City stumble again, Chelsea fans are fed up + the FA Cup 3rd round is here

0:00The Athletic FC

0:30Head to the weekend and the FA Cup third round. Who's got Arsenal in the Cup apart from Thomas Frank? All that and much more coming up in this Totally Football Show.

0:43Thursday, the 8th of January. Listen, I'm so glad you could join us because we've got Liam Dahm here waiting to talk to us. Good morning, James. Good morning to you. Liam's being polite because it's taken me six attempts to say good morning. Hopefully this is the one that's going to stick. Got Charlie Eckersher in too. Hello. Charlie, by the whiskers of curvy tash, loving your new look. Thanks very much. Check it out on our YouTube channel, by the way, because this whole episode, I think, the whole episode's going to be up there. Your luxurious new upper lip. Yeah. Damn. Do you recognize that reference, the whiskers of curvy tash, by the way?

1:19I wonder if Duncan does. I wonder if Duncan Alexander, who joins us today from his sickbed. Duncan. Yeah, not actually literally in a bed, but close to one in case I need to lay down. Yeah, the cavalcade of our league midweek action has put me into a fever, so a bit under the weather. Thanks for joining us anyway, Duncan. Anytime. Liam was off at that Brentford-Sundler game on Wednesday, and we were all across all the delights, and there were many. There were many of the midweek round. John Saltz here with a question. Hello, John Saltz. He says, have any of you ever been caught holding a mug from a rival podcast?

2:00I guess I currently am. Oh, Liam. What's that? Is that a TIFO one? Are they rivals, though? Do you know what I mean? I don't want to start that discussion at 10am. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. Different fields, really, no? This feels like when a new coach comes in and players, they're like, to the player, which one do you prefer? Your former coach or the former coach? You can't. They're just different. They've got different styles. Different philosophies. Because you do quite a lot of TIFO, don't you? Yeah, occasionally, yeah. Tactics spot as well. Yeah, you love it, don't you? Anyway, all right, well, there's much to talk about, so let's quickly check on those Matchday 21 results.

2:37Tuesday, Forrest's 2-1 win over West Ham at the London Stadium saw them open up a seven-point gap over the Hammers on the bottom three. Wednesday then, there were mixed fortunes for Man United and Chelsea. Chelsea losing 2-1 at Fulham, where Kukurea showed his commitment to club continuity by picking up a red card. Things weren't much better for Man United, who drew 2-2 at the Premier League's second from bottom side Burnley. Elsewhere, bottom of the table, Wolves drew 1-1 at Everton. That's now three games without defeat for the league's last-place team. And Bournemouth ended their 11-game winless run and somehow coaxed a five-goal match out of Tottenham Hotspur with a 3-2 win over Spurs at the Vitality.

3:20Further up the table, Brentford climbed to Chex Notes fifth with a 3-0 win against Informed Sunderland. And Newcastle are sixth after that thrilling 4-3 with Leeds. Harvey Barnes are with a brace at the very top, or almost. Man City were held 1-1 by Brighton. That's City's third straight draw. They stay level with Villa, who also drew 0-0 at Palace. That pair, five points behind Arsenal now, who played Liverpool on Thursday night with the chance to go eight points clear. We are going to be doing a special Totally Extra on Friday morning, reacting to Thursday night's events at the Emirates, and looking ahead as well to the quarterfinals of AFCON.

4:01Nice quarterfinal line-up, Egypt against Ivory Coast, Mali against Senegal, hosts Morocco against Cameroon, and Nigeria against Algeria, where Zidane's son, Luka, is in goal and has kept clean sheets in every game so far. Wow. Anyway, that's all coming up on Friday. Today, Matchday 21, eight games on Wednesday night. Duncan, you had the pick of whatever you fancied. You chose Burnley Man United. And how wise have you? Because you got this. On for Edwards, threads it through for Anthony. Anthony, can he get a shot away? Can't! Oh, the goal! That is a super goal! Oh, what a big goal that is! For Jayden Anthony!

4:47He needed that. Burnley needed that. Burnley 2. Manchester United 2. Boom. Gene Anthony make it 2-2 with what was Burnley's first shot on goal in the game, and yet they drew 2-2 with troubled Manchester United. Duncan, what did you make of this? It was a strange game. As you say, Burnley had one shot on target, scored with it, drew 2-2. if you look at the raw data United's xg was 2.55 Burnley's was minimal United had 30 shots five big chances I think there was lots to take from the game I think they started slowly United but really sort of picked up towards the end of the first half Bruno Fernandes was playing in the number 10 role which obviously a lot of United fans have wanted I think that really unlocked Cesco as the game went on obviously he scored Both goals, first one from a lovely Bruno Assist, the second one from a doggy cross with great sort of technique as he opened out his right leg and sort of steered it in past Dubravka.

5:49So I think going forwards, this was a kind of reborn, you know, we've got our Manchester United back DNA special. But despite Burnley's sort of lack of attacking numbers, they did threaten on the transition quite a lot. And it kind of felt a little bit like watching Eric Ten Haak's Manchester United, which kind of also reminded you a little bit why Amorim changed stuff so much when he came in. Now, we can probably all accept that what he did wasn't working too well, but he definitely identified that this team probably wasn't set up perfectly to play a sort of 4-2-3-1, which was what they were last night.

6:25So heading into, you know, this interim period, I think, as we'll go on to talk about today, in terms of other than the top three, the rest of the Premier League being so tight, I think there's a really, really good chance for United to come fourth or fifth this season and get back in the Champions League, which is obviously very important for a club of that stature. So it's going to be quite interesting who they choose as interim boss, how they set up, because they're rather bones of a good team here. But they still, I think last night showed that the flaws that have undone them in the last couple of years are still there.

6:58But I'm sure they can be finessed by someone over the next few months. Right. United dropping points in successive games against Wolves, Leeds and Burnley, which doesn't sound great for your Champions League qualifying prospects. However, as you say, they are still one point off the top five. So pretty good. Darren Fletcher says he's going to be in charge for Brighton in the Cup at the weekend. Charlie, what's the latest after that? Yeah, I think that is the latest. But then he's just going to... Who knows? I mean, then there's talk that it might be Olly Gunnar Solskjaer. Yes, there is. And also Michael Carrick.

