Arteta's Overthinking, Man United's Must Need Win, Liverpool's Wirtz Conundrum

16:35Robbie Earle:Yeah, it was. Yeah, I think so. It takes the pressure off a little bit. It quietens the noise a little bit. And fair play, they deserve that because I thought their approach from minute one was excellent. Very quick start. Pushed Chelsea back. Asked questions of Chelsea. Do you fancy it? It's lashing down Moraine in the North West. you know you've had Champions League football and stuff are you ready for this they weren't ready for it and they forced the issue they forced the red card they played the ball in behind Robert Sanchez to be fair has been okay I feel like this season Rob I think me you and the whole world will would think that Chelsea probably should try and upgrade the goalkeeper at some point it was not done in the summer he makes a bad decision on the fourth or fifth minute where he's nowhere near the ball and it's the correct call and Chelsea are under pressure But again, you know, it was a mix of Man United's very positive start.

17:24Robbie Earle:And fair play to Cameron, Rob, and the United players. And the fans as well, by the way. You know, we've been there many times and we've seen the fans. They get behind that team every single week. And no matter how they're doing. And fair play. Good start. Real strong pressure. They forced Chelsea into those areas. I thought it was a deserved victory, Rob, for Manchester United throughout the game. you know, throughout the game with different problems that they had, Casemiro would get on to. But I just thought this was more of the United start forcing this game as much as, I've got to say, Chelsea had a bad day, Rob.

18:01Robbie Earle:Didn't see anything from Chelsea throughout. The manager made those changes. Two changes when you get a sent-off goalkeeper, which is unusual. You have Pedro Neto come off. You have Esteveu come off. It kind of sets, it changed the mindset. I don't think Chelsea ever looked comfortable with 10 men. and we've seen it many times where 10 men can be hard to break down Rob can't we but it wasn't I just thought Chelsea Rob were it was a apart from everything else just were they weren't at

18:25Robbie Mustoe:the races no no and you know I think that's why Enzo Mureska's coming in for a little bit of criticism um I have to go to the captain first of all Rob Bruno Fernandes 100 goal for Manchester United and then we get his criticism but Dunnoff come up in big moments and the first goal was important because the longer the game stayed in the unknown, the more maybe Chelsea might have got themselves into it. Casemiro gets a good header and we'll talk about his two yellow cards a moment. I suppose from Chelsea's point of view, I've got my goalkeeper sent off in under five minutes. Cole Portman, best player, only lasts, what, 20 minutes?

19:04Robbie Mustoe:It looks like he's got a recurrence of the groin injury that's had him out for a while and they're worried about what that might look like long term. So I can see some reason just finishing a little bit with Chelsea and the substitutions. And maybe this is too simplistic. Maybe there's other factors to this. But I'm looking at Chelsea, mate, who haven't really got much of a threat. They're playing Pedro really as a lone striker and trying to get one or two players underneath him to join. And you've got Alejandro Ganacho, who signed for your football club. who's a little fiery dude who could be a pantomime baddie who wants to go on and prove a point to a manager who hasn't fancied him.

19:46Robbie Mustoe:I couldn't believe that Gennacher didn't get on the pitch for Chelsea.

19:49Robbie Earle:Ah, no, didn't I read, Rob? And again, this is, I think, I think a Chelsea player had an injury. And I think there was one sub left or something. And he changed, he, a player had a problem. Was it Wesley Fofana? or somebody had a problem, Rob, he's had to make another change that didn't allow Garnett. I might be wrong. I just, you know, with everything that was going on and stuff like that, I think there was a reason in itself.

20:21Robbie Mustoe:But I couldn't believe and maybe like you say, Moresco was frustrated he couldn't get him on because one time he was talking to him on the side and like you said, maybe in that time he had a bit of an injury he had to come off he had to get another defender on and he lost the opportunity. But, yeah, there was really no threat from Chelsea. And obviously, you know, something Chelsea are going to have to do with this squad is balance between Champions League. Obviously, they got beat by Bayern in the week and the weekends. You know, a Chelsea team that, without the goalkeeper, you would think, should want to go to Old Trafford and think they could win that game.

20:58Robbie Mustoe:They're a better team than Manchester United right now, but they didn't give them chance to get them three points.

