Eze Haunts Former Club, Liverpool's Title Hopes Stung, Sunderland's Splendid Surprise

26:54Yeah, and John Stones came in at times, Rob. So he did that hybrid role. So he came in alongside Reinders, which allowed Foden and Bernardo Silva to go forward. They were knocking the ball around pretty well. And they were back to their trying to high-press Aston Villa. Okay. Which is like, wow, okay, like this from City. But Villa's football was so good, played through them many times. Wow. And their football had to be good. Yeah. And And again, set piece. Set piece is a winning goal. It kind of came out. It's kind of an odd, I think maybe a set piece went wrong. It came out to Matty Cash, who had a brilliant first touch and a really great shot for the goal.

27:30But their football was just, I thought, really good. Like, that's Aston Villa. And fair play, you've got Ollie Watkins running around at front again. I just thought the football of Villa through the middle thirds, like the middle area of the field, Morgan Rodgers was top form again. John McGinn was excellent again. You know, their football was really, really bright. And it's so different to the early Aston Villa. And again, it's just how football amazes you, how a team can look so off it and so flat and so stale. First five games, wasn't it? They were really poor. Yeah, and the fans were down and maybe a hangover of not being in the Champions League.

28:07But, you know, whatever he's done to Unai Emery, he's got them going again, Rob. And first half was very impressive for me. They're into the break at 1-0. Second half is different, Rob, because why not? They got forced back a little bit, happy to sit back and defend deep. And they got stretched. They got stretched a lot because City played good football. City aren't that far away. When we think about goal scorers of the past for Man City, they've had tremendous wingers scoring goals. Scoring wingers has been a thing for Man City, as well as everybody had goals for midfield. And we talked about it a few weeks ago, that this is kind of great for Erlen Haaland, but who else is going to score?

28:43and this was a game like that, Rob, really. And we did have a chance first half, Erlenhalen. Villa did a great job. They let him go once. He got through and, I mean, Martinez made the save. But the other goal threats from your Savinas and your Oscar Bobs, they don't look like their players, they're young, that are ready to score a bunch of goals, right? So if you haven't got that, we know you've got the striker. Midfield, Foden, yes, you can, and so can Bernardo Silva, but not quite happening right now. So, yeah, it is still the issue. To a broader point then, Rob, because I obviously didn't see this game, saw the highlights, and then I was reading before the game, though, that Pep had talked this week in his presser about, he felt the hunger's coming back.

29:24There's a drive about his team that, you know, we want to get back to winning things. Was that evident then, Tia, you think? Yeah, there was a bit of that. Because that's, I think, the thing that people have thought was missing this time, whether it's from the manager or the players, is that they're not quite as hungry as they were. And if you're not quite as hungry, you're not going to win it. No, that's why I enjoyed the game, Rob, because City looked at it. They looked at it. They zipped the ball around. They pressed like they try and strangle you in their own half. But Villa's football needed to be and was really, really good.

29:56There's no problem with that today, Rob, in terms of the hunger. It goes back to the end product from certain areas of the side and the end product goals and assists in the wide areas, particularly, I mean, Jeremy Duke, who came on second half, I think it was. I prefer him at the moment than Savinha. and maybe Oscar Bob as well, but they're just not getting the end product of assists and goals from anybody else other than Erlen Haaland. So this is what people talked about. We talked about it and was a good example. That being said, Villa defended well, but they were absolutely stretched, Rob, second half.

30:27I mean, Pau Torres made a clearance off his shin that went over the bar from two yards out. I'm sure you saw that. They got stretched. The goalkeepers worked. They had to pull out all the stops, but it was one of those days at Villa Park, Rob. Yeah. You know, we talk about Villa Park. Yeah. Big atmosphere. without fans, with those atmospheres. Good record against Man City. Up for the game. Villa playing well again. It was really good. Yeah, it was really good. Good to see Villa back. Let's go to one of the stories of the season, my friend. Chelsea 1, Sunderland 2. Newly promoted Sunderland sit in the top four of the Premier League on 17 points.

