Pep Guardiola Wins His 20th Trophy With Manchester City! West Ham United Looking At Relegation.

17:16Robbie Earle:And then a little bit further on here, it cannot be negotiable. Everyone that joins this club should adopt it. It goes on to say a few other things and thanking the club and his family for what he's done. And he's going to help them try and get a qualification for Champions League, which I'm sure they'll do. We all are OK, particularly in the media now, we're OK with players speaking their mind and coming out and saying stuff. But how do you feel about this statement, Rob? It's obviously a dig on a slot.

17:47Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, it's timely, Rob. With one game to go, home to Brentford, when Salah will be lauded for the last time, quite rightly for what he's done. I think it's his turn to balance when he thought he got thrown under the bus. I think it's a balance of, you know, I've been waiting my time. He's very good. I mean, when Mo Salah first came to Liverpool, we never heard a thing from him, Rob. He's very good now at knowing when to use social media and how powerful social media. What he says, I think the crumbling to defeat, I thought were really harsh words.

18:22Robbie Earle:Painful, yeah.

18:23Robbie Mustoe:I think that shows that there's not... My sort of overview, Rob, as I was thinking about it, was is Mo Salah trying to give us an indication that everything's not quite right with this guy in the dressing room? My sense is that there's a veiled message here. Mo's going he knows. Mo's had his fallout. Maybe he wants to even that up. But maybe like that everything isn't as rosy in this dressing room as people might think, you know, and maybe the guy in charge isn't quite as good as people might have saying because he won the first title. I could be wrong and I could be going down a different road, but the timing and some of the words and the vocabulary that was used kind of points to me that Mo's trying to get something out there.

19:11Robbie Earle:He's digging. He's shouting him out. He's trying to make a dig at the manager. I came back on the show, Rob, and said this. I looked into it. I thought, well, hang on a minute. I'll count with the goals and assists. Last season, under Arna Slott, his not-so-heavy metal football, was his most productive season in terms of goals and assists at any season at Liverpool, in the Premier League. He also went on to win only the second Premier League title for Liverpool in the Premier League era. And he also earned an incredible bumper contract in April, so just before the end of last season. So how...

19:49Robbie Earle:so how was all that fitting with what he just said? He did all right then. I mean, he had his best season in this style that he wants to get away from, and they won a Premier League title. So then that goes back to your idea of a veiled dig at him. I'm going out. You know, I've dropped off, and he's dropped me, and I didn't like it, and I'm going to have a go at him on the way out. He had a brilliant season with his best ever under Arna Slott. That's true. So I'm a little confused with it, Rob. He earns a huge contract two years. He's not going to see both years out now because his form wasn't good.

20:24Robbie Mustoe:This isn't one of those situations where somebody gets caught in saying, this has been thought through, this has been strategic in its timing, in the words, in what it says. He's definitely trying to leave a mark against on the spot as he leaves the football club. Absolutely trying to leave a mark. And I think he's trying to put it out there that things might not be all as rosy as some people think. Now, we'll have to wait and see. I want to quickly go back to Virgil van Dijk, mate, because we've talked, I mean, enthused about this fellow pretty much since he's gone to the football club and is a Premier League great.

21:01Robbie Mustoe:He's way below his level right now, mate, and he got two goals against Villa. He's going to be 35 in July. Generally, at that age, centre-backs aren't getting better and quicker unless everything's set up around them, mate. And listen, Virgil van Dijk has benefited from Arneslaut, another who's got a good contract, has never come out in the media and said anything. But how many times can we keep seeing Virgil put his hands up, look at Kirk, look at other people and the body language? Is this a symptom of what's happening at the football club? Should the captain of the club not be giving a slightly better, I don't know what's the word, aura, presence a little bit more fight, a little bit more pulling the guys together if I was Kirk and every time I looked across Virgil and Virgil's rolling his eyes I think he'd make me feel like he doesn't really fancy me this guy

22:01Robbie Earle:I think there's different ways to lead and to be angry and frustrated all the time, I agree with you I agree with you. I still think he's an excellent defender. Yeah, I do. And with the right partnership.

22:17Robbie Mustoe:Yeah.

22:17Robbie Earle:I think there's bigger problems and areas that need addressing than him. But you're right. And I totally agree. He's not had a great season. We broke down many goals conceded by Liverpool. And he's not reacted. He's been a little bit slow, a little bit lazy to block where he normally would. So it's all part and parcel of what's happened this year. And on a slot, I think we'll continue. I think there'll be a lot of work done in the market again. There's got to be, Rob. Because if there's not much done in the market, then I guess we could see a much better Alexander Izak. I'm hoping more than really believing that Florian Wirtz is going to be much better.

22:52Robbie Earle:So they won't be a lot different. That's the worry. So there's got to be some movement. And you lose Salah's goals. He's got to replace him. So it could be a difficult road ahead. And, you know, if Mo and maybe a section of the fans get what they maybe want and a different manager next year, a head coach, and on a slot goes, I don't know whether it gets a ton better given the squad right now unless we're missing something. And Alexander Izak and Florian Wurz could do better with somebody else. That's what I... I'm a big believer, really, in the players in this and what the team looks like compared to last year.

