Pep Needs To Sort It Out

14:07Alan Shearer:That was so strange, wasn't it?

14:09Gary Lineker:So strange.

14:09Alan Shearer:Yeah. I mean, it was to do that. I mean, it was just daft Paul. But he was always going to get a second yellow for that. The club actually refunded all the fans, didn't they? Which was a nice touch, I think.

14:24Gary Lineker:Yeah, it was good. Did they refund? Was it just the tickets or was it travel? Or what did they refund? Do we know?

14:31Alan Shearer:I think they all went on private jets and they refunded.

14:35Gary Lineker:I don't know that.

14:37Alan Shearer:Just the tickets, actually. Just the tickets. I mean, not the main thing when they all travelled. But I saw Harland interviewed after the game. And the thing is, when he's not scoring, I mean, they're so reliant on his goals, aren't they, as well?

14:51Gary Lineker:I like his honesty, though. I like his interview. He said we were embarrassed. I accept responsibility. I'm meant to score the goals and I'm not scoring.

15:00Alan Shearer:Eight games without a goal in open play.

15:03Gary Lineker:Right, yeah. Well, he's human. He's normal. It happens, doesn't it? Of course it does. I wouldn't read too much into it.

15:13Alan Shearer:He had two good chances, but we've been there.

15:17Gary Lineker:Part of your centre-forward's life, you get on with it. It's only a matter of time before he hits the net again and then he'll go on a run and get 8-8 or something like that.

15:27Alan Shearer:Wolves at home at the weekend.

15:30Gary Lineker:You might triple captain him then, have you? Is that something? Can you do that?

15:34Alan Shearer:You can, yeah. But I'm not going to do it at the moment, I don't think. I don't know. I mean, Wolves might beat them the way things are going at the moment. You never know. So Spurs, I mean, very different. Very different in the Champions League. Really good victory against Dortmund. Puts them in great shape. They've got Frankfurt away in their last game. Generally this season, they've been better away from home than they have at home. If they win that, obviously they'll be guaranteed the top eight in fact the English club is amazing five of the top eight six all six are in the top 11 wow so Premier League clubs are doing it fabulously well in the competition but yeah good performance good win for Tottenham much needed obviously Dortmund got us the red card which was perhaps the bit of luck that they need at the moment something like that to lift them obviously Solanke came back which is you know he looks back fit scored a goal so I was flicking over and watched a couple of little bits of that game having watched City and stuck on Arsenal mainly but that's a big win for Tottenham and good one for Thomas Frank

16:40Gary Lineker:yeah please for Thomas Frank because under massive pressure after what happened at the weekend with West Ham scoring the last minute you could hear the boos and the pressure and everyone including ourselves were speculating about his job and all that and he came out in his press conference said no I had lunch with the owners and they were fine but it wouldn't have been fine if they hadn't have won so they had to win that game they did so well done him I guess all eyes will be on him and his players now when they go to Burnley at the weekend

17:15Alan Shearer:yeah they've got the Burnley game then Frankfurt and the run of fixtures after that is they've got Manchester City at home Manchester United away Newcastle at home yeah And then the London derby against Arsenal at Tottenham. So that's a tough run. But if they win the next two, Burnley, and then win their last one and get in the top eight, you know what that important confidence is in football. It really makes a massive difference.

17:46Gary Lineker:The good thing is that after the weekend's game, Saturday, after being beaten by West Ham, you then got a game three or four days later because to sit on that for a week would be painful. But then you've got the right of reply three or four days later. And it was pretty simple. They had to win that game. And they've got to do the same again against Burnley this weekend. All the noise will all start up again if Burnley were to beat them. So it's another huge game, I guess. When you're in that position, I guess you go from game to game.

18:20Alan Shearer:Yeah. Oh, most definitely. That's for sure. elsewhere last night I think perhaps the main headline was that Real Madrid finally put in a really good performance Jude Bellingham got one late on Vinicius Junior was man of the match Mbappe scored 11 goals already in this season's Champions League then it's Harry Kane who got 7 who also missed a penalty he scored one and then hit the bar for a hat-trick didn't he and then it's one Anthony Gordon in third who is now equalled somebody's record for the most goals scored by a Newcastle player in a Champions League season. And that, of course, was you.

19:02Alan Shearer:Yay. You. It looks like another record might go.

19:05Gary Lineker:Well, I hope so. I hope so. I hope he bags another two or three at PSG next week. I mean, he can't buy a goal in the Premier League. He hasn't scored an open play for over a year in the Premier League, which is incredible. Is that right?

19:20Alan Shearer:Over a year?

