EFL EXTRA: West Ham are back as Swansea shine

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1:07hello and welcome to the game football podcast from the times and sunday times this is our efl extra show every week with me tom clark and the former football league legend gregor robertson looking at the highs and the lows of the championship league one and league two gregor we're back we're back and i've got to say listeners our new categories for goal you should check out this week there's too many to choose from in there Gregor you might have to watch the

1:31Gregor Robertson: whole highlights package to get through them all absolutely some screamers particularly in league two I think absolute world is in league two one of the best solo goals I think you'll see all season so we'll leave that till the second half of the show yeah stay tuned for that one just before we get stuck into the championship Gregor a few points of order lovely to hear from listeners always we had some comments under the last show now it's important to remind everyone we didn't actually have any specific mentions of this but I have promised to donate to charity a set amount at the end of the season I'm going to put a pound in the jar every time people start complaining about VAR or saying they wish VAR was in the championship we do not want it don't come anywhere near us so on behalf of Carol who commented below the last show saying no mention of Lancashire being offside for the first think she might have been a West Brom fan Carol there's another pound there's another pound into the kitty and Steve said the Huddersfield penalty wasn't even in the box What the hell?

2:27I was like, yeah, steep. All right. All valid. Both valid points. Two more pound in the jar. I think we're up to about six or seven quid. And there's more to come later in this episode. I should just say as well, Mark got in touch to say, lads, no mention of Abdul Malik's record transfer from Boreham Wood to Dujardin. Dujgarden. Dujgarden. Dujgarden. She plays tennis, doesn't she? For 1.5 million. Well, Mark, as much as you love the show, that would have to be a National League extra. non-league extra we have talked about it before haven't we gregor we're not sure we've got the time very briefly and then thought no we do not have the time for that's an interesting move though very interesting very very interesting move we'll keep an eye on that one thanks to everyone who gets in touch and emails us we do love hearing from you let's get stuck into the show there's loads and loads to discuss we will be mentioning the midweek games that happened after last week's show we'll be focusing on the weekend's action as well just to give you the lay of the land we've had five games now so i think it's important for the casual listeners who do get in touch for their efl fix coming from us swansea currently top of the championship table on 11 points just ahead of middlesbrough qpr bristol city west brom and charlton all on 10 gregor you don't have to start with any of those clubs if you don't want like to leave the floor open for you to tell us where

3:45Gregor Robertson: we're going to start on the championship run through uh i think we should start with west prom a kind of bit more of a gritty victory in this one um against Watford 1-0 win but I just think there's signs that this is going to be a really exciting season for them being a really fascinating summer as well they kind of totally turned the page with the recruitment model signed nine players I think seven were 23 or under shipped off almost anyone who was over 30 and you know a few big earners as well like Carlin Grant and Mowat and like you know early signs Jimmy J Morgan looks, you know, again scoring a winner here looks like an absolute steal he's got a bit of experience in the AFL from loans at Peterborough and Gilliam came from Chelsea of course and I also, like Isaac Price just keeps elevating his standing I think as one of the best players in the Championship really, like he's going to be in the Premier League soon and West Brom fans will very much hope that it's with them that might be a stretch this season but like just, you know if they can be in the mix for the playoffs I think that That would be after where they were last season and existential threats they've faced in the last couple of years.

4:56Gregor Robertson: That would be a massive step forward. But yeah, Price, the goal itself kind of summed them up. Isaac Price carrying the ball forward, playing in Harry Whitwell, who looks like a bit of a star as well. A little way back to Jimmy J Morgan. It was a bit of a scruffy finish, but those three are their attacking triumvirate. Whitwell as well, he's only 20 came through the academy definitely not expected to play as prominent a role this season as he has, he spent last season alone at Forest Green Rovers in the National League but he's got lovely poise, lovely balance about him looks uber confident there was a little no look pass for Hegabough in the second half too, which he should have scored from beautiful piece of play so yeah, I think James Morrison's done a a really good job and I think the club as a whole deserves some praise for the way they've turned the page in the last well since the summer really been a big turnover and after staying up by the skin of their teeth last season James Morrison is the man they've put their trust in and so far so good Yeah did you see Jimmy J Morgan getting booked for that jump near the goalkeeper I mean that was embarrassing refereeing wasn't it for goodness sake I mean he just just barely touched him I mean some of the kind of protection that goalkeepers get I don't want to be that guy, but I'm going to be that guy just for now.

6:18Just in terms of their hopes for the season, though, we did mention them very briefly in the preview show. Those extra playoff places do mean that teams maybe like West Brom, that, you know, you don't know if they'll have the legs, lots of young players, don't know how they'll react, if they hit a sticky patch, they've had a great start, etc., etc. But those extra playoff places do mean that if you're a team like West Brom with a young manager like James Morrison, you can say to a young group of players, look, it doesn't matter if we were in relegation fight last season. It doesn't matter. This league is wide open.

6:48You guys are good enough. And once you sneak yourselves into those extra two playoff places, it might be higher. I thought they'd do quite well this season. But that does add to the fascination, doesn't it? Even though some people, yourself included, were like, listen, the championship playoffs are exciting enough as it is. We don't need these extra places. It does maybe mean for a team like West Brom, they've got that enticing prospects, haven't they?

