Football Daily - 72+ EFL Pod: Bloomfield’s battle & Bromley edge closer

Episode Date: March 25, 2026

Aaron Paul, Jobi McAnuff & Bromley boss Andy Woodman talk all things EFL. Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield also joins the pod to talk about their battle for Championship survival. Andy also talks about how his players are planning a barbecue as they edge closer towards League Two promotion. Messages and voicenotes always welcome on WhatsApp to 08000 289 369.01:55 Excitement building for Bromley potential promotion, 06:40 Big man little man partnerships, 08:55 What do you need to get out of League Two? 10:10 Transfer recruitment with the chairman, 13:00 Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield LIVE, 21:50 Easter weekend around the corner, 24:30 West Brom resurgence continues, 25:15 Andy’s varied music taste… 29:00 Preparing for a trip to Barrow… 33:45 Keeping ‘Project 73’ a secret… 35:35 72PLUS 72MINUS, 40:25 Best wishes to Liam Manning.5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Thu 1945 Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fri 1945 England v Uruguay Sat 1200 Everton v Liverpool in the WSL on Sports Extra 2, Sat 1330 Man Utd v Man City in the WSL, Sat 1730 Arsenal v Spurs in the WSL on Sports Extra, Sun 1200 Chelsea v Aston Villa in the WSL, Sun 1500 Leicester v Brighton & Hove in the WSL on Sports Extra 2.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance defender, Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. 72 plus, the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnuff. Hello everybody.

Welcome on to 70. plus the EFL pod from Five Live Sport. Great to be alongside you this week. As we hit a bit of a milestone in the season, it's that last international break, and then it's the long, slippery road down to the end of the season. Alongside me, as ever, my trusted right arm is Joby McEnough,

who's nodding away like the Churchill dog. How are you, pal? Yeah, we said it's a long way down. I think there'll be a few, maybe some around with us today, hoping it's a very nice journey upwards. But yeah, I think we get to this stage of the season, It's time to restock, refocus, obviously in the championship, League 1, League 2 still ploughing on as they do without any breaks.

But yeah, I mean, every single season we sit here at this point and look at all the tables. Take stock. And just marvel at how much there is still to play for top of the table, playoffs and at the bottom. So I cannot wait for what's up. Jody sits and surveys over his kingdom, is EFL kingdom. And I'll tell you what, if we were allowed music on podcast, right now we'd be playing The only way is up, because Andy Woodman, Bromley boss is with us.

Top, top, top of the league, as Barry Fry used to say. Yeah, good. Good morning. How are we? Yeah, we're good, but let me tell you, I've gone for every permutation possible. So you're looking at the table. I've looked at every single permutation and points and results and what I think we need and everyone else needs so. I'm glad you say that, because what we do get a lot of at this time of the season,

you know what's coming, Aaron, isn't it? Oh, we just got caught. Warren, it's the biggest lie ever. Right, exactly. I know you were glued into the game last night, weren't you? Absolutely. He didn't miss a minute. Did miss a minute.

Fair play. I saw Alex Neal on Saturday, the middle boss, and I was like, look, I know exactly what you're going to say, but come on, like, you know, this is exciting. And he turned around here because, look, it's exciting for you. Look, I've got no hair left to pull out. I was like, fair play, Alex, mate, you know. But literally, Woody, you can't not get excited by a title rights,

by the fact you might be getting promoted. It's a great place to be in. Yeah, it's fantastic for us. I mean, we shouldn't really be anywhere near it, you know, on paper. So really in that respect There's no pressure on us Only the pressure we put in ourselves And we have put pressure on ourselves

Because we know we're close And it will be quite an achievement For Bromley Football Club to be in league one for sure One nil to the Bromley boys Each of your past five wins Have been by one goal margin Don't need to do it a fancy way Who scoring goals is

It's just overrated really If you see this play You know you definitely have done it in a fancy one I can tell you that It's just about a result to this stage of the season I mean, it's an old cliche, but literally just getting results, just keep churning out the games and making sure that the gap stays where it is.

Andy, just on that, and it always fascinates me because I'm with you, and at this stage, obviously, that is all it is about is getting those points that you need to get you where you want to get to. Do you think there's a bit of a snobbery in the game around being defensively solid? I always bang the drum for it. And actually, when you look through the league tables, Championship Mill will doing ever so well, been really secure, most clean sheets. Lincoln, amazing in terms of what they've done,

obviously yourself, sit in top as well. And I love that because there's no sort of, well, you know, we need to try and be something other than ourselves. Let's just be great at what we do, be hard to be together. And actually we see it, you can have real success in doing that. Absolutely. I mean, we've had a little spell where we kind of went away from that a little bit. Only marginal, but it was really sort of clear to me that let's just be the best version of what we

are. And basically, in simple terms, keep the ball away from your goal and cause as much pressure and chaos around your opposition goal. And I know that sounds really like basic. But it's a basic game to me. And we have simplified it. And I've always said from day one at my time at Bromley, clean sheets get you success. And we've got clean sheets in abundance. But it's not at the expense. I think that's the misconception. I think people think that is the expense of then at the other end of the pitch. But you look at your goals, I think your fourth highest goal scorer's in the league. You know, you put. put teams under pressure exactly the same with Lincoln.