31:01And at this rate, mate, by Christmas, they're going to be safe. It's incredible. Yeah, it is incredible. And Regis Labrise, wow. I just, this has taken me by surprise, mate. And why it is, is because promoter teams recently are buying so many players that you don't know what you're going to get. And Sunderland, it seems. I was doing the Sunderland game, Rob, and I was doing the line-ups, and I just wanted, in my head, to have a mental block. And I think I ticked off. I think it was seven players who were brought in in the summer who played today. So it's a very, very different-looking team from the team that came out of the championship.

31:46But you know what, mate? And I've done a little bit of reading up. Wanted to get a bit more background on Sunderland, obviously a team coming up, is that they had the profile, they've got the players, they feel they've got the manager, they've definitely got a way of playing. and despite going 1-0 down, Rob, after four minutes at Stamford Bridge and you could think, you know, things are going to get a little bit ugly here, they stayed in the game, their football's good, they paid one or two chances, they get themselves an equaliser and in the end, they get themselves a last-minute winner and the scenes at the end, Rob, were as good a scenes as we've seen all season.

32:26You know, those fans have gone a long way down to South London from Zunderland. because I didn't know what time of day they were leaving. And then to go to, you know, Chelsea, the glamorous, high-spending, billionaires club, as it was being called, and to go and nick, well, nick because the football was good, but getting a 2-1 win late on is incredible, mate. And 17 points, fourth in the table. Wow, they've had an unbelievable start. that must, must, must give them a chance of staying in the league. Yeah, they've got a great chance now, Rob. They've got five wins. They sort of say ten wins and you're almost there.

33:07They've got so many more games to get those wins. And it wasn't a smash and grab, Rob. No, it wasn't. My early note of Sunderland was, wow, how positive were they? They can play, mate. They can play. And you can see how confident they are right now. The support's there. I always talk about it every year, about the euphoria promotion. You're on a high from being in the top flight again. They started off great, and that continues and continues. The away support. The team and the fans, Rob, are very connected at the moment. They're feeding off each other. Again, there's so many new players in there.

33:38It's really hard for people like us to try and predict what they're going to do. Wow. Powerful, physical, quick-to-counterattack, strong at set pieces. I mean, I think Wilson Isidore was a threat throughout the game. I think they got a goal from a set piece, didn't they? They made my note. Yeah, there's so many set pieces. It was Isidore from the throw that came in and was flicked on and they react. I'll tell you what as well, Rob, tactically, and again, I've kind of, for some reason, Sunderland's become my new best friend. So I've been, you know, looking around them. They've got this centre-half, Dan Ballard, who Mark Gooey started up front and Pedro was behind him.

34:15Ballard bullied Gooey, wouldn't allow him to get a hold. So Chelsea couldn't build up through the front lines that they liked to and get the midfield players in. And another thing that he did really smartly, Rob, and only because I've had some in a couple of weeks that I picked up. So Trey Hulme's normally a left-back. He played him on the right side of midfield, outside of Mucchielli, who was a defensive player. And he basically said, every time Kukureya comes into midfield, you pick him up. And he nullified the effect, because you know how Chelsea either like to get whether it's Gusto or Jake or one of them in.

34:52He was ready. They had a game plan for it. And when he went back to left-back, he played on the right side. And every time Kukurea came in, he did a job on it. And I'm looking at this, Regis Lubish, I'm saying this is a small cookie, mate. He's got things lined up. And I also think, Rob, one of the biggest things, you've talked about promoted teams and playing at home and the euphoria of winning. One of the biggest things you have to have is a goal scorer. Now, many teams, and there's a list as long as you're on, of championship strikers who come in the Premier League and just can't get the numbers, just can't quite make that step up.

35:31The game's quicker, the defenders are better, chances are harder, all that. Sunderland have a young man called Wilson Isidore, my friend, who got clubbed by 13 Premier League goals, including the playoffs, which they came up last season. I think that's his fifth or sixth now. I think he's on five or six this season with the goal he scores, which he reacts really well from the long ball. He's talented. He looks like he's got a bit about him. I saw his interview after the game. It was him and Talby, you know, the nice bit of banter about them and sitting so high in the table like they can't quite believe it.

