Football Daily - FA Cup Debrief: Macclesfield make history, Wrexham's Hollywood ending & questions for United

Episode Date: January 11, 2026

Macclesfield caused the biggest upset in FA Cup history by knocking out the holders, Crystal Palace. How much will this mean to a club that ceased trading just six years ago?Andy Cole and Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to discuss that and a memorable weekend in the FA Cup. It's two matches and no wins for interim manager Darren Fletcher at Manchester United, after their cup exit to Brighton. Who should be the next United manager?Ryan Reynolds was at the Racecourse Ground as his Wrexham side knocked out Premier League Nottingham Forest. But can we even call this one a shock?Plus Liam Rosenior's Chelsea career starts with a win, and how long has Thomas Frank's Tottenham career got left, after Spurs' loss to Villa. 01:56 - Macclesfield deserved the win against Palace 11:40 - Oliver Glasner’s chances of becoming the next Manchester United manager 12:40 - Manchester United’s options for the next manager 22:28 - Was Wrexham’s win against Forest really a shock? 30:45 – Antoine Semenyo’s City debut 35:45 – Liam Rosenior starts life at Chelsea with a win 38:46 – Pressure mounts on Thomas Frank

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. On the Football Daily podcast, The Debrief. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the FA Cup debrief on third round weekend And what a weekend it has been

Macclesfield of National League North Knocking out the Holders, Crystal Palace Rexham beating Notting Forest on penalties Loads of goals all over the show With me to dissect those and all the weekend's big stories The Telegras Northern Football Writer Luke Edwards And two-time FA Cup winner Andy Cole Evening both, how are you?

Good evening, very good, thank you It's one of the weekend, Rick and Andy. It's one of those weekends where you're just reminded of why it's just terrific being a football fan. It's one of my favourite weekends of the year. Yeah, if you remember this time, 12 months ago we were talking about Laten Orient against Man City and the great goal they scored and my dad's skipping off into the distance after the game, before the game, sorry, skipping up to the stadium. Yeah, it's just a great, just for a lower league football fan like myself,

it is one of the most magical days of the calendar and just watching what Macass Hill did yesterday. just truly remarkable, probably the biggest FAA Cup shock, which for a competition that wasn't so long ago, people were deriding and saying it had its day, well, I think if you're a fan of a low-leave football club, you always thought that was nonsense. But, you know, you look at what Macclesfield did,

and the scenes at the end. It's just brilliant. You will remember, if you're a MacaSfield fan, a football club that went out of business in 2020 and had to be reincarnated, that fight, that everything is justified by that, one 90 minute performance in knocking out Crystal Palace. Just a brilliant occasion, brilliant day.

And the memories for those players, those supporters, the owners, everybody involved with that football club will last an absolute lifetime. And unfortunately for Crystal Palace, they will also enjoy it for a lifetime as well, but for being the victims of that biggest shock. Yeah, yeah. And, you know, I mean, we'll get into the sort of the weeds of that game in a minute. But, I mean, fundamentally, Palace weren't good enough.

I mean, it's not like it wasn't, as Clinton Morrison described, it was not a smash and grab. It was a thoroughly deserved win, which is amazing, given the golf between the two teams. The thing that I think I love about this weekend of football is, yes, obviously, you follow your team, of course. But it's the whole thing that you get to enjoy so much football as a kind of, as a neutral just as a football fan. And you can dip in and dip out, and the radio is amazing for it in terms of like the around the ground. and you can watch a bit as well. And it's just as kind of like a football celebration weekend, Andy.

Yeah, it's growing up watching the FAA Cup and having the opportunity to play. It's just something so, so special. Yeah, where does it, in all the things that you achieved in your career, winning the FAA Cup twice, where does that sit? It sits up being like my first Premier League title, winning the Champions League, because I don't think people actually understand

when you're a kid and you watch that competition, if you want to play football, you always want to know that you've had the opportunity to play in the FA Cup or go to Wembley and playing the final. I remember as a kid watching everyone put on their suits, get on the coach, walk up Wembley. Oh, man, it's crazy. So having the opportunity to play in it, to win it,

it's just so, so special. Listen to you, talk about Macclesville there. I was there, you know, with Saul Campbell before he went out of business and obviously come back into business. And it was tough then. It was very, very tough. No training facilities, all those kind of things. Play is not getting paid on time.

and all that. And then to watch that result yesterday, massive result from Maxis. Really, really, really peaceful now. Yeah, so 117 places separate those two sides. Here's the Macclesville manager John Rooney. Still doesn't feel real. Obviously, before the game, we were talking about, you know,

we did a bit of hope and listening to the FA Cup? Do they rarely believe it? No, probably not. But when we went one in a loop, I was like, they're going to come on top now. But I thought the lads, I didn't think obviously we won the game but I thought we were well-deserved winners as well

I thought we were outstanding and you know these players are here because they're good footballers they have ability but was there any question in your mind that had the character to get over the line today having taken the lead? It's hard because you're up against the Premier League side so whether they've got

character or not but I thought they showed the character in abundance you know they showed a real grit about them winning the second duels, winning the individual battles to centre half for solid of rockhead and everything. I thought we were outstanding. So if anyone questions their lad's character in there

after seeing that today, wow. And we've seen the scenes of celebration right at the end. The joy of the plastic pitch is that the fans can join you on there to celebrate. And of course there'll be faces that you'll see week in, week out, normally stood on the terraces, but certainly with extra faces here today. What did that mean to you right at the full-time whistle?

