PSG Humble Man City, Carrick Under Pressure & Lamine The Dream

I'm pro football holo famer Brian Dawkins and I live for a long time with something I did not know the name of major depressive disorder. I carried sadness and anger because I thought I could handle it alone, but I couldn't. Now I want to make sure others know that that support is out there. If you're experiencing similar symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional. Visit mddallis.com to watch my story. Paid partnership with johnson and johnson, Brian Dawkins is not prescribed caplida luma teperon. I needed more from my antidepressant, so my doctor added caplida luma teperon, proven to provide greater relief from depression symptoms than an antidepressant alone, building on my progress without starting over. Caplida is for adults with major depressive disorder when used with an antidepressant and is available by prescription only. Individual results may vary. In clinical trials, weight gain was not common. Elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke. Caplida is not approved for dementia-related psychosis. Call your doctor about new or sudden mood changes, behaviors, or suicidal thoughts right away. Antidepressants may increase these risks, report fever, confusion, stiff muscles, which may be life-threatening, or uncontrolled muscle movements, which may be permanent. High cholesterol and weight gain may occur, as can high blood sugar, which may be fatal. Monitoring is recommended. Common side effects are sleeveness, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth feeling tired and diarrhea. These aren't all the side effects. Ask your doctor about caplida. Learn more at caplida.com or call 888-2524-824. Before this, there's this. As you celebrate the game, take a deeper look at its roots. The people grow in the grass, they've in the lots, weld in the goalposts, inspecting every football. The hardworking people to make every Sunday possible. Carhartt is proud to outfit the crews behind the game. Visit carhartt.com/jointhetrades to learn more. Somewhere out there is a Chevy truck, and the person who drives it, well, that's a Chevy person. You probably know one. Your buddy, your sister. Once who always show up, do the first rise, the last to leave. They always have that little extra something, and maybe you've got it too. Chevrolet. Together, let's drive. Visit Chevy.com/truck to explore the lineup. Hello, and welcome to the rest of his football with Alan Shira and me, Gary Lennyka. Don't worry, Michael will be joining us. Well, it'll be joining me in the second hop, because this is a podcast of two halves. I'm going to do Alan first, because there's a reason that you can't do Thursday morning. Michael's working tonight. We're recording this with you, Alan, on Wednesday night. Michael's doing CBS, and I'm going to be joining you in a funnel, a funnel. How do you say it? For one night only, explain to people what it is. Well, all proceeds will go to my foundation as part of the million pound mission, which we're trying to raise in the year. You're very kindly interviewing me from start on my career, very early days, which I'm sure the people in the audience have never seen the footage, never seen the pictures. I don't think they've been releasing some of them. Yeah, there's a lot of jolies coming down, and there's a lot of people from wherever all over the country, so it should be a bit of fun. It will be fun, very much looking forward to it, Alan. But in the meantime, let's discuss some football. What a couple of nights we've had of it. Crazy. So many goals over two nights, so many kind of turn around. I wonder whether perhaps the nature of the format helps that, because I think there's a degree of freedom. We used to have those little groups, didn't we? You might occasionally get two big teams playing each other, and if they did, it was primarily who's going to win the group, because they'd always go through anyway. You knew that. Now, I know with this, pretty much all the big clubs will certainly be in the, you know, not necessarily in the top eight, but in the top 24, but they'll really will want to be in the top eight, but at the same time, and they don't necessarily want to be in the six, the top 24, because obviously they have to play two games extra in the season. So that's tough. And I think it's, I think the teams, I mean, I've just watched Manchester City PhD. Chris was truly extraordinary. We'll come to that, and we'll come to that in a little bit later, and I'll do it more in depth, probably with Michael, because he works on that game as well. So I just think teams of feel free to actually have a go at each other, because, you know, the jeopardy's not massive, but at the same time, I'm seeing a lot of entertaining football this season. I think we, do I say this out? Are we getting away from the fucking dreaded low block? Yeah, this, I mean, it's not a disaster if you lose a game. So I guess teams maybe opening up a little bit more in terms of yeah, if they lose, then it's not the be all an end all. There's a bit of, there's a bit of leeway in the competition if you were to lose a game or too early on. You were in Madrid. That was beautiful. For the Athletico Manchester United game, obviously, it's added a bit more heat on you, 90, a bit more heat on Michael. Okay. But actually, I thought they played all right. I watched quite a bit of it, and then I was flicking onto the goal show to see what was going on, because I knew you'd got that game covered. So you give us, you give us the inside knowledge on that one. He changed things around a little bit. He left, he sure was out, McGuire was out, Coby Manu was out, and he changed things around a bit. He brought in Santos, brought in Belieber. Aiden Haven played. Yeah. He haven't played left back. So, yeah, there were changes. Manu and I did improve, and they improved a lot, I think, compared to what we saw on Saturday against Spurs. I know that was a bit of a low bar, but they did improve a lot. They, they conceded after 53 seconds, and it could have been very different. I mean, they didn't cave. I think if anything, it made them stronger, it made them better. And they missed some big chances to get back into the game. And there were chasing the