Man City Lift League Cup Over Arsenal, Spurs Sink Further, Pressure on Rosenior and Slot

11:00Robbie Earle:It's another level of test.

11:01Robbie Mustoe:It's another question of their confidence, their belief in themselves. And I still think the manager and this group of players believe enough in themselves and what they're doing that they can go and win it. now listen time will tell if I'm right and performances will tell whether it could go the other way is there a little bit of anticipation a bit of fear a bit of apprehension because if that comes in we've got a proper title race

11:25Robbie Earle:but I think I'm like you when you first said that I think it might strengthen them actually I think they'll get over the disappointment and they're like right come on let's make sure we bring this home

11:33Robbie Mustoe:in a strange way a two week break is not the worst thing now going away some are trying to qualify for World Cup some have got World Cup games, get back to action.

11:43Robbie Earle:I think they've got Bournemouth at home, I believe. Is that the next one from Amritson?

11:48Robbie Mustoe:I think it's Bournemouth, yeah, home to Bournemouth.

11:51Robbie Earle:Yeah, there you go, first game on a Saturday. First game.

11:53Robbie Mustoe:Well, we know Bournemouth is not easy and they'll kick the ball, but it's at home, it's at the Emirates, it's a chance where everybody's going to be looking, it's a chance to go bang, good result, puts to bed all that psychological stuff.

12:06Robbie Earle:Just finally, from the fans of Arsenal's point of view, Rob, How disappointed are they in that? I think there's a disappointment because I felt, Robert,

12:15Robbie Mustoe:a bit like you, I was listening to radio shows and we pick up on social media. I think there was a swell of opinion like... We're taking over. Yeah, it's our time now. I heard some Arsenal fans talking about we could go and really give them a bit of a shooing, a two, three, four win. It's still Man City. Still have to be respectful. They've got some quality, creative quality. And this league, as we've seen this weekend, and we've had a number of discussions about it, every team in this league can give you a problem, Rob.

12:46Robbie Earle:Yeah.

12:46Robbie Mustoe:You know, Man City do it in a very different way, but there's others in the league, whoever you're playing in this league, I'm telling you, can give you problems. There's absolutely no guarantee of wins.

12:57Robbie Earle:Yeah, disappointing for Arsenal, man. I'll tell you something else that's disappointing. My goodness, I don't even...

13:04Robbie Mustoe:Not a good day for North London, mate.

13:06Robbie Earle:Yeah, Tottenham Hotspur, yeah, nil. Nottingham Forest, three. Goals from Igor Jesus, 45th minute. Gibbs White. Awani spread around the second half of the game. I mean, for a game that was built up to be built up, it was such an important game for both teams for obviously the reason where we are in the relegation scrap at the bottom there. And we've been looking at this fixture, Rob, for the last few weeks. That's a big one. That's a meaningful game.

13:35Robbie Mustoe:It's the biggest game of the season, Rob. It's the biggest game of the season.

13:39Robbie Earle:And we saw a motivational video on social media from Christian Romero. We saw a protest plan that turned into a let's get behind the team.

13:47Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Everton-esque with the bus coming in and thousands of people and flares and noise and atmosphere.

13:54Robbie Earle:We saw 62 ,000 people in the stadium, Rob. I think it was John Champion and Graham at the stadium saying,

13:59Robbie Mustoe:real feel of optimism. And like you said, we feel like you want to play. Those are the games, aren't they?

14:06Robbie Earle:My comments before the game when we previewed it was like, Spurs, don't be silly, Romero, calm down. To calm them down, thinking they'd be hyped up to really go out there and fly out the traps. That's what I expected. I can't believe what we saw, Rob. I can't believe how less determined they looked, that team going out there. We can talk about the manager and everything else, but some of the body language and just lack of drive in the game blows my mind. I can't think of another time, right? I'm not trying to make this of the 13 years.

14:53Robbie Mustoe:A headline.

14:55Robbie Earle:Is it one of the most disappointing, frustrating performances for any Premier League team, particularly one of the big six, when the expectation's so high for them to go out there and win a game.

15:09Robbie Mustoe:I was shocked, Rob. And listen, we've both been in football for plenty of time. We've seen lots of stuff going on. I was shocked at the performance based on everything you've talked about that was happening before the game. It was like this group of players have been locked away somewhere. They didn't understand the consequences. They didn't understand the team that were playing. It was incredible. And I was thinking about it. I've been thinking about it since the game finished. Because it kind of went, I kind of think, you've got to sometimes put yourself in their position. And I know they've got World Cup winners and top-class internationals and people who play in the Champions League and people who've had 10 times a career I've ever had.

15:51Robbie Mustoe:And me, yeah, of course. But it doesn't mean that you can't have an opinion, you can't be critical. We played in the Premier League. I had 10 years in the Premier League, I had a year in the old first division, and then I had a career coming from League One through to Championship to playing at the highest level. Every game in the Premier League, Rob, I tried my hardest and enjoyed whether we won or not. You know why? Because it took me a long while to get there, and I was up there, and I was playing, and it was like a dream come true. For some of these players, Rob, today, I was that shocked.

16:25Robbie Mustoe:I would almost say some of them look like they weren't bothered. And that's a horrible thing to say. And I'm talking about international footballers who look today as though they weren't bothered whether they won or lost the game. Now, that's nothing to do with Igor Tudor. That's nothing to do with the fans. That's nothing to do with Daniel Levy. That's nothing to do with the stadium and this and that. That's to do with players taking responsibility and saying, I mean, at least have a go. I know. I couldn't agree more.

16:58Robbie Earle:I don't think we've ever... I mean, I think the worst bit of critique or criticism we can give out any player or team is to say, and I said it after the game on the show, do they even care? Yeah. Which is, I mean, it's got to be the worst thing that I can...

17:15Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, as a professional, and we all know, and you respect that they're internationals and have won this and have played there, and I get all that. So we're not being disrespectful. But, yeah, do they care? Does going down mean anything to some of these players? Or is it like, well, I won't be here? Exactly.

17:34Robbie Earle:And I've got to talk about one player. And, again, Christian Romero, a world champion. Please, people out there, have a look at the last two goals and his part in it or his body language, his effort, his effort to stop a goal going in.

