Newcastle’s Best Performance This Season, Man City Let It Slip & Harry Kane On Fire

11:22Gary Lineker:Well, what we're seeing is we're seeing that, we're seeing more crosses, and we're seeing long throws. More long throws than we've seen for such a long time. I mean, it's like... The game goes around. It's been an incredible shift, hasn't it? Yeah, absolutely.

11:35Harry Kane:Well, I mean, they all think there are new things, and then you go back to the old things, and it's almost cyclical in a way. It's a bit like fashion, isn't it?

11:43Gary Lineker:Absolutely, yeah. Those circles, goes around in circles.

11:45Harry Kane:Although some of those suits we wore back in the day, I don't think they'll ever come back.

11:49Gary Lineker:No, they're not coming back. They'll never come back.

11:52Harry Kane:Let's move on to Arsenal. Good start for them.

11:56Gary Lineker:Very good, yeah. One, two out of two. The only English team, two. Yeah, they're looking good, Arsenal. I mean, a great result at Newcastle. Left it late last weekend. And then it was one of those nights last night where I was sort of flicking around into each game. But every time I sort of watched the Arsenal game, they were missing a massive chance. It was one of those where I was thinking, God, if they don't put a second one away, they're going to get punished. But such as their strength and Saka comes on. and he gets his goal. So, yeah, Arsenal, yeah, the big shift for Arsenal is who they're bringing on to go and either win the game or rescue the game or whatever.

12:30Gary Lineker:They're bringing quality players onto the football pitch now. So many options. The goal's improved a lot.

12:37Harry Kane:Massively. I think with Saka getting his goal, he's getting back into his rhythm now. Here's a tip for you, Al, as a really experienced fantasy football league player, right? Go on. I think it's time to bring Saka in. You've changed. I wonder if Harry agrees with me. I don't know. I'll ask him later.

12:58Gary Lineker:I thought Jokeres did well as well. Didn't get his goal. Didn't get his goal, but just his running him behind. He set up the first one, didn't he, for Martinelli when he went behind. He was a bit unlucky when he hit the post and he came out for a tap-in. But the way he smashed the centre half off with his body and great strength. So I thought he looked a threat as well. So, yeah, Arsenal looking really good.

13:23Harry Kane:Yeah. Okay, let's take a break there and we'll discuss some of the other games when we come back.

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16:23Harry Kane:Welcome back to the Rest is Football with Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. We're discussing the Champions League ties. It's mad six English teams in the competition. So we'll cover those first, of course. Liverpool, a bit of a stutter. We said, didn't we, that even when they'd won the first few games of the season, that, you know, they were winning them in the last minute. And we were saying, and I was saying in particular, I think that's a good thing. This can't be a bad thing. But they definitely haven't found their rhythm this season. They haven't found... They've had to change slightly, haven't they, with Witts coming in and the way they're doing it.

16:59They don't seem to have discovered a way of playing yet

17:03Harry Kane:that is as strong as it was last season.

17:06Gary Lineker:No, definitely. I did the game, Gaz. I was in Istanbul. Atmosphere there is amazing, isn't it? Brilliant. It was absolutely fantastic, the atmosphere. I mean, their passion and love for football in Istanbul is like off the charts, amazing. So it was brilliant to be in the stadium. Really interesting sort of set-up that Arnaz lot had chosen to go with. he'd chosen Frimpong on the right of a front three and he'd put Schlabozlai as right back and he had the other right back Connor Bradley on the bench and also left Mo Salah out

17:40Harry Kane:that was an interesting choice

17:43Gary Lineker:I guess they have got a heavy load with the games but yeah it was it was strange I know it was always going to be a very difficult game going there because of who and what they are I know But Galatasaray got thunked in the first game, 5-1. But yeah, it was always going to be a very tough game there because of what they bring to the table. And Liverpool were miles off it. You know, they started slow. They just didn't find their rhythm. And whatever they were trying wasn't working. It didn't work with Frimpong on the right of a three. Yeah, they were slow. They had lacked energy. Wurtz was really poor again.

18:23Gary Lineker:Whether he likes it or not, a lot of the focus is going to be on him because of, through no fault of his own, what they paid for him. And they're looking for Liverpool to improve because... And they have changed, there's no doubt about it. With the two in and then him playing as a 10. And it's not working. They can't find the right balance as yet. And defensively would be the biggest worry for me because they are all over the place defensively. particularly, I mean, they tried to play out from the back. They got caught. When they lose their ball, they are so open. And Van Dijk and both Canati, I mean, they were terrible the other night.

