Football Daily - PL Review: Spurs turn a corner as Arsenal pull clear
Episode Date: March 15, 2026Has a 16-year-old settled the title race for Arsenal? Is Bruno Fernandes the Player of the Season? And have Spurs turned a corner?Those questions and much more discussed on Premier League Review, as f...ormer Liverpool, Stoke City and Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam joins Aaron Paul and Luke Edwards, The Telegraph’s Northern Football Writer.Timecodes: 01:00 Premier League moments we loved this week 03:15 Have Spurs turned a corner under Igor Tudor? 06:40 Were Liverpool complacent? 08:45 Will Tudor keep his job now? 13:05 Max Dowman’s special moment for Arsenal 14:40 Mikel Arteta on Dowman’s goal and impact 15:10 Is the Dowman hype real? 18:00 Arteta’s impactful substitutions 21:10 Why are City dropping points from winning positions? 24:23 Half-time teaser 27:00 Bruno Fernandes to break the assist record? 28:20 Wayne Rooney backs Carrick for the job — should he have it? 36:10 Aston Villa unable to go any further?
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On the Football Daily Podcast,
Premier League Review with Aaron Paul.
Hello and welcome to the Premier League Review on a big weekend with regards to the title race.
A 16-year-old Max Downman inspired Arsenal to late victory over Everton whilst Manchester City stumble again.
The gap is currently at nine points.
Then on Sunday, Tottenham fought to a one-old draw and field to potentially turn the tide under Igor Tudor.
Also, Manchester United won again to boost Michael Carrick's chances of getting the job full-time.
and a criticise Anthony Gordon
returned to Newcastle's line up
for only a second ever Premier League win
at Stanford Bridge.
Loads to get through in the company
of Luke Edwards and Charlie Adam.
Gents, how are we?
Good evening.
Really good.
Well, thank you.
Fantastic.
Right, we are asking you why you love the Premier League.
One thing this weekend
that reminded you why you love the Premier League.
Who wants to go first?
I'm going to go first.
It's not a great moment.
It's kind of the opposite to a great moment, in fact.
But it is the Chelsea
pretty much huddle
with referee Paul Tierney
trapped in the middle
it is one of the weirdest
and strangest things
I have seen
I have no idea
why Chelsea can't just
do their huddle
in their own half
like everyone else
in the history of football
has ever done
I've no idea
while Paul Turney
has decided to refuse to move
so that he's in the middle of it
I have no idea
what Liam Rossini
was on about
afterwards in his post-match press conference
it's just when you're a journalist
these weird
and wonderful stories
is they always capture the imagination.
And Chelsea, the ball whisperers.
That's my new nickname for them.
They like to talk to the ball before the game, apparently.
Well, maybe they should follow the ball
when it gets passed through their defence.
And Wesley Fafana should probably track the ball.
Anthony Gordon is running into score.
So, yeah, a farcical moment,
but I did find it absolutely hilarious.
I'm off a matchdown, and I think it's a special, special talented player.
I've seen Rio Ingrammo a few times this year as well.
and I think it's the weekend of the young kids
the next generation of English talent
that's coming through
and for two managers to be
different sort of pressures
one's under pressure because they've struggled
this year and one manager's under pressure
to win a championship for the first time in 20 or years
and to throw two young players in
is an incredible belief from the two coaches
but also from the players to
you know when I watch Ingamoa play
and I'm putting it too different
or both players, these boys just want to keep giving them the ball,
want to trust them, they want to give it,
and they make things happen.
And I think that's probably the highlight of me of the weekend
is these two young players stepping on the scene,
bursting on the scene as Mika Richards talks about.
I think this is two real special talents for English football,
and it should be a joy to watch them play.
Special mentions to Ricardo Califiori for that.
Stunning Block and J.D. Canvo's celebrations
at Leeds Red Cross.
hard. I've never seen anything like it.
He went for it. He went for it. He fully went for it.
That's all I can say.
Shane never scored a goal in two games at which he can actually celebrate.
Maybe he's bored. Maybe he's practising.
Yeah, maybe. Maybe it was good fun.
Let's begin with what we've just seen. Live on five live, a mega point for Tottenham
at Anfield, won all it finish, a 90th minute equalizer for Rich Charleston.
Mean Spurs, don't leave Anfield empty-handed.
Now, it has been absolutely woeful. This has been a real turbulent week.
at the lane and people expected a bit more pain.
But Charlie, Spurs fought.
They put in some grit, some determination,
and they were disciplined, and they managed about themselves a point.
Yeah, listen, if you look back at what Tottenham have done over the last few months,
to be fair, the whole season really has been very poor for their standards and their level.
The pressure was adding towards the new manager coming in,
heavy defeat in midweek against Athletical Madrid.
