Football Daily - PL Review: VAR decides title and relegation?

Episode Date: May 10, 2026

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and the Telegraph’s Northern football writer Luke Edwards join Rick Edwards to analyse and debate the key talking points from the weekend.How good has Jeremy Doku been in the final stages of the season? Can Arne Slot survive the summer at Liverpool after boos at Anfield?Can one of Bournemouth and Brighton sneak into the Champions League spots after Aston Villa’s woeful league form continued?Timecodes: 01:00 Was that the biggest VAR call ever? 01:30 Was it really a foul on David Raya? 05:20 Reaction from West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen 07:30 How decisive was David Raya’s save vs Fernandes? 09:30 What went wrong with Arsenal’s performance and could it happen against Burnley or Crystal Palace? 11:15 How good was Odegaard off the bench amidst the tension? 11:45 Reaction from Leandro Trossard on his goal 14:20 Jeremy Doku steps up for Manchester City 15:13 Hear from Erling Halaand and Pep Guardiola on Doku’s impact 16:00 Pep finds out what it means to be a West Ham fan! 16:30 Liverpool fans boo Arne Slot’s decisions — what is going on? 26:20 Half-time teaser — answers 29:45 Concerns for Carrick’s United? 34:30 The race for European football — who are you backing? 39:15 Credit to Forest for staying up

the Football Daily podcast. Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Hello and welcome to the Premier League Review. An 83rd minute winner for Arsenal at West Ham and a very dramatic VAR decision and injury time means they are five points clear at the top with two games to play. Manchester City, you've got a game in hand,

but it's all in Arsenal's hands. Win their next two games and they will be English champions for the first time in 22 years. Defeat for West Ham means Notting and Forrest to say from relegation, It's come down to Spurs or West Ham now. Liverpool fans have made their frustration towards Arna Slot known again at Anfield

and Bournemouth and Brighton. Keep their bid for Champions League football going as Aston Villa also Fulter. Analysis on all of that's come with former Premier League striker, old gravy shoes and Nostradamus, Clinton Morrison, and the Telegis Northern football writer Luke Edwards. Hello, fellas. Good evening. Good morning.

That was good. I mean, for a 1-0, that was an exciting game, I thought. high drama, the definition of high drama, with, I think, the biggest VAR call in the history of VAR in this country. I don't want to agree with you early on in the pod, but you're probably right, aren't you? I mean, it was massive. Very rarely do I feel any sympathy for any officials, but in that moment, I thought, wow, you know that's like everyone it's going to be at you if you get this wrong. I think it was the right decision. Slightly disappointingly, from the point of view of the drama,

it's a foul on Davyriah, isn't it, Clinton? Yeah, yeah, I think there's two files. I think there's 25, yeah, he's pulling. I think he's pulling on David Ryan, Pablo's pinned him, and you can't do that? Even though can you put your hand as a centre forward, to be fair, and yeah, it's the right decision, and it's the right call.

And credit to Darren England, because he makes the decision, and he's the FA Cup final referee next weekend, Man City Chelsea. So it's a big call, and yeah, it's a massive cool and you have to get it right but I think he gets it 100% spot on

and yeah, it's a great finish from Callan Wilson by the way, who I'm surprised wasn't on before Pablo. I don't get Nuno when he makes them kind of substitutions but yeah, credit to the VAR, they go 100% spot on and it's now Arsenal's title, I think they win it now. The only thing

is, and I hadn't seen this in real time at all, but on the multiple times that you watched the VAR screens back, what Declan Rice is doing in in the background. I'm like, that is very dangerous, my friend.

Because he's just, he's the wrong side of his Mavrapanos, isn't it? And he's just sort of bear hugging him. And Mavra Pus is sort of moving forward.

You're like, that, you know, that is a foul. Yeah, I agree with you. That is a foul. And I thought maybe they were looking

at that as well. Yeah. But obviously, had a look at that incident and said it's not a foul but then the foul by Pabra or is it. Or is it actually

that they look at it and think the foul on Ryer is happens first and therefore that's the one that has to be called. Yeah, that's a good point. Yeah. I guess it's that. Is it, Luke? The first foul supersedes the second foul. Yeah, I think that's probably right. I mean, Darren England, what, I mean, I thought he handled it incredibly well. And there's no, there's no way we can talk about this decision and not upset anybody. We know, as I'm saying these words now, and I've had a little dip my toe into the shark-infested waters to social media

this evening. And no matter what, yes, one of life's real champions of free speech on social media and target for abuse. But it's very harsh on West Ham, very harsh. And you're in that stadium, the last 50, whatever,000 West Ham fans holding their breath, baying, players in your ear, managers in your ear, Arsenal players in your ear. And he's been sent over to that screen. And it is just a foul.

