Football Daily - PL Review: City hunting Arsenal, are Spurs relegation favourites?

Episode Date: April 12, 2026

Are Arsenal ‘bottling’ the league title? Do they have what it takes to win at the Etihad next week? What are Manchester City showing on the pitch that Arsenal aren’t?Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and Luke Edwards, the Telegraph’s Northern football writer, join Rick Edwards to dissect a significant weekend of action.The panel analyst the title race, consider the strength of Bournemouth’s display in victory at Arsenal, and whether there is any hope for the Gunners’ North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who are now two points adrift from safety.Roberto de Zerbi lost his first game in charge but were there any positives and is he approaching the challenge in the right way?Plus, is Eddie Howe nearing the end of his time at Newcastle?Timecodes:01:30 City’s emphatic win over Chelsea — will they win every game now on? 04:24 How good is Rayan Cherki? 05:35 Reaction from Pep Guardiola at Stamford Bridge 07:00 What mentality do Arsenal need to find this week? 08:15 Will Arteta leave if they can’t win the title? 10:35 Are Arsenal lacking creativity, or is it bravery? 11:35 Bournemouth’s resilience in 2025/26 14:00 Gyokeres proves Rick wrong — is he the only big Arsenal positive? 15:17 Is there any hope for Tottenham? 18:20 Roberto de Zerbi’s reaction to defeat in his first game as Spurs manager 19:30 Were Spurs unlucky to lose again? How do they get confidence back and how many games do they need to win to stay up? 21:14 West Ham get the confidence Spurs are lacking 22:44 Did De Zerbi try anything different to Igor Tudor? 25:00 Half-time teaser answers 27:45 Is Eddie Howe on borrowed time? 35:00 Crystal Palace buoyant again after a long winter 38:00 Liverpool win ahead of PSG second-leg challenge at Anfield — do they have the same problem as Chelsea and will Arne Slot stay? 41:45 Does Slot HAVE to start Rio Ngumoha against PSG? 44:15 Should Salah come back into the starting XI after scoring against Fulham? 44:45 Clinton and Rick sing Happy Birthday to Luke

the Football Daily podcast. Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Hello and welcome to the Premier League review. Decent weekend of football already and we've still got Manchester United leads to come on Monday night. Arsenal do still lead but the horror month has continued. Defeat at home to Bournemouth opened the door for Manchester City. They booted it down.

Done the job at Chelsea to go. Six points behind Arsenal City play to the next week at the Etihad. Arsenal's North London rivals. rivals doesn't even feel like the right word anymore. Topman. Six games away from the championship after defeat in Roberto Deserbi's first game in charge, leaves them two points off safety. First Amfield goal for Liverpool Youngster Rio Engamoa.

Continued pressure on Eddie Howell. Two goals on his league return for Jean-Philippe Matata. Lots to get into. So let's do it. We've got former Premier League striker on our very own Maria Carey, Clinton Morrison, and the Telegrasse Northern Football Writer and our very own Mary Blyge, Luke, Luke, no, no, no, no. No, I just want...

You have to explain that, Rick. No, no, no. Okay. I want a very simple answer here. I don't want an explanation. I just want the name of a team. Clinton, who is going to win the league? Mante.

Luke. Who is going to win the league? Arsenal. Very nice. One of you is definitely right. It's actually... Do you know what? It's nice to be back.

Yeah, where have you been, Rick? Thanks, you've just sort of disappeared. It left me carrying this podcast on my very broad shoulders. None of you're... business and I've seen your narrow shoulders man. Look, the game that we've all just watched City

Chelsea, Chelsea in the first half were pretty good and probably should have been ahead. City were quite flat and then City came out in the second half completely different team and were really emphatic. The fans

singing, are you watching Arsenal? I think John Murray on the commentary said they'd probably stop watching actually. But all all along, I've been saying to sort of Arsenal people, yeah, you might stumble a bit, but City are not going to go on a run where they just win every game. And I've been convinced of that until the last few games. I've looked at Manchester City and thought, ah, maybe, maybe they are going to go on one of those runs.

What do you reckon, Luke? I've tried to stick unwaveringly behind Arsenal all season, but I'm much like you, Rick. I am beginning to wobble as are the team. I mean, I watched the game. I sacrificed watching later on Orient lose at Lincoln yesterday to watch Arsenal play, and you could feel the anxiety through the television. So I dread to think what it was like inside the stadium.

It just seemed so much tension and the negativity that crept in. The team are stumbling, they're clunking, they're clanking. A lot of seas in there. But they just looked out of sorts throughout the game, and then the crowd was sort of wanting them to move the ball quicker. You had Mikhail Arteeta turning around to turn the fan, telling the fans to calm down. Well, that's fine, but then they went on and lost the game. And pressure does really, really funny things to people. And Arsenal haven't won the league for so long. And they have

hit their worst form of the season at the worst possible time with this relentless winning machine behind them. There was a remarkable stat I heard on five-lives. Colin Murray said it. I think now that that win over Chelsea, Man City's record in April is 29 wins out of the last 32 games. That's right. So they are so impressive at this stage of the season. And I said last week when you were on holiday or whatever as you were doing, Rick, they're sort of playing with...

Doing some great work around. They're enjoying being the hunter. And there's a sort of freedom there and a joy. And I thought they were absolutely magnificent in the second half against Chelsea. They went through the gears and blew away a supposed. supposedly, you know, Champions League team, blew them away in the second half. And it's very, very ominous for Arsenal. But I have, as I said at the very start, I've got to still stick with them.