To go to Anfield and get a point, we'll look to kickstart the start.
season hopefully for this sort of mini, many, many leagues that they've got left because
they're in the mix, they're in the mix. I'm looking at the, you know, the points and that,
they're on 30 points, point just above West Ham and Notting Forrest, and they have to start
getting results soon. And that was, that hopefully will give them a lot of confidence going into
the last sort of run of games. Racharlison, I mean, you know what he's going to bring to a pitch
in terms of the dark arts, in terms of howserie, but he can pop up when you need him to.
Yeah, he can. And for the first time in a while,
Tottenham looked like a team that could stay up today.
It's not just, like Charlie's saying there,
it's not just getting the late equaliser
because the point doesn't transform their position
at the bottom of the table,
particularly doesn't give them a big leap to safety,
but they were organised, they were dogged,
they were diligent, and they carried a threat.
And the assumption before that game
was that Liverpool were going to win,
and then we're going to win easily.
It was described on the television,
Tottenham, the team that every Premier League team
side wants to face at the moment
because they've been a laughing story.
They're being abject.
We were all expecting Igor Tudor to lose his job this week.
That would seem to be the direction of travel.
So Richarlassen getting that late goal, and he deserved that.
He had a few chances in the game, but they caused Liverpool problems, and they got that
late equaliser.
But it was more about the general performance hour, and they really fought today.
They were a team today.
And I think for the first time that group of players behaved and approached a game in a way
that they knew they were in a relegation fight.
They suddenly belatedly realized they're not too good to go.
they haven't got too many good players to drop into the championship
and yeah I think after being the butt
of so many jokes for so many weeks
and being quite frankly a bit of a farce
that was a much needed jolt of
of realism of where they are and how they're going to get out of it
and I was really really impressed with them
Liverpool were poor but Tottenham helped make them look
like a poor team today and that was really impressive from there
I was hearing in the week some some pundits reporters were saying
just null-in void the game
just leave the game
we're going to get beat
sack the manager
you know
what given right
have you got to give that opinion
in the end of the day
this manager has
come in and he's tried his best
at the moment it's not working
and that's a big big point
for them going forward
like you said I thought they were well organised
well drilled
more competitive than they have been
but the goalkeeper didn't help him again today
the goal that he lost was
oh you know the goal of coach must just be
sitting. Every time a goal goes, the ball goes near
a goal, the goalie coach must have sat on the bench and think
oh no, here comes at something. He just rolls
back in his chair because I think he's
got to do better with this free kick of Sobyslay again
today. Talk to me about Liverpool, though
Charlie, your former club
because, I mean, just so, so
wasteful and what they'd do at one point it looked
like sort of death bypassing. I saw one move
breakdown after they put together something
that 20, 25 passes and you're just
wondering what's going on? Yeah, it's just
that sort of dining
and real quality at the top end of the pitch at a moment
it's just, you know, today wasn't there.
You know, they've leaving Salah out the team again
today was, you know, it was a big, a big thing for Slot
against a, you know, a Tottenham team that you felt
that, like you said, everybody thought that Liverpool
going to win this game easily.
To play Frimpong up on that right-hand side,
yeah, he's got pace and he's got power,
but he doesn't have the quality of Mo Salah.
But, you know, I just felt that Liverpool were,
were laboured and didn't really play as well as they could have.
Songwisle's goal is a great effort from him,
but Totten goalkeeper again was poor.
So two points dropped.
Considering where Spurs have been,
in particular in the last week,
should Liverpool feel embarrassed by that performance?
Not embarrassed, absolutely not,
because it's the Premier League.
And, you know, there's no given right to win a football match in the Premier League.
There's nothing easy.
Again, you look at the form of both teams,
of where they've been recently
and, you know, Liverpool
obviously lost in midweek
against the Galadastri
and, you know, the last, you know,
sort of lost the wolves in the league
but the last couple before that they've won.
But yeah, just,
I don't think you've got a given right
to win any football match in the Premier League.
It's never easy.
It's not, you know, it doesn't matter if you play.
It's not about having given right, though, Charlie.
I'm asking it from a perspective of,
should they look at it and say,
that's a wounded animal we're taking on?
Of course you're going out.
I mean, the prize of being that dressing.
would be silent in there?
Yeah, of course, because they'd probably not play...
No, they've not played to the levels they're capable of
and perform to that level,
but, you know, you have to remember what you're playing against.
You know, this is the Tottenham team that won the Euro League last year.
Again, I get that they're struggling,
but they've got quality players within the group that can hurt you.
If you don't play to your maximum week in the Premier League,
then you could drop by,
and that's why today they've been undone by our Charleston goal,
and there's one person inside the Anfield definitely that,
enjoyed that would have been mentioned.
What about Igor Tudel this week, Luke?
Does this keep him in that job?
I mean, there's so many rumours
swirling around in regards to
who Spurs are going to be
looking to potentially replace him with
there were talks up until Friday afternoon
that he could be leaving his job,
even though he'd gone and done the media.
