Dowman the Dangerman for Arsenal; City's Hopes Slip Away; Spurs Salvage Their Week

17:16Robbie Mustoe:Bill and Holland, mate, it just looks a bit off colour at the moment.

17:21Robbie Earle:Yeah, but... Is he just one of these phases?

17:25Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Yeah. They need him there. He's so reliant, isn't he? You've talked about Arsenal and the goals in different ways and the different way they can do it. With City, there's a big reliance on that guy. No, you're right. If he's got 22 goals still, he's probably going to win the golden boot. It's had really quite a dry time for him.

17:46Robbie Earle:Yeah. No, you make a good point, Rob. I mean, I think we've seen this before from Erlen Haaland where he has periods where he's a bit streaky, isn't he? You have to score a credible amount. Then they go very quiet and we all start saying, how many touches have you had at the ball? And you start picking little... But in the past, Rob, you've had Phil Foden, you've had big scorers to fill the void. They haven't got a second scorer, really. I mean, I know Semenyo's done well, I suppose, since January. And others that can pitch in those goals when he has the quiet periods. But it's always a concern when he's not banging them in every couple of games.

18:20Robbie Earle:Phil Foden, mate.

18:21Robbie Mustoe:I just was thinking, Phil Foden. in England and it's all just going slightly wrong Yep

18:27Robbie Earle:obviously again we understood that it was off-field stuff that pampered him last year with an ankle injury as well I don't know if it's still going on this is going to hurt his England chances Rob there's no way he's going to he's going to be prominent for England if he's not playing week in week out he'll be one of those tens that misses out where a Philly fit and a scoring regularly Phil Fowlins for me would be a starting player in the England 11th But like this, he won't be. He just won't be. So, yeah, it's a head-scratcher. Head-scratcher. Because they need him. They need his goals. They need his creativity.

18:59Robbie Earle:He's a superb young player. But Pep, or for whatever reason, whether it's Pep, whether it's his home situation, his personal life, he's not at where he should be or can be. And that's one of the reasons why... Yeah, it's hard to judge because we don't know all the circumstances.

19:15Robbie Mustoe:But, yeah, again, it doesn't look quite right. And you're all right. Let's give Nuno and West Ham a bit of love, mate. because he's turning things around. And I was talking this weekend about down there at the race and Tudor and Pereira and people. And I said, if Nuno's my manager, I kind of believe he'll get me out of it, mate. There's something about Nuno that is believable. And I think we're seeing that with the West Ham team. We're playing some decent football now. They've got threats and they've got goal scorers amongst the team. Somerville wasn't involved in this game. I mean, I picked up a calf injury, but, you know, they have got people at the top end of the pitch who can score.

19:55Robbie Mustoe:And De Sasse is one who was close to my own appreciate, mate, who's come in and made a huge difference to that West Ham back line.

20:02Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, a few things, really. First off, Nuno, I think it took him a few weeks, Rob, for this team to, you talk about the belief in him, the trust in him. I totally agree with it right now, but I think it took a few weeks. There was a few funny results, a few funny alignments. Remember he was messing around with the full-backs, trying some different stuff. I think the lads would be like, what's he doing here? But once it starts to click in a place and you start getting a few results on the spin, then they're all in. And I agree with you. And talk about defending with a life, by the way. I mean, you talk about this.

20:35Robbie Earle:I see Mavropanos was close to my end, I appreciate it. He scores the goal, he gets... Remember the ball that hits him in the face?

20:40Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, off Holland. He blocks.

20:42Robbie Earle:Full-base Holland. Yeah, I mean, he had quite the game. And that's what you need. You need these huge heroic performances from defenders, from teams down there that are scrapping, throw your body in front of the ball, and West Ham are doing it. And that's a must. You cannot be like that. And we'll get on to Tottenham Hotspur, but in the past we've seen that hasn't been there. And if you ain't got that, then you better be good with your football and everything else because you need that defensive kind of commitment. And I just thought West Ham were good in that regard, got their goal. and sort of defended really well, Rob.

21:20Robbie Earle:I mean, City had plenty of time to win the game, but West Ham United, they've got it going a little bit. The fans are believing behind the manager and the team, which is nice, doesn't always happen at West Ham United. They've had a lot of problems and different people that haven't been the right guys, but this is the right guy.

21:36Robbie Mustoe:I hope they stay up.

21:37Robbie Earle:I hope they stay up, but it's going to be difficult. It's going to be absolutely difficult.

21:40Robbie Mustoe:I'm just going to have a quick look who they've got next weekend. And West Ham United are away at Aston Villa. Villa.

21:48Robbie Earle:Villa are away.

