Rooney's van Dijk Response & Michael McIntyre On Spurs Drama

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1:14Wayne is puny.

1:19A whole season completely fell apart. We made some comments about Virgil van Dijk and he's actually replied to them and he said, I feel that comment is just a bit of lazy criticism. Yeah, no, listen. Well, we've just witnessed the whole Rooney family pretty much put together Wayne's equipment for today. Is it a busy day in your house, Wayne? Yeah, it is. Got a lot of nephews up in Takaya's 16th birthday, so it's been quite busy. So just watching the games with all the kids running around was quite tough. But no, it's been a nice day, so yeah, it is quite busy. Okay, just to clarify, there were about, it looked about 10 children that just appeared and waved to us, didn't they, before we started recording.

2:03And Wayne looked fuming. Yeah, no, Wayne looked like he was going to lose it. I haven't seen a man control himself that much in ages. No, my camera obviously took it out to Dubai with me and then it must have been damaged a little bit. So I just had to duct tape my camera back on. And at one point, Colleen was helping you as well. It's been a family affair, hasn't it? Yeah, she fixed it, so that's normally what happens anyway. She fixes everything. An insight into the Rooney household there. Has he got his national insurance number through the post yet? I think he's still waiting for that one, but yeah.

2:38No, it's a big bear deal. Obviously, I remember being 16. I think 17's the one he's looking forward to most when he can drive. I was about to follow up with what presents did he get, and you asked about his national insurance number. Did he get anything good? Yeah, he got a, I don't know what it's called, the big like speaker which you pull around but it's loud it nearly blew the roof off this morning it's like you walk around with this so when he's playing I think to take in the restroom for games and stuff but yeah it was loud really loud it's good I might get one myself it's been Halloween as well hasn't it do you go big on that Wayne or is it more about the kids what happens hold on you've told me before it's more about the day before Halloween isn't it or is that just for kids oh no Mischief Night yeah But no, Halloween, I don't like it.

3:26I've seen Haaland. Haaland dressed as the Joker. It was actually in the local little corner shop, which I take the kids to for sweets and stuff. So it was fun. Well, I actually went there to get the duct tape. Oh, right. And the fellow was telling me Haaland was in, but I recognized it from the video. But I hate Halloween. I was in the States. It's obviously massive over there when I was living there. and I went out and I got a big box full of sweets and I just left them by the front door closed my curtains and said take what you want the first person who couldn't took everything it must have been about $300 worth of sweets oh my word yeah took everything oh it's not really in the spirit is it there's been a lot of people that have dressed up as you though for Halloween there's been a few outfits here the best one is that what they're like but I don't get wife I get it for a fancy dress but not for Halloween scary isn't it people turn Halloween into fancy dress now though isn't it yeah I've seen it it's actually a good it's a good attempt actually from the couple who've done it Kay do you like Halloween do you dress up I didn't used to like it and then I did get into it and now I'm back to hating it why do you know I just I think I've just got old that's all it is but I did like dressing up and stuff for a while but I think when you don't have a party to go to it's a bit useless isn't it I'm not just going to dress up we don't we don't Kai Kai went to a party on Saturday with his mate and he'd come here and we were doing his outfit so we just got plain white t-shirt and fake blood and putting handprints and then I had my hands around his neck from the back and then he spray-painted the fake blood around it so it looked like two big white handprints on his back and then but yeah it was actually it sounds terrible but they actually looked alright I love how the whole family gets involved in these outfits as well it took me about two hours to wash the blood off my hands though I think what we've realised, Kay, is the whole family gets involved in everything in the Rooney house.

5:24It's very much a family affair with everything, helping each other out. I used to put a hole in the bin bag and just pop me out. I would have a black cape when I was a kid. The thing is, I also feel like when I was growing up, it wasn't such a big thing. It feels like it's become a lot bigger now. I prefer Bonfait night. That's better. I don't even want to go into the fireworks stories with you. We'll do that at some point on this show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And let's get into the football from the weekend then, shall we? And let's start by talking about Tottenham because it was a really disappointing evening in North London.