And what I would say about yourselves, if you ask any team that play against you, they know they've been in the game. You know, it's not possession for the sake of which I see so much of. And particularly lower down, when you are asking players, I've played at the level that potentially aren't quite good enough to take the ball in certain areas,

play under pressure and deal with situations. So you actually taking that away from them a little bit as well. And, you know, for me, I just feel that there's a real misconception in the game that, you know, being solid means. taken away from the attack. You're exactly right there, Jaby. I mean, you know, we've got

the smallest budget in the league, or one of the smallest budgets. So we can only attract a certain sort of player. And, you know, the player we attract, I want to take away all the complications away from him that he's got to play out from the back, get it off the keeper, etc., etc. And we've played through a certain way.

It's not quite as direct as everyone thinks, but it's effective. You know, we make sure we put crosses in the box, every opportunity the ball goes in the box. and it's effective. And I think as a supporter, I think supporters are now getting a little bit tired

of seeing a goalkeeper, play into midfield, a guy jump on it, a goal against. So as a supporter, I think we're turning out entertaining football and winning football. I quote Dave Bassett saying this all the time.

Why do it in 14 passes when you can do it in two? What's the point? It's effective. Absolutely. Absolutely. And I mean, it really is that. You know,

get it to the wide man, get it in the box. How many times? That's what I'm about, how many times I said it, Jobes. Make Route 1 football sexy again. But Aaron, I'm with you 100%.

But there is, again, I do think there is this sort of viewpoint. But by doing that, you're not still coaching. You're not still working on the training ground. Working on those details. It's, you know, quality to get the ball into an area. It's making sure you've got bodies. It's timing of runs. There's still so much to it to make it work and be successful.

And I just think it's important that we have teams like Bromley, not just because he's sitting here, Lincoln, Michael Scabala, what he's done. And again, if you looked at the possession stats, you know, you're talking about a couple of lowest in the league. I think your second lowest, Lincoln are the lowest. But it's what you do with the ballads. That is the big thing. And there's no better components of that than the man sitting right here.

And just to just jump on what you said there, I mean, isn't we just put them out there and just say kick it in the corners and get out of the pitch? I mean, there's quite an art to what we do. And, you know, to get players to get that art form right and the weight of passing the area when it's going to go in there, when the player's going to make the run and then all the other components of overlapping runs,

support, etc, etc. There's a lot more to it than just that. The moment someone brings the big man, little man combo back up top up, I'll be happy. I'll die a happy man. I will. The last team I saw that was Barnsley. We're a big man, big man.

Was it under? We're talking about Shefki-cucci pre-show. Chef de Cucci. I mean, he comes to Newcastle for a little period when we sold Andy Carroll. a lovely guy, Sheffield, a lovely guy,

but, you know, I think he played about 15 minutes and went, I'm not sure if he scored, but I know

when he got on, he might have scored, I remember the celebration with the team, they were buzzing because he was such a lovely fella. Yeah. He went to Newcastle

and then afterwards he went to Oldham. I mean, mad, Olden, Hibbs, what a guy, a Finland international, not prolific,

necessarily. You play with him, he was at Pallis of me and, yeah, not prolific, I think would be fair. An absolute powerhouse, just like

real physical and he's one of them like he pulls his top off mate and you're just sat there he was sculpted looked like he was straight out of a bodybuilding competition didn't he like just unbelievable

and that was so funny of his celebration because he was such a big boy but he did the dive don't know if anyone remembers it but he's got to run on you normally get the clinsman slubber he went up in the air

and then just bang and then you could almost feel the vibration because he was so big so yeah top fella absolute lovely lovely lovely guy

By the way that Barnsley front two was Keefer Moore and Kali Woodrow Oh wow In 2018 19 they're promoted from League 1

under Daniel Stendner Who's the little one there? Coley's not massive He's not a little one But Keith Keeves Big boy All right When I'm little

I'm talking David Connolly type Off of a big man I'm talking Andy Johnson Mammadoo Tiam Oh mate He was going to run David Speedy

But I'm saying I'm right Gary Dixon and David Speedy That's how much Yeah Bejajo, Victor had a Bejiazza. They had five or six strikers. I was going to say that's what he did really well, wouldn't it?

He'd bring then the two on. Love it. Just last 20 minutes and then just carry on pounding away. That's what it's all about. Do you know what? Again, with League 2, and I know we're going to lean on it heavily because you are here, and we will talk championship on the pub. Matt Bloomfield, the Oxygen Nightibos will be with us.

