Arteta’s Title Pressure, Carrick Saves United & Spurs Running Out of Time | The Overlap Fan Debate

Show of hands.Arsenal for the title.Show of hands in here.Who thinks City will win the title?It's overwhelming.That football, it's just...

Why are they behaving like pre -Madonna's like that?That is disgraceful.

Is this not one of the greatest moments in your history from a point of view of sort of telling the story?

Um, absolutely not, Gary, no.Arsenal fans do demand this kind of respect without having really won anything.When did you ever grab a head?Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't grab a head.

Didn't you two kiss on the lips once when you were playing like that?He kissed everyone.When you look at the number of mistakes that they've made, this is a big drop in standards.The worst decision I've ever seen in my life.

Yeah, we get relegated and Arsenal don't win the league on the same day.

I might take that.If you win the league, obviously, it's going to be completely and utterly euphoria.There'll be 60 ,000 people crying.What will it be like if you don't win it?There'll be 60 ,000 people crying.So, hello and welcome back to the Fan Debate, brought to you by Skyber.

It's me and Fikara today with Scholesy and alongside me are our loyal fans.How are you all doing?We all good?Thanks for that.Scalzi, title race, where are you at on it?Who do you think's going to win it?

Well, where are you at in terms of who you think's going to win, who's handling it better, what's happening right now?

City are handling it better, aren't they, I think.With the big game last week, Arsenal limped over the line a little bit against Newcastle again.I just think City, there's a flow to City.I know there's not massive experience in the squad, but they've got the manager who's got the experience.which is a big thing.I think it's going to be close.

I don't think there's any doubt in that.I just think City are capable of winning every game.Do you know what blows my mind?

I don't look at it particularly.but the actual...What you have done?

Yeah.

It blew my mind after the game City -Arsenal and I've actually seen it again this morning and it's 72 % basically.There's 72 % Arsenal are favourites.Yeah, I don't get that.I just don't see how it can be that sort of emphatic about Arsenal winning the league.What does that take into account of the remaining fixtures?

They're all difficult at this time of the season.We've been there, haven't we?Every game at this time of the season is hard to win.I think you've got Villa away, Everton away.

Villa at home, yeah.

Villa at home?Bournemouth away.Bournemouth away, yeah.I just think City will win their game.Now look, I think there's a chance Arsenal will win their games, but I think they'll do it in a different way.I think there's a flow to City.

I think they're playing really well.I think if Arsenal are going to do it, it's going to be a limp over the line, I think.And any goal difference could be big, couldn't it?

Matt, is that fair?Limp over the line.Were you in the ground on Saturday?I actually was watching it at the pub with Ray Parler, but...

Jeez, you weren't watching it.So you don't remember what happened?

I've been to every other game, but no.On Saturday, I got a good look at our team and it sums up how we've been this season.Go wind it up pretty early on, sit back for the rest of the game, invite the pressure, and then drop down to the floor out of energy at the end of the game.

I was in the stadium, I've been in the stadium quite a bit recently, it's difficult to say to fans don't feel the nerves because obviously you're feeling it, you've not obviously won a league title for such a long time but is there a way in which the fans can change the atmosphere in the stadium and say almost like let's just forget, almost like let us forget, let's not put sort of like what would be extra pressure on the team and just sing all the way through it.Sometimes you know United fans or other particularly United away from home fans I remember they just sing the wholeway through the game and almost in some ways it almost like takes over and the players respond to that.There's almost like every time Arsenal make a mistake in the stadium, I mean we're sat right in front of, you hear every single groan and sort of gasp.Is there something the Arsenal fans can do?

I was saying beforehand, I've never witnessed a team and a fan base so connected in a stadium where based on the performance.If the players look nervous, everyone in the stadium is nervous.If the fans are nervous, the players are nervous.Everything that we give will either bring them down or bring them up.And I think that we do have to come together and be a little bit louder than we have been because it's just a bottle of nerves when you get in there.You can really cut through the tension.

It's sickening.I don't enjoy it going.

No, I must have it on.You don't go.On Saturday, to be fair, I have to say that the only enjoyable point for the Arsenal fans was the goal in the first 10, 12 minutes.Obviously, it was a brilliant moment.And then, actually, the final whistle.Everything in between that just felt like a sort of like a...

Yeah, yeah.It's because, and I was going to say it later on in the segment, but the difference between us and Man City is I feel like we are scared of dropping points, whereas they are starving to gain them.And that's what's scary.Joe, I was going to speak to you, Joe.

Early on in the season, you were on the side of Zubermandi.

What are you smirking for?

Because I told you.No, but when he signed Zoubamendi...It was the end of last season.Yeah, when he signed Zoubamendi, I'd seen him come...I was there in the Berlin Stadium a couple of years ago when Rodri came off at half -time and I'm thinking, wait a minute, European Championship, Zoubamendi's coming on and he was absolutely brilliant.He gets control of the ball, he's someone who relaxes everybody.

And I really expected him in this period when Arsenal are sort of definitely finding it difficult.I expected him, more than Declan Rice and the others to be honest with you, to actually be that controlling element.A little bit like you were at times, where you think, right, okay, we're safe, he's on the ball, he's got the rhythm of the team, and he's just falling apart.really a lot in the last few weeks hasn't he?

Yeah do you know what it's probably, it's a long season, the Premier League's tough isn't it, it's a long season he probably wouldn't have experienced anything like this before in Spain, he wouldn't, probably wouldn't have gone for a title in Spain would he with Solskjaer I suppose and when I'd seen him for Solskjaer you were saying If I remember rightly, he was someone who progresses the ball up the pitch and I never saw him as that.I didn't see him lows but I never thought he was going to be a player that's going to make your team play good football.And I think your central midfield player has to do that.

I thought he would get on the half turning deeper positions but I thought he would push it through into Odegaard and into Eze.

I don't think he does that though.I don't think he progresses the game enough.Now, that game on Saturday, I didn't see all of it.I probably saw the first half an hour.But I think Odegaard's a big problem for them as well.I think the number 10 position, I love Odegaard, I think he's brilliant, technically he's great, but he doesn't play his position properly.

After time, I saw in the first 20 minutes, he's almost the deepest man.Yeah, he went deep on Saturday.That football, it's just bullshit.

Do you think that's him or that's what he's being told to do?I think both him and Declan have been told to go deeper, similar to what Rodri and Bernardo did the week before, and get the ball in between the centre -backs.Mikel, to be fair, they must have been under instruction.

Whether they've been told that or not, Odegaard is a number 10.Odegaard connects your midfield to your forward play.And you wonder why there's no flow in your team when he's behind Zubermande, he's behind Declan Rice.How can you get connections there?Now, I also think that Saka not being there is a problem because I think Odegaard does connect well with Saka.Once he gets in those positions behind the midfield, then Saka's off and running.

Now, I don't think he'll have quite that connection with Llores because he's not that type of player.Possibly, with the habits, he could have it.So if I'm a central midfield player for Arsenal, I don't need you here.You're not needed in between.You've got to be there.I can then progress the ball up the pitch to you, especially because you've got great ability, almost in a David Silva kind of way that he connects in Manchester City's midfield to the attack in play.

Stay there.

But do you not think that, from a control point of view, with Arteta obviously being obsessed with controlling the game, which is what he's done from start to finish this season, Odegaard in that role is best suited, and then you've got someone like Eze to put the final push.

Look, I think either of them are suited to it.I think Herzey will produce more moments from the edge of the box scoring goals than Odegaard, but I think Odegaard will make you a better football team if he plays in the right position.

I agree.I think John Satale, he didn't get control of the game though, because I think Newcastle had 55 -60 % of the ball, and Tonali and Gamiraj, to be fair...

They control the game.

They are really good players, to be fair, so I think they can shock you a little bit, because I think they'll do most midfields in the Premier League when I see them, they're just like...They're just really good, full stop.But they didn't control the game.I think if Uruguay had gone deeper and then Arsenal did get control of the game, I would have said, fair enough, they're doing it to get control, but they didn't actually get control of the game.And that, I think, is a big problem.Luke, just coming to you.

Talk about Arsenal for me.If City are going to lose this, how are you going to lose it?Give some comfort to an Arsenal fan in the first part of your answer, if you can.

Yeah, well, I think if City are going to lose it, I think Arsenal win every game from now until the end of the season.But it's been...There's been so many moments this season, it's rare that we'd be in this position and I'd say this, but there's been times where I've thought it was done, to be honest.We lost to United at the start of the season.Start of the year, sorry.and Arsenal had a chance to go 9 points clear having played the same amount of games and they drew to Forest, went away to Tottenham, messed it up and the door's just been kept open so many times so you need to just shut the door by winning your games and ultimately, you know, three weeks ago, which is pretty much the last time we were on here, Arsenal could have gone 12 points clear.

And, you know, you messed that up.And then you came to the Etihad and lost.So if you're going to win it, you're going to win every game.I don't know if that's going to comfort you or not.But I think that's the only way Arsenal can win the league, to be honest.Because if it goes to goal difference, personally, I think the way they've been winning games, I understand, you know, we played Burnley and won 1 -0.

But the way we create chances in games, especially that one as well, we could have probably scored three or four that day.So if it goes level on points, I think we'll probably do the goal difference.We've got more games as well.You obviously beat Newcastle 1 -0.But I'm absolutely buzzing, I don't really know how we're in this position.

Yeah, I thought City, to be fair, I thought City this was one year too early.In fact, I couldn't see where this new team was coming from, probably pre -Christmas, but all of a sudden now the defence, the two centre -backs, the three behind, Haaland, they look...

The two signings in January were big as well, weren't they?Gary's made a massive difference to us.He called O 'Reilly's ridiculous.O 'Reilly's been brilliant as well.

Kozunov's been, like, unbelievable, for his age as well.When he first came in, he had one mistake in his first game, I feel like the whole media just sort of gave up on him straight away.

To be fair, City fans were looking at him thinking, you're like a startled rabbit.

Yeah, but then...He got pulled over.He's about eight.He's actually only ever had five birthdays actually.He's born in the leap year.So yeah, but I think he's been unbelievable.

The confidence he's got at such a young age as well and how fast he is every time anyone gets him behind.It's like having Kyle Walker at centre -back.He's so quick.Who's Tom?And I think he's been massive for us this season.

Do you think there's a suggestion that you all were celebratingagainst after the Arsenal game?I must admit, I was in the stadium, I didn't think that, but there was a suggestion you did over -celebrate after that game.

I mean, we've got to back it up now.If people think that, they can say what they want.Ultimately, all this celebration stuff, it's not going to matter whether we win the league or we don't win the league.We're either going to have the trophy or we're not.So, yeah, I wouldn't read into it.I don't think people were over -celebrating.

I think, ultimately, if there's one weekend where you could be 12 points behind and then, you know, the following week you end up level on points, pretty much, I think, you know, it's worthy of celebrating.So, yeah, I was buzzing.People were super motivated about Arsenal, though, didn't they?Say it again.

Sissies seemed super motivated about Arsenal.You've got Cherokee who's been talking about Arsenal in the press.You've got Haaland who obviously had this issue with Lewis Kelly.It's like the worst...Those two motivated against Arsenal for the next 10 years.I think they smell blood, though, and they know how to get under their skins.

and they do it constantly.Maybe those celebrations would send a message to the Arsenal dressing room.

Yeah, I think the League Cup final as well, you saw all the Arsenal players still on the pitch watching.And from what I saw, all the Arsenal fans were saying they're going to use this as fuel, they're going to do this, they're going to do that.And then, you know, I think first sort of 20 minutes at the Etihad, I don't know if you could see it much on TV, but especially behind the goal where I was, Raya was wasting time and the crowd were really rattled by the City fans were just thinking, are Arsenal going to go for a point?And then obviously they did go for it in the end.So, you know, you can respect him for that, but ultimately I think, you know, Arsenal fans do demand this kind of respect without having really won anything.So maybe that's where it comes from.

