Football Daily - FA Cup Debrief: Rashford registers & Browny’s seafood supper

Episode Date: March 30, 2025

Darren Fletcher is joined by Michael Brown & Nigel Reo-Coker to react to the FA Cup quarter-finals and the semi-final draw. Hear from Aston Villa’s Marcus Rashford as he ends his four-month goal drought. Also catch up with Birmingham boy Jacob Ramsey and Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates. Pep Guardiola is in an interesting mood for his post-match interview. And who do the guys think will make the final?01:30 Michael Brown reveals his salty commentary preparation 04:10 Marcus Rashford back in the goals 11:15 Villa fan Jacob Ramsey on reaching Wembley 14:20 Crystal Palace move closer to first major trophy 18:05 Are Man City favourites or is it wide open? 25:25 Forest captain Ryan Yates after shootout win 31:05 Would Forest fans prefer UCL qualification or an FA Cup? 35:30 Pep Guardiola as Man City reach seventh straight FA Cup semi 44:40 ‘Tunnel vision’ now for Bournemouth in the Premier League 46:30 Who will make the FA Cup final?BBC Sounds / 5 Live midweek Premier League commentaries: Tue 1 Apr 1945 Arsenal v Fulham on 5 Live, Tue 1 Apr 2000 Nottingham Forest v Man Utd on 5 Sports Extra, Tue 1 Apr 1945 Wolves v West Ham on BBC Sport website, Wed 2 Apr 2000 Liverpool v Everton on 5 Live, Wed 2 Apr 1945 Newcastle v Brentford on 5 Sports Extra, Wed 2 Apr 1945 Bournemouth v Ipswich on BBC Sport website.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. The Football Daily podcast. The debrief. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the Football Daily. It's the FA Cup debrief. I'm Darren Fletcher in the company of Nigel Rio-Coker. Sartorially elegant as always with a dark jacket and a lovely

roll neck looking an absolute million dollars How are you? I'm great. Always a pleasure to be on review guys looking forward to this so much I'm Michael Brown still pitch side at the Vitality having watched Manchester City qualify remarkably for a seventh successive FA Cup semi-final, which I think is astounding. And I've just seen Pep Guardiola speaking about it. I think he's quite blown away about it too.

Seven successive semis. How's Bournemouth treating you, Brownie? Bournemouth's been great. The ending fletch, honestly, we missed that with Manchester City. The fans were all over it, as you can imagine, celebrating. Pep was animated. But that was the football. On a personal point of view, Bob has been very, very kind to me.

The sun's been shining, a lovely day. Got here late last night after my penalty shootout at Brighton last night, so it was a late one. But yeah, really lovely. The sun's shining and finally getting a bit of summer. So tell me about this morning then. So you've got a very strict regime. So you're out there running this morning, pounding the sand, I understand.

Well, it's not really strict, is it? I had a delivery when I got to the hotel last night after watching that game. I'm sure you'll mention something about that game if we've got to, have we? Was it Brighton Forest? I think it's somewhere on the running order. Is it on the running order? I thought it might be. And then from there on, I had my run, went right all the way up from the front of Bournemouth down to Sandbanks, all the way back, a little bit of sand and then realised I can't run anymore so I had to get off it.

Back onto the promenade and then I thought, do you know what, I've seen a few people jumping in the sea, so that was like my ice bath moment. But it wasn't pretty so I had a little quick walk back up and had a bit of breakfast. Were you au naturel when you went in? Do you want the honest truth? I stripped out my boxer shorts and put a t-shirt low. And then I crept back off the beach and around the corner.

I thought no one will see me. And I just did a little bit of swapping with my jumper and my shorts, et cetera, for the load of the city staff. A second later, just to walk down the beach so I got away with it to be honest so I was lucky good man I'd been caught in a very very difficult moment and what was the deliverer of choice last night that's what we need to know um it was a chicken raimen with a calamari very very nice actually unbelievable brownie see I try to keep defending you you you know, tough tackling,

hard working midfielder, but the way you keep on portraying yourself, it doesn't kind of reflect the player that you were, mate. That's a little bit harsh, isn't it? Because, you know, I was looking down the delivery room and I was thinking, what do I have? Pizza? Do I have pasta? And it was getting late. It was like 11 o'clock touching. So I just it was which one was five, ten minutes?

It was that one. So there you go. Brilliant. Brilliant. It's nice to know that the Sun's out in Bournemouth it's nice to know that Nigel looks as magnificent as he always does and it's nice to know we've had a fantastic weekend of FA Cup semi-finals. Brownie and I can't work out whether we're friends or rivals for this particular pod but that will all become apparent in the fullness of time. The draw then, Forrest against Manchester City, Crystal Palace against Aston Villa. The semi-finals take place at Wembley on the weekend of Saturday the 26th of April

and I think into Sunday the 27th. Forrest into their first FA Cup semi-final since 1991. They beat Brighton on penalties. Crystal Palace are aiming to win the FA Cup for the first time. Forrest last won it by the way in 1959. It's a while since Villa have done it although they have been to a final more recently and we'll wait and see whether Manchester City can do another one. We're going to start off I think because we could have started anywhere but we're going to start off I think because we could have started anyway but we're going to start off with Aston Villa and in particular Marcus Rashford because it was four months without a goal for him before he scored twice as Aston Villa beat Preston 3-0 at Deep Down. Yeah it's a great feeling, you know I feel like I've slowly been getting

fitter and playing better football since I've been here so it's obviously nice for us to always get goals so hopefully it continues. In terms of this team and the performance today particularly in the second half and the wider context, how far and how big do you think the rest of the season could be? I think we have to just take it one game at a time and just give 100% on the pitch and we'll see where it takes us but I think we're a very ambitious team. We want to win, we want to try and get as far as we can in all competitions and we also want to push to get