21:04Robbie Earle:A bit like what you sense with Arsenal, Rob, about something missing. I sense that with Chelsea. You know, I really like the manager's kind of tactical kind of flair. Some of the young players are great, but there is something missing at Chelsea. Like, there's something missing, like in a performance like that, in a game like that.

21:21Robbie Mustoe:I don't know.

21:22Robbie Earle:You know, we know what John Terry did. Whether it's a sort of a leadership thing, a spirit thing, a steel determination. I don't know. There's still something that's a little flaky. Maybe it's because the majority is a young team. I don't know. I just was disappointed with Chelsea. And it's going to be very easy, my friend, for people to jump on this club and this manager with the money that's been spent and the philosophy of young, young, young, young, young, trade, trade, trade, trade, trade, instead of let's just do, why didn't we do what we've always done and buy the finished article and try and buy players to win titles right now.

21:57Robbie Earle:that's always the overriding kind of grey cloud that's nearby in my opinion you know I have no problem what they're doing but I totally understand those that say where are we going? We haven't got any better type of thing

22:13Robbie Mustoe:Yeah well some are suggesting aren't they like the team of 2-3 years ago isn't much better than the team 3-1 was supposed to be a load of money and we all just even confirmed it was the Thurna and Jacti that caused Giorgio not to come on So, yeah, he's obviously hands were tied and he probably a bit frustrated. He couldn't chuck that on as well. Just on the Casemiro one, quickly, mate. There's one weekend where he makes a first foul. I think we all understand he's going to get a yellow card for that one. And just before the half-time, he challenges a Chelsea player, puts his arms around the player.

22:53Robbie Mustoe:It's not much of a hold. He gets a challenge and he gets the ball. It's a foul, Rob. Apparently, what was he? Holding the player back, denying him the... A promising attack.

23:06Robbie Earle:A promising attack. If he fouls, it's a promising attack.

23:09Robbie Mustoe:It's a yellow card offence. I just felt the referee could have looked at that in a way. Now, I don't know if the Aarol had said to him, you know, you've got to go the yellow, it's a foul, it's a yellow, it's a second, you've got to go. But sometimes we've got to manage these games and we've got to have referees who are big enough to say, Castellinho, be careful, you know, you're on one, anything like that.

23:31Robbie Earle:I think those days are gone, Rob. I think those days are gone, you know.

23:34Robbie Mustoe:So sense goes out the window now.

23:36Robbie Earle:I think they can't have any. I think they're probably saying there's no wiggle room for a common sense because what's one referee's common sense and another one in a different game? We've just got to do it by the book.

23:47Robbie Mustoe:I would say common sense is that it's piddling down with rain, you're a midfield player, you rush around, understand what's going on in the game. Be part of the game. Don't be robotic and come in and that's what I think fans want. That's what people want. We want, listen, if he goes right through the back of the player and it's one of those, you go, come on, Castamira, you've got to know better than that. Well, a midfield combative player who's just cut, made a contact with the player and then wins the ball, that, to me, is not a second yellow.

24:18Robbie Earle:On the other side of the coin, Rob, like, the first challenge from Casemiro, what are you doing? The first challenge is an awful

24:24Robbie Mustoe:lunge in, it's a

24:26Robbie Earle:you know, and the referee says, well why is he doing that in the first place? That's a silly

24:30Robbie Mustoe:point though. It's like a silly

24:32Robbie Earle:challenge and then puts him under pressure and then when, you know, others would argue, well he pulls him back, he's stopping an attack, it's the correct call.

24:38Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, maybe, you know you make a good point in that, at the weekend when it happened, the first one, and we've seen a few of those first challenges, for such a coveted international footballers, one so much and they're so experienced. And I remember saying to Tim, as Gimma said, he's one of them you're going to have to watch Casemiro because he can't help himself about going in on fouls. Now, again, I thought the one he got the second yellow was a little harsh. Yeah. But he's also got to learn to control his emotions a little bit.

25:08Robbie Earle:The first one, yeah. Just not needed. Absolutely not needed. Yeah. Casemiro continues to sort of delight you sometimes with the things he does and frustrate you in others. So it was, it just made it awkward. And as the manager said afterwards, Rob, we make things complicated. And he means that there should have been 10 men, let's win one or two goals.

