03/03/2018 Football Focus

# Live by faith

# Keep believing

# It is the season

# Keep on dreaming

# Keep on fighting

# If my only fear is what might

happen

# I can find a way #

That's fantastic eggs Willian rifles

in. Mo Salah has scored! What a

goal, Jesse Lingard! My goodness! Is

there anything he can't do? Quality

goal! What I hit?

goal! What I hit? Wilfried Zaha

still going. Newcastle lead!

Unbelievable! Blackburn Rovers are

champions. In for Cole who has

scored. Hepeats West Bromwich Albion

in the top-flight! Aguero! What a

screamer!

Yes, it's chilly but the warmest

of welcomes to Football Focus -

ten games to go in the Premier

League.

A lot to chat about this

week so we've gone for

a three-pronged attack.

As you can see.

Danny Murphy and Martin Keown

are here and we are delighted to be

joined by Ryan Mason too.

Lovely to have you all with us.

The cold snap is causing

issues all over the UK.

We'll give you details on that

in a moment but grab a brew,

sit tight and settle in for all this

between now and 1pm.

The world's most expensive defender

on his Anfield awakening.

I think everyday here is tough, we

work very hard and we learn a lot.

It's been quite a week

for Manchester City.

We'll catch up with lethal Leroy.

It's a lot of fun to play with such

players as Aguero, Raheem Sterling.

Clem braves the beast on a visit to

high flying Blackburn.

I've come as an emissary for the

players, with decided would like to

train inside, possible?

That is

possible.

And Phil Neville on England's camp

America.

If we want to win a World Cup we've

got to beat USA, Germany, France,

because these are our rivals.

We'll also look back at the week's

FA Cup action and World Indoor

Pentathlon Champion Katarina

Johnson-Thompson takes on Lawro in

predictions.

But first, let's bring you up to

date.

Full programme in the English

Premier League, and the FA Cup draws

have survived the beast from the

East.

The pest from the West -

Mark Clemmit - is in the studio and,

Clem, some signigicant disruption

today.

The football kind has been decimated

this weekend.

I'm afraid I'm the Grim Reaper when

it comes to Tfl matches. Setting

aside Middlesbrough's win over Leeds

last night at the top of the

Championship and Blackburn against

Wigan at the top of League 1, of the

34 matches due to take place this

afternoon only ten survived and

that's down to the hard work of the

ground staff and also an army of

volunteers who have been turning up

with shovels and brushes and Verran

wheelbarrows to clear the snow. This

is the situation in the

Championship, these are the games

that are on, Bolton at Bristol City,

Derby, Millwall, and Nottingham

Forest. The Championship teams have

undersoil heating service will

undoubtably be due to concerns over

safety in and around the stadium is.

I should also say as well that the

Ipswich- Hull game has already been

rescheduled on our screens and it's

one of the ones that has bitten the

dust. In League 1 just three remain.

MK Dons have undersoil heating.

Scunthorpe and also Southend have

made good use of state-of-the-art

industrial sheeting to get their

games on. Oxford against Fleetwood

among the games that have gone. Just

two remain in League 2. The leaders

Luton's trip to Cambridge United and

incredibly Carlisle, more on

Luton's trip to Cambridge United and

incredibly Carlisle, more on which

in a minute. Coventry against

Lincoln went this morning. If you

think we have it tough this money,

1963, West Winter for a long time,

FA Cup third round took 66 days to

complete and a game between these

two teams was postponed 15 times.

Can you believe? Cheltenham against

Notts County has bitten the dust. We

have been asking for your photos,

#bbcfootball. This has been a

typical scene, this was at Crewe

this week and there is the scene at

Carlisle, eight inches of snow, they

kept it on as long as possible to

act as installation. The Duke team

helping at Nottingham Forest. One

beneficiary, Brentford giving away

the food to a homeless shelter they

would have used in today's match --

the youth team. A lot of people say

why don't you get on with it, it's

only a bit of snow? That's what they

did in Denmark this week on Thursday

night. Nobody in the stands, the

game going on, and suddenly you will

notice three ladies in a hot tub

with some mulled wine at the bottom.

As I look at it one of the ladies

doesn't seem to have any clothes on

so I'm going to keep my hand on

there and say if you are heading out

to a game this afternoon stay safe,

it's very dangerous out there.

to a game this afternoon stay safe,

it's very dangerous out there. Thank

you for the pre-watershed report.

These three warmed up for today.

One game that does go ahead is a bit

of a Premier League classic taking

place this evening as Liverpool face

Newcastle at Anfield.

Juliette Ferrington this week went

for a chat with a fella who cost £75

million and certainly knows

his numbers.

Could you say a few words please?

One, two, three, four, five, Virgil

van Dijk on the microphone.

Khaoui

rewrite to your debut? COMMENTATOR:

Virgil van Dijk on debut!

I wasn't

supposed to start the game but on

match day the manager came to me and

said I would start so I was

definitely looking forward to it, I

had a bit of excitement going on in

my body. I wasn't nervous. Scoring

the winner in this game was massive

and it was a great introduction to

my Liverpool career.

You kind of

take it all in your stride. You talk

about being relaxed and laid back.

Hadi hit fifth gear, sixth gear yet?

I think it looks like it but

definitely everyday here is tough,

we work very hard, we run a lot and

there is a big difference from what

I've been used to. I need to step up

my game and I think now it's getting

better every day and I'm getting

used to everything as well, the way

we play, the intensity of our game

because it's a lot higher to what I

was used to.

There seems to be a lot

of unity amongst the squad and the

group of players.

The boys have been

amazing to me, great guys, and I've

got to know them pretty good. And if

you win that helps even more. I

think it's just a great group and a

great environment to be in.

