Football Daily - 72+ EFL Pod: Manning in at Huddersfield & Struggling West Brom

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

Former Huddersfield captain Tommy Smith joins Aaron and Jobi to chat the EFL's biggest headlines. Tommy talks about his former club after the sacking of Lee Grant and subsequent appointment of former Norwich boss Liam Manning. They also discuss Eric Ramsay's start at West Brom - are they in trouble and is he the man to turn their fortunes around? What's the latest with Josh Sargent at Norwich - will he be allowed to leave the club this month? And at the top of League 2, they discuss whether Swindon Town or Salford City can catch Bromley.TIME CODES:02:20 - Huddersfield 14:35 - West Brom 26:50 - Josh Sargent at Norwich 29:40 - League 2 37:45 - EFL Hard Men Squad 44:55 - 72Plus/72Minus

72 plus the EFL podcast with Aaron Paul and Joby McEnough. Hello, welcome to 72 plus the EFL podcast from Five Lives Football Daily after a busy week across the EFL. It's also a good morning, good day. Hello, how are you to Joby McEnough? How are you, Jabias? I'm very, very well and very grateful I was in the studio last night for the wrecks of game. Obviously, we're having a little bit of a bad spell weather-wise out there. So there are some occasions where you're like, yeah, it's a definite good one to be nice and warm.

Actually, I was probably a little bit too warm. We had a little blow heater in the studio. It's either like absolutely roasting sometimes or freezing cold. We can't quite get the temp right. So we actually went with a portable heater yesterday. And yeah, I mean, I'm texting Tommy Smith along the way and just complaining about how warm I was. But I know it is a complete opposite for those of you who were out and about at Games, Aaron, wasn't? Can I say flying the flag for proper football jobs?

No heated G-Lays and none of that rubbish. I'm a flask and a dream kind of man. That's me. Big coat, thermos full of something warm. My old age has. I'm getting on, mate. I'm in my 40s now, do you know what I mean? I saw a colleague at football the other day

had these hand warmers. She had charged up. What's that all about? Levels. What is that about? I get the little sachets, you know, the ones you put in the gloves, obviously. They're quite good just to keep your hands warm.

I was never this bad when I was a player. I think it's all he is running around in the cold and now it's coming back to bite me. Tommy Smith, your thoughts on these contractions. I'll be honest with you. I just thought I'd let Jobby. I was at an introduction now. I've been dying to jump in because, you know,

I think he's definitely been tipped off by our producer as on last night, right? I was going to jump in and say, this is how the other half live as. He was in the studio, full selection of snacks. He's even saying he was that hot. And me and you were out at games in the freezing cold.

I was at Wrexham's game last night in the wind. the rain with a bovril whilst Mr. McEnough while it's Mr. McEnough is sat eating malteseers in the studio mate how are the other half living? It's a crunchy actually it was a crunch. Outrageous behaviour. The thing is if he gets that hair wet

in the rain, it's like soul glow do you remember that? Just let your soul glow. That's what it is and it'll start running and then he's in trouble. Let's push on. Only one place to start this week with your former club, Tommy. Huddersfield Town of Sat Lee Grant

after eight months in charge, that following a three-one defeat at Burton Albi, which left the club sixth in League One. The club have moved quickly to a point. The former Bristol City and Norwich Boss, Liam Manning, will get on to that in a bit. Firstly, Tommy, look, the fans were not really on side. I think they lost the fans a while back. Thoughts on the sacking of League One. Eight months is an interesting time.

It is, but I think, as we all are very well aware of, the Huddersfield. There's big expectations at the football club. They've spent a lot of money. They've got a very big wage bill for the league. And ultimately, I feel like they're probably looking at it thinking this league is drifting away from us. I think Cardiff and Lincoln are the, I've been the two outstanding teams in the league. And it just looks as though it's becoming a, I say a little gap. It's actually getting quite big now between them two teams and Huddersfield. There's a cluster of teams who are beneath them in the league, who've got games in hand on them. So once these teams have picked up their games, as Huddersfield could find

themselves like mid-table, which ultimately is just nowhere near good enough in terms of the Rima that will have been set out at the start of the season. So listen, we never want to see people lose the jobs. I actually come across League around a few times during this season. Very, very hard-working individual, but ultimately, results dictate outcomes. And I think most Huddersfield fans now will be looking forward to the rest of the season under new management. Toby, your take on it? I'm really disappointed that hasn't worked out Obviously, someone who was highly regarded as a coach during his time at Ipswich. And again, I think what I do want to see is young coaches getting given opportunities.

And it was a fantastic, I think if you're going to say as your first job, you know, with the budget that you've got at a level that with the greatest respect, League 1, they've got a really good chance. Or they would have had a really good chance of what he was able to do in the transfer window. By all accounts, he was a big part of that recruitment as well. I think the dynamic has shifted there with someone coming in above him now so whether they weren't happy with the output

that some of those players got. I think Alfie Mae was one that I looked at like, right, that is a proper bona fide signing for a league one team, someone who's going to come and score goals but then you look at how he's been utilised at times, you know, not necessarily playing central up front. You know, he sort of dropped him in a little bit and I think that's been a little bit of the sentiment around.

It's been a bit too sort of safe, a bit too pedestrian at times. in terms of a style rather than actually going, we have got an unbelievable group of players here. Let's just go out, front foot, go and blast teams away. Joeby,

sorry to interrupt, mate, but has that been the problem, or do you think? You know what it's like when these teams go over and above in terms of bringing plays into the building? Is there a case with Huddersfield

that they've actually signed too many plays and we don't actually know what their best team is? You know, they've spent a lot of money. You don't know what the best team is. But you see what I'm saying, though, with too many players.

