Pep’s 20-Trophy Decade & Are West Ham Heading Down?

12:57Alan Shearer:Yeah, it's going to be really interesting to see how he does next season. You mentioned black and white there. You were at the game watching Newcastle. Good finish to their last home game of the season. A bit more encouraging. What did you make of it? You were there.

13:10Gary Lineker:Yeah, I thought it was much, much better from Newcastle. Much more positivity. It was a really good atmosphere. Trippier leaving, Kraft leaving, and so they get to leave on a good note. Good way to end the season at St James' Park because there has been a lot of negativity and Newcastle have been poor by recent standards. So good to get the three points, but I have to say West Ham, oh my goodness. They were dreadful defensively. I mean, it's like watching under 15s or 16s amateur side at times, how bad they are defensively. He played three at the back to start the game and then after, I don't know, about 25 minutes, he changed it and brought Castellanos on and went him and Callum Wilson up top.

13:54Gary Lineker:They were a little bit better after that. Some goal he scored. It's worth a mention. I mean, what a goal. Fantastic, yeah. Yeah, good goal, good goals. That was a great goal. It was a fantastic finish and then West Ham put up a bit of a fight. But it was too little too late, you know. It was like 3-0 down. The game's gone from them. So, Valtomar had got a goal. Good, pleased for him. Azula got two. He looked really good, really promising, really energetic. He took his goals really well.

14:18Alan Shearer:It's funny, isn't it? For all the money that Newcastle spent in the summer, obviously from the ESAC thing, the player that's probably impressed most in that position is Azula. I mean, he's taken these opportunities, hasn't he?

14:30Gary Lineker:Well, he has, yeah. He's done really well and done everything that's been asked of him of late. I don't think Newcastle should be fooled in terms of the last three or four weeks, what he's done and what happened today. They still need recruitment in that position.

14:45Alan Shearer:As for West Ham, it's looking pretty bleak for them now. I mean, that would have been a real boost for Tottenham going into their game as well.

14:52Gary Lineker:Oh, absolutely. If you're Tottenham watching that, then you're absolutely delighted because they just need a point because of the goal difference. So that would be a huge boost to them. But yeah, West Ham, I was like... I was a tad surprised they changed the system because they looked really uncomfortable in what they were trying to do. They didn't know whether to press, didn't know whether to sit off. And in the end, they just didn't either. And then Newcastle could sort of play through them and mistakes defensively. And they were just, they were rotten. They were all over the place, West Ham.

15:23Gary Lineker:And that would, yeah, they're pretty much done and they need a miracle if they're going to get out of it.

15:28Alan Shearer:Yeah, the first goal was absolute shambles, wasn't it? It was. I mean, there were so many errors in there. It was, yeah. So lackadaisical. And, you know, obviously Newcastle made the most of it. but yeah grim times for West Ham fans yeah I think they're pretty sure but you never know in football obviously yeah but Spurs should be able to grind out a point you would think so you would have thought so wouldn't you let's take a break there and discuss one or two of the other games when we come back

15:59Alan Shearer:this segment is brought to you by Specsavers best worst team it's been quite a season at Worley FC they've gone from finishing rock bottom in Brentwood Sunday League Division 3 to chasing a top half finish and enjoying a cup run. But as we get to the business end of the season, Wally still look like they could do with a bit more going forward. Micah and Luke have turned to experience, bringing in the one and only Joe Cole on loan. Not a bad bit of business, Micah. How did he get on? Well, he scored. He looked a bit tired, in all honesty. I mean, if you look at him, he looks only slight, but in terms of his football brain, his touch, his technique, the way he took his goal as well, absolutely fantastic.

16:53Alan Shearer:I'm delighted for him. Thank you, Joe. I doubt it's the highlight of his career.

17:01Alan Shearer:Let's just say he did a lot better than me up top. I went up top dinner and did you? honestly it's not easy

17:09Gary Lineker:is it? it's not easy

17:10Alan Shearer:yeah I went up front for about 10 minutes how many goals did you back? zero goals it's when I brought Angry Gingy's team they're very good and yeah I did a little touch a little technique a little but it wasn't like Joe Cole Joe Cole yeah he stole the show what bit of advice

17:29Gary Lineker:did you give Joe Cole and just what? what advice? yeah as as you're like your fortune business. I said, go out there and get them ticking.

