Villa’s Incredible Run Continues, Man City Pile On The Points Not Kilos & Brentford Defying The Odds

15:24Gary Lineker:What do you think of the decisions? Because Sean Dyche had a big rant on Match of the Day and after the game saying about he felt the officials were really, really poor. I thought Diaz got really lucky not to get a second yellow.

15:38Alan Shearer:VAR can't overturn that though, can they? Not for a second yellow.

15:41Gary Lineker:No, I thought it should have been a yellow card. Yeah, I agree. And also, I'd slightly disagree with him. I would have gone with whatever the referee decided in terms of the push that he wanted on the second goal.

15:52Alan Shearer:I thought Wayne Rooney picked out on that penalty, didn't he? Where he actually made it look like Gibbs White was perhaps doing, like leading the way, hooked around him. That was quite interesting because I hadn't spotted that at the time either. Yep, agreed. I didn't spot it as well, Gaz, but when you slow it down, you see, you know exactly what he's trying to do. I thought Daesh was hard, but fair after the game. But when you look at it again, Morgan Gibbs-White, I think he knows what he's doing there. Yeah, he initiated it. I think Rumi explained it really well yesterday. I thought Forrest played well.

16:29Alan Shearer:contrasting to I went to Craven Cottage to watch Fulham Forest game and that I have to say was fairly dreadful it was it was hardly I don't think a keeper made a save in the game there was a penalty that was the goal and that was it which was a silly penalty and then nothing else happened really in the match at all but I thought they were much better against City

16:56Gary Lineker:I thought they defended really well for large parts of the game. But when you're up against that quality, you're going to get punished if you switch off for a second. And that's what happened with the Reinders goal, wasn't it? Don't you think Ego Jesus up front, his hold of play was amazing. Put himself around, didn't he? He's tough to play against, wasn't he? He's really leading the line very well. City still giving opportunities away. They don't have the same intensity when they're pressing. They're still trying to close down the space really high up on the pitch, but they just leave massive gaps in the middle of the pitch.

17:40But when you've got Shirky, Foden and those players that could hurt you and Rinders, then they're willing to take those risks. I don't know if they can keep doing that for the rest of the season, but they keep getting results because of the quality. And I have to give City a bit of credit because they always try win the game. They always try. No matter if they have to go out wide, through the lines, over the top, set piece, they'll just get the job done. And now the title race has become very interesting.

18:12Alan Shearer:Very, very interesting. It is. It is. They managed to win their game as did Arsenal. Another, like many performances I think we've seen lately, it's, you know, they've got the job done. they've worn teams down I mean Brighton came back at them at the end but for that you've highlighted it on Match of the Day Alan what to say by Raya

18:37Gary Lineker:Well I thought it was over once Arsenal went 2-0 up with their own goal great ball in from Declan Rice from the corner to go 2-0 up shortly after half time I thought well that's it but Hürtel had changed it at half time and Brighton came into it a lot more and of course as soon as they get that one goal it was it was like ooh you know what's going to happen now I mean that save wow unbelievable save that's as good as a goal isn't it that it's like you know when someone scores an absolute screamer from 30 yards might win you the game that's as good as that I thought that save was just sensational and Arsenal on a whole I've seen again if you look at social media people saying all they do is score from set pieces I mean it is hard to score from set pieces it's a hell of a criticism people understand that otherwise why don't everyone else do it as well there might not be I won't say as entertaining as City but City are slick the way they go forward out there sometimes Arsenal get to the final third sometimes run out of ideas you're looking for Saka to do something special or whatever but they're still getting over the line a win is a win at the end of the day isn't it I thought they were okay Arsenal I thought they yeah They were well worthy of going two up.

19:56Gary Lineker:Could have been that in the first half, never mind when they got the one in the second half. But because of the pressure that's on them and everyone's looking at them and City are putting massive pressure on them too. And you can just feel the edginess, not only on the pitch, but in the stadium. So I think Arsenal will have to score a lot more goals just to try and make it easier for the fans and not put them through the ringer.