21:49Robbie Mustoe:They're not in great form at the moment. They're not in great form. Yeah. No. Something they can get. Still a tough game, though.

21:54Robbie Earle:Yeah. Still a tough game. It depends how the atmosphere is, isn't it? Yeah, with Villa Park, yeah. With the European games for Villa, it's taken edge off of them. Yeah. We'll get to them, but... Yeah, I think West Ham can get points there. I think they can right now, given how they are. Aston Villa.

22:10Robbie Mustoe:So we move it to Anfield, mate, where all the tension was on the visiting side, really, after Igor Tudor and the week he had Atletico Madrid, Kinski off and Vicario in the team, and players not available. I mean, in fairness, Rob, before we start, you have to say, I mean, in terms of players who were either suspended, injured, were not available through the concussions, etc. I mean, there's a decent side that was just not available. I mean, he was bare bones in terms of subs and people on the bench. But I have to say, Rob, Tottenham come away with some credit for the first time this season. I thought there was a bit of structure.

22:52Robbie Mustoe:I thought there was a bit of belief. I thought they were hungry, stuck to the game plan. In the end, could have nicked the game, pushed Liverpool back. And from Tudor's point of view, you'd have to say, He went more to a 4-4-2, more of a basic shape. Everybody knew their roles in there. And it was kind of a job well done for a manager who, you know, we've criticized him quite rightly, you know, his first point. But I thought he'd got a performance out of the group, which I hadn't seen before.

23:23Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think a few things here. I mean, 4-4-2 was different. Yeah. And the two part of it, I'm a fan of. Solanke and Richarlison. We've been saying about Richarlison, why hasn't he been playing? and maybe, you know, Tudor's had to be careful with some sort of injury or something we don't know about. He is the reason that they'll get out of it, is Richarlison. He could have scored three or four games. He's just that guy. He's an emotional guy. And right now, you know, sometimes emotions can be a detriment to performance. But now the fans need something. They need some emotion. And I thought the system was interesting.

23:57Robbie Earle:And what I enjoyed about it more than anything else, I didn't think they were brilliant, by the way, in the first half, Tom. And we'll get to Liverpool. This is a big part of this game and why this result was how it was. But I like Tottenham in the last half an hour, 25 minutes, Rob, where I'm like, they're flying forward. They're playing like a team that needs a result. They're playing with determination, with desperation, throwing people forward, making tackles, getting into the box, creating stuff. Like, that's it. They're playing with a realisation of their situation, Rob. And I don't think until today, and we can blame things, and there's different reasons for that, but I still haven't seen that team look like a team that, wow, we can go down here.

24:42Robbie Earle:We've got to start forgetting about all the pressures and all the nervousness and all the stick that flies around, but roll our sleeves up and forget all that and play the game and play for a result, and they did.

24:54Robbie Mustoe:It's a good point because I was thinking this during the game. do you think he set his team up for an hour to just play in a certain way? Because there was a couple of times they broke the play up in the first half and it was almost like nobody really broke out to go and take the next pass. It was almost like we're just going to sit here and not give away. I agree.

25:12Robbie Earle:A little bit, Rob, but they've still got chances. Yeah, they did. Balls in the box. But you're right. But isn't that normal? I don't know whether that was played for. I think when you're 1-0 down, right, and you're in the situation they're at, if they didn't do that, I'd be saying it right now. Why didn't they, like, do they know the situation they're in? But they did. But they did. They shot themselves into the second half where they really drove at the game and Liverpool was sloppy and casual and Spurs took advantage of it. I mean, they didn't win the game here. They didn't win. But at least it was something for the manager to build on.

25:48Robbie Earle:You know, I heard the conversation in the studio, Rob, and I think probably if you're that football club and you've appointed this guy and it's been a disaster and there's been talk about and thinking about getting rid of him. And if you can cling on to, here we go. See, that was kind of what we saw. And now we're starting to see a performance because the result, you know, like I think you said before the game, Rob, we have to see something from Tottenham, from Tudor. We have to see an impact. Well, this is, you know, crazy to continue. But we did see a little bit. And I think the club hierarchy could be wrong.

26:21Robbie Earle:I think they'll say, right, OK, yeah. instead of embarrassing ourselves and everybody, let's stick with him and see if he can get those points. I mean, I'd be saying, please play, Richard. You know, please play. Because I thought the team was better, Rob. And by the way, you have got... I mean, for those Spurs fans, right? The last game, the European game, where Paulinho and Romero cash-heads in the round.

26:43Robbie Mustoe:I mean, they couldn't have more worse luck.

