Celebrating is Banned, Coventry Could Cause an Upset and Elland Road is as Intimidating as They Say
37:00 Share

Seriously popular.

I'm just playing. Get the Angel Reef Special at McDonald's now. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. And participating restaurants for a limited time.

You know what's smart? Enjoying a fresh gourmet meal at home that you didn't have to cook. Meet Factor, your loophole in the laws of mealtime. Chef-crafted meals delivered with a tap, ready in just two minutes. You know what's even smarter? Treating yourself without cheating your goals. Factor is dietician-approved, chef-prepared, and you-plated. Pretty smart, huh? Refresh your routine and eat smart with Factor. Learn more at factormeals.com.

Chris, in the last round of the FA Cup, I had a bit of a moan that all the ties had come out the wrong way round. And what I mean is that the big teams were all playing at home, which of course diminishes the chances of an upset. It seems to me as though the FA Cup gods must have been listening when the draw was made for round four. Either that or somebody had warmed the...

the balls, maybe it was that. I mean, listen to this lot. Orient at home to Manchester City, Coventry at home to Ipswich, Wigan at home to Fulham, Birmingham at home to Newcastle, Blackburn at home to Wolves, Plymouth at home to Newcastle, Doncaster at home to Palace and Exeter at home to Forest. Eight absolutely belting chances of FA Cup uptake.

That is more like it. Yeah, some good ties in there. Ian, I'm actually going to cover the Leighton Orient against Manchester City game. Can I smell an upset with that? Wouldn't it be great? All conquering Manchester City who haven't really conquered anything this season. Going to Brisbane Road. And do you know what? I've never been there, never played there. I've driven past it.

but I haven't got a parking space just yet, but I am looking forward to this tie. If you haven't got a parking space, you might be driving past it quite a few times on Saturday afternoon. You've probably driven past it before thinking, thank God I've never played there. We'll get to that game in a minute. All-conquering Manchester City, you say. That's Manchester City. You've lost 11 of the last 22 games. How can that actually... That was sarcasm. I know.

I know. How could that actually have happened? Anyway, I think there's probably no better place to start today on this frosty Thursday morning than Birmingham versus Newcastle. Newcastle, the team of the moment. St. James' Park, Newcastle, looked like a pretty good place to be on Wednesday night as Eddie Howe's team bombed.

bullied Arsenal off the pitch in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, bullied them off the pitch and played them off the park. Now it looks like St Andrews will be a pretty lively place to be. Saturday evening, 5.45, kick-off,

that is going to be jumping. And it's going to be difficult for Newcastle, I think, coming off the back of Wednesday night's game, to go again against a Birmingham team that are eight points clear of third place at the top of League One with two games in hand. They've only lost two games,

All season. But you say it's going to be difficult for Newcastle. Could you flip that and say they should go into that game on a real high, you know, after beating Arsenal over two legs in a manner, which they did?

you know, why, why wouldn't they want to get to another cup final? What will be interesting is, is whether Eddie Howe feels he does need to, to make changes, you know, to the team, maybe freshen things up a little bit, but got to say Birmingham City, I know a little bit about the manager, Chris Davies. He, you know, Brendan Rogers, assistant up at Celtic. I think he, you know, was, was with Brendan at other clubs. I think he was with, yeah. Yeah.

and then he had a year at Tottenham, didn't he, under Ange Postakoglu and stepped...

stepped up and took on the mantle of Birmingham City, which we know has been a bit of a hospital pass in recent times, but he's done a brilliant job in getting them into their position. Some may argue that a club as big as Birmingham should be strolling League One, but it doesn't feel like it's that easy anymore in League One. So credit to him. And he's brought a lot of players actually from Scotland,

And they've got Jay Stansfield, who I think was something like £12 or £14 million. Was it £15 million? I think so. Which is unbelievable money for a club to spend in League One. But yeah, Birmingham City, my former club, Ian, who I took down actually from the Premier League to the Championship. But no, I wished them well.