7:35Yeah. Any inside poop? I don't think there's any further development on that beyond what Fletcher said last night. I did think for a moment, Duncan, when you said for, I thought you were making a grandiose point about United's identity when you said for Manchester United to come forth. I thought you meant as to kind of step forward into the light and we'll finally see the real Manchester United, which, you know, I guess is also the hope of most United fans. Come hither record joint champions. Yeah, exactly. All right. I mean, just on the managers, the fans at the game sang all of their names last night.

8:07All of them? Yeah. Which names did they sing? They sang Oli Gunasolstra's name, they sang Fletcher's name, they sang Carrick's name. So, you know, they didn't sing Steve Bruce's name, so maybe we can rule him out. They also had, some of them at least, had what I might class as an ill-advised aesthetic decision. they had an anti to Jim Ratcliffe banner, but it was in the shape of a Jim will fix it badge saying Jim can't fix this, which is definitely a choice. Yeah, yeah. Okay, Burnley took the lead in this game, which saw Darren Fletcher in charge as interim manager for the first time, reinstituting the back four and benefiting from the return of Bruno Fernandes.

8:51But as I say, going behind early on after Aidan Heaven, who's been having a troubled time of it of late deflected Bashir Humphreys cross into his own net but then Benjamin Seska with the brace doubling his goals tally for the entire season put United in line for three points before Jay Nantel he came up with that cracking equaliser the point is nice but it is 12 games without a win for Burnley and three points from the last 36 available they are eight points from safety Well, Darren Fletcher taking charge at the weekend. Then we're here for the game against Brighton. Brighton, Wednesday night, were at City.

9:33What turned out to be a 1-1 draw. Charlie, you watched this. I did. What happened? A lot of missed chances for both teams. Brighton in the first half had three pretty good chances before City scored. Right. And it really felt like a sort of crushing inevitability to the fact that they would rue those missed chances and City would go on and win 2-0 or 3-0, especially when Erling Haaland scored from the penalty spot just before half-time. His first goal in four. Yeah, exactly. And then Bernardo Silva had a really good chance just after half-time. Absolutely gifted the ball, but he doesn't score it.

10:13And then, you know, to be honest though, at this point, Brighton started the second half really sluggishly. It looked like they sort of ran out of puff a little bit, having been really in the game and really exposed City. I mean, obviously, they've got these defensive injuries. And it was one of those games where, which can happen with Pep teams, where if you can beat the first press, you've then got this huge, vast, you know, sways in front of you of open space. And so they were doing that. But then City tightened up, got the lead. But then Matoma scored a brilliant equaliser. And then Brighton had an incredible chance to go ahead where Matoma runs through and then crosses, but they sort of get in a muddle and it flicks who's the attacker?

10:56Diego Gomez Diego Gomez, yeah, sorry so Matoma runs through again and he opts to pass to Diego Gomez this time but Diego Gomez sort of overruns the ball and it kind of hits his heel goes backwards but then it deflects it hits Donnarumma and just doesn't quite go in so it could have done but then City missed some absolute sitters Haaland with the biggest one you know I'm just still shocked that he misses it but Verbruggen anticipates exactly where he's going to put it. He's plumb in front of Goal Haaland and he hits it to Verbruggen's right and he's already down there and he actually doesn't even parry.

11:28He holds it. And yeah, City huffed and puffed. But for a third straight game in which they really had the chances to win, they did not. They did not. And the fourth straight game against Brighton for Pep Guardiola, that they failed to win. They've actually dropped five points from winning positions against the Seagulls this season. It's remarkable. A week ago, or maybe eight, nine days, we were kind of bracing ourselves for City to stage one of their post-Christmas runs and really lock down maybe even first place in the league. But instead, as you mentioned, three straight draws. How much is that down to the fact that Pep, who looked to have finally settled on a pretty solid 11, has seen key components, not least Diaz and Guardiola, crook?

12:12Yeah, I just don't think they've got the replacement for Ruben Diaz. He's a phenomenal box defender. We heard Guardiola a few years ago talking kind of about the need for those proper defenders out. wide but they they need them at the back sometimes as well I think especially at a time where stones isn't fit um they just don't really have the depth there they're down down to academy players and look Goddard have found a different system this season like Christmas tree Ancelotti type uh shape where he's playing Shirky and Foden behind Harland and it's working really well they've got you know real kind of attacking fullbacks in O 'Reilly and Nunes but without that you know you kind of need those specific profiles to execute that system to make it work so well and I just I don't think they've really got the depth that kind of other teams have, Arsenal especially.

12:50And the whole conversation really with Arsenal last season was they ended up not, or they ended up out of the title race because they just drew too many games. And that is currently what City are kind of at risk of doing. Interesting. It is quite interesting because City have basically been a bit varianced in these three games. They're all games they should have won, didn't. But if that was Arsenal who had done it, I think we'd be talking about a sort of big moral, psychological failing. You know, do you know what I mean? If they'd drawn three games and missed Big Charter, it'd be like, wow, that's pressure, that's psychology.

13:21Sometimes this just can happen. I don't think, it didn't feel to me like City were particularly feeling the pressure. There were some suggestions because they played second in their previous two games, which they drew and whether that added it. I don't think so. I think they've just had three games where the marginals have slightly gone against them. This is what types of races always used to be like. We've been slightly broken by those years when City were getting 100 and Liverpool were getting in the 90s. That's unusual. This is how titles and seasons transpire. I think City aren't out of it, nor of Villa.

13:55Arsenal could drop points against Liverpool tonight. They could drop points in other games. But I think for neutrals or people just interested in a good title race, this is good. It's intrigue. If you think back to that season where City and Liverpool won, like each won their last 12 games. There was no tension because it was just like, oh, they're just both going to win. Whereas I think this is fun. You just don't know what's going to happen, do you? City racing to bring in reinforcements. Even as we speak, we understand Antoine Semenyo is currently having his medical with Man City. Charlie, as you were pointing out, he played barely 11 hours ago.

