Arsenal Prove their Mettle, Palace Hit the Jackpot Against Slot

17:15Robbie Earle:Nothing definitive. Absolutely not.

17:17Robbie Mustoe:Absolutely. Okay, mate. Let's go to the reigning Premier League champions. who were facing Crystal Palace at Sellers Park. Crystal Palace had been a bit of a bogey team out of late to Liverpool. It was a kick-off. It was Crystal Palace who got themselves off to an early start. A goal from Ismail Assar, I know one of your favourite under-appreciated players and performers of the week. They get the one goal up. Liverpool, I thought, got torn apart. As leaky as I've seen them, which is a credit to Crystal Palace, but a real bad look on Liverpool and just their defensive structure. I thought the goalkeeper came up with a couple of brilliant saves, one-on-one, not when.

18:07Robbie Mustoe:If he isn't there, one or two of those go in, and Palace could easily have been three or four and up at half-time. I think then we all go to the narrative, oh, this is Liverpool, they're not playing particularly well, they haven't scored, there'll be a late goal. And Chiesa comes up and gets that late goal, and then we're all like, oh no, here we go again. It's another late winner. It was a late winner, but it was for Eddie and Ketty and Palace and not for Liverpool. I know you, for one, and a few have been saying, you have to be careful how they've been playing because something like this is coming.

18:42Robbie Mustoe:Was that almost exactly pointing to where you see that defensive frailty and the lack of maybe control that Liverpool would want as champions?

18:52Robbie Earle:Well, champions, Rob, don't concede many goals, do they? You know, again, I look back, because that's the sort of thing I do, but I look back and champions, you know, they're not conceding 40 goals over, really, or not many of them are. It's like less than a goal a game conceding, and the rate they're on is not sustainable. We talked about this, Rob, didn't we, recently? It's like, okay, there's a few things that's going on here. They're either going to sort their stuff out here, and they're going to stop the goals going in, they're going to win a lot of games because they've got a lot of great forwards.

19:21Robbie Earle:you know is it the team gelling just finding their feet a little bit or is this something that's going to be an issue and this game says for now at least anyway that the defensive problems we've seen that the goals conceded is an issue and it come back to hurt them in this game you know it was always something was going to give wasn't it in this one both unbeaten you know we know that Palace are brilliant defensively for the most part and Liverpool have been leaky they changed the front line around a little bit, Rob. I know, you know, again, this is part of the reason the start of the season where I'm like, hmm, Liverpool going to change almost half of the outfield team.

19:55Robbie Earle:You know, and again, you had Florian Vietz playing off the left, but basically given a free license, an absolute free license to go all over the park to try and get on the ball, which is different. Ekeke was out, of course. You know, so you had...

20:10Robbie Mustoe:He's out the start, didn't he? He's out the front, who's not quite much feet yet.

20:13Robbie Earle:You know, so there's still, there's little things that are finding their way through, but it wrapped up in defensively, they're not as strong as they need to be early on in the season to kind of, I mean, I know they won all the games, but this is one of those, there you go. You can't concede multiple goals in games and expect to remain at the top of the league table. So they are still, of course, right now. And we're still on that scenario, Rob, where they might figure it out. But if they don't figure it out, they're going to drop points and enough not to win the title, in my opinion, if they keep conceding many goals.

20:45Robbie Mustoe:Might they spend$40 million in the January window and go and get Mark Gay? Problem solved.

20:52Robbie Earle:Yeah, that's a big part of it. I thought Ibram McEnate had a bit of a nightmare. I'm generally a fan of him. Mateta kind of bullied him many times, particularly in the first half. You're right, Rob. I made the same note. It could have been 4-5-0 in the first half. So, obviously, Mark Gay, he would help. odd game for Gay playing in this, Rob, isn't it? Realising up against the guy that the team he could have been playing for. Yeah. So that's something, yeah, that they might do that. And they need to, Rob, because the young lad has got a crucial, hasn't he? Done his ACL.

21:22Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Giovanni Leone, the kid, yeah. He played against Southampton in the League Cup. Looks like he's going to be out for 12 months. They really do need a centre-back.

21:31Robbie Earle:They really do need a centre-back. Leone and Joe Gomez are very much second-tier centre-backs. and having those as cover is risky. You lose one of them and now you are one or two inches away from a real problem. So whether it'll figure out all the... I'm a big believer in team defending, Rob, team attacking, team defence. One player will help, I think, but there's more than one central defender, in my opinion, that needs to be more focused defensively to help Liverpool win games a bit more like 1-0 or keep more clean sheets. So, again, that is the issue, the nagging issue, and it came back to hurt them late here with a long throw-in, wasn't it?

22:11Robbie Earle:Was it a long throw-in, the last goal? I can't remember. Or the ball and catches.

22:16Robbie Mustoe:It played in, didn't it? It was headed on, and then Gravenberch played them onside. Yeah. Just a little one on Liverpool, on a slot with Liverpool. I don't know if you saw his press conference, and again, I'm not sure what he was alluding to, or I'm actually not sure why he said it, But he came out in the press conference and said, one of my forwards was more worried about running forward and looking to counter-attack than defending the ball coming in the box. And that was possibly the reason why we lost a winning goal. Which I thought was quite a strange thing for a manager to say, because he wasn't naming a player, so it wasn't like he was pointing a finger, but he's obviously talking to somebody through the media.

22:58Robbie Mustoe:So straight away, what's the first thing we'd do? we get the tape, I look around, who's running out? Who was it? Looks like Cody Gakpo was on the six-yard box.

23:06Robbie Earle:Was it?

23:07Robbie Mustoe:And then he goes flying out the box, and then as the ball gets played in, he's not in a position, but he wasn't necessarily, but he did come running out of the box a little bit.