his arm is held throughout the entire incident. He can't move his arm freely. I know that they're going to be fans of rival clubs who are going to accuse Arsenal of the dark arts that set pieces this season. Arsenal have not only known every trick in the book. They've invented some new ones in terms of how they manipulate situations. That would be the sticker, I think, for West Ham fans and any other interested fans, is that Arsler have done so much of that sort of jiggery-poker,

crowding the goldkeeper, getting away with it. Yeah. Great use to the first. Go for you to the pro jiggery poker. Yeah, but I've heard that's in 1950s, isn't it? I've heard that in the 1950s, but yeah. The other thing I was going to say is, is it, given that the referee doesn't spot it on field,

is it clear and obvious? Oh, that's, oh, that's, you know, way. As soon as they have to watch it 15 times, exactly, sort of tells me it can't. be clear and obvious? No, that's a good point you made, but I think because it's hard for the referee, because there's so many bodies and it's crowded. He can only keep an eye on

one or two things, and there was so much happening in the penalty area, and that is the referee thinks it's a goal, like we all think it's a goal, but then VAR. That's what they're there for, and that's what they did. They didn't get it right a lot this weekend, but I think they got this call 100% spot on, so you've got to give them. But do you know what I mean, though?

If you're having to review that tape that many times, how can that be clear? Let's see what West Ham's captain, Eric Bowen said about it. When you're looking at a screen for five minutes, in the end you're going to find something that you've been sent over there to look at. It's a lot of grappling.

There's a lot of holding in the box. Like I said, if you look long enough, I'm sure you'll find something that we'll give the goal against us. But do I think it's the right decision, no? But, you know, we have to accept it. The game's done now and we've lost. Where's the consistency? You know, it's if no one wants, as a fan, as a viewer,

you don't want to be celebrating the goal and then wait in, you know, eight minutes, whatever it was, and then have it taken off you. You know, it's a corner is a physical. The Premier League is physical. It's probably the most physical league in the world. That's why everyone loves it.

They want to see the ball and play. They want to see action. And at corners, you have to expect contact, you know. And if you're going to give decisions like that, you have to give all the holding calls in the world. And that's not the way that people, I'm sure, want the game to go down. But certainly if that's the bar that's been set,

surely, listen, I don't want to say, like I've just done on the interview and said, I don't want to sound bitter. I don't want to come out and sound just because we're on the receive an end of it. But last week, we had one with Thomas Suchek getting held at Brentford away that wasn't given us a penalty, which is fine. But then you can't, I don't think you can go and give a decision like that today. I mean, I actually, when that goal, when I thought that goal had gone in, my reaction was just burst out laughing uncontrollably. I mean, that's a slightly

it was the goal that everyone interested in a bit of football banter wanted to see. It was remarkable. I mean, and it has taken that joy. And there'll be people there saying, well, VAR has ruined it. And everything you say, Rick is right. Is it clear and obvious? Do we need that? Do we need the technology to rule that goal out? Do we need the technology to deny us what would have been one of the biggest storylines of the season in terms of Arsenal thinking they've basically got the title one

and then throwing it away in the last minute? But the technology is there and it was used correctly in my opinion. And once you see the replays and you see it's a foul, you've got to rule out the goal. So that's right. I'm not saying that VAR is a great thing. I'm not a whole hearted advocate of it, but it is there, the technology is there, and it's a foul, and that's really, really harsh on West Ham and all their supporters,

really, really tough, and it's a huge escape for Arsenal, who actually had an earlier escape as well, which I'm sure we're going to talk about in terms of David Ray. Yeah, I think that David Raya save might be the moment that I sort of think back on if they go on and win the title, because it is a phenomenally good save, Clinton. I mean, you could probably say where you have to score from there, Fernand's,

but when you watch it back, it is something else. That's been just smart on it. It is. He's done, there's a lot of moments this season where David Ryan has made them big saves, but for the life of me, I don't know how Fernandez is not scored. And you know what? I'll credit David Reier because it's not the first he's done,

and it's a fantastic same in a big moment, in a big game. But I don't know why Fernandez takes the second touch, to beat him on his near post. The whole goal is gaping on that far side. So it's not someone who's natural in that position. And at that moment, if they go one-niller, I believe West Ham go on and probably win that game. So they're finding moments.

And that is why Arsenal probably deserves to win the Premier League, because they've got the best goalkeeper for me in the Premier League at the moment. He makes big saves at crucial points, but it's an unbelievable save from David Wright. What would you do, Clinton? Winston. I'm just absolutely wishing there. Clinton Clinton.

I was going to say, what would you do, Clinton? What's he waiting to do? he waiting for Reya to commit himself? I think he thinks nine times out of ten, when you're in that position, you're always going to try and bend it to the far corner. So what he's thinking is he's waiting for Rea

to go early and he tried to give him the eyes and beat him on his near post. But what David Rea did, he just stood up big and made itself massive. I think it's the touch. Fernandez takes the touch. And once he takes the touch, David Reyes out to him quickly.