17:56Robbie Mustoe:As the captain of the football club.

17:59Robbie Earle:Something is wrong, broken.

18:02Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

18:04Robbie Earle:That shouldn't be it. I mean, just jogging back in his box. Ball goes in and he's just like that. I'm astonished with it. And I suppose we should immediately think, Rob, what's going to happen? Yeah. First off, fair play to not in the forest. Yeah, actually, we should...

18:20Robbie Mustoe:Let's give them a little bit of credit. They look like a team that knew what they were doing

18:25Robbie Earle:and cared about it.

18:26Robbie Mustoe:And understood the situation and it mattered to them. They don't score goals, Rob. Our big headline was, if Charleston scored goals, he's going to be a different maker. Igor Jesus has got two. Gibbs White has got eight. Both of them get goals. When he comes on, hasn't scored. He gets a goal. I mean, against a team that almost like the white flags were up. but congratulations for us,

18:48Robbie Earle:and they look like they could get out of it.

18:51Robbie Mustoe:And you said it really interesting. Based on what we saw today, and we might have been kidded by a draw at Liverpool and a win against the Latakoum, based on what we saw today, they can't win another game this season, and they're getting relegated.

19:05Robbie Earle:They've got to win two games in seven.

19:07Robbie Mustoe:I know, and I've looked at... And that plus one, 36. And I've looked at their games, Rob, that they've got to come. Sunderland away. If Sunderland are at it in that place, no chance. Home to Brighton, Brighton will help football women do them. Yeah. Wolves away, possibility, depending on Wolves.

19:23Robbie Earle:If Wolves are still in the same fettle they're in right now, then no.

19:26Robbie Mustoe:Aston Villa away, no chance. Home to Leeds, possibility.

19:31Robbie Earle:But if Leeds are in,

19:33Robbie Mustoe:them and Leeds could be in a fight for who stays in. Yeah, but, I mean, what?

19:37Robbie Earle:So today is terrible evidence of that. Same as that being similar to you. Unless something happens that we'll talk about in a second.

19:42Robbie Mustoe:There's a way to Chelsea, let me tell you, if there's one game the Chelsea fans are going to want to make sure that team wins it against Spurs, and they're home to Everton. Moisey. Moisey's Everton are we going to talk about? Yeah, we will, yeah.

19:57Robbie Earle:Now, back to the question, what should the football club do right now? Because the only way that I see that maybe...

20:04Robbie Mustoe:I need to answer that before. Go on then. Your question should have been, what has the football club done as in past tense, not present tense, what has a football club done in sacking Igor Tudor? That should be the question. Because if you don't sack him today, Rob, and again, I'm not into people losing a job, I've said all along I wouldn't keep him. After the draw with Liverpool... I think it was Palace.

20:35Robbie Earle:I think it was Palace game where I was like,

20:36Robbie Mustoe:it's got to go. And then he gets a draw at Liverpool. Remember Beck said to as well, Ali's got the draw and he's playing in midweek. And I said, yeah, but what if they go and lose against Forrest? What do you do then? Every week you keep it. So a week later, it's points you're losing. If he's not sacked by tomorrow, that means he's staying. He's given those games. Because you can't leave it to two or three games, Rob, and think something's going to happen there.

21:03Robbie Earle:What's going to change, Robbie? What's going to change with him in... Well, we've had a draw at Liverpool. We had a draw at Liverpool and we beat Atletico Madrid. It was all on the game against Nottingham Forest. It was all there. There's a bit of momentum. There's a little bit of momentum. That's all gone again now. They've got to get somebody else in there. And by the way, I'm not even sure if anybody can get these players going.

21:28Robbie Mustoe:It leads to two questions. Do you trust the people who are making the decision? No, I do not. I'm hearing Ryan Mason's name being bandied around a little bit in social media. Somebody they know, somebody they know to play, somebody they might.

21:38Robbie Earle:Well, at this point, I'm up for anybody apart from Tudor. Literally anybody.

21:44Robbie Mustoe:Tim Howard hasn't been around lately, has he? I mean, yeah.

21:46Robbie Earle:I mean, they'd have been better off keeping Thomas Frank. Yeah, yeah. I think he probably would have had a better chance to try and cajole them. Get two or three results. Get two or three results. I just don't know what you've got to tell these players to go out there and play with determination.

21:59Robbie Mustoe:So you're saying now we need somebody who can come in and change the relationships and the outlook. Shake them a little bit.

22:05Robbie Earle:whatever it is to run a bit more a bit more effort try a bit harder try a bit harder please because if if you're not going to try then we're all going to be disappointed I mean the fans at the end Rob they just left there was no booing because there was no fans left it's like we're done

22:23Robbie Mustoe:this is it

22:24Robbie Earle:this was everything we set this up they did set it up

22:27Robbie Mustoe:they set it up and like come on then let's all let's all do what we need to do together

22:32Robbie Earle:and we both said before the game

22:34Robbie Mustoe:Rebecca said

22:34Robbie Earle:What's going to happen? I said, I mean, Spurs are going to find a way today. Everything's pointing to, come on, now's the time. This is serious business now. And we both expected to, yeah, they're going to be not in a forest. And to lose 3-0, crushing. Absolutely crushing.

22:51Robbie Mustoe:I mean, I just need to go back to the line I said to Bex. Like, when you just want to survive, and I'm talking at the lowest level of the Premier League, But survival is one point per game. 38 points is survival. That's the aim if you've got no ambition more than staying in the league. Right now, Tottenham Hotspur have got less points than the games they've played. They've played 31 games, they've got 30 points. They're below survival.

23:23Robbie Earle:And they're in a shock in them.

23:25Robbie Mustoe:And they're big six Spurs, who are the Europa League champions.

23:30Robbie Earle:Gosh, yeah. I think we should end it there, mate, because it's so... I think any Spurs fans are probably...

23:37Robbie Mustoe:Please, yeah. Please stop. Listen, we're going to have to wait and see what happens this week. I'll be surprised if he's there.

