Microsoft Copilot as part of their partnership with the Premier League.


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