Football Daily - MNC: Spurs' injuries and Chelsea's character

Episode Date: April 27, 2026

Mark Chapman, Chris Sutton, Steph Houghton and Mark Ogden look at where wins for Tottenham, West Ham and Nottingham Forest leave the Premier League relegation battle. They also discuss the impact Tottenham's lengthening injury list could have on their survival chances.They also analyse whether Eddie Howe should remain in charge at Newcastle into next season, and which of the sides fighting for a European spot is in the best shape.And does Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final win mark a late turning point in their season?TIMECODES 2:25 - The relegation battle 11:20 - Tottenham's injury woes 22:10 - What does the summer hold for Eddie Howe and Newcastle? 31:50 - The wide open race for Europe 40:26 - Chelsea reach the FA Cup finalCOMMENTARIES Wednesday: Atletico Madrid v Arsenal (5 Live - 8pm) - Champions League Thursday: Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (5 Live - 8pm) - Europa League Saturday: Brentford v West Ham (5 Live - 3pm) - Premier League Newcastle v Brighton (5 Sports Extra - 3pm) - Premier League Arsenal v Fulham (5 Live - 5:30pm) - Premier League Sunday: Manchester City v Liverpool (5 Live - 12noon) - Women's Super League Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (5 Sports Extra) - Premier League Manchester United v Liverpool (5 Live - 3:30pm) - Premier League

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Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Monday Nightclub with Mark Chapman. On the Football Daily Podcast. Welcome to the Monday Night Club, Chris Sutton, Mark Ogden, Steph Horton, all with us. You can get in touch, MNC at BBC.co.uk. You can watch on eye player. You can watch us on the BBC Sport YouTube channel. You can comment on there as well.

We'll talk the Premier League relegation battle. the race for the European places. Did you enjoy the Edinburgh Derby, Chris? But yeah, yes. Well, I didn't actually watch it live. But, yeah, I enjoyed the result. I enjoyed them getting over the line, hearts, yeah. Okay.

What were you doing? Why weren't you watching it live? I was umpiring at cricket yesterday, Mark. What? Yeah. Yeah. Is that a sideline? It's not really a sideline.

and I was just one of the dads who was there, you know, just mucking in and helping out. And there's a couple of contentious moments. Not an easy job, that, is it? Umpir, no, not at all. Oh, yeah. I had to give her, I think, a 13-year-old girl out, I think within the first over LBW,

which you're trying to find, you're trying to find reasons not to give her out, but it was plumb. Well, rules of rules, aren't there, Chris? That's the, if you're plum, you're plum. That is right, but I couldn't, I couldn't look her in the eye. You're horrible, man. You'd be a terrified, umpire, wouldn't it?

No, no, I'm not. I just felt, I felt terrible. Do you have the coat? Do you have the coat? No, I don't. Not yet. No. Do you have a hat?

Yeah, not an umpire's hat. Okay. I mean, as we're on the, as we are on the eye player in the YouTube channel, before you umpire, do you stand at home in the mirror practising how they, how the finger is going up? Do you? Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I do. Come from round. Oh, dear. All right. Yeah, so you're, you bring it round like that. You're quite flamboyant, man. Yeah. Yeah.

You're knocking me in a butt around. Sixers? Are you very sort of bit by bit by bit or? No, I've not. No, there wasn't a six yesterday. Oh, there might have been my one. Because he kept giving them out, that's why. We'll start with the relegation battle in the Premier League.

And some people are suggesting you need to go up further than Leeds now. I've started to see Be suggested on certain websites. So Burnley and Wolves have gone. Then you have Spurs with 34, West Ham with 36, Forest with 39, Leeds with 40, Newcastle with 42, and Palace have 43. They've played one game fewer because they still need their Manchester City game

rearranged. Would you go, and I'm not asking you because you're a Sunderland fan, but would you go? Would you go beyond Leeds? I mean, I did write down in my notebook chappas. I did go as far as Newcastle and Palace. I couldn't quite get to Sunland.

I just thought I feel as though they're safe. But I think... But just for your own pettiness, you went up to Newcastle. Yeah, I just had to go to Newcastle, yeah, unfortunately. But with good, reason I think in terms of their form isn't great at this moment in time and you see

I mean we did match the day on Saturday Chappers in West Ham in terms of their form and in terms of where they would have been after they got beat at home against Forest they would be if the league was starting then they would have they've got 22 points and they're in the top six so in terms of their informed teams

I look at West Ham I look at Forest who were really good against Sunland and Spurs obviously got a good win against Wolves but they've got other opposition that are probably stronger than wolves to go and play to really prove themselves in this battle. That's what I think, Matt. I think

you can throw the others in and people talk about, oh, you now may need 40 points to survive, but that doesn't take into account some of the very difficult fixtures that those below Leeds or below Newcastle certainly have got. Yeah, I mean, I can't see Tottenham

and West Ham winning more than two games. I could see them both winning two games, which would certainly draw leads back into it on goal difference, but 42 points. But it's still possible. I mean, Roberto De Zerbis had Spursk win five games, and they won't won. It's going to be unlikely, especially with the injuries,

but it's a really competitive relegation battle. And I think, I mean, I was at Wembley yesterday for Chelsea Leeds, and Leeds' performance was so flat. I just wonder whether they were kind of unnerved by the fact that the teams below them won at the weekend, and it kind of affected their performance in the semi-finals. So they've got Burnley at home on Friday. That should be their salvation.