26:45Robbie Earle:Anything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong for the team. It's an astonishing injury list. But all that being said, they've still got Archie Gray doing his big stuff in midfield.

26:54Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, 20 years of age.

26:55Robbie Earle:You know, the full-backs know what they're doing. Spence and Foyle. I look through the figures as well, Rob. It's still a good enough team.

26:59Robbie Mustoe:There's two or three games, winnable games for Spurs between now and the end of the season. And that could be six or nine points that will keep them up. Yeah.

27:07Robbie Earle:If Rashad, I'm saying it now, if Rashad Lisson stays fit and healthy, they're going to be OK. And if he plays.

27:14Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

27:14Robbie Earle:If he plays a vast majority of their minutes, I think they'll do it. I think they'll stay up. I think they'll stay up. Because he's a scorer, and I'm not sure the other teams down there, particularly when you look at Forest, who's their main striker. Yeah, they haven't got the goals.

27:31Robbie Mustoe:Maybe Awani. Yeah, Awani and Eagle. It was better. Yeah, it was better, and maybe with Charleston as an ex-Everton man was a little bit more motivated. Let's talk about the team in red, mate, who are off colour, who I felt as though, Rob, they lack a bit of hunger and drive. Even with the ball when they got it and they need to score, they were almost lying and walking in. And then when they hadn't got the ball defensively, I thought they were really, really poor today.

28:01Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, I would say that they absolutely,

28:08Robbie Earle:totally underestimated Tottenham Hotspur from the team sheet to the final whistle. And I understand the rotations needed for Champions League football. They've got work to do, et cetera, midweek. I get that. but I just thought from the team from the way that the players played it was sloppy, it was casual and it's thus been on the top of recent weeks where we've said it on here, I remember them winning 5-2 and I said they didn't play well they haven't looked anywhere near it the drop off is amazing really they get the goal brilliant free kick again from Dominic but didn't create a lot of house they just it's I don't know way off course It's like possession

28:49Robbie Mustoe:but without really any end product any purpose what were we trying to get to with the possession

28:55Robbie Earle:I thought the whole performance Rob was minimal effort we just want to win minimal effort minimal kind of expenditure in terms of our effort minimum the best players in their minutes minimum effort in the game we're 1-0 up it's Tottenham they're not very good you know let's just we're not going to track back it just It's smacked of a, I don't know what the right words are really, casual. Sloppy is definitely a good word, but just an unprofessional.

29:24Robbie Mustoe:Unprofessional.

29:25Robbie Earle:We often say about professional performances, that was an unprofessional performance from a team that absolutely desperately want to stay in those top five spots. And that falls on the manager, mate.

29:32Robbie Mustoe:That has to fall on the manager because he gets the credit last season when he was doing great stuff. And today, I don't know. There was a malaise about the team and the manager and even the fans. It's been similar, Rob, for a few weeks, hasn't it?

29:47Robbie Earle:For a few weeks it's been the same.

29:49Robbie Mustoe:I thought Tim made a really good point today, Rob, when he talked about, you know, Mo Salah, we're not seeing the best of, maybe he's coming to the end of an era. Virgil, similar, you know, Robbo, you know, there's new players signing, new contracts, the Grab and Birchies, the Zobbers lies. There's a handing over, but he just said, you don't just get that power and it doesn't just come. there's a period of transition. And he just wonders whether Liverpool... And I thought it's an interesting point, whether he's 100 % right or not, but there's definitely an interesting line in where he was going with that.

30:25Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, Mo Salah's been out of form, right? All season. Iketike's been really good, maybe a little quieter the last few weeks. And let's remember what the front line was. Engamoa, love him, brilliant. Like, exciting. But it's Engamoa, Gakpo, Fringpong, Wurz, Zimbai. That was your front four today. and I put my notes here, average. And that might be a little bit harsh on Florian Verts, who's better than an average player. And Ingemo has got, of course, a whole career ahead of him. But you know where I'm coming from. That's not a front four that is in banging form and it's going to terrorise defenders.

30:59Robbie Earle:And I know, again, the rotations part, but this goes back to the management of the game by Arna Slott. And I don't know what the temperature is with the Liverpool fans, Rob,

31:09Robbie Mustoe:in terms of the manager and obviously thrill from last year.

31:15Robbie Earle:From my point of view, I want to see more of Slott. I want to see more of him when everybody's fit. But I don't know. Do you think there's this... I know there's a ton of boos at the end of the game.

31:28Robbie Mustoe:How much unrest, Rob?

31:29Robbie Earle:Because Liverpool fans know their football. They know their football.

31:32Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, they do know their football. And I said that to Bex on the show. But I think, Rob, we're getting to a point of probably near 50-50. Really? That many? I think it's starting to turn.