So the only thing he can do is trying to go there. If he doesn't take the touch, as soon as Pablo plays it into, if he whips that into that far corner, David Reier don't save it. So before he sets himself. Yeah, before he sets himself. Yeah.

But to be, listen, it's all if some bucks. Huge credit to David Reier. What to say. And, you know, if that's the decisive moment, then thoroughly deserve it because he's been outstanding. Arsenal were huffing and puffing. Like, particularly, as soon as, like, first 20 minutes,

they were knocking on the door. Like, you thought, oh, okay, that the good win is quite comfortably. Yeah. Ben White then went off. they like Artetta sort of shifted around his is his line up at Declan Rice playing it right back it didn't work West Ham sort of got back into it and then from then on Arsenal never looked fluent or fluid or like they were absolutely going to go on and win that game and the pressure is only going to

I know this is the game everyone's like this this could be the stumbling block but they've still got to go and probably beat Burnley and beat Crystal Palace. And they are going to need to find something a bit more potentially than that, Luke. Yeah, the anxiety return, didn't it? Like you said, because they didn't get the early goal to settle them down. And you have to also remember that West Ham are fighting for their lives. And that is among the best atmosphere that I've heard at the, I still call it the Olympic Stadium. And it was a bear pit for them and really, really tough.

And then they needed that, they had the early chance. then it's a brilliant save from the goalkeeper that sort of keeps the scores level. But the longer the game went on, you could see those nerves and that tightness return to Arsenal. And you're right, nothing was fluid. Everything was hard work. And I think with 15 minutes to go, I thought this is going to be a draw. And we're going to get the last day, end of season title showdown. We're going to have another Aguero moment potentially because I just couldn't see Arsenal scoring,

but I also couldn't see them conceding either. They survived a bit of a rough spell. and then they just had that little moment and Odegaard coming on. Yeah. And we can't downplay how good Odegaard is in the build up to Trotard's goal because amends the madness and the chaos

and the tension, he did that thing that great players do and we talk about it is he slowed everything down. He had composure, he got the ball in the box, he waited, he didn't rush anything, and then he picks out Trossard. And it is like time stand still for those players. And I don't think any other player on the pitch

at that moment could have done that because it was also hectic and also manic. It was just that ability to live in the moment, just compose himself, look at his options, and then pick out the past

that creates the goal. And Troussard, you know, it takes a slight deflection but I think it's probably going in anyway. And then you sort of think, right, they've done it.

Arsenal have done it. Well, here's Leandro Trossard on his goal. It's an amazing run from Martin. He does so well to get the ball to me. And at that moment, I just, yeah,

put all my power and precision in that ball to get it in the back of the net. And I was such a relief to, yeah, to score that goal. First goal in 25 games for Trossard. Decent, hope to get it. That's what I'm saying.

Everyone will remember that, what they really can lose, that goal that Trossard scores. He could have had a stinker all season, but that goal there against Westard. Listen, I still think, even though it's 90%, I think Arsenal will go,

because I don't think Burnley, even though I know Burnley, they drew with Villa. I think because the games at Emirates, I'm not sure. I think Burnley will be on the beach. But it's the Palace one. And what Arsenal are quite lucky

is that Palace played at final three days later. And that is, You know what it's like in the final days? They still be twisting turns. If Man City still win all their games, you never know. It could be panic stations on the last game. Also, just imagine that that Palace Arsenal game is 0-0 after 70 minutes. Exactly.

That's what we won. A Man City are winning. Exactly. Man City are beating. By a big margin. I'm proud of hearing the result of what's happening in the City game. Yeah. You know.

City's goal difference has suddenly gone to plus like five better than Arsenal. Yeah. I mean, we could still have it, couldn't we? I mean, we all sort of want it, really, don't we? Don't we? Don't we? I think, I mean, yes, yes, but then I also, I want it, but I think I still want Arsenal to win. Yeah, well, I, of course I want Arsenal to win, because as you know, since August, I've said Arsenal are going to win the title. I've had one wobble, one wobble. You remember when they lost to Man City and I was, I've... Did you say, also, we're going to win the title, not Liverpool at the very start of the season?

I would like to say, yes. I'm not... I'm not sure about that, Lou. I think I did. I think I did. I wouldn't tip Liverpool. I don't think I would tip Liverpool to win the title. You have to remember that we were all saying Liverpool were going to walk. No, you, no, I know. I was.

I went Liverpool City, awesome. So I got it totally wrong. Yeah, well, they've been slotted, haven't they, Liverpool? Yeah, well, we'll come on to that, don't you worry. I also thought, do you know what, as well as Odegaard, I thought, Havert's when he came on. He's another one of those players who just has, like, Gile. And, yeah, he does.