23:16Robbie Earle:He could have stayed back then, Rob. He could have just stayed somewhere around that six-yard box,

23:20Robbie Mustoe:and he might have been there. Listen, I'm not sure he definitely stops it, but I just thought it was an interesting way the managers communicated his message. Yeah, he is. with his comments

23:31Robbie Earle:and sometimes it can be quite brutal. I think it can be quite brutal

23:34Robbie Mustoe:and I think it's one of those where he's not Jose Mourinho, name you, shame you, chuck you under the bus, but I think the sort of ways he gets messages across, you know, we saw it with Trent last season, we've seen it with other players, Kirchhoff this year when he was on a yellow card and he dragged him off.

23:53Robbie Earle:He was a yellow card, Rob, wasn't he? Yeah, yeah. He jumped on him, didn't he? About the celebration

23:58Robbie Mustoe:and he shouldn't be doing it. So, yeah, I thought it was just another little message from Slott in terms of, listen, this guy's a bad loser. You know, all the champion managers are bad losers. And, you know, he's just making sure that everybody understands that, you know, we've all got a team responsibility. I think we've got to talk Palace, Rob, a little bit before we move on. We have. Brilliant. A couple of things have become apparent. And, you know, I've got good friends at Mount Bright, one of my good friends who's really close at Palace. and I text him after the game and he's just like, this guy in charge is a special guy, mate.

24:34Robbie Mustoe:And I think the worry for Palace is that his contract runs up at the end of the season, Oliver Glasner, and playing the system that is causing Ruben Amram all kinds of problems, with the way he brings players in, the way he tweaks things, his tactical understanding, his possession with and without the ball, I just feel like he's going to be on a few people's radar mate a few bigger clubs radar across Europe I would say not just in the Premier League

25:04Robbie Earle:you're right mate all across Europe yeah it really really is I mean it's a spectacular job to bring a club through to their I think Rebecca said you know the best time of all to be a Crystal Palace fan right now the best year 2025 where they've won so much they're in a position now league table which is incredible

25:20Robbie Mustoe:for them after losing regularly losing players Yeah.

25:25Robbie Earle:Yeah. I mean, it's some, your mate Bright, Mark Bright, I know he's high up there at Crystal Palace, to try and persuade Glazer to sign the new contract. I mean, that's got to be the club's ambition. I mean, whether it will happen, it seems unlikely given the big jobs and the desire to get a top manager. He's mature. He's good in his press conference here. He's tactically shown he can do a very good job. And he's poor. The club have recruited well, Rob. I've always said that about Palace. I'm going to jump to my underappreciatedness. A little bit of a different one this week. Okay. But watching this game and the way the Palace defended, I just thought these three central defenders of Crystal Palace, Max Gahey, no, Mark Gahey, sorry, Max Lacroix and Chris Richards, the three central defenders, were absolutely outstanding in the game.

26:17Robbie Earle:And I get that Mark Gahey is probably appreciated. So there's a little, you know, with him, I get that he's, you know, of course he wanted by Liverpool, but the other two particularly, and the three as a unit, I mean, some of the best defenders in the Premier League as a unit together as an essential three. So I just, I didn't want to pick out any one, but I just thought the way they defended as a three man back line, I don't know where it gets much better than that and what they bring and the determination, the heart, the heading balls away. I just think they're a really good centre-back triumphant.

26:51Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, they work well together. It's a really good shout because, listen, we've seen plenty of three at the back, and West Ham were trying it, looked terrible. Man United, the child, looks terrible. Loads try it. There's loads who can't make it work. So, yeah, it's a really good shout, the three centre-backs. They were sort of unsung heroes in the team. Everybody was talked about. The Alises and the Aziz and the Tettys and all those forward players. but they don't get it right at the back and the two wing-backs do a good job for them. Good times for Palace, good times for Oliver Glasner. Knowing Brighton, my mate, he'll talk to Oliver Glasner and then if he doesn't sign, he'll put him in a headlock and keep him there until he signs a contract, mate.

27:31Robbie Mustoe:We'll see how that goes, but good times for Palace and beating the champions at Salos Port, which opened the door up for Arsenal to them to do their stuff today. Let's move it to the G-Tech, mate. Keith Andrews, Brentford team, taking on Ruben Hammond's Manchester United. I believe, I think it was before the game, three of the last four times United have played there, United have got beaten, so it wouldn't be a surprise. The thing with United, any result isn't a surprise at the moment. Every now and then you see a performance and a result. Other times you see you can't scratch in your head what's going on.

28:08Robbie Mustoe:Before the game, Beck said to me, is this the kind of game that if United win, and I looked at the fixtures coming up. So they've got Brentford, they've got Sunderland, Liverpool, Brighton and Forest. She said, is that a number of games they can get some points, get some consistency and start to move in the right direction? And I said, who knows, Bex, it's Man United. From game to game, I have no idea what you're going to get. And I think the biggest problem for Ruben Amron is he's in a pretty similar position.

28:41Robbie Earle:well I've said about United a couple of weeks ago Rob that until the front three become fit you know and let's see a run of games where he's got his new players out there and he's kind of you know his summer additions a lot of money spent on those front three players and Burma, Cunha and Cesco yeah they started and you know I thought there were moments in the game where they look pretty good going forward Bruno's linking up with them pretty well and that's what United need to see. Now, the result was a shocking result. I know Bruno missed the penalty and the non-award of a red card to Nathan Collins, Rob, when you pull a player back in Bermot that's right in front of goal and he's not attempting to play the ball.

29:25Robbie Earle:I text you, I'm like, I don't know what to say. Well, apparently

29:29Robbie Mustoe:the excuse was that he has to be in control of the ball, which, I mean, is the worst excuse you can ever...

29:37Robbie Earle:So anytime somebody's going to do a one-touch finish, I can just yank him from behind, right?

29:43Robbie Mustoe:As long as the ball's not on his foot, yeah, as long as he's away.

