Rooney Backs Carrick, Man City Hunt Arsenal & Can Tudor Save Spurs? | The Overlap Fan Debate

0:28I think that you're so disrespectful. laughing. You're scared, man. For me, it kind of makes sense. Immediately what we've seen is this connection coming back together. I do not care how ugly it is. I do not care how slow it is. If we win, I'm happy as a fan. But are you in a situation where you're really feeling Spurs could be relegated? Yeah, I think about it most of the day.

0:49Hello and welcome back to the Fan Debate brought to you by Skybet. Wayne Rooney makes a return into the studio alongside our loyal fans. So, Wayne, I want to start with you. You were at Villa Park, weren't you? You know, the FA Cup game, Aston Villa, Newcastle, and you described one decision as the worst decision you've seen in, what was it, you've ever seen? Yeah, and then I was thinking about that after the game, and probably that part of the game, another two, there was the Roy Carroll one against Tottenham, where it was about five yards of the land and Frank Lampard won in the World Cup but I think with them two it was very difficult for the officials the landsmen or landswoman to get up with the speed of what they were hit where this one the other night was where we were sat in the studio was almost right and left the landsman and to not give a penalty was absolutely crazy So you blame the referee's assistant more than the referee?

1:52Well, both of them really, but I think for the Lanzar, the Lanzar had an absolute nightmare. There was the Tammy Abraham was offside. There was, for the goalkeeper's sending off, Luca Dina was offside on a second ball, which then he got the corner again. And then the keeper gets sent off from there. So it was just, it was three yards inside the penalty box. It was crazy. Do you think, because I think sometimes you feel it more when you're in the stadium. So you were there, I watched it on TV. do you think that was actually a good advert for VAR? Well I actually said this to Shearer and Deion Dublin in which I probably shouldn't have said it but I said maybe just think they've done that on purpose to show that VAR is needed which was a joke but no I I absolutely despise VAR I don't like it so I'm massively against it and the reason being when you go from VAR to FA Cup game and you don't have it the officials are relying too much and whether they're saying they are or they're not then they are relying too much on it and we had in the championship when we used to get a referee drop down who was used to having VAR and then he'd come and referee in the championship naturally the brain was processed to wait and not give a decision because they are going to get a bit of help on it so it's wrong to go from it from having it to then not having it I think it's crazy but yeah, I just don't like it.

3:19I just think it takes all the emotion, all the joy out of football. OK, well Flav and Ellie, we're going to start with you two on the back of the managerial changes that have happened, as I said, in the last few days. So Flav, talk to me, Thomas Frank, the right decision. Did they keep him too long? Yeah, definitely the right decision. It was a wrong fit pretty much from the off and was never more clear than the North London derby away at the Emirates, where he set up like a League One side, trying to snatch something from a game, and still getting beaten 4-1 was tough to take. And you know that in the North London derby, if you're going to get beat, it doesn't matter, right?

4:00It happens, but you have to give something. You can't just play the way we did so passively. So that was the first thing, oh my God, this guy isn't right for us. And then the management of the press room, the way he spoke in his first press conference, he said, I can guarantee one thing that we'll lose games. And you're like, come on, mate. Just come on. We've lost loads over the last couple of years. Don't start with that. And it's not his fault. It's just the way he manages. It's his etiquette. It's what he's done, worked brilliantly with him before. You just realise at that point the difference in the size of the football club.

4:34And that's not me gloating in any way. That's just saying the scrutiny on a Spurs manager is much more intense than a Brentford manager. You know, it reminded me a little bit of Roy Hodgson at Liverpool. Now, you can't describe Thomas Frank as not a good manager. You know, you can see what he's done at Brent. Roy Hodgson's sort of career, where he'd been around the world. But sometimes it's just not the right fit. And a big thing is how these speak and come across in press conferences, especially, I think, when you make that jump. People always talk about, obviously, on the pitch and the football.

5:02But I think with the media now so big and how many interviews they do, they have to be that statesman, that sort of figurehead for the club. And he never felt like that for me. I think they're too honest I think Van Gaal was very similar in terms of how honest he was with the media and as a manager the best you look at me you look at Alex Ferguson there's two examples you have to lie you have to say things which you don't feel which will help the players even if you don't believe what you're saying the fans will listen to him as you say nowhere he said we're going to lose games or Van Gaal was the same he used to give the press everything which he'd give the players in which he probably should have give them a little bit but not all of it and I think when you go down that route of being too honest and obviously we're part of the media now and you want them to be honest but from a fans point of view or a player who's in that dressing you don't want them to be too...

5:54When we had Benitez Benitez used to have all the say to us he used to say football is a lie and he said basically we're all lying you know you'll have players won't you you're still behind the manager of course we're behind the manager probably not half of them you know what I mean or vice versa and that's what you've painted, as you just said, you've got to be like that. But was Big Ang lying when he said Spurs aren't a big club? I think he qualified it, didn't he? He said that we didn't play big club wages, which we all know is true. And yeah, I mean, you have to compete financially and if you don't, you will fall behind.

6:31And it actually exposes a problem at Tottenham that won't be solved by a new manager. and that is a seemingly chaos behind the scenes. You've got to remember, we've removed Daniel Levy, who is the institution of Tottenham Hotspur in his own image of 25 years. He's just gone. And then you've got Venkatesham to come in, that was brought in to do a different role and is now essentially what Daniel Levy was. There's tons of people coming in behind the scenes. I don't know who is really running the football club, whereas previously, while I was critical of Daniel Levy in the latter part of his time at the club, I at least knew who was running the club.

7:05I knew he was making the decisions. Now, I don't really know. We haven't got a director of football. We had two sporting directors in the summer. One's now left. It's a mess. So to be blaming Frank for everything is unfair on him. On top of the fact that there is, and I know everybody hates to hear it, but the injuries at Spurs are like nothing I've ever seen before. How have you answered this question without saying Hans Postacoglu is a Judas? How have you managed to do that? I'll answer the question now. He asked me a question about Poster Coglu. He hasn't said one word about Poster Coglu selling your club down the river.

7:38He hasn't sold the club down the river. He got seven million quid from the club. Part of that surely is an implication, an implied silence. You get seven million pound payoff. Surely that means that you don't then go on to the biggest football show that you can possibly find and go, I'll tell you what, then. I don't think, I think he, no, he would have been acutely aware of, I'd imagine there was some sort of non-disclosure that he hasn't broken. Otherwise, he'll be in front of lawyers. But there's nothing to do with you. I thought he was fine I thought he said absolutely fine what he said and I have no issue and I'm looking forward to the next show on Sticks Football So the interim manager at the end of the season I think was a bit of a surprise Yeah Igor Tudor Yeah Are you worried about that?

8:21No Premier League experience Yeah And the position Tottenham find themselves in Yeah I mean a year I remember him as a player when he was at Juve so that was what I know of him it was sort of mooted and then he was suddenly announced within a couple of hours and I'm like I don't know who I had to do a lot of research and all I'm going to tell you about him is what I've read from other people I don't know so most of his career he's gone in in short spells to fix problems at Juve he had to get him qualifying for the Champions League when it looked like they weren't going to do because of the job that Marta had done at Udinese in 2018 he saved them from relegation in short notice He has a track record of galvanising clubs in Italy and I think a couple outside as well.

9:08So I don't know. It's not a short term because he gets sat down. Are you really... I mean, listen, Spurs went down, I think, was it the late 70s? You know, obviously before our time, Manchester United went down. You should think of like huge clubs, but it doesn't feel like that can happen now. I mean, but are you in a situation where you're really feeling Spurs could be relegated? Yeah, I think about it most of the day. yeah it doesn't I'm in 4am I wake up sometimes and think what if it did but inside the club and from Trudor they can't even be thinking about that they have to sort of refocus we've got home games against Palace I think Leeds at home Forest as well so those are three massive massive games that we've got but who would you who would you want to bring in because I heard people talk about Harry Redknapp who I think is 79 yeah that's very difficult to come in at that age even though I've done what he's done and then you look at it and you think well who else is out there to come in because if they bring a Sean Dice or a Sam Aldice or Neil Warnock in it's going to be no but I'm just saying you mean the type of manager not actually Neil Warnock no but they're going to get hammered if they bring that status of managing in and then you look at it then you say or do they go back for Ryan Mason who's just had a very difficult time at West Brom Robbie Keane who hasn't managed in the Premier League although he's played in there so who would you have been happy with?

10:33Are you not in a... Who do you think? Have you got no one you can think of yourself? I was thinking could they not actually just go and get a manager for my prep? Managers who I look at and I think could maybe scale up because we've had this debate before about Thomas Frank and the style of football and those type of managers trying to scale up and it never really works but when you look at sort of Iriola, maybe a Bournemouth can you go and get him? Maybe a Marco Silva at Fulham and they're not just coming in to keep you up they're almost like because you want a manager you want a Conte or a Pochettino this guy you think is going to get you back into the sort of Champions League or competing for honours but you actually need because if you're finishing where it looks like you're going to finish now let's say you stay up and you finish 15 you finished 17th last year didn't you you might need a manager actually to get you back to making sure that you're sort of top 8 before you get this guy who's going to turn the whole club around again.

11:29Well, I had no idea what the right decision was, that interim manager. It had to be interim, right? Because the manager pool available in the summer is massive. There's lots of managers out of contract. Iriola, Silva could probably be convinced to come. Glasner is out of contract. But could he not go and get them now? I don't think... Iriola has never broken a contract in his life. I don't think he'd start right now to enter the mess. You give him enough money, he'll break a contract. He's in the play of Pochettino. Yeah. Sorry, that's it, Dan. I was about to come on to the fact that being in Potch back we need a tap in we need someone to come and manage he probably you might not even need a director of football if Potch comes in because you kind of give him that licence to breathe but I think as all Spurs fans we just need to they say never go back but sometimes Would you like Potch your team to be the manager?

12:12Absolutely yeah without question you don't Even with the Chelsea thing? Yeah even with the Chelsea thing yeah It's not like we have gone backwards though if that is the case We already know that talking about relegation here it's not a joke Obviously we've gone backwards We've gone backwards What about if you go down Who would you get then? Neil Warnock Yeah Remember this time last year When you were saying to me We're going down Do you remember that? Yeah Do you remember when we beat you In the Europa League final? Where are you now? We're going to go down You only need six points I was in the Champions League Round of 16 mate So if this Igor Tudor Is the guy It's got like a If he's gone into teams in Italy and helped them survive, would you prefer him or would you prefer Sam Ali's?