And it felt a bit jockey, didn't it?
Because people are going on approaching Harry Rednapp.
I mean, for Spurs, this is surely the nadir.
You've used the word embarrassing about Liverpool there.
I think it's been an embarrassing
period for Tottenham really embarrassing
a real low point for them I think
in their modern history the way this
season has gone but particularly
the Eagle Tudor reign
do I think he's going to go I think
I think we were all expecting him to go Aaron
I think we were looking at this being the last
dance really at Anfield but they have
produced something and
the problem that the Spurs hierarchy
have is they sack Eagle Tudor
after what would it be a month
five games
then the thing
is going to be pointed at the people who made the decision to appoint him.
So they're going to say they got that hope that shelter did do it.
I don't think from a PR perspective, Luke, I don't think they care about, you know, sort of their reputation.
But the team played for him today.
You know, I started this segment saying that Tottenham for the first time for me for weeks, months,
looked like a team that could stay up.
Like, you know, they were responding to whatever the manager wanted them to do.
They did it.
They had a game plan today and they executed it.
So do you then go and sack the manager?
Who's out there?
Who's out there as well, realistically?
I think you've got to be respectful to these coaches
that there's always a plan
there is always a plan
these coaches are not just going to
and allowing these players to play
and just going to do what you want
there's always a plan
you fall down short
because of your quality within the game
and your plan might be wrong
you know you might get the wrong press
you might make the wrong players
but you've got a member of teams
that these have played
since he's come in the building
is Arsenal pull them away
yeah Crystal Palace at home
I thought I'd go Madrid away
there's some tough games in there
some tough games again
some very good sides
so I sort of can give them a little bit of leeway
and say there's no plan in that
but if I'm a Tottenham player
it's easy to get up for Liverpool at Anfield
it's easy to get up
they've got to back it up yeah they've got to back it up
that's the query that's the query
the worrying thing for me is
Crystal Palace at home and fool them away
that's my thing is that
when you're playing against Arsenal you can get beat
they've got very good players top of league
under real players is our top team
it's the Palace is in the films that you expect them to win
that they're not winning
but to deal this thing.
It's a difficult decision now, Charlie,
isn't it?
It's difficult for them
because they've gone to Anfield
and pulled off a result
that people didn't expect them to do.
So maybe the hierarchy
weren't expecting them to get that result either.
Maybe they were like the rest of us
who were looking at it going,
they're going to get beaten at Anfurt.
And it's an easy decision.
The music is all like,
oh, it's all signposted.
Ego Tudor's going to lose his job.
They're going to bring someone else in.
Now I think it complicates it.
I think it makes it very difficult now
to know what direction they're going to go in
because that team played for their manager today.
They played for themselves.
They played for the shirt
and they played for the club
and they played for the managers
So does this rest then on individual mistakes?
I think it's
this still rests on what the ownership want.
You know, getting a point at Enfield
doesn't mean that Tottenham don't change.
I see managers getting sacked after victories.
So doesn't matter if he's got a point at Anfield,
what they feel and what they get
amongst the ownership
and the top people within the football club
will be, yeah, this is not working.
But there was, we're only,
I'm only from the outside and use,
but probably know more than me from the inside of what talked to me as.
But there's just too many rumors and too many people getting to bring to this job.
And that's what I'm saying.
This point doesn't change anything for me,
is that it's how the ownership feel and what they are.
If at the moment they have the right person they feel that can change it
for the next block of games,
then they will change.
And like you say, they've got nobody to change.
It's not doing the financials and it's not done to think about anything else.
have to make sure the Tottenham hotsport are in the Premier League next season.
No doubt there'll be more reaction to that game and anything that happens down at the lane
on the BBC Sport website and app. Let's flip to the red half of North London to the top of the table.
It took Arsenal 89 minutes at a very nervous Emirates, but they got the job done in the Saturday
tea time kickoff. Two substitutes scoring the goals to beat Everton and one of them, the youngest
in Arsenal history, Arsenal and Premier League history. What a special moment for 16-year-old
Diamond Boys and for Arsenal the dream ending to a tense game Charlie?
A special, special player.
But you need somebody to come there.
I think if you're Miquel and you're 10, 15 minutes to go and you're looking and you throw
a 16-year-old player on the pitch, you trust him, you believe in him.
You know, he's been around that squad for a while now.
You know, we've seen it in the preseason and in other European games he's played.
He's come up with a bit of magic that's there.
It's a wonderful ball for the goal in terms of the,
and Cappy is at assist
and then his talent to
his pace and his power to get away
in the middle of the pitch to go and then
score that second goal himself. He must have been on cloud
nine last night and
yeah, it's everybody's
young dream to
become a professional, first and foremost,
but then to get the opportunity to playing
the first team is incredible and then
to actually score your goals. It must be some
feeling for the young lad and I just think
the most important thing for now is being supported by the right
people around them. Good senior players, a good manager.