7:09Gregor Robertson: Yeah, absolutely. and I think the trading they did in the summer means that all the players look hungry and determined to take this opportunity as well. There's a change in the profile of the squad, really. And you're right, my only problem with the playoff shake-up is actually there are a lot of people, even as you watch every single year, wildly entertaining denouement to the season through the playoffs who still say that it's not fair and the reason for that is that a club can finish 20-25 points ahead of the team who finishes sixth and not be promoted or be beaten in the final, whatever we saw Hull City last season finishing way off some of the rivals and that just widens that gap even more, so I think that argument starts to have some validity and merit I think when you drop it down to eighth, but there's no doubt that when you get to the end of the season and we're saying, Craig, you know, you can look down to 14th in the table, still got a chance.

8:14Gregor Robertson: We could be looking down to, you know, teams just above the relegation zone. They've still got a chance. So it's going to be exciting, no doubt. Yeah, just mentioning those playoff places, I mentioned the teams down to six with Charlton on 10 points. Millwall just behind them on nine. What a mad season they're having. Maybe we'll come on to them in a second. West Ham sneaking in there on eighth. I'm going to nominate them as the next team to maybe bring in because this time last week we were talking about a draw for them at Watford, suggestions about Nuno Espirito Santo and a group of players that maybe weren't prepared while they bounced back and bounced back in style.

8:47Four-two winners against Wolves in the week and then a win at the weekend. Much needed, wasn't it, for West Ham in these two games to get back on track because a lot of expectation around them this season. When you look at the first goal in this game against Derby, you've got Bowens crossed Tati Castellanos at the back post Pirro heading in you're like yep that's what it's supposed to be that's what West Ham are supposed to be it looked pretty comfortable in this game I did want to briefly mention as well the brilliant strike by Mukasa in the week and do you see that one up against Wolves what I mean what a strike that is we're not actually doing the categories of goals you should watch in the championship maybe we should start because there's plenty of them go back and watch that if you haven't and just a quick word as well to young Jude who I mentioned a couple of weeks ago he went to that game he saw West Ham lose I told him to stick at it and I'm delighted to say that he was back watching this win against Derby and keeping his dad calm near the end so well done Jude for sticking at it a good loyal supporter there but much needed for West Ham isn't it Gregor to get those two wins and it just shows you how quick things can change in the Football League two wins and they're in the playoffs

9:51Gregor Robertson: Yeah and you look at the quality of some of the forward players Bowen, Pirro, Solomon even Evan Aspa who's coming just on the deadline looks like he's a lively kind of presence on the left wing even like players who really didn't do much in the Premier League will suddenly start to emerge you've seen it with Fero Lopez at Wills and Mohamedou Kante's strike in this goal, he's not someone who did much for West Ham in the past, great finish yeah it was totally dominant in this one against Derby it's a pretty sorry kind of worryingly poor looking Derby actually they I think 3.79 xg I was just thinking I when would the last time West Ham registered that kind of xg in front of goal I can't think of it so totally dominant and yeah like transfer windows shut I was banging on about that for a few weeks now they know what they've got and they know what they need to be yeah who should we pick out next then I've nominated West Ham where do you want to go next?

10:51Gregor Robertson: I think Stoke's been a big, big week for Stoke. Mark Robbins was under a lot of pressure. Lost the first three games. Shipped four goals at Molyneux against Wolves last weekend. And they've hit back with two home wins in five days. And being at home as well is important in that, I think. Beating Norwich 1-0 in midweek. Ethan Gbraith got the winner in that one. And then, you just see in this game, 4-0-1 against Charlton. you see a couple of the new signings starting to make a bit of an impact. Deveni, who they got from Crystal Palace, he's played like almost 50 Premier League games, I think. And he's always looked like a tidy footballer, if not maybe a definitive Premier League footballer.

11:36Gregor Robertson: But he scored a penalty and then a lovely little flick as well for his second. Shot by Boca, I think it was, and he's kind of just totally instinctive. It was going wide and he just flicked it in like a little Cruyff touch that went inside the near post. and then George Hurst as well who obviously came from Ipswich scoring a header you wouldn't have seen this coming Charlton obviously won their first three games Stoke lost their first three games and then the form has just completely flipped on its head obviously they lost Sorba Thomas to Hull on deadline day which was a big blow and I think he contributed about 20 goals in assists last season and there's been a change to a back three as well that's kind of helped catalyze the turnaround but very you know huge for Mark Robbins because the pressure was really mounting and a few more bad results and it wouldn't have been a surprise to see him go yeah great hit from Ethan Galbraith in this one as well we should mention Dan McNamara having an absolute stinker for Charlton he was subbed on halfway through the first half I think Stoke were about 3-0 up after about 25 minutes they were 4-0 up at half time McNamara came on after 25 minutes it's a bit of a tactical change from Nathan Jones try and mix things up turn the you know by 50 minutes he'd been sent off for a second yellow card I think it's not actually been confirmed anywhere I couldn't see it but I thought looking at it it looked like he was booked for asking for a Stoke player to be booked that was my interpretation having watched it a couple of times and watched the replays so I mean good to see I don't know whether it's been a rule that's been universally applied certainly in the games that I've been to but a bit of a nightmare afternoon for him and good to see that rule being enforced because it's one that really does my head in.