I've still got to back them to just do enough to hold Man City off. They've got to play each other, of course. Rob Green on Co-Com's, he really likes Ryan Shirky. A very, very, very good fun player to watch, Clinton. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cherkey's a player, but you know what it is? I said it many of times. He's like a maverick.

He's one of those you pay money to watch. And you know what he does? He talks to talk, but he can also walk to walk. I think he's a fantastic player. Pett big dim up in the week saying, you know, when you see some of these players, they play at like 100 miles an hour. He knows when to slow it down, when to play at his pace.

He likes to do kick-ups as we see. He likes to do loads of stuff juggling. We've seen it today in the second half, and we see it in the Carabelle Cup final. If I was playing against him, I think I would kick him and put him in Rose. I don't know how to catch him. Yeah, Ben White. And I thought he'd be able to catch him.

Yeah, Ben White. why, it should have probably kicked him a bit harder, but he's a super, super talented individual and he's a joy to watch. And I think he'd be one of the signings of the season. He's just going through the gears at the moment. I think he's fantastic. Man City are cooking at the moment.

You know, if Mancities beat them Arsenal next weekend, Luke will change his opinion because then I think Mancita are in the driving seat. I don't think they lose a game. I'm just saying, mate, just from now to the end of the season. It's still in Arsenal's hands, but I just think after that performance, what I saw yesterday, I watched the game,

I covered the game against Bournemouth. They were nowhere near it. They were flat. They're playing with no tempo. There's no pace to their team where you watch Man City this afternoon against Chelsea, in particular in that second half. Everything done that tempo, and it could have been more. Let's get some reaction from Stanford, Bridge.

Well, we have seven days, so proportionally the game will be beat Arsenal once is difficult. They prove it all the season, beating twice in the margin of three weeks is even more difficult. But we play at home as a final, relax. focus on what you have to do to beat through the game, not to the what happened if you win, we lose, everybody knows it. So you have to talk about how to do you have to do. And the team that defend well, the duels, the long balls, the set pieces and a thousand million things that they do really this season that make so far the best team in England, numbers are there. And the best team in Europe, numbers are there. So isn't beaten in Champions League, so nobody beat us. So this is the

team we're going to face. So have a huge respect. And I'm a problem. You have a three radius here in front of me. Did you bet before Arsenal? You bet one pound before the Caravow Cup for us in the St.2 Arsenal? No chance. You are thinking Arsenal is going to win. So that you have to control for next Sunday. But we play at home in our people and the people is happy

because we won the Caravow Cup. We are in semi-final champion. FIA Cup and the Premier League we are there. So that is what required with teams and we're going to try to do a good game. Yeah. I mean, Guardio has got his high. win percentage in April fixtures.

Artetta has his worst win percentage in April fixtures. The flip side of all of this is, if you're Arsenal, you should be thinking, we can win the league next weekend. And you pretty much, if they go and I know that they don't tend

to go on with the Aethe, but if they do, it's done, isn't it? It's still in their hands. That's what they've got to think. They've got to think it's still in their hands. They have been the best team for the majority of the season, and they are just struggling under that burden of history more than anything. And everyone, I keep saying this, but there are a lot of people out there who want them to fail.

And, you know, maybe that's crept into them. They're tightening up. They're tightening up. That's what it looked like against Bournemouth. They were tightening up. Like, the things that came naturally to them, they've lost this kind of set piece dominance that has bailed them out of trouble so many times previously this season. Do you think teams have to work them out on that front?

I think so. I think so. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I'm not tactically astute enough to tell you what they're doing. I know that. But I do think what they are, what seems struck me yesterday is I think what they're now doing is teams are protecting the goalkeeper. So they're put in a bank of defenders in front of their own goalkeeper, which is stopping Arsenal sort of crowding into that right underneath the crossbar area.

That was my one observation that I thought Bournemouth did really, really well. So Arsenal should still believe that, you know, they're not going to get a better chance to win the Premier League than they're in now. it will go down as one of the biggest implosions, most spectacular implosions of a season if they don't do it now and then they don't win the Champions League. If they end the season trophy list now, that has got to be the end of Mikhail Artetta for me.

I don't think that's even outlandish to say. No, I think you're right. Because of the position they're in. You say that. What was you doing? I was doing something this morning with 12 to 2 to buildup this morning and Julian Leuron said...

12 to 2, not a classic morning time, but I'll give that to him. Yeah. He basically... said he doesn't think. He said the impostructure that they've got at the club and the owners, because I asked the same question if he'd come away with trophy lists

and not winning a single thing, they said no, he's building something there and the owners will stick with him and back him. I was like, really? Because not when we were talking about three weeks time. He's building a bridesmaid. Yeah, exactly. They were going to win the quadruple. And they gave them all that money

to go and spend on players. But the only way Arsenal Beatman City next week is on set pieces. That's my honest opinion. I think they could be a threat from set pieces. They're not going to out football this Man City team. And what Arsenal need they need Saka and Yuri Timba back, ASAP, in particular Timba,

because the way Docu was running at Chelsea's fullbacks today, and Semenio and Cherokee in the 10, and Harlem was quiet, but still had a decent game tracking back. They're frightening at the moment. And then you include the two goals scorers who scored in Geh and Nicco What a finish, by the way, by Gay.