I don't know it sounds ridiculous. He just overthink it. I think he's maybe been guilty of overthinking it. Potentially, yeah. Tactically, whether that's, again, some of the decisions he's made around sort of selections. And I just feel sometimes it is as simple as get your best team out there. We've got a better group of players and many others in the league,

which is undoubted, you know, for me when you look at the squad. And then, you know, just go and be on the front foot. I don't think that style has come across well to those Huddersfield fans. And then on top of that, been getting the results clearly on a consistent enough basis. I think the keeper decision was baffling. I love O.G. Owen Goodman.

Really, really good guy. 25 clean sheets last season for Wimbled and he was magnificent. Had a tough start there, but really bedded him beautifully. But Lee Nichols is a great keeper for League One. And the fact that he decided to bring OG in, I was a bit like, why? But I think it's helped either of them, has it, though, as well? And I think that is a tough thing, because, like you say, Lee Nichols wouldn't have been sat there. I thought at the start of the season, maybe a conversation.

has been had. Obviously, Lee Grant, his previous role as a goalkeeper, you know, speaking with Lee Nichols, say, look, this is going to be the guy who's going to take us forward. Do you want to play a supporting role? And I would have assumed that Lee Nichols was on that page. Clearly, that isn't the case. And what you cannot have is two effective number ones, one, especially younger one and one senior pro, who are both flying. I think it's affected both of those goalkeepers. The fact he's flip-flot, he's chopped and changed at the back as well. I don't think it's helped. And I think you look at, you know, the goals conceded. That's been a big factor in that.

You know, they just haven't done well enough, definitely from a defensive perspective this season. On paper, though, that is arguably the best squad of League One. But this is my point. This is the point I'm trying to make. I agree with you. I think that it is. And ultimately, League Grant has now paid the price for that

because if you look at the league table, there was certainly a time where they were right amongst that sort of playoff group. And then we all know what League 1 is like. You lose a couple of games. They have dropped down the league and they've got potential to drop even further. So as I said before, if Huddersfield find themselves, you know, in three, four weeks time, when everyone's caught upon their games in mid-table,

that for them is nowhere near good enough in this league. It's just not. I had them smashing up the division. What about the owner? Kevin Nagel's come in for a lot of stick from people. A lot of people think it's a rudderless ship. And I looked at it in the summer, and I looked at the people that were bringing out.

I thought, you know what, Granty's a good appointment? You look at where he come through with the education through Kieran. I refused to become a goalkeeping coach. Didn't want to be pigeonholed, insisted on becoming actual. an actual head coach effectively, someone who's a first team coach and you respect him for that, an intelligent guy, a smart cookie.

And he thought, yeah, after working with Karen McKenna for two, three years, this is going to be good. They're going to cook something up here. Why is it not work there? And why are the fans not having the owner? Well, I think when you look at the amount of managers that he's got through in a very short space of time,

and I think some of them have been fairly random, I've got to say. you have to say that these haven't been anywhere near successful. You know, you go and get a Michael Duff, who again had a good track record at the time. And after a decent enough start, things sort of start falling away there. And he goes out. And, you know, I just think that at some point,

you do have to look above you and say, look, right, have we made the right appointments? And the answer clearly is not, you know, is there a question to say, do you give him a little bit more time? I know Tommy, and I'm not saying the performances have been anywhere near worth it, but this is a young coach. I think you have to have an understanding around a young coach

that it might take a little bit longer than getting someone in his experience and expect them to hit the ground running. So I'm not sure whether they go from here, do they go back to the old experience tried and trusted or does he go for another manager who, you know, he's given an opportunity to that we're not sure quite what we're going to get.

One thing that is quite interesting and it's quite worth noting as well. I don't know you've seen, but they've actually just appointed a sporting director at Huddersfield, Chris Markham, who was out of the sport. the club previous. I worked with Chris

a long time ago now when he was a video analysis at the club. Now he's just been a point as a sporting director. I do think that is a good move for the football club. I think it's one thing

having obviously an ownership model but I think that's sporting director being the bridge between owner and manager and I'll be totally honest with you. I think that was probably something maybe in hindsight now but maybe there's something that Lee Grant was perhaps missing

is his first managerial job. I think having people that were around you in different parts of the football club are a massive help. And I think Lee Grant maybe, as I say, it's hindsight now, but maybe he would argue that he never had that. I think Chris Markham going in there now with

Liam Manning being the manager will be a massive, massive help. And I think in this day and age in football, I think that role is becoming more and more important, certainly for a club like Huddersfield who are spending as much money as they are. How big a job is this for Liam Manning, though? He's gone in after a woeful time at Norwich

shitty. I mean, the fans wanted him out Pronto, the football wasn't great. The home record was abysmal. Philippe Clamont's gone in there, and you can see the change already and what they've done. How does he go in to Huddersfield and make sure that he doesn't have a similar stint there?

Listen, I think what he does go into, and we've already discussed it, is a very, very good group for the level. And again, if I am a coach looking at an opportunity, that is, and it's not always easy as that, you know, sometimes you have to take a job that might seem a little bit harder than it actually is given the personnel you've got to work with.

But I'm sure he's clearly assessed that. The decision was made very, very quickly. And I've got to say, I'm sure he's absolutely licking his lips of what he's got to go and work with. I mean, they are underperforming. That is a fact. So again, it's how do you get that little bit more performance? I think, as I said, I've spoken about the defensive side.

