Super-Sub Watkins, Cheeky Cherki, Raya Brilliance Rescues Arsenal

26:48Do you know what? I was asked the question about a week ago and I was like, no. I can see West Ham getting out of it. Now, it's not the fact that I don't think West Ham can't get out of it, but when I look at who they're trying to catch, Yeah, they're all doing okay. They all look okay. Apart from Forrest. Yeah, but Forrest for me will be fine. Leeds, they've had an upturn in form, and I know you, I think you and Tim were speaking about it earlier. I think it was actually earlier this morning, you were talking about he's changed the system. Yeah. And it looks so much better for them. They're now looking solid.

27:21So it's not a case of West Ham obviously getting the points, but it's Forrest and Leeds dropping points. And I don't see that, especially when Leeds' home form is outstanding and Forrest will get better as well. Okay, mate, the Gunners. Got it done again. Another one that was a bit squeaky bum time at the end and a tight victory 2-1. Diego Gomez's goal for Brighton made it a little bit hairy at the end. We saw a brilliant save from David Raya, Danny, from a great shot in that midfield area that he picked out and just tipped over the top.

28:00The narrow victories. Is this something that will concern the manager? Is he OK? Like we said earlier, like Arsenal used to win 1-0 and that's OK. Could they potentially drop points like they did two years ago where they kept drawing games and kept dropping points? Are you concerned with it or is it a period of time where certain players are out, they're not quite as secure as they normally are at the back? Two goals from Arsenal at home is normally done and dusted, like for two goals. It got a little hairy. Gabriel came on. So Saliba and Gabriel potentially back together again. We know there's issues with White and Timber and Calafiore.

28:36Where do you stand right now in Arsenal, Danny, in this game and their ability to keep that gap at the top? They've been outstanding this season. They've been absolutely brilliant. And I think when you look at them, their strength in depth defensively, there's a big, big argument to say that they've probably got the most balanced squad in the Premier League. Defensively, when everybody's fit, they're... It's impeccable, isn't it? It's really strong. They're outstanding. My concern and my one concern has always been, and this is sort of a question I want to throw back at yourself, how important, when we're talking about, like you say, you have to bring Emery into it.

29:16You have to bring, obviously, Guardiola's in, and Arteta. How important, when you're going into the second half of the season, do you think the managers are? Because that's going to lead on to my next point. I know you're hot on this one, aren't you, Danny? The way the managers, you handle this kind of run-in. Yeah, I think it's a valid point. I think the squad this time, for me, overrides. I feel like Arsenal's haven't quite been ready squad-wise to win it. I think we all agree that this season with the additions, they are ready to win it. I think the thought of Victor Jocherez being the missing part was an important piece that the Arsenal fans and everybody want him to be the guy to score the goals, to take games away from teams when they may be up one to get the second and third goal.

30:04That concerns me, Danny. Victor Jocherez concerns me more than Mikel Arteta's ability to get it over the line. I know you're a bit, you're not sure whether he might be a bit emotional. Obviously, the experience of not winning a league title in this kind of division. I still am a little disappointed with Jochores, Dan. And before anything else, I do want to get your take on him because, you know, we know he's done well in other leagues. I might be an overcritical by saying he looks like a championship striker. striker. This great effort, he's got physicality, but the quick feet, the quality, the scoring goals out of nothing.

