Doku Delivers Crucial Draw, Arsenal Showcase Their Best, Spurs Step Out of Relegation Zone

17:10Robbie Earle:I can't wait for the weekend. Yeah, next weekend, yeah. To see how Arsenal react. They've got West Ham United at home, isn't it? It's at home, West Ham, isn't it?

17:18Robbie Mustoe:West Ham are at home. It's awesome.

17:21Robbie Earle:Oh, are they? Right, so it's away for Arsenal. Okay.

17:23Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, at the Hammers, yeah. Okay.

17:25Robbie Earle:All right. So, yeah. Wow. So, big advantage for Arsenal when City, they just slip up at a crucial time.

17:33Robbie Mustoe:Amazing. Okay, let's move on to Arsenal, mate, because let's get to the Gunners, who now sit in prime position with a little bit of a gap that they would have won in four. Arsenal win against 3-0, Rob. First time they've been 3-0 up at half-time, all season. One of our researchers gave me that information at the weekend. It was against most things we've seen when Arsenal have got a lead and they went forward. They had intensity, played with energy, looked like they were enjoying it. Maybe dropped off things a little bit, made some subs in the second half, maybe didn't get a couple more goals that they would have liked.

18:11But I'm sure, Rob,

18:12Robbie Mustoe:if you'd have asked Mikel Arteta or the Arsenal fans before the game, you've got a 3-0 win coming up for them. everybody would be taking it.

18:20Robbie Earle:Yeah, brilliant. I mean, everything that you'd want to see if you're an Arsenal fan, they saw it. Ticked every single box, Rob. I think there was a few eyebrows raised at the lineup. And I look at the left side of the team, Calafiori comes back in. I just love Calafiori, Rob. I think I've said this before on the pod. He's been out the side a little bit and Kepia has done really well. But Calafiori's ability to get forward and to pop up in different spots and he plays that attacking role on the left-hand side. I thought he was outstanding for coming back into the side. Myles Lewis, Skelly Robbio.

18:49Robbie Earle:Got him down. I tell you what.

18:51Robbie Mustoe:Very close to my under-preciated performance of the week. Very close.

18:54Robbie Earle:Well, yeah, absolutely. I mean, he looked like he was... And we've seen him many times, but this game he looked like he was excited to play in midfield. He was excited to get on the ball. He was excited to try and make an impact and become a starting player. Every player wants to be a starting player and he's not been one of those. I thought he was excellent in midfield. Again, this is the left side of the team. Neandjo Trossard. Neandjo Trossard, you know, came up. trumps where he's had a bit of a quiet period where there's not been much production for that side of the field. So the left side of the pitch was, when I saw the line-up, hmm, how are they looking?

19:27Robbie Earle:And fair play to them as pros, to the manager for picking this team. And it was a very positive front foot, get the ball forward, score a goal, keep attacking like they didn't do against Newcastle. And Jocharez and Saka, Rob, I said on the show that Arsenal's these last few games, they've got to win them. They need the creative spark of Bacaro Saka at his best on that right-hand side. And he absolutely showed it in the time that he was on. And that's what they've missed. Every champion team needs a star player. I've talked about this a little bit, Rob. And Saka's their closest to a world-class star player.

20:04Robbie Earle:So he's their seller

20:04Robbie Mustoe:in some ways. You know, the guy who's, yeah, maybe without the number of goals. But you look for him in those big moments.

20:11Robbie Earle:And he produced, Rob, didn't he, in the big moments. Brilliant. It's really interesting, Rob,

20:14Robbie Mustoe:because, you know, great call, actually. You know, you said if he doesn't sizzle, they don't win the title kind of thing. I don't know if he heard you or somebody told him from Kentucky, Robbie Musto said, but he didn't get about his business, scores one, creates a great goal and was a threat. Done so well, basically, they could drag him off at half time. But I'm interested in, Robbie, a couple of things on this one. The Saka situation, and we know he picked up a bit of an injury and he was out, I think, since March or something. He didn't play in the internationals and whatever. But I also read a couple of things, Rob, and again, whether I'm reading into something more, there was a little bit of a sense that Mikel Arteta was saying he's a bit mentally fatigued, exhausted.

20:56Robbie Mustoe:And I got a sense, and I've started to look back at games. You know, when Saka's fit, he played him. He was playing him in League Cup games and all the European games and every, you know, every game he plays. And I wonder if part of the period when he was out and, you know, whether he was rehabbing it all or it was a little bit of a, I could break it. Like, go away for a couple of weeks, refresh, come back. And why I go to that point, Rob, is, do you know, back in the day, and we've talked about it a few times with Pep, Pep's done that with players, hasn't he? Do you remember, like, KDB a couple of times?

21:30Robbie Mustoe:It's like, off you go, off you go. So Alex Ferguson used to have a period, didn't he, where he'd set gigs off for two or three weeks. I wondered if there's a learning for Mikel Arteta, that with a month to go, I need my star man in tip-top form. Off you go for a couple of weeks. I know you've got a bit of an injury. Go and have a bit of warm weather, something. Keep yourself fit and ticking over and then come back.

21:53Robbie Earle:It's a great shout, by the way. And it's hard to know, isn't it, Rob, behind the scenes, what's happened and what days he's had off compared to everybody else. But the idea that he has got to be in tip-top shape for the last month makes a lot of sense. I think there definitely was a period before his injury and afterwards where he didn't look himself. I remember saying, Rob, we said about it, like he's just lost a little bit of sparkle, a little bit flat, as the team was flat. But the team needs him. The team needs him to be sparkling, to be skillful, to be creative, to produce end product. And if you've noticed that, Rob, and there's something in it where, you know, we see him, the camera goes into his face.

