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Why have you come in so quickly? Why? I know. I tell you what. Walk out backwards. They think you're coming in. It's true. Let's do that. Roy, watch out. Let's walk out backwards. Roy and Ricey walk out backwards. Walk out backwards like this. Walk out backwards. What's up? Look at Roy. He doesn't get it. Just come here for a sec. Let's go on. We like to have our little bit. So now they can rewind. Like, because we're saying we came too early, so they rewind. Kieran!
Gary, how are you? I needed it though, didn't I? It was your signature though, wasn't it? It was your signature. It'll come back. Any teammates? Yeah, I'm going to get it now. Kieran, what's going on? It's chaos. I don't know what's happening. Where's Jill Scott?
I can't say I'd like to see Arsenal because I'd just be lying. But if PSG... Why would you not like to see them win? I don't like to see other English teams win big European competitions. Why is that the end of the season when you've had a bad season? You go, oh, we need to start looking at ourselves. It's a bit late now, isn't it? He spends half his time doing this to the crowd. That's what I've never seen him do. If it's in front of your face, it's not that one. It's that one, isn't it? No, seriously. Superman. He's nowhere near Alisson. I reckon he's the greatest ever.
They'll have offered him to Arsenal as well. I think I know that. If I know that, I'm sure his agent knows that. Do you not think pressure increases on you, though, as a player, as you get older, because there's an expectation on you to perform? He's one of them players like Mavadidi. I know. Exactly what I thought. I think he makes me wince a little bit. I heard booze. I only heard it afterwards, and what I would say is... I heard booze, by the way. Went to the Hacienda.
On a Tuesday night? On a Tuesday night. With you and Phil? Seriously? It was empty. Just me and Phil like Jed would. LAUGHTER
You still celebrating after winning, right? Winning what? Beating Madrid? No. That was so good. That was so easy for him, wasn't it? I'm just pleased that we got through. Yeah, we did play well. We played well in both games. I'm pleased. Very, very well. I'm pleased. I'm so pleased. We were all over social media. It wasn't you. It wasn't you. You were all over it. You were celebrating my house. Yeah, outside my house. Oh, yeah. That's where I was. Yeah, but just don't forget your... I didn't say a word. I know. How good was that?
You are a grown man, aren't you? I like that. Who would sit here at home and get a reason and go, I'm going to go up my back yard and... It's like football fans at matches. They're all singing with the guy. Put your phone down. Where are you going to find any joy at the moment? I can imagine you're going to try and take my joy from me. Have joy in your house. In fact, I was outside my house because my missus said, you're making too much noise. So I went outside and just...
Just smiled. You know why I didn't say anything as well? Because.
Because I know that some people have said, what are you going on about? You've just got through to the semi-final. I was just happy for the performance. It's a big one beating the semi-final. It was a big one. Over two games, people weren't giving us a chance. To go to Real Madrid. That's the only fifth game they've lost this year in the Champions League. Madrid. Just the fifth time they've lost in the Champions League. Talking about the quarter-finals, Real Madrid...
a team that is built simply to win this competition and we beat them why shouldn't we be happy about that we've all played in that stadium Roy to play in that stadium against a top Madrid team it's hard work 5-1-2 legs don't play that game bro Gary did you say online that you would shave your head that was something
Did you say that you'd shave your hair if Will Madrid left the competition? It was a false call, Jill. Oh, was it? Arsenal fans like to put things out about things. I was going to bring a razor. The big European result was United, wasn't it? Tell you what...
I'm really pleased with their progression. You know what, that United game, I was devastated when that winner went in. You have to say, I have to be honest, that was probably the game of the season. The game of the season, you mean? No, I mean, just like when you're watching it, you're just going, oh my. It reminded me of the Liverpool one in the FA Cup last year, a little bit. Yeah,
Yeah, I know what you mean. Just complete and utter mad. So what happened to all the tactics and systems? What happens to coaches then when they're obsessed with that and go, hey... Just get the ball in the box. And we'll attack it.
What's wrong with that tactic? Just having Maguire up front all season. Yeah, put the big man up front. Can't beat it. Get it in a mixer. You know, if that works, why don't people do it more? It always gets to the point where you need to go. It can look awful sometimes if you do it too early and it goes wrong. But late on in the game, when the momentum's with you... Yeah, but if you think that's the best chance of scoring, why not do it early in the game? If you think that's your best chance of scoring a goal. And it doesn't matter if it looks awful if you win, does it?
It's a good header. Do you think they can win it, righty? You have to think they can win it. Of course you have to try. I know that PSG have beaten them before, but that's a different PSG to Arsenal. And I think Arsenal are different from the time they played that time. This is semi-finals, you know better than me. Arsenal-Barca final. You know what I mean? I think Arsenal are in the final. I saw something really interesting about it being at Bayern Munich.
Teams that are going there for the first time to try and win it. The last four teams have done that, winning it the first time at Bayern Munich. So at the moment, that's PSG and Arsenal. Oh, don't fall for all that nonsense. Oh, my God. You didn't get sucked into it. I got so sucked into it. You were bored of it one day. You read that. So then when I saw, oh, it's either PSG or Arsenal, I'm just...
It's the stage of the competition where you are very nervous because it comes down to the players, what they really do now. I think all four teams are the same, if you know what I mean. Sometimes you have a Madrid in there or maybe a City or Liverpool in the past where you think, OK, they're almost the favourites. I don't know who are the favourites. Barcelona, Barcelona. But they're really poor defensively, Barcelona. Yeah.
I'm saying really poor but you can get up them you look at Inter you always have to think Inter being in and around that's going to be a tough one all of them that's what I'm saying that's why you say can you win it you pray how crazy were Real against Apple just booting everybody weren't they we lost the discipline towards them that's when you knew they'd won what a start Nev just
Just diving in, dragging people down. Getting no momentum. That was stopping them from getting momentum. I don't think these were a joke, weren't they? What the one with killing, what went on for ages, that one. I was thinking if they gave that, I would have done. Rice was rocking over that one, wasn't it? Why does it take so long? I was on a delay and you were texting, so I found out quicker from you than from... I was fuming that that was even... Why? Rice is one. Yeah.
He did grab him. I was not appalled. He grabbed him. Right, I'm not on you, not on my arse, but that would have been given. I'd have been like, oh, go away. Done. You'd have been finished? Yeah. Done with football? It's not right, that. You would have flown straight back from New York if that was given. I was watching it in Valencia. I was nervous. I thought they would have given it. But the madness of the game. He did. You said that on the text. I thought they would have given it. You know what I'm saying? I was thinking we just don't need them to score now.
But they didn't seem to rally at any stage in the game and I thought we defended really well, Kibiona. And then, Partey and Rice were good, but like, going forward, Saka was, again, coming back, like, he's not even majorly fit properly and he's still doing it. Martin Nelly. Sorry, you know about, obviously, everyone's going on about Tecna Rice's performance and I thought he was amazing, the goals and stuff like that. Do you think sometimes as a player or,
even if it's just one or two games it just elevates you you know it's almost like you just go to another level it's like you're not going to play like that every week we know that but almost that sort of confidence that sort of arrogance and you know he's up against Bellingham and people say you know and rightly so but
I mean, I've always been a massive fan of that. No, he does look at the moment, obviously, the couple of goals in the first leg were amazing. Again, that does get you talking about him and putting him on the back of the net takes you to another level. But at the moment, he does look more powerful than all the other McPheelers around him. Big strides. For all his technical stuff, but he does look very powerful. He's in place. When they finished afterwards and he said back-to-back...
