City's Dry Pitch, Bruno’s Free-Kick Trick & Arsenal’s Title Collapse!
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Yeah, sure thing.

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You know what I think the real sickener is for Mikel Arteta and his team is that they will never get to know now just how Liverpool would have reacted under proper title race pressure. They had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago when Liverpool were having a slightly sticky patch

And they played West Ham the day before City played, Liverpool played at City and they lost. They blew it. And over the subsequent two weeks, the whole thing has fallen apart and they will never, Liverpool will stroll it now. Arsenal will never know just how they might have responded under the pump. I don't think that'll be at the, the,

of Mikel Arteta's mind. I think that at the forefront of his mind will be just the fact, the disappointment that Liverpool are going to win it and this season...

They haven't really put up a fight. I don't think they'll be worrying about Liverpool. There is still the argument that they have been consistent under Arteta the last couple of seasons, but it's about winning, isn't it? And then all the questions will come in about lack of a striker. And there was a moment in the game today and...

It was on about the hour mark. I can't remember. Right-hand side of the box, you were at the game. I think Martinelli may have come on. Anyway, I may be wrong. But the point I'm trying to make is about Mourinho as a centre-forward. And De Ligt, there was like a cross shot and De Ligt cleared the ball. I don't know if you remember it. Left foot at six-yard line, cleared the ball near the back post.

A natural sort of centre forward, natural striker in that moment would make a movement to get across de Ligt and would anticipate that. And it was only a tiny thing, but it was at that moment you think that's when...

You do actually really miss a proper number nine. And Mourinho, to be fair to him, you know, he's put up a pretty sort of gallant effort, bearing in mind he's just sort of thrown in. And, you know, we were in Eindhoven in the week and he took his goal well. And, you know, he does...

He's willing, isn't he? But that's, you know, you've got to say moments in games like that. That's probably the difference between putting up a better show and a bigger fight for Liverpool than they have done.

I agree. And there's no doubt the fact that an Arsenal team that still had Kai Havertz and Pekka Isaka and Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus in it probably would have put up a slightly better performance in the last few weeks if not scored goals.

enough goals since that 5-1 demolition of Manchester City a couple of months ago. But I still do... Other than you're talking about in the Premier League. In the Premier League. But I still do maintain, still do, you know, they lost 1-0 at home to West Ham. They drew 0-0 away at Nottingham Forest. I do maintain that there was an opening for them. There was a chink of light for them. And I think what tells us that...

That is the FA's report into the melee that followed the Merseyside derby, which, believe it or not, is also almost a month ago now. I was at that game, finished 2-2, Everton equalising in the seventh minute of added time. Arne Slott approaches the referee and we have subsequently learned that what he said to him was, if we don't win the league...

I will blame you. Now that is Arne Slott, who up until that point, all season in his first year at Liverpool, had not shown a flicker

of stress, pressure, emotion. And that shows you that at that moment, he knew Liverpool hadn't played well that night. And at that moment, he was feeling it. They then went on from that game, Liverpool, to beat Wolves 2-1 at home the following Sunday. And they played really, really poorly. Didn't have a shot on target in the second half. Were hanging on at the end.

Then they drew Aston Villa 2-2. And that was the moment. Don't care whether Arsenal had a striker or not. Don't care. You've got enough players in that team to beat West Ham at home. Got enough players in that team to win at Nottingham Forest. And they haven't done it. That's all I'm saying. And I want to ask you about it because you won several titles. Won Premier League title in England.

four in Scotland's Scorsese Premier League titles. Okay. Now, the one you won with Blackburn went to the last day, as we know. It's interesting you say that we felt the pressure.

Okay. And you also, you won a few in Scotland by a country mile, but you also lost one. I think you lost two on the final day. Lost two on the final day, yes. Right, so you know how it feels to go down the stretch under the psychological pump. And so just tell me about that and just tell me how much of a relief it will be for Liverpool to know that although it's not done yet, they've still got to win five games. Right.

To be free of that, to play without that. Yeah, well, the Liverpool players will not be thinking tonight that the league is over. Tell me about how it can feel. Well, if you will let me. Sorry. But the point I'm making is...

We always felt that at Blackburn. We were nine points clear, six games to go, and everybody's saying the title race is over. And this is Manchester United when they were sort of renowned for late goals.

and what have you. And people say, players say, they don't watch the other team and this, that and the other. Of course they do. And the results and, you know, with every late goal and within every game and three points to Manchester United, we were, you know, we were feeling it and we were feeling it. And then, I mean, at Blackburn at that particular time, we weren't a team who had been there and done it. I don't think any player had won a title before.