Can you put that emotion into words? And the whole listen, I'd have just seen, you know, I was obviously I had a little celebrate myself with then to see the fans coming on. Listen, this club went under a few years back and since Rob's took over, you know, we'd have had success in the league, but we've never really had that FA Cup run, which we would want. And to see that, to see the performance and to see the fans, they deserved that. And I think whether it was a grass switch, I'm sure they still would have been on that pitch today. John Rooney speaking to Gary Flintoff.

It's interesting hearing John speak there about character. his lad showed abundant character, but character is not enough to get a win against the Premier League side, Luke? No, it's not. And they fully deserved it. And yes, Crystal Palace will moan about the artificial pitch and that always makes me smile.

I mean, I like him interested in here, Andy's thoughts on that in the mind of what the difference is between an artificial pitch and a grass one. I mean, the game of football is still the same. Yes, the bounce might be a little bit different, but they really deserved it. And for me, Captain Paul Dawson, I mean, what the image of him with his bandaged head.

Getting it sort of adjusted before he scores as well as lovely. Adjusted before he got ripped off in the celebrations. And then he scores that header. I mean, Paul Dawson will now go down in FA Cup folklore. And that's what I want to stress to people. These achievements will echo through history. We all remember Hereford United beating Newcastle. We remember Wimbledon beating Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

Sunderland beating Leeds, you know, going that far back. These moments will be cherished. And I just thought he epitomized everything that's great. And also Isaac Buckley Ricketts, who got the all-important second goal as well, stabbing at home. But just brilliant. Funny old goal, that.

It is a funny old goal because it sort of trickles across the line, which makes it even better. It makes it even better that it's tripled over the line. Exactly. And Crystal Palace, big question. Look, they had their moment of FA Cup romance, didn't they? They had the greatest moment in their club's history back in May when they won the FA Cup for the first time.

That's just, you know, that's just football's ups and downs, isn't it? You know, they had that wonderful moment. And then now they're on probably the receiving end of one of their biggest embarrassments in the competition a few short months later. But that is the FA Cup. That is why it's brilliant. And yeah, I'm just so happy for Macclesfield, but for all of us who've defended this competition

and said that it is still special for the last sort of 10, 15 years when people were trying to say, oh, it doesn't matter. It's a consolation prize. But it's not all about the Premier League. and that is a great thing about English football. I think for Max, like I said, it's been an absolute unbelievable weekend to them. You touched on there, the plastic pitch.

I'll be very, very honest. I don't like them. Why? What's wrong with them? Why? Because it's not real. Right. It's a simple.

Is it a bounce different? Yes, it does. It plays different. And if you don't understand it, when you actually, for instance, have a kick around with your mates, you'll understand kicking around your mates on Astridurth and then playing on grass.

It's a totally different feel. Yeah. You know, and I think any team who plays on it for, I'm not sure I'm the games, Maxfield have played this season. I don't know. It could be 24, for instance. You know, if you played on it for 12, 13 games,

you've got an advantage straight away. Right. Because you're used to it. You're training on it as well. You know, now Pallas most probably, I don't know, four or five days working on a plastic pitch and then knowing right, you've got to play this game whereby you're so used to playing on grass.

It's a big, big difference. And it is a little bit of an advantage for Maxwell but in saying that, you know, with Palace's quality, there should have caused Maxxel a lot more problems. Lovely quote from Rob Schmettertz, the chairman at Macclesfield, who spoke to Five Live today,

just talking about the lads were out party until three or four in the morning. Rightly so. Yes, of course. But he went home early just so he could go back and watch it all over again. I really like that. That's sort of so classic football.

really enjoy some football and the first thing is well I want to watch that again. My favourite part was the stadium announced the saying please don't invade the pitch which is God of being one of the other. Yeah, just come on. It's not going to damage it, put it that one. Yeah, everyone's going to listen to that mate.

Yeah, well done. Yeah, we're definitely not going to invade the pitch. And you'll know from having been in the club in a previous incarnation anyway, Andy, the kind of difference that what you get, 120 grand, I think, a winning club, for that performance.

And that's massive for a club of that size, isn't it? Oh, absolutely. Crazy money for them. I remember working with someone was at McEncord and, you know, trying to find somewhere to train. You turn up in the morning, you had nowhere to train,

and then you drive them around and try to find out a blade of grass the train on. And then when you did, you find a park, you're train on the park, and then someone would be telling you, you need to come off the park and things like that. So to see where they're at now,

it's absolutely useful. from Maccleswood and the money they made as well a testament to their performance yesterday. More than luck. They put a shift in. They were the better team and deservedly won the game. And apparently Crystal Palace let them keep all of the gate receipt profits as well

because normally they'd be split between the two sides and Palace had just just Avin, which is quite a nice touch. Oliver Glasner was not very happy as you can imagine afterwards and he just said, we had no kind of quality today, we deserve to lose, I've got no explanation.