30:45You go and watch his video, his tape of his best moments. He gets the ball wide, he drives inside, he scores from different angles. We haven't really seen it yet. He's the top goal scorer with five, Danny. Two of them are penalties. Give me your take on Victor Jokeres. It's an interesting one because I think there's a positive and I think there's a negative. I think the negative is what you've just said. he's a play that needs chances sort of created for him yeah he's not sort of a play that's going to like Marino is which is like he's going to drop he's going to link and then he's going to get in the final ball drop and then create space in behind but what I would say and it's something that I've noticed over recent games with Arsenal when Jokeres plays opposition teams drop deeper when you take him off the pitch all of a sudden the opposition teams they're like we can push a little bit higher now because yes they've got Saka but Saka's not a player it's like okay I'm going to play on the shoulder of the last man he wants to sort of get involved as well a little bit deeper and go and the same with the same with sort of Trossard on the left side Martinelli to to a lesser extent but when Jokeres is playing you watch how difficult it is for teams that they're playing against to move up and down the pitch they get stretched because he is going to play on the shoulder so that's the positive but the negative side is as you quite rightly said is that you he needs chances created for him he's he's coming to an arsenal team that doesn't necessarily suit the way that he plays he's a center forward where you're like okay we want to play on the counter-attack with him because he wants to play on that last shoulder on the shoulder of the last defender he wants to get in behind and that's when he's at his best but when he comes off the pitch and i think it was yesterday maybe i noticed it a bit when he comes off the pitch all of a sudden the opposition are like we can play 10 15 yards high out the pitch now.

32:30And that's when they can sort of keep Arsenal in their little bit of an area, and that's when it gets a little bit nervy. But it's a difficult one. At the moment, Marino would be my centre-forward for Arsenal just because of the way that he plays. He suits the Arsenal style better than Jokeres does at the moment. Before I get a longer-term view on you of Arsenal, just a word on Martin Odegaard, because before the game, Rebecca asked us a couple of things about what to watch out for, and I said, well, Saka's a brilliant player. Wouldn't mind seeing a little bit more. a little bit more from Bakaryo Saka over recent weeks and Martin Odegaard, I said more I want to see more from him, he's the captain I don't want to see a player that just knits it together right, which is what Zubimendi can do Deca and Rice can certainly do it I want to see a difference maker more contributions to goals, more through balls more key passes, more assists, more goals he got a great goal in this game Saka fizzed the ball into him, his touch was great and he scored is that an important part of how Arsenal are going to win the title if their captain, their main midfield player is creating more goal-scoring involvements?

33:30Yeah, I think so, because they don't have a Haaland. They don't have a Haaland which can turn a really dull nil-nil into a one-nil. That's the big difference. So it has to be a collective. So what you need, you need players that are going to give assists. You need players that are going to get the goals. And I think with Odegaard, what he needs, he needs sort of that little bit of space in front of him because we know, I think, at best, him, Saka and Timber, The way that they link up down that right-hand side, it's absolutely brilliant. And we've got to remember as well, I think he's had a bit of inconsistency because he's had injuries himself.

34:05He's missed time, so that can be difficult. But I just feel that there is a little bit of a nervousness. And the interesting thing yesterday was Arsenal won the game, and Brighton can consider themselves a little bit unfortunate, especially when you look at the last third of the game. But the Arsenal players walking off the pitch, it was like... and you want to see that they didn't look happy even though they'd won the game you know and I think it might actually have been Odegaard as he was walking off where it was like he just didn't look happy and you want to see that but also you can take that one of two ways you can take it yep they're not happy because they want a little bit more or just the frustration just starting to set just starting to to settle in a little bit as in terms of yes they're winning these games but they are tied games and and other than you know the great save yesterday one of the best saves of the season for Raya, it could have been a different story completely.

34:55As a quick follow-up, what would be the reason that Arsenal don't do it? We know how you feel about Man City.

35:03So you're still on the mentality thing. Not that they might not score enough goals, not that they're not putting teams away, but you think they're going to get nervy, they're going to get edgy, and the manager's not going to turn the dial in the right manner to do more attacking or to see off games. or you still feel that that lack of know-how to win an English title is going to hold them back? Yeah, I do to a certain extent. So if you look, not so much this year because they have done it a couple of times, but if you look in the previous two seasons, if I've got this right, the previous two seasons, every time they lost a game, they didn't follow it up with a win over the last two years.