Yeah, fantastic. That's naughty from a santa back. I was going to say, you had a nickname on this podcast, Clinton, which was gravy shoes after you spilt gravy all down your shoes at St James's Park. He's a good nickname, but Nastradamus now, after you did, you did predict, you said you were the first that I know of

who said whoever won the Carabal Cup final would go on to win the Premier League. I did because I just, you know what? Why are you saying, can I just ask why you're saying Nastradamus? Nostradamus. Nostradamus. Nostradamus.

What does that mean? Because I don't know. Slow tomato. One of you two are more intentional. Well, it's not really tomato, tomato, actually. It's just the guys called Nostradamus. He's like a sort of famous, like, well, he was like an astrologer,

but he sort of apparently predicted loads of events. I don't know if I predicted. Maybe I just guessed right in the end. But as you say, it's still Arsenal to lose at the moment. But they're going to come under big pressure because watching the game yesterday against Pormouth, they look flat.

They didn't create anything. There was no pace in the team. Not to the youngster came on Dalman, who tried his best. it didn't really work out for him and they brought Eze on. But they just looked like there's no creativity in the team at the moment. But to me, it's not just about creativity, I don't think. It's like there's not bravery.

No, exactly that. That's the thing that they're lacking. They'd look a bit nervous about trying anything. Yeah, because they don't want to make a mistake. Because the fans are, what about when David Ray, he was on the ball, right? I was watching the game. He was on the ball in the second half for about a couple of minutes. The fans were having a right go at him.

I'm thinking he's been one of your best players. Yeah, yeah. They want the ball to get forward. Yeah, they want the ball to get forward. But they're nervous. And what I will say, though, if teams watch and they're playing Arsenal, what Bournemouth did under Iriola is they pressed the life out of Arsenal

and they were nowhere near good enough. Tactically, Bournemouth got it spot on yesterday. I mean, but that's the other thing for all the discussion of Arsenal's deficiencies yesterday. Bournemouth were fantastic, though. Yeah, brilliant. And what Ariola's done, what the football club has done, to lose your back four last summer. So three of the back four and your goalkeeper.

And then Semenyo, your best player in January. And still be challenging for a European place. And they also had a bad run. They had a bad run this season as well. A really tough run. And you're sort of thinking, oh, you know, Aereola hasn't signed a new contract. He's going to be very much in demand in the summer, isn't?

Because of the job he's done. And it is a truly remarkable job. But yeah, to go back to your question, They were absolutely spot on. They played on the fear and the anxiety of Arsenal as well because they got up into their faces really quickly. They closed them down. They didn't give them any respite, no easy passes.

They kept constant pressure on. And then that sort of played on the vulnerability of Arsenal as well mentally, I think. But they have been brilliant for a number of years, a club that has punched above its weight for a number of years. I just wonder about the manager at the end of the season. There's going to be some changes. aren't there. We think in the Premier League. He is going to be in demand because

if he gets him into Europe, though, he'll stay, won't he? I don't know if it works like that? I mean, it'd be terribly shame for Bournemouth. It'd be a terrible shame for Bournemouth if he did get them into Europe and then he left. But yeah, the fact you have... There's a lot of rumours, you know, that he could be

going in. Well, I don't know if this is, but there's talk of it, I've seen it the other day about Crystal Palace. I was like, no way are you. And that's not being disrespectful to to my old team, but... No, but that's a sort of sideways step, isn't it? That's what I'm saying. Yeah, you would want to go to one of the top teams for sure. But you have to watch this space, but yeah, he's been magnificent. I'm here Marco Silver for Paris. I'm going to see Palace fans on Friday night. I'd take that

tomorrow. But I do think Ariel is in the mix and there's a few others. So yeah, there's a lot in the mix for Palace. So Palace fans, I know you're listening. We're going to talk about you later, but yeah, you will be happy with the new manager. There's another job. There's another job as well. We're going to talk about it later, but Eddie Howell's situation, at Newcastle as well and the pressure He can't be going Luke surely

let's not go early I'm looking forward to that conversation let's not go early one one I'll say this just because I know you're probably thinking it one positive for Arsenal

his old toilet jockey rash it's alright ever since I said he was toilet the guy's been good yeah we'll say it again say it again because Arsenal desperately

needed to speak I know, but I know what you're saying. I know what he's saying, but I still think he can do more for that team, though. I look at, you are, right? He scores the penalty. Yeah, he was terrible. And he's not. And he's definitely not now.

He's been that focal point now. And he caused Borma for a lot of problems. He was the one who was running in behind causing problems and stuff like that. But you pay big money like that. That's what you expect your cent forward to do. I do agree with what you're saying, though. He's changed massively. And he does look like he's in more confident mood.

But other players need to step up to the mark. You know, like, both teams runnings, you'd still. take Arsenal's running any day of the week because City have some tough, tough fixtures but the way City are playing at the moment, those fixtures won't really worry them. One thing I will say, if I'm

I mean, no particular need to say this, but my other observation about Yocke Roches is he tends to score when they lose. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, that's not really, I know that you can't be level that hit. And not against the big teams. He needs to score next week against the big teams. If he scores against Man City, then he's been a brilliant signing, the winning

goal. I wonder what odds you get on him scoring against city. I think you get decent odds because I don't think he's going to. Let's talk about Tottenham then. Six games from relegation and we're not now in the kind of territory we were in last time I was on this podcast where we're sort of saying yeah no I think genuinely

they're in a relegation fight they're in the relegation zone they're two points from safety they haven't got any games in hand Roberto de Zerby's lost his first game in charge he's just come in he's already running out of time essentially given you were at the stadium of light

Is there any hope for Tottenham, Luke? There's always a hope because Nottingham Forest and West Hamon leads I've not been truly convincing themselves all season. I think all of those clubs have a bit more upward momentum than Spurs do. This is Spurs. No one's got less upward momentum than Spurs. No one. No.