19:04Gary Lineker:They brought Kirkes in as well. And he seems to be struggling with the system as well. So it's not just in forward positions they haven't got the balance. He wants to go forward. That's a natural thing for him. That's his first thought. But when he goes forward, he leaves Van Dijk and Canate exposed. And they got done down that side, particularly his side, their left side, so many times. Slobberge-Lyde give the penalty away, Osserman. That's another one we spoke about earlier, about centre forwards. When you look at the deals that have been done this summer in terms of centre-forwards with Jokeres, with Seshko, with Volta Mardy coming in.

19:50Gary Lineker:I was really surprised that no-one took a punt on him. João Pedro going into Chelsea, De Laap going into Chelsea. I was really surprised no-one took a punt.

20:01Harry Kane:I need to apologise, by the way, to Vitor Ossoyman. Why? Because, remember, I intimated that perhaps I heard a rumour that he goes missing sometimes. And I believe that is actually completely not the case. So, Victor, if you're listening, I'm sorry about that. You shouldn't spout rumours on these things. So my bad on that. My bad.

20:27Gary Lineker:Whether it was anything to do with salary, whether it's agents' fees or whatever it was, I mean, they paid, I think, Galatasaray, they brought the record for him. I mean, they paid, what,€75 million, I think, for him, which is, what,€60 million? When you think of the grand scheme of things, about what's being paid for other strikers, with his record, I mean, his record is fantastic. It really is, in terms of goals. So I was surprised.

20:52Harry Kane:I'll go back to the games I saw him play against Leicester in the competition a few years ago in Europe, and he was exceptional in both. Because you really get a feel for someone when you're actually in a stadium, don't you, watching. And he's quick, he's tall, he's a good finisher, he's brilliant in the air, he's a hell of a player. He's been out injured,

21:16Gary Lineker:I think, for about a month and he only played six minutes last weekend, so it was perhaps a bit of a surprise that he started him, but he definitely got the better of Canati and Van Dijk the other night.

21:27Harry Kane:Yeah. Leaving Mo Salah out in the Champions League game, he won't like that, Mo. Mo plays to me. Mo always plays. I mean, I know nowadays the amount of football they get, they have to rotate and stuff. But the big players like Mike Mo and the superstars of the world always play. So it's a moment for Liverpool that I'm sure they've sought themselves out because he's clearly an excellent coach and what he did last season was superb. But there is a moment sometimes if you get your big name players and they get a little bit upset by things, it could go the wrong way. I don't think it will, but it could go the wrong way.

22:03Harry Kane:But he has got things to sort out.

22:05Gary Lineker:Yeah, and it's not just Florian Verts he's got to sort out. There are a lot of other things that are not... The new signings have not settled in yet, have they? No, no. I mean, we watched the Palace game, didn't we? And they were really poor. They got opened up. They should have been 4-5-0 down in the first half. But for the brilliance of Alisson, who incidentally got injured on Tuesday night and won't play at the weekend, Arna Slott said. So he came off. Marmo Dashvili came on. So, yeah, there's one or two causes for concern for Liverpool. I know they're still top of the league, so it's not a disaster.

22:41Gary Lineker:But there's definitely cause for concern with the last two performances. Well, actually, no, with all the performances this season, because they have scored late goals. It might have been papering over the cracks a bit, but the last two in particular, the last two defeats, that would be definitely a cause for concern.

23:00Harry Kane:Spurs came back well, because again, I'll go back to the point I made about Newcastle. The games against the so-called lesser teams, if you're playing against a team that's not one of the big boys, you need to win those games. Spurs didn't manage to get all three points away at Bodo Glynn, but they did come back from behind.

23:20Gary Lineker:Yeah, again, though.

23:21Harry Kane:Showed a bit of character, but again, that's not ideal, not winning these matches.

23:26Gary Lineker:No, they were 2-0 down a couple of weeks ago against Brighton. They were 1-0 down at the weekend, left it late to get the equaliser. 2-0 down again. So that would have to stop. But on the flip side, positive is that at least they have come back and shown the right attitude. So that's certainly something to work with. But I think all in all, for Spurs and for Thomas Frank, it's been a positive start. A win and a draw in the Champions League, gone well in the Premier League but plenty of things to work on, yeah.

23:59Harry Kane:Yeah, that's about early days. One last game to talk about in terms of the English clubs. Chelsea beating Benfica and I think obviously the story there was Jose coming back. There were a lot of lovely bits, weren't there, in interviews? There was a sore one. A bit where the guy that's been at the club forever brought him some custard creams which apparently his favourite biscuits. I do like custard cream myself, actually. I do like custard cream. You know, seeing the old staff there I mean, he's a charmer, Joe, isn't he?