But if they don't win that, then they are still in it. Do you think that their performance yesterday will affect them on Friday? It could do, but I think they have to see that as their Cup final name in many ways, the fact that they've got Burnley at home to get the three points that they would, that would definitely keep them up. But they were so flat at Wembley. You do wonder if there'll be a hangover. It's a perfect opportunity to get rid of that hangover to get the three points,

which will confirm in the Premier League next season, so I think they'll be okay. I mean, you probably didn't see the Cups in final either, Chris, because you were busy giving teenagers out LBW without giving them a chance. But, I mean, Burnley at home, Spurs away, Brighton, at home, West Ham away, if we're starting with Leeds. One win should be enough. Yeah, maybe, well, maybe even a point. And three big chances for Leeds, really, because, you know,

spurs and West Ham are teams below them. So they've got a great opportunity. I think, you know, you can't fancy Burnley, you know, going to Leeds. You know, you just can't. I know they beat Leeds earlier on in the season, but with what's at stake. I think it's, you know, obvious thing to say, it spurs all West Ham. I had a look at the last, you know, which we all know, we all know anyway, but the last 10 games for each club, and, I mean, if you look at West Ham, Foreston Leeds,

They've picked up 14 points, 13 points and 14 points. And you look at Spurs, you think, well, you've beaten wolves. And so with respect to them, they are the team who are in serious trouble. What they have in the favour is the goal difference is better than West Ham. So, you know, they're only, you know, if the wheels come off at West Ham. But I don't know. I watch matches the day and, you know, looking at their recent form, West Ham do seem to have something about them.

You know, since the turn of the year, you know, they do seem to have a bit of backbone, a bit of spine. They do seem to have a bit of threat going forward. So, you know, just looking at, you know, you're looking at the West Ham team, you're looking at Tottenham, who, Mark touched on, who have injuries now to key players. And, you know, you just think, well, you know,

it's going to be a tall order. Tottenham messed up with, you know, the Eagle Tudor appointment. And that was the killer for them. Martin made the point, didn't he? Martin Keown on Saturday night, that all the other sides in and around this, with the exception of spurs, have put runs together?

Yeah, in a crucial time in the season as well. I think when you're going into the last four games of the season, you want that confidence. And even West Ham on Saturday, we watched the game, and West Ham went one-nill up, Everton come back, but then they go again. And I think that's a team that has got confidence, because I think even though your fourth bottom in the league,

you could have either just went right, okay, we'll take a point at home, but actually they went again and they got the three points that was massive for them. And I agree with Chris in terms of what West Ham have. They have a bit more personality. They have a bit more fight. And I think you look at the likes of Sucheck

in terms of you probably isn't the most glamorous player you watch him. He doesn't really move that well, but he's productive in both boxes. And I think sometimes you need them players and your team, just when you do get to relegation fight, that's able to battle real hard. And even Jared Bourne, like Skipper, he's just got that little bit of quality that I think maybe Tottenham, especially now Slanky, potentially might be able. But Simons is definitely out for the season. Spurs are going to miss that quality.

I think all those players you mentioned, they are kind of game changes, big game players. And, you know, Forrest have got Morgan Gibbs White as well. And I think, you know, Leeds have got Calvert Lewin on his day and other players. Although he's struggling to score from open play at the moment. He is, yeah. But I look at Tottenham, and I think, especially that Jabby Siemens has gone, who is their game changer? I'm looking at their features and I think

you can see them beating beating Leeds at home and you could probably see them getting a result against Everton on the final day because they'd have to but I don't see you get anything at Villa or anything at Chelsea

so that's 40 points at best that means that West Ham needed win in the draw so you'd think that it's really hard to Tottenham in the championship but it's looking that way and your point as well

about the FA Cup final that will affect spurs as well this is what you were saying yeah I mean so as it stood Chelsea should have played Tottenham on May the 17 which is the day after the cut final but obviously that game is now

being postponed due to the cut final. So it's looking increasingly likely that that game will have to be played in the midweek before the final weekend of the season. Now West Hamilt play an epic-up weekend I'll have to check the features They'll play on the set,

they will play on the 17th which is Newcastle yeah So if they get a result at Newcastle which takes them Adon three, four points clear of Tottenham Tottenham would have two games left that they would potentially have to go to Chelsea final midweek of the season needing to get a positive result

not to be relegated. Now we were talking about the Battle of the Bridge in 2016, which stopped Spurs winning the league. 10 years on, Chelsea could relegate Tottenham. And I've been to a few of those games, and it's kind of hard to explain to anyone outside of London. It shocked me when I first went down to these games.

Nobody in London likes Tottenham. They are absolutely loath by Chelsea. So that would be a real kind of achievement for Chelsea to send Tottenham down. Where do you think, if we go back to West Ham and then we'll come to Spurs, where has this fight come from, Chris? because you go back to the turn of the year and they were thrashed at wolves,

they were beaten at home by Nottingham Forest, and then as Steph says, since then, since that defeat to Nottingham Forest, the number of points they have put together puts them only behind Bournemouth, Liverpool, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs. So where is it? You know, it's a very easy accusation to throw up players,

but where was their fight before then? No, you know, it's, I mean, something, something just clicks, it can be a moment, you know, a result where the team just get confidence from. And certainly, I think if you looked at their centreback partnership, that seems to have got more secure the longer the season's gone on. DeSassey's been a really big player for them. They just weren't functioning earlier on in the season. Then all of a sudden, you know, the turn of the year comes and, you know,

I looked at the 10 games since the 10 of the year. And their run has been, you know, pretty steady. And, you know, they've picked up a fair few points. And, you know, Bowen, I think, has come into his own Somerville, you know, looks a threat on that left-hand side. And they just look like they are clear in the way that they're going to set out, the clear in the way they're going to set up defensively, and they're carrying a threat.

And that's the difference. They, you know, they function now. MNC at BBC.com.com.com. If you want to get in touch with us, if Spurs lose, and they have, haven't they, Javi Simons, for the rest of the season, and the reports say was that he will be out for the World Cup as well. Dominic Salanki went off with a hamstring injury.

