Squeaky Arse-nal Time, Carrick In Dreamland & Villa in The Title Race

17:49Alan Shearer:It's easy to get doubled up when you take too long to get it wide, isn't it? If you get it out there quickly, you've got a chance of Saka being alone. The thing is though, guys, that's the point. I know your point, yeah. They're too deep to start with. If you look at Trossard and look at Saka, when Arsenal lose the ball, they're all in their own half. They're all in their own half. And then by the time they build up exactly what you said, Gass, it's taking too long. So you're saying in a way they're perhaps being too honest? I think too honest for sure, but I don't think this is a new thing. I think this has been going on a while.

18:25Alan Shearer:Well, I'm sure that's what they're told to do. Of course. It's tactical. I feel as though it's easy to look at the numbers of the attacking players. And yes, Jokeres could have done better. Saka, we always know he plays well or tries to create something. But he's trying to do it from too deep. And it's too hard for him to do that. He's always got two players against him. I mean, he's remarkably good at getting past them as well. But the time he does, obviously everyone's organising the space. You're exactly right, Micah. Yeah, and I think it's been going on for a while. They've managed to sort of get a set piece, then the game opens up, the team has then got to attack.

19:04But at the moment, it's frustrating to watch your flair players having to do so much defensive work. Two points in the last three games, aren't they?

19:14Gary Lineker:Yeah, I mean, even look at Man City, which we'll speak about in the second half, guys. But they were struggling for points as well in terms of results. but I don't think it's a time to panic. You can't, you're going to get dodgy results, right? At some stage of the season. So there's no panic. I go back to when we won it at Blackburn. We tried our very, very best to say, okay, it happens. Results are not going to go for you every single time. You've just got to, when it goes against you, as it did today, stay calm and get back and do what you're good at. Just one more thing before we move on, though.

19:53I think as though we talk about Arsenal not scoring, but defensively they were poor today. Yeah, they were, yeah. And I'm not talking about just Zubimendi giving it back, or Saliba giving it to Zubimendi and then back to Rea. I'm talking about how many times United players could get behind their midfield line and the centre-half did not push up and engage. You don't see that right. So many times someone's behind Rice or Zubimendi. normally in that area of the pitch it's one of the strongest parts of their game not letting people through yeah

20:27Gary Lineker:when they went when they went 1-0 up actually the chances they gave up it was unbelievable like 3 in 5 minutes wasn't it something that we're not used to seeing with that Arsenal back 4 again I wonder

20:38Alan Shearer:you've got 2 players haven't you come back from injuries the middle 2 Saliba and I know he's been back a little while and Gabriel you've got a game they've played a game in midweek a tough game into big win come back maybe just a little bit jaded and not quite on it. I mean, that happens. Possibly. I'm not trying to make excuses for them, but I am making excuses for them. But Manchester United, just final note, before we move on to the other games played today, Champions League looks very much within their grasp if they can maintain this sort of form. It'll be interesting to see how they do against teams that sit and play a low block, because we've seen in recent seasons, haven't we, that Man United's best days have often been against the bigger clubs, big teams that go for them.

21:26Alan Shearer:So that's probably the next test for Michael Cairn. How does he break down teams and not be vulnerable on the countertap themselves? Agreed. Okay, well that was the first bite brought to you by Uber Eats. You went to the game, Alan, Newcastle? I did. I presume? Yeah. I thought Villa were very good. Me too. I thought, I actually really enjoyed the game. It was quite end-to-end, a lot of it, but Newcastle looked a little bit blunt up top.

21:50Gary Lineker:Yeah, but again, I mean, it's the same thing, copy and paste. Last week, Wolves. Don't start giggling,

21:58Alan Shearer:Michael. Don't start giggling. He's going to go on, you know. I'm going to stick on. To you Newcastle fans, listeners, and people watching, I'm not having a go at you. It's just Al's reaction. It's just... It's like the end of the world. It felt like it.