20:22Alan Shearer:Has the dynamic up front changed particularly though from last season? Have they got, I mean, at the moment he's not really, I'm looking at him, he doesn't really look like scoring a lot of goals. No. Jor Karez, I mean, and that's probably why. I think overall they've bought well. They've brought in players in different positions that they needed to because by gum, they've got some injuries defensively, haven't they? you know Timber was out and then Calafiore got injured in the warm-up so added to the other players that were already out at the back so you're actually considering they're actually dealing with it very well and I think the fact that they're just getting over the line is because you know they do get lots of balls I mean Saka does deliver a lot but he's not really getting on the end of things at the moment

21:12Gary Lineker:Gabriel came back yesterday he came on be a real bonus for them I thought Odegaard had his best game of the season. I thought he scored a really good goal and looked good on the ball. Saka was dangerous. Trossod was. Jochores had a couple of chances. Martinelli came on, missed a big opportunity, which would have eased the stress a bit for them. But yeah, I thought they deserved it in the end, but they had to rely on that incredible save. So Jochores scored a lot of goals, obviously, last season, didn't he? The last couple of seasons abroad. What does he need to do to score more goals? Forget all-around play, because if you look at someone like Haaland, his whole-up play is definitely improved.

21:54But the amount of touches he needs to score a goal is very low. What does Jokeres need to do to improve his numbers?

22:02Alan Shearer:I've watched him quite closely the last few weeks. And I think he's, like most strikers, he's one that waits to see where it's going, the ball, waits until it's crossed and then attacks the space. But that's what defenders do. as a striker, you've got to gamble on where you think the ball might go and you go just as they're about to cross it. So you steal a march on the defender that way. And lots of the time the ball won't go there, but I don't see him doing that very often. Dominic Calvert-Lewin did a perfect example of how to do that for the Leeds goal at Sunderland. Perfect. He didn't wait and see where it was going to go.

22:41Alan Shearer:He went, right, I pull away and then he sprinted at the near post and hoped that the ball would be delivered there and it was. I don't see that too often from your careers at present. And the players that score big numbers will do that. You know, Harlan, Kane, Lewandowski, they know how to make those kind of moves into those spaces. So is it something you can learn? I've always thought, yes. But because it's not, it's actually common sense when it's law of probability when you think about it. Absolutely. Okay, but just before you go, Al, is it then more difficult when you've got wingers playing on the opposite side because if you look at someone like Newcastle with Murphy you know it's coming in he's magnificent by the way he's the most underrated player in the Premier League Murphy the time it takes him to take a touch and whip it in is amazing I just feel with Jokeres is he fighting a battle with wingers who and Saka has got great delivery, but just the timing we're talking about.

23:45Gary Lineker:Well, I think it's a lot easier when you've got someone who's right footer playing on the right, someone who's left footer playing on the left. But I think in this case with Saka, Saka can go both ways, so that makes it more difficult for the defender. But that doesn't stop you gambling. That doesn't stop you making that first movement. If you make that first movement and the ball doesn't come in, so what? You can't then get disheartened and say, well, I'm going to stop running. You have to keep going because if 10 balls come in, you get one of them. Fine, you've done your job, you've got your goal, it might be the winner.

24:17Gary Lineker:So yeah, it is easier when right is right and left is left, but you cannot stop running because someone might be coming in from the right on the left or they're checking back. You still have to make those runs. And I don't know whether you remember, I did a piece on that very early on with him and with Arsenal to say they have to get used to him, he has to get used to them. that hasn't quite happened yet.

24:41Alan Shearer:Yeah. I take you to a conversation we had with Harland.

24:46Gary Lineker:Yeah.

24:46Alan Shearer:And he was saying this thing about people say you did nothing all game you didn't really touch the ball and then at the end you scored the winning goal and he said that gives me the most pleasure but it's because people don't see the 30, 40 runs whatever it is he makes into space when he doesn't receive the ball but he just keeps going and keeps going and keeps going until he gets one and we're going to keep going after this break. Before we go to the break, it's time for our next question brought to you by Fuse Energy, our presenting partners here at The Rest is Football. Each month, Fuse gives their customers the chance to send in a question for us to tackle on the show.

25:24Alan Shearer:And this week's question comes from Ali Al-Yusuf. Ali asks, what do Chelsea need to become genuine title contenders? Could the absence of experienced leaders on the pitch be what they're missing?

25:38Gary Lineker:Oh, for me, I think they're a top quality centre-half away and a brilliant centre-forward away. So I think they're two players away from me. I'm not saying that Pedro and De Lapp can't do it, but I think to get to that elite level and challenge for Premier League, then I would say they'd probably need a top-class centre-forward and centre-half.

26:05Alan Shearer:At the moment, they can beat any team on their day, but it's just that consistency and that might bring that. I mean, there are not many Haaland's around, though. That's for sure. I mean, De Lapp's promising, but he's had a bad injury this season. So, we're yet to see if he's the real deal or not. Leaders, Michael, he's talking about that. I mean, they're very important. I think Rhys James is a really good leader. Yeah, I think. If you look at Chelsea's squad, it's quite young. Yes. One of the youngest in the Premier League. if not, if you're looking at starting players. But yeah, I think a little bit more leadership.