5:57They fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea. And I think what's come into focus a lot after this is the attacking display. They didn't have a single shot on target and the fans have been really angry. And there was also an incident after the match where Jed Spence and Mickey Van Der Ven appeared to snub the manager Thomas Frank and walked straight down the tunnel. Firstly, Wayne, have you seen that incident and what did you make of it? Yeah, I've seen it and... Oh, there he is. Oh, he's got his spares top on as well. Well, look at his name as well. Come on, you spares. Hi, mate, you okay? Coise, coise, coise, coise, coise.

6:35Hi, guys. Hi, Michael, you okay? How you doing? Yeah, very good. What an absolute treat. Yeah, no, thanks for coming on. We've never met? I've never met any of you before. No, I was saying to Kay before, you was at the awards a few weeks ago, which for Guy Lineker, I think. Correct. And then I didn't manage to see you there, but it was a good night. Yeah, you looked a bit cool for school. You had a pose of unapproachability when you came on the big screen. Yes, you were sort of slumped. And I thought, maybe you didn't, you weren't at your most welcoming, but you seem very welcoming now, Wayne.

7:09No, I'm always welcoming. That might've been after the raffle when he realised he hadn't won. Michael, thank you for coming on. We just wish it was off the back of a slightly better Spurs performance. Were you there or did you watch? What did you make of it? Don't tell me the score. I've taped it. I can't wait. You're probably just giving it away. You'll have to wait till next week when I'm on match of the day then. I think we're going to do great. I think the Spurs team are looking great this season. I think we're going to hammer Chelsea. I can't wait to watch the highlights. I don't even know if there were highlights.

7:41It's strange when there's a game where there's a few Spurs games of recent times. I mean, we actually, I don't want to bring this up, Wayne, but we won the Europa League against Manchester United with no highlights. There wasn't a single, apart from the final whistle. I don't think there was for either team on that night. It was a poor game, that one. I don't even know if it was a goal that we scored. I don't even know how it went in. But yes, yesterday was, I fortunately didn't see, I wasn't there. I was watching it on my phone. I was working. But yes, there was nothing. We had nothing. we didn't seem to participate in the game.

8:14We're very polite at home. You know, hospitality is our thing at the new stadium. And maybe we're taking it a bit too seriously when it comes to the opposition, who we seem to be giving three points to every single time anybody comes. We're really struggling at home. I've watched Tottenham a few times this season and I've actually liked the performances. Obviously, against Chelsea, it was a poor performance, but I've actually really liked what they're doing and they've been a bit more direct. him getting the ball forward quicker and so that's why I think the Chelsea game was really, it was a surprise really to see how poor he was Well I don't think it's a surprise to the fans who have been watching closely you know because we are quite, we've been very good away I suppose that's keeping it tight isn't it and cashing in on on corners, there's a lot of set pieces which bizarrely seems to be our main mode of attack has gone quite well.

9:16I don't know if we've scored for many throw-ins but we spend a lot of time sort of drying the ball. That's one of the things we do and then throwing it. We dry the ball more than anyone if you look at the stats. But no, I did feel like this was coming a little bit because we got thoroughly outplayed by Wolves and also by Bournemouth. I mean, literally they looked... I mean, Bournemouth have been amazing all season but Wolves, who I don't think have really won another game, and we drew against them, but they were actually all over us. So, yeah, we're quite ineffective at breaking teams down when the onus is on us at home.

9:53Yes, I think I spoke a few weeks ago about this, saying sometimes it's easier to play away from home for players, and there's less pressure, obviously, when you play away from home, and you can take your time a little bit more, and you can be in your shape in a good low block, and then play on transition where I think at home where the fans are expecting you to really take the team to opposition. And especially Wolves are a counter-attacking team, really. Bournemouth are probably one of, if not the best in the league. But they had the ball. They had possession against us. And we couldn't get the ball off them, which is really tough to watch.

10:29I think that's a Thomas Frank team, though, isn't it? That's what he does. And I think the owners know that's what it is. And I think when it works, it looks really good. and obviously I haven't seen all the games the ones I've seen must all be away from home because they have been really good we have we beat Everton we beat City we beat Leeds was solid yeah but at home but you know we've got a lot of new players he's working it out I've got great faith in Thomas Frank he's a good coach I've coached against him a few times and he is a really good coach did you prefer playing at home though ultimately because you I prefer winning away even being honest when you win a game away from home it's you know when you're walking off the pitch and you know you've just been abused for 90 minutes it was a much better feeling but at home I can only apologise about that I was younger then yeah but no at home White Hart Lane actually was one of my favourite grounds to play I played there in the FAU Cup scored one of my best goals I've ever scored there in the U Cup and then I scored the the last ever goal at White Hart Lane you did you scored the last ever goal but you didn't win that game no well it was the only record that I took off Harry Kane well I took off Harry so you can't take that one back what do you think the team spirit's like it's on them right now because we saw an incident yesterday didn't we yes I did see this incident this was when Mickey and Jed were walking off the pitch it's strange how I call them by their first names I don't know either of these gentlemen that's what my mum does with footballers as well that she liked.