Do you think, Steph, when you look at this, they need to rush Madison back as quickly as possible? He was on the bench, wasn't he? I just feel as though the way that they're using Madison is just to be there for the squad. I think in experienced players, I don't think there's any intention of James Madison come back before the end of the season.

and I think probably from his point of view I think you probably will be desperate to get back but ultimately you've got to look at the bigger picture and of course you get paid by Spurs you're paid to play but ultimately he's had no game time for eight months and that's hard when you come back from ACL injury and you're going into relegation battle but I think for me I think that is a bit of a worry for Spurs

that you haven't really got that kind of maverick player that is going to maybe change the game I think you look at the midfield in terms of Bentancor, Basuma, you've got Gallagher in there. The very industrious players, they're not really creative and they're not going to open up a defence. And I think that's suited spurs over the last few games

because they look a lot more solid, but it's that ability now to go and score goals and Richarlison will work hard, but ultimately is he going to be the X factor? And I think that has to be a worry for spurs going forward. It'll be asking a lot of Madison. He's not playing all seasons to come in and have an impact. But I think also there's a lot of.

the business elements of this as well that, you know, if spurs have been cold-headed about it, if they do get relegated, they might have to let Madison go. So they don't want to risk him being injured so that it's no longer available to sell because they will need to sell a lot of players to actually, you know, help cushion the blow with the financial blow of being out of the Premier League.

Do you think Deserby will think like that, though? I mean, that's an interesting take, Mark, that is, because all Deserby will be thick, because he was on the bench the previous week, wasn't he, Madison? So he must, you know, he must be getting there. I'm not saying as ideal or perfect, but I'm pretty certain that Deserby won't be thinking about what's happening next season to James Madison.

He's not going to worry too much about Madison's future. The thing he's going to focus on is trying to keep spurs in the Premier League. And so if he feels he can contribute, then I'm sure we're going to see him for minutes. I know what both of you were saying, but I'm sure why wouldn't you? the team at the weekend were flat against wolves.

They were, they had two shots on target. They were a really hard watch. So if they are missing that spark, maybe Deserby will think, well, do you know what, with every passing week? If he's ready, though, I mean, play now, I just think it's such a risk.

I mean, he's not played at all this season, does it? I mean, he missed the, I think the Europa League fans. It would be unfair on him to actually put that pressure on him to say, look, you know, four games to go, keep us up and what an indictment of the players that are actually playing that they're relying on a guy that's not kicked the ball all season

to try and get them out of the mess. I'll take your point, Chris, about it, I'd say it wouldn't really take any notice of the club's thoughts on that, but, you know, finance has come into it. And I know he's committed himself to next season, but he also said last week that, you know, it'll be fine there as long as everyone's aligned on, you know, on going forward.

So that's an out in June, isn't it, if they're not all aligned? If you were at an exec level at Spurs, how worried would you be about the injuries that they have picked up. Would you be at a... I have no idea whether they're doing this or not. Would you be at a stage of reviewing that? Bearing in mind that Poster Coglu had very similar issues

when he was there. So that's Poster Coglu and Frank and a little bit of Tudor and Deserby, who have all had injury crises to deal with. Or would you look at it and go, well, I'm not quite sure how you can link them all because it's not like they've got 15 hamstring injuries. is. Yeah, there's not really like a

recurrence of the same injury in terms of like if there's a lot of muscle strains and you'd be probably a little bit more worried in the sense of there's obviously something that we may be doing in training. Are we really overloading the boys? Are they not training enough? And I think them conversations do happen in football clubs. I mean, we went through that

with Man City. I think we had nine out of our starting 11 injured and it was literally like, okay, why is this happening? What can we do different? Is it because we're playing too many games? It's because we're not training enough. all them sorts of questions do happen. I mean, you look at Siemens' injury,

I think that is just really, really unlucky in terms of how he's planted. And of course, there's a big, big injury. And you look at Koulis-Skis, he's not even featured all this season. He could be such a big player. Kudas, he's not been back fit since Christmas. So, of course, some conversations happen.

I think you want your key players fit, but only that is how football clubs, this is when football clubs come alive in terms of how you deal with them and have you got the squad enough the depth in the squad to really replace them players. It's one of those situations, isn't it?

I think a lot of times you question whether players are coming back quickly enough from injuries, especially in a struggling team, but you're right, these are not hamstring strains, these are like major injuries, you know, the ligament damages that put people out for a season.

So is it fair to say that some players aren't quite pushing themselves back and question the medical team? Some injuries you can't legislate for. You just have to, I mean, I've got in front of me, Chris, a spreadsheet of every spur player and their injuries this season, which is both dull and fascinating at the same time, really.

Well, what a day you've had. Yeah, the thing with stuff like this, when basically, you know, you're talking about at the higher end of the club, then they will, you know, they'll be concerned about the injuries, but how can they really point the finger at, I think Mark touched on it, how can they point the finger at the medical team really without, I don't know what their medical knowledge is, but that's a, that's a sort of, you know,

no, I wasn't doing that. I wasn't, I wasn't, I wasn't, I wasn't, I was definitely wasn't pointing the finger out, but you remember when we had the, when we had the head of sports science on last year, yeah, who had worked with Poster Coglu, and actually trying to, everything that came out of that,

was just how complicated the subject this is. Yeah, it's something, I mean, it is, it's, you know, the number of key players who have been injured, it's, you know, it's a head scratcher, and the serious nature of some of their injuries, Steph's mentioned Kulosefsky, Madison, you know, they are serious injuries, then you get your hamstrings along with it, which was like Selanky.