29:47Robbie Earle:That might be the most ridiculous thing I may have ever heard in terms of that. And you know what I did, Rob? Because, you know, I think I'm pretty close to the interpretations of the officials, right? But when I get a weird one, I'm like, oh, if I miss something... I went back and looked at the FIFA laws of the game. law 12 about discipline and red cards and all that and when you read it that's a red card yeah he's about he's absolutely there gonna gonna knock it in control whatever he wants if you can't do it somebody stops you so that's that's one that i'll be looking forward to and the next time the

30:17Robbie Mustoe:referees they're mic'd up and yeah mic'd up and tell us yeah so i didn't really i do i really

30:24Robbie Earle:didn't get that um so that obviously didn't help but you know now united have got some of their players back we're gonna we're gonna look rob over the next few weeks we're gonna we're gonna me and you are going to chat United every single week. It's mostly going to be like this, where it's frustrating. When we get to December, and there's been a good run of the new players playing in there, if they're not putting runs of wins together and looking like progression, he's got to go. He's got, because it's just not working. It's a long enough time. He's had a window. He's had players to come into his system.

30:55Robbie Earle:I don't think the recruiting has been brilliant because they didn't bring a central midfield player in and a right wing back and maybe a goalkeeper, but there's been a lot of money being spent. Now, if he has to pay for bad recruitment, that's what might happen. But, you know, again, a couple more months because you can't keep going the same way. Do you think a couple more months, Rob?

31:11Robbie Mustoe:Do you think we're talking months? Well, I'm always out.

31:16Robbie Earle:I'm always out. So whatever I say, minus about a month.

31:19Robbie Mustoe:It was interesting that Gary Neville comes on, who's a Premier League contributor from obviously the UK, famous Manchester United winning captain and player. and that definitely has an inside feel of what's going on at Manchester United. And probably as strong as I've heard Gary say that he felt like a couple of weeks, almost like this guy's under serious pressure now, which made me think, and again, I'm not saying Gary's telling you he's going to go or not, but just for somebody who's close to the know and has a real touch and feel of Manchester United, I get the sense we're probably talking four or five games.

31:59Robbie Mustoe:You know, and it might be up to the games. The Liverpool one, they might look at it different. But Sunderland, Brighton, Nottingham Forest. I think if we're not seeing some wins, eight, nine, ten points at that situation, Rob, I think we might be in for change.

32:18Robbie Earle:I mean, the goals are conceded, Rob, and the nature of long balls over the top and Harry Maguire again gets a start at centre-back and gets caught out over the top.

32:28Robbie Mustoe:Then he changes his centre-backs, you know, and Luke Shaw, he takes two centre-backs off. I've never quite understand what that one's all about.

32:36Robbie Earle:But the point being is that he's got, most people fit now. When Kunja was out and they weren't playing well, it was like, well, he's kind of the best attacking player. Let's get him back in the side. Let's give them the front three a run. He's got, you know, he's got his options defensively now. You know, he's made a decision with the goalkeeper. That's on him now in terms of who's, Alte, he's being the number one. and they didn't go for Emi Martinez. Let's see. And maybe, yeah, maybe you're right. With the strongest-ish XI available, and the next month then, let's say, you know, four or five games, let's see how they look.

33:10Robbie Earle:If there's no improvement, then they've got to start again. It's horrific to say it, but you can't keep going down. You know, he's been a brilliant manager in Portugal. Yeah. In Portugal. Nowhere else. In a team that dominates the possession. if Man United dominated possession this would look so different but the Premier League is so hard and there's so many good teams that are good on the ball that they are going to have long spirits in every single game without the ball and that's where the system you know with the restrictions with the players he's got has looked to be not up to it and we'll see another few more weeks of his best side they better start progressing because every manager's got to show signs of progression period

33:50Robbie Mustoe:they need a run mate they need some kind of run that starts to put some wins some draws or else, yeah, as good a reputation as he's got, they're going to have to make a big call on that one.

34:03Robbie Earle:Let's move to Stamford Bridge, another place where there's a little bit of unrest.

34:07Robbie Mustoe:Chelsea 1, Brighton 3. Chelsea go 1-0 up through Fernandes, and then game changing, Chalabar makes a poor challenge on Gomez, who's going through. It's definitely a foul. It's also a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. So for two weeks running, Chelsea down to 10 men. and then Brighton came back into the game. Danny Welbeck came on as a sub with a couple of goals and Max De Kuyper gets a header in the six-yard box where Chalabar might have been. So Brighton end up winning the game 3-1. I was doing this game more, keeping an eye on the window. There's a few boos in that at the end, Rob. The Chelsea fans weren't happy with what they're seeing.

34:49Robbie Earle:Well, they've never been fully convinced, have they, Chelsea fans? They haven't been. And I get it. Those Chelsea fans know what they're doing. They've seen successful football over a long period of time. I think some are excited by a project, a very different, unprecedented project of young players bought from all over the world at great expense to be great players and great investments. And some people are like, why do we spend all this money on young players? When we had all this money, we could have bought the finished product.

35:15Robbie Mustoe:That seems to be the new narrative, doesn't it, now? We spent all this money and we're not much better than we were before we started. Yeah. Yeah.

35:22Robbie Earle:And also, the point being as well against Brighton, Rob, the flipping club that you give them an absolute fortune for billions of pounds or whatever, and to pick their best players, they still come on your turf and beat them, is not a good look for the manager as well. He's spiky. He's never really had a sustained run of bad results where the pressure starts to mount a little bit. And they might not now. They might bounce back. You know, in general, I've liked this project. They've got success. They won that thing in the summer, of course, the World Cup, which to some is a big deal. To some others, it's not.

35:58Robbie Earle:I think it's quite a big deal to go there and beat all those teams and to win it.

36:01Robbie Mustoe:80 million in your bins ain't bad either, by the way.

36:04Robbie Earle:Yeah, the money was good. But, you know, this will be...