35:40This season's been a little bit different. They've had a couple of defeats, then they followed it up with a win. I just think that, and once again, I heard you and Tim talking about it, past experiences. You look at, what was it? Was it a couple of years ago when they were something, they were streets ahead going into like March or April time. But I still didn't think they were ready. I still didn't think that they had enough in that squad to keep it going. Okay, so then what, A, what makes them ready? And B, the gap, but the gap has been cut down hugely already and we're not even into January.

36:13Yeah, I think they've got a lot of tough away games out of the way. I think they've had a tougher schedule. I think the squad is better now. I think once that back four and they shake off those injuries, I think they can get back to being incredibly hard to beat. And I'm trusting in the attacking flair that's been brought in, Danny, that we've seen little bits from Ezra. It's called the Hattrick in the North London derby. Madueke. You know, Kai Havertz isn't far away. Gabriel Jesus is back. You know, Saka's finest form again. The options on the left were Martinelli and maybe Madueke and Trossard.

36:43and Marino I just think there's enough options in all areas of the pitch to get the job done and the two point gap is a two point gap Man City have lost four games and I keep saying this and it's a silly little stat but it's something if you look back in the history of the Premier League it's very rare that you can win a league title with five yet six starts to get pretty rare and there are two losses off of that so I know they're only two points behind but those two points are meaningful I think Arsenal's schedule up to this point has been harder. A lot of tougher way games that are done and negotiated.

37:15They have got to go to City yet, I believe. So that's going to be very difficult. It's a great race, mate. It's a great race. And, you know, they never get a better chance. Just one last thing on it. And it was something that I was having a conversation a couple of weeks ago. And it was like, Arsenal, for me, I've waxed lyrical about them all season. They've been sensational. And the injuries are hurting them. When you look at their strongest starting XI and then the ability and the plays that they've got to come off the bench, it's unbelievable. They've been outstanding this season. We've sort of said that Manchester City haven't been great this year, but they're two points behind an Arsenal team that have been phenomenal.

37:53Do you know what I want to see as well? And this is something that it takes you back years and years ago. Remember Sir Alex Ferguson with Kevin Keegan. Remember Sir Alex Ferguson with Rafa Benitez. When the mind games start from Pep Guardiola, because they're going. I don't know, is he that sort of guy though? Is he that guy to put a few doubts in? I think because you have to remember, these two guys know each other very well. And they've obviously got huge admiration and huge respect for each other, but they also know each other. And I would not be surprised in the slightest if we just see a few little things over the coming weeks, the coming next couple of months, where Guardiola just throws a few things in there.

38:32And it'll be interesting to see how they react. But this Arsenal team is, and this is what I want to say, this Arsenal team is good enough to win the Premier League. They've got a manager that's consistently getting better. But when the pressure's on, that's when I'm interested to see what happens. Because they've got phenomenal players. But we know within the Premier League, when we see it year in, year out, it's the mentality side of it. The top, top players, it's having that mentality to go, we're going to deal with this. If they do it, fair play. Yeah, and also, of course, City have done it.

39:08I mean, they have that. It's done and dusted. They've got huge experience in winning titles. Just a quick line on the game on Tuesday, Rob. Danny, sorry. 3.15 Eastern time on Peacock. Arsenal versus Aston Villa. Without having a big, massive preview, we've talked about both of these clubs. I'm absolutely fascinated in seeing how Villa approach it. What a game. What do you feel about it? Is tactics going to be important? Are Arsenal just going to try and blow them away? Are Aston Villa going to say, alright, come on, show us what you've got and be ready in the second half by the way because we've got tons of options off the bench and we're going to fly at you in the second half because that's what they do away from home.