You know, his teams generally are very compact, very organized. And I think that's something that he'll try and transmit over to the group as soon as possible. So again, I think for him, him. It's a really good opportunity to get himself going after what was a pretty damage instinct, we have to say, at Norwich City and a big, big decision to leave Bristol City in the first place. And it's a really important job for him, actually. And I think he's got to be a little bit careful that he doesn't quite get that reputation of going somewhere, do quite well, and then just jump ship. I think this is an opportunity for him to maybe go in there, stabilize things, hopefully

get them into the playoffs, which I'm sure is a bare minimum ambition at that football club, and potentially get and have a promotion on his CV because I do believe the squad is more than capable of doing that. Tommy, is he the kind of manager that Huddersfield need right now? I think probably on the back of League Grant with his first managerial job. You would argue yes, it probably is the manager that they need right now. He's got good experience in League 1.

The two teams that he's managed, coach, whatever you want to call it, in League 1 in Oxford and M.K. Don's, he left them in, you would have to say, good spots in League 1. So he knows the league. He's been relatively, I say successful. He's been relatively good in the league. So, yeah, I think it's probably a good appointment. It's just interesting.

Again, I go back to the league table. As I look at the two teams, now we're at the top of the division in Cardiff and Lincoln. I mean, it'd have to take an unbelievable turn of form for Huddersfield to now catch that top two. So I think like Joe, we just mentioned there, if Huddersfield can get themselves into the playoffs come the end of the season, that for me is the only way they're going to get promoted out of this league this year. And we all know what the playoffs are like. It's anyone's game in the playoffs. So I think for Lee and Manning the remit will be now to get themselves in the playoffs

and try and slug out with three other teams, try and get promoted. Joby, he had interest from Oxford United. Why is he taking this job? I think the Oxford one is a tough job. We've spoken about it on the last couple of additions, given the situation they're in. And again, for me, you know, they're up against it to stay up, whoever the manager is there. So does he want to necessarily go in there? And listen, it won't be all his own doing, obviously walking in in January,

but potentially get and have a relegation on his CV or a relegation on his CV, whereas to go to a club that should be doing better than they are in League 1 with the resources that he's got at his disposal and back himself to go and do a really good job there. And then all of a sudden it could be that Huddersfield, and listen, we know the playoffs are tough and they're tricky, but if they can get a bit of momentum and take good form into it,

get a promotion all of a sudden they're in the championship and Oxford potentially are in League 1. So I think there would be a lot that have obviously gone through his head on making this decision and a new experience. Obviously, he's been at Oxford before, maybe for him just a bit of freshness and clearly something in this challenge that he saw would be a better fit at this time. It's easy to sit here and say about Liam that obviously the time he had at Norwich recently didn't go so well. But I think you've got to remember and put it into context of the jobs he's done previous.

And as I said before about the success he's had in league one. So I think it's a smart appointment and I think it just needs a managing how to come in and show a little bit of experience of the division and know how to put the team into the right shape, the right formation, whatever it is a style. I think it's a good appointment.

But it is worth noting as just quickly, it is worth noting that their next three are very, very tough games. Let's go into the championship. Loads to talk about. We'll start with the club. We've spoken about a good bit over the past few weeks. I'm going to go for it

and bring back my signature phrase. You know what it is, don't you, Joe? It's BIT. What does it mean? Bang in trouble. West Bromwich Albion are B.R.T. Beating 5-0 at home by Norwich. They took a beating at the weekend as well

in Eric Ramsey's first game in charge. Parting ways with Ryan Mason. It's not been a fun winter for the Albion. And I don't know. Some things, something's not good here, Jobes. No, it definitely feels that way. There are losses, there are times where you're in games and you don't quite get the rub of the green,

and then there are losing 5-0 at home to a team in completely the wrong end of the table. And I think the way they just fell apart is the real worry for me, particularly when you've got a coach who just reading about, and you can only go off what he did in Minnesota. but apparently very defensive in terms of his set up, you know, low block, which ended up looking like a no block last night. Nick that from, oh Tommy this morning. We had a chat.

There was Tom. That's a naughty one. You're a bad man, you were. And, you know, I think that is the most alarming thing for me that he hasn't been able to transmit that because they were poor at times against Middlesbrough as well. I don't know they got themselves back in the game, but ended up losing it.

So not just from his perspective, but that group of players at the moment to go under like that is a real, real concern for me. Do you know what? I'm just a bit, I was at the game on Friday. It was Friday night

that Middlesbrough played West Brom it was obviously Bramsey's first game and I just, I can't help but think when a new manager comes into a club that sometimes you get this bounce, don't you? You know, we talk about it all the time,

this new manager bounce. Now, Middlesbrough played well on Friday night as I say, I was at the game and I think the score line, it probably made West Brom look like they were in the game. I'll be totally honest with you, they weren't in the game up until probably the last 15 minutes of the game where they scored two goals.

Jed come on, did he? They had a 15 minute, 20 minutes spell where they got a little bit of momentum. But I think on the whole, it would have been very unfortunate for Millers were not to walk away with all three points. Now, go on to the next game, which is obviously last night against Norwich, I mean, that is a damaging, damaging defeat.

I mean, there's no two ways about it. When a manager comes in, as I was just saying then, about that next manager bounce, they don't seem to have had that. Now, when no one's expecting him to come in to start winning games back to back to back to back to back but you would like to think that they would have been a little bit better

than the two score lines reflected. I mean like I say that one last night to get beat 5-0 at home to a team that are below them in the league albeit they've had an improved Norwich still below them in the league 5-0 is a real, real concerning one from my point of view.