25:26Robbie Mustoe:I mean, Chelsea get one back to each other. You know, the last 10 minutes now, everybody's biting the nails again. But I would say, Rob, just on that, it was a good three points and however they won it. Away at Brentford next weekend is hugely important for Manchester United now. Go and put back-to-back wins together. Think of it for this time Amrion's done it. Back-to-back Premier League and let's start a little run. Let's start a little run now It's a wee international break. OK, a team who were on a run. Let's go to Anfield, mate. Merseyside derby was our first game of the weekend. Plenty of Liverpool fans in attendance at the Fan Fest in Kansas City.

26:05Robbie Mustoe:A Liverpool teammate who, I mean, the narrative set, Liverpool win games, not playing particularly well, still got to integrate some of the best players. Because, you know, it was a mid-side derby where the manager is confident and comfortable enough to play the two most expensive players in British history sitting on the bench. I mean, there aren't many clubs and managers where that's going to happen, mate. You signed the two record signing players in British history and you're sitting them down next to you in a mid-side derby.

26:39Robbie Earle:Yeah, but I, yeah, he went back to try and test in midfield, Rob, didn't he? you know, and that midfield is such a, you know, obviously Subbosay has done a great job at right back, but you play him as a right eight. Remember they play three midfield pretty much with McAllister kind of left a little deeper and get, but he does get forward and Subbosay on the right and Ryan Gravenberg, Rob, who we obviously got to give him a special mention. I think I said on the show yesterday or the day before when it,

27:06Robbie Mustoe:the game, it's like, there's nothing he can't do.

27:08Robbie Earle:There's literally nothing he can't do on a football pitch. The goal is a, I want to say, world-class finish. It's a centre-fielder goal, mate.

27:18Robbie Mustoe:It's an incredible timing.

27:20Robbie Earle:The timing, the contact, the direction, the thought, the trying to get it past the goalkeeper on the other side. I mean, so, and let alone his tackling, his covering, he's always on the right side, covering his right full-back, the young Connor Bradley to help him out a little bit. He can pass it. He gets forward. He's the whole package. And on a slot last year, and I think we're going to see it again this year, Rob, there's a fluidity about this midfield where Ryan Gravenberg is never going to be in the same spot. You're never going to see him as a deep guy. There's not. Sobber's Lie was the holding player when Gravenberg makes his run through.

27:52Robbie Earle:And Florian Vert's Rob, it's sat on the bench. I'll tell you what's going to happen. I'll tell you what's going to happen with this. In my opinion, Florian Vert as an out-and-out 10 is going to be difficult for him to be effective. I think you're going to see Florian Wirtz play in two positions. I think he's going to play a right eight and a left high, the Cody Gapbo. And I think Liverpool are going to rotate. They're going to move around. They've tried to – I don't know why. You could have a midfield of Gravenberg holding Florian Wirtz to his right, busy, good on the ball, a bit like a McAllister type, Rob, instead of a number 10.

28:33Robbie Earle:You know, a real – he's super technical, but I think he's going to be more of an eight. You have an eight on the side that would be McAllister or Sobosly, Verts with Gravenberg holding. There's a ton of options.

28:45Robbie Mustoe:I mean, right now, I'm a Gravenberg lover. I said he was a mouth-starring player, from what he's done. And like you say, he's not just a sitter. He's very clever. He often goes over to that right-hand side where you see he plays balls through for the Eketike goal. He can do the eight role. He's got great football IQ and athleticism. But Zobber's Lie, Rob, for me, is a must-starter. I think he brings an energy that they miss when he's not there.

29:18Robbie Earle:Well, you say must-starter. You can't. You can't have them all. Yeah, I know.

29:22Robbie Mustoe:So right now, Wiet is sitting on the outside of that. The balance when these times Zobber's Lie's athleticism to start the pace, he's one who's in behind. to stretch back fours is an important part of Liverpool's play. Vietz doesn't do, I haven't seen Vietz do that yet. He looks more of a technical footballer. So maybe it's... I wonder if that's going to morph, Rob.

29:45Robbie Earle:I guess that's what I'm saying. I wonder if he's going to start playing a little bit more like a Zobber's line and be a bit more on the right channel. Yeah, probably. Instead of sticking in the ten.

