Liverpool's Magical Moment, Man United's Wild Week, Chelsea's Win Marred by VAR

17:04Robbie Earle:Close out the noise. Get rid of the noise because the noise is going to come because people can't wait to start the noise. Oh, you know, the bottlers, the this, the that, the that. Stick to what you do. Believe in what you do. Take a little bit from how you dominate the game in the first half and continue to push.

17:22Robbie Mustoe:Don't get sloppy. Don't drop silly points that it's going to give a little bit of a gap and it's going to be too much to close. You know, there's a reverse fixture to come at the Emirates. That's where you've got to put it right. Then so be it.

17:33Robbie Earle:If you want to be champions of the Premier League, you've got to win. You have to beat anybody at home. Well, let's go to Old Trafford, my friend, where the headlines were out. There's never a dull moment.

17:43Robbie Mustoe:There is never a dull moment at Manchester United. There's never a dull moment with Ruben Amrum as a manager. Manchester United have lost in the Carabao Cup against Grimsby in penalties. So, again, spotlight on Manchester United, on the team, on the goalkeeper, on everything to do with United. They're facing Burnley at home. and Ruben Amman basically said, it's a game we must win, there are no excuses. Were his words at the start of the game. And you never hear a manager say that? No. So why is he saying it then?

18:20What benefit is there? There's a little bit of talk out there that he's close to jacking it in a little bit.

18:28Robbie Mustoe:Which would be incredible for a manager in a wrap club with a can of contract to say, basically they're walking away from the contract they're walking away from a lot of money but they just feel it's not right I feel like the emotion the pressure is really getting to him after a very difficult and taxing and trying season he's saying stuff like good times are on their way he's signing players that he says himself we're a different team now I remember him saying that just before the season started and then you go away and you get a result like Grimsby he's probably feel the world is closing in on him and he's like, you know what, we've got to win this game.

19:08And I'm thinking, what if you don't? Whose benefit is it to say that? Is it a jolt to the players a little bit like, you know, you need a bit more? Is it him kind of putting out there to the ownership?

19:24Robbie Earle:He has admitted, I am how I am and I'm going to say stuff, I'm emotional. And before we get on to the game, Just quickly chat that because it's okay to be emotional as a manager. The very best are emotional. Yeah, really emotional. Crazy on the sidebar. Jurgen Klopp, emotional. Differences, press conferences.

19:46Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah. They don't give you any of that, do they? They find a way to calm down. And they don't give you a way for you to be asking questions about their team and about what's happening.

19:56Robbie Earle:The sad thing is, because he's so open and honest, As a reporter, I can literally ask him anything.

20:03Robbie Mustoe:He's going to give me something, honest. That's not a good way to be.

20:08Robbie Earle:And I know that everybody, it's great that we get that. But the big managers or the experienced managers are basically going to talk without telling you anything. Talk without telling you anything. Boring. And sadly, he... Is that something that he might have to change? I don't think he's going to change. He said it's to say how I am. You know, sometimes I love the team, sometimes I don't like the team, sometimes there's that and the other. He is letting himself be fully obese and open the book about his emotions. I do get that. Let me just ask you the question. We must win, there's no excuses.

20:39I would almost say Sir Alex Ferguson would say that every week, whoever they were playing. So why, you know, is he saying, oh, because it's Burnley after the Grimsby, this should happen. Manchester United's ambition should be to win every game.

20:54Robbie Earle:Yeah, but the way he said it, Rob, and the context around it, given what just happened in the Carabao Cup. Like, if we don't win this, there's no excuses and I'm done. I mean, anyway, they did win, right? And we continue watching this thing. And I really hope, I like his honesty. And I like the way he's trying to build this team. I feel like recruitment has put him in a difficult situation, or he has himself is spending nearly$300 million on forward players which are leaving big gaps in the middle of the park and the goalkeeper. Emi Martinez is strongly rumoured for tomorrow the last day to go to Man United.

21:39I mean, I think that solves a problem. I think he's a very good goalkeeper. He's got a rick in him a little bit but generally he's got the personality to handle the job. Now whether they find a central midfield player I don't know. I fear that the money spent and the encouragement and the hope is all in those front players and that the gaps and the cracks that are there is still there and it might stop this thing from rolling forward with the hope and the anticipation that the United fans have got. We'll talk about West Ham later,

22:14Robbie Mustoe:but I think before the game today I said about there's a front three for West Ham that can score goals. They were top ten, the back three in midfield, not good enough. And we saw a different West Ham today, and it produced a different result. Is there a way he could shore things up with this good players? I mean, we don't know at this stage what's going to come in and out at Old Trafford. The sole Garnaccio's got sold to Chelsea now. I don't know if that's going to release a little bit more money. They've still got a lot of players who they're trying to get out the door on good salaries who don't want to leave.