22:13Gary Lineker:It felt like it. That's what football does to us. Yeah. very much like Wolves and very much like we've seen so many times we were just yeah I mean Tenale had a really good chance early on if that goes in it's very different I know but it didn't that would have been a great goal by the way the keepers both made excellent saves with their feet mostly we're just not showing enough up front we're just lightweight where there's not enough punch there's not enough skill Gordon had another poor game another poor game Champions League and league form was completely different. Wisser was poor, didn't offer anything.

22:51Gary Lineker:Voltamado, when he come on, nothing. Barnes struggled. Alanga came on. Nope, nothing. And Villa were the better team. They had more energy. By the way, Villa played in Turkey on Thursday night. So you talk about energy and too many games and everything else. So to go away, travel back and then come to Newcastle and show what they did. I mean, Buendia was superb. Rodgers was excellent. Ollie Watkins was everything Newcastle didn't have in terms of his running in behind and constant at the Newcastle defence. He got his goal with a couple of minutes to go. So, yeah, I thought... I was really impressed again with Aston Villa and he's doing a brilliant job with Unai Emery.

23:33Gary Lineker:He's a fantastic coach and his team deserved to take the three points at Newcastle today. I know I ask this all the time. What is happening with Newcastle? They had an impressive win against PSV in the Champions League. I did that game, watched it. They looked very energised. It looked like they knew. It looked dangerous, especially on, I know, PSV going through a little bit of a bad moment. But you're thinking, okay, Villa at home, front foot. And apart from the Sonali chance early doors, it was all a bit slow, I thought. Yeah, it was one, Martinez had one really good save just before half-time, I think.

24:10Gary Lineker:He made two good saves. Miley's didn't he? Miley's Miley's Miley's Miley's Miley's Miley's Miley's Miley's But yeah Newcastle didn't have Bruno Gameraj and I think there's a stat going around I think he's missed six or eight games whatever it was but Newcastle haven't won without him in the team so that tells you how important he is Villa had the spark Villa had the piece of quality from Buendia to get the goal they had the constant energy from Watkins and Newcastle didn't have the quality in the final third to upset them and that's a huge concern because the forwards have been nowhere near good enough for Newcastle this season.

24:48Yeah, they're a strange team to figure out, Newcastle, you know. You know when you're watching them and analysing and you're thinking they've got some pace up front with Visser and Gordon and Barnes, but then when they get there, it's almost everything's like there's no real composure.

25:05Alan Shearer:That came from Alexander Isak largely last season, didn't it? I mean, he was such a, I mean, he's so comfortable on the ball, wasn't he? And he was one of those players that exudes class and probably gives confidence to others as well. And that was that calmness

25:19Gary Lineker:at the top. Yeah, they haven't got that, they're missing that piece of brilliance or that spark, you know, something like Buendia did today, you know, something very special just to change that, just to change the game, you know, and they haven't had enough of that, anywhere near enough of that this season and it's a bit of a it's a bit of a concern yeah and Joe Linton went off injured so if he's injured and Bruno's injured for the match in Paris yeah it's not it's it was a hard watch again today

25:50Alan Shearer:not if you're a Villa fan though I mean they're going they're only four points off the top now I know we've had numerous conversations about how they're in the title race and the closer it gets to the end and the closer they are to the leaders then obviously they are How clever is Emre though? Brilliant. He's so clever. Oh, tactically. He played that box in midfield. And it's so difficult because Newcastle's fullbacks didn't know what to do. And when Deere got that little, got a little half space there, it's like, do I go? Do I stay? And then what they do when they lose a ball, they buy the time enough to get back in position and then go.

26:30And I was thinking to Newcastle, get the ball wide quick. They've got all their players in the centre of the pitch, but they just managed to get over at the right times. Everyone was organised. I thought Inanna is one of the best games I've seen him play. Really, really good. He cobbled up absolutely everything in the middle of the park. Ben Thier on the ball, so effortless, the way he gets on the ball and just ticker-tacker and threw balls and took his goal so well. Then you've got Morgan Rodgers, who just doesn't stop running all over the place. And then you've got Telemans just pulling the strings.

27:06It's madness how they managed to do it.

27:09Gary Lineker:Konza at the back's brilliant as well. Very, very good. Impressive.

27:12Alan Shearer:Konza. Konza and Gay, do you think, the first choice at the moment for England? Yeah, potentially.