game. There's no doubt that Jonathan David came on. I mean, that was never a send-off for me when your old got sent off, never, never, never arrested. No, I didn't call for me. Not enough in it. I mean, he put his hand on him, and you know what it's like. He went over so easily, but he got the red card, and then they got done. But it was much improved from Manchester United, and plenty for character work on. I don't think they're a brilliancing. I don't think they're going to finish in the Champions League's spot at all. I think it's going to be a bit of a tough season for them. And it'll be a tough season for him because of the full, for those reasons. I mean, they're only beating this season, it's switching Sabah. Yeah. Obviously, the first thing they played in the Champions League this season. Did you feel a bit of, I mean, obviously a couple of new signings, all three new signings played in midfield, and they sent us believer. And of course, Telemann, did you, did you see much to encourage you there? It was a little because he put Bruno Fernandez on the right hand side of a front three, which clearly it's not his best position and not where he wants to be. I thought the two midfielders did all right, so there was certainly an improvement in terms of energy, legs, effort against Atlético, then there was against Tottenham at the weekend. And in terms of chances created, they created a lot of chance and Buemo, had a couple, Rashford had had a chance, Bruno Fernandez had a big chance, they missed a header from a corner as well. So that's what they'll be kicking themselves with because they should have scored. It's a really, really tough place to go as we know with Simion, it gets the crowd going. It's a brilliant stadium, brilliant atmosphere. Simion, he plays a huge part in who and what they are. Let's go Madrid. So it's a tough place to go. So having said that, all things being equal, after what happened at the weekend, I thought it was a decent performance from Manchester United, all of the score line wouldn't suggest that. I'm going to talk to you about this before. I obviously mentioned it to Michael as well, but have you seen the social media clips of the masking to me only, who is his favourite one? I saw that, yeah, yeah, Mike. He said no, he said the one with the glasses. He didn't know his name today. He said no, the one with the glasses. I mean, no one picked that up, but he played me, yeah, he's going to say one in the one with the glasses. I'll go gently on, Michael, I won't mention it for a bit and see, because he'll get so excited, he was so excited, he ran up to the screen and everything. I can't wait to talk to him about that. I suppose probably the biggest story coming out of that game were the comments made by Los Andres Martinez at the end of the game. He said the following. It is easy to say the coaches. It's easy to say the players, but also we have to see the other areas. You start changing, changing, changing managers, but what about other areas? I can't say more. We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete. I expect more from our technical director. That's Jason Wilcox, of course. I have to be honest, we had a fantastic season last season, now we expect more. It's also important to build a strong squad to be ready for this kind of if we don't say the truth, nothing will change. I've heard you say it many times, they weren't backed in the summer. And he tell me, I mean, it's quite unusual for a player to step up and say that. - Yeah, I mean, here it is. I said it again before the game last night that. I honestly don't think Carrick was backed enough and I think he was let down in the summer after what he did and what he achieved in terms of where he got them to last season. They should have backed him better, they should have bought more players. But I think there are, when I heard him say that, I was thinking, my first thoughts were, what's coming out of his mouth is right? - Yes. - I think it's absolutely right in what it is. - But is it the right thing to do? - But has he said anything to them in private? - Well, I mean, I would have to guess that that's the talk in the dressing room, unless he's got a personal agenda and he's contracts up at the end of the season. But I would guess that that's the talk in the dressing room. But I don't think a player in those circumstances, you've just been beaten. The form he's in or the lack of form because he was dreadful at the weekend against Spurs, he got bullied off Solanki twice, one which was the equalizer. And I guess the fans, a lot of the fans, and I should never judge social media, but a lot of the fans on social media are all in agreement with what he's seeing. And I think it's right what came out with his mouth, but I don't think it was the right place to see it in front of millions of people and in the way he did and after a defeat and the form that he's in and Manchester United. I would compare it possibly to when coaches single out players, criticism publicly. I think it's okay to do that in the dressing room. And I think, well, I mean, it's a funny one, isn't it? Because I think like you, I totally agree with your opinion on that, which is exactly the same as Martin as his opinion on that. But when you're part of a team, it's difficult. And sometimes emotions run, yeah. I think he also puts the new signings in a difficult position as well. I don't think he meant the new signings. I just think he meant we needed more as well as those. I mean, because I thought the interview, Gabriel Clark, who interviewed him for prime, thought it was the way he handled it was brilliant. But then clearly he'd thought about it because he then went and said exactly the same thing on CBS, I think he said something that's very, very similar. So he knew exactly what he was doing, and he chose his time to do it. I just don't think the timing was good, and I don't think it's a good look when a player is coming out and being critical of those above him, albeit I guess the pundits can say that, but you can't say that when you're inside the dressing room when you're playing, not publicly anyway. Yeah, I agree. I think it's exactly the same as a manager criticising a player. I don't think it's the right thing to do publicly, unless there are