Spurs Survive, West Ham Down! Wayne Rooney’s Brutal Final Day Verdict

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1:20They have yellow sales signs on ready-to-cook beef or chicken kebabs too. Level up with savory marinades, spices, and rubs, and complete your cookout with a crowd-pleasing cherry pie and their balsamic chicken salad. Available at the prepared foods counter. Get Summer Splash savings now at Whole Foods Market. I just didn't feel like they were giving everything and walking back at times, and that's damning for a player. I think they deserve to be where they are, but I agree with Kay. I think he'll be a real threat next season. I've never cried on football kids. I cried on, like, coordination season, extra than that one.

2:02So that's it. The Premier League season is done. 38 game weeks concluded and we now know who's going to be playing European football. We already knew who was champions and we know who's going to be relegated. Wayne, firstly, you've been in match of the day today. What did you make of how it all played out? It wasn't really that exciting because obviously Tottenham went 1-0 up and that was it really. Everton never really looked like scoring, so it was a bit dull really, a bit boring. And then obviously Sunderland, Bournemouth and Brighton took the Europa League and Conference League spots. So it was, yeah, it wasn't the greatest last day of the season, to be honest.

2:45It wasn't and I imagine it was even worse if you were a West Ham fan. so let's bring one in now. He's been on the pod already this season. Actor and comedian and big hammer, Tom Davis. Tom, it feels brutal getting you on when you've just watched your team be relegated. How are you feeling? I was talking to the boys before we come on here and as Wayne said, I think Tottenham scoring that early, you kind of straight away, you knew the right and was on the wall. I think, you know, I've just watched Jarrod Bowen's interview actually and I think we were very lucky. We got out of it last year and I don't think we've...

3:17I came on here earlier this season And I think the things I said then about how we run as a club and how we've sort of functioned over the last few years has sort of, has meant that this has been, I think, just waiting in the wings, really. I just, looking at Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton, as Wayne's mentioned, who all made European football and how brilliant they all run as clubs and how we, how we sort of, you know, you realise there that it's a different great game in the Premier League. And I think, yeah, it's going to just, yeah, I mean, it's going, it's always going. I think West Ham's downfall came from when David Moyes left, because he was doing a fantastic job, and he leaves, and then the recruitment has not been anywhere near good enough.

3:59And the times I've watched him this season, I think the players, and you can look at players and say, you know, are they good enough, or could they have done a bit more? But I just didn't feel like they were giving everything, and they were walking back at times, and that's damning for a player to have that label. I know that, but I thought he had more in them at times this season and he let themselves down. How do you motivate them, though? They've had a few managers this season. How do you get the best out of them? I mean, I would say I was massively agreeable. You know what, the first half of even today's game.

4:37You looked really nervous, really nervous, I thought. Yeah, I didn't think we... You think all we've got to do is win, so it's regardless of what Tottenham are going to do you've just got to get stuck in and you've just got to do what you've got to do and sort of picking up on Wayne's point I think that's been the thing and I think there's been moments under Nuno when we felt a little bit like we're we've sort of been out here a little bit more here and there but I think fitness sometimes and I know like you said but I think if you're playing for a club and you're a Premier League player how much motivation do you need?

5:12you're playing, you should probably naive to think that you want to go out there and put on a performance and play well. And I think there's just too many players who haven't had that this season. I think that, you know, it's a shame because I actually think up until probably the Arsenal game for us, there was a time when we were putting a bit of a run together and actually it was starting to get a little bit exciting. And you could look at a few players that were, you know, putting in a shift. I think Fernandes is an exceptional player. I think he's going to go on and he's going to, wherever he lights up next year, I think there's going to be a very fortunate Premier League team who pick him up.

5:53But yeah, it's all about rebuilding now. I think that's the thing you've kind of got to do. And looking at someone like Sunderland, I think it's going really back to what is West Ham. I think, as Wayne has said, I think I talked to you guys before about this. I thought it was harsh on David Moyes after everything, what he brought us as a club to get rid of him and then in the way that we did. And I think then that the recruitment, the different managers who've come in, it's a bit like triggering his broom, isn't it? You keep on changing the head, is it still the same thing? Do you know what I mean?