So, you know, we didn't have the experience of going the distance. And I think that that told. And we won it on the last day at Anfield when Manchester United actually drew with West Ham. Had they won that particular game, we would have lost the title. But the fact that they were relentless in those last six games or certainly the five games and put us under pressure, we, you know, we nearly lost it. We, you know...

What's the phrase? Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. And that was how it is. And looking back, I could sit here and tell you and lie to you and say that we handled it well. We didn't handle it well. The wheels really came off. And albeit over the course and distance, we deserved to win as the last of the 42 game seasons.

We, you know, we were feeling it because of the, you know, the nature of the relentless pressure, which Manchester United put on us. And it is interesting because, you know, Liverpool under Arna slot this season have been relentless. And the consistent runs they've been on, and you mentioned in recent times, I always think it's a good sign when you're winning and winning ugly. You mentioned the Wolves game. You could even sort of say the game at the...

at the weekend, but they haven't really been put under enough pressure. So like you say, we will, we will never know. And there are players, you mentioned that you don't think there was anyone in that Blackburn team that had won a title. There are players in this Liverpool team, of course, that weren't playing for Jurgen Klopp's team and they won in 2020, the COVID season, off the top of my head, Konate,

McAllister, Gravenberg, Zobislai, Diaz, Nunes, Jota. So there's a lot of players in that Liverpool team that aren't survivors from 2020 who might just have felt a bit of a squeak

over the coming weeks. But they'll still be feeling pressure. And that's what I was trying to say with my first comment, because the pressure comes because everybody's saying it's done. And it is done. We don't expect the wheels to fall off Liverpool.

You know, players still, until it's mathematically, until you're over the line, there's always that doubt, you know, that you're the team who could be the Devon lock. And that's just the way it is. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Quick question on the bones of the United-Arsenal relationship.

just very quickly the Bruno Fernandes free kick super free kick that it was that gave United the lead against the run of play right at the end of the first half turns out that the Arsenal wall was 11.2 yards away from the ball who do we blame for that what is that all about

I don't know. I've been thinking about this for hours this evening, actually. Do we blame the ref for having particularly long strides? Are we going to get a tape measure out now or have one of those big sort of wooden rulers which are 10 yards? I don't know. I think there is a responsibility for the opposing team, the team who...

you know, Arsenal, the Arsenal wall to actually query how far the yardage was. You know, I really do. And I think I would certainly have done that as a player. But then how does the referees,

How does the referee go about that? What makes me laugh, and I've never even thought about this before, is that it's such an unscientific way of doing it. I mean, the referee, you're joking about the referee have particularly long strides, but I mean, that is how they measure it. They pace it out, which in this day and age of goal line technology and kind of toenail VAR decisions, just does sound, just feel a little bit kind of dark ages, doesn't it really? Yeah.

And also, I suppose if you take that to its nth degree, when it's been taken, is it not somewhere in the VAR? You could say, Anthony, mate, you know, you've just had the war back...

14 yards there. You might need to ask them to take that one again. Anyway, there you go. I bet, I will have a bet with you, okay, that they will start measuring out properly. You know those laser things that you only ever build around your house? They've been those laser things. Not for a while. Well, now you can tell. Yeah.

They bring those laser things, don't they? Which are like infrared things, which they can measure. Maybe referees should have one of those in their pocket. What did make me feel a little bit puzzled about the whole thing was that Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal coach, he was not a stranger to complaining about referees. Seemed to take it all on this occasion. Just seemed to say, well, it's fine. Bruno was clever.

I'm not sure he was. The referee just got it wrong. Anyway, there you go. One all. Perfect result for Liverpool. Liverpool fans never like seeing Man United win. But they restricted their title. You restricted the title rivals to a point. So there you go. You were at Anfield on Saturday. Liverpool 3, Southampton 1. Bit of a squeak. It seemed to be at half-time. Southampton were 1 up. Yeah.