22:44Robbie Mustoe:But let's just work on the basis before they transfer window closes. he's left with this group. He's got to find a way to close things down. I don't know. I don't know, mate. We've seen months and months of this now. So I had a thought last night, because we're saying, OK, you need to go and buy one, and Balaba was a talk, and blah, blah, blah. Again, I'm just chucking this out there as a point. Is there anybody else in that group? And I'm looking like, again... Well, that can help them. This right there, with them. Yeah. could Lenny Yoroh play midfield as a holding next to somebody just bear with me so I've got three other sets I'm here for it I'm here for it I'm here for it Masraoui I've got Deleuze I've got Maguire I've got Martinez an athletic midfield you know who can see danger who would track runners who would understand the role and he can play he can he can bang a ball into midfield and get people to start it's not an awful shout so so I'm not saying is a solution but he might plug a gap next to Bruno or if it's not Bruno Ugarte or Manu somebody but we keep seeing Man United and we're midfield players so we know the role and we say oh he's going to run off him he's going to Lenny Yorra would have the understanding he'd be more interested in running back and following him than running forward correct so is there somebody in that group I don't mind that at all don't mind that at all you know is he

24:14Robbie Earle:Rodri-esque Yeah, well, also now, the big problem is Mateus Cunha. Yeah, hamstring, yeah. Now, that might mean that Bruno Fernandes can play higher. Again, this goes back to replacing the whole of the front line. That's where Bruno is best at. So now where did he play? And I don't like him as a six, as one of those two-holding midfielder. I just don't. So they didn't need to buy three. Bruno still should be playing up there, and somebody else should be in the middle of the park. But Lenny Yarrow is not a bad shout. Never heard that before. Great shout from left field. I mean, maybe it's going to take a couple of us to get fit, but we haven't seen any hint from the manager doing that but I think that's a good idea of something if they don't find a player that might help.

24:53Instead of going down the same route, Garty, Casemiro, keep telling us it doesn't work. OK, well, you've got to find a solution, haven't we?

25:00Robbie Earle:And it helps build you a better foundation, Rob. Correct, more defensive. And I know he's trying to play and he's trying to get his system across there and the times are a little bit open but a little bit more defensive-minded, reliable guy in there I think would actually help, yeah. We'll see how this continues, mate.

25:19Robbie Mustoe:So, talking the game through, I mean, now you go ahead, they get themselves, head through the own goal through Cullen, and then Lyle Foster ends up bringing them back into the game. A couple of minutes later, to be fair, and Bermot gets a nice goal, so they've got 2-1 up. Then you're thinking, can we control the game? It doesn't seem to work like that, And then Anthony. Jane Anthony. Jane Anthony scores a goal for Burnley. He scores for them and then he pulls. And it was a foul. I think it was a foul. He had hold of him outside the box, but he kept hold of him too long. And then, I've got to be honest, Bruno Fernandes, who missed a penalty last weekend, Memphis Guard won it at Fulham.

26:02Robbie Mustoe:There was some pressure on him based on all that had happened during the week and the loss to Grimsby. Fair play to the captain. I know he gets a lot of criticism from a lot of people, but he didn't hold his nerve

26:12Robbie Earle:and it was a massive goal it was a massive goal, big celebration some cynics out there are saying Man United beating Burnley they celebrate like they won their Old Cup I mean it was a big celebration, I get it and it is stumbling a lot a little bit but that is a big goal and we'll see I just want to see the team the next couple of months Rob you know what happens to Man United if he has a couple of bad results now the pressure goes back on again This would become untenable in the next few weeks if things don't get better. There's got to be some improvement now. They have spent some money. I say there's holes in the team, and there still is, but there's still some good front players there.

26:52There's some talented players, isn't there? So he's got to find a way, mate. However he does it, he's got to find a way to get some more consistent performance to keep the fans on board, because they're good fans, Man United.

27:04Robbie Mustoe:Absolutely. The fans have been incredible. Yeah, a couple of wins maybe. They won. could change things up. But, yeah, as expected, there was no excuses. They got the win, they got the three points.

27:16Robbie Earle:Look, I'm on City next time, mate, in a couple of weeks' time. Yeah, we're one of the way. Who knows what might happen to that game. We'll chat that just before we finish the potty. Let's go to Stamford Bridge, where some have suggested,

27:28Robbie Mustoe:and I know you weren't as strong as I've heard you on a call, one of the worst VAR decisions that we've seen since it's been involved in the game, and how it kind of sucked the life out of you, the game, just took away what's starting to be the love of the game for a really poor decision, which actually PGML or PGMOL, as they were known, have actually come forward and admitted it was a mistake and the VR guy was taking off a game today. So at least that has happened. But just talk through the situation. Yeah, well, so, I mean, why I think it's one of the worst is, you know, there's been lots of decisions that were like, well, that's a mistake, or was that really that aggressive, or was that high, or whatever.

28:17But this was a football move that was seen as a reckless, was it the reckless challenge? Careless challenge. Careless challenge. Careless challenge. You know, on the ball. Now, I think if you know the game a little bit, and you've played a little bit, and you've watched a lot of football, you know, it was one of those little, it's a little skill move. And to do it, you have to kind of, you jump up and you roll the foot on the ball and you kind of swivel turn. So when you've jumped up and you've moved the ball, he got to the ball first, by the way. He's not challenging. He's got to the ball. And then when he came down, he landed on the player's foot.

28:47He put his foot down, yeah. And for the official to sort of just zoom out on what was going on there and just see a foot on a foot. Well, in fairness, the referee didn't see that first, did he? Because the referee saw it and played on.

29:01Robbie Mustoe:and Josh King goes forward and scores his first goal, 18-year-old kid, beautiful goal, and we think it's 1-0 to 4-1. Then VAR calls the referee and says, you need to look at this. And that's when he goes over.

29:11Robbie Earle:Why didn't Rob Jones, Rob? Why didn't Rob Jones? We were in the studio and we said, please, please, please, just reject it. He could have said, yeah, Solskjaer, yeah, yeah, yeah, I see it. Yeah, I think he's just trying to do a move there. I don't think he's really fouling or attempting.