How

would you describe life on the

Jurgen Klopp?

I think he's very good

and an amazing guy as well. All of

the attributes he has got, that

makes us achieve hopefully good

things in the future. But you see

how we play the games and how he is

on the touchline. I think it

motivates everyone to keep going.

But also outside the pitch, the

technical sessions we do, the

analysis we have got on everything,

it is perfect.

With his character

and his personality, is he your kind

of guy to work for?

Otherwise I'm

not here! Definitely. I made the

decision to come here based on

everything. Obviously the manager

plays a part in that as well.

Mo

Salah has got it into the net yet

again! Mane. Four for Liverpool.

Is

the target second now? We want to

achieve the maximum and I think City

will stay at the top but you never

know.

Newcastle coming up this

weekend, it has produced so much

entertainment in the past.

Barnes is

there and this it up for Collymore!

Miracle for Liverpool! My word.

Robbie Fowler wins the game, surely,

for Liverpool.

Do you have any

memories of the Liverpool -

Newcastle games?

Not really.

Fine.

For me it's going to be a good game

again and a great atmosphere and we

just want to keep going. We have a

couple of good games played so far

and we just want to keep going and

the next weeks are going to be very

important.

Virgil van Dijk on the

mic.

He

says there he's never worked as hard

before and here's some numbers that

might back him up.

He's been running more. Why have you

made of him since arriving at

Anfield?

He started really

positively. Their recent run of form

has helped him because settling into

a side that is winning games and

playing football is

playing football is easier whatever

position. He missed a few months not

playing regularly and he's going to

get better and better. I see him

trying to organise and lead those

around him, fantastic in both boxes

aerially. We haven't seen his

quality on free kicks yet and that

will come as well. He deserves

credit the way he conducted himself

throughout the transfer process

because it dragged out and we never

saw him moaning in the press. He

never once refused to play for

Southampton. By all accounts the

other lads spoke highly of him and

the way he conducted himself during

that period and that is credit to

him and he will be a big player for

Liverpool.

He's part of the

organisation Danny was talking about

Mo Martin.

I see him as the

Rolls-Royce of central defenders.

Important signing for Liverpool

because if he'd come to City, look

how well they are playing, they

could perhaps win everything for the

next ten years. Really important

player for the Premier League.

Ryan

Bowman you've played against him.

What's it like to come up against a

player like that? In the peace we

looked out there, is it as an

organisational force and good in

both boxes?

Obviously, just

physically to look at he is a beast.

I've always felt that playing

against him and watching him he's

almost coasting through games, not

that it is too easy but physically

and technically he is at the highest

sort of level. I know that going to

Liverpool he is going to be demanded

so much more week in and week out

because playing for a top club like

that you need to put it in on the

training pitch and the levels of

performance every week are demanded.

I think he's going to improve as a

player.

Are Liverpool the

second-best team in the league?

They

certainly are and it's unfortunate

for them, they are brilliant at

times, Mo Salah and Mane, the goals

score and the football they play,

the manager gets everyone to express

themselves and I would love to play

for him, must be fantastic, and that

was a big influence in Van Dijk

going to the football club. Mo Salah

is being played on the right and

looks inspired and he's much better

when he comes on to the left foot.

They are playing great football, we

see it with City and Liverpool also

and they might still win the

Champions League, or do something

bigger than City, everyone is

talking about City but this is a

good Liverpool team and they are

purring. I think he is a player in

the comfort zone and he came back

from an injury that he had and was

out for a long period and it might

be that eventually there is a big

game for him that he needs to show

the fitness in.

Interesting that

Rafa Benitez has been battered

Liverpool a number of times and has

never lost with three different

clubs playing against Liverpool and

it takes Newcastle. Mac -- he takes

Newcastle. How do you go about

stopping the front three that Martin

talked about that have caused so

much damage to so many teams?

It is

difficult but you need to eliminate

the space in behind. Mo Salah and

Mane thrive on having space and the

transitions from defence to attack

sits Liverpool the most. That's

probably why in recent games when

they played the big boys like City

and Tottenham is when they thrive.

Rafa will go into the game and

probably try and play on the

counterattack, and like I say,

eliminate the space.

Keep the

fingers crossed as well. Martin

Putze but silverware this season. --

Martin talked about silverware.

Manchester City won the first trophy

of the season at Wembley last

weekend. Four days later they were

facing Arsenal again. This time in

the league. Would things end

differently at a freezing cold

Emirates?

Here we are four days on from

Manchester City's Trophy winning

Sunday at Wembley. The final that

Arsenal would rather forget. Here is

Sane who skips away from two

challenges and away from the third

from the Xhaka and place it into

Bernardo Silva, right side of the

penalty area, the shot and it in and

it's 1-0 to Manchester City and it's

a superb finish from Bernardo Silva.

Sane did all of the spadework.

Brilliant play from the young

German.

Petr Cech has absolutely no

chance, wonderful finish. It was a

flash of brilliance from an

outstanding team.

Arsenal 0-1

Manchester City and the problems

have begun for Arsenal.

Here is David Silva on the left-hand

side looking for Sane. Sane turns

back on his left foot and then goes

around the outside of Mustafi, pulls

it across, Aguero, David Silva,

lovely touch and lovely girl, touch

with his right and finished with his

left, 2-0 to Manchester City and it

goes from bad to worse for Arsenal.

2-0 down.

It is Sane again, and on a

night when it is so cold he is white

hot. He really is so pretty to

watch. The movement, almost as if

he's in his own back garden, it's so

easy.