14:30Yeah. I find it kind of incredible that he was willing to play these sort of extra two games. Like, what if he does his ACL and that's his dream career move ruined. That's a very good point. I can see why the clubs reach this agreement, but for him it does seem a bit odd. But, spoiler alert, it worked out pretty well for him. Yeah, well, what a goal he scored in Bournemouth's 3-2 win over Spurs. Perhaps we'll get on to that later on. But back to Duncan. Just on the last thing on the City game, it was fun to see Donnarumma pick up his fifth yellow card of the season. Ah, finally. He's now... There's only 10 players in the whole division who've got more yellows than him this season.

15:09So, I mean, I think the record for a goalkeeper is Jens Lehmann, unsurprisingly. He got eight in 06-07. So, Donnarumma is well on for smashing that record, I think. And, you know, what a thing to do in your first season in the Premier League. So, he's suspended now? No, he's missed the deadline. No, not that off. Oh, he missed the deadline. Excellent. Yeah, it's cleverly... That would be funny. With Arsenal's title rivals both drawing, because, as mentioned, Villa had a nil-nil at Crystal Palace. It is a huge opportunity for the Gunners on Thursday night. Liam, while all of this was happening Wednesday, you were off at Brentford Sunderland, and we'll get on to that one next.

15:55This is the Totally Football Show, part of the Athletic FC podcast network. The Athletic is the only place you can read articles by Daniel Taylor, Amy Lawrence, Phil Hay, James Pearce, Oli Kay and the very best football writers around. And he had out lucky for Igor Tiago. He's found the gap. Here he goes round the goalkeeper. And in! There's no stopping this man at the moment. Crikey, that was the GTEC Wednesday night. Liam, you were there to see Brentford go fifth in the table with a 3-0 win over Sunderland. and you raced home to pen a piece entitled Why Brentford are currently the Premier League's most tactically influential team.

16:37What's their big influence? Well, I think you look at the way the other teams are playing in the league, right? And we often talk about inspiration as Guardiola or Klopp or Bielsa. But generally speaking, other teams don't actually play like the way those coaches have their teams play. They still tend to be outliers. They might encourage you to play more in that style. But the things that Brentford are good at, sitting deep in a compact block, they're in a 4-4-2 a lot without the ball, defending for long spells, counter-attacking from that shape. When they do choose to press, they tend to go man for man.

17:07They like long balls a lot from the goalkeeper, especially they've got, you know, a set piece that they're known for, even though they've actually only scored twice from corners this season. They've got long throws, all these kinds of elements that I think so many teams now are going to the GTEC, suddenly under the 13th team since the start of last season to go there and lose. There's quite a few teams, Bournemouth, I think Newcastle, Manchester United they've all lost there twice in that time. Teams go to Brentford now, generally speaking, and lose. It's one of the hardest grounds to go to, especially outside of the conventional big six.

17:36I think the league is just moving more in the direction of Brentford. Whether that's a deliberate thing or they've just found a really effective style, a way they can compete. You look at the fact that there's big clubs now signing, Newcastle signing, Visser, and Boima going to Man United. Arsenal brought a couple of players in Norgard and Raya. Obviously, Thomas Frank's gone to Tottenham. So it's if you can't beat them, join them type thing and kind of acquiring those. Even down to the recruitment, I guess, what was once their thing of, you know, being so unique and saying, oh, we're data driven in our recruitment.

18:04I think everyone kind of does that now, which is a big compliment in a way. And Sunderland is the surprise package in the Premier League this year to go there. And, OK, it's a different story if that penalty from Lefeu goes in. But even at 2-0 up, 3-0 up, Brentford were absolutely relentless. They, you know, had three, four players continuously breaking on counterattacks. You could probably forgive that as saying, oh, Igor Thiago is just going for his hat-trick. But you see like Kevin Schardt is still making big kind of 60, 70-yard runs when the game is completely, completely settled. So, yeah, they've found a really, really good balance.

18:34Right, lots to pick up on there. Igor Thiago, who set a new record for goals scored by a Brazilian in a Premier League campaign. He's now on 16. How many have Mbwemo and Vissa got? Vissa's got one at Newcastle and Mbwemo's got six, seven together, which is about a third of what the man, the one man they brought in to replace. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Keith Andrews was already being asked in the post-match press conference about our big clubs are coming in for him. And, you know, someone was asking him about, you know, about Brazil in the World Cup next year. And he's just like, like, I don't pick the Brazil squad, but he's like, I wouldn't, you know, I wouldn't change him for anyone.

19:09And it was very kind of classic managerial speak, but you made a really fair point about saying it's not just the goals. It's kind of the, the all round game. He's a real complete striker, the way he kind of runs the channels, the way he presses. and he got booked at the end of the first half. There was a channel ball that got over hit and he chased it and basically just hauled the defender over in a kind of act of game management and got booked for it. But I think he's a really, really good well-round striker and that kind of profile, clearly, when you look at Haaland and others kind of more physical players, is really coming back into fashion.

19:36Excellent. Brentford, fingers crossed for them that they can hang on to him. Enzo Le Fay and that penalty. Do you want to talk about that? Yeah, let's do it. All right, so the score was 1-0 at the time and Sunderland get the penalty and Enzo Lefeu steps up, one of Sunderland's brightest stars of this season. And went for Penenka. And Kelleher just stood there and caught the ball. I mean, his penalty record is really good, Kelleher. But I think when you watch him as a goalkeeper, he tends to react quite late generally. That's just kind of his style. And people made a fair point that he's one of the few keepers in the league he probably shouldn't try that against because he's just not going to commit early.

20:13And look, if it comes off, and Regis Lebris said this afterwards, if it comes off it, it looks really good and the narrative is very different. Whether Le Fay was certain that Cane was going to die, I don't know. But even from that, it was quite telling that Cane caught the ball and immediately ran the edge of his box, sent the ball long, three Brentford players ran up the pitch. Thiago bought a foul, I think, because that was just kind of their whole game plan all night was saying, well, we're going to get him high and do an attack that way. Would that have been the first ever Premier League goal that started a counter-attack from a Panenka?