And it's sort of hard, hard to argue with it, really. Like it just was not, was really not good enough. And I don't, I was listening on the way in to a palace fan who called in 606

with Robbie and Clinton and they were saying, they put it on the, he put it on the players. He thought it was the players. He didn't feel it was, didn't feel it was Glasner's fault particularly. I don't know.

what you made of that look. I think you all, I think when an FAA cop shock happens, I think the players first and foremost need to take a long, hard look at themselves, because they are the better players, man for man, in every single position, and they've been bested by a team in the sixth tier of English football

who trained twice a week. So talent isn't enough. You know, you've got to do the basics, and you've got to put the effort in. And I think anybody who watched that game, particularly in the first half, would have thought Crystal Palace thought they're going to cruise through it. But that's why shocks happen.

That's why the FA Cup's brilliant, because those top flight teams, the bigger clubs, they take the opposition lightly, the lower league opposition raised their game, fueled by adrenaline and the occasion, and that's why the shocks happen. But it's not been great. Crystal Palace are in a difficult spell,

actually nine games without a win. It's not a good time for Oliver Glasner. If you think when Reuben Amarin went last week, he was installed, as the bookman, maker's favourite and a lot of newspapers including my own publication, The Telegraph, said that he was the early favourite to get it. Well, it's

not great time for your current club form to drop off a cliff. It's a poor audition is what it is. A very poor audition. It's an audition where you completely bongled your lines basically. So it's not good for him and that he will be worried and conceding goals from set pieces again.

That's not going to endear him to the Manchester United hierarchy who are looking for the next manager to do the latest reboot of that particular faltering franchise. So, yeah, it's a bit of a worry for Crystal Palace, but I think it's also a bit of a worry for Oliver Glasner, who, as I say, if he's going to be Manchester United manager, they might be having second thoughts at the moment. What do you think about Glasner as a potential United manager, Andy?

I'm going to sit here and be very, very honest, you know. I think we're at that stage now. I think Manchester United just need to try and get the best man for the job. and whoever they believe that is it will be just that you trust them to do that Andy do you have faith making mistakes don't they ultimately you have to

you know they've made a decision you know they've got rid of Amrin and now however you look at they've got to make the right decision based on where they're trying to get to and go from there who would you go for

come on Andy let me push you who would I go for who would you go for? You know what I'm a big fan of Angelotti I think he just works wonders wherever he goes. I like Tucho. I like him as well.

And Enrique, but then these are like, as you know, these are big name managers. And now if they're going to go to whatever club they're going to go to, I can't see them working under any restraints if there is any restraints. Right. But they want to come in and be managers, not coaches, which is the thing that Amarin was complaining about at the end, yeah.

Yeah. So it'd be interesting. I think it's telling they're waiting. They're waiting until the summer. Because that's what I find really interesting. It's like they obviously got rid of Amory. We know they didn't want, you know, they had no choice but to sack him in the end after he sort of exploded.

Yeah, and I think he'd wanted out. But they wanted to stick by him. The fact that they're waiting until the summer, if you look at the summer, Too cool, depending on what happens if England could be available. Pocitino, depending on what happens with the USA, could be available. There's going to be a lot more.

manager sort of that world-class bracket you would like to think who could be more attracted to it in the summer so they're obviously waiting you do just have to worry that in the meantime this season's going to drift i mean they're they're talking to your old mate oligana aren't they um about becoming interim manager again which for me and he seems a bit strange bearing in mind he was interim manager then manager and then got sacked and now they're talking about and coming back or or michael character at the end of the season it's not a great situation whatever way you look at you look at it, whatever way you try and shape it, they're in a bit of a mess, aren't they?

I was looking at this and thinking about, okay, if it was me making this decision on who to bring in, what profile of manager would I be after? And you look at the profile of manager that they've had in, and they've sort of tried now, I would argue, every profile of manager. So whether it's someone who has done really well in the Premier League with a club that wouldn't be expected to do so well,

so moise, or someone who's an absolute season veteran, Van Garl, just a winner, certainly historically, Marino, sort of technical, you know, thinker of the game,

Rang Nick, club legend in Solshar, and then, you know, people who've done really well in their respective leaves abroad, to Ten Hagen and Amram.

Like, that's sort of, that's your full range of managers. So whoever they go for, it's going to be someone who's similar to what's gone before and not worked. Does that make sense?

No, no, it makes perfect sense. And I think you've absolutely nailed it. They have tried everything. And they haven't actually found. Marino's the only one, Van Gowterwick's extent. You know, Marino did win two trophies. I know he claimed three with the charity shield, which he all mocks him and ridiculed him about.

But he did win two trophies. But that is the problem for them. And I think there is now going to be a lot of heat, I think, on Barader and Wilcox, the chief executive and the sporting director. Because they've seen off Dan Ashworth in a sporting director. They were behind the appointment of Amarim, and that's gone badly. And they've got to get this one right. They won't get away with another one.

They won't get away with a failed third managerial appointment, I don't think. What Amarim did when he left is he just shone a little torch, didn't he? He just identified, okay, I'm going, I've blown it, but he's fired shots at people as well at the football club. And I think that, he has done that very deliberately, and I think it increases the pressure on them. Are they going to go and get a manager old school, what we call an old school? You look at the successful managers in the Premier League at the moment.