back into the top four. And I know you alluded to it in your first answer there, how close do you feel you're getting back to your true form? Step by step I think I can still get fit get fitter and you know I missed a lot of football before joining up with them so you know at the minute my body feels good and you know I'm injury free and just enjoying my football so all good for now. Congratulations today. Thank you. Now that's Marcus Rashford speaking to Sarah Muller-Kerrins after he scored twice in the Aston Villa win. He'd actually gone 14 games without a goal

for Manchester United, Aston Villa and England. I mean, he, I mean, we can kind of talk about the teams this weekend and the clubs and the impact that that's on the fans nights, but he's maybe the story of the weekend. The fact that he's had the assists and he's been playing well, he's back in Tuchel's England squad and now he's got the goal. It feels like that was the final thing he'd got to do after the move from Manchester United was get back on the score sheet again. Yeah, Fletch, if you had to say for picking an individual player for the story of the weekend, it definitely would be Marcus Rashford. You know, everything that he's been through,

the whole criticism that he's been receiving so much since leaving Manchester United and going to Aston Villa and then obviously back in the England fold. And then to get those two goals today, it would have done him the world of good. And like he said, I like the fact he's talking about getting into games, getting into that rhythm because yes, he's at Aston Villa, but people think it's just going to be something that happens overnight. And we know, like myself and Brownie know it doesn't happen straight away. Sometimes it takes a run of games of six or seven to try and get back that real fitness, that strength and belief in yourself. And he seems to be getting there. And he probably could have had another goal, could have had a hat trick.

You know, it really is nice to see him saying he's enjoying his football, playing with a smile on his face and really starting to get that confidence again. He really is the individual player that has the story for this weekend's FA Cup. And like Richard said on BBC One, when you've got a manager that believes in you, you can do special things. Rashford's whole body language looks a lot better. He looks confident and he looks happy. Unai Emery on Marcus Rashford, he said it's been about making him feel comfortable and playing him in the positions where he feels best. It's fantastic for him, but there's still work to do and he still needs to adapt to us. He will need time to play and feel 100% and Dion Dublin said when Rashford is on it he can start in any team in

world football. Brownie can he? When he's on it can he start in any team in world football? I mean world football is a big quote I think he's got a long way to get to that level. I think what he has got and that's why he gets where players wouldn't get that opportunity to know with Thomas Tuchel and the England squad because he can do things others can't. Everyone's hoping to get Marcus Rashford back to that level, that sort of aura that he carries. I think anybody who's played with him, against him in England squads all speak so highly of how good he can be. So I think that tells you, and that's what every manager's trying to find.

And at Manchester United, he obviously didn't feel like he could get anywhere near that. So now with the England squad, the move to Aston Villa, they'll be gaining confidence, they'll be gaining belief again. He might've got back to basics. And I think that was important.

I think Thomas Tuchel said about, he's gonna need to carry on running back, which told a story about looking at Marcus, not just about what he can do going forward about that type of work rate for the squad. So maybe that hit home, he has to work a bit harder to get better, but no doubt about what he has got. You know, that ability to go past people, that little burst of speed, some great finishing he's got in his locker. So getting goals now, it's great for him because obviously we want him to fire for England and for the future. There's nothing

worse to see someone with such talent and somebody who can perform like he has have been far off it. We criticise all around him, all three of us probably have said he hasn't tracked back, he doesn't look sharp, he's not running to the level, he's not covering ground and he's got to find a solution. It's great to see him getting back towards that but still a lot to do. Can we completely believe in it? And I'm not being critical of him but you sometimes get what they call the managerial bounce and new manager goes in and everything's okay for a few weeks and then it levels off

again. Is his challenge now to make sure that that's not the case here, that this is a more consistent version of Marcus Rashford? How concerned are you that it's okay for now because he's rejuvenated? How confident are you he can continue to do that? I'll just say it's all on him, Fletch. The emphasis has to start with him. He has to understand and see him take that responsibility. It shouldn't be the fact of, yes, you've got Unai Emery as a manager. Now he's made you feel comfortable. Now you're starting to perform. You need to want that yourself. You need to find that desire, that hunger and that fire within yourself. I think the best thing that I would say,

the difference of him compared to being at Manchester United and Aston Villa is there is a bit more of a structure there. There is a discipline there. He's coming into a team that's already got good leadership. You look at the captain of John McGinn and the other players there, Tyrone Mings, that there's a solid foundation there and he's come to be part of the team. You know, all the pressure and the emphasis

isn't just on Marcus Rashford. We know the ability that he has, but he has to find that fire in himself now to want to go and do it week in, week out without needing the manager to be constantly showing him affection and overindulging in him. And I think that he's got it in him. He just needs to really start to bring it to the forefront. I think the difference is as well, the pressure, isn't it? Anything that went wrong at Manchester United, it was like, well, he's our highest earner Marcus Rashford hasn't performed today so looking at that he's going to need to be in a structure and a team that does well we're going to see the best of Marcus Rashford

then we're going to need a team like really really performing very well winning consistently going through to later stages of tournaments like we're hoping we're going to see that with Aston Villa and from there on then, you believe he can contribute in such a big way. There's some big characters there as well, and it's not all in him, it's very much a collective, as Nigel starts to discuss.

So he's in a good place, I just think we not to get too carried away, and I think that is the message, it's not just gonna happen overnight, and he starts to slide back into certain things that he was doing, and I think that was the England manager's point also. Let's see from another one of the Villa heroes, Birmingham boy Jacob Ramsey, he scored the

third goal for them and he spoke to Gary Flintoff. He was just talking to one of the photographers, did they get a really good shot of you scoring? I'm hoping so. I mean after this I'll go in and check my phone and scroll through all the photos so yeah hopefully. What did that moment feel like today? Yeah it was really good man, I feel like I needed that before this game I was playing good in certain games, I was just missing that final pass or that final shot and I think even today the shot weren't great but it was on target and the keeper couldn't save it. Now have you heard the draw for the semi-final, do you know? Yeah, Pallis.