It is their worst run in the league for 81 years. Yeah. They have lost eight out of the last 11. Their only win in that time was that Champions League's second leg tie that was almost already over when they beat Athletico, Madrid. That is some turnaround that you've got to oversee. And Deserby as well, when he went into Brighton, I read this today, he lost his first five games in charge.

So as good a job as he did at Brighton, it took a while to get those ideas across. And I was in the press conference after the game today. And I'm listening to him saying, you know, I can't be a coach. got to be a father and a brother. I've got to put my arm around these players. I'm not sure that's going to be enough because for me, Tottenham, this is pretty damning and it's a play of a criticism that once was the England cricket team. They can't keep clean sheets. They can't score goals and they're too easy to play through in midfield. That's a pretty poisonous mix. Apart from that,

apart from that, they've got an outstanding chance of staying up. So Sunderland as well, I mean, Sundland were a nightmare teams than to face because Sunderland had caused better teams than Spurs problems all season. And they are very in your face. They are physically very, very strong. They're athletic. And they're very, very good at what they do. But I just thought Sunderland, and this is the most damning thing you can say,

I looked at the two teams as the game wore on. Sunderland wanted it more. And that is such a basic, you know, such a basic observation to make. But after, you know, Tottenham conceded a very unfortunate goal. It's a huge deflection of Mukiali's shot. But after that, there was more than, you know, half an hour plus 11 minutes of stoppage time, they didn't create another clear-cut chance other than a long-range shot from Porro. So there are huge, huge problems. And I think Deserby, you know, he's on a huge bonus to

keep them in the Premier League. He will earn every single penny of that if he does it from here. Because I looked at them today and I just thought they got the stenture relegation about them. And they remind me so much, because I watch a lot of Newcastle United, when Newcastle went down under Alan Shearer and then they went down under Raffa Benitez. Raffa Benitez came in with a similar amount of games to Zerbi to try and save them. He couldn't do it. I think that job already, I think it's almost too big for him to do. I think they're doomed. Well, let's hear from Roberto de Zerbi.

We can play better, yes. We can do something more, yes. We can be with more energy and enthusiasm. Yes, we can enjoy more with the ball, yes. We can be stronger, yes. But in this moment, it's tough, no? my job is to help them not to play better football or to give a style of play

but to believe in themselves because they are able and they are enough to win a game. When we go to win a game, it can be possible to change everything. I might slightly disagree. One thing he says, though, I think your job is to make them play better football. And that's part of the conversation with the ownership. Definitely.

The only good thing is they got walls, haven't they? Wolves is their and their next game. And wolves have just rolled over. They play Bratton at home first and then wolves. Oh, okay, then walls. Yeah, you're right. They've got walls coming up. Yeah, you're right.

They have got two big games. But they haven't won in 2006. Wow. He's got to be a miracle worker. They've been knowing it. I watched the game. I'm against Sunderland. Yeah, I thought they were just hoping to come away of a point.

It wasn't the best of games. Yeah, they were probably unlucky because of the nature of the goal. they were probably unlucky to lose, actually. But they're still not. They're not creating enough, as Luke just said there. And they don't have Madison. They don't have Kulisovsky. They don't have Kudos.

And I don't think three of those, Madison might return at the end of April. Who knows? It might be, you can't expect him to work miracles. We don't know if Kulis Fiski is going to be back. We think Kudos might be out for the season. They're three best attacking players. So it's going to be difficult for Tottenham

because I've been in a situation like that. And if you're not winning football matches, there's no confidence. There's no one's, smiling around a place. You need a happy place. That is why Deserby's gone in there and says, well, you know what?

I've got to go in there and show them love. Because if I go in them, if he goes in there and you know what Deserby's like, starts having a go at players, they're going to go the other way. Because they're not listening to any of the managers they've had previously anyway. I feel like Igor Tudor tried that and it was a disaster.

Yeah, that's a big disaster. I think that whole of, yeah, big disaster. I feel like with Topman, if this was any other team with the record that they've got since the start of the year, we would have just written them. off. But by now,

just say, oh yeah, they're going down. I think it was a sort of weird, like, because it's Topman and they just

they won a European Cup last year and they're just sort of a quite unquote big club. They got too many good players. Like, you just sort of

think, well, they can't actually be going down. But I mean, they actually can. It's sort of staring you in the face, isn't it?

Their form is, it should be slapping you around the face. They definitely can go down because they haven't won a league game for more than four

months. And there's, what, six weeks of the season, They've got to win at least two, probably more, I would say, at least two, and pick up a point or so from elsewhere. Two points to drift. The two points of drift. But West Ham are going to win games.

You look at West Ham at them in, they're going to win games. You think North Forestland. Lead to the one. I know it's only rules, but just that 4-0 for West Ham just breeds a bit of confidence, isn't it? It's just nice getting a result like that. It was a bad game. Don't get me wrong. Yeah, but that's not.

But they don't care about it. Yeah, they don't care about that, but they scored four goals. So, as it says, and Nuno says, everyone's smiling around the place and everyone's full of comfort. You can't go. You're going to Tottenham if they're going in tomorrow or the day after. No one is not smiling around at Tottenham. Everyone's doom and gloom and that's. And you take that onto the pitch.