23:28Robbie Earle:And it's so different. And it's nowhere near the same. And them sat in fifth is a huge drop-off. But I don't know whether somebody different with this squad, with the injuries, etc., etc., and the new players that haven't done well. I'm pointing the finger more at the directors of football, Rob, and the recruitment than Arna Slott. But I might be in a minority there. It's funny, though.

23:48Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, you say that, but none of us were... When Izak came through the door and flying vert, we'd seen stuff of him. Eketike was the one we probably didn't expect so much. He was actually overproduced. Fring Pong was the one that maybe as a Dutch coach, you'd think he would know. Kerk, as we were all saying, was the best left-back in the league. hasn't really done so you know we all at the time I mean I was saying you may as well hand it back to them if they can play like that last season and have these additions and spend that money so yeah it isn't as easy as bringing players in and knowing that it's going to work but it would be interesting it's another test then of Arneslot's coaching ability and tactical ability to get the best out of the studio I'm motivational Rob

24:31Robbie Earle:I'm motivational and that's a big thing

24:33Robbie Mustoe:because they haven't looked like they've really been at it which is a bad slur for Liverpool and a bad slur for Arnaz slot. Yeah, lots to look forward to next season with Liverpool. And Aston Villa, congratulations. Brilliant. I've got to say how well they've played. I mean, Umey Nath-Aemre, mate, he would have been my undappreciated form of the week, but I'm saving it for our end of season. He does that well. I mean, he couldn't have played a stronger team, by the way, I don't think, mate. They've got a Europa League final next week. His team was Kavs, Konsa, Torres, Dina, Lindelof and McPhil that had played, which would be with Tillemans, McGinn, Rodgers, Buendia and Watkins.

25:13Robbie Mustoe:I mean, that's about as strong as it could be for them. There was none of that resting. There was none of that like, oh, let's have a night off. He wanted his team to go out to win as he did. Ollie Watkins gets a couple of goals. A brilliant night. Villapot was buzzing. What a way to go into a Europa League final next weekend, next midweek now.

25:31Robbie Earle:Do you know what I enjoyed more than anything else was his reaction to that win and the goals. Because he's such an ultimate pro that he's super level-headed. You don't see him throw his... Well, maybe you do. Maybe I missed that. He let it go because he's achieved his objective of finishing the Champions League spots. And he's always very guarded and very careful about what he says and what his expectations are. This was a huge target. And he basically admitted that at the start of the season. And he's achieved it. They're going to be in the Champions League next year, which he was thrilled about.

26:01Robbie Earle:And I'd love to see a manager that knows it and relaxes and smiles and behaves in a way where you know he's genuinely satisfied and feels like it's the right time to celebrate and enjoy his team, his fans, his club. I mean, he's a remarkable manager, you know, given where he got them from, Rob with Stephen Gerald in charge towards the bottom of the league table. He's showing what an excellent manager he is and a thoroughly deserved... I mean, Villa Park on a night like that, there aren't many better places, really. There aren't, mate. No, there aren't many better places.

26:30Robbie Mustoe:We talk about Anfield and we talk about St James Park. it's right up there absolutely right up there magnificent it's an ambitious club and they've got a really good manager and you know good things ahead I think for Aston Villa because by the way they'll probably Freiburg they've got in the Europa League haven't they next Wednesday great chance of winning

26:47Robbie Earle:a major trophy

26:49Robbie Mustoe:winning that and being in the Champions League would be magnificent that would be like Newcastle-esque wouldn't it and Palace-esque you know the scenes you'd see winning trophies again you know that's what Villa have done so well in the past let's go to St. James' Park mate It's not been a brilliant season for Eddie Howe in Newcastle United. They had themselves a decent day, Newcastle 3, West Ham 1, when really all the attention and focus was on West Ham needing to get something from this game to keep their hopes alive. It didn't really happen, mate. After the West Ham we saw against Arsenal that put up a good fight and all the drama we had at the end, this was a very different West Ham.

27:28Robbie Earle:Well, I'm really interested, Rob, on your take here, because after the game, in fact, at halftime as well, I went with what I feel like, like I didn't expect the game management rhythm approach that I saw from West Ham United. It was if the start of the game, right, here we go. We got to win. And I said afterwards, like, it felt like West Ham played like they were 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go, Rob.

27:55Robbie Mustoe:From the start. From the start. From the start.

27:57Robbie Earle:Trying to roll the ball out. Super expansive. There was a mistake made when they tried to play out. There was mistakes made when after like 10, 15 minutes, high pressing, trying to win the ball back. Newcastle, dink, dink, dink, played the way through them and scored the second goal. They're 2-0 down in, what was it, 15, 16 minutes? Maybe 20 minutes?

28:14Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, two goals, four minutes.

28:15Robbie Earle:So I thought, wow, of course they need to get a victory, but by losing, it now really doesn't keep Spurs as honest as it should have done. You know, if they had got a point, and of course they're going to try and win the game, But grind a little bit, a solid shape, nice and compact, quiet down St. James a little bit, and then slowly try and progress to try and win the game. So that's the first bit, Rob, and I want to get your take on that, whether you like that, that they're front foot, and they really took the game to Newcastle from the start, or whether it was Newcastle like that. Oh, loving this.