29:28Robbie Mustoe:Manu you know

29:29Robbie Earle:I get you

29:30Robbie Mustoe:but he didn't and he said you know what it was a careless challenge it was a careless challenge and it's it delights this great goal Marco Silva was bubbling on the sideline you know and I get it because because of the nature of that movement that's not even a tackle that's an attacking play on the ball it's like me and you Rob going for a ball right we both jump up I head in the back of the net I land on your foot on my toe and you jump around and I say well where's the far was the foot

30:04Robbie Earle:on the top of the foot well no no I made a play on the ball I got to it and I landed on your foot that's just the way it goes so yeah that was it put a I mean I think the Fulham players never recovered the manager probably never recovered absolutely I had friends who were Chelsea fans mate they said it was a shocking decision I had lots of social media messages even though I'm a Chelsea fan and that's not really great and Joe Pedro

30:27Robbie Mustoe:scores again, Rob, from a set piece. That wasn't a great defender. Not great defending just before the half-time, which was probably in the injury time that the VAR had taken, I think it was six minutes or so, so he scores his goal late on, which is a double whammy, and then Fernandes gets a penalty that makes it 2-0, but after that incident, it was almost like the game felt irrelevant, didn't it?

30:51Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, Chelsea are another team, Rob, I look at the league table, three games in, they've won two and drawn one, They're seven points They're right behind Liverpool You know They've got some changes To deal with too They've got Liam De Lapp Another player They've got Gio Pedro And then Estaval That's three of a front four If you like That are new So they're again Adjusting And at some point Chelsea have got to find Some continuity Instead of changing the team All the time I was going to say

31:15Robbie Mustoe:Ganacho's come in Remember So that's another signing Gittain's on that left hand side And like you say You just feel like There needs to be A little bit of consistency About the place The dressing room the team the selection we'll see that tomorrow but it's a good victory for Chelsea I think they're going to get better they'll get players to come back I think Wesley Fafana is going to come back and start soon as one of the defending players the midfield is very strong Estabel showed flashes of his skills and the ability that he's got so well done Chelsea but you feel the main takeaway from that is that decision and how that's just not football it felt like it changed the whole game that poor decision ok mate two other results Yeah, pick out some stuff Brighton 2, Manchester City 1 Back-to-back defeats for Manchester City Let's give some credit to Brighton first Yeah, what a great goal, Brian Gruder Brian Gruder What a lovely bit of compulsion Another one, talk about recruitment, mate I've been trying to licence the software that Brighton has got I think we'll licence it a little bit They keep finding players James Milner with a penalty kick So we were told to start by our research He's now the second oldest player and the second youngest player to ever score a penalty in the Premier League.

32:30Robbie Earle:Was it John Champion said today that he scored against goalkeepers born in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 90s?

32:37Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I mean, his career is incredible. I like the celebration to Jotter and the point of the numbers. Real respect, which you expect from James Milner. but a Brighton side Rob who you know I was asked before I think we were previewing this game and I said Brighton will test Manchester City because they'll have possession they can turn counter-attacks quickly they'll attack in the wide areas where we know City are vulnerable especially when the full-backs push on and I wasn't I've got to be honest I wasn't that surprised that Brighton won the game Well there's the situation in the studio where there's games going at the same time so we're trying our best to focus on one game, but we've got eyes on other games as well.

33:22And when I looked at that game, towards the second half, it was Brighton that were pushing, that were spreading the ball wide, that were asking questions to go on and win this game, and they did. It does beg the question, where are we in Man City? And again, everything comes to, this is early yet, and we always caveat that. But they've had the worst start, I think, any league campaign under Pep. The big man scores his goal, Erlen Haaland, of course.

33:49Robbie Earle:is this going to get better Rob or do you fear that they might just be okay and that's not okay

33:56Robbie Mustoe:at the start of the season I think in our preview pod I kind of felt as though this is going to take a little bit of time betting these players in understanding the system are they trying to tweak it in different ways this isn't just going to happen it's going to take some time now I think taking time for City is winning a couple of games to win a game losing the odd one

34:17Robbie Earle:Enough to finish in the top four?

34:19Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. That would be what I would see City probably third or fourth. And then I'm expecting the next season, right, they're back at it again. That's fairly positive. A negative slant on it might be, this might not get much better. Yeah, this could be done. And this whole Pep's City career and his amazing legacy, if you like, is not going to be tainted, is this coming to the end? Could this be Pep's last season?

34:50Robbie Earle:If this is a season when they finish fourth or fifth or sixth, do you think he then continues afterwards? I just think there's a very young group of players who've come in now,

35:00Robbie Mustoe:a whole new group that he might have to mould and teach in school in a way. and if he's got, I think the bigger question is, has he got the drive and the energy to do that again, to go deep again and have all those emotions that we've seen on the side of the pitch? Did he go through? I mean, he kicks every ball, he's involved with every action, he's coaching every minute he can. That's the bigger question for me about Pep. Do you know what it's going to come down to, Rob, and it almost invariably does? There's new players that come into that football club. We know that De Bruyne has left and a couple of others that were really important, they had Kyle Walkers and a few others, and new players were brought in.

