Football Daily - 72+ EFL Pod: Foxes flop & Ed Still interview

Episode Date: February 11, 2026

Aaron Paul & Jobi McAnuff are joined by Millwall midfielder Massimo Luongo. They react to Leicester blowing a three-goal lead to lose to Southampton. What about Middlesbrough overtaking Coventry at the top? Massimo has his say on Millwall’s play-off push and reveals what Barry Bannan’s been like. And what’s Jobi going to squirrel into 72PLUS 72MINUS?02:45 Leicester blow three-goal lead vs Saints 11:55 Southampton boss Tonda Eckert interview 13:05 Best personal football comebacks 17:30 Southampton just one point off play-off places 18:35 Middlesbrough overtake Coventry at the top 21:00 The top two meet on Monday night! 22:55 Millwall getting cushty in the play-offs 27:55 Barry Bannan has made an impact 30:20 Feature interview with new Watford boss Ed Still 42:10 72PLUS 72MINUS5 Live / BBC Sounds commentaries: Fri 1945 Hull v Chelsea, Sat 1215 Burton v West Ham, Sat 1745 Villa v Newcastle, Sat 2000 Liverpool v Brighton, Sun 1200 Birmingham v Leeds, Sun 1330 Grimsby v Wolves, Sun 1630 Rangers v Hearts, Mon 1930 Macclesfield v Brentford.

72 plus the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnough. Hello, welcome to 72 plus the EFL pod from Five Live Sport with us as ever. My Right Arm, the EFL's premier pundit. It is Joby McEnough. What have I done to get a nice intro from it? I'd probably come on and get a bit of stick for like missing a show where I'm double-wit. You don't like it. Come on, I show you love, you don't like it.

I'm here for it. I think we're coming to a mutual partner. ways at some point. Oh my gosh, you putting that out there? Yes. Wow. This time of the season with like managers in trouble and a bit of discontent amongst fans and that's a bit of a worrying statement. I've got to say to actually come out. What we normally get is the vote of confidence. I would actually be a bit more worried if I had that, but you've actually turned it around the other way now. Lyle Taylor doesn't complain when I show him love. In fact, he goes on other podcasts and tells people how good at him. Wow. Okay. It's a nice way.

to start the pod. I was really looking forward to this week. I've got to say, we've got a brilliant guest, haven't we? So should we just get him in? We have bagged ourselves at January signers. It's taken a week or so to get the deal ratified the old international clearance

and sort the work permit from south-east to west London or WC, wherever you want to call the BBC. And we've gotten registered in times of feature today. The Millwall Midfielder, Massimo Luongo, is the latest name in through the door on 72 plus, the home of the NFL from Five Live Sport. How are you?

I'm great, I'm great, besides being injured, but I'm enjoying the whole process of it. Talk to us. You did your ACL in my eyesail. Funny enough against QPR. My return in the little London Derby on TV. Yeah, one of those things happens. Glad it's happened at the end of my career rather than in the middle or the beginning. But I am 13 weeks post-surgery. I am, which is weird, I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying the process of this long rehab because I'm at a club where I'm really loving it. They're really loving me. They're supporting me.

I live around the corner and I've always lived around there. So it's just worked out really well. I've had a baby. So I'm around a lot more now. I'm focusing on my coaching so I can get in with under 15s at the moment, under 16s. Anything else? I'm doing the co-commentary from Millwall. Yeah.

Which is how I spoke to you about this. and I'm loving it, yeah. The rehab's tough, boring, but it's just part of it really. Great to have you on with us. Let's go straight into it. A feature interview with the new Watford boss, Ed Steele, will be here on 72 plus, but we have to touch on last night.

Southampton's extraordinary comeback from 3-0 down to beat Leicester 4-3 at the King Power, and it kind of just sums where things are with Leicester, where things are with Leicester at the moment. Yes, if you wanted probably 90 minutes to sum up their whole season, not just what's going on at the club, that was probably it, because we have seen flashes, which you would expect with the quality they've got in their team at points this season,

which clearly were on display in the first half. I mean, to go 3-0 up and you're thinking, could this be the turning point after the week that they've had? And then the second half collapsed and to concede so late on. And in the manner they did, the amount of goals they did, again, shows to me what has been lacking all season, a lack of togetherness, spirit,

leadership, and that only happens, you know, that kind of result and conceding that many goals when there is that in and amongst the squad. So, you know, big questions and it's been a terrible, terrible week for Lester. I feel social media in the past week or so has become a

very, very mean place. Jamal Lassel's taking it from supporters of other clubs at the moment, but it isn't Just on him. Mas, when you look at a team that's 3-0-0-up, cruising, sticks it in cruise control, Olae's ringing out, and then you go and get a beat four-three. How'd you even sum that up?

I think it's probably the end product of so many warning signs throughout the season. Because as soon as they got the six-point deduction, I thought, are Lester, probably not because of the position they're already in, but are they the team, I'm talking more about individuals and in the dressing room, are they the team to band together to, really fight it out, you know, to work hard for each other, to have each other's backs.

Probably not. They've got so many good individuals and probably a lot of them will be looking, I've been in dress rooms like that. Will it get toxic? Maybe. But a lot of their individuals thinking, I shouldn't be here. Can I get a move? Can I leave?