He just makes, make stuff happen. looks, you know, he's a positive, gifted footballer. I think they just needed those kind of players and it worked out for them. So Trossard stepped up for Arsenal in a really tight, tight, tight game. Jeremy Docko is stepping up for Manchester City now. He scored a couple of absolute crackers against Everton. Granted, they dropped the points, but still. And then got another to beat Brentford.

And he's just one of those players who you think why are you not more? why are you not more productive? And suddenly, and I have no idea why, it just looks like it's clicking, Clinton. Brentford made it difficult. And you were thinking, who's going to produce a bit of magic, and he produces a Britain magic with an unbelievable finish.

Yeah, he's been brilliant. He's breathtaking. When he's like that, he's a world beer, and he's one of the best around. He's so good, he causes full backs all kinds of problems because you can go inside, you can go outside. But yeah, the finish against Brentford was outstanding. And he's been outstanding.

And if Citi want to win the league, he needs to continue to keep those kind of levels. even the FA Cup final next weekend. It's obviously nice here on what Clinton thinks about Jeremy Docker, but let's hear what Erling Harland and Pep think about him. Look at his last three goals. It's incredible. When players score these goals, you know that something is right, you know.

And I'm super happy for him because he's been working hard to try to improve his, I don't know how you say, the shooting and the passes and all these kind of things. And you can see this as well since he came to the club, how much he developed, you know, on these things. things and hard work and smart work pays off. You want to become a better player? You have to win games for yourself.

Everybody knows it. It's not necessary to tell you. Everybody knows it that he made an incredible step. And that sense and said, I'm Jeremy Docko. I'm going to win games. The big players, the greatest players always have that mentality.

Nice way to introduce yourself. I'm Jeremy Docky. I'm going to win games. Did you also see the end to Pep's press conference? It's very good. I think have we got the audio for that? Thank you, Rob.

Come on your eye, yes. Well, Kripbiodos found out what it means to be a West Hammer fan, isn't they? Quite clearly. And they were nearly there. Seven minutes. They were plus added on time. Seven minutes. He's new to it.

He's new to it, Pep, on being a Hammers fan, but found out exactly what it's like. You think you've scored a 96-minute equalizer, and it gets chalked off by VAR. Welcome to the club. Let's talk a little bit about, I don't want to spend too long on this, to be honest. I do. Chelsea, I think, had lost, was it, six primary league games in a row? So the fixture you want there is to play Liverpool,

who got booed at Anfield at half-time, then booed again when Slot took Rio and Gamowar off, and then booed again at full-time. and you know it just it just feels like the crowd who famously back managers have they've had enough they're just not seeing anything to encourage them you know what look at the idea i would love to speak to a Liverpool fan and see what they think about him me too clinton if only we knew anyone do we know anyone clinton yeah i know quite a few people but i think i know one in particular

but I'll answer for him. I'll answer for him. I'll answer for him. I covered the game. Let me tell you, Liverpool started up brilliant. They scored a Grava-Berchkov. And then what happens? They sit back and let Chelsea come back into the game,

make mistakes, and I've watched them so much. They are so passive. They don't go and press the ball like under they did with Juergen-Clock. And they just let teams get back in. And then he goes and takes on the one player who was taking on and giving them a spark in Gamoa because he wants to keep on the likes of Gapbo and that. And the crowd, I've never heard.

heard a crowd get onto the players and the managers as much as I've seen at Liverpool because every time I've played at Liverpool, they're the best fans, Liverpool. They always stick with their team, stick with the management. So there's going to have be big question marks over on a slot. And you know what? I was looking at it today. If Villa

probably had a won, it could have gone above Liverpool. Liverpool would have dropped into fifth place. So, yes, but I think Villa will win the Europa League, so I think whatever happens, Liverpool will be playing Champions League football. But it's just I don't know, man. It's just not good enough from football.

It's so frustrating with the players that they've got. They are so open. Chelsea should have won it yesterday. Yeah, and without, I mean, Chelsea sort of got invited back into it, really. Like, Chelsea, I didn't think play particularly well, but they certainly deserve to get something out of the game. And I know that slot will sort of say, well, you know, we hit the bar, a couple of, hit the bar, hit the posts.

But it didn't, I don't know, there's just no, I just think back to that, that Pep, Linda's quote, when he was Klop's assistant of saying, our identity is in. intensity and you completely got it and the crowd completely got it and loved it. And now it is anything but it's like passive is the word you use. Clinton, it's absolutely right. It's just sort of it's slow pedestrian, reactive at best. I don't know if you, I don't have you suffered your way through it, Luke. How did Isat get along?

That's how I always want to, you know, I like to frame him. He came on for the last 20 minutes. Yeah. Lost the ball at one point. Fernandez sort of broke. They had quite a promiscay attack. Fernandez with the ball, Isak chasing back.