26:41You always want to have a reliable spine. And I think they've got good enough youngsters around that. But I would say just two leaders and two players away from really being genuine contenders. Who were the best leaders you two played with, do you think?

26:59Alan Shearer:We were good examples of real leaders on the pitch. I always used to think, you know, sometimes it's, you know, fist pumping and all that sort of stuff. But I think mainly they lead by example. I'd probably pick out a couple from my England career, maybe Brian Robson and Terry Butcher for obvious reasons. That sort of personality, that someone that you could trust, rely on that would also drive you forward.

27:24Gary Lineker:One of the best leaders I came across as soon as I walked into Southampton when I linked up with Jimmy Case, Jimmy Case, wow. He just had this aura about him. Micah, you heard of Jimmy Case, Micah? No. You must have heard of him. Southampton, Liverpool he went to, didn't he? Southampton, Liverpool. Brighton, I think, as well. He was tough as... Yeah, he was so respected, not only by our dressing room, but the whole of football because of what he'd achieved. And he just had this toughness about him. And he was a great leader. Micah? I'll go quickly to, I would say, Vincent Company.

28:00Alan Shearer:I knew you'd say him. and he's proving it now at Bayern Munich as well in a different kind of leadership challenge. He's a proper leader. I know he's got the ranting and raving and shouting and being aggressive, but he's also got a softer, intelligent side where he would show you things and make you look at things a different way. Steven Gerrard didn't say much in the dressing room, but as soon as he got onto the pitch, the first tackle, and he would always want the ball, that's real leadership. It never shied away from getting on the ball in difficult positions. Then it would score a worldie.

28:39So I would go with those two.

28:40Alan Shearer:Yeah, totally, totally agree. I think leaders give you real energy on the pitch. And while we're talking about energy, if you want to get involved, sign up to Fuse Energy today using the code FOOTBALL at FUSEENERGY.COM slash FOOTBALL and you could save on your energy bills and get a chance to win a shout out on the show. This episode is brought to you by Hotels.com. Make your next trip work for you. Hotels.com just rolled out a game changing feature called Save Your Way. And it's as simple as it sounds. When you book a trip as a Hotels.com member, you decide how to use your savings. Choose to take the instant savings now or bank the savings as rewards for later.

29:26Alan Shearer:It's your call. Envision converting discounts on this week's stay into rewards for a luxurious beach getaway next year. No complicated math, no blackout dates, just you choosing how to make your travels work harder for you. Only at Hotels.com. Save Your Way is available to loyalty members in the US and UK on hotels with member prices. Other terms apply. See site for details. 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.

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30:38Gary Lineker:It's about keeping yourself steady over the long run. Consistency beats intensity every time.

30:44Alan Shearer:If you want to understand your health better and how your daily habits impact you over time, head to join.whoop.com slash T-R-I-F to get started with WHOOP. Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richards and me, Gary Lineker. and we're discussing the festive games, festive football. And let's go back to one or two of the games played on Saturday. No, actually the one day before that, because there was only one game, wasn't there, Alan, played on Boxing Day. Yeah. And it was your team at Manchester United. Yeah. And obviously you got beaten there and it was a strange game in some ways, I felt.

31:25Gary Lineker:Well, Amaran went back to fought the back, changed his system that he said he wasn't going to do, but he did it. They didn't play that well, Man United. They defended really well. They stuck together and they were under huge pressure. Newcastle, 46 crosses while we're on the theme in the first part. 46? 46 in that one game. And there was probably only, I guess, three or four good ones. Murphy put one in the first half in, which, I mean, it was illegal. No one was on the end of it. It was illegal. Gordon and Walter Marder standing still. And that has to change, you know, from a Newcastle point of view.

32:04Gary Lineker:You can't be putting that many balls into the box and no one's getting on the end of them.

32:09Alan Shearer:We go back to that point we made just before the break when we were talking about how you score goals as a centre forward. I mean, if you got 46 crosses, I'm telling you now, Alan, that you would have got at least one.

32:20Gary Lineker:Absolutely. I mean, how can you have 46 crosses in a game and not create really, really good opportunities and someone get on the end of the box and then movement.

32:31Alan Shearer:I think you could just lay down on the edge of the six-yard box, lay there and score at least two.

32:37Gary Lineker:So that tells you there has to be a lack of, I don't know, lack of desire or lack of knowledge or a lack of ability to want to get in there. That's a frustrating thing from a Newcastle point of view because it wasn't just Man United. They've put loads in against Chelsea, against Tottenham and that's been a common theme is that where balls have been going in, not being enough players prepared to get on the end of it. But I thought from a Newcastle point of view, good until the final third and then terrible in the final third. But Man United, they deserved the win. They defended really, really, really well.