6:27It doesn't feel the same thing. That's where it's when you hear people talking about the style of football and, you know, owners and fans, you hear them talking about the style of football, we want to play this way. and if you go back to Moise what he's done at Everton obviously got them potentially the last day of the season he still could have gone in Europe I know they finished 13th but would you have taken what Everton have done and to still have Moise there now? Yeah I mean just to be in the Premier League also I think it's really the fact is we were you know I think we had kudos we had some players who were exciting players I think you know we'd won a cup and I think that's the thing that we I think it's very unusual I think it's well you know in both the case of in the case of Ange and David Moyes you've got two players there who two managers there who have both won a cup and then both been sacked so and putting both their sort of teams in dire straits so I think the long I think the long there's been at West Ham since we've moved into that stadium I think David Moyes has brought the only things that have been positives there I think there's been a lot of negative stuff that's happened at that stadium I still you know as I've said the whole time since we moved I don't think it's a football stadium I don't think it gives you that those what Upton Park used to but but like I say it's football isn't it and you you you know yourself that if you're not good enough you you the way it all levels out so in the end the worst teams are going to get relegated what do you want to happen now Tom because it feels like you're kind of craving stability and understandably but you want to go straight back up is Nuno the man to do that for you you did it before for Wolves in the Championship took them up didn't you I like Nuno I think yeah I mean I don't know again it's very difficult isn't it because you sort of yeah I think it's I think the truth is it's just looking at the club as a whole I think that's the thing it's got to be looked at and I think Nuno had the early sort of there's a few players he's brought in that we were crying out younger players for him to play and he played them and I think the worst thing you could now is just throw in any kind of make it less of a stable sort of place behind the scenes, I think he's been there he's if I'm honest with you I think Nuno is a good coach and I think there's a chance that his head might be turned somewhere else I don't know, I think it goes above Nuno, I think that's the real hardcore truth, I think it has to what's going on above him has to kind of shift.

8:59It just shows the next day that clubs would have run in the right way how effective that can be when you look at Bournemouth and Brighton and Brentford for instance they all seem to be running the right way and there seems to be a long-term plan there and then at West Ham I think over recent years I wouldn't say a mess but it just doesn't look like it's ran right and then you pay the penalty for that Wayne you know a lot more about any of this than I do but I think to start the season off with, you know, I think we've got these two quite electric wingers and we sort of started the season off with Fulcrook, who was never really at the sort of mix, didn't really want to be there.

9:45So you almost, and Callum Wilson, who has been exceptional at times this season, but we know that he's not going to last 90 minutes, so kind of started the season off without centre forward. And you're playing in a style that sort of, with two guys who kind of need someone in the centre. You know, things since Tati signed have been slightly better. Today, again, you notice he gives you a vocal point up front. But we started the season without essentially a number nine. And then you just look through the whole team and you're picking up, you know, what is it you're standing for? What is the team and what does it represent?

10:17And I think that's the thing that Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford, Sunderland, even Leeds today. I thought Leeds had nothing to play for. but certainly the first half they showed a lot more fire in how they were doing things. I agree with what you said before in terms of the first half. We were watching it and it didn't feel like a game where West Ham needed to win. It was a bit slow and flat and I was watching and thinking if you're going into that first half knowing you need to win, you want more energy. Energy gets the crowds up and creates an atmosphere. And it just felt weird. I don't know whether that was nerves or pressure, but it felt weird in watching our first half?

10:58Yeah, I mean, you'd have given your right bollock for someone like you out there, Wayne. If I'm going to be honest with you. To have someone like you go out there and just tear into a few people, that's what it felt it needed. It's what it's needed all season. You know, looking at Declan and what Declan's done and before him, Mark Noble, just have those players on a pitch, just someone who really feels like they're just going to fire everyone up. And it all feels a bit flat when you sit there and watch it. and it yeah but like I say I I thought we were fortunate last season at times and I think this season the writing has been on the wall I don't look at it as being you can easily you know you can easily sit here and blame you know the Villa game against Tottenham the team that they put out you can't blame other teams for your relegation though can you?

11:49that's the thing yeah but we did that when we were trying to win a European trophy I think the truth is if you realise that that's going to happen I think you can't blame anything else but yourselves and there was a long time when we just didn't have anything so like I say I hope my biggest hope is that we now focus on stepping forward as a club and that there's some sort of change. As a fan of a championship club and a club that was relatively recently in the Premier League I'd love to tell you it's really good fun it is quite good fun you don't have VAR in the Championship so there's one positive Wayne would probably quite enjoy that but hopefully you'll win a few more games next season yes and also I get to go to Wrexham which will be a laugh and Bultman I'll go and watch the football with Paddy McGinnis that's all the fun so there we go keeping with you for soccer next week because I don't want him anywhere near that goal again

12:46Tom we'll let you go because you've got a show you're going to cheer yourself up a bit tonight well I'm going to try to yeah A sold-out show and I'm going to be crying in the back in the wings. But yeah, it is what it is. Thank you. Have a lovely summer, everyone. Cheers, mate. Have a good one, mate. All the best. Take care. See you later. When I didn't want to talk too much about Spurs with Tom with us, because it felt even more harsh than getting him on here to talk about his team being relegated. But what did you make of the way Tottenham applied themselves to that game? Because, I mean, I just thought watching it myself from the off, they were determined not to lose.