19:20Gary Lineker:Over a year. Open player in the Premier League. Yeah, incredible. Yet he's got six in the Champions League this season. I don't know what it is. He looked a much better player in the Champions League than he certainly did at the weekend against Wolves. I don't know what the situation or his feelings are, but I guess it just happens like that. And if he gets one in open play in the Premier League, you know what it's like. He'll go on to get others.

19:48Alan Shearer:Who have they got at the weekend now? Who have you got?

19:51Gary Lineker:they've got Aston Villa at home triple captain on Sunday triple captain him Anthony I'd rather have Haaland at home to Wolves exactly

20:00Alan Shearer:exactly yeah when Bellingham scored he had the celebration with the drink thing because he's been getting a bit of sticking in Madrid and saying he's like I mean he said it's complete nonsense I suspect it is complete nonsense there's no real evidence to back that up whatsoever he made light of it at the end of the game he says you either have a bit of fun at these things or you let it bother you.

20:23Gary Lineker:Best way to be about it, isn't it? Don't let it affect you. As a player, when you get criticised for whatever reason, you get the right to reply on the pitch and that's where you have to do your talking. So he's done it and that's got to carry on now. That was a big win for them as well.

20:39Alan Shearer:Yeah, it certainly was. Let's take a break now, Alan, and then we'll hang around for a bit and wait for a certain Micah Richards. we will also get his take on Manchester City's game as well I think that might be quite important back shortly this segment is brought to you by Specsavers Best Worst Team the series that takes the worst football team in the country and tries to turn their fortunes around on and off the pitch this season Wally FC thought it might help to bring in a new assistant manager I don't know what ever made them think that Micah Richards would be that person but they did and he's discovered it's one thing to talk about decisions and another thing entirely to own them.

21:20Alan Shearer:What's it like being pitch side rather than just telling people what to do in the studio, Micah? You know, it's way better because you can touch it, you can feel it, you can make a difference. I went in there, I strolled up in there in the dressing room, give it the big I am. There was a loud roar from the lads. I went out there, I said to the guy, you need to simplify the game. So the manager was absolutely top. But he was playing sort of a free, for free formation. I said, he'd need to go back to basics. Play 4-3-3 and we'll win the game today. What happens? I turned up and we get the victory.

21:58Alan Shearer:But you're not taking any of the credit then, Michael. It's all about the players. You're a genius, Michael Richards. Thank you, Alan. Thank you. But a couple of players who impressed me. JB, the captain. I like his attitude. Always gives 100%. communication we've talked about communication though he's a leader on the pitch I need a little bit more communication wise but his effort I can't I can't doubt and then Zayde in number 10 really good on the ball technical makes really something happen within the game but the only thing is they don't run back they all want to run forward but no one wants to run back I'm screaming on the sideline I'm like okay he played some good football there.

22:43They're all watching what they're doing, you know, because at that league, everyone wants to show what they can do, but it was just that work rate going back. Did you give him a half-time, Mike? Yeah, I gave him a rollicking at half-time. Yeah. What did you say? Go on, tell us, give us, give us a demonstration. Do you want to give us, I said, what did I say? So I got into the zone, I said, no swearing. Oh yeah. Oh, that's spoils it. I can't do it then. We'll bleep it. We'll bleep it, Mikey, carry on, we'll bleep it. I said, lads, I know there's cameras here today, but forget the cameras. What I've seen out there in that first half is an absolute shambles.

23:26If you want to play at a higher level, I've all seen you running forward, but can you get f***ing back? Show me about that passion, that desire, about getting back for your teammates. What all you need is to do, look to your left. look to your right.

23:44Gary Lineker:What do they think? Are they crossing or something like that on a road?

23:48Alan Shearer:I think, Mikey, you got those two the wrong way around. I'm sure you just look. Do you want to be in the trenches with that guy next to you? And if you don't, this is not for you. Come and sit here right with me on this bench. And then second half, they went out, dominated, run back, back, got the goal and was absolutely fantastic. Micah, Micah, you've given me goosebumps. Honestly, that's like Bobby Robson 1990 all over again. We just need the Rocky theme with the music now.

24:26Alan Shearer:Are you enjoying it though, Micah? It's been fun. No, on a more serious note, because I do so many different things now, we obviously do the Premier League and then we've done other leagues in terms of what me and Al do. But to see the players who are not getting paid anything, turning up on a Sunday, giving that much effort just for the love of the game, that is great to see. That's the bit that I really like. Yeah. Fantastic stuff, Micah. I wish you continued success. That's Specsavers' best worst team. An up-close look at how improvement can actually happen in grassroots football. If you want to follow Micah and the club's journey this season, search Specsavers Best Worst Team on YouTube.