23:47Robbie Earle:Well, we said this before, but I don't know what to think. A bit of love for Forrest. Yeah, we gave them a little bit of respect, and I think, you know, brilliant for them. I mean, they're not out of it. It is going to be between those same teams that it was before. Leeds United on 33. They keep nicking the odd points. They keep nicking the odd point. West Ham had a tough game at Aston Village, we'll mention briefly. So, yeah, still on. There's seven games left, and you want to get to 36, 37 points, and Tottenham are on 30.

24:13Robbie Mustoe:There's a bit of a theme that came this week, Rob. Managers under scrutiny. Chelsea going to Everton after getting beat heavily midweek in the Champions League against PSG. Going to the Hill Dickinson. to Everton. And Everton have almost become a litmus test for the Premier League. Like, you know what you're going to get. You've got the structure. He's got them playing reasonably well in a stadium that's alive. You know, it's a bit of a test. And if you're a top team, you've got to go and perform there. Chelsea, I think, feel they're a top team. They didn't perform. They got 3-0. And it was a 3-0, deserved 3-0.

24:50Robbie Mustoe:And old David Moyes, who seems to be the old hat, who's got over 700 Premier League appearances as a manager, against, I think, Liam Senior, who I think has just hit double figures also. I think he's 10 Premier League games now. All beat new.

25:05Robbie Earle:Yeah, he did, yeah. All beat new easily. And we should start with them. We've got to start with Everton. Yeah. Why not? When he took over in January last year, Rob, they were 16th place in the Premier League.

25:13Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah.

25:14Robbie Earle:And they were boring under Sean Dyche. They were strapping away to try and stay in a division to move into the stadium in the Premier League. They did that. Moyes comes in, and that was no problem. Yeah. And from then to now, it's remarkable. You remember him saying at the time, Rob, We don't want to be looking down there. We want to be looking at European spots. And at the time, it was like, wow, OK, yep, like that. But realistically, that's going to take a long time. It's going to take a while. But they're there right now. They're there right now. They're right behind the guys they want to be.

25:40Robbie Mustoe:They're not part of a Champions League kind of spot.

25:43Robbie Earle:I mean, it's remarkable what one man can do.

25:47Robbie Mustoe:Is there something about, I mean, we know Liam, and we'll get to talk about in the system, in the play, in the man-to-mans, in the hybrids, this and this.

25:55Robbie Earle:is it something for simplicity is it something for a bit of structure

25:59Robbie Mustoe:and people buying into I know what the role is, I know what I need to do

26:04Robbie Earle:it's a great point, before this game in the Champions League game there was man to man stuff going on I think, and then this game he said afterwards, yeah we didn't do man to man today, it was more deeper block and all that, I mean it must be a little bit confusing all the time, and we all like that I like to go with the plan I like to go with the strategy, we're going to do this, da-da-da. But when that kind of changes, and then you have man-to-man where it pulls you all over the place and you get stretched because players run, they know they're getting marked man-to-man, they take you out of positions.

26:35Robbie Earle:For that to change again, you know, and all these inverted players. I mean, I kind of enjoy looking at it because it's interesting, it's different. But is it effective? Moyes is like, there it is. There's a 4-2, 4-4-2 or close to it. 4-2-3-1. Very close to it. Dewsbury Hall in the hall. We have a wide player there, we have a wide player there, We have two holding players. We have defenders that like to defend. A goalkeeper that's really blimmin' good, by the way, Jordan Pickford. And he's managed to get his striker score as well. What a lovely finish that was. Beautiful finish for Beto. From him, yeah.

27:04Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, beautiful finish.

27:05Robbie Earle:Shall I go to my underappreciated? I think this is my underappreciated. Oh, OK. James Garner is my underappreciated performer. James Garner. James Garner, the England player? The England called up, recently called up for England. Thank you. And I think the performances we've been watching and the fan reaction and the comments from the manager and then journalists are talking, you know, there's obviously something about this guy, James Garner, and he's played at right back many times to help him out of a spot. He played central midfield in this game. He makes a lovely, lovely assisting ball for Beto for his little dink over the goalkeeper.

27:40Robbie Earle:34th minute. I just think he's a really good player. And when you're a team that can get and make results like this and they can be in the top seven or eight, then you've got some good players. And James Garner, or Jimmy Garner, I think he's known, is a really good midfield player. Because he doesn't, he ain't got that presence, Rob. He's not one of those big, powerful-looking, big, tall, commanding, Rodri type. He's kind of a little bit lightweight, but he's a lovely footballer. And I think he's a little bit underappreciated.

28:10Robbie Mustoe:If you showed some Premier League fans five pictures of players and said, which one's James Garner, they wouldn't pick him. because he's not really that guy yet. He's so important. You're 100 % right. And I think the call-up from England is a tip of the hat to him. And I'm kind of pleased that he got called because the James Garners don't normally get picked up. I'm like, well, he's a good club player, but I'm not sure international. Thomas Tuchel obviously feels that he can do the job. And I think it might be a first in Sue Robbie's podcast because I'm going to do my underappreciated perform of the week.

28:46Robbie Mustoe:Everton-based? And it's an Everton-based older gentleman with grey hair and a few wrinkles who stands on the side of the pitch, who was jumping up and down for joy with his football, who's given this club back its ambition and said, identity, ambition. Yeah, we're not going to be down there. I'm not going to struggle just about staying in the league and being above relegation and success. This is Everton Football Club. And I tell you what, Rob, I was thinking about it. I made a couple of notes on that. It's like Moises got this mould, and the mould's been from when Tim Howard was there, Mikel Arteta was there, and going back to the day when he had Ginola and Gavsley, he gets a structure and he gets a few players who can do a little bit extra, and he builds something up, and he gets you close to European football.

29:31Robbie Mustoe:He's played Champions League. He's done it at West Ham. It looks like he's doing the same thing at Everton. And for all the Liam, the seniors, and the hybrid plays, and the man-to-mans, and the great phrases and the buzzwords. David Moyes sets a team up to play football that you can enjoy and he gets a connection between his team and his fan group. And if David Moyes was in charge at Spurs right now, he'd keep them in the league. A million percent. He'd keep them in the league, mate.

30:03Robbie Earle:It's a great shout. And he literally is and has been underappreciated his whole career. from the Man United.