extreme circumstances. I just think that club at the minute is there's so much shit to come out of it, whether it's fans moaning about ticket prices, whether it's staff losing their jobs, whether it's a stadium or. I think you should change that side. Whether it's fans moaning about ticket prices or maybe you should just word it ticket prices. Ticket prices, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, staff losing their job. Yeah. The number of managers they've been through, who they've hired and fired and compensation, directors and football that have been in there and left. It's, I mean, and also, I mean, on the pitch, I guess they did very well to get back into the Champions League last year, but they just seem, they just seem a mile off. And I know there was lots of talk about, well, the strength and the forward line, this strength and the midfield, and perhaps they were waiting to strut. As I've said to you before, I'm not convinced of that good up front anyway. I just think, I think they're a long way behind the Italy. When you look at the top teams, you look at city, you look at Paris Saint-Germain, you look at Real Madrid, look at Barcelona, look at Arsenal, look at all the clubs so you think of can go deep into the competition and do well in forward positions. I think, I do think that they're lacking in that area. I think one thing you'd say, I mean Manchester United's huge football club, obviously massive success for such a long period of time. I, you just mentioned a few clubs there that could compete in this Champions League, but I don't think you put Manchester United anywhere near - No. - Any of those teams that. They're a long way off that. I know they're a long way off that, yeah. But also, that is typical, isn't it? Because I guess who they went in for, number one and number two targets, they're not able to get any more. Because number one and number two targets are choosing other football clubs, where that would never happen 20 years ago, or 25 years ago, it would never have happened. And that's where Manchester United are now. - Arsenal are in a good place. - Yeah, they are. - Comfortable victory against Leal. I mean, it took them time to get at the goal. They had lots of chances, and then once they got one, it was like the domino effect. And he obviously makes the up a little bit. Your Cres came in one or two of the players that are not less. And he can do that because you'd look at United. They haven't really got the strength in depth, but you look at a team like Arsenal and Manchester City, I've just watched in an extraordinary game for football. I mean, the strength in depth that they've got, obviously there's, there's slight asterisk against the strength in depth that the City have got, but having said all that, you know, United are not near that at the moment, but Arsenal are in a good place. - Yeah, they are, I mean, similar to what happened, I know Leal didn't score, but as soon as Arsenal got one, it was a matter of, it just went bang, bang, bang, didn't they? - I know, yeah. - The passing and moving, the belief and the, the stroke that they had once that first goal, winning, and then they got the three. So yeah, they're in a really good place. They had a really good result of the weekend. They had to get that after the defeat a few weeks ago. So yeah, they're, they're, they're, they're very confident so they should be. - Yeah, Kai Sakko, we talked about a little bit of the weekend. He came on and instantly had a goal and a assist, and I think that won't do him any harm. I know he's a really good footballer anyway, so every, all players, we have a dip at some point in our careers, you have a little difficult spell, you've got to come through it. Might be a little bit of a turning point. I don't know, because confidence is, confidence is everything, isn't it? And you just do something like that. It's a really cool finish, and you think to yourself, ah, that's, that's the Sakko we know. That's it. - Yeah, absolutely. Cause it, and it might do him the world of good is not start and then come on on and score and getting the, getting the assist. And then yeah, you're right. And it wouldn't surprise me at all if you were to get another one of the weekend. - Let's stick with the, the, the Tuesday nights game for a bit, just a couple of the, the, the talking points apart from Arsenal's comfortable victory. Barcelona, they came from one down. It looked like it was going to be two down, but there was, there was an offside. And then I just want to talk about, I've been a skilfer from Lorraine, your mouth. I mean, you're true. I mean, you might, well, neither of us would have ever tried that, and even in training, or known how, I mean, I just went, did I just see that? Did I actually just see what he did? I mean, I know he hit the defender and it came, but even then the way he controlled it, it was just like, I just love watching that kid play. - Honestly, I was traveling back on the playlist, going back from there, back from Madrid. And I must have watched it 12 times, and every time I fought, how the fuck has he done that? - Every time he gets better. - It was like, how, I mean, like, I just think you're right. I wouldn't, we wouldn't even attempt to try that, 'cause we're making it right, take it by yourself. - I've fallen over. - But yeah, we probably would do yet and get an injury. But he, I mean, how an earth he did that. I don't think I've seen that before. It was, it was an incredible piece of skill. - I mean, it really was. - I mean, bloody extra, what a player. And even before that, the little kind of, I don't know what to call it, a pass or a cross, the little, like Ben, I mean, so good. - Just perfection was so good. - Another goal. And obviously that bit of skill led to a goal for Anthony Gordon. That's two goals in two games. He's doing really well. - Flying, flying. - He's a different player at Barcelona to what you saw at Newcastle last season. - What do you see differently? - I just think he's-- - Playing with better players, I suppose. - He's better. - I get that, yeah, he's, and he looks very comfortable in the environment. He looks very confident in everything he's doing. And even his interviews, his interviews are common across as really confident as