This is just from in the background. The result, I think, just sums that up. You're 3-0. You're probably thinking, oh, can I get another one? How many goals can I score today? and then when it got a little bit tough do you float or do you sink and unfortunately they sank so

I'm not sure I've been there before but yeah that is it just sums up pretty much the whole season well I think you're spot on Massimo because that is my question my look at the table and I look at some of the teams down there with them and we all have seasons where you have an expectation so for example

a Portsmouth of Blackburn and Oxford I think we'd all feel at the start of this year they're going to be down there and if they survive, brilliant, well done but they would be prepared for what type of football you need to play and the mentality you need for a relegation bout. Leicester City, completely on the other hand

and even with the six points and with the squad they've got, I still think they should be at the top end potentially pushing for a playoff place with the quality they've got in their squad. So now they've been flipped from and it has been in limbo and I think it has been difficult

knowing it's over their head but now to be literally entrenched in a relegation battle with teams down there that are ready and willing to fight for each other, that is where I've got asked the question of Leicester City. You just have to have a look at a couple of their next games in the league. Stokeaway, Middlesbrough away. Norwich, who are flying, by the way, what a turnaround, it switch away. You know, I mean, we could be sitting here going in three, four games.

They haven't picked up another point. And if teams around them then do, all of a sudden, that last sort of 10 or 11 games, that is when the big questions will be getting asked of that squad. I just don't understand why it's taking so long to find a manager, even if it's someone who's going to sit and take you to the end of the season. Just a firefighter now, that's it. I mean, Nigel Pearson is there. I know he said he's retired and whatnot,

but go and get someone in who absolutely loves the football club. You know, it looks like Blackburn Rovers are going to make an appointment pretty soon. But I'm looking at those clubs in there, from Oxford all the way to Charlton and thinking, who's got the fight, who can go and grind out results in a relegation battle and we're talking about it in the Premier League as well. Look at West Ham United, how they've turned things around.

Four weeks ago they're dead and buried. 100% yeah. Cooked, done, stick a fork in us. We are cooked. Now people going, yeah, Nuno's turned this tanker around and they're looking upwards. But this is the championship. It's a different beast.

46 games. It's not 30A. It's the ultimate football marathon. And I'm worried for them. I am not just worried. I am petrified, and I don't want to say my key phrase, Jobes. I don't want to get the BIT up because I don't know. I don't know if they are BIT yet. It is, Aaron, just take one look at that last night.

To be 3-0 up and lose 4-3, there is only one outcome. I'm going to let you go out. No, you go. Call it. Call it. Lester City sitting here this morning are bang in trouble. They're BIT. They're BIT.

Take us to a dressing room point of view, Mass. If you are a Leicester player right now You've got Andy King, bless him, club legend Who's trying to do his best But obviously he's not ready for a situation like this Where you have to be on the battlefield And right entrenched in it What are you thinking?

Well hopefully you're hoping that there aren't clicks You're hoping that you've brought in a lot of foreign players Are they with the team Or are they just with the other foreign players Are you hoping that the English players Or the boys that have been in the leagues for a long time They're not just sticking with the English boys are moaning about the other plays, that's what you're hoping.

I think if that is the case, whoever comes in has to rely on one or if there's three, four groups, you've got to pick a side and just focus on that just to get over the line. Or, which I think they'll do, no problem, they're going to pick up points and they're going to score goals because they've got such a good team.

They're just falling short all the time, probably because people can't be trusted or people just haven't got enough to... It's the mentality. It's just the mentality. Yeah, okay, it's a massive club If they were top of the league I think they'd fly

They'd be flying Because all the boys are full of confidence The players would do what they want They would be As big time as they can be And if you're going to produce on the pitch You can do whatever you want Outside the pitch

But when you're not produced on the pitch And you're still doing all the other stuff Then there's a big problem And I think Especially the boys in the EFL That have been here for a long time They will notice that straight away That's when it's just a little bit of toxicity

trips I don't know. I'm going to disagree with you and I'm going to say that the toxicity's been there for a long, long time. I think that lack of off-field strategy is a big issue, like you saying. Listen, clearly there's been some big issues to get over some unforeseen ones that have affected the whole of football. But it's then how do you react to that? And I just don't think they have. I think you go back to recruitment. Clearly a club that has been up and it's been down.

I think some of the players they've got in, I think it's a bit of a fat cat syndrome. I think you're in a situation here where you've got players there that are on, you know, contracts. I'm never against people earning money. Like, listen, we've all been there, you know, we've done it. You earn as much as you can. But there has to be a level performance based on what we're hearing. Some of these players are reportedly earning. And at the moment, it is falling way short of that, you know.

And I just feel that there just seems to be a bit of a niceness around the football club. I felt that with Marty Sufueltes a few times. They'd lose games and he'd sort of stroll onto the pitch. He's doing the arm around the shoulder stuff. And I'm thinking, nah, like if I was a player and supposedly a top player for the level and I'm losing games just because, you know, we're not together or we've switched off or it's a poor goal, I wouldn't want the manager coming up, you know, and then I go, right, what's that dressing room like? Are people actually going in there saying this is unacceptable?