28:50Robbie Earle:Loving this open game. Keep it coming.

28:52Robbie Mustoe:No, I didn't like it at all and I think based off, I remember our conversations last weekend when Arsenal went to West Ham and we said, with that system, West Ham will sit in deep it'll be 5-4-1, they'll be difficult to break, they'll counter-attack, which they did brilliantly, I mean the game plan worked brilliantly against Orson last week, I'm thinking you go to St James and you have a similar kind of set up and maybe defensively Newcastle aren't as good as Arsenal and you get in the game, Rob let me go to where and it was kind of one of them because it's easy as you're watching to have opinion and criticise but sometimes Rob games become too big for players and you know what I wish at some point we get in a position where you could almost monitor heart rate in a heartbeat because I think some of the players, the game was too big for Rob I kind of think that press was a bit like manic press oh we've got to win, oh we've got to go and get something it was a bit of desperation, it was way too early to get that desperate in a game and basically give Newcastle the confidence that maybe they were missing, I know they won 3-1 against Brighton but they weren't in great form mate, it's not the best Newcastle team we've seen, so keep that 0-0 maybe the fans get a bit edgy and then you can build into the game I kind of felt like, you know centre-backs running all the way into the other half and then not pressing and then like people should we press, should we not?

30:24Robbie Mustoe:I mean the second goal that they get played through is like they're neither one nor the other. If you're going to do it, you've got to be all committed and do it and it didn't look like they were committed to it to me.

30:35Robbie Earle:I'm so frustrated with it because I have West Ham fans that are going to be devastated right now and again, if they were to ground out a nil-nil Rob, right, that would mean And we expect Spurs to be, I mean, to be Chelsea. I mean, the way that those two clubs are, I don't expect anything from Spurs. That would mean that Tottenham would have to win. This is, of course, assuming, because West Ham United got Leeds United on the last game of the season at home. You would fancy your chances to win that game when you really, really need it. And then Spurs would have to win. Again, you know, they were at home against Everton.

31:10Robbie Earle:It's just now all Tottenham Hotspur need from the last two games is a point. one draw from one of those two because of the goal difference, West Ham aren't going to do it. So they're staring relegation in the face. Rob, just knowing the club, experiencing this many times, through watching it, through playing it and through analysing it, how hard is it going to be for West Ham United to regroup, to put together a promotion campaign next year with Nuno or with somebody else? because if they don't bounce back in year one,

31:46Robbie Mustoe:certainly year two, they've got to come back. Then you worry. You worry.

31:50Robbie Earle:We've seen this with too many big clubs.

31:52Robbie Mustoe:I think the first thing you have to go, it's 15 years since they last went. They were a bit more up and down. I think it's 15 seasons now or so since they've been back in. So they kind of feel like they are part of the establishment now. So I think it's going to shock them, Rob. I think there's a shock coming. the big thing is going to be the two big things are going to be one, West Ham are the target every fan, every player is going to want to play West Ham when are we playing West Ham home, when are we playing West Ham away and so they're going to have to play 20 % better than everybody else because everybody's going to raise their game they're going to be the biggest, it'll be like a cup it'll be like a cup game every week yeah but where the home team, West Ham United

32:34Robbie Earle:are going to have half the stadium be empty Rob, won't it? London Stadium

32:39Robbie Mustoe:I don't know so much about that. It could be a difficult place to play. I know West Ham fans will be gutted. There's 60 ,000 in there. At the end of the game, they ain't getting 60 ,000. You know, them having a go at plays. They won't get 60 ,000, but they'll get 40 plus. And if they're winning, if they're winning, and at the top of the table, West Ham fans will turn up, mate. They will support them. That's to their favour. The issue they've got is, who are they going to lose?

33:03Robbie Earle:Yeah.

33:03Robbie Mustoe:It's all the talk that Jarrod Bowie, a lot of people are suggesting that he might stay. A 20-year-old Joe Byrne in the Championship. Is he going to go to a mid-Premier League team or be a hero there? The kid Fernandes is a talent. He's going.

33:16Robbie Earle:He'll go.

33:16Robbie Mustoe:People are going to look at. Somebody will pay the money. And it might be that you have to take that money, Rob, and find other ways to make that work. Somerville? Somerville's going to be on people's radar. Maybe. You know, it's two things. Can Nuno stay? And can Nuno convince that enough of those players that he wants to give me a year. This is West Ham United. This is still a sizable football club if he gets promoted. This is like a lead United in that league.

33:46Robbie Earle:I know, but you're going to lose this as he goes back. He's on loan from Chelsea.

33:51Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, it's as he goes, yeah.

33:52Robbie Earle:Callum Wilson will be 35. He's 34 right now. You're not expecting much from him next year in the championship. Thomas Suchek is 31 right now. Does he go on? He may. Maybe he goes through.

34:02Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Yeah, but a lot of issues.

34:05Robbie Earle:Mavropanos, Taribo. I don't know.

34:07Robbie Mustoe:I think you can find centre-backs to get you out of championships. I think it's that midfield and forward line. If you've got Bowen, you can keep one of some of the less. And you've got two strikers who've come. Tati looks like he's got moments. Yeah, yeah.