13:00Who was done in England? I think, given the fact that he's managed Juve this season, no disrespect to Big Sam, but I'd probably have Igor Tudor, even though I don't know anything about him. People are so quick to write off that style of manager, aren't they? You know that? I think David Moyes often gets more stick than he deserves. I don't think it go particularly well for him at Manchester United, but Moyes, Pulis, Allardyce, you know that sort of genre of manager. I have so much respect for that style of manager, somebody that's been in the game for 50 years, and I have such little respect for like a Russell Martin.

13:32And yet everybody seems to have so much more affection for a Russell Martin, like who talks about XG stats or whatever, than they would a David Moyes. It doesn't make sense. I'd rather, the quote was, I'd rather Igor Tudor, I know nothing about him, than I would Sam Allardyce. But most people would agree with you, Fred. I work with Sam and Evan, and I've said this before, When you're talking about going through all the stats and stuff, Sam was probably the manager who went through the most amount of stats with you. Whether that's the referee, on how many games he's done, what minute he's likely to give yellow cards in.

14:06He went through everything. So he played on percentages, which I don't know if there's anything wrong with that. If you want to set it up, do you? He actually gave you the most amount of stats you wanted to see.

14:23Ellie, I'm going to come to you now because the type of manager we're talking about here is Sean Dyche, really. And I think the Sean Dyche decision is probably, and I might be putting words in your mouth here, but is one of those decisions that when you're a Forest fan, you're almost probably not happy with what's going on. But people on the outside are like, you can't give it to Sean Dyche. You know, he's the guy to keep you up. But what's funny about Sean Dyche is, the last three jobs he's had, the clubs have sort of sacked them or moved them on when they were in a relegation fight. You know, Burnley did that.

14:56They went down. Everton did as well. Obviously did well with David Moyes. And Forrest have done the same. Do you think it's the right decision? I don't think so. I think a lot of Forrest fans would disagree with me. But I just think we need to admit we're in a relegation battle. We need to admit that we have gone back with similar to Spurs and that we're not going to be able to play the football we played last season at this point of the season. we need to survive, rebuild in the summer and then maybe we can think about progress but right now all we need is survival and a lot of people care far too much about how the football looks I could not care less how it looks what is unattractive football what does that even mean?

15:36in my opinion attractive football is winning I do not care how ugly it is I do not care how slow it is if we win I'm happy as a fan and Sean Dyche was getting those results yet there is the argument and there is a genuine argument that that was trending downwards. But we just need to stay up. And he turned it around. I think people forget. I mean, when I was on here last, we were under Ange without a single win. It was absolutely diabolical. It was all over the shop. And we were in a genuine, genuine... It looked hopeless at that point. And we needed to admit that we needed a Sean Dyche to stabilise.

16:10And he has come in and done that. Our defensive stability is significantly better. He's turned the points per game from something like 0.63 to 1.22 per game. So I personally, I just can't understand why you would take the risk and sack Sean Dyche at this point in the season when we are so genuinely in trouble, especially with West Ham turning it around and the points they're getting on the board. For me, it's just incredibly reckless. So when you're saying the majority of Forest fans disagree, so what you're saying is a lot of the Nottingham Forest fans were unhappy with Sean Dyche. Was it a style of football issue?

16:43because even last season when you were having success, your style was counter-attacking football, sit deep. I know Sean Dyche is probably a little bit more direct than you, but was it a style of football issue with most supporters? It's a bit of both. I think we were happy. I don't think any Forest fan was sad to see Sean Dyche join. And it started strong, and then suddenly it all went a bit wrong. There was a period where we were really struggling, and we got some more points back on the board. And it is a bit... There's no consistency. And I think that's what's really difficult. You look at some of the results.

17:15I mean, 3-0 against Tottenham, 3-0 away at Anfield. And then we're losing to Wrexham and it's a diabolical display. And that Braga game was absolutely, it was a disgrace, quite frankly. But the way I see it is we're putting everything on the manager, similar to kind of what you were saying and what you were saying, that modern football, managers aren't managers anymore. They're head coaches. And that's wrong because at the end of the day, the managers are the ones who know football. Let the business be done by the businessman. Let the football and the recruitment be done by the manager. And that is ultimately what it comes down to this season that's made us to fall apart.

17:52So four managers you're going to have this season. And listen, I know there's an unbelievable amount of respect and love for the owner, Maranakis, but what are your thoughts on basically having four managers in one season? We love breaking records, whatever they may be. And Forest fans love Maranakis. I love Maranakis. I think fans from the outside, I was having this conversation before, you don't know what he did for our club. He bought us in 2017, took us off of Fawaz. We were at risk of relegation into League One on goal differences, how we survived. And he took us over. He promised us Europe and he did it in such a short amount of time.

18:31Do I agree with his decisions this season? No, but I do, however, think he's been led on by Edu. And I think there's been a lot of info. How that man is still in a job, with all due respect, Edu, I do not know. because ultimately at one point, and I keep using this phrase and you can hear it again, how many managers are we going to go through before we accept the common denominator? We brought Edu in in July. July. And you look at the recruitment, none of it matched what Nuno wanted. Our recruitment is all over the shop. We've got players who prefer an attacking style of football, who prefer possession, players who are from last season's Nuno who are used to that counter-attacking style.

19:07And when you look at where it went wrong, It went wrong the minute we sacked Nuno. And we sacked Nuno because ultimately Nuno wanted to sign his own players for his squad, which he built, which he got us through into Europe, which is incredible. And Edu wanted to bring in his big names. He's like, oh, we want to compete with the big boys now. So instead of looking at the Brightons, the Brentfords and even the Bournemouths and thinking we need to replicate that, we were looking at the big six, which we don't have a right to be replicating. And with all due respect, you just have money. And we don't want to be looking at that.

19:38So we've just brought in names and it's gone horrifically wrong. Our squad is, I keep saying paper thin and people misinterpret what I mean by that. When I say paper thin, I don't mean we don't have the players. We spent£200 million over the summer. Quite frankly, it's a disgrace that we can't bring players off the bench and it'd be good enough. You look at the Wrexham game, the Braga game, when we don't play our first team and it was abysmal. The dressing room is completely gone. Whoever the manager is, who wants to come into a workplace where your manager's in and out the door every two seconds?

20:07Well, the new manager is going to be Pereira, isn't it? So, I mean, are you confident about him keeping you up? I mean, it didn't go particularly well at Wolves this season. He did well when he initially came in. I think I'm nervous for whoever comes in the door. I said it before, you're going to hate this. I don't care if it's Pep Guardiola, they're going to struggle. And I think Pereira, in the circumstances, is a good appointment. So is Marianakis not the common denominator at all? No. Because surely the direction to Edu comes from him, right? and the vision that he has for the club? His vision for the club, eight years he's had us, nine nearly.

20:412017, we were in the championship. We were as good as down. We avoided relegation and goal difference against Ipswich, and I was there. And now look where we are. We're competing in Europe. He makes wrong decisions. But he can have done good things and still be kind of hampering you now, right? He cares. He cares a lot. And how many owners, how many of these clubs can say that owners actually genuinely care about the football and actually care about the fans. But you do insulate them from criticism when you love them. And you blaming Edu rather than Maranakis. Don't get me wrong, this has happened at Chelsea.

21:12When we were trying to insulate Roman Abramovich from criticism, we blamed Michael Emanalo, when it would obviously not be Emanalo. This is different. If she blames Maranakis, she'll be banned from... No, no, not even. The issue you'd have... The issue you'd have with the sporting directors, I've worked with a couple of them, and the sporting director is basically in between the manager and the owner and when things aren't going right the sporting director slowly starts edging towards the owner and as a manager you don't know what he's saying to that owner and ultimately it's a decision it's the sporting director or the manager goes one of them who get the blame and more often than not it's the manager who goes so I'd imagine that's what's happening maybe might have made mistakes but ultimately Maranak has trust him or they trust the managers and that's why they're going.

22:03But he shouldn't. And that's the mistake. We do criticise him and we know that he's made mistakes by allowing Nuno to go. But ultimately, Maranakis has done so... It's not a case of like, you know, you can speak at Chelsea, you've always been good. Like, in the Premier League, you can't even begin to compare what's happened at Forest with anything you go through as a fan. We were championship as... We were going to League One. We were going to League One. OK, but what I'm saying is you absolutely adore him. I get it. Yeah, you mentioned that. 2017. I mean, at what stage would you ever blame Maranacos for anything.

22:32No, we blame him, but as an owner, he does the business. Edu is supposed to semi-know the football. What the hell is he doing? What is the recruitment? How is he... How do you come in to a club that's doing really well, that looks like they're on the up, who has a manager who's done brilliantly, a squad who's happy, a dressing room that's happy, and go, you know what, Nuno, I'm not going to do what you want, I'm going to do it my way. And one of the things that I spoke about before, Nuno really wanted Traore, as we've seen, because he's brought him in in West Ham. Now, a lot of people will be like, oh, Traore.

23:02But he would have fit so well into our squad, into the style of play. He would have, I mean, we had to see Alanga go, so we lost a lot of pace and that has hurt us. And bringing in Traore, I'm not saying it's like for like. I'm not saying he's as good as Alanga. But he had the potential to really fit into that squad. And who have we brought in this season? Can you name a single player of the£200 million that we've spent that is even on the same level as the rest of the players? Right, talking about a team, we've got a lot of players and a big squad. we go to Arsenal four points clear at the top with 12 games to go if you don't go on to win the league now considering you could have been nine points clear if Liverpool had hung on against Manchester City would this be getting described as basically throwing away bottling it doing a Newcastle for sure of course we know it would be and it has been in the past I think it would have gone down as a bottle job 22-23 some would argue 23, 24.

24:02What people want me to do is come on here and stick to that narrative that people are pushing which is we haven't got the minerals, the players and the managers don't have the minerals. If Arteta doesn't win this or that, he's got to go. But fuck all of that. We're four points clear and no one is looking at anyone else. It's all on Arsenal and that doesn't quite sit right with me. We've been four points clear actually for quite a few months now. The first time I came on here was October and we were top of the league and we're still top of the league. The frustration is, where I see the narrative coming from is we could have extended that lead a lot more and we've let City come quite close and it's the PTSD from the past.

24:45Why are you laughing? You lost an image. And you're scared, man. I am a little bit scared. You look scared. I'm a little bit scared. The reason that I'm nervous is, look like I said last time I came on here I said that no one doubts our quality no one doubts that on our day all of our footballers are borderline world class if not world class in our starting XI but what it is going to come down to is the mentality and we don't know if we have that mentality yet we do know that Man City have that mentality Wayne I made a comment about Arsenal about three or four weeks ago on the back of picking my Premier League team of the season so far and you're talking about mentality I think Arsenal have got great mentality.