13:17They knew what they had to do. Fans and everything. The atmosphere was amazing. Yeah, they did. They were the better team today and deserved the win. But I think they're very lucky to stay up. Obviously, the change of manager and some of the performances were woeful this season. So, I think they're really fortunate. But I do think they'll do well next season. I think they'll get injured players back. The manager coming in will be good for them, I think. So, I think we'll see a big improvement. Yeah, I think De Zerbi coming in has absolutely changed their fortune. And they've come 17, two years in a row now.

13:56So they need a great summer. Yeah, they need a great summer because if they don't fix up, they quite easily see themselves in that position again. You know, it's become a bit of a habit for them. Yeah, you'd probably think they'd learn from it. I feel like Wayne, even watching their reaction at full time, I noticed when Roberto De Zerbi ran onto the pitch in celebration and then he almost was like, oh, actually, this isn't really, it is something to be celebrated, isn't it? But it's kind of not. Yeah, no, I think it's a relief. More than a celebration, you're relieved to stay up. And then you see it with clubs who maybe are suggested to go down to begin the season and then they overachieve.

14:37But with Tottenham, I think they've underachieved all season and that was a massive sigh of relief by all the players, the fans and the manager today. I think it is an achievement for him as well because at the state he came in. Yeah, they looked gone, didn't they? You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Everyone thought they were gone. Yeah, so it'll be interesting to see what they can do next season. It's going to be a big summer for them as well. Let's talk about the teams that made Europe then, because, I mean, Sunderland, what an incredible story that is. Wayne, I actually thought it was interesting when you mentioned to Tom about all the teams that were well-run.

15:04It was really lovely, actually, to see the teams that are well-run were the ones celebrating today, the likes of Bournemouth, Sunderland, Brighton, all getting European football. But firstly, Sunderland, what a story that is. Yeah, no, they're an incredible season, and to finish above Newcastle as well. so I'm sure that'll make them happy I'm sure Alan loved that in the match of the office yeah no but I think they've been brilliant all season and they'd lost seven or eight players I think it was in January for the African Cup of Nations so I think they went through a period where they were losing games but they dug in they dug in there stayed in a decent position until the end and I think they deserved the position they finished and playing European football next season from being in the championship last season it's incredible really Yeah it's amazing it kind of gives hope doesn't it to the teams that have come up but it doesn't feel that long ago that the conversation was constantly oh the three teams coming up and the three teams coming straight back down it almost feels like they've given a bit of a blueprint Wayne for like how to do well everyone will be trying to do a Sunderland now won't they Yeah I think the style of football this season has changed slightly and maybe that's helped the teams coming up because you know everyone wants to play the way Pep plays and that doesn't work when you haven't got your players are not good enough to do it and just with the long throws come back in, set pieces, a little bit more direct, I think that has actually helped the teams who have come up and Leeds are a physical team and I think their recruitment this season has been brilliant and Sunderland, again yeah, a lot of new players coming in but you know they suited the Premier League this year I think Sunderland will struggle next season but I think they can enjoy their achievements from this season I think Granit Xhaka was instrumental this season for them he's probably been the signing of the season for me and I think having him Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first but didn't live up to the hype like those$5 roses at a gas station or a second hand piece of technology that breaks in the first 10 minutes Marketers know that feeling.

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18:01That's linkedin.com slash broadcast. Terms and conditions apply. Save now at Whole Foods Market. It's the Summer Splash event. With great everyday prices on 365 brand ground beef for the grill and ice cream for dessert, they have yellow sales signs on ready-to-cook beef or chicken kebabs too. Level up with savory marinade, spices, and rubs, and complete your cookout with a crowd-pleasing cherry pie and their balsamic chicken salad. Available at the prepared foods counter. Get Summer Splash savings now at Whole Foods Market. Be a cool head, someone with a bit of experience, league winner in Germany, to come in and guide them to that.

18:43Someone that's got Premier League experience to just be in the middle of the park and tell the other players what they're going to expect from the Premier League. He's been absolutely amazing, which is why I'm a bit confused as to why you say they'll struggle next year. Yeah, no, I just think they've overachieved this year, for sure. And I think just with the expectation next year, and being in Europe, I think it'll be difficult for them next season. Is that because of squad size and everything as well? They've got an opportunity to go and bring more players in, but I just think it might be a little bit too much for them next season.