12:07Mr. van der Ven and Mr. Spence were walking off the pitch. Yeah, I don't, obviously, I have no idea what was going on. But it didn't look like Thomas Frank was going to shake their hands or anything. I think he was saying something. But look, who knows what goes on behind closed doors? All we know is that, you know, we really, it's a big game for us against Chelsea. And the statistics against them, it's like, I really thought we'd win yesterday just because of the law of statistics. I mean, how can we keep getting beaten by Chelsea in the most astonishingly different ways and always terrible ways?

12:43I mean, I think, is it we've only won eight games or something in the entire history of the Premier League and they've won something like nearly 40 times against us? Yeah, it's not a good record. You'd have teams like that, don't you? But I think with the two players, I think I've been in positions, I don't think I've ever, you know, snubbed the manager, say as obvious as maybe that one look, but the emotions of the game, as you said, it's a massive game for Tottenham and for Chelsea as well. I'm sure that'll be cleared up in the next couple of days. Well, there's a window, isn't there? You know, Wayne, because you played.

13:16When you've lost a game, you're going to be, as a fan, don't talk to me. I need 10 minutes to cool off. Do you know what I mean? Only 10? I need longer than that. 10 plus injury time. because I would have injured some people as well during that 10 minutes. But yeah, no, you're not yourself after the final whistle. And that's why I presume, I mean, Wayne, you must have, you know, kicked things that are dressing room. Yeah, well, I'd done it at halftime in the World Cup tonight in 2010 when I had to go with the England fans. That's right. And that was a halftime. And that's just pure, you know, when you get booed or whatever, that's just a pure emotion.

13:57And of course, you're regretted. and sometimes you don't know what you're doing. And I've seen players walk off the pitch and get subbed off and stay down the tunnel and in the car before the game's finished. Obviously, you know, the temperatures are raised. There's a lot of emotion. I think Thomas Frank wanted to clap them. Yeah, he just wanted to go round. I think what's probably happened is because the Tottenham fans were booing them, they've probably been a bit annoyed with the Spurs fans and thought, well, we're not clapping you, then why are we clapping you if you're booners? And I think that's probably what's happened.

14:27So it won't have been aimed at Thomas Frank. It's just a gain and emotion. You know, they're probably feeling why should we clap the fans if the Booners, whether rightly or wrongly, I think that's probably what's happened. I really like Jed Spence. I like his attitude as well. I don't know if you've seen this on social media, this thing he does where he says, welcome to the penitentiary. And if he has a great game against an attacker, he has like a little mock-up of him having him in like prison. And he's like the prison guard. He'd done it with like Brennan Johnson when he was on international duty and stuff.

15:00So he's got like a little bit of a cheekiness. That will definitely backfire on him. Because the attackers always, always end up winning. No, you're quite right. But I like the fact that he's got that self-belief in him. I don't know why the camera keeps that. That was amazing. You've been rehearsing this all week. All week he's like, this week when I make a really good point, I'm going to zoom in. It does it every single week. and every single week I get the giggles and Wayne is professional and carries on and I lose it.

15:33No, but I do really enjoy when players show personality like that and they can back it up and he seems to be able to back it up. Michael, can I ask you a bit more about the rivalry with Chelsea? Because as you said, we've got the stats. Spurs have won. One, I'm going to keep my composure. One of their last 13 games against Chelsea. Chelsea fans and players famously call it I'm going to keep my composure three-point lane don't they? Have you how does that rivalry kind of feel for you and do you have Chelsea fans that kind of text you straight away? It's unbelievable it's just horrific I mean I literally you just think it's going to change I mean this game so I suppose this Ange one that we had a couple of years ago I mean the details of this game it's almost unbelievable what happened against Chelsea in that game I don't even think I can remember everything terrible that happened.

