Football Daily - Monday Night Club: Paul Scholes, Dean Smith & AI transfers

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

Mark Chapman is joined by Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Shay Given on a Monday Night Club episode which features former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes as a guest.He discusses the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim after an underwhelming start to the season. Then, Dean Smith joins to talk about his old club Aston Villa struggling and his current MLS side Charlotte FC flying high.The show also covers Noni Madueke's form at Arsenal and difficult times for Rangers under Russell Martin. Finally, Oli Mann from the Sheff United Way podcast describes how he feels about the reappointment of Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane.TIMECODES: 00:50 - Manchester United 08:45 - Paul Scholes joins 25:05 - Aston Villa  27:06 - Dean Smith joins 34:53 - Noni Madueke 46:03 - Rangers 52:52 - Sheffield UnitedCOMMENTARIES: 16 Sep - 1745 -Athletic Club v Arsenal in the Champions League on 5Live 16 Sep - 1945 - Sheffield Wednesday v Grimsby Town in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup on 5 Sports Extra  16 Sep - 2000 - Brentford v Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup on 5 Sports Extra 2 16 Sep - 2000 - Crystal Palace v Millwall in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup on 5 Sports Extra 3 17 Sep - 2000 - Bayern Munich v Chelsea in the Champions League on 5Live 17 Sep - 2000 - Swansea City v Nottingham Forest in the 3rd round of the EFL Cup on 5 Sports Extra  18 Sep - 2000 - Newcastle United v Barcelona in the Champions League on 5Live 18 Sep - 1950 - Manchester City v Napoli in the Champions League on 5 Sports Extra  20 Sep - 1500 - Brighton v Tottenham in the Premier League  20 Sep - 1730 - Manchester United v Chelsea in the Premier League 21 Sep - 1400 - Sunderland v Aston Villa in the Premier League 21 Sep - 1630 - Arsenal v Manchester City in the Premier League

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Bring more gear, carry more passengers, face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space and legendary off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more at landrover.ca. Welcome to the Monday Night Club, MNC at BBC.co.uk. Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Shea Given are with us. We'll be joined by Paul Skulls in a little while to talk about Manchester United. The former Aston Villa manager, Dean Smith, will join us later on to talk about Villas worrying maybe start to the season.

We'll talk non-in-Madueke as well. We'll look at Rangers and Sheffield United, too. Starting with man, what? It's just the sigh, the existential sigh. It was an existential sigh, yeah, yeah. It's like, my God, here we go again. Here's Ruben Amram on 343. It's not a record that you should have in Manchester United.

There are a lot of things that you have no idea what happened during this months, but I have said that, but I'm not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man. So, and we'll talk about that every game, every game that we lose. I don't believe in that in the system or whatever. So I play my way and I'm going to play my will until I want to change. He is right, isn't he, Rory, that we are going to, every time they lose,

we are likely to talk about this. Yeah, although there was a little bit of a slightly different tone there, I thought. It was kind of, I'll play this way until I want to change, which for me, I think, might be the first time. He's even kind of accepted the theoretical possibility that he might be able to play a different system. So maybe Ruben Amram is starting to realize. There's all the data, everyone will know it by now.

What, 31 points from 31 games. I think there's a story in the Manchester Evening News today that even people around him are surprised. He's not under more pressure. Obviously something has to give at some point. Maybe he's realizing it was all right last season because he was trying to implement the system. implement the system during the season, didn't have a pre-season, wasn't his squad,

couldn't reshape the squad, all that stuff going on. They've had a summer now, should at least be working better, not necessarily well enough to beat Manchester City away. That's a tricky game, but there have been very little signs of progress, and it might be getting into his head now that actually he's going to have to do something else just to survive. Shake given a year surprise, he's not under more pressure. When, bear in mind, if you look at one of the stats that's flying around at the moment,

since his first game in charge of the club no ever present Premier League team i.e. the 17 who stayed up last season have performed worse than United 31 points from 31 games spurs have the same record but they have a better goal difference don't have been that record for spurs either

yeah I mean it's a tough watch I think at the minute I was at the game myself just used to not work on just enjoying the Manchester Derby and you know normally in a Manchester Derby I've played in a few myself it's you know Helter Schelter, even, I think maybe even Roy may have mentioned after the game yesterday. There wasn't even a yellow card from a Man United point of view

and sometimes that hurts the fans the way and was empty at the end of the game and probably rightly so, there was no fight in the team. I mean, the biggest conversation always after the lose is the system and I think he mentions and that's what he's questionable again. I don't know if there's a tweak to be had in the system. I know I'm not

changing the full system here but if there's a slight tweak, because I covered a lot of Into Milan games in the last few years in the Champions League and stuff and they played a very similar system but it was a three five two. So what I'm trying to get at because Fernandez is not a sitting midfielder if you can get Manu in there

or Casamero and get Bruno a bit further up in front of them too perhaps and then play with Mbemmo and maybe Sesco perhaps as two because you know big man little man knows a bit old school but but at at Inter Milan that seemed to work with you know Taram and Martinez as well and

then your two wingbacks are really offensive and really give you lots of width as well. That is such a big point in in this whole discussion, it's not, it's not, if you don't want to, throwing out the whole idea of the system. It's not like going, okay, we're not going to play 343. We're going to play 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-3, whatever it may be. It's about accepting that you can tweak things.

And maybe he will tell us he is tweaking things, but it doesn't look like he is. No, but that's not a major tweak for his system, in my opinion. No. I think Bruno as well is not a number six. I mean, Foden's goal was a class of example, a defensive midfielder might attract Foden's run whereas Bruno was sort of standing

in the age of the box and didn't track it. Again, you can get Bruno further up the pitch it gives you a bit more defensive block in that midfield area and then of course you're losing maybe what are they called inside forwards

in his system and the two but you're still playing with two strikers so that's my thought he could tweak it a little bit and he's still not going away from his game plan because we have to not forget he was so successful as a manager

playing this system but I'm just trying to maybe help him or try and tweak it a little bit and see if that helps? Chris? Well, I think Manchester United have got real issues now and I think Shane and Rory

have covered it pretty well. You know, how long has he been in charge? You spoke about his record. Is it his team now? Yes, it is. Is it working? And then if he's going to be that stubborn and be unwilling to change,

if he's going to stick with this system and it's not working, then I'm afraid Jason Wilcox and the Manchester United hierarchy have a decision to make, just based on the performances we've seen this season. What's the ambition at Manchester United this season? I don't really know, but the fact they're already out of one cup, there's no European football, the pressure is well and truly on them.