I mean they got tickled by the Canaries literally it was bad. It was so bad. Interesting line up last night as when you look at it, you know, He's obviously gone to a back five or three, whatever, three cent on hard. Weird, wasn't it? You know, eyes at price.

You've got Josh Madra out there. Beelick sent a mid, styles, you know, center mid. I'm like, looking at that going, hmm, not quite sure you've got players sort of out of position. And it's a lot to throw into a group of lads that you haven't worked with. Again, I speak about that buy-in, you know, and you have to get players on side as quickly as possible. And clearly in these first couple of games, that hasn't quite transferred.

Listen, it is so, so early, and you have to give him time, but there's got to be some little signs. And I get what you mean in terms of his tenure. Come on. No, Joby, listen, I'm going on a minute. Yeah, I know I get that. But you're saying it to me, but I'm talking about the whole, the bigger picture here. Westboro play 28 games with the season, the three points off the relegation zone. So whilst I agree with you, it's early in his tenure, is it now the time to be trying to work out what you're doing and what the, we're 28 games in, mate.

We're not like... Sorry, just to add to that, Tom, and reinforce your point. The serious game is, every team below has got games in hand on them. So again, it goes back to my point. So while I agree with Job, but you're saying it's early in his tenure

and there's an element of him coming in and trying to work out what's what. There is also, on the flip side of that, an element to say, a manager needs to come in, and we need to get results because the league table does not lie. They are three points off the relegation zone,

and as, as has just said, there are teams below them who have got games in hand. Now, Sheffield Wednesday are accounted for. They are relegated. West Brom could potentially, they've got good individual players, they probably will find themselves

having enough to get themselves out with this sort of situation that they're in. But the fact of the matter is, three points off the relegation zone after 28 games does not look good. I hate doing this hypothetical thing if he does this, if he does that, blah, blah, blah. Don't do it then, As, don't do it.

If he loses his next few games, and they're hauled into it, and I think they're in it. I think they're in Stuck. What happens then? Surely they can't bin him off. I mean, I think it was a baffling appointment in the first place. I don't know about you.

I know that Shillan Patel's come out to BBC Radio WM and he's talked about, you know, how they really like him and they thought it's a progressive appointment and it's going to be good. But you know what? I look at it in a time of not quite crisis, but bordering crisis, you don't go and get someone like that, do you? I mean, bless him. I'm sure he's a wonderful human being and he's got, you know,

fabulous credential. It's a great coach. But Westbaum needed someone just with a bit of nowse. I think you're spot on as. And again, it comes back to this question that we go around, around about in terms of the difference between a coach and a manager.

And I think we're getting a little bit at Leicester City as well. In terms of, I still think this is a really good group of players in terms of the level and the experience they've got in and around the championship. When you look through that squad, I mean, just on the bench yesterday, Jed Wallace,

Malumby, Alex Moa, you know, Campbell's played a lot of games this season, you know. So is it a little bit indicative of where West Brum are? And I think a lot of fans will probably say it's a cheaper option in terms of a higher, you know, a coach who's probably desperate to get himself into that environment. But again, no real experience in the championship. You're going from Ryan Mason to Ryan Mason sort of like, you know, similar sort of cut in terms of young up and coming head coach to young up and coming head coach. Yeah, and the difference I was going to say was he has managed in terms of been an environment,

but it's a completely different set up over there. You know, we've already spoken about general managers, director of football. He has all that above him at Minnesota. So maybe his remit was much more confined to just on and around the training ground. But this is a group of players for me that there's still so much there that you can get more out of. And I just feel that understanding that as a football club, it almost feels to me as if they went, well, this season's a right off. We'll just get someone in who's going to have a little bit of time,

you know, see how he gets on, we'll get rid of some of the big hitters in the summer, and then we'll go from there. If this goes wrong, then that is going to be a completely different conversation come the end of the season, because I agree with you, they are banging trouble as,

and at the end of the day, if they don't get a couple of results really, really quickly, with a manager who is an experience or coach who is an experience at this level, then they're going to get sucked into it. There's no two ways about it. The worst thing is, like, the owner's been in place for 18 months, 15 to 18 months, something like that.

I mentioned it on a program we did a few months or two ago. I could not tell you what they've implemented in their football-wise, what they're doing different. It just feels like everything's just ticking over and being run very, very lean. And there are very high owners in that squad. Yeah. And I think it's a case of getting to the summer and stripping it back.

and I think we talked about it last week where I said it's a mega summer for them. Is it going to be a mega summer in League 1? And if they're in League 1. I think they're better than that. That's why I think they're missing a trick here. If they're better than that, mate, Joby, you can be better on paper.

You can be better on paper. And I think compared them to the Belgium international teams of all these years gone by. No, Joe, Joe. Joe. I'm not saying they're a top six team either, Tom, but I'm saying they should be comfortably mid-table one of these teams.

Jobby, they're not. Joe be the not. They should be, but they should be, but they're not. Like I say, this is not. They are where they are in the league, mate. Yes, it should be, they should be doing better than they are. On paper, that's what I said. On paper, must do. So whose job is it to get the best out of that group of players?

I would. Listen, accountability, isn't it? The players, the staff. It's a full thing. But to say that they should be doing better than they are, yes, I agree. But the reality of the situation is, is they are not. Two words, two syllables, one, Bramiax and Dean Smith, brother, Dean Smith.

He's chilling over in Charlotte, mate. He's happy as low. Mate, I love the man. He's a brilliant coach. He is such a good coach. Would you say he's a coach or more of a manager? What would you say? What I'm saying?