24:26Gary Lineker:Yeah, he is, there's no doubt. And as I see him as you, I saw all the bits on social media, him giving hugs to so many people and the reaction to him coming back was brilliant. And rightly so, because they love him at Chelsea and for what he did, and he loves Chelsea. It'll never leave him, and it was great to hear him and see him at Stamford Bridge again, because he's played a huge part in who and what Chelsea are, didn't he?

24:52Harry Kane:I think that's three games running where they've had red card. I know this one was for two yellow card offences, so it's slightly different. But they need to keep an eye on that disciplinary side. You can't keep that.

25:04Gary Lineker:You can't keep that going. You can't keep that doing. But that was, particularly after the little murmurings going on about Mareska under pressure. Needed that. That was an important win for Chelsea. Another big game at the weekend though, haven't they?

25:22Harry Kane:Absolutely. but yeah big win for Mureska particularly being against Mourinho as well coming back Goste would have really wanted to get something out of that desperate

25:32Gary Lineker:wouldn't he he would have been desperate to get something out so that was a big win for him

25:37Harry Kane:I was sitting in a restaurant after finishing filming yesterday and watched the game on my phone PSG Barcelona I wanted to watch last night it was as anticipated I thought there might be more goals than that I thought Marcus did pretty well did some nice things really good assist he made some substitutions and they seemed to get a bit lost Barcelona PSG had quite a few of their big stars missing and Luis Enrique obviously going back to Barcelona it's not the camp now yet but it was still playing the Olympic Stadium in Monjuic so but it was kind of end-to-end game and in the end that high line again I know

26:15Gary Lineker:it was incredible wasn't it last few minutes wasn't it

26:18Harry Kane:last couple of minutes and I mean it's the way they play and you know So that's his philosophy, that you play that high, you push up, we win the ball high and we'll back ourselves. But it is amazing how they still don't drop at any point.

26:35Gary Lineker:Just at no point. I mean, even as the last couple of minutes, it's still, it's like incredibly high and that's what done them. Last night, PSG broke that offside and then little tap ball across for Gonzalo Ramos, wasn't it, that scored the winner. So, yeah, it was a decent game every time I was flicking onto it. But it was with the players that PSG had missing, for them to go to Barcelona and win that game is a great result for them.

27:02Harry Kane:Yeah, it was a late winner in that one. I think Marcus has started well at Barcelona now, because going to a club like that, he's getting a lot of football. People were saying he's not going to get a game, he's not playing. Obviously, you're always going to get little knocks and injuries to certain players, and he seems to be rotating quite a lot. but Marcus has started a lot of games. In the Champions League now, that's the three goals that Barcelona have scored. He scored two of them and assisted the other one. Really good pass.

27:31Gary Lineker:Brilliant pass.

27:32Harry Kane:Yeah, good start. I think encouraging. You can see they really like him. Even at the weekend, his assist at the weekend was in the league and it was a corner, but all the players ran to him.

27:43Gary Lineker:It's a good sign though, isn't it, I guess?

27:45Harry Kane:It's a really good sign. So you need that, Particularly, I haven't experienced it myself, when you go abroad, you want to win everyone over. And it helps. It really, really does help. So I'm pleased. And talking about Marcus doing well, Rasmus Hoyland. And I know De Bruyne was brilliant in the game as well yesterday. But Rasmus Hoyland. Two goals. Scores two goals. Everybody who is leaving Manchester United seems to be doing really well. But it just shows you, doesn't it? Well, it's not, you know, I heard Wayne Rooney actually the other day being very critical of the players at Man United saying they're not doing enough, they're not trotting.

28:25And I don't know, I just think when the club's in a turmoil, when it's a bit rotten, that I think this is the evidence that it's not necessarily just about players' attitudes and things.

28:38Harry Kane:We all know what it's like, we all want to do well, we all want to try as footballers. there's no one ever steps out on a football pitch without total commitment. I mean, it's very, very rare that. It's a tough environment to play in his man United

28:53Gary Lineker:for the last few years. And clearly now it's a tough place to go out and play. And even more so now, I guess, with what's going on and you hear the manager week in, week out, it's the same old this, this, this and this and nothing is changing. so yeah it's a tough place to play at the minute is that ground and the evidence suggests that as you say when anyone ever leaves is that they go and do really really well I mean McTominay, Hoyland, Anthony, Rashford I guess Sancho hasn't but the majority of players that go out and whether they leave permanently or whether they're on loan they seem to go and shine don't they

29:34Harry Kane:yeah that's not a coincidence It really can't be. It really can't be. I want to finish today with a little bit of a debate, Alan, because Harry Kane, another two goals. I mean, he's scoring so many goals. He's got 17 goals in nine games with three. Harry Kane played with Nicholas Jackson up front for the first time two nights ago. and it looked like Harry was playing more in the 10 role, which we talked about in the first half, didn't I, that Kane can drop deep and you need players to run past him. But he can also, he's comfortably played in that 10 role, but he still managed to pop two goals in.