Fernandez was pulling away from him. And I was thinking, ah. Absolute snippet, $128 million. That's just... Yeah, but he looks like he can't run anymore. No, it is.

That is a problem, I think. I think it could be. Where am I on Liverpool? Well, I have a lot of Liverpool supporting friends, and they have turned. They've gone. They're not sort of mad social media types, but they are, the teams regressed,

that players have regressed, they're not sure that the players look like they want to play for the manager, particularly anymore, there's no passion, there's no determination, there's not really any identity there. That's pretty harsh for any manager, isn't it, I think?

But I do, I come in it as a neutral, albeit with a slight vested interest in seeing Alexander Isak struggle. I just think this season has been a mess, and I think it all, we all want to pin it on the managers, of course, that's the price on the ticket, and it's very hard to win back a fan base when they're turning inside a stadium.

But I do just go back to the fact that I think they made a complete ball up of their recruitment in the summer. They spent a hell of a lot of money. That has created a lot of pressure on him because the expectation, like you said, Rick, earlier on this podcast, in August, we thought Liverpool were going to walk to the title. Yeah. And everybody just assumed they had the best team last year,

and they went and broke the British transfer record twice in one summer. Well, Verz doesn't, he doesn't look like a British record transfer fee player. I think he's been very, very patchy. Isaac, in his defence, has had a horrendous time of injuries, obviously missed preseason as well. I don't think the balance of the squad is right. I think they signed star names last summer without really having any clear idea how they were going to gel them into a team.

And Slot has had to try and do that as the season has unfolded. I'm not saying it's good enough, and obviously it isn't good enough. and the football I think is pretty bleak and I think it is pretty depressing but I think the hierarchy of said he's going to get next season they're going to get Champions League which I think is the minimum requirement

but they've got to have a good window they've got to have a good window and they've got to put those mistakes right and get that squad balanced up. You all know better than me Luke right because I'm going to ask you something after because you know better but what annoys me about honest lot

and it might annoy me as well is every time like so say they're playing against a team that breath all he goes is well we can't handle teams with long throw that do long throw long balls in. Why? That is what you're paid.

It always makes excuses. That is why he's paid big money to manage one of the biggest teams there is in a world in Liverpool. Liverpool fans don't want to hear what you can't do and what you can't handle. Solve the solution

because that is why you're paid the big money. You know, also, Climson, just to back you up on that. Yeah. The funniest rebuttal to that I saw was the kind of team that Arna Slot

sort of purports to want to play against, to play open, free-flowing attacking. attacking football are PSG and we got humped 4-0 on aggregate. So, mate, who do you want to play? Exactly. What is that, what team will you finally be able to beat? Exactly.

What he would like is a team that defends like Liverpool? Is that easy? Maybe that's the problem. In training, we're scoring loads of goals and looking fantastic. Yeah, we're doing really well. We're exposing the defence regularly with our incites of attacking play. and ability to pass through the lines in midfield. So, yeah, no, it is a huge problem,

and I think the problem is the problem for slot now is, we've all been in and around football long enough, that once the crowd turns at any football club, let alone Liverpool, any football club, once the crowd turns en masse, it is very, very hard to win the back. I think he probably is going to get the summer. I think he's going to get a chance to put it right next season.

Sounds like it, yeah. But he's under... I think they'll challenge next season. I think they'll sign some good players. They're going to get rid of a lot of players. We know Salon Robertson are going. and they might lose players like Curtis Jones, who I thought was good,

and I think it's a good player, and knows the club inside out, but Slot doesn't play him enough. But I think Liverpool will be good next season. I think you'll see, if we don't see the best of Eastside, but I think we will see the best of him, because they'll have a pre-season

and hopefully stay injury-free. Yeah. I mean, if he doesn't, if they don't start the season well, on a slot could be the first managerial casualty of next season. 100%. Yeah. Absolutely. It could be gone by end of September.

Chabby Alonzo will be by the phone waiting. I think he might not be it, because I think he'll probably be working somewhere else by then. Yeah, I thought that, I thought that. But fingers crossed, he's there waiting. I mean, to be fair, Chelsea have had an absolutely miserable season as well, because quite easy to forget that under Moreska, early on in the season, there was a feeling that actually Chelsea might challenge for the title.

And now they might finish without even European football. Yeah, you're right. I agree. Chelsea need a manager, and they need a manager in as soon as possible. And the hierarchy at the club. No, they need a coach, Clinton. They don't want anyone coming in with grand ideas to build a manager. They do need a manager.

No, I know they need a manager. Not going to manage. It's not going to manage. So it has to be a coach, as you rightly pointed out there. It has to be a coach because the hierarchy through all the signings and you need a coach. And you know that person is probably someone like an Iriola, but I don't know if they're going to go through them. There's a lot of names. There's Marco Silver that's in the mix and stuff like that.