Mum and dad supporting him really well and giving him a good pathway to what will happen
for him in the future.
Speaking of that manager, let's hear from Mikhail Arteeta on his teenage prodigy.
It was such a special moment.
The way he built up, you could sense that will lend the desire from the team, the crowd
to find a way to win the game.
And in the manner that we've done it, it was one of the best moments that I think we all
together had at the Emirates.
and I think we'll remember this one for a long, long time
and people would talk about it in 10, 20 years.
I was at the Emress when I was a kid, a 16 run over the highway line
and scored a massive goal for the club.
He has an incredible talent,
but I think what sets him apart is his personality
and the way he handles the context, the pressure, the situation is just, it's not normal.
I mean, look, all people seem to be talking about
is the fact that this kid is going to school on Monday morning.
I mean, can you imagine?
Can you imagine the feeling the street cred?
Yeah.
Do you know what, Aaron, I wouldn't have been concentrating in double maths on Monday morning.
That's all I can say.
I don't think I would have been too keen on my art class.
A special player, a special talent, a special prospect.
I don't want to be grumpy.
You know, it's not my natural setting, Aaron, as you know.
I don't want to be too grumpy.
He's 16.
I've seen some pretty wild takes in the last 24 hours,
comparing him to Kaka, people saying you should go to the World Cup.
Just calm down a little bit, all right?
It's a brilliant moment for him.
It's what football dreams are made of.
It's absolutely wonderful.
It was, you know, although I picked the huddle,
it is the story of the weekend.
It's absolutely magical moment.
And it's why we love the game.
And to put yourself in his position in his shoes,
16, scoring that goal,
setting up the first goal as well,
the impact he made his substitute.
He's going to be a very special footballer,
but he's got a long way to go.
Just calm down.
Let the kid grow up.
He's still a kid.
He's 16.
He can't even get into the Arsenal first team
on a regular basis.
Just relax a little bit.
calm down, let him develop in his own speed.
He's already on this trajectory,
this accelerated trajectory where he's 16 years old
and he's contributing into Arsenal's first team.
But let's not build him up too quickly and too soon.
I think he could be a very, very special player.
But let's just let him grow and let it happen organically.
He's going to get more first team chances.
But yeah, it's a great story, wonderful moment.
And that's why I think, you know,
there's a lot going on in the world at the moment.
But football is that escapism.
It's moments like Maxdown.
I mean, what Luke's saying there is all well and good.
But this kid at 16 might be about to go and win the Premier League.
Yeah, he might do.
And with Luke, you know, the talent that England have,
he, for me, he won't be anywhere near the World Cup.
He has to develop, he has to grow, he has to build.
Just coming back, by the way, from a three-month injury, an ankle injury,
which he picked up.
He's a special, special talent,
and I believe he's got the right manager.
And I look at people like Declan Rice,
or look at the senior players in the Arsenal, Saka,
and people like that,
him and help him and develop and grow good parents support network will be incredible um and and and he just
has to keep playing football you know he'll have ups and he'll have downs and you'll have downs and you'll have downs and
this this world and this country you know it's not easy for these young talents social media is
stronger now so he has to just keep enjoying that moment enjoying that journey and the pathway that he's on
he's he's he's in a great place um and and at 16 to see him win that and probably lift that
Premiership title at the end of the season
would be an incredible achievement
but we've got a long, long
long way to go and just got to keep
developing and growing.
All lies on the subs, Yoc Perez and Dalman
the scorers in Capier and Martinelli
with the assist. This is what you build
a squad for Luke? Well, we've
said it all season, Arsenal have the best squad
in the Premier League. They have the deepest squad,
they have the most competition for places,
the impact they can have on games from the bench.
The manager obviously gets a lot of credit
when substitutions work out
and they did work out for Mikhail Arteta,
but it helps when you've got a loaded
subs bench that Arsenal have,
and that is why I've stayed true all through the season.
It's why I thought they would win the title this year
because of that strength and depth,
the problem Arsenal have had when they're second again,
all, la, la, la, they didn't have that backup,
they didn't have that cover,
they didn't have that competition for places.
They'd been building to this moment,
and generally, generally, nine times out of ten,
the team with the best squad wins the Premier League,
and I think that is Arsenal
and I think we're seeing that
again and further evidence of that
at the weekend.
I still believe that
at Man City got the best squad.
Okay.
But I get where you come from.
I think the consistency
that Arsenal have had
have been incredible,
but I still look at Mancetti
in terms of Cherokee,
Diaz, Docku,
Foden, Covicich,
Rinders.
Not bad subs to have on.
Not bad subs.
Guardio.
You know,
there's not much to choose between them.