The celebration, please need to mind that.Yeah, I don't get it, over -celebrating.What a load of bullshit.

Can a club not celebrate a massive win?

What will Street fans say about that?They should, everyone should.When you beat Liverpool last year, you had all the same thing, and then your boys last week celebrated in the derby, didn't you?That's what you should do.

I don't get all that, this is your cup final?It's my cup final.It's the local rivals, so of course it made up.It's a big game.

No problem with it, Luke, enjoy it.Didn't you two kiss on the lips once when you were celebrating?You kissed everyone?I used to kiss...To be fair, I did.Your answer's yes, Gary.

Yeah, I did, yeah.I mean, there's some evidence out there, I think.

There might be, yeah.

But, Joseph, to be fair, we celebrated a goal, At the end of a game was different.So I think a goal, to be fair, we would celebrate goals.We were actually, I ordered the wrong word, but it was built into us, you have to celebrate goals.In fact, it'd kill us if a player didn't celebrate a goal and we disrespected each other or we didn't demonstrate to the fans that we were happy, he would go crazy, wouldn't he?Yeah, it was a big part of it.

Make sure you celebrate together.

So you just built into us over 20 years.

You ran to our end to celebrate, I remember that.

I did.Sometimes I detach myself from our own players and just have a little wander.A few snap seats in Old Trafford that day, I think.Well, that's why I got fined.It was the police that complained, that's why I got fined, because they said that I incited violence.

You can be a little bit emotional, can't you, Gary?

I was emotional on goals, definitely.The best one was when we won 4 -3 against City and we had no subs left.You went to warm up down the line, is that what you did?

I had to pretend I was warming up.We had no subs left.Mark Hughes as well, wasn't it?Was that Mark?Yeah, it was Sparky, yeah.Oh, it was brilliant that.

I always talk to Mike because Mike Richards was just a little bit wide and Giggsie just slipped that pass inside with Michael Owen.Oh, it was brilliant that.Luke, I've got a question for you.In terms of Arsenal's players, it's pretty obvious the answer to this, but Arsenal have got a group of players who only Ese, I think, has got showing a little bit of swagger.confidence the rest of them to be fair quite rigid right now and not play but you've got a number of players who haven't won the league you know Gay's not won the league, Kusinov's not won the league, not sure, Nick O 'Reilly's not won the league, Semenyov's not won the league, Cherkin's not won the leaguenot won the league with City.

There's five or six players that are at this moment, and I'd say out of those five or six players, most of them are looking unbelievable.You mentioned Nick O 'Reilly before, he did something in the game against Arsenal.I couldn't get my head around that, to be honest with you.

Wriggling out of those two players.

Yeah.I mean, even just to try it and then to do it is like a different thing.It's just not...I just don't...I can't recognise, to be fair, what he's doing on the pitch as being a full -back.It's unbelievable.

Why is...It that City's young players, ones that haven't won the league, are so relaxed, look so confident, look so sure, yet the Arsenal players are sort of in a very different sort of mentality right now.

There's an expectation at City and the players that are surrounding those players that you're on about.If you go in the dressing room, you've got Bernardo Silva, you've got Diaz, he's injured at the moment, you've got Diaz, you've got Haaland, you've got Rodri, the whole spine of that team.Even Donnarumma won the treble last season.So the whole spine of the team in that dressing room.And it's a relaxation that ultimately they believe they can do it and I think Arsenal are too busy thinking about if this, if that.I think City are just driven to try and win the games and hopefully we can do it.

But yeah, I think Arsenal are just lacking that confidence in themselves and like you said, the crowd aren't confident, they're nervous and that's going to surface in the players more so than the crowd to be honest.

What I found confusing was against City, I thought Arsenal were really, really good, especially in the attack and they looked like they had goals in them.But I thought why, Haven't you played like that in the games prior to that and then gone a little bit tight against City when a draw probably helped?Like it just felt like a weird way of...

We usually match our opponents weirdly.So like we played Mansfield, we struggled against Mansfield.And then we'll go to City and we'll give them a game.It's like our opponents sort of, the level that they're at, we sort of level that.

Is that a flaw or is that not a flaw?

Yeah, it's not a great thing.I'd like us to turn up every week and batter teams.But I think you're over -complicating it.I think we're simply up against a draw.that literally licks his lips at title races like this, and he knows how to do it.

No, they lick their lips when they see that you're crumbling and you're wobbling.

But that's what they do.You know, Pep Guardiola is one of, if not the greatest of all time.He loves this.

You've done this to yourselves, though.I do agree with what you're saying, but ultimately, if you'd just shut the door, multiple occasions you could have done it, we'd be looking now going, we've hit some great form, we might have beaten you, but we could have been six or nine points behind you?

Isn't it just getting the first one, though?City needed Joey Barton, putting people in probably the greatest Premier League moments ever, they'd need to win their first one.You look at that, when we played it the other week, Everton probably should have had a wonder game, or got a draw out of it, and they took a goalkeeping mistake to win that one.It just looked like you're just trying to nick a game 1 -0 and shut everything out.Now, I get it, because you're trying to get over the line, but how does this go forward?They're probably... the greatest Premier League or certainly one of the greatest the way they play and they're rebuilding it to do it again.

How do Arsenal take this forward?Do the shackles come off like Arteta had them when they win something or is this, is Mikel just going to be, we just consistent and get over the line?Because I think, you know when you watch it though, a couple of years ago Arsenal were a bit like Manchester City.Remember sitting here and there was that when you were a nine point ahead in February and you still thought they'd turn it around and they did to be fair.They were a bit more fluent on the plays you've got.You've got some unbelievable talent, but it's almost like Paul was saying, they're getting in the wrong areas and just trying to keep the ball and nick something while they're away.

I feel like if they relaxed a bit, they'd actually blow teams away.

Is that coming from the manager, all this passing pens around and stuff like that?

No, I think that they need to somehow, in these coming weeks, they need to find a way to abolish the nerves.I think they need to have a look at each other and say to themselves, look, we're in this position because We are that good.We've trained our whole lives to get to this point.These games are the games that you train for and live for.Four Premier League finals left.If anyone is showing any sign of nerves or fear or anything, you don't deserve to be at the club in the summer because these are the games that you live for.

You would love to play in these games, you two.

What would you do in Arsenal?You two were obviously unbelievably successful.If you're in there for the first one...

We would smell blood, I think, if a team were faltering.I mean, the manager would.The manager would obviously take them on in press conferences and be quite open in his...

Were there any nerves in your dressing room?Could you ever sense any?

I think there was just natural...Yeah, but I mean, there were in the early years, in the first couple of years when we lost our first title.The first year we were in the first team, we lost the title to Blackburn.Last game of the season at West Ham away, we couldn't score a goal.And the cup final to us.

And the cup final to Everton.

So you think about it, people think about the sort of thing, it was all sort of bed of roses.We lost the double in the first week.in a week in the first title race we were ever in.So the year after, when we won the double, it obviously then relieved the pressure, but there was definitely nerves and pressure, but we did have senior players that had won it.

Yeah, I was just going to say, and that is Luke's point, they've got some players, OK, they've got them five or six who haven't done it.but they've still got the five of six who have done it, they know what it's all about.You look at Bernardo Silva in that game, the biggest game of the season.

Well, Ferguson wasn't lighting fires and getting light bulbs out and pickpockets and all this madness, was he?He's a bit Brent, isn't he?Arteta.

But it's not working.But if you win the league, it's not because he's got a light bulb and pens out, it's because you're the best team.

I mean, that's the thing, I think...I think it's silly as well, right?But the team are brought in to the Arteta.I don't like saying this, but they're clearly brought in.The nerves are there, but no matter what...

Matt, just a question for you.What does it look like if you don't win the league?Just explain, because the thing that I keep thinking about from an Arsenal perspective is if you win the league, obviously,it's going to be completely and utterly euphoria and it'll be like, you know, you'd want to be in that stadium to be there just to witness.The people will be crying.I swear they'll be crying.

There'll be 60 ,000 people crying.What will it be like if you don't win it?There'll be 60 ,000 people right here.I'm not asking what it's going to be like in the stadium, but what's it going to be like for Arsenal as a group of players, the manager?What are the fan base going to do if you don't win it this season?

I think that a lot of people will give up on Arteta, but not in the sense of...I don't think it will be a violent... like protests or anything like that.If we were not to win it, I think that we still will do it.Maybe I'm deluded, but I think we will.But I think that it will be a case of, Mikel, you came in at this club when we were a mid -table side, finished eighth twice in a row, and you spent the money, but you got the recruitment right, and you've got us to the point where we're competing on all four fronts.However, if we don't win it this year, it is evident that he wouldn't be the man that can take us from B to A. He just took us from C to B, and it might be time to move on.

I don't think they would sack him, but I think that he would lose a lot of belief and trust if on Monday night at Burnley at home, he's given another speech saying, we tried and we'll be here next season.

Guaranteed Champions League football.We saw what your board were like with Wenger.

It would be the worst mistake.Even if you don't win it, if you sack him, I wouldn't want him gone, but it would be half -tossed.

I don't think he's saying that he should be sacked.I think what he's saying is there'll be a lot of belief gone in him.Yeah, gone.

And I would find that hard to argue against.I love Arteta and I'm with him until the wheels fall off, but it would be difficult to say that someone was wrong if they were believing that.

Last question on this.Where does the Champions League fit into this?Because, honestly, winning your Premier League title for the first time is almost like it feels like the mountain being climbed.Yet you've got this, like, massive mountain that's sort of interspersed in between.Where does that fit in for Arsenal fans?I honestly haven't given it much thought.

I thought that on Saturday.It feels to me like the real priority is the Premier League.Yeah, yeah.

I mean, I think it's just about going for it.You know, in my lifetime, apart from last season, it was very different.I've not witnessed this Relentless amount of games, week in, week out.And all of a sudden it's got Champions League semi -final that we probably should get through.We beat this team 4 -0 earlier on in the league phase.I don't know, I think it's just a sense of go for it.

We've got the team to do it.There's no fear amongst our fans going into the game.It's only when we kick off we're absolutely shitting ourselves.

It's a Champions League semi -final.It feels like it's in the way a little bit.That's what I mean.And it will tackle out with them.Them two games will tackle out.That's a fight.

Two games of a fight.

But this is where geniuses like Pep Guardiola get it right.The rotation and the minutes played.handling the pressure a week.Do you remember the first time I came on here, Scholesy, I said, what it's going to make or break us is if we can go into these games where we're playing three times a week, in come May, can we get it over the line?And this is where we're at now.We need to manage these minutes, manage the nerves.

It's not actually a bad game in between your Champions League games, is it?Fulham at home?I love Fulham, alright, but it's one of them you could probably get away with just about, couldn't you?You'd have said that about Bournemouth though, wouldn't you?

It's the same game in my eyes.Smith Road a few weeks ago.

Carragher mentioned it and I don't understand why they don't do what he suggested.There's such a big difference between Tuesday, Wednesday, Wednesday, Thursday.I don't understand why we're playing on the Wednesday and then on Saturday.Why are we not playing tonight?

Because you're playing on the Saturday.as well, aren't you?Yeah, I know.You've got to play on the Saturday.You couldn't play on the Sunday, could you?

But this is like year in, year out.Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday.This is like year...Honestly, if you look back the year we won it, we were playing every single three days and it just happens.Sometimes you get like three games in six days.Sometimes you get three games in seven.

It is what it is.It is what it is.You need timber back.You need timber back.You need timber back.I don't know where he's up to, but anyway, show of hands.

Arsenal for the title, show of hands in here.Do you want them or think they will?No, no.Arsenal to...No, not the want.Do you think Arsenal will win the title?