But someone asked me last year, what do you need to get out of league 2? and I was like, you don't need, you don't need, you know, star quality throughout. You need five or six individuals doing the basics very well or well every week. And just being a bit consistent, you can drop points, but you can get out of there. I mean, I'm not saying on the expert of it by any stretch of the means, but, you know, what we've put together is a team of legs and energy. We have got a team of giants.

and we've got a real togetherness in the group and I know people always say that but we have got a togetherness in the group of players from the beginning of the season right through to now I mean they literally do everything together these guys it's like it's quite funny they arrange I mean they're arranging a barbecue for the rest of the club they're arranging their own barbecue

and they're doing themselves for all the staff that work at the club I mean that's something else off their own backs and they do everything together these group of boys and I think that carries you a long way team spirit it, I really do. I mean, in terms of the actual people behind the scenes at Bromley,

I think one thing I've learned about sort of like, you know, the past couple of years coming down and seeing you guys is the people are just fundamentally really, really nice. Very welcoming, very hospitable. Tell us about the chairman

because he doesn't really, you know, come onto programs like this, but he's put his money where his mouth is. They're doing things organically as well. Yeah, I mean, the chairman's a self-made man. He's a workaholic. let me tell you that. He's got his hands on everything,

so he's not one of those that steps away and leaves him to everyone else. He's pretty much a businessman and wants to make sure that the club's sustainable. And that's what he said from day one when I took the job. This is your budget. I won't move away from the budget because I want the club to be sustainable. And he's stuck to his word, by the way. He hasn't come away from the budget at all.

Just on that, I mean, you talk about the squad and the togetherness. And another thing that blows my mind at times when I speak to managers in the game is probably the, the lack of say they get now in recruitment. How big do you have in terms of, you know, you want a player, it's got to come through you, right? I mean, you're the one who's controlling, you know, that environment and what those players are going to bring to the table.

Yeah, you've made me smile there because we had a meeting the other day with the chairman, and he was one of the scouts was in there talking about a player, and the chairman was saying the hardest job you've got as a scout is convincing the manager to take this player. And I think that's important because, My name's, you know, I'm like the pub landlord. My name's above the door in. So, do you know what I mean?

So if I get it wrong. You know, and if I just go on a whim, if someone said him, he's a good player and he's not, I'm going to be fuming, I haven't done my homework. So literally every player in that football club has come through me. Right. Via someone telling me something, or someone at a club, or someone else at a football club, and have a look at his power. But I will do my due diligence.

Do you think that gives you more accountability then for that player? Because, again, I think what happens and what I see is coaches, which a lot of them are now, rather than managing. that can turn around and go, listen, work my choice. We're not quite getting the best out of him or he hasn't quite been what we want. So wash their hands of him, but I think when it's on you,

you're the one who's given that ultimate green light. You're the one who has to really make sure that that works. Absolutely. I mean, and that's why I really do make sure I know everything about the player before I assign him. And I must say, Jamie, that's not to say I've got it wrong. You know, I have got it wrong. And there's one thing that if I assign what I think's a bad egg

or that's not going to fit into the group, I will hold my hands up and I'll get rid of that player straight away. And I did that, I won't say when, but there was a time that I signed a player, and literally after six weeks, I rang the chairman, I said, look, we've given this player a two and a half year deal. I've got this wrong.

And we literally, in the right way, we didn't just freeze him out and run him down the old fashion. We moved him on. I said, look, you're not going to be part of my plans. You're not kind of what I thought I was getting here. And we moved him on. And I think that's the important thing that I can hold my hands up to my chairman

and say, I've got this wrong, rather than try and make it right when you know it's never going to be right. And if you get one bad egg in the group, it can ruin the whole lot. Let's zone in on the battle for championship survival. Sheffield Wednesday, of course, are relegated. Then you've got Oxford United on 39 points, Leicester City on 39 points, Portsmouth on 40 points, with a game in hand. Delighted to say we can speak to Oxford boss.

Matt Bloomfield, Blooms. How are we? Very well, thanks. How are you? Yeah, all good, thanks. International break. So time to take stock, I'd imagine. Yeah, absolutely.

I think, especially since it's been really intense period, since we've been at the football club, so it's the first opportunity. We've had to have a couple of days to really reflect on what's been and gone and what's about to come up. So for me, it's an ideal opportunity for us to get out on a training ground and work.

I mean, that race is survival is so tight down there. What's it been like from your perspective? It's been great. Since I've been here, it's been fantastic. We've really had a go in terms of all the games. We've been involved,

and we've actually been really good defensive, we've kept ourselves in the games and we've thrown some punches we've got some points on the board with we've trying to really evolve the way we're playing I think there's been some really positive signs of improvement over the last certainly last five games so we're really pleased we're wear out and we're just hungry for more improvement to go and get the points that we need between now and into the season Matt great to have you on and I absolutely concur I've covered a couple of your games recently and I thought you've been absolutely fantastic obviously off the back now going into this break against Southampton who are probably the form team in the league.

But in terms of those results and the real positive performance, how much belief and I suppose new energy is in the group off the back of, you know, some brilliant performances of recent weeks? Yeah, there's some good energy, Joe's because, you know, as a football club, we've been down this part of the league for the whole season, but the lads understand the fight and the grit that's needed to get ourselves out of it. But, you know, they've also had some, a couple of fresh faces coming into the building in January and some of those boys are in the team now.

