Football Daily - The Debrief: Arsenal On Top
Episode Date: December 30, 2025Arsenal increase their lead at the top of the Premier League table following a 4-1 win at home to Aston Villa. Hear from their manager, Mikel Arteta, and from Unai Emery after his Aston Villa side's 1...1 match winning streak came to an end. Dion Dublin, Ellen White, Statman Dave and Clinton Morrison join Steve Crossman to discuss a busy night of Premier League football and the latest twists at the top and bottom of the Premier League table. More dropped points from Chelsea - hear from their coach Willy Caballero and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola after a 2-2 draw - what's the latest on Antoine Semenyo's future at the club? Plus, hear from Rob Edwards after his first point as Wolves manager following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford to Manchester United. And they discuss the latest transfer rumour - could Brennan Johnson be set for a switch across London from Tottenham to Crystal Palace?TIME CODES:01:10 - Arsenal 4-1 Aston Villa 08:20 - Mikel Arteta 12:20 - Unai Emery 14:40 - Willy Caballero 15:50 - Andoni Iraola 18:50 - Manchester United 1-1 Wolves 21:45 - Rob Edwards 22:45 - Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace?
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Tuesday nights football. Arsenal, five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a four-one victory over Aston Villa.
We've got Stapman Dave, Ellen White and Dion Dublin with us inside the stadium. Clinton Morrison, other stories in the Premier League.
Manchester United won, Wolverhampton Wanderers won. So Wolves get their first point under Rob Edwards and United failed to beat them at Old Trafford.
elsewhere in the Premier League. West Ham 2, Brighton 2. West Hamstayed third bottom.
Forest are four points above them. They were beaten though, 2-0 at home by Everton. It finished
Burnley 1, Newcastle, 3 Newcastle moving to the top half and an absolute belter of a game
at Stamford Bridge, which finished Chelsea 2, Bournemouth 2. Let's continue the story then
at the Emirates, just looking at David Ryer celebrating that. And you know what, Dion,
And before we talk about anything else, I want to talk about David Ryer's save.
Forget all the goals that went in.
The other day, he made the save that people think is the best we've seen this season.
He might actually just have beaten it.
Well, it's going to take some beating.
When he made that save in the last game, I'm saying, catch it.
I was with Helen at the time.
So catch it, get both hands on it.
What to save, that was, by the way.
But I think tonight may have just gone to the top of the tree.
Honestly, the reactions and just the way they move their feet,
It's just, and they all are different species keepers, by the way.
They train on their own, they've got their own coaches, they do what they want to do.
They do have a keeper's union.
But when they make saves like that, you've got to tip your hat.
I was going to say as well, I think he's outstretched with his left arm, hit the ground,
but then his ability to get up, stand, shuffle his feet to get across.
Obviously McGinn should absolutely volley that into the back of the net,
but his ability to spread himself again.
Yeah, he's a phenomenal keeper.
It was a sensational save.
This time, though, by the time it happened, the game had already been won.
I've got to say, Clinton Morrison, an Arsenal team without Declan Rice
to do that to a Villa side that had won 11 games in a row, it's pretty frightening.
No, it is frightening.
Villain need to be at full strength, though.
No Kamara, no cash.
They're two important players for them.
Villa couldn't afford to come to Arsenal and not be at full strength.
So they did miss them too in particular, for sure.
But you're right, it was frightening.
Only in the second half, though, crossy.
I thought in the first half, it was flat.
They weren't moving the ball quick enough,
but in the second half, yeah,
they got their mojo and they were cooking.
And you're right.
David Reha, the save tonight was brilliant.
It's fantastic.
But I think because of the scoreline,
people won't talk about it that much.
But I think on the weekend,
the one against Brighton was outstanding
because when I saw Minter start,
I'm trying to bend it into that far corner.
And I shouted goal already,
and Ray had just said, nice.
Not a goal here, Clinton.