33:12Alan Shearer:I saw Wisser, he's coming back obviously to fitness and it might take him a time. But when he was at Brentford, he was that kind of player that would make runs into good places. So he may benefit from that because I wonder or if Volta Marder's more of a 10 maybe? I don't know.

33:28Gary Lineker:He made one great run, Gary, when Barnes chose to pull it back for Anthony Gordon instead of pushing it across the six-yard box, which would have given him a tap-in. But I don't know whether Eddie will change the system or not when they go to Burnley, whether he'll end up playing Visser as the nine and Volta Marder as more of a sitting player with maybe just two midfielders instead of three, which has always been his system. So we'll have to wait and see for that. but Newcastle have to do something different. I think Voltemard at home is amazing for Newcastle. I think when you're playing away from home and then you counter-attack, I don't think he's got the pace to make up to get on the end of the crosses.

34:13You know? I think when they're at home and teams are boxed in and he's already in there and he can link up, really good touch, can play, that's his strength.

34:23Gary Lineker:It was like a home game at Old Trafford though, Mike. A Man United were boxed in. Yeah, well, yeah. Yeah, I would say that. But in terms of sometimes when on the counter-attack and you're just thinking, well, man, he can't get there. Gordon's rapid and so is Murphy, you know? But at home, I feel like he's got more control in the game because he can affect it because he gets on it. He's got the crowd. Everyone's up for it. But yeah, I just thought it was a yard off it in terms of the pace getting in there. And I think Visser definitely solves that away from home, without doubt.

34:59Alan Shearer:Another win for Manchester United. When I say another, obviously it had not been that frequent, but, and he did change. Finally he changed it. And he admitted that, I think I'd do things differently if I arrived again. Took him a while to work that out. But thoughts on that change of tactics and system, Mike? I mean, they got a result, but it wasn't much of a performance, I didn't feel. But look at the difference. they didn't play well but everyone knew the positions everyone knew where to be to head the ball away went to press okay Dogu was good he was playing in an unfamiliar position a little bit higher up in one of the tens but just in terms of everyone knowing their jobs they got a clean sheet it was plain to see everyone although I thought Martinez played well and I thought it was Aiden Heaven Aiden Heaven Aiden Heaven wow

35:50Gary Lineker:Yeah, he played well, didn't he? What a performance from him. We knew he's good. We've talked about him before. We have the same agent.

35:57Alan Shearer:You have the same agent? Yeah, and he looks after him. Really? No way! Yeah! He's in good hands. He's in good hands. Ah, he's in good hands. He came to Ballers League with me the last season. Yeah, I didn't know he was with you. I saw him there. I didn't know he was with you, though. Yeah, nice lad. But you know what? He reads the game really well for a young player. obviously physical he can deal with it he's strong enough he's quick enough but he reads the game well that for a young player to read the game like that especially as a central defender correct I just thought it was a really good performance from him and they needed him because they've got injuries but Man United didn't play well but they got the result and that's all that mattered and no Bruno obviously sir yeah I mean he's been the star man for a long time he has yeah But it was three points nevertheless, and they're in kind of reasonable shape in the league table.

36:52Alan Shearer:As are, I would say, Brentford. Cool. Incredible. I mean, Bournemouth have kind of plummeted a bit over the last couple of months, but Brentford have done the opposite. Brentford was superb. Yeah, very good, weren't they?

37:05Gary Lineker:They obviously were aware of Bournemouth's press and high press and how they do it, but the way they got around that by playing quickly, pace and aggression, and everything about their game, Brentford, was great. Igor Thiago and Shardat, the Bournemouth defenders just couldn't handle those two. They were too good for them. What made Brentford so good? Just their pace, the pace and the energy that they had. And I said it last night on Match of the Day, how they were direct. But when I say direct, they weren't kicking everything long. When they did, they had him to hold up and the two forwards worked really well together.

37:41Gary Lineker:When they didn't, how they got players forward quickly and passed it quickly with energy and everything. Bournemouth just couldn't handle it. I mean, Bournemouth were terrible. What's happened to Bournemouth? Yeah, because they had a great start, didn't they? And we were all saying, how on earth are they doing that with the players that they've sold? Well, they're about to lose another player by the sounds of it in Semenyo. Yeah, it looks that way, doesn't it? It looks as if he's going to City, doesn't he? I guess that's catching up with them. Yeah, I don't know. I have the run out of steam in terms of the way they want to play.