That's something the club, you know, will be keen to address, but it's, you know, it is very hard to address, you know. Other players overloaded, you know, sports scientists are there to keep on, you know, on top of that. But it's something that, you know, at the higher end of the club, they'll be asking questions as to why. But it's very difficult for them then to, you know, go to the medical department and get answers because of it. Because the medical department, I'm sure, will have themselves covered with everything. That's just the way it is. Sometimes as well, when a new manager comes in and plays a bit of a different style, especially probably mid-endant.

season, you're exposed to something that maybe Spurs players have not been exposed to this season. Obviously Deserby likes the high press, he likes all them intensity runs, and you look at Slanky, he's the main guy that is going to set off the press, he's going to do a lot more running than he probably has done previously

under Igor Tudor. So I think there's a lot, like what you said, Chapas, there's obviously lots of different components that can add to the injury in the sense of not just from a physio perspective, but even the playing style. But then on my spreadsheet, Steph, do you know, Dominant, look, Mark, do you like that?

It's a great spreadsheet. Dominic Slanky was missing from game 3 to game 20. But as soon as he came back, they lost Muhammad Kudas. It's like one in one out. And he's been missing since game 20. Risharlassen was then missing from game 21 all the way through to game 25. And if you're throwing then, Selanky comes back, and at the same time they lose Bergval, for example,

or they lose Bentancourt, for example. Now, it's not all related to Solanke, but it's just that, we often talk about settled sides and getting relationships and getting combinations together and it's very easy just to either hammer spurs or for all the neutrals to laugh at spurs

but actually when you look at as soon as they get someone back they then lose someone or lose two or lose three they have also been as well as not being very good they have also been very unlucky yeah but it's the thing about you make your own look don't you know I'm going to I was speaking to a former play about this and

this is about a trend in the modern game whereby players aren't able to build up any resilience because the sports science teams are now so keen to say you can't play more than 60 minutes, he's not able to play more than 60 minutes, they don't play more than 60 minutes. So, I mean, Stefan Chris will know better than I do, but sometimes if you push through that 60 minutes

and you play 80 minutes or 90 minutes, you've kind of psychologically and physically gone through a barrier. Whereas now, players aren't able to do that, and if that's making them more fragile, more brittle, not in Tottenham, but just a general thing throughout the game, we see a lot of players that, I mean, under Amory at United, players are coming off on 60 minutes

because he was told that if they're playing any longer than this, they're in the red zone, and manages to paranoia about it. But sometimes you just got to play through the pain barrier and play through and get, I mean, Chris is smiling whether he's thinking old school. No, no, I think it's fascinating what you say. You know, it's sports scientists.

You know, they have a role to play. And the fact that, I mean, that was why, part of why Moreska left Chelsea, wasn't it? You know, the interference from that. But I think it's a great debate, really, because that's sort of the resilience which Mark talks about. I mean, certainly when I played, which wasn't that long ago, managers would actually manage and that would be their call. But the manager actually isn't managing all the time now. It's a whole team effort.

And they are getting advice. And the manager will be saying, well, how can I go against my medical team? That is what they are telling me. But I think there's something in what Mark says, you know, that players, I think if you ask the players, they'd want to stay on and go through it. And that sort of brings that mental toughness. And, you know, that's part of the game. But it feels like maybe that certain people in certain jobs have to justify their existence. And that's, you know, what sports scientists are doing.

Let's see Newcastle. It would take an astonishing turn of events for them to be dragged into it. Newcastle fans have got enough to worry about as it is, haven't they? Yeah, it's not going to happen, is it? You're right, I mean, they have got things to worry about, and I think it does feel like Eddie Howe may be on the way out in the summer, and I think Lucas will live to regret that. I think he's the kind of the sane voice in that club that they need in terms of calm.

You think there's a real... Yeah, that's... Yeah, because the mood has turned amongst the fans. I think the fans have become frustrating. I think what Eddie Howe is not getting, he's not getting the benefit of the doubt for what happened last summer, you know, the EZAC situation, which is beyond his control. And I think in terms of the players that came in,

They lost a sporting director last summer. They've had all sorts of upheaval. They didn't actually have a chief of his act. No, exactly. So, you know, Eddie Howe is one of these managers that likes to be in control, but they don't have the control they used to have, so he's not totally in control of recruitment. They brought players in late.

They brought players in that weren't suited to the club. They've had injuries. I just think he's a really good manager, Eddie Howe. But in terms of the Saudi situation, it's coming up five years in October since they came in. And obviously, the view that they were going to become like Man City and spend the way to success hasn't happened. They've not been allowed to because of certain situations with PSR,

but there's obviously a bit of fear that Saudi Arabia's interest in sport might be waning. Obviously, the live golf situation. They seem to be reconsidering that investment. But what I've been told is that one thing that is absolutely ring fences they're interested in football in terms of the World Cup in 2034. That's the massive project. That's where the funds are going to go. And somebody gave me an anecdote about their interest in Newcastle.

It's like having the best street in London with 20 houses on it. Newcastle is a big house on that street. and Saudi Arabia want their house on the street. So they've got a Premier League club. It's a massive thing to have. It's not just about football. It's about all sorts of geopolitical things. So it's very, very unlikely that Saudi Arabia

are going to just wash the hands of Newcastle. But whether they're able to invest and transform the light Abu Dhabi at Man City, I think that's unlikely. But I think we'll know what Newcastle's ambitions are under the Saudi Arabia ownership when we know what's happened with Eddie How. And if they make a change and go down the superstar coach route, then we'll see a different approach.

but I think right now it's interesting times and I do fear for Eddie Howe to be honest. So is that to sort of use the house analogy that you use that they're happy to have that house and it not be the best looking house on the street? I think it'd like it to be but they're not allowed to make it the best looking house. I mean look in terms of the revenue

that if they were generating more revenue they'd be able to spend more, won't it? Now they're not in the Champions League next season. They might not be in Europe next season. There's an outside chance they might get in still. So the chance of bringing more money in that way is diminished. They saw these last summer, so that brought money in, but they spent most of it. So they may have to sell again this summer.