He's a great coach. He's a great man. He's a proper manager. Right. He could properly drive that club forward. I am surprised. If I'm Celtic in the summer, I'm going to have Dean Smith.

I think he's a brilliant manager. Go and get him. He's class. He'll do the job. I just don't understand. And I really hope Eric Ramsey proves me wrong

and laughs in my face. I don't understand how you go from Ryan Mason, up and coming head coach, and you understand that there's flaws

in there and there's going to be issues to another up and coming head coach who's coming from Minnesota and said, you're sent him,

right, go and deal with this situation we've got over here where we can't buy a win. We're struggling in all these

different departments. And it's not just the case of our simple as as, oh, we can't score goals, get a striker in there. They've got

Very soft underbelly, West Bram jabbing. Very soft underbelly. They get tickled, rolled over and tickled a lot. Well, that was last night, wouldn't it? Absolutely. As it's worth no one as well, there's big, big expectations there as well. And I've seen that on Friday. Friday night, I see in Middlesbrough, turn up to West Brom and dominate the game for large parts.

And when I say the ground was silent, almost to the point of, like, what is going on here. That's what it felt like. I can only imagine what it was like last night. Obviously, I don't know. I don't know whether you used to have any more insight. I've seen some of the pictures. I can't imagine it was too pretty. pretty empty after the third goal.

You know, it was kind of almost like, right, that's it, we're done. And that is a sad sight because that is a proper football ground when it was bouncing. Yeah, big football. You know, great support. But to see what's going on there, I mean, it must be heartbreaking for those fans because ultimately it's a club that deserves better than what they're getting at the moment. And I take that onto the players as well. That should not be happening.

And just coming back to the Ryan Mason, yes, I know, you know, they lost too many, but they were in games, you know, they were. They were competitive. They were, you know, not on the right end of things. All right, fair enough. That didn't happen on his watch. You know, getting absolutely stuck by now. And I think as an ownership group,

they're the things that you have to take into consideration. That team wasn't not with Ryan Mason. There's no way about two ways about that. It'd score a go. They'd all go over to him. You know. They loved him to be. Right.

Make no bones about it. And the way that they went. Early signs, yes. Things like that don't happen when you're all together run all on the same page. They just don't... My name's Steve Bradnell, assistant manager of Royal Oak FC.

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I just want to get your perspective as former players. The Josh Sargent situation. He continues to be unavailable for selection. What is the latest? And do you reckon he's done now? Oh, it's always a tough one. And I really, sometimes I'm reluctant before you know all the facts to sort of speak on what's been agreed, what's not been agreed. Has there been discussions that people have gone back on or not?

On the phase of it, I absolutely despise when a player turns round and says, I'm not available to play for this team, regardless of what has been spoken about. Because you obligated, you sign that contract. If you are fit, you put yourself up for selection. No matter what is going on around, you have a duty to that football club and everyone who pays their money. and has supported that club to go and represent it to the best of your ability. Now, he has decided he couldn't do that. And I think that is an absolute disgrace just on the face of it. It gives them a huge problem.

You know, we know how important he's been, is there going to be frustration and his side of things? They've sold key players over the years. He may feel, you know, I've just been left at this club. And now those opportunities are starting to weigh. And he's got the international stuff that clearly is a big factor for him wanting to get into that USA squad. But I just think there's a way.

that you handle that and the way that he went about it for me was completely out of order. And I'm pleased to see Philip Clement take the action that he did. I think that's the way you have to deal with it. You don't want to be a part of it. Fine. See you later, mate. You're over there with the 21s and I'll crack on with the people that do want to be here because we've got a fight on our hands. And I think we have seen that materialised.

So disappointing and we'll see how it pans out, but not a very pretty sight at the moment. Do you think, Tommy, if Jovan McCama wasn't in the form that he was in and scoring goals on the reach that Philip Clement would have taken a different stance. Well, it's funny you say that as because just off air before we come on, myself and Joby were talking about the young boy Macama and how he's coming and done ever so well. And I think that will have certainly made things from Philip Clamont's

you know, where he's setting up, it's made it a hell of a lot easier because without McCarmer scoring the goals that he is and doing as well as he's doing, there probably would have been a little bit of backlash from the fans, from, you know, what's going on, where's Josh Sargent? So the fact that he's coming and done, well and Norwich have had an upturn and result it's almost like well we don't actually need you and I say that loosely because Josh Sargent is a great player he's

done he's done ever so well for Norwich over the last couple of years but there'll certainly be an element of oh thank goodness we have got Jova and McCarmer and he's playing as well as he is playing because they're still in a relegation fight I have to agree with Jobby on the on the sergeant one though I think if you're contracted to the football club you are obliged to play when you can to say that you are not playing I think is a real real bad one, quite a damaging one really and I have to agree with Jobby. I don't

particularly like it very much at all. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Josh Sargent. Let's drop into League 2. Bromley currently six points clear at the summit but Swindon in second down to Chesterfield in 8th are separated by five points with Swindon, Walsall and Sulford all level

on points. Quite a lot of noise around Swindon at the moment though after fielding two ineligible players in their virtue trophy quarter final with Luton, who's this on? Oh, I'll say who it's on. Are you asking me or Joe? Because I've got no idea who it's on.

It's on technology, mate. That's what it's on. And I'm going to sit here, sound like an old grump, right? But for someone who played 20 years in a career, and this never happened, then I coach for a bit, a little bit of management. So I'm quite, you know, up to speed

with the processes of writing the players' names down on the way to a game, on the team sheet. Pen and paper, mate. There's nothing wrong with the old school. Form, pink form. Yeah, you've got the free forms that you do on the first one. Then it goes through. You give the ref a copy.