25:12Alan Shearer:This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. New year, new website for your business and Squarespace makes it easy. Choose from a line of professional templates customized with simple drag and drop tools and let their AI builder help you create a polished site in just a few steps. Head to squarespace.com slash football for a free trial and when you're ready to launch, use offer code FOOTBALL to save 10 % off your first purchase of a website or domain. This episode is brought to you by Specsavers Best Worst Team. If losing were a sport, Essex-based Worley FC will be world champions. Last season, they managed only four points and finished rock bottom in Brentwood's Sunday League Division 3.

25:57Alan Shearer:Specsavers Best Worst Team follows the country's worst performing grassroots football club as they're giving elite level support to try and turn things around on and off the pitch. This season, our very own Micah Richards has stepped in to assist club manager Luke, roping in some famous faces and footballing legends to give Worley FC the boost they need. With a goal of 15 points this season, Micah has his hands full, but he's off to a great start with a 1-0 win in his first game on the touchline. Follow Micah and Worley's journey throughout the season by searching Specsavers' best Worst Team on YouTube now.

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27:19Gary Lineker:It's about keeping yourself steady over the long run. Consistency beats intensity every time.

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27:40Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, me, Gary Lineker. And now, now in the lack of a car is Micah Richards. Big Meeks, you've been grafting tonight. Oh, we've been grafting for the last two nights I've been grafting. but we've got a new off-air time which is quarter past 11 so I had to keep you boys waiting can only apologise we could have done it in the morning but it's probably best to get it out now isn't it that's a long time

28:07Gary Lineker:after the final whistle isn't it it's a long time yeah it's a long time listening to your dulcet tones for another hour and 15 minutes or so

28:16Alan Shearer:I bet next week with the way the way things have lined up with so many teams that could possibly get into the top 8 because it's so tight in those spots Micah next week you'll be on till midnight on Wednesday because everyone's playing on the same night. I enjoy it. I love it. I absolutely love it. I can't complain. I'll tell you what you probably didn't love. We're going to talk about tonight's games but I just wanted to get your opinion for obvious reasons on Manchester City, Michael. What's going on? Guys, honestly, it's so disheartening to see it. To see what's going on at Manchester City and I asked you guys the other day, how could he score against Manchester City?

29:00He's a counter-attack. And you can pin the blame on the young lad, Alain. We know that he's been at Watford in the Championship. When you go to the Champions League, it's a different level. But can he have some protection at some stage? There was one moment in the game where the ball went over to the right-hand side of the pitch and four or five players were running to the ball. Rodri was trying to get back and the other four players didn't look around them and check their shoulders once in the game. And it's not good enough. It's the same pattern every single week. And if you look at how Man City play, where they've had their success over recent years is they get the ball back really quick.

29:48Not usually like two or three seconds.

29:50Alan Shearer:High up in the pitch. High up in the pitch, and that's not happening. Then they've not got the legs in midfield to get back. So it's so frustrating to watch. It's Bodo Glimps. We're not talking about a Real Madrid, that run and run. We're talking about Bodo Glimps. And yes, they're difficult at home. And yes, it's on a plastic pitch. But they've got enough quality the other night to go and win that game. And it feels like I'm repeating myself to say all things happening. and it just doesn't seem to be getting any better in terms of that counter-attacking, conceding goals. Out of the six teams, the English teams that are in the Champions League, City are bottom of the six.

30:32Alan Shearer:Having said that, they're still only in 11 spot and if they win their last game, they'll have a terrific chance of getting in that top eight, which I think all clubs really want to do because the last thing they want in this congested season in his two more games to qualify to get into the last 16.

30:52Gary Lineker:Who have Man City got next week? Obviously, they're at home next week. Galatasaray. I was going to say they should have enough to beat them, but they should have had enough to beat Bodo Glimpton, shouldn't they? So, Newcastle have got a tough one. They've got PSG, so I'd expect City to win. But I don't know. I'm not in the form that they're in. I don't know. The pressure's on them. But I think it's been a really interesting first seven games and every club that's in it from a Premier League point of view is sitting pretty well, aren't they? Yeah, is it five English teams are in the top eight, is it?

31:34Alan Shearer:Yeah, five in the top eight, which is amazing. Yeah, it's really good. But just going back to your point about City, they don't need the extra games. I think if you look back, did Haaland need to start against Exeter? Probably not. Maybe the reason why he started, because he's not scored or he'd only scored a penalty. It's not free-flowing at the moment. But Pep obviously is a genius, but he needs to sort it out because it's too easy. It's too easy to play against them at the moment. And why I speak so passionately about Man City is because of the players that they have. The bringing in Semenyo starts really well.