35:39If Ryan Shirky, if Tajani Rinders and a couple of others, and you've got your Bosco Bobs coming in, if they aren't of the same quality and can reach the same level as the ones that have drifted away, they're not going to be as good. So it is going to come down to that. Of course, Pep's influence and coaching ability as well is important, but the players have to be of the quality required. and that's what we're going to watch over the coming weeks to see whether they can be consistent. I mean, to Johnny Rinders, after the first game, we were like, oh, where's this guy been? And then since then, it's been a little quieter.

36:16Apparently, Cherky's picked up an injury as well. We hear that he's picked up a handful in a couple of months. They're saying he could be out.

36:22Robbie Earle:I mean, Mahmoud seems to have dropped a little bit. Is Doku good enough, Rob? Is he a champion winger or is he a Europa League?

36:33Robbie Mustoe:If I ask a Bob Luke live, he's looked one who's come on. You know, Foden. Yeah, it was Foden, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there's some questions being asked over the next few weeks. We'll start to get maybe one or two answers. Let's go to the city ground, my friend. I think I was rushing to get here a little bit earlier, but we're going to get to the city ground. We're going to get to Nuno. A few dark clouds have been sitting over for us in recent weeks. And West Ham. Well, actually, you're right on West Ham. It's certainly a game to keep your eyes on today. Forrest, we're hearing Nuno's talking to the owner this week and there is sense that maybe things are going to be sorted out there.

37:14Robbie Mustoe:The West Ham team who went to face Forrest three defeats in three games they've had in all competitions, 11 goals conceded in three goals. Graham Potter under some pressure, Rob. there's a lot of talk about boredom whether they'll act quickly or not and actually I was watching TV this morning and one of the journalists who was on the TV was talking about there's a certain Jose Mourinho my friend who's back on the market he's surplus to requirements I think it's Fenerbahce he was at isn't he you can kind of see how that might look but fair play to Graham Potter because he put an end to any of that happening in the near future with, I thought, a really, really impressive 3-0 victory.

38:07Yeah, I think he went back to basics a little bit, which I think I want to see that. If I'm a fan of that club and I see what's happened defensively, and he said himself, we're conceding goals too easily. Even though he drops a defender, he goes to a back four. He dropped important players. Wan-Bissaku's generally been very good. He had a nightmare game the other day. Kyle Walker-Peters comes in. Mabra Banas comes in as well to play alongside Kilman. Malik Duf, we quite like his left side. Yeah, he's decent, yeah. And then a midfield protection of five players across. That was his foundation.

38:35Robbie Mustoe:He had his kid in as well, Fernandes, didn't he? Mateus Fernandes, who they bought for five million. Yeah, he played on the left-hand side, a little bit more energy. Yeah, he thought he did OK.

38:44Robbie Earle:So that's the basis of going forward now. Be stronger defensively. You have got talent. You've got Lucas Paquatar. Yeah, yeah. Who's a talented player. Gerard Bowen, yeah. We saw those two in the quality that they bring and the goals that they scored. And you just get them behind sorted. And it may be a bit, I don't know, rigid, but you need that to let these guys flourish.

39:09Robbie Mustoe:So the point I was making today and was a thought as I was getting into this game this morning is does Graham Potter sometimes feel he has to play up to the coaching, thinking football guy? where today was about, hold on, they weren't going to concede today. It was about a clean sheet. And we've all been there, Rob. I've been on a bad run and Agatha said, I'm going to apologise to the fans before the game because we ain't going anywhere. We're going to keep a clean sheet. We nick a corner or we nick something, we nick it, but we're getting a clean sheet. Graham Potter did that today. And I don't think Graham Potter should have any excuses at times saying that's who we're going to be and taking parts of that because the football's nice.

39:55Robbie Mustoe:And that's always there.

39:56Robbie Earle:His DNA is going to be to play attacking players and to get the ball down and to play football. If he tilts more defensively, for his overall game and his philosophy and his style, it will go well. It's really hard to play yourself out of bad results and stuff. Oftentimes, all right, let's go back to basics. Let's fill some spaces here. It may be difficult to break down. I thought it was an excellent performance. I mean, the city ground for Forrest is a difficult place to go for every team. And the goals came a little late. celebration for Lucas Pacataro.

40:27Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. I mean, it's funny. So he takes a penalty kick, doesn't he? He scores a goal, and then he runs to the West Ham fans, and he puts his hands to his ears as if it's a phone call, which we believe reports that Aston Villa. He also reports that he's going to go to Aston Villa. And then he kind of throws the telephone away, gets a badge over West Ham, and kisses a badge. Many times. Many, many times.

40:51Robbie Earle:And holds his hand over the back. I mean, that was as much as love for that badge.

40:55Robbie Mustoe:I mean, this is a Sunday podcast. Please let it be real. Lucas Pacquiao, don't be moving to Aston Villa before the transfer window or we'll have to come for you. But no, it was a good moment. Jad Bowen got his goal. Great goal. First time finish. Should have scored a worldie, by the way. Jibbers all the way through.

41:13Robbie Earle:And Kellen couldn't help himself. It's right there. He just couldn't help himself. Tell it in.

41:17Robbie Mustoe:But it was a nice moment and a different feel to the season for West Ham have had a real struggle and he's had some difficult moments. So, yeah, great win for West Ham and Graham Potter. I think Nuno's going to be all right. It's not great to go to the owner when he just got beat 3-0, but I think, you know, he's got enough credit in the bank. Tottenham Hotspur 0, Bournemouth 1. Breaks on. Breaks on at Spurs. I'm like, whoa. By the way, again, I've just got salt at Bournemouth. I like Bournemouth. It's an incredible... I saw somebody say the other day, how much credit should we be giving Bullmatt?