20:42I think it probably would. I mean, it led to the usual wailing. You know, when a Penenka doesn't go in, it's like Tim Sherwood wasn't happy on Sky. It's against the spirit of football, even though it's just a shot on target that's not gone in. It's fine. Brentford fifth in the table, Liam. They are one point behind Liverpool in fourth. And yes, a point above Newcastle and Man United. Where's their real level? It's a great question. I mean, a couple of seasons ago, you know, or last year, they've had kind of European pushes under Frank before and tailed off a little bit. I mean, the interesting point is they're on track, I think, currently to about equal their record point salary of 59 under Frank, which I think maybe got them eighth or ninth.

21:24And obviously it's all just relative. If the teams above you aren't getting as many points, that might get you sixth or seventh in a season. So it's definitely top half. They're a really well-established top half team now, apart from kind of, I think, one season under Frank where they really tailed off an awful lot and came well down the league. They've provided a really, really good blueprint for how to survive, how to compete. I think that's something to an extent which Sunderland, Burnley, kind of less so, but Leeds definitely have all kind of followed. Excellent. High-flying Bs. Now their erstwhile manager, Thomas Frank, meanwhile, not so high-flying.

21:59His Spurs side on Wednesday was down at the Vitality, taking on Bournemouth. Daniel Storey on Sunday. saying that Bournemouth deserve a lot of credit because they're the goaliest team, the most entertaining side in terms of goals for and against in the Premier League this season. If they could get a game out of Spurs, how much credit they deserve. Lo and behold, Charlie. Very entertaining game. Spurs, from what is a very low bar, were more creative. Xavi Simons coming back made a big difference. He was pretty good. Yeah, they had chances. It was very eventful. An incredible equaliser from Jao Polinia.

22:36with his second overhead kick of the season. He scored one in the Carabao earlier. That made it 2-2 pretty late on. And you did sort of sense a winner was coming for either team. You know, at that point, Falex Spurs might go on and win it as well. But then, yeah, Semenyo, it had to be him scoring in stoppage time to make it 3-2. Absolutely, yeah. Bournemouth are going to be facing a future without Semenyo. And for the foreseeable future, Justin Cliver, he's going to have knee surgery. so problems for him. But frustration for Spurs fans, for all of the extra entertainment in this game, of the way that they lost control of a match that they took the early lead in.

23:14It set up nicely for them against a Bournemouth side who hadn't won in 12 matches. 11 winless games. Yeah, I would say Thomas Frank's stock fell even further, but it didn't have that far to fall, to be honest. I mean, you're really struggling now to find any Spurs fans who want him to stay on or think that this is going to end well. it feels just a matter of time although yeah I mean he's had the support of the people running the club I don't know at what point that changes because yeah this was another really poor result and the fans have completely turned on him basically Right I've seen other clubs deciding to make that change of late one of them was Chelsea I must admit on Wednesday night it was their game that I decided to tune into a combination of the Chelsea change and Fulham's form and the fact that Harry Wilson was playing in it saw me selecting Fulham 2, Chelsea 1.

24:08And I was richly rewarded. We got a Chelsea red card. They're seventh of the season, which I believe, Liam, is more than double the team with the next most red cards. They've got three next most. OK, there you go. Yeah. Crikey. Not only did Marco Correa get red for hauling down Harry Wilson on a kind of classic Fulham, it was a hoof upfield from Bernd Leno, I think, wasn't it, that Wilson gets onto. They try this quite a bit. I mean, Harry Wilson's speed is, I mean, Cucuray is quite quick. Harry Wilson's really fast and kind of gets up to speed quickly. And I thought the funny part was Cucuray actually kind of gets contact on him quite well as the ball's dropping.

24:44And then is so focused on holding onto him that he doesn't really make the effort to clear the ball, which is why Wilson gets in front of him and then he pulls him down. So I thought actually the first bit he did right, if he then kind of lets go and clears the ball, he'd have been fine, but he clearly panicked a bit. Remarkable. He picks up the red and I don't think there was too much debate about that for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. Three other Chelsea players then get booked for dissent in that one incident. I was at the Villa game that obviously Chelsea lost at the very end of December and people were asking Mresca there and I can't remember how many yellow cards Chelsea had, but again, it was a game where they had quite a few and their discipline record is quite poor.

25:18And they were asking Mresca about that and he was very much just like, oh, we have to look at every moment individually and kind of analyse them all on their own merits. But some of it is petulant. Yeah, well, it would, it would. A lot of them are very petulant. And look, it's perhaps a bit more, you can forgive it a bit more when it's such a young team of players that are learning, if I'm calling it the dark arts or just ways to play and how to react and stuff. But I think, I mean, Spurs are quite helping the list as well. And I think it's just such a waste. Some of these are so avoidable, especially the argumentative ones.

25:49It's so, just, it's so silly more than anything. From a Chelsea perspective, the kind of knee-jerk reaction is this is a side that struggles for discipline. And as such, It's going to be one of the major issues for Liam Rosseña to try and get a handle on. Before we touch on him, he was there in the stands yesterday enjoying one of the owners being serenaded next to him by the Chelsea supporters. But Fulham, against 10 men, thought they'd taken the lead when Harry Wilson scored, but then that was disallowed for a narrow offside. it was then Raul Jimenez who got the breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half and unleashed that remarkable celebration.

26:31Did you see this? It's a FIFA tribute. But the commitment to it, he's what, four or five feet up in the air, horizontal, with almost no attempt to break his fall. I worried when he didn't immediately get back up again. Yeah, and then for quite a few of his teammates to follow and kind of jump on top. I think sport scientists or the physio is probably looking at that with head in hand thinking, oh my God, what's going on? There's a great stat with Raul Jimenez as well. Duncan might be able to verify this. I think it's 14 out of 17 of his goals at Fulham have all been opening goals in a game, which is just...

27:02What does that mean, Liam? Well, I mean, it's clearly just a player that plays like 70 minutes right and will often come off. I mean, they've got... When Rodrigo Menezes fit, he can play as well. But I think he's just quite a good all-round striker. You look at kind of the variety of goals he scores, scores from nice headers, can score off both feet. Fulham probably keep games quite tight as well and try to not concede too much. So, yeah, they're not the kind of team that's going to blow teams away too much. All right. Well, he gave Fulham the lead on Wednesday. Chelsea, though, just as they had against Arsenal, fought back with 10 men.