36:11But, you know, it's so easy sometimes to go, right, I've got to go and find a centre-fooler who's going to score my goals in the Premier League and go and try and take Callum Wilson or go and try and take, I don't know, Jamie Vardy. He obviously believes in Wilson Isidore. He's definitely got a bit about him, this kid. Plays from that left-hand side and he's getting goals and he's playing in the front line that's looking like he can hit double figures, mate. You know, from a championship striker coming into the Premier League and hitting double figures and more would be a magnificent thing. So it's like a shout-out to players making a step up and making a mark at the next level because it's not easy.

36:54You ask Alexander Izak how easy it is. He's got loads of goals at Newcastle, but he's struggling a little bit now. And Beto at Everton. There's so many centre-forwards who've come into this league and found it difficult. Sunderland have got one who knows his way around an eight-year-box and it looks like he could be one of them. And Ollie Watkins type and Ivan Turnitak go on to the next level. That's a lot of kind words for Wilson Isidore. Because I think Rob is one of those who there's more to come. He's a decent footballer as well. There's more to come. He's not just a goal scorer. Yeah, I remember Kevin Phillips talked about us, Rob, didn't he?

37:35Kevin Phillips. That's right, yeah, we had a bit of time. at the Fan Fest. And he sort of, I think I asked him a question about Wilson Isler. He's the guy. And is he, can he do it in the Premier League? And he was very positive, very up, basically saying like, yeah, I think he's got a little bit of all sorts in the way he plays. And I think we've seen that. Rob, he can run in behind. He's got good physicality. He can finish as well. So yeah, good shout. And pretty amazing victory for Sunderland. Yeah, absolutely. So he's your underappreciated performer. He's my underappreciated performer of the week.

38:05Sorry, Did I not give him the crown? Sorry, Wilson, I didn't crown you before. Yeah, my undappreciated form of the week, Wilson Isidore, the Sunderland forward. Brilliant, brilliant. Okay, mate, let's get to some other results because there's one that stands out. It means that there's three straight wins in the Premier League. It means that they're turning the corner. It means that Manchester United are back in the title race and Ruben Amron's manager of the year, my friend. Manchester United four, Brighton two. I suppose, Rob all the questions were I've been one back to back eventually I've been beating Liverpool last weekend could they have some consistency?

38:43Could they keep this run going? Are we starting to see signs of the improvement Ruben Amaran's talked about and we can forget a little bit about the system, forget a bit about personnel and individuals and all that can we concentrate on Manchester United and winning football matches? Yeah, good day for Manchester United, Rob. And, you know, I have a smile on my face when I see the Man United line-up and I see the front three that were brought in. And apart from Benjamin Shesko, a kind of plug-and-play. You know, we've seen so much of Cunha and Mbemo. You almost know they're going to work out great.

39:23And I think the improvement in the team, Rob, is literally down to better players, literally down to better forwards. The forwards are fit now. They're in the side playing together. You're starting to see how that affects the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rob. The combinations that he makes now with those front players. You know, it's not just the three. It's how they combine with others and make other teams better in the side. So when they go forward, there were some moves, Rob, that were like, there you go. That's it. Like little clever little one-twos or balls around the corner or link-up play and switching out wide.

39:55You know, there's still areas of the team that I cannot sit here and say, oh, this looks brilliant now. I still don't, not a massive fan of the wing-backs. I still don't think I can trust the centre-backs Rob most of the time. I still worry when I see Bruno playing alongside Casemiro. But when you've got three, when you've got better players in a team in that front area, then the attacking play should get better and the goals should be more. And they are going to concede. They conceded two goals at Old Trafford against Brighton. They were at periods in the second half looked a bit dicey. Looked a bit dicey until...

40:28Brighton's football's good as well, by the way. So there was moments there, Rob, when I see United playing high with the ball, back three spread out, they're in the opponent's half knocking the ball around. That's Amarim's football. That's what he envisaged. Three at the back for build-up. Everybody else, Amarim really high, Dalloe really high, two central field players holding, two number 10s behind a striker. That's what he wants to see. But when they're football, it generally isn't great. And the other team has locked the ball. you have some of the ball, they have a lot of the ball, that's when the system looks bad.