And you can say, well, the performance first game against Arsenal was pretty good. I think we'd all agree with that. But since then, there've been pretty average performances. So then if he's going to stick with this system, you know, he's had a transfer window. I know Coonja's out injured, but this is his team now. It's not working. And what did he say? If it's not if you, yeah, about, you'll have to change the man.

What did he say? I don't know, not that. That's easy for you to say. Was he a bit confused? He was. I think he is. But, you know, you'll have to change the man. He's sort of baiting the club a little bit there.

He's saying, well, I'm not going to change. You know, it's not, this is the way I am. I came into the club. I told you this. That was, that was sort of the terms and conditions why he took over when he initially went in. But, you know, the fact that it isn't working, it's a big problem for him now, and it doesn't look like he's going to change. So Shea's talking about, you know, maybe tweaking things, but he's not going to do that by the sounds of him.

Chappas, I know you've got a much better footballer than me to bring in in a second, but I just want to say on the on the recruitment, this was something I think we talked about maybe even before the season started, but Chesco, Cunia and Mbuemo are all good players at different stages of their development and stuff. I'm not quibling with the quality of any of them. But it did strike me as being a little bit hard to get all three of them, all of whom cost a lot of money, into the system that Amarin won't change,

as well as Bruno Fernandez and copy Mayneau. Well, Mayno's different, he clearly doesn't really fancy Mayno. Like, we might as well just sort of say that in the open. Mount, I had forgotten existed, but then I was at the Burnley game, and he was brilliant. He was probably their best player in the first half.

So he's obviously made a strong start to the season. impressed Ammarim in training over preseason, forced his way into his plans. That's good for Mason Mount. He's a huge asset to them when he's fit. But it's difficult to get all those players in that system. Ammereem deserves loads of blame and we'll get it for refusing to change the system. But it is odd that United went and did all that in the summer, because surely Jason Wilcox can see that coming down the road.

He's saying, right, well, we're going to press the button on 60 million for Brian and Buemo. And that was after Cunea. And at some point, does someone not say, hang on, we've got a lot of attacking midfields and forwards here. How are we getting them all in the team as well as our captain? And then they get offered a hundred million quid from Saudi Arabia for Bruno, which any club in their right mind would have taken. Because Bruno Fernandez is a wonderful footballer, but that's a lot of money.

And he's in his, he's what, 31, 32? The business decision is to sell Bruno, but United didn't. And it just feels like it's kind of created an issue for them. I think I understand why they didn't sell him raw at that particular. point. I mean, you know, is Manchester United's best player? What you know, what would the fans have made of that, you know,

total lack of ambition? I get what you're saying about, you know, about the figure, but that wouldn't have been a good look for Amarin, would it? Chris Sutton, Sheet given Rory Smith on the Monday night club, Paul Skulls joins us as well. Evening? You're okay? I'm very well, thank you. Could

in your, not now, well, maybe you could now. In your prime, could you play in a midfield two in this system? I'd like to think I'd give it a go yeah whether I could or not

I don't know look I don't think the quality is I think whatever two out of the five or four or five

what I've got it there you think Ugarte Casamero Bruno Kobe Minu whatever combination he seems to try

doesn't seem to work and that's a big issue I had Rory there talking about the recruitment and I thought all summer I thought straight up

the next season, a central midfield player with legs who can play, can control the game of football, will be an absolute priority. And it never seemed to happen. It didn't come. They were never really talking about. Maybe he panicked a little bit towards the end and then Belieba came up. The lad from Brighton looks at a really good player, but it was never something they really planned for. Goldkeeper as are. I mean, not spoke about the goalkeeper, but goalkeeper was a major issue. It felt like they got to the Grims of the game. And did you really really need to get set at Grinsby game

to realize that Onana has just not been good enough then you see someone like Donna Romer come up and you think

right this is a chance we can buy a goalkeeper with a 35, 40 million we've got for the next 10 years you're done with the goalkeepers is done it's brilliant he's massive he's a great goalkeeper

he's shown that yesterday and the recruitment side then went to buy forwards now look the forward side did need addressing did it need three of them though I'm not not sure it did. I thought it was more important to get behind the forward line right. And I don't

think they've addressed it at all. Do you have sympathy for the manager then, Paul, which wasn't quite what Danny Murphy was saying on match of the day last night. But what he was saying was, and you've kind of touched on it there, this is more a personnel issue than it is a system issue. But then if you don't have the personnel, why do you play the system? Where's your sympathy? You cannot carry on playing this way with the results they've had. There has to be a moment where he thinks, I've got to change something. The proof is there. It was eight wins in 31 games, 16 losses.

It's amazing to think he's not going to change it. But managers are stubborn. They think their way will always work. And that's what he's going to try and do. Whether it's a 433 or a 4-4-2, whatever they go to, I'm not sure the personnel are there. I'm not sure the quality is there. in any area of the pitch,

which is good enough to get them to where they need to be. When a manager's system isn't working, just hypothetically, if you can imagine yourself being in that position, I suspect you weren't at any point in your career. When a manager's system's not working, at what point do the players start to think, this is a joke? There's no point buying into this.

This doesn't work for us. Can you go to the manager and talk to him? Can you start making decisions yourselves on the pitch? What do you do? That was never a position. I was in, I can't, I don't know what that feeling would be like. Maybe should ask Chris. Yeah, Chris or Shane might be better with that.

Imagine questioning Alex Bergson and system and his tactics as well. I'm not sure that's going down very well here. But whatever assisting you're playing doesn't mean you play back with. You can still pass to a registrar, you can still make goals, you still score goals, you can still defend properly. I actually, if we look back at the game, I don't actually think the system was actually the problem. If you look at the stats, imagine that more possession of Manchester City at their ground. That doesn't happen very often.

That doesn't tell you they got over at the midfield. I don't think they did. I think it was just the quality of player in there. They're not quite up to standard. They will win a lot of games, well, not a lot of games, but they'll win enough games. It's when they come up against your Manchester cities, your Arsenal, your Liverpool, Tottenham away, possibly.

That the quality is sadly lacking. Central midfield, of course, I think defense of the poor and the goalkeeper. As I said, they spent a lot of money on forward players. We don't really know about CESCO. Are you still in the same boat as Rasmus Island with that? A young player, unproven, we just don't know. The other two are more Premier League proven.