27:22Gay, 100%. Yeah, for sure. He's such a classic. But you know, obviously, it depends what happens with Stones, with fitness, et cetera, et cetera. But you know what? but Maguire in a low block. He's very, very good. I know his laughter. I know people make memes of him all the time.

27:41Alan Shearer:Do you know what I think? I think he's one of the most underrated players in football. I know people have a poppin. I know people in the game have a poppin. I know he's on the half, on the turn, he can be done by a striker, but he makes up for it to a degree with his intelligence. He can play. He's very good on the ball. and he's never let England down when he's played. And also, I would say, he's bloody brilliant in both boxes from set pieces. Correct. Yeah. So, I mean, there is an obvious weakness and a slight lack of pace, but apart from that, and, you know, he's got a lot of experience, but yeah, I would say, I don't know, Gay-Eat-Conza.

28:22Alan Shearer:Yeah, Gay-Eat-Conza. Gay-Eat-Conza, Maguire, but I would take Maguire, definitely. Yeah. Without doubt. Big Dan Byrne as well. He's back fit now. Was he on the bench? He's on the bench today, yeah. He was on the bench. Big Dan Byrne's played, obviously, under Tuchel a few times as well, hasn't he? Yeah, he's played a lot, yeah.

28:39Gary Lineker:Can they win the league, Al? It's not impossible. No, it's not. But I would still say that the other two, I mean, as I said, I've been really impressed on it and was today. The way they turned up and the energy that they had at Newcastle after coming from Turkey on Thursday night, winning as well. But Emery will be more than happy with everyone keep saying. And he says it himself. They're not in the title race. So he'll want us to keep saying that. But that doesn't stop us seeing how impressed we are with him.

29:12Alan Shearer:Okay, let's move on. Very good start for Liam Rossini. Yeah, I didn't see this game. I've seen the result. By all accounts, they're very good. Did you manage to watch it, you guys? I was flicking around. and I watched I watched some of it I thought you know they were well worth the victory I worry about Crystal Palace at the moment it's like imploding there isn't it with everything that's happened managers said he's leaving they've lost Mark Gay their captain as in the summer as in the summer Mateta's now saying he wants to go it's like they're all jumping ship and it's it's you know it's mad how football goes Wharton was sent off as well wasn't he Wharton was got a red yeah yeah so did you see Mateta's Chansu in the first half.

29:57Alan Shearer:He's got to score that. Yeah, it's a great... I mean, he has missed quite a few chances this season. I think we looked at the fixtures, didn't we, that Chelsea had and we thought he's got a nice little start there and it could go well for him, which is really important because it builds belief between a young manager, I would say, and the players. So there's a kind of confidence both ways there. So I think it was absolutely vital that he got off to a good start. In the long term, there's lots more to do, but it's much better than getting off to a bad start. Al, can I ask you, how do you set up for a game?

30:31I don't know if you can walk the list. Do you think he can remember? What does it mean, set up for a game? You mean as what? Okay, you've been a manager, Al. Okay, sorry. Shane, you're in goal. And then you go, hey, mate, you're right back. No, because, okay, you was a young manager. When you took over Newcastle, you've got all these things, all these emotions. It's your boyhood club. You know what I mean? So you want to win. Okay. It's a little bit different with Resenia or Resenia, whatever we're calling him now. He's got big pressure. So I would imagine the pressure's similar. Although he's trying to get Champions League, you're trying to keep Newcastle in the league.

31:16But I know he's had experience at Strasbourg. We know that. but he's a young manager in terms of the Premier League. He's only had a couple of games. And a very big club. Exactly. How do you go about setting up your team? And yes, he's got better players but you know when you have to prove to people that you can do it at this level? Can you walk us through the emotions? Of how you exactly failed?

31:46Gary Lineker:What's this to take the piss out of all five minutes? Is it? It's a genuine. I really am intrigued. Well, I think one of your first meetings is one of the most important ones, is that first time you address the players, and not only in the dressing room, but then out on the pitch and how and what you're going to do and how you get your point over, how you talk, all of those things. Perfect. So you've said that. So you address the players. You have a meeting of, say, squad 20-25. Do you go to the captain and say something to try and get them on side? Or are you just trying to say, well, this is what it is from the get-go, and this is how we're going to do it?

