Roy’s Advice for Amorim, Eze’s Journey & Mainoo’s Man Utd Future | Stick to Football EP 91

They'd be better if they were cold, these, you know, Kieran.

What, cold what? These cans.

Yeah, I've got a cold one in there. Do you want a cold one? But I was saving that for the second episode. That one's cold. Oh, it is, yeah. Yeah, see. Do you want the cold one or this?

Hmm.

I think I need my greens, do you not think? Well, yeah.

I need lion's mane mushroom, I don't think I need my greens, do you know what I think? Yeah. I need lion's mane mushroom, I need. Swap that.

Excellent.

There we go.

I want it back. There's no one in here today.

It's good.

I'm going to have a go.

I'm going to have a go.

I'm going to have a go.

I'm going to pop a movie set. Table tennis? I've got just one arm. I want it back.

That's going to be a twist.

There's no one in here today.

It's good.

I'm trying to perform.

Table tennis, table tennis.

I was thinking about maybe getting something else. Switching it. What? I don't know, air hockey, what? Something.

Oh yeah, yeah, that's good.

That's good. Keep it interesting then. Do you? It's what happens if you're shitted at table tennis.

Well, it just feels like there's so much space.

You alright?

So much space to do stuff.

We're getting less and less people in the audience. You're getting fancier and fancier. What happened to you? It might ramp up though in a few weeks.

Is it?

It could fine. Just to watch.

Do you need tickets?

Jill, the most important thing is...

Yes, look.

Yeah, look, see?

Roy, you didn't even notice.

Do you want...

Feels like box to box. It's not a new sponsor. We couldn't afford it.

Let me have my breakfast. It's not really served yet. Do you want one?

Roy, put this under there for us, please. Just do it.

What's up with you?

Do you think this has come round really quick?

Yeah.

Like, really quick?

Oh, Roy, right, you would like us to film every week, rather than every two weeks.

Would you?

I'd like up every week. Right, once every day. Serve you, I please care.

What, and just do one episode?

No, but less is more.

I would just come up and visit me.

Yeah, but the thing is, it's just been...

Remember, right, he used to come up on a Tuesday and have a stew. I mean, then he gets sick of that and then they just... You know what I know. You did it at the start, the novelty wore off. It's just been, the summer's just gone and now we're getting back into it. No, but even the end of last...

I was going to go last night.

Transactional, Ian.

Celtic, you could have watched a Celtic game, two Celtic lads together could have watched Celtic. Why don't you come up?

Why don't you come up anymore? I'm just being busy at the start of the season. I would have came on my own, my mistress would have got me. What's the point in being busy? It's no good having been busy and having all that money. Make time for your friends. Keep your money, keep your houses. Time for your friends.

I'm going to not say anything because it doesn't get through anyway.

When did you do the SA interview, Ian?

I don't know.

Oh, you had time for that. Oh, yeah. Yeah, but they're cool.

One of your brothers.

It was the night before. It was the night before. I got a call and said, listen, we...

On the Friday?

It was a Thursday, wasn't it?

Thursday.

It's a good signing, though, isn't it, man?

Oh, my God, what a sign.

Thanks. You could see him and his family, you know something? He wanted a nice walk out with his face. His face was so happy.

Yeah, but the thing is you can't lie about how happy he was. You know? And then the things the whole family are just staunch arsehole. It would have been... And like, can you imagine what the whole family's going through? Thinking, well, he's going to be playing for Tottenham.

Mm. But the pure happiness and joy of him being there, you just feel like it's going to work out for him. I want it to work out for him, simply for that reason. He's where he wants to be. That's very rare. You get where you want to be at the level he's at. You know what I can't believe?

They've all done that.

Yeah, but they were there. You know what I mean? He got thrown out of there at 13 and came back and always wanted to be there.

What was his journey then?

Go on, tell us his journey. When he was a youngster, he was at all the clubs. He was at Millwall, he was at all of them.

And you just got rejected?

No, but that's the same for everyone, lady.

I've got every story.

Jesus Christ. You know what's really tough about being on here? You know what's really tough about being on here? Is when you're trying to explain something with a little bit of...

Feeling.

He's doing eyes. He's going like this.

HE MIMICS HIS FATHER

LAUGHTER

Have you seen his face? The one he does?

HE MIMICS HIS FATHER

That's going out today. That's going out tomorrow. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. At the moment, Liverpool might be described as the most entertaining team. I don't want that.

Someone's talking about tactics, I'm going, shut up, I'm doing it. You're being carried. Did he mention how close he was going to Tottenham?

It was done. You completely can't believe it, it's happened.

That pressure will be building on him already for the next few games and I look at him and I just think, are you quite ready for this? He's got to win some more football matches, he's got to find a way to win.

Why are you bringing her on, she's fucking shit.

I know it already.

I don't think Simon Jokr has won the league, I think if Arsenal win the league it's still down to the two centre-backs and the goalie.

I gave that man a lot of flowers bro, that was crazy, I was an archaic git, but if something happened, I would kind of move on quickly now. But if he's your captain or your senior player or one of your leaders, these are not good traits. All I'm saying is, is that the journey for a player as good as he was, I cannot understand how so many teams didn't take him when you look at what he was capable of doing. For him to stay in it, get himself a quick QPR, I've got to get a lot of credit for taking him on. And then Palace obviously for paying the £20 million for him. And then him getting to a place where he's now gone.

He's gone where he wants to be and now he's at the place he wants to be.

He's not that type of guy, as we know, when you're younger is not enough. We've all seen it at the big clubs. And some lads, you know, they get psyched about it. Where does he play right here in the team? If he eventually nails down a position, because the bit when I look at the way Arsenal play right now,

it almost feels like Declan Rice plays in that role, the way he played at Crystal Palace. I think he'd probably be on that left side. When you asked him...

Left wing.

Left side coming in, coming inside, I don't know, might as well just go on the outside. He said, listen, I just want to play and stamp myself and then go from there.

We said we were going to go to the middle of the show here, but might as well, because we started on it. On Sunday against Liverpool, They're obviously going to play Iokkeres and I think Madhuwaike is probably going to play in Saka's position. Do you think he'll play him on the left or Trossard or Martinelli?

I think Trossard will come in.

Martinelli didn't even get on the other day.

No, that's what I'm saying. Do you think he'll play Eze there or do you think Trossard or Martinelli on that Sunday?

I'd probably like him to start him. You know what I mean? What we're doing this season, especially now we've got the injury with Saka and Urdogah, bam, yeah, that happens. But we've got, the squad is deeping up now. We've got to still go there, no matter what, hopefully Eze comes in, Djokovic, and we've got to go there to win.

Yeah, but you don't have to win right? You don't have to win, still go to Liverpool by the way.

Still to put a statement out.

No, no, no. Roy, I'm not saying we have to go there and win, I'm saying we have to go there with the intention to win. So not like going and playing on the back foot,

go there to try and put Liverpool on the front. Trostad would be the safe bench, he'd just go... I don't think he'd play Marseillais. Pace? He didn't even come on the other day. I don't think he will.

He was really struggling at Old Trafford, wasn't he?

Yeah, he was 40 against his wife.

What do you think about Joque Reus, like, when I watch him? Like, do you think he runs the...

There's a few times I think he's a bit clumsy, he's a bit awkward at times, but I quite like him. Yeah, he's so strong. He's got a body on him.

But you want him central, don't you?

I actually liked him at Old Trafford. A lot of people said he was really poor.

There were things that I saw, because I thought De Ligt had a brilliant game.

I thought he looked like he could... a proper number nine. Yeah. You know what I mean? So I watched him against United make runs. I watched him, some of the runs he was making against Leeds. But against Leeds, it's obvious during training, I said, when he does that, do it. Because even when he scored his goal, he ran for, Calafiori didn't even look. He just put it in and that didn't happen at United. What happens is that once they get used to what he's going to do, then hopefully people will start to... He's not silky, is he? I think he's one of these ones.

He's a bulldozer.

We constantly talk about the things he doesn't do, but he'll end up scoring you lots of goals.

Yeah.

He's that old-fashioned striker. The way he runs, he's a bit Unorthodox. No, but it was like really... Yeah.

It was like getting...

When you're a striker... It's like chipping wood in any way.

It's like an old-fashioned striker.

But I'm a little bit like...

I think at the end of last season with Arsenal, you say, OK, you need a striker, probably need to score more goals. not change, but sort of alter it a bit in terms of maybe being a bit more on the front foot. But even in the first two games I've watched, I don't think Sane and Jokic have injured the league. I think if Arsenal are going to win the league, it's still down to the two centre-backs and the goalie.

I still think Arsenal's thing will be, we're going to be the best team in this league defensively. when people continually go on about how he scores against the lower end teams and the mid-block. If he does that for us this season, we could do it. Because if that's what we're bringing, I don't think that's a slight on him. If that's what he does and we don't lose, we'd be very lucky.

It must have been like he took the penalties with Lidia. Honestly, did you see him as well?

That's another goal as a player but also as a personality. I love the celebration, the hair and that. People have been saying in the first game...

He touches his hair a lot.

I know, but what I'm saying is people said in the first game, there was a stat he touches his hair more than he touches the ball. So he's obviously seen it on social media.

You think he's doing it more than...

I was like... It's a nervous thing, obviously. But my worry from a Liverpool point of view, with Arsenal, is that if you think of last season, I think Arsenal's defence was just a bit better than Liverpool's, but Liverpool's attack was a lot better than Arsenal's. And if Arsenal's attack will improve,

probably with Llochres getting more goals, but also if the injuries aren't as bad, Saka obviously, the games they missed last season. And I think Liverpool's defence could drop. You know that match-up where last season Arsenal... But Liverpool's kind of balanced,

are you always feeling they're going to score two or three?

It's only two games, but I still think Arsenal will be the best team in the league, defensively, I don't think that will change. My worry is Liverpool might drop defensively because they've got almost more attacking options. They might drop, they have dropped. Well, if it has, but it's two games. I agree with you, Roy.

At the minute, you look at Van Dijk and the load, at the moment, I know it's only a few games, he looks...

He was immense on Monday.

That is mental.

If he's not jump. But Joe's something.

I know, some big headers. Oh, some big... Just go back to Eze.

Especially against Bonesy.