38:14I don't know. Every time I watch Bournemouth, I like to look at them. I think they go forward in numbers. Normally, they're a lot better defensively than they've been showing in previous games. We know we like their manager. We've talked about him and the way he sets up his teams. But maybe they are just missing that extra bit of quality when needed this season.

38:35Alan Shearer:I think you're probably right. Caught up with them in the end.

38:38Gary Lineker:Yeah.

38:38Alan Shearer:But, you know, it's like this season. that pack of teams if you win two or three on the bounce you suddenly jump a lot of places that includes obviously your team Newcastle as well

38:47Gary Lineker:No that's right I said that I mean if you look at Fulham two weeks ago three weeks ago we were saying oh they're going to be in a relegation battle they've won three games on the spin now in the top half I think

38:56Alan Shearer:Yeah it's crazy what's going on John has asked us not to mention Wolves but I just want to mention one player that played against them Florian Vert's finally got his goal Yeah I've got a feeling that he's going to really start I don't know, just got feeling that he's going to start being the Verts that we expected from here on. He's starting to create a little bit more. He's getting him more involved. He's getting used to that position he's currently playing in. What do you think, Micah? Well, we said he was going to be the signing of the season, so we need him to score a few more goals. He's been 100 million and I was giving him the big spiel.

39:28He gets into half spaces. He gets on it. He creates. He's got technical ability. All of these sort of things. And Vertley scores his first goal, which I'm absolutely buzzing, but I want more because I give him the big build-up.

39:41Gary Lineker:Let's not get too excited. It was only Wolves at home, guys. Sorry, John, I'm winding you up, John. I'm winding you up. Oh, dear.

39:51Alan Shearer:That's cruel. That's cruel.

39:52Gary Lineker:I tell you what, though, there's definitely a little thing happening with him and Eketike, the understanding. Eketike's good. Balls into each other and how they sort of complement each other. I thought that was really good yesterday.

40:05Alan Shearer:He was brilliant. Creation, the goal for him, that's for sure. We're not going without talking about Leeds. Marching on together. What about their goal? Oh, this is what I'm trying to say. Look, he was like a prime Barcelona. Tick-a-tack-a. Through the lines, into the space, out wide, into the box. Calvin Lewick scored. Six in six he scored. He did. And that movement that I talked about earlier, but I just want to ask you one thing here, Micah Wright. So you're from Leeds, obviously. That's where you grew up. Yes, Chapel Town, CPT they call it, guys. I know what they call it. they call it Micah's home now.

40:42Alan Shearer:And you grew up in Leeds. Correct. But you supported Arsenal, right? So I'm thinking, and now Leeds are starting to, a bit of form, and you're jumping on the bandwagon as a Leeds fan.

40:53Gary Lineker:He's getting lively, and he's getting lively. Hold on. You can see from his pure excitement with each team who he supports. He didn't do this for City. He didn't do this for Arsenal. Oh, my God. And now the excitement, he couldn't let us go without talking about his beloved Leeds. I said Man City were cooking if he was listening. Anyway, I went to go watch Burnley and Leeds when they were in the championship, guys. Burnley's one of my teams. I love Burnley. The hospitality there is brilliant. Leeds, because I'm from Leeds, are always like Leeds. So I've been singing Leeds' praises for many seasons.

41:34Alan Shearer:Must be great to support that many teams. you've got half a chance of being in a good mood every weekend

41:40Gary Lineker:when someone asks him who he supports it takes him two minutes to reel off the teams I support Manchester City and you know that guys

41:50Alan Shearer:just one thing I just want to finish on because obviously I've met him on a number of occasions because he was Martin O 'Neill's right out man at Leicester as well as being obviously brilliant brilliant footballer John Robertson Robbo who passed away a few days ago so I mean what an unbelievably brilliant footballer you know two times European Cup stroke Champions League winner for Forest obviously part of that incredible Brian Cloughside and he was just a really really really lovely fun fun guy and yeah just wanted to you know condolences to the family and

42:25Gary Lineker:Martin spoke so highly on him as well didn't he Martin O 'Neill obviously loved him

42:29Alan Shearer:he did he really did

42:30Gary Lineker:really had some some good long nights with Martin talking about how how great he was

42:35Alan Shearer:Okay, chaps, let's call it a day. And we'll be back at the end of the week, which will be 2026. I'd just like to wish everybody, all our listeners and people that watch, a very, very happy New Year.

42:50Gary Lineker:Yeah, happy New Year, everyone. Thank you very much for listening and watching. Thank you very much. We'll see you in 2026. Goodbye.