25:26But do you think there could be a lack of quality in the final third? I said that when I watched Arsenal. I don't think they've got an absolute superstar in the front four or five players. I thought Saka and Odegaard were going to get there a couple of years ago. I thought they're ready to almost become the best player in the league. You would have for Man Utd. You'd be in the league. You'd be the best player in the league. Or Ronaldo would be. Salah would be for Liverpool. I don't think Arsenal have got one of them so when you're saying mentality I think what could stop them is actual quality Yeah, I agree with they haven't got an out-and-out superstar world-class player you pin everything on but I think what we've seen over the last three years is they know how to win games so they've shown you don't you actually don't need that but for me I think what's happening is the Arsenal fans the ex-players coming out are actually killing them they should stay silent and let everyone else talk I heard Martin Keown on the I knew you were going to say I heard Martin Keown on TalkSport saying having a six point six point gap is better than nine and I was like what are you talking about because and then and that's an experienced player who's getting nervous and that is what's going through to the final I think Arteta has actually handled it brilliantly I think the way he's speaking how he's coming out in the media how he's trying to calm the players down it's brilliant but I think it's actually other people who are connected to the club who would actually have more of an effect and so if you look at Arsenal quality wise I think they've got a lot of quality have they got that superstar you know Ronaldo, Drogba Aguero type player who's going to make a difference I don't think they have but they know how to win games and they've shown that over the last three years We've scored 90 goals across all competitions which is the most out of any English team so it's not look no one's denying that we haven't been ruthless in the final third, but our goals do come from somewhere.

27:25Corners. Come from corners and goals, mate. Yeah, but it's worked because we're top of the Premier League, When you say it somewhere, you might as well just name it. Yeah, but there's a lot of goals. It's 90. Yeah, we've not scored the most in the league. You've got second most in the league. Okay, but you're second in the league for now. So it's... We'll keep it warm. It's been working. But what I think we haven't developed since the first year that we bottled it is our ability to win games of football that we probably shouldn't have won. And that is what scares me about Man City. That is what I think is the difference between us.

27:59I don't think there's too much difference in quality between us. I think it'd be a great game. We'll see it coming up soon. But you look at City the other day, 1-0 down, 84th minute, six minutes to go plus added time and they turn it around 2-1. They had absolutely no right to win that game and they did. and that is what I don't think we've quite got just yet. We've had many chances to replicate those type of games. Growing up, I've only ever seen United, City, Chelsea and Liverpool lift titles and if you go back to all of those seasons where they won the league, you can pinpoint a game that won them the league.

28:33There was a game that they shouldn't have won, they had no right to win. We haven't quite done that yet. We haven't quite got a game that you can look back on and think, that game is the one. I remember Chelsea at the Etihad 2017. You rocked up, beaten 3-1. And you left as champions that day, in my opinion. And that is what's frightening about Man City. But it's in our hands. 12 to go, four points clear. Every game's massive. Every point is so precious. And I do back us to do it. Are you worried about the North London derby coming up? I'm worried about Wolves first. I think Wolves would be a tougher game than Spurs.

29:07No, I think the NLD would be a good game. Form goes out the window. although we have taken him for a dog walk in the last six or seven. It will be a tough game. What do you reckon, Flav? Flav, you all right? I think we're going to beat you. That's what I think. I think you'll be bang up for it. I think the home advantage will definitely be a big thing. You know, new gaffer on the touchline, a bit of music beforehand. It ain't even about win. If we just take anything from you, that's going to be a massive, massive problem. I'm not particularly worried. I think you've got a lot of injuries. I think our quality is enough to get past it in my opinion this might sound a bit cliche it might sound a bit outrageous but I think whoever wins that Carabao Cup final will go on to win the league because I think the momentum will be massive but then you meet again don't you in the quarter finals if you use poker 3 yeah for the Champions League and then in the league so I think that three four week period is going to be huge psychology it's going to be huge whoever goes through that place.

30:10It's a big psychological thing and also we're desperate for a trophy. We haven't won a trophy in a long time now. I think for City and I think for Pep, he couldn't give a shit if he wins the League Cup. It's more of an ego thing for him. He doesn't want Arteta to have one up on him going into this little run-in. So I think it's a massive game. I think it goes more than just a League Cup trophy. It's a big momentum shift.

30:35This segment is brought to you by Microsoft Co-Pilot. as part of their partnership with the Premier League. Welcome to the Time Added On quiz, where we will see our loyal fans take on 10 questions in 60 seconds to decide who knows the most about their club's history in the Premier League. Our fans' names will be added to the leaderboard, with the winner securing a special prize at the end of the season, so let's get to it. These questions were created with insights from the Premier League companion, powered by Microsoft Copilot. Give it a try on the Premier League app or website, just tap the co-pilot icon to get started.

31:11Right, let's crack on with today's quiz. Drum roll, please, for Adam. Whoa! So Adam's going to take on the time added on quiz. It's a max of 10 questions in 60 seconds with whoever is top of the leaderboard taking home a special prize come the end of the season. And it says, ooh. Adam, you're Mr Man United, so you'll be answering the questions on your beloved Reds. If I am mid-question, when the time runs out, I will finish that question and take your answer. I've started, so I'll finish. You can pass with any questions that you don't know. You've got the time. You tell me when I can go. Go. Go.

31:51Who was the top scorer for Man United in the league this season? Mumbo. Yes. Which club did Man United fail to beat on the final day of the 94-95 season? Which saw them lose the title? West Ham. Yeah. Wayne Rooney has scored the highest amount of Premier League goals for Man United. But who has scored the most since he left in 2017? Bruno Fernandes. No. Who's scored the most Premier League goals for Man United out of the following three players? Nani, Berbatov, Javier Hernandez. Berbatov? Berbatov, yes. Who has more Premier League appearances, Gary or Phil Neville? Gary. Phil. Which Belgian signing joined Man United in July 2017 for an initial£75 million?

32:33Belgian. Romelu Lukaku. Yes. Who has played more Premier League games from Man United? Bruno Fernandes or Ronaldo? Bruno. Ronaldo. Michael Carrick joined Man United from which Premier League side? Spurs. Which club beat them in their very first Premier League game in August 92? Sheffield. United, yeah. Name the first Argentinian to play for Man United. Oh, I've started. Carlos Sebas. Oh, first Argentinian? No, you said it, you know. No, I was going to say it again before you, but you didn't. There's going to be Pellers. Sheffield answer there. There's going to be Pellers. He got six correct out of ten.

33:06Getting it right for saying two clubs is crazy. He said Sheffield. Phil never played more Premier League overall. Yeah, I know. I thought he meant for United. You've been nice up there. Yeah. That's it. So we go... Well, you're top of the leaderboard. That's how it started last time. And bottom. It's the spot. Oh, it's the spot. Oh. Hey.

33:34I've done that before. I've done that before, yeah. Well done, Adam, and we'll have a few more quizzes coming up for you in the next few weeks. For more about the league, your club, and favourite players, try the Premier League Companion, powered by Copilot. Tap the Copilot icon on premierleague.com or Premier League app.

33:59This month, Skybet and British Heart Foundation are urging fans across the country to show their heart by taking 15 minutes to learn CPR. Search Reviver or head to the British Heart Foundation website to learn CPR in just 15 minutes.

34:21Luke, you look a lot more relaxed than your friends sitting on your shoulder Very relaxed I mean, I think you came on here and said the only team that can stop Arsenal in the league is Arsenal and I think that was your mistake because we're four points off you and talking about the league being in your hands it's one point away from being in our hands so yeah, I think another thing you said as well was that you think that would be a good game the one at the Etihad based on last time you came to the Etihad to look for the title I don't think it'll be a good game I think Arsenal just come and try and take a point I think that says a lot about them a lot of Arsenal fans are quite rattled by Rodri as well and what he's said in the past about the mentality and I think ultimately that's what it might come down to the League Cup final I think Pep will definitely want to win it we didn't win the trophy last season Palace stopped us in the final last season he'll want to make up for that but yeah I'm excited for it like you said you're a bit nervous off camera, on camera you can kind of feel it amongst the fans and the ex-players like you said there and I think we've got a great chance now you look at the Pep sides in the past every single time without fail the second half of the season we've improved we've picked it up knocked it up a gear and I think we've got a chance Are you confident or you just think you've got a chance?

35:31Got a great chance A lot of people are sort of saying I think it's probably a fact it's not a man's city of old this team It's easy to say that you look at some of the players you've got Erling Harlan in there won a treble Rodri won a treble. You look at Donnarumma in net, the save he made at Anfield, unbelievable in the last minute. Absolutely unbelievable. He won a treble last season. You look at Ruben D, you've got a full spine of your team there. Bernardo Silva, the captain, he's been unbelievable. There was a lot of people talking about maybe he might leave at the end of the season, maybe he could have gone last year.

36:01Can be got out though, that's my problem. My fear, obviously I've vested interest in you winning. But I watched the Fulham game and the second half would worry me. Yeah, I mean, the second halves, it's a concern. you can't avoid it I think we've scored two league goals in the second half this season they were both at Anfield sorry not this season in 2026 and yeah I think there's definitely a concern with a drop off in the second half but the players are acknowledging it Pep's acknowledging it and up to now there's not been other than that little period of draws where we drew with Brighton and Chelsea and the second half kind of got away with us I think up to now we've got away with it a little bit so we've definitely got a chance I think we're as confident as we can be and four points is not very much I'm begging you please do it you can smell the blood but I think that you're so disrespectful when you talk about Arsenal I think that you have to actually give credit to the team but what am I respecting what am I respecting if Arsenal in May are lifting the league title there'll be a lot of respect for them because they've gone on to win the league what am I respecting no but you're talking like you're top of the league and that we're nowhere near you I'm talking about a team you're chasing us and you're disrespecting Arsenal I'm talking about a team that won six league titles in seven years unbelievable with four on the bounce that's why unbelievable but you haven't got to be so arrogant when talking about every other club I'm not talking about any other club Liverpool won the league last year they won it in 2020 that's a team you can respect that have gone on and done it and proven themselves and if Arsenal do it 100 % they will be respected as a team that has won the league but you've not won a trophy since Covid I understand it's been a long time without it but I'm talking about this season can you not appreciate the only other team that's given you some sort of challenge I can appreciate Arsenal being four points clear I can appreciate a team that's also in all four competitions but let's talk about a quadruple for a team that's not won a trophy in six years.