There's not much to choose
between the sports,
but I just,
the consistency that Arsenal's shown this year have
worthy. I'm still, I was all in the Man City camp that they'd win the title
I just think that draw up West Ham at the weekend is maybe blowing it for them
but I still still have to go with that but I still think that there's not too much
between both squads I don't think there's one or two players here and there
but our Man City has still got a very very good squad that are capable of
still capable of going winning six seven eight in a row but I just think that this
that drop point at the weekend could be the end for that.
Just on Arsenal, if they do go on and lift the Premier League title,
you always feel there's one game that changes things.
It changes the momentum.
It feeds the surge, if you like.
And it feels as though that's going to be one of those,
you know, sort of sticking in it, sticking in the contest,
landing punches, taking some punches.
Because Everton Charlie, they played their part
and they tried to resist Arsenal,
but to land those two crucial blows,
that'll be one that they go on and potentially remember.
and sort of like markers a milestone if you like
if they're after doing lift it
and I've been there as a player myself
and I'm just using that as
when I was at Rangers and Celtic had played early
and they've dropped points and you come in next
the West, the Man City boys
would have known what was going on
maybe you've sat in the dressing room watching on their phones
while they're preparing for the game
they'll have known that Arsenal
have nicked a couple of eight goals
and you know
held on to win the game
they would have been hoping that everything could have held on
I thought Everton had some moments, but yeah, I'm not saying it would have been a massive factor in terms of the performance of Man City.
I still think they had some opportunities, but yeah, I think that Man City team would have been a wee bit deflated after the result in terms of the goals going in late for Arsenal.
And then ultimately they could capitalise at the end with their own win at the London Stadium.
City have lost 10 points from winning positions in their last 18 league games despite only losing once.
be top if they'd held on against Chelsea, Brighton, Spurs, Forest, and now West Ham United.
I don't want to say it's a mentality issue.
Pep Guardiola evidently knows how to win football games.
Is this a case of bedding those players in and getting those players up to speed
and up to sort of the way that Pep Guardiola wants to play, Luke?
No, I think you're being too kind there.
Man City spent an absolute fortune in the last 12 months.
Absolute fortune.
They have flexed all of their financial muscle to overhaul their squad.
They went out and signed two of the probably the best plug-in in plug-in and play options they could get in January in Gahey and Semenio.
I saw them beat Newcastle in the FA Cup last weekend and I thought they were absolutely sensational.
I thought that one of the best team performances I've seen, but since then it's just football, isn't it?
It's been a really bad week for them.
They go and they're too open against Real Madrid.
They go and get spanked.
They're sort of placing the Champions League is hanging by a Fred.
As Charlie's just said there, they then watch Arsenal score the two late goals.
just before they're about to go on the pitch at West Ham,
a rapidly improving West Ham,
are very well organised and tough to beat West Ham,
and I think they've wobbled.
We kept thinking it was going to be Arsenal who wobbled.
It's Man City of warbed.
I don't think the title race is over by any stretch of the imagination.
If Man City win their game in hand and they beat Arsenal,
the gap will be three points.
There could be a lot more twists and turns to come,
a lot more drama,
but they've just had a really, really bad week.
By Manchester City Standard has been a pretty disastrous week
for them with the Champions League result,
that one at the weekend. I don't think you can use the excuse of bedding in players, though.
Those players have been there most of the season now, the ones who signed in the summer.
Some of them have been there more than 12 months because they came in January last year.
And then Semenio and Gehie, you know, they don't need to climatize to the Premier League.
And they were getting applauded. It's not so long ago, they've been great and the wonderful
impact they'd had on Man City earlier in their career. So it's just, they've just wobbled
and Arsenal, to their credit, have just kept that pressure on. We were talking about Man's
City creeping the pressure on, it's Arsenal
who've kept the pressure on Man City and they've blinked first.
Charlie, could a win over Arsenal under the arch at Wembley
in the League Cup final next week,
could it give City the impetus, the boost to try and keep this title race alive?
No, I don't think it makes a difference.
I think this Man City team have got great players
and they've got a world-class genius of a manager.
Winning the Carabelle Cup is just the next step for them.
That's the next important step for them.
Champions League, they want to try and clothe a lot.
back from against Real Madrid.
It's a huge ask, but an early
goal could change this. But they want to win
because it's against the closest
rivals, it'll be another title for PEP
for the squad for Man City.
And what he's done in the time he's been here is
revolution, the English game.
And I think that, you know, they'll be desperate
to win because it'll be another title. They want to win.
And, you know, people
talk about they don't want to win
Carabell Cups and they play weekend teams
and FA Cups. They want
to win everything. And that's the, for me, that's
the site of a top team.
Okay, time for your halftime teaser.
Max Dowman became the youngest
Premier League goal scorer this weekend
at 16 years and 73 days.
Can you name the other four in the top five?