34:24Robbie Earle:Maybe young Pablo, the number 10 that came on.

34:27Robbie Mustoe:Let me just chuck something else at you, Rob, that I heard just before we came on the potty, and I just wanted to run it past you there. So apparently Nuno's in charge of West Ham. He's had 32 games He's won 8 Drawn 9 And lost 15

34:48Robbie Mustoe:It's not very good mate By the way You know We're all talking about Nuno And if he stays And it took him a long time Rob For his methods to work It took him a long time To get the defence to it They were chipping goals for fun When he first went in And remember a couple of times We said This ain't Nuno's team Normally he knows out of the Forest team that he ended up getting into Europe. Yeah. He came into holding back. It was like, why isn't it happening? It's the same guy, Rob, isn't it? It's the same guy. It's the same guy.

35:16Robbie Earle:Yeah, I don't know. I mean, they have 36 points right now and sadly, for West Ham fans, I think they are better than many teams that have been relegated. This happens to be a season when the two, of course, the Sunderland Football Club and Leeds United that I expected to struggle more than they have have pushed away and then it becomes, one of the established ones who's in such a mess that they might not get there together and those are people like Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United that have been down there because there's so many well run smaller clubs now this Premier League is different it's a different place and I don't care who you are if you don't get your recruitment right or you get tons of injuries you've got a chance of going down we're seeing that this season for sure so they're down right now the likes of Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are fighting for trying to get European spots and some big boys, Newcastle being one of them, have found it difficult to get up there as well.

36:11Robbie Earle:Switching to Newcastle, Rob, if you're ready for that.

36:14Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, yeah.

36:15Robbie Earle:They found a little something. I suppose I should go to my, because what I'm going to say does involve what we're seeing. I think this is the easiest underappreciated performer in the history of the Premier League, in the history of the two Robbies.

36:28Robbie Mustoe:Wow, it's a massive shout.

36:29Robbie Earle:There's a very obvious, underappreciated performer, and his name is William Sula. And he's been at the club for a little while. There's been very little appreciation from the club for trusting him. There was two new strikers brought into the club in the summer, Rob, of$169 million, Walter Marder and Johan Wisser. And yet this guy's been given a chance this year. There's 22-year-old Danish forward that looks as hungry as any striker can look, and he's loving life right now. I think he's got six goals in his last eight in the Premier League. Why didn't we see this earlier? Why did they buy other players when they got this guy up front?

37:05Robbie Earle:Tell me about, you know, is this guy's underappreciated?

37:10Robbie Mustoe:Underappreciated is a good shout because if you'd known you were going to get them goals, I think he was always going to be seen as an understudy to the main guys. But why? I think, but why, Rob, is because a few times we've seen him and he hasn't looked at the striker that he's playing now with confidence. He hadn't looked that player.

37:27Robbie Earle:He hadn't had much of a chance. Well, he hasn't had that much of a chance.

37:32Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, but that's what you've got to do when you bought that kind of money from Sheffield United to come to Newcastle. You're never going to go straight into the team and start scoring. You have to make the most of the opportunities. And I've got to be honest, I didn't see the kind of goals that we've seen in him. Fair play to him. And as you say, underappreciated. He's obviously doing something right. Eddie Howe's a brilliant coach who I'm sure will be working on the training ground. What I would say, Rob, would you be... So based on how he finishes season, if you're a Newcastle fan, you happy him starting your season next year as number nine for Newcastle United?

38:06Robbie Earle:Yeah, and do you know who else is far more important to me? Eddie Howe. His press conference, he was asked, are you looking for another striker in the summer window? And he basically said, not really, no. I feel I've got the players here. We haven't seen the best of some of the new signings. he's admitting that, which I still scratch my head a little bit. Wiesa won. But he said, Wiesa's had injury problems and we don't know what kind of niggles he's had. Valtimada is what I originally wanted to talk about and have Newcastle found something with Valtimada, I thought it was his best game for Newcastle United, and his preferred number 10, in behind William Asula.

38:39Robbie Earle:Have they found something there?

38:40Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, those two looked a little bit like a combination partnership. You know, strangely the big lad's in the 10, but he's got good feet and he's looked forward. Sula makes good runs down the side. He's got a bit of a mini Ollie Watkins kind of. Absolutely. Those little driving runs in between centre-backs and full-backs that cause problems. He works off both sides. He looks nice off both feet. So, I mean, sometimes that's how we find them, Rob. You know, Jamie Vardy was playing in non-league football and he gets the chance. And I'm not saying that, you know, by any means Sula's going to be that, but he's shown us that when he can be the man, when a team's built around him getting the chance, and he's not maybe playing left wing or right wing or coming on for 15 minutes, that he can score goals.

39:24Robbie Mustoe:It'd be great if he's given the opportunity. I'd love him to be given the first 10, 15 games and hit the ground running.