37:42But no one's talking about that, like we're actually going to win the quadruple. We are in all four competitions. I'm saying, yes, you're in all four competitions. Yes, you're four points clear. But what have you done in the past, in my lifetime, that suggests that you're going to go and actually... Also, history's a great... You know, put it on the table and win those trophies. You bottle it every time. You're shitting the bed right now. Don't you think Arteta's still got... Like, I came on here when we played Arsenal, and I said, I was... And I got some pelters for it, I don't really know why.

38:07I said, I don't get why they aren't turning up. at Anfield I'm going for it and equally when we went to your place same again I mean look at our season we've lost 11 the manager's like under pressure one of the favourites to get sacked and at home against us on a Thursday night we were probably the better side I would argue and same at Anfield obviously we win it there and I just feel like Arteta's got like cautious written to him like Blackpool Rock do you know what I mean and like that must worry you because that come you know that you've got to go for it So will you go to City and go for it?

38:42You should. Because you're trying to win the league. Yeah, I think that it goes beyond Arteta. For me, it goes for the players mostly. Edwin. The draw against Brentford. The draw against Brentford after the game, I don't know what goes on in the dressing room or on the training ground, but statement of the obvious, every Arsenal player wants to win the league. But the only two that looked like it really affected them was Gabriel and Declan Rice. And those are our two best players. Is against United as well? there was a reaction from the players of, oh, here we go again. We're starting to throw it away.

39:14Doesn't seem to be, when you left the pitch against Brentford, it seemed to be like, uh-oh, these guys are coming. I think the manner of the victory they had at Liverpool, you're nine points clear with a couple of minutes to go and the next thing you know, a couple of days come by and you're four points clear. Could I ask you a question? I think we'd all agree that we think Arsenal are the best team. I think most of us watching this season. 26 games in. The point I'm trying to make is, Adam, as a Man United fan, the thing I think City have got is, we've been there before, we've done this before, we don't feel the pressure, they've won six titles in seven years, we don't feel it's a vintage City.

39:48But have you watched Man United teams of the past, where throughout the season you felt like you weren't watching the greatest of Man United teams, but they'd end up winning the league just through a sheer sort of, you know, Ferguson experience. Could you see a situation like that where actually City do win the league, even though most people think, you know, Arsenal have got the best squad, they've got the best team, just through, as I said, what Manchester United maybe did in certain seasons, just mentality got them over the line. Arsenal as well, I think they're obviously one of the best teams about, but they clearly have this mental issue, and I do think at the moment, a lot of their fans are kind of putting their head in the sand and being like, we actually are enjoying what's going on at the moment, it's easy to enjoy it when you're top of the league, I find if they just slip off there, the pressure from the fans then is going to come as well, and I think there'll be a lot of talk about the style of play, but I do think there's that pressure coming and I think for a long time they would have felt this City team aren't going to string a couple of results together they can't really get going like they have done before but then like I say that result at Anfield we've had big results at Anfield over the years and sometimes you get a result and you just think this is our league title and I think looking at City that day because I want Arsenal to win the league outside of their fan base I think I'd rather see them win the league but I think City are going to do it I think they're cranking up the pressure a little bit and Arsenal fans are kind of sticking their head in the sand.

41:05Still four points, it's still four points. Next thing you know, it's going to be two points. Every side that wins a league, generally speaking, every side that wins a league, they do it. There've been some fairly underwhelming Chelsea teams that have won the league, but they do it because of the brilliance of Diego Costa. They do it because of the brilliance of Eden Hazard. Victor Jokeres doesn't carry you to a league title. Yeah, but there's others in the team that aren't attackers. In forward capacity, who? That goes back to what I said earlier on. I'm saying the same as Rory I still think Ashton won the league but my point is the same as Rory's when you're picking a team of the season the team who win the league normally the centrefolds or the wingers that's not true it's not true there's been plenty of Man United teams in the past where that you weren't in that won the league that Scholes was in and there was no other attackers in the league now one of the most underwhelming Premier League winning seasons for us was the 19th title you shaved double 19 But Berbatov scored 19 goals that season He was still top goal I think he was joint top goal scorer He's a bit underwhelming But he's still top goal scorer Yacarez Yacarez ain't it Whatever happened to the saying Attack wins you games Defence wins you leagues You still need attackers though We've got attackers Yacarez is putting a few Our goals are spread out Yeah we haven't got an out and out Number 9 that scores 35 We haven't got an earning Haaland But we've got players that win games By not conceding goals You keep talking about players Like the world class like Saka and Jokerez and...

42:29Why are we top of the league, Adam? Why are we top of the league? These guys are because of your defence. Exactly. And City and Liverpool fell off massively. The whole way, that's what they're asking. Well, that's what we're saying. You're also top of the league by Rizla paper now and everyone else has been abject. That's the concern, isn't it? If Ruben Amri got us four more points, we're in the title. That's how shit this league is. We just drop points and you're thinking Arsenal are going to go eight. If Arsenal are this good, they should be 15 points clearer. A prime example is what he said.

42:53We drew to Brighton. It was our third draw in a row. we'd from ahead drew to Brighton drew to Chelsea drew to Sunderland three games in a row the next day you play Liverpool at home a pretty weakened animal yeah and but in between us dropping points you've dropped points as well it's not fucking easy that's my point we're dropping points and you have the chance you get the chance you can't do it Wayne can you see you've been involved in plenty of run-ins you've been the team in front getting chased by someone and vice versa how would you see it from a Manchester City point of view do you think there's any way they can win this league yeah of course they can I still think there's a third of the season left to go so anything can happen from this point Villa no one's mentioned Villa although I think they won't get anywhere near it but they're still there they're still within touching distance I can see City I think Arsenal are a winner I think Arsenal are too strong they're a powerful team and I think they're a winner because of Arteta I think he's been brilliant this season I think in previous seasons when the pressures come on he's shown that and that maybe filters down to the players but I think he's handled it spot on this year and so I think Arsenal win it but City will I think run them close I just can't see City winning every game and Arsenal dropping the points to I still think City If City beat them it's one point isn't it it's one point I don't think they have to win every game like that Yeah but by the time we get to that game things things change so you can always look and say oh you've still got to play Man City at the Atiab but actually Arsenal might be nine points clear before they get to that game or City might be you know even if there were nine points clear and City win it though you'd still go ooh six points it's going to happen again I think we were I think we were seven points clear with four games to go and lost the league 2012 so it's the same but there's 12 or 13 games left there's a lot of football to be played and so literally when you get to that last handful of games that's when you start seeing the real champions people like to look back as well you love to look back on previous title races in the last three or four years and say you're going to win it in three years no but I mean like the 22-23 we had a lot of fun that season I think we were very naive to think we could have played the football we played the whole season and we turned up to the Etihad needing to win and you absolutely wiped the floor with us and you showed us what real champions look like Like, you look at our team now, I don't think, I think we've grown so much since then, on and off the pitch.

45:27We're not going to turn up to the ATA and have a performance like that. This is a proper title race, and I think you need to show more respect to your competitors. No, but can I just say about respect? I'm just going to put it out there. You're all talking about the league, what it is like this season. None of you were respecting the other team. You couldn't even beat us. Do you know what I mean? No, no, no, the league is a great standard. So, yeah, so you're one of the only... But we're talking about, oh, this land of the league is rubbish. Just because the big six isn't the big six anymore doesn't mean the standard of the league is rubbish.

45:54I mean, the standard of the league is rubbish because Man Utd sat there manager this season. Rubell Amrum was one of the worst. And if we had four more points, I mean, we're probably in a tightrope. As we know, Man Utd is the only team in the league. No, but it's... No, the fact of the matter is, the talent in the league isn't great. It's not just the big six anymore. No one's saying that. But you're talking about, when we're having this conversation, we're talking about Liverpool, we're talking about City, we're talking about these games changing it. You couldn't even beat us. There are a lot of big six fans sat here.

46:20Yeah. and you need to start looking down Why do we have to respect each other?

46:34Maybe someone who's lost maybe a touch of respect with the Manchester United fans of the Laces Jim Ratcliffe you know most of his comments about immigration you obviously come out and we're very critical of him as well I mean what are you feeling now? I mean obviously I disagree with him on every possible metric and I think factually statistically morally I think he's wrong on everything and I've been quite open and clear about my thoughts on him for that but even if you take away the fact that I disagree with him as a statesman of Manchester United and as someone that's now a spokesperson for the club you should probably keep your mouth shut on those kind of topics especially when you're speaking about the club because then you bring the club into those comments and people kind of assume that the club have that viewpoint.

47:20And I found it crazy that the club had to kind of release a statement which kind of went against one of their co-owners' words. I just found the whole thing really confusing. And for him to bring it up at this time, you know, we've had a quite optimistic four weeks. We've been on beating in, I think it's seven games, seven or eight games now, five under Michael Carrick. Just keep your mouth shut. Like, let us enjoy this positivity while it's building. We had 12 days without a game and we think, oh, it's going to be quite boring. And then he opens his mouth and it's like, I just don't think he gets the position that he's in at the moment and the responsibility that comes with that.

47:56And like I said, as someone that's a child of immigrants, I disagreed with everything he kind of said. How did he say it? Like, what was the context? Like, why did it come up? I'm kind of thinking that maybe he's leaning towards a position where if the government changes in the future, then he can be seen to be on the same page as those people that may get into power and therefore that'll help him. Because he spoke about the amount of money that immigrants apparently take out of the country, but whilst he's trying to get the government and the taxpayer to subsidise his stadium build, which is quite crazy.

48:29While he's in Monaco. Yeah, whilst he's in Monaco dodging as much tax as he can. So I just found it pretty crazy and it was a stupid time to come out and open his mouth. You know, on this show, I think the last time we did this, we had a sort of a debate about people speaking. I think it was like, we should hear more from sporting directors and owners. and I was a little bit of the opinion that, like, I always think my... I'm always happy when we club... We're all happy when our club's winning. Yeah. But I don't really want to hear too much from them, to be honest. And I think he's almost in a case in point sometimes.

48:58The more they speak, he just seems like every time he opens his mouth, he says something daft. I think he's probably done about three or four big interviews, hasn't he? You know, he had a sit-down with Gary, I think, for the overlap. And every few months, Ratcliffe seems to be doing something, you know, in the sort of media. Well, he was trying to take credit for Michael Carrick and it's like you didn't plan this to happen. Michael Carrick's only here because you messed up with your previous choice of manager. Like you said, before that he came out, it was like Ruben Ambrose got three years and then sacked him within a month.