30:11Robbie Mustoe:Since he went to Man United and it failed and nah, he's not a big game man. And he's proven himself

30:17Robbie Earle:time and time again that he makes teams better. West Ham, West Ham,

30:22Robbie Mustoe:from the time he's left, they've never looked the same.

30:25Robbie Earle:And he went back and rescued them twice, didn't he? I think twice. And brought them into European football. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, you're absolutely right. It's a great shout. It's almost, it's that good a shout when we talked about Ilkay Gundogan from Man City. Yeah, yeah. It's like, it should be the Moyes underappreciated trophy because he's such a good that's exactly what this is for somebody who does a really good job

30:45Robbie Mustoe:who doesn't really get the attention

30:47Robbie Earle:but the longer he's in the game and everybody else comes in and out and everybody and he keeps doing it and he proves himself at different clubs in different scenarios and it's probably straightforward and he's pushing and what I said to you Rob his interview afterwards he talked about the possibility of European football and the Champions League mate

31:08Robbie Mustoe:They could be They're like three points Off fifth place And he's continued

31:12Robbie Earle:To push the team After the interview Yep We've got to push on We've got a little opportunity now I want to see It's really So he's constantly pushing For more And You've got to like that You know Instead of like Well we're going to do This inverted this And He's just a simple basics Of getting the best Out of the players he's got And you're seeing it Remarkably At Everton And That's plenty of love For Everton football They deserve it They deserve it

31:38Robbie Mustoe:They've deserved it. Let's talk about Chelsea because they've been a topic of conversation for many people over this weekend. The last few weeks, things just turned a little bit on Liam Messina. There's a sense that he's won the games he should have won when he first came in. Now we get to a few of the games where we'll find out about him. Hasn't quite worked in a way. We've had the respecting the ball in the huddle. We've had the social media. We've had the written notes. The leaks. to the other leagues.

32:08Robbie Earle:Yeah, fines.

32:09Robbie Mustoe:There's been noise, Robin. A lot of noise. And I remember saying, the problem with Liam Messina is, he's a vessel that amplifies the noise. And he's got to do the opposite. He's got to dampen the noise and concentrate on the football.

32:24Robbie Earle:Where are we with Liam in the project? Worrying. It's worrying. It's worrying. I went back and looked at their results. Basically, they're certainly no better than Enzo Moresca. Moresca's team was better than this one. and they've made a change and we've given him a good amount of time to see what he can do and we spoke to him we've interviewed him for the podcast and he sounds smart and he says a lot of the right things and he's very buzzwordy and he's very modern and hipster like I guess in some ways but when you're seeing the team perform now and it's not the obvious apart from the red cards and the mistakes, their general game isn't very good and I know Robert Sanchez again, he could come onto this show and say yeah but we still make an individual errors mistakes we're making my biggest concern right my biggest worry is that i wrote down here not much character and i'll throw it as a question to you oftentimes the best young players in clubs are like they're loved they're wrapped in cotton wool yeah right and they're the stars they're the future stars they're important players you've got to keep them happy to keep our club Chelsea have bought a lot of them.

33:33Robbie Earle:And now, are we in a situation where they're a little bit precious? Enzo Fernandes or you call Palme as a star player. Some of the other ones, I know Esteban maybe not yet. He's coming on a little bit. They've got a lot of superstar young players. When the going gets tough, do they feel that they need to roll up the sleeves and go two-way and help grind and help? Is there enough of those in the team? But this group, this project,

34:05Robbie Mustoe:isn't about rolling your sleeve up type of players. That's real football, mate.

34:09Robbie Earle:I know, but this isn't real football at times. They want to be fantasy football. They want to be fantasy football.

34:15Robbie Mustoe:Exactly where I was going. They want fantasy football. They want all the tick points and all the things. They don't want some of the things that are... They don't want James Garner, let me tell you. They don't want...

34:25Robbie Earle:They would never look at James Garner. I mean, the only player, Moises Caicedo, is the steel. Yeah, yeah, he's slightly different. Lavia came in, actually played for the first time.

34:38Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, still has got a bit to do.

34:40Robbie Earle:But when the going gets tough at Chelsea...

34:43Robbie Mustoe:Sorry, but when Pep's Man City, when Sir Alex Ferguson's Arsenal, who we've played, when Orson Wenger's Arsenal, with Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, who we played, who were top-class players, mate, who were top-class. When it got tough or when they didn't have the ball, they chased you. They stepped up a new level, by the way. When David Beckham and Ryan Giggs lost the ball and Alex Ferguson's on the side, they chased you, mate. And some of these Chelsea players are nowhere as good as those players. So this thing like, oh, when we have the ball, and I saw Cole Palmer a couple of times a bit like, oh.

35:21Robbie Mustoe:I'm not getting the ball where I want it.

35:23Robbie Earle:They're throwing the arms up. The players throwing the arms up. is the worst for me and I think Chelsea have got a few players that want to do that or naturally do that when things aren't going well. It's not my fault. What's going on? And Liam Rossini now, Rob, has got a decision to make, I think, and I expected more from his press conference. I remember saying, it's more than that, Liam. It's more than that because he said, well, you know this, we made a mistake there and he should be. I'll be accountable. You took accountable, yeah. I was more worried about that performance and of course he's not going to try and protect a little bit of the team but I was very worried and I think at some point there's got to be a hard side I wanted him to come into that post-match presser and say neither of that, I'll protect him when I can I'm telling you right now we're going to rethink a little bit because that's not what I want this team to be and be a little harder without throwing him under the bus he can explain to everybody that's not acceptable we ain't going to go anywhere like that They're not going anywhere like this, Rob.

36:27Robbie Earle:They're opening up. They're losing goals. They play when they can play because they've got so much blueprint buzzing around in their heads. Get a little bit of Everton. Get a little bit of just stick to basics. Roll your sleeves up and show us you want to play for the team. The fans are losing it with them already.

36:44Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, I mean, they were out of the building by the time they went to clap the players at the end. You're right. Do you think this is a long marriage? Liam a senior in Chelsea. I'm sure the club wanted to be. We've got seven games to go to the end of the season. Champions League is a must.

37:04Robbie Earle:Yeah, but I don't know. I don't know. What if they finish sixth? If they finish sixth, the club and the directors might say, yeah, he's our guy. Bit disappointing. But we've got to give him time. We'll fix some issues. Centre-back's an issue.