So there's a lot of areas of pitch. I think they should have concentrated on more than the forward areas. I'd have to agree. He's goals with the goalkeeping situation. I mean, you know, Pep Guardiola was gone right. This guy's coming. Trafford's a brilliant goalkeeper, in my opinion as well. But he's gone, no, I've got Donoruma. He's just won the Champions League. He's won all these different trophies.

You know, he's won – he's a full international for Italy. And again, straight away, yesterday didn't have lost to do. But that save against him, Buemo, in the second half, was like, right, this is me. I'm in the Premier League now. I'll show you what I've got. And he's got a personality, a presence about him. And, of course, I think Deadline Day, Emmy Martinez was linked heavily with Manchester and Edith.

And for me, they should. to push the boat out. You know, La Man's yesterday they brought him in from Belgium as your young lad. The last thing a young lad needs to do in schools you'll tell you better

is go to the old Trafford and be the pressure on you with maybe the system not working or maybe the defence in front of that. Yeah, but from a goal just from a goalkeeper's point of view, Shea, it's, you can see the psychology

already, can't you? It's a Derby and City go we're going to start Dona Ruma. And if Dona Ruma makes a mistake, it doesn't become irrelevant but it doesn't affect his whole Manchester City career because he's Donner Rummer and he has won the Champions League

and he is Italy's goalkeeper and so on and so forth. In the same way, if Manchester United bought Martinez in and started him in the Derby, he's won a World Cup, right? He's an experienced goalkeeper. If he makes a mistake,

it doesn't affect his whole United career. They went into yesterday, it would appear to me as an amateur psychologist going, my God, we can't play our new... Well, it is Chris. I know you're stinking, but... I agree you're an amateurist. Yeah, but we can't play our new sign-in

because, crikey, if he makes a mistake in the Derby... But then does that bring you back to the comments of the manager after? It says you don't understand what's happened behind closed doors in the last month. And he, this young goalkeeper might mean... This young goalkeeper might not be Rubin's choice. He might have wanted a market...

If Man United were not in the market for Donna Rummer when he became available, that's like it's a criminal offence to me. so apparently not to be in the market for him and like you say you buy this lad from Belgium what's it cost

at 20 million euros I think that'll tell you everything about him at this point why did they buy him but why did they buy him to replace by Inda who he clearly doesn't rate so you know

so they bring this new keeper in and he's sort of saying well I don't rate you enough to play you in a big game anyway that's what a bonkers start to his career how's he for

feeling lemons. Well, if you bought this keeper, Chris, you bring him in, you give him constant stress. Say, look, no, go on. Straight in. Exactly what you just said about Dona Rummer. Great presents. Throw him straight in.

Not a problem. It's almost like they bought a number two or number three keeper Chris. It's mind-bought. The only thing he would say in the defence is they might have went for Dona Ruma. And if Doneruma is an option of going to city, he was manunated.

Yeah. He's going to pick Manchester City. That's a good point, Sean. I hope they did on it. I hope he said no to us if you know where I'm coming from. I'm not 100% certain of this, but what I have heard, which isn't always accurate, is that Donoruma preferred drum roll, United over City initially, because of the glamour of United.

But United couldn't get close to the money that he wanted, and City could. So he was perfectly happy to do that. Just watching Manchester United this season, it doesn't feel like it's working. But should United be patient with Amarim, do you think? Chris, it's very difficult to say what the ambition should be when they've got four points from four games. I don't know how you can be ambitious watching what you're watching. I'm sure that before the season's starting, you'd have been saying a European place. What's that top seven, top eight these days?

There's that many places up for grabs. I don't know. We can't seem to find one. I think they've just got to try and get in the top half at the table somehow. Look, I like Amarim, everything he says, you seem to like, he seems to be a likable man. But unfortunately, the results have to paint a picture. And at this moment in time, it's nowhere near good enough. And I think in the next few weeks, if results don't improve, performances don't really matter that much at this point.

He's got to try and win some game, get some points on the board. The pressure's got to be on it massively. Given you came through the ranks and this was your position, can you get your head around, going on with Manu at the moment? Look, he came onto the scene in a couple of years ago and I thought, wow, what a player. I know of late,

his legs have been questioned a little bit, but as I say, go back to that game yesterday, it wasn't really about legs at that game yesterday in the midfield because they had plenty of possessions. But Brino Fernandez can be fine in Central Midfield

as long as he's got all the ball. When you're playing against better teams, there are times when, there are a long time, long spells where you're not grab the ball and that's

when you have to know that position brilliantly because all of a sudden you know there's clever managers about these days

every one of them and perhaps the very best at getting people in behind his midfield now Kobe Manu is the same

I think on the ball it can be fantastic but he needs a proper partner next to him I don't think Ugarte

he's not got a quality I think legs wise he's okay he's not got the quality we all know Casamere's qualities over the years but again

he slowed down he's getting into probably the wrong side of his career but i go back to when i played i wasn't the greatest in that position i didn't know the position brilliantly well but whatever i had next to me did they were brilliant they knew the they knew the position so well roy keen nicky book michael carrick they were perfect for me now i don't think the partnership's working in there with any of them because they don't know the position as well as this should be. How long, because you started further, sort of further forward, didn't you? What would have been, I don't even know whether we called it a 10 back then,

but what everybody calls a 10 by now, how long do you think it took you to learn that position? And that was down to being talked through game after game by those players that you mentioned, was it? I'm not sure I ever learned how to do it absolutely perfectly because I just wanted to score goals. I just wanted to get forward and it drove whoever was next to be mental. It drove Rio and Vidich behind me.

Where are you going again? But that was just... I remember a few dodgy defensive tackles off schools You're like, yeah, late, late tackles. I remember them. No, come on, Shay. Yeah, okay, okay. I just got a few goals past you.

I just got a flashback. And one was in a derby as well, last minute. In the Derby, do you remember that? Yeah, there's a few in a Derby, don't worry about that. A few? I only remember one. One was bad enough? Was it?

It must have been Newcastle one. No, I was ahead in the Derby in the last minute? Can't believe it. Yeah, I'm just not about your tackling to be honest, I'm talking about your goal to. I never toppled you, no, no, no. I tell you, I'm sitting next to him, I'm tempted to tackle him now, to be honest with it.