Because he's obviously going into that game knowing there's a lot on him and him and Jude and he's gone in and he's man of the match in the first game, man of the match in the second game. That's incredible to get two, isn't it? Honestly, really, really stepped up, man. He has, I think. That's all right, but Madrid, what?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, but you're still going into it, Roy. You must have been thinking, especially with their firepower. They've got players that can turn it under three, four minutes. But it's also a great example where you look at your players and go, yeah, three, I'm going to do it. But don't look at the jerseys. Look at them in midfield and defensively. You think Arsenal, obviously, you'll have a great chance. I know you still have to go out and do it.
but this team going forward but even the lads going forward they don't look all on the same page don't they? You know it's individual brilliance isn't it? I think that's what they rely on I think if you look at Mbappé going from PSG to Madrid listen he's a brilliant player of course but I think listen
I can't say I'd like to see Arsenal because I'd just be lying. I won't lie. But if PSG... Why would you like to see them win it? I don't like to see other English teams win big European competitions. I wouldn't mind Arsenal winning it. I'd like an English team. Do you ask a chance? I'd want them to win it. You'd rather win an English team. If they won it, I wouldn't be grudging with either of them. That's all I'm saying. Don't be grudging. I don't mind Jamie's... I'm up. I don't ask a tweet for Arteta, really.
I think being there five years, I think being there five years, he needs that sort of big trophy, doesn't he? Because he needs a trophy. I think that... I think he's a brilliant manager and he's done brilliantly well, but he does... We're at that stage where he needs a trophy. But the point I was trying to make is I think if PSG won it, it's almost good for the...
they've had the Messi, the Neymar, the Mbappé and they've almost come away from that. Not young kids but young sort of energetic top players but more of a team. If you're Mbappé and you've gone from that you leave to go to Real Madrid. You look at Mbappé and him going into that game you're
so he's left the PSG side that people are now saying we're glad he's gone because we're a team now and he's gone and you know he said I want to leave because I want to win the Champions League he goes to Real Madrid who won it last year now they're not playing as well and now people are saying why did they bring him here so him going into that game must have been such a nightmare in respect to the pressure that's on him and in the end he looks like hard work doesn't he I don't know what it is but he looks like hard work he looks like hard work doesn't he you think well like off the pitch maybe you think he's so powerful he doesn't speak much does he I don't
He doesn't speak that much. That could be 100% wrong. He got booed, yeah. I tell you, the pressure, like again, you look at Real Madrid and people talking about people going to Real Madrid, even like we're talking about some Trent going to Real Madrid. I think that you always dream of going to that club, but you cannot...
you cannot fathom the pressure that you go into because he's got 33 goals, I think 34 goals, and they are still on him. Is that how many he's got this season? Yeah. It's even like speaking to Thierry. I was speaking to Thierry and he said even when he was at Barcelona, there's a different, held to a different standard. Even if they win six ones, they'll say, well, what are you doing? They've got a different pressure when you go there that people don't take into consideration.
That is just like, I don't know how. Scoring all them goals is no good to you if they end up not winning anything, really. Yeah, but the thing is, scoring all those goals, they're not interested. They're not interested because you're coming here, we won it last year, we're not winning it this year. You're to blame. That's how they are. I mean, he still did, when he got the ball at his feet sometimes and goals passed before he's like... It's so powerful, isn't it? That change of pace is absolutely incredible. I thought Saliba had him. Because obviously they've grown up together and again, you look at...
Mbappe, who is electric, we've seen it. But when you grow up with a player like Saliba, they grow up together, you kind of know him. You kind of feel, well, I don't have that same fear of you like people have. So that bit where he'd done his skill and he just saw him out, it felt like he's done that a million times to him. Do you think if Arsenal win the semis, you think they've won it? No, absolutely not. Because you've got to remember the other team,
The other team are thinking, right, this is our time as well. I think once you get to semis, it's about the grit and determination and how much you want it then. I think the winner of that semifinal wins it, I think.
I don't know. That would be my prediction. Jamal and... That's a good... It's Barcelona and someone else is a great final as an Arsenal pick. Barcelona's got a good ring to it. Barcelona. Yeah. 2006. Will you be at your back yard and will you be under? Yeah. Will you be at your back yard and celebrate? You've got to be at the final. No, no, no. You know what? Something I was saying to people, I'd rather watch it be like that. I'd rather watch it, especially get thrown out my own house to celebrate my team
Oh, righty, you've got to be there. So that's why I went outside and done it, because I was jumping in that and then, you know, I was just happy, man. I was just happy, so pleased for him, like you say. I was pleased for Mikel. I think he needs this as well. He does. And that team, that team need it. They need performances against that kind of calibre team, even though they didn't play well. So as they can realise, yes, we can, man. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybest. What about the left-back righty?
Miles. Yeah. What he's doing there in the Bernabeu, it's just like, I was like, oh my God. You think, again, it's the exuberance of youth and the fact that he's not... Does he even realise that the...
the enormity of the situation because I've never... I don't think I've seen anyone... I think he's played 20-odd games now. His elevation... It's hard to do what he's doing. England, like, against Real Madrid in that stadium with those players and it's just like... Do you think it's because he doesn't really recognise everything around him? Because it's brilliant. I thought the new camp against Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Burnham-Owen games that were just like...
It was a different level when you played in those days. Yeah. Different players that you just thought, what is this? It's like a different level than you're playing against in the Premier League. Do you not think pressure increases on you, though, as a player, as you get older? Like, I felt more nervous as I got older because there's an expectation on you to perform, whereas he has no expectation, does he? This is what I'm saying. He's just, like, he's literally...
You're talking about maybe eight months ago. He's just dreaming of getting into the first team training squad, you know, to train with him. Then you get in the team. Then you start doing... That's what football's about, doesn't it? Brilliant. That's what football's about. Players do pop up and that's what the game does. It gives a young player an opportunity. He's so mature when you're... It's not even like playing like a normal left-back. So we'd have played full-back and you'd think, I've got to stop the wing, can I get a challenge and make sure he doesn't...
but he's not just doing that he's going into midfield and getting it on the half 10 and staying in him driven past people driven past progression oh my god all these young lads all these young lads at these big clubs obviously they must be all doing that all the full backs now we see Man City you must be comfortable in possession if you're going to go to the highest level that Nico O'Reilly was doing it in the second half he looks good cool as a breeze do you know what you get him in tight ears and he just
I think you just have to look at the qualities. Back in the day, though, your full-backs wouldn't have had that technical ability. They're not full-backs. They're not built as full-backs, actually. They're built as proper wingers. And then they go in there, like Nico Riley. That's again, previous attacking players have gone to defenders, and that's why they're even more so confident. And particularly when they get in attacking positions, they don't panic. They're in the box going, yeah, I'm meant to be in here. The beat players, though, easily. With the ball,
at the feet I don't know the beat players beating a man I used to think was the hardest thing in football to go past someone in the ball full backs doing that
All the time. Well, that was the difference with the City game, when you think someone's actually gone past somebody. And I agree with you, that is how to do it. That's the final thing, when the docker came on and done it. Even the first goal, against Cash. I was disappointed in Villa in the second half. I was. I thought they were really poor. And they made the substitutions at the right time, that you thought, OK, they'll kick on here a little bit. Didn't happen for them, did it? I think the substitutions... I thought they were OK first half. I don't think I ever saw Villa...
in City's half keeping the ball they had a couple of good passes from the goalkeeper and they get into midfield and they wouldn't be able to make that final but is that where records come into it the record at City is it's horrific it's amazing 15 games on the bounce now does that come into a player's mindset where you're on about going we've got bad records I know certain clubs have good records at certain stadiums or even players you play well at certain grounds you're on about you do well at Everton or whatever
But did they lack that belief, Villa, that they could go and beat City? It looked like it. And they're front men. So you've got Oli Watkins who always wants to stretch. You've got even Marcus who wants to stretch. And you're talking about playing in the midfield. Just to keep it and move them about. They don't do that. Villa don't do that. So it's either boom, boom, boom, wham. They never keep it. So then they're giving it back to City and City are coming again. It just feels like...