Kompany passes it away towards

David Sonboly, takes a touch and

passes it to Bernardo Silva, the two

goal-scorers together. Arsenal tried

to press there.

The touch is

outstanding.

Lovely touch as well,

Aguero, squirt to De Bruyne, plays

it into the penalty area, driven

across, Sane almost walks it into

the net to make it 3-0. Cut open

again, Arsenal's defence, and

Manchester City absolutely ruthless

here. Its Arsenal 0-3 Manchester

City.

It's so easy now for City and

now it is becoming embarrassing for

Arsenal. We talk about leaders,

where is the organisation in the

Arsenal back four?

Now the ball from the right-hand

side. Inside the penalty area,

Mkhitaryan, he has fouled him. The

challenge on Mkhitaryan who went

down, it is a penalty to Arsenal.

Hands on his hips. Ederson to beat.

So up he comes and he has saved it.

Ederson leaping to his left.

Athletically so, parries the ball

away and now Arsenal have missed a

penalty. These are low timers for

Arsenal and Arsene Wenger and for

the second time in the space of a

few days Arsenal have been

outclassed

few days Arsenal have been

outclassed by Manchester City

We

were clinical in front, it is an

amazing result for us.

I feel we put

a lot of effort in tonight, you

know. It is physically our highest

game of the season and them as well.

We played with low confidence, and

we lost against a team, the best in

the country at the moment.

We will get to Manchester City in a

moment when we hear from Lee row

Sane. You have had a few days for

that result to settle in. The

manager talking about low on

confidence. It is probably right to

say they have played the best team

in the country in the space of a few

days, and that maybe doesn't help,

but how bad are place are Arsenal

in?

It is as low as I can remember

it for a number of year, and there

is a lifeline in the Europa League

cup to win that, but it is the poor

performance, the way that City over

two games I suppose last year it was

Bayern Munich, the difference in

quality between the two team, they

went toe to toe with City midweek in

their own backyard and were found

wanting. Every compartment of the

team looks as if there is no real

partnership, you are looking at

Mkhitaryan and Obiang, there is no

link up there. Ozil, he is not

turning up in the big games and the

leadership at the back, they are all

over the place. City are brilliant,

there is no doubt. But Arsenal could

have made a better fist of it.

The

manager says players are low on

confidence. How do you turn that

round when people are screaming

there needs to be a change? Can they

bring themselves out of this rut, do

you think? A

It is difficult. They

need to start winning games but if

the manager is saying they are low

on confidence, it will be difficult

for the players in the dressing room

to change that, you know, because

like Martin said, they have come up

against a City team that are

unbelievable. They are best in the

country by a mile. It wasn't just

losing the game, it was the manner

in which they lost, they didn't look

like an Arsenal team, they had no

method, in and out of possession, I

thought they looked a bit lost.

It

is the 3rd March. They have lost

seven games this year, they are

closer to West Brom in the division,

at the bottom than to Manchester

City at the top. As Martin says this

is the worst situation Arsenal have

been in in some year, what do you

think is the way out?

Well, I mean,

the way out is change. They have to

change the manager and the

structure, and the philosophy of the

way the team play. You talk about

getting results and the way you get

results is digging in and having a

fight and scrap and playing

percentages, they don't know how do

that very well. They haven't got the

personnel or the coach that sets up

that way but their problems aren't

about the last two games where they

are been beaten by the best side in

Europe. Bournemouth, Tottenham, how

many games where they haven't turned

up, shown fight. It is the manner in

which you lose matches, the players

are so flat at the moment, that, the

manager can only do so much. They

have to take some responsibility.

But they are flat because of the way

the manager has managed them, for

however long it has been like this.

He can't get a tune out of them. You

have to change it. Do you change it

now? I don't think they will but the

summer there has to be a change.

We

are close to change now, it is a

defining moment of the game, the

players he sold in the transfer

window, he played 11 players in 90

minute, how does he turn to? It is a

problem of his own making, they play

Brighton tomorrow, we can't be sure

Arsenal will get any points, if they

lose that, the game in the Europa

League is bigger and the pressure is

coming on to Arsene Wenger now.

#12k3

Milan to come next week. Let

us hear from the man of match.

Scored one, a hand in the other two.

Leroy Sane.

It is a brilliant one. Curling shot,

it's in. Lovely touch, lovely ball.

Sane is there.

The Premier League title, how close

does it feel?

Yes, it feels of

course that it's like it is getting

closer and closer but we always say

we want to go step by step, from

game to game

Of course Manchester

City now have quality all over the

pitch, but what it is like to play

in that front three, how does Pep

Guardiola get the best out of you?

Makes it a lot of fun to play with

such players like Sterling, Gabi,

you can enjoy to play with them, the

coach tries always to get the best

out of us and help us like how we

find the space behind the defender,

in front of them, give us advice,

how we should play, and yes, we can

also go back to that what he is say,

and it helps us a lot.

Considering

the way he is, is it possible to

please Pep Guardiola?

He is a really

good coach. I think he does a really

good job with us, and yes, I am

really happy, I think the other

players are happy we have hip him as

a coach. Everyone can see we

improved a lot with him.

Kyle Walker

is coming on and Sane is coming off.

There was reports of an incident

after the Wigan FA Cup game about

him not being happy with you

particularly, can I ask you what was

said?

This what, the newspaper, I

don't know who was saying this, but

that he was saying that isn't true,

like, it wasn't the reason, it was a

tactical thing, anything else stays

in the dressing room.

Off the pitch,

how far does it go, what you eat,

what you do at night, he is not

telling you which music to listen

to?

I listen to my own music.

Is

that the only thing you can decide

with him?

No, it's not the only

thing.

Sane is taken out.