13:16Where should we go next? There's so many games to cover, so many big turnarounds as well, like Stoke. So many, once you get these two games, things can just flip on its head. Where should we go next?

13:25Gregor Robertson: Let's go to your lot, Tom. Lincoln, Southampton. Come on, talk to me. Well, I've actually seen my lot twice. I've taken my marriage into my own hands and I went up on Tuesday night last week to watch us draw 0-0 with Blackburn and then I was there on Saturday. We drew 1-0 with Southampton. Southampton are a classy side and I did get the sense that maybe Maybe they were a little bit in second, third, not at full tilt. They came out in the second half and were good for maybe 10, 15 minutes. But look, it's really promising for a Lincoln fan and for the club as well. Unbeaten in the last three, five points picked up.

13:59And I think these games are the measure because I went there on Saturday, having done this podcast, watched the highlights of Southampton thrashing Millwall, thinking, OK, just go, enjoy yourself. You're going to get to see a good team. Leo Sienza, lots of good players. Talked up Kyle Lahren on the game pod. Just enjoy it. Just try and enjoy yourself. And about half time, we were 1-0 down to a brilliant, brilliant strike by Southampton left-back Wellington. If you've not seen it, my goodness me, one of the purest hits you've ever seen. Absolutely stunning. But I was thinking, hang on, we're in this game.

14:32So it was really, really wonderful to get a late equaliser as we did. our new striker Ladderfeld signed for a couple of million quid which things I'd never thought I'd say as a Lincoln City fan cross to the back post he's six foot eight heads it he's almost too big to head it he heads it into the ground and goes in great atmosphere you know these these things for a Lincoln City fan I said to my dad you'd never imagine this and he's like this is it's too unfathomable really but as a fan analytically the idea that we're in these games and we're being competitive with our style of football that is much discussed and much mocked at times.

15:09But if you look at the stats and watching this game back, we could have won this game. Southampton had a brilliant goal from Wellington. Leo Sienzo was very unlucky not to score a similar worldie. Hit both posts and then bounced into the goalkeeper's arms. Yeah, amazing. Hit both posts and went straight into George Wickens' hand. Very, very lucky. But Lincoln's XG was higher. We had some good clear opportunities. Ogbeni who we signed on loan from Ipswich for half a season could be really good signing he could and should have scored but it was maybe his first touch so it's hugely promising because I fully expected us to be the time the team that gets promoted and that we try and take points off teams like Blackburn but that actually we'd get beat 6-0 by Southampton and Middlesbrough and Wolves and teams like that and maybe we will as the season progresses but yeah really promising in this one Southampton were interesting I think if I was a Southampton fan who'd gone to that game I'd be a bit disappointed because, as I say, it just felt like if they'd upped their level a bit, upped their pace of their passing, a few times Azaz got on the ball and turned and you were suddenly like, oh wow, they're good.

16:11But they didn't do that enough. James Ward-Prowse in midfield was good, but he didn't really dictate the game. A bit ponderous at times. Kyle Lahren, we've fully jinxed him. Barely got a touch, Gregor. We've barely got a touch. I'm delighted after saying he was the best striker in the championship. So I think there's more to come from Southampton. I'm not sure they've finally settled into their groove

16:30Gregor Robertson: and then what you know after having a look at Blackburn as you said I mean they're a very positive start they lost in the Lancashire Derby as well at Callum Lang double at the weekend what do you think are they is it going to be the season of struggle that most of us kind of predicted I think it might be because again myself and quite a lot of Lincoln fans came away we drew nil-nil they had a man sent off with about half an hour to go for a second yellow card I think most Lincoln fans came away from that game going we should have won that game why didn't we win that game and I was speaking to a few Blackburn fans on the way home and they were going yeah god we're not very good actually and I was like you scored some great goals and they're like yeah but that's maybe about it it's that thing of where I wonder whether and there's so much love for Tony Mowbray in the game not just because of everything he's gone through but because of everything he does and the way he plays and things you've lauded before taking young players on loan but I just don't know whether he's got the quality of player to play how he wants to play.

17:29Actually, on reflection, we shut them out quite easily. And it was one of those where that passing style, that possession-based style becomes a bit ponderous. It's a bit left to right, Sam Morsi in midfield. He's great to have on the ball, but I don't think I saw him run once. Todd Cantwell occasionally does great things, but I think I'd be a little bit worried about Blackburn. And as you say, followed it up with a defeat against Preston, who have had a pretty disastrous start themselves. so we'll see it could come good it could change but yeah i think if i was a blackburn fan indeed some of them said it to me themselves i think i'd be a little bit worried despite the great goals and despite us praising them at the start of the season so yeah there you go i think i managed to be analytical there didn't i rather than you know i need i'll bring my scarf next time i'll go full full lincoln fan a full lincoln fan and just for any any regular listeners who are wondering where my dad's gone with his voice notes he told me they only happen if we win so you know one all draw against Southampton.

18:26Not good enough.

18:27Gregor Robertson: Not too often then. No, no, it won't happen too often. Might not happen again until Christmas at this stage. Managed to cover about three teams there and a couple of things mentioned. So where should we... I wonder if we should mention Middlesbrough. Yes, I think we should. A win at QPR. They drew with Burnley in the week. Will Lancashire again. Ole, ole, ole. Listeners, you'll be delighted to hear he didn't score from five or six yards this week. It was about two yards. Maybe even a yard and a half. I would have said three, two or three, yeah. Unbelievable. The guy is remarkable. It's unbelievable.