You give the opposition team a copy. I'm got on a minute. Hang on a minute. Does that not happen anymore? It's on an iPad, mate. Is it actually? Is it actually? This is the problem.

Are you actually, is that official? Hang on. Is that official, Job? Have you seen this happen? Because I remember, and I'm going back to probably, I've got back to Stoke now. I wasn't really aware at Middlesbrough, but I go back to the Stoke, which was what,

six years ago now? And I remember the kit man doing exactly what you're saying and he used to sit in the change room before the game I used to get there early. That was my job as a coach. And he'd sit there and he would write the team on the team sheet and then he pull one off and keep one. He'd pull the next one off and do it. And now it's iPads.

So traditionally, and again, this is probably something there's people out there that might not know. But yeah, that is exactly how it was done. You write literally everybody's name down. You start with the goalkeeper. You put the starting team down. You've got your subs down. And then that you go into the room before the match.

Obviously, you check everybody's there. You rode down your list. exchange sheets and then everyone goes out the room and it's done it's there on a piece of paper. I don't know whether this is league-wide but this was obviously in the trophy game, wasn't it? But yeah, it was submitted on an iPad to the officials. So for me, that is where the big issue is. Let's go back to the good dollies. You know when you were on the team sheet?

Did they use your real name or your fake name? Is in what, Joby or Jowell? Did they call you Juel? I thought you were going to go middle names there. No, just, it was always, it was always Jobie. I was on the sake, can you imagine it was like, Macenough, Jo? Who's Joel? Who's Joel?

Who's he? You imagine the opposition of Jettling who? Well, there's a new signing or so. Who's Joel McEnough with his brother or something? The one thing I will say on this is that the Aaron Drinan one, which apparently was the one that wasn't named on the iPad, but it was on some other form of team sheet. So that was, you put that down as like a bit of an admin error. I think you could have a little bit of sympathy.

but Olly Clark, who was serving a seven-match ban, I mean, how that happens, then clearly there's got to be some questions asked of who those admin staff are with respects. Yeah, very, very silly. I really like the fact that Ian Holloway's kind of got his mojo back as well. I don't know about you, boys. Like, it's nice to see him in there.

A lot of people ridiculed the fact that Swindon brought him in when they did. But it's nice. It's great. As is great. And you know what? I think rightly or wrong leave, like you just said, he got ridiculed for coming in, but it just shows that there is a place in the game for these type of characters,

these type of experience sort of men who've been there, they've done it, they've seen the game over the years, they've got all the experience, they've had success, they've had failures, and it counts for a lot. And I think in this day and age, and do you know what, we go back to even the West Brom's situation about bringing Eric Ramsey in, and yes, he's different, there's a different sort of way of how the game's going, but it's great that Ian Holloway is doing the job he's doing,

and he's getting success from it. It's a fascinating league, it really is. You just said it there. I was about the teams who were all on 46 points. You know, Swindon, I've got a hell of a chance of getting promoted. And at the start of Ian Holloway's tenure, I'm sure there's not many people who would say

that that would have been achievable this season. Well, what about Sulford City? Once upon a time, the sort of like, you know, the poster boys, the ones with the TV series, the ones that everyone was sort of looking out for in the NFL, the Class of 92, all that. Overtaken somewhat by the Wrexham story and maybe a touch by Birmingham City.

But they're still in there. and under Carl Robinson and our mate Alex Bruce, they haven't lost since November the 22nd. They are well within a shout. Yeah, going along really, really nicely. And I see Carl Robinson as well, you know, doing well. And I think they look like a good Carl Robinson team, don't they, in terms of good style of football.

They score lots of goals, you know, really good from an attacking perspective. Probably would like to be a little bit better defensively. But again, I think that comes with a manager who would sort of err on that side of a little bit more risk and maybe a bit more open at times and play really good entertaining football. And there's a real nice mix in there at the moment. Daniel Udo having a fantastic season in those forward areas.

And again, now that they are where they are, who knows they might go out and look at, you know, who may be that one or two players that can really help kick us on in the second half of this season because it is wide open, isn't it? It's a brilliant, brilliant league. Let's just enjoy it of getting a popcorn out. It's anyone's game, really. So, yeah, big credit to them. and hopefully for their sake,

this could be the year that that long, craved promotion and step into League One could come true. Tommy, did you just hear that popcorn watching football? Slapping around the head, man. See what I mean? That's that. Me and you were out in the cold, mate. Me and you're out of freezing cold.

These side of the studio of popcorn. Bovril beef tea. Yeah? You can't beat in beef tea. That is a definite, no, no. If they don't have Bovril, just get me some gravy. I'll drink that with a straw. Job done.

Terrible. Sorry, just to finish up, I don't know whether we're. moving on or what, but I'm, I just want to throw Bromley into the mix, by the way. Oh, I love them. Unbelievable job that is being done at Bromley Football

Club. I mean, they're the only they're six points clear of all these teams. And you look at the teams who are sort of ready to swallow them up if given the opportunity, you know, Swindon, Walsh or Solford, M.K. Donns. These are teams with big budgets for the league. Bromley, who are, correct me from wrong, but I think Bromley must be in the bottom five

in the division in terms of budgets. They score goals. They're doing great. I think the job that Andy Woodman's done there has been fantastic. And I really hope, I really hope that they can do it because I think it would be a brilliant story. One other thing to mention, guys, before we move on, from the 23rd until the 31st of January,

the EFL have launched this initiative to highlight feel good stories and community projects. Basically, to cut through the January blues. It talks about mental health programs, social isolation groups, disability football education sessions, and basically just highlights what clubs are doing in their communities. And I'm so lucky that I've been out and about

and being able to go and see these first hand jobs and it's incredible to see what the EFL does. Before you chuck your two pence in, literally, all you've got to do is scan the code at your local ground or whatever stadium you go to inside the Football League. Every ground inside the 72 will have these codes. You can share a story or just, yeah, go on and check some out. So make sure you go and do that.