49:26He's just really confusing and look, you can maybe say his heart's in the right place and he wants Manchester United to be a better football team but I think his actions and everything that he's saying kind of goes against everything he's saying. Sorry, he said about putting Manchester back in the club and then went and sacked everybody that was there. He's confusing. And I thought it was just bad timing altogether. You've just mentioned Carrick there, and on the back of the news about Thomas Tuchel staying with England, and I thought he was one of those people who might be in the frame. How close are we to what sort of, probably most people getting on board with the fact that Michael Carrick is going to be the Manchester United...

50:03He's my number one choice now. Pardon? He's my number one choice. That's what I'm saying. So you're there now. How much of the Manchester United fan base is there? I'm not sure. The reason I've got to this position where he's my number one choice is because if you look at it, kind of, you look at the managers that are available in the summer. Obviously, Tuchel and Chalotti have carried themselves out of it. For me, I think the Pochettino ship sailed. I don't, you know, after the Chelsea thing, I'm not really sure about that one. And then the other one's Nagelsmann again. I think he's a great coach, but we've all agreed, like, do you want someone rocking up on a skateboard at Carrington?

50:38I'm not too sure about that one. And like, just, do you want to wait for him to be finished at the World Cup as well? The pre-season's massive for us. So then outside of that, you've got Lewis Enrique, who I believe probably should be the club's first choice. But there doesn't seem to be any noise around that or any feeling that United are going after him. So I look at Michael Carrick, and I think if he can keep the style of play going, if he can keep improving the players, which he has done, I think if you look at Benjamin Sesko, for example, I think Gary Neville and Roy Keane have been so harsh on him, and I think they're wrong.

51:09I think if you look at his last six appearances in the Premier League, two of those have been started, he's scored five goals his finish against West Ham the other day was a world class finish I'm not saying his world class but the finish was a world class one he was great and I think he's starting to settle and that's a player that hasn't been selected every game but Michael Carrick still in his ear still keeping him going and still making him fight for a spot so I really like what I'm seeing from him, the style of football is good, we're scoring goals, we're defensively a lot better, obviously there'll be a period of time when the pressure's on and we get a little bit shaky but I think Carrick could be the one.

51:45Is it you? I think we talk about Luis Enrique and stuff and I think we've been there and tried different managers. We've tried Mourinho and Van Gaal. Then we've tried the likes of Tenag and Ameren, which don't work. I just think, for me, Carrick makes sense. I felt that from the minute he was mentioned of going in. Not because, obviously, we played together and we're friends. I just think he's a real calm and influence. And what I've spoke about massively, I've got two boys in the academy I've spoke about this a lot there was a massive disconnect from the academy and first team and there was and whether people say that's right or wrong and immediately what we've seen is this connection coming back together which Man United was known for it was known to be a family club and Michael's done that actually in a very short period of time where we're seeing the first team coaches at the academy games and there's a real interest in the academy game How did you feel as a parent of one of the academy players and a club legend when Amarim kind of came out and was taking little digs at Cheeto Olby and...

52:49I don't think it's right to do that at any level, is it? But what I was talking about, I was there with Michael Carrick, our boys in the same academy team and we used to sit in the car and have a sleep in the car park, the two of us, because... Did you have the hairdryer as well? No. I kind of stood there like that. We'd be in the car park and actually, we're two players who are very experienced who know the football club. Just even someone to come out and say, can we have 10 minutes with you? Just to see what you feel about the football club. I rarely believe when people might agree, disagree.

53:34Having someone in there who knows the club, who cares for the club, it makes a big difference. and what you said about Sesco what Michael's doing he's managing the whole squad he's managing them really well the players who are starting they're fine you don't have to manage them you do the coaching with them but do you the lad do what I'm playing we've seen I've had an impact Cunha when he come on in the first couple of games had an impact we've seen him run back and work hard Sesco coming on and having an impact Harry Maguire looks back to the player we once thought he was Martinez he's having an impact on the whole squad the whole football club and I think sometimes we're quick to overlook what's right there in front of you and say, oh, we've got this manager from Turkey or from Spain who's going to come in and do this, when actually there's no interest on the football club.

54:20At least this will give the foundations for the club to keep building, whether in two, three, four years' time it kind of goes or moves on. The infrastructure will be backing that football club. That's right, I believe. Adam, do you think Manchester United now, I'm sure they must be, but it's difficult for them as a club when do they actually stop you've got to be speaking to people they must be speaking to agents right now and almost have this plan together but how long do you feel they've actually got to stop speaking to other people or are they you'd hope they've already kind of started doing that but when a couple of your options start to rule themselves out maybe the older of the club should shut his mouth and you know get to work rather than embarrassing himself on a world stage I don't know again I think they have to start doing that but it doesn't feel like the Enrique one is even a thing.

55:09Tuchel and Chalotti have gone. Can I ask a way? Do you think Tuchel, in the experience that you've had, I know he's signed this deal. I think it's a stupid thing from the FA. Absolutely pointless, bidding against themselves, but they've done it, so fine. But does it actually matter? Surely if a club like Manchester United come along, say England go out to Mexico in the quarterfinals. Tuchel has signed this new deal but Manchester United say we want you to be our manager surely the rates that Manchester United can pay and also the history of the club If he wanted a job he just doesn't sign I think from the FA's point of view I think what they probably have done or the hope they've done is stop all that noise during the World Cup because if they hadn't signed that then a lot of the noise would have been is he going to leave after the World Cup is he going to go Man United where actually I think putting that extra two years in place will stop a lot of that noise.

56:05And then, listen, if he goes out in the quarter-finals, does he deserve to have that two years? No, absolutely not. So I think it's on the front end that I'd stop and all that. That's what I'd assume. I'm not sure about Tuchel, though, anymore. There's a time where I really rated him, and I still do rate him as a coach. But it's like he's always falling out with boards everywhere he goes, like PSG, Chelsea, that happened. Is he going to get on with the idiots we've got upstairs? I'm not really sure about that. Like, are we going to see him be able... Is it going to be something that in six months' time he's just getting sacked and we're like, we should have stopped with Michael Carrick, who's now doing well wherever he's going.

56:41I don't know, I think just give it Carrick. I don't know. I'm starting to get used to the idea. Is there a fair day? Not just six, yeah. I think it's like nine games. He's not lost a game. I said something about Rosinha and Carrick, and I still stick by it, in that when I think one of the big boys appoint a manager, you've got to have... I always think, can I see them winning the league with that manager? And I said I couldn't with Michael Carrick or Rosinha at Chelsea. But you're at a stage now where actually, if you go and get the new shiny toe, the next big coach, yeah, he could be that genius who takes it to the title, but you could also have a situation where Amaroum actually, it becomes really bad or toxic, he doesn't get the club.

57:25So almost Michael Carrick's that safe pair of hands where he just makes everyone just feel a little bit. but do you actually believe he'll go on and win you like the Champions League or the Premier League? Look, that remains to be seen obviously but from what I see from him tactically you look at the spell he had before the spell he's had now I think it's about 9 or 10 games all together we haven't lost any of those games and the managers he's come up against he's constantly changing the style of play the tactics within that as well and I think some of his tactical selections and choices have helped us win a lot of these games I think his substitutions have been very good at times as well there's none of that oh we're bringing on a centre back when we're 1-0 down against 10 men what was all that about?

58:04it was not I'm actually kind of embarrassed that I kind of stood by and was watching that happen I remember the Kaby Maino thing was proper annoying me like that Kaby Maino wasn't playing how can a manager not see that talent in that? is Carrick just doing what a good manager should have done with Man United is Carrick looking good as just making amaranth I said this before he went in I said obviously I've tried in coaching whenever I had to go but when he went in there Man United just need simplicity they just need common sense in the team selection in players running forward and running back at the same speed they're running forward which was not happening and I think all he's just done is got them organised got them hard to beat and said to them attacking players who've got a little bit more flair you've got to be the match winners winners the game so we'll stay in the game him used to win those games and it's actually very simple what he's done but very effective where now what we're seeing is all these coaches or head coaches coming in and you know we're seeing rotations all over the place and you know they want to have a thousand passes with the ball and that's a success when actually just do the basics right get the ball forward get in the penalty box back it up sustain attacks and I think that's what Michael's done at Man United and it's working and you look at the football as well it's not just been the results like one of the things like, you know, if we were getting results for the football, some of the football we're playing at the moment is the best in the league.

59:30I know it's only been four weeks, but you look at some of the passing moves and all those kind of things. We've passed you off the park at times. Could have been six or seven against City. Like, it is really refreshing to see and be interesting, what is Carrick like on the training pitch with these players and tactically, how does he kind of see the game? Does he have one kind of outlook or is he willing to flex? No, you have to be able to adapt, don't you? And understand the every time we play Arsenal when I was in the team and this is what he'll be bringing back into from his memories as well what worked Arsenal would have the ball and have a lot of possession we'd sit back and we didn't even have to work on a training pitch because we had a group of players who knew right we're playing Arsenal this is how we're going to play and we'd sit there wait and then hit them on the break and he's done that obviously against City and Arsenal so he'll have different different phases in his mind for the opposition he's playing against now the Fulham game I thought it was a massive game and I spoke to him after the game and he felt that was the biggest game which he's had not the Arsenal, the City one because he had to play and he come to some I was at the game some difficult moments Fulham played really well with the ball but that mindset and the mentality of right we're going to stay in here if that was Amaran a few weeks before 100 % he'd lose the game 100 % so I think he's adapting to different things he's coaching he's the league coach even though Steve Holland's in there Steve will be there to help and experience Michael's the lead coach on everything he's doing so I just think you've got something there in front of you please just don't make any silly could be Azzedan sorry could be Azzedan you know what I mean could be or Pep he might be the one unbelievable versus Pep he might be the one it was what it was The Football History Podcast produced by The Overland is now on Patreon, where subscribers can get access to loads more content.

1:01:30Jonathan Wilson and Rob Draper have a World Cup Countdown Series, where every Wednesday you go back through each World Cup in order. A deep insight into how the tournament shaped the game. On top of the main episode every Tuesday, you get at least two more episodes every week, plus the chance to get involved with a Q &A with Rob and Jonathan. The link is in the bio, please check it out.