Because I think you drift, you drift, you drift, and before you know it, you are in the situation they're in. And I don't think they do have the characters to get out of it. They've got the ability from a individual perspective, but do they have the collective group and mentality that is needed to get out of this situation? If they do, it will only be down to the fact they have got quality in the group, Aaron, and if they do, they'd be very, very fortunate. None of that quality is shown.

None of that quality. It has in fits and starts. And when I say individual, it's not been anything, I've never really watched them go. I can see from a coaching perspective, it's been for Taru smashing one in, or you cannot put an elasterplast over open art surgery. Correct.

Very simple. And I think that's what is needed at this football club from top to bottom, really. But the wound is open. Yeah, and they've got fortunate with the six points, by the way, which we've hardly even come on to. I mean, realistically, when you look at some of the punishments other clubs have got, you know, in the Premier League or, you know, six is, they've got away with one there, mate. So imagine that was nine points.

they've got to be looking at it as it's like, hang on a minute, lads, how many opportunities do we need to turn this around, get ourselves safe, and then from a club perspective, clear the decks and go, right, what do we need to take us forward? Because it isn't this at the moment. Let's just hear from the Victoria Southampton boss, Tonda Eckert, who joined us live on Five Live on Tuesday night. Tough after a game like this to find the right words.

Yeah, two very different halves, obviously, but I'm very, very happy the way we bounce back in short. You know, you're coming at half time, obviously, you just need a reset then. The boys decided to have a proper goal, and we did in the second half. Todd, you just come across so measured. I feel like that feeling that you exude. Maybe that comes across in the team in the second half. You know, it's all very calm, measured, got themselves back in the game,

and then three goals in the last 10 minutes. Yeah, well, I wasn't so measured after we scored the fourth goal, but I had to stop halfway through. No, now the emotions are starting to settle down a little bit, but, no, unbelievable. I think we are not going to have many of those. Tonda Eckert speaking to Nathan Alban after his side's

four three win at the King Power. It's the first time a team of the championship has fully blown a three-gold lead since Leeds in 2010 when they were four-one up at home to Preston North then before losing 6-4. Just first thing, Massimo, your best comeback?

I haven't done three, I've done two. Although we were four-nealed down against Birmingham. We came back 4-3, penalty last minute Naki Wales missed it and we lost 4-3, but for QPR

that was, that was incredible that game. Like 4-0 down, good 4-0 down, we were terrible. Changes half-time, 4-3, equalized, missed,

blew the whistle. That's probably the best, even though we didn't win. I'm the opposite end of the spectrum. I don't know if everyone out there remembers the Redding against Arsenal, 7-5. Oh, yeah.

In the League Cup. And that was an interesting night to say the least because the Gaffa made a few changes. So a few of the lads who had been starting, myself included, Pavel Pogregmniak, on the bench. So rusted, rotated. I was thinking at the time we'd had a terrible start to the Premier League, probably not a bad one to sit out with Arsenal coming.

Before we know it, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, we're 4-0 up in the first half. And everyone's like, lads that are starting, you need to slow down a bit because we're not going to get back in. When you got in a half time, you've 4-0-0. And do you just look around them? Against Arsenal. So this is just the point.

So Theo Walcott then scores just before half-time. And again, if you just said to us before the game, 4-1 at home to Arsenal, you're taking it all day long. But there was just an unease. As we went in, just something that didn't feel as if it had been 4-0 and you got, right, this is game over. So we come out for the second half. What are you saying, well done, lads at halftime?

mate, buzzing. Like could not believe because we don't think we'd won a game in the Premier League so far that's like that season. So we're all like brilliant but there was a little bit

of a disappointment that we conceded. Anyway, still four one. Go out for the second half. They score about 60 minutes, four two. So anyway, not edgy, edgy, but then the gaffa gives it the look round to a few of the senior lads

and he's like, right, skip, you know, get yourself on, just need to see this out, bit of experience and all that. And I'm like, oh, here we go. so come on the pitch now and we actually had a decent spell sort of saw a bit of pressure out

nothing really major going on so we're all thinking right done job done still 4 to 89th minute they get a corner bang so now we're like panic station I think four minutes had gone up so we're like right we've got to get through obviously the goal so there's a few more minutes

so we're fighting they're pushing 96th minute they go and get another corner 4 4, we are like, oh, how have we messed this up? It is just carnage. So you're thinking that's it, done. Go into extra time. They go 5-4 up, thinking we've lost all the momentum.

Can I just say, there's a quicker way to tell this story. I'm just telling you. I'll break that. Go on. So we go 5-5. We're like, it's going to go to penalties. Everyone's getting ready for pens. Last minute of extra time, they go and get another goal.

And then they go and get another one. 7-5. Craziest night of my life. What did they say to you afterwards? You know, again, that's the funny thing, because you go in, and normally if you've given up a lead or, you're raging, people are pulling each other apart, it was just a stunned silence,

just a disbelief that you've been involved in what was just absolute carnage, really, mate. So, yeah. I mean, he's taken up five minutes telling us that story. You featured in one of the greatest ever games that the EFL's ever seen, which is the five-five, Sweden, Shepard tonight. I have watched that game so many times.