Yeah, about learning the position then. Yeah, like I said, I'm not sure it was ever great at it, but I always remember that I love getting far, and it wasn't so probably 28, 29 years of age when, in Europe especially, the manager, I remember we were playing by Munich at home and he wanted to be just

to sit and as I say, play the position probably. Don't think about going forward. Don't be breaking through. You've got to stay and try and control the game. I think it was with Roy Keene at the time and I think we won 1-0 and I felt like in the game I did nothing.

We didn't look under any pressure. We was fine in midfield. Everything was good. We didn't look outnumbered like we had done in previous years. And the day after, I didn't do it really contribute to that game. In every game I wanted to either play a pass

to somebody, I wanted to make us play good football, I wanted to be involved, scoring a goal and I was never part of that, but then the next day said to me, that was absolutely perfect. A European performance against a good team. I thought, Jesus, it's easy this midfield, but I don't have to do anything.

Just send pass it to Ryan Geeks and Andy Cole, Dwight York, David Beckett, it was easy. I suppose from that day on, I really did learn that from being 28, up until there was like 37, 38, as being a little bit more controlled than that's unfortunately when all my goals tried up.

But I'm guessing, finally on that, there's an element of, therefore, during that game, you were not bored, but kind of having to sort of fight your instincts, which is probably the case with Bruno, isn't it? You were bored. Yeah, but bored was the right word. Funny enough, the manager used to always say to me, you're bored, stop getting bored.

You used to have a got to say to them, all the time but it can be like that when you're used to be in scoring goals and maybe being a number 10 and being a bit of a player it can be a bit, and I think it is a boring position nowadays

anyway, we talk about them number sixes what did it do to affect a game of football? Are they just there to help the players that are next to them and the better players that are right is quite a boring position at look if it was Roy Keene, Nicky Buck, Michael Carrick next to me

they wanted to get involved. Everyone's running forward as well but they always had the energy to get back. I didn't quite have that ability. Do you ever tell Roy that you thought his position was boring? No, okay, right. Just thought I'd just thought I'd check. One of those other former midfield partners is alongside you for a new podcast, yeah?

Yes, yeah, we started today. We've been thinking about for some time. Obviously, started a little bit late. It was open to get it off for the start of the season. But today was quite lively, especially after yesterday. It was a nice introduction. So that's you, Nikki, but Paddy McGuinness, the good, the bad and the football? Yes, we left the ugly side out of it

I think Good to see you Paul, good luck with it Thanks Paul, thanks man Cheers, thank you Paul Sculls with us On the Monday night club Did you ever have to learn your position, Chris? Well, I tried That's why I played in so many different roles, Mark

I wasn't quite good at one Then I was moving to another I did wonder When he started talking about Learning the Central Midfield position in the Champions League, I did wonder whether you were going to jump in with your playing holding midfield for Celtic.

Did you do that, Chris? Oh, God. Did he? Shay. Oh, Shay. Really? I actually scored 28 goals that season from the midfield position.

But I don't like to talk about it. I didn't know that, Chris. Fair play, man, fair play. Imagine being so good at professional football that you get bored in the Champions League. I'm just wondering about it. This is really boring. I wish I was doing more.

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views from the biggest names in the WSL and beyond. To make sure you never miss an episode, just search for BBC Women's Football Weekly and hit subscribe once you get there. This is the Monday nightclub with Mark Chapman. On the Football Daily Podcast. Aston Villa at the own... The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge.

Perfect for the ultimate defender. Performance Defender Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at Landrover.ca. The team in England's top eight divisions not to score this season. They're only the fifth side in Premier League history not to score a goal in their opening for league games. Before I get hammered by Villa fans, it's a Villa supporting producer tonight who's put this stat in. On Saturday at Everton, Villa had a lower XG than Michael Keene. What is going wrong at Aston Villa, Chris?

I think they're suffering a bit of a hangover from the success of last season, possibly. I think it's early days, but I watched them play at Brentford, and Brentford ended up winning the game 1-0 and winning quite comfortably. I listened to the game at the weekend, and Everton seemed to start better than Villa and seem to be the dominant team. Yeah, I mean, we know the way that Unai Emory's teams play. I think that maybe other teams find them predictable. They've still got, I mean, you know,

you look at the players they have at their disposal, and they're just not quite hitting the straps. Ollie Watkins, I think he missed a big chance against Crystal Palace earlier on this season. We know Morgan Rogers may have surprised many last season in terms of his ability, but you sort of know what type of player he has. He is, and Unaimri is mixing and matching and striving to find the best way of creating chances as much as anything.

And I think that that's been, you know, everybody looks at the lack of goals, but, you know, have they been creating enough? And I'd argue that they haven't. And it's an issue, hence the sort of not the panic of bringing Harvey Elliott and Jaden Sancho in, but they were late moves by Oneymry. lost Rashford, didn't he, who came in and freshen things up last January. Lost Ascensio? Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, and they did very well

for Aston Villa. So I think all those things in, it's not a good mix and I think they've got Sunderland at the weekend. Dean Smith, former villa manager, waiting to talk to us on the Monday nightclub flying high with Charlotte FC at the moment. Evening, Dean, how are you? Afternoon from here, how are you all?

Yeah, very well. Thank you. Thank you for joining us. we'll come on to Charlotte in a moment but seven of Villas starting 11 at the weekend were there when you were in charge which is not long short of four years now. Does that surprise you? It surprises me a little bit yeah

but it also pleases me because it shows they've got some stability and four to five of them players have been pretty much regulars who've gotten to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last year as well and qualified three years on the spin I think for Europe

so it's frustrating. straighting, you know, not scoring a goal. But, I mean, the thing for me is that they've lost a bit of stability in midfield, losing Kamara, Anana, and Tillamons came off at halftime as well. You know, you wouldn't normally, normally see John McGinn and Bogart as your two sixes for Villa. You go back to sort of last season. I can remember doing the FAA Cup tie when they were at home to Spurs. And that's just after Rashford had joined an Ascentia as well.