they need that even though Tielemans has been brilliant this season he was good in the number 10 but he probably missed him a little bit because I'm not I'm still yet to see this stuff with Anana I mean I know I haven't got good feed for him he spends half his time doing this to the crowd that's all I've ever seen him do after the game he's only come on for 10 minutes he's doing this to the crowd and doing all this jumping like the Klopp stuff I'm like
can I just put the boots on and have a little go on the pitch does he have a team sometimes for Seppi did he score a few he started the season and then he was bringing him off for half time a lot Emery and he hasn't been in the team and he's only getting in the team because Telemans is going to a number 10 now and again
at the moment but he's still short him on that do you think the turning point was Doku coming on though I think Pep Mourinho when Dezazi went to right back he changed straight away and put Doku on there and switched Malou but we praise managers I think there was the two managers why change your full backs why change you know do you think he changed him because he did about 8-10 corners and Cash was marking or Dini was marking um
It might have been Nico O'Reilly. It was like a bit of a mismatch. It wouldn't surprise me if the set-piece coach just said, look, there's a bit of a mismatch going on. They're getting loads of corners. Do we need an extra man in there? I think that's the only thing I could think of. But we obviously never talk about changing players and attacking players, but why kind of take gambles with your back forward? And I just thought that was the only thing he could do. The Villa fans afterwards, I mean, I saw social media after, they were all frustrated that he didn't put...
Desaars he sent him back and put Konza to right back but then sometimes I can understand the manager almost with an extra change but I tell you what he hasn't half Konza this season he played in the England game in Tuchel's first game ahead of a guy who looked like he was almost established
he's definitely got bigger and broader he showed but you're not a second goaler have you done better for that yeah I do he just came out he came and he didn't block he didn't block it yeah yeah that's the other thing but he is he's top line I think we need to keep the first goal
He's a big mistake. Why keepers doing this? It's a big mistake. What do you want him to do? No, no. He should have just punched it out there. Do you know something? He's got to do that. What do you want him to do? Right. Face like that. No, right. He's seriously right. So there's this phenomenon now of keepers, right? If it's in front of you, it's that one, right? If it's there, surely it's that one. If it's the parry, it's there. If it's in front of your face, it's not that one. It's that one, isn't it? Mm-hmm.
No, seriously. Superman? No. What was his straight Adam? Which one of them? Show me which one again. Show me which one he did. Right, if you're stretching for a while, you parry and you go, you push, yeah? But if it's in front of your arch here, it's that. He was down like this, so he's got a punch like that. Why? Why?
No, but he wasn't there to do that with. It was around his head, yeah. Why do people keep saying Emi Martinez is the best goalie in the world? I think he's very good. I like him. No, he's not the best goalie in the world. Who said that, though? I heard someone say that. I commented to you the other day and he gets the world goalie of the year. I think he has actually won the trophy. But he won it. I know, because Argentina won the World Cup. But he's not the best goalie in the world. He's not. He wouldn't be playing for Aston Villa if he was the best goalie in the world. He just wouldn't be. I don't care if Peter Spiker likes him.
He wouldn't be blamed for asking that. Let's dismiss the best goalkeeper in the world opinion on the best goalkeeper in the world. He's not the best goalie in the world. Who is the best goalie in the world? He's a top, he's in the top three or four goalies in the Premier League. No, no, no. He's in the top four in the world. Who's the best in the world then? He is in the top few in the world. He's nowhere near Alisson. I reckon he's the greatest ever.
He's got a rickety temper. Please, people, stop saying that. He's the best goalie in the world. He's a good goalie. He's not the best goalie in the world. I think he's in the top five in the world. I'm giving him... They were doing all that time-wasting again, weren't they? He was rolling it, yeah. You know what I thought on commentary? I hate that.
Because you've said to me how much you don't like the goalie sort of waiting on the ball. But you didn't say it. I'm thinking he's going to say this in comments. But I thought, you don't want to say it because it looks like you're having a go at him and he's a top coach. No, no. Do you know what it was? The reason I accepted it last night for Villa...
it's because I felt like they were like a European performance frustrate the crowd quieten the crowd really just kill the whole thing and then go and kill him on the counter attack that's the only reason I accepted it they got punished in the end but there is time to do that but there was time to speed it up get the balance right they've slowed the game down but he was doing it too much I think
I thought he was generally waiting for 15 minutes to go, subs come on, they get the goal and it's a killer away performance. He has got pantomime villain vibes about him. He kind of does it to whine people up. Of course. I love that. What do you think, just right, I'm going to come to you on this. What do you think about Watkins and Rashford in terms of the... I actually didn't mind Watkins' comments on Jamie Redknapp on Saturday Night Football. I didn't mind his comments. I thought, but saying he's fuming and then he's got this, obviously Rashford's played last night, he's played... Do you think it internally...
is creating a little bit of an issue there because he looks quite angry about it Watkins doesn't he he looks a bit pissed off you know what I mean and I remember even when John Duran was there his form kind of went in and out he kind of gives me the impression that when he's getting that kind of pressure against it he
he didn't get the shout. You know, the other person's got the shout. And so I think that with this, with Marcus Rashford coming, you know what I mean, he feels like, maybe he feels disrespected. If I'm him, I'm probably feeling like... Yeah, I think he does. They won't let him go to Arsenal, yet they're not playing him in the biggest games. So then there's a certain...
Of course he's got every reason to be frustrated about what's going on. And I'm quite pleased he said he's fuming. Because as a striker, you're very self... You want to be out there, you want to be scoring goals. When he played against Newcastle, he was brilliant. That should have been enough for me to get him back his spot. Because if he's not going to get the spot back when he's doing the stuff, then he's going to be fuming. But why is he fighting the competition?
You know something? I don't think he's frightened, Roy. I don't think he's frightened, do you? I think he's just angry. I think he's just thinking, I'm fuming. I think some strikers are that insecure. Again, we talk about goalkeepers. Oh, no, I need to be the main man. Just so you didn't move to Arsenal, is he not going to have competition in Arsenal? That's the thing, what I'm saying with him, Gal, is just that he just needs to just focus on what he's doing because...
I like the interview because he's given us... He's let us know that he's feeling. I probably wouldn't have used that word. When he came on last night, I didn't get the feeling he was going to do anything. I thought he was unhappy. That's the reason I'm asking. That's what I'm saying. This is why you have to be careful when you say like that. If you're going to say something like that, then you have to come on and... You have to do something. But the thing is,
If you just say, oh, I'm fuming. Not only has he told everybody, oh, he's so unhappy to be on the bench, he's fuming. There's ways of doing it where you don't have to make it so blatantly obvious that you're that angry. But it's good to hear people being truthful about it. But at the same time... As a manager, surely you strike it and be pissed off he's not playing. Do you know what I mean? You want him to be annoyed. I know, but every time someone says something, we're all guilty. We overanalyse what a player has said. Players are emotional after a game. And they're grown men. If they're upset or annoyed...
I liked it. It's a good way of playing them together, Rashford and Watkins, getting them both on the pitch. He doesn't do that, does he? He always plays one off. I thought when he made the decision to let Geraint go, because that was a problem because they were two centre-forwards and couldn't do nothing else. I thought when he brought Rashford in, it gives him the opportunity to play the two of them because Rashford can play sort of left wing. But it doesn't look like he's ever done that because he's almost gone really with those really narrow... You normally used to have one real wide player
whether that was Leon Bailey or there was another fella he had for a year, I can't think of his name. He only has one really wide and then sort of one really tucked in, whether that was a McGinn or a Ramsey, but he's gone with the really tucked in players. But the thing with Unai Emery, I think he reminds me a little bit of Rafa in that when you say Watkins scored against Newcastle and did well, I think he's already thinking games ahead. He's thinking, I'm putting you in that game. It doesn't matter if you play well or not. I'm using Rashford in this game because of the X, Y or Z. So I don't think...