Yes, so what do you think of that? Must have had a couple of good days against you fairly recently, haven't they? I know we, I think the one at home earlier in the season was 2-2, then I think we lost 3-0, 4-0 maybe? Was it 4 down there? Was it 4 at Salah's Park recently? Yeah, 4 I think. Yeah, yeah.

Sorry to remind you of that. Sorry to bring you back down to earth. But yeah, we watched their game yesterday and they've obviously got some top players. But obviously at Wembley it's going to be completely different. We're going to be right up it and so are they. I mean it has been an amazing season and you look at the away end there, empty now, but absolutely packed to the rafters. You know what these Villa fans are like Villa Park's an amazing amazing venue to

play at they're on the way to Wembley you're on the way to Wembley what does that mean? Yeah it's so good man obviously growing up I was a Villa fan I know what it means to go to Wembley I've been Wembley three times as a fan the semi-final and the final against Arsenal and then obviously the playoff final against Derby. So yeah this is my first time being a player going to Wembley and I'm just looking forward to it. On the pitch rather than watching off the pitch? Yeah obviously my family are gonna be there, my friends are gonna be in the

stands so yeah looking forward to it. I hope you're gonna get a lot of tickets in that case then Jacob, what's they're all going to be coming asking. Always, always. Well done today, I hope he's got a good photo of you, well done. So that's Jacob Ramsey with a very jovial Gary Flintoff, I might say. Gary seemed to enjoy his day at that one, didn't he? I think though, and this would be the concern if I'm Villa,

and correct me if I'm wrong, and I'm sure people will when they listen to the podcast. Pretty sure that Crystal Palace have won three of the last four meetings between the two sides. So that might give them a bit of confidence. Nigel, just briefly, and I mean briefly, just before we move it on to Crystal Palace, feels like the missing piece, doesn't it now, for Aston Villa winning a trophy into an FA Cup semi-final,

not that far away from winning one. They've got a really good manager who's decent in cup competitions, in one-off games. We've seen that in the Champions League, Unai Emery. How good do you think they're feeling about themselves right now, Aston Villa? I think they're feeling great and I agree with you Fletch, this just feels like the missing piece and I said it on the Friday Football Social, I think for me Newcastle winning the League Cup moves the needle for all these other clubs now where we talk about

progression is not just getting into the Champions League now, it's also now winning things. So I think there's a lot more pressure with a lot more teams who have been very competitive that now winning something is the priority. So Aston Villa for me, I think if they win this, that would be fantastic for Unai Emery and what he's building at this club. And let's move it on then to Crystal Palace. They made a mockery of what looked like a difficult tie at the weekend, beating Fulham 3-0. Never won a major trophy, Crystal Palace. They've lost the FA Cup final twice in 1990 and 2016. I think it's quite remarkable Brownie had their season's turn. They didn't win their first game in the Premier League until late October. Since the start of 2025, this is mad, only Liverpool

with 11 have won more games in all competitions among Premier League teams than Crystal Palace with 10. So it's been like night and day, the first half of the season to the second half of the season. They've got to be taken at this point in the FA Cup extremely seriously, Crystal Palace, based on how they're playing now. Yeah, they've got to be took really, really seriously. But the thing is, it was under so much pressure. I was going to games and I'm wondering what's going to be next because

he'd done incredible when he got the job then it was a big fall away the start of the season was poor but then to find a solution, find a way and you always feel like Palisade had a particular aging squad, a squad that you were never really sure about, always selling players and not really necessarily having the depth to take you any further higher up into a Premier League campaign past a mid-table finish. So from to be able to turn around, get on a good run, get some results and let's be honest I don't know if you fancied Palace in this game because I didn't, I felt like it was going to be Fulham. The former side, yes it's another one that I've had, I've had a few

before you two jump in. But I was thinking I might have been able to watch Fulham in a semi-final at Wembley but it's not the case and a fabulous result for Palace and they were very, very comfortable in the end and big performances, big results and I think the surprise in everybody, I think the manager is to be honest as well. The way they get results, the way they're performing, the way they're creating chances. I'll say John Fulip Mateta was back with his new little head gear and it was good to see him back because obviously a driving force at the top of the pitch.

Absolutely we like to throw the stats in, Nigel, as you know, at various points. So Palace have also kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League team in 2025. This stat though blew me away. They're the first English top flight side ever, ever to win six straight away games without conceding a goal. Wow, that actually blew me out of the way and I'm not not really a big stat person, but it just shows the progression. Who sent you that Fletch? Well, it's not mine because if it's wrong, it's not mine. It's on the script.

Yeah. It's on the script. I can't claim this one, but I mean, if that is the case, when you think of some of the great top flight English clubsides that haven't done that, I mean, you're both ex-players. It's not easy to play at home, never mind about playing away. So to win six on the bounce away without conceding a goal is quite remarkable when you put it in that context, Niles. Yeah, it's definitely remarkable.

And I agree with Brownie. I think this result caught me off guard. I thought it would be a lot more closer game than it was. And Palace just went there and just absolutely dismantled Fulham. Fulham just didn't look like they had any ideas or answers. And you would give Fulham the edge because they're having a great season as well, Marco Silva and what he's done there. Then being at home and again, it's FA Cup, it's the magic of the Cup. But Palace was just a class of the above. They've got so many great players. And I said it again, when you look at Palace now,

and if you look into the future of what could happen to them, you talk about some players that potentially could be poached again from this Crystal Palace side. You talk about Gaihi, Eze, Saar, maybe even Mateta, Wharton, that's about five players alone that probably could be pinched by other teams. But the season that they're having right now is amazing. And when you look at the teams that's left, Fletch, of all the teams that's left, I think that if you say one team could really

concentrate in this FA Cup, you'd have to say would be Crystal Palace, would be that team that you picked. And I think also with all the four teams that's left, any team could win this competition. I don't think we can look at this FA Cup with the last four remaining teams to say there's one team that's favorite. Yes. I still listen. I know people will probably say Manchester City. Any of them, all the same? All the same. That's my opinion. I think every single one of those teams could win this competition. I don't look at Manchester City to say this is the city of old, that they are the dominant force that's left in the competition. Any of these four