Mikhail Arteta, huge power at Arsenal. Uni Imre, huge power at Aston Villa. You've got Pep Guardiola, huge power at Manchester City. Even Eddie Howe at Newcastle, huge power at Newcastle to shape the football side of the business. Manchester United might just have to accept. To go and get a two-call, people like Wilcox are going to have to back off little bit and actually seed control of the football side of the business. There's no way Tuchula come and have people tell him who, like when players were going to

play and who they were going to sign. He's not going to do that. You won't have that interference, no. But there's not many of those world-class managers, because they probably do consider themselves managers, not just coaches. They're not going to get, I don't think to get them out of this mess they can afford to just appoint an up-and-coming young coach who hasn't got the status or the power to argue or push back with them.

It's got to be collaborative and I'm not sure it has been at Manchester United that's been disputed I think Amarin got most of the things he wanted until coming towards the end when he wanted players bought in January but this huge pressure as we mentioned last week

I mean our memory is that he was appointed as head coach as well so I don't know quite why he was moaning about that yeah well exactly and you know what big decisions does Sir Jim Ratcliffe got right yet in terms of being in charge of the football operation as well so you know the fingers start

to be pointed at the people above them. And that's why I think they've got to get this right. And I think that's probably why they are waiting to the summer because I think they want to give themselves a bit of time, a bit of room to breathe. And as you say, more available. Potentially available, yeah. Well, one thing we know is they are not going to win the FA Cup this season.

They've been beaten 2-1 by Brighton. Really disappointing. A positive for United fans, and they are few and far between, Andy, is another goal for Benjamin Cessco. after he got a couple against Burnley in the week. And you just feel like if they can get him firing, that will make such a difference to this team.

Yeah, well, of course it will. Like I touch on it, again, everything's about confidence. Especially when you play out front for a club like Manchester United. A lot's expected of you, but he's a very, very young man. I'm not going to say that I'm trying to make an excuse for him. I look at this way. When I went to Manchester United, that I had Mark Hughes, I had Eric Cantanard.

Previously before that, I was playing with Peter Beasley at Newcastle, previously before that I was playing with Dave Kelly at Newcastle. So I was constantly learning of plays that had been there, done it, you know, and had a hell of a lot of experience. So by the time I got to Manchester night at that 25, you know, playing with Sparky and obviously Eric, you know, for me, that was a joy, but it was a learning curve as well. You know, I went in, I might have gone in there,

people perceived me to, oh, he's the number one striker, I wasn't the number of striker because I'm there learning of these other legends as well so I look at CESCO now and I'm saying myself such a young man with under a hell of a lot of pressure

as Yoki you always used to say to me enjoy the pressure and rightly so but if you're a young man going into Manchester Night and people expect you to score goals when you're just moving to the Premier League it's not easy you know and I think at times I've looked at him at times and

he has found it tough you'd expect him to find it tough it's his first season in the Premier League but he's getting goals now like he said he's got another one today and fingers crossed it continues and he continues to gain more more confidence and gets himself more

more goals I mean you look at what happened to Hoyland I know they're different players but another young striker a lot of expectation came in just really struggled and as soon as he's left like he's doing all right in Napoli

I think he scored I can't remember for top of my honest he's got like six goals in 14 or something like that look at Xerxes look at Xerxes before him Andy's right. You're throwing young centre forwards. And who are they, to Andy's point, who are they learning from? Like who are the senior players who are showing them the ropes? And there's not really anyone, is there?

No, it's a really good point. There's not a succession plan, is there? It's just basically like, you're not going to be rotated in and out because we've got this other guy who's going to, who's been there, done it. He knows the football club. He knows the league. They're just throwing in people. It's all on you. It's all on you. You're the big money, signing.

Go out there and score goals for Manchester United. and Andy won't mind me saying, you know, he was prolific at Newcastle, but you did find it tough when you first went to Manchester United. And, you know, you've got criticism. You've got people, people were taking shots at you in the media and saying that you weren't worth the money. And it's hard, isn't it?

It's hard. Yeah, of course it's hard, you know. I think for me, that's character building. I always say it was wrong now. I'm not saying I know anything about football because I don't. You know, but I do understand how to play out front. I do understand how to play for Manchester United as a centre forward

You know And we The modern world we live in now Everyone's an expert You know My news age isn't an expert on football Yeah I've made a career out of it Andy So

I mean I mean sort of career But yeah Yeah I mean I find it difficult Even more so now All the flat that individuals take

Even more so now In the modern era I do generally sit down and say myself there's a lot of people talking about can't do this, can't do this, it's rubbish, it's this and that, but they could do no better. You know, appreciate what it is.

Yeah, an individual going for a difficult time. Fingers crossed, everything turns around for that individual. But just in life, you have ups and downs and professional football. You have exactly the same. Let's get back to the FA Cup then. The weekend started with a really good game at Wrexham. 2-0 up against Forens.