So until they get their revenue to where it should be for a club of Newcastle, because it was virtually nothing under Mike Ashley, then they're going to struggle to bring the players in that they want to. So they're playing by the rules, but the rules are very restrictive. But I suppose they could, Steph, I mean, invest in infrastructure. And there's been all sorts of talk about this. You know, you know the Northeast. There's been talk of stadium and improvement and extension and infrastructure.

Now, that is a long game, isn't it? You've got to play the long game there because whilst that will increase revenue, it won't do it overnight. No, and I think that's what Newcastle fans are probably getting a lot frustrated with in terms of, at the minute it is talk, in terms of there's not real concrete plans in extending and making a new. training ground extending the stadium and I think of course when the team isn't playing as well I think all these things come to light I think if the team was performing and you had players on form I think

it would be a different conversation but I think for me it's like what do Newcastle won from their team now what is the expectation because the expectations to be in champions league every single year but you haven't got a squad that's able to compete and that's why I think they've suffered especially the second half of the season is that the squad's not being able to cope and I think it would be a real shame if Eddie Howe leaves the football club because of everything that he's done. And I feel as though he is the man that could maybe turn it around a little bit. They've not performed that well this season. But ultimately, I think he has Newcastle's interest at heart.

And I think he can develop players, even if they do lose some in the summer. Everybody's allowed a bad season, aren't they? Chris? That's what I think. And I think at Newcastle fans, I'm not saying all of them, but some, you know, maybe have forgotten what Eddie Howe walked into at Newcastle. Mark spoke about the recruitment. So that was where, if there is a criticism of Newcastle,

their recruitment in the summer was or has been particularly poor on the face of it. They spent the best part of $250 million. And the players that they brought, other than Chow he'd say, he's been a decent signing, but a Langer has been on the periphery, Ramsey's been on the periphery. And the two centre forwards who were brought in to replace East, ESAC just haven't, haven't fired. I mean, ESAC's numbers the last two seasons, 23 goals, 21 goals.

They've got eight goals between them. And they spent a fortune on them. And then he's tried to use Volta Mada in a midfield role, which doesn't suit. I don't get a lot of things right, Mark, but I did get Volta Mada right earlier on this season because he's not a player who necessarily suits Eddie Howt. Because he doesn't run in behind. He becomes so predictable because he's not mobile, a little bit like, check at West Ham he's not particularly mobile.

So, and then and then, and then Wiss had just, you know, he hasn't got going and then, you know, maybe, I've got massive sympathy for Eddie Howe because maybe maybe that whole Isak saga, maybe he should have made

a decision. Oh yeah, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Because if he'd been sold in June, it would have probably benefited ESAC, Newcastle, Liverpool, maybe Echatee as well, who knows?

They also let Callan Wilson go last summer as well. They let Callan Wilson go, so that was another striker that they went out of the building, so they had to start from scratch. And, you know, they should have read the writing on the wall with ESSAT much quicker, I agree with that, and I think that would have helped them get players in, but they tried for a lot of players, you know.

Mbumo, Echiteke, Jao, Jiao Pedro, Jalpedo, Jal Pedro, Jalpedo, Jalpedo, Jal Pedro, Jalpedo, Jalpedo, and Jal Pedro, Jalpedo, Jal Pedro, went to him on Man United. So that's Newcastle's problem. Apart from when they signed Alan Shear in the 90s, they've never really been able to deny the biggest clubs, the players that they want. So do they, in your view then, do they need to

reassess their targets so that they are going head to head with Brentford? Well, they need to be smarter. I mean, Aston Villa maybe. You know, a club that has got similar ambitions to Newcastle. I think if you're going to be up against Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City for players, you're not going to get them. You just not, because they pay bigger wages,

the bigger clubs. And there's also that element certainly with foreign players, they want to be in London or they want to be in one of the Manchester clubs or Liverpool. They won't go to Newcastle unless it's the only option, but it's the tier two option, isn't it? And that sounds despising to Newcastle, it's a reality. Chris, Steph, if you

had a chance in a, maybe not you, Steph, if you go back one. But, you know, there are certain clubs that players want to play for, and then the next tier, and they want to get the best of the next tier so that these players can develop and then ultimately unfortunately like ESAT they'll move on. And then that I suppose

is the problem they've got flipping it now and Luke Edwards at the Telegraph said this on the Football Daily there are some players that have been accused of already having one eye elsewhere and actually the worry I suppose for Newcastle just on top of everything else

is that they've got two or three of what you would call their main players who are now being linked quite strongly with moves away. Yeah, likes of Anthony Gordon, you've got Bruno, you've got Tanali, I think in terms of what are they going to do

at the end of the season. And you can see the effect that Bruno and Sandro Tanali had on the team on Saturday. Newcastle were better against Arsenal in comparison to the games before. But of course, if Newcastle don't make Champions League where they are at there in their career, maybe not so much Anthony Gordon.

But I think in terms of Bruno and Tanali, I think they have that option to have, to have a number of clubs that are going to be wanting their interest in them going to their clubs. But that's the danger when you don't make Champions League. I think you see top players and you see other teams that potentially are going to be in the Champions League wanting to buy them sorts of players. They have to make fast decisions as well. They have to be ruthless about it this summer and deciding May or June that, right,

if they want to let them go and then be more strategic about it. So they're not waiting until the last week of August to replace these players. Hey there, this is Thomas Germain co-host of The Interface. The show that decodes how technology is rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, Apple CEO is resigning, and we'll look at what that means for the future of smartphones. We'll talk about whether your latest favorite band is actually a secret marketing ploy and how the AI Data Center boom has finally met its match, public backlash. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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This is the moment. Monday Nightclub with Mark Chapman on the Football Daily podcast Four games to go Every team in the Premier League could either still be relegated or mathematically qualify for Europe. Not all the same teams, obviously that really would be an astonishing season

that everybody has something to play for. Yeah and I think that's when you look at the fixtures even say we talk about the likes of Spurs, West Ham, Forest League to think every single game has got something on it like you look at say Spurs have got Villa next game they want to kind of cement their Champions League places in between playing Europa League against Forest

even last game we may be saying that Leeds might be out of the relegation battle but they've got they've got to play Spurs and West Ham so they've got such a big part of playing the actual battle itself so I think it's amazing I do think that from watching the Premier League this is so exciting it just shows how competitive is and if you're not on your game then you do get punished at this moment time. Palace, Newcastle, Leeds and Forest are actually the four teams that could either go down mathematically or qualify for Europe mathematically. So there are four who could go one of two ways.