When you talk about breaks in life, and you talked about, obviously, Millwall and QPR, but if Havertz doesn't get injured in training, he's gone to Tottenham, hasn't he? He's not... Sliding doors, bro. It's like unbelievable. That's the bit that I think when you think about a bit of luck or that little bit of something that happens in your life.

How close was he? Did he mention how close he was going to Tottenham?

Did he, you know?

It was done.

It was done to his lips.

That's it. But they genuinely believe that it's happened because it's meant to happen. You know how this works, Roy. Imagine if he walked out so happy to get it, wasn't he? Well, because Thierry was the one, isn't he? Thierry's the one that they adore. All of them.

It's a bit much, all that stuff. It's a joke to say, to play our signs for a club, videos of ex-players.

Really.

The greatest player in our history. Welcome him into the club. Just do that privately. That's the thing I'm finding with United, they've lost that.

They have lost it. They've lost the something.

Can you feel it? You know what it is? Liverpool's still got it.

There's a disconnection.

Yeah, there is a disconnection. If you treat ex-players badly, you know what I mean?

That's it. So there's some more stuff. There's more stuff happening. See, that's the thing Arsenal don't do.

You need to FaceTime the new signings.

I hear you Roy, we'll do it one day.

We'll come on to Liverpool-Arsenal. Let's just touch on Liverpool-Newcastle on Monday night.

Oh, what a game by the way.

One of the greatest games of Premier League history.

I did listen to you.

You know something, just quickly, I'm hoping that United can get themselves back in a place where we can see the Liverpool-United thing again, because it seems like Newcastle and Liverpool have got that thing now, what United and Liverpool used to have.

Signs are good for United, you said last week, didn't you? When they got beaten.

We'll go on to United.

No, no, no. Signs are good.

Let's deal with Liverpool-Newcastle. You can have your moment. What gives you your moment? Did you know that was coming? This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Armed Clothing.

OK, Liverpool, Newcastle. Did we enjoy the game?

Oh, what a game. Can I just say about Van Dijk, though? I think you've got to give him great credit that he didn't make a meal of that tackle. Usually the rolling around the floor and everything.

I actually thought his ankle...

I thought he was lucky.

I thought he was very lucky as well. Because the way his ankle went under, I thought that's what he was...

Isn't football mad? Newcastle kicking Liverpool all over the place, getting stuck in, there's nothing wrong with that, I like that physicality side of the game.

And then anyone touches any of the Newcastle players, they were like rolling around.

And Gordon, a prime example.

You look at Gordon, he falls over.

And he's running on kicking everybody. And then apologising afterwards.

I didn't mean it. What were you doing? I think he apologised because he knew it was a really bad one. Of course it was a bad one. Yeah. You know what, what's the point in apologising after it's gone so badly?

It's a leg breaker, isn't it?

It could have been, because he's out of control of himself.

If Van Dijk's got his legs set there, it's a leg breaker.

Of course.

And the thing is, when you heard him say, you know what I mean,

he just wanted to build the atmosphere. But I think, right, it was interesting. As the game started, there was a banner in the crowd, sort of, get into them. And it was...

Could you feel it?

No, but it was one of those games that I think, you think... It felt like a throwback to me, before the game, the game, everything about it felt like something from the 90s that we'd played. The football wasn't amazing, it wasn't about tactics or systems, it was just about like everyone putting big challenges in. So I enjoyed it from that point of view, but I just think as clubs, you've always got to use something to maybe add a little bit of something to the game.

You know, Liverpool are going for the Isak, we know what it was about, but it went too far. I banned him, they can't get into them. I think there was someone who was part of the ownership of Newcastle, put that on social media. Let's get into that. The point being is this game is built up and I've just said use something like the Isak situation to add an extra edge, you get that?

But I am sat there a little bit thinking Liverpool have just made a bid for a player, what else is it? The amount of times Liverpool, Cara, to be fair over the last 20-30 years will have used that type of angst against them and got carried away. I'm saying that's what we would have done.

You nearly took a man's leg off in a game.

I know, but the point I'm trying to make is I'm not having a go at them for it. The point was it did go too far. A man's got sent off.

Who took it too far? Newcastle, they end up losing a man. If they don't lose a man, they probably win the game. But as bad as Liverpool were, they stood up to all that stuff. And to a degree, the beauty for Newcastle... Listen, I love football because of the physicality. But these Newcastle lads are getting stuck in and they're appealing for every decision. And ironically, one gets sent off, two go off injured.

So Liverpool also stood up to that side. That's why I give Liverpool credit. They wrestled back to win the game. Liverpool could have easily had 2-2 going, this lad's been a bad night, we've thrown it away. We'll take the point and move on. We all felt there was another goal coming. But even Newcastle look at it and go,

maybe we should have took the draw. So I give again credit to Liverpool. They've started poorly in terms of their performances but they've scored four at home. No, you can't keep that all season, I get it. So, look at Newcastle, you go, lads, we're all up for it. No, if you're up for it, lads, you've got to be up for the physical side of it.

Ultimately, I'd give all the plaudits to Liverpool. You stood up to it. You're up in Newcastle. The record's the bravery. He done it last week with Chiesa. He comes on. You need your players off the bench. And he throws a young kid on going...

Do you know what? In a hostile atmosphere like that.

Slap, right?

They came up with the goods, James.

No, they did.

Look at Zboszlaj playing it right. You can see they targeted him.

He was brilliant. I think in terms of the manager, you think of since the managers come in, and you talk about, you always say this and you're right, Roy, Liverpool always score. There's only one Premier League game they haven't scored in, going back to last season, Dottingham Forest. But I think where the managers showed real courage was when it went 2-2,

and I think there was 11 minutes goes up, and Newcastle get in corner on a long throw and I'm sat there thinking, oh my God, imagine losing this game. And if you'd have probably said to me now, Drew, even though Liverpool had the extra man, I'd have gone, just take the points. But the manager, when I think of how good the manager's been for Liverpool,

his changes from the bench have been unbelievable. To bring, not just throw players on, not because he's a young lad. The size of them, I think it was Harvey Elliott and Riyadhi bring on. The tiny, and you're thinking Newcastle, every time there's a long throw or a set-piece and you're thinking, oh my God, the ball's coming in. So it wasn't just bringing them on, because sometimes there probably is an element of football, when you go into any match, the dream is play really well and win.

There's great satisfaction if you play badly and you win a game of football away from home. So in the dressing room after a game, obviously the manager will analyse it over the next few days and certain players are off it, they're going, look lads, ultimately, we look back at the end of the season if you're winning league titles, you go, hey we got over the line here. But you know the flip side of that, Brian, and this goes back to Man United last week, I always worry when a team lose playing well and people say, oh if you play like that every week we'll be alright. But you won't play like that every week.

If you don't win when you're playing well, that is a big problem. Ironically you mention United but sometimes when... We'll come back to them. You play a certain team at home, Liverpool or Arsenal, you go Hey they played really well and you're up for it You go, yeah but the tough games, they might be fulling them away I know you're not having a good record It's the other games that'll slip you up You're going to be up for the big home games

It's the other games that can catch you

There's a little thing building between you and Slott in the interviews Obviously on Monday night he heard part of your interview at the end Would you say that, obviously everyone sees the game slightly differently, but you do see the game from a defensive structural strength and you don't like it when Liverpool are a little bit all over the place? Do you think he's looking at you and thinking, no, that's how I'm going to take it? Because I'd be thrilled if I was a Liverpool fan.

I've been calling out for this type of football for years, this get rid of methodical formulaics. to see teams do what they did on Monday night and Liverpool, to be fair, doing what they did against Bournemouth where they lose two goals then they come back. Do you think there's an element when you're speaking to him now that he knows how you see the game and he's going to take Liverpool down a route that maybe you don't quite agree with in the sense

of, because I look at Kyrgios and Frimpong and these full-backs, They're almost going to have to score three too. I think what's interesting, when you've got your own manager, I think as supporters we all hang off, every word he says in the press conference, you're trying to pick something up or read between the lines. And I think I always picked up, even when Liverpool has won the league, Slott kept saying, every game we had we only won by one goal.

Almost like every game had to go to 90 minutes. And he made the point of saying, in the past when City were winning leagues, sometimes the game was over after an hour. So it already tells you in his head, even though Liverpool have only not scored in one game

in the Premier League since he's been there, he's thinking, I want more goals, I want this game over after an hour, 70 minutes. And that's just stuck in my head. And you see the players that they brought in in the summer. And right now, the balance isn't right in the team, I don't think. And I think what Liverpool had last season,

which was why they won the league, was if you remember Klopp's teams, when he first came in, and maybe at the end, it was a bit mad, but he got it perfectly right, the balance in the middle when you know Liverpool for two or three years were fantastic. And I felt Slott took a Jurgen Klopp team and took that sort of end-to-end stuff out of it

last season. It was a bit more I think I used to hear you say it's a little bit like Man United, he'll play six, sometimes he'll drop off, sometimes he'll press, sometimes he'll do different things. And I do find it fascinating that he's almost, because I thought that was him almost getting hold of this club team and going, slow down, we don't need to be playing that high up the pitch, we don't need to be running all over the place. But it feels a little bit like Klopp this season in terms of the community. So he's a lot more animated this season. No, a lot more so that the game is end-to-end and exciting.

But you might be right and that might be where he wants to take the team. Because on the back of last season I thought it was almost the opposite. That he just got older the club team a little bit and was a bit like, we don't need to be pressing all over the pitch, we don't need to be a high line. more attacking quality in the team. And listen, I'm always worried when at the moment Liverpool might be described as the most entertaining team

in the league. So the first game's 4-2, the game on Monday's an amazing game. I always worry if someone describes my team as the most entertaining. I'd call that was Tottenham last season. I don't want that.

But it's given Tottenham five, isn't it?

But Carrie, no, you can be the most entertaining team and win leagues. No, I'm entertained as in both teams can score. Not your team is just entertaining. But that's not entertainment. Not when Liverpool are giving up chances. You could look at Liverpool and go, I'll give them all the thumbs up, but you need a centre-half.

You can't keep defending like that. you will be caught out. So it's well and good to entertain them, but not be giving up that many chances. I think you must look with the staff and go, listen, a bit of gung-ho, that's part of football, and if we win 4-2 every week, everyone will be happy, but ultimately it won't matter about Champions League and the bigger prizes or whatever.