31:42Robbie Earle:Yeah, I think it's starting to turn.

31:44Robbie Mustoe:I think there's always been a bit of dissent. We're not quite playing that well. Earlier in the season, they were winning games or not. And people were putting up with it and he'll sort it out. And that seems to have taken on a little bit more life now. I mean, it was points dropped, important points dropped for Liverpool. Could have put a gap between them and Chelsea. and if they don't make Champions League football, mate,

32:07Robbie Earle:That's probably going to be it, isn't it?

32:08Robbie Mustoe:I think he's got a problem.

32:09Robbie Earle:Yeah, he might have a problem. I think if they get the top five, and there might be still some people that are not totally happy, but I think top five, on you go, Arna. Let's crack on, let's get ease up going, let's have another season from these new players, let's see what it looks like going into next season. And I think that's absolutely right and deserved. Outside of the top five, I don't know. And I don't know how the board are. I know this club usually backs its managers really well.

32:35Robbie Mustoe:Europa might save him, might save him. No, I don't know if it would. I don't know. A confidence league would.

32:40Robbie Earle:I don't know. I mean, if Xabi Alonso, it depends who's available. Like, there's some real talent available in the summer. And that's a big part of it, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. If you're going to get rid of a top-class manager,

32:51Robbie Mustoe:you've got to know. But in a club like that, a club like Liverpool,

32:54Robbie Earle:or even Man United, or the big, big, big ones, you know, they're on the lookout for a very rare breed of human and if one's around, they can come forward. Yeah, so we'll see. Apparently Jurgen Klopp's looking for a job, isn't he?

33:07Robbie Mustoe:Throw that one in. Yeah, there's a few. You're right, probably top five might be enough. But yeah, Liverpool's certainly got work to do and they've got Galatasaray as well in the Champions League coming up next week. It isn't going to be easy as well. Let's get to a few of the other results tonight. Manchester United hosting Villa in a big game at the top end of the table. Champions League points up for grabs for both of them. Ended at Man United 3, Villa 1, Casemiro with another header, Ross Barkley with an equaliser, and then Cunha and Sesko again comes on off the bench to get the goals. And he keeps getting the job done, certainly at home, must he?

33:46Robbie Mustoe:It's becoming the theatre dreams again.

33:48Robbie Earle:Yeah, what I liked about this, Rob, and I felt today in the first 10, 15 minutes of the game, I'm thinking, this is a good, This is a good test of Michael Carrick because the euphoria, the excitement,

34:04Robbie Mustoe:do you know what I mean, of Michael Carrick,

34:07Robbie Earle:this felt like a normal Premier League game.

34:10Robbie Mustoe:This is a normal Premier League game.

34:12Robbie Earle:Let's see if United can find a way to win the game without relying on the emotional energy from the brilliant Old Trafford and as many clubs that somewhat rely on that. But that wasn't available today. And the first half, to be fair, was pretty even. You know, I looked at all the stats, looked at the game. That's pretty even, that. It's a nice little test. And you said, I think you said at halftime or after the game, what I was thinking, okay, Michael Carrick, halftime, you know, what can you do? And they were much more energised. They were much more on the front foot. They were much better at the start of the second half.

34:47Robbie Earle:And that atmosphere that went from pretty flat and, like, the fans were like, okay, let's see what we got today to being in the game again. And he got that, not that it needs to be a fever pitch help from the fans, but you want him to be involved a little bit more and he did, and he did and that's a good sign is when you can rev up your team at half time to say come on guys, let's step up a gear and I always felt in this game, the front players of Manchester United even the first half, the extra quality that they have, the flair it's the difference right now and they were good signings the rest of it behind is now well organised though I've got more to say on that Rob I'll let you jump back in.

35:26Robbie Earle:But no, I thought it was a good day for Carrick, a good day for those front players and a couple of other people that I'll mention in a second.

35:32Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I'll let you get to him. I just want to really go back to, and I hope many of you have watched or listened to, the podcast with Michael Carrick because he's not usually animated and he's not one who blows his own trumpet. But I thought there were a couple of things where he talked about the connections with the team and the players and giving them confidence and the belief. And you get the sense, Rob, like I was thinking at half-time, And similar to yourself, you know, he did something to change the way the game was flowing and he went on to the win. And you get the sense talking to him and just having that time that we did that he's probably quite mild in the way he goes.

36:09Robbie Mustoe:And like, come on, come on, guys, we're better than this. And, you know, it's one of them. I don't think he's a shouter and a rant or a raver or, you know, the Sir Alex, the hairdryer stuff. He's going to do it in a very different way, isn't he? And I think maybe this group of players, even to Amorin, it's a different way of managing the group.