Hands up.Who thinks Arsenal will win the title?There's a few Arsenal shirts.Who thinks City will win the title?Ooh, it's overwhelming, yeah.Look, you've got to beat the odds.

You said it was 72, didn't you?

Yeah, I know, yeah.The odds in here.This segment is brought to you by Microsoft Co -Pilot as part of the partnership with the Premier League.Welcome to the time added on quiz where loyal fans take on 10 questions in 60 seconds.With the Premier League companion powered by Microsoft Co -Pilot revealing the correct answers, we'll find out who really knows their club's history in the league.Fans' names will climb the leaderboard and the ultimate winner will take home a special prize at the end of the season.

Let's get to it.Let's crack on with today's quiz.Today we will see, drumroll, Flav take on Time Added On Quiz.It's a max of 10 questions in 60 seconds with whoever is top of the leaderboard taking home a special prize come the end of the season.Flav, as our resident Spurs fan, you'll be answering questions on your favourite Lily Whites.If I'm mid -question when the time runs out, I'll finish that question and take your answer.

I've started, so I'll finish.You can pass with any questions that you don't know.Right, question when you're ready.Who's doing the 60 seconds?You.

Right.

One, two, three, go.Who scored five goals in Spurs' 9 -1 win over Wigan in 2009?Jermain Buffay.Who scored the first Premier League goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?Hermin Soren.Who is Spurs' top scorer this season?

Richarlison.Who has more Premier League assists for Spurs?Dele Alli or Gareth Bale?

Dele Alli.

Yep.Harry Kane, Son Heung -min have won the Golden Boot in the Premier League.Who is the other Spurs player to have won the Golden Boot?In the Premier League?Yes.Teddy Sherman.

Oh, well done.True or false, Harry Kane scored on his Premier League debut?False.Yeah, six out of six.Who did Spurs beat 3 -0 on the opening day of this season?I remember.

Burnley.Yep.Who did Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson score against in the Premier League?Watford.Well done.What points tally did Tottenham achieve in the 16 -17 season, their best ever Premier League tally?

87, I don't know.86, Watford's wrong.Who played more times for Tottenham in the Premier League, Gareth Bale or Kyle Walker?Kyle Walker.Yeah.Wow.

Do you not hear the name Paul Robinson?I always think, there was a training session, do you remember this one?Your statement about Paul Robinson.Paul Robinson, right, he's...No, wait a minute.Right, so basically, the ball goes in low to his right and he's a bit slow getting down, and Scolesy said to him, if it was a meat pie, you'd have got down for it.

No, I didn't say that.

You did say that!Absolutely did.

I didn't say that.You didn't say that?No.If it was a meat pie, you'd have got down for it.I always remember what Jonathan Woodgate used to call him.What?

A flying sausage.So Flav, brilliant, well done, you scored 9 out of 10 and there's more quizzes to come next week.These questions were created with insights from the Premier League Companion powered by Microsoft Co -Pilot.Give it a try on the Premier League app or website.Just tap the Co -Pilot icon to get started.Liam, I've been massively critical of Chelsea in the last week in terms of obviously I'm not surprised that they sacked their manager because I think ultimately I think people saw that coming.

I thought they might wait till the end of the season but they obviously did it pre -FA Cup semi -final.Where are you at with it?Let's start with the Let's start with Liam Rossignor and the appointment of him and the sacking of him.

Yeah, so it was a big punt to go for Liam Rossignor.It was essentially Blueco and the sporting leadership betting on the coach that they knew best.That was our reporting at The Athletic at the time.And that's the way it panned out.Unfortunately, he didn't have the credibility with the fans, with the players.And it meant that as soon as results started to turn, that goodwill eroded very, very quickly.

And I think things reached a point after the Brighton game where it was the performance really as much as the result I think convinced the hierarchy that a change needed to be made immediately.I think they wanted to at least give him to the end of the season to see if there were green shoots.Signs that things could get better but there just weren't any.

You have obviously watched a lot of the press conferences of Liam and the results have ultimately cost him in the end but there's a lot of talk obviously also around his language and his communication.And it came out after, which I didn't particularly like because I'm not a great fan of some of the Chelsea players, but this idea that they were mocking him in the changing room about things that he was doing, which I just find, I can't stand shit like that.It's just horrible.So where are you on that?What have you heard of him on the inside, about the players?They obviously turned on him because Enzo Fernandes and Kukerea made public statements about him.

Yes, I know there were some things were probablyabout supply teachers and knocking whether he was wearing glasses or not.That wasn't the kind of stuff that we'd heard but it was just a general lack of belief in what he was asking them to do, a lack of authority.I think it started as a group of players within the dressing room and over time it became more of a consensus and even the players that were more inclined to give him a chance.Where did it originate from?

Are you talking about Fernandes and Kukere?Are you talking about that group of players?

Well, I think you're looking at certain senior players.I think the Spanish -speaking players were particularly close to Enzo Maresca.That's clear.Marc Kukere, when he did an interview with The Athletic during the March International break, made a point of saying nice things about Rosinha too.So I don't think it was a sense that they were against him from the start.I think it was that they were really affected by Maresca's departure.

and they made that public in a way that was probably quite destabilizing, I think, for Chelsea's season as well.But, ultimately, I think Rosinha kind of lost credibility on his own terms, really, with day -to -day training, the way he was communicating in press conferences, as you say.He was speaking to the fans at large, and I think they didn't really believe in him either.He heard a lot of that at the Amex, and I think things had just reached a breaking point.

How did the ownership get the trust, respect of the fans back?

It's a long road, I think.When you look at the number of mistakes that they've made and the fact that this is the fourth season of Bluco ownership now and it's likely to be the third season that ends without Champions League football, this is a big drop in standards from what a lot of fans were used to in the Abramovich era.There's big questions about this strategy with the recruitment.There's big questions about who they're picking to be the head coach.I mean, three of theirfour hires had never coached a Champions League game before they got the Chelsea job, whereas Abramovich three times hired coaches that won the Champions League before they got to the club.

So I think we saw in the statement where they confirmed Rosinha was leaving, the words self -reflection were used, which is not something we've seen really from Blue Co in their actions, but also in their words.recently and I think that's maybe something that is a small bit of encouragement for fans that are questioning the direction of the club.The idea that there might be a change in strategy, they're talking about maybe more proven quality in the squad.You can see with some of the names they're looking at for the coach, they're looking at more proven Premier League experience, maybe a record of success elsewhere.Words are one thing, actions are another, so we'll see how it pans out this summer.

I was thinking about Chelsea.They're obviously proving to be a problem for Chelsea, but I suspect they're also causing a problem generally for other clubs.I mean, Tottenham has reportedly been on the market for a number of years now, but just sort of like silently off market.You think about what they paid for Chelsea.I bet there are a few clubs, obviously people will think now they overpaid.They spent an absolute fortune on the squad.

Do you think they stay as long -term Chelsea?and what does self -reflection look like?Is that just them bringing in more experience, basically, as you've said, in the dressing room and as a coach?

It's been really difficult to gauge exactly what their long -term play is.Do they communicate to the press?Do they brief off the record?Well, yeah, I mean, there's communication, yeah.They all do, don't they?Yeah.

And they're keen to, I think, try to communicate the vision and the strategy they have been for the last four years.That hasn't always gone down well with fans.I think sometimes they view that quite cynically.And I think there's probably been quite a recognition in the lastcouple of months from ownership level that they need to maybe talk a little bit more publicly, even if it's not directly to fans.Like Badadeg Bali in the last couple of weeks spoke at a business conference.

Fans would much rather he's talking directly to them, but at least he was explaining on the record what they're trying to do.But yeah, I mean, they've always insisted they're committed to the club for a long time.term.How long is long?Maybe like 10 years or something.But you know the way private equity works.

They get in.The idea is to grow the value of the club and realize a profit when they sell.The problem is they bought the club for a lot of money, more than I think a lot of people thought that it was necessarily worth, although there was a lot of interest at that price in 2022.And they've put almost as much in as they paid for it.But they put a lot of debt on it as well.They have.

I mean, we've got colleagues at The Athletic that are more into the accounts than I am, but it seems like the debt is currently sitting sort of above the club in like a holding company, which is a bit different to what it was.It's a couple more steps removed to the way it was under Abramovich, but of course Abramovich was just one guy who always made it clear that he was never going to call in those loans to the club.So it does hang a bit like a sword of Damocles above them until there's a bit more trust in the ownership.

Do you have any faith, Scholesy, in the Chelsea...I know you don't like the word project, I don't particularly like it.In the project that they're trying to build in terms of what they're trying to do?The eight -year contracts, the young players...

I don't see what they're trying to do.Develop young players?Is that a way of doing it?I don't know.The owners have to...Of course the owners will take blame for a lot of it.

Of course they will.Other than the owners, from anybody else in and around football thought Liam would have been the right person for Chelsea.It was just crazy for me.Now, once you make that decision, what's Liam going to do?He's not going to say no to a Chelsea job, is he?From where he was.

But once the owners make that decision, then they have to factor in that there's going to be times when it's not going that well.Now, losing five Premier League games and not scoring a goal is a big problem and you're not going to survive that, I don't think, are you?Well, you're not and he hasn't.

Liam being the wrong choice because of the fact of just not having the experience, because that links into the Michael Carrick conversation before he gets appointed and he's done exactly the opposite, he's gone on a great run.With similar experiences, I mean obviously Liam was in Strasbourg, Michael was at Middlesbrough, but there is a similarity in experience, I would say maybe Liam's got more coaching experience.

Yeah, he probably has, but I think what United have squad -wise is a little bit more experience as well than what Chelsea have.

And also Michael Carrick had more cachet with the club, with the dressing room.He could walk in and have respect immediately, whereas I think that was always going to be more of a challenge for Rosinha.And the fact that he was seen as being so close to Bluco, you know, he knew Paul Winstanley from his time at Brighton, he knew Laurence Stewart from his time at Hull City, so he goes back with the sporting leadership years.And I think given the way Bluco and the sporting leadership team are seen at Chelsea by most of the fans, that was always going to be more of a negative for him and something he had to overcome than something that was going to help him.

The thing with Lehman is that it all felt like a bit of an act with him, you know, with his press conference and stuff.He's trying to act like a big manager.I don't think that was an act.I do.

It felt like if I was the Man United manager, I'd be like, oh, a manager would say this.

Yeah, I felt he was trying to act like a big manager.Whereas people like Pep and Ancelotti, they don't, they just don't.they are, that's what they are.And I think he's trying to act a little bit like that and he just didn't have the credibility to do it.

We're talking about overcoming respect and commanding respect, but I'm not being funny, you're professional footballers, you get paid a ton of money, you represent a club, you should automatically respect your manager.Why are they behaving like prima donnas like that?That is disgraceful.I'm not a Chelsea fan, but I would be fuming I don't care.It doesn't matter who your manager is.You turn up on the pitch.

Don't go around mocking your manager because you don't think he's got aura or whatever it is people are talking about.That's your manager.That's your job.You have a privilege to step on that pitch.Perform.

I wish you were a Valencia fan.Give me a bit more of that over there.I actually saw...I've stayed clear of the actual similarities, because obviously he's got far greater coaching experience than I have, but I did see some similarities of, you know, press conferences.Losing.No, it does something, it sounds crazy but he had games every three days and you have press conferences six times a week and everyone kept saying, this guy talks too much.

He's got no choice, it's an absolute commitment.Did they say that about you?I had games every three days, I think I've told you through the program, literally I had to do pre -match and post -match press conferences.You're doing six press conferences a week and you can't get away from it, it's horrible.And I remember saying to the press officer, I don't mind doing the press, I'm happy to do it, but is there any way of me putting my assistant out there?