Forest came back and then the penalty shootout which Phil Parkinson's side held their nerve and won four three. First time Rexham had faced Premier League opposition since the famed sort of Hollywood takeover. That being said, you look at the kind of the league structure. There's only 11 places between them. So maybe when you also factor in Forrest form of late,

not so much of a surprise, Luke. No, not a huge one. And the amount of changes, rotation, they call it, don't they? That's the buzz phrase. You have to rotate the players. Look, it's a classic one of them situations where Forrest had a really good result. Don't get me wrong, beating West Ham. It was absolutely massive for them in terms of solidifying their positions safe in the Premier League.

But Sean Deich, as, you know, in that rotation has kind of signalled that the FA Cup, they didn't want the extra games, you know, although they would have happy league gone through. but at this stage third round, it wasn't their priority staying in the Premier League. And that is when those teams are always vulnerable. They're always vulnerable when that happens. And then Rexham, I feel a bit sorry for Rexham,

because there's a lot of dislike for Rexham, isn't there's a lot of jealousy. I mean, as I say, being a lower league football fan, the fact they come through the divisions, the Hollywood owners, the money, there is a bit of bitterness towards Rexum. But that was a really good night for them.

But it's just Premier League teams being vulnerable, isn't it? Andy? I mean, you laugh when I said that about it not been a priority, but did they go into it the wrong attitude? It certainly looked like it. Three changes at half time, two nil down. Look, as far as I'm concerned, we can turn around and say,

oh, yeah, we don't want extra pressure of games, but if you're winning football matches, regardless what games are, does that not give you momentum? Of course it does. I think it's a mistake. Yeah, I think it's a mistake. So then, so if you look at their first half performance,

you're trying to say this, there wasn't good enough, so you can turn around and say, okay, the players weren't at it, because they wasn't at it. second after was a lot better and then penalties, anything can happen. You know, but I can't stand on it

as a next player when a manager comes out and says, oh yeah, well, you know, we're more worried about our lead performances and, you know, want to stay in the Premier. If you win football matches, you're going to get confidence. And the more confidence you get, that means your league form will naturally get better.

You know, it's just like that win. The win at West Ham is sort of undone, isn't it, confidence-wise? Because they've been knocked out by lower league opposition in Rex. I mean, it does hurt them. I think Foreign Northern Ireland and Forrest will end up being fine in the Premier League, but that's not underplay how much of a bad defeat that was for them.

I think first half a shocking moment. I think Forrest being fine in the Premier League is more about there being three teams that are really, really poor, more than them being any good. It's a deflating result for them. It's a really deflating result for them. If you're a Premier League club struggling and you go out in the FA Cup third round, I'll tell you what that does to the fans. That sucks them of hope.

It ends dreams and it takes something away. I think Grueby of Andy, a cup run can do absolutely wonders for your league full. I thought it was interesting what Sean Dych said afterwards because I kind of agree with him because he obviously knows he's made a lot of changes. But he said, I'm giving players a platform to come and play and show me what they're worth is

to themselves and to the team. And he said, and they didn't do that. It was miles off and it was absolutely. acceptable. So I guess his attitude is, well, this is a big opportunity that I'm giving you. Go out and go out there and prove that actually you should be playing more and they just didn't do that, Andy.

I hear that, you know, but if you look at it both ways, yeah, if you're not playing in the team, I don't know, four or five games, whatever it is, ten games, yeah, and then you get an opportunity to play one game, yeah? In that one game, are you expected to hit the ground running and play extremely well in that one game?

You know, when you're not playing for, four, five, six games. Do you know how difficult that is? To be given an opportunity, to try and take the opportunity, knowing that you've not been in the team, to try and hit the ground running, play extremely well,

and everyone else has got to play extremely well for you to go on and win the game. It's not as easy as that. When people say, it's like turning the tap on and off, you know, you can't turn the tap on and off and say, I'll play it a day, next week I don't fancy it.

When there's four or five of them in a team in that situation, it becomes even harder, isn't it? There you go. And when I talk about consistency and confidence, yeah, you've got to try and build confidence over four, five, six games. Not over one game. Football's a mind game when you're playing with confidence,

so you're not playing confidence, but you have to try and play yourself into confidence. It's a sport. We should give a little shout out to the Wrexham Keeper, by the way, Oconquo, who did very, very well in the shootout. And it's a kind of, it's win-win for keepers in shoot. out, isn't it? You don't really get blamed if you lose them, but if you win

them, all lies on you and you're the hero. Yeah, and look at the joy, it sparked at Wrexham. Yeah. You know, that's what matters. The scenes again at the end, and you know, he's got that little bit of club history now attached to his name and that's, again, goes back to what I said

at the race start of the podcast, that's what the FAA does. It creates heroes and he's done it for Wrexham, and I'm pleased for Wrexham because I say they do get quite a lot of, yeah, there's a lot of bitterness and jealousy towards them, And I think that was a really nice moment for them. So we've looked at Macklesfield, incredible result, great result for Wrexham as well. Honourable mention for League 1 Mansfield, who beat Sheffield United 4-3 to book their place in the fourth round.