17:37Alan Shearer:None of this long ball malarkey. None of this long ball nuts. Joe Joe calls a long ball merchant, is he? He's a technician. He's a wizard. None of that. Get on the ball, get us ticking. He needed to bring the old school new, you know, because everyone thinks Sunday league, long ball and all that. But I wanted us to play. We won the game comfortably, I would say. And yeah, he was a massive part of that. You must be thrilled to have made a difference. You're obviously a natural-born coach, Micah. You know what? I'm wasted. I'm wasted in the punditry scene. I've told you guys. I was saying that earlier.

18:20Alan Shearer:So at the start of the season, guys, I set them a target of 15 points. What have they gone and done? And? 17 points. And the season's not finished. So I've done my job, guys. How about you guys do your job? You know what I mean? Uplift people, you know? Give them the confidence that they need to go on, I don't know, flourish in life, you know? Instead of constantly putting people down like you two do. Well done, Michael. 17 points. That would send you down in the Premier League. It must be a little bit daunting for them in a way, having people like yourself, and particularly Joe Cole, a proper player, watching them.

18:58Alan Shearer:And at the same time, it must be quite, they must be excited by it, the fact that they're getting this attention as well. You know what? I think they go the other way where they try to do too much, you know, because all the cameras are there and we're there where they're trying to impress. I've just said to the guys at halftime, just play your normal game. You know? No, that's, that's what you don't want them to do, isn't it? Well, that's what they did last season. Well, this season, this season. Please don't play your normal game, boys. That's the halftime speech of a lifetime. but they've done so well this season

19:34Gary Lineker:I heard a little whisper of that even Man City I think and when Pep lose you might be getting the cold Mike I tell you what you know what I'm going to do my badges I'm going to do

19:43Alan Shearer:my badges properly I've done punditry a couple more years in punditry I'm going for it guys but obviously a lot of years in the podcast world Mike oh yeah the podcast will remain the podcast will remain yeah great stuff well subscribe to Specsavers his best worst team on YouTube to follow the journey of Wally FC. Search Specsavers Best Worst Team on YouTube now. This episode is brought to you by Snickers. Right, so VAR goes up and whether you're watching with your mates or just watching on your own, it all kicks off. You're arguing, fuming, getting way

20:20Gary Lineker:too worked up. Honestly, it's like watching someone slowly turn into a different person. You're not you when you're hungry. Classic.

20:30Alan Shearer:So maybe it's a sign, a sign for Snickers. Never a bad call to help you avoid a full-on meltdown. I've seen a few in my time.

20:38Gary Lineker:Remember Tamuri Kitbaya? And he wanted to prove a point to the manager that he should be in the team and he scored the goal. Whipped his shirt off and threw it into the Gallagher end and started absolutely smashing the advertising board, volleying it, didn't he? Full-on volley. Can you remember? VAR might test your patience, but it's a shared frustration everyone laughs about. Remember, it's a sign for Snickers.

21:02Alan Shearer:Just remember, everyone loses it sometimes. That's football. Well, you're not you when you're hungry. It's a sign for Snickers. Visit snickers.co.uk to learn more. Did you know about one in three people with plaque psoriasis may also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling? Does this sound like you? Listen to what it sounds like to be a million miles away.

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22:17Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football. Well, with Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker, Manchester United, another victory for them. I really enjoyed the game. I watched that earlier on. Second half, it was end-to-end. There were some really good performances. It was pretty open. Michael Carrick has earned himself a contract and an opportunity, and I think he's deserved it. I think he's done. I mean, they're miles better than what they were before. I mean, I know he did some things that were seemingly pretty obvious to some of us for quite some time. But it's one thing doing that and then turning those performances into victories.

22:53Alan Shearer:And all in all, very encouraging. Got him in the Champions League. I think he's calm, he's measured, he's obviously thoughtful in his tactics. I think he absolutely, totally deserves, merits that contract.

23:07Gary Lineker:100%. I'm right. I'm exactly how you are, guys. I think he deserved the contract. It was just a matter of length of contract, really. I'm pleased he's got two years with a one-year option. So they asked him to come in and do a job and he's done that really, really well. So they want the Champions League football. He's got that. Forget about one game a week and they didn't have Europe or whatever. He was asked to do a job and he's done that job really, really well. So for me, he deserved that contract. And now I guess they'll go out and they'll try and sign another four or five players to help them next season.