And one of the, one of the number of clubs for whom you played about three, three games and left absolutely no footprint behind whatsoever. Just go, I want to go. That's the first time you have smiled this morning. I want to go right back. I'll be smiling when this is over. I'm going to go right back to the start of what you talked about. I'm going to ask you. So if you're Alexander Isaac, you wish, you know,

Or if you're Anthony Gordon. I don't think he's won a golden boot yet. Or a Premier League. Indeed. Or Anthony Gordon. Or a Scottish League. Or Jacob Murphy. Any of those players who played so well for Newcastle. I mean, seriously, you know, a massive effort to get through that game. Massive emotional effort, adrenaline, et cetera, et cetera. You then rock up at St. Andrews this weekend. Just answer me honestly, how difficult, if at all, is it for you then to get yourself back

physically and mentally ready for another different challenge but but i have another big challenge

That's your job. Okay. Is that easy? That's what you're paid to do. So my mindset would be you're playing a team from a lower division. Let's go and get this game over early. Right. That would simply be it. Get out of the traps, couple of goals up, and then the option then for the manager to make decisions

but you want to go as far as you can in cup competitions. Managers, it'll be interesting, this sort of batch of games in the FA Cup because there are certain teams that

and certain managers who will make changes for obvious reasons, for league positions, for ambitions moving forward this season. Some of the teams, i.e. Wolves, are in a bit of a relegation battle. Eddie Howe over the years at Bournemouth did make plenty of changes, didn't he? He did. In cup competitions.

But, you know, you just you only have to see the raucous atmosphere at St. James Park last night to know what it means for Newcastle United to be in another major final. So, you know, I'm sure he will go strong in this FA Cup game against Birmingham.

Newcastle are excellent against Arsenal, as I alluded to. Just one point I want to make. It's more of a hangover, actually, from Arsenal's game against Man City at the weekend than it is from last night. We know all the fuss about the Miles Lewis Skelly celebration mocking Erling Haaland at the weekend, blah, blah, blah. Tony Scholes, the chief football officer of the Premier League, has subsequently said...

Some of the celebrations have been very funny, but there's a line. Once it crosses over into mockery or criticism, then we would need to deal with it. Need to deal with it? Really? Do the Premier League really need to be getting involved in goal celebrations unless they're obviously offensive? I'm not sure they do. Hang on, I've not seen this. So...

Lewis Skelly's celebration, he's calling that out as, what, mockery, you're saying? Well, yeah, he's saying once celebrations cross over, no doubt about it. Lewis Skelly was mocking Erling Haaland. There's no doubt about that. You and I have our view on that. We talked about it on Monday in terms of what it means for Arsenal's mentality and what it might mean for a young player down the line. But that's completely different to the Premier League now saying,

Once the celebration crosses over into mockery, we would need to deal with it. I don't really think that's the Premier League's remit to be getting involved in goal celebrations unless, as I say, they are offensive in some way.

Yeah, unless it's a political gesture or something, you know, completely daft, then, I mean, it's a bit of fun, isn't it? I mean, we discussed it on Monday's part. Harlan called Lewis Skelly out. And as a young lad, who are you? And then Lewis Skelly coming away. I actually think it's funny.

and we need that in the game. Look, we all love football, but I mean, there is an element now where there are some people within the game who are taking things far too seriously. We love a rivalry, don't we? We love a bit of back and forth, a bit of pettiness. That's what the game's about. Yeah, I think the Premier League probably needs to find something more important to deal with. It's all kicking off as proudly supported by Paddy Power.

Now then, each week Chris and I are challenged to place bets on the week's chosen fixture. And each week we are joined by Paddy Power's resident guru, Lewis Richards. Now last week we were placing bets on Arsenal against Manchester City, but guess what? No one managed to pick a winner.

Well, football was the winner of that game, as long as football supports Arsenal. What a game that was, to be fair. We did all right, though. We nearly got there. Ian was only missing the half-time result and I only needed Foden to score to get something. So we came close last week. Let's get it this week. So this week we'll be looking at Aston Villa versus Tottenham. And Ian, we'll start with you. What are you going to go with this week?

Okay, Lewis, I am going to that game actually and I predict that I will be watching a match that sees Villa leading at half-time but the match ending in a draw after 90 minutes with Tottenham captain Hung Min's son being part of the comeback by scoring a goal.

These half-time, full-times, they've got to come in sooner rather than later. We've come close, so we'll stick with it this week. The total odds for this are 29.34-1, so just under 30-1. We'll start with the Suns scoring. I'm surprised at this. They've only got six in the Premier League, with another four in the Cups. That's three in the Europa League. Do you know who Spurs' top goalscorer is this season? Solanke? James Maddison.