19:02What am I? He's writing the definition of a fox in the box.

19:05Gregor Robertson: Yeah, extraordinary. Like, you know, you can see that this is luck. It's not luck. I mean, Callum Britton, I think it was, was kind of making the moving side on the right and just came into the box and there's a cross come shot and he's there. He's the man at the back post, as you say, on hand to tap it in from two or three yards and yeah a friend of mine actually else he's he's a Spurs supporter keeps messaging me every time that they score a goal he scored another one and this is clearly for context while Spurs have yet to score a single goal this season so yeah like it's seven I think it's seven in all comps for the season it's been an extraordinary start from it and exactly what Middlesbrough needed Middlesbrough haven't hit the heights that they they hit last season last season yet and but what they have is the guy who's finishing the chances that they created last season and couldn't finish.

19:58Gregor Robertson: Conway went through in the second half as well 1v1 great opportunity to finish the game and I hit it wide and QPR had some chances Harvey Vale in particular had a shot that hit the junction of the post and crossbar it was one of them that came back at this funny angle and you're like wow that doesn't happen often so yeah they almost had their pockets picked but Will Langshire was the hero again. Yeah, QPR though still third and the listener, I think it's Paul who's been in touch with me a couple of times. Firstly to say thanks for mentioning my team and then to say stop mentioning my team. I think you'll be pleased.

20:34I think you'll be pleased. Just calm it all down but they're still third. They're still on 10 points in third. They got a win in the week. I think they beat Cardiff 2-1 so still a great start to the season for QPR. Gregor, I want to bring in Wolves and Birmingham next. A 2-2 draw, a really, really entertaining game. this one I've got a few bits to get off my chest but do you want to do a bit of game analysis first okay

20:55Gregor Robertson: I mean it was a great game you've got four goals four goals in what 36 minutes something like that Jay Stansfield's chest and volley absolute rocket lovely ball art into him by Patrick Roberts as well Ferro Lopez scoring again getting getting wolves off the mark and then one of the most calamitous attempted back passes that you will ever see at any level of football Chachua just, I don't know, I don't know what he was thinking even if the goalkeeper's on the line that is an absolute hospital pass and the goalkeeper was not on the line he was coming off his line Just me or Does he think he's 40 yards higher up the pitch?

21:35Gregor Robertson: That's the only explanation But do you think Jose Sarr is so baffled by it that actually if you look at it behind the goal, there's several replays and the one behind the goal suggests that if he'd just like thrown a leg at it or thrown his body at it, he might have at least you just don't think you can't even react I think it was loopy as well it was like it was at a height where you're not going to yeah I don't think he was going to get it it was bizarre totally bizarre so but then after that you know there was still both teams hit the woodwork Adam Armstrong missed an absolute sitter at the end and then you know for some reason after that brilliant game and a goal that Stansfield scored that no one really saw anything wrong with Cesar Pichotto started talking about getting VAR in the championship which is a bit of an unwanted trend, shall we say, at the start of the season.

22:22Gregor Robertson: No one wants it, and particularly for something like this, which was, if it did hit Jay Stamfield's arm, it's the kind of thing where for the whole of time, the whole existence of football as a sport, sometimes players chest the ball with an arm slightly at the side and it might graze it, and that's the way it's always happened. It's not anything to talk about VAR about. it's really upsetting it's really really wound me up and it really feels like there's this kind of it's almost like there's this kind of I don't want to sound paranoid even though I am definitely going to sound paranoid here but it's there's like this kind of undercurrent building isn't there and it's really starting to wind me up because bluntly Cesar Pesotto might not be here in a couple of years but I'll be watching Lincoln maybe in the championship and having to put up with VAR and so will all the other bloody fans who don't want it we don't want it jog on leave it for goodness sake I mean, focus on teaching your defenders how to pass the ball backwards without scoring a goal.

23:20It was a brilliant goal. And as you say, watching it, barely any players appealed for handball. I think one. I think one Wolves player sticks an arm up to say handball. But yeah, the comments after the game, he said, I don't blame the referees because they don't always see. But VAR is very important to be more fair in the game. We don't have VAR in the championship, but I think it's very important to help referees make the best decisions. I saw a handball and on the screen I saw a handball, but the referee didn't whistle and that's it. I mean, you've had such a great start to the season. You're a new manager.

23:50Lots of idiots like me casting aspersions that you might not be ready for the championship. Your team have been brilliant, blown everyone away, scored loads of goals and now, bluntly, Cesar Pesota, you're doing my head in. Doing my head in. Okay. There you go. It's off my chest. It's off my chest. I feel a bit better now. I think you've taken the mantle

24:09Gregor Robertson: of Antivar from me now. There you go. Enjoy. kind of enjoy more kind of a voice for the game i'm just selfishly thinking of myself sat there gonna miss my train because it's 10 minutes of overtime just a quick word on birmingham a good draw for them in this game the drew with southampton in the week as well kind of lurking aren't they didn't quite have the season they have hoped for and expected currently in 10th not not lost unbeaten but four draws and one win chris davis obviously unsurprisingly doesn't want var because the goal was in his favor but what do we make of birmingham a team that you've covered a fair bit in the past couple of years because they do have aspirations to be right near the top of this table, don't they?