32:19Aiton Ory's back now as well. He's had an injury as well. If you look at the players, Rodri's back, but he's not fully right yet. He's not moving the same. It's frustrating to watch them not be able to do the things that they've been doing so well for so many years.

32:36Alan Shearer:Yeah, it is strange to see. Do you think there's a point? It's not what I think, but I'm just... whether when a manager is a club for so long that players can perhaps get a bit tired of the same old voice.

32:52Gary Lineker:Yeah, but he's actually signed a whole new team. So it's not as if they're tired of the same old voice. They've got so many new players in there. I mean, since I think the last 12 months or last eight months, there's like, I don't know how many he's gone in there, 11, 12 players. So it's not as if he hasn't got a turnover of players in there. So I wouldn't necessarily go along with that one. Will Mark Gay make a difference? He can play the next round of the Champions League. He can't play next week. Next week, that's right. So he can play when? After the playoffs, can't he? In the next round. Yeah, it will certainly make a difference, Mark Gay.

33:31He's a top player. He's a consistent performer. Really good on the jewels. Read the games really well. He's aggressive when he needs to be. And he can go forward when he needs to be as well. but I don't think it's about one defender because if you look at the way Man City play, they've always had that protection in the midfield. And like I talked about, winning the ball back, I think it's just more than one defender. I really do. I think offensively, they'll always score goals, but they need to sort out that. I think they need some more energy in midfield or if you're going to play, maybe go with two midfielders, maybe go with Nico Gonzalez and Rodri instead of going with Bernardo.

34:13So if you want to play him, maybe play him out wide. They just need that protection. I think they just need to go back for keeping the ball and being a lot more defensively sound because they can't keep conceding the goals like they conceded because they won't win anything playing that way.

34:30Alan Shearer:Alan was at the Newcastle game, so he hasn't seen any of the other fixtures that were played tonight, Micah. So I'll lean on you a little bit here. I thought Liverpool did really well tonight. I mean, that's probably a real confidence-boosting result for them. Yeah, I thought Liverpool were excellent tonight. We spoke to Slott after the game as well. And he said he disagrees that they've been a bit slow in terms of the possession building up. He said it's more the team setting up against them. He said tonight Marseille had a go, so there was more room. I thought Salah played really well. Verts is playing some of the best football since he's come to the club.

35:12Eketike is always a handful. And then Gapol took his goal when he came on really well. It seemed like the balance of the team. You're in Fring Pong as well. The way they played tactically, he sort of played a four, then a box in midfield, then two. But the strikers were sort of wide and then left room for Verts to get the ball in the centre of the pitch. It worked really well. and if they can play like that, I'm not going to say they're back, but I think that's 13 games now that are unbeaten. A lot of them games have been draws, as we talked about on the pod before, but that was convincing from Liverpool.

35:47To go to Marseille in that atmosphere, it could have been a banana skin for them, but they played really well.

35:55Alan Shearer:I thought they were excellent, and Sabozlai as well was very good, wasn't he? Yeah, well, Sabozlai has probably been their best player this season. Anyway, one thing you can count on him with his energy, the tenacity in midfield as well. And he took his free kick really... They said they worked on that in training. I saw it under the wall, yeah. Under the wall. They didn't have a draft excluder, as they call it, did they? I know, yeah. Where's that come from? Where's that come from, guys? Who made that up? I don't know who invented that saying, but it's kind of stuck. Obviously, it's because, you know, you put those long things in front of a door to exclude a draft, I imagine.

36:34Alan Shearer:if you were playing

36:36Gary Lineker:nowadays Michael you'd be a draft excluder be the biggest fucking draft excluder ever coming from someone who's bald

36:49Alan Shearer:you can't say that

36:51Gary Lineker:now you feel the draft every day that bald you'd be getting a letter off my lawyer I mean

37:03Alan Shearer:Liverpool look obviously considerably better than they did early in the season. The fans are still moaning a little bit about the pace of their play but it was interesting to see that you thought that, well, Slott said that he didn't necessarily think that was the case. Is he talking about a lot of teams playing low blocks? Yes. I think that's what he was alluding to. He didn't go into details. He asked him a couple of the results. Against Burnley, obviously, and then Leeds that he was talking about at home. where he just said that teams are setting up that way. He doesn't mean to be playing that way, but he's got to adapt to what it needs on a day.