I don't think you realize, like, on television, like, late at night, they'll just whack that on. They'll whack that on. It's brilliant. And the amount of times I've been just, I don't know, just sat there, awake. Swind and Chef Food United. Yeah, go on there. We'll have a look at this. That was a mad game.

It was incredible. Well, we four two up. John O'Baker scored the fifth goal. And I see fans at 90th minute at 5-5 about to storm the pitch. And we had a throw-in down our end. And I'm thinking, sit down. relax like don't jinx it please and they're like come on they want to run on and they're going to flood the pitch and I just all I thought was oh we if they have it felt like every

time someone went to attack they scored and we just couldn't afford another attack against us we could not we weren't a defensive team though no we're just an all of a lot of goals we did a heck of a lot of goals um I mean that could really help spur Southampton on for a playoff post just one point off here and they've been they've had their sort of troubles but again the form's great four wins in five Southampton we're talking about. They're a good team. They're the best team I've played in the championship

when we went up with Ipswich. They were obviously different manager, but the players individually are unbelievable. We were trying to nick their players when we went up to the prem for Ipswich. And mind you, a lot of their players, physically, they're Premier League players. So when you have the form

and you have the physicality and they're fit, this is the time of the season where you see the progression and the momentum kick in and then God knows what will happen towards the end. For me, the big thing was sorting the defence out, which he has done in terms of being a lot tighter up until last night. And that would have been the worry for me if they hadn't have got anything out of the game.

You know, like Massa's just said, they have got quality all over the pitch, you know, in that team. Obviously, Flynn Downs coming back in being a lot more regular of late. Cienza's has been brilliant. They've got Tom Fellows, Azaz. I mean, he's a seasoned top players for the level. So it, for me, was a matter of time. And they are going to be the ones that I'm watching out for in terms of getting into that playoff spot with a late run. What about Middlesbrough?

On Monday night, Borough went top for the first time since mid-October, six wins in a row. And what Kim Helberg has achieved at your former club mass is mad. Don't like to talk about my stint at Middlesbrough. We've all got one of them, maths. Not worry about it, mate. That was interesting. That's another day.

Middlesbrough, they, honestly, patterns, running, detail, everything is top. It's so good to watch, honestly. I put it on the other night and it was nice it was nice to watch and everything's just sticking okay you're confident you're full of confidence

you're at the top of the league but everything's sticking they're running hard you've got people underlapping overlapping overlapping fallbacks coming to the middle of the pitch and it's just set in for them perfectly

it was they're the best team that I've seen this year yeah I have to concur with that first half in particular and again go into certain games and seasons where you go right they've had a good run but let's see how they do

against this team and Shefford United at home have been absolutely on fire. So I thought, listen, I'm expecting them to go. I didn't even think they'd even go out and maybe be as offensive as they were because I thought a draw for them was a decent enough point. You know, got a massive game coming up next week as well.

But to go out and basically just say, we're going to take you on, we're going to go toe to toe, and we back ourselves to come out on top against what has been a very good Sheffield United team of late. You know, he picked up on some of the things that he's done well to transform the team that was effectively a really defensive, solid, organized unit in the space of time that he have to, honestly,

the free-flowing, one-touch, the link-up, the way they connect in the middle of the pitch, outstanding and really, really good to watch. We've spoken at times, haven't we, Aaron, about maybe the quality this year in the championship, particularly early on in the season, not being at the level that we come accustomed to. I think this last sort of 15 games or so,

and hopefully that game's really one that sets it off is going to be really, really enjoyable to watch. They've been brilliant under him. You know, we've had him in the studio a couple of times and genuinely, man, he's got that balance of obviously the tactical know-how and, you know, but he's quite lighthearted. I think he gets it. He gets English football. You know, speaking to him the other week. They went to Stoke on a midweek and, you know, he referenced that we can do it on a wet, cold night midweek at Stoke, you know, little things like that that will just give him that

bit of buy-in in amongst the squad and, yeah, listen, all things pointing towards them carrying on what has been, you know, a terrific run. I'm looking forward to the summit meeting Monday night, under the lights at the CBS. I'm going to be there. You're going to be there? I am indeed, yeah, looking forward to that one. Coventry, oh, that's all I'm going to say.

I mean, that's going to be like a bout. That's a heavyweight title. This is... Again, I'll be interested to see how they approach it. I'm trying to think. This is a heavy weight of Joshua being Coventry who's probably not had the best of runs against who's coming up ready to...

Don't be dancing around. Don't be sort of like, you know, just sort of like, you know, side to side that kind of stuff. No, land blows. Land. Just have it out. You've got to be careful. Who wins that? Just having that.

The United did that. Just to butt in. They came out swinging and they got knocked out, mate, because Middlesbrough were better. And I just think Coventry have to be really careful because what's been a big problem for them of late is too much space in behind. You give that to Middlesbrough, mate. They are going to be. I think Middlesbrough can mix it. They can suffer for periods of the game.