I think that's, you can lip read.
That's exactly what he said.
He said Clinton, I don't think you know what you're talking about here.
Clinton, just a quick one, mate.
You've watched that game tonight.
Yeah.
What was the difference?
I mean, Villa three points behind Arsenal.
Yeah.
What was the difference on the pitch?
Why were Arsenal so dominant?
You know what?
I look at the bench as well that you can bring on the deal on,
but it was over before Arsenal made a change.
But I just thought the front three caused a lot of problems.
I know your career, he didn't get his goal,
but he's a handful.
He causes a lot of problems.
And I feel the difference.
was probably Odergaard. I thought Oudegard in the second half took hold of the game and basically said this is our place I'm going to grab this game by the scruff of the neck and he started to get into pockets and I do believe Anana going off was a huge blow for them because I think in the first half there was no space for Odegaard to get on a ball as soon as Anana went off I think Odegaard he came into his own and he started playing them slide all passes he probably be disappointed he didn't score a couple of goals so I say Deion he was the he was the biggest the biggest threat for them and I'd say probably Vila
Rogers was quiet tonight and it's unusual but it's he can't always do it by
himself you know what I mean that's why that's why Clinton gets paid the big books
mate no I'm like to be a pound behind you and Ellen
I'm allowed to say that I'm allowed to say this crossy but I watched you on
every morning on a pro on a BBC program at 11 o'clock he is brilliant isn't he
thank you thank you young man thank you all every day every day I love
always say, am I allowed to say it?
Didn't wait for me to answer?
I'm just saying it. It's BBC, mate. You're okay. We're all BBC. We're all BBC.
Statman, give us some of the numbers of that then, because, you know, 4-1 doesn't tell the whole
story. I think the big thing with Arsenal, as we know, the set piece is there supreme at that.
And Gabriel, being back today is absolutely massive. That's his 19th goal in the Premier League
for Arsenal in that period. That's six more than any other defenders managed in the division.
He's the top scoring centaarth in Europe since joining Arsenal.
But I think on top of that, obviously, the impacts of Leandro Trasse.
this season's got to be spoken about 13 goal
involvement more than any other Arsenal player
and finally I think someone like Martin Zubendi has
improved Arsenal directly involved in six
goals already this season Thomas Party
was six in the entirety of last campaign
we're also seeing him roam around
pick up really interesting spaces
took his goal so well today and it gives the team
a different dynamic and as Clinton spoke about
Erdogard can find you if you make those forward runs
and it makes them harder to play against if their number six
is getting into the box
Yeah, I was just going to say, do you think Clint, you know, Dave, Dion, this really showcases, particularly this game, the depth of the Arsenal team, of, you know, obviously Rice missing, yes, but they have obviously missed Odegaard in other games and previous games, obviously Gabrielle.
But I feel like this game has really highlighted the depth that they have and the quality of those players as well.
I think what you said, Steve, about United not beating wolves, I think United not beating wolves tells you where United is or United are.
and then Arsenal, doing what they did to Villa tells you where Arsenal are.
It's just we have to get the job done and we will do it.
We've got the players to do it.
I'll make the right decisions.
I'll play the right formation.
Everything's going right for Arsenal because they're all contributing.
The manager's doing his bit.
The players are doing their bit.
The coaches are set pieces.
And when you keep us, you know, whatever it may be,
it seems to be a bit of a juggernaut at the moment because everybody's contributing.
And at Man United, it's not quite there.
That's why they couldn't get over the line with Wolves tonight.
Clinton, let's have a mention on Gabriel Jesus here as well
because the evening started with a lot of fear for Arsenal fans
because Declan Rice was out
and I think we're assuming that's not a serious injury
so we'll wait and see.
But the evening almost ends with the opposite feeling
because Kai Havert's is back on the bench
so we're going to see him before too long.
Obviously Arsenal haven't seen him at all this season.