well. He seems as if he's having the time of his life. - It's good to see English players doing well. And another English player doing well was Harry Kane. We talked about LaMini and Miles bit of brilliance on two occasions, two incredible assists. Harry Kane, two goals and a brilliant assist as well. - And the two of them are going head to head. Harry's now shifted slightly to favorite. I don't know whether you've noticed. - Has he gone to fever, has he? - Yeah, he's gone to, I mean, I don't know where they know anything. It's just normally influenced by people having wages down there. And I suppose that bookmakers are English. So there's a slight bias towards Harry Kane. I think it's touch and go, which one will get it. Obviously we hope it's Harry, 'cause I think LaMini and Miles got many, many ballon doors to come. - Definitely. - Look at LaMini and Miles, you might see. I don't see like it, not quite messy. I'll see a bit. Well, I'd bit more of Neymar about him than I mean if you I mean we do like to compare people But I mean he's also a bit of both. I mean songs, but I mean that's I mean that's pretty good Yeah, I bet both. He's got that kind of showbooty bit that The Neymar has because we do those incredible little bits, but He's also I think got I don't know where you got the drive of of messy We'll see I've a period of time it depends, but I mean God what a what a talent when you pay your money for your ticket you need to be entertained and that's all he does He ends his ends. He said brilliant entertainer. It was such a young age. Yeah, we certainly were entertained Over the last two nights at champions league football by Munich as well too down go through to up And it goes to three three of you see I'm gonna have a little bit of a rant here get it off your chest. What is it? Go on the at least say right red card Right, yeah, yeah, obviously he pulls him back. So he gets he's gonna get a yellow Yeah, Zlatco trippich then has a little dig in his back And he grabs the ball. He's got the ball and I've seen it described as he's really stupid is an idiot. He's through the ball and to a degree There's a there's a sense of truth about that, but he goes like that. He just like flicks it up I mean that could not possibly hurt anyone It just lands softly on the furletoe. He's then on the floor for two minutes For me trippich should be the furlet of the getting a red card because I think we need to get rid of this nonsensical acting And trying to get other players sent off. Yes, you can say that at least say was stupid and he'll miss the arsenal game Which is coming next week, but at the same time come on It's embarrassing, isn't it? I mean can you imagine doing that for years ago? You'd get absent You two mates that have a guy. I remember we had um player. Can you remember um nine? Yes, nine from the halfway line remember the goal of anything halfway and against us And I play with him. I play with him at Barcelona as well. Can you play for Barcelona, did you? So did nine And um and he you know and he was let's say he was prone to a bit of a dive I mean because it was kind of that was what was done and he used to I mean, he was doing it. He was diving down. He said to him You can't do that here mate. You can't you can't do that. What did he say when you said that? I just like yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you laugh. I mean, trust me, you're honest. He learned and he was a great lad A really good and he was a very good footballer um And he he he listened he listened, but I don't think that it doesn't seem to happen anymore I don't think it does you right. I just don't think they would say anything and address him I just think it's sort of accepted that we'll lift the ball it's you on the head and someone's just it's I mean, it wasn't even it wasn't a proper throw it was just a throw-up wasn't it just like it reminded me Well, it's different because it was to a referee, but Ray Wilkins, 1986 World Cup And it's like you need to be certainly used to remember this If not look it up He got sent off a straight red for kind of throwing the ball Sort of not particularly aggressively at the referee. Yeah, and you got a straight red and it costs, you know It nearly cost us we punish to hang on for a draw and get through Someone got a trick out. No Sorry, sorry opposed So Yeah, so those things I mean those things happen and at least say we'll we'll look at himself and think oh What was I thinking? What was I thinking? Well, while whilst whilst we're on red cards. Did you see the yeah? Did you see the red card that was there the appeal for Brighton was successful? We got it wrong again. You were saying they were gonna apologize Well, I said at the time where we'll get that we'll be getting another apology for another ridiculous decision Wasn't that I mean it was just I just can't see how they didn't see that well the referee got it right the referee on the pitch It did got it right at the time although he could have given a free kick Yeah, he could have booked he could have given a free kick, but he didn't and you could argue whether it was a foul Not probably was But there was no way ever that that wasn't going to the keeper. I mean it was a mistake people make mistakes But it needs I mean How many times do we say it was it was obviously not howl exactly before we go on to there's a couple of games I want to talk to About Well tonight's game, but first um, we've got I presume you watched the city game. I did. I watched the city. I mean Watergame. Do you know what if you get games of football like that? I'm all for cheating I mean PSG were done weren't there a few years ago and I'm one city's obviously a different level, but I mean What a game of I mean it was incredible. I mean chance after chance. I'm sure after shot remember last season when buy a Munich played PSG and it was a similar who's an amazing game. Yeah, well that was pretty similar But some of some of the stuff that I know some of the football like PSG played in that first That's as good as you're going to see for a long time and sitting in the second ovens like city were brilliant in the second half The changes of meresco made work perfectly bringing bloody on enjoy it was really good as well Yeah, it was just a brilliant game of