16:25But we were top of the league when Chelsea came. We were absolutely flying. I think there'd be 10 games atop that we were actually unbeaten. We're unbeaten. We're top of the league. Everyone looks incredible. We're actually going to win the league at this point. But the details were extraordinary. You know, we had like two red cards. We lost Mickey Van de Ven and James Madison, our two best players, in the same game. You know, our whole season completely fell apart. In fact, maybe that season and the following season fell apart. I remember watching that and I always remember, I can't remember he was commentating, but he was saying how great it was to see Tottenham kept pressing and playing the high line.

17:04And I was thinking, this is absolute suicide. I remember thinking at the time, thinking, just sit back and be hard to beat it. And they kept going. And I think you're right there. I think that was the start of the end for Ange, really, because they never really recovered after that. Yeah, and also Nicholas Jackson hadn't scored. He scored a hat trick. And then we had that big game against them at Stamford Bridge where everybody literally had a fist fight with each other. People were gouging each other's eyes out. Eric Dyer should have been booked 14 times. And we were 2-0 up in that game. And then even last season, we were 2-0 up.

17:37We were 2-0 up. And Kukurea came and he fell over twice. They gave us two goals. Then he changed his boots and then they beat us 4-3. I don't know why we can't psychologically beat Chelsea. It just doesn't make any sense. But then again, it's also, like I say, the law of averages. Like Manchester City, they can't beat us. This is the best team of the last decade. We're their bogey team. We beat them every year, quite easily. How do you think you'll fare against United? That's next. Manchester United? Oh, my God. They're fantastic for us. We played them four times last season in our worst ever season.

18:17And we managed to beat them four times. Now, I think we're going to really struggle, to be honest. Manu look really good. Mbwemo is obviously great. Cunha. I mean, I'm terrified. But the thing about Spurs Manu is we're both terrified of each other because we're both equally stressed and have very little faith in our own teams. So I don't know. Could go either way. I think it'll be fun to watch. It's a big game. I think after United, obviously, recent run, they look to be back into a decent place anyway. So I think it's a big game after Tottenham losing to Chelsea. Whoever wins that could really kick them on, and whoever loses it could be a tough one to take that.

18:55So I think it's a massive game coming up then. What about the chap who won't cut his hair? Have you seen this, gentlemen? I feel for it. He's got to just cut it off, surely. But what happens? I'm refusing to grow man until he win five in a row. Wayne's just announced officially he's refused to replace his hair until they win five games in a row. Do you remember Tom Huddleston? Didn't he do a similar thing? What was the reason? I think he did. Yeah, he said he wouldn't cut his hair. Oh, until he scored. Until he scored the goal, yeah, it was. But it got to the point where the hair got so big that it was actually preventing him from scoring and the whole team.

19:37Nobody could see the ball coming in. And then I think once he had quite a clear header, it was easier to miss. And the ball sort of got embedded in his hair. And then I think he sort of retired. So it's a dangerous game. I played with him at the time. Me and Tom played together in midfield. So he must have scored. It must have been the slowest midfield two in the championship. Both of us at the end of our career. Fantastic player for the record. So yeah, this guy, I mean, that's going to be, I mean, it's going quite well for him. He's becoming a sort of superstar. Do you think they'll do it on the pitch?

20:08Do you think they'll bring him out game five in 2034 when you finally win five in a row? I'm not sure they want to celebrate just winning five games in a row. I don't think they want to highlight that it's so rare, do they? Probably. Well, you got close yesterday. If you win five games in a row now, you've got to celebrate that. Celebrate one. Yeah, you do always tell us that, Wayne, to be fair. Michael, thank you so much for joining us. Sorry it wasn't kind of to talk about anything happier. although it's not that bad being a Spurs fan at the moment, is it? Well, no, you live in hope and the games come so thick and fast.

20:40So we've got Copenhagen on Wednesday and then the big one on Saturday. Do you get to go to many games? Yeah, I go to most of them. Yeah, I went to Newcastle really last week, which was a bit of a schlep, but I had some work to do up there. But yeah, we didn't win that one either. But I go to most of the games, but I don't get to wear this. Oh, look at that. I do, I do, I do. For people that aren't watching this on iPlayer or YouTube, Michael is fully kitted out in his Spurs shirt and scarf. I should tell people that. Well, I'm wearing tracks at bottoms, so I'm not a full kit, dot, dot, dot. I'm a half kit, dot, dot, dot.