And Jezus gets his first Premier League goal,
well, his first goal full stop of the season as well.
Yeah, definitely.
That's why Ella makes a really good point.
This squad depth is a joke.
It's an absolute joke, Arsenal.
That's why they recruited ever so well in the summer
and brought in a lot of quality.
And you've got players like Jay-Zus, who they did have.
He's been out for so long, a very long time.
And it must be hard for him.
People will tell you, crossy, when you're injured,
it's a lonely place and you're thinking,
will I get back onto that pitch?
Since he's come back, he's been so lively
and he deserves that goal.
I think he's brilliant.
And he's just different in the 10 or 15 minutes
that he was on the pitch.
When the ball goes up to him, it sticks.
He can roll people.
I think he's a brilliant, brilliant player.
But you know what they've got?
competition for places, but yeah, he's going to be like a new sign in Gabriel, Jay-Zus.
That is why Arsenal are favourites, because their squad depth is unbelievable.
But also someone like Mikhail Moreno, who's scored really important goals for Arsenal this season.
Today he played a very much a dirty role. He played that Declan Rice role.
In a sense of he made the most offensive actions for Arsenal, won the most tackles.
It's a different part of his game that we haven't really seen in the Premier League.
Could have potentially got sent off. We got booked early on, committed a few fouls.
But that type of role you need in a football team like Arsenal at the moment, a player that really digs him.
All those ugly jobs.
The ugly jobs, the dirty jobs, Dionne.
No, that's it.
And, you know, Decker and Rice is obviously a lot more than that.
And he's, in my opinion, possibly the best in the world at that at the moment.
I think he's that good.
But he just does everything really simple.
He makes it look simple.
He gets the ball back.
He plays the right pass.
If he goes forward, somebody sits in with him.
He's a very intelligent footballer.
But they've got over the line without him tonight.
That tells you something.
Okay, let's hear from the Arsenal manager, Mikhail Artata.
Bickel, you've had three very close halves of football against Aston Villa this season,
but wow, what a second half that was tonight.
Yeah, it was amazing.
We knew we played against a team that won 11 games in a row.
They are a great emotional state.
They are really fabulous team.
They keep you on the edge in a reaction.
And in the first half in the first 10 minutes,
we miss time a few things, and they open us up,
and they are really dangerous there.
After we have some more control, we came up in the second half.
half and I thought we were outstanding.
You looked as if you had told them to go through the gears a bit,
up the intensity right from the first whistle in the second half.
We did that, but then that's sometimes not enough.
At the end, you have to time things really well.
I think there are certain roles and behaviours that are really important against them.
You want to be efficient in what you do.
We really did that credit to the boys.
I think the quality team finishing as well was something that we've been missing
in the last few games and certainly today we had it and that made a difference.
Talking about making a difference, how important to have Gabriel back in your team,
both defensively, of course, but he makes a nuisance of himself at the other end?
Yes, both boxes, I think. I think the presence, the character he brings to the team,
it's something else. He's been out for six weeks.
Haven't played yet, and today has to play against probably the most dangerous team,
especially with the space in behind, and I think he was fabulous.
Gabriel Jesus, too, 300-odd days out, came back recently, and what an introduction to the match.
Right. He looks sharp, very ambitious.
I think Victor did it really, really well today as well in the front line.
But Gabby took his chance so well.
So, another one on board.
Does this to you feel like a nice statement win to see out 2025?
A little reminder to everybody else who the team to beat are?
Another three points is the only thing that matters.
We know how long this is going to be.
But yeah, it's been an incredible 2025.
We know what we won from 2026.
We're going to have to earn it.
we're still a long way away.
And Arsenal fans, of course,
will want to see Declan Rice back in the team quickly.
Is that likely to happen?
I think so.
Well, if that swelling comes down in the next few days,
he will be in a better place.
But the good thing is that without a lot of players,
still the team is able to perform in that way and win the game.
Let's talk a bit of Villa then, Alan.