39:31Robbie Earle:He deserved that. I mean, as you would say, he gets the tap-ins. He's a goal scorer. He's in the right place. His build-up play's pretty good. When he drops deep, he has a nice touch on the ball. I'll tell you what, if I'm a midfield player, Rob, I'd like to play with him. Because you said, sometimes you'll show defeat and sometimes you'll spin in the channel. I love that as a midfield player, that I can play him in the feet or I can flip the ball over the top and he'll run in behind. He's in the box at the right times. He's got a little bit of pace. He's got size. I don't want to sound like I'm going way over the top on him, but it's, I don't know.

40:01Robbie Earle:I just think of that club. It's a good shot. Yeah, he has to win it for me.

40:06Robbie Mustoe:It's a good, you know, that you don't have to go and spend loads of money and travel all over the world. Sometimes there's one or two under your nose and give them the right chance, the right circumstances. the other one I just wanted to mention was Kieran Tripp here at Newcastle his last game because a few seasons ago we met with Eddie and Kieran was on the Premier League Summer Series and Eddie talked about him actually and talked about how important a signing he was that he raised the levels in the dressing room and raised the levels in the training and saw the Champions League football now and the League Cup win and all that he's been a big part of all those things I remember Eddie saying to us, after he'd been on one of the international tournaments or games, and then he was like the first one in training and pre-season, and Eddie had sort of said, you could have the first week off, and he sort of said, no, no, no, I'm captain of this club, and as captain I've got to be in, and I've got to show, and I thought, you know, you've got a diamond there, Eddie knows he's got a diamond, and he's had a good career, obviously, a bit in and out towards the end and a few injuries, but I wish him well, and I thought he got a great send-off, by the way, from the St.

41:13Robbie Mustoe:James' fans up at Newcastle.

41:16Robbie Earle:It's that time of year, Rob, where players that are leaving the club, they get appreciation from fans. As we move on to our next game, Old Trafford, Manchester United 3, Nottingham Forest 2. Luke Shaw, I mean, he was another one that's like, I'm thinking for underappreciated performer. He started every single game. He scores a great goal today. He's reliable as a left-sided centre-back in a three or a regular full-back, getting forward. He defends pretty well, rarely gets beat. He's got a little bit of quality. And I enjoy today when he scores the goal, he smiles because he's so stoic. He's so serious that he smiled, enjoyed himself.

41:55Robbie Earle:And it was...

41:56Robbie Mustoe:He's had a difficult time, hasn't he? For 10 years before, he's had a difficult time. He's probably hard of playing. Shouting out a lot.

42:01Robbie Earle:Gets criticised a fair bit for not being that durable or not playing that much. He started every single game, Rob, in the Premier League. The only player at Man United to do that.

42:11Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Yeah, good child. And Casemiro, another Rob who, you know, found the goals all of a sudden towards the end of his career. Was he a bit over the top, by the way?

42:21Robbie Earle:The Casemiro, I'm just saying, I'm not being the... I mean, he had four years at the club and was decent in his first year. It was good this year. Two years in between that weren't great.

42:33Robbie Mustoe:It's four years. It's like, I didn't see receptions for that

42:35Robbie Earle:for some of the marvels that have played for Man United. It was like family and microphones and speeches and, I mean, come on. Get with it. Get with it, Mosti.

42:44Robbie Mustoe:I mean, I think it's an appreciation of him as a player, what he's done throughout his career. Well, fair enough. It's the player, not just the players. He's not retiring, is he?

42:54Robbie Earle:I think he's not retiring.

42:55Robbie Mustoe:I don't know if he's going off, but like Manchester United fans, he's been one of the greats, hasn't he? Definitely. In the manager team. Oh, his career is incredible. So there's the appreciation you've come and done our part. In a strange kind of way, Rob, and I did have the note, and I thought, you know, I'm glad that Gainey got sent off. Family were there and he said a few words. But in a strange kind of way, the replacement for Casemiro is going to be key to Manchester United. The replacement. He was playing in this game.

43:23Robbie Earle:He was playing in this game.

43:24Robbie Mustoe:I knew you were going there because that was his audition. But if he is, because if they can get that part of the pitch right, I know there's some defensive work that has to be done, but you look at the top end and again just notice, you know, Shasko, Kunio and Bermot the three all got double figures first time I think they've had three players who've signed for the club they've all got these goals in this team with the Brunos and good recruitment so if you can find that partnership in the middle of the field job and find the right partner for Kobe Mena who's got so much more to come and to give as well and so yeah, great to see Casemiro and get what he had but I'm also looking for who that building block is now and is it Anderson or is it they're talking about one or two other Fernandes and the likes but that piece is integral to Manchester United going on like the Rodri piece we've had in the past in the Declan rise who's Manchester United's guy in the middle of the park

44:25Robbie Earle:A couple of other things Rob I want to get your opinion on Bruno Fernandes gets his 20th assist and by the way he should have had another two more and Burma missed the sitter I think Ahmad missed one there were so many opportunities for more assists so I think we've spoken enough about Bruno Fernandes and you know how I feel about it he's right there for player of the year for me given what he's done

44:43Robbie Mustoe:he's got one more game hasn't he one more game to get it I think it's Brighton against Brighton the other thing Rob

44:48Robbie Earle:I wanted to ask you about is the Michael Solsby the referee

44:51Robbie Mustoe:and the Brian and Burma goal

44:56Robbie Earle:this was the assist wasn't it from Bruno fizzes the ball across and Brian and Burma kind of adjusts his hands and the ball kind of gets sort of stuck, if you like, between his arm and his body. It was a no call and the goal was given by Mateus Cunha. And then VAR said, well, no, no, Michael, we think this is a clear and obvious error. Come and take a look. That's how the process works. All these goals are looked at. If they feel there's a clear and obvious error, they advise the referee to go over. Salisbury goes over, looks at the footage and says, nope, I still think that's accidental because it has to be some kind of intent.