41:02But when they can control it, dominate possession, then you see an approach and a style and a shape of the team, like many others are doing, by the way, in possession. So lots to be positive about, particularly the front players, Rob, and how they're improving the team and others around them. Yeah, I think, you know, you've hit on what I thought. It was the first time I kind of sat back and saw a little bit more control in the opposition half there. You know, we've had an attack. The shape around it was good and they kept it and they worked from one side to the other, which we see at Arsenal and we've seen at Liverpool and we've seen at Man City, but we haven't really seen at United.

41:37United sometimes have attack, the ball turns over and then they're running back having to defend. So I thought that was one of the big things. I thought Bruno's, it almost looked to me, Robin, we had a couple of breakdowns where Luke Shaw actually went in on Ruterro as a problem and it allowed Bruno a little bit to go and do his bit a bit higher up the pitch. And then you drop back again. And those are the things we were talking about, the flexibility of the system. Yeah, he's playing centre-back, but at times if Ruter goes in there, and we talked about Ruter last week being how important he was, and now we can say, you know, Luke Shaw did a really good job of shutting him down.

42:14Really good job. And if he doesn't go in there, right? If Luke Shaw doesn't go in there, then what happens? Those two in the middle of the park get outnumbered even more. So I like that. There's a lot of things I liked. There really was. I'll tell you what I did like. And our great friend, Preeto Drury, and I hope he doesn't mind me kind of replaying his, he had a great line then. I think just even the first game, when the first goal went in, Rob, and he said, I quote, a hint of an Old Trafford we once knew. And he talked about the joy of the players, the joy of the fans, the songs that the fans sing.

42:48Old Trafford has been incredibly supportive of this team and managers. And I remember Gary Neville saying that, that they never turn, you know and what that's anyway they've had some frustrating times but when Peter Drury said it that way this is an old Trafford that we once knew it felt like that for the first time and you know some of the football that Man United fans have been used to they want to see it again it looked a little anxious later on I think that's natural but signs for optimism Rob I am not in any way getting excited and going to go but you know those front three particularly Yeah, it was very encouraging.

43:26So it's interesting, Rob, just a couple of things. So a couple of things in terms of just going back to that front three, you know, Cesko, that did look good. The combinations looked good. The balance was good. They had good support. You know, let's go back a week ago. He plays Cunha at the top end of the pitch, and he plays Mountain and Burma underneath him. So are there days when Cesko, Will it be the front three with Shesko in days when that might not be the best way to go? That's a great question, mate. And I think that's something that we're going to... I think we should expect. I know, you know, I'm sure Ruben Arim's a ton more smarter than we are, Rob.

44:09And sometimes, like, you feel like that's a good performance. Let's have some continuity. Let's keep the same two, the same three at midfield, the same... But he has a tendency to change players for certain games. He did it in the last one. You know, I guess you've got to trust him, haven't you? Yeah, yeah. He got it right last weekend. He changed Maguire. He changed the front man and it works. And, yeah, I'm just wondering if at certain times he's going to look at the opposition defence and how they play. And change things again. He might just change things a little bit differently. The other thing, Rob, again, was just a conversation we had and I think one of our research looked into a little bit more.

44:49but the whole thing of Manchester United, when the players ran out, and I don't know if it was something you saw, it came to me straight away. I said, that's the most flags I've ever seen at Manchester United since I've been watching. It was like flags everywhere. There was a Roy Keane flag, there's a Cantona one, there's this one. I don't know how flag days these clubs robs. I can remember our club, but you have a flag day. I don't know if it's a flag day or it was something, but I believe it was something that was being done purposely behind the scenes to help lift, you know, a bit of a turnover.

45:16So, listen, everybody's playing their part. Everybody's doing their little bit. And, listen, I just thought one of the key things I thought with the win, Rob, was it 3-2, and he was getting a bit anxious and nervy, and you're nervy for them, really, because you're kind of thinking, are they going to get through? And then Brian and Burma run through and smashes it. And they were chopping that. That, for me, was Man United. That's what United used to do. Back in our day, when you play United, you think, oh, you might get it to 2-1 or something. You think, have we got a chance? and the next minute they'd break away and Giggs and Scholes and Beckham and all these people would smash something in.