I mean, look, they'd won 11 in a row.
They're on this unbelievable run.
People were talking about them and a title race.
Is there a danger of kind of under-appreciating
the job that they are doing this season?
by comparing them to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.
Do you see what I mean?
Like, they could have an amazing season and be third.
Like that would still be amazing.
Yeah, no, definitely.
I think Una Emery kind of alluded to that a little bit
in his press conference of what he was saying
that, you know, they want to enjoy the moment.
You know, they don't want to think about the title and enjoy each game
and obviously the fact that they have kind of broken a record
of the most consecutive wins that they've kind of had for a good while.
So I don't think this is something or a game.
that they need to really focus on too much
yes it would have been absolutely amazing
and it would have been even more in the conversation
but I think they need to focus on keeping
where they are in the Champions League spots
obviously doing well in Europe as well
so I think that's what they need to concentrate on
yes they obviously need to analyse this
but this isn't the be all and end all of their season now
and their chances of European football for next season as well
I think this might be this might you know
silver lining and all that kind of stuff
it might be they might think
hold it a minute, that's where we need to be.
So what do we need to do in order to get there, you know?
Just in December, you think about who they've played.
They've played Chelsea way, they played Arsenal way.
They've played Arsenal twice, home and away.
They played Brighton.
They've picked up 15 points from a possible 18.
That's a great return.
It really is.
And I think that's where Villa have got a look at it there,
that they've done exceptionally well in December.
Today, Matt, was a little bit too far.
But again, as you mentioned, Dion, what can they do in January?
Close that gap.
Let's get some reaction.
Here is Aston Villa boss, Unai, Emery.
Unai, always going to be the most difficult match in the Premier League.
A trip to Arsenal, your thoughts on tonight?
So happy with the players.
And, of course, we must analyze this match.
But overall, we are getting the day 19 with the point we have and the week we did.
Today, we did very good first half differently than the last match in Chelsea.
And of course, we were more or less competing well and even getting our momentum.
and creating chances.
And we didn't consider it a lot.
No corner the first half for them.
But the second half, the first goal,
changed everything.
And after it, of course, they push it.
And we had as well the age of Amadu and Anna.
And we lost it in the middle.
And they have the power they show with it.
And we finish loss in.
But now with the players, my analysis, of course,
is after the match how we did here 90 minutes,
but overall, the most important for us
is to understand overall how we are.
Is that the frustration for you tonight, though?
Because at halftime, in the first half,
Arsenal, hadn't really troubled you a great deal.
And then suddenly it changed so quickly.
Yes, we played fantastic the first half,
and they started pushing.
We had our momentum, to dominate our momentum,
to create a chance in transition,
sometimes keeping the ball position,
and we are competing very well and defending very well.
Of course, to keep it for the second half
was our challenge,
and the first goal, how they scored it.
Maybe it could be fault,
but of course here in England is more difficult
because the referees they let to touch the keepers
and it's difficult.
But we must have said because in both sides.
And then, after it,
we considered another...
Another chances they scored it and finished the match loss in.
We scored one goal.
We had another really good chances.
We were as well keeping our structure
and trying to use some young players as well in some minutes they played.
And keep going.
More drop points at home for Chelsea this evening.
Two all draw with Bournemouth.
No endzo Moreska in the post-match interviews.
So instead, here's his assistant, Willie Cabier.
The reaction today, we were losing from the beginning.
We won.
for a few minutes.
That's the thing that can happen.
It's so difficult to score two goals
against these kind of teams
that are really strong intensity.
We scored two goals,
but we couldn't manage the game.
In that way, we need to improve.
And if today we increase that,
the stats, unfortunately, it's not good for us,
but we need to take the positive
and the effort from the players today was amazing.
And is the manager okay?
He's not feeling well, is that right?
Yeah, he's not feeling well.
He didn't feel in the last two days.
But he made the session as well.