Coventry rely on their goal scoring but they can they can score goals but when it comes down as I said if you're going to go for a brawl I think Middlesbrough has a have a tougher chin to be honest so from a small village on the banks of the river Nile everybody called me Mohammed but

you know short name or nickname they call me more to the biggest stages of world football goes for the Kana Masha Sala is more than just a player he's an icon a symbol, a king. Muhammad Sala represents a dream for Egyptians, for Muslims, for Africans.

More than just a football player, he gave us hope. I'm Kelly Kate. This is Sporting Giants, Mo Sala. Listen on BBC Sounds. 72 Plus, the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnuff. I mean, ideally, being a middlewall man, you want Middlesworth to do something there, because you currently are six points behind Coventry City. Yeah, granted, there's, what, three places between you.

But it's going quite nicely at the den, isn't it? Yeah, it is. It is. We are, we have this, Jobi you could probably comment. There's a little joke going around. We celebrate 50 points. So we are very much a team that celebrates 50 points. Even though we're in the playoffs, we're like, oh, we're safe now.

So milestones. We're doing little milestones at the moment. and we're not really looking at the table because... Come on, maths. We're not. We're not. Come on.

Okay. The senior figures aren't. Because every time someone talks about, everyone's like, relax. We've got... Who have you got coming up? We've got... Paul Smith.

After that, we've got tough games leading up to Ipswich. We've got three tough games leading up that will create a mentality for the running. And when the running comes, all right, then we look at the table and we look who's where they are

and stuff like that. That's really interesting, yeah, because I... I would sort of almost do it the other way around of like, for me, you are pretty much there, right? You've got a nice little cushion now. It's six points. And you've got a, and that's just to sick. But I'll be looking like, you know, what do we need now to make sure we're in the playoffs?

And you look traditionally, it's, you know, 70, 72 maybe. Like now you've already got 53 points, right? So it's just really interesting to hear from inside the camp and what that mentality is, you know, yes. stay up 50 points but that is bare minimum meal should be doing so it's like right how do we now make sure that we do continue what has been a fantastic yeah but you're forgetting a lot of the players okay take manager aside take the new signings but a lot of the players that have been there for a longer period of time have they've suffered they've suffered where they shouldn't be they've come up with the team they've been flirting with relegation and they've been

fair play to the whole establishment but they've been slowly building but they have still got fresh wounds of what it's like to be down the bottom and once that's now we can live off around the playoffs the last couple of years. You know what I mean? Well, I mean, barring that season on Joe Edwards where I mean, that was just an absolute shambles. Yeah. They brought Alex Neal in for a reason. But take us into his mind because interviewing him, he's the most unflappable human being I've ever met in my life.

You could turn around to him. You would have won 9-0 and he would have gone, yeah, but you know, we just focus on our jobs and that's it. Okay, cheers, Alex. Well, he's, we'll focus on the job. He's obviously to steal that in the squad because that's exactly hell we are. Yeah, really happy, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But, you know, just focus on it.

Cool, nice one out. Thank you. You get nothing from him. No. But I really respect that. He's staunchy, sticks to his values, he does his thing. He's a winner.

He's done this before. And I think that's what everyone sees. And I look at those teams in the playoffs, and I think, I'd want him in my camp because he knows, he's experienced, he's been there, he's got the T-shirt, I don't think I've beaten an Alex Neal team in my career. No one likes playing an Alex Neal team.

No. But this is in the camp, we don't feel like an typical Alex Neal team. When I go speak to my mates that are on the other team that we played against, we think they come in thinking, how do we lose to them? How do we lose? That's the narrative of the whole season. They're whatever. They're not good.

How do we lose that game? It's because of us, because we were bad. It's never because Millwall were really good. And so we're really buying into that. Yeah. Yeah. It's a really interesting point. You're in it now.

So that would be the outward perception. We did a Millwall game a few weeks ago against Charlton, and they were brilliant. Do you think because of that stigma, it's not actually telling the true story because you lot play some, don't get me wrong, you're solid, you don't give up a lot defensively.

But now what I think he's really done is adding those layers to that. You know, Femier-Aziz has been absolutely brilliant this season in terms of that attacking outlet. You've got Ivanovich, bringing the lights of Barry Bannonin. You know, do you think you don't get the credit? in terms of actually what a good football inside you can be as well at times?

I think the people behind the scenes are other clubs recognise how good the players are actually doing. I think as a whole, we've still got that Millwall label, which is fine. I think we're almost buying into it because we're going into games. Alex Neal will say, you know, we're not going to go gun home and press because we want them to risk it. We want them to try and out play us because when we win it, we'll go and score. So we're using that to our strength at the moment, which obviously is benefiting us. but it's crazy because I think we've Charlton games a little bit different because it's a Derby

and Charlton weren't we're struggling at the time but we are we're going into games and we're thinking we played really well when I speak to my mate saying like how have we lost to you guys well you have obviously because we were the better team but it's never that narrative which is I think right up until the end of the season it'll be a shame if it continues

but we'll take it at the moment because obviously the manager's buying into it and we're using it to our strength oh Barrington Banner he's a good footballer honey Baz is the best Baz is good and mine

the recruitment's been top I have to take that recruitment's been really good He's such a good footballer Yeah He's such a good Like just I was there for his debut