Ollie Watkins wouldn't have been dropped if he'd had a bad game against Newcastle. I just think it's like, it's not, and that must be, I always think as a striker, that must be really difficult for you if you think, I'm in good form of scoring goals, but the manager's thinking games ahead and thinking tactically who's suited to this team. I think that's the problem with Ollie Watkins, he can't understand that, you know, why, I'm doing so well, I've done well, why not get in the respect and the love to play? That's where your mindset comes in. The greatest example that we want was Solskjaer. Oh,
Oli would always do well in the following week if he left out we'd even be feeding for Oli wouldn't we but he would just get on with it he would constantly look at the bigger picture and always think if I get that opportunity and I see subs watching games now and I think Oli was the best and Oli would be watching the game I see subs and they're sitting there with a cup of tea with the staff and they're like you're watching like a fan you should be watching intently
if I get on here and I'm watching the centre half of a striker or when you are coming on and you've got somebody showing you an iPad you'll be like fucking get the iPad out of my face get me out of my face I've got an idea what I'm going to do when I go on the iPad so basically we got told last night that who came on at the same time as Watkins oh
For Villa, they made two substitutions at the point. McGinn came on, didn't he? Yeah, McGinn. So McGinn was stood out there. And McGinn could have been upset about being left out by the way. McGinn was stood out there for quite a bit and the director said, where's Watkins? And I said, he's bent down. And he stayed bent down for like a long time. What do you mean, on purpose? I don't know.
I don't know. Look, I might be reading something into it. And the set piece coach was trying to speak to him, I think, whilst he was kneeling down. He wasn't turning his head. Yeah, but, Gal, you're saying it like you don't... He said, I'm fuming. Yeah. So if he's down like that, it's because he's like... He doesn't want to hear anything. He wasn't having it, yeah? Yeah, but he said he was fuming the other day. But you can't be fuming three or four days later. Yeah, but he obviously is. He obviously is. Can you look at me? LAUGHTER
No, no, no. No, no, no. Hey, relax. I move on very quickly. I move on. I move on. Sorry. He's in a very delicate place. Yeah, I agree. I think that maybe, who knows, I might be doing it to wind him up completely and let him go. No, but if he's going on, why isn't he the other way? Why isn't he like on his toes going, fucking get me on that pitch? Yeah. Yeah, sometimes staff will give you instructions and be like, yeah, I've got it.
fucking you're telling me what to do I've got an idea what I'm going to do when I go to the pitch Unai Emery I think is doing exactly what Cairo said I think he selected I think Watkins will play at weekend I think he selected his game and thought right Rashford against PSG Rashford against City away he's done well at the Etihad
I think Watkins will play at the weekend. I think that's exactly what he's doing. But he does feel disrespected, I think. I think he doesn't get the idea of the way the rotation's going. But should it not go on, how you play, though? Did you do that as a manager? Were you, like, planning ahead? Or were you like, if you're in form, I'm playing you?
do you know what I mean? Emery does think differently yeah it's different with all these games in Europe to manage and the travelling I think slightly he made five six changes last night didn't he? yeah five I think also what happens is when you're Ollie Watkins and you're part of it building Villa up and it's not those big squads and you feel like you're the guy who's got
them to this and then all of a sudden these other players are coming in and you're like I was part of this journey that got us here and now I'm not playing at PSG but it can't be that opposite Jim because they signed a new contract they keep signing deals but when you're signing a deal you know what you're committing to they must ask the club where are we going we want to be in the Champions League we want to have a bigger squad you have to be part of that you can't just say I need to play every week or if I do I get upset and again it's not I want to play I get upset but you show it then when you get your minutes on the pitch or for example this weekend if he starts against Palace
show me how angry you are on the football pitch when we talk about Arsenal going for him someone told me I think Villa offered him to Arsenal as well I think I know that actually what and Arsenal said no to him no Villa offered him
Offered what, sorry? Watkins. To Arsenal? Why? I thought Arsenal wanted him, though. No, what I'm saying is before Duran went, exactly, they were like, oh, probably got an offer for Duran. So the thing, I don't think it was Arsenal phoning Villa saying we want to sign him. Why would Arsenal not sign him, then? Because they probably, well, they didn't offer enough money. Whatever they offered, whatever it was, 50, 60 million. But...
The information I had was that. No, what I'm saying is he might know that. If I know that, I'm sure his agent knows that. Do you think that's why he's vexed? Fabrizio Romano? There's a lad on social media called Fabrizio Romano. I've spent a lot of money. That's what I'm saying. You have to get something back in. And really, when you think about it,
In an ideal world, you probably would sell Watkins and keep Durant because he's just a younger player. He's only 21, but obviously they did the deal. Do you think Villa were going to make that top five, though? I thought they would before last night, to be honest with you. City and then you've got Newcastle, Forest. And again, you're running out of games, Jill. There's one less game now. I think they had to get something out of City so they can get a push. I think they're focusing on the...
The running's not bad. I think they're four games. I think Bournemouth start... I think they're Bournemouth away, but the other game... Forest isn't bad either. Then two spaces, if City get third, what, you go and forest Newcastle? Do you think Chelsea are out of it? I think Chelsea's fixtures are tough. They've got Nottingham Forest away last game. Will they keep Rashford at the end of the season, do you think? I think it depends. We'll have to have the next few weeks. Because the two signings have definitely made a massive difference to them, whether it's the dressing room and on the pitch.
and Rashford. Rashford does look like he's getting to be back. So then you think to yourself with Villa now, well, what are you going to do? What if they miss out on the chance? Yeah, but then let's say they do get in, they're going to have to... You think if they get in, you get a couple of deals on, but if they don't... You'd start to think, well, what are Villa going to do? Because they need that calibre of player. Isn't it mad with their run in the Champions League to think that they won't be in a...
this season if they don't make it and they've had a taste of it so that would be a seven seven final the weekend though wasn't it I mean if they get to the FA Cup final do you fancy them the weekend
Yeah, I think it'd be Palace. Palace have done well against them, haven't they? Are you doing that game? Are you doing that game? No. City, Forest. I think Palace are kind of playing in that situation where obviously the season's on for them. And you see them lost. They lost 5-0 the other day. It feels like they're just waiting for Villa. That's their thing. What will they do against Arsenal? Will they just rest everybody? Well, this is going to be interesting to see that because, again... Could it be like Crystal Palace reserves versus Arsenal reserves? Do you know what I mean?
I don't know if Mikel won't be doing that because everybody... No, I don't think... You've got a week for your next games, haven't you? You've obviously got no weekend. I think Aston will go strong tonight. And they won't want to give up any result for Liverpool to win. Saka probably... More minutes in Saka. You know what I mean? That's what he's going to be... That was a bad tackle the weekend, was it? You know something? It was a bad one. You know, when you see it as well...
especially being an Arsenal fan and you see the fans behind cheering when he caught him and clapping and then booing every touch after that. He just thinks to himself, you don't realise. Same thing with Stoke with Aaron Ramsey. Terrible tackle and Aaron Ramsey's getting all the stick. Saka's getting all the stick. You're thinking, you don't realise how close he came to breaking his leg there. Yeah, yeah.
You know what I mean? I was pleased that in the end, I was thinking he would have took him off for half-time. Just take him off. He missed three chances after that anyway, so the fans got their bit of pantomime villain stuff, but like, take him off. Take him off. Right, take him off. Have you started yet? And now for the episode. This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Skybest.
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Leicester went down at the weekend and Jamie Vardy put this statement out on, you've probably seen it, on Twitter or social media yesterday. At this point, I don't even know what to say. No words I have can ever express my feelings of anger and sadness with the way this season has gone. There are no excuses. Collectively as players and as a club, we failed. There is simply no hiding. I refuse to entertain any suggestion of doing so. Sorry.