And it felt like there were options everywhere. where Unaimri would have looked behind him on that bench? Yeah, I would agree. There probably hasn't been as many options now. And as I say, because you lose Asensio, you lose Rashford. JJ was the one who really surprised me. And I know Shay was just mentioned in there, the rules of PSR, the Villa have obviously got stung by that

because you wouldn't be selling one of your players who can score your goals as well. And he has scored really important goals, you know, throughout his short career there. Yeah, I looked at the squad early in the season and there was a few of the younger players were on the bench. You know, and they've had a few injuries. And, you know, I think once the team comes back,

I have no doubt. Olly Watkins guarantees you 15 goals a season. So he will come through and score goals. He missed a big chance. I think it was at nil-nil against Palace when he went through 1V1 with the goalkeeper. They haven't created too much away from, home at all. Half the game against Newcastle, they were playing with 10 men. So for me, it's not

too doom and gloom. The issue I think that's gone a little bit under-reflected is that that statistic, seven of the, the starting 11 were still there, was there when Dean was there. That doesn't indicate that they've bought especially well. And obviously, Rashford and Essentio were on loan, but there does seem to have been a little bit of a kind of mish-mash approach to Villa signings, Whereas before, in those first few years after they came up, they had a much better hit rate. It looked a lot more like everything. Not everything they did turn to gold,

as that's never true of any club. But they kind of looked exactly, it looked much more efficient in the transfer market. Whereas I think over the last couple of years, sort of the flip on John Geran aside, they've not maybe strengthened as they would have liked. Is that a case of them not being able to as well, though? Because I always said this.

Villa went into the championship for three years. You know, we came up and we spent $125 million in that first year. We had six players on loan who had to go. We released seven players. You're actually building from new. And even four years in the Premier League now, you're probably still half a billion behind the top six, you know? And that's unfortunate because you go down to the championship.

Then you're playing catch-up all the time. And yes, the owners have got the money, but they're not probably allowed to spend it as well. as they could. And that half a billion deal will make a, obvious thing to say, makes a massive difference. I mean, Spurs have got three players for each position in their front three. I mean, not just two per position, three per position. Yeah.

And that's where I think you've got to credit Unai for how well he's done over the last three years already, you know, because he hasn't brought loads of players in since he's been there. He's worked with what he's got and improved them. nine consecutive MLS wins for you at the moment, which ties the record. You're flying. We are at the moment, yeah. I mean, we had a bit of a lean spell in the summer.

We played, I think it was 10 out of 12 games away from home, and only had a couple of wins in that period. So we needed to go on this run. We've done it really well. We go to New York City on Saturday, and if we can get a win there, then we obviously break the record. So, yeah, we've qualified for the playoffs already now, which is a big thing over here, you know, and our support is very happy at the moment. You beat into Miami as well?

Yeah, we did. You know, thankfully, Lino Messi decided to try a Penhanka penalty and our keeper stood up and, you know, which certainly helped us. Did you tell the keeper to stand up? Do you know what? It watched quite a lot of him and great credit to him because he does sometimes go down the middle and he was expecting that. it didn't expect him to try and chip it into the top corner. What are the challenges? You know, we talked about everything transfer-wise

where it comes to Villa. What are the challenges MLS-wise for you as a manager when it comes to putting teams and squads together? Because the rules are different, aren't there? And you do have drafts, don't you? We do have drafts. I think they're more of a resource now for bringing in development players, though,

rather than players for the first team. but it's one of the hardest things I've had to deal with, to be honest, understanding how you build a squad here. There's a salary cap here. Three or four designated players, which is where the owner can pay whatever he wants for them players. Targeted allocation money, Tam, and you allow general allocation money, which is gam.

And there's also a youth budget as well, which is allowed. So it's confusing. Challenging in a good way? It's challenging in a good way. I mean, what they want to create is parity. You know, they want everybody to be challenging every year. And you look at last year, LA Galaxy won the MLS Cup and they've actually bought Stone Bottom this year.

So they want everybody to be challenging. But just a little bit like in England now as well, you've got, you know, wealthy owners who want to be successful and they're pushing to get one, the calendar change, and so it aligns to Europe, but also the salary capping changed a little bit as well. So you can entice a lot more players there to make the brand and product a lot better.

Right, you're going to be late for your own team meeting if I don't let you go, and I don't want you to find yourself. So thank you very much for coming on, Dean. Appreciate it. Take care. Good to see you. Good luck.

I'm Dean Smith, Charlotte FC manager, former villa manager on the Monday Night Club. I enjoyed your little grin, Chris, at the obvious, as I pointed out, that half a billion's quite a big difference between... Yeah, enjoyed that. I also enjoyed the way you...

I hope Dean's gone now because you know the curse of the Monday nightclub when managers are doing well. Yeah, especially if they're connected to Walsall. They're really not being New York City. That's done it for them. That's a shame.

Actually, New York City have won three and drawn one of their last four as well and they're just inside the players. Yeah, they're not. They're not. Charlotte aren't winning that. I mean, he shouldn't have done the show. People have got to learn. No, he was an MLS expert as well. Oh, yeah, he probably knows his American market.

That's why he's changed his background for podcasts because he's doing American podcasts as well. So he's now put his own book on the shelf behind just for the American audience. Chapas, I'm considering selling that space. Americans would look at that as prime advertising. Yeah, it wouldn't work on here, let me tell you. Let's talk none in Madweke next.

Back-to-back England starts, made an international goal, great display for Arsenal against Notting Forest. We were watching this, Shea, and what was great about him, both for England during the week, but also for Arsenal at the weekend was he was direct. There's a feeling that

there aren't enough wingers who are just direct. Yeah, it was a refreshing, wasn't it? A bit of a throwback, Crystal remember, 4-4-2 of Blackburn when they won the league. Two wingers get past the fullback and get the ball in the box. Yeah, I mean, he was really refreshing. I think the biggest thing as well, he had end product to, and most things he did. Yes, it would have been the odd one. He would have

misplaced, but he was absolutely brilliant. I think the confidence of course scoring for his country as well. I think that would give him a huge boost and, you know, not that long ago, I think there was some crazy petition wasn't there? Some of the Arsenal fans was just madness, you know, and I'm actually surprised that Chelsea let him go because

I don't know, they look like they've replaced him with Garnacho and at the minute you would say Madowick is miles ahead of him and I think he's going to just get better and better. Still a young player, still going to be improved under Arteta, I'm sure, as well and enjoying that role. And what we did say on Saturday night as well

as in the past, when Saka's out, Oedegar's out and a few others are out, they've really struggled Arsenal. Now they've got the likes of Ezi, Matawakei and Coe and Gorker is as well to really give them a big push on all fronts, I think. Kelly said this last night on match of the day,

which I would kind of agree with, really. I'm a bit loathe to give much credence to a social media petition that had 4,000 people on it as if that was a fan base not wanting him when they get 60,000 there every week and have millions around the world.