37:17Robbie Mustoe:I hear you, but the problem is if the fans lose faith, then we're down another road. We're into the untenable category where it's horrible. It's not a good environment.

37:29Robbie Earle:But they should win games.

37:30Robbie Mustoe:They should.

37:32Robbie Earle:They have got a lot of good players.

37:34Robbie Mustoe:I still think the mix has got to change. I think they need to bring in a couple of different type of players to add to the mix of the talent that they've got. It might not change. I sometimes get the sense with Chelsea, and as you were talking, I was kind of mulling to me. It's almost like there's a blueprint of how you've got to manage and what you've got to say and how you've got to be and almost like you've been given it, right, you're the manager, this is what you... It's like it doesn't feel like he's been him, Liam Messina. David Moyes is David Moyes. And you see it and you feel it and he tells you and I'm sure when players aren't doing the job, he lets them know.

38:12Robbie Mustoe:Liam's telling me that Robert Sanchez is world-class. He's telling me that Robert Sanchez is a world-class goalkeeper. He isn't. No, no.

38:22Robbie Earle:and he's been playing he brought back Sarr didn't he? remember Sarr brought back Hato he seems to like he played Hato today I know Chalibas got injured so he's definitely got a bit of an issue at centre back I know Rhys James is injured right now but there's some there's some gaps in the team that need to be filled and we'll see we'll see I mean there's so much negative you know we're always jumping on the negative and in this show and the results there's a lot of

38:51Robbie Mustoe:disappointment. The teams that play in the Champions League, Rob.

38:55Robbie Earle:We're going to go on to the team next, aren't we? Yeah, in Liverpool. These extra games in the Champions League and these players have to play in two competitions, basically. They're in the Premier League.

39:05Robbie Mustoe:We also, Rob, can't come on a podcast when we see Chelsea fans walking out before the end, when we see Liverpool fans unhappy with what the manager is saying. The manager actually says, we can't come on here and sweetness and light. We've got to be truthful and we've got to be honest and we've got to see what we see.

39:22Robbie Earle:And I think, to be fair, if they're playing well, we jump on it. But let's go to it, Rob. Brighton 2, Liverpool 1. Daniel Welbeck, a couple of goals for him. Kyrgyz gets the goal where Lewis Dunk kind of flicks it back. It's a mistake. So Liverpool were gifted a goal in some ways. I mean, that being said, good run. Nice finish for Kyrgyz. Yeah, I saw it.

39:42Robbie Mustoe:Let's start with Brighton because I think we always do the Liverpool and the negative. Let's start with Brighton and Fabian Hursler, who looks like he's turning things around a little bit. It's interesting, Rob, that I listened to an interview of his last night and he said he was under a little bit of pressure maybe. I think he was.

39:57Robbie Earle:One month, six weeks ago. Absolutely he was.

39:58Robbie Mustoe:And he said I had to bite my tongue, get to my players, start to do our work, get ourselves on a run, start to understand what's important and how we get success and the work we have to do. And he said it was an important time in my career. And I kind of liked that. I thought, you know what, a little bit of a difficult time. He's worked his way through it. Now they've still got ambitions about Europe. They were the better team. Second half in the game, dominate the game. Look more likely to score than Liverpool.

40:28Robbie Earle:That's a football.

40:30Robbie Mustoe:Well set up. Danny Welbeck, I think, is unlucky not to be in the England squad for me in terms of the year Solanke's and Dominic Calvert-Lewins are in. They've got a lovely way of playing. Jack Hintlewood is a little diamond. Plays anywhere on the pitch. Helps in the second goal. There's a lot still of good things about Brighton. And Fabian Herzl, I'm pleased, looks like he's come over a bit of a difficult time.

40:54Robbie Earle:I'm pleased too because I thought a month or so ago, a couple of months ago, this ain't going well. And this football club will have, as we know, they'll have a little list. If this isn't the right guy and there'll be somebody else comes in that we know is bright, young, good. And he's responded, that's four Premier League wins in five. And again, I made a point on our show, but their bench is better than Liverpool's. They had better impact. No, they did. Ruter is a good player Balibar comes on He's wanted by some Of the bigger clubs You've got Kostoulos The Greek didn't come on Mitoma comes on And dribbles And looks great They've got So many good players They could have two 11s And they're not much Not much different Again We all know about the recruitment And this goes back To great recruitment But Liverpool Yeah Outplayed in most areas Most areas With the football And I think I feel like Arnaz Slott Has kind of lost his way A little bit Rob He's lost his way A little bit In terms of Developing this team Fixing issues

41:47Robbie Mustoe:Yeah and making them better.

41:48Robbie Earle:And we know that a couple of players were out. The system's a little different now. It's more like a diamond in midfield. And to be fair, when a team isn't playing great, you want them to try stuff. Of course you want to try. He's trying stuff.

42:01Robbie Mustoe:Ekotiki got injured, and three minutes have to say that they're great. And obviously Salah wasn't available because he picked up a knock. So you've not got your attacking threats when Curtis Jones comes on.

42:10Robbie Earle:You've got McAllister, you've got Graham Buck, you've got Flying Verse, you've got Cody Gleckpock. I think more than that to me, Rob, Rob, the second goal epitomised the two teams.

42:22Robbie Mustoe:Minter's on the left-hand side. He puts a beautiful ball in around the six-yard box. Jack Hinshelwood runs off Van Dijk, who's almost kind of given it up, and plays it back to Welbeck, who scores, who's run away from Gravenber, who's ended up in the defensive position. And it kind of made me think, Rob, when Liverpool are at it, Van Dijk gets a block on that ball. that doesn't get into it and when that ball comes on Graham Birch is coming back there's something that there's a yard Liverpool are a yard short of where they need to be now I don't know if that's a mental a physical a playing games a whatever motivation

42:58Robbie Earle:but something's just a yard short the Van Dijk couldn't quite get there is so typical of what we've seen and not being able to and can I tell you at times I mean jeez

43:12Robbie Mustoe:it was a little bit

43:13Robbie Earle:all over the place won defensively in the second half of Liverpool and the full-backs have struggled Fringpong. I mean, Fringpong.