You do think, Chris, don't you? When you look at the table, when we're looking at the race for Europe, that this feels like big opportunities for Everton and Fulham and Brentford and Bournemouth and Brighton. Yep. And especially so. So what is it? If Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the Premier League, that's a sixth place finish will be Champions League. They have to finish fifth though. They have to finish fifth and win it. They can't finish third and win it.

They have to finish fifth and win it. But because of the gap they've got to Brighton, I mean, it looks like it's going to be out of Villa and Liverpool for the fourth and fifth spots, really. I mean, things might change. But you think of the incentive now, I mean, you know, that is a possibility. But, you know, you mentioned clubs like Fulham and Brentford tonight, you know, possibility of getting Champions League football for next season.

I mean, that's absolutely amazing. And I suppose, you know, it does show the strengths of the Premier League. It's everything which you want, you know, in the Premier League, for it to be this competitive. And yes, chappas, do we, I mean, without being negative it, do we actually want that? Because Newcastle has struggled in the Champions League, and they've got the resources to compete.

forest have struggled in the Premier League if it seemed like Brighton or Brentford are in the Champions League that could lead to relegation. We've seen clubs with a smaller budget in that They're so negative. I know but it's true. I mean, if you're a Brighton fan,

imagine them getting in the Champions League. Do you think their first conversation will be, do you know, we could be going to Madrid and Barcelona? Oh, there's a good chance we go down. So, I mean, it was switch. did it get relegated one year when they're in the Europa League? But anyway, Forrest could win the Europa League, get relegated, I mean the Champions League next season,

while they're playing the championship. So it's just, there's a lot of spinning players going on here. I just think that, yes, all clubs must have ambition to want to get to these places, but there is a flip side, and a club being able to cope with it. I mean... I read an article on that, on Forrest, if they...

Inamong's putting my injury spreadsheets together. If they did that and got relegated, but qualified for the Champions League and then I think it was if they made the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and the semi-finals of the League Cup and the playoffs in the Champions League

they'd end up playing was it 90 games and then the article went on to try and work out whether anybody could actually play 100 games in the season but Forrest Wood they'd hit 90 in that situation Just think about how many managers they'd go through but they could

I mean the championship plays every midweek so when would they play the championship league games I know but there is yes I suppose there is not with Forrest but there is a wider point there Yeah I mean Obviously club needs to have ambition

But sometimes clubs can overstretch We've seen clubs overstretch in the past and then they end up paying for it And I think that is the danger But you know Brighton and Bournemouth and Brentford Very well-run clubs But you know if you're Marker Rose went into Bournemouth And don't have to follow

and only Iriola and also have a Champions League campaign with a club that's never even been anywhere near it that's a tough ask. It's brilliant. You'd be absolutely buzzing if you're coming into Bournemouth

and you've got a chance to manage the champion. I understand in terms of it's a different workload for the squad, but ultimately the Champions League brings money you'll be able to go and buy better players and you've got the attraction of playing Champions League football. I think it's amazing that it's not just the general teams that are just always going to make the top four, five

and obviously if Villa do win the Euro. League and they do finish fifth is an extra place and it's an incentive for different teams but I think I look at Brighton I love the way that they play football and I think in terms of what they do I think it could be attractive way of playing Champions League. We've also talked about Brighton

and we've had Fabian Hertzra on the Monday night club, we've had Danny Welbeck on the Monday night club Chris and we've had Brighton fans on and actually then missing out on Europe last season Brighton fans I think felt a bit flat about that so this

feels, you know, yes, Brentford and Bournemouth and whatever, but they haven't necessarily been here before whereas Brighton feels like have been here before a little bit and missed out. So this actually feels bigger for Brighton than any of the others, doesn't it? It does, and we can't get away

from the fact they weren't happy the Brighton fans with Herzler earlier on in this season. They've been on a great run recently, but there were Brighton fans who just couldn't take to him and wanted him out. It's been really important for him that he's turned it around as much as anything.

And their form is, you know, I think they won six in eight or, you know, something like that. So, I mean, they are finishing the season, you know, like a train. But, yeah, I think the issue they have is you think about their recent past and their recent journey. And then fans get, naturally, they get sucked into that success and just want, you know, want European football again. Of course they do. And they're right to do that. Have a go at Mark.

He was the one who was talking about them getting relegated. He was talking about them getting relegated. You're not having to go at the fans for wanting it. Lester nearly got relegated. They're in the championship. They won the Premier League. They went into the championship. They nearly got relegated.

I mean, Chris, what did Blackburn do when they were in the Champions League after winning the league? It was a bit of a tricky season, wasn't it? Sell him. Yeah, it's a long time ago now, Mark. Yeah, players fighting each other. Yeah, that was another low point. Yeah, I was another low point. Yeah, I was part of that.

Well, not part of the fight, but part of that squad. But yeah, what were we talking about? Would you have, in amongst all your negativity about the game relegates and so on? Where would you put Everton in all of that? Because I was talking to David Moyes before the Merseyside Derby, and he's very much, we want to get European football. Well, Everton, Ripple that probably needs it. They've got a big new stadium.