Or somebody out there.I didn't take a bit of shit.

What did the press think of you over there?

Do you know?Because I'm pretty sure Liam have a good idea of what people think about him.

No, I don't think they respected me at all for the football side of it and the coach.They kept saying to me, what's your idea?And I didn't really get it until I left.Rapido, rapido.Concentración, concentración.No, they kept saying to me, what's your idea?

What's your idea, Neville?What's your idea?And I didn't understand it.

You know, people mock you.your record wasn't that bad was it?No it wasn't.

Yeah but my point is, look at the end of the day, I lost too many games.The idea bit is around what's your football idea.In Spain, very differently, they want an idea of how you play football, what you believe in.And I never got that from a point of view of coaching in the sense that if Sometimes you play counter -attack.Sometimes you try and play possession.If you're playing against a team that's big, you might play a bit more physically.

This adaptation of sort of what will be how a team plays is what I felt we were.I didn't feel like you have to have this specific idea.Now, I got it a little bit, to be fair.The players do want an idea from a manager.They do want an idea from a coach.They do.

They want to know exactly what it is you want from them.They want it to be prescriptive.It's gone back in the day where you might say, OK, we're going to play counter -attack today, so sit back and defend more deep and then basically spring on it.You know, I do think players want adaptability, it's coming back a little bit now actually I think.

That's where players are very different, I think players now, whereas we weren't that bothered, we knew what we was going to do, but I think players now, they almost need to know where they've got to be on the pitch every two minutes of the game.

I was watching Cain and Dewsbury Hall on Monday Night Football last night and they were talking about the Arsenal set pieces against Newcastle and Carrow was going through it with him and it was a case of who do you blame for that and to be fair Cain and Dewsbury Hall said, you know, We've got a set piece coach who tells us exactly what to do and that's what we do.But obviously Arsenal were probing with that short corner and did brilliantly for it by the way.And they just didn't adapt to it.And I think he was talking about, was it Willock, that maybe just, he was like this to the bench.He did this three or four times.If you'd seen it last night, Carragher's analysis on it.

He like kept doing this to the bench.Willock, what do I do here?I'm going out with Odegaard but Eze's free.

That's what I'm saying.Play some...Especially these, they don't really think for themselves.Everything's an instruction for them.

On our set pieces, in the early days when I was at United, Schmeichel would walk out and he'd have a look around and he'd see if anybody was sort of free, if anybody wasn't.wasn't right and he would direct someone to go and do something.The goalkeeper took a bit of responsibility for that and then as you get older you start to do it yourself a little bit but Schmeichel definitely took responsibility on corners because he knew full well he didn't want to concede a goal, he hated it.But I'm just trying to think about a player now wants that instruction from a From a coach.

You see that with loads of goals though, where players, instead of just going and dealing with the danger, then asking who should have picked them up, they just leave people and say, it's not my man.And then there's arguments taking place, and I think you're right, I think it's, you tell me exactly what I've got to do, then I'm accountable for just doing what I've got to do.I think Paul's right, there's no -one going, I need to see that bit of danger or I just need to mark him because he's free.It happens so often.

It's why you don't have as many Mavericks anymore or people that just want to solve problems themselves.deal with issues when they arise.Everyone's just robotic and boring.

Well, there was a classic example of this at Chelsea under Rosinha, where the goal they conceded against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge.I don't know if you remember the Anthony Gordon tap -in a few weeks ago.And it was essentially because Rosinha had a different plan, marking -wise, depending on which side of the pitch the ball was.And it all fell apart because of where Tino Liveromento got the ball.Just two passes through the middle of the pitch and it ends up Anthony Gordon running the ball into the net.because the players, the plan fell apart.

and that there was no improvisation when the plan failed.

But they are the youngest team and they do, to be fair, I've called them a number of times this season, they're like an academy team sometimes.Sometimes you can watch them and think, Jesus, they're breathtaking.And other times you can watch them and think, they're like an under -18s team.So naive, it's untrue.But what manager do they bring in to solve this?I mean, they're going to have to bring in an experienced manager.

Young players can't have young managers and then young sporting directors, then young ownership.You've got to have some experience somewhere.Who comes in to deal with this?Who's the favourite in your mind?

Well...We don't know who the frontrunner is. I think it's too early in the process to say that.I think as a journalist, the one I would quite like towould be Cesc Fabregas.I think he fits the bill of a bright, young, rising coach.He's also got a history with Chelsea, the fans love him, which I think would really work in his favour compared to previous Blue co -hires.

He's young again though, isn't he?

Yeah, but he's also got, I think, the personality to deal with the media every few days, to really be the face of a club.He looks like he'd be comfortable in that environment.

He's done really well there, isn't he?

The question with him, and it's not just with him though, is does he have better options?

Yeah, why would you?I don't know.I mean see why he would obviously be a big contract he'd have some protections in there I'm sure if he came around if he was sacked early and that sort of stuff but I think you'd want some serious protections if you assess Fabregas against what was going to happen in terms of the players that you were going to bring in.The fact that if he did sack me it would have to be a horrific consequence I think to give up what he's got currently.Iriola was one that was mentioned this morning.

Yeah, and again he's kind of the hot name in the Premier League right now.I think he's timed being a free agent really, really nicely because he's going to have different offers and different clubs pitching him.But it may well have to be Chelsea having to sell themselves a bit more.Eddie Howe was mentioned apparently.Could be, we'll see what happens at Newcastle.

Gary, I just wanted to ask, in relation to you at Valencia and Rosinha, I'd be interested to know if you think Rosinha went through the same thing that you did.Did you ever have, like, an epiphany where you were like, I'm out of my depth here?

Oh, I was going to say, to be fair...I thought you were going to say everything.I was going to say, to be fair, I nearly said it before when you were talking about Atletico Madrid, the most humbling, like, out of depth experience I've ever had was we played Atletico Madrid at the Mestalla.We were 0 -0 up until 60 minutes, but I knew we'd lost the game.I felt like I was being suffocated.The aggression of Madrid and the bench was horrible.

to the point where at the end of the game I went over to shake hands with Simeone, he walked straight past me and just ignored me.Now I don't know whether that comes from a point of view of cultural in the sense of where you're just thinking you shouldn't even be here, you know what I mean?There was almost like a dismissive element to him in terms of how he was to me.

Didn't Enrique do the same as well?

Enrique did the same at Barcelona, walked straight past me, yeah.And these managers, to be fair, Valverde beat me horribly for Bilbao and I felt he was like a coaching masters, but he spoke to me for a length.He was a different type of guy, Valverde, but I thought he was like, his coaching was unbelievable.But there were moments where I felt out there that I thought, I should definitely not be on this touchline.I am nowhere near this.And I've said this publicly and to be fair, Self -reflection.

But, you know, the Simeone one, they beat us 2 -0, and I just remember thinking, this is horrible.It's almost like they were just grinding us, and they knew at one point, I think they scored after 60 minutes, something like that, and they scored maybe 15 minutes later to get the second, and it was brutal.The way in which they pressed us, the way in which they just were all over us, the aggression, the physicality, the bench being up for every decision, every referee, the fourth official, they're just like an aggressive machine, and I just thought, this is just not right.No, we're not.I'm not ready for this.I'm not ready for this.

This is not me.We've seen you went through that.I think there'll definitely be moments where he'll have felt massively uncomfortable.He'll have woke up in the morning thinking, this is making me ill.This is making me feel unwell.Because to be fair, one thing you can never take away from, whether it be Liam or Mane, they care.

I always say this about football players actually, which player wakes up in the morning and thinks, I want to lose today, I don't want to care because I want to get hammered.Why would you want that?So the football players don't actually want that hammering, they don't want the sort of criticism, neither do managers.He will have felt out of his depth.In some ways, I think sort of putting him out of his misery earlier and not letting the four weeks maybe to the end of the season continue, which it would have been a battering, particularly if they got beat by Leeds on Sunday.It's probably kinder to him in some ways on reflection.

I was a bit surprised they didn't stick with him.But on the other hand, kinder to him just to have him away from it and let him recover and go and get another job for the start of next season.

Where do you think he goes from here?I was thinking about...

He's not taught himself out of something, is he?No, I'd imagine a championship club or...And that's the problem.You're talking probably now a championship club or a club abroad.I think we'd take him back on.I think they would take him back on and think of him as being more experienced off the back of this.

But yeah, I was out of my depth.I publicly said it.It was just too much.I had young coaches on my bench with me. I should have took with me a really experienced, mid -50s, maybe 60 -year -old, Spanish -speaking coach who could handle everything on the grass, do the training side, almost liaise with the players.Because I was doing the team talks to the players.but in English, and I had a translator next to me.

So it's like now, you're having everything translated, it doubles.It was two minutes of me speaking, now it's four minutes while they translate, and it's, oh, it was bad.And I look back, it just did not handle that well.I was with Maurizio Potatino last week.He had someone do his team talks for him in the early times at Southampton.You didn't fancy learning Spanish?

Oh, I did, but I was basically doing four lessons a week, but I was only there for three months.I was only there three months.No, no, I did my last two team talks in Spanish, but broken Spanish, yeah.Yeah, but I was learning four times a week.I took all my family over.I did four lessons a week early in the morning.

I literally embedded as much as I could, but I didn't win football matches.And you can't not win football matches at a big club.Which is what has happened to Liam.Yeah, the losing of the football matches in the end is what kills you.People might disrespect you.Because he was winning, wasn't he, at the beginning?

He was sort of like, people sort of hearing his words, but thinking, actually, he's winning now and some of his football's gone right.Yeah, there were some games.

Aston Villa away, I thought, fucking hell, he's going home.

Yeah, that was their last really good performance.But if you remember, Graham Potter had quite a good start as well.Because I think, like Rosinha, he came into quite a packed schedule.Where there maybe wasn't that much time to train.I think it has to be a foreign manager, Chelsea.I'm not sure.

They seem like English ones.Have any English ones worked?I'm trying to think.

They haven't had many.I think Frank Lampard did pretty well in his first season.And then they spent all that money and the job changed.

It does feel like a club that needs a foreign manager, doesn't it?

It might sound strange.I think it probably needs a big personality.Someone with a bit of authority.And maybe part of this self -reflection that the hierarchy at Chelsea have to do is can we be comfortable with someone with that authority, with that status in the game?They had that.I'll also come and speak Spanish to him if you want.

I do think you're right, it's very hard, it sounds mad this for an English manager to succeed now in the Premier League.When was the last time, I mean Howard Wilkinson won it, I know for Leeds before the Premier League started.Has an English manager ever won the Premier League?No.So that's what you'd have to say for an English manager to succeed.Eddie Howe was probably the one in the recent times.

Harry Redknapp obviously had success to a level.Frank Lampard maybe a little bit but there's very few English managers have succeeded.

Would they not go back for Frank?It's interesting.I think he's certainly raised his stock with what he's done at Coventry.He's done an excellent job this season.That caretaker stint a couple of years ago leaves things in quite a funny place.He was in the box with Badadig Bali recently, so that relationship seems to still be OK.

And when he was asked about it, he was very kind of diplomatic, the ways you'd expect Frank to be, I think, in that sort of situation.It'll probably always have an attraction for him.Only he knows how he feels about working for these owners now.

Flav, can Tottenham remain as one of the six clubs never to have been relegated from the Premier League?

Yeah, absolutely, of course we can.

How does that look?

It looks like we go to Villa Park and win.It looks like we beat Leeds at home, and we beat Everton at home, and that Chelsea game is going to be a nightmare.Because what more motivation do they need to beat Spurs than potentially relegate us?

Ten years on from Battle of the Bridge.

Do you think the Chelsea players have got that?that sort of what would be that understanding of this spite and this rivalry.They'll be able to feel it in the stadium I think.They'll respond from what's happening in the stadium.