43:19Robbie Mustoe:I mean, he doesn't really look like him.

43:22Robbie Earle:I think Hurgis has got a little better. Yeah, yeah. I mean, so when you, you know, I gave the names earlier, but if Florian Verne isn't doing much and he's just like any other attacking midfield player, which right now he's like any other.

43:34Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah, he's not.

43:35Robbie Earle:I mean, whoever it might be, any football club, Jack Inchord.

43:39Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

43:39Robbie Earle:He's no better than Jack Inchord. Yeah, yeah. Or, you know, some of the other attacking players that we see in a family. Yeah, Gibbs-White, absolutely. So if we say average right now, Gakpo gets some goals, but can be kind of average.

43:52Robbie Mustoe:One in ten, I think.

43:53Robbie Earle:I mean, the midfield three that carried the team last year, they're better than average. Sobbertside's playing good. Gravenberg's been okay. He's been okay. And McAllister's been average. He's been off. Off. Again, there's other midfield players that you would say are having a better season than him. And then you throw in the centre-backs that have been dodgy.

44:12Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, not been good.

44:14Robbie Earle:And the full-back struggles gets you to a point where they look like a team that's fifth or sixth right now. So lots of work to do. And it will increase the pressure on the manager. Where are we at with Arna Slott without Liverpool fans? There's rumours going around, Rob,

44:29Robbie Mustoe:that come the end of the season, there might be some conversations with Arna Slott.

44:34Robbie Earle:Yeah, we're hearing something. We're hearing a little bit like that. I'm sure it's going to depend on where they finish. I mean, for me, right, and I know what I've just said but I still, I mean what they did last year you're expensive, Alexander Izak's out, I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of this, I wouldn't mind seeing into next year I want to see with the pre-season, with Verts Be sure of the decision I'm making Is it the right decision or do I need to give this

45:02Robbie Mustoe:another six months or so?

45:03Robbie Earle:Is it actually the squad and actually Arna Slott or whoever it might be Mikel Arteta actually couldn't do a lot more with this team which is very different to last team by the way so people don't say well they want that no no that's just half team is different so you know is it the team is it the coach that old chestnut and I want to see a bit more with his best players fit and available

45:24Robbie Mustoe:maybe pre-season but I mean I may be wrong

45:27Robbie Earle:may be wrong if they finish fifth sixth or whatever in the league they might say that thanks very much I think Champions League football is another one

45:33Robbie Mustoe:Champions League football is a must

45:34Robbie Earle:and when you've got Xabi Alonso and the availability of other coaches is always on the mind of the owners and directors. Because if they think, oh, Xavi Lanzo will be perfect for us, and we kind of know that you fancy it, then you do it. You might. There might be the window to do it. Yeah. But we'll see. Disappointing. Yeah, disappointing.

45:54Robbie Mustoe:Let's go to some other results. We have to go to the time with Derby. We have to go to Newcastle, St. James' Port 1, Sunderland 2, based on Sunderland winning the first game of the stadium, they were like their own goal from Volta Marder. Newcastle getting ahead in this game Anthony Gordon will talk about the goal in 10 minutes and then Sunderland coming back in the second half for Telby and then Brian Bobby lovely striker's goal knowing where to be in the box but the bigger headline is Rob back-to-back defeats for Eddie Howe a terrible week in Europe again maybe it's a negative side of media and social media but people suggesting Eddie's gone as far as he can, which I hate that phrase, and that maybe it could be time for a change.

46:44Robbie Mustoe:Let's talk about the game first, and then we'll talk more about Eddie.

46:50Robbie Earle:I think it's another example, Rob, of a football club that played in the Champions League that looked exhausted in the second half. Yeah, second half, they had no legs. They definitely looked like they had no legs. the majority of the team played on Wednesday Barcelona game they got a bit of a doing didn't they

47:08Robbie Mustoe:7-2, amazing it was 7-2 wasn't it

47:14Robbie Earle:so they're nowhere near their best I don't

47:17Robbie Mustoe:he played a lot of the front three with the same front three who played against Barcelona Ramsey

47:23Robbie Earle:Tonali didn't play today, Bruno's out but Joel Ensign played Chipia played, Hall played the same full backs played instead of the front three.

47:33Robbie Mustoe:But is there then not a thoughtful rotation? Johan Wiese, mate, is a really interesting one. You pay 70-odd million dollars for him. You know my face. He's plug-and-play generally if he's fit. He knows the league. He knows his way around. He's a good finish. He can play either side. He can play down the middle. I mean, on the bench. On the bench. And if you listen to Eddie Howe, in the last couple of weeks,

48:01Robbie Earle:he's basically saying, yeah, we'll get to see the best of him, as if we ain't seeing the best of him. And the other part of that,$93 million Nick Valdemar. Now, that's$169 million, and I think they got the same money,

48:14Robbie Mustoe:$168 million for Isaac.

48:16Robbie Earle:So the replacement of those two players, and neither of them are playing up front.

48:19Robbie Mustoe:Anthony Gordon's starting his main striker. And he took his goal, lovely.

48:23Robbie Earle:But that's, again, with handling the Champions League and the Premier League campaign and not having a ready-made or a successful replacement to Eiza. I mean, if you add, if Wiesa started great scoring goals, then you've got Gordon on the left-hand side, you've got others, Ramsey or Alanga, but that's something that hasn't worked out very well, and I don't know whether that was Eddie Howe drove those signings. Yeah, I don't know.

48:50Robbie Mustoe:There was that Paul Mitchell involved at times, and we weren't sure what was going on. There's been some changes in the boardroom or whatever at that point,

48:55Robbie Earle:so very disappointing. But brilliant from Sunderland, Rob.

48:58Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Absolutely brilliant. Second half, I was like,

49:01Robbie Earle:to go again in a different way with football, you know, after a very poor start with the playing out the back. Yeah. Luka 9, wasn't he?

49:11Robbie Mustoe:Made a bad error. Yeah, made a mistake. Slipped a little bit.

49:14Robbie Earle:Trying to play the ball long, slipped a little bit. For them to regroup a little bit and power on in second half. And come again. What a performance that is. And that's going to be painful.

49:24Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. To the Geordies.