45:54That's how they used to put their anxiousness to one side. It was a good day, a great day for Ruben Amren, the three straight wins, and now hopefully he can start to move forward and look at a more successful period. We just watched this morning, mate, Everton 0, Tottenham 3, set pieces again. I think this one, two corner kick routines from Spurs. One gets headed back from Bentoncourt for Van der Ven. Van der Ven then beats Pickford on the second one to go 2-0 up and then Papsar with a pretty easy finish to make it 3-0. Disappointment for Everton. First home defeat. Good home record. Incredible away record for Spurs, Rob.

46:41I was looking Spurs have got 17 points, 13 of them come away, which makes you feel like if they could sort things out at home, I mean, bizarrely, you look at the league and Tottenham are sitting third on the table. I think the way that they play, Rob, is very suited to away performances, isn't it? They're not expansive. They're the total opposite of Ange. They're not expansive. They don't really demand the ball a lot of the times. They're very happy to sit back, to counter-attack, to be good at set-pieces, again, which they are. And Nicky van der Ven looks like a real threat. one of those big centre-halves that attacks it really well.

47:12They did it great. I thought the third goal was good as well. Popsar from midfield. Richarlison's header's perfect in the path of him. You know, I watched a game that was two set-pieces and then Spurs sitting back and defending. And when they got people in shape, they're pretty strong at it. I mean, I thought Everton played some good football. You know, it's funny. It was like... There's no real cutting edge, is there? No, there's no cutting edge. Ily Maninjai is a star. Love watching him play. I'd go and pay money just to watch him play, Rob. You know, really talented. I know what Jack does, Greenwich, on the other side.

47:47But Beto or whoever it is up front, Barry, they're just not at the same level. It's funny, Rob, because I looked at the game and I thought, that is what David Moyes has done to so many teams in the past. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's good at set pieces. They're physical. They soak it up. They maybe score on a count attack as well. And Everton's had a good run at that stadium. And I'm always interested. Lee Dixon talked about it being there for the first time and seeing a magnificent stadium with these steep bank sides that helps with the sound and stuff. So we haven't been there yet. Yeah, love to go there at some point.

48:19But other than that, Rob, and that's what Spurs are. When they're at home, mate, and they've got to make the play and be expansive and be creative, I think it's harder for them. But, I mean, not a bad way to start for Thomas Frank. What are they now? They're third in the table, Rob, on 17 points. After not really looking amazing, but being efficient. It's absolutely not going to be exciting and the rollercoaster ride of hand. It's not going to be that, Rob, and I think Spurs fans will have to get used to that. But it'll be football in a different way, and I just think sometimes, Rob, attention to detail, those little minor things that he's prepared to work on.

48:54He's just left a Brentford team that do the set pieces, that do the long throws, that play direct now and then. He does what it takes to win football matches, and I think that's something that Spurs fans, I think, will come to enjoy if it brings success in the way that Thomas Frank does. The other thing I would just say about Thomas Franklin, and it's just a quick one, this guy is such a great communicator. There was a great shot at the end of the game today where he's got Mickey van der Ven and he's pointing to him to the Spurs fans as if, say, come on, give him some love. You know, he's got the two goals.

49:28He's really important to us. He's connecting. Last week he did it with Kudus at Leeds. Kudus scores a late goal a couple of weeks ago. He jumps on at the end of the game, gives Kudus a big hug, almost like, you know, you're my boy. He's got, without doubt, already got a connection with a group of players. And I always just thought the fans as well, away from home, and plenty of them have travelled to Hildington Stadium. He's got that connection with the fans. I think you kind of think he's a good bloke, Thomas Frank. Wouldn't mind to have a beer with him. And I think if you can connect with the fans and you can connect with the players, it puts you in a really good position, strong position, Rob, if things just are not going quite as well as it would be.