30:19Harry Kane:I mean, his numbers are incredible. You've got Mbappe with 13 goals and one assist in nine games. Harland's got 11 goals and one assist in eight games and that's not counting international football, where he's banging about. Alvarez Alvarez has got seven goals and three assists in eight games

30:38Gary Lineker:Remember in your day guys when one and two was great Yeah

30:42Harry Kane:that's when the game was much more defensive it was people weren't playing out from the back and taking amazing risks you know it was kind of just a little bit more defensive minded football then so yeah one and two back then for the top strikers in the world would If you got better than one in two, things change, don't they? And there's way more penalties as well, don't forget.

31:10Gary Lineker:Yeah, exactly. Those numbers that you've just mentioned were those boys. They're off the charts, aren't they? Spoke about Haaland and then Kane and then Bappe.

31:20Harry Kane:Those three. Who's the best striker in the world at the moment now? Come on. This is our area. We should know this. but I mean

31:30Gary Lineker:I think you also have to judge where they're playing Gaz I mean in which league are they playing against I mean do you not think that no well to be honest the standard of the standard of the league as well the opposition as well

31:45Harry Kane:no one scores more than a goal a game in the Premier League over a season I mean Harlan got as close as anyone didn't he a couple of years ago but he was almost there

31:58Gary Lineker:and all three of them are very different I mean Kane will drop deep Kane won't mind dropping deep and turning and knocking those balls and more often than not you're not going to see Harland doing that you just mentioned Harland is that he's quite happy to have as many or as least touches as possible but you know that he'll stay alive and stay alert and then when the touch comes along more often than not it'll be in the back of the net so I guess I guess that's very, very different to what the other two, Mbappe wants the ball at his feet, he wants the ball to run at defenders and go past defenders.

32:36Harry Kane:He loves to spin that. He's learnt the number nine role really quickly because he's always played on the left-hand side. He's been brilliant at playing up front and the way he's turning, he gets offside occasionally, but that's fine. I don't mind that. I'd take Kane's a wonderful...

32:55Gary Lineker:I think as an out-and-out goal scorer, if we're just looking at goal scorer, goals, that's it, I'd take Haaland. Yeah, yeah, would you? Yeah. But, I mean, there's so many other things.

33:07Harry Kane:If you had to sign someone now, you'd obviously take Haaland over Kane because Kane's in his 30s and Haaland's in his mid-20s. Mbappe, I'd go on Mbappe over the... Would you? Yeah. It's still round. I mean, he's unbelievable. He's scored a half-crick in a World Cup final. I know, you know, and lost him. and I know two of them were penalties but you've still got to knock it under pressure but I just think he's he's something else because he he can he can beat players with his incredible pace he can he can I think he can do it all he can drop and he can play he can he's turning into and he's new to this role so I think he's going to get better and better so I I mean they're all let's let me make this whichever one you get you'd be alright with them all three of them unbelievable players and I mean Harry Kane the way he's gone into life at Bayern incredible the amount of goals he's scored and he's done a brilliant job fantastic yeah and they're all they're all top fellas as well like all centre forwards are Alan

34:14Gary Lineker:yes goals

34:16Harry Kane:goals goals goals goals that's what it's all about

34:19Alan Shearer:exactly yeah

34:20Harry Kane:okay let's call it a day there and we'll be back on Monday. Mike will be back then as long as he's not getting more treatment on his back. We're the old ones here. Oh, then he's the one having treatment on his back.

34:34Gary Lineker:We're the ones that should have a bad back. We're carrying him every single week.

34:39Alan Shearer:What a great way to finish. That's it. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Have a great weekend, everyone.

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35:51Micah Richards:behind them. And we are going to be talking about the historical contexts behind some of the greatest and most famous books of all time. We're going to be digging into the remarkable people behind them, the unexpected stories behind the stories, and also unraveling the plots of each book a bit and delving into the depths of the story. Now, you don't have to have read the books to listen to the show, but we hope that by the end of each episode, you will be able to pretend to people that you've read them. That is the key thing. And either way, whether you read them or not, We hope that you'll learn lots of fascinating facts, you'll do lots of great stories, and maybe, Tabby, the odd laugh.

36:26Micah Richards:We will be looking at thrilling Gothic bodice rippers like Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein, as well as iconic stories like The Great Gatsby or Little Women, and then also some more modern stuff. So Game of Thrones, Normal People, The Hunger Games, Hamnet, all manner of exciting stories. So please join us on our journey into all things books wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for The Book Club every Tuesday and hopefully we will see you there.