45:31Robbie Earle:Remember, handball is, it's all about intention. Of course, how your arms are in terms of natural position, etc. But intention is the main thing with handball. Robbie Earle, did Bruno Bermos, in the direction of the ball that kind of moved a little bit, use his arm to control the ball that led to the goal, or was it an accident?

45:56Robbie Mustoe:Yes, he did. He used his arm. For me, the ball's coming away. The arm is away. It almost makes sure it stays in his playing range. He needed it. So he needed it. Otherwise, for me, I think it should have been a handball. Listen, the rules almost give him an out, Robin. The accidental piece, which is what VAR jumps on, because then you've got no idea. It's accidental and there was no intention. But I thought it was a handball. I thought they were lucky to get that one. there's so much subjectivity

46:28Robbie Earle:Rob with these right we're not opening the can of worms but it's like do we, I mean VAR it's still humans, it's still different interpretations and you have a three or four minute wait and then it was given and it's not, I mean

46:43Robbie Mustoe:I don't know West Ham fans, at least next season if you do go down you've got no VAR I know, I got a VAR the championship playoff

46:52Robbie Earle:game Rob, Middlesbrough Southampton I just enjoyed watching it knowing if a goal went in and the whistle didn't blow or the flag immediately it was a goal I kind of enjoyed it Can we just

47:03Robbie Mustoe:quickly as well give Michael Carrick a mention mate because it looks like he's got a two year job with a year option now so we get down to the serious stuff you know playing Champions League Rob as well is going to be slightly different they're going to have more games more problems more issues he's going to need a deeper squad I think it feels like Manchester United got to the right man at the right time. I know there's others and maybe looking around for World Cups and that. Carrick can get to work this summer and get started while World Cups are going on. He's built momentum. He's won 11 of his, I think, 16 games.

47:40Robbie Mustoe:Been in good form. I think he's in the running for manager of the year, which tells you how well he's done since he's taken over. So I'm kind of looking forward to the next chapter of Michael Carrick and Manchester United.

47:53Robbie Earle:Yeah, I mean, the fans want him, the players want him, and the board of directors want him. That was all going through to Jim Ratcliffe, so Jim Ratcliffe, and it's going to happen. I think just the announcement will be very, very soon. There's very little drama at the club. He's quieting it all down. There's going to be no need for whole new coaching staff coming in. Everything kind of continues how it is. And I'll say it, I said it before, I'll say it again, Steve Holland, his main assistant, is a very key part to it for me. He's seen it all with England, with Gareth Southgate, the national team.

48:23Robbie Earle:he's worked at Chelsea Football Club he's a very smart guy everybody's got high words of praise for Steve Holland so I think the two calm thinkers in charge is in a good spot personally I'm still very intrigued with Andona Irola who also hasn't coached a Champions League team and that would be kind of new for him and I know there's a risk with all people I personally would be a little bit more excited if it was him taking charge next year I guess I'm looking to see what he can do. He's done so well at Bournemouth. The football will be... Anyway, there's no point in going on with that. So he's got it.

49:03Robbie Earle:He's earned it. I have no big problem with it. And it's continuity. And my last comment on it is, more important than who the head coach is, is how and what they do in the market. They've had a good market last time. They got those forwards that maybe I thought was excessive with the extra$99 million on Benjamin Szczesko, but he's looked pretty damn good and got a good number of goals. So that side of it, well done. They need another window of good, sensible, I would have to say proven. That's why we're hinting at Elliot Anderson that would be plug and play in the middle of the park. You know what you're getting.

49:39Robbie Earle:A couple of other players as well in the area. So, yeah, I'm excited to see what they do, particularly who they sign and who they move on from the club.

49:47Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, absolutely. He's got momentum going now. it would seem silly to stop that and take a bit of a gamble on whoever you're bringing in you never know what Manchester United does so yeah, looking forward to Michael Carrick and next season of Manchester United in Champions League football as well Let's go to Leeds United Leeds United and Ellen Road Leeds 1-0 Brighton a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin goal and I'm going to go straight to my own appreciate the form of the week my friend Oh, boy. Yeah, you better, oh, boy. Daniel Farker, the manager of Leeds United. Brilliant. Done great. My buddy, Mr Musto, calling for him to be moved on in this situation and a better candidate, a more verified candidate to go into Leeds United.