teams could win this FA Cup. I get that, but there's still a stronger force than the competition. Any of these four teams could win this. I get that, but there's still a stronger force than the other three. I will give Villa that as well, over, you know, Crystal Palace. But hang on, Brownie. So, Forrest are above Man City in the table, and they beat them the last time they played. Only Liverpool have won more games in 2025 as a top-flight club than Crystal Palace. Aston Villa have been magnificent in the Champions League and have proved they can go against the best. I think if this is Manchester City of last season, you've got a valid point, but I mean, they were

behind at Bournemouth today in terms of players that we didn't expect to win in the tie to win this one and we'll get to them shortly. But I think to separate City, that's significant. I was about to say to you, heading into the half-time teaser, that this is as balanced a Final Four in the FA Cup as I can remember for a long time. I think you can stick a pin in the page. There's almost a grand national feel to it. I'm amazed you think City are... Amazed? You're not amazed. Yeah, amazed that you think that they're significantly better than the others. City are the favourites. Well, let's see what the're significantly better than the others. City are the favourites. Let's see what the book is. I bet you City are the favourites.

I see your point and full credit to what Palace and Forrest are doing. Villa have got the strongest squad there after, but City are still at a Wembley Stadium. More favourites than those other three. That's a given. Brownie, it's the FA Cup. No, I get it, I understand it. I'm sticking to my view with that, where I think this last four there, any club can win it. I don't believe that there is one dominant one the other,

because I've seen Villa have off days and everything. So if you're Forrest, Darren, who did you want in the draw? Do you know, I think... So you're saying you didn't mind any of them? I don't think the three clubs outside of Manchester City would have been that good. The one team they didn't want out of them was Manchester City. You think that's what Forrest will feel? Forrest would have thought any of the other two. Brownie, I tell you this now, I disagree with

you. I think Forrest would be fine to have Manchester City. The season that they've had, how they've played City before, they know who they are, while Man City are still going through a different time, they've lost that aura of invincibility, Forrest will be going into that game still full of confidence that they can still get a result against Manchester City. How Forrest play... I'm not saying that, not doubting the confidence side of it one bit.

I think they've done really well, I'll give you that. And they've changed systems, whether they just leave and retreat, like they did yesterday, don't surprise me, which we'll talk about later now, they just stayed in a block and they had more ball than Brighton. But listen, we can talk all day, we'll soon see, the FA Cup does obviously bring out shocks and surprises, it is an interesting draw, but yeah yeah I do still see City as the favourites. They will be the favourites with the bookies but they're the one team under pressure to win it as well. Let's not beat them out of the bush here. The other three are playing with house money from

this point. They're under no pressure whatsoever and I still think City's main pressure has to be to qualify for the Champions League because that's far from a given. So it's okay saying oh look they're clear favourites to win an FA Cup. Their pressure is coming from the league where they may miss out on the Champions League. I just don't feel that people look at Manchester City right now and fear them. And I think the point that you've made, there would have to be some element of fear from the other three teams looking at that city side to feel that way. And I don't think this season, it might not be the case next season, but right now, I don't think teams fear this city team.

So I think that makes it a lot more level. The good thing is you know everyone at Forrest, so you'd be able to ask them, won't you, if they really thought that when the draw came out. Yeah, all I would say before we go to the half-time T-Zex, he's put his coat on, Nig, so we can't see his retro Manchester City shirt underneath it having been there on commentary duty today. No, it's just that he's done that. Please jump for that.

That's why he's done that. Please jump for that. Halftime teaser, right, while we take a break. We're going to get into them more in a minute, but the clear favourites for the FA Cup, according to Brownie, Manchester City, are through to the semis for a seventh year in a row but maybe backing up Nigel and my point. Having beaten Salford 8-0 in round three they had to come from behind in each of their last three FA Cup games but who were they against? We'll give you the answer in a minute. The Monday night club on the Football Daily. Join myself Mark Chapman, Rory Smith and Chris Sutton to look back at the biggest stories from the weekend's football.

They've obviously had terrible trouble scoring goals, particularly in open play this season. He's worrying about if he's not going to score the goals, then others aren't going to score. I spoke to many strikers who felt like that. Chris, Shearer, Larson, Hartson, all felt like that. If they didn't score maybe else would. The Monday Night Club only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds.

So welcome back to the FA Cup Debrief. Now before the break, I said that City are through to the FA Cup semis for the seventh season in a row Which I think is a magnificent achievement by the way Beat Solve with 8-0 in round three had to come from behind in each of the last three FA Cup games Brownie You covered them today, so you'll be able to really off very very easily could Plymouth be one of them down Yep, so Plymouth from the championship. We're ahead against the clear favorites who else? Bournemouth? Yes, against the clear favourites. And the other one?

Don't know the other one. Leighton-Orient. That was there. Different country, really high at Leighton-Orient. But, but, Nice, clear favourites. Clear favourites, Nice. Clear favourites. Why bother playing the games? Clear favourites. Why bother? And the thing is, I know we haven't even got into the game yet.

Let's just say there's a bit of fortune-less luck with the City winning goal where, you know, a questionable goalkeeping. I tell you what, honestly, Nig, so you're back in Villa, Darren's back in Forest. There you go. Wait, Michael, I didn't back Villa. I said any of the four teams left could win the FA Cup. And I agree with you, Nigel. I agree with you, Nigel. I agree with you, Nigel.

