Fantastic Foden and an easy night for Arsenal – Football Weekly Extra

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Hello, and welcome to the Guardian Football Weekly.

Straightforward wins at the top of the Premier League as Arsenal go top, however, briefly.

And is that a statement performance from Manchester City?

Is this the moment where they just decide to win all the rest of the football matches?

Phil Foden's hat-trick, where does his left foot rank in world football?

Left feet right now, a supreme performance for a player who might end up winning 100 Premier Leagues before he's 30.

Arsenal make a lot of changes, but find it pretty easy against the depleted Luton Town.

Nice to see Emil Smith Row and Rhys Nelson, while Gabrielle and Saliva meant Luton barely got a sniff.

We'll take a look at the run-ins for the top three, and then there's Brentford Nil, Brighton Nil.

Wish us luck with that one.

We'll explain why the Swedish league is or isn't interesting.

We'll confirm how sleepy Barry looked in yesterday's selfie.

Answer your questions, and that's today's Guardian Football Football Weekly.

On the panel today.

Jonathan Faduba, welcome.

Good morning, Max.

Good morning, Jonathan.

Hello, Robin Cowan.

Good morning, Max.

And hello, Barry Glendenning.

Hello.

Very worried about this selfie revelation.

No, you needn't be too worried.

We'll get to it.

Alex says, not a question just to say, what a great lineup.

Can't wait.

So it's up to you three not to ruin it then with this vote of confidence from Alex.

Let's start the Etihad, shall we?

Man City four, Aston Villa one.

I mean, the way Phil Foden moves, Robin, the way he strikes a book, is also just effortlessly natural, isn't it?

Yeah,

it's infuriating.

He's just so he's so talented.

Just the grace, the poise, and the end product.

I think that's the big thing.

I think my favourite goal was

his secret.

Well,

the first one was the wall, clearly parting for him so that shouldn't have gone in but the second one he doesn't even look does he he just knows where the goal is swipes at it into the in off the post no he's he's been superb this season it's his best return of goals um and yeah i really really enjoyed that harlan was dropped than thinking that roy keen is now actually in pep guardiola's head

yeah well we get onto harlan but i mean that's an interesting point that he wasn't there and de Bruyne wasn't there Jonathan and you sort of wonder does is Phil Foden better when they're not there or do we just notice him more or does he do you think he sort of goes actually i've got to i've got to seize the moment now these other big guns they're all big guns around him but i just wonder if he's you know that helps him he has more space he's more central to everything i think the fact that obviously de Bruyne and and and Foden they occupy similar positions or they like to anyway foden obviously has gone on record and prefers to play down the middle as a 10 more centrally and he's kind of better better he's a better player there really to be honest so I think that that helps I think partly is the fact that he's maturing as well He's really coming into his own now.

And there's always been that, you know, in the early part of his career, there was that dynamic where Pep was maybe hesitant to play him in his position or play him in games.

And he's now starting to take control of

the team, really, in a way.

And, I mean, I'm probably De Bruyne's biggest fan or one of the biggest fans, but I wonder if this is like a turning point from the transition from De Bruyne to Foden as sort of the main creator in the city team.

De Bruyne is starting to pick up those injuries and, you know, he's been an amazing player, but I wonder if he's quite as reliable just with age and injuries as he has been in previous seasons, which would be really sad because I love him.

But Foden, I think he's outstanding.

I think it's partly maturity.

The third goal, it reminded me of, in a weird way, the Wayne Rooney goal against Newcastle, where he sort of gets fouled.

He's like, it's a free kick.

And then he just gets up and bangs one

into the net from 20 yards or so.

And yeah, it's less maybe...

sort of animalistic than Rooney, but it was more aesthetic.

But it kind of did remind me of that goal.

But he's just such a class player and a joy to watch, really.

Does this form, Barry, send shivers up your spine ahead of the Euros or just make it all the sweeter when we've got a player of this quality when we go out to Spain on penalties?

I suppose it

just raises questions of where do you play him in the England team.

I mean, there is a chance Garrett Southgate won't start him, which I think would be insanity.

because he's just such a good player.

He's like a bloke out there playing with his mates on the street, just having a kick around, you know.

But he's so, so good.

I think I'd have him

yeah he hasn't performed brilliantly for England and people say because it's not in his best position or we raised the point

last week, you know, is it'cause he's not playing with players who are as good as the ones he plays with City?

But then when he plays for City and De Bruyne, who is arguably City's best creative player, doesn't play, Foden gets his chance to shine and invariably takes it.

So I think if

I was Gareth Selker, I'd have him as a number 10 and play Jude Bellingham further back

alongside Rice, but other opinions are available.

Just a virtuoso performance last night.

And I mean, this was a tricky game for City.

Well, it could have been because

Phillip beat them last time at Villa Park.

It was only 1-0, but Phillip really dominated that game, and the scoreline didn't do them justice.

So

it was quite, I suppose, brave of Guardiola to leave Kevin De Bruyne and Haaland out.

But, yeah, they had won this game with a minimum of fuss.

I mean, other opinions are available on where Foden should play for England.

I feel like we've got quite a few months

to have that conversation.

Ali McCoy said, look,

England just needs Foden and 10 other players, any old 10, get the fence posts of

West Ham.

Is Joel Ward available?

I think he probably is.

Yeah, I mean, at the risk of

hyperbole, Robin, which we try to avoid, you know, is Phil Foden's left foot the best left foot in world football?

I was trying to go, I was thinking about, I mean, Messi is still playing, right?

So, you know,

and Salah has quite a a good left foot, but there aren't

that many, I don't think.

No, I think it's more aesthetically pleasing being left-footed, and I would say that because I am left-footed as well.

Right, of course.

I think the true test is we need to who can open a can with their left foot.

That's how we will settle this.

I'm not sure how we can organize it, but yeah, the way he manipulates it, the ball.

I remember, I mean, David Silver was extremely left-footed, wasn't he?

I can't remember.

When he touched the ball with his right, it was a real like, whoa.

I think Phil Foen's a bit more, you know, Ambi Padille, if that's the word.

But yeah, I mean, superb.

I think Martin Odegaard also, the sort of that, the left foot.

But yeah, we need the can opening competition, in my opinion.

Right.