22:31Robbie Earle:I thought he looked happy and excited about the game in the tunnel when he comes out. And his first moves and the little cutback to create the first goal for Jochores and the way that he played, yeah. And if you're right there, Rob, and most of what you say there is kind of true, that Arteta's sort of tried to sort of produce a programme that brings him in a brilliant state right now, then that's genius. That's really great management if he's done that. And if Saka now plays the last three games for Arsenal in that sort of form and scores more goals, creates more goals, and is a difference maker, then that's a round of applause and well done for the manager and the club to get their star player in the right situation.

23:13Robbie Earle:So I think he's a story, Rob. But I think Victor Jokeres is a story as well. There's still some out there that think he's done an excellent job and he's got 20-odd goals in all comps, has he now?

23:23Robbie Mustoe:21 in all comps, yeah. Yeah. Good numbers, mate.

23:26Robbie Earle:And, yeah. So it's amazing, Rob. And we'll never profess to know everything what's going to happen. And we've been proven right sometimes, wrong another time. Arsenal have looked good. We've loved them. Then they go off and we're like, well, what's going on? Do they lack stars? Do they lack creativity? What's happened? And then this was a really great bounce back, Rob. This is a really great bounce back that when people are starting to talk about the bottling and everything else, that's the way I'd love to see Arsenal. I'd love to see him like that. Front foot, attacking, nothing else than to dominate.

23:59Robbie Earle:And by the way, Fulham, yeah, were poor, but there's plenty of podcasts we've talked about helping Fulham in the fifth and how awkward they can be. And they can keep the ball and they can make it difficult for you. I think they're missing a couple of their star players. Sander Berger was in the midfield, Alex Alvarez. They weren't a full strength, but even so. They weren't allowed to be, were they? They weren't. That was top class from Arsenal. And I'm neutral in all this, But I'd love to see him continue the same way. Go and win it. Play like that. Because that was good. That was great to watch.

24:31Robbie Mustoe:Luke will mention as well, again, I know you picked this up a couple of weeks ago, about Declan Rice playing in the sixth, mate. Playing more in the sixth. Now, again, we saw it with Asa one side and Lewis Galley the other this time. But Declan Rice in the sixth is better than Zubomendi in the six.

24:54Robbie Earle:Correct.

24:55Robbie Mustoe:Well, in a slightly different way. Yeah, I think he's passing. I think every now and then he can drive with it. I think he's a bit sharper. You know that first pass that sets things off? I think he does it with a little bit more intensity than Zubomendi. I think Zubomendi is very good at continuity. But I just feel, to the point where I'm saying, I'm getting the senses that Rice is a six, mate. You know, we've already won the six and eight. We kind of touched on it a little bit and we're saying, which one is he? And I think you were saying, even if Zubamendi plays, you'd rather Zubamendi ahead of Rice and Rice be the holding one.

25:31Robbie Earle:Yeah. And more to that point, Rob, about Rice being better as a six.

25:36Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

25:37Robbie Earle:And this isn't disrespectful, but I don't think Rice is a very good eight. So no matter what, I don't think he produces enough end product, Rob. not enough through balls, not enough. I mean, there's moments we scored goals and we're like, oh, what a player he is. But it's a little bit few and far between. You know, between Zubemendy and Rice and Odegaard, we said this in a couple of shows ago, Rob, where it's good. Yeah, we did talk about it. They're all a little bit in midfield.

26:03Robbie Mustoe:There's no real goal score, is it? There's no attacking driving. I have an understanding.

26:06Robbie Earle:Yeah. So when Rice plays a six, I mean, Rice's got to be in a team. Yeah. He's got to be in a team. But somebody else in the left eight is interesting to me. Yeah. Zubimendi did it in the European game against Atleti, where he poked the through ball to Jokeres, who goes down for the penalty. And Lewis Skelly did it this time. Really good job, yeah. So it's not about, for me, it's more about having somebody different as an eight than Rice being a better six. I just think there's better eights there that in the balance of the midfield three is going to be a little bit better to create more opportunities.

26:41Robbie Earle:I don't know. That's an interesting one for the manager now, Rob. What do you think he does?

26:44Robbie Mustoe:Well, it's interesting because do you remember when, I'm thinking of the mix when Eddie Howe did it with Tonali and stuck Tonali deeper instead of Bruno. Do you remember? And that mix just changed it up a little bit and they started to control and he looked better from there. I just wonder if that's something maybe in time, you know, the left-sided creative force, is that one they might go and look for? Yeah, it might be.

27:09Robbie Earle:Just thinking about the European game, Rob, Thursday, isn't it? Sorry, this week. Is it Tuesday or Wednesday? Yeah. What do you think? 1-1, the Emirates semi-final?

27:19Robbie Mustoe:I think based off what's happened over the last three days, mate, I think they're in right good form to get this done.

27:26Robbie Earle:Yeah.

27:26Robbie Mustoe:I think with that defence that they've got, if they can get a first goal in the game, they're in total control then. Yeah, I just feel like it's got to feel like it's on now for them, mate.

27:39Robbie Earle:Yeah, I always... my favourite Arsenal is more creative Arsenal. We know what they're like defensively, Rob. They're magnificent defensively. But that last game against Fulham, it was the perfect kind of preparation, really. Managed to rest some players and they found their attacking mojo. And I think, of course, this stadium will be absolutely rocking. I think it'd be a good night for them. I fancy them to go through and get to the Champions League finals.

28:08Robbie Mustoe:And they can put that away then, can't they? until the end of May and then really concentrate on those three big games coming up to win a first title in over 20 years. What a great end to this season this could be, mate. Could be.