It's not like when Fabregas was there and that Chelsea side 10 years ago, that was sort of fully understanding of what it would mean for the Chelsea fans to do that to us.But I think they'll just be able to feel the energy.So we need to do our work.outside of that game, because that's going to be the trickiest.I'm hoping that Villa will be preoccupied by the massive game, the Europa League semi -final against Forest, which is not going to be easy for them.They're probably going to qualify for the Champions League anyway, through League.

So, that's what I'm thinking.

That's where I'm at.You're talking about winning three out of five games there, aren't you?You've won one since, what, December?Yeah, last week.Well, we won last week.Since December though, is it?

Well, yes, yes.Are you talking about the next five?No, I mean, I just think, you know, the Zerbys had three games, and we got four points out of those three games.Before that, we were dead and buried.There's massive reasons why we're in this situation, and I could go on all day about them, but the fact that we've had, like, five ACLs in 18 months, when the average is 0 .25 to 0 .6 per club, in a season.

How do you know that?What's wrong with you?

When your club is burning and falling apart around your ears, you need to figure out why it might be going wrong.But on top of that, you've got to look about what's going on behind the scenes as well.As much as it was time for Daniel Levy to leave, it wasn't about pushing him in the way we did, because you leave a massive vacuum.This is a guy who was institutional at Tottenham, right?He was Tottenham Hotspur for a long time, in the same way that Ferguson was at United and Abramovich was at Chelsea.Levy was that guy.

It had to move, but it had to be a part of a transition.And I don't think the Lewis family thought it through by just removing him from the club straight away.No, I interviewed him last summer.

I went to see him and there's no doubt he was planning for next season.There's no way he was expecting this to come.And I think you're right.I think if you're going to transition into somebody who's been there with such an unbelievable influence, you have to do that over 12 months and make sure that everybody's sort of...You can't just do it on the spot like that.It's just madness.

No, he was kind of treated like a manager would be if the team wasn't performing.The Lewis family have come in and gone, I don't know what was happening behind the scenes, but have gone, right, you're out.You're out because, okay, because Ben Kertesham's here.He's a CEO.He's operated at that level at Arsenal for five or six years.Is he struggling?

Because, I mean, he doesn't get much mention, but he was supposed to be the guy that was the sort of, like, brilliant at Arsenal, he's come in, but he doesn't get much of a mention.

I mean, the Spurs fanbase have an issue with him and the way they think about him.He doesn't seem to be covered in the press, but there's definitely a conversation in... amongst the fan base.I think when he came, they did a joint interview.Levy and Venkateshwaran sat together, talked about red wine and all kinds of bollocks.And then a few weeks later, Levy was gone and Venkateshwaran was like, oh, well, I'm running the football club now, am I?That's what it feels like.

Then you've got this situation with a dual sporting director role with Paratuchi and Langer.And which big clubs have two sporting directors at a football club?Chelsea.Do they?And that's going well.That's going well.

right.So, the fact is, you've got two decision makers.One, Peratheshi might be, right, he's about as close to probably the kind of sporting director of football that you want.And you've got Langer, who has effectively been, he's done well at recruiting young players, but he doesn't have the charisma to lead a cultural influence at a football club that Spurs need.There's no culture at the club.could go into the championship, and to be fair, I said no.

No, no, I'm serious, because to be fair, look, I accept that it would be something that is, you know, a really bad thing for the club to happen, but for the fans.You're a fan of Tottenham.You're a fan of Tottenham to the day that you're not here anymore.Facts, right?Is it not going to be the most incredible experience that you somehow think?It's the biggest low.

No, but I'm imagining it as like, to be fair, I just remember my dad talking about United going down in the 70s and them saying that it was one of the most incredible atmospheres.Every single city had been in that dark place.where they probably now with fondness look back upon that moment of being in League One.You talk to them about a huge club, they'll be back in the Premier League in a jot, whether it's two years, one year, three years, you'll always be back in the Premier League, you're a massive club.Is this not one of the greatest moments in your career?history from a point of view of sort of telling the story.

Think about Leeds United though, Leeds United took 20 years to get back.

Cheers, thanks.Absolutely not Gary, no.You've not got part of you thinking that actually this could be one of the most sort of like great social experiences for Tottenham fans we've ever had.

I'm sure it'll be a laugh for everyone.

You said to me a couple of years ago, I do have it in good to go.Did I say that?

That's what you said.Can I just apologise?Honestly, you could have said to me, would you rather, like in December, would you rather Arsenal win the league?Tottenham get relegated?And I'd say, well, yeah, I'd take a relegation if it meant stopping them.Now when you're in it, the reality of this is horrible.

I've not enjoyed watching my team play football for months.

West Ham will beat Arsenal and confirm both, you know?That's going to happen in one day.

Yeah, if West Ham beat Arsenal and we get relegated and Arsenal don't win the league in the same day.Yeah, I might take that.I might take that.

You're still considering Arsenal winning a league being as bad as Tottenham going down?It's about the same.

About the same, yeah.That's about the same.But that's when you know you're a little bit fucked, don't you know what I mean?When your mind's so bitter and twisted to a point whereby...No, no, no, okay, this is where this comes from, right?Everybody in the last 24 months has woken up to what Arsenal are like as a fan base and for Arsenal fans generally.

Everyone hates them.

No, we've known for a long time.

Well, you might have known a little bit longer.I've had 44 years of that.So now, everybody's woken up to what Arsenal were like.What do you mean what Arsenal were like?You were celebrating Man City goals at your stadium a couple of years ago.

They weren't doing that.I was there, they were not doing that.That's just a rivalry though.

I don't think there's a problem with Arsenal.I mean, people do think there is a problem with Arsenal.What is the problem with Arsenal fans?Everything.

I just hate all big six, to be fair.I don't discriminate at all.

The problem with Arsenal fans is Arsenal are at the core of social media.And we live in a world now where people get 99 % of their opinions...Matt, I grew up...

You booed your team off in the Emirates, nothing to do with social media, you were top of the league.Matt, I grew up...Booed them off, that's mental.

People were hating on me.Matt, I grew up in Holloway in North London, right?I was way before Twitter even existed.I know exactly what you lot are like.Exactly what you're like.Which is what?

Well, I don't want to say on this show.You've got all the evidence.Invincibly annoying and irritating.But Flav, tell us what you think Arsenal fans are like.They're unbearable.And we've got to remember that this is not just what they're like generally, but it's like, I grew up when I went to Highbury Grove School, which is a school down the road from where Highbury used to play the football, surrounded by them at a time where they were winning trophies at a canter.

And just growing up around them, made me a very bitter and angry person about when it comes to Arsenal.So when you say, would you rather Spurs get relegated or Arsenal win the league, it is similar because I hate Arsenal as much as I love Tottenham.

That's embarrassing and that's the reason you're in the position you're in.No, no, no, England's a big part of football.That's the problem.You hate your rivals as much as you love your club.I think I'm probably the same.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, nothing wrong with that, Flav.If you love your club that much, you end up having that rivalry.That's football.

I would have said growing up, I hated Liverpool as much as I love United.Why only when we were growing up?

It's a bit different, isn't it?What's that?We were crap when you were growing up.

I never, to be fair, considered City as a threat.Actually, as I was leaving the club, I started to feel them breathing down our necks.I thought, oh, they're getting closer, semi -finals, getting closer in the leagues.It's getting dangerous.I left and then...

I remember you saying that to me.We was away somewhere in Qatar, I think, on a training camp.I always remember you saying, City are coming.They're fucking coming, them lot.

No, it sounds crazy but when they first signed Rubinho I thought it was like a farce or a joke project and then when they started to sort of, I think when they took Carlos off us, because we hated him for it but we knew he was a good player.

Welcome to Manchester.

We knew he was a good player.

What was it like in the dressing room?Did you try and get in his ear?Carlos?I couldn't speak to Carlos really.You should have spoken Spanish to him, he couldn't have said anything.No, because the fans were singing Fergus signing him.

We were all singing Fergus signing him up towards the end of the season.

I think he made his mind up.I think he probably fell out with a couple of players.

When you say you couldn't speak to him, did he just shut up?He didn't speak to anybody or there was no relation to his song?

Carlos?His English wasn't good, was it?

His English wasn't good, so when it was going well, Carlos wouldn't speak to too many people.It didn't change too much from when it was going well to him leaving.I don't think he played that many games in the last few weeks, did he?He was never injured either, I remember him sitting on the bench.

He had a problem with a player playing in front of him.Abitaf, possibly.

Carlos was someone who, to be fair...He couldn't understand it.Carlos played football like he was in the street in Argentina as a kid.So he just literally ran for everything.He was brilliant, actually.I actually think when him and Rooney and Ronaldo played together, honestly, I've never seen anything like that.

But he thought every week, every day in training, he was working his bollocks off.And then this little lad was playing, he didn't have that same enthusiasm.It was just different.Yeah, it was just different.So I don't think Carlos got his head around that.I think he made his mind up anyway.

Do you prefer playing with Bobutov or Tevin?

I mean, I love Berbatov, but to be fair, for me, I always like players that, to be fair, worked and pressed.So for me, we've had this conversation about Ruud van Nistelrooy being up front for Manchester United.Scholes thinks Ruud van Nistelrooy is the greatest striker Man Utd have ever had, and I think he's the best finisher I've ever seen in my life.And I've spoken to Ruud about this, but when Ruud played, he had to play on his own.Ruud didn't really play with a partner ever, so Scholes, he played off him.or someone always had to play subservient to him.

Whereas we always, I felt, played best when we had two up front, whether it be Hughes and Cantona, whether it be York and Cole, whether it be Solskjaer, Sheringham, Tevez, Rooney.I always felt we were...Saha, Rooney, when we won the league back in 2006.Manchester United, it's a fact, under Alex Ferguson, won titles when we played two up front more, and we played better when we played two up front more.When we went to one up front with Rooney in Europe for about three, four years, I just felt we sort of lost our... and boom, you hear that aggression in our counterattack.and it's just something I spoke to you about quite a lot.

That was more because of the midfield, it wasn't to stop us being that way.It was because we were getting done in midfield all the time so we had to take an extra body in.

We lost our options going forward again a little bit.

Well you do, you've got to lose something, you will lose something.We ended up though then, when we went to one up front, we ended up getting to more finals actually.probably didn't win them.

That was when we were sort of like, that was when we were sort of, we were playing 4 -4 -2 at the weekends, and then in Europe he'd literally put Ronaldo up front on his own, he'd put Jason Park and Rooney wide to basically be like sort of workhorses.So he recognised, he almost found a solution for it, doing it that way.But you're having to compensate for either Ronaldo up front, or a Roode up front, or a Berbatov up front, because you lost the pace.When you had Rooney and Tevez up front, I mean, oh my God.That is as good as it gets, I think, for me.And Rooney, to be fair, he's the best centre -forward United have ever had by a mile.

I don't think it's even close.And to be fair, that's all the great centre -forwards that I think are unbelievable.I don't think it's even close.Because every one of those centre -forwards that played for United, Rooney could do everything that they could do.Dribble, pass, head, tackle, run, everything.Playing all the positions.

And playing every position on the pitch, being the best midfield player.I just think he was...Unbelievable.So yeah, that's coming back to Tottenham though.We've had a break, Flav.I think you're doing it.

Go on, Flav.Elliot, how do you see this?I thought Friday night, by the way, I'm thinking you're done.You're out of it.Yeah, safe.I'm thinking that performance, I think you were helped by Sunderland in the first 20 minutes playing out from the back, but you just thought, that's it.

Tottenham Forest, what a win just before the semi -finals.And then do you feel a little bit like you've been pulled back in a little bit on the Saturday?