Worth watching the highlights of that on the BBC Sport website. I'm going to talk about Antoine Semenyo's debut for Manchester City and the pressure mounting on Thomas Frank after another defeat for Totham. But first, here is your half-time teaser. Manchester City's 10-1 win over Exeter City yesterday was the most goals scored in the Pep Guardiola era at the club. What was his second highest scoring match as City Boss? Answer on the way after this. Hello, this is Matt Chawley's urgent questions.

Your daily dose of political mayhem from the heart of Westminster. Order, order. I call Matt Chawley. I'm a supporter of flags. It turns out time is finite. Government doesn't want to be involved in this. I do not think the candidates are fruit loops Match release Urgent questions

Subscribe to the podcast and you'll get the best bits every day from around 5 o'clock Listen on BBC Sounds On the Football Daily podcast The Debrief Listen on BBC Sounds Hello welcome back to the FA Cup

Debrief before the break We asked you to name the match In which Manchester City scored the most goals In the Pep Guadioa era Before yesterday And I'll go to you first to get your miserable attempt out of the way, Luke.

I'm going to go with Bournemouth. Yeah. Am I wrong? I think you're thinking of Liverpool beating Bournemouth 9-0, aren't you? Yeah, I was thinking that, yeah. Yeah, no, wrong team. I'm just sway, no, not Bournemouth, okay, no, I haven't got a clue. Andy, any ideas?

Wiggum? No, it's another cut one. It's Burton Albion, who they've beat 9-0 in the... Yeah, I don't like this. I don't like this. What? I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't, I think you take your foot off the throttle personally.

I think that's, I think that's me. Oh, you think you shouldn't beat lower league teams that, that, that. Well, 10-1. Yeah, no, it's a bit of, yeah. It's a bit disrespectful, isn't it? It's, it's just bullying. Andy, look, Andy's shaking his head, he's not happy with that. There's no way Andy Coles taking his foot off the gas.

You are just being professional, that's what you're being. He's called five against it, but at least they were a Premier League team. And 10-1, No doubt, very, very happy. But he is. Yeah, poor Excheon. And that's what you do. Yeah.

Well, let's talk about Antoine Semenio, straight into that starting line up for this demolition of Exeter. He signed off for Bournemouth with a lovely goal on Wednesday, then got a goal and assist in this win. you think that with everyone at Guardiola's disposal, he'll be a starter, Andy? He should be because he's different. And first and foremost, what I will say,

congratulations to him, his team for how he's conducted himself. I think he's been impeccable. Yeah, I agree with that. Continue to play football. I've known that. He's on the version moving to Manchester. I just look at it and say myself, any young pro looking at moving to another club, have a look at him.

and conduct yourself like him. And I generally do think he will play because he's totally different to what they have. He's direct, you know, he uses his pace. He gets him behind. He takes people on, he frightens people because he can go either left or right side, you know, and he wants to be positive

every time he gets the ball. So I think he's possibly what Manchester City need right now. The lacking goals. I think they need a centre back. But yeah. What the possible might need, well, with the injuries now, yeah. The craziest thing is, what, two years ago, two years ago, you'd never been saying Manchester City near the centre back.

No. No. And that's how quickly football changes. Where would you start him? What position do you start him in if he is a starter, Luke? Very good question, because he can probably play on both sides. And I think that will help Pep because I think it will, basically I'm going to avoid answering the question

because I'm not sure what Andy might know what sure his best side is. I would probably say right side, but Andy might be left. I mean, I like him off the left, but... But I think that's what's great. I think that's what's great about him. And can I just say, Manchester City now, in the last 12 months, has spent $425.9 million. That is $425.9 million.

And they're saying they're recruited, though. And they need a centreback, Rick. Yeah. You know what I mean? Listen. there's another club I'm very familiar with who spent £450 million and they also need a centre bag and they aren't flying

so it doesn't guarantee you success where would you start Semenio then Andy? I would start in many way across the front line it can play centre forward, he can play right side he play left side I think watching in for Bournemouth coming off the left or right side it just causes havoc

Yeah You know and like I said It'll bring something totally different to what Manchester City have. If you look at Manchester City played, it's always in front of you. Now, he'll go in behind. He'll stretch teams.

You know, he'll pick the ball up. He'll run at individuals. And Manchester City don't have that. I generally believe that's the reason why Pets brought him in. You know, because for me, you can't bring him in not to play him. Defeats the object. You know, you've got to bring him into play. Multi-purpose offensive weapon.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Most of them. He can play down the middle. City are now unbeaten in 12 in all competitions but it's not like a it's not one of their amazing unbeaten runs is it? I mean it's been a frustrating sequence of draws in there for them in in the league

and I guess that explains why they feel that someone like some menu is necessary yeah exactly that and Andy touched on it as well they're so reliant on Harland for goals this season proving that completely wrong. It doesn't matter if you stick 10 past poor League 1 Exeter City, where it matters at the top level that they are struggling for goals and have been too reliant in Highland.

Semenio will, in theory and probably in practice, given his stats for Bournemouth, will change that. And look, Man City have lost ground to Arsenal in the title race. They've got a very, very big Carabal Cup semi-final against Newcastle who beat them at St James's Park in the league earlier.

I think it might be in their last defeat, I think domestic defeat. might have been James's Park. So that's Tuesday. And, yeah, it's... Manchester Derby on Saturday? I think, hasn't it?