James Madison. Oh, good. James Madison there. Top goal scorer. Didn't know that. But Villa this season, at home, they've only lost twice. Palace in the Cup and then Arsenal who, you know, are fighting for the league. So, decent game there. So, I think Spurs are going to find it tough and especially if they're just under 3-1 to win this game. So, I think it really shows their form. Yeah,

But I think you're right in terms of it's going to be an interesting game. Villa have conceded in all their last five. Spurs are always worth a goal. So every chance of this coming in being an exciting game. You've gone for the draw at full-time. Who do you think will go through? Because obviously there's no replays in FA Cups. Villa. Villa.

Villa will go through. I think so. Okay. So that's that one. Just to be clear, is that part of the bet or have you gone for a draw and an FA Cup tie? You know what my bet is. Lewis has already, Lewis has read it out. So I've read it out. The only person I've ever known who's gone for a draw and an FA Cup tie. Do you want my bet, Lewis?

Come on in, Chris. Let's move on to you. I'm going to nail this down, Lewis, because I am known as Mr Bravery at home. Villa to win 3-1 and Marlon to score. What about that?

you are brave this is just over 20 to 1 Villa at home are impressive so it's hard to argue with it there's four games this season at home Villa have won by two goals or more

And against bigger teams, there seems to be some closer ones there. Let's not forget it was only in November that Spurs thrashed Villa 4-1. But you have gone for a new addition to school. What do we make of Villa's transfer window business? It looked quite good to me. Yeah, I think it was OK. Rashford's coming in, but he's still got a point to prove, hasn't he? But Marlon, I think he'll fit in nicely.

He's started, he's had two appearances already, 100% shot on target ratio, three shots, three on target, so see if he gets a goal this weekend. What about you Lewis, what are you going to go for mate?

I'm very similar to Chris, but I've gone for Villa to win by exactly one goal. Because I've said they don't tend to run away with games against top-tier sides. 2-2 against Arsenal, 2-1 versus City, 2-1 defeat to Forest, bar the big ones. But if they're big teams, I think it's going to be close. So I've gone for Aston Villa to win by exactly one goal and along the same lines.

thinking of Chris new player to come in I've gone for Rashford to score at any time I still think there's a big player in there so that's just over seven and a half to one similar to Chris similar to Chris apart from with better clothes better haircut and a deeper knowledge of football right thank you for being with us mate remember odds are correct at the time of recording please gamble responsibly

I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto-friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger. So I can get in more squats anywhere I can. One, two, three. Will that be cash or credit? Credit. Galaxy S25 Ultra, the AI companion that does the heavy lifting so you can do you. Get yours at Samsung.com. Compatible with select apps requires Google Gemini account results may vary based on input check responses for accuracy.

Talking about Erling Haaland, it'll be interesting to see if he plays at Orient this weekend. And I make that point simply because City's next game after the FA Cup is on Tuesday night at home to... Or is it Wednesday? Sorry, I think it's Wednesday. At home... No, it's not. It's Tuesday. Tuesday night at home to Real Madrid, of course. Have you got a producer in your ear there telling you that sort of stuff? I'm just doing some mental...

gymnastics as we talk. It is Tuesday night against Real Madrid, of course, the first leg of their Champions League knockout. So it'll be interesting to see what team Pep Guardiola picks against Orient. Orient are sixth in League One. They haven't been in the second tier since 1970. They're going quite well. They're going very well under Richie Wellens, their manager. We'll get to him in a minute. It just strikes me though, though,

Chris tells me how things are changing at City. If Pep does make big changes, that means he's likely to bring in people like Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne. I mean, blimey, there's a number of layers to that particular topic, but it sounds queer, doesn't it, to say that? Yeah, yeah. And look, I mean...

You look how deep City's squad is, you look at the business they've done in January, the option to bring still quality players in. But Pep does respect the cup competitions and the way that the Premier League has gone this season, he'll be absolutely desperate to win a trophy for Manchester City. So whoever he picks, of course he'll be looking ahead to the game whether it's Tuesday or Wednesday.

next week the Champions League but he'll want to make sure that the team get back into a winning rhythm before then. It was interesting I saw a quote last week from De Bruyne talking about how he would be quite open to talking to City about a new contact Christ

Christ, I'm absolutely sure he would, to be fair. The way he's been playing or not playing, I'm absolutely sure. Yeah, I'm not surprised he'd be happy to talk about a new contract. Whether that feeling would be reciprocated is another matter. I want to ask you something, Chris, very quickly. I saw a photo on social media of the away dressing room at Brisbane Road.