But I think Chelsea's recruitment's been knowing they're good enough. Like some of these players like they're talking about, oh, they want to go to other clubs like round Madrid. And you've got to be good enough for Chelsea before you can go to clubs like clubs like. like round Madrid and they've not been good enough this season. That's my honest opinion at the moment. So as much as we say about, oh, Liverpool has not had a good season, at least they'll be playing Champions League football.

Chelsea won't be next season. Okay, we'll talk more about the race for Europe shortly. But first, half-time teaser, Bruno Fernandez named the Football Writers Association Men's Footballer of the Year on Friday. So I've got actually a multi-parter to test your knowledge on that awards history. Three different Portuguese players have now won it.

Who are the other two? Who was the last Manchester United... Wait. Who is the last Manchester United player to win the award? And who are the only two players to win it three times? So the answer's next plus more analysis. Five-lides sports. So here's the first ball of this series. All the cricket you last.

Check, Ralphie W. Ouch. Lips 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 fourth weekend, and it's the huge one.

Cheese, horse. Settle down. Sorry, Ray. Cricket on five-life sport. Oh, I've lived in every ball of this. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review, with Rick Edwards. Hello, welcome back to the Premier League Review with me, Rick Edwards, Clinton Morrison and Luke Edwards.

Before the break, I asked you, three different Portuguese players have won the Football Writers' Association. Men's Football of the Year Award. Bruno Fernandez is the last one, who are the other two. I think these are, well, one of them is an absolute gimme and one of them is trickier but getable, I'd say.

So Clinton, take the easy one. Ronaldo. Of course. And Luke, take the hard one. I knew you'd do that to me. Yeah. You had a brain box. I'm not.

I've just heard that you like taking the hard one. I'm trying to be nice. My mind's gone blank You know who I would have said Because Rick said something I would have said Bernardo Silver But no That's a, okay

So right team Oh man city What you're good Did you want Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yeah That good season As a cent of half Didn't he Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Okay Next up Who is the last Manchester United Player To win the award Oh Man

That is a good Um Dehia No Great shout Is it after him Rick or before before but actually

I mean they will have overlapped. Oh, it's got to be a show. Is it a great shout? No, it's not. Wow. Rooney, Rooney. There we go, Rooney. It's got to be the boy one down. Oh, nine. Look at Clinton.

Yeah. Three from three. And I think these, I think both of these are gettable. So imagine that Clinton will get them. Only two players to win it three times. Two players to win it three times. Yeah.

Tierie Henri. Key? Tierionry, Bang. Roy Key? No, you're so bad at these. I love it, Luke. Ryan Giggs?

No. Is it that, which era is then? I'll let Luke... Did you vote for these as well, Luke? Probably. Yeah, he would have voted for these players. It's insane. No, I don't really want to give any clues,

because I think this is just sort of... Is it Tiari-onri's era, though? Or is it more... No, it's not Omri's era. Is it after? Is it after? It's after, yeah? DeBronner.

Someone like a Lampard or John Terry. No. Gerard. No. Great shout. Thank you. Clinton just keep saying great shout to me when I keep getting the answer wrong. It's great.

Position, position, Rick. Position. I'll get it. I can see Rick's face is getting more and more angry and questioning why on Earth. The argument, the argument on this is, the argument on this guy's stats are basically as good as on Rees. But people say, ah, but on the eye test on Reyes. was just better, which I would, unfortunately I would agree with.

And it's after Henri, because if not, I was thinking someone like a shiro, it's not that. The stats don't blend. It's not Ronaldo. No, it's a striker. Although he won it twice.

No, it's not a striker, is it? It is a striker ring. Well, that's sort of the argument. So people think that Henri played off the left, but he didn't. Yeah, exactly. This guy absolutely played off the wing. Salah.

Thank you. My God. Sorry. Stupid Clinton. Salah, how would I'm not pick Salah? His goals record, stupid. Yes, yeah, but in fairness, you just got a load right,

Clinton. Luke is sitting there silently, having got nothing. Nothing. He voted for him. Luke votes for all of those players as well, well, man. Well, miserable, absolutely miserable stuff, as always.

Just a quick one on Manchester United then. Qualified for the Champions League, great. Carrick now, you know, firmly in the frame, if he wasn't before, for getting the job. permanently. But against Sunderland's, pretty, pretty poor.

I mean, actually really poor. I mean, maybe you'd say not really anything to play for now, but still, Luke. Yeah, I was there. I was at the game on Saturday, and I thought they were, they were, it was a reminder of how bad they can be and how limp they can be. Do you excuse them because it sort of doesn't make any difference now? Well, Michael Carrick said that that suggestion offended him. in the post-match press conference.