32:28Gary Lineker:I think so. You'd have to have individual meetings or small group meetings. I always remember when Bobby Robson came into Newcastle. That's exactly what he did. He came in over a struggling team, and he got the players' committee. He got several individual players into his office to talk to them, through them and then it was then when he sort of planted the seed. It was then that you thought, wow, this guy is amazing. In those first meetings, you think the energy and the atmosphere and what he's about and all those things. So, yeah, that's I'm sure what he's done. And then you've got your individual style of play, how you want to pass it off on the training ground.

33:08Gary Lineker:And it helps when you get off, obviously. I mean, he's got off to a bloody good start as well. So that really, really helps.

33:16Alan Shearer:I'm pleased for him. I think he's exuded confidence, which I think is a really, really important thing for someone coming into that sort of job. I mean, having been at Strasbourg and Hull and with Derby, with Wayne Rooney and stuff, he's come in with very confidence. So the one thing, if you come in timid, the players will recognise that. So I think even though some people might say, well, he's perhaps been a little bit overconfident, I think it was really, really important that he did that because he doesn't, I mean, obviously he was a good footballer, but he wasn't, you know, like a lot of players are, like a huge star.

33:49Alan Shearer:So you've got to come in and be confident. And I think he's clearly done that. And it seems like the players have bought into it. The next run of fixtures, you know, West Ham at home, Wolves away, Leeds at home and Burnley at home. Brilliant. So, I mean, that's a good run of fixtures. We know that can trip you up sometimes. But so far, so good. did it without obviously Palmer as well let's before we take a break let's the other game was big win I would say that for Forrest huge win particularly with West Ham winning the last two games yeah

34:25Gary Lineker:and the way they lost in midweek in Europe as well there was a lot of negativity so with them knowing West Ham had won the pressure was massive and the form that Brentford have been in Brentford have been superb haven't they so for them to to go there and win clean sheet it was right up Sean Dyches street isn't it in terms of getting a result like that when it really really mattered so yeah big relief for them I thought I watched because I watched honestly every game possible I've got no life

35:00Alan Shearer:somebody asked me how many games of football you watch a week I went cool blimey good question definitely double fig

35:06Gary Lineker:have you got time to go and find those stupid fucking boots you wearing

35:15he must have

35:16Alan Shearer:got them online but you know the negativity he mentioned I watched him against Braga and then a few chances and Yates scored an own goal and after Sean Dyche I thought his interview was fantastic because he could have dug the players out who not had many minutes but he said no I thought they gave an effort I think it was just down to a little bit of quality and then it just helps you. It just helps keep the dressing room alive and say, okay, we lost that game. The manager still got a favour and then the goal get a result like I did today. I just thought it was great management. Yeah, totally agree.

35:54Alan Shearer:Before we go to the break, last week we released another episode of Premier League Greats, the moments that made them on the great Stevie Gerrard and that episode sparked some debate on volleys and half volleys. So, Micah, don't worry, don't worry we've got Adam from one of our sister podcasts which I love by the way it's great fun called Football Clichés and he's going to clear up the debates he knows everything Gary, Alan and Micah as the world's leading expert on the language of football I couldn't help but intervene in the latest half volley debate Alan, first of all great to see someone so open-minded about what a volley could be if the ball's in the air and someone hits it and it looks like a volley let's call it a volley we should be allowed no problem there Gary, thank you for once again again reiterating what a half volley should be.

36:41They're sacred, beautiful things.

36:42Gary Lineker:They have that good dunk quality. And all those people in the comments and Micah Richards, it's terrifying what you think is a half volley. If the ball bounces and someone hits through it, we don't have to have a name for it. It's just a shot. You could describe it however you like, but it's not a half volley. Well, he lost me when he said good dunk. I couldn't take anything else.