36:30Robbie Earle:Yeah, so a couple of things to add to that. It's funny, right? And maybe we'll get with it too, Rob. But when things are going well, and I hear the commentators talked about it awesome, the calmness that he brings is really good for this group and really good for the club and the way. But there'll be other times when they lose where people will say,

36:50Robbie Mustoe:he's got to show a little bit

36:52Robbie Earle:so I'm not going to jump on it I think the calmness is really good along with Steve Holland that we talked to him about about what Steve Holland brings they're both calm thinkers which I really like but at some point if he's the manager of Manchester United he has got to be tough and he's got to throw the cups around a little bit he's got to show that side of him I don't know whether he has I have no reason to really the way it's going but he has to have that side to be a successful manager for a long period of time But what I liked, back on your first point there, Robert, connection, and that's the first question I asked him.

37:23Robbie Earle:The first thing he said to us, I'm looking for connection with the team, with the players. Now, I saw, definitely I saw him hugging, well, I saw him talking a ton to Benjamin Shesko. Yeah. When he came on and at the end of the game, I saw him hugging and talking with Casemiro. Yeah. And I saw him hugging and talking with Bruno Fernandes.

37:39Robbie Mustoe:And Ahmad Diallo as well, he did. Yeah.

37:41Robbie Earle:He came off. So, you know, if that's his, if it is the cuddle, and, you know, I think modern day players probably need that more than they ever have. And I'm a big fan of that. But there will be, and there has to be time where he's tougher, he loses his rag, so you have a little bit of fear factor. All the best managers, mate. You know, I mean, literally all of them have a nasty streak that you've got to be careful of. But right now, with the tactical side of things, one thing, Rob, just on the football side of it, and whether you think so, whether it's a point, But I actually tweet it out because there's still a little issue.

38:20Robbie Earle:So I thought the midfield two of Casemiro and Mainou for a period in that second half when Villa scored, they were a little bit empty at the midfield. They were a bit absent. I know Casemiro does a really good job going forward. Yeah, he gets caught once or twice. So that's just, I mean, they're not going to be perfect. And it might be something they address in the summer transfer window. But in the 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, And it does help those two. But at times, when you've got Cunha and Ahmad, that may be a little bit more attack-focused, the two of the midfield, you know, they got played through a few times there.

38:55Robbie Earle:Again, Man United scored, and it made that point null and void. But just something...

39:02Robbie Mustoe:They're going to need a better athlete in there, I think, as well, Rob. Somebody with more legs and with more power can get around the football pitch.

39:11Robbie Earle:I'm going to go to my underappreciated performer, Robbie Earl. Go on, my friend. You know, every time I feel as though I've got to make the argument a little bit, Bruno Fernandes is underappreciated by many people. Former players, pundits. I mean, of course, less so now, right? Less so now. I'm talking about in the past more. When I remember in the bad times of previous manager, you know, and inflating his arms up, he had disciplinary issues. and I kept hearing it from many people around the game that he's a liability, he'll never be captain. And I remember saying, he's the least of the troubles of Man United at that particular moment in time.

39:54Robbie Earle:And you're seeing him now with everything coming together. His quality is ridiculous. So he broke a record, hasn't he?

40:00Robbie Mustoe:Beaten David Beckham's 15 assists in the Premier League.

40:03Robbie Earle:You can see 16 assists for Bruno Fernandes in a team that's been in transition, struggling for large parts of the previous manager. And for him to perform the way that he does, For anybody to not think that he's one of the best attacking midfield players the Premier League's ever seen, by the way, he's right up there for me for some of the De Bruyners and the Silvers and the Gerrards in terms of his creativity, his passing, his end product. I mean, again, this isn't an underappreciated from me or I think from you, Rob, but just the whole football world should know

40:36Robbie Mustoe:that he's kind of the real deal. And anybody that doesn't appreciate him as a top player,

40:42Robbie Earle:of course everyone's got the right to their own opinion. But I just wanted to reiterate, he's a top, top player. The numbers are spectacular. And he's been doing it in good teams' performances, bad performances from different positions in the team. Yeah, I think he's a top, top player.

40:59Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I think it's a great shout. And what I would say as well, Rob, in the time, and he's been at Manchester United a good length of time now, and so long-term contract. He's been with a lot of very average Manchester United players around him.

41:13Robbie Earle:Yeah, I know, the team.

41:14Robbie Mustoe:And he's been the guy, you know what I mean? He's the one who's kept producing those numbers and that quality. And stayed there, Rob. He could have left, I think. He could have left and gone to, you know, if he was at another club with better players, he'd look even better. Absolutely.