We've had Miles Pat Harris and Jamie Donnelly come in January. They're now in the team. Eunice Konak on loan from Brentford. He's now in the team. So we've got a little bit of fresh energy amongst us as well to really add to the good experience and the senior players we've got. So it's a nice blend. We're certainly nowhere near where we want to end up in terms of how the team looks

and plays. But we're on that pathway and we're working really, really hard to get there as quickly as we possibly can. Great bounce for you. since you've been in there and you've got some tasty fixtures coming up. Have you set yourself a target, the team a target of what you think will keep you up?

No, I haven't, Andy, for the main reason being that I just think that, you know, this time of year we all look at games and we think, well, they're going to beat them or they're going to get beat by them and, you know, it's such an invariable time of year. I'm just more one for, mate, just every day. Like, can we get training right today? Work hard, tomorrow, get that right.

Let's come out of this international break better than what we're going into it. Let's attack the Good Friday game against Hull. Once we've done that, we can prepare and go to Pompey. It's just, for me, it's not looking too far ahead, mate. I've just got to try and keep putting the days back to back. It's a really short time period that we've been in the building. So, you know, historically, you can look at the numbers, right?

We all know, we all go into a football season need. You're going to need around 70, 72 for the playoffs. You're going to need around 50 to stay up. You know, there's just because we've all been in the game for so many years. In terms of looking at it this year, I just, you know, every game is worth three points. We're going to go after as many as we can. This international break, you look across all the leagues. And I think for some teams, it, you know, comes at a good time.

Maybe others that have got that real momentum, you know, want to keep going. How do you view this international break? And how are you managing it in terms of that balance between getting a little bit of a rest, but actually doing the work that you really need to do, which is hard when the season's in full flow and you've got the Saturdays and the Tuesdays, you know, how have you tried to judge that over this period coming up? Yeah, it's not easy because we've got. some lads that have been going at it for 10 months.

We've got some lads who have maybe not played first after the season and need to keep going. We've got other lads who are off with Northern Ireland and Wales and here, there and everywhere playing an international game. So it's about concentrating on the boys that we've got in the building. Who needs what? Which players need to take a breather? Which players need

work? What do we need tactically to improve the group? What can we do with the ones that we're missing? So it's just really just trying to take an overview of where we've been, what we need between now and the end of the season. We're just going after the work, mate. In terms of taking over mid-season, I mean, you were quite vocal about the fact that, you know, this job felt right for you. It had a good gut feeling.

Where are you in terms of stylistically right now? And what's the ratio between style and needing to just win at all costs? I think when you're fortunate enough to have a job over a period of time, your style can take a hold and you can go after exactly what you would like the team to look like. when you take over mid-season, like I have done, I've done it four times. It's all about results, especially this time of year. And I think that there's a lot of style, I think, is possibly for people wanting it to look like the team they want it to look like. For me, it's just about trying to create a team that can put as many points on the board as possible between now and the end of the season and doing it in a manner that I believe is correct. But it's all about substance at this time, yeah.

The club has suffered tragedy as well. Like the horrible news of the passing of Amelia Applin. I just want to know what it's been like being in that environment and having to be a lynch being because that's what you are. As manager, you are the custodian, you're front and centre of it. And, you know, you have to lead those tributes and represent the badge. Yeah, it's been a really tough couple of weeks. You know, as football managers, we're just humans.

trying to go about doing our job the best we can to meet her parents on the Monday after the tragedy happened on the Saturday and to have two home games that were so heartfelt and emotional in that following week, Wednesday, Saturday. I must admit, by the end of that week, I was emotionally drained. It was a really tough week, but what I went through is nothing compared to her parents. My heart just bled for her parents, you know, to go through the tragic circumstances that they had to go through losing a daughter. I'm a father of two daughters myself and it was just heartbreaking to see her parents. And as a football club, we wanted to make sure that we paid our respects in the right manner,

both on and off the pitch. And I think we did that. And, you know, Amelia's family will be friends of our club forever. We hope that they're doing okay. I think the whole Oxford United family really has come together. in the most pointing of ways, Matt. So, you know, there should be a tremendous amount of credit poured on the football club for that.

Just back to the football, are you enjoying it? I know no one wants to be in a relegation tussle, but are you enjoying the role? And are you enjoying being at the football club and working with the players every day? Yeah, I knew the situation, walking into the job. I knew that we had a lot of work to do.

I've loved every single day. We're going after it. And we believe that we have enough in the building to do what it needs to do between now the end of the season. But the only way we're going to get there is work. And, yeah, I think anyone who's been in the industry a long time, Andy knows the only the only way you get results, the other end is to work hard on the way in.