21:17All right, guys, such a pleasure. Good luck with it all. Michael, thanks a lot for coming on, mate. Take care. See you. Bye, guys.

21:27The Ultimate Cookout starts with the ultimate ingredients. At Whole Foods Market, no antibiotics ever, burgers and kebabs are prepped and ready to throw on the grill. Fire up a juicy ribeye. Grab creamy potato salad and savory flatbreads from the prepared foods department and round it all out with 365 brand condiments, chips and dips at everyday low prices. Whole Foods Market, make your summer sizzle.

22:01OK, well, moving on to Liverpool, because they got back to winning ways this weekend, 2-0 against Aston Villa, and Mo Salah scored. And what does that mean, Wayne? Yeah, I've seen that. Yesterday, he got the record I had, which most goal involvement for a single club, which he was always going to get. I think he's been sensational for Liverpool, and he deserves a fantastic player, and the goals he scored. And yeah, he hasn't had the best of starts this season, but he's a match winner and you keep him on the pitch and that's what he does. Yeah, and there's a few people wasn't there questioning him and Liverpool in general, but he's scored now in two games.

22:44It just shows, doesn't it, Kay, that sometimes as fans, people are quick to write these players off, but he is a legend of the Premier League. Yeah, I mean, look, you're not going to find a lot of players that have the same sort of record as Mo Salah. and the effect he can have on games, even if, like I've said numerous times on this podcast, even if he's not playing a good game and he's having a bit of a quiet one, he can still come out with a moment of magic or be in the right position to go on and get a goal or an assist to change the game. So people doubting him kind of do look foolish. But I think some of the criticism over the past few weeks was valid though from people, Wayne included.

23:28Because every player is human as well. So they do have blips, they have ups and downs like anybody else. I think you set standards, don't you, as players? And when your team is going through a tough period and it's not quite going well, most allies that play in Liverpool look for to win them games and get them out of that bad performance, if you like, at times. And yeah, it's hard. There's probably only Messi and Ronaldo who have consistently done it for 10, 15 years, whatever. And I think because he's been so good, that's why everyone expects him to do it every game. And that's why you do, you know, the one thing I said was more a body language thing from my point of view with him.

24:16And so, yeah, but listen, he's, you know, he'll go down as one of the best ever to play in the Premier League. There's no doubt about that. He's 18 goals behind you in total Premier League goals. Do you think he's going to catch you? Oh, 100%. I think, you know, I'm not a player or ex-player now who really have had my career. I'm happy with what I've done. And I don't look at it and think, oh, you know, he's going to go past me. Harry Kane went past me a while back. And, you know, that's football. Records are there to be broken. And, you know, I'm sure Harland, if he stays at Man City, he will go past everyone.

24:53if the way he's going. So that's just football. What record are you most proud of? Me? I don't know. I don't even know which records I've got. I think the Man United all-time goalscorer one has been there for so long and to break the record, Bobby Charlton had, so it was still for so many years. I think that's probably the one I'm most proud of. Do they ever mention a record on commentary or something and they go, oh, Wayne Rooney had that record and you get surprised yourself that you had it? Well, the Salah one yesterday, I had no idea. So you're not too bothered to equal it because you didn't realise you had it?

25:38I didn't even know I had it, yeah. So, yeah, no, it's said that a few times, but yeah, for me, you play football to win trophies with your teammates and that's all I care about. So if anything else comes with that, great. to if not, it doesn't really bother me that much. Going back to Liverpool, and you both mentioned it there, that there's been criticism of them over recent weeks. And Wayne, you kind of had a little analysis of what you think was potentially going wrong. And you spoke about the leaders and you made some comments about Virgil van Dijk. And I don't know if you've heard, but he's actually replied to them.

26:13And he said, I didn't hear him last year. It doesn't hurt me, to be honest. Obviously, he's a legend, big player of the game who inspired so many. I can only say positive things, but I feel that comment is just, I would say it's a bit of lazy criticism that's my personal opinion Yeah no listen Van Dijk's similar to Mo Salah he's you know over the last five years he's been one of if not the best defender in the world and last year it was hard to say anything bad because they were that good and he was that good last year and similar to what I said about Mo Salah I think I think if you're Virgil Van Dijk and you're honest with yourself.