50:09Yeah, it gives you a little bit more credit, doesn't it? I think what we're going to see is when Spurs fans are going to be disappointed, it's going to be when they don't create much. I think there is, you know, my brother's a Tottenham fan and he says sometimes when they go forward, they don't look like there's a ton of creativity. There's some pacey players. Brendan Johnson, I kind of like and got a game today. but I think when they don't win, it's going to be because of that. They're going to get plenty of victories the other way and they're going to be good all season away from home. But there'll be a different disappointment.

50:37Last year under Ange, it was like craziness going on. They're disappointed with the end-to-end nature. It's going to be the other way around here. But we'll see. Again, it's a great start. I think you make a good point. I think he and a few other managers right now are really good at connecting the team to the fans and it buys you a little bit of leeway when things don't go so well. They've had a couple of knockbacks, haven't they, at home? They got beat last week, didn't they? Yeah, they got a couple of them. Let's go down to Bournemouth, my friend, where a story continues down there, and maybe it's not getting all the headlines.

51:09Bournemouth 2-0, it's a first-nil Forest team led by Sean Dyke, who took hold the Europa League game against Porto midweek, got his first win. Everything looked a little bit brighter, but went down to Bournemouth and got beat 2-0, Tavernier with the first goal direct from the corner kick, and then Junior Kruppi with the second goal. Let's talk Bournemouth first, mate. And only Ariello. We've had him on a podcast, didn't we, recently, and spoke to him and he talked about the pre-season, about the players, about the Tyler Adams and the mix. I mean, could they be top six? Could they stay in the top six?

51:50Is there enough good players and quality? I mean, the goals get spread around a little bit. Is there enough there, Rob? Yeah, there is. I think there is, Rob. I think there is when you think about the attacking players. We all know the story of Bournemouth. They lost three of the back four. They lost a goalkeeper. But they've still got a lot of good attacking players. And Evan Nielsen, Justin Clivert is fit now. Semenyo. We know what Tyler Adams does in midfield for them. Juna Kruppi. It all comes back to recruitment. If you keep picking up good players like Brentford do, like Brighton do, like Bournemouth do, then you're in good shape because you've got good players immediately good players for the next four five six seven years you know ones that you can sell if you make dud signings you're in trouble and bournemouth um are a great story right now i can't believe what i'm seeing my my my table says they're second in the premier league after nine games i mean it's uh it's fantastic and what a great guy again another guy that they'd love to go for a beer with i'm sure the fans are loving and they've got the club.

52:50But what a nice mix of, Rob, of a Spanish kind of, I guess, heritage and style mixed in with his Basque upbringing in English football. And he has incredible intensity and physicality that I didn't think was going to be a hallmark of Irola, based on what we've known of him in the past. I used to commentate on his games when he played for Athletic Club in Spain. So an amazing story at the moment. And yeah, why not? when you've got that much attacking flair, Rob, and you've got, you know, he's a defender at heart, Ira Ola, and they've got a good defensive record right now. Why not? Why not top six, yeah?

53:28Absolutely. Obviously, Sean Dyche will look for better days. I thought there was a really telling line after the midweek game against Porto in the Champions League when Morgan Gibbs-White came out and almost said, we can breathe again. It almost felt like there's a weight lift. I'm not sure what was going on behind the scenes. I'm not sure if, you know, everyone was happy with the system or what was being played. But it almost made me feel like, oh, this is, you know, John Dyche has already got in there and he's going to work this thing out for them. Yeah, and the connection, Rob, again, with him, with Wohan, with Stone, the two former Forest legends that are on the bench with him alongside him as coaches.

54:06Yeah, all that helps, doesn't it? It does help. And it'll be back to basics for them. Sean Dyche style, you know, block up sharp, limited sort of enthusiasm to attack. Maybe there'll be more of that because there's probably some better players than he's had before with the restrictions at Everton and Burnley. But we'll see. First things first, he's got to stop them going down. He's got to avoid relegation because they're in that fight. He's got to stop the goals going in, which is generally his thing. So we'll see how that'll go. OK, man, let's quickly get through what we've got left. Newcastle, two full and one.