41:54Outstanding. They played at Liverpool and were very, very unlucky to lose 4-2 that day. Very, very unlucky. And you see them play, Robbie, they've got an energy. Apparently their running stats and their pressing stats are off the charts in terms of anybody else. They play good football, everybody looks like they know what they're doing.

42:14Robbie Earle:They've got some quality as well. Yeah, they've got good players. They've got some good players. You just think what they've sold. You think what they've sold this summer Hausson, Kerkers The centre-back Norgaard Dean Heysen, Kerkers The centre-back Zabani And then The goalkeeper went I love what they do Wattara Wattara's just gone They're four big players to lose out of your team Semenyo If I'm a director I'm surprised there's not more interest in Antoine Semenya. We've got to look at him first-hand at Anfield. Powerful, strong, skillful, big personality. It gave Kirk a real tough game, yeah.

43:03So brilliant for them. I mean, a bit of a, not reality check, but it's like, whoa, Tottenham. Because it looked really, really good on Thomas Frank and people getting very, very excited. A poor performance from Tottenham. Again, it's not easy to see all the games in every detail with so much going on over two games of this Premier League weekend. but that's quite the result for Bournemouth and just a little bit of a chill for Tottenham.

43:23Robbie Mustoe:For Spurs fans though, they did parade Javid Simmonds around the ground before. Good window by the way, Tottenham. Yeah, he's a winger, he's a winger, he's skilled. I feel like he's like a James Madison but with more pace and more skill and more dribbling ability,

43:40Robbie Earle:but also can play a little bit and find a pass. So with him you've got Kudus, they've made some decent signs. Paulina is really important in the midfield. I can't like their window. So a bit of a stumble today. But again, I think we weren't massively surprised given what we've seen in Bournemouth. Absolutely. They're a good outfit. Stadium of light, my friend, is becoming a bit of a story. Sunderland 2, Brentford 1.

44:05Robbie Mustoe:Thiago, with the goal for Brentford, goes 1-0 up. And then Le Fay gets a penalty back. And then Wilson Isidore scored goals for them in the Championship. Well, what a week he's had, apparently. Birthday, birthday of a daughter, flies to the game, gets his goals in the Premier League. No sleep, by the way. Yeah, 24 hours of no sleep. I mean, he's got to do that every week. Off the bench, scores the goal. Yeah, brilliant. Some of them, my friend, look like they're going to give this a really good go. I mean, it's early, we're three games in. But you've often said it on the show. This is classic, what are you going to say?

44:44Robbie Mustoe:Home form can keep you in. Emotion, euphoria. And home form can keep you in the Premier League. You've got 19 home games. If you can win eight or nine of those, Rob, you're going to pick the odd points up away from home. That can keep you in the league. Yeah, that's what they're experiencing right now. That excitement of the fans there. What is it, 49 ,000 people? 49 ,000 people sell out. And they're going mental. They're absolutely loving it. Back to back home wins now.

45:10Robbie Earle:And keep riding it. Keep, keep riding it. Because you need them. because we all know what this season gets like a little later. It's a slog. This is a brand new team. This is a new team with so many new players all over. It's a whole new midfield. You've got 220. You've got Javi Diara's 21 years of age. You've got Siddiqui's 20 years of age. You've got Granit Xhaka, 32. Who's holding it all together? Young wingers and Talby.

45:33Robbie Mustoe:Le Fay was there from last year. He played particularly well. Mayenda's 20. Mayenda's goals last season. Isidore coming off the bench goals last season.

45:41Robbie Earle:So they're a mix, but they're mostly a new team. and this is a great start for them great start kind of one of the stories really so far this early season of how as a promoted team they are, what have they got? they've got six points haven't they two wins and a loss in the three games quite a story a point a game, 38 points keeps you in the league and before we go on mate I'm going to go to my unappreciated performer of the week and it's a manager who I didn't know that much about Regis Labris you wouldn't even try to say his name are we? Regis Labris I mean who doesn't love that name? it's a cool name yeah but first time in the Premier League as you say gone out in the transfer market but a number of players look like they've fatted the squad up to deal with the Premier League they're going to have a bit about them they've got a little bit of pace a little bit of experience they've got plenty of youth who's their best centre-back, who's good in both boxes, Rob.

46:44Robbie Mustoe:He's one of those who might just grow into being a good Premier League centre-back. So, yeah, just how daunting it is. We've seen managers come up and over the years, we've seen the Sheffield United and the Derbies and the teams just not really have a go. This guy's coming with a game plan, he's coming with an energy, looks like he's got his teams well organised. and just a hat off to tip the hat off to not always a star I watched his press conference

47:15Robbie Earle:and he's kind of a cool character he's very laid back super laid back you know he's like very humble and I love that in a manager and he's got a difficult job of trying to mould can you imagine a new team very very difficult they've had a brilliant start I mean getting Granit Jacker was the top bidder business. You said that right at the beginning in terms of a surprisingly great signing. 225 Premier League games for Arsenal. A leader. A leader.

47:52Robbie Mustoe:Leverkusen. One in places, good experience, seemed like the other players were loving, respecting him.

47:58Robbie Earle:The young ones around him, those two midfield players, either side of him?

48:01Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

48:01Robbie Earle:Absolutely perfect.