It didn't offend his players. It personally offended him. No, it offended him that there will be any suggestion that they had nothing to play for because they're playing for this magnificent football club. Ladi, yada, yada, yada, yada. But I think they had switched off mentally. Sunderland should have won.

Sondland were the better team. They were sharper, hungrier, stronger. And I think what Michael Carrick might have been doing, though, is I think he wanted to have a look at a few of the fringe players. So he had a little look at Mason Mount, neat, tidy, few flashes story of his Old Trafford career really, but got out-muscled.

I think he wanted to look at Xerxes up front starting. I think we've probably seen the end of Xerxes now in terms of being a viable option to lead the line for Manchester United. I thought he was really poor. But I think it is worrying, it's only a slight worry because they've had an excellent run and they're back in the Champions League and I've given

Michael Carrick a wonderful chance to getting the job. But it's a slight worry that the big accusation that's been thrown at Manchester United, this group of players through the years, through various, as managers is their mentality. And I thought they looked flaky against Sunderland and should have lost. And I think you're looking at that group again, you're thinking, okay, well, you know, if they've still got that mentality in that dressing room and Michael Carrick gets the job full

time, are they going to let him down as well? Are they going to get into a comfort zone? Are they going to, you know, not play with the same intensity and purpose? Are they going to slip into bad habits? And I think that was definitely an example of why Manchester United have struggled for so long is that they are capable still of serving up performances like that. And also, I think,

a reminder of if Bruno Fernandez isn't firing or doesn't have a season like he's had this season, how much do the United fall? And I suspect the answer is quite a lot. Yep, I agree, definitely. So I totally agree. I've seen

bits of pieces of the game and Sondland should have won. Luke said they were the better team and on another day they come away winning it. And Michael Carrick said after I was a good point. But when you're Man United boss, you can't be going to something and saying it's a good point,

you know, but I do think the job he's done at the moment. The only thing I worry about is how did Man United not give him the job at the moment? What are they waiting for to give him this job? Why are they going to wait to the summer? Are they still interviewing other candidates?

Because the job he's done to get them to the Champions League is fantastic. And I did think yesterday they missed Casamero big time and he's leaving at the end of the season in midfield. Because as you said, Mason Mouse, I don't think it's naturally a centre midfielder alongside Kobe.

but yeah, they're the questions. I'd love to speak to the hierarchy and say, why have you not given Michael Carrick a job yet? Oh, go on, Luke. I think I can't answer much on this podcast. Go ahead, Luke. Well, I think, I think a lot of it's to do with optics. I think they want to be seen to be going through a thorough process,

doing their proper due diligence. And I think there's the name of one manager out there, Eriola, who I think, I think he's got backers at Old Trafford. I think there are people there who think, hmm, he might be better for us. he might be, he might just be, you know, the new great young manager of his generation coming through, the job he's done at Bournemouth with the adversities had to face there in terms of losing players. And I think there will be people at Old Trafford who are just thinking that they're

sort of trapped in this. If we give it to Carrick, are we going to be accused of doing the Sol Shkaier route? Like, Carrick can't have done any more. So I think, I think there is, but they've been down every route now, United. Like, whatever they do, people will say, where you've tried that before. And I think that's the problem, Rick. But I think that's the problem. Whatever they do, that, you know, if they don't appoint Carrick and the new manager starts badly, people will say, well, why on earth did you get rid of Michael Carrick? He was doing great. And if they do appoint Michael Carrick and he

starts really, really, you know, disappointingly at any point next season, and Iriola's gone and starts tearing up trees somebody else. They'd be going, well, you had that guy. He could have come, but you stuck with Michael Carrick. So it is a very difficult decision. I think most of it is to do with optics. I said last week, I think it would be more of a surprise if Michael Carrick doesn't get the job now. But there is obviously a semblance of it. doubt because as you say Clinton, if there wasn't any doubt, he would have the job now.

Exactly. So there must be something. And I think Eriola's availability this summer has caused them to pause. Yeah, I think that's probably true. Now on the race for Europe, who are you back? So Brighton and Bournemouth both won. Aston Villa drew.

Liverpool drew. Villa, it's not a good run in the league at all. I think I've got eight points from the last nine league games, which I've put in the relegation zone form-wise. They will obviously remember missing out in the Champions League on the last day, last season.