39:41What are you thinking? I think Arsenal go into this game and they'll be looking to make a statement. I don't think there's any doubt about it. They'll be looking to say, yeah, we are the top team and then all of a sudden because Manchester City don't play until a couple of days afterwards. So if Arsenal get the win, that puts them five points clear. It's a little bit of pressure on Manchester City. Yeah, it is. It's a huge if. from Aston Villa's perspective, from Emery's perspective it'll be like, listen, allow them to do the running what Aston Villa do really, really well because they defend so deep we know that the Premier League is full of pace full of pace they take the pace away of the opposition because they drop deep so they don't leave the space in behind and what they'll look to do Emery will be like, he will play the game in thirds the first third will be let's frustrate Arsenal the second bit will be let's frustrate the fans get the nerves coming.

40:31Then all of a sudden, the nerves start to come onto the pitch. And if they're going into 60, 65 minutes, they'll get more desperate to go forward. And then Villa do what Villa do. Here we go. That's it. So it's going to be, you've got Emery, who I think is one of the best tacticians in the Premier League. And I think Arteta deserves a lot of credit as well because of the way that he can set up things as well. So it's going to be an interesting game. It will not be 0-0 because I think you're going to have a team in Arsenal that will want a start really quickly. If they can get a first goal, can they get a second goal?

41:03You'll have Aston Villa be like, we're okay, we can play on the counter-attack. So it's going to be contrasting styles, but two teams that believe they can win the Premier League, which is brilliant. Brilliant. Let's whip around the other games, Danny. I mean, that was our main conversation about the title race. Manchester United got a victory against Newcastle United. Patrick Dorgue got a great volley on the edge of the box. I've got to be honest, mate, I was a bit surprised. I fancied Newcastle, given the teams, given the line-ups, given the changes, and a back four. a back four couldn't believe it I did this fancy big old I did a fancy I wasn't going to bring it up I did a fancy like this is what I did last time and this different midfield shape and still three at the back and da da da and then also by the way they got shot doing three at the back practice Martinez was on the right of it I was watching I was like oh there they are and they fought everybody and I've got that's note to self like don't believe any kind of warm-ups in the because they know it's getting filmed and the opposition are watching and he shocked everybody with a four at the back.

42:01Just give us some thoughts on the Man United game. I'm very much like you with the plays that were missing, the plays that were injured. I thought it was going to be potentially a Newcastle win. The only thing that maybe gave you a little bit of benefit of the doubt to Manchester United was Newcastle's away phone's been awful. Going back to the back four situation, we know that Amarim's been married to the back three since way back when, other clubs that he's been at. But I just wonder whether he's been thinking about it in the back of his mind to play a back four, but he was waiting for Martinez because by the looks of it, he wants balance.

42:39He needs to have balance. And I think if you play short and A and other on the right-hand side, you've not necessarily got that experience of a player that's played in a centre-back two on a consistent basis. I think with Martinez coming back, I think Cameron was like, okay, well, there's players missing, there's players out, there's players injured, there's players away. You know, this might be the time for us to do it. Do I think he'll stick with that? I don't think he sticks with it. So when Ahmad comes back and Bermot, he gets his right side back. You think he'll go back to his three at the back?

43:09Do you think he's doing this, you know, I need another player to create, so I'm going to go with the back four, take a defender out, and throw a little bit more attacking zest. He likes Dorgou. He loves that left-footed player, Ahmad and Bermot. And Dorgou comes in on that left foot, to come inside and because he got his goal. He loves that inverted winger. And that was another surprise. Like, Dorg is playing right wing of a 4-2-3-1. Amazing. First few minutes, I was like, what's going on here? Is Dorg just here because he's been defending a corner on the other side? No, I think he could go back to a back three earlier than that.

43:46I think De Litt or Maguire, if one of those comes back, then I think you could see him then go back to a back three, potentially. it's it's so i don't i don't think it's i don't think the back four is long term um you know they got the result against newcastle but i think from amarin's side of things be interesting to see what they do in january can they do a little bit of business you know there's been a talk about a few plays going there can they get another central midfielder wingbacks are going to be the key wingbacks are the key in this system and united have started to get a little bit more from them recently but Amarim will be wanting more from them.