54:35Newcastle left it late. Murphy with the goal. Lukic equalising. Then Bruno Guimaraes, almost last kick of the game. important win this one for Newcastle because they kind of were one of those teams you're not quite sure where they're at they're very much mid-table, that win takes them to 12th 12th, yeah 12 points which is important for them so yeah, good win for Newcastle at the two, obviously Fulham we know you have to respect Fulham the way they set up, the way they play a little bit of disappointment to concede so late, this was an interesting game Rob Wolfe to Burnley 3. Burnley with 2-0 up.

55:13Wolves get back to 2-2. Have a couple of chances maybe to go ahead themselves. Burnley score late in the last minute. Then have a chance and then Rob, it looked like it was a bit of unrest between maybe some of the fans and some of the players and certainly the manager didn't look happy. We're not quite sure what happened and a bit of you getting sacked in the morning. Don't know if that was the Burnley fans or the Wolves fans but not great for Victor Pereira after doing what he did last season Rob. I mean, no wins in nine. It's starting to get to pretty serious territory. I know it is, but, I mean, you know, you sell the best players and the poor coach gets in the neck, doesn't he?

55:48He did a brilliant job last year. He did an excellent job, an outstanding job, to pull this team back together again with real clever tactical work and find a way to get enough roles to stay in it. They sell 8-0 and they sell Matthias Cunha to Manchester United. Can't keep doing it, you know? And I think we know this is probably going to go. They're going to struggle to win games. he's probably going to lose his job and somebody else will come in and won't do any better. Maybe they will do better. But with the squad that it is now, you're stripping away the talent. I mean, it was just, this was frustrating because, you know, you think you get back and then, you know, it's an absolute, it's the worst, isn't it?

56:23When you're playing at home, we've been in this situation, Rob, where you feel like you're getting something and you get a sucker from a team that you would expect to play well against and to beat. I understand the frustration. Especially a promoted team, newly promoted team as well, who you're up against. And, you know, you look at that bottom three now, Rob, They needed it. Some wind are up there. Leeds are picking up points, and Burnley now have got that win. So, yeah, we'll have to see how that one plays out. But not a good time for Wolves at the moment. And then the final game, we did this on Friday night, was Leeds 2, West Ham 1.

56:52One of them games, Rob, where West Ham are on a terrible run. They've had a poor performance against Brentford recently. And you're kind of thinking, you've got to go to Ellen Road and you've got to go in for 15, 20 minutes and get at it and make sure you're in the game. They're 2-0 down after 15 minutes, Rob. 2-0 down after 15 minutes. Eventually get a late goal. Fernandes, who came on as a substitute, flicks one in. But I've got to be honest, mate, it is a long bells time for new known West Ham. Absolute long bell. Yeah, well, I did the game last week on the Monday and then the quick turnaround to Friday.

57:26We both saw the games. It is amazingly shocking to see how bad they are right now. They're in trouble, mate. He's making some odd, little odd decisions with full-backs and stuff. but I mean, you've got to get, yeah, a bit odd. I mean, it's goals for the first goal, Rob, that gets beat at the back post for the header, right? That is just not Premier League level. That's just not Premier League level to be that passive. To be fair, the kid, he's probably used to looking over his left shoulder, being in the left back. Yeah, he's on the other side. You know what I mean? I don't think, you know, we were doing the game and Cora was hosting on Friday and she sort of said, you know, where does the fault lie, you know, between the manager and the players?

58:06And I kind of said both. It doesn't look to me as though Nuno's created the environment that is required, that there's a solidity about them, Rob, where you think, well, at least 15 minutes, they're 2-0 down away on a Friday night. I mean, normally that's what he's good for, Rob, isn't he? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So that's what's been his M.O. That's what he did with the Forest team that got him into European football. So are we now looking at some of these players and saying, by the way, they cannot be good enough? Might not be. Yeah, that might not be. I've talked about Max Killman before.