brilliant game of football two players two sets of teams gone Head to head in the in the belief in the where they play. It was it was a brilliant game of football. I mean early Well score two goals and he'll be actually yeah, we think you know An interesting night. I thought he was you know I know the first goal was really good, but it was this near post. Yeah, you thought he probably should have saved it Then he kind of almost made a really good save and it loops into the back of the net Then he saves a penalty. You forget there's a miss penalty as well. Yeah, I mean what a game I mean, I you know Lewis Henry case football. I just I just love it. The fullback bomb on it It's just really really pleasing on the eye. There were so many talented players in that team. No So many talented players now it's getting a game on us I mean, I guess I guess they're going to be favourites to go and win it again I mean that one machine won't be to go and win it three times Not many things to do it because of who they've got and the experience Um, and yeah, there are just such a bloody good team. It's unbelievable I wonder what that block in the glasses thought of them tonight We'll find out. We'll find out Very shortly Alan come this is the wait. I'll be speaking to him in the morning. Um, I maybe I've got glasses too Okay, I'll keep them on a great world and Real Madrid as well. They were three one down You know, I've 84 minutes and came back and managed to win Yeah, really good scored in the 90th minute 91st minute, so you also you needed that, didn't he? Well, he's what a turn. I mean three one day a three one losing, you know You think well, he's going to be under pressure a little bit from that one, but um, he managed to get them get the victory so All right, Alan. I'll talk to um, the guy with the glasses in the second hour And I shall see you. I shall see you. Well, this is this is going out Friday So it actually would have already seen you so it's all very confusing Let's let's take a break This episode is brought to you by Guinness some things are just part parcel of match day and with the weather getting colder and cozy season kicking in for a lot of us It's the pub particularly you Alan. Hey, you can't beat the little good pint That sound. I'm getting good at this now, you know, you're getting used to it on you shouldn't be in the pence I'm looking out. Yeah, you're not bad maker. What makes a good pub? Good people good paints and good crack and especially before match Why have we not been invited to this pub? That's a very good point, Micah. You invited every single week boys whenever you want Sounds good make your match day a lovely day for a Guinness official beer and non-alcoholic beer of the Premier League Search for pub serving Guinness near you with the Guinness pub finder You might even find one that's made it into the Guinness harp guide for pulling a particularly good point Eighteen plus for the facts visit drinkerware.co.uk. Please drink responsibly When you think like an athlete Setbacks don't stop you But mindset alone doesn't get you moving again That's where I see odd steps in ice works fast Heat makes it last So when the rest of the world settles because of a setback I see hot accelerates your comeback with fast-acting powerful pain relief I see hot you're so back This episode is brought to you by EA Sports FC27 Welcome to the world's game FC27 is introducing the grounds where the streets meet the stadium connect with friends go pro and express yourself on or off the pitch Play FC27 with the ultimate edition September 18th learn more at ea.com rated e for everyone includes in-game purchases including random items The grounds is only available on PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X and S PC and Nintendo Switch 2 versions Welcome back to the rest is football um now with me going into my Mauritius So I was obviously we don't get your coverage, but we'll get some of your social clips and um You went down well with Diego, semi-ownie eyes. - Hey, I don't like to mention it, guys. You know what, let's mention it anyway. You know? Essentially on CBS. After the game, we have the interviews and it's very difficult, depending obviously, on the result, but it's had some amazing guests coming. So we've had in Bappé or Lisa, he's always really good because he don't really give you much, but you know, he's holding back a little bit, but he's such a nice guy and Tieri coached him as well. So that's always a good interview. - I'm just going to interrupt you slightly there, Mike. Just just remote because you mentioned to Lisa then, I did it with Alan, he's red card. I don't, you didn't speak to after the game this time, presumably because you've got a red card. He got two yellows, didn't he? - Yes. - I thought the guy that was laying and rolling on the floor should have been the one who got the red card. - It was embarrassing, wasn't it? - It was pathetic. We've got to do something about that kind of nonsense in the game because Lisa just went. It was like, I can't believe it. And it just went, I mean, it was, ah! - It's ridiculous. You scream without a TV, I, yeah, it's so annoying. - I know, anyway, I'm just semi-only. - But anyway, I'm just semi-only. And we, we're doing interviews, doing it in Spanish and all that sort of stuff. I got a clue what's going on. Obviously, Tieri speak Spanish, K speak Spanish. But before we go, we always say, who's your favourite on this show? Essentially, who do you like the most from the clips you see on Instagram, our social media, whatever. The question was asked. And you know what was funny about it? It didn't even say my name. - Because you didn't know your name, Michael. That's why. - It just said that the one with the glasses. - He said the guy with the glasses. I said it to him in the first half. And I say, I was going, he didn't have a clue, Michael was. (laughing) - He didn't have one single clue who I was. - Anyway, you didn't even own it. I'll take it, I'll take it. - I think obviously, I think Diego Simeone, his favourite would obviously have been Tieri Henri. But I think he'd probably forgotten Tieri's name. So he's probably figured it's less embarrassing to say the guy with the glasses than it would be to have forgotten Tieri Henri's