I don't know how he find the strength to do it
because we saw him walking
and he was suffering with temperature
and other stuff.
And today he asked me to come to replace him
because he didn't feel well.
Ah, well, we hope for a speedy recovery for Enzo Moreska.
That's Chelsea coach, Willie Cabierro.
Speaking to John Salto.
Bournemouth fans, listen up.
Andoni Iriola says tonight was not Antoine Cimeneo's final game for the club.
I don't know what's going to happen, but he will definitely play.
Yes, it's not the last game.
Okay.
We spoke after the game with Brentford,
and obviously it was the first half in particular was a bad performance.
But there must be different emotions from you tonight, Hunter.
Yes, I think we all wanted to play a lot better game,
to forget a little bit this 45 minutes
we did against Brentford
and I think finish proud
with the performance
whatever was the result
the reward is not massive
at the end is one draw
one point but
I think we have to be humble
in this moment where everything is costing us a lot
and take the point
slowly slowly
keep growing in our performances
and keep insisting just
and in the 92nd minute
standing on the touchline
you must have thought
this is it when Enesuinal had that chance
yes
Yes, it's a great chance to have, no, but I think Enes has done very well.
The ministry has played with Amin.
I think they've given us this energy, you know,
that probably we were lacking in the last part of the game.
I think they've had more the ball, but we've had the better chances,
and I'm not fully satisfied with the two to be honest.
Deion, getting pantomime season started there as well before we heard from that.
Yes, I'm sort of teared up.
I'm going to panto tomorrow, actually.
Are you?
I'm just getting in the mood
I'm going to see Jason Manfred
is in Panto
in a show
which I can't remember
Oh he's not going to be happy
He doesn't really care
But I'm going to go see him tomorrow
And we'll see the new year and together
Clinton you must have done some Panto
No
You want to see him play
You've seen him play
He's in Panto all the time
The thing is
He sent such a lovely message to me there Dion
and now he's just gone and ruined it
I'm quite a lovely guy
No, no, I've never done Panto, but that's probably on my next, you know, wishless.
I'd be brilliant at Panto, do you not think?
Have you not heard me on Five Live every week?
No, you wouldn't.
Thank you very much.
All right.
Happy New Year, everyone.
Happy New Year.
Take care.
Happy New Year.
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On the Football Daily podcast, The Debrief with Steve Crossman.
Okay, let's talk Manchester United next after they drew one-all at home to wolves.
Dion.
Ruben Ambram has had an incredibly stressful time in charge of Manchester United
I think that's probably the best way.
Can't speak for him, but I'll be surprised if anything else is the case.
They're 16th in the Premier League after that.
They've got 30 points.
And clearly from a Premier League perspective, they've improved a lot from where they were.
You've got to be able to beat Wolves at home if you're not, I'm not going,
oh, you know, Manchester United and what they did in the 90s, I'm not doing that.
this Manchester United team right now
have got to be able to beat Wolf
yeah they have
and they've got to set their stall out early
early on by
making it difficult for Wolves and they didn't
Wolves did stand strong tonight
with a very good performance but yes
at Old Trafford at Trafford
I expect Manchester United to win that game
by at least a clear goal
maybe two clear goals
with the performances we've seen from Wolves
you have to take Wolves back to that place
where they think they're not going to win
and then you can win the game convincingly
but United didn't take them there.
Dave, give us some of the numbers here
because the evidence of the eye
says that Manchester United were really poor there.
I think when you look at the expected goals,
again, good at evaluating the chance.
As Manchester United create an expected goal of 0.81
in the game, Wolves 1.02.
Not a great game at all by those numbers
but Wolves created a better quality of chance.
Someone like Mascara deserves a lot of plaudits tonight.