So we're trying to do that. And, yeah, we're certainly giving it everything we've got and everyone in the football club is pulling together. We're going to need every one of our supporters, everyone of the players, everyone around the club to be really roaring us on and supporting us between the end of the season. I know the Oxford community are pulling together and love him being a part of it, mate. Great stuff, Matt. I really hope you keep him up

and obviously being an ex-Oxford player I know what a big club it is you know keep it going and keep that hard work going because I think you'll get your results and get across the line I really mean that. Good luck to you too. Thank you. There's a lot to look forward to Matt as well,

new stadium. So plenty on the horizon for Oxford United. Best luck as Woody says. We're all behind you so yeah, good luck. Matt and thanks for joining us on 72 Plus. Really appreciate your time. My pleasure, gents. Take care. Matt Bloomfield, Oxford, Boss.

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Aaron Paul and Joby McEnough. Joby, you come back and we're at Easter weekend. Which again we know is absolutely pivotal and I think when you look at some of the games that they've got you know, that Portsmouth one, you know, looming large, obviously they've got holes

first who are obviously having a really good season but you know it could genuinely come down to those matches against those teams in and around you. They're huge. huge. I know the term six point, it gets thrown about a lot. But, you know, they are absolutely massive Portsmouth at the moment. You know, they are the team that I'd be a little bit concerned that in terms of their current form, obviously really bad resolve.

Mate. The other concern is an understanding. So they're the ones that you are looking at. And I know, you do take it game by a game. I get that. But that is 100% one of the games that everybody in that squad's looking at that game. We need to win that game. If we are going to stay up, that's got to be three points. It just has to be, you know, because there's then you're clawing them in as well and putting them in bigger trouble. So massive, massive Easter weekend coming up. I think they want a good performance at home,

hopefully get something out of that, which would set them up for, which again is just a mass game, because they've got some tough ones after that. Derby going for the playoffs, Rexham going for the playoffs. They have to play a whole lot of the Derby Rexon, the last day.

That could be a mega game. That Portsworth game, I mean, the energy of the supporters as well would be really important because the ports of supporters, their energy is quite down at the moment. You know, they're quite angry and disgruntled. Whereas the Oxford fans, you can tell that they're revitalised by what Matt's done there. So, you know, the supporters will really play a role in that, you know,

and that could be the difference. And again, when you're going into these periods off the back of, you know, varying results, obviously they both lost, but because Oxford United had had that good run up to that, you can kind of almost go, right, put that one away. It's against a really good Southampton team. They were better than us. fine, you know, but let's look what else we did.

Whereas the ports, for this two weeks now, is going to be the longest, because it is doom and gloom. It is, you know, six one against, you know, a team that, you know, I know, I know they won the previous game,

but we've spoken about it. They are on holidays with QPR, do you know what I mean? So I think to have that. Mike, QPR are the most consistently inconsistent team I've ever seen in my life. The worst thing is, for years.

But did you see, so me and my pal, we looked at it, and I'd read a stat on the Saturday that said that they had six touches in the Portsmouth box. And he turned around, he goes, did you watch it? I said, well, no. I was at the game that I was at.

And he goes, mate, we got to watch a highlights. We sat and counted the touches. And we were like, this is one. They were great goals. They were great, great goals. But some of the defending was, again, Benny Hill. Benny Hill-esque. Tour mat teams getting big results.

West Romajalbian, what a resurgence under James Morrison. I mean, I didn't think that's a far day, mate. That's far. Did he hear about that, would he? He took him on a spa day. Talked the Spard Day. I text Jed Wallace, he turned around and he said, Village Hotel, mate, swimming, so on.

A bit of a change of scenery. I said, Jed, you were straight on with the cucumbers. He said, no chance. You know what? We stayed at the Village Hotel around about Christmas time. I can't remember who was playing. I'm going to say Walsall, but it might not have been. And there was a take that tribute band on there.

The sort of team hanging around watching the take that tribute band. So a spark day might be one thing, but we had to take that tribute band. We've done us a world of good day. your favourite, take that song, Jop. Back for goods. Would it? Back for goods, my favourite. That's the only one you know. No, I love a bit of take that. What kind of music you into? I like a bit of every, do you know what I'm into at a moment, which is what should make you

laugh. I'm into a bit of Madonna again a little bit. Oh, wow. Is that getting any plays in the dressing room or a lot? The funny thing is, they've started playing Lucky Star because they keep saying I'm lucky. So that's become a little bit of a feeling of the land. It's amazing where you get a little tune, though, when you're on these runs and that becomes the sort of go to and like, whatever the song is, you know, and that, you know, it's obviously yours at the minute. It gets flipped on and you're like, right, this is it, lads, like, you know, and as you look back on, again, there'll be songs that, you know,

I look back on now in my career. Stick with promotions and situations, yeah. Do you use a music app on your phone? Yeah, I have a Spotify, but I don't, listen, I don't get involved in the music. Let me tell. No, no, no, can I have a look at it? You can, yeah, feel free. You need to do the, when they do the rap, you know, the Spotify.

Can I look at it? I want to look at it. I want to look at the Spotify. There's my spot. This is a new feature we've got over here. Let's go on Woody's Spotify. I don't know what you've come across. Okay.

All right. Do you know what? There are some interesting, interesting searches on there. Last search, Ed Shearing, great. Oh, yeah. A bit of Ed Shearing. Yeah. Had a bit of Ed Shear.