29:54Robbie Mustoe:I really encourage you to make as well about Liverpool, the mix. Like, we started the show with Arsenal. like that Liverpool mix just feels you've got a bit of all the different elements you want. Yeah, I mean, it's interesting because with Sobislai and the three from last year,

30:12Robbie Earle:you know, are they that more technical than the Arsenal three that they started with? I guess McAllister's probably more technical than Declan Rice's. But no, I think with Florian Wirtz, it's still a wonderful addition to a midfield. but I don't think we're going to see, I just think he's going to be more of an eight. I think we're going to, I think Arnaz Slott is going to morph that a little bit into, and I think you're right, I think he will play on the left to give Gakpo a rest. There's great options there.

30:38Robbie Mustoe:I've got two thoughts on the game, well, on the basis of the game. Let me go to one more player. Ekotike, my friend, plays at the top end of the pitch, scores a goal, looks very comfortable with his build-up. apparently settled very well in the dressing room as one of the guys. Is there a point when the Isak's sitting on the side, who will come into the team? Who will make them better? Who will score goals in that team? Absolute guarantee. Does Ekotike find a place in the team at that point?

31:17Robbie Earle:I think at times, yeah. At times. And we know that Isak's a little delicate. you know

31:25Robbie Mustoe:obviously he'll play

31:25Robbie Earle:in certain games

31:26Robbie Mustoe:I don't

31:27Robbie Earle:it's hard to see him together I think the manager said that he he hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing 4-4-2 with Izak and Iketike as a front two that would be interesting in some games I think he will try him on the left hand side I mean the fact is mate that Iketike is not going to he's not going to be the guy he's not going to be the main guy he's just not when Izak's fit and healthy he's going to be the nine he's going to be the main guy in Iketike we'll get to play some games sometimes on the left maybe as a 10. I don't know. It's, I guess it's a nice problem to have for Arna Slott.

31:59Robbie Earle:But I think, you know, I agree with all the narrative around Liverpool. They've won their games without being at their best. This team, I mean, when we check in again in March,

32:10Robbie Mustoe:when they've had

32:11Robbie Earle:a load of months together, it could be an outstanding football team with a ton of options, fluidity. It's Arna Slott's job now, Rob, to make, to make this, this brilliant squad work in different ways and Virgs might have to work in a different way. Iketike might have to work in a different way. You know, that's going to be the challenge because if you can get all your best players out there, even though it might not be in their thought of favourite spots, then you're in business. Now, but that's, yeah, that's what he's got to do. Talk about Virgs, talk about Iketike, yeah.

32:41Robbie Mustoe:Interesting, though, that this line that, you know, it's five wins in five and I've sort of, you know, a perfect start with imperfect performances and they got it done. I'm always a little bit like the honest slot, like, will we be 10 games in, 10 straight wins, and we say, well, we're still in. I mean, are we sometimes worrying about something? They're just as likely, you know, for players to kick into gear. They're not. No, Mo Salah's not really got going yet, I don't think, at the level that he has. McAllister, I think, had a bit of an injury at the start of the season. I don't think he's fully firing at his best yet.

33:19Robbie Mustoe:So there's still players within the team. Kirk has, I still think, is finding his feet and positionally how he plays with Van Dijk. But I kind of feel like, I don't think it's as big a worry as some people are trying to make out. Like, oh, we're not playing that well. Oh, they're losing goals there. They've won five and five, mate. And if they continue to go like they go, the other imperfect teams that also haven't got the balance of them going for, Man City inconsistency and all that. They're going to find themselves a good number of points clear if we get to Christmas with a squad that can rotate with deeper numbers than we've had in the past.

33:58Robbie Mustoe:We still might be saying, well, they're still not going that well. I mean, they might end up the season still not going that well champions.

34:06Robbie Earle:Yeah. I mean, the second half round was not great for Liverpool. They dropped off. They continued to go. they're not hanging on but they didn't dominate control on the wide

34:17Robbie Mustoe:usually all made good runs

34:18Robbie Earle:I think the same as you said last time Rob the bits that they're not great at right now if that goes away then wow it's tough for anybody to catch them if they're going to get a lot but it might not go away and it might still be an issue why are they still giving up chances why can't they control the game with real possession and really boss that game against Everton they just kind of let it go a little bit in the second half These are all things that we'll find out in the next few weeks, Robin, maybe repeating ourselves a little bit from last time without being great right now. But, I mean, of course, of course, winning games, you know, not being everything grooved is amazing.