44:22Just I've got to remember the thing that he said wasn't it Amarim talked about we're going to change because the way I want to play we're not going to spend that amount of money to get the players that I want and that kind of makes sense to me because I've never been a big like why is he doing this system because I'm thinking well when he gets the players for the system it's going to look good but the ones that brought in haven't really done great and he's not sure he's going to get a ton of money to to bring others in to make that 3-4-3 the best it can be so he's made a change. We'll see whether he sticks with it.

44:51There's a great result. To beat Newcastle United at home is a good result and brings Manchester United up to sixth place. Liverpool. How about Liverpool down at Higginbotham? How about sneaky? Finding a foundation again from Arna Slott, going back to basics and now starting again and open it up again. It's a different style. It's very slow. It's such a different Liverpool. It's methodical. It's a little bit tiki-taka, patient. and they're in fourth place right now, my friend. What are your thoughts on Liverpool and where they might end up this season? It's like what you've said, he's gone back to basics and I think that was one of the main reasons that Mo Salah wasn't playing.

45:35It's nothing to do with the quality, nothing to do with the goals, the assists. He had to stop those goals going in, Danny, didn't he? You had to stop the goals going in. You had to stop the goals and he made a statement. He's the manager, it's in his power to do whatever he wants to do. but now they're a team that they look a little bit more settled the centre-backs don't look as isolated because it was it was just go go go go go and all of a sudden it's like no we we can't do this because we're actually our most vulnerable when we're attacking so obviously they got the result against Wolves they made it a little bit nervy for themselves with Wolves getting a goal back in the in the second half and I can imagine that it was a very very emotional game for for everybody that was involved yeah um but it was it was a huge it was a huge result for them when you look at them at the moment, could they finish top four?

46:20Absolutely. They could finish top four. I think there's a lot of things that we have to keep our eye out for us in terms of when Salah comes back, what happens, how long is Izak going to be out for, do they get players in in January themselves, but it's fascinating. They seem to have turned the corner for now. There's some big games ahead for them just to make sure that they're in that pack that's challenging for the top four. I think we can agree that Hugo TK is a brilliant signing. Yes. He leads the line brilliantly. Assisted a player that I wouldn't mind just getting a quick line before we move on.

46:54Florian Wirtz has struggled a little bit. He struggled in terms of end product and affecting games and being that guy, the playmaker that assists and scores. Got his first goal for the club in this game against Wolves. Have you always been a believer in Florian Wirtz or after watching him for quite a few months did you think he was going to struggle to ever be effective at this level? Or was it a matter of time? I think it's a matter of time because I think when you look at, now don't get me wrong, over the years, there's been some players that have come to the Premier League and they have just settled so quickly.

47:23Yeah. So quickly. Yes, Eketike. But he sort of like came in without, there wasn't huge expectations on him. You know, he was, because there was talk, I think maybe that he potentially was going to be going to Newcastle. I think Newcastle might have been in for him or a couple of other teams. Yeah. But I think what happens is when you come in with, obviously with the reputation that Vietz has got. I think people sometimes forget that whatever league you're coming from, more often than not, it's a big step up. And when you're playing for Liverpool as well, it's a double whammy. You're stepping up in terms of the quality that you're playing against, the fee that you've come in for, the club that you're going to.

48:04So we expect sometimes these players to be like robots when they're human. so at times it can take players time to settle in and we could probably for every vez there's two or three other plays that you can look at and go well remember this guy's first six months or this guy's whatever it may have been you know and things like that happen I remember De Bruyne when he was at Chelsea didn't work out for him went to Germany got going then came to Man City Salah's another prime example didn't work for him at Chelsea so there's a number of players and it can take time but he's he's a quality player and football what football needs more of and it doesn't have enough of is patience.