A bit of fuss about Darwin Nunes on socials. The foul for which he was booked in the first half, Petulant Kick. Forgive me for forgetting which player it was on. Kyle Walker-Peters. Petulant Kick got a yellow card. Some people saying he should have been sent off. Then he was, of course, was the guy who was fouled for the...

for the penalty that gave Liverpool the lead. I saw both of those and thought referee got them both right. Yeah, I thought the penalty was a little bit soft. I think he milked the contact. That could have gone either way, but the fact that the referee, you know, warded it in game time, it wasn't going to be overturned. I thought he got the clash with Walker Peters right as well. At the time, I wasn't quite sure. And then you sort of...

have a chance to look back at the monitor later on. I actually thought he did make a genuine attempt to win the ball. He was just really late and clumsy and it didn't look good. And of course, Southampton had their tails up after going a goal ahead. But he did impact the game and...

you know, good for him really. And certainly second half, the substitutions Arneslott made at half time, he wasn't on the bench, he was in the stand. Totally made a difference and I think he's on record as saying that he gave the players a good old-fashioned rollicking. I love that. I like

that because now you know we're in a we're in a an age aren't we where we say managers can't do that anymore it needs to be analytical it needs to be tactical I think that there you know there's there still needs to be that that balance of when it when a manager feels that you know there's there's not quite the intensity which he feels there should be then and

Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with getting stuck into your players. He did do. He got the reaction. And it was really noticeable how much harder they were running in the second half, the early part. And they blew Southampton away. Diaz was good. And Nunes got his first goal. And then he won the penalty. So he did impact the game. Just on another point about Liverpool, Alison Domking was saying the world's best goalkeeper. Had a bit of a shocker.

He did, although Virgil van Dijk didn't do himself any favours by doing that kind of impression of a guy who could defend in his sleep and kind of shepherding the ball out in a rather lackadaisical fashion and got caught out. So he got a couple of people to blame for that. We've not heard from Dom King. I've not heard from Dom King since. He was very vocal last week. Blessed relief for all of us.

There was a great quote from Arne Slott to Gary Lineker in the Match of the Day interview that he gave on Saturday, talking about the first half performance. I think Gary asked him about the fixtures coming up or whether how much, you know, kind of gas they had left in the tank or something. And Slott said, well, they were perfectly fine because none of them ran around at all in the first half. So I thought it was quite a good line. And there's a school of thought, Chris, at Liverpool,

are benefiting this season from an average Premier League um

I don't see that at all, how you can say that about a team that has lost one game all season. That feels a bit much to me. I think we've had this argument before in different guises. We cannot say the Premier League is the strongest league, the best league in the world, and then wallop Liverpool because they have been super consistent. You pointed out the Wolves game. I was at Anfield yesterday.

on, uh, on Saturday and it was a struggle first half for them, but you know, not everything has been, uh, plain sailing for them and they've still got work to do in the champions league. Uh,

of course but I think the the difference between an Arna slot team and the Jurgen Klopp team and it was really noticeable towards the end of the game yesterday on Saturday sorry was that Jurgen Klopp I think always went in for the kill always went in for the kill and I do think it's measured under Arna slot where even at 2-1 I know they got the third one eventually but

They were trying to draw Southampton onto them and Southampton, the way that they set up second half, they defended really deep and they didn't want to press Liverpool high. They had a brilliant first half and they faded a little bit. But Liverpool were just happy, just passing the ball around the back.

you know going out one side and if it wasn't on coming back out the other side and Southampton was staying and Liverpool was saying well that's that's fine if you're not going to press us then we'll just we'll just carry on keeping the ball and then eventually they did get the third one but I think under Klopp it would have been you know more and I know Klopp adapted towards the end but I did think that that was noticeable and I do think that and I may be wrong with this but I

You know, people talk about injuries this season and I think Arne Slott spoke about this in the week. But the way little things like that, the way that Liverpool have managed games and seen games through, I don't know what their training schedule is like, but I suspect there is something in that, in the way that he's, you know, managed them and players. They have had injuries, of course they have, but in the main, they've, you know...

done really well on that front and that must be the way that they train and play. They certainly haven't had those the muscle injuries that appear to have afflicted a lot of top clubs this season which are the ones of course that tend to hint at overtraining or overplaying hamstring injuries etc. You mentioned Jurgen Klopp there interesting to note that Jurgen has said that he

He won't be coming to Anfield to watch a game until the title is won. I get that, obviously. But he's also suggested he will come to the parade. If they win the league and there's a parade, he will come, but he'll be in the crowd. I don't really think Arne Slott deserves to have attention focused anywhere other than on himself and his players on that day. Can Jürgen just maybe leave it a couple of days before he turns up and offers his congratulations? Yes.