37:03Alan Shearer:It's the sound of the ball hitting the ground and just hitting the ball. Good dunk. I mean With your boots it's more of a Good dude I mean to be fair he explained it very well but he's never played headers and volleys before in his life never and I've noticed the age brackets as well 40 down is agreeing with me and all all bastards do you think Adam's a long bastard do you? I don't think even 21 Just Ghost Island's Barbers

37:44Alan Shearer:Anyway you can hear more from Adam on the Football Clichés podcast wherever you get your pods but for now let's take a break actually after the break Michael we'll let you go because you've been working so hard and Alan and myself are going to discuss Saturday's games which we've actually already recorded because it's getting late Now for a special part of today's episode brought to you by AG1. When you're on the pitch, you need endurance, strength, focus, and that starts with a good routine. Even if you're not a football player or a former one like us three, positive daily habits can make a world of difference.

38:23Alan Shearer:If you're looking to build them, start with AG1. It has the nutrients, minerals, and probiotics your body needs to feel its best. And unlike training for the World Cup, it's as easy as one scoop in water, shake, drink and enjoy. So then what sort of things were you guys doing to stay in shape when you were playing? Micah, you're not so long ago. So give us two oldies a chance to recall something. Do you want the honesty? Of course. Kebabs. Chinese. How not to do it. You know what? It was weird, you know. When I used to play, and you're burning so many calories back then. I don't know how much you used to burn, but I could eat whatever I wanted and not – my body fat was like 5%.

39:16But then you know when you get injured, that's when you have to start watching yourself, don't you? And then comes in all the spinach and the brown rice and just the protein. That's the only real time I took care of my body when I was injured.

39:31Gary Lineker:I was very similar to you, Mikey. I could sort of eat what I wanted and didn't really put any weight on. It's because you're training every day. You're pushing yourself every day, aren't you? And you're playing two or three times a week.

39:44Alan Shearer:I think the thing is, though, isn't it, that it has changed. And it's hard to define the difference that good nutrition would make if you'd have done it differently. Because you can remember when Wenger came in and introduced a different thinking towards nutrition in this country. And Arsenal players were saying, oh, car, we were flying and all this and feeling in great shape. You know, obviously now we know so much more about nutrition and, you know, things like, like in the AG1s, you've got, you know, probiotics, which is so important for the gut and stuff like that. We talked to Harlan, didn't we, recently, Alan, and he was talking about the nutrition, his diet, giving him, it's basically giving yourself the best chance to succeed.

40:27Alan Shearer:And I think that's the same, whether it be, even if you're not a footballer, give yourself the best chance of being fit. Yeah, I remember one just quickly, Capello as well. He banned ketchup for England. Oh, that was a nightmare. I still got my room service, got one of the physios to get me a little club sandwich and chips to the room. But it is a shock to the system. But now I'm a lean, mean, fire machine. Come on, guys. I look good, don't I? You're looking well. I'm looking well. It's because you're on the AG1s. And this special part of today's episode was brought to you by AG1. Like a good warm-up before a big match, it's important to set yourself up for success in any way that you can.

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41:59Alan Shearer: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 Whoop. In the modern game, of course, there are a lot more games and that feeling of being slightly off by Monday. And that's how it shows up. Not as an injury, it's just fatigue creeping in. Off the pitch, everyday life stacks up too. Work, travel, late nights, early starts. WHOOP helps you see how sleep, recovery and stress are impacting your overall health over time. It's like a health scout, working quietly in the background.

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43:39Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer and just me Gary Lineker now and we've let Micah off for the rest of the night because well he's he's been working hard all day bless him can't do two shifts

43:50Gary Lineker:we know that he can't do two shifts

43:52Alan Shearer:not even to do Manchester City who won but we'll come to them in a minute because I want to start with defeat for Liverpool we've been talking and they went on this run didn't they of 12 games unbeaten and they played particularly well in midweek in a game that you would have thought would have been a difficult one for them in Marseille which they won 3-0 and then they come back to this game and the same old issues they just don't look right at the back do they I know Canarte his father passed away and obviously we send our condolences to him and his family and also Gomez got injured as well but they've not got much back up at that position have they

44:29Gary Lineker:Honestly they were so I mean for the first goal I don't know whether you saw a match of the day last night well we highlighted all three goals and how they could and should have done better but I think particularly the first goal would give me most concern if I was a fan because Van Dijk absolutely should do better, should clear it. I know you said it's a bit windy but that's got nothing to do with it. He should clear it and then he didn't do anything. In fact, he tried to pull himself away from blocking the cross which was really strange but then Gomez should have been further over to closer to Evan Nielsen and the two full-backs in Kirkes and in Frimpong were just like, I was thinking, they were just non-existent.