27:32And they do get quite a lot of practice, obviously, at doing that. Liam de Lappe scoring his first Premier League goal. But then, with 10 minutes to go, up pops Harry Wilson with his 10th goal of the season for club and country. Is there a reason? Is there something that Marco Silva has done to unleash Harry Wilson in this kind of form? Well, he's just playing more regularly. You look at the minutes he's had in recent years. not been that high. He's always been a really clean ball striker, I think. Obviously, good technical level. He was a Liverpool Academy player going a few years back. I think players, especially wide players, and it's almost cliché to say, but consistency of end products, the big thing they tend to be criticised for.

28:08I think having a clear run of games really helps. Having a settled team around him, there's better technical players. I know Awobe's not there, but you look like Smith or I think they've invested quite a bit in the forward line in recent years. So I think that helps too. He started wearing a hairband this season, which sounds frivolous, but sometimes a player knows when they're elevated to a higher level and you can get away with that decision. And I think he's been fully justified. There was one Argentina manager who, based on studies, the amount of time players would lose keeping their hair out of their eyes, insisted that all their players, including Gabriel Betas, got their hair cut short.

28:45So, yeah, you know what? It may not be as spurious as you think. Harry himself after the game saying that it's because he wears his laces different lengths, which you just don't know, do you? If he thinks it is, that's what it is, to be fair. Now, Chelsea need something. They need to start wearing their laces different lengths or something. Liam Resenia there in the stands, as mentioned next to director, I called him co-owner, but director Bedad Egbali with the away fans singing, f*** Egbali, you're not wanted here. All the way through the game, they were singing, we don't care about Clear Lake, they don't care about us, all we care about is Chelsea FC.

29:23It does seem like a corner, if you'll excuse the expression, has been turned in how Chelsea feel about their owners. A bad one. Yeah. Yeah. Not a good direction. Yes, I think there's a lot of frustration there. Yeah. Blue coat out flag held up in the away end before kickoff. For Rossegna, we talked about the old discipline, the team's remarkable naivety when faced with any kind of direct attack as we saw from the Cucarilla red card what else has he got to get a handle on? Well one thing he doesn't have to get a handle on is their kind of attacking corners their attacking set pieces have been really good they're one of the best teams in the league throughout the season and was quite enjoying the succession of I think it was from Benzartandes the corners in the first half where just basically whipping them on top of Bern Leno they almost score twice almost directly in, similar to the goal they got against Aston Villa recently.

30:19So they've been a real threat from that. But yeah, there's definitely work to do in open play. Excellent. He's going to have time to take care of those issues. According to the number on his contract, which is 2032. Yeah. Yeah. You don't sound convinced, Liam. I don't know if anybody else has got gut feelings about this. There was something about seeing him in the stands, kind of politely looking on while I'm not sure what your gut feeling is about that whole move. I'd love him to have the time. I mean, I've watched a bit of a Strasbourg team and really enjoyed them. I think his whole journey kind of as a career and look as someone with Brighton links, I've got a bias towards him and also someone called Liam, I've got a bias towards him.

31:03But I think no coach these days seems to get that much time at a big club. You think how far through like Arteta is now at Arsenal and how early on there were calls for him to go and things like that. Is it something like eight coaches Chelsea are on to now about six seasons? I think regardless of who the ownership are, there doesn't seem to be much tolerance. And I kind of understand it when there's so many trophies to compete for and so much money in the game that they want to see those immediate returns. But I always find it baffling that contracts are kind of this long or it isn't shorter to start with and then you can kind of renew it or put in some kind of clause if performance is good to at least protect your asset.

31:38Mariska had the same duration of contract. I mean, yeah, there's a crazy stat of how many years that, you know, contracts, their cumulative managers have been put on and how long they've actually lasted. And it's not a good ratio. The classic one being Alan Pardew. Alan Pardew, yeah. He wasn't blue code, to be fair. He wasn't blue code, but you can date everything, you know, from the whatever era of the dinosaurs through to now based on where you are in Alan Pardew's contract. But I mean, obviously, a contrast with Fulham, where Marco Silva's contract has but months to run. Wow. and they're doing so well I mean just like you know or for summer where there was some frustration they weren't able to make the signings they wanted to they continue to be you know such a kind of well coached team and you know they're up they're ninth they're joint on points with Chelsea they're level they're level on points for Chelsea and with Brentford in fifth as we've discussed West London football it's on the up something in the water yeah they're only they're only three they're only a win off the top four Fulham anyway above them are Newcastle and we'll touch on what Newcastle did midweek and all the rest of the Matchday 21 action after this

32:55you're listening to the Totally Football Show with James Richardson now with you four times a week keep up to date with us on Insta and enjoy us in glorious Technicolor on YouTube at the Totally Show I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say best wishes to Kevin Keegan, two-time Ballon d 'Or winner, beloved former Newcastle player and manager, former England manager, all-round smashing bloke. And I'm sure we all heard the news about him, so I hope he is as well as possible and wishing him all the very best for the challenges ahead and a lot of tribute paid to King Kev Wednesday night as Newcastle were at home to Leeds and fitting really that the team should come up with a 4-3 win indeed in the great man's honour.

33:44In many ways, I know we were all kind of focused on other matches, but this does seem to have been the match of the midweek. Seven goals, Leeds were ahead three times. Newcastle ending up snatching victory with two goals in stoppage time, including from Harvey Barnes, the latest winning goal ever scored in a Premier League match. Well, since 2006-07, when Optus' detailed records begin. I'm astonished by this information that people just didn't keep detailed timekeeping records before 2007. I'm positing in my head even now a kind of life on Mars variant where Duncan hits his head, wakes up in kind of 1995 and is just dumbfounded by the total absence of everything that he now regards as essential to modern life.