But they need to send it out.

Do you think they'll get Gehy? They probably, listen, they may do. Because Palace have put in... Should they prioritise, because I think that's only the defence, the defence at Liverpool is more important right now. I know that Ekotika has started well. We don't know how he's going to pan out, but surely,

if you shore up that end, then you go and get Isak another time or so. The thing with the centre-back righty is, you're bringing a body, you say, listen, Canarty's not playing well, you bring a centre-back. But that doesn't change the structure of the team because that centre-back should have taken his place.

Yeah, but he'd be a better one.

He'd be a better defender than him, Jürgen.

No, but he can defend one-on-one better.

Yes.

If you can lead people one-on-one. There's no partnerships at the back. Saliba and Gabriel's a partnership. Liverpool don't really have a partnership because they've got one fella doing a lot of heavy lifting. And that's not just with Canarty, that was with Gomez and Matip. I've been saying this for years, Liverpool isn't a partnership. It's Virgil van Dijk and another. If they're going to play more attack in, they can play with two defenders who can defend one-on-one on counter-attacks. decide Canate three years ago because Trent Alexander-Arnold, the pitch, that's his big strength getting across. So what about the balancing, would it be a bit off the left footer? Does that matter? You think Van Dijk's comfortably decided?

No I think Van Dijk's always been on the left foot. What you're saying, that's Canate's strength. It's not that he's played, he's just been really poorly. one-on-one defender at the moment in the Canarty at least then they can be as attacking as they are and they'll deal with those counter-attacks better. If you think about the goal that Bourne would have scored, you know the lad was one-on-one at Canarty, Gaye might have gone and took it off him. I agree with you, he's been shocking, I've said that, I've said that but I'm not playing, man, it's two games. The point I'm trying to make is, the whole reason Liverpool bought me is because you've got unbelievable recovery pace to get into those channels to cover Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But if you remember on this show last year, I said Liverpool need a left-back at number 10 and I sent a forward to go into the team. So every player, and they've got it right back because we didn't know Trent was leaving then, that's been brought in is more attacking. So Kerkhez is more attacking than probably Andy Robertson. Frimpong is actually more attacking than Trent. He overlaps Trent with those ones coming to midfield.

The number 10 position, Sir Bozlai was more of a... He was more of a waker number 10. You know, a grafter. But this versus an attacking player who wants to go on the ball. So every player is more forward thinking. I think that's probably also one of the reasons why... What's going to happen with Vance because at the minute... Yeah, he's found it tough the first two games.

I mean, your first away game in an atmosphere like that, I don't think you'll probably play in another away game like that. With that physicality, to be fair, it will be tough. But listen, the eyes will be on him.

He's a lot of Liverpool, you don't want to go to Canarty having a difficult time. But surely a manager's job, like if there's somebody out there who thinks he's better, and you're saying he's had a tough start, in six months' time you'd have gone, yeah the signs were there, we should have moved him on. That's the gamble you might take.

If someone's better out there, you try and go and get them.

But Crystal Palace have gone for a Kanji haven't they? Which is not a sign that he's on his way out. I liked Kandjian, I thought he was a good player. I think he's a great player, he'd be a great sign for Palace.

When's the last time Liverpool played with a number 10? Do you think it's going to take some time for them to get used to a proper... Because he is a number 10, was it? Coutinho?

Yeah, Coutinho was that type of player. Stevie played off of Torres. When you think of Liverpool's success under Klopp, that came after Coutinho moving on So they had a very workmanlike midfield Last season was a workmanlike midfield So Bozlai, even though Klopp didn't play with a No.10, Liverpool did last season with Sir Bozlai But he wasn't Cole Palmer, he wasn't Kevin De Bruyne, he wasn't Odegaard, he wasn't that type So Liverpool wanted that type, but they have lost something in terms of maybe, he used to cover a lot for Salah, don't forget getting across because Salah doesn't really run back. So at the moment there's things that need fixing.

The difference with Liverpool last year, obviously Liverpool now are the champions, they've spent a lot of money. Last year they were under that radar, status season, nobody talking about them. Now we're saying if Liverpool, listen the sign is when you win the league it's fantastic, but when they last won it they didn't defend it that well, so that extra pressure on Liverpool, and they're going, see what kind of champions you really are. It's very early, are you worried about the full-back areas?

Yeah. I mean, I think not so much as in like, more that two full-backs who looks like they just really want to bomb on, on the outside, and I think sometimes, I mentioned this on Monday Night Football, Trent, on here we used to talk about him every week, the Trent slot, we'll have the Trent slot now, and we used to talk about him being poor defensively, 1v1, but what he did actually do was, if you actually think of Trent as a player, he very rarely overlapped,

he never overlapped, he was always behind the teller, so if the ball ever sort of broke down he was always in a position to stop a counter-attack. Whereas now you've got two full-backs going, that's it, it's just... That head already had a night.

When I see a full-back not look at the head of the ball, and they're just trying to... The first two games for Kirk has been tough, haven't they? It's been very tough.

It'll be interesting if Andy Robertson comes in against Arsenal... You know you're not going for a big club, I'm on about basic stuff, that's just defending across. We're talking about you're going to a new club, different system,

you're going, no that's just defending across.

It's funny because when you watch them, when you watch... People don't understand when you say, yeah but we'll see when he's with a different club, bigger club, more pressure. mistakes and the kind of like, not just the mistakes, but the nervousness of him, I never saw that at all. And so this is again, when players move to a club of stature, this is something that they gotta get

over that quickly and realize, this is another level. I've gotta go to that next level.

We are only two games in though as well.

Do you not think we're like, awfully...

Three games to finish you?

Yeah, to finish you. Three games, three games. Three games, three games. Three games, three games. Three games, three games. Three games, three games.

Three games, three games.

Three games, three games. Three games, three games.

Three games, few games. I know we're highlighting this, and that's what we do, but generally speaking, when a lad goes to a club, if you're winning a few games, you're going, you know what, that'll settle down. If you were losing these games, or you weren't picking up the maximum points,

you'd be going, you'd be really pointing fingers at lads, but when you're getting the results, you're going, getting away with it if we start losing a few games. Do you think he would have been angry with them at the end of the game? Happy with the result and their resilience? But do you think he would have said to them, we've got to play, I mean, do you think he would have had a few words with them?

Surely they judge the performance though, do you know what I mean? Like each week, no matter what the result is,

you go into the analysis room and you go through what went well. But I'm sure there's elements of the performance where this needs to be better. I said after the game, obviously during the show, Newcastle's dressing room will be devastated. But when they come into the training ground over the next couple of days, I think there will be a feeling of, alright, we did alright there. Liverpool, I think Liverpool the opposite a little bit.

I thought Gimaraes was unbelievable. I know he's a bit all over the place, but he was, I mean, seriously, what a performance that was. Yeah. Newcastle were excellent.

But they've got to take confidence from that.

That's the worst feeling when you feel you've done well, but you still, again, I go back after a game, who's dressing room would you rather be in? What would you rather be in?

Well, that's what the game's about, you talked on air last year about Arsenal away at City when they had a man sent off, was it last year? And we said they sat back, it was last year or the year before, but they sat right the way back and they didn't even attack. But you think about how they played with Temme, that's one of the best performances I've ever seen with Temme. and a different sort of energy, but when it does get to 2-2, you're looking going, why can't Newcastle all of a sudden go,

this is a great point for us.

Yeah.

Like, this is going horse stuff, because when the goal comes, I know there's a couple of neat passes from Liverpool, and before you know it, it's three on three.

Yeah.

That shouldn't happen if you aren't going to create a chance. The three midfield players we highlighted, they were thinking if we win this way or that way. Three midfield players jump on Graven, they get the ball and that was the first...

Imagine if Newcastle, with ten men, come out and beat Liverpool to Champions.

That would have given them so much confidence going forward. I would have went for it if I was him. We've all played in them games. You're on about momentum. Momentum's a huge word in sport. But I played midfield, you're defenders. And whenever the fans are up for it, you need somebody to go, I know everyone else is up for it, but you're on about Trent, full-backs, talk in, let our attacking players go and win the game. But make sure whatever we happen, we don't give anything else up. So they were a bit naive. They were naive. It was Mayhem though, weren't it? They weren't thinking like that, were they?

Yeah, but Mayhem's not a good thing to have if you're a professional footballer.

Sometimes you've got to go, let the fans go. I know, but that had gone back into the game, really. I think the Mayhem had gotten back where they were.

I just don't think they're attacking players being out of the ordinary. I know they've scored a lot of goals, but what I'm saying is, the second half worried me with the ball. I could understand the first half not being great, 11 v 11, but it's Newcastle away, we've been there, the atmosphere, tackles are flying in. You're under pressure, the atmosphere's...

We went to Newcastle. The atmosphere's amazing. The bigger worry for me was Liverpool playing against 10 men with the ball second half. I don't think Liverpool had a shot.

They didn't know what to do.

How come they didn't? From the goal in the second half to the two goals in the second half for Liverpool. I don't think Liverpool had a shot at goal in between that. Playing against 10 men. They couldn't keep them off.

I know, I want to repeat myself here again. But again, I go back to it. When you're on the boss or the flight underway back and you've not played that well and there's loads of things that you'll analyse and you've got new players at your club,

but you win the game. Some of my tactics are going, shut up, I'm done. Yeah. You're playing cards, you owe me 20 pounds. It's a courtesy game. Does anyone use a show run? Wasn't it worrying though that

Liverpool couldn't with 10 men, I know it's Newcastle, it's a raucous atmosphere, they couldn't keep them off and by keeping the ball moving it about with 11 men.

But that can happen at Newcastle, We've all been there, we've done it, we've been at the ground. Do you ever have those moments where you look at the manager and you think, oh we're going for it or we're staying and they don't really know neither? I don't think I've ever played a game where the manager said sit back or try and effect last. I think once the momentum of the game was swung with you, you just go in for it. The one thing I think does change, ifto-make substitutions. Yeah. If a manager brings on two defensive midfield players or an extra, then he's telling you that basically... But actually, that very rarely happened.

If we were coming back in a game to 2-2, you said then, I think we'd have got carried away at the end and come back to 2-2. I think we'd have carried on, you know what I mean?