1:01:57Rory, I'm going to bring you one. Rosinha. You were quite critical of the appointment of him coming in. He's started well. Have you changed your view? Is there anything you've seen how Chelsea play, what he's done? Look, I suppose I have to change it on some level. The record since he's come in has been very impressive. There's obviously a very underwhelming performance against Arsenal in there. There's a very underwhelming draw against Leeds. But generally speaking, he's winning games. But it's very difficult to make a judgment up until this point because the fixtures have been so favourable.

1:02:26It actually starts now, well, after Burnley. We've then got Burnley. So off the back of already playing Wolves, already playing West Ham, he's now going to play Burnley. So again, fixtures, you know, Paphos is in there, a win against them. Fine, but let's actually find out. Off the back of this run, it starts. It's Arsenal, Villa, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, obviously, Champions. Like, now it starts. But what I have to hold my hands up, I stand by the fact that I said it's the most undeserving managerial appointment in the Premier League ever. Because it is. It didn't deserve the job.

1:02:57There's no logic. Every other managerial appointment, even inexperienced ones, we were just discussing Carrick, there's obviously a reason why Michael Carrick has got the job. He's one of Manchester United's best players. He's one of Manchester United's representatives from probably their best ever team. Of course he's in line for that job. Of course it makes sense to give him that job for some reason. Rosinha has no connection with Chelsea whatsoever and he got the job because he's a company man. He got the job because he is a Blue Co employee. So I didn't like the appointment. I don't like what the appointment represents.

1:03:30I don't like the direction that Chelsea are moving in. But of course, hands up, he's won more games than I thought. What do you think about the way he comes across in the press? And I want to ask you this as well, Wayne, because he gets a little bit of stick. You know, he had the stuff on the pitch with Arsenal and, you know, there's a few memes flying about. But I look at it and think, what you've just said there, I agree with. And probably the Chelsea dressing room probably think a little bit like that. Who's this guy who's come up? So I'm actually thinking, the way he's coming across, and you know, you've worked with him, is he always putting an act on to show, I'm a big manager, I'm, you know, I deserve to be here.

1:04:07He's sort of on the front foot a little bit. Do you think it's all part of sort of sending a message to the dressing room? No, I think it's a big change for him. obviously he's gone into a massive football club and obviously his time with me at Derby then Hull then Strasbourg I think there was a plan there when he went into Strasbourg with Chelsea so I think that was always the plan but to come a little bit sooner than probably Chelsea and Liam expected so when you're going in of course you're going in you've got big players in there you've got World Cup winners in there so he has to make an impact so I think he's tried to and I think sometimes less is more sometimes just being behind closed doors with your team doing whatever you're doing but sometimes less is more but what I will say he's an unbelievable coach 100 and I could say that through working and he helped me massively in terms of how he organised the team how he's on the training pitch how he coaches so now the challenge is where he's been I don't think there's any doubt about his coaching ability the challenge now for Liam is managing these top players I think that's the biggest challenge for him and he's a confident person, confident lad.

1:05:16So it's going to be interesting to see over the next, you know, however long it is. But I think from here till the end of the season, as you said, as these fixtures are getting tougher and tougher, it's going to be really interesting to him because I think if he has time there, I think he will do well. And I think the question is, does he get time? There's definitely something about him when you see him in the press conference. And the reason, I don't know if it's a bit of an act sort of play up to being the big manager. But do you remember when you had Graeme Potter there? Yeah. There's no doubt Graeme Potter's a really good coach.

1:05:48We saw that at Brighton. And he got the job. He never felt like the right fit. He never felt like he had the personality or like almost the strength, you know, to sort of manage a club like that. And I was wondering whether it'd be almost the same. You just look at someone and it just doesn't look right. So, as I said, whether it's an act or whether it's his own self-belief. But do you think if this is... It doesn't feel like, I'm looking at this guy who's weak. we don't know if he's good enough yet we'll see over the years but do you think if this is like Ruben Amron or a young foreign coach who comes in and whatever you say Liam's acting like he's not acting like I think he's being himself do you think he gets the scrutiny which Liam's getting?

1:06:25if a young foreign coach comes in yeah it's I think have you seen Amron have you seen Madraska some of the stuff he says I think we are hostile though I do think you're correct we are more hostile and I don't quite know why but we're more hostile to English coaches I think if you think about the scrutiny that Steven Gerrard was put under at Aston Villa or Frank Lampard was put under at Chelsea. It's far more intense than anything that Ruben Amarillo got. It's because we know them. When you bring a guy from abroad, there's always this mystique about them. We don't know the failures. We haven't seen them.

1:06:54But that's the thing with Liam Rossini. You know him, but you don't know him. Yeah, yeah. So you know his name. You know he's played in no disrespect to Hull and Brighton and teams like that. So he's had the creed in England. Everyone knows him, but they actually don't know him. So now they're looking at him thinking, oh, is he putting this on? Is he trying to show he's the big man now when actually he's being himself? But some of that conduct is quite peculiar, isn't it? You know, having a pop at Arsenal for practising long goal kicks and things like that. That felt to me like somebody doing an impression of a good manager.

1:07:29What would Mourinho do in this situation? He would probably pipe up about this. That felt very unnecessary. Have you seen a clip where Cole Palmer's watching him do an interview and he starts giggling like a little schoolgirl. It's like he's trying to be mates with some of these players, I think, as well. It's like, oh, my God, Cole Palmer likes me. It'd be like if I was in that position. Like, fucking hell. How do you know that? No, no, it's just me watching it. That happened a lot with Alex Vettig. That happens with every manager. I don't know if you can just... Your manager will be there and you'll have banter with them.

1:07:58We used to have banter all the time with your managers. But then when it comes to work, you work. It's just stature, I guess. And look, I would love nothing more than for this to be wrong. absolutely nothing more than for it to be wrong but some people they belong on a touchline you can see the power on the touchline I don't think he has that force yet he's still young though isn't he and that's why he's overly promoted I'm sure that he could be a very good coach I'm sure that he may go on to but he did well at Derby did he not yeah but that doesn't get you to Chelsea's job no you said Waza you said it was like a plan for them to kind of bring him from Strasbourg to Chelsea and it came a bit early so are you kind of saying the board at Chelsea knew he was an up-and-coming coach.

1:08:38Well, I think he's got the Southsbury job with the thought that in a few years' time, probably he potentially could be the Chelsea manager. See, that's a worry in itself, though, because what these sporting directors, this project... That's them planning, and you know that Morescu weren't going to be there for a long time. See, Morescu was initially brought in as a yes-man, just like Liam Rossini is, and even he then went, I can't work in these parameters. The European issue is more with the board than it is with Liam Rossini, isn't it? Yeah, absolutely. Liam Rossini is like the front man. Exactly, Liam Rossini was the public face of Bluco, and Bluco were a destructive force to Chelsea.

1:09:10Well, talking about Chelsea, we're going to mention one of the greatest strikers who ever played for them, Didier Drogba, and this is the fan debate settle up. So the settle up discussion this week sent in by James from Leeds. So he says, Jamie, please settle an argument for me. My mate Ewan says Erlen Haaland is already a better striker than Didier Drogba and has surpassed his achievements in the game. Please bring this to the group and talk some sense into him. He won't listen to me. So what do we think? Is Erling Haaland right now a better striker than Didier Drogba? I think Ewan may... What was his name?

1:09:46Jamie? Oh, I'm Jamie. Ewan's mate, James, is insane. Like, Erling Haaland... He's not surpassed his achievements. He's still, like, 25, so I don't think he's going to surpass a full career at this stage. but who knows in five years and look at the goals I think Ireland's a better goal scorer and Drogba I'm trying to make a decision here is if you're going into a Champions League semi-final, two legs who do you want on your team? and I'd pick at this moment in time I would pick Drogba I think Drogba is not to say Ireland doesn't score big goals in big games I think Drogba is like the ultimate big game player isn't he?

1:10:30so in that scenario yeah but then if I said you've got a full league season rather Harlem who did you prefer to defend against? Canada had some bad times against you know what right this is a great opportunity honestly people say that all the time my best game is for the people against Dogman every game was 0-0 so we're

1:10:59he scored a great goal once with the chest he turned it to where his left foot but we had so many games I always say about Drogba it was like you know when you play against someone in training every day you know them well but I got to the stage with Drogba it was like I was playing against Suarez in training you know them that well because we played that many times I played against Chelsea 47 times in my career well we got each other in the groups do you remember the group stage in the Champions League we got each other and then the League Cup I know what to say. The groups. He's seven. He's having the groups, yeah.

1:11:33Did you have to play two groups, remember? Played Drogba differently than other strikers? No, yeah. Drogba was one of them where, don't make him angry, and it sounds silly, Drogba could have games against you where, you watch them, sometimes Chelsea, it'd be like, sometimes you'd be playing with ten men, and then you might say, how can that be Drogba? If Drogba wasn't on it, he wasn't, and it wasn't a case of, right, I'm going to leave tackles in on him. It was totally the opposite with me, with Drogba. It was almost like, talk to him a little bit in the game. Now, you win a challenge, exactly.

1:12:08But sometimes, you know what it's like. I might have done it with you, but you do it with me. You leave it on someone, don't you? You think I'll let them know I'm there. With Drogba, it was the opposite. You don't need to let him know you're there. Benitez called him a diver. Benitez called him a diver. And he went in front of the dugout. Yeah, yeah. Just wound him up. Yeah, exactly. Celebrated in front of the dugout. With Drogba, it was almost, you're trying to get him on side in the game. Oh, he's all right here. he's not trying to throw an elbow or he's not lost his head it's like you keep talking to him in the game almost so I ended up having like not a friendship with him but you felt like you knew him a little bit even though he's an opposition player but when he was on his day and what you've said there I had tough moments that's right but I always say this to young defenders sometimes if a striker plays well it doesn't mean you've played bad you know and Drogba was one of them when you use the word unplayable it's like there's not nothing you can do there.

1:13:00So that goal you say, there where he chests it, it's like, it doesn't mean I've made a mistake, it doesn't mean I've played poorly, it's just like, that's just, you can't stop that, you know, physically. Good coping, that isn't that, isn't it? What's that one? I wasn't bad, he was just great. No, what I'm saying is, sometimes a striker does something, you're a bit like, what can you do about that? But you see, that kind of goal that you're talking about there, that was completely unstoppable. Haaland doesn't do that. He didn't need to do that. He can't do it either. No, the different forwards,

1:13:29ruthless, he swerved the penalty in an FA Cup final. Scared to take it. I don't think you have a right talk about Arlene Harland ever again. You can't talk about Arlene, mate. I was right. Ten goals had been good. There is one thing I've got to say about Harland that I still

1:13:43Harland's still for me in the biggest of games and I think Anfield's a perfect example and I know someone will say to me, oh he got an assist and a goal. The goal was a penalty, he fucking just flicked an header on the edge of the block. He would have had another goal if Sabaslite didn't just call him down. No, but my point being is whenever I see Harland come up against to one of his levels let's say Van Dijk so let's say the best goal scorer will be the best defender he never even he never has a game where you think he got the better of the other fella or he took him to cleaners or he went to even like in the Champions League big semi-finals in Madrid I think he has scored now in the Bernabeu but his battles against Ruiz he never seems to come out on top when I see him up against the elite centre back and I know it's easier to be a defender it's far easier to get the better of a good striker He used to need to make the odd tackle, kick it away.