Am I a misery? Am I a misery? Really? Can't Jurgen Klopp go and applaud a manager? It's not his team anymore. It's not his team, but he still has that connection. Can't he go and applaud the guy who took over from him, show his respect, and do what he likes? He likes, can't he? Could just phone him up and say, well done.

That'd be the way I would do it. Send him a text. Congratulations. You wouldn't spend your money on the airfare, would you? That's the thing. Turning up and sit on the steps of the library building as the bus goes by. I mean, for God's sake. I mean, yeah. You're making out. I think that's slightly disingenuous of you. I actually don't mind things like that. Stay away, Jürgen. Stay away. You've got a new job. You've got a new job. Stay there.

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City lost at Forest, as we know, Man City lost at Forest. You're Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Forest...

rampaging towards the Champions League. If you can rampage on the back of 25% possession or whatever it is that they tend to win their games on. We are joking, of course, full of admiration for the job that Nuno Esposo Santo is doing. Absolutely terrific. It's goalkeeper Matt Sells, 12 clean sheets for Forest now this season. That's more than any other goalkeeper. Not bad, given that Sells was fourth on Forest's list this

goalkeeper targets when they bought him in the January window 2024. He certainly earned his corn. City, I want to say a couple of things. City have lost almost a third of their Premier League games now. Lost nine out of the 28. They'll probably still get in the Champions League. It looks as though the Premier League will get five places this season because of the UEFA coefficient, blah, blah, blah, blah.

I don't like it, and it's not a dig at City. I don't like the fact that four teams get into the Champions League in the first place. The fact that it could be five, which is essentially a quarter of the Premier League, right? Quarter of the Premier League will get into the Champions League next season, plus the winner of the Europa League, which of course still has Man United and Tottenham in it. I know it plays a little bit to my...

my kind of obsession about football's traditions, et cetera. But it does seem, are we rewarding mediocrity? The fifth team in the Premier League gets into the Champions League. Is that really what that conversation should be about? No, we're not. And I'm quite sentimental and old-fashioned and, you know...

I used to like the old format way back in the day when Nottingham Forest, my team, won the European Cup. But it is what it is, isn't it? And the coefficient is the coefficient. And if English clubs are doing better in Europe, then they're going to benefit from that. And that's just the way it is. It's not...

I don't think we can begrudge Manchester City, you know, if they end up in fifth place and get in the Premier League. They deserve to. You know, they do deserve to because they've been the fifth best team in the Premier League and that's it. And if that's what gets them in, then great. We know they've fallen away this season. But it's not English Premier League teams faultless. It's not their fault. No, it's not their fault. They don't make the rules.

No, exactly. So that's, you know, it is what it is. So I don't, you know. But to me, it's not really what the competition's about, Champions League. I get it. Okay, true. Well, yeah, but, you know, the Champions League should be, I think, or, you know, a lot of people say it should be about just the champions. But we know that that...

isn't the case anymore. That's, you know, that's just the way it is. We'll agree to disagree. City complained that the grass at the city ground was too dry on Saturday. Now they made this complaint last year when they played at Forest. I don't even know what it means. I do. I thought you might. Well, I hoped you might.

Go on then. It's because you order a pitch, it's slicker. And Manchester City want the pitch as slick as possible because they are, you know, they pep his brand of football. They want quick passing. They want it to be slick and sharp and whatever. And I absolutely love what Forrest do. And I think that there's, you know, there's such an advantage there.

I shouldn't say to the big teams, Nottingham Forest are absolutely flying themselves. But why would you make your home patch, your home ground, your home pitch comfortable when you have elite players coming to play? Players you know who are superior to you. Why not sort of, I'm not advocating going back to, remember John Beck?

Of course. At Cambridge United where they used to grow the grass longer in the corners and whatever. Turn the heating off in the dressing room and all that. Cold tea, flat balls. Speak for yourself. Yeah.