48:02Robbie Mustoe:It was interesting because it was a day when Jordan Henderson was playing for Brentford and there was talk that he might have been that Granted Jacker guy. He was at Ajax and wanting to get away and that didn't work for whatever reason. Jacker's got the spot. They're going to be a good watch. They're going to be a great watch this season, Sunderland. Hoping that they can hang in there, Rob. We need to see one of these promoted teams staying in the league this year. Talking about a great watch this season, Everton Football Club. What's going on? The score this weekend, Wolves 2, Everton 3. In Jai, Beto, Dewsby Hall.

48:39Yeah.

48:40Robbie Earle:They look like a team that's enjoying life, enjoying the new stadium, enjoying the manager, that's enjoying great football, that's enjoying the new ownership, that's spending money on great players. They're a different-looking team and absolutely the right way of doing it. Everton, we've seen over the last few years, even under the previous manager, they're good at the back. They've got a really good goalkeeper. Jordan Pickford's one of the best three. In the Premier League. He's right there. Centre-back's generally good. Centre-back's really good, generally. I think some of them are still not fully fit.

49:12Keane and Torkovsky played, didn't he? Branthwaite's to come back.

49:16Robbie Earle:They're experienced back there, and they're really beefing up the attacking midfield. The three behind the one. And I'm loving it, and I'm here for it. And it's all going to go on Jack Grealish, the praise and the credit. And fair play, he's got great numbers already. But Kieran Dewsbury-Hall takes his goal really well. And my underappreciated performer...

49:36Robbie Mustoe:Go on, he's going there early. And I'm saying it because Jack Greenwich is going to get all the love, all the attention. Quite rightly with his four assists. But there's an equally important player, Ily Maninjai. He's the historic character who scored the first goal at that new stadium, Hill Dickerson Stadium. Every time, it's one of them, Rob, that every time you see something good of Everton or a goal, he's involved. Scoring, assisting, dribbling, earning free kicks, penalties or whatever. He is better than what anybody thinks. I'm sure the Everton fans and the club know how good he is. Yeah, he's a good player.

50:13He's got good energy, he's skillful, he's effective, he makes things happen when he gets the ball. Love those players. Very rarely is one of those. Safe back. He's looking to do something. And another big game, an effective game for Ily Manajai, he's my underappreciated performer.

50:30Robbie Mustoe:Well, I'm going to do a Robbie Muster on you and say, cool your Jets you're only playing Wolves and Wolves are not seen but now I take your point and Jai I've got to say I couldn't love him anymore seen him a couple of times live as well and he's short he's intelligent he can play off combination play he can dribble past people so you're right I'm going to go to the two people Jackie Grealish it's just so nice to see a player go back into a football club where where he feels important he wants to play football he wants to be involved He wants to be hugged by the fans. The Villa, it almost looked like the Villa Jack, really.

51:07She was in Jersey football. He plays it on the head. And he can be a game-changer, Rob, in that role. He really can. He can be a game-changer. The second person I've got to go to, and you've touched on, is David Moyes, by the way. David Moyes, I think, Rob, and Tim speaks to this better than I ever could, I think he's in a stage of his career where he's a little bit more open to those, having a few more of those attacking. I think he's prepared to tilt it a little bit more that way now. We spoke to him in the summer and he talked about, you know, didn't want to just survive at this club. He wants to get back to Europe.

51:45He wants to get back to that. Brilliant. And, you know, I think because of what he's done and he's standing in the game now, he feels a little bit more, I wouldn't say confident, because I don't think of it, but assured in, I'm going this way, we can do this and he's getting better footballers in the football club

52:03Robbie Earle:I'm thinking of an analogy, it's not a great analogy but his DNA, like Graham Potter's DNA is more attacking, his DNA is defending so he's always going to naturally focus on that and if things start to look a little open he'll address it, but he's tilting on the attacking side of it and I love the change and the difference and the confidence and just quickly on Everton Football Club and the fans. God, we follow this league now for many... They've gone through some horrific moments, seasons, turmoil, worry, bankruptcy, ownership, money that's put them... Spending so much money it puts them into trouble.

52:40Robbie Earle:And now they're in this beautiful new stadium with a guy that gets it and a new ownership group that's back the manager. Yeah, it looks like there's money available. Yeah. Distant recruitment. I'm just relieved for the Everton fans that have been suffering for so long and Roger Bennett and all those Everton fans out there that have been tortured. Maybe, and this maybe is the worst time to say this because it might start going pear-shaped, but three games in, I'm looking at the table, fifth place in the Premier League in that new stadium, Jackie Greenwich doing the business. Good story. They're a good story right now.

53:16Good story. Let's go to Aston Villa, where Villa Park isn't such a good story at the moment, Rob. There's something slightly flat about Villa and Unai Emery and the team, who were well beaten 3-0 by a, as ever, well-coached Crystal Palace team.

53:32Robbie Mustoe:We'll talk a little bit more Palace in a minute, Rob, because I think the story was, for me, the lack of energy, intensity, excitement around Villa Park that in the past, I've said, is one of the toughest places in Premier League football to go.

53:51Robbie Earle:Isn't it amazing, Rob, how it can look so different, look and feel. Now, whether that's because last season was an amazing ride, those Champions League nights at Villa Park under the lights were outstanding. And there's very good players there. But let's

54:08Robbie Mustoe:go to that end of the season. Remember the goal that got disallowed that would have taken them to Champions League, which would have given a certain amount of money, which would have kept players in there. Excitement, another season in the Champions League. More recruitment. who are going to be playing in the Champions League now. Yeah, yeah. It's a whole different thing, isn't it? Europa League.