48:40That goes for players and managers, so it's great to see him doing well now. Absolutely right. So Tottenham Otspur, Danny, 1-0, away from home at Crystal Palace, Sunday's game, and I don't know if I was angry today or, you know, a bit frustrated. You angry? Yeah, a bit feisty. I'm wanting to see more from Tottenham. Okay. And of course they won the game. Like, well done, and Tim Howard's saying, you know, he isn't really that bothered how they're playing. because where they are on the league table right now, he needs wins to keep in his job. And I get that. And that's right. And that overrides probably my other thoughts.

49:17But my thoughts are, come on. I want to see a pattern, a strategy, a rhythm, some continuity. And I get everything about all the players that are out. And I get all the Champions League games. And every few days it's hard. He had a four-weeks training. Am I being too harsh, Danny, in thinking that when I watch Tottenham right now, I don't know they scrapped they got good defenders I don't see any consistency in attacks I don't see any proactive quality possession I don't see a team that's really strong and sprints to counter attack I see a strappy team that's playing a bit individually and they got a set piece goal a little fortunate really that Palace didn't take one of the probably four really good chances they had am I being over critical or is this going to take time are the Spurs players not as good as what we think they are and is it okay to take a whole season to just scrap away and try and climb a league table i think it's going to take time but you you mentioned proactive and that's something that thomas frank is getting used to as well is he gonna be proactive danny is he gonna be a reactive coach he's he's gonna well he's gonna have to be eventually i think if you go back to his time at brentford he was assistant manager under dean smith in the championship he then took over and you know he he got them to the point of where they were proactive in the championship and then they got promoted then in the premier league it's about being reactive yeah for that club and they were not yes yes for that club now you're going from brentford and and you're going to a club like tottenham now the problem that you can have when thomas frank goes in there you have to get the respect from the players near enough straight away and you know that can be difficult at times going into a club as a new manager, especially when you've come from a club like Brentford, and that's meant in no disrespect whatsoever, but it's two completely different expectation levels.

51:08I love Thomas Frank. I feel as though he can get it right, and there's a reason... Why do you love him? He's a lovely bloke, right? He's great interviews. Nicest guy in the world. I bet he's a good manager, right? That's easy. That's very likeable and lovable. What else do you love about him? I like the way that he can set his teams up. I like the fact of when he was at Brentford, he lost Ivan Toni, and he was able to deal with that. He's lost big plays over the years at Brentford, has been able to deal with that. Good recruitment's coming to replace those guys. Yeah, adjust accordingly. Now, good recruitment is absolutely vital at every club, whether it's your sporting director, whatever the title is, they're the key to everything.

51:48But I just think, and it's so easy to see at the moment, when I talk about being reactive and proactive, at home you have to be proactive, away you can be reactive. They've got the joint most points away from home in the Premier League, if my memory serves me correct. And they're right near the bottom as in terms of home form. So what Thomas Frank has to do now, because it's not just the players that he's trying to make more proactive, he's actually got to learn that himself because he's been more of a reactive manager over the years because of the size of the club that he's been at. 80 % of the games in the Premier League that Brentford played, in fact, I'd say 90%, they were the underdogs.

52:25Now Tottenham are playing seven. Exactly, it's different. So there's now an adjustment period for him. Yes, they've got injuries. You know, you look at Solanke, he's not kicked a ball in anger for him this season. Madison, Kulishevsky, three big players for them. So I think that's going to take time. The one thing that's gone against him massively is that if his home form was his away form and his away form was his home form, we wouldn't be having as serious a conversation because we know the home form, what if you've got 65 ,000, it's huge. It is huge. So I just feel as though you have to give him the time to do things.

53:01So you're glass half full, Danny, isn't you? I'll be honest, I'm glass half empty, and that's just me right now. You're different. And you know what I would say, Musti, is that because I know him personally, you know what it's like, sometimes that can sort of sway you as well. So that could have a part to play in it. Maybe if I didn't know him or anything like that, I may be saying the same thing as you, but I know him, I've got a lot of respect for him and I know the way that he sees the game and I believe that he can turn it around. But it's going to take time, it's going to take a little bit of money for him to be able to go out and spend and then move forward from there.