And let's just say that no cats will be swung in there on Saturday afternoon. As a big name, seriously, as a big name player, and you walk into an environment like that, when you played, whether it was a lower league team in the FA Cup or one of the smaller teams in Scotland when you were playing for Celtic, when you walk into one of those environments

Tiny little dressing rooms and you've got wooden benches and it's cold and you've just got a peg for your jacket. Does it make any difference to you at all? Does it make you feel particularly grateful for the facilities that you have at your big club? How does it work psychologically?

I couldn't care less. I mean, it's a very individual thing. But most, I mean, virtually every player I played with, well, if not every player, would have grown up in the grassroots environment working their way up through the game. So everybody's used to that, right?

Not now, Chris, when they're coming through academies. Not now. No, that is okay. Yeah, that is quite interesting. But I wasn't, you know, brought up with a silver spoon in that respect. So it didn't bother me. You know, I always used to, you know, a lot of managers would, when you're playing teams from a lower division, always, you know, the opening line in the team talk would be about earning the right position.

and making sure that the team is committed and they match the opposition for work rate, etc. And if they do that, or if we do that, then we'll win the game. But no, I always used to quite enjoy going to smaller grounds and what have you and playing. And winning in the end. Facilities didn't ever cross my mind.

I touched on him earlier, the orient manager, Richie Wellens, big Man United fan, was actually at the 1999 Champions League final that United won in Barcelona against Bayern Munich, was also at the 2010 one that they lost against Barcelona, Wembley. But I think one of the lovely stories about this tie, and this does tell you what the FA Cup is,

is all about. Orient would not even be at this stage were it not for their goalkeeper, Josh Keighley, a lad who's on loan from Spurs. And that's not because of a great save he made earlier in the competition. It's because in the 97th minute of Orient's second round tie against non-league

But Oldham, in November, he scored an equalising goal that took Orient to extra time. We covered it on the pod at the time. It was one of our moments of the weekend. And that just shows how things can change in the FA Cup. If he hadn't popped up with that header, they'd have gone out. Yet here they are, two or three months later, with a big high-profile tie against the Premier League champions. That is what we like about the FA Cup. Now, one of my most memorable moments

not just FA Cup games that I've covered in recent times, but actually football matches I've been to has to be last season's semi-final at Wembley, Coventry against Manchester United. So much happens in football these days, Chris. Football moves so quickly that it's easy to move on from these games and almost forget about them. But that, of course, was the game that saw Coventry come back from 3-0 down against Man Utd to draw...

And then score what we thought was the winner in the last minute of normal time. Victor Torp's goal was ruled out for offside. Of course, United went on to win on penalties and win the FA Cup. If I was a Coventry fan, I think I'd still have that in my system somewhere. Yeah, I mean, they came so close, didn't they? And when you actually think...

what a momentous occasion that was for Manchester United and how that has affected sort of where Manchester United are today because Ten Hag winning the final the new contract and you know a really difficult season for him and him losing his job but

From Coventry's perspective, they'll still be wondering, the fans, how they didn't win that. But they put in a brilliant performance. Nobody really saw them, I think, in fairness, competing at the level which they did do. And poor old Mark Robbins came so close, didn't he?

Exactly. And he's no longer Coventry manager, of course. Frank Lampard is the manager there at the moment. I do remember that day, the press box, as you know, Chris, at Wembley, has some corporate seats just to the left of it. And there was a group of Coventry fans sitting in those seats at that game. And there was a father and son there.

And I have to say, it almost gets me emotional now thinking about it again. There was a father and son. The father would probably be about my age. The son was probably about 15 or something. And when Victor Torp scored that goal in adversity comments, the two of them just like collapsed into each other's arms. It was almost, it was...

In that moment, it was probably the greatest thing that father and son had ever experienced between them in their lives, probably. What a moment. You can imagine what it would be like if it had been there with one of your lads, and then it was taken away from them. And then it was taken away from them because Hadji Wright's toenail was the wrong side of the VAR line. Absolutely extraordinary occasion. Victor Thorpe is still going strong, by the way. He'll be playing, I would imagine, in this game against Ipswich.

this weekend Hadji Wright is also still at Coventry he's been injured recently their American forward Frank Lampard doing well they lost at home to Leeds on Wednesday night but prior to that I mean most people lose to Leeds these days prior to that they'd won their last 4-0 and had only lost 1-9 they're in with an outside chance

of the playoffs. I would actually, weird as it sounds, Chris, I would probably put them as favourites for this game. I don't know what the bookies are saying. Ipswich are sinking pretty fast and I would imagine, I would imagine we'll rest players for this game given the sequence in the Premier League they've got coming up.