23:42Gary Lineker:And it'll be a lot tougher, obviously, with Champions League and they have to go out and sign some players and add some quality to that team and to the squad. But I'm pleased he's got the chance that he's going to be doing that.

23:54Alan Shearer:Of course, they would have benefited from the fact that they were only in one competition. That was the Premier League. So it is an advantage and it will be more difficult next season. And you look at the overall squad and it's probably not got enough depth. But at least now you can look at them and say as an XI, they're a very competitive side. They've got some excellent footballers. They're going to miss Casemiro. No doubt about that. I think he's been excellent for them. And Bruno, he's just a joyous footballer to watch, the way he finds space. And he could have, I mean, he's obviously equaled that record.

24:25Alan Shearer:He's joined Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne and now with 20 assists. You could see he was desperate for it. Another one. And Bumo missed that one and he was on the floor. He could have probably had about five assists in that game, to be honest. I mean, if they'd taken advantage of it. But superb. What a play. He's already got the football writers. I think he's got to be right up there as a major contender for football of the year. I think, you know, we often give these things to the team, to a player of the team that wins. But for me, football of the year is the best football of the year. And I find it hard to go against him.

25:01Alan Shearer:I think he'd get my vote, actually, because he's also such a great player to watch. And he's passing range and his vision, exquisite.

25:11Gary Lineker:Yeah, I'd chuck three Arsenal players at you for that. But if they do win the league, which we expect them to do that, I'd chuck Riot at you, Gabriel and Declan Rice. I'm not taking anything away from Bruno. I'm a huge fan of his as well, like you are. You think he's been outstanding. God knows where Man United would be without him. But yeah, I would chuck those three names at you as well.

25:31Alan Shearer:Yeah, I wouldn't complain at all if either of those three were crowned football of the year. But I think he's the only other player outside of Arsenal, probably. Yeah, I agree. should Arsenal go on to do what they really should do. Talking of players in form, Morgan Gibbs-White, no player's had more goal involvements in the competition since the start of March. Has he possibly played himself into contention for the England squad?

25:58Gary Lineker:Oh, yeah, definitely. The manager's got a couple of big decisions to make, I think, in terms of defensively. Centre-halves, as we've already mentioned, but he's also given them food for thought as well because of his performances of late. He's been outstanding.

26:14Alan Shearer:He's got great energy. Great energy.

26:16Gary Lineker:Whether he's left it a little bit late or not, I'm not sure, but he's definitely given the manager something to think about. He's been superb, hasn't he?

26:24Alan Shearer:Yeah, I totally agree with you. Really gifted footballer. Another gifted footballer on that pitch in football, Anderson. Elliot Anderson is... I mean, he was exceptional again. Every time I've seen him play, he really impressed me. And I know that obviously Thomas Tuchel is a big fan. He's been an integral part. I think he's an almost guaranteed starter for England. Not the squad, but a starter.

26:47Gary Lineker:A starter, definitely. I think what he's done for England, what he's done for Forrest. And there's huge talk about him actually going to Man United for 100 million plus. I guess they'll be after him. I think there'll be plenty of big clubs after Elliot Anderson.

27:00Alan Shearer:City as well, and they need City link with him. It's not surprising.

27:03Gary Lineker:No, not at all. He really has been outstanding since he left Newcastle. And another brilliant performance again today from him.

27:11Alan Shearer:What did you make of the handball?

27:13Gary Lineker:Oh, don't get me started. Honestly, I'm really, really concerned about the standard of referees in our country.

27:21Alan Shearer:I think every country says the same. No, I guess so.

27:24Gary Lineker:Honestly, I feel as if we've got the lunatics running the asylum with the guys who are making the laws in football. For the referee to be asked to be going to the screen and then for him to say, well, okay, perhaps, well, it did hit his head, hip first, then his arm. But he's actually trapped the ball with his arm and his hip. I mean, anyone with a football brain or anyone who is involved with football can see that as a clear handball. If he didn't spot it on pitch, fair enough. But for him to then go and look at several pictures and views of it and slow-mos and everything else that he's got, and then for him to still come up with the idea to say, no I don't think it was handball and it's hit his hip first but I just think it was nonsensical I thought it was pathetic actually

28:15Alan Shearer:I mean the handball law is a bit of an ass we know that at the moment so I was going to do this at the end but I'd do it now did you see the one that probably cost Hearts the title? Yes I did I was watching that game and it actually got me quite cross watching that because I just thought that whole season was decided And you could say the same thing about the decision in the Arsenal game in the last minute as well. But the one that went against Hearts, I mean, it was just, I thought it was extraordinary. Quite clearly headed it. And if that had hit his hand, there's no way it would have travelled the 20-odd yards that it did.