50:42Robbie Mustoe:Yeah. Leeds United, mate, 13th in the league, 47 points. chance to get 50 points if they beat West Ham last day, and that's wholly possible. There was a spell come, I think, November, when he had a run of games and he started off losing a couple, and then I think City, Liverpool and Chelsea ended up getting results and changed the system a little bit. And from then on, mate, it's been all forward momentum. his decisions some of the you caught about recruitment I'm talking about Stack I'm talking about Goodmunson Tanaka's DCL DCL is a brilliant bit of business

51:27Robbie Earle:excellent players, the signings

51:30Robbie Mustoe:the signings that have come in and Purdue's one that I love every time I see him I continue to say this guy anchors a team in a way that's so important now in Premier League football and I just think that But listen, we can all quickly jump on that, oh, he's a bit of a yo-yo guy. Oh, well, he's kept him up this time, but will he do it next time? Like, if we never give the guy a chance to do it next time, when do we ever develop managers? Oh, somebody gets you up and they get you out of the league and they keep you in the league, and then they'll let them go back to the championship and do it again.

52:05Robbie Mustoe:No, he's deserved the right, and he deserves the recruitment now and the money and the talks that can start. and I know that they're already starting at Leeds United to start to establish Leeds as a football club. They've got the big owners now with, I think it's 49ers money. Yeah, they've got a decent squad of players, a manager who's proven, youngest manager who's proven himself now that he can bring a team up, he can keep a team up. Now can he start to add to that, as we've seen with Brentford and Bournemouth and Brighton? Can Leeds United become one of those? So my under-appreciated form of the week, who would have been on many people's list as maybe one of the first or second managers to get the sack is Daniel Falker, who will stay in his job, Robbie Musto.

52:47Robbie Mustoe:He will not be leaving.

52:48Robbie Earle:Well, all that being said, really good. I agree. He has been underappreciated, particularly at the start. There was a sense that he wouldn't last very long when things started to go awry. It's almost like the fans were waiting for this to be an issue and they're going to have to change. So, good shout. Now, I don't disagree with anything you said, but, Robbie Earl, there is a but. And this is a ruthless business. And there happens to be three excellent, proven, established Premier League managers at an end of contract. No compensation needed. Whether they'll come to Leeds United, I don't know.

53:28Robbie Earle:But Leeds United is a huge club. In Marco Silva, Andona Irola and Oliver Glasner, there's an opportunity for this football club right now this summer when these are available, because let me tell you now, they will get snapped up and they will do good work and they will be off the market. It's a once in a, well, a once in a lifetime, but a situation to upgrade your manager. To really establish Leeds United is what they want is to be a regular mid-table and then a European club in European football. Marco Silva, particularly, I think is suited. He has always done a good job. He plays good football.

54:07Robbie Earle:He's super experienced. I think, and on a era Ola, if you would go to Leeds United, I mean, such a big club, Rob. I still think it's attractive to these guys and Oliver Glasner as well. So, and I agree with what you say, but this is a ruthless business. And I think the signing's been really good. And if they continue with that, they're going to be fine. Why not bring a manager, Rob, that can establish this team and grow them into something more than a team that's looking over their shoulder and you've got a manager that the fans are a little bit worried that things could go south and they might look for somebody else.

54:40Robbie Earle:You know it makes sense, Rob. You know it makes sense.

54:43Robbie Mustoe:Part of the reason why fans get upset is because people like you put doubt in their mind. No, they didn't leave me to. They always had doubt in their mind. I allowed you your argument. Let me have my argument. That when you bring Iriola, Glasner or Silva, you bring absolutely no guarantee. So Graham Potter was going from brilliant work at Brighton, now go to Chelsea, fail. Thomas Frank did a great body of work at Brentford, go to Tottenham, fail. Ange Postacoglu wins a trophy at Spurs, goes to Nottingham Forest, fail. Great managers, great CVs, great resumes, wrong fit, doesn't work, no guarantee.

55:23Robbie Mustoe:So I'm not saying you've got a guy with a bigger resume, but does he guarantee it? Is the fit right? Does he guarantee anything? I think Daniel Falker, keeping this team up in 13th, has maybe won over some of those Leeds fans who were saying, no, it's Daniel Falk. I believe you've got to give him a chance, Rob. And a bit like on a slot, you've got to see what this next sort of six months is going to be. Let's get till Christmas. Let's look where Leeds are. Let's look what their recruitment looks like. This guy has earned the right to do that for me. Yes, of course we can chuck out bigger names.

56:00Robbie Mustoe:And yes, Leeds is a big job. But who's to say that Daniel Falker isn't a David Moyes, who needs this chance and is going to grow over the next two years. And in 10 years' time, we'll be talking about one of the great managers.

56:12Robbie Earle:Don't mind your argument, son. Don't mind it. Don't mind it. Yeah, listen, good points. There's no guarantee. I just would be a lot more excited if one of those three guys took over and I would argue back, not that we're going to keep going on this, but if Leeds lose four out of the first eight games or so, the mumblings, the murmurings around Ellen Road, I think will begin. And I'm not sure they will have your kind of trust or patience or loyalty, quite honestly. So, yeah, you make a good argument. I just think one of those three would be exciting for this club to take them to the next point.