Do you think Villa will be happy with their draw, Nigel? Everyone will be happy with their draw, every single club. And I think when you've got to look at Forrest as well, they got through Brighton. Brighton was not no easy draw, but I think everyone believes that they can win this competition. That's how I look at it. Yeah. I think somebody might have spiked his ramen last night because he's extremely mischievous today, Mr Brown. Right, so Manchester City against

Forrest. Forrest won a third straight FA Cup penalty shootout to reach the semis for the first time in 34 years. They beat Exeter on penalties, Ipswich on penalties and now Brighton. The winning penalty was scored by the captain Ryan Yates. Here he is. To be honest we do spend a lot of time practicing them and not until last week did I have an actual process. Usually I'm six, seven or eight and I'm just hoping it'll get to me but I thought no just I need something in place. So what is that process? Mine was counting my steps, a few deep breaths and then stick to the process. I was going bottom left, I wasn't changing. I didn't hit it as sweetly as I'd like, but it went in and yeah, just so relieved and just buzzing for all the Forrest fans.

And then it looked just a blur once you scored the goal. It was, yeah. If I could bottle that feeling up. Wow. It was incredible. Send the club to Wembley again after. See, last time we were there getting promoted was just incredible. So, yeah, they deserve that. Look, you've been in the club since what I think was it 2005 when you joined the academy as a seven-year-old so what does this mean?

Yeah it's a tough one because obviously it's only the semi-final we've won nothing, won nothing in the league and yeah it's been a fantastic season everything's set up for an incredible season and yeah we've just got our grabber opportunity because we're doing everything we can to maximise our performances and yeah obviously've just got our grabber opportunity because we're doing everything we can to maximize our performances and yeah obviously back to it recovering ready for Tuesday night. And if someone had said to you at the beginning of the season at this stage third in the Premier League you're in an FA Cup semi-final you wouldn't have believed them would you? Honestly I don't I don't think so but I think this this club has that that

special feeling about it that when you're on a run like a few years back when we got promoted, that momentum, the fans behind us obviously travelling incredibly today. They deserve that and we're buzzing for them. So that's Ryan Yates. What I wanted to challenge a little bit was the narrative that I saw on the television yesterday where they were questioning Nuno's decision to leave a couple of players out at the start. Ilanga and Hudson

Odoi came off the bench and Wood was injured. But that's not the first time he's done that. Away from home this season, quite often we've seen Dominguez and Yates start, they've been a lot more compact for the first 65 to 70 minutes. And then he unleashes the speedy players at the top end of the pitch with 20 minutes to go to try and win the game. They were speaking yesterday like we'd never seen it before and it was this bizarre decision to to leave players out for an FA Cup quarter-final. Well in actual fact Brownie, he does this a fair bit, Nuno, he changes shape and he changes personnel quite a lot within games. It's been one of the more important things that they've done this season

to make sure that they can be adaptable enough to win. Yeah he does do that and I think that's a great point of what he has, that flexibility. Whether the midfield three, it will switch around, whether they'll be a bit more defensive, whether they go and attack, whether they're spinning in behind. Obviously when Chris Wood wasn't there it was what was going to be. So once you lose Chris Wood I think the point was when we were in commentary, when we were looking at the game, we were sort of going well you still need a Langer or one of them to be in the wider position because you lose your striker.

The one you came in and done all right, he ran around, caused a few problems. And then the question marks were, how were they going to play it? What were they going to do? They sat and waited, but what it did, it allowed an extra midfield player to come inside. And then in possession, I thought Forrest were excellent.

I think it was 60% at one point in the first half which going to Brighton you normally it's the other way around they would control the ball they'd move you around they'd be quick and behind and Forrest did excellent they created several opportunities kept the ball it was a really really strong first half performance and then ultimately because the game was as it was the second he put Alanger on you felt right it's open now his desire to run him behind was excellent Hudson Doyle contributing as well but how nice just listening to that interview for Ryan Yates when he was stepping up and I was

watching the penalty I think of all people who's been there from the journey from the start I remember pre-season game against in Portvale was a youngster coming through as I was finishing and then when I've seen him I'd several chats he said how things have changed and where the club have gone and he hasn't been left behind that's what's really impressive and I just thought if anyone was wanting to score I was wanting to be him and how nice when he did it and that the motion as he runs across and goes to those supporters was sensational so how would you question Nuno at this moment in time? It's very difficult, but I think it is an interesting talking point

that he did leave Hudson-Odoi and Alanger out because he quite easily could have started them having no Chris Wood. I think it's fascinating too when you hear what Ryan Yates said there, Nigel, about the way they feel, that they're making comparisons now to the season they got promoted under Steve Cooper, where when he walked into the club they were in the relegation zone and they went on that magnificent run, the city got behind them, they built momentum and it took them through the playoffs and they got up. And he said we're starting to feel the comparisons now that we've

got this momentum, we know what the club's like, we know what the fans are like. So, I mean, my challenge would have been, can they keep their minds off Tuesday in a big Premier League game against Manchester United with the potential to qualify for the Champions League? Well, they were able to do that, but they've got to deal with that now the rest of the way, haven't they? Because they're fighting on two fronts still, and it means so much to everybody where they've the position they put themselves in. Yeah, they put themselves in a great position, Fletch.

And for Nuno, again, I think tactically, I don't think we give him enough credit of what he does and how he runs that team. And a great example of that would have been also the Arsenal game when he changed because of how Arsenal plays. But when I look at this now with what Juan Yeat says, and you know, great young lad, we interviewed him one time on the Football Social. It's great when he's been and experienced it. And then he's saying he's getting that same kind of euphoric feeling where the fans are getting behind it.