Can that happen again? You know the top five, how it is now, I think the top five will stay out of it is. I think Villain need one more win. And I think they've got the Europa League final and then they play Man City the last game of the season. They win that Europa League final. I don't think they'll get the result against Man City

because they're heads, you know, I just thought it's a crazy time to play it three days before the end of the season which is bonkers for me so I think they need to, their next game they need to get the win and then I think it'll be I think Liverpool will finish fourth

and I think Villa will finish fifth and Villa will win the Europa League and then I think six will be a Champions League spot so there's lots of teams in it and Bournemouth are the favourites at the moment Yeah so Bournemouth on 55, Brighton on 53 Brentford and outside of him on 51

Chelsea and Everton 49 I think they're out of it in terms of Champions League Who would you back then? Do you agree with Clinton's assessment Luke? Yeah, I think Velo will do it. I think they'll just have enough. Bournemouth's obviously got to play Manchester City as well, haven't they? Yes. So you feasibly, you would imagine, you know, with Man City in the situation they were in,

you would have thought Man City would win that and so Bournemouth will drop points. So Bournemouth have to be perfect and they've got that really difficult game. I think Villa will just about do it and then I think they'll go on and win the Europa League as well. So Bournemouth had just got to hang on to six, which, you know, they can still lose out to Brighton and Brighton are obviously a really, really good team as well.

So the great story of this season, though, is that actually we could have Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford in Europe next season? What's a story if it's Bournemouth of Brighton playing Champions League football? And I do believe it will be between them two. Brentford as well. Brentford got a chance of getting it. into Europe. It's crazy.

Would you be gutted, well, not gutted, but like, it'd be such a strange situation. If Bournemouth get into the Champions League and then the manager's gone. And then the manager,

manager leaves and you think, oh, man. Well, he is leaving. I mean, he is leaving. No, no, I know, I know,

I just think. It is very sad. Well, it's the story of Bournemouth's existence. And regret it. It's the thing, yeah, I think he could,

well, will he regret it, depends what job? He'll probably regret it if he goes to Chelsea. Because within nine months, in nine months, he thinking,

Ain't there talk of him maybe going to Palace. You would know better than anyone. I would... I've heard that. I don't see Palace, Clinton. No, Luke, that is a strong rumour, you know. Very... It's a strong rumour.

I'm not saying it's Palace would love him. I thought. How Palace would absolutely love him? Yeah, of course. What a move that would be for Palace? We've just gone and got one of the best young managers. But if you're at Ariola, I'll be thinking, now you're right.

No offence, but I've just began, now you're okay. I think Brighton fans would be feeling extremely optimistic. almost irrespective of which European competition they end up in and they will end up in one because they missed out last season, big disappointment.

They're in a really great run at the moment of they had a horrible patch in the middle of the season, didn't they? The manager was in trouble. He's now signed a new deal to 2029 and it just feels like everything's going in the right direction for them and they'll kick on to next season very enthusiastically, I would think. They are better run football clubs.

than the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham. I mean, that's the most damning thing you can say about that. You know, the old Big Six, those two clubs. And there were better run clubs last season than Tottenham and Manchester United. So they are doing it right. They are the template for every small to medium-sized football club in this country to follow.

And I hope they do it. And I think it will be absolutely brilliant. And I think that we talk about the unpredictability of the Premier League. And we are moving away a little bit from that. I mean, we've talked about it being a bad look if Man City won the Premier League. season for how much that dominance would resemble PSG, Celtic,

by Munich. But that is why the Premier League is so good, is that those clubs, Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford, for one of them to be in Europe would be a fantastic story, but for all three of them to be in it. And they've all done it through sensible recruitment, they've all had to trade players, and they've got the basics

behind the scenes right, and yeah, they're model football clubs, and that is something for the rest of English football to aspire to. It's what the likes of Sunderland, etc. Leeds, they're all aspire to follow in their footsteps in the years to come. I also think we should just finish up

with a word of praising congratulations for Nottingham Forest, who are now safe and will be a Premier League team next season, and Vitor Pereira deserves all the applaud. He's going to get for Lacklington. No, I agree. I was at the game

today. I did the commentary for the Five Live and it wasn't the best. It looked like both teams were on the beach. Didn't need to be the best. Yeah. It didn't need to be the best. I was exactly that. And you know what, credit for us, because what they've got is five or six first team players out missing,

but they've got one individual who's been outstanding for them this season. Newcastle, a guy. They lost his Elliot Anderson. And he was the difference maker in the end, scoring a spectacular goal. And it was a brilliant goal. It's a brilliant one, two, and the finish is outstanding, to be fair,

because I thought Newcastle were going to hold on because they didn't play too bad as well, but they don't keep clean sheets at the moment, Newcastle. That's the problem. But as you say, Ferreira went in there. He had a job to do. after what happened on Thursday night, you were thinking how were they going to react to the injuries? They got a great point and credit to Forrest for them surviving in the Premier League.

Because at one stage, it looked like they were doomed and they've had like four managers this year and credit to Pereira. He's got them over the line. Brilliant. Anything to say about Newcastle, Luke? Not really. I just think everybody would like the season to end in the normal. All right. Thanks very much, Clinton. Thank you, Luke. That's all we've got time for on the Premier League review. Much more analysis and debate coming up on the Monday bike. Five live sports.

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