53:41But the expectation levels, when you go to a club like Tottenham, we've said it for years, it doesn't matter where they finish in the league the year before expectation levels are always going to be there yeah sunland one leeds united one um last couple of games now we're going to just talk about and yeah i'm going to chuck in my underappreciated because me and robbie are we doing underappreciated performer every weekend and we didn't expect you to do it didn't expect you to do that i i've just you know had a little thought and i was watching this game and dominic calvert lewin is my guy for this one this weekend dominic calvert lewin and i'll hold my hands up right which i i'm always very happy to do And I'll be honest with you, if I was the director of Leeds United and somebody said to me, how about Dominic Cavalloon?

54:18Given his injury record over the last couple of seasons, I would have been like, oh, he's free. Oh, OK. Well, maybe if he's free, we've got to do it appearance-based money, you know, because he hasn't played much. So I underappreciated him. Maybe Everton did. What do Everton need right now? They need a regular goal scorer. Dominic Cavalloon is fit. He's playing every week. It looks like he's enjoying his football. There's not talk about him resting his hamstring or his injuries. He looks in great fettle and he's scoring, I think he's seven and six, isn't it? I mean, he's having a brilliant season right now.

54:50Underappreciated is Dominic Carver-Lewin. How do you feel about him, Danny? And do you sort of understand where I was coming from? I mean, I said to one of my good friends, a Leeds United fan, and I said, oh, I think it's going to be a difficult season. It's all promoted teams. Dominic Carver-Lewin, if, and it was a huge if back in preseason, if he can stay fit. I mean, he is a Premier League goal scorer. If he stays fit, and if the team provides him a little bit, then that might be your magic ticket to stay in the division. Right now, those Leeds United fans are like, well, this is kind of working out.

55:22With his regular goals, that makes real difference. That's real points when you score that amount. Is it all about Dominic Cavill for you with Leeds United staying in the division, Danny? Yeah, it is. I think it's huge. And I'll go back to you and Tim again earlier on today. You were speaking, talking about the system change for Leeds United. They've got the wing-backs. wing backs are getting higher up the pitch. Dominic Calvert-Lewin doesn't want the ball to his feet. He wants the ball into the box. And if you look at what they're doing now, the wing backs have now got the license to get higher up the pitch.

55:51Because it's the same, bizarrely enough, it's the same two wing backs who were playing full backs last year in the championship. And when they were playing full backs in the championship, have I got this right? I think Bogle definitely was. Goodminton's new. I think Goodminton. Gabriel Goodminton, I think he's new for the season. Right, sorry. so whoever was playing left back last year for Leeds United they were playing like wing backs because they were so dominant and I think Fark has looked at it and gone my full backs I want to get them forward but because we're under pressure quite a lot I don't have that extra insurance for them both to be able to get forward so what they've done now they've got the extra man at the back they've got the extra man in midfield those two are flying forward now all of a sudden you get the balls into the box there's no question marks over Dominic Calvert-Lewin The question marks over Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn't been his ability to pull the ball into the back of the net.

56:42It goes to your point. It's his ability to remain on the pitch. And if he stays fit, then Leeds United will stay up. This team has now been built around him. This is the Dominic Calvert-Lewin team now. You're giving the opportunity to put the ball into the back of the net. And, you know, it's brilliant. Leeds United in the Premier League is unbelievable. You know what they're like. What a wonderful football club. It's a brilliant club. Huge. Such a big bonus for them to be in the Premier League, along with Sunderland as well. So your answer to this question, oh, Leeds United stay in the Premier League, if, let me chuck in, if you're saying yes, yeah, particularly if Cavaloon stays fit for the next, if he plays 15 times and gets maybe eight goals, maybe more, that should be enough.