Luke make a good point, Leeds, but Leeds have wolves. Yeah, the first one of the year. But, yeah. Leeds have wolves and Burnley to play. I think they're going to put all their eggs in that basket to get the six points of two wins. Yeah, them two games, yeah. That's what I think. And then you look at Tottenham

and you look, because in theory, West Ham and Forrest have the hardest run of fixtures, but you believe they'll get results because there's momentum with them too. With Tottenham, there's no momentum, Matt. We keep saying they're going to get out of trouble, but next season they could be playing Lincoln. And I'm being serious.

That's a reality. Let's not play about. That's funny. It is funny. And Lincoln, just say Tottenham fans, Lincoln has a very impressive cathedral. So it is, it is a good, it is a good trip. It's actually worth a visit.

I was trying to look for anything in that game from Spurs that said, oh, okay, Deserby is doing, is trying something a bit different. And I guess, starting with Selanky, Kallamawani and Risharlison, says a bit more attacking, maybe. You know what? A bit braver? I think you're spot on with attacking.

And also playing players in their right position. And Doggy being, I thought he was good at. left back. I thought he was good, got into positions, playing people in their natural positions. But you're right. It was brave, but I think it's difficult because I think all those three strikers want to play as the number nine. So I thinking you've got someone who's paid big money for, Javi Simons, he's sitting on the bench. You bring him on with four or five minutes to go. That was the only strangest thing I looked at it. But I think you're right, it was positive with the three up front. And let me tell you, just before a half time, they have the chance.

It's a good save from the Kandling goalie, but Selanki has that chance. If they go in one-nil, they've got something to hold on to, but it didn't create enough chances, and they always looked like there might be one goal that separated and Sunderland looked the best out of both teams on the day. Okay, we're going to talk about Newcastle, Liverpool, and more shortly. But first, your favourite time of the show, your half-time teaser. Eddie Howell, we've joint 10th in all-time number of Premier League games managed

alongside Jose Marino. How many of the nine above them can you name? I'm going to assume you might grab around and get five. Back in a second. Five live sports. So here's the first ball of this series. All the cricket you laugh. Shave Ralphieblin.

Lives on BBC sounds. Smash straight back down the ground. This girl. Here ball by ball coverage of the biggest competitions on the domestic and international circuits. It's a ball cricket and it's the huge run. Two sports. Tettle down. It's only.

Cricket on Five Live Sport. Oh, blibbing every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review, with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League review. Before the break, I asked, who is above Eddie Howe and Jose Marino in the all-time number of Premier League games managed? They're joint 10th, so there's nine above them.

So I'm just going to go back and forth here. So I'll start with... Wait. Oh, yeah, I know. Let me go first, please, because I'm only going to get one. Clinton. David Moyes. In third.

Ferguson. Yeah, in second. Clinton. How long has he, has Pep been there a long time? Pep? Yeah, 10 years. Yes. Yeah, Pep.

It's good. He's in ninth. Wow, he's just in ninth. Venga? Yes. Number one. Oh, what a shout. I've got another one.

I've got another one. So he's second then? No, no, Ferguson. We've had him. Oh, Ferguson was second. Yeah. Moy's third. Ferguson's second, Venger first.

Sam Allerdye. Very nice, Luke. In fifth. Luke's on fire today. You keep going Luke until I think of one. You've got, so we've got four to get. Steve Bruce? Very nice.

I was going to say him, you know. Your former manager, Clinton. He's managed over a thousand, thousand games. But so has Neil Warnock, but he would have been in the Premier League that long because he's a championship. Yeah.

Okay, so we've got three to get. Clinton, you got any for me? Oh, he's been at, I'm trying to think longevity in the Premier League. Benitez? No, no. He said, Venger. Klop? No, not Klop.

Is there any in there now? Hodgson. I was going to give you a clue, I said he's 94, and he's still managing, but not in the premise. Yeah, he's 84. Martin O'Neill? Martin O'Neill?

No. Martin O'Neill? No. Give us a clue for the last two then. So, yeah, okay. So one of these guys is actually managing in the National League. Oh, wow. I can give you some clubs before that.

Mark Hughes. Yes. Love that, Clinton. Yeah, one to get. Wow. And it's a beauty, really. In fifth, iconic English manager. Harry Redna.

Harry Redna. Oh, hang on. We've got two to get there. In that case, yes. Yes, Harry Redna. I was to give another one. Okay. Yeah, so Harry's in fourth.

Then actually another iconic English manager. How many iconic English managers are there? Well, I think there's not that many. Graham Taylor, Gariff Southgate. It's Garif Southgate. I don't know. I'm just throwing names here. I'm iconic.

He's saying, oh, I know. I know. Kevin Keyes. I'm sorry if you said Sam, I said it. He did say so. He did. He did say, he did. I apologize.

Come waltzing back into this podcast after a five-week holiday. It was not a holiday. I was working. Here's what happened. Working for three weeks. Not from the snaps you sent me, Rick. Just because I was working in a nice place, doesn't mean I wasn't working. That was good.

Yeah, I didn't. I mean, I do sometimes just try and tune you out, Luke. and I guess that's what happened there. People have been trying for years. That was better than, it was better than expected. Anyhow, into that top 10, I think he might

only have six more league games as Newcastle manager. Seven of their last 10, they've lost. Another lead thrown away. No Premier League team has lost more points for a winning position. You might know this stat look, but I was like, oh, wow.