49:27Robbie Earle:Absolutely painful. After living there and being in that world for a long time, they're the top dogs. And whenever anybody knocks on them. Going above them in the league today as well. All the derbies, all the rivalries, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Sunderland, you know.

49:42Robbie Mustoe:Newcastle hates Newcastle because they're the big boys. They're the best ones. So for Sunderland to beat them and to go above them in the Premier League is astonishing from Regis Labris. Well, it's an astonishing season, mate, when you think survival, 43 points go above them, beat them twice in derbies. That's about as good as the season goes. They're a brand new team.

49:58Robbie Earle:It was purchased in the summer. Chris Rigg, the young kid that's come through the academies in the side. Kranin Shaka is amazing to watch him, by the way. When you watch him. He's organising, he's telling people. He's in midfield. He's really, really great.

50:12Robbie Mustoe:I like Brian Brobby as well, mate. He's a big physical specimen. He knows his way around the box. Lovely, lovely. Came behind the defender, got out of his eyesight, ran in front of him at the right time to finish. He's like a little bit of a penalty box.

50:26Robbie Earle:You might expect him to get a few more at this point. Yeah, it's only six.

50:30Robbie Mustoe:He started well and then he's gone five without a goal. So this one's kind of got him going. And just towards the end of the season, can he get double figures? And then next season he's one of them. Can he come again? Brilliant. Really strong second half. Great story. Really, really great football. Great football. Yeah, I think it's going to be a testing sort of end to the season now for Eddie. They've only got Premier League football. Is it? Right. Are they in the FA Cup or are they out? I think they've done now in the FA Cup. So they can have a bit of it.

50:57Robbie Earle:They've got to try and get up towards the European spots.

50:59Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, absolutely.

51:00Robbie Earle:But I'm all in with Eddie Howe still. I'm all in with that guy. Me too.

51:03Robbie Mustoe:I still just don't think that it's done and he's taken them as far as he can. I still think there's more to come. With the right kind of investment, I think they'll be OK.

51:13Robbie Earle:He's a great man to be running the club.

51:15Robbie Mustoe:Let's start with the first game of the match week. It was a Friday night down on the south coast. It was Bournemouth 2, Manchester United 2. Again, lots of incidents going on. Fernandes with a penalty after Cunha's been pulled. Then we had the penalty that was given, the penalty that wasn't given on the Ahmad. Goes down under challenge from Truffaut. Ball goes down the other end of the pitch. Christie scores. Referee decides that that one wasn't given. Then Manchester United go ahead through Hill's own goal from the corner kick. So United 2-1 up. and he had to game then. Brenton Schneider gave a penalty away with Harry Maguire when Evan Nielsen was going through and it was a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.

52:03Robbie Earle:Michael Cowan made a big thing about the two penalties. Should we go there? Yeah, let's go quickly.

52:06Robbie Mustoe:And he said, like, the one on Ahmad by True Fair was just the same as the one that Harry Maguire... So if you're going to give Harry Maguire's penalty, you've got to give the other one. He said they were the same. I think we both disagree with that.

52:21Robbie Earle:And also the football club, Manchester United, have put an official complaint to the PGMOL, the professional game of match officials, to basically complain about their decisions. Don't do that because this is not one of those for me. And, of course, I understand that there's arguments out there that the first one was aggressive and should have been a penalty. The referee is in a great spot, and we've seen it a zillion times, and it could have gone either way. could have gone either way that's football in that little you know some referees give that some of them don't

52:56Robbie Mustoe:it's not

52:56Robbie Earle:it certainly wasn't a clear novice

52:59Robbie Mustoe:and it's not one of those

53:00Robbie Earle:for me that you would write a letter to complain to whoever definitely yeah

53:05Robbie Mustoe:there's only one decision that could have been given

53:07Robbie Earle:I would probably agree that there's probably more physical contact than the Maguire on Evan Nielsen but he wasn't past

53:15Robbie Mustoe:in position was he wasn't past the defender he was trying to make space with his touch to get past the defenders. It was a risky challenge.

53:23Robbie Earle:It was a risky challenge. I'm not saying it was. But Maguire, I mean, there's a different impact on that. It's an impactful challenge. He's right in front of the goal. So I don't feel strongly, and we would say it if we felt that that was really wrong, and there's been many that have been. But that wasn't the case in that game where there was howling decisions and the referee had a nightmare. I don't think he did.

53:43Robbie Mustoe:So from Manchester United's point of view, you were a little bit more disappointed.

53:48Robbie Earle:I was equally, in fact, I was more impressed with Bournemouth than disappointed Manchester United. I always think when you're Man United and you're playing against Bournemouth, and right wrongly probably, you expect Man United to boss it a little bit and not be forced back by Bournemouth. Maybe that's wrong for me and maybe I'm not appreciating what Bournemouth have done. The league is different now. I mean, it was third and a giant against 10th and kind of a minnow in terms of their stadium and their revenues and stuff. and yet there was nothing in it there was nothing in it and that's a bit of a

54:21Robbie Mustoe:they've got a good manager and they've got a decent way of playing love the way I love

54:26Robbie Earle:I really like I love the way they play they never adjust to the opponents it's typical Spanish football Rob I watched him play for Bilbao I covered the league for many seasons it's not done the same there if you're a smaller team in Spain they just play and it's open and if they're better it makes for a lot of good games over there And he has the same approach. And I just... I think he overachieves with the players. When you look at the list of players there,

54:54Robbie Mustoe:he shouldn't be competing among United, but he did. You were talking earlier about there could be a few jobs up.

55:01Robbie Earle:People might be asking who's available. I'd be on the phone too. And Donnie Riola might be available.

55:06Robbie Mustoe:His contract's up, isn't he? He still hasn't signed anything.

55:08Robbie Earle:I'd be all over him. I think he's really, really... I think his media stuff's good. He doesn't say too much. His style is good. I bet he's a nice guy to play for. Whether a big giant like United or something like that is too much for him, maybe. We understand that the athletic club,

55:26Robbie Mustoe:there's an availability there. 400 games for that. And I think they might want him to be manager.

55:30Robbie Earle:I don't know how he feels about that, whether he'd love to go back there. That's one to there or is that one to later on. Or is he want to coach up in the Premier League? Yeah, it's a good show. Really good, really good.