28:20Robbie Earle:Yeah, it's special. The long-suffering Arsenal fans are probably very quietly confident and excited. But they've been there before, Rob, a few weeks ago

28:30Robbie Mustoe:when they had the big league. So let's leave it there.

28:32Robbie Earle:But well done, Arsenal. That was really good

28:34Robbie Mustoe:since Fulham. Yeah, really good. Let's go to Villa-Polk, mate, where there's a huge game for Aston Villa who, you know, Second leg of the Europa League semi-final against Forest to come. Wondered whether their eyes would be on that kind of feel that it was. Against Tottenham Hotspur, who won for the first time last weekend against Wolves. And were looking to go back-to-back wins for the first time since the first two games of the season. That's the last time they went back-to-back. Roberto Deserby gets it done again, mate. His team win 2-1. They go back-to-back. They jump out of the bottom three.

29:06Robbie Mustoe:and as Deserby said, he feels they can win all the games they've got left this season.

29:11Robbie Earle:Well, it was five, wasn't it? They've won two. On you go. I mean, I couldn't believe it, Rob. I was in the studio with Tim and my first words when we got back in the studio was at halftime, who's that? Who's that team in yellow? I mean, it was so incredibly different. I mean, the organisation, the work ethic, without the ball first off, was off the charts. And I do think we've been saying this for a little while with Tudor in charge there, that Gallagher's got to play, Paulinho's got to play. You know, Richarlison is your guy. Richarlison's going to be the guy. He's your top goal scorer. And even De Zerbi's taken a little bit of time for Richarlison to play.

29:48Robbie Earle:I'm sure he wants to play as a central striker. The injuries, of course, maybe have tilted that selection. But I just couldn't believe how just fired up they were, Rob, and the running power and the energy and the effort. I know it sounds so simple, but I guarantee it really is. If you can get players working their socks off, it changes everything. The pressing, the way that they won the ball back. I mean, Villa were a nice target for them. Villa, seven of the 10 outfield. Yeah, we're not playing yet. To Thursday. And they got another Thursday game. So that, of course, bleeds into it. But the energy from the team.

30:23Robbie Earle:And also, Rob, we had a little interview afterwards, by the way. Kevin Danso came on. We did a little two-way in the studio. and because of what I saw, I asked him about how much, because when we interviewed Roberto De Zerbe, by the way, and that's for people who want to see that, it's a few weeks ago,

30:38Robbie Mustoe:but look back on our podcast

30:40Robbie Earle:and you'll see an interview with him. And he basically said, listen, I've only got seven games or whatever it was. I ain't going to do too much tactically with the team. But when I watched the team play, Rob, yesterday and I watched the fullbacks, I'm like, oh, there it is. That's what he's done before. They run inside and a central midfield player runs to the outside. So one of them would get comfortable possession. And it's a really easy and understandable interchange of positions. So he's starting. I think probably what he's seen, Rob, is like, wow, I've got to do a little bit more to try and help this team.

31:12Robbie Earle:And with the pressing and a little bit of man-to-man without the ball and that little bit of movement and the way that they play, the way that the team's set up and the spirit that Bentancourt gives you and Jalpa Linha gives you. And my underappreciated performer, I go straight to him right now, It was Conor Gallagher. Conor Gallagher is my underappreciated performer of the weekend because the last guy, Ardy played him. And I cannot believe it. I remember him playing, was it the first game or second game? Played him as a right winger in a 4-4-2. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we know what Conor Gallagher's like.

31:42Robbie Earle:Roberto Deserbi after the game said that when Conor Gallagher's playing, his normal self, we have 12 players.

31:48Robbie Mustoe:Like an extra man, yeah.

31:49Robbie Earle:Like an extra man because he's closing down in his energy. First off, it's amazing any engine that he's got. And it's infectious. it's infectious I mean you play on a team with him doing that and other people do the same thing so he has been underappreciated and maybe maybe the Spurs fans would say well yeah but we expected a bit more of him early days even with the previous Thomas Frank being the manager and stuff and I get that but just in recent weeks I think he's been like overlooked where he shouldn't have been and if you know this play you know what he can do and when you want a team to work hard and to win and to pressurize and be aggressive and physical like Everton were with Man City today Rob

32:25Robbie Mustoe:He's got to be in your team. So I just want to give him a shout-out. I mean, it's not an amazing shout-out,

32:29Robbie Earle:but I just think an important player gets a brilliant goal, along with his pressing and hustling Villa. I just thought he really set the tone for Spurs' victory.

32:42Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, it's a good shout-out. $46 million, I think they paid for him, Rob. And Spurs haven't really seen the best of him. And I always feel with Conor Gallagher, Rob, when we saw the real best of him at Palace, It was a well-structured Palace team with his ability to go and be dynamic. And I'm telling you, he can run past centre-fours and cause defensive problems. And he's a good finisher, Rob. When he gets there, he's a decent finisher. Do you know what I mean? He's technically good off both sides. You see some people get in the box. You don't really think they're going to score. They're going to hit the goalkeeper.

33:12Robbie Mustoe:But I think it's a great shout. I think he brings dynamism. He brings a bit of energy. He brings intensity. As you said, it's infectious. if you see him closing down he's next to you you're going to run as well and I think Spurs have needed a bit of that I agree totally with you in terms of Spurs with and without the ball I thought that night and day so much better so much better better quality when they had the ball look like a threat I know it wasn't it was maybe Villa on a good day on a good occasion but still have to take care of business Rob and it's a team that haven't won all year until they go to Wolverhampton last week so So, fair play to him.

33:50Robbie Mustoe:What I would say now, though, Rob, is that's a reference point. I think that's a level. I think, you know, with games to play, it's not done yet. It absolutely isn't done yet. It's not done yet.