Childish. I totally get what Forrest are doing. And having played in Scotland for years, I mean, Motherwell have got a lovely pitch now. And Celtic and Rangers, I know Rangers drew at Motherwell, who have superior players and go and play on a beautiful pitch. And I was thinking back in the day when I played, it used to be pure sand. And it's a leveller. And it's the same thing. Nottingham Forest...

saying, well, we're not going to give you the advantage which you want, Pep. That is one of the reasons why I think there are fewer FA Cup and Carabao Cup upsets these days. It's because everybody has a good pitch. Even the teams further down the pyramid have good pitches. That's a great point. You rarely, rarely get the type of pitch that you're talking about. Even in December and January, people...

because technology is such that they've all got good pitches. And of course, when it's a, you know, a minnow against a big team, suits the big team. It's not a leveller. It's interesting that you say about City would have wanted the pitch to be slick and to be able to pass the ball smoothly.

Well, Forrest seemed to pass the ball pretty smoothly when Morgan Gibbs-White spanned it 50 yards across the field to Callum Hudson-Odoi, who then ran at Guardiel and rinsed him and smashed it in at the near post. That was pretty slick football. So maybe it doesn't always...

work anyway. And do you know what they're going to do next year? Oh, go on. They're not going to water it next year, are they? They're going to keep it dry. And while Manchester City keep complaining, they should actually flip it, Manchester City, and they should say, we like dry pitches. Yeah, absolutely. Interesting quote from Pep Guardiola, the city manager, about the Club World Cup.

Something that I'm constantly moaning about this summer's tournament, four-week tournament, of course, in America, 32 teams involved. Pep was asked about it last week, about the attitude that he would have, because City and Chelsea are the Premier League's two representatives in the tournament. Pep says, they told me the golf courses are really nice in America. If my back allows...

I'll play. We are going to try to enjoy the experience. After 11 months season, I'm not thinking about bringing the players there to spend hours in their room, thinking about the next game. They are going to train, but I will let them be free. You can have fun and play the games as best as is possible for this new experience. Guardiola also added that he'll be encouraging the players to bring their wives and girlfriends and children along.

That sounds to me a little bit as though Pep isn't planning to take the whole thing hugely seriously, which will interest FIFA, given that there's a prize pot of £780 million to be shared between the 32 teams. Well, if Jack Grealish is there, he'll enjoy it. No, no. Steady on. Leave Jack alone.

No, there's nothing wrong with him going for a pint on a weekend when they don't have a game anyway. We discussed that on the last one. Do you think Pep is being just slightly sarcastic here, tongue-in-cheek? I think there's a bit of... That's the way I'm looking at that. He's not serious. He's a competitor. I'll say something about Pep Guardiola, right? For everything a reason.

For everything reason, Pep Guardiola doesn't say much that doesn't mean anything. I don't think that's sarcastic. I don't think that's... Well, he is being sarcastic, but I think he's doing it for a reason. I think there's a message there. And I think his message is... Go on. I think his message is, I ain't for this tournament. I don't think we should be going. I think that's his message. I think that's his message. That's interesting. I do, yeah. I do. I do. I get the facetiousness that you point out, and he is being facetious.

because he doesn't, but I think it's his way of getting, of getting that message. What would be the, the harm then? I'm not, I'm not disputing anything. What, what would be the harm in him just coming out and just flatly saying we shouldn't be here? I don't. Because, because that, because that then sets him directly against, uh,

FIFA, he won't care about that, but it sets him directly against his club. The club will want to go, obviously, for the profile, for the money, et cetera. It sets him against the club in a way that could be portrayed as such, whereas this does exactly what you say, which is it kind of leaves it up in the air. Is he joking? Does he mean it? But for him, I think the message is there. The fact that he's telling the players to bring their families, you don't take your families seriously.

to, well, England took the families to the World Cup in, whatever it was, the Baden-Baden, 2000, which World Cup, come on, help me out, 2006, 2006. But the fact he's saying, oh, bring the kids, bring the families, I think there's a message there. Anyway, anyway, let us know what you think about that. I mean, should City be taking the World Club Cup seriously? Is it just people like myself? Who would want the kids and,

going when you've got games anyway. I couldn't wait to get away from my family when I played on a Friday. I used to love it. I used to leave Sam with all the screaming kids at home.