34:33Think of the soundtrack. You know a great stat about that? You said 1995. You'll love this. The year of Blur and Oasis and Pulp and Britpop. Great time for British music. Do you know what the number one selling record was that year? 95. Greg, Liam, you weren't even born. Oh, look at me. You weren't even born. I was not born. Not born. See, I was away in 95, so I'm not sure what would have been the biggest record in England, but can you hum it? Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm.

35:13Duncan?

35:21That was Robson and Jerome's Unchained Melody. That was not Robson and Jerome's Unchained Melody. Unchained Melody is like... That did not sound... I've done the wrong song. You've done the wrong song. Cut that. Anyway, Newcastle 4, Leeds 3. But that was the start. What were you humming? Evergreen. Oh, right. Which I was confused. Anyway, heartbreak for Leeds, who led three times and yet still went home empty-handed. There were plenty of positives for them to take from their battling performance, and they are eight points clear now of the bottom three. Funnily enough, they are the first team to take the lead three times, and it is ironic, you know, given their name.

36:02But the first team to take the lead three times in a Premier League match and lose since Leeds at Spurs just over three years ago. Thank God for Opta and their more detailed records now, yeah. As for Newcastle, that's their third straight win. First time this season they've managed that. But the bad news is Fabian Shah stretched it off with what looked like a serious ankle injury. Newcastle have Bournemouth in the FA Cup. We'll be talking about what's in store in the third round very, very shortly. but three straight wins? Has it finally happened for them this season? It's taken them a while to get going but you'd think slash hope.

36:41I mean, their away form has been so poor for huge parts of the season there. Their home form tends to be pretty good but I think when you are that poor away from home and you just can't stitch together wins or consistently pick up points, it's just really kept them much further down the table. But look, they're trying to compete in Europe as well. Things went a lot worse a couple of years ago when they had to juggle Champions League football with Premier League so they're going a bit better this time around. There you go. Now, it's 1-1 between Everton and Wolves on Wednesday. That's three games unbeaten now for Wolves.

37:08They're up to seven actual points. Duncan, you always said that Derby's record would remain sacrosanct. Never in danger. They're now only four points away from equaling it. Oh, yeah, they're going to cruise past it. I had people messaging me saying it's done. Wolves aren't even going to get double figures. I mean, people don't realise how hard it is to do what Derby did, as we discussed in our podcast. Well, indeed. Totally extra, in case you're interested. We discussed that Derby season. It was terrific. They've still got four points to get. It took them, what, 19 matches to get the first three?

37:4720 matches to get the first three? So, hmm. I mean, on the underlying numbers, something Derby County had no idea about in 07-08, Wolves aren't even in the bottom three right now so they have left it too late really to make a great escape it would be the greatest escape but they are a much better team than people give them credit for and yeah with the emergence of someone like Mane they've got a, I think they can kind of they're kind of demob happy for the last few months of the season they can sort of prep for a joyous season a spar break back in the championship 14 points is the margin, but if you've got a goal scorer, you've got a chance.

38:29A. Charlie, and what a goal scorer they've unearthed. And Matthias Mane. Yeah, what a player. I mean, he's so skillful and so fearless. You kind of wish for their sake he'd come into the team a bit earlier. Michael Keane getting sent off here. So problems for Everton. Michael Keane getting sent off after scoring, but shown a red card for pulling a ponytail. You won't remember this, Liam, but my thoughts immediately went to Peter Crouch in that England game against Trinidad and Tobago. You're right, I don't remember. No. Yeah. Because people say, oh, this is unprecedented, but no, it was Crouch, was it not?

39:05Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Romero did it to Cucaret, not a ponytail, but he yanked his hair. Yanked his hair, right. But anyway, Keane did. Yanking on Tolo Arocadori's ponytail and Jack Grealish then getting a second yellow for sarcastically applauding the referee for giving him a free kick. And sometimes when players sarcastically applaud, it's a little sort of, you know, a little, I'm at the theatre, clap, clap, clap. But this was a proper overhead, I'm at a concert. Right. And it means that Keane and Grealish are suspended. Yeah, very possibly. And it means Keane and Grealish are suspended for the cup game with Sunderland at the weekend, which doesn't sound a disaster in some respects.

39:47But Everton, they've not won a trophy since 1995 when they won the FA Cup. and they've got a good team. What a year. What a year that was. Yeah, again, again. I mean, I'm sure they listened to Robson and Jerome on the coach to win. Ringing around the dressing room. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Go and win it for whatever. What was the programme that was on? I can't remember. But yeah. Point of information, it did come out later in the year down the FA Cup final. Did it? Before any pedants. I believe so, yeah. Yeah, Everton should really focus on trying to win the FA Cup and they're going to be shorn of two of their best players.

40:18Indeed so. Crystal Palace. who are the FA Cup holders, had a goalless draw with Aston Villa. Oliver Glaston thus remaining unbeaten in his seven matches against Unai Emery's Villa. And the other game that happened midweek was on Tuesday. Do you remember this, Liam? West Ham won, Nottingham Forest 2. What could have been for the Hammers? They took the lead, for me, wildly against the run of play through that Murillo own goal. And then thought they made it 2-0 when Crescensio Somerville put it away but that was called back for a questionable offside and then almost immediately Forrest scored down the other end and then Forrest get a penalty in the 89th minute again with the VAR review which sees West Ham ending up with nothing by this point the stands were almost empty because it does look like a lot of the West Ham supporters have given up and their team are seven points now behind Forrest.

41:18They could have been just one point behind them, one point from safety. And they so nearly were because they thought they were 2-0 up and then it was a very, very disallowed goal in the sense that you wouldn't, it wasn't even one which you felt anxious about in the moment because it was a weird technical offside, which I think a lot of fans are also annoyed about because they feel that it, well, it did hit the Forrest player, but it's whether there was intent, etc, etc. Anyway, they went from thinking they were 2-0 up to very quickly it being 1-0. and it was the most sort of goal that you can seed if you're doomed and then things are going against you equaliser.

41:52It was a loopy header off a corner. I don't think it was even, I don't think the attempt was necessarily even to score. It was just kind of put it in an area and it looped. They've got a defender, Walker-Peters on the line, but he can't quite reach it. It goes into like the only place it could and then Nuno kind of just head in his hands while there's this long VAR check for whether it'll be a penalty. You know it's going to be a penalty. He knows, everyone there knows. It's just this sort of slow march towards what feels like a bad end to the season. I mean, they've still got time to save themselves, but this felt pretty grim for them.