When you

suffered the injury in the FA Cup

against Cardiff, did you fear the

worst?

Yes, of course, I was just

hoping that I'm not like out like

for months, and that my injuries not

so bad, how it looked like also, and

how it felt. Yes I was kind of

lucky.

How did you return so

quickly? Even your manager expected

a period of six to seven weeks out?

Yes, after the scan the doctor say

you count for a certain time, but

like it depends on you, how you

recover, how your ankle is

recovering and from this day I just,

I tried to do so much treatment, and

to do all the stuff what is good for

my ankle where I can recover really

quick.

Finally, I read in a recent

interview, that if you win the

Premier League Champions League and

World Cup you would retire, were you

serious?

No, I wasn't serious, in

the first, they knew it was just a

joke, and with 22 to retire, I think

makes no sense. I would not retire

if it happened. I want to keep

playing and to win more trophies.

I think he will be round for a

while. Only De Bruyne, Messi and

Neymar have more assists, there was

an interesting debate on 5 Live

where they were arguing that Pep

Guardiola has tried a number of

players on the lnds, De Bruyne has

played out there. Sterling, Silva,

but Sane gives themselves a good

balance across the middle because of

the way he approaches the game and

the way he integrates in that side.

Definitely. They tend to like come

in inside the field and get in the

pocket, Sane, he is almost old

school, he stays wide and he can

take them from defence to attack in

a matter of seconds, he is a special

player, I think a lot of players,

that have that amount of pace,

technically they don't tend to have

it, but he has got everything.

They

can do everything at pace. Let us

see the footage from midweek,

Martin, where he is frightening to

watch this.

It is the

Martin, where he is frightening to

watch this.

It is the change of

pace. Look at the defenders round

him. He floats across the ground. He

picks a pass at the end of it. That

is a wonderful goal here, Arsenal

should have depended it better but

he is now, you are talking about how

good is he going to be in the

future? Can he become like a

Ronaldo, Messi, maybe he needs a big

moment in the Champions League

final. A lot are assists, the next

step is for him to score more goals,

he plays wide, Sterling usually

plays on the other side. He pins

full Babs backs and gets his goal.

-- full-backs. I think he was wrong

to take him off against Wigan. He is

that good now, he has to play in

that team.

I know you want to talk

about somebody else, more generally,

are they the best we have seen in

the Premier League this... I know

they haven't won much, are they the

best we have seen in terms of the

football they are playing.

Aesthetically they are the best. I

love watching them play. It is like

watching Barca without Messi in

effect. To compare them to the

United teams of the past, the

Arsenal teams of the past, they need

more success because that is the

only way to judge. Don't get me

wrong, the Arsenal side and United

side at its best was playing

wonderful stuff, but not like this,

and the one thing I think with this

Manchester City side, we talk about

Sane, we talk about Sterling, nearly

20 goal, Silva, incredible season.

De Bruyne. It doesn't matter which

one is not at it, one of the others

turn up. Their variation and the

amount of individuals they have got

who can hurt you is unbelievable.

To

play like that four days after

winning a Cup Final, is that

testament to the manager or the

players other both?

I think both.

When you play in a team like that,

that dominates football match, I

think it would have been more

difficult for Arsenal to go up

against them again after chasing the

ball for 90 minutes at Wembley. They

dominate matches. It is brilliant to

watch.

dominate matches. It is brilliant to

watch.

What is interesting is them

coming up against Chelsea, a

defining moment, Conte, he is a

great tactician, he was pragmatic,

won 30 games, I felt that the

manager who had the artistic

ability, the bit of freedom. It

would take longer,er when it came it

would be a greater success, they

have to keep winning trophies and

that is, they have one in the bag,

Guardiola didn't win anything last

year, he is in the mood to do it. We

could sigh the best team we have

ever seen. I would say the 99

Manchester United team was slightly

better, to be honest.

That is a

debate we can have for a while.

They

won three Premier Leagues on the

bounce. I thought we we are better

than them but recordses will say

otherwise.

We speak to the pun dis

in the week and we rang Martin and

he was an hour on the phone because

he wanted to talk about Ederson, you

think what he gives to that side is

huge.

He hardly has to do anything.

It is such a remarkable team but

what he does he makes it count. I

thought maybe that he had got this

wrong, but came out, he is positive,

and He his ability, this, he rang

Martin and he was an hour on the

phone because he wanted to talk

about Ederson, you think what he

gives to that side is huge. He

hardly has to do anything. It is

such a remarkable team but what he

does he makes it count. I thought

maybe that he had got this wrong,

but came out, he is positive, and He

his ability, this, he doesn't want a

wall. Rang Martin and he was an hour

his ability, this, he doesn't want a

wall. Rang Martin and he was an hour

on the phone because he wanted to

talk about Ederson, you think what

he gives to that side is huge. He

hardly has to do anything. It is

such a remarkable team but what he

does he makes it count. I thought

maybe that he had got this wrong,

but came out, he is positive, and He

his ability, this, he doesn't want a

wall. "I'm in charge of this, I'll

take the shot on, whatever is in

front of me." He is brave. We saw

that when Mane nearly took his had

off at the start of the season. --

head off. He gets back on his feet

and he has one thing in his mind. He

has the technique. Look at this for

a punt up pitch. Aguero, maybe a bad

touch, lets him down and they can't

say that very often. He just, look

at this one, he is saying here I'm

coming for this, I don't care who is

in front of me. Pick yourself up

because I'm coming for this.

I have

been so impressed with them. His

decision making and distribution,

sometimes he wants to play out all

the time. There is times when there

is pressure and he will go long,

ultimately, in some of the games I

have seen recently, really good

saves which is what he is there for,

he seems like the full package and

saves which is what he is there for,

he seems like the full package and

he is young. You are talking about

possibly, he could be there for

years ahead.