Get to the hotel, have a massage, have your pasta. Lovely. Four kids and 24 dogs left behind whenever you went for an away game. Half as many as you've got now. Anyway, let us know what you think. Yes, should City be taking the Cup World Cup seriously? I mean, if they're going, you would think that they'd probably...

should Darwin Nunes red card or not penalty or not let us know what you think about that there was also people out there I think that Liverpool are getting far too many penalties in the Premier League season certainly a few Arsenal fans who are putting that point of view forward on socials tonight Mo Salah didn't half take his two very well by the way on Saturday not saving

um those and have arsenal faltered psychologically to open the door for liverpool um or is it just maybe your tips so you were my tips yeah or is it are you gonna say it's over it ain't over till it's over baby um yeah it's over but is it or is it is it psychological is it just because they haven't got a striker christine says because they don't have a striker let us know on the socials you know we can find it's come finds an x

and the one with the silly name and Chris is the one with the famous name. You can also go to Mail Sports social accounts at Instagram and TikTok and you can go to our ever-expanding YouTube channel. You can find excerpts from the show. You can let us know what you think and of course you can go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify wherever you listen to the show.

leave us a rating, hit the follow button and also leave us a couple of comments. We have just a couple here, Chris, actually on a, what was a serious topic from Thursday's podcast when we talked about Jason McAteer, the former Liverpool player and

the mental health issues that he's been talking about recently. JNS1971 on Spotify says, come on, lads. Jason McAteer, brave. Are you serious? Try getting up at 4 a.m. and working 11 shifts, six days a week on minimum wage. If Jason's that bored, get a voluntary job, helping out a charity or try reading a book. But Fazza wasn't having that. And Fazza says, come on, I understand that point.

And I think you're right to a degree, but we should all be aware that mental health doesn't discriminate. Just because Jason McAteer is a footballer shouldn't make a difference. And I think Chris and I are in that camp, aren't we, Chris? Absolutely. Anyway, on that one, let's go in some questions for Chris.

We've got three here. These all come from X. This is from Chris at Double Denim. And I think this is a really good question. If Forest are to get into the Champions League, Chris, where would they need to strengthen? That is a good question because we've seen, I think we've seen Aston Villa this season where I think they've had a brilliant season, Aston Villa. But I think that their squad has been slightly stretched, hasn't it? They've got Asensio and Rashford in over the...

over the period and then Newcastle last season wasn't it who you know couldn't quite get that that balance of Champions League football and and Premier League so I think they need a greater strength in depth and that means a backup for Chris Wood a quality backup for him their biggest issue Nottingham Forest is going to be holding on

to their key players. But I think I had a look recently about Murillo and I'll tell you he's had a brilliant season and I think you might shoot me down here. I think he's been the best right back in the Premier League this season, Ole Eina. You might say I'm an idiot for saying that. No, I've heard that expressed elsewhere. I think he is incredible in 1v1 situations. He is a brilliant defender.

But no, that'll be their issue is, you know, holding on to the best players and then maybe, you know, if hopefully they'll be in the Champions League, just getting sort of greater strength and depth. That's maybe what they lack a little bit. But of course, being in the Champions League in the first place will help them hang on to those players, we would hope. This is an interesting one. This is from Ryan Real Nice on X.com.

He asks you if you had to create a team from those you played with, who would be in it? Now, I just decided, because I have ultimate veto on this podcast, that we won't do the whole team today. We'll do section by section over the next two or three Mondays. So today we'll just do the goalkeeper, and then next week back for midfield the week after. So who of all the goalkeepers that you played with, Chris, would be in your ultimate XI, and why?

Well, yeah, I know you were a goalkeeper and I really like you, you know, I love you to bits, but that wouldn't be you. So just, you know, don't offend you or upset you. I've got a story about that coming up actually.

Did a bit of goalkeeping yesterday. I was with Arthur Boric at Celtic briefly, who was a really excellent goalkeeper. I felt Brian Gunn back in my Norwich days, but the outstanding goalkeeper I played with, Tim Flowers, I thought he was a sensational goalkeeper. And a big part of why we won the Premier League, 94-95. That game, the game VE, the VE day game at Ewood Park,

penultimate game yeah the one for the last game at Liverpool we beat Newcastle and Tim Flowers the saves he made that day his interview after was pretty sensational but he was a brilliant all-round goalkeeper great shot stopper what was his interview he did you remember the bottle interview people questioned Blackburn's bottle and he said we've got bottle and we've got bottle and we've got bottle

Prove what? Prove your lot wrong. Questioning our bottle at Blackburn. Although you did lose on the last game of the season. You did lose on the last game of the season at Anfield. And we lost to Manchester City, I think, maybe the game before that, and they were in the relegation zone, so we did bottle it.