Shepard shuffich tonight again And the dynamic Of the game changed Completely And he sat there And I was watching Because Alex Was speaking to him

For about three or four minutes On the side I was and why What are you saying to him Then I really is It was basically Go and effect it there Go and effect it there

Go and do what you've got to do So at one point I'm like Why is he on the right Oh He's gone and said Why is he on the left. Why is he down there? And then he was

going, and this man's 36 years old. It's like having an old sports car because he's supremely fit. Yeah, he's quality up. It's either way he runs, man. And granted he's got the build for it. He's a small man, but he's got the attitude. I watched him like first, first touch. You know, he's gone, you've got the monks charm

booming around the concrete jungle at the den and he's there and he's pointing at players where to move and you're like, man, this guy's brain is good. I think he's such a potential game changer. I've already said to people, if Mill will don't go out this season, it'll be next.

That club will go to the Premier League, very, very short. They're doing everything right. They're doing the right steps. Like Steve and the chairman, they're doing really good work behind the scenes. And Barry's just like, we're seeing a Barry Bannon without the weight of Sheffield Wednesday on his shoulders.

We're seeing a free Barry Bannon, which he can, where the manager is really good and just let him do what he does. And he's finding it a little bit tough because maybe he's not getting the ball every second. At Wednesday, boys used to go right, he'd call it, give it back. Like, oh, Barry wants it, give it to him.

Here it's like he's actually giving us a respect to go and I've got to do a job for the team. And he's doing it. And he does what the manager's told. But we have so many different angles of attack that he's only going to improve probably what we are not as strong in, which is the, if a team sits off, how are we going to break him down. And, yeah. And mind you, he works so hard. Managers put him at the moment in that little number 10 role where he's sort of joining the strikers in a 4-4-2. but he just goes wherever he wants

and gets on the ball, he is class. He's always been class, and he's a great guy for the dressing room. That's one of the big bonuses. I bet he is. It's 36 years since Millwall were in the top flight. Teddy's sharing him and Tony Cascarino with the front line there before the Premier League was even a thing and I'm telling you, the club is set up, it's ready for success. Let's push on. Watford, have a new coach.

And it is Edward Steele, the brother of the former Southampton, boss will still. He's 35, previously assistant manager, Andelect, and has manager experience in the Belgian Pro League. But this is his first job in England. And I had a little sit down with him this week. 72 plus, the EFL podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. Ed, welcome to the championship. It's so good to have you with us on 72 plus. And first and foremost, just to make Joby McEnough's head bigger, I gather you're a listener. I must admit that I am. I've listened to both of you a fair bit of the

last few years. How do you feel about being the subject to one of our shows now? I take it as a compromise. It means that, you know, it means that we're in the football league and I'm in the football league in the championship. So now denied. Take me past the sort of, I mean, take me through the past sort of like 24, 48 hours, what it's been like?

Yeah, it's been a whirlwind. I think there's a good word for you. Just being really intense, you know, talks have been ongoing for the past few days. Speaking to Mr. Potso, two of the few, a few. of the people in a group. Getting my head around Watford, been analysing everything that's happened this season, analysing the last few weeks,

and just getting my head into it as much as I can. And realising also that actually Mr. Potso's vision, the methodology that they want in place here, I'm really aligned to it, which is a difficult thing to find in football. I've been in many clubs, many different countries in different roles. So, yeah, I can't tell you how pleased

and how excited I'm about the coming weeks. Can you open up on that methodology? What is it? What are Watford looking to to achieve and how? First of all, win games. And that's the, I'd say the, kind of the exceptional thing of coming in two-thirds of the way through the season or more is that we've got to win now and we've got to win on Saturday. And then we've got to win the week after and then we've got to win the week after that. So that is the most important thing that takes first place.

But beyond that, there is also a big part about development. players. It isn't just about preparing 11 players for the weekend and making sure we win. There is a whole dimension to developing young or not so young players for Watford, for, yeah, the club in general. That's the second part. And there's also, you know, a clear methodology in terms of performance and physical preparation that's already in place here at the club. And Mr. Potso and the club were very clear that they want somebody to be able to come in and to embrace that. And to see that, you know, I analyse all of the data,

all of the trading sessions from the season so far, and to find that I was aligned with that, again, it's not always the case there. There are lots of different schools of physical preparation and performance. So to see that and to get my head around that was a big positive and a big plus. So those are the three, you know, the three dimensions, I'd say. It feels like we're fully into this sort of next era of coaches rather than having old school managers.

You mentioned Brown and our, in our point. pre-match chat and we talked you know sort of an old school brownie who is a manager and and who feels like he has, you know, full of autonomy. It feels like you are a cog and a machine and I say that with the greatest respect. Yeah, no, I am.

A vital cog, but you're 100%. You're a head coach. Am I right? I'm 100% a head coach. I am not a manager. Definitely not a manager. And I am, I am just a cog in in Watford FC. The players are more important than me.

the fans are more important than me. And one of the things in the chats and discussions we've had is that one of the jobs I've got is to bring all of the people behind the scenes together and to make sure that all of the departments are aligned, working together, which maybe hasn't been the case previously with the different coaches or managers that have been in. So no, no, that is, and I was really clear with that. If you're looking for a manager, don't call me. I'm not your guy if you are looking for a manager. Obviously, everyone's going to talk about you being Willstall's brother.