Kind of.I think it's just down to us.It doesn't matter what anyone around us does.It's what we need to do.And I think what's most promising is the results are great, obviously.but at this point, and I'm looking towards Europa League, that is what matters to me the most, is we've turned a corner in our performance.

We played phenomenally.And I think Vitor Pereira has cracked it.I think he's figured it out, sort of by accident against Burnley, but he saw how good it was and he kept it for the Sunderland game.By moving Gibbs White into more of that left -sided position and having Jesus and Wood, We've been phenomenal.Nine goals in two games.We were fighting to score goals.

We couldn't finish if our lives depended on it.And suddenly we've made that move of Gibbsite over to the left and everyone is playing better.And I think I felt really bad for Jesus because he's had a lot of pressure on him this whole season.He's played pretty much every game in Europa League and the League.And that's a huge, huge...Yeah, he's got huge boots to fill with Chris Wood being as phenomenal as he is with the injury.

And when you watch Jesus in the Premier League, You can see that he needed someone else there.He needed to be playing with somebody.He needed to be able to offload it to somebody.You could see he was holding up the ball well when he wasn't tithing.And it needed someone else around him.And then when you have someone like Chris Wood with that phenomenal movement in and around the box, it just works so, so well.

And I think that for me is what's more, obviously, results are really important right now, but that's what gets Forest fans excited is we think we found a system Without Nuno, with everything that's gone on, all the dramas and all the injuries, we found a system that works and we look great.We look unbeatable at the minute.

Do you think the only risk for you is the actual semi -finals?That you get caught up in this massive, sort of what will be emotional rollercoaster of these two games?

I don't think we're taking it as seriously.When you look at the team selections for the Europa League, even in all the knockout stages, I've been quite frustrated that we haven't necessarily started our best 11 every time.

Will he change that though for this now, surely?

He better.I hope so.I think he will.But I don't think he's necessarily going to go with the exact same system.I don't think he is. I think he is looking at that Premier League.I think that's what he's been told.

But for me, as a Forest fan, who knows next time we're going to be in Europe.I've never seen us in Europe.It's an absolute dream come true.Premier League is just a league.Who cares?Do you know what I mean?

Well, yeah, you would do.For me, you can't put a price on memories.And people keep talking about, oh, but what if you get relegated?Firstly, it's not mutually exclusive.Just because you start your starting XI in the Europa League doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win the next Premier League game.And in fact, I think the exact opposite.

I think if you put in good performances in the Europa League, you carry that momentum into the league.

Marian Nakas will be desperate for Champions League football.

I hope so.That's what I thought, though.

He won't lose the money from the Premier League, though.Do you think he would?Because it's about status, isn't it, with him?It's about 40 points.Forrest don't go down.

I don't think Forrest will go down but I just think obviously on Friday night I think everyone thinks you're safe but then with Tottenham and West Ham winning you're back where you started.That's the only thing I suppose.

Well we're back where we started but we've won less game.And with the momentum.

That was a tough game, Sunderland away.Tricky game on paper, wasn't it?

Yeah, tough place to go.But if you thought Forrest were in a relegation scrap pre -Friday, but then you thought they were out of it post -Friday, and then all of a sudden you're back in the same position, you must think they're still in it a little bit.You'd expect them to win.

Chelsea, we've got, I should know, I'm going to them all.United, Bournemouth, Bournemouth at home.

You've got Chelsea away, Newcastle at home, United away and Bournemouth at home and I don't think that's easy.

That's horrible, especially when you know our record with those teams.

But I'm putting also, I'm just going to give you your games, Chelsea away, Villa in the Europa League, Newcastleat home, United away, you've then got a potential Europa League final, and then you've got Bournemouth.So you have got obviously the Europa League game this Thursday, then you've got Chelsea away.If you're to lose that and the other two were to win, I do think you have got a little bit of something to do because Newcastle were okay last weekend against Arsenal, United at Old Trafford is not going to be easy.You know what I mean?

But it's about us, isn't it?I think for me, Any team can beat any team in the league.We know that.We've seen it.At the end of the day, if we play how we played against Sunderland, how we played against that second half against Burnley, we're fine.But can we carry on that momentum?

Was this...I don't think it is, but was this just... you know, a couple of good games.Do we lose against Villa and then we lose that momentum and confidence drops?Because what we've massively lacked this season, minus all the things we already know about, form managers and all the politics and stuff, what we've massively lacked this season is confidence.I mean, Omari Hutchinson, he's a young player coming into what is a very turbulent team, very turbulent side at the moment and he's not been able to perform.We've had that with all our players, everyone we've brought in and even the ones that were already here.

What we need is Morgan Gibbs -White and that's who he's come through.That mentality, that attitude, that leadership that he brought, he dragged us through that Burnley game in that second half.He was phenomenal, not just for his hat trick, he was everywhere.And I think that's the difference.He is such a leader.Keeping that morale, keeping that mentality, keeping that confidence, that's what matters more.

So I want to go into this game.It's huge for me. I never thought I'd see it.I want to give everything.And even if we lose, if we can go, we've fought, we've given everything, we can go into that game against Chelsea with confidence, with pride.

Yeah, I mean, look, it'd be nice to watch you live again if you can put a word in for me then.You still not allowed back?Yeah, I'm not allowed in.What would happen if you went in?No, no.You can't.

You'd just be getting dragged out of your seat on Twitter.Are you still upset with me and Nottingham?He's still...

Yeah.

Thanks for that.

Sorry.

OK, so...Marian Hackett did Gibbs White a favour, don't you think?

Yeah, he did.This is your moment now.At the time, I thought it was the worst mistake ever and actually he was right.Can you just...Sorry, Mr Marian Hackett.

Do you like me back here?I haven't done the Nottingham Forest Gap.I'll be right back now.I haven't done the Nottingham Forest game for...What did you actually say?

I remember.

Eh?

Sorry.

Go on.

You compared him to a mafia cartel after that tweet.

Oh no, that was the first time I got let back in.The second time I...

When Marinekis came on the pitch.

Yeah, he came on the pitch and I said that if I was an employee of that club, I think Nuno should hand his notice in because the reality of it is he's written on the wall when someone...I was right though.Yeah.Right, Adam, where we at?Obviously, were you at Old Trafford last night?

Yeah.

Yeah, so, I mean, I actually thought last night, I don't know if you asked who scores in a minute as well, I actually, I was surprised at half -time when he went to the five at the back, but after about five minutes, I actually thought, he's got this right.Did you think the same thing?

Yeah, it was a good switch.It was a weird one because I thought it was almost, I thought it was a punishment for Ahmad's poor performance in the first half because I don't think he's been particularly good recently, but it was a good tactical tweak and Brentford kind of, we kind of nullified the threats that they had, but, It was an important win, especially after the performance against Leeds at Old Trafford.I thought a game against Leeds, you don't go into it with that kind of, just so flat and just, we didn't really have any fight in us in that game and it was really disappointing.And then the performance against Brentford a lot better.I think Keith Andrews has been immense there.And so it was a difficult game.

And if they win, they kind of go right up into sixth, and it kind of still keeps other people fighting for the Champions League.So it was an important win.I've been pleased with Michael Carrick.Bozun sees Cesco back on the score sheet.Bruno Fernandes keeps ticking along.And we just got to talk about Kaby Meynold because I can't believe Ruben Amrim didn't see a player.

That's the biggest... mistake he's ever made in his managerial career, I think.Overlooking Kobe Maynard, whose abilities are so good, and now he's started to add the defensive side to it as well.He's almost like the complete midfielder, and Ahmad's got blood on his hands for not sticking that in the back of the net, because it would have been a sister of the season.

That, him not changing the system towards the end, Ruben Amerin, but also the Kobe Maynard things are the two things that I think will probably stand out most, won't they?

That Kobe thing was, because I was still with Amerin for a bit, Up until I think when we lost against Ten Men Everton, I was right behind him still.But every time I'd say I'm behind him, I'd have to add, but this Khabib Maynard thing's doing my head in because he's overlooking him all the time.And the whole theory was Bruno and Khabib can't play together and we need to get Casemiro.And you look at them now.I know there's other good midfielders in the Premier League, but they've been right up there in terms of performance.Casemiro looks like his old self.

Again, Bruno Fernandes is further upfield.

They were the best two players I thought last night, Casemiro and Maynard.

I thought he was feared.Casemiro, is he going to leave Casemiro?Well, he is leaving.He's probably for the best.He needs to leave.But I wouldn't mind another year.

I'd just say something.I'm not saying I watched a different game, but I don't think the change made that much of a difference.

Oh, I do.

I still think Brentford look like scoring.

No.

Right throughout the game, they missed some chances.

They missed some chances.The lad had the header at the back post with Tara, but he definitely nullified and stifled them a lot in terms of their chances from the first half.They kept cutting through in the first half.

Sonny Lomond's made some great saves in that first half as well.That's why we kind of...I think we did nullify them a little bit.Obviously, once they score and it goes 2 -1, you get a little bit squeaky, but...

I thought he was smart, Michael, because I thought, do you know something?I don't think we were playing that well in the first half.We were actually good going forward at times, but I thought they could have scored at any point and could have scored two or three.And I thought the goal on half -time allowed him to make that change.

And I thought you were right on commentary.It all came from the two midfield players being exposed.They're exposed massively, they're not great athletes as it is.

Forget Brentford's wide players were doing exactly the same, but let's forget about them.And Bermo and Ahmad last night in the wide areas, they were really poor at getting back in alongside.They were almost half cheating to go on the counter -attack rather than getting back in tight alongside Kobe and Casemiro.I don't know why they were doing that.Even Bruno and Shesco were slow getting back towards.They weren't compact at all.

That surprised me a little bit why you said our two midfield players are the best players on the pitch.I think United are vulnerable right through the middle.

Yeah, but I don't think that was because of them two.I generally think it was because of the other two not tucking in.Scholes, if you were left at Old Trafford without Becks and Giggs, without Becks and Giggs tucking in, you'd be knackered.

I felt for both of them last night.I actually thought Damsgaard and Jenson were the best players on the pitch.

You know, for United, I mean, the two best players were the two midfield players, I thought.And for them.They were the best two midfield players.

Yeah, probably.They were the only two, weren't they?Kobi was the best player on the park.Who?Kobi was the best player on the park.

I thought Kobi played really well.Out of both teams?

I think you're right, Damsgaard and Jensen were brilliant.

I thought Damsgaard was really good, I did think that last night.

I'm not saying it's their fault, Kasimir and Mena, because when you're exposed on that big pitch there, it's horrible and it happened to us for years in Europe, which is why we had to come back.it and bring another one and play one up front.Now with them wide players, as Guy said, if they're not in...And do you know what?Sometimes it's not up to the manager.That's up to the players.

I said, Kasimir, look at the experience he's got.Come here.You two get next to us here.We're getting killed in the field.And when we are exposed and give chances away, it always comes through the middle.

Yeah.I think you did the right thing because I thought...

I don't think it made much difference.I still thought they had chances, because Thiago missed so many chances.

No, but they were mainly in the first half.I don't think he got that many in the second.

How would you think United are going to deal with potentially 20 more games next season?

I mean, look, we're going to come on to the big question, which is obviously around Michael, which, to be fair, I'm wholly torn on from a point of view of...

I don't think it's a big question, I think it's a tapping answer.

No, I don't know.I don't know, I don't know.

From what's happening now when you're just playing Premier League games to the start of next season, he's got to be exposed to something totally different.All of a sudden you're in three cup competitions, you're playing Saturday, Wednesday.A big deal for him getting the job next year or he should maybe question himself whether he wants a job.They've got to get players in.

If we get champions in football, I think that'll enable us to...

I said that the other day, you know.I don't get the impression we're going to spend a lot of money.Michael's probably one of the best lads you could ever meet.And he's obviously really intelligent.He's at the start of a coaching career.Big butt career.