36:08Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

36:09Robbie Earle:Well, I think this will be pretty organic. If they improve slowly and steadily and the young players get better, it's going to be all good. If it stalls Rob for any reason or they go on a long run of results where it's not great, then you start getting rumblings again. And then the pressure will mount on this guy. I'm not sure how he's going to cope with the difficult questions because he can be quite spicy, can't he? And pretty honest with his comments. So bad luck. Again, I didn't see this one closely. It's the same window as all the other games. And it's tough to watch closely two or three games at the same time.

36:40Robbie Earle:I know you watched it more closely. But I watched, of course, the highlights and the sending off, getting caught the wrong side. it's an obvious dogzo and Welbeck again does the business so bad look for I always think it's a real bad look when a Brighton we're talking about these teams that lost out to your Brentfords and your Brightons brilliantly run clubs and just shows you now this league with the money that all of them are getting you make good recruitment you pick good managers they can beat anybody

37:09Robbie Mustoe:yeah absolutely and obviously Cole Palmer's out with this groin injury that they're saying they don't want to operate on they want to give him time to rest and get fit obviously that's going to run a period of time talking probably after the October international break that he'll be back in the team but I still have my reservations about Chelsea defensively and it includes the goalkeeper and includes the back four I'm just not sure that's at the level that it needs to be when I talk of all the other big clubs who are talking big six teams and looking... But that's going to be

37:46Robbie Earle:another change in Rob, isn't it? Everything's always changing at Chelsea. The front line's changed again. It takes time to get used to these players. So many players come in and out, you know, it's like...

37:56Robbie Mustoe:That's where somebody at the club has to say, right, okay, enough. Set it down a little bit. This way, we're going this direction, we're going for the next 18 months and we're going to go down there and if that doesn't work, then we'll change. But it feels like month to month, it seems like different bases, different people, different changes. You've got to learn it.

38:13Robbie Earle:You've got to learn the system every single time.

38:14Robbie Mustoe:And I chose, you know, still learning. He's the next one. Yeah, he's the next one. Just before we move on, mate, I'm going to give you my under-preciate perform of the week. And he's a gentleman who's now 34 years of age, so just a couple of years younger than us. He's started his career at Manchester United in 2008, played 92 games for the Red Devils, scored 20 goals. Danny Welbeck, my friend. in an era and a time when clubs are having to spend 70, 80, 90 million dollars for the Jokerezzis and the Voldemulders and the Cheskos who look great players and, you know, the Europhiles and have played in all these clubs, but actually we don't know can they do it in the Premier League.

39:02Robbie Mustoe:Danny Welbeck, my friend, can do it in the Premier League and still continues to do it. Came off the bench in this game, gets a couple of goals. A lovely moment. I don't know if you saw. He took his shirt off to celebrate. The referee came over giving him a yellow card. The referee was a balding man. He kind of put his hand on his bald head. Oh, did he? It was a brilliant shot and very Danny Welbeck, just laughing at himself but trying to make light of the situation. I hear everything about him in the dressing room. He's a great pro. He sets good standards. He's obviously been around some big pros at Manchester United and at Arsenal when he was there.

39:39Robbie Mustoe:People are always, you know, he gets good receptions when he goes back to places. I just think he's one of those little diamonds for a manager to have who can call on him and James Milner for Fabian Herzler. I think it are absolute diamonds, mate. And, you know, you talk about all this young talent that comes through. You have to have good people around your football club as well to make sure that young talent goes in the right direction. and Danny Welbeck's one of them. And won't be talked of with all the big strikers in the league now, but still does an important and still knows where the goal is.

40:18Robbie Earle:He's very much a Robbie Earl favourite, and he ticks all the boxes to love him. He's a great pro. He's a consistent scorer. He's not a fancy down, flash, big mouth guy. He gets on with his work. He's always available. Yeah, I can't argue with that, mate. and underappreciated, absolutely right. We have just been talking about a team that's got so many young players they could do with some experienced ones. And that's why we say this unprecedented at Chelsea because of every young team, Man United, that class of 92 coming through, there's amazingly great pros to help them along in the team. There's probably two or three in the team at least to help these young players.

40:58Robbie Earle:And Danny Werbeck's one of those, as you've said, steady Eddie, scores his goals, does his thing, knows his art, goes on about his business, really professionally. Yeah, I'm never going to push back at Danny Welbeck, Rob. And he loves scoring goals, doesn't he? You know, it's his man when he's scored over his career,

41:14Robbie Mustoe:wherever he's at.

41:15Robbie Earle:He enjoys his craft. So fair play. Yeah, I don't mind that at all. And well done to Brighton. You know, we're very quick to praise the three Bs, the Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentfords, because they are quite the story. And it's what, you know, we said many times, what good ownership and recruitment can do for your club and what an example that was, Brighton beating Chelsea pretty handily.

41:38Robbie Mustoe:OK, we're going to move on to get through the other results. Big game at Villa Park this morning, actually, after Aston Villa yet to win a game this season. Ollie Watkins yet to score a Premier League goal. Aston Villa hosting Fulham, a Fulham team that really do test you and make it difficult. And Fulham, three minutes into the game, Raul Jimenez gets himself a goal and dark clouds circling again over Villa Park. but Ollie Watkins managed to equalise 37 minutes, gets a ball over the top, a bit old-school Villa, going a bit more direct, clips over the goalkeeper John McGinn, scores a very McGinn-like goal, and Buendia came on and had, in fact, second half, gets the third goal.

42:19Robbie Mustoe:A couple of things, Raul Jimenez picked up a bit of an injury with his hip, he had to come off, we're not sure what happened with him, but in terms of Villa, mate, was this just what was required, required a bit more like normal service resumed for Villa and Unai. he called his team lazy and lacked identity last week at Sunderland. Yeah.

42:41Robbie Earle:Well, I think you saw the reaction from Emery when the goals go in, the reaction and the emotion that he's putting through. And you could noticeably at 3-1, when they're 3-1 and they're cruising a little bit, the fans are much happier. The players, I mean, it's amazing, Rob. Like the main criticism that we've had, and I've certainly had a Villa watch them early on. It's like, wow, what's happened to them? The playing's so slow. It's incredible. And then all of a sudden, I watched him today in the second half, Robert 3-1, zipping the ball around, going into tackles. It's amazing what goals do for you and how confidence changes and how it affects your work ethic and your attitude to the game.