The can opening thing is trickier now that

I mean, they're not automatic.

They're not automate.

We're talking about AI before this, Jonathan.

I mean, soon they'll just open themselves the cans.

But, you know, was the opening a can before the ring pull came in.

Even still would be tricky to do with your left foot.

I mean, have you you got any others?

I thought you meant opening a can using a can opener.

Because I'm left-footed and there's no way I could even begin to attempt that.

That is the uh, that's but that's the phrase, isn't it?

You know, uh, um, I uh, I mean, back to the actual footballing question, Jonathan.

Like, who is there anyone we're missing?

I mean, it is so, I think, um, aesthetically, it's nicer than salads, I think.

Andy Hinchcliffe.

Yeah, Andy Hinchcliffe, Julian Dix, fine.

I'm happy with those, Chris Waddell.

But anyone, anyone from the modern times, John?

Well, Harlan's left-wood, isn't he?

And I suppose we haven't mentioned him.

I think he's left-wood, right?

Yeah.

That's not a can opener, though, is it?

That is just a can exploder type thing.

Chopped tomatoes everywhere.

Yeah, exactly.

But I think Foden's definitely got an argument.

I mean, there is a, like you just said, there is a guy called Leon Omessi who hasn't retired yet.

And until that day, I think he probably wins it.

But...

You know, in the Premier League at the moment, I think it's just, as Roman mentioned, that aesthetic side of Foden, like the touch and the ability, the grace he plays with on that left foot.

And I love the way he sort of seems to sort of push the ball as if it's like on the carpet, you know, like he has this sort of trick of his where he's able to push the ball and then go around someone or shift it and shoot.

So I am struggling to think of someone with a better left foot, but I'm probably missing a lot of people.

But so he has like an ice hockey puck, isn't it?

Some sort of the way he sort of pushes it.

Yeah, you're right.

He's already got five Premier League titles at 23, you know, and lots of other, you know, Champions League and NFA Cup, whatever.

He could end up leading an enormous table when someone asked him to lay his medals on the table when he's in that when he's a pundit and someone says come on get your medals out phil do any other city players deserve a mention barry in this rodery getting his eighth of the season dok who's fun rodri yeah rodery's just

top drawer and phil foden was singing his praises after the game saying there's nothing he can't do

and

Yeah, I suppose a lot of his good work goes unseen.

And I think we had the discussion recently, you know, what is it that makes him so good and no one could quite put their finger on it but he can he can just do things other players can't and he's he's sensational Bernardo Silva looks

city don't have any bad players you know it's just they don't uh Jack Grealish he played last night he he played well docu was good

they're all

you know,

it's not fair, really.

No, they also had a reserve keeper called True Grant.

Sounds like the most honest Hugh Grant you could meet, doesn't it?

And as Barry mentioned, Robin, like, this was a potential banana.

Like, Villa did really beat them well, but they were missing Martinez, McGinn, and Watkins, right?

And, you know, once that happens against this kind of side, then...

It's going to be a struggle.

And they actually played okay that first half.

You know, they played okay.

No, they did.

And I think it possibly would have been slightly different had they gone in a half-time one-all, because that was just a real, real blow to them.

No, I don't think, I think, you know, they're still definitely, you know, in the box seat for the top four if they keep going.

This was always going to be a tricky game, especially without Ollie Watkins.

So, no,

it can happen against Man City, especially away from home.

You know, they're pretty imperious at the Etihads at the best of times.

So, I think, you know, I did really like their goal, though.

A perfectly executed one-two.

Still really works, doesn't it?

John Durant.

Yeah.

Love that.

And some really impressive not interfering with.

Oh, yeah.

Love that.

The awareness.

Because I definitely would have touched it.

Some Some really, some top draw not interfering.

I suppose in the race for the good thing for Villa, Jonathan, is they've got this one out of the way because

Villa and Spurs both have to play until yesterday, City, Liverpool and Arsenal, right?

And I guess fifth will probably get Champions League.

And barring something extraordinary from Manchester United, those two will make it, you imagine.

Yeah, I think it's,

I don't think Manchester United are doing it really with the run of games they've got, of course, could be proven wrong if they get a result against Chelsea.

But obviously they've got Liverpool as well this weekend, so they've got a tough tough run of fixtures.

Villa kind of wobbled slightly in recent weeks, but they've had quite a lot of injuries.

You know, they had

some French players in this side last night.

I thought Joan looked okay.

Seemed to get a head injury every sort of 10 minutes, but besides that,

he looked solid and sort of led the line quite well, I thought, in Watkins' absence.

But

I think Villa's,

I think they will get there, but

they just need to maybe up that form a little bit slightly.

But, you know, they're playing the Man City team They did actually have some good chances on the break.

And I still think with Man City, in transition phases, they do play quite a high-risk game.

There was quite a few times where

Villa broke on them and had maybe a 3v2 or a 4v3 and that kind of thing, but just didn't capitalise on it.

And that was a downfall, really, in the end.

Yeah, because Villa did have quite a few chances when it was still 2-1.

And obviously that free kick,

that was criminal.

Zaniola and Ezra Consa just turned their backs backs to the ball.

I would say Una Emery was furious.

Yeah, I mean, turning your back is the biggest crime a footballer can commit, isn't it?

You know, whatever you do, you don't turn your back.

Let it hit you flush in the face.

Just take it like a man.

Joey says, was Barry aware of who Callum Chambers was playing for?

I presumed he was in the A-League by now.

Yes.

Didn't Callum Chambers turn up?

What game was that in?

Is that in this game?

Yeah.

He plays for Villa.

He's a villain player.

Yeah, but you knew that?

I knew he was a villa, yeah.

I think I just presumed he was injured or something.

Isn't he always injured?

Quite often.

He did kick someone over.

Did he kick?

Did he kick Foden out?

There was like a really good...

This is just somebody kicking someone over because that's all they can do.

It was Greed.

It was Jack Greedish who kicked over.

Yeah, that's right, isn't it?

Sam Lee in the Athletic, good writer on Man City said,

the 1894 groups, a City Supporters Group.

They had that banner up last week about season ticket prices.

They didn't have a display at the Etihad last night after members had accreditations removed following Sunday's record profits, record prices protest banner, accreditations not yet returned.