55:39Robbie Mustoe:But yeah, United had to be happy with the point. I just think, for me, every game, win, lose or draw, play well, not play well, play OK. It kind of, for me, is just another experience to see how Michael Harris handles things and what he does with the team. And that's why I'm okay with it. I'm okay with whatever happens.

55:57Robbie Earle:No one's got to make decisions right now. Let's just continue gathering the evidence.

56:02Robbie Mustoe:I want to know if it's the right decision to do at the end of the season. And I want to see him in different situations. Between now and then. Between now and then.

56:12Robbie Earle:All right, last few games, mate.

56:14Robbie Mustoe:Last couple of games, yeah. Yeah, Claremont and Blue Derby, Aston Villa at home to West Ham United. Big game for both these teams. Obviously, Aston Villa still trying to secure a Champions League spot. West Ham United trying to get out of that bottom three. Villa get the goals. John McGinn with the beauty. Oli Watkins showing what he can do good on a rebound as the ball comes out. Pretty convincing win, I think, in the end. although West Ham had a couple of looks, but I don't think it was one of them where they were really that close.

56:46Robbie Earle:It feels like Villa are going to find a little bit of groove. I mean, the master of the coach, the nose of all about European football, we didn't see a big drop-off from Maston Villa after playing.

56:55Robbie Mustoe:I think Tielemans was back, I believe.

56:57Robbie Earle:Somebody said that he was back. Yeah, we didn't get a close look at this. There's a lot of games going at the same time.

57:01Robbie Mustoe:You get Tielemans back, who've been missing, big plays, Kamara.

57:05Robbie Earle:They've got 54 points, Rob.

57:06Robbie Mustoe:They're in fourth, five ahead of Liverpool.

57:09Robbie Earle:I mean what's that six ahead of Chelsea so they're in a good spot

57:14Robbie Mustoe:to finish in the top four which might leave Liverpool and Chelsea fighting for one spot fighting

57:19Robbie Earle:for that final spot and probably the person who doesn't get it is going to be maybe he's going to be in trouble so difficult let's go to the cottage

57:26Robbie Mustoe:Fulham three Burnley one Burnley get themselves ahead with the Zion Fleming who continues to get goals kind of like him Rob

57:34Robbie Earle:I feel like if they go down

57:36Robbie Mustoe:he might be worth a look somewhere and then Josh King eventually gets his Premier League goal he had one disallowed against Chelsea which should have stood Harry Wilson who would be the underappreciated player of the year he's in the top you're in the running Harry just keep doing your thing and Raul Jimenez with his special way of taking penalties at 14 scored the last 14 that he's taken

58:01Robbie Earle:continue to do well don't they for him continue continue to be a good side

58:04Robbie Mustoe:another good manager Rob whose contract's out I know I know It'd be interesting, do you think things like Graham Potty, moving from Brighton, who's at a certain level, and going to Chelsea didn't work, and Thomas Frank, who's at a certain level, and he then goes to Spurs and doesn't work. Do you think the Areolas and the Marco Silvers might get brushed with that?

58:29Robbie Earle:Yeah, maybe, but I'd love to see it. I think those two, he's kind of safe, Marco Silva. He's been around, he's been at Everton, He's been at plenty of clubs. He knows the league. He's been around a long time. He played good football. He seems to be a good... And he's feisty. Yeah. And he's touchy. He's a good coach.

58:46Robbie Mustoe:Really, really good. Last one we got. Leeds nil, Brentford nil. Wasn't a classic. No, it wasn't a classic. It was another point for Leeds, which I just think at this point of the season... They're grinding. They're grinding. And I was thinking about the game. You always kind of think about this one. And sometimes, Rob, in games like this, and I remember a few when we played, the fear of losing becomes bigger than the fear of going for it and getting three points. And you kind of go, I'll take what I've got. I'm kind of okay, thank you. Of course I'd love a goal and of course if something comes.

59:16Robbie Mustoe:But if not, I'm going to take the point.

59:19Robbie Earle:Yes, but are you saying that that's how they... No, no, no.

59:24Robbie Mustoe:I'm just saying in this game, on this night, when they're playing Brantford, I know you felt that you'd like to have ramped up a little bit more. and they had a bit of a go but I'm just saying I think my human nature is of course I'll have a go and if we can get a chance in this corner but you know what the fear of oh we went for it and then we got beat single points the way that we're going

59:48Robbie Earle:they'll grind they'll grind their way up but I thought where you're going to go with that is like well Leeds yeah it was nil-nil and they thought this is okay and second half we're going to do the same thing and be a bit more but I thought he changed it he went from back five to a back four He brought attacking players on. Dan James came on. Tanaka came on. Okafor came on. I thought he turned up the dial. And I liked it. I liked it from Daniel Farker.

1:00:10Robbie Mustoe:But I didn't think the players were fully committed to it. I didn't think he created a load of chances. It didn't create a load. But they were...

1:00:17Robbie Earle:I thought they were trying to win the game. They were trying to get to whatever it would have been. 35 points or whatever. It's like, go on, put this to bed. Go and win the game.

1:00:26Robbie Mustoe:Four more points and it could probably be safe.

1:00:29Robbie Earle:Yeah, I just... I thought he did try and win it. It didn't happen on a day, but it was better for me than saying, oh, this is all right. We've got another point here. I thought he went for it, but...

1:00:39Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, that's it, mate. It was quite the weekend. So that was quite the weekend. We've had the first piece of silverware for the season. That goes to Manchester City. Pep gets one over Mikel at Wembley. The question is, what does this do for the title race? If anything at all. Elsewhere in the Premier League, we've got Champions League fever this week with Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and Spurs who all lost after playing mid-week in the Champions League and what will defeat for Tottenham do for Tudor we've got a couple of weeks off it's international break in FA Cup week so we'll be back April 12th that match week 32 when Spurs go to Sunderland that's not going to be easy in Arsenal host Bournemouth but for now I'm Earl Hees Mustard together with the two lobbies thanks for watching and listening be safe, stay healthy and enjoy your couple of weeks off.

1:01:26Robbie Mustoe:It's a good night from me. It's a good night from him. Good night.