43:16Robbie Earle:It's amazing. And that's the mental kind of part of the game when the confidence goes up and everything changes. I thought that the McGinn goal could be quite the moment, Rob. That could be to go ahead from him. you know his celebration and I don't know I mean it's like okay that's better Villa you're way way too good to be in the bottom three in this league that's absolutely crazy and I just thought the football looked that's more like it no and it's not everything's not great and you know it still wasn't perfect in the last 20 minutes they happened to defend uh more than they probably wanted to but that's more like it and I expect Villa now to go on a bit of a run that's back to back victories I think in Bologna wasn't it earlier yeah in European football in the

43:59Robbie Mustoe:Europa League

44:00Robbie Earle:so good good win for them and Villa you know that's better they've lost some players you know Morgan Rodgers Rob is you know I understand been getting stick off the fans I'm like what you know what everything that they did last year and the development of this kid home to Burnley next week as well

44:16Robbie Mustoe:home to Burnley so you know another winnable game I think they've got a midweek game again in Europe so managing that is going to be a little bit of an issue but yeah it's like a big hangover Rob isn't it

44:26Robbie Earle:it's like a big hangover from the Champions League Yeah, yeah. Huge hangover.

44:29Robbie Mustoe:It's definitely been over them. Yeah. And it's funny, like you say, how it affects. Training's not quite as good. You're not as sharp. And then all of a sudden, you know, you get a couple of goals. All the Watkins gets goals. John McGinn gets a massive moment. The whole atmosphere changes. Still good comes back. And it frees you up, doesn't it? It frees you up and, you know, everything. So, again, important win. Got three goals and three important points. Same as, I suppose, you could say the Etihad. I had Manchester City hosting Burnley, who generally over the time, City have scored something like 30-odd goals to two in the last few games against Burnley.

45:02Robbie Mustoe:It's been that one-sided. Turned out to be that way again, although it sort of started a little slower. Max Esteve with an own goal that Phil Foden had scored again, but it came off the defender. And then Jadon Anthony gets a nice equaliser. He's a decent player, the kid from Burnley. Kip Krimm in on the left-hand side. He got an equaliser. So we're 1-1 at half-time. And you're thinking, you know, maybe Burnley are going to do that defensive thing. But eventually when City broke through Nunes with the goal and then Erling Haaland does his thing, gets his seventh and eighth Premier League goals this season.

45:38Robbie Mustoe:Incredible numbers for him. So two Estefan goals and Nunes and two Haaland. A 5-1 win for City. and kind of, I think, I'd say, you know, I won't know about City until they put a consistent run. I kind of feel like there's two or three good performances and maybe there's a drop-off, so we'll have to wait and see.

46:01Robbie Earle:Yeah, it's how consistent is their inconsistency, isn't it? It's like, are they going to have a couple of two or three good ones and a bad one, or are they going to get rid of those bad ones and have one bad one in 10 or 15, where they can go right up to the top and challenge for the Premier League title? again like we've seen too much shaken us so far but it's early in there's six games

46:21Robbie Mustoe:I was just looking at the league mate they're more of the 10 points sitting 7th 10 points so it's like 3 behind Arsenal and 5 behind Liverpool now so long way to go and they might still be in the race just a little mention I just want to mention Cal Walker mate who came back brilliant perception as a player who who had a little bit of bad publicity towards the end of his time at Manchester City, but I think it was over 300 games, 13 major trophies, six Premier League titles. Pep said one of the best right-backs he's worked with, and he's worked with some good ones, mate. I thought there were certain days when City have been playing the Barcelona's or PSG's, and he said, do a job on Messi.

47:13Robbie Mustoe:and Kyle Walker does a good job on Messi. So I think he's one of those players who deserves a little bit more credit than maybe he gets at times.

47:23Robbie Earle:Yeah, you're right. I think, you know, everybody needs a Kyle Walker.

47:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

47:27Robbie Earle:You know, particularly that team in terms of balancing off of different profiler players. He's perfect for Man City in that pace, the recovery pace, when that high line, he did a brilliant job. And Burnley, it's a good pickup for Burnley. And like you said, like Jadon Anthony and a few others, they've gone for some Premier League experience now whether that's going to be, you know, enough. We'll have to wait and see. You know, the newly promoted sides this time are doing a brilliant job. But it's, you know, we both know after being there and doing this, that it's a long, long season. And the promotion kind of excitement dies away in the next kind of few weeks.

47:59Robbie Earle:Bernie already sort of showing signs of, you know, heading towards the bottom of the league table or towards the area. But no, it's a good shout out to pick out Kyle Walker because, you know, it's not always the super skillful intricate creative types you need others and he's an incredible defender and he could play a little bit he kept the ball simple but he's important for Man City so it's really good they got a good reception absolutely

48:24Robbie Mustoe:Tottenham Hotspur Stadium we're 1-0 down to Wolves, they're filming it, so I've got Santiago I'll go Bueno from he stabbed the ball in after some poor defending from Spurs and Spurs to be honest You may have to wait until the 94th minute. Paulinho with the Nicolás. Paulinho has been a bit of a standout. I was reading this week they're trying to get that loan turned into a transfer and getting bought. He's done that well in the midfield. But not a great day for Tottenham, mate. It didn't look like a Thomas Frank team, to be honest. Well, I don't know.