Just looking at Tim Flowers' career here, great goalkeeper, only played 11 times for England, which just shows the competition that was around back in the day. He gave management a good go, by the way. Stafford Rangers, Northampton Town, Solihull, Macclesfield, Barnet, Stratford, Gloucester, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Alvchurch, all in the space of about 15 years, gave management a good go, did Tim Flowers.

So, OK, that's your goalkeeper. Next week we'll move on to bat four. He used to call himself the cat. He used to call himself the cat. Not overly original, is it? Overly original. It's funny that they call them goalkeepers' cats because I've got a cat and I've never seen him catch anything. He drops everything. He pushes everything out. You know what I mean? He hasn't got a strong wrist at all. Final question. Paul McCauley. Is Celtic's performance in Germany against Bayern, where they lost now, of course, a watershed for Scottish team?

whether it's a watershed I think that that performance we would like to think and fair play to Rangers as well in the week beating Fenerbahce Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce but I think that performance from Celtic at the

you know, the top end of European football, the Champions League, should give Celtic confidence because they'll win the league this season. If they get into the competition and have to go to a qualifier next season, that they can compete against the very best because Bayern Munich are

They're going to go through against Leverkusen. I think they won 3-0, didn't they? Yeah, two for Harry. I do think that was a sort of, not we've arrived moment because it ended up losing, but I think the performance was really important for the optics and the way that people would have seen it.

Celtic progress or show progression from the last couple of seasons in the Champions League. Yeah, and it certainly was, just as you mentioned, a very good performance by Ferguson's Rangers to beat Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce team

in midweek as well. Right, very, very quickly, mate, before we get into some moments of the weekend, big week for Newcastle. They play West Ham away tonight, Monday. But of course, their big appointment is Sunday in the Cowboy Cup final against Liverpool. I know we're a little bit way out

for saying this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I've got a sneaking suspicion that Newcastle are going to do that, even though they're not got Anstin Gordon, even though they haven't got Lewis Hall, even though they haven't got Sven Bottman. I have a feeling, because Liverpool have got PSG on Tuesday. I've got a sneaking feeling for Newcastle. I'm just going to say it right now. Is this the same feeling you had for Arsenal to win the Premier League? Pretty much. Same feeling? Yeah, pretty much. Yeah.

And for Nottingham Forest to go down. Same feeling for that. Well, you might be third time lucky. And for Everton opening the door to relegation when they got rid of Sean Dyche. It's coming from the same place, yeah. I've not got the same feeling as you, but let's get it right. It wouldn't be a total surprise. I think Isak is the one where whether he's fit or not is key, but...

You've got to say they're going to miss Anthony Gordon and that whole situation, why he's not playing, moment of madness we've discussed on previous pods. But you think if Liverpool turn up and play to their full potential, they'll probably just have a little bit too much. Their bench, their bench, the Liverpool bench, the players they can bring on.

you know, key at this time of the season. Speaking to Craig Hope, our Newcastle correspondent, just this morning, actually, Sunday morning, and he described in passing, Alexander Izak as the best centre forward in the world. And he said it like almost as without fear of contradiction. He just said it in a matter of fact way. He said that, yeah. Was he in his Newcastle kit when he said it? Well, I couldn't hear his studs clacking on the kitchen floor while he said it. But yeah, Alexander Izak, best centre forward in the world. I mean, look. Hmm.

it's up for discussion it's up for discussion yeah discussion up for uh discussion anyway that's my tip for the weekend we'll get into that game uh properly on thursday when we do a weekend preview show um for now chris let's do some moments of the weekend i've got a frog in my throat so while i cough i'll let you go well my moment of the weekend um isn't football um related at

at all there was a cricket one for me I've got two quick ones a cricket one I don't know whether you watched the India New Zealand final today a catch from a guy from New Zealand called Phillips unbelievable and then on Sky this evening they said well that's not the only decent catch it was one handed the Indian opening batsman absolutely leathered unbelievable catch

And then they reeled off another about eight catches in the tournament, all very similar from the same guy. So that's amazing. So that was my moment of the weekend. But my sort of moment which will supersede that is I went for a bit of Sunday lunch today. I know you probably like a bit of Sunday lunch because you're from the north. Oh, of course. Bit of beef. Yeah, a turkey duo and a beef duo and a couple of Yorkshire puddings. You're also a turkey duo.