24:48Gregor Robertson: They do and Chris Davies is someone who the pressure, it won't take much for the pressure to build on him as well because of as you say, their lofty expectations I'm just not sure that they're they didn't really make the kind of the big imprint in the transfer market that has become so familiar, this feels like a bit of the momentum has been lost from the project and and look that's partly that's like possibly understandable to some extent given that Tom Wagner you know suffered a stroke which was really awful and actually he made his first visit to St Andrews since then in this game and looked really touched by the reception he got and you know I've mentioned a few times before that I've interviewed him and he's like he is a force of nature he was the the bullish voice behind Nighthead's takeover and saying that they want to be playing, they can't wait to be playing Aston Villa in Europe, things like that.

25:46Gregor Robertson: He's got no qualms about stating the aims of the owners. So there's been a bit of an easy undercurrent, I think. But this was a good performance and Chris Davies definitely needs more of them. I'm just going to run through a few like I did on the regular show and you feel free to jump on any of the points made in this one. Millwall 4, Bolton 0. Millwall, it's always fun. It's always eventful. They seem to be scoring and conceding for fun at both ends at the moment. They lost 3-0 at home to Wrexham in the week, having lost heavily to Southampton before that. Bolton had lost 3-2 to Sheffield United in the week.

26:25It's been a bad week for them, three defeats on the spin. Some absolutely stinking defending in this one. So bad even your mate Lyndon Dykes scored too, Gregor. Maybe less said about that the better. Burnley losing again. Bristol City. fantastic from them 3-1 winners at Preston in the week 2-1 winners at Burnley Rob Dickey header and then lovely finish by Hirakawa in the final minute to get Michael Skubala a third victory news coming out today though Gregor that Jamie Vardy we wondered where he'd go I've got to say I'm not sure why he's ended up at Burnley I don't get it it doesn't work on any level in my opinion he might score goals but signing Jamie Vardy I don't think fixes the problems at Burnley

27:08Gregor Robertson: No I would agree That would be a hard agree He's 40 very soon I don't know It's hard to know whether he's still going to Have enough in his legs to Compete at Championship level but even if he does I think just The sort of message it throws out Is a bit underwhelming For Burnley are a team And a club that have tended to navigate Certainly this aspect of their yo-yoing Very well but that doesn't seem to be in the case this summer. Already Nicky Haynes under some serious pressure. There seems to be a lot of possession football for possession football's sake. And then in other games where they're creating opportunities that have been really wasteful in front of goals.

27:54Gregor Robertson: So maybe Jamie Vardy is going to help that to some extent, but it feels a little bit desperate. Yeah, I'd say more than a little bit desperate. Listen, we could be proved wrong in the coming weeks, but I think they need more than Jamie Vardy as a free agent. Just a couple more games to mention. Portsmouth beating Cardiff 2-0, a game that was dominated after the match by the news that Christian Bielik, the midfielder, had had a clash with a young teenage fan. Obviously, now police have been involved in that. We're not going to comment any more on those unsavoury scenes. We'll wait to see what the outcome of that situation was.

28:31Sheffield United 1, Norwich 3. Gregor some lovely goals in this one I'm not sure on the Norwich away kit I'm enjoying these pinky purple lilac shades that are going around and there's some more to come in that second half of the show might go a bit far this one really interested in Mo Tore though I don't know if you've been tracking him I didn't realise he got 9 goals or is it 11 goals in 9 or 9 goals in 11 having signed in January last season he's got 3 and 5 now 22 nicely taken goal in this one looks a proper player

29:01Gregor Robertson: he does and it was a beautiful flick by Anis Ben-Slamani as well it was like he was in the number 10 and the pass came into his feet and he kind of again like a flicky Cruyff that just released him and he was off and yeah, clinical finish yeah, it was difficult times for Sheffield United Norwich have been up and down but they've definitely got firepower Chris Gordon getting the third and Anthony Wasaba who I think had been at Sheffield Wednesday in the past curling in a beauty as well at the start So Norwich have had a pretty kind of rocky start to the season, but you can see they've got the firepower and the creativity, and I expect them to start climbing the table quite quickly.

29:47Yeah, big fans of Norwich on this podcast when it comes to the idea of them making charges. They don't want to leave a charge too late as they did last season. Greg, I think we've managed to run through all the teams and all the games and actually not mention the team who are top of the table, Swansea City. I think that's the only game we've got left. 0-0 draw with Wrexham at the weekend. But a brilliant start to the season for them. Vito Matos, the manager, I remember being on this podcast going, this is a big job for a young manager, a bit of a newcomer. But here he is with Swansea top of the table and scoring some lovely goals as they did in midweek.

30:19One of those goals where you realise the Football League breaks through, everyone sharing a brilliant passing move out from the back. that's when pressing doesn't work in their game in midweek but what a start and I don't think anyone would have expected them to be near the top of the table but maybe you and a few others

30:34Gregor Robertson: thought they might challenge for the playoffs yeah yeah definitely I mean they've they've kind of quietly developed into one of the most interesting clubs in the league and you know from from where they were a couple of seasons ago that's that's no mean feat and it's not just because they've got Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric as investors it's it's because Because they have started to recruit really interestingly. As we mentioned in the past, they're the one team in the championship with the Jamestown Analytics Partnership, which tends to lead to success. That's the Tony Bloom Analytics Company.