19:23OK, we'll have to wait and see. The Sunderland fans aren't going to care, although they're just going to be absolutely buzzing. Imagine that. You're going to Preston and like, no, it's Preston, I'm just sort of a nautily team, like all out on a Tuesday night last year and then they're going to be going to some of the best stadiums in Europe. It's amazing. Yeah, I think the manager deserves a lot of credit as well there because he's had a game plan and the board and the recruitment as well because I think if you watched him in that playoff final last season, he didn't deserve to go up. I thought Sheffield United were by far the better team.

19:59And then to strip the squad apart and put a team together, squad together to compete in the Premier League but not only compete and achieve European football for next season I think they all deserve a lot of praise for them Congratulations as well to Bournemouth who of course secured they could have got in the Champions League but they got European football they're going to be in the Europa League but a word on K it feels weird saying this Chelsea aren't going to be in Europe at all next season Well I mean I think the writing was on the wall the way this season's gone for them I don't think that's become a massive surprise given the way that they've played but for a club like Chelsea I feel like if they'd have even gone to the Conference League again it'd have been probably more detrimental to their hopes more so than any other team I think they've won it once before but again as well for other teams that are in the Conference League I don't want to see Chelsea in there again That's the beauty of it isn't it it gives other teams that aren't used to winning Yeah Exactly so I think for them though I think it's a blessing in disguise one game a week with probably one of the most exciting managers around in Europe.

21:09I think Chelsea have got a great opportunity if they've got some good recruitment this summer to come and do really well next season. I think I remember talking early on in one of the early podcasts we've done. I remember saying, I think when it gets to November, December, Chelsea would really struggle because of the Club World Cup. and it was exactly the case and when you're playing and you're out there in that heat and humidity it hits you at different times and I just felt that that would be the case with Chelsea and that happened so I think there was tiredness there was different factors to why they didn't have a good season and the mess with Maresca and then Resina coming in and getting sacked I think they deserve to be where they are but I agree with Kay I think they'll be a real threat next season.

22:04Obviously, having one game a week and then Alonso coming in, I think it's exciting for the Premier League because I think he's got the potential to be a top manager. I was going to say, if you were Alonso watching on today and kind of having it confirmed there's not going to be European football, are you happy? No, if you can get in Europe, then you'd always want to play in it. So I think it's... I think it gives him a period of time to feel his way into the club and get his ideas across. So I think it will benefit the football club. Wayne, sorry, on that, how much more time do you get on a training pitch when you don't have European football at hand?

22:46It could be an extra three days a week. That's a lot, isn't it? So if you think, if you play Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, for instance, you'll probably train on Tuesday and play Wednesday if you play Saturday Saturday you'll train four days a week out of that at least so it is about two or three days so cumulatively that's going to be a massive help to Alonso isn't it? yeah exactly especially obviously the pre-season this year for all the managers at all the top clubs will be disrupted obviously because of the World Cup so and I think that's where it will benefit Alonso So because he left that time once the season starts to get his ideas across where the teams in Europe might struggle a little bit.

23:31I think you two have brainwashed me a little bit because I found myself celebrating Bruno Fernandes getting another assist today and breaking the assist record. I do also have him on my fantasy team, he was my captain. But he's obviously, we've spoken about him extensively when we've all chatted. But Wayne, how pleased were you? because I kind of get the feeling that although he equalled it last week, he would have been kicking himself if he hadn't actually been able to break it this week. Yeah, no, I'm delighted for him. It's mad because years ago, you never really heard of... You knew, obviously, who set the goal up and who got the assist, but it wasn't a big thing.

24:09And so that's gone, that's turned into a big thing now. But yeah, listen, he's been fantastic all season. and for me the player of the year because the influence he has on Man United but on his teammates as well and you can see how driven he is and he's scored a few goals as well so I think he's been happy to that Man United team. Kay, I didn't realise that I've obviously seen the club posting about his individual awards because obviously he's scooping them up left, right and centre. I didn't realise that online there had been a little bit of criticism of how the club have done that which surprised me a little bit.

24:45You'll have seen that and what did you make of it? I think some people are saying how far standards have fallen, but celebrating somebody's individual awards. But I just think, look... You can't celebrate a player like that. Exactly. What was it? What happened? People are saying the way the club have reacted, we've been posting this as if we've won the league or something. Yeah, but that's part of the game now. That's what players do. That's what clubs do.