So we need to chill out. Yeah, chill out. I sometimes put my earphones on on the way to a game. And I normally, this will make you laugh. I normally put a little bit of it. Abaron just to chill me out. Is there's only Aber in it? There's no Abba in it. No. Top 20

Coldplay, greatest hits. Yeah, I'd call play a little while ago, games or a game. Hopeless romantic love mix. Yeah, that was when I was getting on a romantic stage. I think that's where I was got a result when I was all lovety-dabby with a team. Nice. Just to let you know that the top track on

that is, I don't want to miss a thing on that hopeless romantic love mix. Next searching in Woody's Spotify is Bruno Mars. hits. He's got a good run out. Yeah, Bruno. I don't mind a bit of Bruno Mars. Dolly Parton.

Oh. Yeah, a little bit of Dolly. Rhythm of the Night, DeBarge, is this love Bob Marley? Big tune. And I'll cap it off by saying he's twice searched and once saved Angels, Robbie Williams,

which is an absolute tune. That's a very, very eclective. I don't know. That's a nice little feature now. So that's a major. I like that. We're on to something, hasn't we? Yeah, absolutely.

James Morrison. So, I don't know, we, we sort of fully digress on the spa day. Jen Wallace had the cucumbers on. West Bromwich Albion, though, now four points above. The drop zone. I never saw this coming,

this sort of like, this blossoming, but spring has come and West Bromwich Albion, they're flowering beautifully. Well, the big thing about both of those games, clean sheets,

something we've touched on. And again, when you are in a battle, you know, being hard to be, and I won't ever get bored of saying it, because it's the fundamental thing of, you know,

how do you then get that confidence to start, coming back and it might be, you know, and listen, they were really close against Southampton, they got pegged back right in the last couple of minutes there. That could have been a killer blow, but, you know, to come back from that and then now find those couple of wins, again, they will be going into this break now absolutely bouncing.

You want the next game to come because the confidence that, you know, that feeling back in the dressing room, you know, is absolutely massive at this stage. So, you know, as you say, massive credit to James Morrison because there was a few eyebrows raised, you know, was it a situation? you need a bit of experience, someone who's been there. Clearly their appointments prior to that haven't gone anywhere near how anyone would have hoped.

So, you know, again, someone who knows the football club inside out, and sometimes that is what it takes. You know, how do I get the best out of this group of players? And at the moment, he's had a really positive upturn the last couple. Let's drop into League One. It is, of course, the international break. Still plenty of games to look forward to in League One and League Two. And if you support a championship or even a Premier League Club,

go and watch your League ones and your League Two. Go and follow. Bromley all the way to Barrow. In fact, last season when you did play Barrow... When they were playing Barrow last season, I caught Byron Webster in a service station. That's right. Yeah, I remember that.

You bumped into it in a service station. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He didn't bump into, he's a bit of a stalker like that. Yeah. He follows managing that around, mate. Anything for an interview. I was following the Bromley coach all the way to Barrow. Actually, that's one of the 92 I haven't done, and it's really...

Jab that the coach for Saturday, I want to do with us. I'll jump up. If I can get a seat on the bench, I will come with you. I will cancel my game. We're going to Reading on Saturday. Are you doing Reading? Okay. I wouldn't put you through Barrow.

Honestly, I just wouldn't... I need to tick it off. It is, I mean, it is a journey. You don't. You don't. You don't. We had them in a national league. And, like, again, I mean, this with the greatest respect.

And probably, you know, my career and, you know, never thought I'd be going to Barrow for a game. And then towards the end of it, sort of like, you know, we're in the National League. It's just so fun. It's not just like there's clubs that are really north. So like a Carlyle, for example, if we're southern base, which obviously we are talking here. But it's just up.

And then it's just across four miles. Beautiful, beautiful area, like in terms of the surrounding areas. But it was just so far. And anyway, we end up getting promoted thinking, brilliant, not going to have to go back there again on a Tuesday night. And then a season or whatever later, they end up getting promoted. I've got to go back there. And I'm like, oh, no, I can't escape them. He's hoping they get promoted,

Bromley get promoted, just so you don't have to go there. Honestly, I mean, it was a long, long way. Last year we stayed on a beautiful hotel right on Lake Windermere, so that was really nice. And in the morning it took about three or four players out of the boat. We was on a boat on Lake Windermeree, which was lovely. But then we went to the ground, and that was a completely different experience.

Can I just say, sorry, just one point I'll have to make and actually was a great thing of playing a little bit lower down towards the end of my career. And we went there on a Tuesday night, and I joke about it. Listen, we get the best treatment, we're getting coached up there, you know,

we're staying over if we need to stay over, properly looked after. And, you know, you get off the bus on it, again, a Tuesday night, and you see the fans that travel up there and you're just like, unbelievable, you know,

the effort that they make, you know, the expense, the time. So, yeah, shout out any of the Bronley fans that are going to be making that trip. And again, I think sometimes they maybe underestimate how bigger help that can be when you step off that bus or that bit of time in the game

where you need that bit of a lift and getting to share that after, hopefully after a good win, they're just brilliant moments. Joe, it's been massive for us. I mean, we haven't got a massive fan base. You know, we're quite new in the league. And our WAVE fan base is grown and grown and grown. And I can't tell you.