34:53Robbie Earle:Let's just see whether they improve and that doubts and the weaknesses go away or whether it's still there and they start dropping points because if they do continue to give up chances or not dominate throughout, they will find some games particularly difficult. And we just have to wait and see on that.

35:09Robbie Mustoe:OK, my friend, there's a bit of a theme that has started with five games into a Premier League season. There's talk that one or two managers are under fire. Graham Potter certainly would be one of those. I mean, some rumours that, you know, they're looking at an interim between now and the end of the season that Potter and the players was under real pressure. A 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace, another goal conceded from a corner. Bad defending, yeah, again. I mean, Potter's starting to get to the must-win game soon or out-of-the-door situation.

35:42Robbie Earle:Well, it seems like it. I mean, we're going to talk about three games and three managers that are under a little bit of pressure already. It's five games in, Rob. I still think, you know, and maybe I'm off the pace on this one, mate, with all that we do. Maybe I always feel like Rebecca asked me a question about should somebody get fired? Are they about to get fired? And I say, well, yeah, we're still early. And I feel like that. I'm not crazy. And I know that you can't keep being in the second bottom in the league after having time last year and a pre-season and some new players. I get it. But I still think five games in, a few more, please.

36:18Robbie Earle:But it seems like I'm the outside guy and everyone's the same way he's going to go. 24 hours and Graham Potter's going to get a phone call. And by, you know, we're recording this Monday, kind of lunchtime Monday, maybe it's going to happen imminently. but I would just think a few more games. Let's see if he can start to find something before you start. It's five games in. There's 33 games left. And the commitment you make to a new manager, Robin, the staff and everything else. And it seems very easy for me, you, or any pundit or fan to say, fire him, get somebody else in. But it's kind of more than that in a football club.

36:54Robbie Earle:And it's a big adjustment. I don't know.

36:57Robbie Mustoe:I suppose the problem becomes, and circumstances, I think, are interesting. So when you've got... When Burnley, Leicester and Southampton are in the league and they're not winning games and you're not getting that far detached, I think on the basis that the three promoted teams all look reasonably competitive, on the basis that three more games... Let's say he gets four more games. That's 12 points. He wins one of them. there could be a 8-9-10 point gap Rob, between that I think that's what owners are looking at somebody like Graham Potter and go well we gave him the run, he wanted his MVP season, he got the MVP season, we got some of the players he wanted so like, hold on, and now Sunderland are going pretty well, Leeds are winning games, like by the time we give him three more games, we could get to October and we could be 10 points adrift of team.

37:59Robbie Earle:This is assuming, Rob, that somebody else can come in and do a much better job straight away. Correct.

38:03Robbie Mustoe:It's just almost saying, let's try something else. Because the way this is going, this isn't going to keep us up. And listen, I'm with you. I'd like to see Graham Potter get at least two or three more games.

38:17Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think so.

38:17Robbie Mustoe:Come on, Graham. Come on, man. We believe, and we've spent time with him. We've got to know him reasonably well. I mean, his football philosophy, his coaching, his work on the training ground. That now is all up for test, mate. That now is all up for test. Graham Potter's standing as a Premier League manager is up for test in the next two or three games.

38:39Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. I said this when I think most people agreed that this feels like a good fit. Potter's football at this club, it's good size for him. And I remember saying, Rob, this is a definitive job for Graham Potter. Who is Graham Potter? We're going to find out during or after his time at West Ham United. If it doesn't go well, which it isn't right now, and if he gets a few more jobs or a few more games or he doesn't, then that's it then. That's definitive. You're not a Premier League manager. You're going to have to go down the league. You're going to go down to the Championship.

39:11Robbie Mustoe:First of all, a few years ago, being taken to Chelsea and talking about Big Six and the next England manager and all that.

39:19Robbie Earle:I mean, no one's going to take him, Rob, are they? Is there another Premier League club that would take him?