Old Trafford? Yes. Yes. So it's a big moment for them to do it. But, you know, Man City have... Liverpool have taken a lot of the headlines in terms of how much money they spent in the summer. But I'd just like to point out,

Man City are in a rebuild, and they are... It's a very, very expensive rebuild of which Semeno is the latest piece in that. So, yeah, they will... they have lost ground in the title race and I think that would be concerning pet but I think Semenya's a great signing

and the fact that Liverpool will link with him heavily Manchester United wanted him Tottenham wanted him Newcastle will link with him last summer I think the fact that so many clubs wanted him is a great signing for Fulman City Let's just touch quickly on Liam Rossini who started life as Chelsea boss

with a really comfortable win at Charlton on Saturday winning 5-1 which I think Luke you'll agree is a responsibility respectful defeat of a lower league team. Yeah, you know, got the job done, outclass them, scored the goals, won the game, then switch on the cruise control, everyone goes home happy, calm down. Respectful, Andy.

Respectful way to beat lower league opposition rather than bullying. He's the first Chelsea manager to get a win on his debut since Antonio Conte in 2016. You sort of think, 2016, not that long ago, but of course Chelsea have had nine managers since then. That sounds like I'm joking, but they actually have actually have when you It was a decade ago. It's quite a long time. I know, but they really do

get through managers there. Nine managers in 10 years. I don't know. Not full time. I think it's seven full time in that. Chelsea played in the same formation as they played under Enzo Mreska.

And I don't know, Andy, if you could draw any particular conclusions because you would have expected Chelsea under Enzo Mreska to win that game as well. You would expect so. but here's the FA Cup. You know, we've just talking about

some of the shocks that happened yesterday. So you just never know in the FA Cup. With Liam, great opportunity for Liam. I know Liam. I play with him at Fullum. I played with his father when I was younger at Bristol City, you know, and I've got a good relationship with Liam. I wish him all the best.

And I know people worried about his age and his inexperienced, but if you go back and turn around and say yourself, how do you get experience if you never give an opportunity to manage it? higher level straight away. You know, you can't gain experience. So for Liam, he's going to gain experience. Like I said, fingers crossed, it goes well for him, and he's given the chance and the opportunity in the time,

you know, to get Chelsea wherever Chelsea believe they want to get to. You can't continue to change managers and believe you're going to get to where you need to get to. Oh, that sort of, it weirdly has kind of worked for them. It did work. No, it did work for them. Yeah, not maybe not anymore. I'm not sure it is anymore. They kind of defied all that football logic under Abramovich, didn't they?

But it helped that they had Abramovich's millions behind them and signed all the best players. So, yeah, I echo everything Andy just said there. He's got the chance now. Let's just see how he does. How long do you think he'll get? That's the big thing, isn't it? Do they keep faith with a young manager? Or do they just feel like he's quite disposable, Andy?

as the saying goes how long's a piece of string you know you just don't know it's all about I'll say it again it's about winning football matches if you're winning football matches

no one complains no one says anything because you're winning you start losing a few you start drawing a few and everyone starts talking about how bad you are and football will never change

well someone who is drawing a few and losing a few is Thomas Frank and people are definitely talking about his position at Tottenham now knocked out by Aston Villa so in 2026 they play four matches not won any of them they've had one win in seven it's their earliest exit from the FA Cup since 2014 so really same same question with a bit more body of evidence here how long has Thomas Frank got Luke oh you're mate so I'm always slightly I'm always slightly

wary of criticizing Thomas on this podcast. No, no, look, I really like him, but, you know. You know, we're going to put the boot in now, are we? We just don't get friendship counts for nothing. To use a winter cliche metaphor, he's skating on thin ice now, I think, because the fans just aren't having him and he's not, I think the players are still playing for him. I think Topham's problems run a lot deeper than the manager. I think having waited for this chance, this opportunity at a bigger club,

all due respect. Yeah, that's fair. He'd done his time at Brentford. And they decided that Thomas Frank was the guy they want. I think I will always argue you have to give a manager at least a season, at least a full season and probably, you know, at least a season and a half. I think it's way too soon to judge him. But it doesn't matter what I say, because if the fans are turning and they are,

increasing numbers. They don't like the pragmatic style of football. He just isn't getting a runner results together to calm everything

down. And it is as much about the style of football, the terrible home form. Like I said, third round FA Cup defeat,

it just takes the wind out of a club sales. You know, that's their chance. And there wasn't much wind in them in the first place. And there wasn't much wind anyway. So,

you know, it's increasingly hard for him. I hope they stick with him. I'm certainly not going to be jumping on the, on the Thomas Frank should go bandwagon, but ultimately

it's Tottenham supporters going to decide, and if they turn en masse inside the stadium, he's in big, big trouble. I don't think they're far away. I've always asked the question regarding Tottenham, yeah. What are Tottenham looking for? Where are Tottenham trying to get to? Win a Cup, win a trophy every now and again

and play in Europe every year, aren't they? Well, they feel like they should, they want to be a top four side. They've got a top six-wage budget. Yeah, they're the top six-wage budget. Top six wage budget. Based on what? I agree, yeah.