54:24Robbie Earle:You had essential excitement. You had Rashford coming in. PSR, yeah. And it's like, whoop. And it's just gone to a...

54:31Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Everything about... I mean, they have spent a little bit of money. You know, Gassan's come in, haven't they? Got one or two others who've come into the team. They sold Jacob Ramsey, a midfield player that I like.

54:43Robbie Earle:Yeah. But this whole PSR thing, they sold the ladies team, I think. You know, so they've had a bit of issue with that. And it's just a little flat. And you know, Emery, we love him. Yeah. And he's a top-class manager. I just think, OK, you've got to reset a little bit. We've got to reset, you know, and try and get that spirit up again because this club is full of spirit. But that today was like, wow. Mike Belus and his goalkeeper, by the way, might he?

55:06Robbie Mustoe:He's going to lose like M.I. Martinez. M.I. Martinez, there's talk that he's on his way to Manchester United of possibly getting that deal done tomorrow. So that's another big personality out of the dressing room. But let's talk about Kirtle Palace for a moment, mate, because I think you said to Bex, which I thought was like, has there ever been a better time to be a Crystal Palace fan? Is this as good as it gets? I think it might be as good as it gets.

55:31Robbie Earle:And, you know, Rebecca was like, and I'm kind of okay with it. That's where we are. You know, we live for moments that we've just lived the FA Cup final. This will keep us happy for many, many seasons. And it was just great because their expectations are so low. But from my point of view, I'm like, It's kind of still a little sad. What a good team. What a good team has been put together by brilliant recruitment. The manager was a great get in Oliver Glasner. And we're seeing a progression in this club and the team that's exciting to watch. But it ain't going to be able to... It's just not going to be able to show us that because they're going to lose your best talent within that group.

56:10But you say that, Rob, and to your point, he's playing a system that Ruben Amrum can't get a tune out of Manchinata plays. It's tackling the same system.

56:20Robbie Mustoe:It's possible. Yeah, it's possible. They lost Michael Alise last season. They've lost Eze so far this season.

56:27Robbie Earle:Zaha before that. They've lost players. And it hasn't particularly gone too much the other way. Their recruitment's right, they've got a good coach.

56:35Robbie Mustoe:So, of course, if you keep losing the players with the quality of what we're talking about, then Villa has shown us it's going to affect you. But this manager and this football club are riding the crest of a wave at the moment and into the Europa Conference League. It's a competition they could win, by the way. They could really win it. They could go and win it and get into the Europa League. I just want to quickly talk about Mark Gay, mate. We're talking on Sunday, ahead of possibly the transfer window closing tomorrow. Tomorrow on the Monday. 2pm Eastern Time, 7pm in the UK. In light of what we've seen with Wieser and Izak and a number of players who've pushed force, downed tools, throw the toys out the pram in terms of desperately want to move.

57:26Here's a guy, Rob, Mark Gay, captain of Crystal Palace Football Club. There's talk that there's a deal somewhere around the 40 million mark to take him to Liverpool.

57:34Robbie Mustoe:The two clubs are supposed to discuss it. There's a possibility he moves there tomorrow. This guy still wants to play against Aston Villa, risking possible injury and the thing not happening. captains the team, scores a brilliant goal does a great interview after the game and talks about how he just wants to concentrate on the football, he doesn't want the spotlight on him if there was ever a player Rob the big thing for managers now is checking their ability and technical checking personality let me tell you, this guy's personality shines out like a beacon he's a good one he's 25 years of age he's going to be cheaper at£40 million £40 million and whoever gets him is going to get a good one.

58:16They get a good one. It is, as you also say, Rob, he's plug and play. He's ready to go at any level. He's maybe the best English centre-back for the England national team. If it is Liverpool, what a great addition that's going to be to their defensive set-up. Reliable, humble, rarely injured. The goal we scored today and the celebration, Rob, the whole knee slide, I'm not sure if he's ever in the knee slide. I don't know if he's even new out in the knee slide. I know, but the knee slide, the arms in the air. on the ground like it's my sign off a little bit right in front of the Crystal Palace fans I just thought that was a really one of the moments of this weekend a player that's given everything talked afterwards about being a South London boy he's been a captain at various age levels in this club and now it looks like he's going to move on to a bigger club a more successful club for sure in Liverpool if it happens tomorrow but I always get the impression if it doesn't happen he's okay with it they'll carry on and be an excellent best player at Crystal Palace for the next game in a couple of weeks' time.

59:17Yeah, absolutely. I'll give the Wobblesseed as a game at Alamo, Leeds 0, Newcastle 0. Hardball game, Daniel Falker's team. They're kind of holding their own. I don't mind Leeds. I'm enjoying watching Leeds. A little bit short at the top end of the pitch in that quality. Okafor, the new player that I think they're hoping is going to be a difference maker in that attacking area

59:45Robbie Earle:I think the Dan Jameses the Wilfred Nyonto the Jack Harrison good

59:52Robbie Mustoe:but enough enough

59:54Robbie Earle:end product to create the chances to score the goals that might be enough Calvert-Lewing Calvert-Lewing yeah again you just don't know what you're going to get in terms of games fitness this is a bit infinite with him it's like if he stays fit

1:00:10Robbie Mustoe:and if... He's 15 goals in him if he stays fit. If he stays fit for 35. He's got to catch fire hopefully hasn't he? He's got to start to enjoy that Leeds card.