Having been at this club for so long, we've experienced so many highs and successes and this season has been nothing but miserable and for me personally, a total embarrassment. It hurts and I know you're feeling it too. To the fans, I'm sorry. Sorry we haven't performed and sorry we end the 2025 season with such a shit show.
It's a strong statement that. I didn't mind it though. I didn't mind it. I think it's his way of getting a message to the fans. Obviously they take so much abuse on social media. Why can't they use their platform? And what I liked is he's not blaming any, it's a collective. Why do they all wait until the end of the season? They always say we have to look in the mirror. You look in the mirror every evening. You look at yourself, what you're doing at your club, with your life. Why is that the end of the season when you've had a bad season? They go, oh, we need to start looking at ourselves. A bit late now, isn't it?
You know something, he gives me an impression, Jamie, that he won't take things that are not going right in training. He'll probably speak up about it. I agree with you, Roy, where you think you could have said something earlier before they got to this place. But I'm glad to see him put something like that out simply because he's hurting. The kind of player he is. The previous manager, when the previous manager left and they've got some senior players, Averde and Connor Cody, they're all good pros, no doubt, and they played at a good level for that many a year.
When Steve Cooper was there, was Cooper there, what, three, four months? Yeah. When he left, I remember Connor Coney got interviewed. He went, oh, we probably just needed a new voice. And you're like, a new voice? He's fucking been here three or four months. Just like nonsense kind of statements going, oh, we need to look in the mirror. Come on. I don't mean the Leicester team. Every time a team has a difficult spell or a player go, we need to start looking at ourselves. It's a bit late for that now, isn't it? Will Vardy carry on playing? Or do you think he'll carry on at Leicester? If I was the...
If I was your manager, Leicester, if I was Ruda, no, I think it's time now. For him to stop? Yeah. No, not stop. He can go on and play. What age is he? 38. He's been up against, obviously, he can't stretch teams anymore and he's not getting great service at Leicester. When they went down two years ago, he thought definitely do the business in the championship and he's probably still their leading goal scorer. But if you're trying to get Leicester back to compete and get them back up next year, and maybe sometimes you do have to move somebody. All the players are going, listen, we need...
A kind of a rebuild, isn't it? They need... I thought that something like Patson Daka, I thought they expected him to kick on a lot more than he has done. Obviously, it's not happened. You know, when you look at Edson... What's it, Odson-Edouard? Yeah, he's not been involved. Terrible side at all, either. So, you're looking at someone like Jamie Vardy, he probably will be there next year. And then you do need to bring that player in that he can kind of shepherd through because...
At the moment, you'd think... It's a strange old fit, Rude and Leicester. I still can't... Yeah, that was my next question. I don't know, I could be wrong. Obviously, when you're not winning, it doesn't look right, but even after the end of the game, I'm looking at Rude and will he be there? It just seems strange. Do you think he won't be there? Do you not think he'll have a chance to bring in his players and build his kind of... They just can't trust him. I mean, you use an old-roger player, but the results have been poor, haven't they? I know it's not a great squad, I get that, probably the conditions around the club and all that, but...
I'm not sure he takes it. Just seeing the fit. Listen, his personality with the club, who knows, and his issues at Leicester. There was going back to pre-season. There was a lot of hanging over him, but they were going to get points deductions and managers were almost avoiding it, weren't they? Still might, actually. Still might happen. I feel for Leicester. Yeah, but more so going into the premiership. If you're losing six or ten points, you're definitely going down. And the other managers are talking, well, I've got to give myself a bit of a chance.
I think it's a bad time for them now. The anger at Leicester seems to be not with the ownership, it's with the actual sporting directors. Oh, I know that, yeah. They don't speak to anyone. They don't speak to anyone. The fans don't know anything. And then you're looking at it, and it's like Jamie said, it's a shit show, and they don't know anything. So of course they're going to be upset. Yeah, but still, on one hand, Leicester have had difficulties, but Leicester have...
if you start looking over the last 10 or 15 years what they've done it's been unbelievable so don't panic also you're going down because they went down a couple of years ago and then their manager soon jumped ship by the way they bring him in he does really well and they're playing a certain brand of football in the championship and he's gone very quickly so things have gone against them on that side of it but they're more than capable of going down whether it's Rude or someone another manager going you're more than capable of bouncing back
next year don't panic either the fans are not confident that this management level are going to bring them and you do feel for them especially if all this PSR gets involved with Leicester you do feel like it's going to be a tough one for Leicester coming back
at some stage. But they can bounce back right, isn't it? They can bounce back next year. They can be in the bigs. They've got some decent young players. They should bounce back. They have the parachute game. Yeah, of course. And you'd be saying that for any team that gets relegated, you'd certainly be thinking they'd certainly be in the top six competing and obviously the idea, why do you want to go bottom half? I definitely have Jamie Vardy involved. It's next season from Leicester just to keep it going even if it's off the
But then you get promoted, right? You know what? You hang on to him. No, no. I don't think you do, but you've got to use him in there. I think, Roy, you have to use him there. There's no doubt he scores goals in the Championship. I get it. But there comes a point as well you have to say to a player, listen, come on. I'd be surprised if Ruge Day, looking at what he did a couple of weeks ago with the incident with Winks and Senator Hathcote,
Vestergaard, yeah. I think when you start... When you go for two players like that, I suspect there were other players also that were living away and some of them have obviously complied with it and started to stay near and some of them obviously have said, no, I'm not moving.
I think that he was calling out the professionalism in the squad and it's rightly so I completely agree with it it's a joke I'd rather Roo do that and sometimes lose players than hand it to players all the time and that's part of management and obviously if these lads are doing the business every week they live where you want live in Scotland
but if you're losing Gary you know you're losing you do have to start looking at it lads we spoke here a few months ago or a couple of weeks ago about players not being professional and travelling if you're a manager that's your job to go lads are you like have you really it's a show career you're getting paid a load of dough you should never be more than sort of half an hour 40 minutes it's not like they're staying in some little little carzy gaff they've got unbelievable place Leicester's like training ground of course little carzy gaff they've got little
The sheets look like they're stuck to the beds, you know what I mean? If you're a manager, sorry, if these players are at the club and Rude comes in, new manager, they're up against it, and you say, lads, you might have to stay up. I'm not saying live in Leicester and uproot your family, but could you stay up one, two nights a week? Yeah. If you were a player, you'd be going, of course I would. I'm embarrassed you're asking me. I'm embarrassed you've had to come to that stage. I'm surprised that the two players say, no, I'm not staying up. It's true. It must be, I mean.
Yeah, yeah, maybe. If it's true. I don't care. If I'm rude, I'm doing exactly the same. You know when you're saying about the older players moving on, were you surprised at Kevin De Bruyne saying that City didn't offer him anything? And then about him saying that he still thinks he can play Premier League? Well, he's obviously upset about that. Yeah, I get sad that
I feel like he's got two options on the age he's at. He either goes and plays 40-odd games somewhere else and plays all the time, or he can play still at that same level, 30, 35 games a season and be an experienced player at City for the next two or three years. I don't quite understand why we've got to a point now. I know that you didn't want to carry on playing and maybe...
I don't know why a player can't go from being great to then say, right, I'm going to contribute and still do 30, 35 games a season. And the club don't see that. There's contract never. And I had a little bit at the end of the year, when you're doing contracts and you're talking about, but if he's on big money, because you're brilliant, but just he's on 300 grand a week. And City say, we'd like to keep you on. And I know it sounds bizarre, but then they go, but you have to take a huge pay cut. Sometimes players will go, maybe you never got that opportunity.
it's a bit of a sore one for players as well to go out I can understand it from City's point of view when you talk about Salah and Van Dijk now sort of similar sort of age but they play every week so when you pay them the big money you know you're getting 40, 50 games a season just unfortunately Kevin De Bruyne the last couple of years but he can still do it like he's still performing at that level he's one of my favourite I mean I absolutely adore him but I can understand the club thinking yeah
you it's a business 400 grand a week maybe playing after games they have to go that way you made a statement on Liverpool it's quite interesting you said I think that Liverpool need to sign six new players in the summer which
To be fair, and I don't disagree with you, but if I looked at Liverpool's team and you look at Alisson in there, you look at Trent at right-back, Canarte, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, McAllister, Schobbers, Leighton, then you've got Diaz, Jota and, say, Salah. Which six players, I mean, probably Trent's one, but which six players out of those in that first 11 are you taking out to replace the six new players would go in?