Without them, the group cannot set up the displays pre-match.

We've seen this, Jonathan, haven't we, with season ticket prices?

We've seen it at Fulham and at Spurs as well.

At City, they're up by an average of 5% despite these record profits.

Just doesn't feel quite right.

But it does seem

wrong, Jonathan.

Yeah, I mean, I think it seems wrong for a lot of teams.

The issues at Spurs at the moment as well is that, you know, the fans aren't too happy with the situation there and the ticket prices and concessions.

And I think that is an ongoing debate.

I suppose if you look at the sad, cold, hard economic realities of it, match day income

is not as significant to Premier League clubs as it is clubs lower down the pyramid.

Broadcast income and commercial income is like the main drivers really of income in the Premier League these days.

From that perspective, fans have

slightly less of a voice when it comes to the decision makers

at the big clubs because they don't contribute as much revenue I guess in in a way and and that is a sad thing and that's a debate that probably needs to happen at some point in terms of how how that's managed because

no one wants to see a spectacle with with empty empty and you know no one in the stadiums but at the same time they're not they're not the economic drivers of clubs at the moment it's it's more the tv money and the commercial deal so it is an issue and i guess i don't know the city i don't know the full context of the city situation so it's hard to comment on that individually but i guess there is this kind of underlying discontent with some fans at a lot a lot of the clubs are in the top league at the moment in the Premier League.

Yeah, but I mean, obviously, if they're not the economic driver, Barry, then you don't need to raise the prices, right?

Because the prices don't matter as much.

Just before I come back to that, I should say that, according to Sam Lee's Twitter, City did tell him that the 1894 group didn't apply for accreditation for the Villa game, but would have been given it if they had applied.

That's something the 1894's own account denied.

But back to your question, it is just gouging, isn't it?

I've seen it recently firsthand at the Cheltenham Festival.

Everything is too dear.

And the one thing that used to guarantee the good crowds at Cheltenham was the competitiveness of the racing.

But now there's too much racing.

So trainers are picking and choosing which races to put their horses in so they can avoid other horses.

So even the racing now isn't as good.

And that really affected Cheltenham this year.

It only sold out one day out of the four.

And the other three crowds were way, way down, like worryingly down.

Uh,

Cheltenham always attracts big crowds from Ireland.

A lot of them didn't travel because people are skinned, people can't afford it.

The difference between horse racing and football is

fans love their football clubs, but their football clubs don't love them back.

And,

you know, if fans are priced out of going to games, there are other people there to take their place.

There are waiting lists.

There are tourists who would like to go and watch Phil Folden play or Kevin Kevin de Bruyne player I think the only Premier League club certainly London that

there are always tickets available is Fulham and they're one of the most expensive games to go to but they usually sell out because people are in London they want to go and see a game they don't really care who they go to see so you know you can get into Fulham so yeah we'll go there

and

Manchester City are owned by an autocratic state and autocratic states do not like protest.

So that's why the banner was taken down, I reckon.

It was initially explained that it was taken down because the banner was hanging over an advertising hoarding, but later clarified as not having been checked to have a fire safety certificate.

So, oh, make of that what you will.

They will gouge every penny they can out of fans because they don't,

as I said, the fans love them.

They don't love the fans, they're just customers.

Bit like us and the listeners, they love us, but we don't give a shit.

I love the listeners,

most of them.

Actually, on those advertising boards at City, those double-height ones are terrible, aren't they?

It's a giant bottle of a sahi that's bigger than Erling Haaland.

You just can't really see them, but you know, anyway, perhaps that's just that's just my issue.

Uh, anyway, of course, I love you all very much, and uh, we'll be back in a second to talk about Arsenal Luton.

Coach, the energy out there felt different.

What changed for the team today?

It was the new game day, Scratchers, from the California Lottery.

Play is everything.

Those games sent the team's energy through the roof.

Are you saying it was the off-field play that made the difference on the field?

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That's all for now.

Coach, one more question.

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Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly.

The Emirates Arsenal 2 Luton 0.

I mean, pretty straightforward, Robin.

Puts them top for now.

Obviously, Liverpool plays Sheffield United tonight.

And I guess Luton have proved tricky for lots of other sides.

And they played okay.

And even with lots of rotation, Arsenal were totally fine.

Yeah, this was the perfect night, night, as you said.

Lots of rotation.

Saka,

I mean, rested, but also perhaps slightly injured.

Rice on the bench, very easy, didn't really have to get out of second gear.

Top of the league, really good goal difference, and yet

they still might just finish third.

It's,

yeah, that just might happen.

I mean, Luton didn't really lay a glove on them.

I think Rob Edwards said after the game, Arsenal just don't give up any chances.

They have the best defense in the league.

Yeah, as I say, they're in a really good spot, but it's just

yeah it's it's going to be tough isn't it it's going to be very very tough if liverpool win all their games then they've they've won the league what did you make of this one jonathan i thought that emerald smith row had a quite a good game uh obviously arsenal played a fringe side uh well not fringe side but you know rested a lot of people and saka wasn't there um as mentioned rice but i thought smith row kind of showed glimpses of remember that original song the sacca and email smith row song that arsenal fans enjoyed a few years back when that sort of the youth started to emerge and the feel-good factor came back to the club and and smith row was part of that and there's the song but he's not really been playing as much so now you know it's good to see him sort of playing and and contributing.

Odegaard was in fantastic form again.

Luton had injuries themselves and so they were weakened as well.

So from a spectacle point of view, it wasn't the most thrilling game, kind of a routine win.

I think they were something like 30 to 1 or I read something ridiculous like that, Luton to win.

So that sums up kind of...

how big of an underdog they were.

But yeah, comfortable win really for Arsenal.

And I think one thing that strikes me about how about them is that they are I feel that they're quite different to City in the sense that they don't give up they don't give up many transition chances they don't give up many chances at all they're very good at winning the second balls winning duels and I think that is a a real factor that they've

improved in they seem very hard to kind of create chances against consistently whereas City I always feel that they as I mentioned before they play a kind of high-risk game where you can get at them at times but then they still manage to pull out results so I think Arsenal are very strong this season and I think they're going to take some stopping to be honest.