No, there is a butt.I just thought the other day, it would be so classy and Michael -like if he said, guys, I've done what I came in to do.I've done this job, I've got you into the Champions League, I've re -stabilised the club.Settled the place down.Settled the place down, but now go and put someone in.And look, people say, but who would you put in?

And I'll say, okay then.And I don't know Nagle.Please don't say Eddie Howard.No, I don't know Nagelsmann.So I don't know Nagelsmann.This is not a pitch for Nagelsmann to be the manager of Man United.

I haven't got a clue.I don't know him.Not watched enough of his football.But if I look at his work at Hoffenheim and I look at his work at Leipzig, he's a serious coaching club.And then he goes to Bayern Munich and he wins the league.And then he basically takes a German team to the World Cup.

And you say, right, okay, let's look at that coach.Well, he could win the league at Bayern Munich.I'm not sure I would.And what did he do with Germany?No, no, okay, I'm just saying, let's just put his coaching career into a sort of what would be a body of work, right?That is a serious body of work that that guy's had, right?

It's a serious body of work.And you say to yourself, okay, could he then come and be the Manchester United manager?Well, okay, you can look at the body of work and think, yeah, Liam Rossini, we didn't hesitate before.and say, that is not a body of work to take care of Chelsea Football Club.So when I look at it and think, okay, Michael's been at Middlesbrough, it's a really good start in his career and he did really well, but it isn't a body of work that makes you the Manchester United manager.So that's the against.

That's me thinking, has he got a body of work that can cope with this giant that's going to start roaring again?That's sort of what would be fire that's going to start coming out of the sort of dragon's mouth, which is Manchester United, in the next six, 12 months is going to happen.Champions League football, Casemiro leaving, recruitment in the summer, just things happen and it becomes a bit of a different job next season.So to me, that is someone who's handled Champions League football, who's handled 60 games a season, who's handled the spotlight and scrutiny of Manchester United.However, the second bit of it is, okay, there's no outstanding candidate that sort of jumps out.Michael, the club have just made 400 people redundant in the last 12 months.

There's been a massive turnaround in terms of, and the club's been unstable.Michael's brought stability.He's actually brought something that really the club haven't had for a year or two.And actually, would it be helpful for him to be there for another year just to bed the foundations in?And then maybe a year's time, when he's bed the foundations in of good principles,good culture, the club are happier again, the staff are happier again because they trust him.

You can't not trust Michael Carrick.Everybody would trust him and love him.So whether it's that and he stays in or whether it's...But then there's another part of me that thinks Arsenal aren't brilliant at the moment, they're better than United.Liverpool are just shaking a little bit, Chelsea are all over the place, Tottenham are all over the place.If City were to get found guilty of some of the more serious charges in this 115 thing, there is an opportunity to win the league in the next year or two years.

Because I tell you what, there aren't that many things happening up there right now, it's poor at the top.It is as poor as it's been for a bit.Who is the best person to go and try and exploit that potential year where you can just go and get a league?And there's part of me thinking that as well.And is Michael the right person for that?Or is it someone else?

That's the confusion I've got.I was adamant, Adam, by the way, four months ago before...Oli, Ruud and Michael interviewed.I said please, whatever happens, do not appoint any of them at the end of the season.Just bring one of them in now, stabilise the club and put someone world class in who's got a great coaching experience.And that's where I was three or four months ago.

Why am I changing now just because of some results?

I even think Michael's a clever lad though as well and he will think about it seriously whether he wants it.

Well he left last time if you remember.He left last time after Oli.

Michael has come to the club and he's done exactly what he did as a player.He just settles everything down.He settles chaos around him down.The way he plays and the way he's managed.Now he has to be part of conversations now for next season.He has to be when I'm talking about players really.

What players are coming in and that might be something that Because if he goes into that season next year with, as you say, the different amount of games there's going to be, there's going to be a lot more games, a lot more expectation at the start of the season, of course there is.If he goes into that with his squad, I'd be worried for him.come October, November.

I've been quite...I think Ineos have got a lot wrong at United, but I think their recruitment has been a lot better than it was prior to when they got there, and I think they will have, and I imagine they're already preparing for the summer, and it feels like Champions League's a lock now, so they can start preparing for that.I think recruitment will be better.I was like you at the start with Michael Carrick, that don't just give him the job because he wins a few games or gets Champions League football, but, When you look at the available managers out there, Luis Enrique is the only one that I would really budge for.The Nagelsmann thing, for me, he's at the World Cup, he's going to come in mid -preseason, maybe?Is that the best preparation?

He'll be coming in late July.

Same with Pochettino, if we were to look at him.I think Angelotti signed a new deal at Brazil now, but it would have been the same with him.You look at the managers that are available and you go, is it worth really budging for any of these?And then one of the fears that I have with Nagelsmann is, whilst I agree with you, he is a great coach with a good CV, Let's say he starts off badly, we don't win the first four games, suddenly we're thinking, hold on, we just had Michael Carrick in here who hardly lost a game and we've just moved him for this guy who now...And it just feels like, I don't think that, for me, it would be Carrick, give him a short -term contract, see where we are next year, where the managers are that are available, because I just don't think there's anyone out there that screams, give me the job right now, and I'm not sure if it...

Look, I can't disagree to an extent, but I just think that's when you get to a point of a club when you're scared of your own shadow and you've lost your way in your identity, when you don't feel sure enough to be able to put in the best manager for the job.And you start thinking, well, who's going to get us through the next 12 months and what if he loses four matches?You can't think short -term like that, I don't think.We've just had Solskjaer, Rangnick, Ten Hag, Amerim and Michael.They're our last five managers.Not one of them has ever managed at what I would call the super club level, which is with the...

of United.Maybe you could argue Ten Hag at Ajax.Ajax is a big club.It's not the level of Manchester United in terms of Europe and globally.Those five managers have just sort of taken care of the club.The four previous ones have struggled and we've had to basically sort of get rid of them.

The idea of appointing another manager that hasn't got what would be that sort of massive super club experience that means that they've won Champions Leagues, they've won titles, they've handled massive players on a constant basis.That scrutiny, I just feel to me like we've got to...I know people say, yeah, but Jose came and he failed.But you can't just say because a great manager...That's just an argument, again, of lack of insurancy.Is Luis Enrique not interested?

It doesn't seem like we're really... moving to make that happen.Obviously, he's got busy ends of the season with PSG, probably don't want to start discussing things with United about a move there.I just don't...It doesn't feel like one that's going to happen.Now, if Luis Enriquez had given me the job...I'd say see you later, Michael.

I think the Premier League managers now, I think the reason the Premier League's dipped is because the managers aren't of the quality that they were five, six years ago when we had Tuchel and all the sort of unbelievable, Klopp and everybody else.Pochettino, Ancelotti, all those managers that we had with Pep, obviously.If Pep cannot stay forever, he just can't, it's unbelievable how long he's stayed.

That's what they used to say about Fergie, I imagine.

I know.And look, he might stay for another four years and we're all embarrassed, but there's got to be a point where you've got to say, who can take on Pep in the short term?Very few.but very few, but who can take on Arteta?Who do you want to take on Arteta, Slott, whoever, Chelsea, Fabregas?Do we want like a real senior, serious operator who's been at the top level or do you want someone who's simply...

But who is that, say that name apart from Nagelsmann because Nagelsmann we've got to wait till the end of July.

But we can't say we can't wait for managers because of three or four weeks for pre -season.

That's an important period of time though in the season where you're going to be getting ready, you're going to be going away and playing a lot of football.games in Scandinavia or wherever.That's an important period of time before the season starts.

Alan Shearer said the other day, to be fair, he said give him a year, let him have another year sort of doing what he's doing, and you just said a short -term contract of a year just to say look, and Michael would do that I'm sure, with the theory that next summer, There is a sort of non -World Cup year and non -tournament year and that can be the point whereby the club has rebased, it's stabilised, it's built a bit of a foundation, the culture of the club's back to a good level because Michael's got some confidence in everybody and then you go and do that.That could be a plan.That has to be the ambition of the club as well.

What did the club expect over the next year?Did it expect to be going for a league title?Did it expect just Champions League football, they'll accept that?Also, remember what you...

Also, he is top of the league, I think, from when he arrived.

Oh, he is. 29 points out of 13 games.He's at the top of the league right now.

Like you say, outside of Pep, the competition isn't...Arnish won the league in his first season and he came here.You look at him now struggling a little bit.I know there's probably different reasons for that, but there's no reason why he couldn't compete for it.

Based off goal, what was he going to say?Remember what Radcliffe said about Arteta at Arsenal, trusting the process and giving him time.I think that he'll opt for character stay, for sure.

Because it's cheap as well, isn't it?I love that.I think the safest option for the club right now is probably, if you're thinking about it from that logical perspective, is to keep Michael and just keep things moving for another 12 months as it is.Because obviously there's nothing really sort of, you know, it was bad four months ago.That Everton game, the Wolves game, you said about the low point, the Wolves game.West Frimsby.

Those things can happen though, innit?Wolves at home was for me the point where I thought he's in massive trouble.I was there at the Everton game, I was at all the games around that time, but the Wolves game was the one where I thought he's done his, no way he can survive.My head fell off after Everton.

We were playing 10 men for 85 minutes and he was sobbing and sobbing.-backs for centre -backs.We were like, what are we doing here?

Yeah.Gareth, this game on Sunday, Liverpool -Man Utd, which is historically probably the greatest Premier League fixture, and that's been disrespectful, but it is built as the greatest Premier League fixture.It just doesn't...This feels a bit like, on Sunday, I said last night, is this the biggest game...I mean, for fans, obviously, it's massive.But is it actually bigger for Slott and Michael Carrick?

Is it about the managers on Sunday a little bit?

I think it is, yeah.I think there was a bit of a feeling like that with the Merseyside derby as well.It was absolutely fantastic for me, obviously, but equally I kind of thought Slott could be done here.If you lose the derby...

Really?

Yeah.

What's happened to Liverpool fans?Because honestly, no word of a lie, I always thought Liverpool fans, their manager, Carragher's always told me the manager is the number one.He wins a league, they'll turn on the players before the manager.I can hear Carragher saying it 20 times in the last 15 years.All of a sudden, what's happened?

Yeah, that is the culture.I think a lot of people are torn.I did something, United We Stand asked me to do a Q &A for the match on Sunday.And that was one of the things I was saying back to Andy Mitten there was that I think a lot of Liverpool fans are really torn on it because We have got this culture of you back the manager no matter what.I think you've got similar at United.But there's just, I don't know, there's just a thing.

I mean I struggle with him myself.I'm just not convinced by him.I don't think in press conferences he's convincing.I don't think he, he's not emotional.And we are, and I don't think he connects with us in that way And look, it might still be like a hangover from Klopp because he was so perfect for us And I think we still put him up on a pedestal like he came back for a Legends game the other week and everyone was falling over themselves again Saying I wish he was still the manager And you're right, Slott's won the league and he should have respect for thatBut then equally we've lost 17 games this season and it's some of the spin almost that he tries to put on performances and, you know, tell you you're seeing something that you're not type of thing.

And I kind of think by now, I know there's loads of circumstance and we've been talking about them all season, but you want to see green shoots for next season.And there's not loads of them, to be honest with you.We're going to scrape home almost bare minimum and we're going to get Champions League it looks like.And that's good and we need that for the revenue and all the rest of it.But there's a huge thing of not being fully convinced by slot.And so go to Old Trafford and get a result.

huge plus points and especially again for the fans because we want to go to Everton and win, we want to go to Man United and win and you know we were saying before about the cup final thing, there hasn't been a lot to enjoy this season, do you know what I mean?There hasn't been performances or games that you can truly hang your hat on so I mean even Everton, we'd nick that, do you know what I mean?But does a loss on Sunday land him in trouble if it's a bad one?I think it's continually on a precipice like that So as soon as there's another negative thing everyone's like bang I mean we were trying to talk about it yesterday on the podcast and it was weird to talk about almost It looks like he'll still be a next season ball What would you do?