I think this is really interesting for Ipswich and Kieran McKenna. And I think Kieran McKenna's got a big dilemma here because you're right, Ipswich are in a terrible run of form that he needs to get back to winning ways. So I think it's...

It's how he views it, of course. But if I was Kieran McKenna, I would go full hit. I'd play my strongest team. I would go to Coventry, try and win the game, show a bit of ambition as well to the Ipswich fans, where it has been a difficult season, but in the main they've stuck with him. But to find a rhythm again within the team and get a sort of winning mentality, if that's at all possible, before the tough run in the Premier League. I

I absolutely take that point. I totally see that argument. The games that they've got coming up Ipswich in the league after this weekend, Villa, Spurs, Man United. So it doesn't get any easier for them in the Premier League. I think I've just said they've lost their last four. They had that home run against Chelsea, didn't they? A while ago, which everybody thought was going to give them lift off. It's actually had the opposite effect.

they've started trending backwards since then just off the top of my head I am right in saying aren't I Chris that Coventry almost knocked Tottenham out of the League Cup didn't they earlier this season I'm sure I'm absolutely sure they did yes that late Brennan Johnson goal yes

Was that an extra time or certainly? No, I think it was in the 90 minutes. They scored two late goals, didn't they? Spurs, I think I'm right in saying so. Yeah, good memory. So, you know, it shows Ipswich have got it in them. Sorry, Coventry have got it in them, I should say.

Yeah, interesting tactical questions, interesting selection conundrum for Kieran McKenna ahead of that one for sure. I think if you're looking for upsets, as we always are, and if I was going to circle some on my coupon, to use the old term phraseology of the pools, I think this one is one that I'd be putting a ring around. Not quite sure, Chris, what will happen at Ellen Road today.

Leeds at home to Millwall. If anything has got an old school feel about it, then it's possibly this one. I want to ask you a very straightforward question, Chris. Is Ellen Road as intimidating to play at as everybody says it is?

I think so. I think so. It's one of the stadiums I used to really enjoy playing at. And, you know, a full, raucous Ellum Road. I was there for their playoff semifinal against Norwich City last season. And the atmosphere generated within the stadium, they absolutely smashed Norwich.

4-0 to get to Wembley and then missed out, didn't they, to Southampton in the final. But the atmosphere that evening was something special and you feel it. So I think it's one of the old...

one of the great old grounds of English football. I mean, you would have been there many times. What's your view? Yeah, yeah. Well, I'm interested to ask what my view is. My view is usually obstructed because for some reason the Leeds press office always put me behind a pillar in the press box. I've obviously done so. Seriously, every time I go to Elm Road, I get the same seat and it's a seat that means you can't see one of the goals. With a cushion on.

And yeah, and I always look behind me and see kind of all manner of folk, some of whom don't even have laptops or notebooks sitting there in the press seats with marvellous views of the field. And there's me peering around the pillar to see the goal. So whoever it is at Leeds, whoever I've upset ahead of next season, when it looks as though you'll be back in the Premier League, please take pity on me and give me a seat so I can see the bloody field. But no, absolutely right, Chris. Fabulous old ground. I'm really happy that...

The 49ers group, who of course are the main owners of Leeds these days, they're planning to redevelop Ellen Road, but they're planning to redevelop it on the same site. I know the original plan was to move the training ground from Weatherby to have it on that site.

on that site as well, because I think Leeds training, whether it be for those of you who don't know, which is halfway between Leeds and Newcastle, is a real, I think that puts players off joining Leeds. I just think it's too far. It's too remote. If Leeds have everything in the city centre near Ellen Road, that then gives players the opportunity to live in Leeds. It would even give them the opportunity to live in Manchester. I know that wouldn't go down very well with Leeds supporters, but it would be fantastic.

a factor, these things do matter. So, you know, the ongoing development... Who would want to live in Manchester? The ongoing development and...

re-emergence of Leeds is something that always fascinates me. I think the Premier League generally is weaker for not having a team from Yorkshire in it at all, given the two Sheffield clubs are currently in the championship as well. And Hull, if we class them as Yorkshire, are in the championship as well. Hang on a minute. What do you mean if we class...