name. (laughing) - Brilliant, it's been a great week though for Champions League football guys, no? - Really good. Do you know what? I don't know whether I'm going to go in a bit earlier and I said it without. It's not too many low blocks around at the moment. - No, there's not. - And the game, the game is benefiting from that. It's a lot of, yeah, I know the jeopardy is not huge at the moment in the Champions League and perhaps the teams feel a little bit free. But even, we'll talk about them as well 'cause both Villa and Liverpool banged in six goals. Obviously, we saw the incredible game between city and PSG and you expect that from PSG. We know how they play. But I just thought even the teams that played like a Fenerbahce and Lask, they both, they didn't know, no one was just sitting deep and trying to get a nil nil or a one nil. So I think I'd be lovely, wouldn't it, if the age of the low block was over? - Well, yeah, I don't, I think it depends. Arsenal played low block and I do it really well. I get to a Champions League final and win the Premier League. But in terms of entertainment for the viewer, like those guys who are watching it, yeah, we don't like seeing low block. But it is good. I think there is something nice in the art of defending as well because I don't think defenders want to defend. No one defends a back post anymore. The cross comes in from one side. The defender, just out of the right back. I'm just looking at the ball. All you have to do is all put up the shoulders. That's all you have to do. So you can see the ball. I mean, who's coming in? You can put your arm in or you can try and head the ball. It's just, it's ridiculous. It annoys me because I feel as though defenders got out of the game and yes, we want to see attacking football. But we can still see the art of defending. Even it's one on one defending. We don't see a lot now and it's, yeah, it's frustrating for defender to watch. - It's frustrating for a defender. It's not, it's not frustrating for us to actually enjoy watching the important part of football. What about the city PSG game? - Oh my gosh. - Cool. - What's the game? - PSG. Oh my, they're a delight at the. - The first half they were unbelievable. I mean, city in the second half, I mean, they were chasing it, obviously, but I mean, they were really, really good, but the PSG, my goodness, in that first half. - You know what? Before the game, I was going to do a tactical piece on city and city in the new midfield with Enzo Anderson and Cherkis played along this season. And I was reluctant to do the analysis because I thought I could look stupid here essentially in the way they set up. So Cherkis being amazing. He's been absolutely amazing. But last night, I watched the Man City Sunderland game back and Broadway got the hat trick. There's elements of that game I didn't like at all, but because City won the game, five free, it's almost like it was swept on the carpet carpet. A new manager, Maresca, tactically, we know he's got it. The club world cup with Chelsea, high-press, he was aggressive, did really well. So I thought, against PSG, what a Man City gonna do? When I saw the midfield, I thought with a legs of PSG, the movement, the awareness in the center of the park, Man City could get exposed here if they don't keep the ball. And the game was in the balance. I think the possession was 50/50. But what we learned yesterday that Cherkis off the ball, it's not his greatest asset at all. On the first goal, which was really frustrating to watch. So Man City tried to press high, which is good. Harlem starts to press. But then Cherkis goes, someone runs by him, and he doesn't know whether he's supposed to go with that player or press. So he's in that position now. So if you're forward in the offensive position, just go to the nearest man. If you're in doubt and you wanna press high, just go to the nearest man, he's late in going, and now you've got Anderson who's out of position because he's sort of working off what Cherkis doing. And then you've got Enzo as your deepest midfielder, when actually that's where you want Anderson there. I've loaded Anderson for where he's played, especially this season at England, I think, technically, and his spatial awareness is a lot better. But there was always all mixed up. And soon as you give PSG that time and space, they had gonna hurt you. It was sad to see, 'cause I thought going forward, that free looked really good, it looked really adventurous. City would keep with the ball, scoring a lot of goals, and that is still great. But off the ball against top teams, Cherkis will find it difficult. - He's like an old-fashioned, maverick kind of player, isn't he? - Correct. - One of though, made great to watch when he's on the ball. - And they're amazing, let's not just be critical, because man, City, what he's done up to now has been amazing. It's been great to watch all the goals that he scored, right foot left foot, the way he slows it down, the way he entertains people. He's talked about the goals of the game. He's part of that. It's just that next step now. If he wants to be at a top, top player, he's got to do defensive side of the game as well. - I suspect he won't. - He won't do the defensive ball. - He strikes me as the player, as kind of player that won't necessarily buy into that. I don't know, might be completely wrong about his personality, or his character, but there are certain aspects that I see. That's why I mentioned that, that Maverick thing, they don't really want to do it particularly that way, but they're very happy on the ball going forward. And I'd be interesting to see how he copes, whether he does buy into that overall. I mean, nowadays, you really have to, don't you? - Yes, you do have to, but you could also alter the way you set up. You don't have to press as high, maybe. That's the big change of your overall, the way you played the game. - But if he is that special, you mentioned the word Maverick, you said at the World Cup, Messi is not run for 10 years, but Messi is that special. I'm not comparing shit to Messi before, someone's in my DM saying what I'm talking about. - Messi tried. - But I'm trying to say to DM this, Mike. - I'm not sure, but I'm saying, if he's going to be important for Man City, then maybe