34:01Robbie Earle:It's only one point, Rob. But if you look ahead, like the weekend, again, can't wait for the weekend, West Ham play Arsenal.

34:08Robbie Mustoe:Arsenal, yeah. Difficult.

34:10Robbie Earle:And remember now, it's Tottenham are one game ahead. Correct. A one point ahead, sorry. And they play Leeds at home. Leeds, yeah. If they can beat Leeds at home at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend... West Ham are likely to lose, I would say.

34:23Robbie Mustoe:They're likely to lose, aren't they?

34:25Robbie Earle:They're likely to lose.

34:26Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

34:27Robbie Earle:Then that's a four-point gap with two to play.

34:29Robbie Mustoe:Two games remaining. Chelsea and Everton in their last two games, mate. I can guarantee you one thing that everyone has been around London for. The Chelsea game is a game that they will find form if they will relegate themselves, if they can hurt Spurs. And then it could come down to Everton, what we've seen today, depending on where they are, this in Everton team who are going to fight and scrap. But if they beat Leeds, which is winnable, Leeds are safe.

34:59Robbie Earle:That's four points, Rob. That means the West Ham have got to win their last two games of the season if they lose against Arsenal, which is difficult.

35:04Robbie Mustoe:And they've got Newcastle and Leeds.

35:06Robbie Earle:Yeah, and their goal difference is a lot worse if it comes down, if it works for the same. So it was a huge, huge day for Tottenham Hotspur. quite frankly, mate, and I'm not biased in any way, but I would like to see De Zerbi. I want to see more of his football. I want to see more of his coaching. I want to see him with, you know, a better group of players. Some of these star players come back from injury. Madisons and the Kudushevskis and the Kudus. All these really good players they've got. Romero, if he stays or goes, I don't know. But yeah, I would love to see De Zerbi more. I've always liked him at Brighton and he's really doing the business now.

35:46Robbie Mustoe:There's just little things, Rob, that you look around and, you know, you see him after the game and see where the players, and you see that little way of him pumping his arm and, you know, you never saw that connection with Tudor.

35:58Robbie Earle:Well, is there different, Rob? Did you see the Deserby press conference before the game? I watched the press conference, right? And Deserby is basically, he's on the front foot, first question.

36:05Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah.

36:06Robbie Earle:He says, you know what? I was fed up with all the stories, all the negatives, everybody's crying about injuries and everything else. And I'll tell you what he's done, Rob. He explained that he's been giving them confidence. He explained to the press, you know, we've got a guy that was£80 million in Kolo Moami. We've got a Brazilian striker in Richarlison. We've got plenty of good players. The difference is, I feel like he's gone into that club, Rob, and he is like, he's been positive. Arm around the shoulders. We're a good team. And what did he got you to do? He went into that dressing room with like a...

36:38Robbie Earle:Hamid people, yeah. And put them further down, yeah. You've got to be this and you've got to be stronger.

36:42Robbie Mustoe:You were cowering and you were scared to play.

36:46Robbie Earle:I mean, it's an incredible difference of approach. And, you know, we thought that it might cost them the league status bringing in Igor Tudor. But the difference in terms of man management and everything else with Roberto De Zerbe is astonishing. And, yeah, the Spurs fans are hoping it will continue.

37:02Robbie Mustoe:Let's just, quick line on Aston Villa, mate. Things just not going quite to form as they would like. They're 1-0 down in the Europa League now. they've got a home game against Forrest to come on Thursday. We know this is Unai Emery's competition. We know his record that he's done here. Would they still be favourites? I know actually Morgan Gibbs-White's got a bit of a head injury, hasn't he, that they've said. They're hoping that he'll be fit to play, but obviously he'd be a huge lot if Forrest aren't. But was Villa's attention so much on this game that we can kind of almost allow that performance and wait for Thursday?

37:37Robbie Earle:really difficult and I know the Villa fans are upset and disappointed but let's face it that's the big game and I didn't have a problem with him changing that many I know the Villa fans are very current they watched the game it was not good but the big boys will come back and John McGinn's influence will come back on Thursday they're at home Rob this is historical work here they're trying to get to a Europa League final where they'll be favoured to win it if they get past Forrest 1-0 down of course Villa at home The energy will be saved. The fans will be up for it. You know, if he does get through, Rob, and they win the Europa League, I think they're going to finish.

38:17Robbie Earle:They should be finished top five, shouldn't they? Yeah, then that's an astonishing season. It's very hard for a team like Aston Villa to compete at that Europa League every single week and continue to be strong in the Premier League. And I think he's going to do it. I think they're going to... I think also to clubs like that, Rob,

38:33Robbie Mustoe:and, you know, Newcastle are a great example. Crystal Palace are a great hand. to win a piece of silverware. I saw West Ham, sorry, do it as well. For silverware for a football club like Villa. It's been a long time since they've won a domestic cup or obviously back from those European days back in the 70s and 80s. It can mean so much to a club. And winning that trophy and then being in the Champions League proper through a couple of ways would be incredible. And another feather in the cap for Nihem.

39:02Robbie Earle:Yeah, we'll see. We'll see if they do it. They got a game on. I mean, Forrest, you know, Forrest are in great form right now. But that scar on his head, Morgan Gibbs-White, wow. I mean, that was like that. It's a big, big poof.

39:19Robbie Mustoe:I hope they're all right. Yeah, that was nasty. Yeah, well, I think Vito Pereira said they hoped that he's going to be available for Thursday. But let's see how that one goes. Okay, mate, let's just switch it to supposedly one of the biggest games of the season. the two biggest clubs, Manchester United facing Liverpool. It's big whether they're going for titles or not. Finished with United 3, Liverpool 2. A great game, a bit of two and throw. Manchester United 2-0 up. Liverpool come back to 2-2. Kobe Meno comes up with a winner on the week that he signs a long-term contract. Let's start with Manchester United and Michael Carrick.