28:51Alan Shearer:I mean, it's almost as though they need to be part of it.

28:57Gary Lineker:People's livelihoods are on the line here, by the way. People have not seen their club win a trophy perhaps ever, yet that title up in Scotland was decided by that decision. I just think I'm not even involved in it and I don't watch a lot of Scottish football, but clearly this season I think it's been really interesting because of what Hearts have done. For that decision to go for Celtic as it did, I just, no, I don't accept it. And I guess I'm not a Hearts fan, so I can imagine how angry they are up there.

29:33Alan Shearer:We've got no skin in the game, obviously, there. But you just look at it and think, that was wrong. I mean, that was so wrong. So wrong. And, you know, obviously, and then Celtic beat them right at the end. Yeah. And if that scoreline had been the case and that hadn't have been given, they would have won the league, obviously. I know. I mean, the problem is, as you quite rightly said, It's all very well the referees monitoring, you know, sticking to the rules, this and that. But they're also the people now that are making the rules of football are referees. I don't think that is helpful at all.

30:09Alan Shearer:The handball law in particular needs completely simplifying. Back to what it was, I would say.

30:16Gary Lineker:Anyone watching the game today clearly knows if you're involved in football, that is a handball all day, every day.

30:24Alan Shearer:I totally agree with you. Let's move on. Villa beat Liverpool pretty comfortably. I suppose the big story there as much as anything else, and it's good to see Oli Watkins returning to form, possibly at the right time, looking ahead to the summer for Liverpool. I suppose the big story there is the quotes from Mo Salah after the game, where he looked like he had a bit of a pop at Arnie Slot. Let me read it out again for perhaps some people that didn't see it. He posted, I've witnessed this club go from doubters to believers and from believers to champions. It took hard work and I always did everything I could to help the club get there.

31:01Alan Shearer:Nothing makes me prouder than that. Us crumbling to yet another defeat this season was very painful and not what our fans deserve. I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies. That is the football I know how to play. and that is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it. He goes on a little bit longer, but I think the key message in there is obviously going back to heavy metal football, which it seems to me like a dig at the manager.

31:38Gary Lineker:He's dropped one on his slot, hasn't he? There's no doubt about it. That's the message. And he very rarely puts anything out anyway or says anything. I mean, he said something when he did the press walk, didn't he, a couple of months back when we all sort of picked up on that and he wanted to get his point across. And he's dropped another one on the manager now. He's clearly got the hump about what's happening. Yeah, but I know. There's a time and a place, isn't there? I don't think that was the right time. He hasn't exactly been brilliant this season either, more Salah, has he?

32:08Alan Shearer:No, and he's probably covering himself a little bit by saying that's why, because of the way they've played, I suppose. But it's not ideal. Not at all. Interesting to see what Liverpool do this summer.

32:20Gary Lineker:Well, I mean, if you're on a slot and if you've got half an inkling that you're not going to be at that club next season, do you then leave him out next weekend for his last game for Liverpool? Because he has dropped one, hasn't he?

32:34Alan Shearer:Well, yeah. I mean, it's up to on his slot. He can make that decision. So, yeah, it's a sort of sad departure as well, in a way, really. Yeah, a bit disappointing because he's contributed so much to Liverpool for such a long time. As for slot, I mean, all the intimations were that they were going to stick with him. I don't know whether that will change.

32:56Gary Lineker:Yeah, I mean, the performance or performances that they've put in, certainly that the other night on Friday, that's not helping the situation, is it? And I mean, they've been so bad defensively this season. I'm going to say of late, but the vast majority of this season and they've been really, really poor. And again, they were all over the place the other night. So those performances won't be helping the manager. That's for sure. It's certainly gathering unrest at Liverpool.

33:23Alan Shearer:They're going to be in the Champions League, as are Aston Villa. I mean, who know Emery's good, isn't he? You know, obviously they've got a final to look forward to as well, and he's a bit of a boss in that competition.