They would wrap up the

earliest Premier League title. It

could, I know Danny talked about the

Champions League, they have one

trophy, it could be an incredible

season. Season.

Like you say they

could break every record. Pep don't

seem the sort of manager to take his

foot off the pedal if they wrap it

it up early. You can't see anyone

stopping them.

It will be

fascinating to see what happens

against Chelsea tomorrow.

The weather has been wreaking havoc

across football this weekend but the

lunchtime kick off between Burnley

and Everton is on. Guy Mowbray has

made it to Turf Moor and bring us

the team news.

Good afternoon from

Burnley where the emphasis is on the

brrr but we can see the lush green

turf of Turf Moor where both teams

will have targeted a much-needed

win.

James Tarkowski replaces Kevin Long

at the back for Burnley while there

is a first game for Everton since

leaving them for Aaron Lennon.

Michael Keane is in the Everton side

to face his old club in a side

changed by three. Seamus Coleman fit

again to take over from Jonjoe Kenny

at right back and after Sam

Allardyce at Watford last week they

had someone who could finish and we

didn't, he has left out of money as

and Wayne Rooney. They are

substitutes with stats for Dominic

Calvert-Lewin and Cenk Tosun. It was

12 cold long weekends ago since

Burnley last won and since Everton

last won away.

He was on the problem

last week saying how much of it

needed to improve their away form,

Wayne Rooney.

They've won just one of their past

22 away games and lost at Watford

last week where a late Troy Deeney

goal moved Javi Gracia's side

up into the top half.

Here it is for you.

The visitors to Vicarage Road this

afternoon are West Bromwich Albion,

who are now seven points from safety

after a fourth straight

league defeat against

Huddersfield last week.

Steve Wilson is at this one for us.

Steve, Alan Pardew has had another

one of those weeks where the

pressure is on and he has had to

defend what's going on inside the

club again.

Yes, hello. He has. You

wouldn't expect anything else from

Alan Pardew Alsop he's been a

manager for 20 years and he will not

just roll over and throw in the

towel. It's not like West Bromwich

Albion suddenly went off the rails

when Pardew arrived. He has not led

them out of the promised land into

some era of famine and pestilence,

has he? We won't know what would

have happened if they had stuck with

Tony Pulis, of course, we will never

know that because they didn't. It's

very easy to say they shouldn't have

sacked Tony Pulis. The fact of the

matter is Pulis had lost his last

four league games and taken four

points from his last ten league

games when he was sacked. Alan

Pardew has lost his last four league

games currently undertaken six

points from his last ten in the

Premier League. There has not been

abounds with the change of manager,

that much is for certain, but it

wasn't going very well before Alan

Pardew either. Gary Megson in his

two games as caretaker did pretty

well, perhaps he was the one they

should have stuck with but who

knows? What I would say is history

suggests if you sack two managers in

the same season you are almost

certainly going to go down. The only

incident I can find the Premier

League team going through two

managers and the third manager

keeping them up was your guest on

the last week Paul Clement who did

that last season for Swansea City.

It needs a drastic turnaround for

West Bromwich Albion. They really

need a win as soon as possible. It's

not impossible but it is unlikely

that West Brom will stay up. Whether

they stick with Pardew or not only

time will tell.

Thank you very much,

Steve. A brief word on a couple of

the teams above West Brom,

Southampton against second bottom

Stoke. Southampton actually, only

one defeat in nine games under

Mauricio Pellegrino so they are

finding that form and Stoke have

picked up, Shaqiri scoring a few as

well. Can you see one or both of

them surviving at the moment, Danny?

I don't know!

Come on, you are a

pundit!

It's fascinating, Swansea

winning the last four home games and

Stoke picking up. I think Stoke have

been the surprise for me, a lot of

draws, played some good stuff but

didn't quite have the points to

match their performances. I would

say Southampton for sure. Stoke are

still in it for me.

It's the most

difficult ever to read. Look at

Burnley, 11 games without a win, 36

points, they are looking over their

shoulder.

West Ham could get dragged

back into it.

They could. West Brom

looked doomed, Watford could make

sure of their safety today and it is

really how you view it, there are so

many teams involved.

Incredible. You

can follow the events in the Premier

League and keep up-to-date with

final school at 2:30pm.

Then watch the action on Match

of the Day this evening.

Match of the Day 2 Extra is back

tomorrow before highlights

of Sunday's games at 10:30pm.

And make sure you don't

miss the return of

the Premier League Show on Thursday.

Plenty still to come

on Football Focus including goals

from the midweek cup ties.

It's great to have Ryan

with us this week.

For those who might have

missed the news, Ryan

announced his retirement

from football last month at the age

of 26 after medical advice

following a fractured skull

from a game against

Chelsea last January.

Many people have followed what has

happened to you over the last year

or so and you had to make this

announcement at the age of 26. How

has life been since you've come to

that huge life decision?

Obviously

it's a big change. I moved out of

home at the age of 16 and I've

travelled all over the country to

pursue my career. Obviously, like

you say, I had to put a stop to

that. I'm back at home with my

family, which is a bit strange. It's

nice to be around everyone and to be

able to see my friends and my

family. It's been pretty nonstop

since I did announce the retirement.

But I'm excited, it's a new chapter

in my career.

Well, you've got your

whole life ahead of you. I can only

imagine what it must feel like. It's

really good that Pochettino has

offered you help back into the game

and that's what we need really, so

that you can still have a great

career, maybe as a manager and a

coach but to lose your career like

that, and to be honest it happens so

rarely, a head injury of that type,

the odds of that happening, it is

really very sad.