They've got that ability to grow. obviously they need to find investment in the squad because being in Europe means that especially now in the league phase you're looking at at least eight more games so it's a big drain on your resources so you have to build the squad and David Moyes is a sensible manager he knows that the Premier League is the priority and you don't want to have a stretch in the sense that your squad can't cope if your squad can't cope with playing all those games

then you feel the sting in the tail second half of the season but you know Everton are a you know they're a massive club Everton they've had 30 years of not doing as well as they should So this is the chance for them to build and to grow. And I think they've got that ability to do that, considering their history, their tradition, the fan base, the resources they've got. So, yeah, Everton would relish it.

But I think David Morris would essentially know that you'd have to build a squad up for it. I think in the weekend, there was a really missed opportunity for Everton, I think, in terms of the race for European football. Because if they'd have won on Beat West Ham at the weekend, that would have took them to 50 points, which is where Brighton are at this moment in time.

And I think the next game is against Manchester City. at home, which is going to be a big game. So in terms of where you can pick up points, I think Everton have got the potential. I think they've had a really, really good season. I think they've got players that likes of Dewsby Hall. I think he's something special and dies, something special. So I do think they need European football to kind of keep them types of players.

But I think Everton will be kicking themselves because of the weekend, Chapas, if I'm being honest. Chelsea, in the thick of this, as well, they're one of three teams who are on 48 points. So there are a point off Bournemouth in 7th. They're two points off Brighton in 6th. They did make the FA Cup final at the weekend. They'll take on Manchester City on May the 16th. Enzo Fernandez got the goal.

Chelsea's first clean sheet against the Premier League side since January. And they came into the game after a run of five straight league defeats. Let's hear from the man who is in charge at the weekend. The interim boss, Cameron MacFarl. The character of the group was exceptional and that's been questioned a lot. and rightly so at times maybe but that is us at our best and I think we need to show that level as often as you possibly can

because this group's massively capable of that on that kind of character being questioned I mean Enzo Fernandez was decisive today he was so motivated from the first minute I mean I've got to be honest Calaméin part of you are you thinking where has that been because I'm sure the fans are wondering where that's been in recent weeks

no no I wouldn't I wouldn't question their character I think their question is being the character's being questioned because of the results We're playing against top teams. You have bad moments. You get into a rut. The momentum is so important. We've seen it with some of the best teams in the world.

You can go on losing streaks. And people are too reactive to the result. That group's got massive character. You don't beat PSE in the Club World Cup. You don't beat Barcelona. And there's loads of other games. You don't come out of that spell and show that performance. The character shouldn't be questioned, but I understand why.

But that group's got a lot of character, a lot of mentality, a lot of winners in that changing room. And I was really happy we could show that today. Should their character have been questioned, Chris? Yes, yeah, I think Callum McFarlane got that, you know. I know why you're saying that. He's trying to keep the, you know, the players on board. So I understand his tact on that.

But he can talk about winning the Club World Cup and talk about, you know, beating Barcelona. But, you know, we all saw the Brighton performance where, you know, everybody watching that game. it was looking at that Chelsea team and was thinking there is a distinct lack of effort from these Chelsea players and that is why people were questioning their character

and I'm not buying the fact that just because they've had one you know a result after Liam Rossini has gone that this Chelsea team is back in any way, shape or form I still think they've got a long way to go. It lives Chris doesn't it even though you've got a new manager the previous results

and especially that Brighton performance the players did give in unfortunately that's what happened I think everybody was trying to say you got the tactics wrong you got the wrong formation he played three at the back but it wasn't that

because Brighton massively outplayed them but they massively outrun them as well which is the most worrying thing I think when you have a team that stops running it's so hard to get it back and I think of course yeah a great result yesterday in terms of getting to FA Cup final

but it'd be these next four games where you really see what players are about. And when you have a young squad that lacks leadership, which in my opinion, I think they do lack leadership, like players on the pitch

that are going to get a hold of each other and really push them standards. I just think for the last three or four months have really, really missed that. Trevor Chalibas said, we have to look at ourselves as players and take responsibility from now until the end of the season.

It's not about making excuses. Robert Sanchez said on McFarlane. It's been a bit of fresh air. Callum has always come in with a positive attitude and winning today, along with the performance we put in, it gives you a massive boost to keep going for the final four weeks. Is this basically, well, it's not really our fault, it was Liam Resigniors?

They're just rubbish, meaningless soundbikes, aren't? Every player trots out when the manager gets sacked. But I think what was interesting, Colin McFarlane mentioned those big performances that Chelsea had, the Barcelona game, the club worker, were both under Enzo Mariska, a play that the players believed in. They didn't believe in Liam Resinia, and I think that was obvious as it wore on, that the last few results, you can certainly point the finger at the players, and, you know, Enzo Fernandez was, I thought it was very,

standing against leads, real leadership on the pitch, you won the game with his performance, but he went A1 under Rossinia. Obviously, Rossinia. Rob Green said in commentary on Five Live, then that's not healthy for a football club. It gets them to the final, but give a player an inch and they'll take a mark.

Yeah, absolutely. And obviously, Rescini didn't handle it too well with the two-match internal bandwidth. I'm not too sure how much that was Liam Sini's doing, by the way. I think that that was maybe imposed from the people above him, and it was a message being sent. Yeah, but that was his doing then, Mark, wasn't it?

Because... Well, he applied the message. Yeah, yeah, But in that moment, could you imagine David Moyes getting that message from above? And that's where he has to stand his ground with that one. Even somebody like Michael Carrick. Yeah.