1:14:29They've got to put the ball in the back of the net. Do you have that feeling? I think with Haaland, not just Haaland, actually, I think Kane's an exception the way he plays, but Haaland's never going to dominate a centre-back. I don't think that's his game. As much as he's massive, he's not a big head of the ball. He's not going to... I was watching Tammy Abraham the other night. His link would play was brilliant and simple. Haaland's never going to be able to do that, in my opinion. But what he is, he's ruthless and he waits for his moment. and I think the game around field will give him his confidence back even that last chance when Cherky played through and Subslides pulled him down even after because he'd scored you see a difference in how he's running just that difference in how he sprints off that ball you could see his confidence was back and I think that's the biggest worry for Arsenal if you get him with his confidence back The reason obviously that's a good point Drogba and Haaland and almost completely different players in some ways in that Drogba in the biggest of games, but probably wasn't like every week where Haaland's almost every week he gets a goal.

1:15:34But I'd love to see Haaland do what Drogba did to me or other defenders where he's getting you down, he's just knocking you out of the way and he's running. And I look at the physique of Haaland and I sometimes think, and I still believe it, I think there's still more in Haaland. He's so young still. No, it's not. I don't think he's going to totally change as a player now. I think he should be knocking people out the way yeah you know just as a 40 fan that one he did against Brentford where he's like pushing everyone out the way you know that he was like wow yeah when he did that but he doesn't do that I don't think we see that enough I agree think about the difference here we're comparing chalk and cheese we're comparing like one of the best who have ever lived with one of the best now which is a fairly underwhelming era underwhelming it's an underwhelming he broke the goal scoring record who's the second best then Ollie Watkins it's like a very underwhelming era of centre forwards whereas Didier Jogwell was playing in one of the best eras.

1:16:26I thought you would say the defenders Drogba was playing against was, my team biased, was a lot better than the defenders in today's game. Drogba was scoring all of the goals that we've spoken about, scoring the biggest goals that you can score, but also playing an integral role in Frank Lampard scoring 20 goals a season. If Haaland doesn't score, he's not involved. He's actually the third most assister in the league this season. Oh, don't try and do it. You just said he won't do it. He clicks it on and hopes it on. You're talking about crafting assists. He's got the third most assists in the league.

1:16:58I don't work with Russell Martin. Garrett, as I think I've said before, last season we started with you on this show and I'll maybe finish him at you. Oh, not far from me. Probably shows where the other season's gone. Hasn't gone to plan. You know what I wanted to ask you? Obviously, he was doing a little bit better. good result against Brighton in the Cup do you think that's the best performance from Mo Salah for not far off 12 months that's what it feels like to me obviously he scored he got assists at different times and last season was a great season but the back end of it he probably dropped off a little bit as well was that the best performance from Mo Salah I think mentally he looked like Mo Salah you know what I mean like the way he wins that penalty where he's using his strength he's determined he's not sort of throwing his arms up in the world and also in the game as well I thought a few times he was like testing his own pace.

1:17:52He looked more prepared to take players on. Whereas more recently, I thought he's been doing all right, but he's not really looked a goal threat. He's been concentrating on maybe teeing up other players a bit more and almost doing what you suspect was why he maybe fell out with the manager at that point. So he's been tracking back, he's been getting involved in duels, he's been doing all that kind of stuff. At the weekend, I thought there was a bit more of the old Mo Salah there. There's still times, don't get me wrong, in this run since he's come back from AFCON where he hasn't been the old Mo Salah and there's been times he's been done for pace and things like that.

1:18:30I mean, you can see he's starting to get on a little bit and that maybe his powers are slightly on the way. But yeah, it was his best contribution in recent times, I think that's fair. What does a successful season look like now for Liverpool? Definitely getting Champions League football, isn't it? but we're still in the FA Cup, we're still waiting to see who we get in the FA Cup, waiting to see who we get in the Champions League. Wouldn't rule us out for either, because why not? Because I think English teams are doing really well in the Champions League, there seems to be a pretty big gulf between us and the rest of Europe really in terms of standards.

1:19:04And we've had some good results in Europe already, who beat Real Madrid at home, went to Inter and got a result, so maybe we're more suited to Europe. And then you've got the Liverpool factor where once it gets going and big nights at Anfield and all that, you sort of never rule that out. And the FA Cup, we're obviously taking that seriously this season. Last season when we were going for the title, I think he just threw us at it a little bit and was like, it gets in the way, so I'm playing that team. We're out, no-one's asked, we're going for the title. This year, he's played a very strong team at home to Brighton there.

1:19:38We've moved on and I think we'll take that seriously. but I kind of feel like it's a bit of an audition for him now for the manager to get another contract there's 12 games left in the league I think the next six are all sides outside of the top eight so on paper you'd say Liverpool should be beating those sides but they're the sides we've been struggling against and they're the sides that have had people pissed off in terms of how we've performed I went to Sunderland the other night and I really enjoyed that one I came back and as ever you look on social media and you're like, that's not what I saw.

1:20:13Because I really enjoyed the battle of it. I enjoyed the fight. I enjoyed seeing Canarte play really, really well. I think he's done really well recently. He's looked like the defender we know he can be. And Liverpool are starting to look like a side where it's harder to score against them again now, which was the problem. And plus we're scoring goals as well. I wouldn't be doing no, you know, we're back or any of that. You know, Bournemouth, obviously City as well, you know, shows that we can still be beaten. but I feel like we're moving towards a bit more of an identity again now and something you can get behind.

1:20:45You mentioned the games Liverpool have got coming. I've got the last four games here in May. Oh, God. Man United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Brentford. That's why I said the next six. So they must be Liverpool's last four games of the season. If Slott does miss out, or the club miss out on Champions League, Do you think it's either he gets in the Champions League and he stays or he misses out on what would probably be the top five? If he misses out on that, he would have to go. I think there's a big question at that point, yeah. Because, you know, I think the very fact that he signed a three-year contract, didn't he, and there's been no talk of renewal.

1:21:26And in fact, there's been talk of quite the opposite of him getting sacked, obviously. I think he's obviously got through that. There's been lots of PR pieces in newspapers and even a PR roundtable interview with Richard Hughes, etc. involved. And so they've made it clear they're backing them for now. And they've made it clear they're behind them and there's a plan for the future. And like we said before, though, football's a lie. If Liverpool go on another string of defeats, they don't make top five, they're going to be looking at it. You've got Zabby Alonso lurking in the distance. I'm not entirely sold on that, by the way, as a thing.

1:21:58I think lots of the complaints I hear from fellow Reds are about style of football. I don't think Zabby's is that exciting either to be honest with you and plus Slott's got the better of him twice already so and you know allegedly or however you want to put it but he was maybe sounded out wasn't he when Slott got it and didn't want it so there's lots I don't think that's a shoo-in that some people think it is so we'll see but yeah like I say I feel like it's an audition for him the rest of the season how does it go and you know to me fellow fans if you like I'd just like us all to get behind them now.

1:22:33Get behind him, get behind the team, see where we can go. I think there's been little signs that the support's coming alight again. I thought the Newcastle game at home, Anfield felt like Anfield that night. That is a power, that is a thing, that is something we can use. And, you know, online or offline, I think we just back the Reds now, back the team, back the manager, see if we can win a cup. And look, if he doesn't do it, he doesn't do it and he'll probably go in the summer. But if he does do it, great, we'll probably see a trophy with red ribbons on it How did you see the Liverpool situation was with the manager?

1:23:11No listen it's strange when you're talking about he's on an audition to keep his job when he's obviously recently just won the Premier League it's strange for me and I've met him a few times he's a nice fella but I just don't think for Liverpool he's got that aura about him and maybe this is because you've just come off the back of Jürgen Klopp and it's going to be difficult for anyone to have that but I just don't think there's that aura about him and I've worked with Dutch managers and I know they can be difficult at times but I think if they don't win top five I think he'll be gone for sure which is crazy to say that he's just won the Premier League It's interesting because obviously you get judged on your heads of course you can but he'd be such a better manager as well wouldn't he next season on the back of this season in some ways as well that's what I keep thinking you know because I don't think it's all his fault I don't have the right I don't think I think any manager now managing this squad with Salah not being the same player as last season Van Dijk's not quite the same player as last season as well the squad's not that big it's not that well balanced I'm not sure there would be a manager out there getting loads more loads more out of it if I'm being totally honest but then you look at the players look at Liverpool last season you've just mentioned there I think Salah and Van Dijk haven't been at the best then you've got Trent who's missing Robinson hasn't played a lot of games Louis Diaz obviously the Jota situation even Nunes brought Sutton I know he went great but he brought Sutton to the team so they've lost Liverpool have lost a lot of players so there is a sort of rebuild so do you think there should be a bit more understanding then?

1:24:52I think so but I do get the fact and obviously speak to a lot of Liverpool fans the fact that slot has just not quite got that connection which I feel could be pivotal The signings I think are decent as well I think all of them will be decent players for Liverpool I mean you know I went earlier I think on Kirchner's than a lot of Liverpool fans who weren't sure about it but now he seems to have won most people around and you could probably say that was his best game at the weekend just gone we're obviously seeing more from Wirt now Echertike's got 15 goals you know got Isak to come back as well and that kind of thing so I think you're right there's loads for him to work with if he can hang on but it may well be that it's somewhere I think and he's right there in terms of an audition I think that's the way Liverpool supporters sort of see it maybe that might be different behind the scenes but I think you've got to have this feeling that you're going into next season with a buzz and I think if the new signings keep looking like your best players which I think probably in the last sort of I would say four to six weeks, Eketike, Vert, Kirkes, if they start becoming your best players, then you think, okay, we're building it.