And risked losing, you know what I mean? We're just going. You're just letting the forwards get on with it. I don't think we ever checked and went, OK, let's sit back a bit now, we're 2-2. I remember a game where...

That has to come from the side door, surely.

You defend on and let the forwards get on. I always think of that game where, I don't know who you were playing then, where Man City, United 6-1 or Old Trafford. Yeah, but I think you just got it back to 3-1 and sort of like, when you kept going in the game, I mean, you get beat.

I wasn't involved, I was going.

No, I wasn't involved.

Not a 6-1.

Certainly not.

We lost 5-1 at Newcastle. Did you play in that?

I didn't go in. Oh, was that the one win? That was our title. That was the thing where the defenders chipped Schmeichel, right? That was when I was five years old. Yeah, Albert. What year was that? I think that was my crew shirt. 97.

I did miss that game.

96, 97?

Yeah.

I missed that game.

You missed that game. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Arm Clothing. Arsenal, Sunday.

Let's talk about Max Downman first. 15 year old. It's a great story behind that, isn't it? LAUGHTER You know, he failed his exams at school.

Have you seen his journey?

It's a lovely journey.

The thing with Max, Dan, when you speak to the guys in the team, they are just flabberg... You all right there, gal?

Who is it?

Who is it?

Is it your tit?

Is it your tit, gal?

Is that your mum? No, it's a guy. I'll speak to him later. A guy? It's just a guy. Sorry. It's just a guy.

I'm so sorry.

That's not a professional.

If that was someone else now, that'd be sad.

Oh, I bet you the story's going on.

I was going to say...

You should have said it about Max Dowman. and we heard about 13 playing for the under 18s, 14 playing for the under 21s. It's the ability to take on the information that they can't believe it. It's like, oh, you want us to do this, and you want me to do that, and go, bam. And you think, that's when you hear Declan Rice say,

I can't believe it, he can just take it. And this is why, don't you see, when he plays, he's going straight for you. He's fearless. I don't know if that's just because of his child, his exuberance of youth.

The game was over to be fair.

It was over, but he's still going at a man. He's got that trick as well, all the Arsenal players.

You know when they're touched and they kind of...

No, son. That wins you leagues.

Right, talk to us about Tim's, obviously we saw a glimpse of him, I saw a glimpse of him for the first time for 20 minutes, he looked really graceful in his movement and he obviously can sort of, he's got a good balance, good strength on him as well. Is he a big goal scorer at youth level?

What is he?

No, no, no, he's very creative, scores a lot. I think so, coming off of there. I think that he's somebody that, once he gets into the first team, hopefully he can score a few goals and that'll be his major... Oh, Jesus, look at this guy's face.

I'm listening to you. I'm actually...

I think that once this guy, if he starts scoring, that's what he does. He gets in the box, gets...

He gets half a yard, doesn't he? I can't get my head around a kid who's 15. Yeah. 15 years of age is mind-boggling. I've seen Wayne Rooney and Jamie Redknapp. They're digging me out again. Because their kids have played against them and they said that, they spotted straight away. Do you think it'd be still around?

Their kids have played against them? I think Jamie Redknapp and Wayne Rooney.

And they said straight away, who's that kid? Would he do something as brave as that? I think that he'll get some minutes at Anfield. You think so?

Towards the end, if he's got...

If they're treating him up.

Why wouldn't you put a 15-year-old on at Anfield? If you can, especially if you're winning or something. Because...

It's a big occasion, though, isn't it?

And the fact is, if he's good enough to be there against Leeds when you're 4-0 up. If you're good enough to be in the first team, that means you're in the first...

Is there not a thing about protecting them a little bit though as well? He's so young.

Yeah, but that's the thing. It's the same with Ethan. Ethan, you know what I mean? He was younger, wasn't he, apparently? He was 15 as well. But because they're good enough to be in there, and like Ethan obviously, they're talking about his contract, they obviously signed it now. But then he would have been thinking, well, I've made my debut, when am I gonna get,

and he's come on, come out, come in, come out. So yeah, he's gotta go through that phase of, is it gonna happen for me? And then I've got to buckle down and get myself in, because he's still very young. But depending on how good he is in respects of what we've seen, talent-wise, that's what we're going to see if he's going to play in certain games.

It wouldn't surprise me.

Do you think what we were playing when we were 15, the levels we were playing, these lads are playing in the Premier League.

And the fact, and he understands the intricacies of someone like me.

When I was drinking cider, remember he was?

Remember he said he was bitching inside of a smoking pot. Paul and Harvey saw them, they were drinking inside. I remember making my debut in the women's team around 15 and I was waiting to come on and I was shitting myself. And I remember one of the players looking over and going, why are you bringing her on? She's fucking shit.

No, you don't.

I was already, I was already so scared. I was just this little skinny thing coming on. But you know what, I was like, I'm just going to work my arse off. Like, I'll run for everything, just do everything. But you play him at like 30-odd-year-olds, like double your age. It was, yeah, it was quite boring.

He's a special girl, I think.

City, starting with a goalkeeper. I'll come to you, Gill, first.

You know what? in this talk of Donnarumma obviously, where are you at on it? I heard someone doing an interview the other day and they're like, should they drop Trafford because of that mistake? But I'm like, you can't drop them for something that, the manager's obviously asking them to do that. And yeah, he makes a mistake.

But is he asking them to do that?

Yeah, definitely, them patterns of play. Obviously, I know it was the wrong side of the play under that pressure. When we played, we played the same system. And it was like they wanted you to play them balls into there. But I think to drop them would be so harsh. He's got to go through them mistakes in order to get better at seeing the patterns.

The only thing I'd say, Gill...

You can't drop them.

The only thing I'd say, Gill, is... I agree with that when a young player in any position, but especially a centre-back and goalkeeper, they're going to make mistakes, I get that. But you almost want them to make the mistake. Man City can't afford... Keepers make mistakes, I get that.

But Man City can't afford to, like, this is our project and we've got to stick with them for the next two or three months. And he's making mistakes. and before you know it, the 10 points behind in the title, the stakes are too high and that's why I think when we talk about young centre-backs and young goalkeepers playing for the biggest clubs, it's tough.

It's tough to have that opportunity.

How many young goalkeepers have succeeded from the very beginning at a top club in the last 10, 15 years?

There hasn't been many given the opportunity. Joao has, really.

Has he?

Maybe.

But people are talking. Was he? Maybe. Did you see Ash Rae in Madrid? When he came to United maybe.

Nice.

How old's Trafford now?

You know how big he is. He's 22. I make the point. Where do you draw the line when you say the manager wants him to play that way? I've played in Midfield and I'd come out and try and get the ball.

But I don't. If there's someone too near me, just miss me out. Yeah. But I feel like you did go on a bit. We all get instructions after a manager, but sometimes it's like Liverpool, Nuka. Decision making on the time of the situation in the game, we've got someone who's under pressure, he's having a hard time, I'm just going to miss him.

Is that on the manager? I don't know why I stick with Trafford. It's my custom. Only because when you watch that incident...

He said Trafford looked scared, right?

In that moment, he looks... Trafford. That's my boy, Bowen. It looks scared simply because the manager obviously wants him to play like that. He was thinking, I should launch this.

Then everyone's closing in before he's passed it. I think as the manager...

Roy a little bit. He's passed it into him. I think as the manager, he's scared to do that. Right, just sticking on that point for a second, sometimes I just look at sometimes the body language of a goalkeeper and I think about presence, I think about authority,

I think about that little bit of fear in their eyes.

I can see, I feel it.

And look, he's a young goalkeeper and he's obviously had some... So who would you play now? It's a massive ask now, that pressure will be building on him already for the next few games. And I look at him and I just think, he realises how big this is for him. And it's as if he's basically in there, I can see it in his face and his eyes a little bit. That little bit of, just that intrepidation on him. And I'm thinking, I feel for keepers when they're like that. I do, and as I look at them I think, are you quite ready for this? We know you're ready for the Premier League, we know you're going to be a fantastic goalkeeper, you know you might be Manchester City's number one for 10 years, but right now, is he ready for this?

But when do you find out? But when's the perfect time for a keeper? City are under pressure now, they've got new players in, again we're talking about two games into the season, they win the first game, I loved his body language in the first game, He made one or two good saves, he had nice moments, nice presence about him. I'd stick with the kid. Remember he's had setbacks already before, he left Man City. He's gone and...

He's been out, I know, he's had some football.

That's part of your journey.

I've seen him in a couple of games. Everyone's got a journey, absolutely. But your option is who do you go back to? fear that we could end up with a situation over the next few months where it could get a little bit on top for him. The challenge for any goalkeeper, which you're not a great goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel made loads of mistakes. It's what you do after the mistake, it's the presence.

Give the kid a chance. My only argument, and I just don't mean with Trafford, when people say, the manager wants us to play that way. He's coming kind of straight at you, he's not even giving you a good angle Okay, you give a bad pass That's your decision-maker where you go I'm going long, even if Pep gives out you're going I know Pep, I'll take that, I'll take the stick But I just didn't feel it was the right ball

Your decision-maker will define you as a footballer

But people are saying about Donnarumma coming in Like he's not a ball-playing goalkeeper He is, he is. Do you know what I mean? Well, if he does, so... But I think you have to stick with him, even after that mistake.

But you look at last year, whatever with the goalkeepers, I think Man City have lost their habit as well, by the way. I know whatever you say about Spurs, you don't feel Man City are going to win big games anymore. They didn't seem to win big games last year.

So that's not priority for goalkeepers. Dominating your box, being a brilliant shot stopper and keeping goals out that you think maybe would have gone in and then being good with your feet. 1, 2, 3 priority those for me in terms of where they actually negotiate. If you said that you basically have any two of those, what would it be?

Shot stopping, dominate box, feet.

Absolutely. So my point is, he's great with his feet. My point is, if you're playing for the top clubs, you have to have them first two nailed. You have to dominate your box or else you've got a massive problem and you have to be brilliant at keeping the ball out of your net.