This was a picture

the odds of that happening, it is

really very sad.

This was a picture

that you put up a while ago, after

the operation itself. In terms of

the help you have had from the

the operation itself. In terms of

the help you have had from the

football family, has that encouraged

you to go down the coaching road?

What are you thinking with regards

to that at the moment, or are you

going to do something completely

different?

It is still so early but

like Martin said the gaffer at Spurs

has out and offered help and I have

some people there I have got on with

so well over the years, I was at the

club for 18 years. I think I'd be

silly not to go down that road. It

has always been my club and I think

in the near future that hopefully

will happen.

Don't let alone get you

involved in looking after the

younger players and staff.

That's

his job!

What was the point? Was

there one time when a surgeon or a

doctor said to you, Ryan, you can't

do this any more and you made the

decision, or did it take a long time

to come to terms with it?

I touched

upon it and spoke

upon it and spoke about it in the

last few weeks, the surgeon fact

that some issues with the brain,

before it was just about the skull

but when the brain came into it it

made the decision a lot easier.

There wasn't a decision to make to

be honest.

I'm reliably informed you

have taken up the piano.

I said that

confidentially!

That's really

interesting. You've become a bit

obsessed with playing the piano

because you need something else in

your life.

For my brain, for the

pathways, to keep challenging it.

I

didn't realise it was a big secret!

You cannot tell down anything!

I was

planning to give it a year and

surprise everyone.

It's interesting,

channelling your brain, and time to

something, any different way when

you retire from football, we got

extra time, Martin and I, in terms

of having a longer career but you

still have the same problems when

you finish. OK, we have come into

the media a little bit but I used to

laugh at people who played golf but

I became obsessed with it. I

channelled so many hours and energy,

because I needed something, because

I spent 20 years having to focus on

something. Otherwise, you can find

yourself in areas you don't want to

be at so it is great you are doing

something like that.

What we hope is

that somebody who has been a great

player when it's cut short as you

channel the energy into being a

great manager. Very often managers

and players who cut short do

something else. Playing until 38 or

40, this may inspire you to go on

and do some thing special, because

why not? You've got the education

and there may be a platform for you

at Tottenham and I'd love to see you

do it.

That's for sure, Cheers.

At

the age of 26 you could take a bit

of time and then decide what you

want to do.

I think that's the key.

Like I say, I have a head start on

everyone is retiring, lots of people

retire at 35 but I'm retiring ten

years earlier than everyone else so

the education I can get on the

coaching side, I'm keen to make the

most of it.

Referee?

Presenting? You

could freshen up this show.

I'll

behave or ten years and you can take

over. Thanks, Danny!

Ryan's former club Spurs

were in action in midweek

as Rochdale visited

Wembley for a snowy FA

Cup fifth round replay.

COMMENTATOR: We do have VAR tonight,

what could possibly go wrong? Son.

Llorente went for it. Lamela with a

tap in, Tottenham Hotspur go in

front. Now, the celebrations have

been stilled for a moment.

There was

no filed -- foul by Llorente.

Rochdale have won the ultimate. Son,

goes on and on and nobody is arguing

about that one.

# Too many people making too many

problems #

It continued in the box.

# Can't you see this as a realm of

confusion #

Tick tock tick tock.

This is where the criticism will

come, it is getting ridiculous.

Penalty.

Josh Lillis went right. But he is

getting a yellow card for hesitating

on his runner-up. He gets it under

control and tucks it home. Rochdale

have levelled at Wembley.

This is

the most bizarre first half I've

ever seen in my life.

The flag has

stayed down and the red tape at last

has got his FA Cup goal. -- you rent

a. This is lovely from Tottenham and

now Llorente makes it a 3-1 lead and

Llorente has a hat-trick in the FA

Cup. Thomson gets a run out at

Wembley, this young man who has

twice had treatment for cancer.

Lamela, brilliant ball in, tapped in

by Son who is on a hat-trick as

well. Walker-Peters. Tottenham's

six, Rochdale's remarkable adventure

comes to an end in round five.

six, Rochdale's remarkable adventure

comes to an end in round five. Here

we go, VAR, take 300. By the way,

football's authorities have paved

the way for VAR to be used at the

World Cup so certainly not going

away. What is that face all about?

There is the tweet put out just now

by IFAB, historic decision. Let's

look at those incidents, I want you

to discuss them and what you think

generally about VAR because it's a

big topic for the fans. Yes,

decisions are being made but it is

not being communicated to those

watching in the stadium and it is

removing fans from the game.

There

is lots of points for VAR and I was

for it initially and I'm going the

opposite way now. The reason is, why

do you go and watch football is a

supporter? Why do I go? The euphoria

of seeing your team score a goal.

Too often the goals are being pulled

back to see if there was an

incident, offside, foul, and that is

taking away from the supporters'

enjoyment.

The long waits like this?

The long wait is fine if you are

trying to get to the right decision

based on the decision being made. If

a linesman gives offside, or a

referee gives a penalty, fine, check

it but if you want to pull a goal

back to check if there was a target

or offside or whatever, you take

away the euphoric moment supporters

go and watch football for so it

can't work.

It is not working at the

moment. He makes the decision

himself without VAR, probably the

only one he made on the night and I

think the players were losing

respect. Lamela were struggling to

stay on the pitch. Tapping on the

air, he looked like a traffic

warden, didn't look like a referee,

was he refereeing the game or not?

We do it a disservice, we have great

supporters, I was watching at home

and as a viewer at home I didn't

know what was going on and nobody

knew. They are not sharing the

workings out, we must see the

pictures.