It's not, if I think if I was an arson fan, I would be annoyed about people talking about that, Rory. Yeah, it's a self-selecting demographic, like how seriously should you take the opinions of people who will sign an online petition about football? I would say not that seriously at all, to be honest.

But then the negativity around the Maddewake signing. You're a fair. offend someone every single week on here? I don't think you should be signing petitions about players your club have signed because you don't think they're good enough. I would argue if a club is going to the wall you should probably be signing

the petition. Sign a petition about that. Just to help you out a little. Sign a petition about that. Sign a position about whether your club should sign someone who has done something they should not have done, something that is morally reprehensible. Do not sign a petition as you think the right winner isn't quite up to standard. I think that that is going too far.

And there's a misuse of petitions, Chappas. But I think there was a negativity around Madueke signing. I wonder to what extent it was because at that point a lot of Arsenal fans were very much of the view that they just had to go and sign a striker. And there was a fear

that they were signing Madueke instead of signing a striker. And I think if they'd signed Yocchre's first and then Madueke, I think the reaction might have been different. I can understand that maybe you don't want to be signing a player who looks like he's been deemed surplus

to requirements to one of your rivals, that might be a little bit of a bitter pill. That wasn't the case, as far as I could see. I think Shea touched on that. I'm really surprised with what I saw from him at Chelsea. He had that great understanding with Cole Palmer, didn't he?

Last season at Chelsea. I was surprised the nature of his move across to Arsenal. I think Chelsea have lost out there. I really do. That's a bad loss for them. The Arsenal, Shea's touched. on that as well. Their strength in depth now in forward areas, you mentioned

Tottenham earlier, Mark 3 players in every position. I mean, you know, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Wannieri. Havert. I was being serious. I wasn't expecting it. I was being genuine about Haverts. No, I know.

Gabriel. Jesus. No, I know. Gabrielle Jesus, yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's absolutely astonishing their strength in depth. And, you know, you're thinking, what can Arsenal achieve?

now with that squad depth and the centre forward position seems like that that has been addressed but that's a sensational signing and you know Saka injured if we went back to last season with Saka's contribution and you know if Saka was out

for a long spell we'd all be saying blind me they're in a they'll be in a bit of bother their creativity and the goals he scored as importance to the team now you're thinking well all right they're still miss him but they're not going to miss him that much with the depth they have

and Madawecki playing like he is. Well, they've got Citi at the weekend. And even if Odad and Saka aren't there, both whom I think probably rank as doubts at the moment, you wouldn't necessarily assume that Arsenal would be lacking cutting edge, which is that's the real difference. They looked built to survive over the course of a season

in more than one competition. I mean, Rice didn't even start of the weekend. He was rested on the bench, wasn't he? So they've got that, I don't know, he's got a... I think he's got pressure as well, Artite of this season. You know, he's spent a lot of money. this, be honest, it's great in having all these players

and we're reeling them off and they're fantastic players but they have to produce something at the end of this season. Maddwecki said afterwards about Eze, he said, Ebs and I play similarly in terms of

we don't really think much, we just play what we see. Mikhail gives us the freedom to get the ball and to try and be dynamic and positive and I think we did that today. Bearing in mind,

and Eze didn't start the game at Amfield, but bearing in mind the sort of criticism that came Arsenal and Artetta's way for not going for it at Amfield. And then they did so against Nottingham Forest at home. Does that make this game with City really intriguing to see what the approach is here?

If Madweke is talking about they do have freedom to go for it, but at the same time it's another prospective title challenger that Arsenal are facing. Are you interested in seeing how they set up, Chris? That is something which, you know, has been, leveled at Michael Artetter and you know when they play big teams you're quite rightly said that

you know they're not adventurous enough so I think I think it will be fascinating the you know the starting 11 which he picks against City and just how how brave they are and you know maybe looking at the looking at what was at the Tottenham game

earlier this season where Tottenham did a real job on on Manchester City beat them comfortably I mean that may be the sort of the blueprint to beat them but if you know if you look at cities, you know, if they have a vulnerability, I think it is at the back. And certainly the likes of Ezra and Madawecki, if you're an Arsenal fan,

you're thinking, blimey, they could do some damage to that Manchester City back line. It's having a number of options as well that I think there was a predictability to Arsenal last season and the season before that didn't necessarily mean that they were easy to play against, just as of the sheer quality they have. But you knew who their dangerous players were going to be. Whereas this year that we don't know if O'Don-Dat and Saturdays, definitely fit for Sunday, and obviously they play athletic tomorrow night, and that might impact the resources they have available. But there are lots of different ways Michel Artetta

can go. I think, I don't know how much credence to give the idea that they kind of played with a handbraker on against Liverpool. You are playing the champions. It's a big game, and it's a high quality team. It's not meant to be easy. But I think the one thing that... But part of that, sorry, part of the accusation was also the starting 11 that was selected. Now Artetta would then flip the other way and go well Erdogard was coming back from

injury and Ezra had only just joined and you can see the arguments either way but what would be interesting will be to see how you know is it going to be a midfield three of Zubimendi Marino and Declan Rice for example

or is there going to be a perceived more attacking threat in there. And that's been the question around. It's legitimate what Mark said. And Chay said, you know, interesting. The Arsenal have to win, you know, have to win something this season. And that has been level. So in games of what city, when they, you know,

pipped Arsenal to the title, didn't they? You know, they've been title races. So, you know, with this, that's not necessarily negativity, but just, you know, a bit more pragmatism. from Artetta, it's a fair argument to say, well, in these big games, you know, with the talent he has, should they go for the juggie them all?