There's personality coming's that domination. And then the third thing about being good with your feet, that's the thing surely we can compromise on. To me, there's good people who are brilliant with their feet, but they haven't got these two. And they've been put into these top teams where they're good with their feet, it's not being awful. Shocking, I get that. That's a big problem. None of them are awful. I said this last year on Sky and I think I was talking about England goalkeepers, but

I do think when I look at the league, and it's not just on the back of these first two weekends, I think the standard of goalkeeping in the Premier League is horrendous. I think it's as bad as it's probably ever been. Raya's the best at the moment. Well, I'd say Raya and Alisson, I think, are a level above everyone. I mean, maybe, I don't know who comes next, maybe Martinez, but I'm not... He makes mistakes for me.

It is so poor. And listen, Jordan Pickford is rightly England's number one. No doubt about it, I don't think there's anyone really close to him. He's a brilliant goalkeeper forever. But when I think of the England goalkeeper, he's been basically playing for the team, he's been fighting relegation for the last three or four years. So even in this country, I don't think it's great, but actually the whole goalkeeping

union, whatever you want to call them, I think it's so bad. The amount of goals that go in and there's a thing now, listen, we're pundits, but you have goalkeeping pundits now as well, who come on. And the last couple of weeks, there's been a couple on shows, and they know more about goalkeepers than us.

Of course, they do the technicalities, the small details. But when you're watching a goalkeeper just make a horrendous mistake, and then you've got a goalkeeper trying to tell you that it was or it wasn't. And you're just like, no, I don't care. It's just bad. That is bad. You know, the goalkeeper for Man United against Arsenal.

Or the Chelsea goalkeeper a goal the other day.

Oh, that Pekka Tarr one. Why did he go with that hand?

It's like if I want to hit'd mentioned Raya to someone at United. I'd watched him quite a bit for Brentford, I thought he looked like a good goalkeeper and they said, oh he's not good enough with his feet. The person I spoke to at United at that time, so if you looked at Raya and he said...

I know who it was. I told him at the time, he's not good enough with his feet. But do you not think you need a new scout? No, I was talking to him before a game sometimes, three years, and I'm thinking, watch Raya a lot, he's pretty good. And you're thinking, he saves a lot of shots, he's quite good at dominating his box, he's quite brave. And he said, no, he's not good enough with his feet.

I thought...

But the United guy said that.

But he is good with his feet. At the time. It was a groans when he was not. It wasn't, unfortunately. You just mentioned De Gea there.

And since De Gea, they've been trying to get this...

The talk of bringing De Gea back, that's not a consideration, is it?

You know what?

That was mentioned. The Grongsmen again. Who are you?

You know something? If you're talking about Bayon d'Or, Bayon d'Or and Anana, I would bring the game back. You know, they moved the guy around because of his feet or whatever it is. Look what's happened to him.

His hands weren't great.

I'm serious. Yeah, but at the same time, better than these two.

I'm average.

Better than these two. You know what I mean? For many years as well.

I think with keepers, there's only really Ederson who's like, unbelievable with his feet, that is like equal play-out. As long as keepers don't panic, they're basically playing the ball to the full-backs, the odd chip somewhere else, it's just about not being horrendous.

The stats are unbelievable, keepers with their touches in it now, it's all with their feet of course. They're passing it back to the keeper all the time. It goes from a throwing up here, attacking half, they're ending up back on the keeper.

Do United need to do a piece of business in goal in the next couple of days?

Yeah, of course. Yeah? Have you seen these two?

No.

Are you asking a trick question?

I'm a journalist, Ian, I'm asking a question.

United?

And the Chiefs go to United for goal.

As soon as you see it, with his groundsman.

It's not worse if you're a player, and you're a defender particularly, and you're worried about your keeper all the time. Even though we've seen Liverpool giving up chances, it's already given up chances, but you're going, we don't see keepers getting their teams out of jail anymore. They're keeping a clean sheet. Honestly. On this Donnarumma story, going back to City, because obviously if they sign him,

then Trafford's obviously going to be on the bench. I always say Manchester City should stick with James Trafford,

not bring the PSG lad in.

Of course you've got to, because he's got to get through moments like this.

What do you think Pep will do? I think he'd stick with that. I think he'll stick with it. And he should stick with him because he needs to get through this, because if he does, he'll be fine. Trafford's not winning the league. No chance.

No chance.

Don't say he's not winning things with kids.

Well, maybe they need to do better goalkeeping.

Jamie, are you saying you're not winning things with kids?

You know something? I would love... We beat them. I'd love Trafford to get a chance because I'm not just saying it but watching him I just felt like he was a bit rattled by it. So he needs to get through that.

I think City just need a little bit of time. Obviously they've got new signings. I think it was the youngest team they've fielded since like 2010 or something. I don't want to hear that, I don't care. But the way that the play is like, it's all about structure and patterns. These players need time to like...

And I know you're saying they don't have it, they don't have time, but they need it.

I get it for like our managers at the start. Our new managers come in, let's say it was Amarum and's not thinking of projects or giving these players time. He's thinking, I want to get out of here in another two leagues or at least one league in a Champions League. I don't think he's waiting for any young players there.

But I mean, like the new players like Ryan Derscherski, I think they need a little bit of time.

Of course, they need to find out. 22.

Yeah.

Yeah. I think you're right, Jill, with City. Have they got the patience to wait for, I don't know, the front three Haaland?

But they're born and bred for Totty Million, by the way.

Yeah.

Do you think they keep it back for that much?

No, I'm just talking about them as a… Have they got the patience to wait for them to kick in like a Sainé, Sterling and De Bruyne are kicked in? get in and be solid and talking about selling a can. I don't know what's... What was everyone saying after the Wolves game? Everyone was saying that...

City are back.

City are back. They looked brilliant.

Tottenham were brilliant though.

Pep wasn't a couple of years ago winning league titles. No, it's... Projects and young goalkeepers.

They should get Ange in.

Get Ange Post to go sack him. Two games in.

Did you see the bench though? City's bench. Fordham, Rodri, Silva, Doku. Like, I'm not worried. I'm actually not worried. I think Tottenham were brilliant.

You love a good bench, don't you, Jill?

You do, you've been waiting for.

What are you talking about?

Oh, United are so frustrating. You know what? I watch it and I feel sorry for you guys. Like first 10 minutes, I was like, oh, they're brilliant, Kunja, the chances, everything. And then they just, it's like they've got no resilience. Like they miss a chance or something and they're just so frustrated.

If we just pick on some specific issues that I highlighted from Saturday's meet, I think obviously Bruno in terms of the penalty, it was a big moment. And with the referee, he came out after half-time and he was still going on about it with the referee and he obviously after the game said he wanted an apology from the referee. I think that was a bad moment for Bruno for me.

It's a terrible moment.

Because I think that... What, missing the penalty? I'm mourning it already. No, forgetting the penalty. I'm not bothered about him missing the penalty. Right, yeah, OK, just bitter on it.

What I'm saying is that he let it impact him it. And he's just walking back. The referee's done something. He's walking that way. He's not walking towards... He's walking like that way. So then, as he's walking that way, he's gone, bam. And remember, Bruno's going... And then the way he looked at him, I thought,

his daggers, it was like...

And I thought, I can...

But he didn't let you go, right? Yeah, but then if you said he came out as well and done. I couldn't believe, and I've had many a times when I could hold on to something, but you let it go. I could not believe he held on to something so long.

No, that's not good. Yeah, you can't hold on to something that long.

And you know, I gave that man a lot of flowers, bro.

That was crazy.

I was just walking round.

It is a shock when he misses a penalty though, isn't it?

It is.

When he missed over the bar.

To be fair, it came into my ear actually during the game. I think since he's come into the Premier League, he's missed more penalties than anybody else.

Is that right?

Yeah, someone else with him, I think, that's missed. When he's going to take one, when he puts it,

do you feel like someone like Harry Kane? If Harry Kane puts it down, I'm saying go.

I'm the same with Bruno a bit.

With Bruno? Oh, it's quite fancy. When I saw that one, I was shocked. I was shocked it went over.

The thing with Bruno for me is, and he's obviously miles away, Manchester United's best player last season. He's not a Centre Midfield player. I just don't get this Centre Midfield thing.

Where do you want to play?

He's obviously one of the football players for there, I get that. So the plan must be to play him Centre Midfield. I think when Amrun first came in, he almost wanted Bruno everywhere because he had no players who could get on the ball in the middle of the pitch but he wanted them higher up for his goals and assists so he's caught in between. But he's obviously gone out and bought Cunha and Bueno to play those positions. And Mount's come into that role.

Mount's doing well as well but Bruno in central midfield with Casemiro, that's just like, that's never been a centre midfield. I don't get it, I don't understand it. He's the best player, I get that, but where do you play him? What are you going to do with him going forward? He can't be centre midfield surely.

It's all these other traits he has. Listen, I've been critical of him over the last year or two. I think them traits, he gives the ball away after a little ball in the box, it leads to the goal for the corner. Little details where you're going, Bruno, your leadership skills. Do everything last week. I know there'll be people say penalty

but don't let it upset you going into the second half. I've heard stuff, no, the grownsmen, but. No, but Bruno's upset with something, the trainer, he carries it on for the week. You know, people might think I was an archy git, but if something happened, I would kind of move on quickly enough.

No, you wouldn't, you wouldn't let it interfere with your performances, you might be upset with somebody. So all these little traits, his technical stuff I think is brilliant. United played Everton pre-season. I know people say, well it's only a pre-season game. One of the goals they give away against Everton, he's trying to make somebody in the halfway line. And then there's a tackle and there's a foul. And he's arguing and Everton go in to score. But you see the guys scoring and Bruno's arguing on the halfway line. Have you seen the goal?

Anyone seen the goal? So they're arguing while the goal's going in. If he's your captain or your senior player or one of your leaders, these are not good traits Yeah I think on Sunday also to be fair when Smith-Rowe makes the run off the back of him as well on the goal But things like that can happen in football I guess

Yeah but track your runners is basic

What about the manager changing the back, I know it's only five minutes to go but what about the manager changing I mean substitutions in general because I think in both weeks that we've seen, the team seems to have got worse as the substitutes have been made. But taking off back players, so taking Yoroub off and Shaw off with five minutes to go, why would that, I don't understand that. But he done it last year. And last week against that, and it starts with the whole back three change when he brought Maguire on for Shaw.

But is there an explanation as to why you changed your back three? Well, the madness sometimes, they're bringing Maguire on to get your goal.