31:08Gregor Robertson: Tony Bloom linked. Yeah, I think some of the football has been brilliant, but ultimately this run to the start of the season has been based on extremely solid foundations. They've conceded one goal in five games, and that was on the opening day against Stoke. they've got the best defensive record in the EFL Vigoro you're right he's kind of you've seen all these I think they showed that goal I think it was Eom who finished it off against Watford with a caption liquid football and Vigoro was involved with that you know start playing kind of via the needle passes from his own penalty box to catalyse a move that ended in a beautiful goal but he made some big saves in this game actually against Wrexham and he's been a really big player for them.

31:51Gregor Robertson: So, yeah, I just think that they've got some really interesting, particularly forward players like Yale, who came in in the summer. I think that was from RB Leipzig. Eom, who scored that goal against Watford, kind of impressed in patches last season, but he started the season really, really well. Keeping Vipotnik was obviously huge, but they've also got Adam Ida, who, I think he costs about 8 million. and he's a good player for the level and that's solid base. And Vitor Matos, I think when he came in, I think it was November. I think since then he's got the fourth best record in the league out of all the teams in the championship.

32:35Gregor Robertson: So it's been an impressive start to life as a manager for someone who had so little experience and particularly coming into the championship at a club that's been through some turmoil as well. so brilliant start for Swansea and kind of excitement for for several reasons going on behind the scenes yeah absolutely that completes a jam-packed first half of the show honestly Gregor how did we ever do this once every fortnight eh honestly I feel like we're cutting it short as well so much to discuss in the Football League and plenty more to come after the break as we dish out our weekly awards in League 1 and League 2 stick with us we'll be back in a second

33:42We'll see you next time. and book host-read sponsorships or run your own ads all from one platform. Transparent pricing, real-time data, complete control. Start advertising on podcasts by visiting acast.com slash advertise.

34:08Welcome back to The Game, a football podcast from The Times and Sunday Times. This is our EFL extra show every week with me, Tom Clark and the Football League legend Gregor Robertson looking at the best and worst of the championship, League One and League Two. We build it up at the start, Gregor, some great goals to mention in part two when we look at League One and League Two. But let's pick out our wins of the weekend in League One first. I'm going to start with you. You've got two contenders to mention and I don't think you can decide between them.

34:39Gregor Robertson: No, I mean, there's one that's very obvious so we'll maybe come on to that after we mention Stevenage's 5-1 win at Barnsley I think, considering the start they hadn't won a game this season they had three draws and a defeat they went behind in this game as well 1-0 down and then they scored five goals from ten shots four goals in the second half from six shots actually, the equaliser by Oliver Sanderson could well have been the moment of the week as well because he's headed it against the bar, it's looped up, and then he's gone and got the rebound. So he's basically, he's got his own assist as well.

35:15Gregor Robertson: It's something you see every day. And Dan Kemp was on fire. Like a lovely finish for the fourth goal. Like just really elegant, lovely left foot, stroked it into the far corner. He scored two goals, got an assist. So yeah, I think from considering Stevenage's, you know, that a really outstanding, and unexpectedly outstanding season last season, but a really bad start to the season. And then, boom, 5-1 win against Barnsley at Old Quill. Excellent way to kickstart their season. Yeah, definitely. And much needed. And also, Stephen Hage never scored five. They barely ever scored two or three last season.

35:52Indeed. So the fact that they scored five will have been brilliant for their fans, especially the ones who made the journey to Barnsley. But I think probably most telling and the one that's grabbing all the headlines is the other game that you were going to mention in terms of the most significant win of the weekend.

36:05Gregor Robertson: Yes, I mean, Leicester City, nil, Oxford, four. What can you say? You're getting to the point where it wouldn't be a surprise to see Russell Martin leave already. Saw some extraordinary stats doing the rounds after this game about Martin's career since winning promotion with Southampton. He's won three of 28 games. That takes in the spell in the Premier League before he was sacked then the very short lived spell at Rangers before he was sacked and now Leicester conceded 50 goals in that time and like he keeps saying the same things, he keeps saying we're naive we're soft and there is some mitigation they've got a very young team like 5 players in the start of 11 at the weekend under the age of 23 their subs were aged 23, 21, 20, 19, 18 he's right but it's really asking them to play this kind of football when they're so inexperienced when they're so naive, when they're so young the right thing to do?

37:10Gregor Robertson: There's a clear answer to that and the proof is in the pudding so again the defending was absolutely calamitous, like the space that they just somehow managed to leave in behind their back four is extraordinary for 1-0, the left-bar Christian McFarlane just a straight ball in behind them for Mo Massanga to run on to cross for Mark Harris who's running into the box ahead of both Leicester centre-halves 1-0, 2-0 Kai Andrews in behind Jadon Joseph, the right back so much space again, cross for Massanga this time, again acres of space goal 3-0 was a little bit different but it was like they were retreating so deep at that point that Mark Harris got the ball on the edge of the box turned, no one's closing them down, everyone's terrified.