Sounds like an awful pop group from the 70s. Well, you have like turkey and beef. No, you don't. That's ridiculous. Nonsense. But have you not heard of Bernard Matthews? Of course I have, yeah. Turkey and beef duo. So I had all that, and then it's my birthday tomorrow, so I was with the family and a nice birthday cake. But the highlight of my weekend was my granddaughter, who...

had her first piece of birthday cake and uh i've actually posted on instagram her eating her first cake and just to say it's a bad sign for for uh rosabelle's mum and dad poppy and ollie because she absolutely demolished it the whole thing i'm very excited about cake i know you are as well but that was my moment of the weekend your birthday tomorrow you slipped that one by me how

Am I going to get some? I'm going to have to interflore you. It's too late to get a card down there. I'm going to have to interflore you. Interflore you. That's all right. There's always next year. If we make it. If we make it. You mentioned earlier my time as a goalkeeper, which goes back, of course, being very much younger. Five-a-side goalkeeper, blah, blah, blah. We've talked about it before. I've had a bit of football in the family Saturday afternoon. Bit of a trip out onto the countryside myself, Vicky and our little girl. Met my sister. To country. Yeah.

was the sports, the outstanding sportsman in our family. He was a very good hockey player when she was younger. Anyway, I had to get a bit of a kick about and I was in goal encouraging everybody to do their best. Well, you put in goal. Did they tell you to go in goal? Yeah.

So Ethan, my daughter, had to go. I say it might have saved that one with my left hand. My sister, Jan, had to go. I plucked that one out of the air while I was heading to the top corner. And then Vicky had to go and smashed it so hard from four yards, hit me clean between the eyes. Clean in the face. I'm 55 years old. It could have killed me. Did you have your glasses on? Yes. It could have actually killed me, yeah. Seriously.

That's bullying, that is. That's lovely. And I was in the local, because we had this lovely weather this weekend, of course, I was in the, down our local park, it's not Fog Lane Park, Digby Park this morning, took Ether down for a kickabout, had a really good two hours kicking it around, just messing about, she's only six. There was a guy, I

in the other goal down the end of the pitch with his two kids one would have been about six and one would have been about three and he was drilling them he was like proper drilling them for about at least for hours drilling them and there's this poor three year old don't go backwards go forwards go forwards control it pass it use your other foot use your other foot not that way that way I thought he

I thought, you poor kids. I mean, what have you got a view on that? I mean, when are kids old enough to be taught to play football properly? Or am I doing it wrong just saying to Ethan, come on, just whack it as far as you can and let's see how we get on? Maybe I'd be somewhere in the middle.

They're new in the guy. Oh, listen, if they're old enough and they can walk, then yeah, drill them. Drill them. That's what I say. Honestly, we had a good hour or so on our kickabout. We then went to the playground and did the swings and the slide. We then went for an ice cream. This bloke was still going. This bloke was still going by this point. He was doing kind of, you know, Cruyff turns with the three-year-old by this point.

I love all that. Yeah, there we go. Anyway, proper moment of the weekend. Look, people will have noticed over the weekend, Stuart Pearce, of course, former England captain, Nottingham Forest legend, suffered a turn on a plane back from Las Vegas. He'd been there to watch the Rugby League. He's a huge Warrington Wolves fan. Stuart Pearce loves his Rugby League. He'd been over there to watch the game with Wigan Warriors. Taken ill on the flight home and is now recovering well.

in hospital. And I just wanted to mention it because I know a couple of people who have been in touch with Stuart. He's doing absolutely fantastic.

He's quite relaxed about it, telling people not to worry about him. And I just thought that when we all heard that news on Friday, we were a little bit like, a little bit alarmed, obviously, but Stuart is doing well and we believe he'll be travelling home soon. Bit of a different one from over the weekend, but didn't want to do the podcast without mentioning it really.

I did notice at the city ground yesterday because he was a former city player and manager, of course. In the third minute, that was his number, everybody stood up and gave a rousing round of applause for Psycho. So we pass our best wishes on, don't we, Chris? Absolutely. Pass our best wishes on. Phenomenal player and a good coach.

bloke to boot right there we go that's it thanks for joining uh us everybody like i say any thoughts you have on what we've talked about today do let us know you know where to find us find us on the socials and uh apple podcast spotify etc you know the drill don't need to underline it um okay we'll be back on thursday i am ian laderman the chap who's now just told me that he'd

tends to have turkey and beef on his plate on a Sunday lunchtime a lot of people do turkey gyro never heard of the like it's Chris Sutton this has been us all kicking off