39:58Robbie Mustoe:2-0 up, obviously let Liverpool back into the game into the second half and then manage to get his point. I think that's 10 wins in 14, Rob, now 10 wins, two draws, two losses. Another case for him in terms of being the right man for the job. What did you take from the big game?

40:17Robbie Earle:I liked it a lot, actually, Rob. I liked it a lot. I thought they were really, really good. Second half was two horrific mistakes. Yeah, yeah. They gave Liverpool energy and the two goals and made it difficult for Manchester United to come back. and obviously they did with the copy of the knee. They were really nicely taken, kind of half-fodder on the edge of the box. But I was just really impressed with them. And I think the more you look at Manchester United, they are a long way from being where they want to be in terms of performance levels, though this was better. Of course, I watched the Brentford game last weekend where they had to basically admit, Michael Carrick, Rob, that they were getting outplayed a little bit and he brought another defender on to make it five at the back.

40:56Robbie Earle:And again, so he's getting the job done in different ways. I thought it was excellent. I thought it was really, really good. you know, the substitution that was made later on for, it was Patrick Dorgue came on, Rob, for Mbermo. It's like, hmm, that's when it's 2-2. It's like, you know, and things are working for him. You know, we often say that, like, his changes are kind of working out, whether it's defensive ones or attacking ones. And Manu, the whole Manu, I thought that was one of the best games I've seen in play. Yeah. Because I've said, dynamic, bring someone else to his game. He's really good at knitting it together.

41:28Robbie Earle:Really, really good. A bit better defensively, maybe. or be a bit more creative and assisting the scoring. So I thought he had an excellent game, Kabi Menuh, Casemiro did his thing next to him. Yeah, I thought it was really, really good. I mean, against the Liverpool team, Rob, that lots of injuries, it's nowhere near what they were last year. And the problems can continue at Liverpool in terms of the manager and whether he's the right guy or not. But just, yeah, focus on Man United, Rob. I'll throw it back to you, right? I think we were similar in terms of Michael Carrick, where I remember saying a strong third and you've got to give it to him.

42:04Robbie Earle:He's on his way to a strong third. We know that Andoni Ilarola is available. And they are sixth place, by the way, right now. We're probably just briefly touching them a little later. Sorry, Bournemouth, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They might qualify for the Champions League, which is astonishing.

42:22Robbie Mustoe:Incredible, yeah.

42:23Robbie Earle:So, I mean, if it's between those two, it's a tight call. And I think that will be decided at the end of the season. I think it will be decided pretty quickly. How are you feeling? I think it's that call of it's Iriola and Carrick.

42:36Robbie Mustoe:I think Carrick gets the nod. I just think because he's in there, because of the momentum, because of what he's done. I mean, the Iriola thing still carries a little level of the Thomas Frank, Graham Potter moving to the big club, as it were. What I would say, and I think we've talked about this, If an elite category A, top-level guy becomes available, I think that's a different situation. I think you have to look at that. Somebody you know has gone deep in Champions League, has won titles. I think that's a different situation. But there isn't that many of them around, Rob, to be honest. So I think he's in pole position.

43:17Robbie Mustoe:I quite like the word coming out is they're still open to, you know, looking at all the right people. and I think that's the right way to go about it. But the more he continues to go, the more... I mean, it was interesting. I was looking at Liverpool. Liverpool won the league last year with 84 points. Man United were 15th in the league with 42 points. So Liverpool doubled Manchester United's points total last season, spent 600 million. And as you said, I agreed and I thought for the first off, it was as incisive as I've seen Manchester United play. That front four of Mbremo, Cunha, Zephko and Bruno Fernandes can cause all kinds of problems.

44:05Robbie Mustoe:If you start to get the midfield structure right, and you don't have that, then you've got a decent look. And yeah, I thought they were particularly good. Cobbimeno, as you said, I thought he's getting foots in on balls. I think there is a time now and then, Rob, he's got to understand his positioning a little bit and play a little bit deeper and just be, you know, have the game in front of him, which he kind of did for his goal. But once or twice, he does go ahead of the ball, gets himself ahead of the ball. And if Casemiro's gone ahead of the ball, it will cause him a bit of problems.

44:39Robbie Earle:In the future, Rob, I think that's good. Like, obviously he wants to do that. Now, if he plays with a Rodri or a different type... Correct, yeah, if he's got the right partner. Then that's probably an advantage. and will be getting the best of some of his little quick feet.

44:53Robbie Mustoe:He's probably a lot frustrated that Casemiro isn't as maybe...

44:57Robbie Earle:Yeah, he goes forward himself.

44:59Robbie Mustoe:Now he goes forward himself. So at times they do get... So he did get a bit open, I thought, certainly in the second half when Liverpool came back into it. But then I thought United grabbed control again and got on top and got the goal and deserved to win. For Liverpool, mate, and I've got to say, I was a little bit shocked in Liverpool. And I get that there's no ease up, There's no Eketike, there's no Salah. Maybe you're talking to a choice goalkeeper with Mohamed Ophelia as well. I thought, Rob, they were soft. I thought they lacked a bit of fight and physicality. I didn't think their mentality looked right.

45:38Robbie Mustoe:I don't know. I didn't like the look of Liverpool at all.

45:42Robbie Earle:No, I hear you. I mean, I think there's one thing when you do have to think about the players out there. But the other side of it is, who's ever out there, you want a little bit more fight than that in this game. Manchester United? Yeah.