57:24Because defensively, they're not awful. They're not awful. No, they're not. And there's another question mark as well. He'll want to go to the World Cup. Yeah, I know. If he keeps scoring, by the way. I know. the number two striker. England don't have a centre forward like him. He's different to all the centre forwards. Yeah, and the next guy in line is up for grabs. Absolutely right. Last one I want to get your thoughts on, just the last couple of games. Burnley 0, Everton 0. There was one I missed earlier. Brentford 4, Bournemouth 1. Good win. Good hack trick for Kevin Shard. But West Ham United 0, Fulham 1.

57:53I'm like, West Ham have got to start winning. This is a winnable game. I mean, they've got some good players at West Ham United. Lucas Bagotar, Gerard Bowen, Crescentio Somerville, you know, Suchek, there's some experienced players there. Is this really going to happen, Danny? West Ham United, are they going to get relegated? The moment it looks that way, I go back and I don't know whether you did any of the Mondays with me, but there was a few Mondays earlier on in the season when Nuno took over and we got the start in 11. And you know you put the formation up and everything. It was the complete opposite.

58:28He was playing left-backs at right-backs, right-backs at left-back, left back to the centre-back. He was doing all these different things and I'm thinking to himself, so the problem that West Ham have now is that Nuno, when Nuno went to Forest, he had a team that was sort of ready-made for it. They loved to defend. They had two really good defensive midfielders that would sit and they had pace going forward. I look at this West Ham team and I'm not convinced how comfortable the back four, the two centre-backs in particular, are defending. And then going forward, they don't have the pace and you're now playing at a stadium Somerville if you can keep him fit you have Somerville and Bowen but I think they need a little bit more than that and that's my concern and then also you go back to what we said previously which is Nottingham Forest and Leeds United the home form will keep them up I think if you're a West Ham United player at the moment because things aren't going well you're probably better playing away from home than you are at home at the moment because there's sort of this nervousness, there's this unease there's this unhappiness about it.

59:29So straight away, when you start the game, you feel as though you're sort of on the back foot. So January's going to be massive for the teams down at the bottom. And if West Ham can get themselves, I don't know, a centre forward or whatever it may be, maybe they could bridge the gap. But it's looking... If you push me now and said, OK, if West Ham don't... Here's my question to you then. If West Ham don't go down, who will go down? Well, once I make a prediction, my prediction was Leeds United. We've just made a strong case there with the Calvert-Lewin. Obviously, I didn't see this happening. I thought he might struggle to get fit, etc., etc.

1:00:13He has been outstanding, and that really gives him a chance. And that puts West Ham United deep in trouble. I still wouldn't change that right now, Danny. We've still got 20 games to go. West Ham United can find a bit of rhythm. but Leeds have got momentum right now. It's going to be fascinating. They've got points as well. Yeah, I know, I know. I mean, just finally, right, we've been down there. I actually got relegated at Leeds United at Elham Road one season, and it was the worst day of my career. I got relegated twice. Awful. Yeah, but it was a Leeds... I remember it right now, sat on the field afterwards, as teammates in tears, we're getting relegated out of the Premier League.

1:00:46I mean, it ain't enough fun to watch. When you're not involved in it, this battle at the bottom with West Ham, Leeds United, and maybe Forest, It's fascinating to see how it's going to pan out the second half of the season going into the end. So apart from the top stuff and the European stuff, this is going to be some fight. Because I did think Leeds, Burnley, I mean Wolves have been a disaster. They've got no chance. So it's going to be a fascinating watch. Danny Higginbotham, thank you so much for jumping on the pod and giving Earl a couple of days off. My pleasure, mate. It's really great, fascinating.

1:01:20It's really interesting talking to you and getting your opinion on everything. so thanks very much for everybody else the next episode is on New Year's Day January the 1st where we recap midweek rounds of matches as Festive Fixtures continues on NBC USA Network and Peacock thanks everybody for spending some time with us and until next time take care and we'll see you soon

1:01:53Thank you.