So I think it's not six players going into the team. I think if you look at Liverpool this season, the manager, it's not his squad, it's Klopp's. He doesn't trust the squad. So when people talk about Liverpool sort of at the end of the season, still getting results in the league, but probably the football or the way they played through the winter months is not the same. Go out to Champions League, look like against Newcastle. It's because he plays the same players every week. Now, we don't know if that slot's way yet. We'll probably find out next season when he's got more of his own squad or he doesn't trust the players on the bench.
so when you think of Liverpool at centre back if Canarte or Van Dijk got injured who would come in really now they've got young Jarrell Conzer Joe Gomez is always he's just injury prone unfortunately for him
left back Liverpool you're looking at a third centre back Liverpool need another centre back I'm not saying to really push Canarte and almost be a cover for Van Dijk over the next two years so you need almost it almost feels like Liverpool have got two centre backs and you're thinking if one of them got injured what are Liverpool going to do I think the same applies in central midfield with McAllister and Gravenberch I think if one of them went down
He wanted one of those, didn't he, last summer to be fair? So I'm not talking about players, but I'm talking about someone really pushing them. So you've almost got three players fighting. So centre-half, centre-midfielder. We need a left-back to play. Yeah, instead of Robertson. Yeah, and Robertson needs to become, I would say, the sort of the squad player at left-back. So they need a left-back to play. And why was it Simakas? Did you get rid of Simakas? Yeah. I think an attacking midfield position... You'd have buyers for these lads. Yeah, I think so. No, you wouldn't be stuck with me. But I think, suppose, like...
I think Liverpool can improve that. Number 10? Yeah. An attack. What I see when... I know he's a completely different player. He's got great energy, but when you think of what Arsenal have got in, Odegaard, what Man City have got in, De Bruyne in the past, I know Phil Fulham's been having a great season, but that type of player. Chelsea have got Cole Palmer. Someone who's going to give you... Someone who's going to get you close to 15, 20 goals a season from that position. And I think left...
Centre forward. So I think three positions straight in the team. Left back, attacking midfield, centre forward. And then the other positions are sort of left wing, centre midfield and centre back. They could be players who are really pushing. So like squad players? Yeah, but not squad players. You're only replacing three in the first team? Yeah, I think three players to come straight into the team. And I think another three players. Sometimes you buy a player and you know he's a squad player. You're buying someone to fill a space. I'm talking about someone really pushing midfield.
the other right back yeah that's what I was going to say that's what I'm saying that was before even the Trent stuff comes out do they need a right back though if they've got the ones they've got that was what I said he was bored the weekend wasn't he he struggled a little bit yeah see this is the big thing for a young player when you're kind of a squad player and you step in instead of Trent but all of a sudden when you're going no this is your position that's when you start going here can you play 40 games a season he's one of them players like Mavadidi
I think he's well enough I think he could make anyone look really shit I think he makes me wince a little bit I said that to you after the game because I said I've been there and you've been there because one of those games everyone thinks you should dominate this place because it's the Liverpool v Leicester but
I remember when Trent first came on he was gambling a few times yeah I know and you get done with it and that's all part of the experience and learn and Trent's first challenge with him if you remember Trent's gone to get the bonus he's just gone bang and it's one of them that no one in the stadium really notices but when you've played you go oh
that's just planted right there and I'm talking about you it's one of those moments where you're a player and you think of your toughest moment as a player and I always say people always say oh what was it like playing against this player or that player or you know the great player I always find it sometimes tougher against players like that you know where you because like off the cuff because if I'm playing against let's say I'm playing against Wayne Liverpool Man United and you get to the better of me two or three times a half or something but people expect that because it's Rooney it's Mike people expect this sort of 50-50 yeah
But when you're Liverpool playing Leicester and they're bottom of the league, people think you should dominate this player every time there's a header, a challenge, it's a 1v1. But it's not as easy as that, is it? But that's the expectation, isn't it? No, that's what I'm saying. Would you trust the next year to play 40 games? No, but what I'm saying is, I think, what you've also got to think, eventually that lad will say, I'm either going to play or I'll move on as well. So I think he's done well enough in the, I think he's probably played 40 or 50 games. I think he's done enough in those 40 or 50 games where you'd have to go...
You know what? You still buy someone, but it might not be, let's go and buy a right back for 50, 40, 50 million. We might go and buy someone for 25 million or we might buy a
a fourth choice centre back who can play right back and you give him 12 months I would go with him definitely 100% I agree I would but the jury's still a little bit out on him because them games he's played five or six he's not played that week in week out he's had a few injuries as well that's a little bit of a worry just because he's young I think ultimately you're going to get those inconsistencies at times but I think the way in which he plays and then I just think he's competitive I think he's how happy are you with Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah because I've seen a bit of talk this week and they're like oh
it's not like a new signing but I think it's better than a new signing the northern system you're not bringing someone in who's got to get used to the Premier League if they haven't played in it like I think it's better the thing I'm happy about is because I still think as I've said before there's areas of this Liverpool team to fix so you didn't want to then go we've got to fix right wing and centre back as well that can kick that can down the road for another sort of 18 months two years that's what I'm pleased about and you made a comment after the game which I thought you know yeah
When you talk about Van Dijk, about how great he is, you think of the great centre-backs in the Premier League, even Tony Adams. At the end of the career 34...
we all sag back, you just do. You look for a bit of protection, I think you said it. You're still pushing right up. You're still, you're still, you're watching Van Dyke, you almost feel like you're still watching him at 26. It's not like he's going, he's pulling everyone back with him, he's getting people around him. He's still pushing right up and almost looking like he did sort of six or seven years ago. I think that's a big thing. So do you agree with Gary? Yes. Bloody hell. The conundrum in the end for Liverpool was how much would it have cost
if you even could replace those two that was the probably conundrum in the end where it's like you can't replace him can you well you have to try you're going to have to eventually aren't you but if he's leaving on a free and you see complete the highest level as you go you have to go and fuck out fortunes to replace him yeah
They're coming in, we'll have massive wages, and there's no guarantee they'll be as good as them. That's the dilemma. That's why the big clubs, when your contracts run up and you've got the top players, you've got to give them the deal. You know the thing is, to replace Virgil, or let's say even Salah, to replace Salah, and if you could bring someone in that you know can guarantee half of Salah's...
output I don't think that's going to cost you 80s odd million. Virgil like you were saying I think you're right bringing the centre after Virgil still got two good years in him no danger for me with that centre after can come in that he can learn from what
what Virg can do and then you know for the two years bam then he comes in but I think that Liverpool them two signing for Liverpool great business how much did it pay for him Virg 70 odd wasn't it 75 it was massive I'm playing to the time one out was seen I complained you complained I didn't you said it was a massive fee
It wasn't us, it was. It was unbelievable. Liverpool waited for it. Whoever done that deal, remember when it kind of broke down before and then somebody from Liverpool kind of got that deal, that person's the one who should be lauded. But writing, no one saw that price. I mean, everyone at the time was like, what the hell is it like? Yeah, but it didn't take too many games for us to realise, wow. I remember going to a game, Celtic v, I think it was Ajax in the Champions League.