48:59Robbie Earle:I ain't sure what a Thomas Frank team is, mate. I said this before about Spurs. We've had so many different iterations of Tottenham already, different formations, different ways of playing. you know and that that might be the way that he can continue to do things which is unusual like usually the top teams find a groove yeah and that's the way they play um you know i think there's a few boos and stuff it's like that's a bit harsh they're in a good spot rob this is a disappointing result at home against wolves of course it is yeah and palina's celebration at the end was it was a kind of a nice moment takes his shirt off he's absolutely ripped um that's a good moment but you know they're fourth in the premier league right now early but i think after six games we always used to say didn't we okay it's six games you can look at people's start you can look at their little start and and sitting in fourth place for spurs isn't bad when when the team plays in a much more balanced way and first know i made about tottenham watching the game rob was like yeah kind of balanced it's kind of it's kind of a you know and that's different to what it was like last year so yeah yeah i still think they're figuring out the best attack particularly on the left-hand side.

49:59Robbie Earle:Mercutus looks a really good side. He looks excited to play. Midfield again. Bergvau sometimes looks a million dollars, which is a bit of a quieter game for him. So, you know, they are in a good spot. I think it's continued to watch this space. Again, I'm excited to see Spurs because I want to see what the norm is for them. You know, what's their normal kind of approach? And this wasn't great because this should have been front foot and proactive football against Wolves. and it just didn't look particularly fluid or silky. So, you know, those Spurs fans get frustrated pretty easily. It's a beautiful big stadium.

50:34Robbie Earle:A lot of change at the moment, isn't it?

50:36Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, a lot of change. A lot of change going round. Yeah, and it's rumours about ownership and all that. Takeovers and ownership. Just one play I want to touch on, Rob, and this isn't, I'm not digging him out by any means and I'll broaden the conversation out. Xavi Simmons is a quality, I think he's 22 years of age. but for 70 odd million dollars I think it was he's a footballer mate you can see he's a technical give and go little footballer he's like Floyd Invert to one or two others of these very good technical European footballers who play in other leagues I've come to the Premier League and realised there's a physicality and a speed about the Premier League that if you don't get up to that level you can't command games.

51:26Robbie Mustoe:You can't run games. About four times I counted at the weekend where Xabi Simons is like, show him to him on the ball, he's got lovely feet and balance, he chucks away from him, somebody just leaned into him and pushed him over. And you could see him looking around as if to say, Is that not a foul? No mate, in this league you're not going to get your fouls. And it just, I think it's just a reminder of that sometimes we sit on, we sit behind a desk and people sit at home and they watch a game and we're all critical and it's a tough, tough league to go in and dominate and show that you can be...

52:03Robbie Mustoe:The ones who are doing it are extra, extra special.

52:07Robbie Earle:Correct. And to continue that point, Rob, it must be the hardest thing for scouts and recruiters to try and visualise a skilful player in a different league and how that might go against a physicality. Because the defensive power and intensity in the Premier League is, when you see against each other teams, it's hard to see how it stands out, Rob. Do you know what I mean? Like Jadon Sancho. I think Javi Simmons is kind of a mix of, in terms of the style of profiler player, as a Jadon Sancho and a Raheem Sterling. A quick, accelerated, skillful. But it's so hard to gauge how that's going to go against a Karl Walker from a few years ago.

52:49Robbie Earle:Or the big, massive midfield players, or a Rodri, or some of these. and that's you know in different leagues maybe the intensity the defensive power of the teams isn't quite as strong so when those there's been a ton of them that come to the premier league and it's like wow look at the videos of this guy he looks million bucks and then it's just hard to beat players and to to use that skill um so that and like you said the ones that come and like your bird camps and your zolas and and little janino we had at millers with a little bazillion and some of these other skillful, you know, the David Silvers and the...

53:22Robbie Earle:And the King Cladsley.

53:24Robbie Mustoe:King Cladsley, yeah. Yeah.

53:27Robbie Earle:Skillful. You've got to be incredibly skillful. You've got to be amazing awareness and link, your IQ, you know, to play one-twos and to be clever and give the ball when it's getting tight. And then you have to beat... I mean, dribbling past any player in the Premier League is hard. Yeah. It's really, really hard. And that's a good point, Rob. It's an interesting little thing to talk about because you're right. I watched it also, and there's somebody else I'm thinking of as well that got pushed over in a game. And like, well, no, that's kind of how it is, and that's never going to be a foul. It's hard.

53:58Robbie Earle:That profile of play, it's hard to come and be really effective at this level.

54:03Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. One team that's finding the step up, Sunderland, a 1-0 win away at Nottingham Forest. Nuno and Schoen still waiting for his first win as Nottingham Forest manager. But Sunderland, from strength to strength, mate, Alderete with the header, gets around the back post. Forest a little bit sleeping in terms of picking up. He gets a goal, which was enough for him to hang on to. Another three points. And that's Sunderland now, mate, in fifth position in the league with 11 points. It's been an incredible start for Regis Labris and the team and the club. and the fan base was there, mate. They were singing themselves crazy.

54:43Robbie Mustoe:I mean, they're going to be a fun watch this year and I know it's early and I know, but if they can keep amassing those points, mate, they could get themselves in a really good position by Christmas.

54:54Robbie Earle:Well, again, they're taking advantage of the stadium of light and the excitement. The results have been good there. There's a brilliant away victory. You know, we've just been talking about super skillful players coming into this league. Sunderland are not going down that route. this is out and out power for Sunderland with the players that they brought Isidore the striker up front really interested at the Fan Fest to speak to Kevin Phillips former Sunderland legend of an amazing goalscorer saying that he's watched Isidore very closely and he thinks he's got a little bit of everything to make it to score goals

55:23Robbie Mustoe:in the Premier League

55:24Robbie Earle:so if you bring in some physicality you're not going to play football that's going to put you at risk of conceding silly and easy goals you've got a scorer you've got a chance physicality in midfield we all know Granit Xhaka Robb

55:34Robbie Mustoe:the excellent signing

55:36Robbie Earle:excellent signing. Talk about the perfect player. As I think Henderson's going to do pretty well at Brentford as well. But Grenet Xhaka, just to have a project, to be the main man, to pour things around, knows exactly what it's like to be successful in the heat of a battle in a Premier League game. So, so far, so good for Sunderland. We won't continue this part of the table, but they're continuing to have a brilliant start and it's going to help them in the second half of the season when we both know from personal experience, it's a flipping hard slog. It's a slog, mate. It comes up with those winter months and pitches.