That's interesting because

I still find Arsenal perhaps more interesting to watch and that, you know, they shouldn't be.

Like if City are sort of a bit more vulnerable and I don't know if I'm just watching with this kind of, I don't think City are vulnerable, even when I'm watching vulnerability in front of me, and it's all relative with these top three sides, that actually Arsenal are the least interesting, Barry, because they're the most solid.

And what you want is teams that might concede.

Yeah, but I think we all in the back of our minds still have this feeling, nagging doubt that Arsenal can arsenal things up.

And

like

I had no concerns that they would lose this game last night, but

there's still the worry that there's this inherent lack of backbone in Arsenal, even though it hasn't been there for quite some time.

But I was worried for Luton last night.

I thought they might get absolutely battered.

And I'd say if you'd offered Rob Edwards Edwards 2-0 defeat before kickoff he'd have taken it because

and you know Luton have given quite a few elite teams a good game this season but they've also shipped a few hidings and

but yeah this this was just an absolutely routine win for Arsenal and whereas before you might have been worried oh yeah it's Arsenal they could they could mess this up but and I think it Arteta showed how confident he is that his team does have backbone that he was able to make the five changes and and still send out a team that ran out comfortable winners yeah I mean look Luton are sort of decimated and if Luton are decimated then it's a problem they had a they had a guy on the bench who's in year 11 and three other teenagers had two sub-goalkeepers on the pits they had a right back at centre-back and a right winger at right back and that right winger who is at right back on your din was was meant to be on loan in league one One and got injured, so came back and only got a squad number last week.

So,

you know, you sort of sense, Robin, they're running out of puff a bit.

I mean, they're still in touch, right?

They are still definitely in touch, but

you know, when they're missing La Conga and Adabayo, and you know,

it's just they need everybody, right?

Yeah, no, I think, I think that's exactly the phrase I would have said.

It just seems like running out of steam a little bit, and the defeats and

the tough games and not getting results.

It looks like it's just starting to get on top of them a little bit.

That's no one in 10 now.

But as you say, they're still in touch.

They kind of need to get that belief back.

And it's the home games that could do it.

So they've got Bournemouth, Brentford, Everton, and Fulham, those home games.

So those feel like really key games.

So

they can still do it, especially as

there are still asterisks to come, I believe.

You know, Everton

might get more points deducted.

I mean, it's not great for anyone, including Luton that.

I'm sure they don't want to stay up just because some other teams got points deductions.

Although they'll take it.

They'll take it.

They won't give a shit, Robert.

I think they say out loud, this is not how we want to stay up, but inside, they'll stay up any which way, right?

Yeah, exactly.

Was I the only person that found the sort of weird camera angle that TNT kept going?

So they had the normal wide shot, and I don't know if something had gone wrong with it occasionally, but they're on this kind of weird, like, it was like a really enormous person had a steady cam and was just running around, it's like computer game, yeah.

It was like striker on the amiga, I think.

But I don't know what you think, Baz.

It really no, you mentioned this in the WhatsApp, I didn't really notice it from

until you mentioned it, and then I didn't really have an opinion on it one way or the other.

So, yeah, Jonathan, did you care?

Or is this just me?

I definitely noticed it.

It's kind of like a

wired lens, it felt like FIFA kind of thing.

But yeah, it's quite FIFA-y.

I didn't really have an opinion on it.

It's kind of just there.

I didn't really.

See, I don't play video games, so I don't really understand the reference.

No, neither do I anymore.

You know, no, I know the reference is fine, but it's just I know how I want to watch football, which is a big wide shot, and occasionally I go close in, but don't be close in when there's actual football playing because I want to see the football.

You know,

I watched this game with my friend Matt, who is a Luton fan.

That's why I got so much information on, you know, Luton's injury crisis because I actually, you know, it's the most research I'd done on Luton this season and his uh son isaac and and some other uh three other 11 year olds around 11 uh

leo enzo and milo right and they kept referring to players as sweaty ballers right now uh it's obviously important that we we get the parlance that the youngsters are using but my understanding was that they had kind of constructed this from gaming but actually sweaty is now actually a positive thing like to me if you were a sweaty baller it just sounds you're quite sinister really but like but apparently being sweaty these days is quite a good yeah it means you're sick Matt yes what you're a sick baller

right has anyone else heard sweat used in a sort of positive sense I mean

Jonathan you're the come on I'm afraid that 11 year olds are not my no it's gone beyond you obviously you know

not my target audience ah producer Joel thought it meant you were trying too hard if you were sweaty but maybe it's gone full circle now and it just shows you're really putting it in.

Anyway, if there are anyone it sounds like one you need to look up in the urban dictionary,

yes, yeah, maybe they were just taking me for a ride, these chaps.

But anyway, well done to all the sweaty ballers at the Emirates.

There weren't any sweaty ballers at the G-Tech, were there, Robin?

Brentford, nil, Brighton, nil.

You got the big gig for much of the day last night.

I certainly did.

Yeah, I buzzed through afterwards and said you could just tell Gary to say, listen, no one needs to see any of this.

We got nothing.

They did a really good job of editing it, I've got to say.

They made it look a lot more exciting than it was.

My goodness.

My goodness.

Yeah, no, it was not good.

Not good.

I think two teams.

This was proper cliché cancelling each other out.

Like, there was no mistakes from either side.

Brighton had all of the ball, Brentford behind the ball.

Brighton had a lot of shots from distance.

And then when Brentford got in behind, Brighton recovered.

And that was it.

The highlights were

guy dressed in full beekeeper's outfit.

That was tremendous.

With net as well, like he was going to catch some.

Well, I noticed, Robin, that the man dressed as a beekeeper was standing beside a woman who was dressed as a bee.

And

the camera cut to them, and you said the G-Tech community stayed in not exactly a buzz so far.

I think you should have been fired on the spot for that.

Yeah, you could have gone with hive of activities in your drone, you know,

so many options there.

Professionally, when you're watching a game that's terrible, Robin, obviously, you've still got a job to do, like you know, halfway through, because if you're a fan, you just start talking to the person next to you about, you know, going on your phone, yeah, their marriage or their next holiday, or just you know, or you know, something else, but you can't really do that in your position.