56:54Robbie Earle:We saw it before. I think we were chatting. I think you said before that the Bournemouth under Gary O 'Neill did a great job and the club went, he's not the right guy. Irohola came in and took him to another level. I just see that as a potential for this summer. But again, it's a little bit of a left field one for me. I don't think it will happen, but I would be tempted to look at that pretty closely if I was in charge of Leeds.

57:16Robbie Mustoe:Well done, Leeds. Late winner against Brighton. Good times. Yeah, good times. I think 11 points clear the bottom three is incredible. I kept it. I was watching this game. Brentford 2, Palace 2. A really good game. Sarr gets a penalty early. Pelleher came out and fouled Sarr, took him down. Wattara gets an equaliser. Wharton gets his first goal of the season and a lovely backflip. I didn't know he had that in the back. No, I didn't either. 2-1. And then Wattara gets a second late on from the long throw for 2-2. I'll tell you what really interested me in this game, Rob, was that it was a game that Palace are sort of, we all know, warming up to the Conference League final, that Brentford has still got hopes of European positions.

57:56Robbie Mustoe:It really happened. I looked at this with a view of, like, what might Palace look like against Arsenal on that day, the last day of the season? And I kind of feel like, and I know it's three days before the final, and I know all that, but this Palace team can't help but play, mate. They can't help but do what they do. Oliver Glasner has got them in such a routine, has got them so well drilled that they play football. And listen, they won't just chuck a game in. They're not West Ham, by the way. They'll play their football and if chances come, they've got people on the side, depending on who he picks.

58:33Robbie Mustoe:They've got people in the side who can make it difficult. So I don't want to scare Arsenal fans. I know they think the big game against Burnley is coming up tomorrow. but Palace have still got to you know, you've got to go there and respect them

58:46Robbie Earle:Yeah, I don't mind that, I mean they might it depends how he looks at it, they might start in that final game of the season, Rob, and we know that the potential of injuries and tiredness is later, the last 15-20 minutes, he might play his first lot and then bring most of his star players off, I don't know it's a good shout, I don't know what he's going to do but I think whoever plays, and Palace have shown it, they can put up a good fight and a good performance 2-2 draw against Brentford, you know We didn't mention Brighton. Brighton lost the opportunity against Leeds United. Of course, they lost out in the last game.

59:14Robbie Earle:We just talked about Leeds United to cover Leungol real late in the game. And I'm fascinated with this Brighton-Brentford-Bourmet situation in 6th, 7th and 8th. And that's where the drama was for me in the 10 o 'clock window today, Eastern time, were those games. Another one, I think, in that window, Rob, was Everton. Everton won, Sunday in 3. Which is somewhat surprising. It looks like Everton have just, you know, a little, not much to play for. and I mean, that being said, Sunderland got up to ninth place, Rob. Sunderland got up to ninth place, I believe, and right on the edge, right on the edge of European qualification, which would be great for them.

59:48Robbie Earle:So there's a little bit of, you know what I heard the other day, Rob, on radio, on talk radio. They're talking about Sunderland thinking about replacing their manager. I was like, what? Did you hear that?

1:00:00Robbie Mustoe:I don't think there's much in that. There can't be anything in that. I think that's come out from somewhere before.

1:00:05Robbie Earle:Some random report or whatever.

1:00:06Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, some random local report. Great win.

1:00:08Robbie Earle:That's a great win away at Everton. Yeah.

1:00:11Robbie Mustoe:Yeah, Le Fay, Isidore and Brobby. And what's quite nice there, obviously Brobby's come in and done well for Ajax and Sam Goodball. But Le Fay and Isidore were players who were there as well, Robby, who've made the most of this opportunity coming in the Premier League. And that's one of the things that teams who get promoted. Sometimes you don't realise, actually, there's a step up in some players. And I think Sunderland have found the right mix of bringing in players and a few of the players who were important for them last year in the Championship. It's an outstanding season.

1:00:37Robbie Earle:They're at ninth. the promoted team absolutely outstanding

1:00:40Robbie Mustoe:he absolutely should be in running for manager of the season absolutely and the final game Wolves won Fulham won Matthew Mane with the goal lovely finish on 25 and then he got himself caught up with a penalty made a poor decision I think caught a defender Anthony Robinson gets his first goal of the season to bring Fulham back level so that was it mate of the weekend's games we have got two big games still to come though on Monday Arsenal Arsenal obviously play Burnley, 3pm Eastern Time on USA Network. And then on Tuesday, obviously depending on how things go, Bournemouth plays host Manchester City, 2.30pm Eastern Time on the USA Network.

1:01:22Robbie Mustoe:But for us, that's it for this weekend when Manchester City even win a domestic double. Can they turn two trophies into three trophies with a title? Well, we'll find out in the coming week. While West Ham, they need a big win and they need a big favour from Chelsea if they're going to have any real chance of Premier League survival. We'll be back next Tuesday, that's May the 9th, after the Bournemouth Man City game. And we'll look back on those two matches for the top two teams to see how it's looking for the final game on Championship Sunday. But for now, I'm Earl, he's Musty, together with the two Robbies.

1:01:53Robbie Mustoe:Thanks for watching and listening. Be safe, stay healthy. It's a good night from me. And it's a good night from him. Good night.

1:02:00Robbie Earle:Good night.

1:02:15Outro Music