Well, Michael Carrick has got, you know, the players look at Carrick, a Champions League winner, a play with credentials, that Liam Ross Senior didn't get the respect to the players because there's nowhere that he could earn that respect with his coaching credentials or he was playing background. and clearly he was put in there by the five sporting directors and two owners to do their bidding. They diminished the role of the coach by appointing Liam Sr.

That's not to denigrate the other than senior, but he's never ever qualified for it. So in some respect, I have some sympathy for the players, which, you know, they are top professionals. When you play for a club like Chelsea, you expect to be challenging for the big honours, right? But the club have a responsibility then to give these top players, a top coach. You're basically letting your players down if you're saying, there you go, there's Liam Sr. Chelsea usually have enchilotti, the marinos, the two calls. And they've gone away from that. But Morescu was getting to that point

where he was becoming a big manager. He delivered trophies, wanted a bit more say, and wasn't allowed it. But isn't the interesting phrase there? He was getting to the point where he was a big... So when he joined, it wasn't a big manager. No, he wasn't. And he had one year in... At Leicester.

Yeah, at Leicester. And at Guadiole of Prostagee? Yeah, but it kind of... So does that carry more weight? I think it does. The fact that a lot of the players he was working with knew him from his time at City. and he had more credit.

He had success at Leicester, which is more than Resignia had at Hull. And Rassini didn't help himself with some of the things he said and some of the things he did. But I think sometimes it's very quick for us to criticise the players, but players have a short career. They want to win. And if they feel that any element of the club is not to their standards,

then they're not going to be happy. And if you're Enzo Fernandez or you're Mark Crokeray or Cole Parm and you see a guy that's coming in to your coach, he's going to near the level of those players. So... So does that... That doesn't give them any excuse to down tools. No, it doesn't.

In the manner which they did. You can understand their frustrations. I mean, Chris, Steph, if you were playing for a coach, was not at your level. How would you feel? How would you feel if you had said? Look, we saw it sell to it with nonsense. Sometimes a coach comes in and is just not equipped to coach the players.

And there's going to be an effect on that. There's going to be a backlash in whatever respect it comes. But you still have a responsibility as a player for that club under contract to go out and do the best that you possibly can. And there may be, you know, there may be then, you know, ways from inside where you can, you can make waves to try and push for a manager to get out. You know, I don't know it never happened to me in my career, stuff like this. But, you know, I don't necessarily agree with you about buying him for sympathy for the players.

that will seep into the dressing room and that mentality which we saw at Brighton and the Chelsea players, quite frankly, should feel ashamed of the way that they performed against Brighton and the way they let Liam Rossinia down whether they liked him or not. I just think for me, I think Rosinia came in and might I agree in terms of,

I think he spoke a lot about things that weren't really important in terms of performance. I think there's been someone. much spoke about the huddle of course Enzo Fernandez if that was from him but even then he was carrying on the conversation I think it does create so much noise and when you're playing in the dressing room

you'll just be like we just don't need to be speaking about all everybody wants to just get on the pitch but I think the players really liked Enzo Moreska and you can tell that they did they really bought into the way that he played they said it I mean Cucorraine and Fernandez said it and that was part of the problem that's why Fernandez got suspended and that's the worry when players are actually doing the interviews

and actually referring back to your manager that they know that they're not going to buy into whoever that next manager is. I agree with Chris. I think there is a little bit of an attitude problem with some of the players. I think they probably have this so much expectation because they're young,

but they've not really lived through that career to be that resilient and to go through bad patches like this. So the automatic thing is just to spit the dummy out and that's exactly what they did against Brighton and they've got four games left where they're under an interim manager again that they all know is going to be nice

because they're known from the academy or they've all come through the academy he's been part of the first team for six months now or four months. So it's easy for them, but it's when the next manager comes in. They can't just down tools like they did against Brighton. Just the final one. Do you have some... Not sympathy for Resignia, because, you know,

I'm sure he'll do very well out of a very short-term spell there. But, you know, he did do well at Hull, but was fired at Hull and he didn't get them up. He was going well at Stras. And the sort of perception is he wouldn't have had much choice in actually going to Chelsea, whether I'm sure he wanted to go. But all the same company, right, you're coming. And now he's having to rebuild. And his next choice will be crucial for him, actually.

It will be massive. But I think at this moment in time, it will probably hurt because he probably expected to be there for one or two more seasons than he actually was. but I think when them opportunities come around you have to take them and he had to take that job. But like what Mark said in terms of when the club is in the line or the sporting directors aren't really going to back your manager, then you've not got much hope to be honest

because I think he was trying to change things in the right way. I spoke about the culture in terms of the team huddle. That was a bigger thing within the club. I think when you have that lack of leadership from the top down, obviously it does seep onto the players and the pitch and that's just how it works in football. so I do have some sympathy. Could you have done things probably a little bit better?

Yeah, but ultimately how many managers have been to Chelsea have not succeeded. Thanks to Chris, Steph and Mark. More commentaries to come on Wednesday, Arsenal, are away to Athletic Game in the Champions League. And then on Thursday, we've got Nottingham Forest, Astinvilla, in the Europa. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney Show. Wayne went along to Carrington to meet Manchester United Captain Bruno Fernandez.

Before I saw you guys playing so many times and I was following the club for so long. Just coming to the club was already a dream come true, a privilege. Never thought or dreamed about being the captain of the club. I just wanted to play for it. Portugal have given me two ways later football. Because I was in my grandma's house. I run with my cousins.

We run outside in the street. The Wayne Rooney Show. Watch an eye player. Listen on sounds. Hey there, this is Thomas Germain, co-host of The Interface. The show that decodes how technology is rewiring your week and your world. On this week's episode, Apple's CEO is resigned. and we'll look at what that means for the future of smartphones. We'll talk about whether your latest favorite band is actually a secret marketing ploy

and how the AI data center boom has finally met its match, public backlash. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.