I don't want to define you as that. I want you to be Ed still. You're your own man. You know, from the 15 minutes we spent together, you're bright, you're energetic, you've got a certain charm about you, and you're a joy to talk to. What has your brother taught you, though,

about the championship in the past six, seven months? Yeah, it's tough. It's tough. It isn't the same as European football, and we've been in different leagues there. It's tough. It's super, super, super competitive. I think it's probably actually the most competitive league across Europe

where the league table comes 3 o'clock of Saturday the league table actually doesn't matter that much at kickoff. That was definitely one thing. It is also, it's funny because we've watched English football all our life from the Premier League down throughout the football league. But once you're in it, and he said this to me, he said actually once you're in it, you realise how physical and how more direct it is than what we're used to.

So European football is, I think, just, yeah, different in terms of the flow and the tempo of games to what the championship is. What's your style? What can I expect when I go to Vickridge Road and watch Ed Stills Watford? Do you know what? Short term, it doesn't matter because I'm not coming in. I said it to the players this morning. First meeting we had this morning and first training session. This isn't about style and philosophy and massive principles and all of that. It's about how we're going to go and win at Preston on Saturday. And so everything that we do now, between now and Saturday, is just about that. about how compact and how aggressive we're going to be with that ball, how fast our transitions are going to be.

We're going to do it by being aggressive and by playing fast back in football. We're not going to be a slow-tempoed possession team. And hopefully, you know, the fans can identify with that, enjoy it, and that's going to energize them as well. I mean, you've been described as a left field appointment by people, but fundamentally you're the 23rd head coach or manager appointed by the Potto family at Watford. there is a high turnaround. I know you've said, you know,

winning games is what it's all about. And it's true. What's your aspiration? What do you want to achieve here and in your time as head coach? I'd say the aspiration is just to be in this as long as possible because if we're in it for a long time, it's that we're being successful.

And I am, you know, we are, I mean, both Bill and myself, or Will and myself, sorry, we're super humble. We know where we come from. We know that we're not ex-players. We know that we are, and especially me, I mean, Will's been more high profile in Europe than I've been so far. You know, you said left field 100%.

You know, and I'll live up to that. That's totally fine. And I can understand also that, you know, fans would have seen it and thought they'd misread it thinking, this must have been Will and it wasn't. So I can understand that some of them might be underwhelmed. And, you know, all I can say to them and to the whole club is hopefully, you know, Saturday at Preston already and the week after, that we're giving them that pride in their team.

and the excitement that we want to be sharing with them. Did you call him Bill? Yeah, we do. It's Bill and Ted, actually. What's the objective set by Mr Potto and Co? Is it promotion via the automatics? I mean, I know that's a long shot, or is it payoffs? Is there one?

He was very clear that promotion via the two top spots were not out of reach, but that's being super, super over-ambitious. So, you know, if we do, fantastic. But no, we want to challenge the promotion via the playoffs. I've come in now and only being the three points off the playoffs, it is, there is that particular, the fact that there are lots of teams in and about the playoffs. So it could be any of, I don't know, six, seven, maybe eight teams that could, you know, get one of one of those playoff spots.

So, no, that's the ambition. Short term, that's the ambition. And then, yeah, longer term, it is just to be really pushing and challenging to get to the Premier League. and then once we get there to be competitive in it. 72 plus the EFL podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello, by the way, to Ed Stilt, if you're listening. He says he's already fined a few people on the training ground

for calling him Will. Jobes, you got a fun. Well, glad to hear he listens, but also probably means we have to be a little bit careful of how we approach this. Now, I'm only joking. He knows that we will speak honestly and openly. Listen, comes across brilliant,

I think he's one of these new batch of coaches that understands there is a process in getting jobs these days. I think the clarity of the role was the big thing I took out of that, him saying he's not a manager and doesn't want to be. He's a coach. And I think for Watford, that is the most important thing because we know that there is a lack of control. I think that was one of heavy graphier's big issues,

certainly around sort of the turn of year where he probably felt he'd done a really good job and wanted some reinforcements. and maybe they felt he was overstepping his role. Clearly he was frustrated by not getting maybe the ones that he want into, and that caused a bit of friction. So I think understanding the role and Watford owners want, whatever we think about it and how they operate their football club,

for a coach just going and being able to do his job is the most important thing. They're very, very young, aren't they, Watford? I mean, they're exciting, granted, and I can understand where Havi Gratia, sort of, you know, you talk about control and I don't want to dance around it, but very simply maybe you probably wanted a bit more experience and a couple of players with a bit of know-how. Maybe a Barry Bannon, who knows?

But you know what I mean. They've got some very, very good players in there, but is it enough to carry you over the line? Does the folly of youth get you over and sort of, you know, achieving your ambitions, mas? No. The important thing, what you say, is getting over the line. How do you get over the line?