42:26Ten games without a win now for West Ham. Four points from the last 30 available, which is their worst run since 2006-2007 when it required that incredible Tevez sequence to get them out of jail. West Ham have, intriguingly, got rid of their two main strikers that they started the season with, replacing them with Tati Castellanos and Pablo Felipe. Full crooks gone to Milan. And Callum Wilson's had his contract cancelled. Poor Callum Wilson. It's a surprising call. Anyway, Chris McKenna points out that Nuno was sacked by Forrest this season after losing to West Ham. What are the odds that he might get sacked by West Ham after losing to Forrest?

43:08Is there any hint that... I think, I mean, watching it, it did feel like it's had that end of days feel, but there's been no sort of major news on that front since. I mean, Nuno's managed four of the bottom seven teams in the Premier League currently. And yeah, his stock has fallen a bit from, you know, by the end of last season or certainly in around March of last season when it was incredibly high. Duncan? I don't think I've ever seen a manager look so dejected as Nuno was at the end of that game. As Charlie said, he was just sat with his head in his hands and I think we can't speak for him, but I imagine a montage of decisions was playing through his mind.

43:52And, yeah, it's an incredibly bleak situation at West Ham. And, yeah, I think that game was huge and you do fear for them now. You do. Very good. That was Matchday 21. Next up, we've still got Arsenal-Liverpool to go. Friday we'll be talking about that. Next up today, though, we're going to round things off with FA Cup third round.

44:22This is the Totally Football Show with James Richardson, part of the Athletic FC podcast network. Ooh, remarkable scenes in Glasgow on Monday where Celtic decided to change managers again. and Wilfred Nancy dismissed after losing six of his eight matches. He was in charge for 33 days, which producer Charlie points out means that he was actually there for less time than the man who was the interim manager before him, Martin O 'Neill, who did brilliantly. He's now been brought back in, which I think is sensible and will try and bridge the gap to the six-point gap, in fact, to Scottish leaders' hearts.

44:59Isn't it mad that we started this season with the whole country if not the world in two camps. One thinking Martin O 'Neill's a good manager and the other thinking Keith Andrews is a good manager. But now everyone knows they're both really good managers. It is remarkable. It is remarkable. Best of luck to them both. Richly deserved. FA Cup third round preview time. Third round getting going. Is it Saturday or are they having Friday action? Friday. Crikey. No replays these days, but still all that magic. they'll have extra time if level after 90 minutes then penalties no VAR in any of the games until the fifth round at which point every game will have VAR whether they like it or not 32 matches of course this weekend as the Premier League sides enter the fray there'll be four all Premier League affairs Tottenham Aston Villa, Everton Sunderland Newcastle Bournemouth and Manchester United against Brighton and Hove Albion the holders Crystal Palace intriguingly will take on 6th tier side Macclesfield FC of the National League North Macclesfield who are one of three non-league clubs left in the competition the other two being Western Super Mayor also of the 6th tier they're in round 3 for the first time in their 138 year history that's crazy their fixture will be away Grimsby who of course know a thing or two about cup upsets themselves having knocked Man United out of the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

46:28The other non-league club are... Liam, do you know this? No. Boreham Wood. Boreham Wood. Four years ago, they lit up this competition, reaching the fifth round from non-league. This time around, they're going to be hosting Burton Albion. Lovely pitch at Boreham Wood. It's a lovely pitch. I mean, Arsenal's 21s, 18s play there. Wimseem does as well sometimes. I think Arsenal have the specifications of the same grass, would have a combination how they have it at the Emirates. It's an absolute carpet. Right, OK. That's not what we want in the third round. Borenwood also, where they film EastEnders, I believe.

47:06Not sure how that's relevant, but we'll see, I guess, this weekend. Elsewhere, little-known semi-Welsh side Wrexham will be facing Premier League opposition for the first time since those Hollywood boys took over in 2021. Nottingham Forest visiting the racecourse ground. Liverpool will be up against League One Barnsley, which will bring back thoughts of the 2008 FA Cup game, which Barnsley won 2-1. Arsenal are offered to Portsmouth, who won the competition in 2008. What a season that was. It was an amazing FA Cup, yeah. Portsmouth winning at Old Trafford as well. And this fixture has some FA Cup heritage.

47:51It was where Henry was at his kind of unbelievable best in a 5-1 win for Arsenal in 2004, so much so that the Pompey fans applauded him. I think he left the pitch wearing a Pompey shirt after swapping it. Thomas Frank star. Was that a different one? Oh, maybe that was... Same season, but... Oh, yeah, because that was the season as well. Portsmouth drew. There were some invincibles, but Portsmouth drew with them both times. and were not for a heavily disputed penalty at Highbury, might have ended the unbeaten run only about five games into that season. Also this third round, anyway, Chelsea get another London derby.

48:30This one's at Charnham Athletic. That'll be the first game in charge, of course, for Liam Resenia and seven-time champions Manchester City get a visit from League One Exeter City. What amongst all of that are you particularly excited about looking out for Duncan? I think possibly Macclesfield Palace, just because Macclesfield are a nice story. Obviously Macclesfield Town went out of business. They've reformed a proper football town, Macclesfield. They've got some good heritage. They're managed by John Rooney, who's obviously Wayne's little brother. And they're playing the holders. And Crystal Palace have never been in this situation before where they're the holders of a major competition.

49:12so I think in terms of sort of it reminds me slightly of when Coventry I don't think they were the holders actually but when they went to Sutton in the late 80s and you know they they kind of got undone in that game so yeah I think this it's a pretty ramshackle ground at Macclesfield so yeah I think it's early on Saturday which never often lends itself to high quality but I think it will be competitive. Moss Rose yeah proper proper football heritage there. That'll be Saturday lunchtime. I'm intrigued. John Rooney, what's his background? How is he... Was he a player too? Yeah, he was basically a classic lower league burly midfielder, basically.