Is it a good system that

being poorly applied because it

works on other sport, or is it

peculiar to football?

Like Danny

said the emotion gets taken away

from the game, if your team scores

and you are in the stands waiting

for a decision to be made it doesn't

feel like football.

It's not good

enough.

It is almost embarrassed at

the moment, making a mockery of the

game, there are so many teething

problems almost as if they are

testing it out.

The time thing, if

it's about the time thing, let the

guy with the replays take more

control and tell the referee what

position is. Who doesn't need to go

and see it because the referee on

the pitch. The good thing about that

is the players will then stop going

up to the referee on the pitch and

crucifying him because it's not

actually his decision. He can say, I

will tell him later because he's the

one. He doesn't have to walk across

the pitch, Liverpool against West

Brom, perfect example, should review

it, walks over and looks at the

screen and it goes on for ever and

the fans go, what's going on was at

the time is not the issue, it's the

fans' enjoyment because without the

fans we have nothing.

It's not right

we are taking so long to get it

right, it's taking something away

from the game. Four goals in the

first half were chalked off but

after that every other goal the

referee was tapping his ear to say,

can we celebrate the goal or can't

we?

We have found out you don't like

a traffic warden, Martin. We have to

ask about Spurs who face

Huddersfield this afternoon and

Juventus next week, we talked about

Manchester City and trophies, could

this be a season with trophies at

last for Spurs?

You look at the FA

Cup and they've come into the data

form. They've only lost one in their

last 16, I think, and they look

strong and very good. The Juventus

game is massive, that's going to be

difficult. But for me the FA Cup,

they have got Chelsea and Man United

still in it. I look at Tottenham in

that and on current form I'd say

they are probably favourites for

that so hopefully for the club they

can get some silverware.

In effect

they are playing at home as well if

they get through. I know that sounds

unusual but it is a bit of an

advantage.

After that they will

definitely give you a job, Ryan.

Swansea were also trying to make the

last eight of the FA Cup and it was

another chilly night in South Wales

as they faced Sheffield Wednesday in

a replay. Following a cagey first

off Jordan Ayew scored the opener

after Tom Carroll's strike came back

off both posts and Nathan Dyer added

the second ten minutes from time to

set up a quarterfinal meeting with

Spurs at

John, we know that South Wales had a

red weather warning but the good

news is the game goes on.

Absolutely. The weather here, it is

very chilly but there is not a lot

of snow round the Swansea area.

Round Cardiff and the M4 it is

tricky. We had to come through from

the Severn Bridge all the way about

40mph which is the advised speed

limit. There is to problems here at

the liberty for what is a crucial

match. Swansea three points behind

West Ham. Swansea unbeaten in six,

six wins in a row here, including

three in the FA Cup. They are up

against a West Ham team who have

scored in the last 11 Premier League

games, just three points ahead of

Swansea, Swansea could move above

West Ham if they get an emphatic

result. I am kept piecing for Marty

off the substitutes bench.

West Ham will become the tenth team

to score 1,000 Premier League goals,

if they score here this afternoon.

Thank you. So Swansea into the last

eight of the FA Cup for the first

time since 1964. And England's women

got their second win ore France in

44 year, they did it in style with a

4-1 in the first game of the She

Believes Cup. Tony Duggan opening

the scoring. Scoring. Scoring. Jill

Scott doubled the advantage, Duggan

set up Fran Kirby for the fourth in

a convincing start to Phil Neville's

reign add head coach. Jo curry has

been to see the first England

training camp.

Columbus Ohio, a city named after

Cristopher Columbus, the man

attributed with finding the

Americaser. It is fitting that

England's women's footballers are

here as they embark on their own

journey of discovery.

We had a meeting where I set the

tone, the type of manager I would

be, the standard and discipline I

expect and they took it onboard

really well. They have an

unbelievable thirst for learning,

they have surprised me in terms of

the questions asked. If you have

players that are self driven it's

the best place you can be as a

manager.

He wants us to do

everything together. Discipline,

respect, the girls do as they are

told, he is coming in, making sure

we do everything how it should be

done. I think it is great. It is the

little things that are going to help

you win World Cups.

Last month Casey Stoney, capped 140

times for England announced her

retirement from playing to take up a

new role as Anelka assistant.

This

opportunity came up and you can't

turn it down. Phil Neville spoke to

me, asked me if I would be

interested and work alongside him.

That for me was incredible because

the thought of retiring frightened

the life out of me.

The respect she

has is phenomenal. She is the link

between me and the team. She is an

outstanding young coach. Driven at

types, you have to pull her back a

bit, because she, she reminds me of

myself when I joined David Moyes's

staff where you want to do

everything yesterday rather than

keep going, she is doing fantastic.

We shouldn't come to this tournament

with any fears we can't compete or

win, what I have challenged the team

is, look let's win all three game,

and looking at the record in past

tournament, we have only won one, if

we want to win a World Cup, we have

to beat USA, Germany, France, these

are our rivals.

Is that new era for the Lionesses?

I

feel like it is. We have been to two

semifinals. Phil Neville wouldn't

have took this job if he didn't

think he could be successful.

Success is going further than that,

so it is a few era, we are looking

forward, we are massively about

qualifying for the World Cup, doing

well in this tournament. You know

and see what the rest holds.

What

does a lioness's team look like

under Phil Neville?

I wanted us to

play with style but retain the

characteristics that are here

already, there is a great spirit and

togetherness, regardless of what has

happened over the last 12 months,

and we need to keep those, those

found tastings strong and just build

on that, and that is the challenge

-- foundations. Some people are

scared of challenge, I'm not.