But when I still look at this Forest side, I would say for me personally, the priority is still that Champions League. And I feel that the belief is there that they can get it done. I feel them beating Brighton is an absolutely fantastic bonus just to add on to an already sensational season. If they had to pick one, and obviously you're a Forrest fan through You Love Your Club, what would you pick? Would it be the FA Cup or would it be Champions League

football qualifications? I believe probably nine out of 10 Forrest fans will probably pick Champions League, Fletch. God, do you know what? I think you'd have to give them a period of time to think about it, because there is nothing better than winning a trophy. There isn't, is there? There just isn't. I mean, to think about it because there is nothing better than winning a trophy. There isn't, is there? There just isn't. I mean, you think about it. So you've had enough time now, Darren, to think about it. So what would you pick? Yeah, listen, I don't see any reason why there has to be a pick. I think the way they are now

with the number of games they... Which one would you pick though? What would you pick? I think you've got to say you want both now. I don't see why you'd pick one. I don't think it has to be a one or the other. They're two games away from winning an FA Cup. If they get past Manchester City, they'll be clear favourites to win it, in your words. So that should be a shoe in if they win that one. The final, really, Brownie, in your words, is the semi for Forrest at the minute. And then I think they've got their destiny in their hands in the Champions League. They probably only need to win four or five more Premier League matches based on

the mathematics of the table right now to put them in it so I don't think it needs to be and either or I think the fan base can dream about why not do both. Probably getting to Wembley now is like getting to a final, they've got to the final already haven haven't they? Of course it is. I mean, they've not been since 91, then they go there for the playoff final, now they're back for an FA Cup semi-final. This is just a dream scenario for them, so... I agree to that. I want to put this to both of you, though. I said for me Newcastle winning the league's cup has moved the needle for a lot of these other clubs now, and what they see is progression and winning. Do you think Newcastle winning the Leeds club has changed the dynamic now for all these other clubs we're talking about? Listen, changing dynamics, I think what we were seeing, what it's brought to Newcastle, I mean,

the celebrations, winning that cup has just been absolutely unbelievable, hasn't it? The whole city, getting behind the club, the squad, the positivity, it gives them a bit more time, doesn't it? So I've really been sort of so impressed of how they've gone on and done that. But would Forrest celebrate exactly the same? I'm sure they would, wouldn't they? If they were to go on and win the EFL Cup, I'm sure you'd have the same celebrations. I know you've got Champions League in your sights. Newcastle did that.

Some fantastic nights and they fell away. You had to take a step back. But I think it's all about winning a trophy. You talk about Spurs now, about Champions League, how many times they've gone in it and then they haven't come away with anything. So, you know... I also think, Brownie, this is not Europe or bust, is it? I mean, if they miss out on the Champions League,

they're going to play in the Europa... They're going to be in Europe next season from this point. It would take a remarkable collapse not to play in Europe. I think if the question was an FA Cup and a Europa League place, it's a slightly different story than FA Cup or Champions League because they're going to be in Europe now. So I think to a large extent they're already way ahead of where they would have been. So whatever they get from this point surely is going to make them feel good about how the season ends.

Can Forrest overachieve? And then the expectation levels increases. Do you know what happens next? We've seen it with other clubs haven't we, when you get to this level and then you try and with an owner like he is, he'll then want to go again, again, again and you can't always get that. When we get to a Friday and we've got time, I want to do this because I think that's one

of the big questions that they're in a situation now, how much do you want to pay players? How much are you prepared to pay for players? What level are you going to buy? What do you do next? Because I think that's a really valid point to do it within the parameters available to the club without taking too many risks.

So I think that, I don't think we've got enough time today because we've got to get to Manchester City but I think when we're all together on a Friday on the Premier League preview, we should have a look at that and what that looks like moving forward because if they become a Champions League team then they've got to address those questions this summer. So I think it's a really important period for them off the pitch while they concentrate on trying to be successful on it We could just do a Nottingham Forest Friday company. That would be really really good We could just call it Friday Club on Forest, but what there's also some good news here

There's also been some other good news here is that them lawnmowers have finally stopped And they've got over behind the goal because now we're getting right through this podcast you've had the lawn mowers all the way so I know sorry about that right let's get to Manchester City Brownie's been chopping at the bit for this is the only reason he's here at the first side in men's FA Cup history to reach the semi-finals in seven consecutive seasons they came from behind to win 2-1 at Bournemouth here's Pep Guardiola with James Fieldon. Pep, congratulations you got through in the end but that was a really hard game for you, wasn't it? It was more harder for them So we play our standing game having Kravac chances, miss a penalty and we concede against that team one chance

that we give away one two no more in this stadium, it's bad our approach was magnificent so One chance that we give away, one, two, no more. In this stadium, it's bad. Our approach was magnificent, so, seven times in a row, semifinal, FA Cup. So, no team has done it, and it will be difficult for one team to do what these legendary players, and the new ones and old ones, we have done. How much of an achievement is that to get seven in a row, given all the competitions you play in every single season,

they always find a way to get to that point? It's unbelievable. I made the consistency that this season we lost. We lost because the difference is the way we compete today and the way we compete when we play in the first leg here. And I was not good enough to overcome that situation that we were sloppy for many, many games and I was not able to let them realise that the way you have to do it is what they have done today. Ellingholl, I missed the penalty in the first half. Hasn't had a great record from the spot recently. Do you feel you need to find a new penalty taker or are you happy to continue?

Absolutely not. Listen, I can't write on a score. Right? Good. You've had some tough games against Nuno As Nottingham Forest and Wolves over the years. Why is he so hard and what is it about his teams that you struggle sometimes against? Fear on the table. Sometimes we lost, we performed well, but in the home game we won 3-0. So it looks like when we lose one game, so Luke is a disaster and we lost 17-5 times against that team. No, it's not true. So we won most of the time the last eight, nine years with mainly all the teams. So Tuff is the third in the table. It's a really good team and really pleased to play against them in Wembley with our fans.

Your English is very good. If you do win the FA Cup and that is the trophy that you win this season, how would you sum up the campaign? What word would you say? We won one title already. Community Shield, we won it first. Second, the season has been poor. Nothing going to change. So it has not been good. Our standards were like that and we did a competition this season. But still we have nice things to say. For example, this competition, last season we played a final, we not win it and at the same time we have an incredible target to qualify for the Champions League next season so this is what we're going to try to do. And last question, Erling Haaland on the injury, what's the situation?