41:27Robbie Earle:He might win stuff. Well, win more stuff, yeah. It's a good shot. I just want to give him a match.

41:31Robbie Mustoe:Bruno Fernandes, who, yeah, flies under the radar a bit and is a bit of an easy target. but no, it's a good shout. So Man United, mate, have got themselves up to third place and sitting pretty.

41:45Robbie Earle:Yeah, it's quite the story. It's quite the story. I think they're in sixth place with Ruma Aaron left but there's no question. There's no question now the team looks in a different place and I always think that formations and stuff like that can improve a team 20%, 25%. Definitely seeing that. You're seeing players playing in the right places. Bruno playing higher up and not in the middle of the park. He was at fault for many goals. So, yeah, it's going right. And, again, I reiterate, a strong third-place finish, and the job has got to go to Michael Carrick. You can't not see out where this is going

42:24Robbie Mustoe:because you don't want to be looking at what would have been.

42:28Robbie Earle:Because if it doesn't work out like this, there'll be somebody else. but that's an if they might not finish strongly Rob they might have a wobble and they might be a little weaker at the end of the season then there will be a stronger case for other high profile managers that might be available to come into the club but right now, strong third place

42:48Robbie Mustoe:love to see him in the job 3 goals, 3 points, another win for Michael Carrick at home let's go to Chelsea-Newcastle another game with two big teams really in the Premier League looking for the 3 points for different reasons Before we get to the game, Rob, and what we saw of a Chelsea team that conceded five against PSG, poor manner in the last 20 minutes of the game, against a Newcastle team that struggled for some consistency when they've played in Europe. But I want to take you to the huddle, my friend, the Chelsea huddle. They've been doing... It sort of hit the media over the last couple of weeks.

43:24Robbie Mustoe:Two or three games?

43:25Robbie Earle:Two or three games back, they seem to be...

43:27Robbie Mustoe:Before the ball's kicked, So at the start of the game, then at half-time, they do the huddle. They do the huddle around the centre of the pitch, where the ball is, before the ball's kicked. So I saw, it was Aston Villa, I think, last week or so, were unhappy with them doing it around the ball, and they were having the kick-off. This week, we see them do the huddle over the ball, and the referee, Paul Turney, stuck in the middle, doesn't quite know what to do with himself, where to look. He stands there as if maybe they won't see me here. Cole Palmer and Rhys James continue to have a discussion.

44:11Robbie Mustoe:Where are we with it all? Does the manager just need to move this on and stop it being something bigger than it is? I heard Liam Mussina come out to say that it's respecting the ball.

44:25Robbie Earle:Yeah, I do.

44:26Robbie Mustoe:which I don't quite know where that's going to. But before we get into football, is this just another one of those reasons why, if you're not a Chelsea fan, people don't like Chelsea. What are they doing?

44:38Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, there's so much... First off, great entertainment, by the way. Great, great, funny. Seeing the referee, like, absolutely not knowing what to do, where to look. Paul Turney, just move out of it. Just, like, see what they're doing and move out of it instead of being stubborn enough to stay in the middle of it. That was insanely awkward. But the bigger point is, what is it? Don't do it. Don't do it. We all are not there. It's like, I'm telling you right now, if I'm in the opposition team, I'm doing the same thing at the same time. No, guys, we want to do that. Because it comes onto your side of the field.

45:14Robbie Earle:Liam Rossini went crazy a few weeks ago, Rob, wasn't it? It was Arsenal where they put a goalkeeper warming up, went on to their path.

45:20Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, it's a good point.

45:21Robbie Earle:And now he's got his team kind of all around the ball. I don't like it at all I think if I'm a position opposition player I'm not having it I think it's obnoxious you can do that huddle in your own

45:39Robbie Mustoe:what is it, respecting the ball

45:41Robbie Earle:you've got half the pitch I don't like it, it feels like they're trying to intimidate you

45:45Robbie Mustoe:they're trying to tap you on the head

45:47Robbie Earle:this is going to be our ball we can control hate it, absolutely hate it and I think the league might have to get, you know, I mean, the Premier League, I mean, some things that we have to report on, it's hilarious, isn't it? It's crazy. I mean, every week there's some bit of craziness that's like, what is going on? But I think the league should address it. I don't like it. One bit, absolutely one bit. Get in your own half, just get on with the game instead of these gimmicky little things that are meant to intimidate or, you know, so I hate it and every angle of it, I don't like it. I'm sorry.