Do you like, do you find your mind wandering, or are you just such an elite pro that commentating is is quite a hard, it's quite a it's quite an involved part of football broadcasting that you're just sort of, I guess, you in your in your moment?

No, I was on my phone.

No, it's really hard.

It is hard because it really was very, very dull.

Yeah, as I said, the uh

it is funny watching Deserby, though.

He looked in physical pain every time they they missed a chance.

And there was a bit where he he was wearing like a zip-up fleece and he disappeared into it.

Um, well, that that that was quite good.

No,

as someone said to me, that's where you earn your money.

I didn't really feel like I did, really.

Because usually, yeah, in my,

because of my disposition, usually I drive home and I think, why you should have said that.

Why didn't you say that?

Why did you do that?

As Barry has brought up there.

But you know, yesterday I slept like a baby because nothing happened.

Nothing happened.

The only thing I would say is that's quite interesting is that off the pitch, you know, Brighton have posted this enormous profit, and there's a lot of talk about Deserby, you know, not, you know, sort of angling for maybe a bit more investment in the playing squad or something.

I do an Oxford United podcast, and we had an ex-player on, and he said, when he once was a player and a club posted a profit, the players were furious.

So it's just, yeah, it's interesting because it's very eye-catching, isn't it?

Because it's very rare, especially for a Premier League team.

It's 122.8 million.

I mean, it's all player sales for Bryant.

And that doesn't include the 115 million they got from Moyes Kaisedo.

So that hasn't.

So it's 122 million and

plus 115.

How great when they check their balance and it says pending plus 115 million?

That's not really what you get.

Is it you go pending going, oh shit, that's coming out.

That's got to come out.

That balance isn't what my balance is.

I mean, the question for Deserbian, he's in quite a good position, like any young sort of up-and-coming manager, if that's the right way to describe him, Jonathan, is that there are so many jobs going this summer that like he might end up getting a better job than perhaps he would normally expect to get on the next step of his career trajectory.

There's a lot of jobs.

I don't know where he might want to go next.

He definitely

regularly talks about wanting more ambition at the club.

So

I think he mentioned in this press conference last night that he doesn't want to create a polemic but he just wants to do the best for the club uh which involves wanting more investment and that kind of thing and i think he has created a polemic there because there does

i think you're absolutely right there does seem to be a bit of um tension um in the way that he continuously talks about it i mean you could look at it from two ways i could you know maybe Maybe he just thinks that they can elevate their level and there's nothing wrong with that, I suppose, from some point of view.

But I don't know if it does come across as maybe giving a little bit of a feeling that maybe he might be more satisfied elsewhere somewhere with a bigger bigger budget I think he just might could well deserve a I'm hesitant to say a bigger job because that's a bit unfair on Brighton I mean no it's it's the literal reality of bigger clubs right I mean that is true we all know it yeah potentially but has he done enough to get sort of a Liverpool job or sort of buy Munich I'm I'm not entirely sure but there are going to be a lot of jobs available so yeah he potentially he's got options he he's been extremely non-committal about his future.

And

I'm pretty sure it was Paul Barber, the Brighton's chief exec.

I heard on Talksport yesterday.

I missed the start, so I'm pretty sure it was him.

He was being interviewed, and he didn't seem hugely confident that Deserby would stay.

But the thing is, Tony Bloom, the owner of Brighton, he's quite a,

you know,

very single-minded, successful, obviously, individual.

very good poker player.

That's where he made his money first.

And if you're going to get in a game of poker with

Tony Bloom, you know,

I could see Deserby talk himself out of a job at Brighton and then possibly get sacked.

I'm going to put that out there as

a long shot.

But yeah, I think

Deserby might get a bit too clever and Tony Bloom would be well able for him, I'd say.

I'm sure they have a plan, don't they?

They always have who's next after Deserby.

They'll always have, they seem to always have someone in mind because he was brought in so quickly after Graeme Potter left.

Tonight, Liverpool, Sheffield United and Chelsea, Manchester United.

So we presume Liverpool will win that game.

Chelsea, Manchester United,

it's hard, Jonathan.

Can you remember a Chelsea Menu game with less at stake?

than probably the last time they played, I guess.

But also a more impossible-to-call Chelsea-Manchester United game I mean literally no idea what either of these sides will do I'm not sure if I agree with you Max I think there is quite a lot of stake still and I think Eric Ten Hag needs his to keep his job for one and I think there's he's he's on an extended job interview between now and the end of the season I know what you mean in terms of European football and titles and obviously those days are gone for both those teams at this moment in time but I think even even Pochettino, I think there's a sort of sense that, you know, Chelsea are in 12th place, which is, it just baffles me how sort of, how bad they are and how accepted it is that all that investment it's kind of just it's almost been normalized how terrible they have been for the last two years no matter what they've tried um so i still feel like there's things to play for but i i get what you mean and in terms of predicting it i think the first game they played the the the old traffic game it was an entertaining match but it was i thought from a spectacle in terms of quality i thought it was really poor both sides it was like it was like a basketball match sort of end-to-end because both sides don't know how to defend can't compete compete in transitions.

Um, so it, from that point of view, it was fun to watch, but from the point of view of quality, it was quite poor.

So, I think

I couldn't predict it, but I

suppose Manchester United go into it with more to play for and so therefore need to win.

But whether they will or not, I'm not sure, Max.

Well, we'll cover those games on Monday if they are fascinating.

If not, we'll have forgotten about them.

But the weekend's Premier League fixture list, I mean, Manchester United Liverpool is the standout fixture, Barry.

And if we look at the the run-ins of Liverpool, Arsenal, and

City,

this game for Liverpool, it feels to me like, in terms of sort of form goes out of the window games for Liverpool, it's this one and Everton away that you sort of feel might decide if they get every point from their remaining games, Liverpool.

I don't think Everton away is going to be any problem whatsoever for Liverpool.

Fair enough.

I really don't.

This one's weird.

Obviously, Obviously, Manchester, both sides have to play tonight.

You presume Liverpool will swat Sheffield United aside like yourself.

I haven't a clue what's going to happen at Stamford Bridge.

Between Chelsea and Manchester United, probably a draw because it's just so hard to call that one.

If Manchester United, like the performance they put in against Brentford at the weekend was shocking.

diabolical, really, really, really bad.