49:56So he played most games for sort of teams like Chester, played for Wrexham when they were in a, you know, struggling in non-league, played for Barrow, Stockport, Oldham, played for Macclesfield. Bulls, of course. Yeah, all the struggling northern teams. So, yeah. Okay. Probably with the aforementioned Thierry Henry. She was there in 2011. Oh, very, very good. Wrexham, I asked if there was Friday Night Football. It's only Wrexham against Nottingham Forest. So that's going to be quite... That will be quite fun. I know women kind of hate Wrexham, but... Do we? Well, I think, I mean, I think, you know, championship heads don't really like the fact they've just spent loads of money and, you know, muscled their way in like that.

50:34But it is a good story. They are performing extraordinarily well. They've had, what, three promotions in a row under Reynolds and McElhenney, they've rocketed up to just... He's changed his name, hasn't he, to Rob Mack. Because people couldn't pronounce his surname, unlike you, James. So, yeah, he's now literally legally called Rob Mack. Rob Mack. Wow. Anyway, Wrexham have rocketed up to just one point off the playoffs after four straight wins. Kiefer Moore banging them in. so that's going to be a tough test you feel for Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest Charlie what are you looking out for this weekend?

51:15That was going to be my game because I think they'll be so up for it and often FA Cup ties are a bit overshadowed by heavy rotation on both teams but yeah I think they'll be really up for this there'll be a real sense of occasion and I would think Forest would be fairly vulnerable because I don't think this will be at all their priority understandably so Liam Brighton they play Man United twice this season and they've played in the cup before I think Charlton Chelsea looks great South East London versus West probably theoretically actually quite an ideal first proper game for Liam Rossini because obviously playing championship opposition struggling in championship opposition but I think a third round game like that under the lights an 8 o 'clock kick off you just know they'll be completely bang up for that it can be a really really big bananas game i think that's kind of game where it's kind of a lose-lose for chelsea isn't it it's kind of a you know it's all you need to do is just be professional kind of come out of that don't get players sent off don't get players booked etc um so that that should be very fun okay eight o 'clock on saturday that liam rosenya making his debut as manager up against the man who statistically was one of the best managers in europe at luton nathan jones numbers aren't looking quite so good.

52:35That was according to him, of course. But the number's not so good these days. Just one win in 11 for the Addicts who are currently five points above the relegation zone. And yet, as Liam says, you can see it happening, can't you? Brighton and their trip to Old Trafford, which you dismissed so carelessly. Sunday 4.30 will be the last game we watch before we do our Totally Football Show on Sunday evening live, of course, for Thrill fans on YouTube. This is a rematch of the 1983 FA Cup final, famous for this bit of commentary. Play for to Robinson. Robinson going forward strong. He's inside the imaginary penalty area.

53:17He finds Smith and Smith must score. And he hasn't scored. And Bailey has saved it. BBC radio commentator Peter Jones tarnishing poor Gordon Smith there with the and Smith must score label. It wasn't, I mean, now. It's not that, I mean, it's like, What was the XG, Charlie? Well, I mean, yeah. 0.19, I reckon. Yeah, it's like he's through. It's 1-1 with the keeper. There's also a defender rushing back, but it's not like an open goal. It's no worse than what Haaland did, for example. No, exactly. And this prompted a Nick Hancock bloopers video of the same name and Smith Muscour, of that glory mid-90s period that we're talking about.

53:54Yeah, 95. That's what kids were watching. It's a moment in Brighton folklore this. Liam, you were born way too late. But I'm aware of it. All the good stuff's happened. evidently which is a real shame but this has really permeated throughout Brighton you know kind of kind of finding my dad references this this to me a lot but he did he say and Smith must score a lot not not the specific phrase but he's brought it up to me no he says I'll just walk around the house saying that it's the kind of thing I would do though you have commentary phrases and I'm sure you covered this on public commentators still do that though because the same about the Manchester City Brighton game and there's a header from Paso Gross very early on where it's quite a good header actually kind of like falling backwards a bit Donnarumma gets done really well to save it and even I think the commentator there is saying oh you know Gross he should score there and I think we're very kind of harsh with our yeah and him being back's good because he's got a great record against Man United so that's a perfect time how happy are you to have Pascal Gross oh I was thrilled I didn't quite believe it when I first saw the Slack messages saying the story's true he really should have scored yesterday actually early on against Gross sorry to yeah it was It was a real engrossed month score.

55:02By the way, Gordon Smith shook off that tag to become chief executive of the Scottish FA and as such was the key driver, the architect, if you will, of the Home Nations Agreement in 2009, which enabled Raheem Sterling, some years later, to be eligible for England. And Smith knows law, they said. Wow, Duncan. Even with a fever, even frail and on his sickbed, he still bangs them in there you go Spurs are up against Aston Villa does anyone think that's going to be a great game it's a Saturday 5.45 so yeah I think it'll be a good game yeah I mean their league game earlier in the season which Villa 1-2-1 was quite entertaining but yes obviously Spurs at home has not been a particularly compelling watch indeed right okay well that's Saturday 5.45 as mentioned the 4.30 Sunday game is Man United Brighton and we'll take the opportunity after that to round up events thus far in the oldest ongoing cup competition in the world.

56:09It is a Monday night game, that's the Liverpool-Barnsley one which will complete round three. Anyway, do hope you'll join us on Sunday night or hang around for the podcast when that appears on Monday morning. For now though, many many thanks to Duncan and a big get well soon Thank you. Thank you Duncan and to Liam as well. Lovely to have you in. Thank you so much. Charlie? Thank you. And just one final mention of Unchained Melody. It was, in fact, number one when Everton won the FA Cup. Right. It was number one. It was part of its seven weeks. Seven weeks. What a time to be alive. Well, indeed.

56:43Excellent. We'll be back with you on Sunday evening. For now, from all of us here, it's goodbye.

56:52You've been listening to The Totally Football Show, part of the Athletic FC Podcast Network. For other great podcasts just like this one, including The Athletic FC and our dedicated club podcasts, search for The Athletic in all the usual places. We're also at The Totally Show on Insta and at The Totally Show on YouTube. The Totally Football Show is an Athletic Media Company production.

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