But Job's unbelievable work done in the community by the Football League. Yeah, absolutely. Again, we are very fortunate in various positions in terms of award ceremonies that we set on and sort of the community work that we get to see actually really firsthand some of these initiatives. And again, for us in the EFL, I think it's just so important that we do celebrate these things because we look at what happens on a pitch as the primary objective of football clubs. But it is absolutely nothing compared to what is on offer and what these clubs do deliver throughout the EFL in our communities, whether it's, you know, particularly this time of year, offering warm spaces, you know, for people to go in and connect with other members of the community. And these are sometimes people that aren't even fans of those football clubs, but it's the clubs that are using their facilities and, you know, to get people together. And listen, it's a magnificent initiative and very, very needed at this time as well.

Absolutely. Let's talk now about Ultimate EFL Hard Man 11. We started off with an Ultimate EFL, but now we're assembling a Hard Man team. team to play against them. You can get your suggestions in on WhatsApp. 08,000, 289, 369. We've got a few to go through, which we do after I've read out the entire squad.

So our one goalkeeper in the squad is Paddy Kenny. Do you know what? We should have old big KP in there, Kevin Pressman. Anyway, Barry Fuller is our right back. We've got an abundant of centre halves. Chris Morgan, Paul Robinson, Carpier Janie, Sol Bambach, Kevin Muscat, Guy Branson, Gary Brabbing and Danny Shittoo.

in midfield. Again, a load of central midfielers. Kevin McDonald, Johnny Hogg, Michael Tong, Michael Brown and Michael Doyle. Oh, I could have the three Michaels in midfield. That could be fun. And up top, we have an abundance of forwards. John Akinday, Adabakim Fenway, Lucas Yukavits, Darius Henderson, Steve Morrison, Nicola Ziggich,

and Ricardo Fuller. We have had plenty of messages in. We've grabbed three of them. I've got to go to this one first, it's kind of a note to Jobby as well. It's a Glenn from Reno. Reno in Nevada. Shout out Glenn.

Glenn Jermin, listening at in Reno in Nevada. Glenn Jumin. He's asked, he said, hi, Aaron and Joby. Just one for Joby. Is his hair real or has he had some work done to it? Big fan of the show. Want to suggest Lee Barnard? Let's address the first question,

which is the most important one. And yes, of course, it's all mine. O'Natural. And obviously, a little bit grayer than I would like but a good head of hair is better than no head of hair. Let's put it that way. I've got the beard as well. By the way, Glenn from Reno and Nevada didn't say that.

I just made the top bit up. Just to watch you what I was saying. Glenn from Reno and Nevada, you have suggested Lee Barnard. Saints fans had a chant about him being wanted by Scotland Yard, old school forward. I mean, I like that. I do enjoy that. I do enjoy.

Oh, we could do a chance 11. that would be unbelievable. Lee Barnard, boys. Job's thoughts? I'm not overly familiar with him. I'm going to be absolutely honest. I will certainly plump for some players who I've experienced playing with or against.

So it's a no from me, I'm afraid. I mean, I'm just trying to work out how we're going to start trimming this team and we're still trying to add. It's just becoming a little bit of a... You know, we've gone way over and above. Now the squad, I mean, how many names is that now?

Let's try and trim. I think, I think again, I agree with Jobby. I don't know a lot about this player. Let's start trimming, as. How about that? Shout out Glynjuman, though, in Reno, Nevada. All the best, Glenn Jimon. Absolutely love that, mate.

Danny the Solihar Owl has said, while he may not be a tough guy in the traditional sense, this is like an ode, really. This is like a romantic sort of, a romantic letter. He's probably one of the toughest players I had the pleasure of seeing over the years. A man who came back from a knee injury that people told him would end his career

before it ever really began and went on to play at a high level for years. A man who plays every game like it is his last. A man full of courage, heart, versatility and toughness. Aaron and Joby, I'll give you Sam Hutchinson for your consideration. We've had Hutch on the shot. I think we, do we come up with this category while we were working with Hutch?

I'm not sure. It might have been. I can't remember. I love Hutch so much, by the way. I really like that from the solid heart out. I think Hutch is a great suggestion. I mean, if you can have a heart attack, score the winning goal, send your team into the playoffs,

go off and then just go, yeah, not feeling it, and then pop off and go, I think I'll go to the hospital and get myself checked out. Hutch makes it into mine. I don't know what you guys think. Let's get onto another message. Leaving Birmingham has been in touch. Left back fear.

Yes, someone's coming with a left back. Martin Granger, what a shit. shout. Kevin Muscat bottled it when Granger squared up to him. Please remove Muscat from the list. He was simply dirty. Tommy, that's your decision. I'm going to put you in charge. You want to be a doctor to football one day.

I'm going to give you the opposition. Are you chopping Kevin Muscat? Well, again, it depends what we're doing here with regards to shape and formation and, you know, if he's a left back, we haven't got a left back in the team. So he goes, don't pull face his ass. Don't be looking at me like that, right? Kevin Muscat ain't playing left back for us. No, but the boy who would just mention this.