33:35Gary Lineker:I mean, I know if Arsenal win the league, it'll be Mikel Arteta win Manager of the Year. but Unai Emery has to push him really, really close. The job he's done this season, getting Villa into the Champions League, hardly spending anything and on the brink of another Europa League title. I mean, he's some manager. He really is. He's done a fabulous job again for Aston Villa. You know, because to go again, to play every single Saturday or Sunday and Tuesday or Wednesday, as they've done in Europe again, is some going. He's done a marvellous job.

34:13Alan Shearer:Jumping back a little bit here, but Liverpool have leaked more than 50 goals in a 30-game Premier League campaign for the first time, 52. And you can see that's been an issue. Why do you think there's been such a fall-off defensively? I mean, Virgil's obviously in his 30s now. You know, we don't get quicker as we get older, that's for sure. No. They've never seemed to got that quite right, the protective nature just in front of the back four as well and have often been exposed. What's your theory?

34:42Gary Lineker:Yeah, I guess it's not just the back four or the goalkeeper that have not been as good. The midfield have certainly not had the energy that they had last season. I guess, I mean, I've not seen every single Liverpool game, but I've seen a lot of them. But I don't think I'd be far wrong in saying, other than maybe Slobberge Lai and Eketike, you could say, have come out with any credit whatsoever at Liverpool this season. And all the others have been miles off their normal standard or what they were last year.

35:16Alan Shearer:It's a huge drop-off. Yeah, massive. They've lost 19 games a season across all competitions. And since they were last promoted to the top flight in 1962, only in 92-93 where they lost 20 of the Reds suffered more defeats in a campaign.

35:35Gary Lineker:Yeah, they have. They've been miles off it.

35:37Alan Shearer:And we all tipped them for the title. I know.

35:39Gary Lineker:With the money that they've spent, I mean, even their signings have just not worked whatsoever other than perhaps Eketike. I mean, Wurtz has been poor. Frimpong, Kirkes, who else? Issa, clearly.

35:54Alan Shearer:We're a big injury.

35:55Gary Lineker:Not worked at all. And they're going to have to go again. They're going to have to spend a fortune again in the summer because they're miles off it. I wonder how much they've got in hand to spend

36:06Alan Shearer:given how much they invested last summer. Obviously, it'll help them if they can get Isak fit because we know he's a really quality footballer.

36:15Gary Lineker:But he's always had injuries, Isak, hasn't he? It's not as if he's played right throughout his career without having injuries. He's always had a couple of injuries throughout the season. So, yeah, it's a big, big summer for Liverpool. And Eke TK's got a bad injury as well.

36:32Alan Shearer:He's going to be out for quite some time and it's a tough one to come back from.

36:35Gary Lineker:So whether Arna Slott's going to be there or not, we'll have to wait and see again. They've got a big decision to make.

36:40Alan Shearer:Yeah, they certainly have massive contrast to where they were 12 months ago. Football, eh? Football, you never know, do you? You never know. All right, Alan, we'll leave it there. What have you got? Any plans this week? anything exciting

36:53Gary Lineker:what am I doing this week I'm in yeah I'm going to London tomorrow for a day with PLP for doing loads of interviews for different outlets for them that you'll be getting told off for having

37:04Alan Shearer:a go at the referees again now

37:07Gary Lineker:again yeah well if they do their job guys we won't have a go at them it's pretty simple isn't it I know it's a difficult job

37:14Alan Shearer:it's a difficult job on the pitch but it's not that difficult looking at VAR but I think well I've said it many times as far as pretty much unworkable in its current world.

37:24Gary Lineker:Although VAR did send him to the screen on this occasion.

37:27Alan Shearer:Yes.

37:27Gary Lineker:And it was the referee that, for me, gets it so wrong. So wrong.

37:32Alan Shearer:Yeah.

37:32Gary Lineker:I think I'm right in saying, I'm only saying this off the top of my head, I think it was the same referee that was on VAR when I think it was maybe Fernandes handled a ball, West Ham, and the PGMOL had to apologise and said the decision was wrong.

37:50Alan Shearer:Oh, right.

37:50Gary Lineker:I think I'm right in saying that

37:52Alan Shearer:oh dear yeah alright let's blow the final whistle goodbye from me

37:58Gary Lineker:goodbye from me have a great week