45:14Gary Lineker:They were actually on the edge of the box still when the ball went in the back of the net, despite the ball going over the top. I mean, it was just, it was staggering really how much was wrong with that first goal. And I mean, it wasn't just defensively. I thought they were really poor in forward positions as well. You probably saw as well highlighted where they just didn't, they didn't seem to want to shoot and have a proper goal, which is most unlike Mo Salah, where he went through and tried to pass it rather than take a touch. I was really surprised at that.

45:43Alan Shearer:Sometimes that's a slight lack of confidence, isn't it? You know, but it's not like him of all people. No. Things are not quite right. And I think it surprises all this season. Then you thought to yourself, well, you know, they've come back a bit, but a lot of those games were draws. Draws, yeah. And you also highlighted that, didn't you, against teams that perhaps you would expect them to win.

46:04Gary Lineker:Yeah. Leeds. Yeah. Was it Sunderland? as well, I think, maybe. Yeah, I mean, those are obviously games that they should be winning. It seems very flat. It seems very there, very open, lack of spark, lack of energy. I guess like a lot of teams, it's the same with Newcastle. A great credit to Bournemouth, by the way. I thought to be 2-0 and then to peg back to 2-0 and then go and get the winner, basically, with the last touch of the game.

46:32Alan Shearer:Worth pointing out, though, perhaps, Alan, that you go away and play Marseille. It's a tough game. good performance you win not just them we go back to Arsenal gaming midweek I know they could rest one or two players because they're going particularly well in the Champions League Newcastle as well playing against teams that perhaps haven't had that Manchester United didn't play in Europe you know you're going to expect to come up against fresher legs Bournemouth against Liverpool obviously had you know they kept going right to the end and but Liverpool really struggling from set pieces aren't they as well

47:08Gary Lineker:yeah I don't care who you've been to or who you've played or how many changes you made you still have to be right at set pieces and the way Liverpool defend them there's no way you can excuse that for tiredness or anything they're just all over the place and they're miles off it defensively by the way Aston Villa played in Turkey on Thursday evening and come to Newcastle and were outstanding great energy I know you made a couple of changes but Liverpool look very leggy they look very tired they've gone soft they look easy to play against

47:39Alan Shearer:why do you think it is? it's hard to explain isn't it? because I mean it's not like they've lost players from last season I mean they've got one or two injuries but most clubs have at this point they're probably not well covered in central defence that's probably the area mostly Virgil perhaps well he's certainly not performed as well this season he has and he's been brilliant for Liverpool obviously and everyone has tough spells Canati's had a tough season they've had one or two injuries in their backups there so you'd have thought and I think the Liverpool fans are screaming saying well hang on a minute the window's about to close in a few days Man City have signed Mark Gay who obviously was very very close to signing Liverpool in the summer the club are making remarks that they can't really do anything at the moment so it must be frustrating for the Liverpool fans after the glory that they've had

48:29Gary Lineker:I think that's the one they'll look at and think they missed a trick when they didn't sign the centre-half or signed Gehi when they perhaps had the opportunity and goal out for him. And their recruitment up to now, certainly two fullbacks, I mean, Frimpong and Kirk has at times, I think, been all over the place and were highlighted that yesterday in the first goal. Vert, very, very good player, but still working out how to get the best of him, albeit we've seen signs of improvement. Obviously, the ESAC situation we know with his injury. Midfield looks a problem. midfield Liverpool you know they had so much energy last year with those three Gravenberg and McAllister and Slopošla I think I don't think you can pin any blame on him but McAllister looks very very very leggy doesn't have anywhere near the energy that he had last season so that's an issue and they're so open defensively it's like yeah yesterday was a great example of that