39:24Robbie Mustoe:probably have to go to the championship come up with or one of the ones if one of the

39:28Robbie Earle:promoted ones go through a bad time or something

39:30Robbie Mustoe:I don't know the problem is if now when he needs to win games he isn't winning them you can look back and say actually when it was on he didn't get any of the wins so yeah I mean you know Emery Aston Villa not great things not particularly going well for them only one goal scored a draw at the weekend against Sunderland apparently shook hands and went down the tunnel a little bit before the end of the game in frustration, I think, at what he's seen. I think we both sort of had this kind of very weird feeling at Villa at the start of the season, like something's just not right. They've lost a little bit of their fizz and we go back to the Champions League and they didn't get in the competition, the goal that was ruled out for the Rodgers.

40:17Robbie Mustoe:They end up in the Europa League. It just feels like they lose one or two players, Ramsey goes to Newcastle, PSO numbers and things. Just feels like the club needs to unite itself again. He's a top manager. I have every confidence that he'll get Villa back up the league and more competitive in all competitions. But he even chose even the great experience managers might go through difficult times.

40:45Robbie Earle:Yeah, this is probably the most surprising thing of the season so far, Rob. Aston Villa. And the longer it goes, all of a sudden, them little spotlights that go on different clubs and stuff and different managers. It's all going to come on Unai Emery soon. And I don't get it. And I, well, I do get it. I understand the staleness thing that we've talked about and not adding the excitement that they thought they were going to do for the Champions League. I get the fans, the fans are a little flattered, but this is what Unai Emery gets paid for, Rob. The good times, you're going to love them. This is a bad time right now for Unai.

41:17Robbie Earle:And now it's going to show us all that you can find a reset button or do something. it's crazy it's amazing one goal scored they can't you know Sunderland away they have a man extra didn't they did they have a man extra there was a sending off wasn't there yeah

41:32Robbie Mustoe:Sunderland the man sent off in the first 35 minutes

41:36Robbie Earle:and it's a team like it's crazy it's crazy and when you're not going well you're not going well and he's got to find a way to do it I don't think he's in our little segment here of managers under pressure

41:47Robbie Mustoe:five games in managers under pressure

41:50Robbie Earle:yeah Yeah, and of course, for what he's done at the club before, but we're not throwing him in that. We're not throwing him in the pressure too much, but it's just like, wow, this is a very surprising start that's gone on now. That's five games, and usually you'd expect, you can understand the first couple of games or something, but they start winning again, and they're way too good to be anywhere near the bottom three. They are right now, and that's why we just mentioned them. So it's like, okay, we're just looking at this with the thought of, if it doesn't start winning, then there's going to be spotlight from the media, from the local papers, everything to say, well, hang on, what's changed?

42:25Robbie Earle:Why this isn't right? We shouldn't be down here. Yeah, the pressure will mount.

42:30Robbie Mustoe:So here's one for you. Will a manager who's just been given a three-year contract this week, hasn't won a point in the league, has lost five games. Would he be under pressure if that continues? If so, why would you give him a three-year contract during last week? I don't know, mate.

42:47Robbie Earle:This is a weird one for me. I'm very, very worried about Warbrandt and Wanderers. I think we both were.

42:54Robbie Mustoe:I had them to get relegated.

42:56Robbie Earle:Yeah, I didn't, but you did. And with the signings that weren't made and the players, some of their best players, again, Matthias Cunha and Ryan Norey that he left for City and Cunha for Man United, they've sold more of their best players. They're bottom of the league table, right? After what's happened, they like the manager. I don't think he's done a brilliant job. They give him a new contract. I just wonder if they know this is going to be a difficult one to stay up. This is going to be difficult. I think Wolves, are they planning for a future? Like they accept him that they can't do enough to stay in the league?

43:33Robbie Earle:I can't imagine they would.

43:34Robbie Mustoe:Please don't tell me that.

43:36Robbie Earle:Why give him a new contract then?

43:38Robbie Mustoe:Because I think they believe in the guy who did what he did at the second half of the season. The form was good. he got the group together you know they talk like Stan Larson was going to go and whatever so it's almost like no this is a group this is a guy he's good enough we're all going to get out of problems I feel it's like one of those from the ownership group which is fine but also means to me you're going to have to stick with this guy okay because he's done it he did it didn't he Rob

44:06Robbie Earle:he did it last year he's shown he can do it so I guess he's saying you can do it again I suppose

44:10Robbie Mustoe:the only reason I can assume you say here's a three year contract is because you believe a bit like you were saying Graham Potter needs time. They're saying, I'm going to give you time. He'll get us out.