The answers plus plenty more analysis next.
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On the Football Daily podcast,
Premier League Review.
with Aaron Paul.
Welcome back to the Premier League review.
Now, before the break, I asked if you could name
the top five younger skull scorers in Premier League history.
Luke, Charlie, come on.
You might not.
You're not going to get this.
You know what? I've absolutely smashed it this week
because I anticipated the question.
I knew what was coming from producer Harry and you, Aaron.
I knew what you were going to go down.
So I was way ahead of the game this one.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
James Vaughn.
Yeah.
James Milner.
Yep.
Wayne Rooney.
Yep.
Rio Engenmower.
Yeah.
And what about their ages?
16 years and how many days?
Well, I didn't.
I haven't got that, Aaron.
That was just a trick question.
I wanted to see you.
I know.
You're just trying to shame me there.
I'm not cheating.
I'm not cheating.
I anticipated the question.
I did my research.
I nailed every answer.
Charlie just voiled in Theo Walcott.
Just, just.
I'll get this.
No.
A former Liverpool striker.
You'll get this one in the top 10.
Who Robbie Fowler?
Maca Lohen.
Cess Favri Gavri.
Is that one is known as Francesc?
Lewis Miley of Newcastles up there
and Federico Machida.
Meshida?
Maccada.
Maccada.
Well, whatever.
Machida.
It was so fleeting in impact
that I've forgotten how to say his name.
Machita.
I love that.
Machida.
All right.
We'll move on swiftly.
Love you lots, Luke.
Only seven points behind Manchester City now.
Our Manchester United, eight games remaining.
Now, as a dull first off,
Old Traffa, but it really came into life
after the break. Girls from Casimir and Mathez Cunia
and Benjamin Cessco
securing a 3-1
win. Before we come on to Michael
Carrick, Bruno Fernandez at
the double with the assists. Once again,
Charlie, he knows what he's doing, doesn't he?
Yeah, he's top player. I think he's
for, well, we say deadly, under
Rubin Amber and I think he
was the shining light in terms of
with his performances in a
tough time. Since Michael's come in,
he's gone to another level and
the team has gone to another level
and what they're producing.
They've put herself right in the mix for
Champions League football which could be crucial for them
financially but also for
for Michael as well getting the job
at the end of the season.
Fernandez would be on my short list for player of the year
this season, the impact he's had. He'd be in my
top three anyway. Don't ask me to name the other two
but he would be up on my short list.
Do you know how many assists you has this season by the way?
No, but I'm sure you're about to tell me.
16. It means
it's the most of any United Player
in a single campaign.
David Beckham got 15 in 1999, 2009, 2000.
The record, by the way, is held jointly by Thierry and Kevin DeBronerner.
That is 20 assists.
You could break it, though.
He could break it.
I mean, he's forced a personality on that team.
In the Dark Times at Manchester Night of this season, he was the Shining Light.
And then the impact he's having now under Michael Carrick,
I think he's been great and so, so important to them.
And I think he deserves to be in that conversation for the player of the season.
Seven wins from nine games for Michael Carrick,
now. Let's hear from his former colleague, Wayne Rooney.
100% he should then.
I knew this was going to happen with Michael Carrick.
I know him very well.
I know his character, his personality,
and it needed a calm head,
but someone who knows the place and the players needed some love,
and he gives them that hand.
And we've seen the players play with more quality.
We've seen them more together as a team.
And he looked like a very strong team.
So for me, why would you change?
You've got someone who come in.
I think he's got the best win percentage of,
very Manchester
manager after that many games.
For me,
he has to get the job.
Luke,
this is not an Oleg and a Solisciar
situation anymore.
They're doing their due diligence
and everything's coming up
as tick, tick, tick, tick,
tick, tick, this,
I don't know, it feels right.
It's scary to say with Manchester United
because it's been a long, what,
10, 12 years, but it feels right.
But the problem is
it could be another Olegon of Solzkyy situation.
Again, he did brilliantly his interim.
manager and then got the job permanently and didn't do as well and ended up getting sacked.
I think Michael Craig has done a brilliant job.
I agree with everything that Wayne Rooney has said there, but they are mates.
So I do have to use that caveat.
He is talking about one of his best friends in football that he should get the job full-time.
But I think for what Manchester United need in this situation, I think he's been perfect.
I think he is calm.
I think he is measured.
And I think there is a lot to be said for that for a Manchester United manager.
They've gone down the charisma route.
They've gone down, you know, the big personalities with Rino and Van Gael and even Amarin was a bit of a character, wasn't he?
He was very charming.
He was very charismatic.
And he's just quietly, methodically, you know, getting the job done.
I just think they will still just wait.
I know we in the media all want to clamour and get a decision.
We want the issue to be black and white.
Is he going to get the job?
Is he not?
I think there's a lot more nuance to it there.