Yeah.

They've spent hundreds of millions.

And he nearly got one.

And he nearly got one from the set piece.

So you're now Man United, you've spent hundreds of millions on attacking players, and you're saying to Maguire,

okay now, get warmed up, you're going to front, hit the big man, Right in the mixer You know, I was a centre-back And it's probably one of those positions when you start a game You know you're not coming off Yeah, you don't usually come off If you've come off as a centre-back, something feels easy

That was really bad, yeah

Yeah, it doesn't feel right bringing centre-back I'm not saying it should never happen But the point I'm trying to make is You bring a centre-back, it doesn't feel right about it You make it doubt the manager a little bit Do you say like... I'm saying you're trying to win the game There must be something, innit? There must be some thought process Whether it's Sienninger

I wonder what it is, I can't understand Bring in Harry Maguire on I can... If you're going, okay, we've got a back three We bring Maguire on Maybe he's going to give us more of a chance

Of a goal from a set piece Well three of the back five changed if you think about it Because he took Ahmad off for Dalot He took Yoro off and he took Shaw off He brought Heaven and Maguire on if you remember in the last five minutes He brought Heaven and Maguire on So alright, maybe the Maguire one, you've made a good point He can get a goal so maybe put him on for something But then Heaven...

Not every week, you can't be every week looking to bring Maguire on to get you out of jail No but that's my point, I think when you're changing your back line regularly I think Ten Hag did it for quite a bit as well didn't he? When he changed his back line and made substitutes I think you're all over the place a little bit when your back line's changing And you've also got your goalkeeper issue anyway Which obviously we've discussed and we say we need to get a new goalkeeper changing your back line as well, that's a major big worry that. Do you remember the first game of the season we did and Slott joins us at the end of the

game and you mentioned early on about, I was speaking to Slott about the tactics and the set up of the team and what he was thinking. I'd love to have that chat with Amiran, you know, maybe after the game and not to question it, the guy's obviously done brilliantly at Sporting Lisbon. But the system that he plays, and people say he should be more adaptable, I understand that he sticks with it because it's what he knows, that's his thing. But I'd love to know,

what does that system give you more than 4-3-3 or playing with the wingers the way United do historically? What is it about that system that you think is better than other ways of playing? Because we're not seeing it. We're not seeing it yet.

But he obviously, there's something in his head about what he's done before at the former club that he wants Manchester United to do. And he feels that can, you know, make his team one of the best teams in the league and go on and win big trophies.

What is it? Is it sort of the wing backs? Is it having a front... I'd love to ask him what it is about this system, but we can't see it yet, there's nothing...

No, the signs aren't good, and the results will tell you that. And the results are going back north as well, including... I know we'll argue last year he came in halfway through the season, but the results since then... Because we talk about a manager walking in the door, and whatever philosophy they have about the football but you're going Thomas Frank example I know it's early days but it's something a manager

willing and have an effect yeah effect by his personality to his tone to be speaks to you you get a bunch of people in your restroom that will follow you and I said one or two will fall by the wayside but you look and go United's results he's had what 29 30 league games now 29 games 29 league games 29 I heard this I was listening to a podcast on the way in, 28 points, 29 games.

So you've got less points than games.

I'm convinced if Andy Vos had gone in there, I'd like to think if I went in there, I might get that type of response from players. Well hopefully you get more than that. So he still must be looking at the emotion side of football, whatever, but this is my way of playing. You're not looking at a bunch of players going to go, and I'm going back to the Spurs final, I'm going back to Arsenal last week, where they're getting some plaudits, not scoring enough goals, but not finding a way to get a result. I'll go back to goalkeepers, players at Man United, that kind of personality side of it, you don't see it with this group. Like the Fulham game last week, when you watch Man United against Fulham last week Okay, you've got Arsenal, a bit of a tough game and their record is quite good at Fulham

But you're watching going, United could win 2-0 here, but they could lose 2-0 You're not thinking, you're looking at Liverpool now and Arsenal You'd be shocked if Leeds beat Arsenal last week, you'd be going, I didn't see that coming Or even Liverpool or Bournemouth, that's no good to you. Bill Shankly said years ago, he wants players who go, I know they'll turn up every week, doesn't mean you're going to win every week.

But this idea, it's hit and miss, well that's no good at this level. If there's one thing, Roy, that you think would be one thing to him, you're in front of him now Well the way he is at the moment, the way he started the season Going, I'm going to state the obvious, we're criticising Liverpool He's got to win some more football matches, he's got to find a way to win Now stating the obvious, but if you're winning football matches You have a chance to have a project and do other stuff

That includes Pep and all these players but if you're talking about getting distracted by some of his decision making, we're all looking at it and we've all played the game at a good level, we're looking going, that's a bit strange, Choppage is full backs or defenders, he's throwing Maguire on every game to try and get you winning goal. Everyone can state that he's obviously a goalkeeper, their stats last year, like, it's really bad. Their home record was shocking.

That's why I was a bit surprised last week when everyone was going to go, almost pleased with United's performance last week. They drew home to Arsenal last year, by the way. I thought it was a good performance though against Arsenal.

I messaged you saying that.

It was different to what you said.

No win, no clean sheet. What would you say, Gal? What would you say?

You OK, Gal? Get a good...

Get a new groundsman, right!

Get a new groundsman.

He must sit with the staff on a Monday, lads. You go into a football club on a Monday, you've had a good or bad result, and you sit and have a cup of tea like this with your staff, whatever, and you sit there and go, and the result, you go, but some, you must sit there and go,

I know we've got, we've all got great plans. You somehow go, fuck me, we've got to win some football matches. There has to be amazing and do it really quickly, I get that. But if I was a United fan, I've just mentioned the points to games, that wouldn't be my biggest worry, even though it is a big worry.

But I've got to feel like the guy's taking me somewhere and I can feel it. So I can understand what you said about last week There was an element of that against United I think, okay, but then full on fears like something from last season You don't feel like, okay, we're going somewhere I can see it, I can feel it Okay, we're not winning every week but I can see what he wants I can see what he's taking on us

Jamie, when Klopp went to Liverpool, didn't he struggle? But there was a few good factors what Klopp did early on was you can see what he wants in terms of all the pressing You know he hasn't got the quality of player But he wants some big games early on away at City and Chelsea You think, oh here we go And I think Klopp's first season he got to the Europa League final

I think he beat United and I think Villarreal on the way there So there was something building you can see it And then in the summer he brings a player in. And listen, it's two games into the season, but it's more the performances rather than the results that united for me.

I think it's that.

I don't...

City play Burnley next week, or then after the international break, it's the City game.

Er, yeah.

The City game? I think it is, yeah. So, in another couple of weeks,

just say City turn them over and you'd have... Pressure will just keep building and building. I was just saying, what's happening with Kobe Maynard?

He said he's competing with Bruno.

Getting ready to what? Sell him?

I think he doesn't fancy him quite because he's never really put him in from the beginning. I know he's had some issues. He's not putting him in there, he's gone with Casemiro and Fernandes. If you said to me what was one bit of advice, it would be you have to sort your midfield out. Because you can't have that midfield. What happened on Saturday, they actually were quite good for a period in the game when the front three and the back five are very compact together and your two in midfield are very much tight to each. Once

it gets a little bit spread, which to be fair and then he had to take Mount off and then he put Agati on there. So before you know it, you've had three central midfield partnerships,

you've had, your back three changed, you're changing a lot every game.

You just mentioned three or four players there, are they Man United players? So Agati for me, absolutely. Is Mount a Man United player? in his first two games, Roy, but I don't know where he fits. If he's keeping Shesco out of the team, who, to be fair, now isn't getting into the team,

I know it's early, he'll play tonight probably against Rupert.

Do you think Mount's honestly going to get back to United? I know not in his own. Roy, I think he really likes Mount. I think he really likes him. No, but I think he really likes him. They've done okay in the first team. The problem is they've not connected. They've missed big chances, Roy. They've not scored a goal. I know, but they've missed some big chances.

He should have had two or three goals. I know. Listen, I'm not being a smart-ass.

Do you know what's really important in football? I know. What, Roy?

Why did you got all the big money and all the cars and the women? That order. He didn't say no. Money was squandered, yeah.

You know something, at the end of the... Gal, can I be honest? The game against Arsenal, first game of the season, I'm thinking, wow, if they're coming like that, that's a lot of energy. If these guys... But then, like you said, James...

It was a drop. How many Ligos did Man Utd get last year. They've got none yet at the moment. That was an OG last week. Some of the players are running for him though.

Like Ahmad, he did this mad skill on the halfway line. He tracked all the way back. Like some of them are running for him.

Oh no, I don't think it's a work ethic.

Oh no, we're not saying that. We're not saying that. We're not trying. Ahmad, yeah he is.

No, he's got legs. Yeah, but the thing is, you look at someone like Ahmed, with his pace, with his skill, with his eye for a goal, with the right kind of backing up between, he should be doing a lot better than he's doing. He's a very, very skilful player. He's a good player. I think the same with Mbwemo, he's a very good player.

And Kuna. I mean he's had 20 minutes against Arsenal and 30 minutes against Fulham. Obviously he doesn't look like he's up to it yet in terms of the team aren't playing well, but he's not obviously had a chance. I think we'll see more of him. I think he'll play against Burnley on Saturday.

I suspect he'll play tonight against Grimsby.

Can I be honest with you? Them players coming to the Premier League, right? Let's hope they beat Grimsby. Sesco's the same, probably. Jokers would be the same, all of them. They are absolutely astounded at the pace and the energy of the Premier League. These new players are coming in from the German league and everybody says, yeah, it's so similar because it's so far. They are literally caught in the light.

I think Virgil would probably come off that pitch on Monday for Liverpool and thought, what the hell was that? There would Monday for Liverpool and thought, what the hell was that? You know what I mean?

There would have been an element of, what the hell was that?

Yeah, he would have. He was speaking to Patrice when he came from the French League in that first game against Manchester City and he was like, what the hell was that?

I think Sesco probably a little bit of that in terms of, it's, this is intense. That's a nest, then we see where you go from there. They've got to compete with the physicality

so that the technical ability comes out, isn't it? So that's going to be a beautiful thing.

But you think it's much quicker than when we played, is it much quicker than when we played? More physicality? I feel it's been so much stronger.