I think it's a thing that Arsenal fans want to see as much as anything. That's the big thing, is that there is a sense of one of Arsenal fans that they are a little bit cautious, a little bit kind of cagey in those decisive games. And it strikes me that quite a lot of the fans want to see a slightly more kind of, not expansive, but a more kind of swaggering approach almost.

we are as good as you we can go toe to toe with you and yeah I know I agree with completely Chris it will be interesting to see what Artetta does against City because the danger is if you play more open you're kind of playing into their hands

but you would imagine sorry at this stage of the season you know home advantage is massive because you know Arsenal will be up there at the towards end of season Man City will be up there and of course Liverpool will definitely be up there so you would like to think

they would play in the front foot in this game you know when they got a home advantage and let the attack and players have a bit more freedom because let's not forget City of lost two from four games they won yesterday but at the same time he's not got the perfect formula yet

Pep Guardiola and the Arsenal fans I'm sure are thinking this is an opportunity take the handbrake off we're at home you know this three points could be massive in the grand scheme of the title race do you think there's a way at all that Chris Madweke Saka and Ezek can all

play together in the same team yeah well I think you know I mean, Ez is really versatile, isn't he? Yeah, I think good players can play together. You know, I don't see that being an issue. But with Yocca, as more of a central figure, he has to, you know, he has to be. And he's going to be, you know, really key for Arsenal. But the options that Artetta has in forward areas, I mean, they're absolutely, you know, frightening.

And I think just going back to the, you know, the whole start, how many players, you know, are there in the Premier League who can do what Madwe? Weck A can do in terms of beating his opponent on a regular basis, on being that direct. I can't think of many off the top of my head. You know, he's different to Saka, in that he is more direct than Saka. Saka's more sort of stop-start, isn't he?

MNC at BBC.com.com.com, if you want to get in touch with us, we've got an anonymous text here, another satisfied viewer and listener. I've watched on I Player for the first time tonight. I wish I hadn't. I built up an image of Rory as a polytechnic lecturer, straggly hair, a corduroy jacket with elbow patches, but it turns out he's just a run-of-the-mill guy.

Yeah, that'll do. Let's talk Rangers then, who are 10th and have endured their worst league start in 47 years, beaten at home by hearts at the weekend, which took Hart's top at the time. So is that the kind of result to Judge Russell Martin on, Chris? he's not going to last much longer it's not a 50-50 split with the rangers fan base i mean they all want him out i think he said at the weekend that you know many didn't want him in the in the first place and you know they were they were singing that song the rangers fans martin get to somewhere and today what he did is a as a team building exercise he uh he went up a up a mountain

uh he needs to climb a mountain at rangers and then they went for a uh a cold dip in lot Lomond, sink or swim. I think him got a reskin may have been trying to drown each other based on sort of all the reports and they're sort of falling out. I've got sympathy for him

and I do mean that because he, I mean, down south you'd look at it and think five games in, you know, he's barely been in the door brought new players in you know, they need time to gel and you just don't get time

in Glasgow. know it's all about winning and I mean it's it's turning ugly I know the reaction to him being appointed was negative by some of the fan base unfair but it was wasn't it by some of the fan base he didn't want him in the in the first place there is a director of football there Kevin Therwell who used to be at Everton yeah so what has Russell Martin done wrong some of their defending are one of the goals that conceded at St. Mirren I mean that's not the manager's fault, the defendant was terror. The Champions League thing against Bruges

was laughable at times some of the defendant. What are the Rangers fans annoyed with him about? If he isn't responsible for all the signings and the players keep making mistakes, what's he doing, Rob? He gets tired with that brush, doesn't he? You know, the signings and the recruitment, I think,

is, you know, I think it's a massive issue. Everybody knows it is. And the market, which Rangers are shopping in, you know, has brought players up from down south. And I feel sorry for some of the players. You know, I really, really do. If you look at the likes of Max Arons, saw a lot

of him at Norwich City, and when Ranger signed him, I thought, do you know what? That's, you know, on the face of it, that's a pretty good signing. But Russell started him at left back, a position which, you know, he's a right back. He hasn't, you know, hasn't played much. And, and all of a sudden

within a game or two, you know, there's moans and groans when he's on the ball and, you know, feeling that he's negative. The crowd are on his back. And he's just totally shot the bits his confidence. Joe Roswell, a player who's had a really decent playing career. Leeds and, you know,

really good at Blackburn. 30 years old has gone up there and he's another one. I think that he's, you know, really been affected by, you know, the expectation there and the moans and groans. It's a really difficult place to play. Ranges have

recruited, you know, a fair few young players and the environment to play. And it's, you know, It is toxic. It wasn't a surprise Hart's going to Ibrox at the weekend and winning. You know, it really wasn't,

and they've got Hibs in the League Cup this weekend. And honestly, I'll tell you, you ask most people in Scotland, they'll say, well, Hibs are favourite. Hibs will be favourites of that. The problem that the Rangers' hierarchy

have and the sort of 49ers group and everything which comes with it, these were the guys who hung the hat on Russell Martin. They keep backing him. But the Rangers fans of, you know, It's ugly They've given up really

And they're going to start They're going to start having to carry the can for that And maybe it's got to the point Where they don't even want them To turn this around The sections of the fan base Don't want Russell Martin The management group to turn around

Because they just want him gone Have you been in situations like that At clubs And how is it How is a squad Do you function in a toxic atmosphere, which this is. Well, it's very difficult, I think just briefly

going back to the Rangers thing. I was up at actually Locke Lomond a couple of weeks ago to a big charity event, and there's a lot of Rangers fans of that and a lot of season ticket holders and all they were saying, from day one, Chris, and you might tell me different, every Rangers manager for the history of the football club on the day they sign, the dear press conference

with, I think it's a navy suit and brown shoes. And I know that might sound a bit like out there, but Russell Martin wore, I don't know what colour of shoes you were, but he didn't wear the traditional. He wore trainers. He wore a pair of trainers like. And straight away, he's broke the tradition of Rangers managers over, I don't know, 100 years or whatever it is.

And straight away, he's on, this is going to sound about it, on the back foot with the wrong shoes. But like, you know, he's not helping himself in that sense and some of the stuff he said after games and things like that. And Chris mentioned, you know, some of the players gone up there. They're not bad players. But again, it may be a bit like the man in anything. There's huge pressure in Glasgow, be it, you know, the green half, or the blue half

when you pull on that jersey to play for them clubs and Chris will tell you better than me it's it's front page news and back page news in Glasgow whatever the players do and I don't think he's helped himself

from the sort of first minute and you know the Rangers supporters saying well tell me a player who he's improved you know has the team improved he came out after the weekend I don't think he's helped himself

he told everybody the players are scared that's the Rangers manager telling every other club in Scotland that his players are playing with fear. And with the, you know, being sort of trying to be balanced with it, that's on him. That, you know, why would you do that? Why would you, why would you give, you know, why would you come out and say that?