you might have to taper exactly what you want to do, because he has been brilliant. - I'd love that. I'd love that. Lionel Messi slides into your DMs, Mike. - You're insane. - Excuse me. I know you're the guy with the glasses, but can you, can you know? - I've had some big DMs, but it's not been lined up. I know that. I thought that was fabulous stuff. I mean, PSG probably have to be the favorite sort of thought. I watch Real Madrid as well, flicking on that one. I mean, what a game that was. It was finally, slightly bonkers game. Roma 3-1 are obviously Marino's former club. They love him there. So he goes back 3-1 down, six minutes to go. And then he started just conceding from corners. - It was odd. - Which is not normally the way you would see Real Madrid necessary scoring goals, but they have got obviously the likes of Rudy Geron, people like that, so there's always a possibility. Yeah, if you look at the overall. all game. Obviously, Man City PSG was our main game, but we had all the games on. And they just looked a little bit disjointed, I would say. I think they should carry to stay in the game and then get the win at the end with Rudiger. But it's not fluid at the moment. And you watch more La Liga than I do, but Barcelona look good. Betts just look good this season as well, don't they? Yeah, they do, they don't really well. But Barcelona, I mean, I'm averaging over four goals a game. They look tasty. I'll mention it without, because you've got to get a view of the bit of the menu now, the little skill. Oh my word. That was a new one on me. I've seen people kick the ball like that, but it was, but not to themselves. To be fair. To be fair. You didn't get a deflection off. Yes, yes. But even many managed to manipulate the ball and hold onto it almost swires-esque in that sense. That skill was obviously deliberate. And that was my favourite player. Yeah. But Lameen the dream, I think last season, I was saying kind of skillier. The way he performed, especially towards the end of the season, I thought it was the best, I think he was underrated because he didn't get a line light of other players because he plays for Georgia. I honestly believe that. I hadn't not gone to the World Cup. Yes. But Lameen, the dream, he started the best this season. He took his game to the next level. He's at Lameen before he got injured. And even more, he's a best player. He's the best player right now. I said to out, he's for me, he's a little bit more name or the messy. Yes. Yes. I said, I see a bit of both, which is, I mean, you imagine that. I do see a bit of both though. I think when he first burst onto the scene, he was doing loads of skills and stuff, but if actually he watched him, especially in the World Cup, he was picking the right moment, but say their goal or two up, that he just turned up. I'm going to throw in a rental, did you know? That's what I'm going to throw in. Yeah. His balance, his skill, his timing, his passing. You know, he's outside of the foot passing with his left foot. It's ridiculous, ridiculous. What a player, what a talent. He's so good. Good wins, I mean, comfortable wins for burst Liverpool and Astonville. You were straight on the chat last night when Nicholas Jackson got a couple of goals, the Oracle, the, I mean, yeah, just, yeah, the Oracle that just keeps on, Oracle. No, I've got a few wrong. Vertes, Vertes, let me down at the moment. You did all right last night, but let's say against not particularly. Yeah, I'm telling you that there's something, I don't know if it's a physicality, I don't know if it's the system. I don't know if I'm in denial, but the player I saw growing up in Germany, he definitely has got more to give. Like I said, he got an assist yesterday. Did it lovely little nutmeg as well at one point? Yeah, but I can't. He's a talented player. He is a really talented player. I think he's sort of in between systems at the moment. I think he was in a team which was more possession-based. If he was played for Man City, say on underpept, I think he would be amazing, but Liverpool have been great over the years because of how they transition, how quick they go from back to front. And sometimes it doesn't suit him. Is he a left-winger? Is he a number 10? But the way Liverpool have done so well is because they've been able to, that then number 10's been able to press when he puts the boss line there, whether it's energy of a Milner or a Henderson. That's where they've been good. Have Liverpool. Yeah. Good for Barclay to get, I mean, a hat trick because confidence is really important, particularly when you go to a new football club and you're trying to fill your way and it's not been obviously easy so far, so that would do him the world of good. It's a good reason to play in the Barclay. I mean, it's just. We know that. Again, it's tramps for fees, isn't it? That's all it is. When you come for big money and you come for PSG and then you get more scrutiny. So, if I'm to get a hat trick, you know, it does what my coach does. Yeah. Nicholas Jackson is obviously. I mean, that's all I need to tell you about that. Now I call Nicholas. I'm telling you guys, trusting Big Meets, please. Just trusting me from time to time. His two finishes were brilliant. His whole that play was great again. Again, one of the most underrated strikers in European football. I'll say it again. He's 25, though, Michael. He's been around. Do you know what I mean? We can see you looking into your left. I just asked him to get me to teach, because I know he's been around a while. No, he's been around a while, but around at the level of this, we're getting more scrutiny, I would say, because he got more scrutiny when he went to Chelsea. Yeah, I watched him quite a lot, obviously, even when he was at VRL, I saw him. Now, I think that there is a lot of ability in there. There is a striker in there, or what he needs to do now is be consistent to elevate himself into a level of world-class striker. I mean, he's obviously, I think, it's good for him working with these former manager again. I think he's given him a lot of credit, hasn't he, Jackson, for teaching him the game? Who knew I am, right? I think that that will help him, but you see him when he's performing well, he's got it all. He can hold it up. He makes