1:26:04It's getting built around them for next season. For me, I still think he'll be Liverpool's manager next season. Not to make this all tribal right, but one of the things that you have to bring into these debates when people compare Salah and Van Dijk with the greats is they've not defended a title again. Isn't that part of being a great player? Like, when Van Dijk gets brought into these debates... So is Thierry O 'Reilly a player? I use that against him, like, when we talk about it. That's why, for me, Wayne Rooney's the greatest Premier League player ever. But surely it has to be brought into the debates here.

1:26:42You have to retain the Premier League title if you want to be a great player. No, but I just think with Liverpool, what's happened from last season, and I do think Van Dijk and Salah, which I've been vocal on this season about, have maybe lost a yard, the two of them. And then the players they've lost around them, and they're probably the two leaders in the team, for any team to lose them players, it's going to be very difficult for them to win the title. And you throw in the fact that they've both probably lost a yard, so I don't think that should go against them two. For me, them two, certainly Salah is one of the best of all time in the Premier League and Van Dijk will be challenging to be one of the best I don't think he's the best but in this generation now he's the best centre-back which the Premier League has seen so I don't think you can hold that against them too The level of flux is mad when you look back on it and it goes back to conversations earlier about sport and directors and things like that it is an honour and a slot all the ins and out in one summer that's above them where they're saying okay that's the right money to take for Diaz now I think the manager as much as he sorry the head coach as much as he can because he's never going to come out outright and say it but I think he's hinted that loads that he didn't want Diaz to go I think we can draw the dots on that one so that wasn't his decision and then he wasn't replaced and all he's got there is Inge Moura who's a teenage kid who looks good and I think will be a good player but is obviously raw he should be knocking around doing his A-levels you can't expect him to win Premier League games every week do you know what I mean so there's no comparison between what he is and what Diaz was.

1:28:22And you get sold these daft lines sometimes, like, oh yeah, we're not signing anyone in that position because it's a pathway for Ingemar. We're like, come on. Do you know what I mean? Like, Liverpool are crying out for more on the wings. They're crying out for someone who can take you up the pitch like Diaz did. So I agree with what Jamie said before. I think even a manager being parachuted in now wouldn't be able to do a whole lot different with this squad. You know, even all the arguments about right-back and all that, I don't get some of them online. You know, Calvin Ramsey and all that, it's like, look at what he's done in his career.

1:28:56There's nothing there that screams he should be playing Premier League football week in, week out. So why is that being used as something to hit the manager with? Some people just want to hit the manager with anything right now, I think is where we've ended up. In the summer, there was a lot of talk of this is the greatest window of all time. Florian Verts is this. Obviously, we know how good Alexander Rezac is and granted he's been injured recently, but to hear like talk about a squad when you invested so heavily in some fantastic players. We sold, though. We sold him as well. Clearly it's not all about just spending money, though, which is what we've been told for years.

1:29:27Do you know what I mean? Legally. Jamie, we'll write to you with the lawyers, mate. What's happening with that? Are we going to hear about that? Are we just going to shit himself now? Who am I? Who am I? How am I supposed to meet him? He's a beanie man all of a sudden. Who am I?

1:29:50Dan, I'm going to come to you. Obviously Manchester City have still got that worry, it's still lurking in the background, but have you got a worry about relegation? No worries. Not after the Brighton win. I think it was absolutely massive for us. If we'd have lost that, and then obviously two or three days later we go into that game at home against Burnley, we conceded three in seven minutes. I've never seen anything like it, Jamie, to be honest. We were cruising in that game. Stran Larsson scores two goals in his own debut. I don't think Burnley, I think it was 16 games they hadn't won in the Prem and then they scored three and seven.

1:30:22My main issue isn't necessarily relegation because we've still got Leeds at home, we've still got West Ham at home, we've got Wolves at home this coming Sunday. My main issue is that if a manager tells you in October that he's decided he's not going to be there at the end of the season, he pretty much tried to get sacked before the Sunderland game. The club, for whatever reason, whether it was trying to smooth the path or because they didn't have the candidate, that they wanted to come in immediately and replace him mid-season. They've decided not to lance that particular boy at that point. And I think now they've sort of backed themselves into a corner where they can't just get rid of him because we've got this European campaign coming up.

1:31:00And I'm thinking, I'm going to Bosnia on Wednesday. This team that we're playing, to all intents and purposes, over two legs, we should hammer him. And that isn't me being arrogant. It's just the strength of the Prem compared to the conference. But I knew going into the second half against Burnley that we weren't going to come out and turn that back around because the players probably, and I can't say this for sure, but it was just common sense human-wise, you know, you go in, if the manager's giving you an absolute rollicking, what are you going to think? You're going to think, well, you're not here next year.

1:31:28In three months' time, you're not my manager. So as much as professionally you might be right, on a personal level, the respect's probably gone. But, I mean, I just don't see us winning this particular competition with him in charge because I don't see that he can motivate them over two legs because when it all comes back to brass tacks, you've got a manager that you know isn't fully bought in. So I'm very much in the camp of I would rather he was gone. I don't think the club are going to do that, but it's not ideal for sure. So you would make a change now? I genuinely, I mean, look, there will be Palace fans who disagree with me and that's completely their call.

1:32:02I don't want a Palace manager and I think it's the same for everyone. You want your manager to want to be your manager. It's a very simple thing to say. I don't want someone coming in thinking, well I'm off anyway you know if that was happening at Liverpool or Arsenal or Man United their feet wouldn't touch the floor so the fact that he's done that I think we've won one out of our last 13 in all competitions he should be under pressure for his job anyway I know he won us the FA Cup if he was still fully bought into Palace if he'd signed a three or four year contract and he said look we're going through a difficult time but I want to be manager at this football club I'd be like well ride it out we're in Europe we've won the FA Cup with him all great if you've already decided in October you don't want to be our manager and I don't want you here anyway.

1:32:41Who would you look at then to come in because you know the manager's been going for the last few months when he announced it. Who did the supporters want? Well I don't think there's any sort of universal choice. I mean obviously at the moment I asked the question the other day if you could choose one of Ange Postokoglu's Sean Dyash Thomas Frank or Gareth Southgate obviously because of his Palace links who would you choose? No one's rising to the top. Roger Schmidt's a name that's been mentioned a lot I just wonder whether or not, and again, I'm not suggesting that bringing someone like Paddy McCarthy on an interim basis is ideal with a European campaign, but I don't see it being much worse than having a manager that's a lame duck anyway.

1:33:21I mean, it may well be that the board think, you know, Oliver Glasner's won a Europa League, he won us the FA Cup, so tactically, he's correct. But I just, I don't want him here anymore. And it's not because I hate him or anything. I just think if you don't want to be our manager, you should leave. you know them games you mentioned before about teams I think you've got Hohan who were sort of fighting relegation but they'd be looking at you as well as a good game so what I'm saying is if those games didn't go particularly well could you be in a stage where with six or seven games of the season to go you might say you know what we need to make a change because they actually moved around the club is not right it's not right now I mean so we obviously lost that game against Burnley from 2-0 up we've got Wolves this Sunday at Selhurst that's sandwiched in between these two games against Zdzinski and Mostar.

1:34:08Obviously, fatigue comes in. I think it's going to be like minus 12 in Mostar when we go there on Thursday. I don't know. Obviously, they're the team at the bottom of the league. We're at home. We should still be able to pick up three points. If we lose back-to-back home games against Burnley and Wolves, it's not acceptable. You know, and we should be making a change anyway. But if we hadn't won that game against Brighton, I think we'd be banging trouble. It came sort of out of nowhere. Obviously, you keep a clean sheet. It's a big game for the fans, even though the rivalry isn't something that fans generally get on board with.

1:34:35But, yeah, if we hadn't picked up a win there and then the same thing had happened against Burnley, I'd be absolutely desperate to make a change. Wow. OK, we're going to end it there, but we're going to finish with the fan debate community question to us all. And this question comes from Adam from Greater Manchester. Right. This is a tough one. This is a tough one, right. If you could immediately remove three Premier League teams from the league and replace them with any team from the Football League which teams would you pick and why? Get rid of Brighton. Brighton and Brighton. Get rid of Brighton.

1:35:13What? Why are we getting rid of Brighton? Sheffield Wednesday up. Sheffield Wednesday up. Definitely. Get Sheffield Wednesday up. Get... Blackburn. Blackburn. 7 ,000. You've got to give us three or four. Sheffield Wednesday Middlesbrough. Blackburn. Bradford. Get rid of us. No, this is my spot. Sorry, mate, but the only team to be promoted to the top division, not based on merit. Yeah, they bribed their way into play. Yeah, people don't talk about it. Arsenal. Who's that? Arsenal. Arsenal, God. Arsenal, yeah. Oh, fuck. Man City can go. Ken Norris. I reckon. Ken Norris. Man City can go. Brighton's have to be won.

1:35:51Brighton have to be won. Brighton's the worst away. Get rid of Brentford. I'm not kidding. It's so far away. Brighton and Bournemouth should get away as well. Bournemouth. Yeah, get Brentford. Who are Brentford? I think Maranac is the best You just keep Get wig and aphalatical Because you get the whole Any state or a club can go Newcastle City, see you later I think that's fair Get rid of Bournemouth Have like 900 in the away end Brentford aren't a Premier League I've never met a Brentford fan in my life I live in West London forever You've never met one of them Wednesday up Everyone always wants Sheffield Wednesday.

1:36:34Wednesday up, Paul Warhurst. Wednesday, Barra, Blackburn. Blackburn, no. Blackburn could... I'd love Millwall. That would be chaos for a year. Millwall's such a good away day. Millwall's such a good away day. You'll be down there with them. Really? They might get promoted. They might get promoted. You'll play them next year. If Millwall got promoted, Mainstream media would be a chaotic place for a year. They would do things that you just don't... It would be nuts. From a pure... It would be ballot for the away, wouldn't it? Yeah. Who would you say? You'd be careful. Listen, can you imagine the subject I'm going to get in if I say I'm going to treat teams on the Premier League?

1:37:19I would like to see Rexton come up. No. Yeah, I would. I'd say who I'd like to see come up. I would like to see... Preston as well. Would you see Rexton? Preston. Preston never been up. Portsmouth I think Bradford would be great they've got a great stadium Benito Cardone I was picking my favourite three days I think Stockport as well City fans will have a problem picking a game then innit Sheffield Wednesday might want to get them back yeah it takes me back when I was a kid they were the big club then weren't they I'd like to see Leeds go down

1:37:56that'll get good You won't be given no Leeds games Next few months Last time I've been there I've got sacked twice

1:38:07That's a good way to end Another edition of the Fan Debate Brought to you by Skybet

1:38:30We'll be right back.