25 points drop from winning positions. Five more. on any other side, if they'd held onto those wins, and I know that, you know, ifs and butts or whatever, they'd be second. Yeah.

That's crazy. It is crazy. And it's, I think we've reached the point now at Newcastle where it's about a pain threshold. It's about your tolerance level, how much more can you, if you're a Newcast United supporter,

how much more can you take? Because I think this season has imploded or certainly on the brink of a real spectacular implosion. hugely disappointing result again today. Same sort of failings, can't hold on to a lead, don't seem to know how to play when they've got the lead, and then when the pressure is exerted late in a game, they buckle individual mistakes again today,

and it's come back to, you know, come back to bite them. I think this season is almost at the point where you're writing off. So when I talk about a pain threshold, I think you've got to the point now, you either believe that Eddie Howell is the right man to lead the rebuild, because I think there is a group of players in that dressing room. I can name names, but I think it would be slightly unfair. We'll just say there's a group of players in that.

Come on. I think the lights of Tino Livermento, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tanali, I've got one eye on the exit door. I suspect there might be others. I think Joanne Wisser, I think Nick Volta Marda might also have their eyes on the exit door. You've got Kieran Trippia going at the end of the season. You've got the likes of Joe Willett,

who will probably be going at the end of the season. That is a huge chunk of your first team squad who have got one eye on the exit. So you can lay the blame at the manager's door and a manager always carries the can in football. That's always true. But I think Newcastle Knight supports, and they will still be split, very much split.

Do you trust Eddie Howe to lead the rebound of the team in the summer and go into next season and have the chance to put things right? He's the most successful manager in the club's modern history. I would certainly back him to still do that because I don't think they're going to get a better manager than Eddie. And I think you just have to suck up this season. But having said that, I'm not a supporter. I'm not paying my money to go and watch.

Now, it's up to the fans now. Can they tolerate what is happening? Or are things going to get so toxic in the remaining six games of the season? If they finish outside of Europe, are enough of them going to be calling for him to go? The board, and probably how himself will decide, actually, it's time to part ways in the summer. I don't think we have reached that point yet,

but they desperately need to show something in the remaining six games of the season. Not far off. Just look at your PIN's tweet. Where do you want you? statue Eddie Howe. Which you would still deserve a statue

by the way. I mean, he won the club's first trophy for 70 years. I mean, he is the most successful manager

in the club's modern history. He has outperform for Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan. But that doesn't prevent, that doesn't shield

a manager forever. And there's been so many frustrations of disappointment. You know, it's been from the moment Isaac left at the back end of the

transfer window on the deadline day and they signed Yoann Wisser and Nick Walter to replace him. that money was not spent wisely.

And if you haven't got a centre forward who can score goals regularly, you can't take 27 goals out of a team and replace it with whatever those two have contributed. They are now the third and fourth choice centre forwards. Yeah, that is telling in itself. Also, I mean, not entirely his own fault, but Aesack's not exactly contributing to 27 goals this season. Eddie Howes says,

the fact we haven't been able to consolidate really good passages of the game, but also to go on and score more goals and continue to attack, That is what's blighted the season. That's not the tactical instruction we give the players. We don't want to go one-nill up and change their mentality of defending, but we've done it, so I can't say it hasn't happened. Aaron Ramsey said something similar, getting into winning positions and not be able to hold on to it.

I can't really put my finger right. The problem is that that is the manager's job. You have to be able to put your finger on what is going wrong. And it doesn't feel like he can, Clinton. It's a struggle at the moment. It is a struggle. I like Eddie Howe, whatever happens. If they do decide to make a...

Yeah, I know he does. To be fair, I think he's a top manager. I think there'll be a lot of clubs looking at Eddie Howe if he was to leave Newcastle. I do think the recruitment's not probably been as good as I've... Oh, it was all right. I thought the players were all right. They've just struggled.

Hasn't worked out for Vista or Voltemortemar. When Luke was telling me, I can't believe why they want to be leaving Newcastle because the two of them ain't going to get a bigger club than what they're playing for at the moment. So that must be... They can't get a game. No, yeah, but that's what I'm saying. They're trying to balance the board.

but they've been given opportunities. Visas, I understand he had injuries. But Nick Baltimore started the season well. But he just don't know what he is. He's not a number nine. And the way Newcastle want to play, they want to play with a centre forward that stretches the pitch. That's why they've been playing Gordon and young Asula,

who's done a right for them. And you're right. Them two are ahead of it because he's doing what you want from Newcastle. But I was watching a game today. And at 1-0, I was thinking, if you're in Newcastle, you need to go and get the second goal. Because Pallas have a threat on the bench with the likes of Saar, Mateta. and they came on and just changed the game instantly

because what Palace do is they have players that running behind as well and cause a lot of problems and then I do not know for the life of me what Bottman's doing at the end of Jefferson Lerma like you should know the referee's watching and just let it go. So as soon as there's contact

because even if you come away with a draw it's a hard place to go Palace even though Newcastle need wins but a draw but you come away with losing so the pressure will be on at anyhow I just hope from now to the end of the season they go on a good run of games but the sooner they get that Bruno Gimeridge back, the better.

And you know what? I actually think he's the one that will stay next season. I actually think, I think Luke makes a good point. I think the likes of Tanali and that probably will move on. Their heads are turned. But I think Bruno, with the right people and the right recruitment, and if Newcastle can bring in some very good players, I think they'll be good.