It feels it, Roy, because you look at them and they're just like that. Yeah.

I think Monday was a good game.

That was a brilliant tackle. That's how the game should be.

Then the Newcastle lads get carried off. You know, if you're in Liverpool, you go, I'll see you later, lads. Right, Ben, come on, Super 6. One million pounds till it's won. Super 6 have not made their first millionaire of the season yet. No winner in round one or two means that £1 million jackpot is still on the line.

And the best bit? It's staying there every week until it's won. Free to play, just predict six correct scores this weekend and the money could be yours. So if you fancy becoming a million pounds richer, get your Super 6 picks in before 3pm Saturday for a chance to win.

The Man United game was a bit boring, wasn't it? Was it hard to commentate on?

Yeah, it wasn't great.

What's that you sent in? The draws, all the results and stuff that we got, right?

What do you mean? How did we do? Did we do well?

I don't know. Well, what we got right. What do you mean? How did we do? Did we do well? I don't know.

Well, you two did well. They left me off the message.

Yeah, but you're not involved.

You're part of the team.

No, did you see Super 6 were like, well done, Roy and Ian. Like I don't exist.

No, she do, I'm 45.

I was like, I'll buy one.

Apparently she's saying she got left off, Barney.

I got left off.

Rodney, 102.

I was like, well done, Roy, well done, Ian. It's OK. It's OK, it didn't affect us.

Right.

Someone's getting fired.

Jamie, can you get my phone? I'm going to the game Saturday, United Burnley. It's not on television. I'm going to the game, United Burnley, Saturday. Salford, Friday night.

Eating hospitality. You're busy, Gary. Busy. Busy few days.

What are you doing, girl? Friday night, I'll go and watch them,

but I'll go and watch United Saturday.

Right. There's still £1 million to do.

I bought a S. Fantastic, yeah. Bit of a nightmare getting in and out because there's only one way to get in really.

You know something, like I say, I've got to go into it again. Just quickly.

It feels like a new statement, if you know what I mean. With Kobe Maynard.

He'll help Everton.

He's going to leave. The atmosphere was amazing. Come up here.

Sorry, just come up here. Kobe Maynard can't leave. Kobe Maynard is open to leaving Man United before the deadline. Deep perspective on the situation. Preference for the European team.

They haven't got any midfielders.

How come?

They're not picking him? What's he going to do? Just sit there forever?

I think they don't think he's quick enough to get around the club.

Yeah, but at the same time... I saw the picture of him. I watched that show on Sky last night and there was stuff on me, and he showed a picture of him Oh my God, that is his leg!

Remember he's young, he's getting going I can't believe Man United Everything about Man United

If they let him go, they'll have to bring someone in They can't let him go

You've got Casemiro, Agaté and Fernandes there

Youth Academy players go

Casemiro's getting a new deal

I don't think the manager

Casemiro's getting a new dealer. He's an international. Right, I don't think the manager... Casemiro's getting an extension.

I don't think the manager is half having it.

I know. Leave the football before the football leaves you.

That's what a CSO will do. Man United are built on what they do with their kids coming through. Now you're going to tell me because they can't fit him into the team,

they're getting rid of him? I suspect he'd be friends with Marcus, and I suspect he's looking at what's happened with those two and he's thinking, I'm being left out here. He might be just looking at it and thinking,

I'm going to get out.

At the same time, the club's saying they don't want him.

He's not picking him, is he?

Ah, but he's got a lovely story. The journey he's been on, I'll tell you after. Lovely story. There'll be a lot of takers. There'll be a lot of takers for him. Premier League or... You know what, I hope he does.

I hope he does go and do well. Get a manager who plays a player properly.

What's Trent's status? Trent, don't know. I think he came on after seven wins.

He played the first game and he subbed the second game. Carvajal's a legend there, isn't he? He's a legend there, doesn't he? I think Carver's the best right back I see. But he's just come back from a big injury. He's mid-pair.

It's tough now. You can't see Carver coming out of the team.

What are we saying, Benny?

Super six!

Yay!

United, Burnley. What was that?

Sorry, Ben.

It's a problem because we're close now.

There is still £1 million to be won. I thought it was up there, you were pointing up. No, it's the camera, innit? It's the camera. Proving my craft, Roy.

Right, last week, Gary, Jamie, you got four points.

Oh, brilliant. They're doing, you know what, they're really doing well. So you got four.

I like what we're doing.

Tough week last week.

You beat 140,000 players.

So well done than you.

Oh! So it was pretty shit.

Roy, Ian, Jill.

Yeah.

15 points.

Oh, thank you.

What?

15 points.

That's 15, it's not average, innit?

I expected that.

I'm disappointed with that.

Very disappointed. Top 0.8% of players, you beat over 1.05 million players. That's what we do. I'd expect it to.

Let's get on with it, because that's what we're doing here.

You told me we're going to get excited.

It's hard to come back from that, you know, Carol, when you go 11 down.

Oh, here we are.

Get the demise in it.

Right.

Get the demise in it, I've gone to this game.

I think he will.

I think he might have won goal.

No, he said he's not. Hospitality.

I watched him at Chopper.

I'm not, I'm sitting in my season ticket.

I know who you'd be sitting in.

Nice one, girl. Have you got two season tickets? I'm going to go and see if he's on his season ticket. If we see you on telly, like that, pouring him a tea.

Are you going to put up a result or what?

Come on, yeah, I'm going to.

Go on, Gary, it's your team.

Do you think Burnley will score? I don't know United.

Do you think United will score?

I'd play a safe score.

I think it will be... 1-0 or 2-0? I'm going. 2-0 United. Nah, chance. Burnley did alright against Sunderland.

Sorry?

You're not having United to beat them.

You have a 2-1, we give Burnley a goal, don't we?

We should.

2-1, Burnley will score.

Definitely Burnley will score.

I don't know.

2-1 is the most...

Tottenham's work rate. Tottenham at home, I'm going there. Yeah.

What do you think of them? Mine's good.

They look good at the back as well, you know.

I'm going to have a go at them though.

3-1. 3-1 Spurs. Is that too much? 2-1. I like 3-1.

OK, go on. Go on, right.

3-1. We get a little shock. But we won one. Yeah, we won one. What?! Tottenham win that. Not with Thomas Bray. But then this were a Tottenham disappointment.

Wolves-Everton.

You know what, and if they do, then that's it.

Wolves-Everton.

Ooh.

That's a...

I see them goals that lad just scored last night. I thought Everton were so poor at leads away, but then obviously they're better at home. They weren't great at all in the game.

Against Brighton, obviously they won, but yeah.

I can't see Everton winning that.

I was happy for Great Britain.

We're all Wolves win.

What do you think?

We go 1-1.

Yeah, we go 1-1. Oh, sit on the fence.

I just took two Wol those Wolves 2-1s. Wolves 2-1s, we changed. No, you can't change ones and sons!

You can't change ones and sons!

Wolves 2-1.

Should we take 1-1?

No, we should go 2-1, everything else.

I don't know, I was thinking 1-1.

Let's go 1-1.

1-offs.

No, no, I'm...

Is it?

5.30 kick-off on a Saturday, under the floodlights.

See, I'm doing a Gary, I'm starting to do the research on the kick-off times.

Gary doesn't like Leeds fans, does he?

I...

No, they don't like me. There's a rich rivalry between United and Leeds. I used to love Leeds back in the day. Eddie Hobbong's is back. They went to Villa. How to draw. Should have got something against Liverpool.

Newcastle take confidence.

I think Newcastle beat them.

Yeah, I do.

You don't think?

It's only a short journey.

What are we thinking?

You can't go all the way.

It's only a short game. They've only made five.

Desmond?

I don't know if Leeds have scored two goals against them.

No, Newcastle win.

Leeds against Everton were good, aren't they? That's their home form.

Newcastle win. Do you think so? Do you think Newcastle?

I don't think, I don't know.

Who do you think wins? We've got this, I'll jump on that one. Right, well if Newcastle wins... I'd say Newcastle.

Look at them two, look.

Here we go.

Who's the centre-half?

Here we go.

Who's the referee?

Who's gone 2-2?

Has he got a brother?

What hotel did he stay in?

Joel Linton got injured.

Gordon can't play, T So he can't play? Yeah. So? So, 4-0.

Yeah, yeah.

4-0, 3-0 Newcastle.

Oh, well Newcastle have a little bit of a hangover.

With all what you've just said there,

I doubt it.

I think there's goals in between as well.

There is goals, Rob.

Bit of atmosphere. They've won once? Yeah, but I think it's a draw. Oh, they're just, you know what they're doing? They're just matching our scores.

Look, it's Brighton City.

City win.

2 o'clock Sunday.

Oh.

City on there.

Brighton City on Sunday.

That's a good one to watch on the gantry. Trafford paint sheet.

Brighton City. That's what they want.

That's what they want. I think this is the kind of game where City do a wolves on them.

2-0 City.

Yeah, that's what I want.

Yeah, I was going to say 3.

Would Brighton get a go at it? 2-1 or 3-1? Or we just go with 2-0 the same?

I think City get 3.

If we copy them from here on in, we can't lose.

Yeah, yeah.

It wouldn't be fun, but we can't lose. Are we about winning or not? Do we want to?

We want to win ugly, so we can do that now.

I think City get a few goals.

We're like Liverpool, we're the entertainers here.

Liverpool Arsenal, 430.

Oh, here we go.

Is any of you doing that?

Are you doing that game?

I don't really like chicken tonight. Are you doing that game?

Yeah. Liverpool will definitely score tomorrow.

Are you doing it, Cara?

Are you doing commentary?

I think Liverpool score one, but I think we're going to...

Are you doing a game Sunday?

Yeah.

I think I'm going 2-1 to Arsenal.

2-1 to Arsenal? No, hold on a second. We're discussing it. You too, innit? You're gonna go draw. You're gonna go draw, ain't ya? I can feel it all over you. I think it's Theo Wilcox.

Let's go one-one-one. I like him. Let's go one-one. How do they decide whether you have three commentators or two?

Cos you had three.

It's normally just the Man United, Liverpool, we do that. No, but Everton, Bright game. 1-1, love that. Do you feel Jagielchi's name is like... Maybe more of an Everton voice, a no Liverpool voice all the time.