1:00:18Robbie Earle:People out there watch Jadon Bogle.

1:00:20Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. You know he's just a journeyman a little bit.

1:00:24Robbie Earle:He's been around a little bit. Good attacking full back. I like the midfield. Anton Stach the new player from Hoffman 9 $23 million. Tor. Does a bit of everything in there. Short and long stuff can play a little bit. They've still got Ampadu to come back.

1:00:36Robbie Mustoe:Yeah Ampadu yeah.

1:00:37Robbie Earle:Tanaka there I think he was the player of the year last year, Rob Tanaka, Al Tanaka, midfield. So I like them, the midfield and the back four.

1:00:45Robbie Mustoe:Is there going to be enough goals? Is there going to be enough goals? Yeah, that's a question.

1:00:47Robbie Earle:0-0 in this game. Newcastle United, Rob, Nick Volta-Marda.

1:00:52Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

1:00:52Robbie Earle:Oh, yeah, signed. Nick Volta-Marda. And there could be one

1:00:55Robbie Mustoe:possibly in the door tomorrow, either a Wiesel or Stranlars and we're hearing. Yeah, and they might lose, that might go through, which you said all along. He's going to go. Yeah. I said,

1:01:06Robbie Earle:is he, like, they can, they can. They can. put their foot down. I just don't feel it's going to happen. If they get the right players, they want to get the right players in. Yeah, yeah. Which they got one of them. Spend the money. Yeah, they got one. And it's got to be the right fee. Yeah. So, I don't know. We've got 24. Yeah. Still not sure. He said there's no guarantee. There's no guarantee he's going to go. Yeah. So I think Newcastle fans are going to like Voldemort. Yeah. Voldemort, what we've seen. He looks a player, doesn't he? Like a cult type of character.

1:01:31Robbie Mustoe:Six foot, what is he? Six at six. Six foot six. And he's a dribbler. Yeah, he's a dribbler. He's a 10, can play as a 9. Lovely feet. Yeah, number 10 playing in the number 9's body is the comment from, I think, a German commentator. So, not a great day for Newcastle. And the manager said, Rob, afterwards, maybe we were a little tired after the exertions of 10 men against Liverpool. Correct, 10 men against Liverpool, where they played particularly well and emotionally lost that game. But we will see. That's a 0-0. Disappointing game, really, given the nature of those two huge clubs in the north of England.

1:02:00OK, mate, we're just going to do a quick preview before we go. because it's the international break. We'll be back on Sunday, September 14th. And there's a little matter of the Manchester derby. So Manchester City at the Etihad hosting Manchester United. And there's not many times when, recently, Manchester United have been ahead of Manchester City in the table. So this game carries a little bit of extra attention

1:02:24Robbie Mustoe:due to the form of City and what we talked about with Pep. Where are we with Manchester United? and are they a Man United who can still pick it up for big games? What's your gut on how that might look?

1:02:39Robbie Earle:My gut, my quick brain is saying to me, this could be anything, right? From either of the teams? From these two teams matching up, they're nowhere near where they want to be, it could be anything. If I think about it a little closer and I think about how it might go and I think about the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, maybe because I'm a midfield player, I always look at that area first.

1:02:59Robbie Mustoe:and a Man City's little ticky-tack are around the two players in the middle of the puck, which is one of their weak spots. Is that going to be too much? If they have that much dominance there, the big lad up front, Erlen Haaland, is probably going to get some through balls and finish them maybe. I would favour Man City, but with this game and the way the season's started, who knows? Ruben Amarin might counter-attack and find a way to win because City are not great defensively right now in the balance of the team. No, no.

1:03:28Robbie Earle:What are you... I'm also thinking of the system, and I just think that Pep will find a way to pin those wing-backs back. He will. So they'll end up with five defenders. What we know he's going to do, he's going to put two wingers out there. Yeah, and they're going to stay out wide. So are...

1:03:43Robbie Mustoe:Or the wing-backs going to come in and the centre-backs. Or they're going to say, you know what, centre-backs, you go out there. Correct. I'm going to continue going forward. And I don't think centre-backs are going to go out there, so I think it's going to leave the wing-backs in. And then they're going to dominate midfield through numbers. You've got five flat. Correct. Two guys in front of that, they've just got to get the wide players to come right in. And that puts you on the back foot a little bit. You're in problem. So I would expect City to get the job done at home, but we're not too sure where City are on their own.

1:04:09But a good one to look forward to. So, mate, that's it for this weekend. Oasis. I'm going to Oasis tomorrow night. Oh, yeah, yeah. Thank you, mate. Oasis, playing in New York. Enjoy, mate. Take some pictures. Let us know. Love that. Bucket hat, Oasis t-shirt. The Brit. Good to go. The Brit is back. So it was the Champions Liverpool that won the big game at Anfield. They put some three points ahead

1:04:31Robbie Mustoe:at this very early stage of the season. Man U, they left it late. Man City, they lose late. And West Ham get their first win of the season. We take a week off. It's international break, but don't forget, September the 14th, Sunday, will the Manchester Derby where City host United at the Etihad. But for now, I'm Earl. He's must have together with the two hobbies. Thanks for watching and listening. Be safe. Stay healthy. It's a good night. And it's goodnight. Goodnight.