56:13Robbie Earle:Yeah, chasing around.

56:14Robbie Mustoe:But I do get the sense that the manager looks smart, did a little bit of reading on him. He's a disciple of Wenger, came through Lorient, did the youth team, did the reserves on the first team. He's calm, he's got good eye. Players seem really in tune with him. And I also think, mate, with this ownership group, read a little bit about them,

56:32Robbie Earle:If they have to go and do a little bit of business in the January window to secure things, I think they'll do that as well. Great start.

56:39Robbie Mustoe:I think it's just great for the league, mate. It is great for the league. The three teams that have come up all look competitive and all look good.

56:46Robbie Earle:It looks like all of the North East clubs might be in the Premier League next season, Robby O. All of the top three in the North East.

56:52Robbie Mustoe:I wondered when you were going to get the Middlesbrough. Well, I think Middlesbrough are doing particularly well

56:55Robbie Earle:at the top of the Championship. And we'd love to see that the North East...

56:58Robbie Mustoe:How come we didn't hear so much last season when Rob Edwards wasn't doing so well with us? Let's move on to Leeds, a team who have come up. Got a 2-2 duel with Bournemouth that seems, you know, on paper's a good result. Semenyo with the first goal for Bournemouth. Rodan with a header, Longstaff with a beautiful shot, and then Kruppi gets a late, late equaliser for Bournemouth. So a little bit of kick in the teeth for Leeds, who I'm sure three points at Ellum Road. But again, Leeds look competitive. Look like they're going to give it a good go this time around.

57:27Robbie Earle:Yeah, I like what Leeds have done. I do kind of like the manager, actually. I know he's had a mixed, he's had a difficult time keeping teams in the Premier League. I kind of like him. I like what he says. I'm liking, this is a blow, you know, to concede that goal late there and to concede two goals because they've been defending much better. And we always say this, Rob, don't we? I don't care what these newly promoted teams do going forward. You've got to be strong at the back and not give away easy goals. You know, I've got some good friends at Leeds United fans. They're really excited about what they're going to do this year.

57:56Robbie Earle:You know, the ownership is kind of clean now. with those guys from the 49ers taking over and bringing a lot of their expertise into the football club. Yeah, I'm closely looking at Leeds. You know, I think when we can, and I know that the three promoted teams have had a really good start. Yeah. You know, when you look at them now as to make a real quick assessment, I feel like Sunderland, wow, never thought I'd be saying this, but look like a really good chance to stay up. I feel like Burnley are going to really struggle to stay up. And I think that Leeds United are going to be right there. Right, right.

58:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. You know, got a chance.

58:28Robbie Earle:but it could go one way or the other. And that's way early. And it's a real flippant, maybe a little flippant comment, but just in terms of the first six games and what we've seen, you know, Leeds have got a chance. And that's more we can say for the Premier teams last year, Rob. Absolutely. They always look like they were struggling. So I'd love to see Leeds do it. It's a huge football club and we know they're going to, they're making additions and modifications to the stadium. Tons of fans there. We know that. So yeah, didn't get a close look at this game, but I saw the highlights. and when I saw it 2-1 I'm like wow that's going to be a big result because Bournemouth are good yeah Bournemouth are really good really good team yeah um you know how it goes in in the

59:09Robbie Mustoe:makeup room we get in early we talk to a lady ship lady low we chat all all the week this weekend we get in Saturday morning her phone beeps we get a a text message Graham Potter sacked incredible I mean just when you're starting to build the start of the show and we're thinking Should we do a bit of Man United? Should we do a bit of Brentford? Graham Potter gets sacked sometime on the Saturday morning, we believe. From what we've read, he speaks to his players and leaves. Nobody was named until later in the day. There was talks that Nuno was going to be named in, and that broke last night. So obviously stuff was going on behind the scenes.

59:48Robbie Mustoe:So Graham Potter out, Nuno in, my friend. What say you?

59:52Robbie Earle:Here we go again. Here we go again. first off I think it's just negotiating the deal for Nuno wasn't it, I think that's what's taking the time they knew what they were going to do and it's horrible when it breaks a little bit you know the club's speaking to other managers if you're Graham Potter, again for me I want to see a few more weeks but that's just me, you know again take my timings and go off minus a month minus a month and you get the right kind of decision and we're going to go back to more pragmatic West Ham that's where we're going to go We go pragmatic. Let's spice up a little bit.

1:00:27Robbie Earle:Can Nuno do anything? Are we saying Nuno? Could Nuno look at this group?

1:00:31Robbie Mustoe:No. Maybe not built to be pragmatic, because at the moment, every time the ball goes in the box, they look like they might concede and from set pieces, etc. Can he not look at that group and go, OK, I need a hybrid of that. I want to be a bit, I need to do this a bit differently. You know, he hasn't necessarily got the speed of an Alango and a Hudson-Odoi in that. I mean, Bowen's a willing runner, but more with the ball. Pacitar's going to want it to fit and join things in. Paul Krug is a different type. Maybe Callum Wilson might fit. I'm just thinking, could he go with a different... Is he wedded to that one way of playing that we sort of find?

1:01:05Robbie Earle:When you say different, Rob, are you intimating that he might go with a possession-based proactive style?

1:01:11Robbie Mustoe:No, no, no, because that's too far the other way. Right, OK. But a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 with wide players tuck in and go out for me. I've got three midfield players who are going to shore up.

1:01:25Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think that's what you'll see, Rob. I think that's what's been here. I'm not saying he's not... I feel like with Nuno, he's not a part-of-the-bus, really pragmatic guy. He's not. But he's defence-first mentality. And right now, where they are on the league table, again, we've gone through this cycle so many times, it's crazy. But that's what they need mostly. And I think... No, I think he'll put the... He's had good players. He's had quick players and tricky players at Forest and Wolves and his different teams. So I think it's a... You know, for where they are right now, I like the opponent.