I think they would be correct to continue doing their due diligence on other.
candidates. They don't have to rush into anything.
It's deserving.
Whatever candidate they want.
Whatever candidate.
Yeah.
So the Manchester United, they're still the biggest club in the world.
They don't need to rush.
They don't need to rush, do they, Charlie.
He's doing brilliantly, and he's put himself in the frame.
He is definitely in that conversation now with the job he's done.
No manager has taken more points in the Premier League since Michael Carrick got the job than him.
I think the way it is, I think Michael and his staff will say,
well, just be, let's not try and bring any more.
spotlight to the team and to the group
we're calm about the situation. I think
when you're in control, I think you're calm
in the situation and I think Michael's
in control. Performance is a very good
and I don't think he needs
to say, well, I want
my contract, I want a new contract,
let's go full time with it. No,
we'll take it out. I'll deliver
what I've been asked to do and then
you reward me with that.
The goal is Champions League. The goal
is not there at the moment, so yeah,
we've done okay. But there's still enough
there's still enough games to go for it to go wrong
and that's what like you say looks then
the club will still be looking at it
it's the biggest club in the world
they still got to look at other ideas
and other things in case it goes wrong in the next
eight games yes they've done really well
but Michael will be saying no I'm happy
with what I'm doing we're performing well
the players are performing they're enjoying it let's not
rush and make any other
sort of big scenarios
I'm not saying do it now Charlie
I'm saying at the end of the season
surely they take stock of the points of every
I mean, if he makes the Champions League,
he makes the top,
I don't think they'll finish fifth,
I think they'll finish higher than the...
But they're playing one game a week,
they're playing one game a week,
and they had a good sport.
You can only play who's playing funny.
If they wanted to the range preseason friendlies
or mid-season friendlies, right?
I know. Slapang, I'm sure the glazer family would love it,
but you can only play what you can play.
I agree with you.
He's making it very hard for them not to give it to him,
but that's all he could do in the situation he's in.
But I think Charlie and I are saying the same thing.
They don't need to rush into it.
They can just wait.
He's going to be in that conversation.
He's done enough already to put himself in that conversation
of getting the job full-time.
But it's still risky.
It is still risky because they've had almost the perfect scenario this season of that.
He got knocked out the FA Cup early.
It's one game a week.
Manchester United won't get that again next season if they're back in Europe.
And then it gets tougher.
Then you have to look at this.
Flip the situation to William Rasignor,
who's battling Champions League against big opposition,
having a tough time not being able to embed what he really wants.
Of course, he's done some bit,
but if results getting scrutinized
because Liam Rossignor is not a sexy name,
it's not a big name.
But William Sr., if Chalosu feel he was the right person for the job,
he's the right person for the job.
We can all have an opinion,
and some fans will have their opinion,
but if they feel that his leadership
and the way he goes about things at Strasbourg
was the right thing,
and they felt it was right for this group of players,
young players, he can develop then go.
But what he has had to do
is navigate his way through Europe,
FA Cup as well and it's been difficult for him.
So Michael's, like Luke said, Manchester City will be playing one game a week.
He's been able to prepare.
He's been able to give work with a team maybe four days, you know, a week, trying to
prepare it, build it, look at it, organise it.
It's been able to have that time to make them better and he's done that so far.
And when they didn't, Charlie, and when they didn't have that break, they lost the
Manchester United with 10 men.
Newcastle had 10 men and they ended up losing.
that was their last league game before now.
Sorry, forgive me, how do you fix something like that?
How does a manager automatically winning stripes
to be able to fight on multiple fronts
and manage multiple competitions?
It's just risky, isn't it?
It's a risk.
Whatever decision they make is a risk.
They've got to decide which is the least risky option for them,
but Michael Carrick is not a sure thing for Manchester United
if they appoint him based on what he's done.
He's done brilliantly, but he's done brilliantly as an interim manager.
So they have to look at the wider picture.
They still have to look at what they wanted
from the next Manchester United manager
when they sacked Amarim.
If they have now decided
that Michael Carrot is offering
all the things that they wanted,
great, give him the job.
But it's still a big question mark.
Still a big, big question mark.
I don't know how you were in your stripes
without doing it, Aaron.
You're right, how can you prove
that you can play free games a week without doing it?
Yeah, exactly that.
You can only play with what situation you've been given.
And he's been given week to week
that he's capable of it.
And by the way, tactically,
he'd been very good in the games that he's had.
So can he compete against the best teams?
Yeah, absolutely.
He's got a fantastic assistant manager, Steve Holland,
an unbelievable reputation,
done a brilliant job with England with Gareth,
Jonathan Woodcute somebody he trusts.
So they're putting a coaching team together.
Charlie feels like they stripped it back.
They've taken it back to basics.
Well, exactly that.
Well, maybe that's what they knew.
Maybe didn't he over-complicate what they were doing?