I'd obviously just finished, but 2013-40, and I didn't really know too much about Van Dijk. And Steve Bruce, I think Steve Bruce might have been manager of Hull or someone near them. And there was a few people watching Van Dijk, and I watched him in the game. I'm not going to sit here and say I thought, oh, he should have signed him. He looked, he just, he almost looked too big. Do you know what I mean? Someone you're thinking, can he move? Can he, because he almost played that close.
that cool and that sort of slow and slow motion and they were sort of teams were watching him and obviously just didn't want to take a chance yeah but they'd have it down as well he's at Celtic yeah and the way he played so at Celtic the way he played and at Southampton so he's playing he's got that exact same laid back style he's got now but like people say can't take a chance if you lose and then now look yeah he's irreplaceable isn't he like Beyonce once said strap in you're in the race with F1 TV Premium
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Question for Gillian Wrighty, because I think we three spoke about... Did you read into Trent's celebration that that was a celebration of a guy that was staying or a guy that was leaving? It gave me the...
Gave me the impression that he was a guy that was just, like, fucking relieved. Yeah. If I'm going to be totally honest, because even if I think of him staying or leaving, it's still majorly anxious for him. And the thing is, we still don't know if he's actually leaving. You know, you don't know what that could be. We'll find out what that really means once the season's ended. But I look at that like somebody... I love a better joke. He's leaving. You think he's leaving. I think he's going to stay. LAUGHTER
You know, the thing is, it felt more like relief, whatever it was, you know what I mean? I think it was a message to the fans, like the ones who have probably gotten his back a little bit. I couldn't stop looking at, has he been working out? Did you not think his body was incredible? He's a full-time professional footballer. What do you think he's going to be chubby like? Yeah, but I think he's getting his body ready for that sun in Madrid. I think that it was one of those... You know what it felt like, Jamie? It felt like a...
have something like that. It felt like a fuck off. It felt like, oh yeah. I think it was that. And it was funny, throughout the game, we were at the opposite end and we were saying throughout the game, it feels like there's no atmosphere. I don't know if that box at Leicester was so well insulated, you couldn't hear nothing outside. And then a few mates would be in the game, said he got booed when he came on. Oh, shit.
So I went down to the producer, you just said that, I said, did Trent just get booed then by Liverpool fans in the corner? And he went, no, we didn't hear that, so just left it. But I heard boos. I only heard it afterwards, and what I would say is... I heard boos, by the way. I can understand... Liverpool supporters have all got different, you know, people are seeing it differently. Some people are saying good luck to him, some people are really angry, some people are a bit like, OK, it is what it is. Never boo.
a player in your kit I don't care if your player is coming onto the pitch I mean the problem fans wouldn't have been I know I totally agree I totally agree the lads who went to the game who I know who go home and away they were furious and you never boo a player I heard like a moo and I thought I had to ask the producer he's playing for Liverpool he's put the kit on
You know, we still play this part of the season in terms of... We don't boo. You don't boo your own players. But that's the game we're all in now, isn't it? I know. They've just gone somewhere else. It's horrible. That's what I think that it was. It was all... Everything mixed up. Yeah, that'd be the social media stuff. Maybe he's heard that when he'd come on. We didn't hear it because we were so far away. I don't expect Liverpool fans to, like...
like, I like his decision-making. No, no, no, he's honest. But you have to sit back and go, but respect what he's done as a footballer. We've all said it, having the opportunity to experience another culture. This is amazing for him. He's done brilliant for a club. I can't understand why they can't see that. But again, it's the love for their own club. You know if he does go...
What are we going to do on the show? It's like Rory. He's got Trent's corner every week. That's what Rory said when he won the Masters. It's going to be interesting what they're going to talk about leading into it now. Do you know something? You say that, and I was thinking this about John McGinn's interview before the game last night where he said everyone always focuses on Marcus, everybody always talks about Marcus, and I'm thinking the last thing Marcus needs is for people to stop talking about him.
The last thing that Trent needs is for people to stop. If you're a great player and one of the top players in your position in the world in a great club like Liverpool going to Real Madrid, you have to have people talking about you.
So the idea that sort of like the focus is on Marcus Rashford or the focus is on Trent Alexander-Arnold or the focus is on Wayne Rooney back, that's because they're the best players, they're the greatest players and they're the biggest stories. They're the biggest stories. Do you think Marcus should have scored in the second half? Yeah. Was that a really good shot? I did, I did. Should he have hit a first-time? I thought he could have. I thought he was going to make it earlier. I don't know, he was going really quick. So the way, you'll have to,
get past the keeper quick, then take the shot. He got past the keeper, then he tried. I think you either get there quick and then you can dink it over or you get past him and whip it in. I thought the first chance, there was one in the first half where he mis-kicked it. I thought that was a great goal. When I used to go around the keeper in training... LAUGHTER
My own keeper. Well, he's got my own keeper in training. No, seriously, but the time that I've been in that position in training, you do end up hitting it into the near post, even though your aim, you've almost got to overcompensate a little bit, haven't you? You know what's great at going past a keeper at an angle and pointing it? It's a liniker.
Because when he go past the keeper, he'd fall over so you get the angle. You have to fall over so you can get the angle. Because if you try to stand up and do it, your body doesn't move. So it goes in the side. You have to fall over so you can get the angle. I got that off of Lineker, man. Yeah.
That's what Marcus needs. I don't know if they're mad at watching things like that. Because your momentum as you're going, you're running that fast and you just basically, it takes you away. It takes you away. It's like your problem, you're running so fast. You have to fall over to... I think the keeper made it a bit easier by the way he ran out. He came out really quick. Before we go into Super 6, we did promise a bit.
dunk. He was amazing. He got so much love. He was a great guest. He's brilliant. When we started with Gary going through and sending off I thought oh god he's not going to be happy with this. He was a great guest. So basically this is the book that everyone needs to go and buy. The Upfront Autobiography Duncan Ferguson with a forward from Carlo Ancelotti.
and some comments from Ali McCoyst and Alan Shearer on the front. A diamond of a human being by Ali McCoyst, one of life's good guys. Look, he looks like an angel there. I love when they do these quotes. I love when they do quotes. There you go, so there, that's Big Dunk's autobiography. It's out on the 8th of May. 8th of May. Who did quotes for your book? Anyone? Faggy?
One of life's good guys. The most placid of men. Who did it for yours? I haven't got a clue. This is what you do, you go straight... We only give you, like, three words, don't we? What's a nice guy? When people ask me, can I put a quote on you?
just put what you want yeah oh what and then the sentence yeah 24 hours three days before right Ben let's go he was so good when I was coaching with Villa Paul Lambert brought me and I was chatting with De Safi he went right there's a policy here if we don't win a game we just we you know we suffer for 24 hours but we move on very quickly after that I said that won't be me you can't do that 24 days it's not enough 24 hours is not enough
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Did you? You definitely text Ben, I'm telling you, you must do. I text Ben. The annoying one was Villa and Southampton. I think we were 3-1, it was 3-0. Was it? Sure. Who gave Southampton a goal? Right, come on, Ben. Don't blame me. I've been struggling without you.
Come on. You need David Moyes back. He saved you. Last week, Gary, you got 11. That's a good point. That's what you need to keep doing. So you are now on 136. That's enough. Thanks for coming. Roy, 9. I'm top 12. We must score right. 107. We must have got three correct scores and one score correct. Arsenal-Brentford, you got 1-0.
Well done. What did we go with? You got Liverpool, West Ham. What did we say with Arsenal? 2-1, didn't we? Yeah, Arsenal were 2-1. Anyway. Right. Zip six. Newcastle switch. That is a home banker. Yeah. Absolute home banker, Carragher. Yeah, I'd go 3-0. Yeah, we'll go with that. Carragher's not even interested. No, I looked at that. He's that good, he just does it. Yeah. He can see the lot of goals, Zip switch. Zip six.