49:33Alan Shearer:Yeah, big change. In contrast to Liverpool, Manchester City have also stuttered and staggered a little bit in the start of the season, have made a couple of significant signings. Obviously, Semenyo and Mark Gay, which is interesting. They've acted. I know a lot of fans are going, well, hang on, what's happened to the 115 charges and when's that coming about? And how come they're still allowed to? You can understand that though. I get it. I totally get it. I mean, it's probably a quagmire of legal they're probably tying them up in knots and we'll delay it and delay it and delay it as long as they possibly can the last thing I read about it might be another year before and then there might be an appeal so I totally understand people asking and saying that aside that's nothing to do with actually what goes on on the pitch and Pep Guardiola in particularly and we can only judge them on their football at present Pep left out Foden and Haaland gave them both a rest

50:32Gary Lineker:it was a good first start for Gehi there's no doubt about it he played well made some good tackles pinged a few good balls over the top so he was solid they only had four shots on target in the whole game which all came in the first half and first off I thought they were good I thought their movement changed slightly with Semenyo and Marmush playing more central roles which then gave full backs a little bit more freedom to get down the line and that's what happened with the first goal I mean, a brilliant ball in from Nunes on the right-hand side. Great finish from Marmouche. And the second one as well from Semenio, the touch.

51:11Gary Lineker:I mean, his first touch with the right foot to push it onto his left foot and then guide it in was just superb. So they weren't that great second half, but all the damage was done in the first half. So Wolves came into it a little bit more second half, but they're never in serious doubt, I don't think. So it was a standard three points for them, of which they had to get back to winning ways after what's been a really poor week for them.

51:36Alan Shearer:Yeah, we're strikers, Alan. What did you think about leaving Haaland down? I know they have a lot of fixtures these days, but there's always been a lot of fixtures in football. Are there more European ties than we certainly were played in our day because of the nature of the Champions League now? I suspect Haaland wouldn't have wanted to be left out. He probably needs a rest because he's had a lot of football. he played him in games that perhaps he could have left him out in. Exeter was it in the FA Cup? Yes, absolutely. For one, which is a little bit odd. I thought he might play home to Wolves because when a striker's in a bit of a rut, and for Haaland it is a rut, just compared with his extraordinary numbers that he does, and I'm sure he will do very soon, you would think, well, Wolves are home,

52:22Gary Lineker:he'd be licking his lips a little bit. And Marmush was very early in Haaland, like in terms of getting across and pinging that ball in the defender. So, yeah, I mean, he wouldn't have wanted to be left out, as we wouldn't have. We wanted because you think goals, bottom of the table, Wolves and others have been a bit of improvement, but still you'd fancy yourself massively at home. So he would be chomping at the bit to get on and play. I mean, he got on, but probably not as much as he wanted. But, yeah, I get it and understand it. He hasn't been as sharp as we know he can be. and he hasn't scored as many goals and when I guess you've got something to complain about if they don't win and they don't score but they did win and they scored so it'll be back to normal I guess for him this week.

53:11Alan Shearer:Absolutely, all in all a very good weekend for Manchester City particularly with the result this afternoon with United winning. Moving on Spurs-Burnley all I've seen there is the brief highlights but But it looked like Dubravka kept Burnley in it for a while and then it got all a bit messy again for Spurs. But they managed to dig themselves. Romero again. What a header.

53:37Gary Lineker:It was a great header. And Van der Ven with a first goal as well with a brilliant finish. But in the big picture, I guess they've taken one point from someone who's second bottom and someone who's third bottom. West Ham beat them last week at home and they've got a last-minute equaliser against Burnley. So the Tottenham fans are not happy and you totally get and understand why. Because I said it last night again on Match of the Day, the recruitment I think over the years has not been anywhere near good enough and they're being punished for that.

54:08Alan Shearer:If the recruitment's not been good enough over the years, is it fair to blame the manager? Plus they've got so many signings and he's only been there for six months.

54:18Gary Lineker:Yeah, but that's the nature of the game. Whether you like it or not now as a manager, if you don't then you shouldn't be a coach or a manager or whatever because more often than not now, at the highest level, you're dealing with sport and directors and technical directors, performance directors, all of these guys who a lot of the time are bringing the players in and you have to make them work and make them fit into your team or your system.