It was absolutely fantastic defensively.
won 10 of his 11 ground jewels
two out of his three aerial jewels
most defensive contribution on the pitch
most interceptions most tackles won as well
but United got a look at themselves
obviously this new system, this new setup
it doesn't look right to me still
I think United were much better with three at the back
and I think this is the age old thing
with Manchester United obviously Ruben Amrin
came to the club playing that system
but there's still tweaks you can make with the back three
you can play three in mid-field player three five two
you could play one ten off two strikers
I would prefer that tactical change
versus this because at times
But he was getting hammered for sticking to that system
Yeah but I think he still stick to the system
I don't think you should shouldn't change things
because people, you know, on the outside
are saying this isn't work because you look at the
Which he hasn't done to be fair, has he? Do you know what I mean?
He's stuck with that system through thick and thing.
The system shouldn't be a problem.
The system shouldn't be a problem.
If you have players of that quality,
it shouldn't, in my opinion, it shouldn't be a problem.
I don't know.
442, 631, I don't care
what system you play.
That's a bit defensive, do?
Sometimes they've needed it this season.
I just feel that the United players are that good,
they should be able to deal with it.
And I think, you know, a system is a system.
A system is different when you're in possession.
A system is different.
When you're out of possession,
the players should be able to deal with it.
Massive night for Rob Edwards,
you have to say,
his first point in charge and we can hear from him now.
We've got to keep our feet on the ground.
I know it feels nice that we've taken something from the game,
but it is only a point.
And, you know, it's almost then we've got to remember where we're at as well.
So it's progress, it's progress.
The performance levels have been improving.
I think we've all seen that and we've felt that.
But it's nice to come away with something from the game.
Great for the supporters as well.
No less than what we deserved.
You know, I feel that on another night, it could have been more.
That was going to be my next question.
There were chances to win that throughout.
For both teams, but more importantly for you.
Yeah, I think however you play at Manchester,
United, they're always going to create and have some chances, but I feel we have bigger ones.
You know, we almost give them one. And I know they had the offside chance as well, the
offside goal, but we had some big, big opportunities there. But that's good. It's a positive
that we're creating. In the main, we look solid. And in the first half, I thought we played
some really good football. In the second half, I thought we looked a really good counter-attacking
threat. So I thought we showed some nice sides to us, to ourselves tonight as well.
Right. Let's do the one piece of transfer news today. Crystal Palace have reached an agreement with
Tottenham over a deal to sign Brennan Johnson for a fee of around 35 million pounds.
It's now obviously up to him to decide what he wants to do.
Dion, well, there's two angles to this.
Palace potentially signing him, Spurs potentially selling him.
Does any of that surprise you?
Knowing his dad, who I played with his dad at United.
Great striker.
Yeah, yeah, David.
And I think David would have been saying you need to play, son, you need to play.
You need games, you need minutes.
I like Palace.
I like Palace as a football club.
I like the way it's run.
I think Steve Parrish is a very good owner.
He'll spend money when he needs to spend money.
And I think if they can get Brennan through the door,
I think it's a huge plus point for them.
And again, as I said earlier about Semenio,
he will make a difference and make Palace better.
I think when you look at someone like Brendan Johnson,
what he's done at Spurs is score goals.
You can't deny that top score last season.
And I think that's a really weird thing.
mentioned kind of on the radio on Saturday.
It's weird that he's not been a part of this team this season
because the start of the year when they were playing really well,
pressing high, being aggressive.
He was scoring goals and he's done a different profile to a lot of their players.
It's just a goal score.
He looked at his chance conversion over the last 365 days,
scored a chance at 36% at the time.
That ranks him in the top 1% of players in Europe.
He's very effective in that position.