45:56Robbie Mustoe:And by the way, for 20 minutes when they did play in the second half, they sort of looked like a team again.

46:02Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. Well, they got any... So that's an example, right? The two goals come quite quickly. They're then energised. And then they play with more intensity, more desperation, more desire. Before those goals go in, I agree. It was a little bit wishy-washy. like you know we're we feel sorry for ourselves a little bit yeah we're in a decent spot in the league we're probably going to be okay in the champions league but you know and we haven't got these amount of players we haven't got these star players but you can still be a little bit more determined than the way they were in the second half so that that's what i'm sure that's what i think the couple of things that the liverpool fans driving back from the studio robin had the radio on and some liverpool fans come on and sort of say he's got to go this is not what we want is too slow.

46:45Robbie Earle:Tactically, he's not great. And he's not... And I get the slow football bit. I think that's what... I mean, in all fairness, we did praise him for that last year, that he calmed the team a little bit. And it helped out. And he made nice changes. And they won the title. So you've still got to give him a ton of credit for what he did last year. And there has been a ton of change. But the fight or the way that the team plays, whoever's out there, is a bit of a concern. For me, I think he deserves to continue. I think there's going to be a lot of changes. He said in his interview afterwards, Rob, when he sort of said, I know what we need.

47:21Robbie Earle:Not going to tell you, but I know what we need. And that's going to be players. He needs players in different spots, Rob. The bench is a weak bench. You've got Curtis Jones playing at right back. By the way, Jeremy Fringpong. Oh, like, God. You know.

47:35Robbie Mustoe:Well, what is he? I think he's quite a bit.

47:38Robbie Earle:Well, I don't know what he is. He meant to be a winger. He didn't look like a winger the other day. He's not trusted as a fullback. You know, Jones instead of him, you know, there's, there's been a lot of talk about Rob Edwards and, Oh, it's the, um, Richard Hughes, isn't it? Yeah.

47:50Robbie Mustoe:Richard Hughes. Yeah. Came from, no,

47:52Robbie Earle:they were the, they're the dream team. Yeah. Um, I think maybe a little bit of like, Hmm. Okay. Let's, let's, you know, with the, with Florian Vitz again, not enough for me, not enough for me. I think he's one of them, Rob, you know, he's, he's a, he's, he's a good game. in 10, like one good game and then 10 quiet ones.

48:10Robbie Mustoe:We used to call them luxury players, mate, don't we? He's a luxury player.

48:14Robbie Earle:Maybe, and Alexander Izak. We all knew that he was a bit fragile, a groin injury. So this is all down on the directors of football and the decisions to bring in certain players. And that has not gone very well. Mid-Auskirq has been, hasn't been amazing. You know, it's not a good look at the moment. I still like the three. Not that Gravenberg and Mikasa are anywhere near the same level. But Slobber's Lie, that three and midfield can come again. That midfield three can come again. Gakpo does his... I think Gakko's pretty consistent. But Wurtz and Slobber's Lie, as his two false nines in the game, didn't really work out.

48:47Robbie Earle:Fringkong, never's on the right-hand side. So they've got a tonne of work to do. Get your best players back. And you've got to replace Mo Salah Rob somehow. And you've got to bring in... So there's a lot of work there. And I just think you can't blame everything on the manager. Some of that stuff is director level and transfers. that haven't worked out very well.

49:07Robbie Mustoe:The first six months of next season is going to be really important, mate. If he doesn't get things going, then I think we could be looking maybe at a change. Let's move it to Stamford Bridge, my friend. Chelsea hosting Nottingham Forest. Forest still in a little bit of relegation trouble coming into this game. Chelsea, what was it, five straight defeats in the league that cost Liam Messina his job. Manager out. things stayed the same, if not got worse. Chelsea won Nottingham Forest 3, my friend. Anything I would say is I wasn't that shocked. I'm not that shocked about this Chelsea team, Rob. I've got to say, and I'll jump off to the start on this, that there are certain players and certain personalities in that Chelsea team I wouldn't want around me, mate.

49:58Robbie Mustoe:I wouldn't want around me. And we keep hearing about this potential. potential is only decent if it's realised. And some of these players will get managers sacked, will move other clubs, and you know what? They aren't going to put in what's required. This is a talented football team that, yeah, has got some issues and needs some areas of strengthening. We've got a talented group of footballers, Rob, who basically, when they decide, when they're up for it, they play, and when they're not, they don't do even the basics properly.

50:29Robbie Earle:Yeah, and you've got no senior players that have been done at all, champion players that can slap them around a little bit and tell them what's what. We know about that. This whole project is based on young players, young managers. It's like a project, an experiment, if you like. And I think it's pretty clear now, Rob, that this is really off the rails. This is kind of like reflect in the summer with all our 15 ,000 sporting directors and everyone they've got. And like, guys, let's rethink this. Let's sit down and talk about it. because you bring in young, maybe egotistical young players, Rob, that think they're brilliant.

51:07Robbie Earle:And when things aren't going well, they're not going to roll their sleeves up. It's not a likable team, Rob. No, it isn't. Not a likable team. There is some talent there. And under Enzo Maresca, with his clever kind of tactics and rotations, it looked pretty good. And they've become a team, Rob, which I think a few have, where there's an obsession with possession, right? and the team is worked on with the previous manager, with McFarlane now, I think. Maresca did, but there was end product, Rob. This is a possession without penetration team. And they haven't scored a goal for, what was it, five games, wasn't it?

51:44Robbie Earle:Yeah, until late on. Lovely goal.

51:47Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah.