25:16you've seen Casemiro put all his trophies out the other day and we have Man of the Match trophies in there and stuff so that's part of the game with social media now and stuff Do you like it on that one? It is what it is if it doesn't go on social media years ago it would have been done for the newspapers and stuff so yeah It doesn't bother me at all. I don't think anybody would have been criticising the club if something similar happened for Brian Robson back when he was captain. Awful way. Look. Yeah, awful way. But Wayne was part of a side that was very successful. My point is, you can make the comparisons with Brian Robson because he was there during a period where he stuck with a team in a period where it wasn't as successful and he was the talisman of that team.

26:08So I think Bruno's in a very similar situation And I think it is an achievement, whether you like it or not. And individual stats have become a lot more important in the league, as Wayne points out, given like with the advent of social media. But yeah, I mean, look, we've had a really up and down season. And if you can't celebrate that, then like, come on, just give everybody a little bit of a break. It's a celebration police out again, isn't it? It just really annoys me. OK, obviously, final day of the season as well is a lot of players and managers, actually, quite a few managers this season.

26:39final opportunity to kind of say goodbye to their fans there was quite a lot of tears actually I was quite surprised particularly Wayne at Manchester City did you see how emotional Bernardo Silva was even in the tunnel beforehand yeah everyone's different I was laughing because I think Pep was crying for Bernardo but not Ston he was wasn't he when he came off the or did he not cry I only saw the Bernardo bit but I don't agree with the guard of honour during the game after the game I think Liverpool doing it for Mo Salad after the game but during the game I don't agree with that because you're stopping the game it's all very reminiscent of John Terry when he did it I just don't agree with it, you're stopping the game wait till after the game and do it then I quite like it but I do understand it's something that's kind of changed with modern football as well hasn't it I thought particularly Liverpool and City the way they did it was really incredibly classy and it's quite nice because Liverpool and City didn't achieve what they wanted to achieve this season, but to still be able to recognise them the way they did.

27:42And they're big players leaving the Premier League, aren't they, Wayne? Andy Robertson as well. I feel a bit sorry for Andy Robertson, by the way, because he's kind of been overshadowed a bit by Mo Salah, but what he's done for Liverpool as well has been phenomenal. Yeah, no, listen, Mo Salah, certainly, one of the greats of the Premier League. So what he's done for Liverpool, and obviously Bernardo Silva and John Stones at Man City, incredible players. It'll be interesting to see where they go. And then, yeah, Andy Robson's done really well as well, Philippe Hill. So I think that you're losing big players and some big characters as well from the Premier League.

28:24I want to congratulate them all on their time in the Premier League. They might stay in the Premier League, but I think they all deserve a lot of praise. Did you cry Wayne when you left United or any of the clubs? I don't think I've ever cried on a football pitch I'm not I cried on like Coronation Street's an X Factor in that one I was going to say you've told us before that you're quite emotional You've used the Coronation Street line on me before I remember Only things that matter Wayne Why do you think that is? Sorry this is not meant to be a deep dive into your personality but I don't know I guess it just affects people differently, doesn't it?

29:04I don't know. People are different and it's not bad. It's not a bad thing. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but everyone's different. Some do and some don't. And it can be emotional, you know. You think for foreign players as well, coming in and having that connection with their fans and feeling the love from the fans, it can be really emotional. I actually did cry at the last game of Goodison. Oh, you mentioned that when you were with your son, weren't you? Yeah. Yeah, and that's the only time, yeah. Wow. I cried when we lost a penalty shootout against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final. You know, in the black kit.

29:38The final? When we were hammering them. Final and wild, yeah. I cry all the time at football. I cried this week watching the video that... It's more the content the club's put out. Did you see this week? Andy Robertson's... They gave him some headphones and they played messages from his family to him. That when the family gets involved, I'm done. But that's because I'm an emotional football watcher. let's move on to some end of season awards then player of the year Bruno Fernandes let's just move on yeah I'll vote for Declan Rice just to give him a vote because they want the league and everything young player of the year Wayne?

30:16I think you can't look past Nico Riley I think with some of his performances and scoring really important goals for Man City in important times I think he's been a standout young player I'd like to throw Junior Kruppi in there as well, because I think where Bournemouth sold loads of players, Evan Nielsen was expected to be the main talismanic goalscorer, and he's just been absolutely brilliant, okay? Yeah, I've got Nico O 'Reilly as well, but special mention to probably Ryan and Rio and Gamora, but yeah, Nico O 'Reilly. Max Dallman as well, he must be the youngest player to win the Premier League.