46:21Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Well, let's get to the football. Did you like that any more? Well, I didn't really see much of it. There's a zillion games going at the same time,

46:28Robbie Earle:and I can't... I didn't watch much of the game, to be honest with you. I did see the goal, and interesting, Rob, and I think we've got to dig into this a little bit more. Liam Rossini afterwards asked about the goal, a straight ball right through the middle of the defense.

46:41Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Lebermanto, didn't he, got played in, had the whole pitch, run it through, played it into Willer, and he squares it for Gordon.

46:51Robbie Earle:So, Rossini, I saw a quote, So, again, I didn't see it every minute of this game. So, you know, fill in the gaps if there's gaps, Rob. But he basically said, yeah, Liam Rossini, I'm paraphrasing a little bit, but we're different. Like, we press the ball differently. I think what he's basically meaning is they go man-to-man, Rob, on a lot of players. It's man-to-man marking. So I think there was a behind-the-goal shot where there's players going, you know, following opponents all over.

47:16Robbie Mustoe:Oh, OK.

47:17Robbie Earle:And somebody, I think one person forgot his assignment.

47:19Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah. And of course... Levermanto's free.

47:22Robbie Earle:Yeah, and so there's big holes. Now, the old-fashioned way, without getting into all the boring stuff, it's kind of zonal marking. Yeah, you stay in a space. Whereas a back four, the ball's on the right. It's like the old training session with a piece of rope. You've got to assume you're on a piece of rope with your defenders, and we go across, and we kind of go across. And that was a zonal marking way. Man-to-man means that people have been in different spots, and they're not connected. And the space was there, and the ball went through there, and Resinia said, well, yeah, somebody's left as a Simon there.

47:51Robbie Earle:So that's something we should dig into a little bit on some tactical side of it in the studio to get a closer sense of how that's working for them. Because it's something that he did say to us, Rob. He did say to us, it's going to take time for the players to grip to all the bits that I want, not only with the ball, but the way that they press. I think the modern-day managers are into all these details. Different way of pressing the ball.

48:15Robbie Mustoe:Different when we were playing.

48:17Robbie Earle:That's an interesting comment from him. But again, I didn't see a ton of the game.

48:21Robbie Mustoe:No, it was one of those with that window. We didn't get to see too much. But, I mean, it's back-to-back defeats now. The PSG, obviously, they've got to try and get that back again. They played midweek in the Champions League. And then I'm just trying to look who they face next week. They were away at Everton after that, which is never an easy place to go. And David Moyes has got his team set up pretty well. So, a little testing time now for the senior. And one stat I read, Rob, which just sort of threw me a little bit. He's had 17 games in charge now. It seems like he's gone 17 games. He's only kept three clean sheets in the 17 games.

49:01Robbie Earle:Yeah. I think right now my overriding thought on this Chelsea team is they keep shooting themselves in the foot. Like literally every week. Like literally. Between red cards, between crazy goalkeeper trying to play out, between mistakes, this tactical thing in this particular game. like a lot of this stuff and maybe Chelsea I don't know how Chelsea fans feel about him or you know but I feel like there's a lot of good stuff at Chelsea there is a lot of good stuff going on if they can and we keep saying if but the discipline the mistakes the goalkeeping now these are kind of like some of that's pretty basic stuff if they clean up the basic stuff this is a really good team honestly when you think of that midfield Rob when you think of the the Enzos and the Caicedos and Neto and the guy up front and Pedro scoring all the goals.

49:49Robbie Earle:You've got Palmer, you've got Esteval to come back into the side. You've got Rhys James, you've got Kukurea that's coming. There's a lot of good parts there. So I hope the Chelsea fans don't start to get a little bit antsy and make it a bit of a funny atmosphere, because I really like what's happening. But there are some moments that himself is a bit cringey. He's a little cringey at times. But again, I don't really care. I care about what I see. And if he cuts out the mistakes and the goalkeeping stuff and the discipline, they aren't far away from being a really good team. But, again, they've got to fight on the top five to get the Champions League spot for next season.

50:24Robbie Mustoe:Two points in the end, though, for Newcastle away from home. Yeah, well done, Newcastle. A little bit up and down, get themselves in the top half of the table, sitting ninth on 42 points. And they've got Barcelona, don't they? The second leg against Barcelona, where they won one from the first game. So, huge game for the Geordies. I'm sure they'll be focusing in on that during the midweek. Let's get just to some other games, mate. There wasn't a glut of goals. Brighton won, Sunderland, then Minto with the goals. Looks like he slightly mishit a cross and finds his way in. Crystal Palace nil, Leeds nil.