Oh, OK.

But do they have like a different...

Suppose we win.

Do you know what I mean? Because obviously you're co-commentating.

They just come in now and again.

I fancy Arsenal to win.

You think Arsenal will win? Yeah. You're going 2-1, aren't you? No, but I'm going to let him score because he's his team, but I think Arsenal will win.

Don't go from the heart, go from the head.

Liverpool win.

No, no, no, I do. I can see Rice, Marino.

Don't lean back, Pears, if you go over, oof.

Oh.

It's a nightmare.

It goes viral, look at that. Liverpool aren't at their best, Arsenal have got a few injuries. You can imagine them both going with 20 minutes to go, it's not the end of the world.

International break coming up.

Liverpool have got to win with the injuries youse have got. Sak is your best player, he's out, isn't he?

I would have gone Liverpool.

Yeah, but Eze's in.

Oh, de garde, Zab. Eze. Who do you think is Liverpool going to lose? So if I go Liverpool win, I think it's going to be a draw? Yeah.

So what does he do if he's going to win?

All people who've watched Super 6, read between the lines. I think Arsenal will score. What about a defensive record as well, Jamie? I'm going to go Liverpool 2-1. I think without sack, I'll use I'm the best defence in the league, I agree with that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ben.

Arsenal score two from set pieces.

No, Sammy, it's going to be... Yeah, but you've got to take into consideration the atmosphere.

It could be something like 2-2. No sack and no holding guard. If that defence goes like what they've done against Bournemouth, we can win the game. Liverpool won't play like that against you. Marino, Rice...

Just copying James. Go on, what are you saying?

...landed a giant at Arsenal Sunday. It'll go Marino, Rice, Zoubamendi, Eze, or Chossard, but it'll have the big back four.

Four or five in the box, they'll score from set pieces. Yochers? Yochers? The Yoch? I think Arsenal will score two from set pieces.

We'll see. You know something? Looking forward to it. I think they'll score one.

It'll be two on Arsenal.

Who's on it? You'll be right, Arsenal win the league, you'll finally get it right.

Who did you say is on Sunday?

Who's on it? So we've got the Liverpool man, the Arsenal man and the referee, Mildred.

Last question.

Go on, Gal.

It's a double-barrel question. Who's had the best transfer window having watched two games? I know a few weeks ago when people said Liverpool, do we still think that now, that Liverpool have had the best transfer window?

Who has had the best transfer window?

Of any team in the Premier League? Of any team in the Premier League who's had the best transfer window right now with five days to go in the signings to make? West Ham, that's...

That's a really tough question.

No, am I being biased if I say, like, getting Super Mendy and then Joker is what we need. I was going to say Arsenal. That's brilliant, honestly. That could be the game changer for us. What do you think, Roy?

I'll go with Arsenal.

Yeah.

Sunderland brought ten players in. What do you think? Winston games?

Oh yeah.

I think right now, Arsenal's squad looks unbelievable.

Liverpool's actually looks shit. Can you imagine if we didn't have the debt for the moment, with Saka out and Erdogan out, the noise now would have been deafening. So it's kind of like...

I go with Arsenal. You know Arsenal, right? I know Liverpool have spent a lot of money on Chelsea, but Chelsea and Liverpool bring loads of money in. Arsenal don't. They're just continually spending big money.

Spending, yeah. We haven't spoke about Chelsea, title contenders. No.

No.

You fancy them, don't you?

I do. I remember you said it, Jill.

I really hope it comes for you.

The West Ham game. To lose Cole Palmer in the warm-up, I thought this is going to be a test and I thought… No, West Ham.

I know West Ham. I just think they've put in a good performance. Yeah, but after the way Leeds played at home the first game, you have to think of the team.

You know what I mean? Home and away is different.

You're not promoted to them.

West Ham have really got to sort themselves out. Defensively, midfield, everything.

Because they look really bad.

Corners and...

You know when you're on Chelsea, you're going to West Ham fans. And there's a bit of weird to what I bet. But I've noticed this on commentary and it kind of annoys me. Losing teams... You know when you're playing away from home

and the fans always want you to go over and clap? I get that, you go over and clap. But there's this thing now that teams do, where they all go on mass as a team and a lot of losing teams do it and they stand there and they just clap the fans like that It's almost like a bit, I know we've let you say what you want to us, go on say what we deserve that we've been terrible, we lost, and they stand there for ages just clapping and then before you know it, someone ends up saying something

So Bowen ends up making an apology on social media, get involved with the crowd, isn't their emotional, your emotional. Just go and clap, show them a bit of respect, you've turned up, you've picked, clap, and then just go in. Is there a stake in just standing there looking at them?

It's annoying. I think it's so that individual players don't go over and basically get pelters or booed.

I think that's, we deserve it. It's weird.

The way the game has changed over the last 15, 20 years, I was talking as a last week about it, where managers know and even the managers are going over and they're all watering around the stadium

and shaking hands with the other team. You're like, when's carrying that team as it is, then he gets the captaincy.

Arsenal, best team in transfer window so far? Five days to go?

Yeah, we'll give it Arsenal.

A team from what you would think would finish in the bottom half of the table, a team in the top half of the table that you think desperately need to do business in the next five days or they're going to be in trouble and well underperformed? West Ham. West Ham in the bottom. So a team that you would think would finish in the bottom half the table, that you think if they don't do business they could end up in big trouble.

Oh it's West Ham.

West Ham.

Everton may be a bit of business.

I think Everton's business has been alright. Yeah, Everton would be alright.

Tonight, the keeper, the centre- Wolves? Do you think Wolves could get a dragon trip?

Wolves, they always start badly.

I put Wolves. I like, at least Wolves create chances, but could Wolves be one of them? They'd be fine, they'd be fine. Well, actually...

They've lost two or three of the best players, didn't they? I'm not sure.

And they could lose the... Brentford just a bit. Brentford would be fine. I think they'd be fine. They have enough of bottom. They have enough experienced players. What about the manager? Managing an experienced manager, would he be okay at this level?

I think they'll have enough. I think they'll be fine. So West Ham are the team at the bottom that you think desperately need to do business. I think so.

At the top half of the table, who desperately needs to do business? Do you think he's scoring? Where we're at with that? Liverpool desperately need a centre-half.

They desperately need a centre-half.

If they didn't bring a centre-half or an attacking player in, I don't think Liverpool would win the league with what they've got right now. If Eketiki got injured or was out for a month, who would play centre-forward? They haven't got one. They haven't got anything on the bench.

I said that. And he slotted me, didn't he? And then when he came in afterwards, he said the bench wasn't strong at all. The kids had come on and scored.

If that's the case, then Liverpool need to make that happen.

But who most? Newcastle probably had it. Newcastle, yeah.

Villa?

Villa?

Villa looked so flat, don't they?

Yeah.

I think Newcastle are Villa.

They just had to sell...

Oh, I know that. Listen, I'm not your honourable what they need. I know the ins and outs of all that stuff, whether they can or not. But you think they need some players in.

Yeah, I think Newcastle are Villa are good shouts

because I think them two managers... It looks flat. You know when you come back pre-season, what's the best feeling a player has? When you get some new players, it gives you a little...

When nobody comes in, it's a bit like...

Yeah, but Roy, he looks like the manager. It looks like the things are happening with this manager, selling players. It's out of his control kind of thing.

Of course it is. I think you and I, Emery and Eddie, are two of the best managers in the league. where else can we go now because of PSR and these issues? It's like how... Can you get any higher with that? I think Eddie Hall has done a brilliant job, but when he first went to Newcastle, they were spending money, they were throwing money. You know what I mean?

And they got the rewards for it.

I wouldn't say... That real big money, Roy. What they would have thought they wanted.

What did they buy the striker for? 60. They've spent £60 million on players. I think they wanted to go again and again. Of course, that's what everyone wants. But this idea that Eddie Hall hasn't spent anything

because he's gone up there, hasn't he?

He's brought it all back. The last couple of... Last summer, if you remember, they had to do a lot of player training. Didn't really bring anyone in. But when this summer they have abroad...

Like, they did. My point being is, where they are right now, can they ever challenge for the league? They always feel like they're going to be between fourth and seventh, if you like. And it's like, they can't go anymore. I have a feeling, and I don't know, obviously, in the notes of Newcastle,

but I think they'll pull something out of the bag the next few days.

Oh, they'll bring someone in? I think they'll put deals in where you are. So Newcastle and Villa? I've said Newcastle. And West Ham in the bottom half? West Ham, yeah.

Yeah.

Isak will go to Liverpool, yes?

I was yes, but now I think I'm no.

Why?

I don't know.

You don't like the vibe? You don't like how it feels?

I just think he'll stay.

Imagine if he was playing Dionne for Newcastle.

Yeah. 11 players would have won with or without them. If Newcastle buy two strikers, Liverpool sign Ezek and Newcastle are trying to buy strikers, they put a bid in for the lad from Wolves, they're going for Worcester. So obviously they're thinking if we get our guys in, maybe that can happen. But if they don't get the people in, it won't happen.

But they are actively trying.

If you're Wolves and Brentford though, they're going to get more desperate, aren't they? Yeah, but you think they've still got enough players, you think Wolves and Brentford to be OK. When I say it'd be OK, I'm talking about Brentford.

You know the thing, you know how I feel for Newcastle? You know how I feel for Newcastle? Because I think Newcastle have been trying to facilitate him, I can't understand why he's gone that far that side, man. Who, the player you mean? Yeah, yeah. Where's he training now? Honestly, it's so bad. Because Newcastle don't seem like they're trying to cause problems, like some clubs do.

Other players have come back from that, you're right. I was saying that on Monday to Thierry, it's like sometimes he's gone that far that way. It's not like he's miles away from where he needs to get back to. That's why I think it's difficult for him to go back.

I don't know how that's going to pan out. It's going to be interesting to see.

Where's he training now? Is he in the club or what?

He's training now, isn't he? He wasn't training at one point, though, was he?

He went to his old club, didn't he, I think a few weeks ago.

Did he? Pariah. Fancy going in like a pariah, just on your own. You know what the lads think of you and everything. Did he? Pariah. Fancy going in like a pariah, just on your own. You know what the lads think of you and everything.

Wrap it up, guys.