And, you know, Amarin was a little bit stubborn
in a way he wanted to play in, you know,
4-3-3-3-3-3.
But Michael's gone back to the four,
got wingers in the team.
the feel of Manchester United
like Wayne said there is that he knows
the football club, he knows what Manchester United
wants and needs and the supporters
have backed that as well and yeah
he can all be dealt with the cards that he's dealt with
and he's done a great job so far
but what he will say is judge me
at the end of the season
if I've got Champions League then
yes I'm the right person
for the job if I don't then we'll have a discussion to see
how I've done within that interim
but no I just think they'll be happy to carry on what
they're doing and they'll sit down the end of the season
and make a decision with what's right for the football club.
Luke, I can't believe you loved him a charming
before Ruben Amarim's name
and he didn't bother with Louie Van Harlanhal.
Louis Van Hal, what a man.
What a...
No, I like Louis.
Don't get me wrong.
I've got a lot of love for Louis,
but they've gone down the big character.
You are?
Do you know what his actual real name is?
No.
Aloysius.
Well, that's even better.
His name's Aloisius Paulus Maria Van Hall.
I love him.
I like him even more now.
I love him.
Love him.
Let's talk Aston Villa.
Their third straight defeat.
Do you know what?
Actually, we could flip this Michael Carrick debate onto Una Emery.
The fact that they're playing European football,
they're fighting on multiple fronts,
FAA Cup, well, they've had the FA Cup,
and trying to fight and potentially get involved in the title race as well
with a squad that lacks a bit of depth in places.
They've had to be very, very savvy with player trading
because of this PSR situation.
Are we looking at him, Una Emery,
and saying, well, yeah, there's that Michael Carrick situation there.
Be careful what you wish for.
It's, um, Villa and Newcastle are very similar, aren't they?
They're the two great disruptors of the sort of modern era in that they,
they managed to smash through the ceiling one year,
and then they don't qualify for the Champions League the next year,
because their league form suffers because they're playing in Europe,
and the squad gets stretched.
So I don't think Aston Villa's recruitment has been brilliant,
but they started the season superbly.
They were talking about them being title contenders in December, January, weren't we?
They were doing fantastically well.
You and I, Emery, top manager, but he did warn us.
He did warn us and we all sort of smirked a little bit at the time and scoffed at it when he,
when he said, we're not contenders and people assumed he was talking, we're not contenders
for the Premier League title.
I think he was talking about we're not contenders to get in the Champions League.
I think he was worried about this coming.
They don't have the same depth.
They are playing in the Europa League, not the, not the Champions League, but they obviously
played on Thursday night, got a good victory in Europe in Lill.
But they have struggled again today, really bad result against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
they will just be very happy that Liverpool ended up dropping points today
and Chelsea lost at the weekend as well
so they've got away we won this weekend in losing
but I didn't think they were great again against Manchester United
they look tired they look jaded they've got injuries in midfield
some of their most important players are out and that has really hurt them
because they just don't have they have excellent the same with Newcastle
they have an excellent 13 14 15 top top group but then that little
the players who come in on first reserve
particularly when you're going down to your second reserve,
your centreback, for example.
They look weak and they haven't been helped by PSR.
They got themselves into a bit of a mess with your wafers' quad cost ratio.
They got a warning, and they weren't able to do what they wanted to do in the summer,
but they haven't actually spent what money they have had particularly wisely.
The thing is they're trying to dine at that top table.
They're trying to shop in that supermarket where, you know,
you're not shopping at a cheap outlet here.
you're going for the farmer's market goods
and that's what they're trying to do.
The problem is, is that it just doesn't balance up
in how this calculation is made.
Yeah, the other farmers want it
and the other farmers have got a bigger farm with more money.
And that's exactly the same problem Newcastle had last summer.
Villa and Newcastle are very, very similar.
They are almost identical in what they're trying to do.
Hugely wealthy owners, ambitious football clubs,
well-run football clubs, great managers.
But they are just hamstrung,
trying to make that next leap,
the consistency of being able to compete
Europe and compete domestically and compete in the cup competitions. That is what Manchester
City can do, is what Liverpool can do, is what Arsenal could do because they've got bigger
and better squads than those two clubs and they pay more money in wages so they can stop
file more talent. It's very, very tough for Villa. I still think they're having a fantastic season.
I still think they can get top five, but they are having, you know, they are going through a very,
very rough patch at the minute and I think that is down basically to the fact they haven't got the
same depth of squad. Gentlemen, we are out of time. Thank you so much to Luke Edwards and
Charlie Adam. That's all. We've got time
from the Premier League review. Next up on the Football
Daily Feed, the Monday nightclub.
I'm Rich Hall
and this is Sports Strangest Crimes
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Mark Roberts is too lively
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Sports Strangers' Crimes presents confessions of a Super Bowl streaker.
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