And I know everyone says this is a sort of cliche. Our players are so appreciative of our fans that go, you know, Newport last week. And even more collectively, when we get a result, you can see the players are generally buzzing for those people that have spent the money in time to go there. and I really am quite proud of my team of players like that because I generally know that they

really are chuffed that these people put themselves out for that and they have impeccable service station conduct I saw no one with a tray which is very very good no one needs to be getting a tray for a meal in the service station everything has to be in a cardboard box and out of there you might have mismead in it well funny enough I text him because I sit to bar and I was like

where's your cat for and he's around it somewhere I text him I was like you've got a better You've gone for a burger, and you've gone for a burger, he's like, no, no, no, I haven't. I haven't. Could not find him anywhere. Could not find him anywhere. And I taste the gaff as well. Anyway, Barrow would won just one win this calendar year. How do you make sure there's no complacency? How do you make sure you had a banana skin?

Yeah, I mean, exactly that. It's a tough game. You know, I don't, I think the margins for the team top and bottom and all the games, it just comes down to margins. And I think it's just making sure that we don't come away from what we are. You know, that's really important. We stay playing how we are away from home because we've got a way we play away from home. And I think also we prepare the lads to know

that it's going to be an ugly, horrible weather day probably and if it's anything more than that, then it's a bonus. And just, I'm in a real nice position without tempting fate that, you know, I've got a group of players that just, they don't get complacent because, you know, you've mentioned Byron Webster's. Your Byron Webster's keep the group, you know, on their toes and keep them all sort of tuned in.

So, you know, hopefully of all of that and a little bit of luck on the game. We'll go to Barrow and hopefully get the result that everyone expects us to get, but we don't. You know, we know we've got to earn it. Just on that not getting complacent, because it's a very easy thing to say when you're sitting in a position you are and you've got a team who has really been struggling.

I just want to ask you about Project 73, as it was originally, and then now that's been turned into Project Champions. Yeah, I mean, at the beginning of the season, I always do a sort of goal setting, and I do that, not with just the team, with the whole football club, you know, the chefs, everyone. You know, and they make them all a part of it. And that's something I've always done. So we've got a target that we hit as a group and as a staff, everything.

When we got, we called it Project 73, and we told no one outside the building. It was kind of kept sort of quiet. Don't let anyone outside the building notice, because you know what it's like people on the outside jump on it, and then they start ridiculing you, and then they are up their game against you. Once we got close to 73, and we knew there was a lot of games left,

I already started calling Project Champions in-house. and then I got asked about it on a radio a radio or a TV interview and you know I've seen managers say we're just taking every game as it comes and I've got no problem with that but I wanted to sort of be more honest and more you know and be there to be shy at a little bit

and also want my team to follow suit of me and I'm saying look we're top of the table why are we going to just take every game as it comes we want to be champions and if we fall short of that Joby then listen we've still had a great season but I want the guys to buy into it and I set a little

little challenge to him last week we had three games in a week and I laid it down to him if you really are serious about being champions you have to win these next three games and the point is they turned out free 1-0s and you know credit to them

and they've had the buy into it as well so as much as I get the applaud it's for the Project 73 and the Project Champions you've got to have a team that buys into it and they've done that and we've got another block of games coming up. We know what we've got to hit in his next block and we're going to keep playing through to we get there.

Let's finish with this. 72 plus, 72 minus on the football daily. Yeah, it's time for Jobies best and worst the NFL moments of the week. Who's on your radar, Job? I'm going to kick off with my 72 minus the club that we've already spoken about on the show. Lester

City in the relegation zone. They really need to start making things go for them so they can't be missing penalties like this one from Patson Daka. Daka steps up, a very straight run-up as they stand. Arms on his hips, moves to his left. Strike a goal hits the post. And a brilliant save by Selvick to tip it onto the woodwork.

Four minutes to go until half time. Pats and Daka misses a penalty. Yeah, Joby, you're 72 plus for this week, please. Well, it's very much time for me to give a little bit of love, not just because of our studio guests today, to the goalkeepers and one of the saves of this season. If you haven't seen it out there, please get yourselves online

and check out Millwall's Anthony Patterson with a brilliant reaction save in their game against it, Switch Town. Good pressure from town, shot from Neil, blocked off, finished, oh, what a save from Patterson. It was superb from Athon, from what, eight, nine yards? Patterson, though, flung out of a bit.

Big right hand and Sam out got it over the bar. That was superb goalkeeping. Can I just build, by the way, on the back of that and ask you, Woody? Alex Neal has made one heck of a decision because Max Kroakum coming as like number three. They've had injuries, they've had all sorts of problems with goalkeepers. But he made a call to bring in Anthony Patterson. You're not bringing Patterson in to sit on the bench. and his debut weren't great.