You think about Pallas' system and Ishmael-Assar being that kind of goal scorer
from midfield, that's exactly what Brennan Johnson could do for them, which will add such depth
for their team. For 35 million, that's a steal. I do. It just seems strange to me why you'd sell
a goal scorer, essentially, who was their top goal scorer last season? It just baffles me, because
who have you got in that squad at the moment that will score that amount of goals and the
consistency of the goals when they're playing and performing well? But he obviously doesn't
feel loved. There's obviously some friction maybe with the manager. He doesn't want to fit him in the
system, so I don't blame him at all for going to Palace and wanting to go play football under
a manager that seems great, but we also don't know how long he's going to be there potentially
as well. But yeah, I think fair play to him. Go there, enjoy your football and, yeah, potentially
score a lot of goals. You've got to wonder, Dion, whether there is another part to this
whereby Thomas Frank knows that he's going to be able to invest that money, because otherwise it does
seem a bizarre decision.
It's not like they're blessed with players
in blistering form in forward areas.
No, I think when you haven't got a
number nine that's getting you 20, 25,
you have to play, obviously, share the goals
out and Brennan was one of those that was
getting goals. So you're
taking that away from what you have.
Finding it again,
finding goals, first or foremost,
in anybody is difficult.
If you've got it in the room, try and keep
hold of it. It looks like
he's going to be going to Palace.
and Pallas are buying goals.
Palace are buying goals.
If you've got another source of goals,
along with the players at Pallas have already,
another 15 goals a season, Dave, is that about right?
Yeah, you'd probably say so for a player like Brennan Johnson,
that's what you'd expect in Crystal Palace's team.
And I think you'd think about his game
and how good he is playing on the last line
with someone like Matetta
that will take that attention away
that can link the player that still scores goals for fun,
but you're almost going up, you know,
under the radar a little bit.
Pino's a player that likes the ball to feet,
Sarah is different as we mentioned before
he's a player that runs the other way and I think with
Matetta that's the perfect foil in there
so it's a super exciting signing for Crystal
Palace fans and once again like the value
for money you're going to get there because it was
54 million that Spurs spent
on him okay and now what again
35 so they're losing what nearly
20 million on a player again it doesn't seem
like the right recruitment but you look at what
Spurs have done over the last
probably 24 months their squad
there's been a lot of investment in there
what's their best forward line we still don't
the inconsistencies with their performances last season
and the league finish was obvious for us all to see.
But considering that Brennan Johnson's scored two goals,
only Van de Ven and Richarderson scored more in the Spurs squad,
yet he's only played 600 minutes.
Wow.
Paints a picture.
47.5 mil, it was.
So they're making a 12.5 million pound loss
on a player who is surely a better player than they won they signed.
Just seems weird.
I mean, I suppose the thing that's been thrown at Tottenham in the past
is that they have recruited Pooley
and they haven't managed to move players on.
So I suppose the flip side to it, Ellen, is,
if the manager has made the decision
that Brennan Johnson is not for him,
then getting $35 million is more important
than whether or not you get what you paid for him.
Yeah, potentially.
And maybe he's got some one up his sleeve.
I don't know.
I don't know who they're potentially looking at,
but he's obviously got people in mind
that he wants to bring in for the style of play
that he wants to play.
But yeah, you obviously don't want to lose money on someone that is someone that you've brought, what, three seasons ago, two seasons ago?
It's not a great investment, is it?
I'd be very surprised if Thomas Frank hasn't forward planned and got his eye on somebody.
I think he's that kind of manager.
I like Thomas Frank as a manager.
I think he's a very special manager, a very special man.
So he will have something up his sleeve.
And just to finish on this, if I was a palace fan, I'd be thinking, I really hope what this is.
means is that the manager has told Steve Parrish
what he wants if he's going to stay and this is the first
sign of that happening. And if that's the case
then, you know... Because if you're Brennan Johnson, you're going to want to know
is the guy he's signing me? Absolutely. And are we keeping hold of
the players that we have at the moment that are
making things happen for Palace at the moment? I think
another two or three players and Palace will be there again, you know.
Challenge of the trophies, they will be.
Dave Ellen Dionne, thank you all very much indeed. That's it.
from this episode of the Football Daily podcast,
next edition, the Euroleagues,
you're better than that.
End of year quiz.
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