What will they do?

I would change it I think it's gone too far in terms I think it almost feels like the Brendan Rodgers situation You know where he stayed too long And then we were changing the following season I can see him staying I think they will keep him I think FSG don't listen to noise They pride themselves on not listening to noise Although they should listen to the ticket price protest obviously But you know on this I think they won't listen to the noisethey'll keep hold of them.But then my fear is that if it goes wrong early next season, everyone's on him again.And then that's potentially derailed another season.And there's so much uncertainty around the club.There's uncertainty around Slott, who's only got a year left on his contract.

Uncertainty around the Sporting Director, Richard Hughes.Uncertainty around Michael Edwards above him as well.Loads of uncertainty in terms of, is this player staying or going?The squad isn't deep enough.You know, it feels like there's another summit of huge change ahead.And there's an argument, a strong one, obviously based on results to say, but he didn't manage a summer of huge change well this season.

I think you've lost...When I think of Liverpool as a team, as a staff, as a manager, you're like the people of Liverpool, or you should be like the people of Liverpool.Like you said, emotional, a little bit chaotic, a bit mad at times.Underclop, you had that.I think slot's a bit calm and I also think you've lost that a little bit in your players.You think of people like Diaz and...

OK, Nunes didn't play a lot.But when you saw them play, it was mad.It was chaos.I almost think your football team should be a reflection of your people and your city as well.I think Liverpool have lost that a little bit.

Yeah, 100%.One thing I said, and I know this is very basic, but so am I.I want to see players get stuck in.I think you were touching on it before, Gary, about Tevez.Work hard, get stuck in, quality on top of that.Like, I was saying to one of my mates, can you think of many moments where we've really gone in on another team and it's got the whole of the ground up?

And probably the only time, you know, there will be others, but the one that sticks out in my head is when we played Real Madrid at home.And I remember Kara saying, of course you should be up for that.And he's right.But, you know, PSG,they put an effort in.If you walk away from the ground going, they gave it all, but we've got beat, you can cope with that.

There's too many times they've been soft as shite this season, and you're just looking at them and thinking...Well, what's the head coach, as he is, what's he saying to them?Why is he not getting them going?You know, I look at the fellow you've got in now at Nottingham Forest.The stuff he's saying is brilliant.Do you know what I mean?

The stuff he...He was talking about Nico Williams and I was like, he's making Nico Williams sound like a player we shouldn't have let go.And, you know, there's inspiration in the things he says.Slott's just dope.

To be honest with you, I've interviewed him, I've been in studios with him.I think he's been brilliant with the press.Slott?Yeah.When he comes out after, I think you want him to be in control.I think you want him to be sort of...

I thought, well, look, last season...

He's almost too much in control.Too much relaxed.

You want to see something.You want to see a bit of passion at times.I know he lost at Goodison a little bit.Kind of like that.Do you know what I mean?He gives a shit.

You mean last season when he won at the end?Yeah.What game do you think it'll be on Sunday?Do you think it'll be a game of chess?Do you think both managers would walk away with a draw now?I don't matter do they?

It's a pretty rare circumstance.

I was looking at my games last week, I thought I'm doing United -Liverpool on Sunday but I thought do you know something, the biggest games next weekend are Arsenal -Fulham.Villa Tottenham and City Everton on the Monday night The United -Liverpool game, I think both will qualify for Europe It's mad that you're thinking like this but I think for both managers I don't think Michael could afford a bad defeat on Sunday I don't think it would be...

He tends to do well in big games Michael doesn't he?The Arsenal game...

I just wonder whether he'll go with more of the first half approach or the second half approach on Sunday in terms of being a bit more open or whether he'll just be a little bit more closed I can remember years ago

having a pop at Mark Ogden when he wrote about a Liverpool -Man Utd game that it was a situation where we were both a bit tripped.Yeah, yeah.And he wrote a piece saying, this game is just two bald men fighting over a coat.And I remember writing a piece saying, you can never describe Liverpool and Man Utd as that game.

Is there a policy come on this year?

Sorry, Mark.

It does feel a bit...I must admit, my feeling towards the game on Sunday already, I usually look forward to every game that I do, but I'm thinking, where's the jeopardy?Where's the sort of...No, there is a bit...I don't want them...

You never want a dreadful season.You don't want them to finish a movie after the season.

Even if they won, there's a chance they don't do that.It's just not as good as it once was.

It's just something people are looking forward to.I think once the game starts and something happens, then the crowd will make it bigger than it probably is.Baz.

You could have a massive, massive impact on Monday night.This is the game that everybody's looking at and thinking that City don't have a great record on Merseyside compared to where they go elsewhere.Have Everton got a real chance on Monday?Do you feel like you could put Spanner in the works?You don't have a great record.At Anfield, it's slightly better.

On Merseyside, whoever's given you that start.

Slightly better.

Merseyside's a little bit...

I think you're over it.

Have you not dropped points at Anfield last year?Well, they've never won at the No Dickinson, ever.

You haven't won the last few years we've won that.You have dropped points at Goodison though, haven't you, in the past?

Years ago, yeah.You've got to be at the tram, mate.Got away with a big one, that's for sure.Like that Rodri Hambor, remember that?Yeah.

They'll come on to VAR, don't worry.We haven't beaten them since we beat them 4 -0, Pep's biggest ever Premier League defeat.That was the last time we beat them.

It's not even Premier League, career defeat.

Law of averages.You know what?Had this game, Everton, when we beat Chelsea the other week, they were in a really good place.They were playing really well.well.They went to Arsenal, should have got something at Arsenal, 100%.

Arguably, they could have won at Arsenal, they had the better chances on the day.Then we beat Chelsea and battered them the week later.Everyone had the break, of course, but I think if there was no break, then they'd just...You know when you feel a team, you're looking and going, we'd been up to Newcastle and won, and you're thinking, they're right in the groove now.And we got into a position where we were a couple of points behind Liverpool in that Champions League, and I think it'd be probably a bit too early, but the money helped.And you're thinking, we've got a great chance here.

And we've come back from the break as if there's nothing to play for.We drew at Brentford and they'd been great, but that day they were there for the taking.The goals were awful, we give away.Liverpool last week was just it, it was dope.The most comfortable dart.In fact, the only time I ever thought we'd lose the game was when you got the corner on Van Dijk's.

It was the only time in the game.There was no threat at any time.

I was surprised.I mean, we had to substitute the goalie.We've got a lad who's been knocking around at Preston going in, in the derby, in that cauldron, and I thought, he'll go for it.

I think once we lost Beto, we lost Barry.I think I was the better Barry on the day.I've done more than he did in the derby.And then Saturday, we went to West Ham and it was like, we're in this and we're sorted.I was disappointed with West Ham as well.It looked like two teams at the end of May with nothing to play for, considering they were trying to stay up and we were going for a European game.

It was flat.However, City at home, it's a bank holiday.It'll be light when we walk into our ground, which makes a massive difference, by the way, because we've had 110 live games on a Monday night in the rain, which have been depressing.I think the atmosphere will be good and I think Everton will give it a good go.The only thing is, they look like they're in the groove at the moment, and they're playing really well.Even Saturday, I watched the end of that semi -final, and when Sal Dampton scored, you're thinking, could be on here a couple...

And the next minute, it's 2 -1.it could have been...I mean, why Doch who didn't score when there was no one in is incredible.So, I think we'll give it a good go and hopefully VAR won't get involved because I don't know whether you've seen Saturday, but the worst decision I've ever seen in my life with the handball by Fernandes not being awarded as a penalty.I know Everton got away with it, I think West Ham should have had a pen earlier on, but that one, the handball, was absolutely embarrassing.So, I want to ask you, What's your feelings on VAR?

Because I actually think they should suspend it.Do goal -line technology and do the off -sides.Everything else, I think we've got it ridiculously wrong.I see you, I was at the meeting yesterday.

I'd probably go along with that, I don't like it.No, it's terrible.I just think that looking...Cancel goals.Looking for a reason to disallow every single goal.I know there's questions about it.

Barcelona have a problem with it in the Champions League.They do.

The minute there's a human error, we'd be screaming for the AR back.

I don't think you can get rid of it.

You know when you go the game now?You go the game for those moments, don't you, where there's a goal.That one against Liverpool.Whenever we score now.Whenever we score now.

Every team's the same.

I don't feel...Exactly, I'm just talking in general.You've got to wait.You look and you go.Like, we lost our...The first time in a while, I've lost myself in a goal last week, winning the ice cold.

And then the next minute I see him van dyke because he was basically the ref wasn't he?Cavanaugh wasn't the ref.But I seen him go over to the referee and the minute you see that...Everyone's still shouting, I'm like, let's allow this, 100%.

Is that the offside one?

And he was off, don't get me wrong.No, but Joseph, you can't get rid of VAR because, I mean...Joseph, the one thing that we always wanted at United was accuracy.Yeah, yeah.To be fair, we felt we got hard done to at times.Are you joking?

No, but Joseph...lost a title on a goal from Chelsea where Drogba at Old Trafford was offside.And when you've experienced losing a title based on a goal, you think, I can never bring that back.So you always think, yeah, I do want VAR because I want that.I want intervention on a decision that's obviously...

I was a big thingy for it, I couldn't wait for it to come in because I thought we won't be getting stitched up the way we have.Every team will say this by the way, I'm just talking from my perspective.They won't be able to do it anymore, some of these decisions, because everyone sees it.We've had four players sent off this season, one for slapping his own player, one for pulling hair.And one for clapping a referee.And someone put a joke on it.

It's like a kid's party, isn't it?Three of them with VAR.Since the hair pull by Calvert -Lewin, Tete tried to pull Tremenjo's head off.VAR looked at it, nothing.His head takes back.

If you pull someone's hair, you should get sent off.No problem.Everyone then, Gary.

100 % are red.

He grabbed there.

I was talking to Denny Soon about it last night and I said, Denny, we've played football for 20 years each, right, as a defender, you never, Ever, right?You might put a hand on someone's head by mistake.You don't...No, seriously, I did this last night with Dennis.Dennis, when did you ever grab a head?Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't grab a head.You literally don't grab a head.You grab a shirt sometimes.

So, they grabbed his hair and pulled it.

He'd fucking get sent off.

No, no, no, but Martinez grabbed it.He could have been grabbing his shirt.He put his arm there.And he also had an elbow in his face.Adam, you don't grab a head.It wasn't his head, it was here, it was this part of his shirt, where his ponytail hairback, where his man bun was, it was down here.

The problem is, I said this with Keane, but he grabbed the hair, so fair enough.There's no issue with that.The problem is, you'll see, as I've just proven, Tete ain't done it to Semenya.Yeah, the consistency.The ball wasn't even in.The ball, it wasn't even in.

for a header and you've grabbed it.He's just ragged us here, nothing on that.That's just one thing.There's loads of stuff for every team.With VAR look at it.And then what they're doing now, they're not sort of going, we got that wrong.

They're coming out with a different line that gives them a little bit of movement.Remember the Liverpool goal of Fulham?I'm just using that because it's the first time I've ever heard there's a five cent thing now that we can use.

You lost a game I think, was it this season or last season when Tarkovsky would go like that?

Leeds first day, you and Carragher said it was handball.I said handball, yeah.There's about 18 since then and now they're saying it's not handball.I thought that was a handball because he just goes like that.He didn't, he went like that, I've got the still if you want to watch it.

Right, on that note, that's the end of another fan debate brought to you by Skybet.Thank you so much everybody, well done, brilliant.