51:00Robbie Mustoe:There was plenty going on that. Miss penalty from Calvert-Lewin. A red card, isn't he sure, for good months and for two yellow cards, which I don't think the referee... Harsh, mate. Second one's harsh. I don't think the referee realised he'd give him the first. No, he didn't. And so he wanted to pull it back and then the Palace fans were sort of saying, players to him, that you've already given him a yellow, you've got to give him a second. He was a bit embarrassed. Rob, it was a foul.

51:20Robbie Earle:It was probably a foul. Yeah, it's a foul, I know. Every foul hasn't got to be a yellow card. He reached in and didn't get the ball. It's a foul. So that was really, really harsh. But fair play. I mean, fair play, they're hung on. I mean, they're grinding. I mean, Leeds United aren't safe, Rob.

51:32Robbie Mustoe:No, they're not. But it's another point in it. It's another point in the road where they sit on 32 points now. And the Leeds fans, I have to say, Rob, the scenes after, were really behind the team. knowing they were going to pass with 10 men and still getting a point. So, yeah, everything seems like it's going in the right way. Nottingham, Forrest, nil. Fulham, nil. Obviously, Forrest could have done that. A couple of chances, Forrest, as well. When he has one, they have a goal disallowed where Endo has just hit his heels offside. And then Alway breaks through and has a one-on-one. Should do better, really.

52:04Robbie Mustoe:Puts it wide of the post. And so, for them, they get a point, but a point that just gets them out of the bottom three on goal difference. but three points would have been huge for Vito Pereira, who's still yet to win in the Premier League between Wolves and Nottingham Forest. He hasn't won a game in the Premier League this year.

52:24Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, it's Burnley-Nil, Bournemouth-Nil is the other one, Robin, and I think that's all the games. And I think, you know, I'll just quickly look at the league table now, Rob, at the bottom of the table, and I think we know that Wolves are not going to get out of that. I think Burnley-Nil as well. Then you've got West Ham on 29. they have the worst goal difference minus 19 then you've got Nottingham Forest on 29 and you've got Tottenham Hotspur on 30 Leeds 32 so that's it so one spot between those four clubs and there's eight games left they've 30 played right now yeah Forrest have got Tottenham massive game next weekend does it mean you're in the studio next weekend that's going to be a fun one to see

53:03Robbie Mustoe:I'm a little worried for Forest I'm a little worried for Forest I'm yeah

53:11Robbie Earle:the goal scoring bit isn't it yeah the goal scoring bit yeah which is a big bit

53:16Robbie Mustoe:it's a big bit

53:17Robbie Earle:I know it's kind of a big bit yeah I think you've got to be worried for all of them now the momentum that Tottenham Hotspur have got going into next weekend they've got they've got to use that and 62 ,000 people at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium they've got to get behind the team and behind the manager

53:34Robbie Mustoe:and they've got to find a way to win that game I mean

53:37Robbie Earle:you know West Ham, I still worry about West Ham, actually. And I know Somerville's been great and he missed this one or whatever, but that's what makes the league the way it is. Somebody asked me last night, Rob, before the game today, who's going down? And I said, God. I said Tottenham Hotspur last night.

53:59Robbie Mustoe:Last night.

54:00Robbie Earle:Now, after they get the result today and you think about that game, that critical game next week, and I keep going back to Richarlison and what he can bring the team and it's at home and there's got to be desperation and there's a little bit of momentum. I would probably swing back to West Ham.

54:15Robbie Mustoe:Forrest haven't got Richarlison, have they?

54:17Robbie Earle:I know they have.

54:18Robbie Mustoe:And West Ham. I know. Can you imagine, Bob?

54:21Robbie Earle:It's a disaster for any of these clubs. Oh, yeah, these starters clubs, yeah.

54:25Robbie Mustoe:I mean, maybe less so Leeds, although they'll have ambition and they've started the season so well. I mean, Maranakis, Rob,

54:32Robbie Earle:the money that Maranakis has put in and the managers and the sporting director. and the signings.

54:36Robbie Mustoe:European football, mate. They're playing European football. Yeah. Yeah. Crazy. So, brilliant.

54:41Robbie Earle:It's going to be great. It's going to be fun.

54:43Robbie Mustoe:Listen, mate, I'm going to wrap it up for another great weekend. Ended up being a really good weekend for the Gunners, stretching their lead to nine points over City at the top of the table and having the youngest ever player to score in the Premier League. We'll be back next weekend. That's March 22nd for Match Week 31. We'll cast our eyes over that big game, Tottenham versus Forest in a must-win game for both of these teams. But for now, I'm Earl, he's Musty, together with the two Robbies. Thanks for watching and listening. Be safe, stay healthy. It's goodnight from me. And it's goodnight from him.

55:16Goodnight.