It feels to me like they're keeping De Lappe on the bench. I don't think he's full. I know, but if he's not fit, how could he come off a 20 with a rib injury? That's what I'm saying. And then the manager said before the game, don't ask me any more about it when they ask about his injury. Weird. I don't know if there's something in because he knows he's leaving, maybe preparing for next season. 4-0 at Newcastle. Broken ribs. Have you had them before? I don't agree.
I think Newcastle do you not agree? Isak's out though you know what I'm saying because I feel that Newcastle have to do something off the back of that Villa result I'm not sure they get forward I'm not sure they get forward out to Isak there's no Isak yeah I'm going to say nil nil yeah well we can't go three nil we can't go two no because it'll be more than two won't it but we can't go the same as them haven't you gone before Folly you've got two yeah yeah shut up James
Nancy Calum Wilson getting two. Or Brighton West. This could be anything. They were getting on, weren't they? Brighton fans. I like Fulcrum. And West Ham. Fulcrum's on as well. He was angry. I like that. That's a weird one, isn't it? He could just act like, I'm just joking. What do you mean? I didn't say that. So boring. Brighton West Ham.
You chan Is that in view? Yeah Spoiler in view We need a bit of a mad like result I think we always go quite safe Yeah We'll put it on the shelf Don't block Super Keen Don't block Super Keen Don't block You're pushing Super Keen back No no no Super Keen Ben get Super Keen more to the front You've got it behind the vodka How's that work? You should have got a smaller box for Super Keen We've got Super Keen in between alcohol Can't even see it Yeah There we go Big Dunk Was he your favourite guest Big Dunk?
I did like him. Yeah, he was good. Who's got them there? Happy Gingster. He was real. Yeah. That's it, yeah. You know what I do love? What I didn't realise, when you go through people sending off, at some stage you're going to get something, they say, yeah, I punched him. Yeah. He said, I put him in the solar plexus. In the solar plexus. 2-1, notched. Wolves or Leicester? Potter's gone back to him. Wolves win. I think Leicester will be absolutely rancid at the weekend.
Is this you? I like the Wolves manager. That's them. They'll be honest at the weekend. 2-0 Wolves. But then they can play with freedom. They've all looked in the mirror all week. Who can play with freedom? Leicester. Looked in the mirror all week. Oh, yeah. Are you happy with that signing?
I was thinking about it. He's got rid of Sancho, Anthony Rashford's gone, so he's lost three of his wide players who can travel with the ball. He's only got Gannaccio in Diallo, so he can play probably both sides of that, so those two positions behind. So I think he would fit the... They were unlucky the week I won the United home to Alders, it was a tough one to take. I mean, Man United can finish 17th, can't they? Do you know something? That is madness. What is...
We don't even talk about it. We don't even talk about United anymore. You know what my feeling on finishing 17th in the Premier League? I think that's like finishing bottom of the Premier League. Because the three teams are not Premier League. That was the lowest you finished at Liverpool when you were struggling. That was the lowest. And that felt like the end of the world. What was yours? I think maybe 13th, 14th. Did you? But we won the Cups. The lowest I finished was third. Really? Yeah.
look at Neve he's proud of you he's probably second oh no third as well third I was first no but if you finish that at a bit oh my goodness the last two years we've only had 17 Premier League teams the other three teams have been championship teams playing in the Premier League if that happens again what's going on it's been a challenging season
I can't believe Man United haven't finished. They've got to be the most disappointing team. Can I just say they're not 17th, by the way. They are like 14th. No, but they could be. OK, I'll have you a bet now. Right. For charity. I think... Put a proper quid. I think Man United... I think you two could put a good money. Oh, can we have the loser? No, no, no. Get the head. Get the table. Do you know Manchester United's fixtures?
to go yeah I'll tell you the three away games go on Bournemouth Brentford Chelsea they'll lose them and one of the home games is Aston Villa and one of your home games is Aston Villa wow Wolves we're on we're on
I was going to say it too, Neil. I can't believe we've not spoken about United. How have we not mentioned Man United when we've mentioned them on every other show? What more is there to say about them, righty? What more is there to say about United? Come on. We'll give a less two-one. Just two-one. Two-one. Come on. I wouldn't give a less than that.
I feel like we've even lost the mojo for the scores. Fulham win it. Do you know what I mean? It's like... Fulham 2-0? Yeah. 2-0 Fulham. Is this just you this week? No, no, no. I said 2-0 as well. Who said that? Southampton. Southampton, Fulham. No, no, you had the first few. OK. I didn't pick one of them. I'll give you United. 3-1. 3-1 Fulham, yeah. Of course it fucking is.
What's that say about United going to Hong Kong or something? They're going on tour at the end of the season, yeah. But they're getting about £8 million to £10 million. 2-1 Bournemouth. Exactly. Right and all. Bournemouth, Manchester United. It's all written all over. No. What do you think? Man, you don't score. No, you're not Bournemouth. You're not me with Bournemouth. 8-0 Bournemouth.
Fancy. Because the thing what Man United got in a minute, they've still got that aura of United. They've got the big game in midweek. It's like which team turn up. United are going to play only a week inside. 2-1 Bournemouth. 2-1 Bournemouth, yeah, because they're going to play a week inside. That was my score. It'd be 2-1 Bournemouth if they played the full team.
No, I think if United played a full team it would be a draw. 2-0? No, it wouldn't. Are you winding me up? You've still got this thing about how good Man Utd are. They're going to be 7-8 in the week. No, no, no. If Man Utd played the best team to get a draw away at Bournemouth... Well, they've got a draw against Liverpool. Honestly...
It should have been Liverpool. Arsenal. What's going on here? Your Arsenal's a city. Can Liverpool win the league in this game? Is this a wind-up? Yeah. It's been said a million times. This is the week where Tottenham do it. This is the week Tottenham do it. So what happens if Arsenal win tonight? Liverpool can win it? Yeah, we need a favour from Spurs. If Palace win tonight, it'd be brilliant.
What? There's nothing more demoralising than winning the league when you're at home at 10 o'clock and you can't organise a night. I was going to ask you this. If you've ever won the league, not at all. Sorry? If you've ever won the league, not at all. Yeah. And being at home in your house.
Oh, really? My first ever league title was basically at home. Oh, no, second league title was at home in my house on a Monday night. And did you all meet up and party? We met up, yeah. Did you? Tell me what happened with you and Phil in your house on that Monday night. No, it was Tuesday night. You remember that Liverpool were playing at Wimbledon. Wimbledon. We went to the Hacienda.
On a Tuesday night? On a Tuesday night. With you and Phil? Me and Phil. No way. Seriously? Is that his empty? Just me and Phil like Jed would. Oh, I've never been on that one with you. You and Phil. Jeez, that would be brilliant. Come on, Liverpool. Come on, Liverpool. That is so funny. It's our go, it's our go. Are we first? Yeah.
Yeah, Liverpool will win by a lot. I think they'll just be like... Procession. A bit barbaric. 2-0. 2-0 Liverpool. I think it'll be 4-1. Wow. Liverpool will score four. It'll be one of them celebratory like... No, it won't be. And then someone always scores a great goal in a game like that when it's all over. Yeah, I agree. Someone scores an amazing goal. Tony Adams' goal against Liverpool. No, no, no. Super 6. When Liverpool won the league years ago, early 80s against Tottenham, our own Glenn Rodgers scored an apt
Remember the one? The one where he skipped around the keeper? No, he balls it at the top end. He never scored a bad goal, did he, Glenn? No. You know, the best thing when we were playing Chelsea in our last game and we needed to win and there was like 10 minutes to go and I think we were 2-0 up and I just couldn't stop smiling. You know, when you just know that you're going to win the league at the end of the game and I was like, we've done it and I just kept smiling at everyone for the last 10 minutes. It's the best feeling though, isn't it? I never had it. Oh.
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