If they play anything like that, Liverpool will hammer them.

But then Manchester United beat them last time in the cup didn't they

no one saw that one coming so

but

I

just

god yeah that that performance against Brentford was

if it was just a one-off anomaly you know you'd go a fair enough a collective bad day at the office but Manchester United have played so bad badly so often this season I think Liverpool will beat them.

No,

They should do.

That's what you imagine.

I mean, Liverpool have also got to play Villa Rand Spurs in a row.

So that's quite a tricky bit.

I'd say they're a lot tougher propositions than

Liverpool.

I think so.

But

their form in the window, aren't they?

Their form in the window games or in the room games is a form out, you know,

the ones that wouldn't be.

You know, Liverpool playing Man United, I think, is different for

maybe City, Man United, and Arsenal Man also quite big, but it feels slightly different.

Everton, certainly.

Arsenal go go to Brighton, Robin.

And looking at their running, they've got this week where they play Chelsea at home and Spurs away, which sort of feels like the decisive bit for them.

I'm sort of with you.

They could win every game and still not win the league, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think it, well, it depends what the others do, obviously.

But yeah,

it's kind of in Liverpool's hands.

But I think you said on the last pod, Max, there's still a lot of games, a lot of games to be played.

Obviously, they're all still in Europe as well.

So that could play a factor.

But yeah, I think that the Man United game this weekend, I think Liverpool will be extra motivated because of the manner in which they lost that FA Cup game.

And, you know, that would have really hurt.

So, yeah.

And as Barry mentioned, I mean, my God,

that Brentford game was an absolute robbery, even though they only got a point from it.

So it's,

yeah.

Yeah.

Liverpool just look like,

I think a bit like City, as Jonathan said, they do give up chances.

They do.

So they're quite fun to watch, but they just seem to know how to get over the line.

They're on that roll now, and I can't really see them dropping points.

Although, as you say, like,

Spurs definitely give them the game, and Villa,

of course.

So, those are the ones that could be potential stumbling blocks.

But even then, Spurs and Villa aren't quite in the same

best form as they were in the reverse fixtures, I'd say.

And also, Spurs, yeah,

that's still,

yeah, the whole narrative around that's going to be the

VAR cock-up, isn't it?

From the last one, yeah, totally.

Oh, yeah, who's going to be on VAR for Liverpool Spurs?

That's going to be a big one.

They should get the same team back together.

That's what they should do in the PGMOL.

Meanwhile, for City, Jonathan, they go to Palace.

And obviously, they've got Real Madrid in Europe that's still in the FA Cup as well.

But if you listen, if I list their league games, I can't see where they're dropping a point.

Palace away, Luton at home, Brighton away, Forest away, Wolves at home, Fulham away, West Ham at home.

Like that running for Man City is winning every game, isn't it?

Did they drop points against Forest last season away?

I might be wrong.

Could be that I did write that.

That is the only because Forest will be fighting and the city ground can be quite, you know, noisy.

But even still, if that's your hardest game left, Forest away, you're in a good spot, right?

Brighton can be awkward, can't they?

They can be.

City always seems to defy me because I always feel like they've got a sort of a game where they'll throw it

in a sense, but they never sort of do.

They're so open.

I feel like maybe in the Champions League someone might give them a bit of a beating, but I've said this before about Peps teams, and he just, the high-risk game he plays, he always pays off.

So yeah, they have a decent running, but I think the Spurs-Arsenal game is as close to a title decider as it's not quite a title decider, but

I think that's a huge game.

I really think that is going to be maybe one of the best games we have left of the season.

I think that's going to be a fantastic match.

Can Spurs stop Arsenal winning the title essentially?

That's going to be brilliant.

Oh, that feels really painful when you put it like that.

I sort of think, I think intellectually, I don't mind Arsenal winning the league, but now you've said it like that.

I mean, you say, Max, that on the face of it, you would expect City to win all those games, but as John said, they do have a rick in them.

Palace beat them that time with that Andros Townsend.

Unbelievable strike.

They lost home and away to Brentford last season.

would have, like, who the hell would have predicted that?

Yeah, true.

Palace held them at the Etihad, didn't they, this year, actually?

Okay, right.

I don't remember, but I'll take your word for it.

Well, I'm pretty sure of it.

At the bottom, Everton Burnley is fun, Barry, isn't it?

You know, any Sean Dice Derby is big.

Yeah, I don't think it'll be fun somehow.

I suspect, yeah, I hope Robin hasn't got this one as well.

Now, that would be.

No, I would have loved it, though.

I mean, that's two, two irate managers.

Absolutely furious.

Yeah, that could be fun.

Oh, yeah.

I mean,

the outcome will be fun.

It won't be fun for

one or both of them.

I mean,

I suppose a point's more use to Everton than Burnley, but Everton have to win a game at some point.

I mean, what is it now?

14 games without a win?

Yeah, 13 of it.

13.

They have to win a game at some point.

But Burnley have certainly improved in recent games

and probably should have got.

They could have beaten Chelsea.

They had

someone who hit the bar.

Jay Rodriguez.

Jay Rodriguez hit the post.

I was about to say Ashley Burns again.

I've now

I've got the Fabianski Areolas with Jay Rodriguez and Ashley Burns.

So anyway, I don't know what's going on in my head.

But yeah, Burnley on form, you would think, should win.

Will they?

Don't know.

Luton

host Bournemouth.

That is a winnable game.

And Forrest go to Tottenham,

which should be less winnable, but you never know, I guess.

All right, that'll do for part two.

I'll do any other business in part three.

Coach, the energy out there felt different.

What changed for the team today?

It was the new game, Day Scratchers, from the California Lottery.

Play is everything.

Those games sent the team's energy through the roof.

Are you saying it was the off-field play that made the difference on the field?

Hey, a little play makes your day, and today it made the game.

That's all for now.

Coach, one more question.

Play the new Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams Scratchers from the California Lottery.

A little play can make your day.

Please play responsibly.

Must be 18 years or older to purchase play or claim.

Welcome to part three of the Guardian Football Weekly.

The Lionesses play Sweden tomorrow night and Ireland on Tuesday.

Are you doing those, Robin?

It's ITV.

ITV.

Oh, is it?

Okay, boom.