58:38He struggled. Scarls on one side. Wan-Bissaka's been ball-watching at times. Where you normally assume, where you kind of think he's a decent defender one-on-one. I would have to question, though, Rob. In the midfield, where you've got Thomas Suchak, who we know what he does particularly well and can be a goal threat. And you've got Andy Irving. You've got Magasa and Fernandez, who've both been ball, both athletic, both can get a bow on the pitch. You've got$8 million worth of talent. And you're sitting there on the bench. Yeah, no, you're right. There is some odd things he's doing right now, but maybe it's Nuno's way of sifting through things to try and...

59:11The Callum Wilson thing also feels a bit strange, doesn't it? Like, doesn't want to get him on the pitch or... I don't know, maybe I'm looking too much, but West Ham's one of the clubs. So when we went to work on Saturday morning, we got told that there's been an official statement from West Ham. They're not considering... What statement's that? Is that just trying to find a little... Is somebody trying to find a little... I mean, do me a favour. There's no statements yet. I just think we're jumping on this stuff. We shouldn't be jumping on it. It was West Ham had put it out. That's what I'm saying.

59:47West Ham had put it out. Saying that, you know, almost like put an end to the talk that it was going to be... Which I think even makes it worse. Like, West Ham don't know after anything. Carry on and do what you do. Concentrate on getting your club in the right shape. Get behind your manager. Absolutely. Support your manager, support your team. We'll have to see how that one plays out. Right, mate, you know, we do a quick preview of an upcoming game for next week. The focus is going to turn on Liverpool after the defeats they've had and the goals they've conceded. Liverpool host Aston Villa, and you talked today about resurgent Villa, who kind of really played with an intensity at home to Manchester City.

1:00:27They go to Liverpool to Anfield next weekend, which is not quite as daunting as it used to be. How do you see that one? Are we a week into seeing some change? I know there's a bit of a League Cup accident for a few teams midweek this week. Yeah, pass for Liverpool. Yeah. Aston Villa facing Liverpool. Not the kind of team Liverpool would be wanting. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. I can't wait for this game because I've just watched Villa and they play some blimmin' good football. And, you know, Watkins made a lot of good runs, Rob. Morgan Rodgers made a lot of good runs. You know, it's going to be a difficult game for Liverpool.

1:01:11If they're not strong midfield-wise and defensively, Villa will score. And that's why it's going to be a fascinating match. Arnazlott's got to earn some money now, mate. He's got to sit them down and come up with a structure, come up with some motivation. Yeah. Come up with some hunger, come up with some drive, come up with some energy. You know, light or fire. they've got to show us some spirit yeah champion spirit yeah yeah like it's been very passive and things are going to just automatically happen or what I wonder if there'll be another meeting there was a big meeting won't they merge Van Dijk this week I remember Man City having one back in the day and then they went on to win the next 15 games so yeah it wasn't a great meeting it could have been a great meeting but maybe there's another meeting but they got that's an interesting game because Liverpool have got plenty of they've got plenty of attacking players I'm sure Eke TK will play.

1:01:58Mo Salah, we didn't mention that, mate, but what a good goal he took. Yeah, a good finish. What a brilliant goal. What a lovely finish. Yeah, left foot, right foot, yeah. Lively now, but yeah, that's going to be, I mean, I would be tempted to, if I'm going for a winner there, I'm going for Aston Villa. I think it's one of them at Anfield, I think, where Liverpool will get back to business. Just get the sense. I mean, they played, actually, they've got Crystal Palace in the League Cup coming up this week. Yeah. I think that's on Wednesday. So, at Anfield. Anfield on Wednesday and then they've got Aston Villa at home whether he'll change one or two people around rest one or two but obviously that's a tournament that they probably will still want to win as well Alright mate that's going to do it for this week on a weekend when it was another three points another clean sheet for the Gunners they sit proudly on top of the table United win three on the bounce and Sunderland sit fourth in the table bravo to La Brice we'll be back next Sunday, that's November 2nd to recap match week 10 when Arsenal go to turf more, Spurs host Chelsea and Liverpool face resurgent Villa that we just previewed there but for now I'm Earl, he's Mustard together with two Robbies, thanks for watching and listening be safe, stay healthy, it's a good night from me and it's a good night from him good night

1:03:26We'll be right back.