runs, he gets behind, he's quick, and he can finish. You wanted it to yourself. Why is this guy not scoring 20 on Garth's every season? I don't know. He's one or two knocks, everybody has that, but you just think, and he's now 25. He's in his absolute prime now. From, I always think you prime for most players, he's around from 23 to 29. He's probably a bit older nowadays as well, because, you know, with all the things that they do. So, interesting to watch his progress, because you're right. There is a really fucking good centre-forward in there, but can he do it consistently? I wonder whether it's a confidence thing, maybe he's a little bit streaky when things are going well, he looks great, maybe he struggles, you don't know, because the mental side of the game is as important as anything. So, from what you see with your own eyes, when you're watching play, when he's playing well, you go, wow, but then sometimes you see him, and it's not that, and you just wonder whether he's got, you know, the ultimate belief that you need as a centre-forward in yourself and your ability to score goals consistently. Do you think he's ever been the main man though? I shall see the question marks, and then obviously, Bayern is not going to play ahead of Kane. Is there something in, I don't know about in your career way? You know, it's so annoying asking you and our questions, because you would look like the greatest to do it. So, you can't relate to what Jackson's going through. Well, you don't want to ask us some journeyman useless team striker, did you want their opinion is deep? By terms of, they must be, you talked about when he's at Barcelona, and you got thrusted onto the right wing. And obviously, you were frustrated, but I think Jackson's doing well, I'm going to continue to do well, because he's the main striker at Aston Villa, and he's got the confidence, like you mentioned confidence, and he's got a manager who believes in him. And if you know, if you have a bad game, and he's still playing the next week, you've got that confidence that you can get it right. I would point to what you're saying there, the fact that he's never really been the main striker. He was for Chelsea for a bit, but maybe he's not made himself into the main striker, but not being quite consistent enough. I hope he does, because I'd really like watching him play, and he's, I mean, a couple of things, didn't he at Chelsea, where he got himself sent off. So I wonder about, I mean, I don't know him, I've never met him, but I watch players, and strikers in particularly that go through little scoring spurs, and then little droughts, I always think, you know, are they being able to cope mentally when things are not going again? So this would be a good thing. He is now the main striker. He's with the guy that knows him really well, and I am the reason he's coached him at VRL. So I think it'd be interesting to see, but I totally get what you're saying, because I've seen him so many times, he's like, wow, you know, he's really, he's got it all, but I think got that between the years. I think, yeah, just to conclude on that, I think going from VRL to Chelsea, and Chelsea, who historically have won the Champions League, and the Premier League is always going to be different. And also it's fair to point in each defense that Chelsea are going to have been through in the last few seasons, up and down, if they coach his club run badly at the top, all those sort of things do filter down. Okay, let me ask you a question. What is a successful season in the predecessor Premier League, goal scoring wise for Jackson, which 20 plus 20 plus, Mike, even in my day, right, when it was harder to score goals, genuinely, because you see the ratios now, the top strikers compared with in my day, 20, bare minimum. 20 is like, 20 is a lot. For top, you know, if you're talking top strikers, Mike, do you think Erling Harlan, I'll tell you now, if he had a season where he didn't score 20 goals, and I had won in my career, I didn't score 20 goals, apart from when I was on the on the right wing of Boston. I had one season and I scored 15 and for me it was like the end of the world. So if you're talking about being a top striker, 20 is your absolute minimum requirement for me. In any team? In any team. Well, I had two seasons that last time I scored 24-23, and last two seasons before I moved to Everton. We nearly got relegate one of those seasons. So I think you've got, if you want to be, I'm talking about if you want to be the top striker, one of the world's leading strikers, you can't be satisfied. You should be really, really disappointed with anything under 20. I'll give him 15 to 18. 15 to 18. I know you're predicting what he's going to get, but you think that's a really good season for him. I think for a striker who is at Aston Villa who had to rebuild their team in the summer. If you get 15 to 18 goals, I think that's a successful season. I think it's just about acceptable possible, but not for a top striker. Yeah, yeah. What do you think Harlan will get, Villa? We're talking about, I'm talking about, to be the elite. No, he's not the absolute elite, yes, I'll agree with that. Is the level below that? It's an interesting conversation. OK, Micah, we'll let you go, because you've been working, I know you don't like doing two days running. Yes. You work with me too hard. Hey, if it's not BBC, it's Sky, if it's not Sky, it's CBS, and it's not CBS, it's Netflix. You just work, you just work, I need a day's rest. Well, you can have a day's rest now, Micah. Thank you very much. OK, so that's it from this episode. Goodbye from me and goodbye from the guy with the glasses. [MUSIC PLAYING] Football's back, and Dave and Busters has your game day deals. $5 drinks and $10 for $10 wings every Sunday, Monday, and Thursday. Grab your crew, watch on our 40-foot screens, and play over 100 games, only at Dave and Busters. Now, this is Football. Other restrictions may apply visit Dave and Busters.com for full-terms and conditions. Tammy regularly haul stuff to her kids at college. That's why she shops at BJ's wholesale club, saving up to 25% off grocery store prices. Beef jerky, microwave meals, laundry pods, even they can't screw up. 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