Some people talk about Humberside, Yorkshire. It's either Yorkshire or not. I mean, come on. I class it as Yorkshire. East Riding of Yorkshire, I class it as Yorkshire. Anyway, I'm digressing. I just think that the Premier League is stronger with Leeds...

with Leeds in it. I actually, I was one of the few people who liked what's done play under Jesse Marks. Not sure many Leeds supporters did, but I did. And I'd like to see them back. Anyway, what is your assessment of how they're going so far, Chris, in terms of their efforts to get back up?

I'm a big fan of the manager Daniel Farker did really good things at Norwich I know he ended up losing his job when they got in the Premier League but that was an impossible job really for him to keep Norwich in the Premier League he's gone to Leeds now and last season came close and I know there are Leeds fans out there because of the expectation at the club who've

became a little bit disgruntled with him and his style of football. But I always...

think that Daniel Farker's approach is a positive one. He likes to play attacking football. I think they've been well balanced this season. And you mentioned earlier they beat Coventry last night. Good away win. I think last time at home they thumped Cardiff City 7-0. And they've got some really good players, some talented players. They'll need to invest in the summer if they do go up.

It does look like two from four, doesn't it, in the Championship, but they are in pole position. And I would relish seeing Leeds back in the Premier League. I think the Premier League would be, as you said, not just about Yorkshire clubs, but better for Leeds being back in it.

Yeah, two from four, as you say. I suspect it will be Leeds and Sheffield United, although if Burnley don't concede a goal at some point, then surely... Unbelievable. Still nine goals. That's a world record, Ian. Nine goals so far in the Championship Burnley have conceded, and they're now on a run of nine games without conceding. Absolutely extraordinary. They just can't score. Well, they do score the odd goal, but even...

Amazingly so about Burnley. Just digressing a little bit.

I think some of their fans are pretty bored with their football because they don't see enough goals. I mean, you would think that a team that had only conceded nine goals in February now, nine goals in the league in the Champions League would be top of the table, wouldn't you? But they're not because you can't score any either. Anyway, we can't finish this pod without mentioning properly the most bonkers team in Europe by a mile. The Scottish Cup takes place this weekend as well. Aberdeen.

Jimmy Tellings, Aberdeen at home to Dunn-Firming. They start the season with 13 straight wins. Aberdeen didn't lose in the Scottish League until the end of November.

and have now only won one of the subsequent 14, and that was against Elgin in the Cup. What on earth has happened in this season of two halves for Aberdeen, Chris? And is there any chance of poorer Jimmy Telleen losing his job?

It's a really interesting question, isn't it? I think not. I think there are some Aberdeen fans out there who are a little bit disgruntled, but I cannot, and I've been thinking about this because I do a lot of my work in Scotland, and I've been thinking about this for weeks. I cannot think of another team that,

who have ever had that contrast. I think it was 16 wins, you say 30, I think they won the first 16, something like that. I think it was, in the league, 31 points out of 33. Think about that.

And so since then, it's been four points out of 42. 31 out of 33, four points out of 42. That is incredible. He's brought players in now in January, which suggests that he will be in for the longer term. What I'd say to you or to Aberdeen fans, seventh place,

Last season, I think they got something like 48 points. This season, they are sort of on course to beat that, albeit they're on a terrible run. But you can't keep hiring and firing managers, which Aberdeen have done in recent seasons where it's, you know,

There's been an overhaul of playing personnel and a new manager comes in. Guess what? He wants a different set of players and it's...

it's just a repetitive process. So I do hope that they stick with him, as I say, because he has brought his own players in in January. He didn't really have a bit of recruitment in the summer window. But I do think that he should be given time. They are still fourth in the top flight, but they are in a position where it's not impossible for them to finish in 11th place. I think there's something like nine points ahead of Ross County in 11th, nine or 10 points.