1:01:53Robbie Earle:Is he a good fit, do you? Is he a good fit? Well, give me more specific. My issue with West Ham ownership, let me say, is I don't think there's any long-term thought.

1:02:09Robbie Mustoe:I don't think it's joined up thinking. I think it's about, well, let's just get somebody who keeps us up this year, and then we'll worry about that once we're up.

1:02:16Robbie Earle:But when they secure themselves, they're very quick to go a more proactive style because that's what the club wants and it's the West Ham way and et cetera, et cetera. Every single time that fails. Every single time.

1:02:28Robbie Mustoe:Exactly. So this squad of players ain't good enough for that. That's the point I'm trying to make. So do they now feel or are we saying now West Ham success is going to be through a more pragmatic approach of playing counter-attack football? Yeah. Because I don't think this group of players can do that.

1:02:49Robbie Earle:I think he can coach them to be able to do that role. Do you? So that's where we may be different. Yeah, but you might be right. The likes of Lucas Pacotar, wherever he plays in the team, there's a defensive responsibility for him now that will be called out by the manager. And I guess maybe I trust Nuno can get that out of the players. Maybe you question that, and that's a fair difference between us. I think he's had a history of getting players onside. I mean, has he done a bad job anywhere? the Spurs job was a

1:03:16Robbie Mustoe:absolutely

1:03:17Robbie Earle:I think he's a good type

1:03:18Robbie Mustoe:I think the players will get on with him I think he'll get connection with the fans

1:03:23Robbie Earle:well that's the thing that's the last thing is the fans how will they connect with Nuno Espirito Santo all other clubs maybe apart from Spurs are like arriving he's a part of the community he says the right things he's not a super dynamic impressor

1:03:36Robbie Mustoe:I think to win enough people over and I think that's the important point right now and then sometime down the line they're going to have to find their Oliver Glasner or their next version

1:03:44Robbie Earle:Do the whole thing again and just try and find a better one. You know, Lopetegui, you know, Potter, you know, all the ones they've had in the past after the pragmatic guys come in and secure things and do pretty good as David Moyes did. But obviously, ideally it isn't the perfect match, but right now it kind of is. He's available, Rob. He's available. And maybe when I go, when I say, well, give him a few more, maybe like when there's somebody that they feel is a good match, we've got to jump early than we normally would. and that might be why they've gone as early as they have not the results were doing great and I know he's had plenty of time there but five games into a new season Rob I know results last year but new players and finally on this mate the money that the club has spent badly again from Tim Steinton who we had on our show a couple of years ago all proudest punch of the players that he's brought in that was a big investment from the club I get fed up of saying it Rob if you don't get the recruitment right you're stuck with those average players on big wages for a long period of time.

1:04:45Robbie Mustoe:Some aging players as well, by the way.

1:04:47Robbie Earle:So you're stuck. It puts you back years. If you recruit well, you've got years of joy. Years of good young players to do well for you. If you get bad ones, good luck trying to get rid of them. And West Ham have been guilty of that.

1:04:59Robbie Mustoe:Well, we get a chance to look at Nuno's West Ham tomorrow against David Moyes' Everton. That's at Hill Dickinson Stadium tomorrow. Working on that one. So, yeah, going to be interesting just to see what and if Nuno's done with that group of players in the last 24 hours. Quickly, mate, just before we wrap up, we're going to do a quick preview of one of the big games next weekend. Two big teams, two big six teams who lost this weekend. Chelsea host Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. That's always a good game. There's a little bit of tension between those two clubs. How do you see that one going in terms of Liverpool coming back from the defeat at Crystal Palace?

1:05:37Robbie Mustoe:Chelsea, as we've talked about, a bit of a moving feast. Never quite sure what you're going to get with Chelsea. How do you think that one might go?

1:05:44Robbie Earle:I fancy Liverpool. I mean, again, I didn't close look at Chelsea. I like to look closely at how they are before making a bold prediction or whatever. But I just think, you know, I know Liverpool lost. I know we've criticised their defence. But I think, like you said about Chelsea's back line, you know, I think Liverpool are going to get a lot of possession. You know, both want the ball. Both these managers want the ball to be proactive. and force their system on you. I mean, Chelsea's system is pretty cool. I like what he does there. And he out for, you know, Enrique against PSG in the final of that.

1:06:17Robbie Earle:The World Club competition. So they've got a chance on there. I just think when it turns over, Liverpool are going to be a little bit too much for them. So to go for a winner would be Liverpool for me. What about you?

1:06:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, well, I'd say the same. First of all, can they keep 11 men on the pitch? That would also help them rather than getting somebody sent off, as we have. Now, Ganacho, don't know if he'll be a part of things, Rob, obviously betting him in slowly. There's no Cole Palmer, which is a loss, which takes a bit of that creativity out of the middle of the park. So, yeah, I would have to say that Liverpool would start its favourites. But I'll tell you what, if they defend like they did at Sellers Park, Chelsea have been also dangerous in pace and movement to cause them problems. They do. It could be a good game and there's a bit on it for two top six teams who've got ambitions of being at the top end of the table.

1:07:02Robbie Mustoe:so yeah, looking forward to that one. With that, mate, that's it for this weekend. Match week six of the Premier League. Probably the most dramatic we've had so far. Arsenal leave it late to take all points from the Toon. Palace end the Champions' unbeaten run and Manchester United continue to wobble under Ruben.

1:07:21Robbie Earle:I don't know why I said that, but I'm saying it.

1:07:23Robbie Mustoe:We'll be back next weekend, that's Sunday, October the 6th, when we'll look back at Chelsea hosting Liverpool on the Saturday. but for now I'm Earl he's Musty together with two Robbies thanks for watching and listening be safe stay healthy it's goodnight from me

1:07:37Robbie Earle:and it's goodnight from him

1:07:39Robbie Mustoe:goodnight goodnight