44:19Robbie Earle:We've seen enough, yeah.

44:20Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

44:21Robbie Earle:Well, that's a shocker, mate. At home, to Leeds United. 3-1 at home against Leeds United, a newly promoted team.

44:27Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, they were 1-0 up as well. Went on 1-0 up, didn't they? And away at Spurs next weekend. It's the year-old game on USA. Spurs versus Wolves. So, not an easy place to go with Thomas Frank's team.

44:41Robbie Earle:The one thing that we've talked about with Vito Pereira, Rob, is his confidence in interviews and press conferences. After the game, I've never seen him look so down. And last year, he said, we ain't going to go down. We're not going down. We're too good. We're going to play interstate football. You're going to see. I don't just want to win. I want to win with style. All these quotes that we were like, oh, well, OK. And to be fair, he did it. He did it. But this time, I expected a similar, after the game, I expected a similar sort of confident Pereira. And it was very low-key. I don't know. he didn't have anywhere near the same confidence that we saw last year, Robin, he went in there and in a difficult situation, got him out of trouble.

45:17Robbie Earle:So he, well, again, this is in our little section of strugglers. They're struggling, but it looks like they're going to back their man, new contract, whatever happens, we'll see. Okay,

45:28Robbie Mustoe:my friends, moving on quickly, let's get to a few results of the weekend. So Brighton two, Fulham two. Thomas Frank gets another point away from him against the Brighton team that going well in that game but I had to be a point each for both those teams Fulham 3, Brentford 1 I was captain on this game I was doing it at the weekend, Brentford go 1-0 up the damn score but I have so much kind of credit understanding for Marco Silva, what he does how he plays, Wobbe gets a goal, Wilson gets another, Pinacone goal gets a good team Rob, a good team aren't they? They're a good team. They're well set up, mate.

46:10Robbie Mustoe:They're well organised, well coached. No big stars. Don't spend loads and loads of money, but do the job well. Burnley won Forest one and still looking for his first win as an Arlington Forest manager. Burnley coming back and getting a point in that one. I think it's nice to see that all the three teams that come up at least being competitive, Rob. It doesn't feel like it's going to be a Southampton or somebody where they're way off track. But, you know, the 20 clubs in the Premier League are going to have to, it looks like to me, you're going to have to go all the way and be all out each week because it looks like, you know, one or two could end up in the championship if you're not careful.

46:50Robbie Mustoe:Hence why the press is on managers.

46:52Robbie Earle:Yeah. Bournemouth-Nil, Newcastle-Nil, Rob, is another game, isn't it, Bournemouth?

46:57Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

46:58Robbie Earle:It's got a different approach, I thought, from Eddie Howe.

47:00Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, he went three at the back, didn't he? Yeah, he dropped off the game a little bit. Didn't want to fight. It's four-month club across Bournemouth. Interesting how I thought there, Rob, but to see a difference, not the high intensity press, especially after Champions League, which they played midweek against Barcelona, maybe looking at a different way of playing. He changed the team up a little bit as well, didn't he? No Bruno, no Joe Ellington. He got Lou Smiley in the team and Willock in the team and a few different players. So, yeah, I mean, obviously just balancing up Champions League and Premier League.

47:26Robbie Mustoe:And he's got Gordon to come back as suspended. And we said this saying should be fit after the international window. So, players, he can come in. So, yeah, no problem for Eddie Allen. Eddie Howe-Dorby. Listen, mate, we're going to wrap things up. Just have to say again, a thank you to Kansas City for all the people who came out and their hospitality and their kindness. On a weekend when Liverpool made it five wins out of five Premier League games, they're still not playing that well. While Arsenal leave it late to take a share of the points at the Emirates, we'll be back next weekend, that's Sunday, September 28th, when Newcastle are hosting the Gunners at St.

48:02Robbie Mustoe:James' Court. that's 11.30am Eastern Time on USA Network so 11.30am Eastern Time on USA Network Newcastle versus Arsenal but for now I'm Earl he's mostly together with the two Robbies thanks for watching and listening be safe stay healthy it's a good night and it's a good night from him good night