I mean, yes. That's just the sort of expectation and the perception that the fans have of the club. Okay, so how many good managers, good solid managers have Tottenham had now? Plenty.

Plenty. So if they've had plenty of good solid managers, it's not the managers because the managers keep getting set. Who's it down to them? Well, they've got rid of Daniel Levy who was blamed for. it, wasn't he?

I think the ownership now were coming in for heat. They've got a new management structure in place. And the players, Andy, the players have to, they have to bear some blame, of course. But Conte called them out. Marino called them out. We're going back now four, five, six years. They haven't had a period that Tottenham fans would consider good enough since Pochitino. Potchitino, yeah.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So the problems are, as I said, the problems run deeper than the manager. I think they've got to give Thomas Frank longer than he's getting. They've got to give him at least another summer trance window to try and reshape that team because I think they've got too many players, Andy,

and I think that's what you're alluded to. They've got too many players who aren't good enough to turn them into a Champions League team. They're not Champions League players. I'm going to learn. They're playing in the Champions League. But I don't think they're qualifying the league. They didn't.

There was 17th last season. So many of those players remain now, don't they? I'm going to make a... Don't really like making predictions. And it's not exactly a prediction. It's more a kind of if this happens then. And my, if this happens is, if they lose to West Ham at home

in their next Premier League game, which is possible, I think he gets booted. Ouch. Because I think that would be unacceptable to lose to West Ham at home, particularly given what West Ham are doing. What's come, what's come, yeah, and what's come before it. I mean, it's just that home form is killing him.

Yeah. Home form, not winning in front of your own support. as we keep talking about on this podcast. Just imagine getting done by West Ham. I mean, no one can imagine getting done by West Ham at the moment. No. You might be right. It's a solid prediction, Rick.

You might have made your first solid prediction of the season. Thank you very much. Thank you. Andy, what do you reckon of that? Nah, he's not having it. I think he is. I think Andy's going. I think he's team Frank for the chop here.

I'm not. I generally look at him. Lose at home to West Ham. Lose to West Ham, come on, Andy. Yeah, if they're loose to West Ham, of course the pressure is going to be on him, and then people are going to think about, well, if we lose to West Ham, I mean, what chance will we got? You know, West Ham are fighting for their lives,

Tottenhamah fighting for their lives as well, the manager's fighting for his life. You just don't know, but if you do sack him, and I generally hope they don't sack him, if they do sack him, where'd you go? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. In the middle of the season, look what Manchester United are doing. They're waiting until the summer for a reason. I think Topham have got to give him the full season.

But I don't make that decision. Come back, Tim Sherwood, all is forgiven. I don't think they should have sacked Ange anyway, but they made that decision. And I look at them, they're still in the same position. Yeah, also slightly back because they're away form. It's okay. Champions League could save him.

I mean, the Champions League, they qualify for the knockout round to the Champions League. That's a positive. Well, hang on, the European Cup didn't save Ange. No, no, it didn't. So I think it's unlikely. Was there ever a situation in New York, just before I let you go, because I'm enjoying chatting to you, Andy. Ever a situation in your career when you knew that your manager was under a lot of pressure

and might be about to get sacked? And how does that influence the feeling in the dressing room and then how the players are on the pitch? That happened to me in my early part of my career. I'd sign for Bristol City from Arsenal. the manager who basically spent all his budget on me was under a bit of pressure and he just turned down a deal to sell me

because basically got offered the same money that they brought him for we lost the game in the weekend and he was set and I'd be very very honest because I was so young I didn't really understand what was going on I was looking at myself and saying myself was it me who got him set

you know I'm saying myself did I not give enough or could I score more goals and got myself in the position to score goals, to win more games or whatever may be. And it was a horrible feeling to know that someone trusted you the way that Dennis Smith trusted me. And then for him to lose his job, it was a horrible feeling. And I mean, I was fortunate I never had to go through that again,

but it's not a nice feeling. It's not a nice position to find yourself in. Did you speak to him afterwards? I didn't know. I didn't know. And then I moved on. My career panned out the way it spanned out. and a lot of respect goes out to Dennych.

He's given an opportunity to start playing at that level. So, yeah, I feel very indebted to him, you know, throughout my career. I didn't tell him that. I've told him now. It's just like that, Rick. I've come across him quite a few times, you know, when I retire. Well, I hope you've told him. I hope you said nice things to him.

I always used to say nice things to him. I didn't used to say nice things to him when he was training, though, because if you know what Dennis Smith was when he was a player oh my days oh my days Was he brutal? Oh, was he? Oh, I used to say him Gaffer, why is you training? I mean, he used to kick his own players.

You know? That is old school. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, that was him. Last thing before I let you go then, one Premier League manager, current Premier League manager who is most like to kick his own players,

just one name from each of you. I've got mine. I think it's really obvious. Luke? Dyshe. Yeah, same from me, Andy. Yeah, that's what I was going to do. Of course it is.

Dish across the board. Thanks very much, both of you. Nice chatting as always. Brilliant. Thank you. That is all we've got time for on the FA Cup debrief. The reaction to Liverpool against Barnsley,

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