The

She Believes Cup continue tonnes BBC

in the coming days with England set

to faces Germany and the USA on BBC

Two on Wednesday night.

Watching that, you two, Martin and

Danny, you have both known Phil

Neville a long time. It is

interesting the player, the sta and

he himself talks about the regime he

has brought in to England's women's

set up. It is a great result against

France to start things off.

Very

good. It is important to get result,

to back up what he want, he set out

his goal, the Nevilles have been

professional, they are in bed at

9.00. I remember knocking on Phil's

door one night, fast asleep, with

Paul Schole, they were so

professional.

What did you want?

I

was returning something back to his

room. They virtually knocked

themselves out, they were that

professional. They did everything by

the book. Applying thats a a

manager, Casey Stoney, don't

estimate her, she has a big future.

I think, the good thing is, when he

came into the cob, he got grief for

things he said in the past. -- job.

He faced it head on, and, now, he

has come to a situation where he

knows he will be tested on result,

so it is a great way for him and the

team to start things off with a win

over France, a team they have

struggled against in the past.

One

thing he doesn't need to do is

justify himself, to whoever. Get on

with the job, he is a good coach, he

is stickler for detail, he will do a

good job. He doesn't need to respond

to negativity, show it on the pitch,

he will over time. That was a great

start for him.. I am pleased for

him.

From America's mid west to the

north-west, where there is a large

League One encounter taking place.

Blackburn host Wigan and Clem put on

his thermals to pay them a visit.

I've come as an emmisery on behalf

of the players, we would like to

train inside today, is that

possible?

That is possible, yes.

I

am guessing training inside is

something you would frown upon, from

where you come from you would want

to be out there on the ice?

No

chance.

Really? OK.

I'm waiting for

my boots to warm up.

I'm waiting for

my boots to warm up. Good Lord.

Only

took 38 games.

I can already smell the vibe round

the place, much different to last

season.

Any, the spirit is good, the

place is bouncing a bit. The players

are having fun, laughing. Since the

Gaffer came in we started to see

signs of what we could do, we have

carried that over, he has made good

signings in the summer and January.

Things are starting to look

positive.

It is always Danny Graham,

he is climbing on top of something,

he is pulling some face.

In a perverse sort of way, might

relegation turn out to be a

long-term benefit?

I'm not sure, I'm

not sure relegation is ever good. I

think the form last year, the last

15 games, only three defeats in 15

games, it was about trying to change

the mentality.

Change the mentality,

what did you do?

The team gets used

to losing games and almost an

acceptance of losing it, and yes,

you have to get a winning mentality

back in the group. It is

unacceptable not to work hard.

Is

the thing you are most proud of,

that you have given a bit of soul

back to the club?

I just do the same

I do at every club. I bring my

personality, it might seem dour to

people in front of the cameras, that

is...

Don't do yourself down. For

all you had a great season with

Gillingham last year, do you feel as

though you have gone up a level? You

only have to look at the poster

behind you to see the club you have

joined

It is a massive club. It has

helped me play with top player, I

feel like I am going to score every

time.

That must be a lovely place to

be.

It's a good feeling. I couldn't

do it without my team-mates.

You

need a raw hunger.

I have a set way

of doing thing, my first job at

Hibernian, not just guys going out

on Tuesday night, watching on at the

back of the stand, young lads

watching game after game, we are

trying to put the foundations of a

strong club moving for -- forward.

Hopefully we will be hard to stop

There is a good feel-good factor

round the club at the minute. It is

a joy to play football.

Sunday is a

big game for us, we are hugely

looking forward to. It is against a

team we are competing with at the

top end of the table. The last time

was Shrewsbury Town. We would hope

for more of the same against wig.

I

think the last time I was in here

Owen Coyle left some sweets in here,

no? OK.

I am sure he took those with him.

Thanks for your hard work Clem.

Ryan, I know Blackburn and Wigan

trying to get into the Championship,

one of your former teams Hull are

trying to stay in, they picked up,

beat Sheffield Wednesday, drew with

Barnsley, do you think they are

turning the ship round a bit?

I hope

so, their home form, they are

unbeaten at six or seven at home. He

stopped them conceding goals and if

you look at the goal difference, it

is better than everyone below them,

that counts for an extra point.

I

have had loads of comments about you

coming on the programme. Many wishes

you all the west best for the

future. You play the piano, Martin,

do you play any musical instruments

No.

Danny

Six guitar lessons is and

couldn't do it.

Is Ryan inspiring

you

Maybe.

What are you going to

play, a tuba?

No idea.

Wish you all

the best for the future.

Wish you all the best

for the future.

That's all we've got time

for on Football Focus today,

but plenty more sport in store.

World Triathlon series follows us

after the news on BBC 1,

and a reminder you can watch

the World Indoor Athletics

Championships over on BBC 2.

We leave you this week

with the predictions of the newly

crowned World Pentathlon Champion

and Liverpool fan,

Katarina Johnson Thompson.

Goodbye.

My grandad is a huge Liverpool fan,

and we didn't have a choice. I had

trialled for Everton and turned them

down because I was such a Liverpool

fan, they wanted me to go in goal, I

didn't want to be in goal.

I remember my grandad, he was, we

went 3-0 down, he was laid on the

couch and looked sad. After one goal

he had his head up and two goals he

sat up on his bellow and after three

he was screaming ready to go, and I

think that affected me as a person

so much, and I think I've said it in

the past, it is why I never give up.

Liverpool and Newcastle, sorry for

all the Geordies but I believe that

Liverpool will win 3-0.

Manchester City Chelsea. Good game,

sometimes overhyped so maybe

Manchester City will win