Well, well, I think it is. And as I say, I don't see it. Unless he goes on an incredible run, you know, Rangers fans, I mean, I think from what I'm hearing, you know, it's going to be, they're just not going to rock up and watch the team. You know, they won't fill the stadium. They are so disillusioned. And, you know, with the best will in the world, you have these sort of long-term plans.

And, you know, it's happened a lot at Rangers where they bring a new manager in, new recruitment comes in, it doesn't work, and then they change manager. But this has turned so ugly, so quickly. The start was so important for Russell Martin, and he doesn't have any real allies other than the people who employed him.

Nobody else at the club wants him to, wants him to stay, and that's, in a short space of time, that's a horrific position for him to be in. Right, let's talk Chris Wilder next. Was meant to be part of our team on Saturday for Five Live Sport. Instead, he's decided to go back to Sheffield United for a third time as manager. Three months after he was sacked, Ruben Seller sacked yesterday

after they were thrashed on Friday night, 5-0 at Ipswich. They've lost all five games in the championship. They were knocked out of the League Cup. as well the statement from the club after they sacked Rubencelos was as follows

following a review of recent performances and taking into account the feelings of supporters the timing of the change has been made to give the club the best possible opportunity to improve the current league position Oli Mann

co-hosted the Sheffield United Way joins us with what I would describe as a wry smile on his face as I read that statement out so is this Is this a mess, or do you go the other way and go, fair play, they've omitted their mistake and they've managed to get Chris Wilder back? Which side are you on? I think it's a little from column A and a little from column B, if we're being honest with ourselves, in terms of how that one looks, because, you know, the change was made at the start of the summer with the promise of this new exciting football, Chris's great rival AI was going to be brought in and they were going to be helping us with the transfer moves that we were trying to do.

and they really wanted to try and modernise Sheffield United as a football club and so they took the decision to move forward and as fans I understood that if I'm honest you know we've been associated with Chris Wilder for such a long time I could understand what they were trying to do and the change they've tried to made but it was wrong ultimately you know the proof is in the pudding and it has gone drastically wrong with the way this season has started the summer was a complete mess in terms of the way we brought our transfers together the start to the season has being nothing short of catastrophic in terms of the performances, the results.

So bringing Wilder back, to me, it was a no-brainer. And, you know, I heard the discussion there on Rangers. And I think it was the only way to reunite the players, the fans, the club, was to have a legend back in charging. Yeah, I think it's the right decision from now. Can we just do this, this AI involved in the transfers thing? Not because of what we've been talking about tonight, but because this is sort of, in some ways, I wonder whether this has spiraled a little bit.

OLLie, in the sense of they decided to go down a more data-driven approach to bring their signings in. An AI was partly used, and I've talked to other people on data and this side of things, both at clubs and who run companies, and AI is commonly used, but mainly to kind of sift through reports or whatever it may be to take some of the heavy lifting out of it. They made a mess of getting that message out, wasn't it? I mean, the AI thing has been used as a stick to beat them with, which I do have some sympathy with them on that.

Yeah, that's completely fair. You know, it's very tongue-in-cheek at the moment because it sums up as somewhere that went wrong. I think had we made more positive signings, maybe being a little bit more proactive, had a good start to the season, it wouldn't have been really even a talking point. It's very much, it is a sensible way of modern recruitment

in that you would use the data. You would find the hidden gems across a range of European and beyond markets to try and make sure that you can maximise the value of your players. There's a lot of sense in that approach. It's become a stick to beat them with because predominantly we signed players from Bulgaria who are going to sit in us under 18s.

And that was really where it went wrong. It's the application, but I still think the club should believe in it as a long-term approach because we've seen it be so successful for other areas and it's all about tweaking now. It's about getting it right. And we have to hope that we've learnt the lessons of this summer so that we can get it right going forward

and use it in a more intelligent way. What I wanted to ask Ollie was what his relationship to Chris Wilder is now. Is he like your dad? Is he your granddad? Is he Santa? Where does he stand? I think he's Santa. I think that's the best way to answer that question.

He's obviously somebody we've had such a strong relationship with as a football club. You know, it almost feels comfortable. It feels safe. It feels like we know what to expect out of Sheffield United. And there's an excitement within that, in that there's just a bawning connection between the football club, between the fans, between the whole area of Sheffield to Chris Wilder and what he has brought to us in recent years,

I do think that, you know, approaching it from a more, say, a less sentimental view. I think this probably needs to be a natural last time, as it were. And the way I've been trying to describe this is that, you know, stories, generally speaking, they have a beginning, they have a middle, and they have an end. And we had an unbelievably good beginning with Chris Wilder, where he took us on an amazing journey.

But then lockdown hit, and the fans never got to experience. the bad time. We never got to experience where we went wrong. And so it was one day we were successful and celebrating with Chris Wilder. And the next time I was sat in Bramelein, he wasn't our manager and we were relegated. And so we tried to move on. We tried Paul Heckingbottom. We tried Slevisi Akanovich. And Wilder came back. And last season, again, we had a fantastic time. We were together. We were a club on a fantastic journey. And the one thing United fans need. And I think Wilder would probably go down as United's biggest legend had we won the game at Wembley, because it's what United

fans are crying out for, this opportunity to be successful at Wembley, something that hardly anybody alive today, maybe nobody alive today will have ever seen for our football club. And we were so close to getting that in May. It didn't feel like the end of the story. That's not a natural break point where you go 90 points, unlucky at Wembley, that's not an end. And so actually, while they're coming back,

it feels right to me that we should have a natural proper conclusion to this story that has been a love story for Wilder and United for 40 years since he first joined a club as a player. And so, yeah, it feels a bit like Santa in that I'm wishing on the presence that I had as a kid and me feeling just as excited as I was then. But there's also a little bit of me that believes

there is still a chance he's going to do it again because we've not yet seen the evidence in person that it goes wrong. Only man, co-host of the Sheffield United Way, Thanks to Shea and to Rory and to Chris as well For the Monday Nightclub Thank you to you for listening on watching If you missed any of the show

Then just ask AI how you can watch or listen back to it He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way There it is! It's a day to remember for Wayne Rooney And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney Show. Twice a week, Wayne Rooney, Kay Kerrude and me, Kelly Summers, break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. As much as you'd like to say it, loyalty in football now is just no existence,

whether that's from players or managers. Plus, we'll hear the funniest, wildest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career. The Wayne Rooney Show. Everybody's talking about it. Listen on BBC Sounds.