I'm not going to lie, I was there for his debut. It was against Sheffield United, I want to say. It wasn't great. But to make that cool, to get rid of Crocom and replace him was huge, but that was a big save. Big save. And look, Patterson, I'm a big fan of Patterson. He played against Stuss when he was on loan at Knox County a few years ago,

and he was unbelievable. And I've followed his career quite closely, you know, in the Sun and season of promotion, etc. he's a solid goalkeeper solid goalkeeper I really think could go you know to the very top and you know

Alex Neal's been brave bringing him in and obviously Dean Thornton there the goalkeeping coach has probably had an input in that and you know what a great signing I think he's been a fantastic signing I ask this with respect why did he not play for Sunning

the Premier League yeah that's something I've got my own view on that and I don't know if I'm in a position to say that but I think if I was perhaps and I was his coach, and I have been a goalie coach, so I feel maybe I've got the credentials to say that.

I think he just needs to just, from the outside looking in, he really just needs to tide himself up. And when I say that, I mean, lean himself up, looks super athletic. He doesn't look super athletic. I'm not saying he looks overweight, but when you look at some of the keepers, they look super athletic. And I just think he just looks a little bit probably on the eye, not like a top goalkeeper.

when I've seen him play and he is a top goalkeeper. Anthony Patterson, you are an absolute hero. Fantastic. Fantasy. No patto in our fantasy EFL teams. Big congratulations to Super Don's 1988, top of our list in the league. The first team to break 3,000 points. Woo!

I've got a solid 13 points. I've kind of resigned. 13? Yes. You mean 130? Yes. That's a typo in the script. I've slipped down into bottom 10, but fear not,

we are on the charge. We are going to be working our way out. Joby, you broke the 100 point barrier this week. Well, I actually remembered to change my team. I had a little laps for a couple of weeks where everything got a little bit on top. It happens. Oldham, mate, put your money on clean sheets, lads and ladies.

Anyone out there listening, that is what you want to be doing at this time of the season. So a couple from the Oldham players, goalkeeper. Matt Hudson, with coming up big for me. Notts County with a win, but then they lost as well. and Donnie with a couple of wins. So, yeah, all good. Alden, the form team in the EFL right now,

five wins in a row, unbeaten in 10, surging towards the playoffs. The code to join, 72 EFL pod. 7-2 EFL pod. If you, like me, are really preparing for next season. I'll give you the code throughout the summer. Just before we go on 72 plus, Huddersfield Town boss,

Liam Manning has been granted compassionately for the remainder of the season. The League One club said in a statement that the decision was made after Manning made the club aware of ongoing personal matters relating to the tragic passing of his newborn son Theo in October 2024. From our family to the man in family, we say good luck, Liam.

We are all with you. He's a diamond, diamond human being. Just look after yourself, mate. Yeah, listen, I think this is one of those times where, you know, personal issues and your family come way, way above football. And, you know, the most important thing is that he has the time that he needs. And it's really tough. reading an interview by Matt Taylor

actually about the personal tragedy that he had to deal with and him juggling that with trying to manage a football club so we wish him well and obviously Huddersfield as well is between now and the end of the season Joby where are you this weekend

I'm actually at a tournament my little boy has got a tournament down in Cardiff quite a little one is a pretty big one so we're gonna go down there and watch him I might try and pop into a game on the way down possibly Redding so you might even see me

seen as we're in Sepul but the last two games we've both been at you haven't bothered to see me so I'm not sure if I will. We won't be in the same seats though because you'll be what, the director's box, hobnobbing. I'll be slumming it in the media seats. No, I like the normal seats, mate. Do you?

Yeah, yeah. They've got a nice pad of seats already. Yeah, although I was amongst some Arsenal fans for the Carrow Cup finally up there and that got a little bit tasty towards the end of that game. They weren't best please. I can tell you that much. I bet that was fun.

Andy, Barrow. Yeah, Barrow. Yeah, Barrow we live probably in about five minutes. Listen, it's just. Look out if you see ads lurking about any service stations. I'm going to be sat outside the ground, just thumb up. If I get on the bench and he's already sat on the bench, I know he's super seriously. I'm going to dust off the old Puma Kings, mate.

Don't worry, I'll be ready. I'll put the boys through their paces. Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us. Would he always enjoy to have you? That is it for this episode of the Football Daily. As for us here on 72 Plus, the EFL pod. We'll be back next week. By the way, championship fan, Premier League fan,

whoever's your support. Go and watch your league ones and twos this weekend. Enjoy. We'll catch you there. I'm Rich Hall, and this is Sports Strangest Crimes, presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker. When people ask me what I do, I say to them, well, by day or by night. The story of one man's mission to conquer the holy grail of streaking the Super Bowl.

Mark Roberts is too largely for his body. He's just like to entertainer. Mark pushes the boundaries of what is socially acceptable. No chance, Texas. It's really strict, but then the more of those about it. No thought I'm gone. What are you about? Sports Strangers Crimes presents Confessions of a Super Bowl streaker.

Listen on BBC Sounds.