54:44Alan Shearer:Very true. Interesting stat, actually. Only Richarlison, with eight goals, has scored more for Spurs than Mickey Van Der Ben, who's got seven in all competitions this season. I mean, he looks like he could probably play up front. Romero's got one or two as well, added to that. They've scored, I think, nine via defenders, which is more than any other side in the Premier League. Maybe they need to sort out the top end, but if you've got Kulisevsky missing, if you've got Madison missing, and obviously Kudus is out now as well, it's no massive surprise that perhaps the goals are coming from elsewhere

55:24Gary Lineker:but they still should be doing better than what they're doing yeah of course they should I mean yeah everyone has injuries and they've got Solanke back in there they've got Mawani on the bench they've got Odeber Tell Tell so they've still got enough in there they've got Connor Gallagher there they've got Van de Ven they've got Romero they've got Porro they've got Vacario they still should be performing better than what they're doing Tottenham even with the injuries that they've got. I mean, they've been so poor. It's been unbelievable.

55:55Alan Shearer:Real blow for Burnley at the end as well, wasn't it? Because they thought they'd turned it around because that would have given them a glimmer of hope, at least that kind of victory.

56:03Gary Lineker:Well, Scott said it in his interview. Scott Parker, after the game, said he realises they're going to have to start winning games pretty soon. And that one, I guess, he had those three points in the bag. But for a magnificent header from Romero, it really was. But yeah, it's harsh on Burnley because they did create a few chances against that Tottenham back four. But they'll have to settle for a point and move on. Yep.

56:31Alan Shearer:Elsewhere, a little revival from West Ham, Al. I know. He has two wins on the bounce, big wins as well. I know Forrest won today, but I was thinking to myself, a bit of pressure on them today. because can you imagine if Nuno went to West Ham and maybe sent Forrest down? It would have been a little twist there, a little bit of karma as far as Nuno's concerned.

56:55Gary Lineker:Well, a couple of weeks ago, particularly I was, I was criticising West Ham and rightly so, but their last two performances, the one at Spurs, obviously they got the three points last minute with Callum Wilson. And yesterday against Sunderland, I mean, 3-0 up at half time. Goodness me. I know they absolutely battered Sunderland not too many times this season Sunderland but they were second best to everything and they deserve to be some very good goals yeah I mean Somerville that header I mean brilliant ball in from Bowen little dink but the way he attacked it and jumped Somerville it was a brilliant header we'd have been proud of that one it was superb it was Fernandes in midfield I thought was absolutely outstanding he bossed the midfield yeah

57:40Alan Shearer:the fact is with West Ham winning two on the bounce, they've now closed that gap to not just Forest, but also Leeds. So they start, if they can keep, you know, if they keep that run going, they start to drag one or two other tides into it. Even the likes, I mean, Crystal Palace, who I fear the worst for with everything that's going on there at present. I mean, Spurs are on the same 20. I mean, they're eight points clear of the gap at the moment. That's quite a lot. But we were saying, a couple of weeks ago, We were thinking, crikey, 28 points, probably enough to stay up. I'm not sure that might be the case now.

58:14Alan Shearer:Things have changed a little bit.

58:16Gary Lineker:At least they give themselves a chance, West Ham. At least they're having a little bit of a fight, aren't they? Whereas we didn't see any of that for large periods of this season. So their last two games, they've got to keep that standard up.

58:29Alan Shearer:Yeah, they've got a good record actually against promoted sides, West Ham. They've won 11 of their last 13 Premier League home games against newly promoted sides. and drawn two. So their run of 13 games unbeaten is the longest in the competition. So yeah, they just need to play against them. If only. Every week. If only. Work like that. Okay, we'll call it a day there. We'll be back on Wednesday with a Premier League great series. The moments that made them with a certain Sergio Aguero. And I think you can all probably work out one of those moments. Aguero! Exactly. But for now, goodbye from me.

59:12Gary Lineker:Goodbye from me. Have a great week.

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