51:47Robbie Earle:But when you look at them play, Rob, it's not surprising. There's no intent to put balls in the ball. End product. End product. It's all about possessing and keeping the ball. And this is what we do. Yeah, okay. And the team is tilted for that. It's not tilted to penetrate and to make through balls and to get balls into the box. So that's got to change. That's got to change. This slow, safe possession football has got to have more dribbling wingers or through balls cross into the box. And when you watch them play, it's like, yeah, I'm not surprised they haven't scored many goals. They never put it in the box.

52:25Robbie Earle:They never put it in the box. So really, really poor.

52:28Robbie Mustoe:I also just think moving forward, Rob, and listen, McFarlane's in until now the end of the season. They've got the FA Cup that might salvage a little bit of something from the season. They're ninth in the Premier League, mate. They're one point above Sunderland, I think, in the league. I mean, it's incredible. And to my point where this football club have got a really important decision to make in terms of who comes into this club. And by the way, the guy who comes in, a little bit like Liam Mussini maybe tried to you don't have to be the player's best mate in fact it's better if you're not the player's best mate

53:02Robbie Earle:I think you need a hard ass in there

53:03Robbie Mustoe:you need a hard somebody who's got respect who gets fear who'll tell a player what to do and if the player doesn't do it he's going to be out of the team and he knows he's going to be out of the team and away from it they need a a strong personality to make the most of this dressing or else this thing's going to go badly quick yeah

53:23Robbie Earle:and they've got to get some they've got to get some experienced players, Rob. They need some plug and play. They need some experienced guys in there to help the younger ones. But these are younger ones that think they've made it. They think they're really great. So now you've got so many of those in the dressing room. You're absolutely right. You know, Liam Rossini, who's a young, progressive, smart, arm around the shoulder guy, is not cutting it. You've got to have a respect, a guy that they look up to, like, wow, this guy, we've got to listen to what he says. And even then, I don't know whether some of them would.

53:53Robbie Earle:So very difficult situation now. And you know what? I'll finish on this with Chelsea, Rob. You know, fans. And I didn't say this last time, but like fans, particularly a club like Chelsea, they've seen it all. Yeah. And they know. They know when something smells wrong and this don't look right. And these players and this manager and these owners, they can sniff it. And a lot of the fans are like it. You know, there's a big group there that can pull their thoughts and the overriding sort of feeling of the fans comes through. And they're not often wrong. And they were unsure about this project from the start.

54:30Robbie Earle:They're protesting the ownership right now. The owners have got to have a little sit down and a little rethink. And that's okay. Take a moment. Take a moment and think about a new direction for the club.

54:40Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, absolutely. Actually, mate, before we move on, I've got to go to my underappreciated performer of the week. and I'm going for manager this time, mate, and it's Vito Pereira, our old friend. Do you remember him at Wolves, having a drink with the Wolves fans? Well, it's been more than having a drink with the Forest fans. I think he's unbeaten in 10. I'm going to just give you the last seven Premier League results of Nottingham Forest, a team that's supposed to be in all kinds of trouble. 2-2 with Manchester City, 0-0 with Fulham, beat Spurs 3-0, drew 1-1 with Villa, beat Burnley 4-1, beat Sunderland 5-0 and just beat Chelsea 3-1.

55:18Robbie Mustoe:That's the team in trouble. This guy has gone into this football club, mate, and in a season when, you know, the big stories have been Man City and Arsenal at the top of the league and, you know, the Man United stories and the Liverpool stories and the Spurs story and the Leeds, will they stay up? This guy never gets a mention for what he's done and how he's done it. And it looks to me, and I know points and everybody's going, they're pretty much saved. One more result and they're pretty much saved. they don't have the look or feel about a relegated team. And if this guy had had 10 more games, they'd be mid-table and safe.

55:53Robbie Mustoe:He goes into the football club, he brings spirit, he makes players better, and he brings a group together, mate. He brings everything that Chelsea haven't got, this guy has brought to Nottingham Forest.

56:04Robbie Earle:Yeah, it's a good shout, Rob. And it is his personality. You see him after the game. He goes to the fans and he does the whole cheering thing.

56:10Robbie Mustoe:And then he feels it. He really does feel it.

56:14Robbie Earle:And if you're a fan, you love that. You love him to be so engaged. He did a great job at Wolves. He did, yeah. And so they continued to sell the Mateus Cunhas and the Ait Nouris and some more good players. We don't know where his ceiling is, Rob. And not in Forest. They will grow again. They will bring in more players. And he can take his football and go with it even more next season. I'm fascinated to see where it goes because he's a talented coach. And by the way, they're one game away from a Europa League final. They're 1-0 up, by the way.

56:43Robbie Mustoe:They would say they're in the box seat. They score first up at Villa and anything's possible.

56:49Robbie Earle:Yeah, yeah. Fair play to Maranakis. He's a flamboyant owner. He's a bit crazy and he goes through managers like nobody's business. But you keep changing. You might get a good one, yeah. He's got a good one.

57:00Robbie Mustoe:All right, mate. We've got to quickly get through the other results. Brentford 3, West Ham 0. Really bad day for Nuno and his team. Mavipanas with their own goal. Thiago with a penalty. And Demsgaard with the third goal. means that West Ham have Arsenal next week, Sunday 11th, Thursday a.m. on USA Network. Quick thought on West Ham for next week, mate. It's difficult.

57:27Robbie Earle:The league's difficult. Brentford are good. I couldn't believe how they played against Manchester United. They're a good team. They've got attacking players and threats in all areas. It was a bad day for West Ham United. They'll feel they can recover and they can go again, but that's a blow. And the Spurs result, of course, it's like an absolute nightmare weekend for West Ham United and the fans now will be double worried that this is not going to end well. So they're right up against it.