Qualifiers for

Euro 2025.

And England also got France in their group.

What shape are Serena Viegman side in?

Yeah, they're in pretty good shape.

I mean, that is a very, very, very tough qualifying group.

But, you know,

England should win.

They had a very good last camp where they were scoring lots of goals.

Got some new exciting new players who have come into form.

Jess Park, who's been brilliant for Manchester City, especially in recent weeks.

Grace Clinton, who's on loan at Spurs.

Be interesting to see if she gets more minutes in the midfield.

But no,

look in good shape.

You know my thoughts on Serena Wiegman, Max.

She is queen.

And

she will lead us.

She will lead us once again to the defending the Euros.

I'm absolutely certain of it.

Can I ask you, you, Robin, on the subject of women's football, what you made of the Emma Hayes, Jonas Ideval

spat the other day?

I'm a massive Emma Hayes fan.

She's in my top five people I'd like to go on the piss with.

But I thought she was a bit out of order there, ungracious.

Would you agree?

Yeah, can I read the quotes actually?

Because if you haven't followed it, it was the league cup final.

Arsenal beat Chelsea with a late goal.

There was a bit of a moment over

Chelsea wanting to take a quick throw-in and Jonas Eydervell saying, hang on, we agreed to only use one football, not a million footballs.

And afterwards, he then went to shake Emma Hayes' hand and she sort of shoved him.

And Emma Hayes said, I am not down for male aggression on the touchline.

I told him this.

There's a way to conduct yourself.

He got a yellow card and he should have been sent off.

Interestingly, the yellow card was about his celebration.

It wasn't about...

the moment that she's kind of suggesting it was there.

I get he's a winner, but his behavior is unacceptable.

The way he fronted up to Erin was unacceptable.

Um, we should not blow it up.

I'm sure when he is calm, we can have a conversation.

Also, the camera doesn't seem to suggest that he does front up to Erin Cuthbert.

It's not the first time he's been told it should not be a massive story.

Idevelt said he did not feel comfortable with the label.

There's a way you behave in the technical area, he said.

You need to be a good winner and a good loser.

I'm happy with the way I conduct myself.

Others need to look themselves in the mirror.

The Guardian Women's Football Weekly covered this really well, Robin.

They did, yeah.

What I thought was really interesting was

that phrase male aggression is very pointed and I am not somebody who like follows the women's game religiously and I'm also really conscious that I'm a man talking about male aggression in the women's game and so I wanted to listen to you know what Susie thought and other people on that pod and what you thought because it it is such a you've got to that language really matters doesn't it and you have to be because it's such an issue and there is that power dynamic in women's football there's a lot men in women's football so I'm interested to know where where you stand on it Oh, well, I think you're right.

Susie Rack basically covered it really well, and she's written about it as well.

I mean, I'm kind of reluctant to, because we don't really know what happened, like for absolute 100% sure.

Jonas Adebau has also been

accused previously of being a bully on the touchline by the Manchester City coach.

He also had a bit of a set-to with a Manchester United player last season.

So this is in mitigation for what Emma Hayes said.

But the evidence that we have is that what she said isn't

really was reality.

And I agree that saying male aggression is extremely loaded and labelling him with that,

not just unfair, it's totally out of order.

She's not stupid.

And I don't think it was in the heat of the moment.

She knows what she said.

And yeah, no, I agree, Barry.

I have huge admiration for Emma Hayes.

She's inspirational, a role model, what she's had to put up with,

and the way she's conducted herself, but that was really, really unfair of her.

As I say, I don't want to kind of call her a liar or anything because I just don't really know what goes on.

Just with the evidence that we have, it didn't seem like that was very fair on him.

And

it was interesting, actually, because

it was discussed when I was in the press room at Brentford yesterday.

So it's been quite the story.

It'll be interesting to see when she's asked about it again.

Unfortunately, it's an international break now for the women, so it'll be a while.

So if she does sort of row back on it,

that will be interesting.

But yeah, it's as you said, words matter.

And if she just said aggression, I think we'd be like, well, yeah, maybe he was a bit too aggressive on the touchline.

But male aggression, as you said, that's the kind of extremely loaded phrase.

And

yeah, I think,

as I say, it should be interesting to see what she says.

I know Jonas

quite well because we worked together at the World Cup in the last Euros and he's always been very,

you know, generous, kind, great person to be around.

So yeah, I think, yeah, I think we've got to basically wait and see what she says

when she's next asked about it.

Jonathan, you've been to Sweden for the opening weekend of the Alsven scan.

Did you have a nice time?

And should we all be watching the Swedish league more more with even more attention than we already do.

I had a fantastic time.

Thank you, Max.

Yeah, I just got back yesterday.

So

I had a great time.

I love it there.

It's a nice country.

And in terms of should you be watching the Swedish Auss Fencecan, you definitely should.

Well, I take an interest anyway in leagues that are outside the traditional leagues.

So things like non-league and Swedish football appeal to me more and more these days.

But I also think that they appeal to more other people as well.

I think there's anecdotal evidence to suggest that non-league for example is getting more and more popular.

Attendances are massively up these days.

You're getting sort of three, four thousand in the National League South.

And even below there's, you know, I think the eighth and ninth tiers are getting sort of a thousand plus people at games now regularly.

And that's all around, not just the bigger clubs.

And

the benefit of the Swedish Ausven scan is there's no VAR.

So it's one of the few remaining European leagues where there is absolutely no VAR to wait around for.

And to me,

I enjoy it much more.

So that's one perspective on it.

I think you were going to come in there with maybe a question.

No, no, no.

I was just listening along there.

Who should I be?

Who's doing...

Who's doing well?

I mean, it's just started.

Who should I adopt?

Obviously,

it's a lower quality league.

So if you want the best players, you're not going to see the best players.

From a fan culture point of view, though, it's great.

I was at IFK Gothenburg against

Eurogarden, who are two of the biggest teams.

If you have a chance to see the IFK

sort of TIFO when the fans come out and the song they play, it's really one of the best anthems.

It's one of the most underrated anthems in world football.

The anthem of AFK Gothenburg is really, really good.

It matches the Bundesliga and other sort of top leagues for kind of atmosphere in that sense.

Fan culture in Swedish football is great from that point of view.