If you've never done it before, you don't know how, and it's just pure pot luck. So you need people in the building that know how to get over the line. And funny enough I had, won't say who, but Watford player at my house last night. And he was saying ex-manager was one of the best he's worked with. So he was saying really good things. But he's saying the new manager, I think from what he was trying to say, has a little bit of a different goal of getting the best out of the players by coaching him

and bringing through some players. Because he's sort of trying to rewrite their wheel a little bit. That's from what I gathered from what he was trying to say. So, yeah, it's probably, it's so frustrating to be, you know, I've had owners that have been like that. And it's so frustrating when you want, you know what you need, but they just won't let you bring it in. And yeah, I think that's the frustration for Watford fans. And my biggest sympathy is with them in terms of how the club is run and the turnover. And probably, when I say, a lack of identity.

I think there is now an identity is pretty much a club that is going to go and develop and recruit young profile players and try and turn those smaller investments into big. the ones, they've got a good record of doing that. Like Mass has just said, the real frustration is when you are or potentially could be nearly there and only really need maybe two or three, and we know them key positions down the middle of the pitch, you know, that bit of know-how,

that experience, that expertise. I think that's where the frustration for Watford fans comes. And ultimately, being such a young team, it is difficult to then go and find that real consistency is what you need to get in the playoffs and go on. And I think that's where the problem has been. No doubt they've got some

talented players there. And I think his big job is to get the best out of them because we haven't seen that in recent weeks, particularly from an attacking and goal scoring point of view, which has really dropped off a cliff, really. Just one line from League 1. Ryan Lowe has lost his job as Wiggin manager after their 6-1 defeated at Peterborough. I'm sure we'll catch up with Wiggin once they've appointed a new head coach. Let's finish with this. 72 plus, 72 minus on the football daily.

Yeah, it's time for Jobie's best. and worst moments of the week from across the football league. Where are we starting this week, Jopes? Well, we've got to start with Leicester City having an absolute shocker last night. Three no up, go on to lose four, three. Just sums up a terrible week for them, really, doesn't it? Points deduction, go and lose, and then lose again in the manner they did. They are, as we've said earlier in the show, bang in trouble.

Let's have it. Nelson's had his pocket pinch there by Charles. It's back to Charles who finds the back of the net with a stunning left-footed strike. And Southampton have won it right at the death. It is a stunning turnaround from Southampton at the end of this game. But the crumble and collapse from Leicester City is even more stark. Andy King has his head facing the ground and the booze are not waiting until full-time. Yeah, not good.

have you have your 72 plus piece jokes. Well, this is one that definitely made me chuckle. It was a little squirrel managed to get onto the pitch in Holes match against Bristol City. Not only happy with running through the defence and scoring and running through the net, he then runs down the touchline and absolute calamitous scenes of someone trying to grab him, trying to put coats over him, runs into the crowd, comes back, game gets stopped for a number of minutes. Good pace from the little squirrel. Let's find out how we got on.

And we haven't seen it for about a season or two. But the MKM squirrel is on the pitch currently at the halfway line, just progressing beyond halfway, going down that right channel. Ball's out to play at the moment, but the squirrel keeps going in acres of space, panders off his line. What do you do in this situation? Keep commentating on the squirrel. Oh, not me.

Sorry, right, okay. The squirrel then decides it's going to turn back and just a little pirouette, and does it go in the goal? We'll hear a cheer. Stop, and there it is. There's the cheer. It's the first thing at the MKM Stadium that's gone in the visitor's goal this game. Can we shout out the legendary Mike White from BBC Radio Humberside,

always providing the entertainment. And yeah, it's very good at it in general. Ever seen a squirrel on a pitch before? Plenty cats, rats. No rats. Well, I was going to say, I've come across a few snakes in my time. Oh, love it. Love it.

No squirrel in our fantasy EFL teams, don't. at the time of recording. Utter Stoke Nonsense is top of our listener league. Coe to join is 72 EFL pod. Joby has broken the 100 point barrier this week, helped by Norwich picking up back-to-back wins with clean sheets.

I'm still languishing, down to 128th, despite Leif Davis scoring for Ipswich. Leaf Davis, Leif Davis. Still got Josh Sargent in the team, mate. He's going to come good. Thank you. It's becoming a joke now. It's really, I'm logged out.

What can I do? If it makes you feel better, I put Macama in, who actually was fit, now he's not, and he only got one point. So it don't really matter, does it? If you got Sergeant or Macama, mate, do you know what I mean? There you go.

Thank you, Massimo and Joby. I will be kicking off your FA Cup weekend with commentary of Hull City against Chelsea on 5 live, kickoff at 745. We begin the program from 7. That is it for this episode of the Football Daily. Also out now, pod reacting to the sacking of Thomas Frank by Tottenham Hotspur.

As for us on 72 Blast, the EFL pod will be back next week. Catch you then. I've lost that. Is he gone, yeah? Frank gone, yeah? Wow. Five live sports. The Six Nations.

Rugby's greatest championship. What a day of the Six Nations it's been. Live commentary of every match on BBC Sam's. I don't think he has to try. Just a stunning school. One of the all-time great. The Rugby in a weekly podcast will be daily throughout the tournament with all the best insight and analysis and the biggest names in the game. The Six Nations. Listen on BBC Sounds.