38:01Gregor Robertson: 3-0. And then the fourth by Jamie McDonald was another crossing behind the defence again. It's just like, my God, how can this happen? So it's the heaviest ever defeat in the third tier. One win, two draws, two defeats in five league games. Not the start that Leicester City fans expected. And they were all heading for the exit long before the final whistle. Yeah. Just on Martin, you mentioned last week, He has ultimately become a figure of fun now for general football fans. And I think people will be trotting out that stat that you mentioned. And it becomes so hard in modern football, doesn't it, to shake those kind of things when you're attached to it.

38:39Oh, this is what happened. Oh, this is Russell Martin. Oh, he fancies himself. You know, on last week's show, you said, I rate him. I think he's a good coach. What is it because it's gone beyond that? Is it because he went up with Southampton and I'm going to stick to my principles? and because he had that disastrous spell at Rangers, was he naive to not think, oh, I've got to shake this tag, I've got to shake these tags now? Because we can't even get to his coaching before you get to all the kind of memes and gifs and sarcastic videos and things. And it just becomes hard to get away from that, doesn't it?

39:13Gregor Robertson: I mean, it certainly does, yeah. I mean, it's kind of an irony that he keeps talking about his team being naive. That's the way I look at it, I think. I stand by it. I've interviewed him, I played against him many years ago I know people who know Russell Martin and he's a good guy and I think the proof was in the pudding actually at Southampton that that was a difficult situation he inherited too, a team that had been just used to losing and losing and losing every week in the Premier League a lot of turnover, a lot of change and upheaval and he got the players on board, again I interviewed some players before the playoff final and they were full of praise for the way that he turned the season around so I think he can engage the players I think he can coach, I just think his ideas are ultimately flawed until he sort of wakes up to that or is willing to change his idea he's probably not got much future as a manager Interesting to see what happens in the coming weeks with Leicester they definitely need some good news on the pitch and potentially some good news off it as well with search for new ownership i'm amazed gregor you mentioned two games and you didn't mention stockport county winning 4-0 at wigan i was getting ready for that being the trope of this season so far you're being impressed with stockport's early start so i'll give that a little mention as well a little mention for carl wutton's goal what a lovely strike that is bouncing ball over his shoulder ping straight in the top corner and ding ding ding another lovely pinky purpley kit I love in these mad away kits this season and but that's my honourable mention I'm going to go for Plymouth 3-2 win at Doncaster a really great fun game to watch and a much needed win for Tom Cleverley Plymouth really hoping to start the season better than they did last time out let's pick our goals that you must go and watch Gregor we've already mentioned a couple that you should go and watch uh Wottons could have been in there but what about what about you what are you going for?

41:13Gregor Robertson: I've gone for the same guy two weeks in a row, it's Aaron Collins but it was a very different this was a cracking game as well MK Dunn's 3-0 draw against Wickham Wanderers and last week's was a kind of really classy finish, he kind of cut in from the left on his right foot, arced into the far top corner, this time he had that kind of same sort of it wasn't quite as wide but the same kind of touching out onto his right foot and just absolutely belted it if the crossbar and end. But it's a great finish. And he's, I think it's four goals in five. He's a really positive start to the season after a bit of an injury blighted season last season.

41:52Gregor Robertson: So as I said last week, he's a really good player at the level. And I think MK Drons fans will be delighted to see that this season. Yeah, I'm going to go for Jays Kabia, his goal for Leighton Orient at Luton in their draw. He's a player that we mentioned last season on the show. brilliant performances in League 2 gets the move up, the step up scores goals in the week to get off the mark for Orient and this was a terrific goal the kind of goal that any fan would love to see a striker score, there's a ball into the channel you're thinking, where's he going? what's he going to do here? Maybe win a throw-in?

42:25maybe win a corner? Brings it back inside, beats the defender, curls it into the top corner, but even better than the goal was the celebration, I don't know whether you saw this, run into the corner flag pulls the corner flag out, pretends it's some kind of like missile, missile rocket launcher. He's saying to the subs, get out of the way, leave me alone, leave me alone. I've got an idea. That is a man that looks like he's confident and finding his feet at the level. So really pleased to see. Don't know whether you saw as well, Will Forrester's block in this game on the line for Orient against Luton.

42:54Fantastic. And he did cross the line. He celebrated it as well. So just, you know, one thing to keep an eye on there. Let's finish League One roundup with our moment of the weekend. Gregor, what are you going for?

43:05Gregor Robertson: I'm going for Curtis Tilt's equaliser for Burton against Cambridge which was controversial, he handled it in, struck his arm and went in, whether there's intent or not is another matter but after Onahegabo's suspension for deception deceiving a match official I think is the term after handling when he scored against Norwich last month they set a precedent where's the level, what's the bar what's the threshold of what isn't deception, who's judging that the first one as we discussed was so bizarre to barely be believable but they have set the precedent and this was arguably a kind of clearer handball that was missed so interesting moment of the week in League One but also a very big moment for Burton Albion salvaging a point against Cambridge yeah big moments and worrying precedents but I think that counts as another pound in the jar for the VAR charity fund Gregor should we round it up to a ten no they did it retrospectively you don't need VAR for it they did it retrospectively that made it even more bizarre I don't mind another quid to charity I just don't want VAR anywhere near Football League my moment of the weekend in League One people might accuse me of having a Joe Taylor addiction I picked him out Last week he scored two in Huddersfield's much-needed win.