Is it ace of base?

Is it all that she wants?

No, it's not.

But Trust me, it is really good.

I'll send you a link.

I thought, ABBA, I thought, ABBA, and I thought I'd go better than ABBA.

I thought I'd go, it's I Saw the Sign by Ace of Base.

That's what it is.

No, but I think that's interesting.

There is a kind of, I mean, I don't know if it's just because there's just more content, right?

So maybe lots of people always liked these leagues, but we didn't ever see it.

But perhaps there is, you know, we were talking previously about, you know.

the the the season ticket prices in the Premier League.

Look, we are, I don't know if we're guilty of being very Premier League focused.

That's what we are, right?

As a podcast.

But, you know, it's once you know the league and the stories, that's what I always found about supporting a lower league team in the EFL.

It's actually once you know who the players are, there's something nicer.

Actually, you know, sort of 20 years, 30 years ago, you know, there were players that were slightly overweight and who smoked and players who could only kick it out of the stand.

And actually, all those things, actually quite fun.

And that, you know, that lower quality.

doesn't necessarily mean lower entertainment.

Well, I enjoy, I enjoy sort of, I mean, my personal interest in it is more about, you know, finding undervalued talent.

And I just like sort of the things that are a little bit outside of the norm, maybe.

But that's not to say there isn't talent because one of the best players in the Premier League at the moment is Alexander Isak.

And he came from AIK, which is in the Swedish Osfenskin, obviously.

If you look at QPR, their manager at the moment, Marty Sefuentes, was at Hammerby in Sweden last season.

And I think, you know, Barry just mentioned about Brighton and maybe look into

the poker game that might happen with Deserby.

I will give you,

I would say with some confidence that if they do get rid of Deserbi, they will be looking at a manager in Sweden called Henrik Reedstrom at Malmö, who is a very, very good manager.

And I think he will be linked with English clubs in the future.

So it's not only the fact that it's maybe the fan experience and no VAR and that kind of side of it is

fun.

I think there's also a lot of talent in these leagues.

And

I think, yeah, that's another element of it that is quite interesting.

We obviously, one of the players I saw was Lucas Bergval, who's Tottenham have just signed.

He played in the game, one of the games I went to see.

And he was outstanding.

So, yeah, there's plenty of talent there as well.

It might not be Premier League level talent, but there's a lot of gems there that you can find and watch as well.

So that's fun to do as well.

On the selfie that you took with Bob yesterday, Barry, or the day before yesterday, where you said you had just got out of bed and you sort of had red wine stains over your face and sort of disheveled

Dickensian look you had on your jogger bottoms and a hoodie on.

Bob got in touch to say hi, barry to be funny

he said i'm not sure who looked worse he says great to meet you made my day sad sorry not to make the beer next time cheers bob i have seen the photo and i can comfortably say that you look worse

but

but the way you phrased it i was expecting a lot more

you you looked you look i mean i don't i mean i don't know where i set the bar but you looked pretty presentable to me yeah well i i was half asleep um as i said i because i was working all weekend and I Tuesday off I had a you know

quite a few drinks on Monday night and yeah I was far from my best.

No.

Now Andy and you'll have to help me with this Barry.

T-A-D-H-G Todd.

Tig.

Tig.

Andy and Tig have been in touch.

Dear Max Barry, producer Joel and panelists.

Myself, Tig and Stephen are longtime listeners of the pod, attendees of the live shows in Dublin.

You may recall Tig from the the Monday live show in Dublin last November.

He was the kind gentleman who offered you his piss during your Bear Grylls Raymere skit.

I mean, those who don't come to the live show will go, what on earth is what's that?

What's this sort of performance?

Anyway, come to the next one.

It was a riotous success.

Stephen is getting married in the coming weeks, and nothing in the world would give him more joy, not his up and coming marriage, nor even the prospect of Liverpool winning the league this year with a Klop Mike drop exit, than for Barry to wish him and, oh, hang on a second,

I M H E Q

Q V

and Stephen is marrying Queever Tig is not marrying Cueava that would be really awkward now anyway quever

Barry to wish Stephen and Kweaver well for the future in the way that only he can love listening to the pod Andy and Tig so

there you go Barry if you could wish Stephen and Keva all the best

I wish Stephen and Keeva all the best.

What was the Stephen who offered us his piss?

No, Tig.

And he says, P.S.

Tig's offer still stands should you ever need some extra piss.

We're okay

right now.

Well, if Stephen and Cuiva,

I don't know, when the

spark goes out of their relationship and their marriage is on the brink,

maybe they should invite.

I don't see where this is.

This is not a water sports podcast, Barry.

All right.

Well, maybe they shouldn't invite

Andy or Tig to join in and spice things up with some water sports.

But anyway, I hope they have a lovely day and I wish them every happy day.

Yes, I'd like to apologise to my friend Matt, the Luton fan.

So

his son, Isaac, doesn't listen to this podcast, listens to a rival podcast.

And they say the thing that Matt doesn't like about that one is it's a bit sweary.

So if they have got to the end and now we're discussing this sort of thing, then there's an interesting conversation in the car.

I believe Matt's wife, Rachel, who I was also at school with, will be very disappointed in me.

But, you know,

my apologies to all of you.

What Barry suggests is not what I suggest.

Different people.

Anyway, that'll do for today.

Thank you, Robin.

Thanks, Max.

Thank you, Jonathan.

Thank you, Max.

And thank you, Barry.

Thanks.

Football Weekly is produced by Joel Grove.

Give him a wave if you're watching the Brighton Marathon because he's running that on Sunday.

Aiming for three hours 15.

It's utterly ludicrous.

Good luck to you, Joel.

Hold on now.

Who's what's his name?

Wilson Kipson producer of

no no um

the Ellis James and John Robbins podcast Dave Dave Martin yeah producer Dave Masterman yeah he's run a sub three hour marathon so I expect uh Joel to up his game and beat producer Dave I was gonna say if you can't beat three hours we want a new producer Jobs on the line yeah exactly jobs on the line hanging by a thread absolutely right next

kilometer 17 time five minutes and eight seconds.

Not good enough.

Step on it.

Our executive producer, who is not running the Brighton Marathon, is Max Sumps.

This is The Guardian.