Martin Granger. Yeah. So what I'm saying is he goes into the team. Yeah, but does muscat get chopped? Well, if Grange's had the better of him, yeah, he's got to. No, he does not, mate. If they've had a ding-dong, if they've had a ding-dong gas, and Granger's come out on the top end of it, then, yeah, you know, only the strong surviving this team. He's an end of those muscat tackles, right?

And I can tell you now, he absolutely walks into this team, right? And just because I might have also bottled it, you know, it doesn't make my opinion less, do you know what I mean? I was a kid, I was like an 80, 19-year-old kid getting absolutely smashed up in the air. stone wet through wearing a 3xel, Wimbledon Pumel shirt. You're like massive. Oh, man. Do you ever face Kevin Muskett as much?

Nope. No? Remember I'm a young put, mate. I'm trying my age in. Yeah, Makinoff's the old guard here, mate. So Martin Granger goes in. I mean, Liam and Birmingham has said he was simply dirty. Are we keeping him, though, for the hard man 11?

But we kind of want a bit of that. I just think, it's like, I get it. What house are? or like the Hutchinson's who are just like tough, solid guys. They're not necessarily overly physical or anything like that. But I think we need a few proper old school sort of, you know,

things that you got away with then that you can't get away with now. And Muscat is one million percent in that bracket. He has to be in. I'm sorry. Okay then. Let's start. So we have him and Granger. Well, we've got her now. You know, we have to. I'm just

a messenger. You guys make the decisions. I'm just the messenger. That is it. Tommy, what are you saying? Listen, mate, if you've had nightmares about this player, mate, no problem. Keep him in the team. It seems like you've got a real sort of strong strong opinion on this player.

Well, Joby obviously has, yeah. So listen, I like Joby a lot. He's a good friend of mine and if he's having nightmares about this particular person. I'm almost feeling a bit sorry for him now that he's having his issues regarding this player. There's a reason we couldn't find a left back

for the past 10 weeks is because he's like scared of all of them. He's had issues with all of them. Well, I will say it was brilliant. For me, as a young kid, to be up against him, someone like him, and actually get through a game and come out on top. Genuinely, I think we are missing that in the game these days. So, listen, every now and again, I might think about him.

Every now and again, he might pop up in a nightmare. Me trying to hair down the wing and him just coming in two-foot in me. But ultimately, it stood me in good stead. Thank you to Danny, Liam and Glenn from Reno in Nevada with the messages. Get your messages in about anything you want, but tell us where we need to chop this squad. Who are we dropping? Send us your suggestions on WhatsApp.

08,000, 289, 369. Let's finish with this. 72 plus, 72 minus on the Football Daily. Oh, it's Jobie's turn to do some proper punditry. Jobes, your time to shine, your time for your best and worst moments of the week. I've got to say they're the ones that over the weekend when I'm sort of sifting through a bit of footage and they just jumped out straight away.

And the first is my 72 minus, which comes from Stockport against Rotherham. In a game where there was three own goals, but this was an absolute peach. Bench Hinch lift, the Stockport County Keeper, gathers the ball. He's trying to get on a fast break. So it's one of those where he's got the ball in one hand. He's trying to do the old sidewinder, volley up the pitch. What he doesn't quite get right is the distance between him and his defender. Alohu, who's on the edge of the 18-yard box,

smashes it straight into his backside. The ball cannons off over his head into the back of the net. Absolutely comical scenes. Let's be Avinia. Far too easy for Ben Hinchley, who looks to get on me a bit quickly. That will be one of the most calamitous goals you will ever see. Ben Hinchleff looks against Stockport County on the counterattack. It's cannoned off the back of Joe Alouou.

into the back of the neck. County looks stunned. Edgeley Park is stunned. And out of absolutely nowhere, Rovrim United, back in this one. Stopport County won. Robbham United won. Yeah, not good.

You're plus, Joby. It comes from two of my former clubs, actually, battling it out. Leighton Orient, coming out with a really, really big win over Redding. And that man, Don Ballard, who's having a brilliant season. My support, it wasn't going to be,

his day, not one but two goals disallowed early on in the game, but he did not let it stand in his way. He went on to complete a perfect hat trick, right foot, left foot and the header to be the goal-scoring hero and get himself to top scorer in lead one. Go on then, let's have it. Don Ballard again, Ballard inside the Pelottero, one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Yeah! For the O's, in the 84th minute, his hat-trick, late no end three, wedding one. legendary Dave Victor on commentary there. That is it for this episode of 72 plus. Thank you, Joby.

Where are you this weekend? In the studio. Again. I can safely say, I don't purposefully ask just to stay in the studio. I do like going out and doing some games live every now and again, but probably not in the middle of January.

But yeah, I will be sat in a nice one. I'm not just debating whether we're going to take the heat room with us this one, but I'll let you lads know, wherever you let are on Saturday. Huddersfield Bradford for Yorkshire Derby on Saturday. Looking forward to it.

Love it. I'm going to QPR Rexham on Saturday and then going to be at Palace Chelsea for us on 5 live on Sunday. So very much looking forward to it all. Thank you, Joby. Thank you Tommy for joining us this week.

Up next on the Football Daily. Steve Crosman's got all of the reaction to Wednesday's Champions League matches. As for our 722 plus, we'll be with a special live show covering all the goals in League 1 and League 2 on Tuesday, the 27th of January. There'll be a pod as usual after that, so make sure you catch us for that. We'll see you there.

Life Sports. Tats! They go out there and be the best that you can be. We're going to go out there and lay it all in the line. And skill collide. And the Eagles are beating the Chiefs convincingly in Super Bowl 59. Five Life Sports. NFL.

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