44:35There was some interest in him near the end of the transfer deadline. He stayed. He scored two more in the week. 3-1 win against Oxford. He didn't score in Huddersfield's one-all draw with Notts County. Marcus Harness got their goal. But the ball rolled out of the net to Joe Taylor, who was just about to go off and celebrate, and he booted it back into the net and broke the netting. Talk about being deadly in front of goal, eh? Fantastic stuff. A really funny moment of the lower leagues. another point for Notts County I keep banging on about Notts County and their solid start to the season another point for them and another great away kit baby pink this time I'm loving it Gregor some mad away kits in the football league fantastic to see let's move into league two then wins of the weekend I'm going to start because I think yours is maybe a better shout I've got to mention for Salford City this time last week it's like withering put downs from myself I did say look maybe they'll win in the week and they did they didn't quite thrash Newport but they got a 2-1 win they followed it up with a 1-0 win at the weekend much much needed for Peter Klamovsky their manager to get two back-to-back wins and everything looks a little bit rosier but my win of the weekend is actually Accrington three two winners against Crawley the first win of the season to be honest guys there's nothing elite about any of these goals most of them were tappings balls into the box but you don't knock it Accrington Stanley still in the football league still plugging away still grafting and a much needed three points for them Gregor your win of the weekend in League 2

46:02Gregor Robertson: I'm going to go for Swindon 3 Colchester 1 hat-trick for Aaron Drennan last season's top score in League 2 actually didn't score any hat-tricks last season signed the new deal last week and I think it was the first time in 20 years that Swindon have won the first three home games so you know it's been a bit of a fallow period for them with one or two exceptions and he jumped from ninth to second so So I really, I think they won one of the first three games, but it's been a really good week for them. Yeah, I think, you know, despite what we say, Ole keeps pulling out the bag and making them competitive.

46:39Gregor Robertson: So it could be another positive season for Swindon. Yeah, absolutely. In terms of goal of the weekend, this could be one of those legendary ones. You know when people still cite like the old match of the day, goal of the month, and they're like, oh this was an elite month these great goals this category of goal you should go and check out could go on for ages i'm going to start mine because i mentioned it in the times his football newsletter which would have been in your inboxes on monday afternoon louis marsh signed on loan for chester field from sheffield united he scored two in a 3-3 thriller with barnett but his first was an absolute cracker what a wonderful strike into the top corner a lovely lovely goal do go and check it out and you could easily watch all the highlights from this one Gregor because there's another good goal in this game isn't there yeah Tom Knowles for Barnett with a beauty kind of short corner and he picked it up and just kind of drove inside some questionable defending you have to say but when he got the opportunity to open up and just arc it into the postage stamp it was a that was an absolute beauty but like it's got to be James Brophy it's got to be and again there's two to choose from he scored an absolute world to start off with a curler into the far top corner with his left foot but his goal in the second half was just incredible, picked up on the halfway line and I counted, although again there was some questionable defending in backing off and backing off it turned out he beat five opposition players and by the time he slipped into the corner he was on the six yard box so he literally did run half the length of the pitch and Slotter and Worldy from James Brophy.

48:21Gregor Robertson: Check it out. Yeah, for Gillingham in their 4-1 win against Rochdale. A difficult start to the season for Rochdale, but a great win for Gillingham in this one. Gregor, I'm going to go first with my moment because bluntly yours is better, but I've got Joe O 'Brien-Whitmarsh scoring in the 87th minute for a winner for Northampton. Signed in the summer, a lovely hit from the edge of the box to give them their first win of the season. Nice goal, nice celebrations in the crowd. at the end of the game it's always nice when teams get their first win at this stage in the season just calms everything down any worries that maybe people have got so yeah really pleased about that one and there was one special figure watching in the stands and celebrating because my moment has to be Alexander Pato the former AC Milan Chelsea and Brazil forward just being at Sixfields I mean what's that all about maybe we should find out part of a consortium that's been given the green light to buy a majority stake in Northampton town, they looked at Colchester United previously of course so clearly they've been kind of sniffing around a couple of clubs for a little while yeah, it's definitely going to be worth asking the question why what are you what are you seeing in a lowly League 2 club who keeps yo-yoing between League 1 and League 2 and he looked very smart to be fair as well uh so you know the northampton owner was saying you know this has been a lengthy process and we've we've uh you know due diligence has been thorough and all this but you know and then he's mentioned about the the various members of the consortium and he's hoping that they'll bring a bit of brazilian flair so if you're a northampton town fan i'm sure you'll be hoping that as well i think i've heard actually make the only thing they're missing from this consortium is a former legendary player to join maybe they need they've got brazilian flair maybe they need some scottish style i think it may be a few few down on that list tom so we'll see if a call comes come on the amount of money you earn from this podcast you could definitely join the consortium hey there's a funny note to finish on gregor robertson thank you very much for joining me as always thank you too for listening if you've got any views or want to mention anything that we've missed in the EFL Extra show, do get in touch with me, tom.clarkatthetimes.co.uk.

50:41But we will be back with another EFL show next week. We'll see you then.

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