They're a massive football club. You wouldn't want to go and play from Newcastle. If they can bring in some very good players. Yeah, you're right. It is. Yeah, that's a big if. Whether they make the right selections, whether those players want to come.

Like, none of that is clear, is it? It's a difficult situation for Newcastle. I mean, I've described it. They've punched above their weight for four years. They've been, you know, to get in the Champions League twice, to win a trophy. They've been the great disruptors of the Premier League, along with Aston Villa in terms of trying to break up that top six, but it's so hard to do it consistently.

And they've got recruitment right, right up until last summer. But that was the only one out of five windows they've been active in. And they spent a lot of money. They lost their best player and top goal score. and unfortunately that summer the recruitment wasn't good enough and they didn't have a CEO, they didn't have a sporting director, the Isaac saga was handled really, really badly, as we said multiple times, to say he wasn't for sale all summer

and then sell him on deadline day. But, you know, nobody cares about that anymore because it's April and they can't defend leads and they're 14th in the Premier League. So they need a good end to the season, they need to put some positivity there. And then it's just, as I say, it's a pain threshold thing. How much can you tolerate?

because it's been a disappointing season in the league. On Palace. So, yeah, I saw a couple of my friends who are Palace fans on Friday night who were absolutely, I mean, they were buoyant after Thursday night, the 3-0 against Fier and Tina in the Conference League. And there's just a bit of, there's just some really, just a bit of a feel-good factor, I think, at a Palace at the moment, Clinton. I think you're spot on.

I think 2016 in stock world, you lose your best players, lose Mark Gay. You hear the manager, Glasner is leaving. And then the players, I feel, down tools. And probably the manager himself would have said he downeduls. Then Mateta wants to leave and Palace going a horrible run. And then now, you're right, the field good factors back. Mateta's back.

He's scoring goals. All is forgiven. And I've always said it, yeah. The way he handled it was wrong and out of order. But he would have a big say in what Palace can do at the end of the season. And they're free no-up. I can get, I'm not going to, there's one foot in the door. for the semi-final.

After what I watched in the first night. That's what I'm trying to say, Palace. I know it's a European conference league, but it's brilliant. It's a European semi-final. And they'll probably be one of the favourites to go on and lift the trophy. Because I fought Fiore and Tina, even though they've struggled in Saria, I still think they're a decent team. But Palace just blew them away. It could have been more as well.

They missed big chances. So, yeah, the feel good factors there. They want to finish as high as possible. And they want to try and get to a final and win a trophy. And then it will turn out to be another good season for Palace. and then you go in the summer and then it's a big summer for Palace because I think they'll lose a few more players

recruitment have to be spot on and obviously the biggest one you're going to lose is the manager so there's a lot of good things happening for Palace from now to the end of the season and in the summer it's a rebuilding again and you'd bite Marco Silver's handoff

100% I take Marco Silver now but we can't take him now because Glaston's still doing a good job and he's still at full on but yeah I'd bite the hand off Is Glastner the only manager who has tried to talk himself out of a job this season, failed to do so,

and then it could end up having another generationally successful campaign. Yeah, Luke, you know why? He's clever, because he was down-talling, and they weren't winning football matches, and he was on a high, wasn't he, last year? He didn't want to end the season on the low, with all the jobs that he was probably up for, not around.

If he finishes it and wins the Europa Conference League, he's going to be on a high again, isn't he? And everyone's going to be talking about him. So you are right, though, mate. He spoke about five or six times trying to, lose his job, didn't. He's done well to keep it. And so many managers have done it successfully this season.

But Paul Glasner, who started last summer. Who do you think of everyone? Who do you think did the best, the best job? I think it's probably Nuno. Nuno did well. Nuno's was great. Amarim did pretty well. Amarim did well.

Enzo weren't bad. Enzo weren't bad. Enzo was good, actually. Enzo was probably number one. He weren't bad. Well, I always enjoy it. Big old week coming up for, we'll wrap things up with Liverpool.

They're going to need, I mean, on the one hand, you go, what a 2-0 deficit to PSG is not that bad at Amfield, but then if you watch the game, it should have been much more, and you assume that they'll just get absolutely spanked at home as well. But a bit of pressure was eased at the weekend with yesterday's win

Liverpool still I think Fulham had a lot of shots and should have scored so it's a game where if Liverpool had only drawn it I don't think they could have had many complaints they sort of were decent again this is what Liverpool do

this season is they play well for a period of time but they just cannot they cannot maintain it and a bit like it's sort of reminiscent I don't know if you would agree with this Chelsea play well and then as soon as something goes wrong

i.e. they concede they don't look like they're going to get back into it. Liverpool are the same. It didn't happen yesterday against Fulham but you feel like it's just going to happen time and time again. I suppose ultimately my question for you to is does slot keep his job

because I think similarly to Eddie Howe probably not? No I think he'll keep his job if they qualify for the Champions League and I think the good work he did in the first season in terms of winning the league. I think that'll be enough for him to keep his job. I really do.

I think that'll be enough. Well, I suppose the position now with Chelsea losing, I mean, there are four points, you know, in that fifth play spot, which we now know will get Champions League. Bit of a cushion there. They should do. They've got quite a tough running, but I don't know. They're just still rubbish.

Yeah, I speak to a lot of Liverpool fans. They're split on a slot, but I think what Luke said is... Everywhere, aren't they? Everywhere, everywhere. Yeah, everywhere. That's what I find. But I think if Liverpool Champions League, they have to be in Champions League. With the money they spend, I think they'll go again in the summer and spend again.