I didn't speak with him, it wasn't the tail massage but I didn't speak with him and with the doctors neither. So there's Pep Guardiola, Brownie, are you accepting that City have won a title already this season, the Community Shield? Your manager says you have. One shoot, he said, one shoot. That's it. I've seen you, honestly.

I was just thinking, I was sat back listening to you thinking, right, what's he gonna come with? What has you held up a big forest shirt in front of my eyes, which I couldn't believe, which not many people might see that, but anyway. He's fighting, isn't he? You know he realises he's not had a good season, he has to answer these questions consistently and people doubt what they've gone on and done and then he just reminds you very very quickly what he has delivered to what we've all witnessed, four in a row, however many FA

Cup runs, EFL Cups, it's been incredible and a Community Shield which we're all proud of and I'm sure there's still gold badges on the side of the shirt so it's great to see, we've enjoyed the journey and let me tell you Fletch, it was nice going over to that away end today on camera on 94, 96 minutes for the players to come across and see a bit of joy because it's been different, it's been difficult and they celebrated that one today because it's another trip to Wembley and we're looking forward to it. It was hard, you know, Bournemouth made it tough and full credit to him so the manager said himself that he's been a poor season, he expects more and that's only normal. I don't think that's rocket

science and I'm surprised he even answers the question. Yeah he did say say on the television when I saw it, he made reference to the defeat they suffered at Bournemouth earlier in the season and he said we arrived that day in flip-flops, we were on holiday, we were a different team today. He took his time after the other interview that I saw to praise the older players in this squad. He spoke about Gundogan's performance today, de Bruyne and his performance today, the impact that Grealish had today, because a lot of the attention was on Marmouch and Nico O'Reilly, but he wanted to turn it back to those more experienced players who have been there before Neid.

And I thought that felt quite significant, the fact that he singled them out today, because they've been the ones, for a large part of the second half of the season, who have faced the barrage of criticism. Yeah, they have, but it's also a, you know it's a way of taking their attention away from O'Reilly, whether he wants to you know give the senior players their flowers now, the reality of it is it was O'Reilly that came and changed the game for Manchester

City. He made such a big impact for them coming on today and it was there evident for everyone to see. So whether now it's you don't want the media to jump on O'Reilly now, another youngster coming through the city pipeline to be seen as this new saviour, the future of the club. So you take away that attention from him and, you know, start praising the senior players that have been there who put in a good performance. But regardless, if he did that for me, Fletch, you've got to give credit to the young lad O'Reilly because he really did change the game when he came on.

I mean, Brownie was there to see it. He was very unselfish. Do you know what? He got through towards goal and I'm thinking don't even look across, just start to cut in, start to get closer to see if you can get yourself a goal. But very, very quickly he just raised his head as he was travelling down that left-hand side. He'd just come on a minute earlier and he just literally lent the ball right across. Just simple tapping. Obviously Erling Harland had three opportunities, one being a penalty earlier and his eyes lit up and just finished it so then involved again under pressure in the second goal so yeah the goalkeeper let's be honest Kepper will be very very disappointed that sneaks underneath him but we talk about Nico O'Reilly, where can he play? He's actually a midfield player

and now he's gone and playing in the left back position I think what's good about that he can drift inside with that system and positional play that Pep does obviously use at times from full backs into midfield. Brownlee let me come in on that because I always think one of Pep's great legacies as a manager outside of the trophies that he wins he's always been superb at identifying when young players are ready to go into his team and then he's been very proactive in putting them into the team and letting them become who they are, whether it be at Barcelona, Bayern Munich or at Manchester City. Do you think that there is a regular place in the not too distant future for Nico O'Reilly

in this Manchester City team? Because when he's coming in FA Cup matches, he's been superb scoring goals, making goals. He's one of the main reasons why they've got this far. Do you see a position for him in that team, in a new look Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola rebuilds it? Well I think if you if you look in the middle area he's thought about it several times pre-season he was really good, I felt like he was almost going to start one or two early games in the Premier League, he just decided against it which went against him and then he's had to wait and be patient. But I think what the FA Cup has brought for Nico O'Reilly

is the possibility of playing when he's had all the changes, but he's had to slot him in at that left back position where he could then drift into different areas. And he's done really, really well. And at one point you're looking today, why is he going to change Nico O'Reilly? Kushinoff had got a yellow card, maybe wasn't going so well for him. Natural balance in Josko Vardy ultimately left footed to go in

a more central position, so now with all those centre backs, Akanji, Ake, John Stone's missing, he might have a chance but it's only maybe going to be at this moment in time in that left back area because the amount of midfielders they've got. One other mention that you didn't have was Kovacic today. I thought he was really, really good, broke up the play, his experience in the way he glides in the middle of the pitch was really, really good. So listen, there's still work to do. We know that for City and it'd be fantastic if Nico O'Reilly can get minutes. McAtee coming on as well, certainly contribute, big chance, just saved, maybe should have scored. Pep did say on the television interview, Nico O'Reilly will start the semi-final, so

whether he said it tongue in cheek or whether he will, he certainly made the statement that he's going to start the semi-final. Where does he go from that? Well, I know, so it'd be fascinating if he does start the semi. Nigel, quick one on Bournemouth, and this is kind of a bigger picture question. Haven't won in normal time in the last six matches since beating Southampton in mid-February. They were chasing down a Champions League place with a lot of players injured, now they've got players back and now the form's gone. What's the long-term overview of Bournemouth

the rest of the way? Can they get this little slide that they're on? He's in front of us, the manager's in front of us walking right out, now Fletcher, don't – should we ask him or should we ask him to come on? Listen, if you've got the pull to get him on, I'll happily ask the question, don't you worry about that. He's just drifting right across as we speak. Is he? Yeah, is he?