37:40And you know what? I'm really happy for Slott because he won the league last year and I know fans get really frustrated that, you know, they've been spoiled with Klopp because Klopp was so good. High energy, pace, football. Slott's a little bit different. But if you listen to him in his interviews, he's amazing. He never gets too high, never gets too low. always honest about the situation and yeah I'm glad he's turned it around because it's a difficult difficult situation to be in you know

38:10Alan Shearer:so Liverpool doing really well Chelsea it wasn't you know it wasn't a sparkling performance I was actually watching the goals show and I think it was another one obviously they played relatively defensively as you'd expect Pafos but they found a way which is another important result it would have been And if they hadn't have won that particular game at home, you know, all of a sudden there'll be inevitable question marks. But the results are the most important thing, obviously. Yeah. But before we go on to that, you see Jamie Carragher having a pop at our podcast saying no one listens to it and all that.

38:49Oh!

38:51Alan Shearer:Well, I think we have significantly more listeners than the one that he does, whatever. I can't remember what it's called now. We've got podcast walls now, guys. Get into gear. Get into gear. Because, you know, it'd be nothing but nice. I like the team over there. I worked with a lot of their staff. Really nice people. Really good at what they do. But you can't be calling out our pod. We've got to defend it with everything we have. We don't need to. We just defend it with, you know, with numbers. Remind me, who got the Netflix gig for the World Cup? Oh, Gary! He's on the run for Attack, Attack!

39:31We will.

39:32Alan Shearer:We do. I did see it. It was the introduction, wasn't it? It went on socials. I did see it earlier tonight. But thank you for the mention. It's nice to get a mention. Did mention it was an award-winning podcast as well. Boom. Yeah, but in terms of Chelsea, it wasn't really about the performance. It was about the result tonight, wasn't it? Just get over the line. But Chelsea have got a big game. next week, haven't they? I think they've got... Is it Napoli Chelsea have got? Napoli, yeah. Yeah, they've been really struggling in the competition, weirdly. They've been a bit up and down, but I tell you what, McTominay's some player, you know.

40:13Whether he plays deeper, whether he plays a little bit further forward, his timing of his runs into his box, the influence he's got on that team. He's got nine goals again this season. He got Serie A player of the year last year. And sometimes people say, oh well it's only a fluke but he's turned into a machine what he does for Scotland as well whether he's scoring overhead kicks bicycle kicks whatever it may be watching him he's really stepped it up really has become a very good player

40:40Gary Lineker:some big games next week for our for our or for the Premier League teams to try and get in that top eight

40:46Alan Shearer:it's not impossible that all six can get in I think it's unlike I think it's going to be tough for Newcastle Island because they're going to PSG that's a tough one obviously against the defending champions but Tottenham have got a real chance and what they got Frankfurt away you'd fancy the chances there I think we'll get at least probably four in the top eight maybe five and it's not as I said it's not impossible that you get all six

41:11Gary Lineker:16 points last year was enough to get in the top eight was it?

41:14Alan Shearer:I think it looks like it'll be similar this time because there's a lot of teams on 13 points so a few of those are going to win and so I think you'll need at least that to have a really good chance there could be quite a few teams on 16 points So I could go down to goal difference and have going to be a cracking watch next Wednesday, that's for sure. Can't wait. Are you doing any co-coms now? By all accounts, you were very, very good.

41:37Gary Lineker:You sound surprised. Well, let me, you know. No, it's Wednesday night, isn't it, Micah? So Amazon only got Tuesdays, so I'm going to be in PSG watching Newcastle. Yeah, sir. Yeah, I'm going over there because my daughter lives in Paris, so I'm going to go over there and watch the game. Nice. Spending a few days? A few days? Yeah, I'm going to go for a few days, yeah. Are you going to be romantic? Are you going to take the wife there? No, I'm taking Will and going over there. So me, Will and Holly's fiancée are going to be going to the game on Wednesday. Yeah, so looking forward to that one.

42:10Alan Shearer:That'll be a good one. That'll be a cracker, that.

42:12Gary Lineker:Bring us back some flowers, will you? I'll bring you flowers, Micah. I'll bring you flowers.

42:20Alan Shearer:Fantastic stuff. Well, we look forward to that. We'll let you go, Micah. Where are you going? Are you going home or are you staying down here in London? No, I'm going back up to Harrogate. We've got a couple of meetings. We've got a meeting about a dog tomorrow. A meeting about a dog? Did you just say? Isn't that like a phrase that people use, no?

42:38Gary Lineker:It's not what I use, but... No? Must be a Chapel Town thing. What is it? Are you looking to get a puppy?

42:48Alan Shearer:Oh, dear. I think we best call this a day. I hope your meetings are not too early, Micah, and you get home safely. Yeah. thank you thanks for joining us after such a long night so that's it for this episode of the rest is football award-winning podcast most listened to football podcast in the world on that note goodbye from me goodbye from me goodbye from me

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