So if they finish in the Champions League, then I think he keeps his job. But there'll be pressure on because, and you know what? The PSG, you are spot on. Like, you're looking at the PSG, the first game. It was so negative, I blame Slot. The way he set up playing a five at the bat, when he probably only had a day to work on it, I was thinking, what are you doing? I understand you're playing against one of the best attacking teams,

but don't have a go at PSG because, Chelsea had a goal there, scored two goals again. You can get at PSG. Did get hammered. Yeah, they got hammered though. That was, that was through stupid playing out in stupid areas. If they had gone back to the Stanford Bridge, only three two down, they would have a good chance. But they are good PSG.

The front three are outstanding and the midfield. All the way through their excellent. But you know what? You can't go man to man with them. No, you can't. That's what they did. That's what they did. Yeah, Newcastle did.

You're right. Newcastle drew them. I don't think PSG again sort of hit their stride later in the same. It's the big problem for the Premier League clubs that because we saw it last season as well. The teams in the slightly weaker, less competitive leagues, they kind of cruise through the group stage, do enough. And they get weekends off from their league. And then they get a nice bit of rest. Yeah, they get a nice bit of rest.

The league sort of facilitates them, beating peak physical condition for the midweek Champions League games. And we saw it last season as well with PSG. They certainly move up a level when it gets to this stage of the season. Listen, don't rule out Liverpool. That's all I'm going to say. European nights, I know what it's, I've been to Amford and watched many of games on European nights. If they can get an early goal, that place will be jumping, by the way. Rick will be jumping.

Yeah, I will be jumping. But someone said this on social media the other day, they were like, honestly, if Liverpool get that first goal, I think there's a chance they could lose four one on aggregate. No, no, no, no, no. Play young Rio as well. Play young Rio. Well, that's the thing, isn't it? Like, do you go all out?

Do you, I think the fans have been very excited. I mean, obviously the atmosphere will be great, whatever. But if you start Rio and Gamora, who scored a, it was brilliant against Fullam, actually. Like the shining light scored a great goal. He's really, really exciting. And you kind of, you kind of need that. Yeah, he's got no fear factor.

He's a bit like Max Dalman. They don't fear. Like, the other Liverpool players experienced ones, they have a bit of fear factor. He don't, I don't think he'll start him in a game like this. I do think he'll probably start Vits on the left, Salah on the right, and probably play Eckerti K through the middle,

and he'll probably go strong in midfield because you don't want to open up the game too soon. But if after about 50 minutes and Liverpool can't break them down and it's still tight, I'm bringing him on because he just wants to take people on and he's so excited. And you know what it does? It gives a whole crowd a lift

because they love the young man already. Luke? Yes? Just add something. Can you add something to this podcast? Yeah, I'll add something. It's my birthday today, which I'm very disappointed. Hold on.

How old, mate? I'm not telling you how old I am due to date. 30. Yeah, 31. Just hit the big three one. Thank you. Next time I see you, I got a present for you. You know, I know this.

He's 49. I'm not. I'm not, Rick. It's wrong. It's the wrong age. So what are you saying? You're not 50, are you? No.

What? Well, you're saying it's the wrong age like it was higher. You can't say your age because of date. It's a risk these days to give your age away and your date and birth. You're near me, you're near me, you're near me. I think you sound, you sound old. Because I'm so wise. I know, I know what you mean.

I know, Rick, I know what you mean. I know what you mean. I sound wise beyond my ears. Thank you so much, Rick. That's the nicest thing you've ever said. What are you, are you and you the same age? Yeah, 46. Yes, Glenson, great age.

Yeah, we're the same age. You can't be. We're in, basically, we're still clinging to our mid-40s. 100%. It's almost, don't. early 40s. It is. It's all over for Luke.

I'm not denying, I'm not denying it's all over for me. Geez. Well, look, before you, before you just sort of crowbarre on your birthday for no reason. Yeah. Do you think Salah starts on Tuesday? Yes. I think you've got to. You've got to give the Egyptian wizard a chance to write one final great chapter.

Or hopefully not the final great chapter for him this season. I don't think you're leaving him on the bench. I think Slop. Slot will be heavily criticized if people will go out and Mosella starts to game on the bench. Yeah, and it was a very good finish for his goal as well. All right, thanks very much, Clinton. Happy birthday, Luke.

Happy birthday, Luke. Thank you. Did you want, were you angling for Clinton to sing to you? Yes, I'd love Clinton to sing to me. You want to do it as well, Rick? Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Luke.

Happy birthday to you. I think I'll just sick of my own mouth. That is all we got time for on the Premier League review. Next up on the Football Daily Feed, the Monday Nightclub. What a way to end it. Hello, I'm Tyler West and I'm Alfie Watts. And this is The Detour, the official companion podcast to race across the world. This is the post-episode checkpoint

where you'll hear the latest chat around each episode from us and our race superfan special guests. Plus, I'll be joined each week by a resident travel expert, Alfie. That's you, ma'am. I'll be revealing my optimal way to travel through each leg, including visits to all of those unmissable detours along the way. And we'll also have some not seen anywhere else exclusive content at the end of every episode, I cannot wait.

The detour will land straight after each episode of Race Across the World. You can watch on Eyeplayer or Listen on Sounds, where you'll also find extra bonus content. We'll see you then.