So if their form carries on, then they could be in a battle to stay in the division. In the Scottish League, the 11th place is a playoff

is the 12th team go down and then the 11th they'll be in a playoff against one of the teams from the championship. I remember back in, I don't know, it must have been October time or something and they had a big game against Rangers on a Wednesday night at home in the middle of that fantastic run. You were going to it for Sky. I was desperate to go for it. I wanted to kind of go and write about this amazing Aberdeen story and the situation at that point was such that I couldn't get a press ticket. I

I couldn't get a match ticket either. And then I thought I'll go up there and just watch it in a pub and write a colour piece. And the flights were 700 quid from Manchester. That was how badly everybody wanted to watch Aberdeen. And they were singing, and they were singing, Stuff You Celtic, not Stuff You, we're going to win the league. Haven't heard that for a while. Something tells me I think I'd be able to get a ticket for this game at home against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup.

this weekend anyway come on Jimmy Talline come on Aberdeen maybe the Scottish Cup can save you you never ever know right before we finish want to say a couple of things you might have thought why haven't we spoke why haven't we talked about Plymouth versus Liverpool why haven't we talked about Villa versus Spurs simply because we're recording this on a Thursday morning and of course both those teams Liverpool and Tottenham are playing each other in the Cowboy Cup tonight anything could happen in that game so

Difficult to have a chat about something when they've still got a game to play. What I will say, Chris, very quickly, I noticed that Mickey van de Ven has been drawn from this game against Liverpool. There's obviously something going on in his head there about whether he's fit or not. And Hans-Poster Klag, who said that... Hang on, I'm not letting you say that. Hans-Poster Klag, who said that...

that Mickey Van Der Ven didn't quite think he was ready yet for a Premier League game. All I'm saying is sometimes when you've had a success of injuries, your mind can start to play tricks on your body in terms of whether you're feeling little tweaks and strains. That is true, isn't it? Well, that's true. But your diagnosis... That's what I meant. That's what I meant. He's just an important player for them. They need him back. They need him back. You're not Dr. Kildare, are you?

No, indeed. No medical qualifications here. No journalism qualifications. All of a sudden, Mickey Van Der Ven, you know, psychologically, you're telling Mickey Van Der Ven he's not there based on never meeting him. What I will say with confidence, by the way, and authority, is the fact that the final big upset potential game of the weekend has not even been played on the bloody weekend.

Exeter at home to Nottingham Forest next Tuesday. What a load of nonsense. Is it? Next Tuesday, which happens to be the same night that Manchester City are playing at home against Real Madrid. So if the FA were hoping to get a load of, you know, a little bit more focus at the end of FA Cup weekend by sticking on on a Tuesday, well, that's backfired.

That's backfired on them, hasn't it? FA Cup weekend starts on Friday night. Man United versus Leicester. Of course, Man United are on TV. Man United would be on TV if they were playing their own reserves in the FA Cup, frankly, simply because that's what TV companies do. That's not possible. So that starts... Well, they might have a chance of winning. So that starts...

on a Friday. The FA Cup weekend starts on a Friday night and finishes on a Tuesday night. I wish my weekends lasted that long, by the way, and we'd all be a little bit happier, wouldn't we? You know what I mean? What a load of old nonsense. What a load of old nonsense. But on a more upbeat note, we talked on Monday's pod, didn't we? I think it was your moment of the weekend. It was the Gedlin episode.

in Nottingham had offered Forest fans free beer every time their team scored a goal that weekend. Forest beat Brighton 7-0. The Gatling Inn ended up giving away 300 free pints. I'm amazed they're still open. Well, Forest, they're good at stuff like this. Forest have jumped aboard that train and John McGovern, of course, the former European Cup winning captain and ambassador for Forest has been along to the Gatling Inn to say thank you and thank them for their support

and there's images of that and video of that available on Forest social media if you want to go and check it out brilliant nice story Chris from your hometown club right there we go that's it FA Cup weekend is upon us I felt a bit you know flat at the start of this podcast I don't feel flat now I'm ready to go I'm at Liverpool tonight I'm glad I've cheered you up

I'm at Liverpool. It's just the sound of my own voice that's cheering me up. I've got Liverpool tonight. I've got a column to write and bang up for it. Let us know what you think, everybody. Come on, join in. Join the community. Come on. We need a few more of you on board. We certainly need to hear from more of you. You can find us on X. You know that Ladyman Sutton stupid name.

and famous name and go to male sports other social media accounts at instagram and tiktok we've also got a very impressive youtube channel check us out there hit the subscribe button whether you're listening to us on spotify or apple podcast you know where that follow button is you should do by now place your finger upon it please and while you are there leave us a rating plenty of ground covered today let us know what you make of it all chris

Enjoy yourself at Brisbane Road. I do hope you get a parking spot. If you don't, always remember public transport is available. We'll see you on Monday, everyone.