I think for me it's just a little blip for Bournemouth and I think now we've obviously been out of the FA Cup, it can be literally tunnel vision now. Now it's just Premier League to focus on, get back onto that winning track and getting the results that they need to go. I won't say it's panic station. It's been a promising season for them so far. They do have some tough games coming up. You talk about the likes of West Ham, Fulham, Palace, United and Arsenal, Villa still, but they are capable of beating anyone on their day. We've seen them put in performances not by luck, but by the quality that they have and the players that they have and the good manager that they've got.

So I feel it just makes them more easy now to concentrate on a real good league finish being at the FA Cup. The Optus supercomputer says they've got a 3% chance of the Europa League and a 1.5% chance of the Champions League. That's the way it's being assessed. Fantastic, yeah. Do you know what? What a job he's done, you know, as he just drifts around the back of the pitch there. Pep was asked about it at the start of the game and he didn't really touch too much on it because he's probably thinking, I don't really need to tell you how good another manager is. I'm in a situation here, I just need to win.

So I got the feedback from a few people who were broadcasting today that was a bit spicy on that question. But I think the style, the way he plays, the way you can adapt and spin you, go direct then play and go into midfield areas. When he had all those injuries to produce a team putting Lewis Cook at full back and they had to put everyone in different areas and then do you know today when you look at it Kirk wasn't playing was he, he was banned, staying the centre back as well so they were missing players so for me I think he's done very very well. Yeah, why were you laughing?

Because you nearly stumbled over Lewis Cook at fullback which could have been a disaster for your broadcast in future. Well the good thing is about this we could maybe edit it and change as you fell back in your seat, but it was a bit of a tongue twister, wasn't it? I'm not sure what you're doing with it. So go on then, Nides. Give us your FA Cup final. You can't ask me that question when I just said any team could win it, eh?

That's how we finish. It's impossible to say it. What's the fence? Give us your FA Cup final. Do you know what I'm going to give you my FA Cup final? I'm going to go out here with this then. I'm going to go for a Forest Villa final. Okay. Brownie, are you going Man City v Man City in the final?

On a serious note, didn't you know he could not back down there, could he? He had to go Forest and then I told him the Villa's going to come out and then he was desperately looking at Ballas and he couldn't. It was actually a knock in exactly what he was gonna say. It was so easy. Yeah, so who do you think then, Darren? I'm gonna go Forest Palace. Forest Palace.

Forest Palace. You're just throwing it out there, seeing that. Forest Palace, I'm going to Forest Palace. Is this for debate or is this what you really believe, do you know, when you're asking the question? It says at the end of the script to give out what we think is going to be the FA Cup final. So Nigel's done it and I've done it. And now you're questioning everything

that we've said. And I know that you think it's going to be Manchester City against Manchester City reserves. Versus the best squad and the players who are playing really well, Aston Villa. You know, I think that's, that's ultimately where I believe it will be. I mean, do you know what? I love, I'd love a more of an under underdog like a Palace or a Nottingham Forest at this moment to get into a final. I think that would be brilliant and amazing for them. But really, if we're looking at it over an average,

over players who are out there, it would be Villa Manchester City. Yeah, and what I've done there, Nig, I've gone for the two teams in form at the moment, the two form teams. If you look at the two form teams, it would be those two, Forest and Palace would be the form team. So that's what I've gone for the two teams in form at the moment the two form teams if you look at the two form teams It would be those two Forest and Palace would be the form team So that's that's what I've done and obviously you've been a big for an exponent Obviously Villa your own club. Yes, Michael. There's a bit of a problem I've just been looking at the at the FA Cup weekend

Yes, and you're gonna be working Chelsea versus Everton at the 12.30. And it's not very far, is it? So I'm just hoping that it's a really late kickoff, like 5.30, or the prawn sandwiches in that executive lounge will not be getting touched. So here's to hope, or you're going to be in London all weekend. Either or, it's going to be the next day. I can guarantee you, my grumpy little fingers will be all over the prawn sandwiches, whether it's a Saturday or a Sunday, my my friend and you know that's the case i just want to say darren and michael so let's not forget unite emory is a fantastic cup manager by the way with all these places not let's not forget

that i'm saying villa ahead of other two teams let's not forget that and you two are saying they're not so don't start backtracking n Nige. We're out of time. Some people might say fortunately, some might say unfortunately. Brownie, thank you for sticking around because you've had to stay there at Bournemouth after the game. Listen to the lawnmowers, watch Mr Iriola do his press conferences after, and I'm looking forward to seeing you again. You've been in fine form tonight. Well, we'll see you soon, won't we? I think there's a couple of Fridays before that Wembley visit and all I'm going to say is just watch your back because I will find you. Nige, you've got a bit of Italian football, I think.

Yeah, watch some Italian football and Napoli have just taken the lead against AC Milan. Don't tell me that, Nige. Napoli have just taken the lead, mate. So thank you to the fellas. Thank you to Brownie, thank you to Nige. Fantastic as always. Thank you for listening to the podcast. That's it for this episode of the Football Daily. The next one will be the Monday Night Club with Mark Chapman, Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Joe Hart.

It's stopped rolling now. Come on, who's going to be in the final? I fancy Palace and Forrester, do. I fancy Pallis strongly against Villa. Pallis will definitely give it a go because they can actually really concentrate on the FA Cup while Villa's still on the Champions League. But I still feel anyone can get in the final. I'm gonna stick to that. I just got a message at full time from Noel that just went,

well, well, well. That was all I got at full time. Well, well, well. Why did you put that in the pod? Well just went, well, well, well. That was all I got at full-time. Well, well, well. Why did you put that in the pod? Well, well, well, he thought, yeah, yeah. This is the football story of the century. It's pandemonium, it's ecstasy. It's an authoritarian regime. For the past 15 years,

English football has been dominated by Manchester City. Eight Premier League titles, six league cups, three FA Cups, one Champions League. And more than a hundred charges. Somebody turned up at the Etihad Stadium and effectively served papers. I'm Clive Myrie and this is Football on Trial, the Manchester City charges. They believe they've got irrefutable evidence.

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