57:50Robbie Mustoe:One big London club's going down to the Championship, it very much looks like, doesn't it? At the moment, the pressure's all on West Ham. Bournemouth 3, Crystal Palace 0, as you say, Bournemouth continue to go from strength to strength. Lerma with the own goal of Eben Nilsson, Hedda Kruppi and Ryan, those two youngsters, continue to bring the numbers and the goals, mate. in this job Iriola's done is incredible.

58:13Robbie Earle:And that's why I can't... It keeps coming back to my mind, Rob, about how they're doing. And I know this wasn't about this one season. This is more than one season. It's with different players, lots of different players in different spots. They're sixth. And if Aston Villa win the Europa League, very, very possible, and finish fifth, it has to be that weirdly... Yeah, yeah. Then the sixth place qualifies for the Champions League.

58:39Robbie Mustoe:Bournemouth.

58:39Robbie Earle:and Bournemouth are in that sixth place right now. That's crazy.

58:43Robbie Mustoe:And you just still, Rob, have to denote that the players they lost defensively last season, their best centre-backs, and then they lose their best forward in January, Semenyo, clubbed by 10 Premier League goals, and still continues to do this. Yeah, yeah.

58:57Robbie Earle:Well, I always think that's a real sign of a manager. A manager can have a really good season, right, with a group of players, but when that group keeps changing and they keep having good seasons, then he's got to be doing something right.

59:08Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, there's something he's doing right. So, wow.

59:10Robbie Earle:It's just an amazing story.

59:12Robbie Mustoe:Newcastle 3, Brighton 1. It was out of form Newcastle against in-4 Brighton, but Asula came up with the goals again. Dan Byrne with a header. Harvey Bonds came on late with a hint. You were getting a consolation for Brighton, but needed Freddie Howell this one, wasn't it? It seemed like everything was going wrong for Freddie in Newcastle.

59:30Robbie Earle:Yeah, I'd look at this game, Rob, and it looked a little different, actually. Good energy from... They got their hands back up again. Slightly different shape. if I remember rightly, much better. So he needed that Eddie Howe. And there's been talk that, a big old meeting, isn't it, with the Saudi owners and stuff. And the sense is that Eddie's going to continue to next year, which I hope he does. I'm a big, big fan of Eddie Howe. And let's see what they can do next year, yeah.

59:53Robbie Mustoe:Wolves won Sunderland, won Michele with the first one getting equaliser for Wolves. And then Rec Corder during that game for Dan Ballard, hair pulling Robbie Musto. It's becoming the new thing. Yeah, I mean, I think we should never allow hair pulling, right?

1:00:13Robbie Earle:It should never be allowed. I do think the three-game ban is a bit excessive.

1:00:18Robbie Mustoe:It feels a bit heavy, doesn't it?

1:00:19Robbie Earle:Yeah, I don't think it's a change of category. I mean, it's violent conduct, which is three games. It does seem like sometimes when – there's been a couple, Rob, but I mean, I guess a hair pull is a hair pull if it's not much aggression in it. But it does feel a bit – three games seems a little bit harsh.

1:00:37Robbie Mustoe:If you attempt to break somebody's leg, you get the three games. For pulling somebody's... But he went.

1:00:45Robbie Earle:Yeah, but he went.

1:00:46Robbie Mustoe:He went and he was done. Last one, Leeds three, Burnley one, Oak Fork, Albert Lewin with the goals. Leeds pretty much safe, mate.

1:00:58Robbie Earle:Yeah, well done. 43 points. I mean, I think it's a mathematic, yeah, but absolutely well done. Daniel Farker pressure on him at the start of the season friend of mine is a big Leeds fan says I don't know where the goal is going to come from they make signings of Naira Okafor that's one of the signings of the season alongside Dominic Calvalluens one of the signings of the season with Anton Stack one of the signings of the season and Gabrielle Goodmanson it's not

1:01:22Robbie Mustoe:well it is difficult but we all know

1:01:25Robbie Earle:what makes good teams from the championship is buying Premier League players or Premier League ready players that step up and are like oh actually this is alright and they've done it. Great, great transfer work. Burnley, not great transfer work. And by the way, Rob, I said on the show that both of these teams last year both finished at the top of the championship by 100 points.

1:01:46Robbie Mustoe:Correct.

1:01:46Robbie Earle:And they both spent around about$140 ,000 ,000 ,000 ,000. $150 ,000 ,000 ,000. And they both got good managers. So it's very obvious who had the better window. How you spend your money.

1:02:00Robbie Mustoe:And it might be easier for Leeds

1:02:01Robbie Earle:to get better players than Burnley.

1:02:03Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, bigger name and that, possibly.

1:02:05Robbie Earle:So there's a difference right there. I don't know whether Scott Parker's much worse a manager than Daniel Farquhar, but that's a big difference there from who they bought in with that money that they both spent.

1:02:15Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, absolutely. Listen, two bits of business, mate. We have to congratulate Compton City and Ipswich Town, who will return back to the Premier League. We'll have to wait and see who comes out of the playoffs. And just want to send our best wishes to Alex Ferguson. He was taking the hospital, wasn't he, before the big game. reports are that he's in decent health and he's on the men but best wishes to the great one of the greatest the Premier League has ever seen so mate, on a weekend when it's advantage back to the Gunners Arsenal played three and got three, Doco got two but a draw had to do United beat big rivals Liverpool surely Michael Carrick must be given the job after this and it's back-to-back wins for Spurs that drops the hammers into the bottom three we'll be back next weekend that Sunday, May 10th for Match Week 36 when Man City host Brentford Arsenal travel to West Ham and Tottenham play Leeds in a huge game for Spurs.

1:03:09Robbie Mustoe: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 from me.

1:03:16Robbie Earle:And it's a good night from him. Good night.